bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The identification of children with cleft palate and sleep disordered breathing using a referral system
Authors: MacLean J.E. , Fitzsimons D. , Hayward P. , Waters K.A. , Fitzgerald D.A. 
Published: January 2008

AbstractBackgroundCleft palate is associated with an increased risk of sleep disordered breathing (SDB) but the magnitude of this risk and specific risk factors are unclear. A better understanding of these components of risk will aid the early identification of SDB in this group of children.ObjectiveTo describe the clinical characteristics and results of sleep studies undertaken in a cohort of children with cleft palate. Clinical features will be examined to determine potential associations with SDB in this group.MethodA retrospective chart review was undertaken to ascertain sleep study results and clinical data for all children with cleft palate. Clinical features of interest included age, gender, syndrome diagnosis, cleft classification, and surgical status.ResultsA total of 99 sleep studies were available from 62 children. The sample included a select group of children with cleft palate with features predictive of a high risk of SDB. Baseline sleep study results were consistent with SDB for 87% of children and 28% (15 of 54) of these children demonstrated severe SDB. Uni‐variate analysis showed that age, syndrome, and surgical status had significant association with the severity of SDB. On multi‐variate analysis only surgical status maintained this association, such that pre‐palatoplasty/pharyngoplasty was associated with more severe SDB. Follow‐up studies were completed in one‐third of the cohort.ConclusionChildren with cleft palate appear to have a significant risk of SDB. A prospective study of a population of children with cleft palate is needed to further define the characteristics of this risk and important risk factors. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2008; 43:245–250. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Review of optimal characteristics of face‐masks for valved‐holding chambers (VHCs)
Authors: Amirav Israel , Newhouse Michael T. 
Published: January 2008

AbstractInhaled drugs are frequently given to infants and young children with a pressurized metered‐dose inhaler (pMDI) attached to a valved‐holding chamber (VHC) with face mask. In young children and infants who cannot breathe through a mouthpiece, the face mask serves as the interface between the patient and the VHC.Although the mask interface is one of the most important factors determining the dose of medication delivered from the VHC to the nose and mouth in these patients, its optimal characteristics are not well known. Recent studies clearly identify several face mask factors that determine the success or failure of drug delivery with these devices.This review summarizes the most important features of an optimal mask design such as: face seal/leak, volume of dead space, contour, flexibility, transparency, weight and cost. By optimizing these characteristics it should be possible to improve mask design. This will maximize the magnitude and reduce the variability of the dose presented to the respiratory tract while making the mask more comfortable and patient/caregiver‐friendly. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2008; 43:268–274. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Deltorphin analogs restricted via a urea bridge: structure and opioid activity
Authors: Zieleniak Agnieszka , Rodziewicz‐Motowidło Sylwia , Rusak Łukasz , Chung Nga N. , Czaplewski Cezary , Witkowska Ewa , Schiller Peter W. , Ciarkowski Jerzy , Izdebski Jan 
Published: January 2008

AbstractEight cyclic heptapeptides related to the full sequence of deltorphin have been synthesized. The synthesis of linear peptides containing diamino acid residues in positions 2 and 4 was carried out on a 4‐methylbenzhydrylamine resin. Depending on protection procedures, the N‐protected peptide‐resins or N‐protected peptide amides with free amino groups in the side chains were obtained, which were subsequently treated with bis‐(4‐nitrophenyl)carbonate to form a urea unit. Opioid activities of the peptides were determined in the guinea pig ileum (GPI) and mouse vas deferens (MVD) assays. Several compounds showed high δ opioid agonist potency and high selectivity for δ receptors. The results were compared with those obtained earlier for respective 1–4 deltorphin analogs. The conformations of these peptides have been studied using 2D‐NMR in H2O/D2O and molecular dynamics. We observed that the backbone rings had well defined conformations, while the Tyr and Phe side chains and the C‐terminal tail had significant conformational freedom. The bioassay data and conformational parameters of these peptides were compared with those of previously described, corresponding 1–4 deltorphin analogs. This comparison permitted an assessment of the role of the C‐terminal peptide segment in defining the conformation and receptor interaction of the N‐terminal portion and provided insight into the relationship between the putative bioactive conformations and bioactivity. Copyright © 2008 European Peptide Society and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Characterization of the interaction between Aβ 1–42 and glyceraldehyde phosphodehydrogenase
Authors: Verdier Yann , Földi István , Sergeant Nicolas , Fülöp Lívia , Penke Zsuzsa , Janáky Tamás , Szücs Mária , Penke Botond 
Published: January 2008

