bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Lack of Association of Clara Cell 10-kDa Protein Gene Variant with Chronic Rhinosinusitis in a Chinese Han Population
Authors: Zhang Feng , Xiong Zhi-Gang , Cao Ping-Ping , You Xue-Jun , Gao Qi-Xue , Cui Yong-Hua , Liu Zheng 
Published: August 2008

Background Clara cell 10-kDa protein (CC10) is an anti-inflammatory molecule and has been implicated in the involvement of the pathogenesis of asthma and chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). A single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in CC10 gene (A + 38G) was previously shown to be associated with asthma and plasma CC10 levels. The purpose of this study is to examine whether there is an association between the CC10 A + 38G SNP, plasma CC10 levels, and CRS in a central Chinese population of Han nationality. Methods The CC10 A + 38G SNP was analyzed by means of polymerase chain reaction with restriction fragment length polymorphism and plasma CC10 levels were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in 220 patients with CRS (90 patients with nasal polyps [NPs] and 130 patients without NPs) and 180 healthy control subjects. Among 220 patients with CRS, 108 patients were atopic subjects. Severity of disease was determined by coronal computed tomography (CT) scan in CRS patients, which was graded according to Lund and Mackay. Results The frequency of the A allele was 0.394, which was not significantly higher than the frequencies of other reported ethnic groups except for German. No association between the CC10 A + 38G SNP and CRS, any subgroup of CRS, or CRS severity could be found. Although subjects carrying the AA genotype had a significantly lower plasma CC10 concentration than those carrying the GG and GA genotypes in both CRS and control groups (p = 0.00 for all), no association was found between the plasma CC10 levels and CRS phenotype. Conclusion The CC10 A + 38G SNP may not exert a substantial influence on the development of CRS in the Chinese Han population.
Topical Antimicrobials in the Management of Chronic Rhinosinusitis: A Systematic Review
Authors: Lim Mingyann , Citardi Martin J. , Leong Jern-Lin 
Published: August 2008

Background Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is a common disease that can significantly impact health. The mainstay of medical treatment is topical steroids and oral antibiotics, but little is known about the efficacy of topical antibiotics. The purpose of this study was to identify evidence for the use of topical antibiotics in the treatment of CRS and exacerbations of CRS. Methods Systematic review of literature with a search of the MEDLINE, EMBASE, and CINAHL databases; Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (Third Quarter 2007); and Cochrane Database of Systemic Reviews (3rd Quarter 2007) databases were performed. The dates of search were from December 1, 1949 to September 30, 2007. Results Fourteen studies that fulfilled the inclusion criteria were identified: seven were controlled trials and of these, five were double blinded and randomized. Only one of the randomized studies showed a positive outcome. Overall, there was low-level corroborative evidence for the use of antibacterials. No definite conclusions could be made regarding the use of antifungals. Currently, there is evidence for the use of nasal irrigation or nebulization rather than delivery by nasal spray. For the antibacterial studies, the highest level of evidence currently exists for studies that have used postsurgical patients and culture-directed therapy. Both stable and acute exacerbations of CRS appear to benefit from topical antimicrobials. Conclusion Topical antibiotics appear effective in the management of CRS. Given the combination of low-level evidence (level III, with inherent potential confounders of natural progression of disease and placebo effect) and the level IIb evidence being limited to the cystic fibrosis group of patients, topical antibiotics should not be first-line management but may be attempted in patients refractory to the traditional topical steroids and oral antibiotics. Larger and better-designed randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trials are required to more fully evaluate this emerging modality of treatment.
Olfactory Function in Patients with Chronic Rhinosinusitis before and after Functional Endoscopic Sinus Surgery
Authors: Jiang Rong-San , Lu Fung-Jou , Liang Kai-Li , Shiao Jiun-Yi , Su Mao-Chang , Hsin Chung-Han , Chen Wen-Kang 
Published: August 2008

