bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The transition from nominal to pronominal person reference in the early language of a Mandarin-English bilingual child
Authors: Qi Ruying , di Biase Bruno , Campbell Stuart 
Published: December 2008

This paper is a first attempt in the literature to trace the developmental route from nominal to pronominal reference to person of a Mandarin-English bilingual first language acquirer `J'. This progression is seen, longitudinally, in the context of the child's overall syntactic development from age 1; 07—4; 0, to move, in both languages, through three phases: (i) kinship terms and lack of self-reference (1;07—2;0); (ii) nominal reference to self and others (2 ;0—3 ;0 ;07) ; (iii) emergence of first person pronominal reference alongside other self-referential expressions (3;0;07—4;0). These and other significant parallels and differences between monolingual and bilingual L1 acquisition in Mandarin and English are documented. Mandarin is the home language spoken by both parents and other family members while English is the language of all other environments. This is different from the one-parent-one-language situation commonly investigated in bilingual L1 acquisition. J's pronominal development follows distinct routes in his two languages, including the coexistence of two self-reference names in Mandarin only with different functions which has not been reported in the literature before. Also, in contrast with monolingual mixing in (English) case-marking (Radford, 1986) J demonstrates categorical, adult-like case-marking contrasts. We show further that this bilingual child adopts an analytic (bottom-up) approach in Mandarin but a synthetic (top-down) approach in English.
G-spots cause incorrect expression measurement in Affymetrix microarrays
Authors: Upton Graham JG , Langdon William B , Harrison Andrew P 
Published: December 2008

Abstract

Background
High Density Oligonucleotide arrays (HDONAs), such as the Affymetrix HG-U133A GeneChip, use sets of probes chosen to match specified genes, with the expectation that if a particular gene is highly expressed then all the probes in that gene's probe set will provide a consistent message signifying the gene's presence. However, probes that contain a G-spot (a sequence of four or more guanines) behave abnormally and it has been suggested that these probes are responding to some biochemical effect such as the formation of G-quadruplexes.

Results
We have tested this expectation by examining the correlation coefficients between pairs of probes using the data on thousands of arrays that are available in the NCBI Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) repository. We confirm the finding that G-spot probes are poorly correlated with others in their probesets and reveal that, by contrast, they are highly correlated with one another. We demonstrate that the correlation is most marked when the G-spot is at the 5' end of the probe.

Conclusion
Since these G-spot probes generally show little correlation with the other members of their probesets they are not fit for purpose and their values should be excluded when calculating gene expression values. This has serious implications, since more than 40% of the probesets in the HG-U133A GeneChip contain at least one such probe. Future array designs should avoid these untrustworthy probes.
Outcomes in culture positive and culture negative ascitic fluid infection in patients with viral cirrhosis: cohort study
Authors: Kamani Lubna , Mumtaz Khalid , Ahmed Umair S , Ali Ailia W , Jafri Wasim 
Published: December 2008

Abstract

Background
Ascitic fluid infection (AFI) in cirrhotic patients has a high morbidity and mortality. It has two variants namely, spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) and culture negative neutrocytic ascites (CNNA). The aim of this study was to determine the outcome in cirrhotic patients with culture positive (SBP) and culture negative neutrocytic ascites.

Methods
We analyzed 675 consecutive hepatitis B and/or C related cirrhosis patients with ascites admitted in our hospital from November 2005 to December 2007. Of these, 187 patients had AFI; clinical and laboratory parameters of these patients including causes of cirrhosis, Child Turcotte Pugh (CTP) score were recorded.

Results
Out of 187 patients with AFI, 44 (23.5%) had SBP while 143 (76.4%) had CNNA. Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection was the most common cause of cirrhosis in 139 (74.3%) patients. Patients with SBP had high CTP score as compared to CNNA (12.52 ± 1.45 vs. 11.44 ± 1.66); p < 0.001. Platelets count was low in patients with SBP (101 ± 53 × 109/L) as compared to CNNA (132 ± 91 × 109/L), p = 0.005. We found a high creatinine (mg/dl) (1.95 ± 1.0 vs. 1.44 ± 0.85), (p = 0.003) and high prothrombin time (PT) in seconds (24.8 ± 6.6 vs. 22.4 ± 7.2) (p = 0.04) in SBP as compared to CNNA. More patients with SBP (14/44; 31.8%) had blood culture positivity as compare to CNNA (14/143; 9.8%), p = 0.002. Escherichia. Coli was the commonest organism in blood culture in 15/28 (53.5%) patients. SBP group had a higher mortality (11/44; 25%) as compared to CNNA (12/143; 8.4%), p = 0.003. On multiple logistic regression analysis, creatinine >1.1 mg/dl and positive blood culture were the independent predictors of mortality in patients with SBP.