AbstractAdvances in the understanding of AD pathogenesis have recently provided strong support for a modified Aβ protein cascade hypothesis, stating that several different Aβ assemblies contribute to the triggering of a complex pathological cascade leading to neurodegeneration. Both in vitro and in vivo, Aβ rapidly forms fibrils (fAβ), which are able to interact with various molecular partners, including proteins, lipids and proteoglycans. In a previous study aimed to identify some of these molecular partners of fAβ, we demonstrated that the GAPDH was specifically coprecipitated with fAβ. The aim of this study was to characterize this interaction. First, it was shown by TEM that synthetic GAPDH directly binds fAβ 1–42. Then rat synaptosomal proteins were purified and incubated with different forms of Aβ in various conditions, and the presence of GAPDH among the proteins coprecipitated with Aβ was studied by western blotting. Results showed that the interaction between GAPDH and fAβ 1–42 is nonionic, as is not impaired by increasing salt concentrations. GAPDH is coprecipitated not only by fAβ, but also by nonfibrillar forms of Aβ 1–42. The 41–42 Aβ sequence seems to be important in the interaction of GAPDH and Aβ, as more GAPDH was coprecipitated with fAβ 1–42 than with fAβ 1–40. GAPDH extracted from various subcellular fractions including mitochondria, was shown to interact with fAβ. Our data demonstrate a direct interaction between Aβ and GAPDH and support the possibility that this interaction has an important pathogenic role in AD. Copyright © 2008 European Peptide Society and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Coping but not coping in health and social care: masking the reality of running organisations beyond safe design capacity
Authors: Wolstenholme Eric , Monk David , McKelvie Douglas , Arnold Steve 
Published: January 2008

AbstractThis paper develops a hypothesis that the “normal” mode of operation for many organisations today is beyond their safe design capacity. Evidence for this has emerged from a number of studies carried out to promote systemic practice in local health communities in the U.K. This work has identified mismatches between how managers claim their organisations work and the observed behaviour, which can only be explained by surfacing informal coping policies, many with unintended consequences for patient care and costs. There are important messages in the paper for Health and Social Care management, the meaning of data and for modelling, and the paper contains reflections from senior management involved in the studies. The key message of the paper is that affordable and sustainable downstream capacity additions in patient pathways can be identified, which both alleviate upstream problems and eliminate the need for excessive coping policies. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Coadsorption reaction between (CH3)2S and H2O on Rh(100) studied by NEXAFS and XPS
Authors: Nomoto T. , Sumi O. , Yagi S. , Soda K. , Namatame H. , Taniguchi M. 
Published: January 2008

AbstractThe coadsorption reaction between (CH3)2S and H2O on a Rh(100) surface has been investigated by S K‐edge near‐edge X‐ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS) and XPS techniques. The dissociation of (CH3)2S to methanethiolate (CH3S)—occurs at 90 K. NEXAFS and XPS results indicate that methanethiolate bonds to H2O via its sulfur atom at 170 K. At elevated temperature, the dissociation rate of molecules is much higher than in other adsorption systems, such as on a clean Rh(100) surface. Therefore, it seems that H2O damages the SC bonds of both (CH3)2S and methanethiolate upon heating. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Characterization of gold nanoclusters deposited on HOPG by atmospheric plasma treatment
Authors: Demoisson Frédéric , Raes Marc , Terryn Herman , Guillot Jérôme , Migeon Henri‐Noel , Reniers François 
Published: January 2008

