bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Emerging Therapies in the Treatment of Clostridium difficile–Associated Disease
Authors: Jodlowski Tomasz Z , Oehler Richard , Kam Linda W , Melnychuk Igor 
Published: November 2006

Objective: To describe emergent therapies, such as rifaximin, nitazoxanide, intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG), tinidazole, tolevamer, and the possible use of a vaccine, in Clostridium difficile–associated disease (CDAD), one of the most common causes of diarrhea in hospitalized adults in North America. Data Sources: A literature search was performed using MEDLINE (1996-October 2006), PubMed (1996–October 2006), abstracts from Infectious Diseases Society of America (September 2006) and International Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy (September 2006), Internet (October 2006), Genzyme product Web site (October 2006), and Romark Laboratories Web site (October 2006) using the terms Clostridium difficile, rifaximin, nitazoxanide, intravenous immunoglobulin, tolevamer, vaccine, and tinidazole. Study Selection and Data Extraction: Data presented in this article were selected based on clinical relevance and power of the studies. In vivo and in vitro studies supporting the use of drugs available for treatment of refractory CDAD were reviewed. Some of the information on new and emerging modalities was also included, although there were limited published data available. Data Synthesis: Clinical trials evaluating the use of nitazoxanide and tolevamer for the treatment of CDAD have been published. Tinidazole use is based on structural similarities to metronidazole; however, clinical trials have not been conducted and the cost of this agent may be a limiting factor. The use of rifaximin and IVIG will require randomized clinical trials to establish their place in therapy. Limited information in the literature suggests that a vaccine may be effective for CDAD prevention. Conclusions: CDAD is a debilitating disease with increasing treatment failure rates and recurrences using standard therapies. Clinicians need to look at other options to expand the available treatment arsenal in addition to placing a greater emphasis on prevention.
Treatment Effects of Antidepressants in Patients with Post-Stroke Depression: A Meta-Analysis
Authors: Chen Yan , Guo Jeff J , Zhan Siyan , Patel Nick C 
Published: November 2006

Background: Appropriate treatment of post-stroke depression (PSD) is critically important, considering the negative impact of PSD. Data regarding the treatment efficacy of antidepressants in patients with PSD are conflicting, and the time-dependent effects of antidepressant treatment in this population are unknown. Objective: To systematically assess treatment effects of antidepressants in patients with PSD, incorporating data from recent studies. Methods: A meta-analysis of randomized placebo-controlled trials (RCTs) of antidepressants in patients with PSD was conducted, using published studies from 1984 to 2006. Outcome measures of antidepressant treatment included response rate, depression rating scale scores, recovery of neurologic impairments, and improvements in activities of daily living (ADLs) after stroke. The effect size was presented as rate difference (RD) and weighted mean difference for dichotomous outcomes and continuous outcomes, respectively. Pooled effect sizes were calculated by both fixed-effects and random-effects models. Results: A total of 1320 patients who met inclusion criteria were identified from 16 RCTs. The pooled response rates in the active and placebo groups were 65.18% (234/359) and 44.37% (138/311), respectively. The pooled RD was 0.23 (95% CI 0.03 to 0.43), indicating a significantly higher response rate in the active group compared with the placebo group. From baseline to endpoint, patients in the active group had significantly greater improvement in depressive symptoms compared with patients in the placebo group. Longer duration of treatment was positively correlated with the degree of improvement in depressive symptoms (Spearman's correlation, [ρ] = -0.93, p = 0.001). No consistent evidence was found for positive antidepressant effects on the recovery of neurologic impairments and improvements in ADLs. Conclusions: The results of this meta-analysis suggest that use of antidepressants among patients with a diagnosis of PSD is associated with improvement in depressive symptoms. Longer durations of antidepressant treatment may be associated with greater reductions in depressive symptoms.
Effect of Oral Corticosteroids on Chronic Warfarin Therapy
Authors: Hazlewood Kathleen A , Fugate Susan E , Harrison Donald L 
Published: November 2006

