bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Preparation and characterization of new optically active poly(amide‐imide)s derived from N,N‐(4,4′‐Oxydiphthaloyl)‐bis‐(s)‐(+)‐valine diacid chloride and aromatic diamines
Authors: Mallakpour Shadpour , Kowsari Elaheh 
Published: February 2006

Abstract4,4′‐Oxydiphthalic anhydride (1) was reacted with (s)‐(+)‐valine (2) in acetic acid and the resulting imide‐acid 3 was obtained in high yield. This compound 3 was converted to diacid chloride 4 by reaction with excess amount of thionyl chloride. The polycondensation reaction of diacid chloride 4 with several aromatic diamines such as 4,4′‐sulfonyldianiline (5a), 4,4′‐diaminodiphenyl methane (5b), 4,4′‐diaminodiphenylether (5c), p‐phenylenediamine (5d), m‐phenylenediamine (5e), and 4,4′‐diaminobiphenyl (5f) was performed by two conventional methods: low temperature solution polycondensation and a short period reflux conditions. To compare conventional solution polycondensation reaction methods with microwave‐assisted polycondensation, the reactions were also carried out under microwave conditions in the presence of small amount of o‐cresol that acts as a primary microwave absorber. The reaction mixture was irradiated for 4 min with 100% of radiation power. Several new optically active poly(amide‐imide)s with inherent viscosity ranging from 0.26–0.44 dL/g were obtained with high yield. All of the above polymers were fully characterized by 1H‐NMR, FTIR, elemental analyses, and specific rotation techniques. Some structural characterizations and physical properties of these new optically active poly (amide‐imide)s are reported. POLYM. ENG. SCI. 46:558–565, 2006. © 2006 Society of Plastics Engineers
Protocol‐based titration of intravenous terbutaline decreases length of stay in pediatric status asthmaticus
Authors: Carroll Christopher L. , Schramm Craig M. 
Published: February 2006

AbstractAlthough frequently used to treat status asthmaticus in children, intravenous (IV) terbutaline has not been shown to decrease hospital length of stay (LOS). We theorized that this lack of demonstrable benefit resulted from variations in dosing and titration, rather than the drug per se, and that intensive care unit (ICU) LOS would be shortened by the administration of terbutaline according to a protocol incorporating a quantitative assessment of severity of illness. We prospectively treated 20 consecutive children with status asthmaticus with IV terbutaline according to a protocol that titrated the dose based on a clinical asthma score, the Modified Pulmonary Index Score (MPIS). Data were compared to a historic cohort of the previous 20 consecutive ICU patients with status asthmaticus who were treated with IV terbutaline prior to initiation of the protocol. Patients who received terbutaline by standardized protocol had significantly shorter ICU LOS (3.5 ± 1.1 vs. 5.0 ± 2.0 days, P = 0.01), shorter hospital LOS (5.5 ± 1.3 vs. 8.3 ± 2.7 days, P < 0.01), and reduced hospital charges ($19,298 ± $10,516 vs. $26,528 ± $12,328, P = 0.04). The method of administration of IV terbutaline significantly influenced ICU length of stay and hospital charges. Pediatr Pulmonol. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
GREB1 is a novel androgen‐regulated gene required for prostate cancer growth
Authors: Rae James M. , Johnson Michael D. , Cordero Kevin E. , Scheys Joshua O. , Larios José M. , Gottardis Marco M. , Pienta Kenneth J. , Lippman Marc E. 
Published: February 2006