AbstractThe interest of gold nanoparticles in the field of nanocatalysis and nanosensors is growing. For example, carbon nanotubes covered with gold nanoclusters could present interesting properties in catalysis or/and in devices based on catalytic reaction such as chemical gas sensor. Unfortunately, the characterization of nanoparticles deposited onto a substrate is generally not a trivial exercise. Indeed, in many cases, the amount and size of material deposited is in the range of the sensitivity limits and the spatial resolutions of the techniques used. In that respect, our system, i.e. gold deposited onto a carbon support, is a favourable case, due to the high difference between the atomic numbers of gold and carbon.In this work, gold nanoparticles were deposited onto a HOPG (Highly Oriented Pyrolitic Graphite) substrate using an atmospheric plasma. In this preliminary study, HOPG sample has been used as a model surface that could present the same chemical properties as multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs).The surface composition was analysed using X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Narrow region electron spectra were used to extract the chemical‐state information from the C 1s, O 1s and Au 4f peaks. The Au 4f spectral line shape was also analysed using the QUASES–Tougaard software package in order to obtain the in‐depth concentration profile of the resulting nanomaterial. This result evidences a good agreement between experiment and modelling. Indeed, field emission scanning electron microscope (FE‐SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) images highlight a homogeneous distribution of 10 nm‐size gold clusters with a surface coverage of 12% on the HOPG surface, both in agreement with the results obtained with the Tougaard and coworkers method. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Corrected score estimation in the proportional hazards model with misclassified discrete covariates
Authors: Zucker David M. , Spiegelman Donna 
Published: January 2008

AbstractWe consider Cox proportional hazards regression when the covariate vector includes error‐prone discrete covariates along with error‐free covariates, which may be discrete or continuous. The misclassification in the discrete error‐prone covariates is allowed to be of any specified form. Building on the work of Nakamura and his colleagues, we present a corrected score method for this setting. The method can handle all three major study designs (internal validation design, external validation design, and replicate measures design), both functional and structural error models, and time‐dependent covariates satisfying a certain ‘localized error’ condition. We derive the asymptotic properties of the method and indicate how to adjust the covariance matrix of the regression coefficient estimates to account for estimation of the misclassification matrix. We present the results of a finite‐sample simulation study under Weibull survival with a single binary covariate having known misclassification rates. The performance of the method described here was similar to that of related methods we have examined in previous works. Specifically, our new estimator performed as well as or, in a few cases, better than the full Weibull maximum likelihood estimator. We also present simulation results for our method for the case where the misclassification probabilities are estimated from an external replicate measures study. Our method generally performed well in these simulations. The new estimator has a broader range of applicability than many other estimators proposed in the literature, including those described in our own earlier work, in that it can handle time‐dependent covariates with an arbitrary misclassification structure. We illustrate the method on data from a study of the relationship between dietary calcium intake and distal colon cancer. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The feasibility of in vivo measurement of arsenic and silver by x‐ray fluorescence
Authors: Studinski Ryan , O'Meara Joanne , McNeill Fiona 
Published: January 2008

AbstractThis paper describes studies that have been performed to assess the feasibility of measuring arsenic and silver in human skin in vivo using x‐ray fluorescence (XRF). All of the systems could measure arsenic or silver to concentration levels of < 10 parts per million. This level of precision indicates that in vivo XRF is capable of measuring concentrations expected in exposed populations. Skin doses were within the levels, which could be acceptable for in vivo measurement. In vivo XRF studies of these elements are well worth pursuing. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A comparative study of the filamentation and Weibel instabilities and their cumulative effect. I. Non-relativistic theory
Authors: LAZAR M. , SMOLYAKOV A. , SCHLICKEISER R. , SHUKLA P. K. 
Published: January 2008