Conclusion
Patients with SBP have a higher mortality than CNNA. Independent predictors of mortality in SBP are raised serum creatinine and a positive blood culture.
A simple and rapid Hepatitis A Virus (HAV) titration assay based on antibiotic resistance of infected cells: evaluation of the HAV neutralization potency of human immune globulin preparations
Authors: Konduru Krishnamurthy , Virata-Theimer Maria Luisa , Yu Mei-ying W , Kaplan Gerardo G 
Published: December 2008

Abstract

Background
Hepatitis A virus (HAV), the causative agent of acute hepatitis in humans, is an atypical Picornaviridae that grows poorly in cell culture. HAV titrations are laborious and time-consuming because the virus in general does not cause cytopathic effect and is detected by immunochemical or molecular probes. Simple HAV titration assays could be developed using currently available viral construct containing selectable markers.

Results
We developed an antibiotic resistance titration assay (ARTA) based on the infection of human hepatoma cells with a wild type HAV construct containing a blasticidin (Bsd) resistance gene. Human hepatoma cells infected with the HAV-Bsd construct survived selection with 2 μg/ml of blasticidin whereas uninfected cells died within a few days. At 8 days postinfection, the color of the pH indicator phenol red in cell culture media correlated with the presence of HAV-Bsd-infected blasticidin-resistant cells: an orange-to-yellow color indicated the presence of growing cells whereas a pink-to-purple color indicated that the cells were dead. HAV-Bsd titers were determined by an endpoint dilution assay based on the color of the cell culture medium scoring orange-to-yellow wells as positive and pink-to-purple wells as negative for HAV. As a proof-of-concept, we used the ARTA to evaluate the HAV neutralization potency of two commercially available human immune globulin (IG) preparations and a WHO International Standard for anti-HAV. The three IG preparations contained comparable levels of anti-HAV antibodies that neutralized approximately 1.5 log of HAV-Bsd. Similar neutralization results were obtained in the absence of blasticidin by an endpoint dilution ELISA at 2 weeks postinfection.

Conclusion
The ARTA is a simple and rapid method to determine HAV titers without using HAV-specific probes. We determined the HAV neutralization potency of human IG preparations in 8 days by ARTA compared to the 14 days required by the endpoint dilution ELISA. The ARTA reduced the labour, time, and cost of HAV titrations making it suitable for high throughput screening of sera and antivirals, determination of anti-HAV antibodies in human immune globulin preparations, and research applications that involve the routine evaluation of HAV titers.
The epidemiology of intensive care unit-acquired hyponatraemia and hypernatraemia in medical-surgical intensive care units
Authors: Stelfox Henry Thomas , Ahmed Sofia B , Khandwala Farah , Zygun David , Shahpori Reza , Laupland Kevin 
Published: December 2008

Abstract
Introduction
Although sodium disturbances are common in hospitalised patients, few studies have specifically investigated the epidemiology of sodium disturbances in the intensive care unit (ICU). The objectives of this study were to describe the incidence of ICU-acquired hyponatraemia and hypernatraemia and assess their effects on outcome in the ICU.

Methods
We identified 8142 consecutive adults (18 years of age or older) admitted to three medical-surgical ICUs between 1 January 2000 and 31 December 2006 who were documented to have normal serum sodium levels (133 to 145 mmol/L) during the first day of ICU admission. ICU acquired hyponatraemia and hypernatraemia were respectively defined as a change in serum sodium concentration to below 133 mmol/L or above 145 mmol/L following day one in the ICU.

