bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Increased reverse triiodothyronine is associated with shorter survival in independently-living elderly: the Alsanut study
Authors: Forestier E , Vinzio S , Sapin R , Schlienger J L , Goichot B 
Published: November 2008

ObjectiveIncreased reverse tritiodothyronine (T3) used to be described as a part of euthyroid sick syndrome (ESS). It was demonstrated to be associated with increased mortality in acutely ill patients. It can also be found with low or normal T3 in non-severely ill subjects but its significance remains unclear.Patients and designThe Alsanut study included a representative sample of 440 independently-living subjects aged 65 or over constituted between January 1988 and September 1989. Past and current medical history and nutritional data were collected at inclusion. Baseline thyroid hormone (TSH, FT4, FT3 and rT3) serum levels were measured. Life status was determined on 1 December 2005.ResultsOf the 374 elderly subjects included in the final analysis, 52 had abnormal TSH (43 with hyperthyroidism, nine with hypothyroidism) and 80.7% had died by 1 December 2005. There was no statistical difference in survival between subjects according to thyroid function (P=0.54). Of the 322 elderly subjects with normal TSH, mortality rate was 81.1%. ESS was found in 3.4%, whereas 8.1% of the participants displayed elevated rT3 with normal FT3. Time to death was strongly related to rT3 (P<0.0001) and FT3 (P<0.0001) in a univariate analysis. After adjusting for other confounding variables, rT3 was the only thyroid hormone associated with shorter survival (P=0.014).ConclusionsRT3 was the only thyroid hormone associated with shorter survival in a representative population of independently-living elderly. In these subjects, isolated elevated rT3 might be an equivalent of ESS, reflecting declining health.
Complex Epistasis for Dobzhansky–Muller Hybrid Incompatibility in Solanum
Authors: Moyle Leonie C , Nakazato Takuya 
Published: November 2008

Abstract
We examined the prevalence of interactions between pairs of short chromosomal regions from one species (Solanum habrochaites) co-introgressed into a heterospecific genetic background (Solanum lycopersicum). Of 105 double introgression line (DIL) families generated from a complete diallele combination of 15 chromosomal segments, 39 (∼38%) showed evidence for complex epistasis in the form of genotypic and/or allelic marker transmission distortion in DIL F2 populations.
A Comparison of Canadian Pediatric Resident Career Plans in 1998 and 2006
Authors: Shamseer Larissa , Roth Daniel E. , Tallett Susan , Hilliard Robert , Vohra Sunita 
Published: November 2008

OBJECTIVES. Studies of pediatric resident career plans and preferences help to forecast changes in the demographic profile and practice patterns of North American pediatricians, providing insights that can guide child health care and medical education policy making. With this study we aimed to compare 4 aspects of Canadian pediatric resident career plans in 1998 and 2006: (1) weekly work hours; (2) scope of practice; (3) professional activities; and (4) community size.METHODS. Canadian pediatric residents were invited to participate in a national cross-sectional survey to explore career plans and preferences in 1998 (mailing) and 2006 (on-line).RESULTS. Response rates were 69% in 1998 and 52% in 2006. In both survey years, the majority of respondents were female (69% and 73%, respectively). Overall, residents planned to work a similar number of weekly hours in both survey years (47.8 vs 48.8). Women planned to work significantly fewer hours than men; this gap was wider in 2006 than in 1998 (1998: 2.8 fewer hours; 2006: 7.8 fewer hours). After adjusted analysis, the association between proportion of time in primary care and study year became significant; however, time in consultant general or subspecialty pediatrics remained nonsignificantly changed. Residents planned to spend less time in clinical work in 2006 than 1998 (64.4% vs 58.1%), and more planned to work and reside in metropolitan areas (68% vs 78% of decided respondents).CONCLUSIONS. Between 1998 and 2006, there was no overall change in the number of hours that Canadian pediatric residents planned to work, but the gender gap widened because of an increase in planned weekly work hours among men. The results also suggest that new strategies may be needed to improve future pediatrician availability in small communities by addressing barriers to nonmetropolitan practice, especially for women.
Harnessing Pharmacogenomics to Tackle Resistance to the “Nucleoside Reverse Trancripatse Inhibitor” Backbone of Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy in Resource Limited Settings
Authors: Wayengera Misaki , Kajumbula Henry , Byarugaba Wilson 
Published: November 2008