AbstractBACKGROUNDGene regulated in breast cancer 1 (GREB1) is a novel estrogen‐regulated gene shown to play a pivotal role in hormone‐stimulated breast cancer growth. GREB1 is expressed in the prostate and its putative promoter contains potential androgen receptor (AR) response elements.METHODSWe investigated the effects of androgens on GREB1 expression and its role in androgen‐dependent prostate cancer growth.RESULTSReal‐time PCR demonstrated high level GREB1 expression in benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH), localized prostate cancer (L‐PCa), and hormone refractory prostate cancer (HR‐PCa). Androgen treatment of AR‐positive prostate cancer cells induced dose‐dependent GREB1 expression, which was blocked by anti‐androgens. AR binding to the GREB1 promoter was confirmed by chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assays. Suppression of GREB1 by RNA interference blocked androgen‐stimulated LNCaP cell proliferation.CONCLUSIONSGREB1 is expressed in proliferating prostatic tissue and prostate cancer, is regulated by androgens, and suppression of GREB1 blocks androgen‐induced growth suggesting GREB1 may be critically involved in prostate cancer proliferation. Prostate © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Novel, structure‐based mechanism for uridylylation of the genome‐linked peptide (VPg) of picornaviruses
Authors: Schein Catherine H. , Volk David E. , Oezguen Numan , Paul Aniko 
Published: February 2006

AbstractThe VPg peptide, which is found in poliovirus infected cells either covalently bound to the 5′‐end of both plus and minus strand viral RNA, or in a uridylylated free form, is essential for picornavirus replication. Combining experimental structure and mutation results with molecular modeling suggests a new mechanism for VPg uridylylation, which assigns an additional function, that of scaffold, to the polymerase. The polarity of the NMR structure of VPg is complementary to the binding site on the surface of poliovirus polymerase determined previously by mutagenesis. Docking VPg at this position places the reactive tyrosinate close to the 5′‐end of Poly(A)7 RNA when this is bound with its 3′‐end in the active site of the polymerase. The triphosphate tail of a UTP moiety, base paired with the 5′‐end of the RNA, projects back over the Tyr3‐OH and is held in position by conserved positively charged side‐chains of VPg. Other conserved residues mediate binding to the polymerase surface and serve as ligands for metal ion catalyzed transphosphorylation. Additional viral proteins or a second polymerase molecule may aid in stabilizing the components of the reaction. In the model complex, VPg can direct its own uridylylation before entering the polymerase active site. Proteins 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Is a particular quenched‐in short‐range order necessary for quasicrystal formation from glassy precursors?
Authors: Scudino S. , Stoica M. , Mattern N. , Breitzke H. , Lüders K. , Yavari A. R. , Eckert J. 
Published: February 2006

AbstractIn this letter we analyze the effect of quenched‐in short‐range order on the formation of quasicrystals during the crystallization of two different Zr‐based glassy alloys formed through liquid‐to‐solid (i.e. melt spinning) as well as through solid‐to‐solid transformations (i.e. ball milling). The first alloy undergoes quasicrystalline phase formation during the first stage of the crystallization process when prepared by melt spinning, whereas the material with the same composition prepared by mechanical alloying shows no quasicrystal formation. In contrast, the second alloy is characterized by the formation of quasicrystals in both the melt‐spun and ball‐milled materials. Both alloys are characterized by a strikingly similar local atomic arrangement in the amorphous state. This suggests that the occurrence of a particular quenched‐in short‐range order in the glass is not a mandatory prerequisite for the formation of quasicrystals upon devitrification. (© 2006 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Amino‐catalyzed fragmentation characteristics of polyamides containing N‐methylpyrrole and N‐methylimidazole by electrospray negative ionization mass spectrometry
Authors: Niu Mingyu , Cao Shuxia , Ye Yong , Zhang Zhen , Zhao Yufen 
Published: February 2006

AbstractDifferent negative fragmentations of synthesized polyamides containing N‐methylpyrrole and N‐methylimidazole were analyzed by electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry with low‐energy collision‐induced dissociation. An interesting rearrangement derived from amino catalysis of N‐methylimidazole was observed. The observation is useful for the study of the correlations between the sequences of polyamides and their mass fragmentation pathways. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Improvement of field emission properties from screen‐printed CNTs cathodes by heat treatment in a C2H2/H2 gas mixture
Authors: Guo P. S. , Sun Z. , Ni S. , Chen Y. W. , Cao Z. Y. 
Published: February 2006