Results
A first episode of ICU-acquired hyponatraemia developed in 917 (11%) patients and hypernatraemia in 2157 (26%) patients with an incidence density of 3.1 and 7.4 per 100 days of ICU admission, respectively, during 29,142 ICU admission days. The incidence of both ICU-acquired hyponatraemia (age, admission diagnosis, Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II score, length of ICU stay, level of consciousness, serum glucose level, body temperature, serum potassium level) and ICU-acquired hypernatraemia (baseline creatinine, APACHE II score, mechanical ventilation, length of ICU stay, body temperature, serum potassium level, level of care) varied according to patients' characteristics. Compared with patients with normal serum sodium levels, hospital mortality was increased in patients with ICU-acquired hyponatraemia (16% versus 28%, p < 0.001) and ICU-acquired hypernatraemia (16% versus 34%, p < 0.001).

Conclusions
ICU-acquired hyponatraemia and hypernatraemia are common in critically ill patients and are associated with increased risk of hospital mortality.
Do Medication Samples Jeopardize Patient Safety?
Authors: Franks Andrea S , Ray Shaunta’ M , Wallace Lorraine S , Keenum Amy J , Weiss Barry D 
Published: December 2008

BACKGROUND Medication samples are commonly dispensed by prescribers. Written consumer medication information (CMI) provided with sample packaging is an important source of patient information. Although one-third of Americans have health literacy deficiencies, previous studies have found that CMI is often too complex for many patients to understand. This may prevent patients from using these medications appropriately. OBJECTIVE To evaluate readability and formatting characteristics of CMI included with nonsolid (ie, topical cream/lotion, inhalation, transdermal) drug samples. METHODS We collected a convenience sample of nonsolid dosage sample medications (N = 55) from several different private and university-affiliated primary care and specialty physician practices at a large academic medical center in the southeastern US. We noted whether CMI was present and, if it was, we assessed it for instruction presentation, reading level, text size, format/layout, and comprehensibility. RESULTS Most (43 of 55) products included CMI, either as a separate leaflet or directly on the packaging. Reading level of CMI leaflets ranged from the 6th- to 14th-grade level, with just 4 (16.0%) written at the recommended 6th-grade level. Text font point size was 9.48 ± 2.14 (mean ± SD; range 5–12). Text printed directly on sample packaging averaged 6.61 point ± 2.62 (4–11) font size. Ninety-two percent of CMI leaflets included a combination of text and pictures; only 11.1% of CMI printed directly on the packaging used pictorial aids. CONCLUSIONS Most CMI accompanying nonsolid medication samples is written at a reading level that exceeds that of many consumers and does not meet recommended standards for readability and comprehensibility of patient education material.
A Comparison of Peak Linear and Angular Headform Accelerations Using Ice Hockey Helmets
Authors: Rousseau P. , Post A. , Hoshizaki T. B. 
Published: December 2008

Abstract
The objective of this study was to quantify the ability of hockey helmets to manage peak angular and linear acceleration of the center of gravity of a Hybrid III headform at six impact locations and three velocities (5, 7, and 9 m/s). The method was intended to represent a reconstruction of helmet, shoulder, and elbow strikes to the head. Six different ice hockey helmets were impacted using a pneumatic linear impactor at velocities similar to those encountered in ice hockey. The results were then compared to impacts to an unhelmeted headform. The data demonstrated that under certain conditions, peak angular accelerations were above estimated injury thresholds, while peak linear accelerations remained below. This confirmed the importance of measuring peak angular acceleration and peak linear acceleration in order to better predict minor traumatic brain injuries.
A Public Health Approach to Winning the War Against Cancer
Authors: Frieden Thomas R. , Myers Julie E. , Krauskopf Marian S. , Farley Thomas A. 
Published: December 2008