Background: A potential drug interaction exists between oral corticosteroids and warfarin, but there is limited documentation. Objective: To evaluate the potential drug interaction between oral corticosteroids and long-term warfarin therapy. Methods: A retrospective review was conducted of 387 medical records for active patients within an anticoagulation clinic. Inclusion criteria were stable anticoagulation therapy, short-term oral corticosteroid therapy, international normalized ratio (INR) recorded within 30 days prior to corticosteroid initiation (pre-INR), and INR recorded during corticosteroid therapy or within 14 days of discontinuation (post-INR). Patients were excluded if they had been started on any antibiotic or other drug with a probable interaction with warfarin at the same time as corticosteroid initiation. Thirty-two patient encounters met the predetermined inclusion and exclusion criteria. The primary outcome assessed was the difference between pre- and post-INR values. Secondary endpoints included bleeding events, emergency department (ED) visits, hospitalizations, and warfarin dose modifications. Results: The mean difference between pre- and post-INR values was 1.24 (95% CI 0.86 to 1.62). Ninety-seven percent of the 32 patient encounters resulted in a change in their post-INR value, and 62.5% of patients had supratherapeutic INR values at the post-corticosteroid assessment. The majority of patients assessed had an elevation of their INR following concomitant use of warfarin and corticosteroids. The INR change was observed at a mean ± SD of 6.7 ± 3.3 days following the first dose of corticosteroid. Overall, 16 patients (50%) required a modification of their anticoagulation therapy during or following corticosteroid therapy. Only one adverse event of minor epistaxis was reported, and no ED visits or hospitalizations occurred as a consequence of the drug combination. Conclusions: Use of oral corticosteroids in patients on long-term warfarin therapy may result in a clinically significant interaction, which requires close INR monitoring and possible warfarin dose reduction.
– CA0 and order types of countable ordered groups
Authors: Solomon Reed 
Published: November 2006

Reverse mathematics uses subsystems of second order arithmetic to determine which set existence axioms are required to prove particular theorems. Surprisingly, almost every theorem studied is either provable in RCA0 or equivalent over RCA0 to one of four other subsystems: WKL0, ACA0, ATR0 or – CA0. Of these subsystems, – CA0 has the fewest known equivalences. This article presents a new equivalence of – C0 which comes from ordered group theory.One of the fundamental problems about ordered groups is to classify all possible orders for various classes of orderable groups. In general, this problem is extremely difficult to solve. Mal'tsev [1949] solved a related problem by showing that the order type of a countable ordered group is ℤαℚε where ℤ is the order type of the integers, ℚ is the order type of the rationals, α is a countable ordinal, and ε is either 0 or 1. The goal of this article is to prove that this theorem is equivalent over RCA0 to – CA0.In Section 2, we give the basic definitions and notation for RCA0, ACA0 and CA0 as well as for ordered groups. For more information on reverse mathematics, see Friedman, Simpson, and Smith [1983] or Simpson [1999] and for ordered groups, see Kokorin and Kopytov [1974] or Fuchs [1963]. Our notation will follow these sources. In Section 3, we show that – CA0 suffices to prove Mal'tsev's Theorem and the reversal is done over RCA0 in Section 4.
On asymptotic normality of likelihood and conditional analysis
Authors: Brenner D. , Fraser D. A. S. , McDunnough Philip 
Published: November 2006

AbstractThe likelihood function from a large sample is commonly assumed to be approximately a normal density function. The literature supports, under mild conditions, an approximate normal shape about the maximum; but typically a stronger result is needed: that the normalized likelihood itself is approximately a normal density. In a transformation‐parameter context, we consider the likelihood normalized relative to right‐invariant measure, and in the location case under moderate conditions show that the standardized version converges almost surely to the standard normal. Also in a transformation‐parameter context, we show that almost sure convergence of the normalized and standardized likelihood to a standard normal implies that the standardized distribution for conditional inference converges almost surely to a corresponding standard normal. This latter result is of immediate use for a range of estimating, testing, and confidence procedures on a conditional‐inference basis.
Saint Antoine et les Monstres
Authors: Seznec Jean 
Published: November 2006