BackgroundThe sustainable use of HAART within the sub-Saharan and other developing world settings faces the emerging challenge of drug resistance. Nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTI) form the backbone of HAART and preserving their “antiviral efficacy” is thus critical to sustainable HAART use.MethodsA systematic review of the “mechanisms of evolution” of resistance to NRTI at the HIV genome level, and the phenotypic manifestations on drug pharmacokinetics was done.ConclusionThis paper provides an evidence based account of how the knowledge of pharmacogenomics may be exploited to tackle NRTI resistance within limited resource.
Optimal design and planning of sustainable chemical supply chains under uncertainty
Authors: Guillén‐Gosálbez Gonzalo , Grossmann Ignacio E. 
Published: November 2008

AbstractThis article addresses the design of sustainable chemical supply chains in the presence of uncertainty in the life cycle inventory associated with the network operation. The design task is mathematically formulated as a bi‐criterion stochastic mixed‐integer nonlinear program (MINLP) that simultaneously accounts for the maximization of the net present value and the minimization of the environmental impact for a given probability level. The environmental performance is measured through the Eco‐indicator 99, which incorporates the recent advances made in Life Cycle Assessment. The stochastic model is converted into its deterministic equivalent by reformulating the probabilistic constraint required to calculate the environmental impact in the space of uncertain parameters. The resulting deterministic bi‐criterion MINLP problem is further reformulated as a parametric MINLP, which is solved by decomposing it into two sub‐problems and iterating between them. The capabilities of the proposed model and solution procedure are illustrated through two case studies for which the set of Pareto optimal, or efficient solutions that trade‐off environmental impact and profit, are calculated. These solutions provide valuable insights into the design problem and are intended to guide the decision maker towards the adoption of more sustainable design alternatives. © 2008 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2009
Cut‐off value of red‐blood‐cell‐bound IgG for the diagnosis of Coombs‐negative autoimmune hemolytic anemia
Authors: Kamesaki Toyomi , Oyamada Takashi , Omine Mitsuhiro , Ozawa Keiya , Kajii Eiji 
Published: November 2008

AbstractDirect antiglobulin test (DAT)‐negative autoimmune hemolytic anemia (Coombs‐negative AIHA) is characterized by laboratory evidence of in vivo hemolysis, together with a negative DAT performed by conventional tube technique (CTT) in clinically suspected AIHA patients. The immunoradiometric assay (IRMA) for red‐blood‐cell‐bound immunoglobulin G (RBC‐IgG) can be used to diagnose patients in whom CTT does not detect low levels of red cell autoantibodies. We investigated the diagnostic cutoff value of the IRMA for RBC‐IgG in Coombs‐negative AIHA and calculated its sensitivity and specificity. Of the 140 patients with negative DAT by CTT referred to our laboratory with undiagnosed hemolytic anemia, AIHA was clinically diagnosed in 64 patients (Coombs‐negative AIHA). The numbers of Coombs‐negative AIHA and non‐AIHA patients changed with age and gender. The cutoff values were determined from receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve according to age and gender. The IRMA for RBC‐IgG proved to be sensitive (71.4%) and specific (87.8%) when using these cutoffs. Using these cutoffs for 41 patients with negative DAT referred to our laboratory in 2006, all the pseudonegative cases were treated with steroids before the test. The 31 untreated cases could be grouped using one cutoff value of 78.5 and showed 100% sensitivity and 94% specificity, independent of gender and age. Results indicate that RBC‐IgG could become a standard approach for the diagnosis of Coombs‐negative AIHA, when measured before treatment. Am. J. Hematol., 2009. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Incorporation of multiwalled carbon nanotubes into poly(vinyl alcohol) membranes for use in the pervaporation of water/ethanol mixtures
Authors: Choi Jae‐Hyun , Jegal Jonggeon , Kim Woo‐Nyon , Choi Ho‐Sang 
Published: November 2008