AbstractWe developed a posttreatment method for the screen‐printed carbon nanotubes (CNTs) cathode to improve its field emission characteristics. The treatment was carried out at 500 °C and 20 kPa for 20 min in the atmosphere of C2H2/H2 (volume ratio 1:2). After the treatment, the field emission characteristics were greatly improved. The turn‐on field lowered from 5.0 to 1.6 V/µm, and the emission current density increased from 2 × 10−4 to 1.0 mA/cm2 at the electric field of 2.6 V/µm. In the mean time, the emission site density and uniformity were significantly increased. Scanning electron microscope images revealed that a new top layer of CNTs film has re‐grown on the surface of the printed CNTs cathode during the treatment. This new re‐grown CNTs layer contributes to the drastic enhancement of field emission from the printed cathode. This heat‐treatment technique is very promising for practical application of CNTs in field emission display. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Models for assisted conception data with embryo‐specific covariates
Authors: Roberts Stephen A. 
Published: February 2006

AbstractAssisted conception routinely involves multiple embryo implantation within each recipient mother, with the outcome of interest being the number and multiplicity of live births. Here we consider the situation in which covariate information, potentially predictive of outcome, is available at the embryo level for each individual implanted embryo. This presents two challenges: firstly the outcome is measured at a higher, recipient, level than the covariates of interest; and secondly it is generally not known which of the implanted embryos developed to give a successful pregnancy. In practice such data have usually been analysed by aggregation of the embryo‐level covariates to the recipient‐level. Here we consider and compare two alternative approaches which respect the structure of the data alongside the aggregated approach. The first is a deterministic model with separate embryo and recipient success probabilities, each determined by a set of covariates, as first proposed by Spiers and extended by Zhou and Weinberg. The second is based on a multilevel model with the correlations between embryos in the same recipient modelled by a recipient level random effect. These models are compared using two real data sets, and the model properties further explored in a simulation study. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Yeast systems biology to unravel the network of life
Authors: Mustacchi Roberta , Hohmann Stefan , Nielsen Jens 
Published: February 2006

AbstractSystems biology focuses on obtaining a quantitative description of complete biological systems, even complete cellular function. In this way, it will be possible to perform computer‐guided design of novel drugs, advanced therapies for treatment of complex diseases, and to perform in silico design of advanced cell factories for production of fuels, chemicals, food ingredients and pharmaceuticals. The yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae represents an excellent model system; the density of biological information available on this organism allows it to serve as a eukaryotic model for studying human diseases. Furthermore, it serves as an industrial workhorse for production of a wide range of chemicals and pharmaceuticals. Systems biology involves the combination of novel experimental techniques from different disciplines as well as functional genomics, bioinformatics and mathematical modelling, and hence no single laboratory has access to all the necessary competences. For this reason the Yeast Systems Biology Network (YSBN) has been established. YSBN will coordinate research efforts in yeast systems biology and, through the recently obtained EU funding for a Coordination Action, it will be possible to set appropriate guidelines, establish an appropriate infrastructure for the network and organize courses, meetings and conferences that will consolidate the network and promote systems biology. This paper discusses the impacts of systems biology and how YSBN may play a role in the future development of the field. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Inverse imbalance reconstruction in rotordynamics
Authors: Ramlau R. , Dicken V. , Maaß P. , Streller C. , Rienäcker A. 
Published: February 2006

AbstractA method for identifying the distributed rotor imbalance from aircraft engine vibrations measured on the casing of the engine is presented. The problem is heavily ill‐posed. Nonlinear regularization techniques for linear inverse problems and nonlinear functionals are suggested for stable reconstruction algorithms.
Population genetic structure ofSorex unguiculatusandSorex caecutiens(Soricidae, Mammalia) in Hokkaido, based on microsatellite DNA polymorphism
Authors: Naitoh Yukako , Ohdachi Satoshi D. 
Published: February 2006