AbstractA comparative study of the electromagnetic instabilities in anisotropic unmagnetized plasmas is undertaken. The instabilities considered are the filamentation and Weibel instability, and their cumulative effect. Dispersion relations are derived and the growth rates are plotted systematically for the representative cases of non-relativistic counterstreaming plasmas with isotropic or anisotropic velocity distributions functions of Maxwellian type. The pure filamentation mode is attenuated by including an isotropic Maxwellian distribution function. Moreover, it is observed that counterstreaming plasmas can be fully stabilized by including bi-Maxellian distributions with a negative thermal anisotropy. This effect is relevant for fusion plasma experiments. Otherwise, for plasma streams with a positive anisotropy the filamentation and Weibel instabilities cumulate leading to a growth rate by orders of magnitude larger than that of a simple filamentation mode. This is noticeable for the quasistatic magnetic field generated in astrophysical sources, and which is expected to saturate at higher values and explain the non-thermal emission observed.
Determination of new types of DNA lesions in human sperm
Authors: Badouard C. , Ménézo Y. , Panteix G. , Ravanat J.L. , Douki T. , Cadet J. , Favier A. 
Published: January 2008

SummaryCareful attention has been focused recently on DNA quality in human IVF. Therefore a variety of methods has been developed to evaluate DNA integrity, especially concerning fragmentation. Using liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) for our best sperm samples, we have established reference values for several oxidative lesions, in order to gain insights into the cause of DNA lesions. Besides 8-oxodeoxyguanosine, we found rather high levels of two ethenonucleosides: 1,N6-ethenoadenosine and 1,N2-ethenoguanosine. These compounds probably arise from a reaction with 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal, the main aldehyde compound released during lipid peroxidation, or after occupational exposure to vinyl chloride. The quantity of chlorinated bases detected is low. All of this decay has to be repaired by the oocytes at the time of fertilization or immediately after. This aspect should not be overlooked in assisted reproductive technology, in order to understand risks and limitations.
Heparin effect onin vitronuclear maturation of bovine oocytes
Authors: Flores-Alonso Juan Carlos , Lezama-Monfil Leticia , Sánchez-Vázquez María Luisa , Reyes Rosalina , Delgado Néstor M. 
Published: January 2008

SummaryOocytes undergo numerous biochemical and morphological changes during their development from preantral to preovulatory phases.In vitrostudies have suggested several compounds that might induce oocyte maturation. Heparin is a natural component of ooplasm, follicular fluid and uterine fluid and previous studies indicated that it might act as a chromatin maturation factor in bovine oocytes. We tested this hypothesisin vitroby timing germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD) and first polar body (PB) formation without any other natural or introduced factors that might influence the rate of oocyte maturation. We also determined if these oocytes could be fertilized.Bovine oocytes were incubated in a salt medium and TCM 199 supplemented with different concentrations of heparin for 24 h at 37.5 °C in a humidified atmosphere of 5% CO2. With 1.0 and 6.5 mg/ml heparin, the time of GVBD was reduced from 4.7 ± 1.1 h to about 1.5 h and the time of first PB formation was reduced from 22.0 ± 1.1 h to 9.0–11.0 h in salt medium. In TCM 199, only 6.5 mg/ml heparin significantly reduced the time of PB formation. In both incubation media, 1.0 and 6.5 mg/ml heparin induced GVBD, extrusion of the first PB and formation of the metaphase II nucleus. Moreover, heparin did not interfere with the fertilization of oocytes matured in TCM 199. Based on the results, we propose that heparin plays an important role in the rearrangement of the oocyte chromatin and acts as an oocyte maturation factor.
Production of buffalo embryos using oocytes from in vitro grown preantral follicles
Authors: Gupta P.S.P. , Ramesh H.S. , Manjunatha B.M. , Nandi S. , Ravindra J.P. 
Published: January 2008