AbstractMultiwalled carbon nanotube (MWNT)/poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVA) blend membranes were prepared by the solution‐casting method to determine the effect of MWNTs with nanoscale empty inner space along the tube length on the pervaporation performance of a PVA membrane in the separation of alcohol/water mixtures. The blend membranes were then characterized with several analytical methods such as transmission electron microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and X‐ray diffractometry: Transmission electron microscopy showed that the MWNTs were homogeneously distributed through the PVA matrix. The glass‐transition temperature of the PVA membrane was increased from 69.21 to 78.53°C via blending with MWNTs. The crystallinity of the PVA matrix decreased with increasing MWNTs up to 5 wt % from 41 to 36%. The pervaporation properties of the blend membranes were completely different from those of the pure PVA membrane in the separation of water/ethanol mixtures. The flux of the membrane was increased with the amount of MWNTs, whereas the separation factor was maintained up to 1.0 wt % MWNTs. However, beyond that, it was reduced. These results suggested that two factors, the crystallinity of the membrane and the diameters of the MWNTs, affected the performance of the membranes. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2009
Synthesis and properties of fluorinated polyimides from 1,1‐bis(4‐amino‐3,5‐dimethylphenyl)‐1‐(3,4,5‐trifluorophenyl)‐2,2,2‐trifluoroethane and various aromatic dianhydrides
Authors: Zhao Xiao‐Juan , Liu Jin‐Gang , Li Hong‐Shen , Fan Lin , Yang Shi‐Yong 
Published: November 2008

AbstractA novel aromatic diamine, 1,1‐bis(4‐amino‐3,5‐dimethylphenyl)‐1‐(3,4,5‐trifluorophenyl)‐2,2,2‐trifluoroethane, containing a pendant polyfluorinated phenyl group, a trifluoromethyl group, and methyl groups ortho‐substituted to the amino groups in the structure was synthesized and characterized. The diamine was polymerized with several aromatic dianhydrides, including 3,3′,4,4′‐biphenyltetracarboxylic dianhydride, 3,3′,4,4′‐benzophenonetetracarboxylic dianhydride, 4,4′‐oxydiphthalic anhydride, and 4,4′‐hexafluoroisopropylidene diphthalic anhydride, via a high‐temperature one‐step procedure to afford four polyimides (PIs) with inherent viscosities of 0.47–0.70 dL/g. The PIs exhibited excellent solubilities in a variety of organic solvents. They were soluble not only in polar aprotic solvents but in many common solvents, such as cyclopentanone, tetrahydrofuran, and even toluene at room temperature. The tough and flexible PI films cast from the PI solutions exhibited good thermal stabilities and acceptable tensile properties. The glass‐transition temperatures were in the range 312–365°C, and the 5% weight loss temperatures were all higher than 480°C in nitrogen. The films had tensile strengths in the range 76–99 MPa, tensile moduli of 2.2–2.8 GPa, and elongations at break of 5–8%. In addition, the PI films exhibited excellent transparency in the visible light region with cutoff wavelength as low as 302 nm and transmittance higher than 88% at the wavelength of 450 nm. The PI films showed low dielectric constants ranging from 2.50–2.68 and low moisture absorptions of less than 0.56%. The good combined properties of the PIs mainly resulted from the synergic effects of the different substituents. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2009
New binary thermoresponsive polymeric system for local chemoradiotherapy
Authors: Hruby Martin , Kucka Jan , Mackova Hana , Konak Cestmir , Vetrik Miroslav , Kozempel Jan , Lebeda Ondrej 
Published: November 2008