L'épisode final de la Tentation de Saint Antoine, dans la version définitive, est celui des monstres.L'ermite voudrait pénétrer le secret de la substance; il souhaite de voir les archétypes d'où dérive l'infinie variété des corps. Il se souvient vaguement de ces “formes d'esprits” naguère entrevues dans le ciel; et il songe que “ceux qui traversent le désert rencontrent des animaux dépassant toute conception.”
News from Hell
Authors: Boyce Benjamin 
Published: November 2006

A panoramic view of hell's in training,After the style of Virgil, and of Homer,So that my name of Epic's no misnomer.The extraordinary voyage and the journey to the moon, types ofvoyages imaginairespopular in French and English literature of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, are now recognized literary types, and their interesting connections with the development of science and of poetry have been studied. Another kind of imaginary voyage merits attention, one that goes back not only to Lucian, the grand parent of most of these fantasies, but still farther to that remote time when man, having evolved the idea of a world of life after death, first thought with an archaic grin of the discomfort his enemies might feel when they were sent by Death to his realm of shades and skeletons.
Emerging Epidemic: Diabetes in Older Adults: Demography, Economic Impact, and Pathophysiology
Authors: Gambert Steven R. , Pinkstaff Sally 
Published: November 2006

In Brief
Diabetes has a major impact on both affected individuals and society in general, with a total cost in excess of $132 billion annually not to mention the its associated increased morbidity and lost quality-of-life years. This article discusses some of the major studies that have attempted to quantitate the cost of diabetes and reviews the pathophysiology and disease sequellae commonly found in older people with diabetes.
Hydrolytic degradation of poly(ethylene terephthalate)
Authors: Hosseini Seyed Saeid , Taheri Somaye , Zadhoush Ali , Mehrabani‐Zeinabad Arjomand 
Published: November 2006

AbstractMolecular weight is an important factor in the processing of polymer materials, and it should be well controlled to obtain desired physical properties in final products for end‐use applications. Degradation processes of all kinds, including hydrolytic, thermal, and oxidative degradations, cause chain scission in macromolecules and a reduction in molecular weight. The main purpose of this research is to illustrate the importance of degradation in the drying of poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) before processing and the loss of weight and mechanical properties in textile materials during washing. Several techniques were used to investigate the hydrolytic degradation of PET and its effect on changes in molecular weight. Hydrolytic conditions were used to expose fiber‐grade PET chips in water at 85°C for different periods of time. Solution viscometry and end‐group analysis were used as the main methods for determining the extent of degradation. The experimental results show that PET is susceptible to hydrolysis. Also, we that as the time of retention in hydrolytic condition increased, the molecular weight decreases, but the rate of chain cleavage decreased to some extent, at which point there was no more sensible degradation. The obtained moisture content data confirmed the end‐group analysis and viscometry results. Predictive analytical relationships for the estimation of the extent of degradation based on solution viscosity and end‐group analysis are presented. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 103: 2304–2309, 2007
Finite element modeling of curing of epoxy matrix composites
Authors: Yan Xiangqiao 
Published: November 2006

AbstractA two‐dimensional finite element model is developed to simulate and analyze the mechanisms pertaining to resin flow, heat transfer, and consolidation of laminated composites during autoclave processing. The model, which incorporates some of the best features of models already in existence, is based on Darcy's law, the convection–diffusion heat equation, and appropriate constitutive relations. By using a weighted residual method, a two‐dimensional finite element formulation for the model is presented and a finite element code is developed. Numerical examples, including a comparison of the present numerical results with one‐dimensional and two‐dimensional analytical solutions, are given to indicate the accuracy the finite element formulation. Moreover, using the finite element code, the one‐dimensional cure process of a laminate made of 228 and 380 plies of AS4/3501‐6 unidirectional tape is simulated and numerical results are compared with available experimental results. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 103: 2310–2319, 2007
Ozone cracking and flex cracking of crosslinked polymer blend compounds
Authors: Tse M. F. 
Published: November 2006