Background The olfactory loss in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis has been measured by different methods. However, the results have been variable and it is not clear whether functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS) significantly improves olfactory function. This study was performed to evaluate the influences of FESS on olfactory function in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis using three different types of olfactory tests. Methods Seventy patients with chronic rhinosinusitis were administered the University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test (UPSIT), a single staircase phenyl ethyl alcohol odor detection threshold test (STT), and a short-term odor memory/discrimination test a day before and 6 months after FESS. A questionnaire inquiring about the patients’ self-perception of olfactory function was administered also. Independent ratings of the severity of chronic rhinosinusitis before FESS were established from CT scans. Results Fifty-two (74.3%) of the patients reported that their olfactory function was impaired before surgery, and 68.6% of the patients reported impaired olfactory function after surgery, a difference that was not significant. No meaningful changes in any of the olfactory test scores were noted 6 or more months after FESS. Preoperatively, small correlations between CT scores and the symptom scores (r = 0.278; p = 0.024), threshold scores (r =-0.27; p = 0.031), and UPSIT scores (r =-0.36; p = 0.003) were observed. Conclusion In patients with severe rhinosinusitis, FESS had little impact on the ability to smell, regardless of the method for assessing smell function. Subtle associations between olfactory function and the severity of chronic rhinosinusitis determined by CT were observed, however, preoperatively. The olfactory test measures were correlated with one another both pre- and postoperatively.
Revision Septoplasty: Review of Sources of Persistent Nasal Obstruction
Authors: Becker Samuel S. , Dobratz Eric J. , Stowell Nicolas , Barker Daniel , Park Stephen S. 
Published: August 2008

Background Patients with nasal obstruction from septal deviation commonly undergo septoplasty to improve nasal airflow. Some patients suffer from persistent obstruction after their primary septoplasty and may undergo a revision septoplasty to improve their nasal passageway. Our objective was to identify patients who underwent revision septoplasty and to identify their sources of persistent nasal obstruction. Methods Patients who underwent septoplasty at our institution between 1995 and 2005 were reviewed. Data is collected on demographics, comorbidities, age at septoplasty, associated and concomitant procedures, surgical approach, and anatomic site of obstruction. Results Five hundred forty-seven patients met inclusion criteria including 477 who underwent primary septoplasty and 70 who underwent revision surgery. Nineteen percent of nonrevision patients underwent nasal valve surgery along with their primary septoplasty versus 4% of patients in the revision group. Fifty-one percent of revision patients had nasal valve surgery at revision surgery. Patients who underwent sinus surgery along with primary septoplasty were less likely to undergo revision septoplasty. History of facial trauma, obstructive sleep apnea, site of deviation, and performance of inferior turbinate surgery did not affect the likelihood of revision septoplasty. Conclusion A significant number of patients who undergo revision septoplasty also have nasal valve collapse. We recommend that in addition to septal deviation and inferior turbinate hypertrophy, nasal valve function be fully evaluated before performing septoplasty. This will help to ensure a complete understanding of a patient's nasal airway obstruction and, consequently, appropriate and effective surgical intervention.
Rhinologic Symptoms and Quality-of-Life in Patients with Churg-Strauss Syndrome Vasculitis
Authors: Srouji Ibrahim , Lund Valerie , Andrews Peter , Edwards Chris 
Published: August 2008

Background The purpose of this study was to investigate the presentation pattern, sinonasal symptoms, and quality of life (QOL) in patients with Churg-Strauss syndrome (CSS) vasculitis. Methods A cross-sectional study was performed. Twenty-five patients with CSS belonging to a patient self-help group participated. Main outcome measures included mode of initial presentation, treatment, rhinologic symptoms, and disease-specific QOL (Sinonasal Outcome Test [SNOT-22] scores) and comparisons were made with general rhinosinusitis and other nasally affected vasculitis patients ((Wegener's granulomatosis [WG]). Results Overall, 80% of CSS patients had active sinonasal symptoms at the time of the study. Twenty-eight percent of CSS patients reported worsening of their nasal symptoms as the main event leading to their diagnosis. Forty-eight percent of CSS patients had undergone nasal surgery. Nasal symptoms that are of particular relevance to this patient group are nasal obstruction (95%), rhinorrhea (95%), anosmia (90%), and excessive sneezing (80%). Other symptoms included nasal crusting (75%), purulent nasal discharge (65%), and epistaxis (60%). SNOT-22 scores were significantly higher than normal, reaching average values similar to those of patients from the general rhinosinusitis population. Conclusion Sinonasal symptoms are common at initial presentation of CSS, emphasizing the role of otolaryngologists in its diagnosis. Overall, CSS-related sinonasal morbidity is significant and comparable with that of the general rhinosinusitis population. It predominantly results from symptoms of allergic rhinitis, but a significant proportion of CSS patients also report milder forms of crusting, epistaxis, and of purulent sinusitis, symptoms which are more commonly attributed to patients with WG.
UGT1A1 promoter polymorphisms and the development of hyperbilirubinemia and gallbladder disease in children with sickle cell anemia
Authors: Carpenter Shannon L. , Lieff Susan , Howard Thad A. , Eggleston Barry , Ware Russell E. 
Published: August 2008