Abstract
This article describes a prevention strategy for the United States to help win the war on cancer. Prevention can be achieved by reducing exposure to cancer-promoting agents, particularly tobacco but also alcohol and caloric imbalance; vaccination against specific virus-associated cancers; and early detection and treatment. These require more funding and a greater emphasis on public health programs and public policy.
The “war on cancer” in the United States has been viewed primarily as an effort to develop and disseminate cancer cures, but cancer is far more easily prevented than cured. There are three major approaches to cancer prevention: Primary prevention, through reduction in risk factors and changes to the environment that reduce human exposure to widely-consumed cancer-promoting agents. The most important actions for primary prevention of cancer are those that reduce tobacco use through taxation, smoke-free environment policies, advertising restrictions, counteradvertising, and cessation programs. The World Health Organization's MPOWER package outlines these actions, each of which covered less than 5% of people in the world in 2007. Similarly, cancer can be prevented by reducing alcohol consumption through policies such as alcohol taxes and limits on alcohol sales, and restoring caloric balance through policies such as creating healthier food environments and engineering the built environment to increase opportunities for physical activity. Vaccination is an effective approach to preventing specific virus-associated cancers, such as using human papillomavirus vaccine to prevent cervical cancer and hepatitis B virus vaccine to prevent hepatocellular cancer. Secondary prevention reduces cancer mortality through screening and early treatment; this approach has been used successfully for breast and cervical cancer but is still underused against colon cancer. Progress can be made in all three approaches to cancer prevention, but will require a greater emphasis on public health programs and public policy. Winning the war on cancer will require a much larger investment in prevention to complement efforts to improve treatment.
Informality Traps
Authors: Masatlioglu Yusufcan , Rigolini Jamele 
Published: December 2008

Abstract
Despite large deregulation efforts, informal economic activity still represents a large share of GDP in many developing countries. In this paper we look at incentives to reduce informal activity when capitalists in the formal sector regulate entry. We consider a dual economy with a formal sector employing educated workers and an informal sector with unskilled workers. We show that high costs of education make labor migration and profits in the formal sector an increasing function of its size. Therefore, incentives to allow capital to be reallocated to the formal sector increase with the size of the formal economy, and unless the formal sector has reached a "critical mass" countries remain in a highly informal equilibrium. We conclude by reviewing policies that can push countries with large informal economies towards formalization.
Protection From Clinical Peripheral Sensory Neuropathy in Alström Syndrome in Contrast to Early-Onset Type 2 Diabetes
Authors: Paisey Richard B. , Paisey Rosamund M. , Thomson Mary P. , Bower Lynne , Maffei Pietro , Shield Julian P.H. , Barnett Sue , Marshall Jan D. 
Published: December 2008

OBJECTIVE—Alström syndrome, with type 2 diabetes, and blindness could confer a high risk of foot ulceration. Clinical testing for neuropathy in Alström syndrome and matched young-onset type 2 diabetic subjects was therefore undertaken.
RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS—Fifty-eight subjects with Alström syndrome (18 insulin-resistant nondiabetic and 40 diabetic; aged 8–43 years) and 30 young-onset diabetic subjects (aged 13–35 years) were studied. Neuropathy symptom questionnaires were administered. Graded monofilament and 128-MHz tuning fork vibration perception were assessed in both feet.
RESULTS—Neuropathic symptoms, loss of monofilament, and/or vibration perception were reported by 12 of the 30 young-onset type 2 diabetic subjects (6 had neuropathic ulceration) but none of the subjects with Alström syndrome.
CONCLUSIONS—The striking preservation of protective foot sensation in Alström syndrome may provide a clue to the causes of differential susceptibility to neuropathy in the wider diabetic population.
Characterization and filtration performance of coating-modified polymeric membranes used in membrane bioreactors
Authors: Kochan Jozef , Wintgens Thomas , Melin Thomas , Wong John 
Published: December 2008

AbstractOne of the critical issues for membrane application in wastewater treatment is membrane fouling majorly caused by dissolved organic matters. The aim of the present study was to lower membrane fouling by adsorption of polyelectrolytes. In the paper, the feasibility of coating for diverse ultrafiltration membrane materials was investigated and their filtration performance was compared to that of the unmodified ones. Different ultrafiltration flat-sheet membranes, polyvinylidene fluoride, polyethersulfone, polysulfone and cellulose acetate were coated by branched poly(ethyleneimine) (PEI), poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) (PDADMAC) and poly(allylamine chloride) (PAH) and filtrated with sludge supernatant. Short term experiments showed a substantial drop of permeability: almost 40 % for PEI, 23 % for PDADMAC, and about 19 % for PAH coating. This deterioration resulted from the additional resistance of the deposited layers. On the other hand, coating led to lower fouling rates during filtration. In the stable state of filtration, coated membranes showed higher permeabilities compared to the uncoated ones. For the polyethersulfone membrane, the average permeability enhancement was 11 %. For polysulfone and cellulose acetate membranes, the permeability improved by 28 % and 15 % respectively. For polyvinylidene fluoride membranes only coating with PDADMAC enhanced the permeability, by 13 %. PEI and PAH modified membranes featured lower permeabilities than the uncoated ones.
Preparation and properties of a new composite photocatalyst based on nanosized titanium dioxide
Authors: Ševčík Peter , Čík Gabriel , Vlna Tomáš , Mackul’ak Tomáš 
Published: December 2008

