bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Disability weights for comorbidity and their influence on Health-adjusted Life Expectancy
Authors: van Baal Pieter HM , Hoeymans Nancy , Hoogenveen Rudolf T , de Wit Ardine G , Westert Gert P 
Published: April 2006

Abstract

Background
Comorbidity complicates estimations of health-adjusted life expectancy (HALE) using disease prevalences and disability weights from Burden of Disease studies. Usually, the exact amount of comorbidity is unknown and no disability weights are defined for comorbidity.

Methods
Using data of the Dutch national burden of disease study, the effects of different methods to adjust for comorbidity on HALE calculations are estimated. The default multiplicative adjustment method to define disability weights for comorbidity is compared to HALE estimates without adjustment for comorbidity and to HALE estimates in which the amount of disability in patients with multiple diseases is solely determined by the disease that leads to most disability (the maximum adjustment method). To estimate the amount of comorbidity, independence between diseases is assumed.

Results
Compared to the multiplicative adjustment method, the maximum adjustment method lowers HALE estimates by 1.2 years for males and 1.9 years for females. Compared to no adjustment, a multiplicative adjustment lowers HALE estimates by 1.0 years for males and 1.4 years for females.

Conclusion
The differences in HALE caused by the different adjustment methods demonstrate that adjusting for comorbidity in HALE calculations is an important topic that needs more attention. More empirical research is needed to develop a more general theory as to how comorbidity influences disability.
Interleukin-1β and anaphylatoxins exert a synergistic effect on NGF expression by astrocytes
Authors: Jauneau Anne-christine , Ischenko Alexander , Chatagner Alexandra , Benard Magalie , Chan Philippe , Schouft Marie-therese , Patte Christine , Vaudry Hubert , Fontaine Marc 
Published: April 2006

AbstractC3a and C5a anaphylatoxins are proinflammatory polypeptides released during complement activation. They exert their biological activities through interaction with two G protein-coupled receptors named C3aR and C5aR, respectively. In the brain, these receptors are expressed on glial cells, and some recent data have suggested that anaphylatoxins could mediate neuroprotection. In this study, we used RT-PCR and ribonuclease protection assays (RPA) to investigate the role of anaphylatoxins on neurotrophin expression by the human glioblastoma cell line T98G and by rat astrocytes. Our data show that for both cell types, anaphylatoxins upregulate expression of NGF mRNA. This response depended on a G protein-coupled pathway since pre-treatment of cells with pertussis toxin (PTX) completely blocked NGF mRNA increases. This effect was anaphylatoxin-specific since pre-incubation with anti-C3a or anti-C5aR antibodies abolished the effects of C3a and C5a, respectively. The regulation of NGF mRNA by anaphylatoxins was not accompanied by translation into protein expression, but there was a significant synergic effect of anaphylatoxins/IL-1b costimulation. Our demonstration of involvement of anaphylatoxins in the NGF release process by astrocytes suggests that C3a and C5a could modulate neuronal survival in the CNS.
Fast drying of Fine Needle Aspiration slides using a hand held fan : Impact on turn around time and staining quality
Authors: Baig Mirza A , Fathallah Lamia , Feng Jining , Husain Mujtaba , Grignon David G , Al-Abbadi Mousa A 
Published: April 2006

To analyze the impact of using a hand held fan to speed the air-drying process during immediate adequacy evaluation of Fine Needle Aspirations. The effect on turn around time and staining quality is evaluated.
Two mirror image air-dried smears for each pass were prepared. One was subjected to a small hand-held fan with a fan diameter of 7 cm held an average distance of 3 to 5 cm from the slide. The other smear was left to dry without a fan. A total of 93 consecutive pairs were evaluated over a 2-month duration.
The average time needed for air-drying using the fan was 73 seconds (range 10-300 seconds, standard error 6.986), while it was 200 seconds (range 15-645 seconds, standard error 17.799) for those without fan. This difference was statistically significant (p < 0.001). Smears were then evaluated for single cells, cell clusters and background material and no appreciable difference in stain quality was noted between the 2 groups.
The use of a small hand-held fan for air-drying shortened the drying time for FNA adequacy by an average of 127 seconds (63% time reduction) for each pass. The quality of staining was comparable. Using a fan is highly recommended.
Comparison of knee motion on Earth and in space: an observational study
Authors: Pierre Mark C , Genc Kerim O , Litow Micah , Humphreys Brad , Rice Andrea J , Maender Christian C , Cavanagh Peter R 
Published: April 2006

Abstract

Background
Spaceflight has been shown to cause atrophy, reduced functional capacity, and increased fatigue in lower-limb skeletal muscles. The mechanisms of these losses are not fully understood but are thought to result, in part, from alteration in muscle usage.

