bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Control of Cell Volume in Skeletal Muscle
Authors: Usher‐Smith Juliet A. , Huang Christopher L‐H. , Fraser James A. 
Published: December 2008

AbstractRegulation of cell volume is a fundamental property of all animal cells and is of particular importance in skeletal muscle where exercise is associated with a wide range of cellular changes that would be expected to influence cell volume. These complex electrical, metabolic and osmotic changes, however, make rigorous study of the consequences of individual factors on muscle volume difficult despite their likely importance during exercise. Recent charge‐difference modelling of cell volume distinguishes three major aspects to processes underlying cell volume control: (i) determination by intracellular impermeant solute; (ii) maintenance by metabolically dependent processes directly balancing passive solute and water fluxes that would otherwise cause cell swelling under the influence of intracellular membrane‐impermeant solutes; and (iii) volume regulation often involving reversible short‐term transmembrane solute transport processes correcting cell volumes towards their normal baselines in response to imposed discrete perturbations. This review covers, in turn, the main predictions from such quantitative analysis and the experimental consequences of comparable alterations in extracellular pH, lactate concentration, membrane potential and extracellular tonicity. The effects of such alterations in the extracellular environment in resting amphibian muscles are then used to reproduce the intracellular changes that occur in each case in exercising muscle. The relative contributions of these various factors to the control of cell volume in resting and exercising skeletal muscle are thus described.
PAL31 may play an important role as inflammatory modulator in the repair process of the spinal cord injury rat
Authors: Shen Li‐Fen , Cheng Henrich , Tsai Ming‐Chu , Kuo Huai‐Sheng , Chak Kin‐Fu 
Published: December 2008

AbstractFunctional regeneration in a complete T8 transection model Cheng et al. (1996) and most recently, acidic fibroblast growth factor (aFGF; also known as FGF‐1) involved in the repair process of the spinal cord injury (SCI) rat Tsai et al. (2008) have been reported. To further reveal the mechanism of the repair process of SCI, in additionally, we have identified a 30 kDa specific protein kinase A substrate induced at 6 days after SCI. However, the induction of the transducing signal was reduced in samples treated with aFGF. The 30 kDa protein was purified and identified by mass spectrometry as a novel protein, PAL31. The results of immunohistochemical study showed that PAL31 is abundantly expressed in the epicenter of the injured spinal cord and colocalizes with ED1‐positive cells (macrophages) and CD8 T lymphocytes. Over‐expression of PAL31 in RAW 264.7 cells resulted in the down‐regulation of macrophage chemoattractant protein 1, inducible nitric oxide synthase, and signal transducer and activator of transcription‐1. However, knockdown of PAL31 by small interfering RNA seems to lead to apoptosis when the cells were treated with inflammatory inducers. These experimental results suggest that PAL31 may involve in the modulation of the inflammatory response and, at the same time, prevent apoptosis process of macrophage after SCI.
Safety Outcomes in the United States: Trends and Challenges in Measurement
Authors: Greenberg Michael D. , Haviland Amelia M. , Yu Hao , Farley Donna O. 
Published: December 2008

Objective. To prepare Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) for monitoring the impact of its own patient safety initiative, by exploring available outcomes data, assessing usability of measures, and estimating national trends in patient outcomes.Data Sources. Annual summary data on incidence of Joint Commission Sentinel Events, MEDMARX medication error events, and MDS measures of falls and pressure ulcers in nursing home residents. HCUP National Inpatient Sample (NIS) administrative claims data.Methods. Description and assessment of published summary data on selected safety measures. Analysis of selected Patient Safety Indicators (PSIs) and Utah–Missouri adverse event measures using HCUP NIS claims data (1994–2003).Principal Findings. Interpretation of safety outcome trends requires close attention to the characteristics of underlying data sources and measures. Encounter‐based measures have been affected by changes in definitions and ICD‐9 coding, as well as by changes in the structure of administrative datasets like HCUP NIS. Historical trends are mixed for the safety outcome measures reviewed, with some measures showing improvement, others deterioration, and still others remaining fairly stable.Conclusions. Constructing national trends of safety outcomes is difficult because of limitations in available data sources and measures. Tracking growth in the adoption of safe practices could offer an important strategy for complementing existing safety measurement capabilities.
Training a Patient Safety Work Force: The Patient Safety Improvement Corps
Authors: Teleki Stephanie S. , Damberg Cheryl L. , Sorbero Melony E. S. , Shaw Rebecca N. , Bradley Lily A. , Quigley Denise D. , Fremont Allen M. , Farley Donna O. 
Published: December 2008