AbstractWe investigated the genetic structure ofSorex unguiculatusandSorex caecutienspopulations in Hokkaido, Japan, using hypervariable microsatellite DNA markers. We used five microsatellite loci to type 475S. unguiculatusindividuals from 20 localities on the Hokkaido mainland and four localities from each of four offshore islands (and 11 shrews from one locality in southern Sakhalin for a particular analysis). We used six microsatellite loci to type 240S. caecutiensindividuals from 13 localities on the Hokkaido mainland. Genetic variation was high in mainland populations of both species and low in the island populations ofS. unguiculatus. Allelic richness and island size were positively correlated forS. unguiculatus, suggesting that genetic drift occurred on those islands due to small population size. In addition, four insular populations ofS. unguiculatuswere genetically differentiated from the mainland populations, although clear phylogeographic clustering was not confirmed among populations on the Hokkaido mainland for eitherS. unguiculatusorS. caecutiens. Heterozygosity excess was observed in more than half of the populations including the mainland populations of the two species, suggesting recent bottleneck events in these populations. Population dynamics of the shrews might be explained by a metapopulation scheme. According to autocorrelation analysis, the extent of non‐random spatial genetic structure was approximately 100 km. Isolation by distance was observed inS. unguiculatus, but not inS. caecutiensalthough there is a positive trend. The lack of correlation forS. caecutiensmight have been due to small sample size. Thus, no obvious differences in population genetic structure were found between the two species on the Hokkaido mainland in the present study, while previous investigations using mitochondrial DNA sequences inferred that these two species might have rather different biogeographic histories.
Comparison of clinical and neuropathologic diagnoses of Alzheimer's disease in 3 epidemiologic samples
Authors: Plassman Brenda L. , Khachaturian Ara S. , Townsend Jeannette J. , Ball Melvyn J. , Steffens David C. , Leslie Carol E. , Tschanz JoAnn T. , Norton Maria C. , Burke James R. , Welsh‐Bohmer Kathleen A. , Hulette Christine M. , Nixon Randal R. , Tyrey Mary , Breitner John C.S. 
Published: February 2006

AbstractBackgroundStudies of dementia in populations avoid many of the selection biases in clinical samples but require special evaluation and diagnostic methods to obtain high participation rates. To address this issue, we developed a unique in‐home dementia assessment. We assessed validity of these assessments using neuropathologic confirmation of the clinical diagnosis in 3 epidemiologic samples.MethodsSubjects were 175 participants in 3 ongoing studies of dementia. Two were population based and identified dementia by cognitive screening. The third study sought volunteers via advertisements. Dementia evaluations were then conducted at the participants’ residences by specially trained nurses and psychometricians. Evaluation results were interpreted, and preliminary diagnoses were assigned by a geropsychiatrist or neurologist and a psychologist. Final diagnoses were assigned by a consensus panel of neurologists, geropsychiatrists, and psychologists. We compared the clinical diagnoses with the gold‐standard neuropathologic diagnoses for those participants who subsequently underwent autopsy.ResultsAmong the demented, the sensitivity of a clinical diagnosis of probable or possible Alzheimer's disease (AD) was 93% across the 3 studies. The rate of overall diagnostic agreement was 81%. Measures of agreement did not differ meaningfully across varying levels of dementia severity.ConclusionsRates of neuropathologic confirmation for clinical AD diagnoses in these studies were similar to those reported from clinic‐based samples. These results support the validity of clinical diagnoses of AD from a structured in‐home assessment of community dwelling and institutionalized individuals using relatively economical methods of dementia screening and assessment.
The NIH Cognitive and Emotional Health Project
Authors: Hendrie Hugh C. , Albert Marilyn S. , Butters Meryl A. , Gao Sujuan , Knopman David S. , Launer Lenore J. , Yaffe Kristine , Cuthbert Bruce N. , Edwards Emmeline , Wagster Molly V. 
Published: February 2006