SummaryThe present study examines the use of buffalo preantral follicles as a source of oocytes for in vitro embryo production. Preantral follicles were isolated from abattoir-derived buffalo ovaries and were grown for 100 days in five different culture systems: (1) minimum essential medium (MEM); (2) coconut water; (3) MEM + ovarian mesenchymal cell (OMC) co-culture; (4) MEM + granulosa cell (GC) co-culture; or (5) MEM + cumulus cell (CC) co-culture. Low growth rates for the preantral follicles were observed when follicles were cultured in MEM or coconut water medium. Moderate growth rates were seen for OMC and GC co-cultures, and high rates of growth were observed when follicles were grown in CC co-culture. The survival of preantral follicles was low in the MEM culture (<25%), but was over 75% in the other culture systems. Oocytes were not recovered from the MEM group, while an oocyte recovery rate of 80–100% was observed when the follicles were cultured with coconut water/somatic cells. Transferable embryos could be produced only with the oocytes obtained from preantral follicles grown in the OMC and CC co-culture systems. This study demonstrates, for the first time, that it is possible to produce buffalo embryos by in vitro fertilization of oocytes derived from in vitro grown preantral follicles.
Effects of sucrose treatment on the development of mouse nuclear transfer embryos with morula blastomeres as donors
Authors: Zhang Gang , Sun Qing-Yuan , Chen Da-Yuan 
Published: January 2008

SummaryIn this study, nuclear transfer (NT) embryos were produced by using C57Bl/6 mouse morula blastomeres and Kunming mouse metaphase II (MII) oocytes as donors and recipients, respectively, to investigate the effects of sucrose treatment of MII oocytes with different concentrations on the manipulation time of NT, electrofusion and the in vitro and in vivo development of reconstructed embryos. The results demonstrated that: (i) when the oocytes were enucleated with 1, 2 and 3% sucrose treatment, respectively, the enucleating rates were not affected by the different sucrose concentrations, but the manipulation time had significant difference and the mean nuclear transfer manipulation times of every oocyte were 180 ± 10 s, 130 ± 10 s and 120 ± 10 s, respectively; (ii) different sucrose concentrations had no significant effects on the fusion rate and the in vitro developmental potential of the NT embryos (p > 0.05). Furthermore, 59 embryos were transplanted into the oviducts of two recipients. In the end, three dead full-term developed fetuses were obtained on 21 days post coitus (dpc). These results suggested that the mouse MII oocytes enucleated via sucrose treatment might be an alternative source for mouse cloning and could support the embryonic NT embryos developed to term in vivo.
Global poly(A) mRNA expression profile measured in individual bovine oocytes and cleavage embryos
Authors: Biase F.H. , Fonseca Merighe G. Krempel , Santos Biase W. Karyna Freitas , Martelli L. , Meirelles F. Vieira 
Published: January 2008

SummaryThe objective of this article was to estimate quantitative differences for GAPDH transcripts and poly(A) mRNA: (i) between oocytes collected from cumulus–oocyte complexes (COCs) qualified morphologically as grades A and B; (ii) between grade A oocytes before and afterin vitromaturation (IVM); and (iii) amongin vitro-produced embryos at different developmental stages. To achieve this objective a new approach was developed to estimate differences between poly(A) mRNA when using small samples. The approach consisted of full-length cDNA amplification (acDNA) monitored by real-time PCR, in which the cDNA from half of an oocyte or embryo was used as a template. The GAPDH gene was amplified as a reverse transcription control and samples that were not positive for GAPDH transcripts were discarded. The fold differences between two samples were estimated using delta Ct and statistical analysis and were obtained using the pairwise fixed reallocation randomization test. It was found that the oocytes recovered from grade B COCs had quantitatively less poly(A) mRNA (p< 0.01) transcripts compared with grade A COCs (1 arbitrary unit expression rate). In the comparison with immature oocytes (1 arbitrary unit expression rate), the quantity of poly(A) mRNA did not change during IVM, but declined following IVF and varied with embryo culture (p< 0.05). Amplification of cDNA by real-time PCR was an efficient method to estimate differences in the amount of poly(A) mRNA between oocytes and embryos. The results obtained from individual oocytes suggested an association between poly(A) mRNA abundance and different morphological qualities of oocytes from COCs. In addition, a poly(A) mRNA profile was characterized from oocytes undergoing IVM, fertilization and blastocyst heating.