Methods
Knee-joint angles and lower-extremity muscle activity were measured continually, via elecrogoniometry and surface electromyography respectively, from two subjects during entire working days of activity on Earth and onboard the International Space Station (ISS).

Results
On Earth the distribution of angular positions of the knee was typically bimodal, with peaks of >75 degrees of flexion and in almost full extension (<15 degrees of flexion). However, on the ISS, a single peak in the mid-range of the available range of motion was seen. The knee joint was also moved through fewer excursions and the excursions were smaller in amplitude, resulting in a reduced span of angles traversed. The velocities of the excursions in space were lower than those used on Earth.

Conclusion
These results demonstrate that, in space, overall knee-joint motion is reduced, and there is a transformation in the type of muscle action compared to that seen on Earth, with more isometric action at the expense of concentric and particularly eccentric action.
Predicting the subcellular localization of viral proteins within a mammalian host cell
Authors: Scott MS , Oomen R , Thomas DY , Hallett MT 
Published: April 2006

Abstract

Background
The bioinformatic prediction of protein subcellular localization has been extensively studied for prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms. However, this is not the case for viruses whose proteins are often involved in extensive interactions at various subcellular localizations with host proteins.

Results
Here, we investigate the extent of utilization of human cellular localization mechanisms by viral proteins and we demonstrate that appropriate eukaryotic subcellular localization predictors can be used to predict viral protein localization within the host cell.

Conclusion
Such predictions provide a method to rapidly annotate viral proteomes with subcellular localization information. They are likely to have widespread applications both in the study of the functions of viral proteins in the host cell and in the design of antiviral drugs.
Leptin and adiponectin in relation to body fat percentage, waist to hip ratio and the apoB/apoA1 ratio in Asian Indian and Caucasian men and women
Authors: Smith Jessica , Al-Amri Maha , Sniderman Allan , Cianflone Katherine 
Published: April 2006

Abstract

Background
Asian Indian immigrants have an increased risk for developing cardiovascular disease (CVD); however, there is very little data examining how the adipokines leptin and adiponectin relate to CVD risk factors such as body fat percentage (BF%), waist to hip ratio (WHR) and the apoB/apoA1 ratio in Asian Indian men and women living in Canada.

Subjects and methods
A cross-sectional study comparing leptin, adiponectin, lipoproteins and anthropometric parameters in Asian Indian men and women to Caucasian men and women (4 groups). Anthropometric data (BMI, BF%, WHR), circulating lipids (apoA1, apoB, total cholesterol, and HDL-cholesterol), leptin and adiponectin were measured.

Results
Asian Indian men and women had higher leptin and lower adiponectin concentrations then Caucasian men and women, respectively. Leptin (positively) and adiponectin (negatively) correlated with anthropometric parameters and lipoproteins in all four groups. Using stepwise forward multiple regression, a model including TC/HDL-C ratio, WHR, BF%, hip circumference and waist circumference predicted 74.2% of leptin concentration in men. In women, apoB, BF%, waist circumference and age predicted 77.5% of leptin concentration. Adiponectin concentrations in men were predicted (30.2%) by HDL-C, total cholesterol, hip circumference and BF% while in women 41.2% of adiponectin concentration was predicted by the apoB/apoA1 ratio, WHR and age.