AbstractThe use of photocatalysts supported on adsorbents is receiving substantial attention. Supporting TiO2 with zeolites is found to be one of the best solutions to increase the efficiency of TiO2-based photocatalysts. This work was focused on simple preparation of a TiO2/Na-ZSM-5 composite catalyst by the solid state dispersion (SSD) method and its modification with an organic photosensitizer — polythiophene (PT). Using the XRD diffractometry, structure of the new composite catalyst was proved. Beside this composite catalyst, mechanical mixtures of TiO2-based catalysts with Na-ZSM-5 zeolite were prepared. The efficiency of all five available photocatalysts (TiO2, TiO2-PT, mechanical mixture of TiO2 + Na-ZSM-5, mechanical mixture of TiO2-PT + Na-ZSM-5, and the modified SSD-PT composite) on photodegradation of 4-chlorophenol was compared. By measuring the formation of chloride ions and decreasing the 4-chlorophenol concentration at two different initial concentrations of 4-chlorophenol in the basic aqueous solution, the photoefficiency and adsorption properties of our photocatalysts were determined.
Animal Models of Collagen‐Induced Arthritis
Authors: Wagner Stéphanie , Bindler Julien , Andriambeloson Emile 
Published: December 2008

AbstractCollagen‐induced arthritis in rats is associated with inflammatory polyarthritis, sharing clinical and pathological features with those of human rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Described in this unit is a protocol for consistently inducing arthritis in female Lewis rats by immunizing them with bovine type II collagen (CII) emulsified in complete Freund's adjuvant. This model is of value not only in defining the underlying pathogenesis of RA, but also as a tool for evaluating pharmacological strategies for treating this condition. Curr. Protoc. Pharmacol. 43:5.51.1‐5.51.8. © 2008 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
In Vitro Assay of Angiogenesis: Inhibition of Capillary Tube Formation
Authors: McGonigle Sharon , Shifrin Victor 
Published: December 2008

AbstractThe growth of new blood vessels, or angiogenesis, is a naturally occurring process in both health and disease states. An area of active research, regulation of angiogenesis, is being studied as an approach for the treatment of cancer and a range of other disorders having vascular proliferation as a component. The process of angiogenesis is very complex and occurs in multiple steps, with a major involvement of endothelial cells. Various in vivo models have been developed to assess inhibitors of angiogenesis. As these are generally technically difficult and labor intensive, with observed effects difficult to quantify, they do not lend themselves to compound screening. Rather they are used for confirmatory studies. In contrast, in vitro assays developed to model various steps in the angiogenesis process are easy to perform and lend themselves to high‐throughput analysis. Described in this unit is an in vitro assay that can be employed to investigate endothelial differentiation inhibitors through assessment of their effects on capillary tube formation by endothelial cells on Matrigel. Curr. Protoc. Pharmacol. 43:12.12.1‐12.12.7. © 2008 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Aquificales
Authors: Bonch‐Osmolovskaya Elizaveta 
Published: December 2008

Abstract

Based on 16S ribosomal
ribonucleic acid
(rRNA) genes sequence comparisons, the order Aquificales represents a very deep phylogenetic branch within the bacterial domain. Some Aquificales relatives have an upper temperature limit of growth at 95°C. Together with members of the order Thermotogales, they represent bacteria with the highest growth temperatures known so far. However, unlike Thermotogales, most of the members of the order Aquificales are aerobic or anaerobic lithoautotrophs, using energy of molecular hydrogen, or of reduced sulfur compounds to support their growth.