AbstractOzone cracking and flex cracking of crosslinked elastomer blends of brominated isobutylene/para‐methylstyrene copolymer (BIMSM) and unsaturated elastomers, such as polybutadiene rubber (BR) and natural rubber (NR), are studied. This saturated BIMSM elastomer, which is a terpolymer of isobutylene, para‐bromomethylstyrene, and para‐methylstyrene, functions as the ozone‐inert phase of the blend. Ozone cracking is measured by the failure time of a tapered specimen under a fixed load in a high severity ozone oven, whereas flex cracking is ranked by the De Mattia cut growth. The ozone resistance of BIMSM/BR/NR blends is compared to that of a BR/NR blend (with or without antiozonant) at constant strain energy densities. The effects of the BIMSM content in the blend, the structural variations of BIMSM, and the network chain length between crosslinks on these two failure properties, which are important in crosslinked compounds for applications in tire sidewalls, are discussed. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 103: 2183–2196, 2007
Relationship between crystalline structure and mechanical behavior in isotropic and oriented polyamide 6
Authors: Dencheva Nadya , Denchev Zlatan , Oliveira M. Jovita , Funari Sérgio S. 
Published: November 2006

AbstractPolyamide 6 (PA6) isotropic films and oriented cables were prepared by compression molding or by consecutive extrusion and cold‐drawing. These samples were isothermally annealed in the 120–200°C range and were then subjected to tensile tests at room temperature. Synchrotron wide‐angle X‐ray scattering (WAXS) and small‐angle X‐ray scattering (SAXS) patterns were obtained before and after mechanical failure. These data were related with the mechanical properties of the respective PA6 samples. The annealing of isotropic PA6 resulted in an increase in the Young's modulus (E) and yield stress (σy) values, which was attributed to the observed proportional reduction of the d‐spacings of the intersheet distances in both the α‐PA6 and γ‐PA6 polymorphs. Analysis of the WAXS and SAXS patterns of isotropic PA6 after break allowed the supposition of structural changes in the amorphous phase, with these being better pronounced with increasing annealing temperature; this made the samples less ductile. In oriented PA6 samples, annealing resulted in a drastic increase in the E and σy values accompanied by a phase transition from γ‐PA6 to α‐PA6 and a well‐pronounced reduction in the intersheet distances of both polymorphs. The stretching of the oriented samples led to an additional γ‐to‐α transition, whose extent was also related to structural changes in the amorphous phase. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 103: 2242–2252, 2007
Effect of grafting methacrylate monomers onto jute constituents with a potassium persulfate initiator catalyzed by Fe(II)
Authors: Mondal Md. Ibrahim H. , Haque Md. Minhaz‐Ul 
Published: November 2006

AbstractThe graft copolymerization of methyl methacrylate and ethyl methacrylate monomers onto jute fiber was carried out in an aqueous medium with potassium persulfate as an initiator under the catalytic influence of ferrous sulfate in the presence of air. The effects of parameter variables, such as the monomer, initiator, and catalyst concentrations, the reaction time, and the temperature, on grafting and the effect of grafting the monomers onto jute constituents were studied. The degree of grafting depended on the kinds of monomers and the parameter variables. The maximum graft yield percentages with methyl methacrylate and ethyl methacrylate under optimized conditions were 18.9 and 38.8%, respectively, and the grafting onto jute fiber was largely affected by one of its main constituents, such as hemicellulose. The graft copolymers were characterized, and their improved properties were also examined. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 103: 2369–2375, 2007
Thermal properties and mechanical characteristics of cationic dyeable poly(trimethylene terephthalate)/metallocene isotactic polypropylene conjugated filaments
Authors: Shu Yao‐Chi , Hsiao Kai‐Jen 
Published: November 2006