Objective. Evaluate short‐term effects of the Patient Safety Improvement Corps (PSIC), an Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality–sponsored program to train state teams in patient safety skills/tools, to assess its contribution to building a national infrastructure supporting effective patient safety practices.Data Source. Self‐reported information gathered from (1) group interviews at the end of each year; (2) individual telephone interviews 1 year later; (3) faxed information forms 2 years later.Study Design. Program evaluation of immediate and short‐term process and impact (use of skills/tools, information sharing, changes in practice).Data Collection. Semistructured interviews; faxed forms.Principal Findings. One year after training, approximately half of Year 1 and 2 state agency representatives reported they had initiated or modified legislation to strengthen safe practices, and modified adverse event oversight procedures. Approximately three‐quarters of hospital representatives said training contributed to modifications to adverse event oversight procedures and promotion of patient safety culture. Two years posttraining, approximately three‐quarters of Year 1 trainees said they continued to use many skills/tools.Conclusions. The PSIC contributed to building a national infrastructure supporting effective patient safety practices. Expanded training is needed to reach a larger fraction of the population for which this training is important.
Experiences of Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality‐Funded Projects That Implemented Practices for Safer Patient Care
Authors: Taylor Stephanie L. , Susan Ridgely M. , Greenberg Michael D. , Sorbero Melony E. S. , Teleki Stephanie S. , Damberg Cheryl L. , Farley Donna O. 
Published: December 2008

Objectives. To synthesize lessons learned from the experiences of Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality‐funded patient safety projects in implementing safe practices.Data Sources. Self‐reported data from individual and group interviews with Original, Challenge, and Partnerships in Implementing Patient Safety (PIPS) grantees, from 2003 to 2006.Study Design. Interviews with three grantee groups (n=60 total) implementing safe practice projects, with comparisons on factors influencing project implementation and sustainability.Data Collection. Semi‐structured protocols contained open‐ended questions on lessons learned and more structured questions on factors associated with project implementation and sustainability.Principal Findings. The grantees shared common experiences, frequently identifying lessons learned regarding structural components needing to be in place before implementation, components of the implementation process, components of interventions' results needed for sustainability, changes in timelines or activities, unanticipated issues, and staff acceptance/adoption. Also, fewer Original grants had many of the factors related project to implementation/sustainability than the PIPS or Challenge grantees had.Conclusions. Although much of what was reported seemed like common sense, surprisingly few projects actually planned for or expected many of the barriers or facilitators they experienced during their project implementation. Others implementing practice improvements likely will share the experiences and issues identified by these implementation projects and can learn from their lessons.
The Growth of Partnerships to Support Patient Safety Practice Adoption
Authors: Mendel Peter , Damberg Cheryl L. , Sorbero Melony E.S. , Varda Danielle M. , Farley Donna O. 
Published: December 2008

Objectives. To document the numbers and types of interorganizational partnerships within the national patient safety domain, changes over time in these networks, and their potential for disseminating patient safety knowledge and practices.Data Sources. Self‐reported information gathered from representatives of national‐level organizations active in promoting patient safety.Study Design. Social network analysis was used to examine the structure and composition of partnership networks and changes between 2004 and 2006.Data Collection. Two rounds of structured telephone interviews (n=35 organizations in 2004 and 55 in 2006).Principal Findings. Patient safety partnerships expanded between 2004 and 2006. The average number of partnerships per interviewed organization increased 40 percent and activities per reported partnership increased over 50 percent. Partnerships increased in all activity domains, particularly dissemination and tools development. Fragmentation of the overall partnership network decreased and potential for information flow increased. Yet network centralization increased, suggesting vulnerability to partnership failure if key participants disengage.Conclusions. Growth in partnerships signifies growing strength in the capacity to disseminate and implement patient safety advancements in the U.S. health care system. The centrality of AHRQ in these networks of partnerships bodes well for its leadership role in disseminating information, tools, and practices generated by patient safety research projects.
Valuing Traits of Indigenous Cows in Central Ethiopia
Authors: Kassie Girma T. , Abdulai Awudu , Wollny Clemens 
Published: January 2009

Abstract This research aimed at identifying and estimating the relative weight assigned to the preferred traits of indigenous cow population in the most dominant crop–livestock mixed production system in Central Ethiopia. A choice experiment approach was employed to elicit the preferences and a random parameters logit model was used to estimate the relative importance of the preferred attributes of indigenous cows. The results show that fertility, disease resistance and calf vigour traits are at least as important as milk. The location the cows are brought from is also an important attribute for buyers. Results from the simulation on the influence of changes in attribute levels showed that fertility and disease resistance affect preferences more than other traits. The findings suggest that the smallholder community in this part of Ethiopia depends on semi‐subsistence agriculture and so livestock development interventions should focus on a multitude of reproductive and adaptive traits that stabilise the herd structure rather than focusing on traits that are only important for commercial purposes.
Matrix rheology effects on reaction rim growth I: evidence from orthopyroxene rim growth experiments
Authors: MILKE R. , ABART R. , KUNZE K. , KOCH‐MÜLLER M. , SCHMID D. , ULMER P. 
Published: December 2008