Conclusion
As is evident from our data, there is a strong relationship between leptin, adiponectin, and abdominal obesity with increased CVD risk, as assessed by the apoB/apoA1 ratio. Dysregulation of these parameters may account for the increased risk of CVD in Asian Indians.
Increased multiaxial lumbar motion responses during multiple-impulse mechanical force manually assisted spinal manipulation
Authors: Keller Tony S , Colloca Christopher J , Moore Robert J , Gunzburg Robert , Harrison Deed E 
Published: April 2006

Abstract

Background

Spinal manipulation has been found to create demonstrable segmental and intersegmental spinal motions thought to be biomechanically related to its mechanisms. In the case of impulsive-type instrument device comparisons, significant differences in the force-time characteristics and concomitant motion responses of spinal manipulative instruments have been reported, but studies investigating the response to multiple thrusts (multiple impulse trains) have not been conducted. The purpose of this study was to determine multi-axial segmental and intersegmental motion responses of ovine lumbar vertebrae to single impulse and multiple impulse spinal manipulative thrusts (SMTs).

Methods

Fifteen adolescent Merino sheep were examined. Tri-axial accelerometers were attached to intraosseous pins rigidly fixed to the L1 and L2 lumbar spinous processes under fluoroscopic guidance while the animals were anesthetized. A hand-held electromechanical chiropractic adjusting instrument (Impulse) was used to apply single and repeated force impulses (13 total over a 2.5 second time interval) at three different force settings (low, medium, and high) along the posteroanterior axis of the T12 spinous process. Axial (AX), posteroanterior (PA), and medial-lateral (ML) acceleration responses in adjacent segments (L1, L2) were recorded at a rate of 5000 samples per second. Peak-peak segmental accelerations (L1, L2) and intersegmental acceleration transfer (L1–L2) for each axis and each force setting were computed from the acceleration-time recordings. The initial acceleration response for a single thrust and the maximum acceleration response observed during the 12 multiple impulse trains were compared using a paired observations t-test (POTT, alpha = .05).

Results

Segmental and intersegmental acceleration responses mirrored the peak force magnitude produced by the Impulse Adjusting Instrument. Accelerations were greatest for AX and PA measurement axes. Compared to the initial impulse acceleration response, subsequent multiple SMT impulses were found to produce significantly greater (3% to 25%, P < 0.005) AX, PA and ML segmental and intersegmental acceleration responses. Increases in segmental motion responses were greatest for the low force setting (18%–26%), followed by the medium (5%–26%) and high (3%–26%) settings. Adjacent segment (L1) motion responses were maximized following the application of several multiple SMT impulses.

Conclusion

Knowledge of the vertebral motion responses produced by impulse-type, instrument-based adjusting instruments provide biomechanical benchmarks that support the clinical rationale for patient treatment. Our results indicate that impulse-type adjusting instruments that deliver multiple impulse SMTs significantly increase multi-axial spinal motion.
Estimating the Contribution of Mutation, Recombination and Gene Conversion in the Generation of Haplotypic Diversity
Authors: Morrell Peter L , Toleno Donna M , Lundy Karen E , Clegg Michael T 
Published: April 2006

Abstract
Recombination occurs through both homologous crossing over and homologous gene conversion during meiosis. The contribution of recombination relative to mutation is expected to be dramatically reduced in inbreeding organisms. We report coalescent-based estimates of the recombination parameter (ρ) relative to estimates of the mutation parameter (θ) for 18 genes from the highly self-fertilizing grass, wild barley, Hordeum vulgare ssp. spontaneum. Estimates of ρ/θ are much greater than expected, with a mean $\batchmode \documentclass[fleqn,10pt,legalpaper]{article} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amsmath} \pagestyle{empty} \begin{document} \(\mathrm{{\hat{{\rho}}}}\) \end{document}$/$\batchmode \documentclass[fleqn,10pt,legalpaper]{article} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amsmath} \pagestyle{empty} \begin{document} \(\mathrm{{\hat{{\theta}}}}\) \end{document}$ ≈ 1.5, similar to estimates from outcrossing species. We also estimate $\batchmode \documentclass[fleqn,10pt,legalpaper]{article} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amsmath} \pagestyle{empty} \begin{document} \(\mathrm{{\hat{{\rho}}}}\) \end{document}$ with and without the contribution of gene conversion. Genotyping errors can mimic the effect of gene conversion, upwardly biasing estimates of the role of conversion. Thus we report a novel method for identifying genotyping errors in nucleotide sequence data sets. We show that there is evidence for gene conversion in many large nucleotide sequence data sets including our data that have been purged of all detectable sequencing errors and in data sets from Drosophila melanogaster, D. simulans, and Zea mays. In total, 13 of 27 loci show evidence of gene conversion. For these loci, gene conversion is estimated to contribute an average of twice as much as crossing over to total recombination.
Genes That Control Ray Sensory Neuron Axon Development in the Caenorhabditis elegans Male
Authors: Jia Lingyun , Emmons Scott W 
Published: April 2006