AbstractBackgroundThe Cognitive and Emotional Health Project (CEHP) seeks to identify the demographic, social, and biological determinants of cognitive and emotional health in the older adult. As part of the CEHP, a critical evaluation study committee was formed to assess the state of epidemiological research on demographic, social, and biological determinants of cognitive and emotional health.MethodsCriteria for inclusion in the survey were large cohort studies, longitudinal in design, participants predominantly 65 years or older, with measurements of both cognition and emotion, and information on a wide variety of demographic, psychosocial, and biological factors. North American and European studies, which met these criteria, were selected for the review. Outcome measures included cognition, cognitive decline, and cognitive function. For emotion, symptoms included depression and anxiety, positive and negative affect, subjective well being, mastery, and resilience.ResultsNinety‐six papers were identified that addressed cognitive and emotional outcomes. A large variety of risk factors were consistently identified with cognitive outcomes, particularly those previously associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease. There was considerable overlap between risk factors for cognitive and emotional outcomes.ConclusionThis review identifies a large number of lifestyle and health behaviors that alter the risk for maintenance of cognitive and emotional health. Large longitudinal cohort studies are a unique source to explore factors associated with cognitive and emotional health. Secondary analyses of these studies should be encouraged as should the development of standardized questionnaires to measure cognitive and emotional health. Future research in this field should study cognitive and emotional health simultaneously.
Improvement of Intraoperative Antibiotic Prophylaxis in Prolonged Cardiac Surgery by Automated Alerts in the Operating Room
Authors: Zanetti Giorgio , Flanagan Hugh L. , Cohn Lawrence H. , Giardina Richard , Platt Richard 
Published: February 2006

AbstractObjective:To assess the impact of an automated intraoperative alert to redose prophylactic antibiotics in prolonged cardiac operations.Design:Randomized, controlled, evaluator-blinded trial.Setting:University-affiliated hospital.Patients:Patients undergoing cardiac surgery that lasted more than 4 hours after the preoperative administration of cefazolin, unless they were receiving therapeutic antibiotics at the time of surgery.Intervention:Randomization to an audible and visual reminder on the operating room computer console at 225 minutes after the administration of preoperative antibiotics (reminder group, n = 137) or control (n = 136). After another 30 minutes, the circulating nurse was required to indicate whether a follow-up dose of antibiotics had been administered.Results:Intraoperative redosing was significantly more frequent in the reminder group (93 of 137; 68%) than in the control group (55 of 136; 40%) (adjusted odds ratio, 3.31; 95% confidence interval, 1.97 to 5.56; P < .0001). The impact of the reminder was even greater when compared with the 6 months preceding the study period (129 of 480; 27%; P < .001), suggesting some spillover effect on the control group. Redosing was formally declined for 19 of the 44 patients in the reminder group without redosing. The rate of surgical-site infection in the reminder group (5 of 137; 4%) was similar to that in the control group (8 of 136; 6%; P = .42), but significantly lower than that in the pre-study period (48 of 480; 10%; P = .02).Conclusion:The use of an automatic reminder system in the operating room improved compliance with guidelines on perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis.
An Intranet-Based Automated System for the Surveillance of Nosocomial Infections: Prospective Validation Compared with Physicians' Self-Reports
Authors: Bouam Samir , Girou Emmanuelle , Brun-Buisson Christian , Karadimas Harry , Lepage Eric 
Published: February 2006

AbstractObjective:To examine the reliability of the data produced by an automated system for the surveillance of nosocomial infections.Setting:A 906-bed, tertiary-care teaching hospital.Design:Three surveillance techniques were concurrently performed in seven high-risk units during an 11-week period: automated surveillance (AS) based on the prospective processing of computerized medical records; laboratory-based ward surveillance (LBWS) based on the retrospective verification by ward clinicians of weekly reports of positive bacteriologic results; and a reference standard (RS) consisting of the infection control team reviewing case records of patients with positive bacteriology results. Bacteremia, urinary tract infections, and catheter-related infections were recorded for all inpatients. The performances (sensitivity, specificity, and time consumption) of AS and LBWS were compared with those of RS.Results:Of 548 positive bacteriology samples included during the study period, 229 (42%) were classified as nosocomial infections. The overall sensitivity was 91% and 59% for AS and LBWS, respectively. The two methods had the same overall specificity value (91%). Kappa measures of agreement were 0.81 and 0.54 for AS and LBWS, respectively. AS required less time to collect data (54 seconds per week per unit) compared with LBWS (7 minutes and 43 seconds per week per unit) and RS (37 minutes and 15 seconds per week per unit).Conclusion:Our results confirm that the retrospective review of charts and laboratory data by physicians lacks sensitivity for the surveillance of nosocomial infections. The intranet-based automated method developed for this purpose was more accurate and less time-consuming than the weekly, retrospective LBWS method.