AbstractThe rim‐forming reaction quartz + olivine = orthopyroxene is used to investigate the effect of matrix rheology on rim growth rates. Orthopyroxene rim growth around olivine grains in quartz matrix is compared to rim growth around quartz grains in an olivine matrix. At constant P–T, within one single capsule, orthopyroxene rims grow faster around quartz clasts in olivine matrix than around olivine clasts in quartz matrix. Fourier transform infra‐red spectra indicate that the entire samples are water saturated because of water adsorption on the reactant grain surfaces. The increased orthopyroxene growth rates in olivine matrix as opposed to quartz matrix are interpreted in terms of matrix rheology, where in the two different matrix‐inclusion arrangements the olivine matrix behaves ‘softer’ and the quartz matrix ‘more rigid’. The strain energy associated with accommodation of the negative reaction volume is higher for the quartz than the olivine matrix and reduces the free energy that drives orthopyroxene rim growth. Growth textures in both kinds of orthopyroxene rims indicate that the diffusivity of MgO slightly exceeds the diffusivity of SiO2. The relative mobility of MgO and SiO2 at given P, T, fH2O seems to be controlled by energy minimization during orthopyroxene growth at the compressive Ol/Opx interface. Our experiments provide evidence for two previously overlooked effects relevant to rim growth reactions in metamorphic rocks: (i) diffusivity along chemical potential gradients to reaction sites is a function of rheology and (ii) the relative diffusivity of components during reaction rim or corona growth is a function of local volume changes at the rim’s interfaces.
Matrix rheology effects on reaction rim growth II: coupled diffusion and creep model
Authors: SCHMID D. W. , ABART R. , PODLADCHIKOV Y. Y. , MILKE R. 
Published: December 2008

AbstractChemical reactions and phase changes generally involve volume changes. In confined settings this will cause a mechanical deformation of the matrix that surrounds the reaction sites where the volume change takes place. Consequently, mineral reactions and the mechanical response of the rock matrix are coupled. A companion paper in this issue illustrates this coupling with experiments where quartz and olivine react to form enstatite reaction rims under ambient conditions of 1 GPa and 1000 °C. It has been demonstrated that for identical run conditions, the thickness of the reaction rims depends on whether quartz grains are embedded in an olivine matrix or olivine grains are included in a quartz matrix. The experimental conditions, the nature of the results, and the large volume change of the reaction (−6%) leave only viscous creep as a viable matrix response to the reaction progress. A model is developed for this reaction, which combines diffusion of chemical components through the growing rim and viscous creep of the matrix. The resulting rate law for reaction rim growth in spherical geometry shows that the progress rate is proportional to the reaction overstepping and controlled by the slower of the two competing processes; either diffusion or creep. If diffusion is rate limiting the usual linear proportionality between rim growth and results. However, if viscous creep is rate limiting, then the reaction rates are reduced and may become effectively creep controlled. With respect to the experiments in the companion paper it is inferred that the effective viscosity of the two matrix materials, i.e. polycrystalline quartz and olivine, differ by approximately one order of magnitude with the quartz being the stronger one. The absolute values of the inferred viscosities correspond well to published flow laws. The rheological properties of natural rocks are well within the parameter range for which significant mechanical control on reaction rim growth is expected. This implies that for the interpretation of natural reaction rims and corona structures both diffusion and mechanical control need to be considered. In addition the mechanical effect also needs to be considered when interdiffusion coefficients are retrieved from rim growth experiments. This should also be considered for geospeedometry analyses. Furthermore, the control on reaction rate because of slow creep of the matrix is expected to be even more important, compared to the experiments, under colder crustal conditions and may contribute substantially to the frequent observation of only partially completed reactions. We suggest that this phenomenon is referred to as ‘mechanical closure’, which may be an important mechanism in the kinetic displacement of the boundaries between the stability fields of phase assemblages.
Plate movements, ductile deformation and geochronology of the Sanbagawa belt, SW Japan: tectonic significance of 89–88 Ma Lu–Hf eclogite ages
Authors: WALLIS S. R. , ANCZKIEWICZ R. , ENDO S. , AOYA M. , PLATT J. P. , THIRLWALL M. , HIRATA T. 
Published: December 2008