AbstractGenetic modifiers contribute to phenotypic variability in patients with sickle cell anemia (SCA). The influence of the bilirubin UDP‐glucuronosyltransferase (UGT) 1A1 (TA)nTAA promoter polymorphism on bilirubin levels and gallbladder disease in SCA was examined using prospectively collected data from the Cooperative Study of Sickle Cell Disease. A total of 324 children with HbSS (median age 6.9 years) had UGT1A1 genotyping; 243 (75%) had common (TA)6 or (TA)7 alleles, whereas 81 (25.0%) had variant (TA)5 or (TA)8 alleles. The UGT1A1 genotype significantly influenced average bilirubin levels for the common alleles: 6/6 genotype = 2.36 ± 1.13 mg/dL, 6/7 genotype = 2.90 ± 1.54 mg/dL, and 7/7 genotype = 4.24 ± 2.11 mg/dL (P < 0.0001). Thirty‐nine percent of children with the 7/7 genotype had documented gallbladder disease, compared with 18.2% with the 6/7 genotype and only 9.9% with the wildtype 6/6 UGT1A1 genotype (P = 0.001). To analyze the (TA)5 and (TA)8 variant alleles, three groups were generated, showing increasing bilirubin levels with increasing TA repeats and age. Group 3 (genotypes 6/8, 7/7, and 7/8) had a significantly greater rate of bilirubin change than Groups 1 (genotypes 5/6, 5/7, and 6/6) or 2 (genotype 6/7). These results validate previous smaller studies and confirm that the UGT1A1 promoter polymorphism exerts a powerful influence on bilirubin levels and the development of gallbladder disease in children with SCA. UGT1A1 genotyping should be considered as a screening tool for predicting children most likely to develop gallbladder disease at a young age. Am. J. Hematol., 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Age‐dependent patterns of intensive observation on elders by free‐ranging juvenile Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata yakui) within foraging context on Yakushima
Authors: Tarnaud Laurent , Yamagiwa Juichui 
Published: August 2008

AbstractEarly learning about edible food in the environment is a critical survival task for young nonhuman primates. Social learning and social facilitation are often cited to explain how youngsters learn to select and find their food. In this framework, we observed eight mother–youngster pairs of free‐ranging Japanese macaques divided into two sets according to the age of the young (infants aged between 7 and 12 months and juveniles aged between 1.5 and 2 years) during three winter months. We systematically investigated the intensive observation directed by the youngsters toward elders by recording the target's identity (e.g. mother, subadult), the items manipulated by the elder and those items closely observed by the youngster, along with the behavior of the youngster preceding and immediately following an intensive observation period. The diet of the mothers and juveniles was estimated from time records of each feeding occurrence for each food item (identified to species level) and from the quantity of fresh matter ingested. The results show that intensive observation by both infants and juveniles were directed toward those elders engaged in plant and invertebrate foraging. Such behavior was age‐dependent, being more frequent in infants than in juveniles. The majority of the intensive observations were directed toward the mother. Intensive observations also shaped a change in the behavior of infants by significantly stimulating the investigation of food items and locations otherwise not investigated by juveniles. Moreover, infants showed a particular interest in rare food items and especially invertebrates. Age differences between the two sets of young and their interest in rare foods are discussed with reference to the occurrence of intensive observation within the framework of kin relationships, social organization, and social transmission of information about food type and food location and its survival values. Am. J. Primatol. 70:1103‐1113, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Situational leadership applied to the dissertation process
Authors: Holsinger James W. 
Published: August 2008