Abstract
We have studied how a set of male-specific sensory neurons in Caenorhabditis elegans establish axonal connections during postembryonic development. In the adult male, 9 bilateral pairs of ray sensory neurons innervate an acellular fan that serves as a presumptive tactile and olfactory organ during copulation. We visualized ray axon commissures with a ray neuron-specific reporter gene and studied both known and new mutations that affect the establishment of connections to the pre-anal ganglion. We found that the UNC-6/netrin-UNC-40/DCC pathway provides the primary dorsoventral guidance cue to ray axon growth cones. Some axon growth cones also respond to an anteroposterior cue, following a segmented pathway, and most or all also have a tendency to fasciculate. Two newly identified genes, rax-1 and rax-4, are highly specific to the ray neurons and appear to be required for ray axon growth cones to respond to the dorsoventral cue. Among other genes we identified, rax-2 and rax-3 affect anteroposterior signaling or fate specification and rax-5 and rax-6 affect ray identities. We identified a mutation in sax-2 and show that the sax-2/Furry and sax-1/Tricornered pathway affects ectopic neurite outgrowth and establishment of normal axon synapses. Finally, we identified mutations in genes for muscle proteins that affect axon pathways by distorting the conformation of the body wall. Thus ray axon pathfinding relies on a variety of general and more ray neuron-specific genes and provides a potentially fruitful system for further studies of how migrating axon growth cones locate their targets. This system is applicable to the study of mechanisms underlying topographic mapping of sensory neurons into target circuitry where the next stage of information processing is carried out.
Gregory Nazianzen in the Service of Humanist Social Reform
Authors: Davis Natalie Zemon 
Published: April 2006

In 1539 Sébastien Gryphius, noted humanist printer of Lyon, published a French translation of Sermon Fourteen of Gregory Nazianzen, περί ϕιƛοπτωχίαs or De amore pauperum. It was entitled De la cure, et nourrissement des Pauvres, Sermon du Benoist sainct Gregoire Nazanzene, surnommé par excellence Theologien and it was the first of Gregory's works to be printed in French. Though the edition is included in Baudrier's Bibliographie lyonnaise, it has so far escaped the notice of specialists working on Gregory Nazianzen. What is important about the edition, however, is not that it is a bibhographical ‘first,’ but that it reveals some new dimensions of humanist interest in the early Fathers of the Church.Of the three known copies of La cure et nourrissement des Pauvres, one is in the Bibliothèque publique et universitaire de Genève, where it is bound with another work printed by Gryphius in 1539, La Police de l’aulmosne de Lyon; a second belonged to Baudrier and was also bound with La Police de Vaulmosne; and the third is at the Archives de la Charité et de l'Hôtel-Dieu de Lyon.
Music Printing in Sixteenth-Century Strasbourg
Authors: Young William 
Published: April 2006

One indication of the extent of musical activity in Strasbourg during the sixteenth century is the sizeable number and superior quality of collections of music and books about music printed there during the period. Scarcely fifty years after Gutenberg printed his first Bible at Mainz, a veritable flood of publications began to pour from the presses of Strasbourg. Although no Strasbourg printer devoted his talents exclusively to publishing music, several printers achieved a measure of prominence in the field. As a consequence of the printers’ diversity of material, the circle of individuals connected in some way with publishing included most of the leading writers, poets, clergymen, musicians, and artists of the day.From the standpoint of sheer bulk alone hymnals or psalters merit first consideration. The advent of the Reformation in Strasbourg with services in the vernacular dating from 1524 accounts for the sudden interest in sacred music suitable for the congregation.
Actin polymerization in neutrophils from donors of peripheral blood stem cells: Divergent effects of glycosylated and nonglycosylated recombinant human granulocyte colony‐stimulating factor
Authors: Carulli Giovanni , Mattii Letizia , Azzarà Antonio , Brizzi Stefania , Galimberti Sara , Zucca Alessandra , Benedetti Edoardo , Petrini Mario 
Published: April 2006