AbstractRadiolabeled thermoresponsive polymers (TRPs) with cloud‐point temperatures between room temperature and body temperature may have an advantage for local radiotherapeutical applications because TRPs may be isotopically labeled in solution at room temperature and injected as a solution, and at the site of application, the polymers form a depo because of phase separation at body temperature. A new polymeric drug‐delivery system designed for combined local chemoradiotherapy with an injectable TRP bearing a radionuclide and the hydrophobic moiety doxorubicin (DOX) was synthesized and characterized. In the system, DOX served as an antiproliferative agent with known synergic effects with ionizing radiation and the hydrophobic moiety controlling bioerosion and elimination of the system at the same time. DOX was bound to the polymer carrier by a hydrolytically labile N‐glycosylamine bond. Hydrolysis of the N‐glycosylamine bond thus controlled the DOX release and dissolution of the system in the model aqueous milieu. DOX was slowly released during incubation in aqueous milieu at 37°C, which caused complete dissolution of the bioerodable polymer within about 2 weeks. The model radionuclide iodine 125, bound to a small amount of poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide‐co‐N‐methacryloyl tyrosinamide), was retained in the separated phase and also slowly dissolved during the incubation. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2009
Effect of additives on the digestibility of corn stover solids following pretreatment by leading technologies
Authors: Kumar Rajeev , Wyman Charles E. 
Published: November 2008

AbstractBovine serum albumin (BSA), Tween‐20, and polyethylene glycol (PEG6000) were added to washed corn stover solids produced by ammonia fiber expansion (AFEX), ammonia recycled percolation (ARP), dilute sulfuric acid (DA), lime, controlled pH, and sulfur dioxide (SO2) pretreatments and to untreated corn stover (UT) and pure Avicel glucan prior to adding cellulase supplemented with β‐glucosidase at an activity ratio of 1:2/g and a moderate enzyme loading of 16.1 mg/g glucan in the raw corn stover. The additives were applied individually at 150, 300, and 600 mg/g glucan in the pretreated solids and in combinations of equal amounts of each that totaled 600 mg/g. The greatest increase in total sugar release was by Tween‐20 with SO2 pretreated solids followed by PEG6000 with ARP solids and Tween‐20 with lime solids. The effectiveness of the additives was observed to depend on the type of sugars left in the solids, suggesting that it may be more beneficial to use the mixture of these additives to realize a high total sugar yield. In addition, little enhancement in sugar release was possible beyond a loading of 150 mg additives/g glucan for most pretreatments, and combinations did not improve sugar release much over use of additives alone for all except SO2. Additives were also found to significantly increase concentrations of cellobiose and cellooligomers after 72 h of Avicel hydrolysis. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2009;102: 1544–1557. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Neuroprotective effects of testosterone on the morphology and function of somatic motoneurons following the death of neighboring motoneurons
Authors: Little Christine M. , Coons Kellie D. , Sengelaub Dale R. 
Published: November 2008

AbstractMotoneuron loss is a significant medical problem, capable of causing severe movement disorders or even death. We have previously shown that partial depletion of motoneurons from sexually dimorphic, highly androgen‐sensitive spinal motor populations induces dendritic atrophy in remaining motoneurons, and this atrophy is attenuated by treatment with testosterone. To test whether testosterone has similar effects in more typical motoneurons, we examined potential neuroprotective effects in motoneurons innervating muscles of the quadriceps. Motoneurons innervating the vastus medialis muscle were selectively killed by intramuscular injection of cholera toxin‐conjugated saporin. Simultaneously, some saporin‐injected rats were given implants containing testosterone or left untreated. Four weeks later, motoneurons innervating the ipsilateral vastus lateralis muscle were labeled with cholera toxin‐conjugated horseradish peroxidase, and dendritic arbors were reconstructed in three dimensions. Compared with intact normal males, partial motoneuron depletion resulted in decreased dendritic length in remaining quadriceps motoneurons, and this atrophy was attenuated by testosterone treatment. To examine the functional consequences of the induced dendritic atrophy, and its attenuation with testosterone treatment, the activation of remaining quadriceps motoneurons was assessed using peripheral nerve recording. Partial motoneuron depletion resulted in decreased amplitudes of motor nerve activity, and these changes were attenuated by treatment with testosterone, providing a functional correlate to the neuroprotective effects of testosterone treatment on quadriceps motoneuron morphology. Together these findings suggest that testosterone has neuroprotective effects on morphology and function in both highly androgen‐sensitive as well as more typical motoneuron populations, further supporting a role for testosterone as a neurotherapeutic agent in the injured nervous system. J. Comp. Neurol. 512:359–372, 2009. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Axonal projections originating from raphe serotonergic neurons in the developing and adult zebrafish,Danio rerio, using transgenics to visualize raphe‐specificpet1expression
Authors: Lillesaar Christina , Stigloher Christian , Tannhäuser Birgit , Wullimann Mario F. , Bally‐Cuif Laure 
Published: November 2008