AbstractFor more than 40 years, concern has been expressed over the attrition rate of students in Ph.D. programs in American universities. Although there are a number of significant factors at work, attrition of doctoral students in sciences such as anatomy may lead to a dearth of trained teaching anatomists as well as research scientists in the anatomical sciences. Failure to complete the Ph.D. process including the dissertation carries a high cost, not only to the students who fail to complete their programs, but also to society at large due to the expenditure of scarce education resources. A variety of factors have been examined in the various studies, but two stands out of major interest for this article: student personality factors such as perseverance and the level of faculty mentoring/support to the students during the graduate education process. A new approach to providing faculty support based on the needs of the individual student is presented in this article. Situational Leadership® has been developed over the past 40 years by Paul Hersey and Kenneth Blanchard and their associates. This leadership model is unique in that when it is applied to the dissertation process, it requires the faculty member to determine the readiness level of the graduate student. Because each student is a unique individual, the faculty mentor assesses each student based on the specific task at hand in order to provide the appropriate style of mentorship each student requires. Anat Sci Ed 1:194–198, 2008. © 2008 American Association of Anatomists.
Biomass pyrolysis: a state‐of‐the‐art review
Authors: Babu B. V. 
Published: August 2008

AbstractBiomass pyrolysis is a process by which a biomass feedstock is thermally degraded in the absence of air/oxygen. It is used for the production of solid (charcoal), liquid (tar and other organics) and gaseous products. These products are of interest as they are possible alternate sources of energy. The study of pyrolysis is gaining increasing importance, as it is not only an independent process, it is also a . rst step in the gasi. cation or combustion process, and has many advantages over other renewable and conventional energy sources. Studies have been conducted on pyrolysis of biomass and other substances by several researchers. The actual reaction scheme of pyrolysis of biomass is extremely complex because of the formation of over a hundred intermediate products. Mode ling of pyrolysis includes chemical kinetics model, heat transfer model and mass transfer model. Various kinetic models, heat and mass transfer models reported in the literature and our previous study are reported in the present review with experimental validations to provide the current status of the study. Plasma pyrolysis provides high temperature and high energy for reaction as the reaction sample is rapidly heated up to a high temperature. This review also covers the experimental and modeling study status of plasma‐assisted pyrolysis. © 2008 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd
Extended spatial keyframing for complex character animation
Authors: Choi Byungkuk , You Mi , Noh Junyong 
Published: August 2008

AbstractAs 3D computer animation becomes more accessible to novice users, it makes it possible for these users to create high‐quality animations. This paper introduces a more powerful system to create highly articulated character animations with an intuitive setup then the previous research, Spatial Keyframing (SK). As the main purpose of SK was the rapid generation of primitive animation over quality animation, we propose Extended Spatial Keyframing (ESK) that exploits a global control structure coupled with multiple sets of spatial keyframes, and hierarchical relationship between controllers. The generated structure can be flexibly embedded into the given rigged character, and the system enables the given character to be animated delicately by user performance. During the performance, the movement of the highest ranking controllers across the control hierarchy is recorded in layered style to increase the level of detail for final motions. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Preparation of α‐Aminobenzylphosphonic Acids with a Stereogenic Quaternary Carbon Atom via Microscopically Configurationally Stable α‐Aminobenzyllithiums
Authors: Kuliszewska Edyta , Hanbauer Martin , Hammerschmidt Friedrich 
Published: August 2008