AbstractNeutrophil functions can be modified by Recombinant human G‐CSF (rhG‐CSF) treatment, with divergent effects on phagocytosis, motility, bactericidal activity, and surface molecule expression. Neutrophil morphology is modified by treatment with filgrastim (the nonglycosylated form of rhG‐CSF), while it is not affected by lenograstim (the glycosylated type of rhG‐CSF). Little information is available about actin polymerization in neutrophils from subjects treated with the two types of rhG‐CSF. In the current paper we evaluated two groups of donors of peripheral blood stem cells (PBSC) for allogeneic transplantation. Ten subjects were treated with filgrastim and 10 with lenograstim to mobilize PBSC; 15 blood donors were evaluated as a control group. Actin polymerization (both spontaneous and fMLP‐stimulated) was studied by a flow cytometric assay. A microscopic fluorescent assay was also carried out to evaluate F‐actin distribution in neutrophils. We found that filgrastim induced an increased F‐actin content in resting neutrophils, along with morphologic evidence for increased actin polymerization distributed principally at the cell membrane and frequently polarized in focal areas; in addition, fMLP was not able to induce further actin polymerization. On the contrary, treatment with lenograstim was associated with F‐actin content, distribution, and polymerization kinetics indistinguishable from those displayed by control neutrophils. Such experimental results show that filgrastim and lenograstim display divergent effects also on neutrophil actin polymerization and provide further explanation for previous experimental findings. Am. J. Hematol. 81:318–323, 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
MATLAB as an introductory programming language
Authors: Wirth M. A. , Kovesi P. 
Published: April 2006

AbstractThis paper explores the use of MATLAB for teaching the fundamental constructs of programming languages to engineering and science students. It was found that the time taken for students to learn programming can be reduced by up to 50%, paving the way for using the language to solve problems. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Comput Appl Eng Educ 14: 20–30, 2006; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com); DOI 10.1002/cae.20064
Helium Atom Scattering from Oxide Surfaces
Authors: Traeger Franziska 
Published: April 2006

AbstractMany experimental methods of surface science employ electrons or photons of considerable incident energy as probe particles. However, insulating surfaces or delicate physisorbed layers may be damaged by these particles and should, therefore, be analyzed with a gentler probe: He atom scattering allows to determine the symmetry of the unit cell and the detection of phase transitions from diffraction measurements as well as the determination of surface and adsorbate vibrations by time‐of‐flight resolved detection. Herein, the application of He atom scattering to oxide surfaces is demonstrated on the basis of the examples of MgO and ZnO. MgO(001) is a very inert and stable surface, whereas hydrogen atoms are chemisorbed on the mixed‐terminated ZnO(10$\bar 1$0) and on both polar faces: ZnO(000$\bar 1$) and ZnO(0001). He atom scattering is very sensitive to the presence of hydrogen on surfaces. In addition ZnO reacts with molecules such as water, CO and CO2. It is demonstrated that in combination with photoelectron spectroscopy and thermal desorption spectroscopy He atom scattering can also contribute to studies of surface chemistry.
Synthesis and Characterization of Two Silver Iodides with One‐ and Three‐Dimensional Hybrid Structures Constructed From Ag···Ag Interactions and Organic Templates
Authors: Li Hao‐Hong , Chen Zhi‐Rong , Li Jun‐Qian , Huang Chang‐Cang , Zhang Yong‐Fan , Jia Gui‐Xiao 
Published: April 2006

AbstractTwo new organically templated silver iodides, namely [(bmph)(Ag5I7)]n (1) and [(Hteda)4(Ag12I16)]n (2), have been synthesized with bmph2+ and teda [bmph2+ = 1,6‐bis(4‐methylpyridinio)hexane, Hteda = protonated triethylenediamine] as structure‐directing agents. Complex 1 consists of a one‐dimensional polymer that can be described as edge‐sharing AgI4 tetrahedra, whereas 2 is the first example of a three‐dimensional Ag/I framework based on Ag···Ag weak interactions and an organic template. Electrostatic interactions between the organic countercations and inorganic moieties are present and contribute to the crystal packing. Both compounds have been further characterized by IR spectroscopy, elemental analysis, TGA, and optical limiting measurements. (© Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2006)