AbstractSerotonin is a major central nervous modulator of physiology and behavior and plays fundamental roles during development and plasticity of the vertebrate central nervous system (CNS). Understanding the developmental control and functions of serotonergic neurons is therefore an important task. In all vertebrates, prominent serotonergic neurons are found in the superior and inferior raphe nuclei in the hindbrain innervating most CNS regions. In addition, all vertebrates except for mammals harbor other serotonergic centers, including several populations in the diencephalon. This, in combination with the intricate and wide distribution of serotonergic fibers, makes it difficult to sort out serotonergic innervation originating from the raphe from that of other serotonergic cell populations. To resolve this issue, we isolated the regulatory elements of the zebrafish raphe‐specific genepet1and used them to drive expression of aneGFPtransgene in the raphe population of serotonergic neurons. With this approach together with retrograde tracing we 1) describe in detail the development, anatomical organization, and projection pattern of zebrafishpet1‐positive neurons compared with their mammalian counterparts, 2) identify a new serotonergic population in the ventrolateral zebrafish hindbrain, and 3) reveal some extent of functional subdivisions within the zebrafish superior raphe complex. Together, our results reveal for the first time the specific innervation pattern of the zebrafish raphe and, thus, provide a new model and various tools to investigate further the role of raphe serotonergic neurons in vertebrates. J. Comp. Neurol. 512:158–182, 2009. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Expression of synaptic and phototransduction markers during photoreceptor development in the marmoset monkey Callithrix jacchus
Authors: Hendrickson Anita , Troilo David , Djajadi Hidayat , Possin Daniel , Springer Alan 
Published: November 2008

AbstractMarmoset photoreceptor development was studied to determine the expression sequence for synaptic, opsin, and phototransduction proteins. All markers appear first in cones within the incipient foveal center or in rods at the foveal edge. Recoverin appears in cones across 70% of the retina at fetal day (Fd) 88, indicating that it is expressed shortly after photoreceptors are generated. Synaptic markers synaptophysin, SV2, glutamate vesicular transporter 1, and CTBP2 label foveal cones at Fd 88 and cones at the retinal edge around birth. Cones and rods have distinctly different patterns of synaptic protein and opsin expression. Synaptic markers are expressed first in cones, with a considerable delay before they appear in rods at the same eccentricity. Cones express synaptic markers 2–3 weeks before they express opsin, but rods express opsin 2–4 weeks before rod synaptic marker labeling is detected. Medium/long‐wavelength‐selective (M&L) opsin appears in foveal cones and rod opsin in rods around the fovea at Fd 100. Very few cones expressing short‐wavelength‐selective (S) opsin are found in the Fd 105 fovea. Across peripheral retina, opsin appears first in rods, followed about 1 week later by M&L cone opsin. S cone opsin appears last, and all opsins reach the retinal edge by 1 week after birth. Cone transducin and rod arrestin are expressed concurrently with opsin, but cone arrestin appears slightly later. Marmoset photoreceptor development differs from that in Macaca and humans. It starts relatively late, at 56% gestation, compared with Macaca at 32% gestation. The marmoset opsin expression sequence is also different from that of either Macaca or human. J. Comp. Neurol. 512:218–231, 2009. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Evolution of the neural crest viewed from a gene regulatory perspective
Authors: Sauka‐Spengler Tatjana , Bronner‐Fraser Marianne 
Published: November 2008

AbstractNeural crest cells are a vertebrate innovation and form a wide variety of embryonic cell types as diverse as peripheral neurons and facial skeleton. They undergo complex migration and differentiation processes from their site of origin in the developing central nervous system to their final destinations in the periphery. In this review, we summarize recent data on the current formulation of a gene regulatory network underlying neural crest formation and its roots at the base of the vertebrate lineage. Analyzing neural crest formation from a gene regulatory viewpoint provides insights into both the developmental mechanisms and evolutionary origins of this vertebrate‐specific cell type. genesis 46:673–682, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.