AbstractThe enantiomers of 1‐phenylethylamine were phosphorylated with diethyl chlorophosphate/Et3N and then Boc‐protected (Boc=tert‐butoxycarbonyl) at the nitrogen atom. These phosphoramidates were metalated by using sBuLi/N,N,N′,N′‐tetramethylethylenediamine (TMEDA) to give α‐aminobenzyllithiums that isomerised to α‐aminophosphonates in yields of up to 80 % with retention of the configuration at the carbon atom. The intermediate tertiary organolithiums were found to be microscopically configurationally stable from −78 to 0 °C in Et2O. The protected α‐aminophosphonates were deblocked by using boiling 6 M HCl or preferably Me3SiBr/(allyl)SiMe3. When the Boc group was replaced by the diethoxyphosphinyl group, the α‐aminobenzyllithium intermediate partially enantiomerised even at −78 °C and rearranged to yield an α‐aminophosphonate with 50 % ee (ee=enantiomeric excess). Similarly, N‐Boc‐protected phosphoramidates derived from racemates and/or enantiomers of 1‐(1‐naphthyl)ethyl‐, 1‐indanyl‐ and 1,2,3,4‐tetrahydro‐1‐naphthylamine or 1‐azidoindan‐ and 1‐azido‐1,2,3,4‐tetrahydronaphthalene were converted to aminophosphonates in good yields. Deblocking gave α‐aminophosphonic acids of excellent enantiomeric excess (97–99 %), as determined by means of HPLC on a chiral ion‐exchange stationary phase based on quinine carbamate. When racemic Boc‐protected diethyl phosphoramidate derived from 1,2,3,4‐tetrahydro‐1‐naphthylamine was metalated with LiTMP/TMEDA (TMP=2,2,6,6‐tetramethylpiperidine), 1‐hydroxyethylphosphonamidates resulted. The configuration of the main isomer was determined by means of a single‐crystal X‐ray structure analysis.
Spin State, Structure, and Reactivity of Terminal Oxo and Dioxygen Complexes of the (PNP)Rh Moiety
Authors: Verat Alexander Y. , Fan Hongjun , Pink Maren , Chen Y.‐S. , Caulton Kenneth G. 
Published: August 2008

Abstract[RhIIIH{(tBu2PCH2SiMe2NSiMe2CH2PtBu{CMe2CH2})}], ([RhH(PNP*)]), reacts with O2 in the time taken to mix the reagents to form a 1:1 η2‐O2 adduct, for which OO bond length is discussed with reference to the reducing power of [RhH(PNP*)]; DFT calculations faithfully replicate the observed O–O distance, and are used to understand the oxidation state of this coordinated O2. The reactivity of [Rh(O2)(PNP)] towards H2, CO, N2, and O2 is tested and compared to the associated DFT reaction energies. Three different reagents effect single oxygen atom transfer to [RhH(PNP*)]. The resulting [RhO(PNP)], characterized at and above −60 °C and by DFT calculations, is a ground‐state triplet, is nonplanar, and reacts, above about +15 °C, with its own tBu CH bond, to cleanly form a diamagnetic complex, [Rh(OH){N(SiMe2CH2PtBu2)(SiMe2CH2PtBu{CMe2CH2})}].
Polymerizing Cluster Helicates into High‐Connectivity Networks
Authors: Zhan Shun‐Ze , Li Mian , Hou Jin‐Zhang , Ni Jia , Li Dan , Huang Xiao‐Chun 
Published: August 2008

AbstractSolvothermal reactions of CuII salts and 3,5‐bis(4‐pyridyl)pyrazole (HL) under various conditions gave three different types of crystalline compound, namely [Cu2(Cu5L6)]BF4⋅5 H2O (1 a), [Cu2(Cu5L6)]ClO4⋅5 H2O (1 b), and [Cu7(CN)2(Cu5L6)2][BF4]3 (2). 1 a and b were obtained in ethanol and NH3⋅H2O, whereas 2 was obtained in methanol and NH3⋅H2O. The three complexes were constructed by incorporating new pentanuclear copper(I) pyrazolate bis(triple helical) cluster helicates (Cu5L6) as the second building units (SBUs), in which as many as twelve 4‐pyridyl N atoms are available for further coordination and construction of high‐connectivity topological networks. In 1 a and b, seven 4‐pyridyl N atoms are linked to three three‐coordinated CuI atoms and four four‐coordinated CuI atoms, which results in 3,4,7‐connected networks. In 2, as many as eleven 4‐pyridyl N atoms coordinate to eleven CuI atoms, which results in a 4,10‐connected topological network. The increasing connectivity of the cluster nodes in 2 is closely related to the in situ‐formed CN− anion bridge around the periphery of the pentanuclear cluster helicates. The luminescenct properties of these compounds were also investigated.