AbstractCationic dyeable poly(trimethylene terephthalate) (CD‐PTT) and metallocene isotactic polypropylene (m‐iPP) polymers were extruded (in proportions of 75/25, 50/50, and 25/75) from two melt twin‐screw extruders to prepare three CD‐PTT/m‐iPP conjugated filaments of the island–sea type. This study investigated the thermal properties and mechanical characteristics of the CD‐PTT/m‐iPP conjugated filaments with gel permeation chromatography, differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis, potentiometry, rheometry, density gradients, wide‐angle X‐ray diffraction, extension stress–strain measurements, and scanning electron microscopy. The rheological behavior of the CD‐PTT/m‐iPP polyblended polymers exhibited negative‐deviation blends, and the 50/50 CD‐PTT/m‐iPP blend showed a minimum value of the melt viscosity. The experimental results from differential scanning calorimetry indicated that CD‐PTT and m‐iPP molecules formed an immiscible system. The tenacity of the CD‐PTT/m‐iPP conjugated filaments decreased initially and then increased as the m‐iPP content increased. Morphological observations revealed that the blends were in a dispersed phase structure. A pore/filament morphology of a larger size (0.5–3 μm in diameter) was observed after a 1,1,1,3,3,3‐hexafluoro‐2‐propanol (CD‐PTT was removed)/decalin (m‐iPP was removed) treatment in the cross section of a CD‐PTT/m‐iPP conjugated filament. The CD‐PTT and m‐iPP polymers were identified as an immiscible system. Blends with 10 wt % compatibilizer exhibited the maximum improvement in the tenacity. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 103: 2387–2394, 2007
Hydrolytic degradation of glycolide/L‐lactide/ε‐caprolactone terpolymers initiated by zirconium(IV) acetylacetonate
Authors: Hu Yanfei , He Yong , Wei Jia , Fan Zhongyong , Dobrzynski Piotr , Kasperczyk Janusz , Bero Maciej , Li Suming 
Published: November 2006

AbstractA series of terpolymers obtained from glycolide/L‐lactide/ε‐caprolactone were compression molded and allowed to degrade in a pH 7.4 phosphate buffer at 37°C. Analytical techniques such as 1H‐NMR, DSC, ESEM and SEC were used to monitor the degradation. Heterogeneous degradation was observed due to internal autocatalysis of carboxylic endgroups formed by ester bond cleavage. Nevertheless, the copolymers present various degradation behaviors depending on the initial composition. The PCL component appears the most resistant to degradation, and the PGA, the most degradable according to compositional changes. Terpolymers could crystallize during degradation even though they were amorphous initially. Degradation‐induced increase of crystallinity was also found during hydrolysis. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl PolymSci 103: 2451–2456, 2007
Plasma vitamin values and antiepileptic therapy: Case reports of pregnancy outcomes affected by a neural tube defect
Authors: Candito Mirande , Naimi Mourad , Boisson Catherine , Rudigoz Jean‐Charles , Gaucherand Pascal , Guéant Jean‐Louis , Luton Dominique , Obberghen Emmanuel Van 
Published: November 2006

AbstractBACKGROUND: Folic acid supplementation reduces the occurrence of neural tube defects (NTDs); however, it is not clear whether it protects against teratogenic effects of antiepileptic drugs. METHODS: We report the cases of four pregnant women receiving valproic acid therapy, who all had NTD‐affected offspring, despite periconceptional 5 mg/day of folic acid supplementation (cases), and investigated homocysteine metabolism, linked with folate metabolism. Their plasma homocysteine, folates, and vitamin B6 and B12 results were compared with values of two other women, who were also receiving valproic acid and folic acid complement, but who had normal pregnancies (valproic acid controls), and values of 40 pregnant women who had normal pregnancies and were not receiving any therapy (controls without therapy). Because of the possible existence of a genetic susceptibility, polymorphisms in homocysteine metabolism were sought. RESULTS: Two cases showed a decreased phosphopyridoxal level, compared with levels in the controls not receiving therapy. The genotype TT (C677T) is an NTD genetic susceptibility, but it was observed in only one valproic acid control. Various polymorphisms were observed in the cases, but were also common in the controls. Several studies have reported that valproic acid therapy lowers vitamin B6 levels. Our case with the greatest decrease in plasma phosphopyridoxal, who was taking periconceptional folic acid plus pyridoxine therapy, had a normal second pregnancy outcome. CONCLUSIONS: In addition to folates, other vitamins, such as vitamin B6, may have played a role in NTDs in our patients taking an antiepileptic drug. Birth Defects Research (Part A) 2007. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.