AbstractPrograde P–T paths and thermal modelling suggest metamorphism in the Sanbagawa belt represents unusually warm conditions for subduction‐type metamorphic belts, and these likely reflect conditions of a convergent margin a few million years before the arrival of an active spreading ridge. Radiometric age data and kinematic indicators of ductile deformation suggest the Sanbagawa belt formed in a Cretaceous convergent margin associated with a plate movement vector that had a large sinistral oblique component with respect to the belt, the East Asian margin. Plate reconstructions for the Cretaceous to Tertiary for this region show that the only plausible plate compatible with such motion at this time is the Izanagi plate. These reconstructions also show that progressively younger sections of the Izanagi plate were subducted beneath eastern Asia, i.e. a spreading ridge approached, until 85–83 Ma when the Izanagi Plate ceased to exist as an independent plate. The major reorganization of plates and associated movements around this time is likely to be the age of major interaction between the ridge and convergent margin. The ridge‐approach model for the Sanbagawa metamorphism, therefore, predicts that peak metamorphism is a few million years older than this age range. New Lu–Hf dating of eclogite in the Sanbagawa belt gives ages of 89–88 Ma, in excellent agreement with the prediction. Combining this estimate for the peak age of metamorphism with published P–T‐t results implies vertical exhumation rates of greater than 2.5 cm yr−1. This high rate of exhumation can explain the lack of a significant thermal overprint in the Sanbagawa belt during subduction of the ridge.
Shifting Trade Patterns as a Means of Reducing Global Carbon Dioxide Emissions
Authors: Strømman Anders Hammer , Hertwich Edgar G. , Duchin Faye 
Published: December 2008

SummaryThis article extends and applies the world trade model with bilateral trade (WTMBT), a linear program with any number of goods, factors, and regional trade partners that determines regional production, bilateral trade patterns, and region‐specific prices on the basis of comparative advantage by minimizing factor use. The model provides a consistent analysis of the global production system, representing geographical location at a regional level, region‐specific technologies at a sector level, emissions from production, and resource constraints and costs. An illustrative analysis investigates how changes in the geographic distribution of production could contribute to reducing global carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and at what cost. The model provides a bridge between global objectives and their determinants and consequences in specific sectors in individual regions. Multi‐objective analysis is used to construct a trade‐off curve between global factor costs and CO2 emissions. The relevance of both primal and dual solution variables is demonstrated. In particular, changes in goods prices and emissions are investigated. We conclude that the main impact of tightening carbon constraints is a substantial reduction in international trade accompanied by a shift away from regions most reliant on the combustion of coal. In addition to the analysis of the overall global trends, including the impact on prices, the implications of the global carbon constraint for one specific industry are investigated.
Phasing Out Cadmium, Lead, and Mercury
Authors: Månsson Nina , Bergbäck Bo , Sörme Louise 
Published: December 2008

SummaryLarge stocks of metals have accumulated in the urban technosphere (i.e., the physical environment altered by human activity). To minimize health and environmental risks, attempts were begun in the 1980s to phase out the use of cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), and mercury (Hg). To study the effect of this attempt, we conducted substance flow analyses (SFAs) in Stockholm, Sweden, in 1995 and in 2002–2003, which allow a comparison of the results over time.The SFAs showed a reduction in the stocks of Cd and Hg by approximately 25% to 30% between 1995 and 2002–2003. For Pb, the stock development was more uncertain. Cd and Hg inflow was substantially reduced during this period, but Pb inflow increased. Amounts of Cd and Pb in waste were still large, whereas Hg flows in waste were decreasing. Furthermore, although emissions of Pb decreased, Cd and Hg emissions were in the same range as in 1995.The application of SFAs has provided unique data on the accumulation of metals in the Stockholm technosphere, thus serving as a valuable indicator of how the phasing out progresses. The changes can be related to regulations, initiatives by industries and organizations, and the proactive attitude of the local environmental authorities and of the water company.
A Transitional Overlay Partial Denture for a Young Patient: A Clinical Report
Authors: Zarati Simin , Ahmadian Leila , Arbabi Rasoul 
Published: December 2008

AbstractThis clinical report describes a noninvasive approach for the treatment of a patient diagnosed with amelogenesis imperfecta (AI) and severe anterior open bite. The patient's functional and esthetic expectations were successfully met with a transitional overlay removable partial denture.
Influence of Investment, Disinfection, and Storage on the Microhardness of Ocular Resins
Authors: Goiato Marcelo Coelho , Santos Daniela Micheline dos , Gennari‐Filho Humberto , Zavanelli Adriana Cristina , De Carvalho Dekon Stefan Fiuza , Mancuso Daniela Nardi 
Published: December 2008

Abstract Purpose: The longevity of an ocular prosthesis is directly related to the resistance to erosion of its material. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of chemical disinfection and the method of investment on the microhardness of ocular prosthesis acrylic resin. Materials and Methods: Thirty‐two test specimen investments were obtained in two silicones. A segment was cut in each test specimen, and each specimen was fixed in an acrylic disk. The specimens were then polished and submitted to the first microhardness test before immersion in distilled water and incubation for 2 months. During this 2‐month period, the specimens were immersed in a water bath at 37°C and were disinfected daily; half were disinfected with neutral soap and the other half were disinfected with 4% chlorhexidine gluconate. After the storage phase and disinfection, a second microhardness test was performed. The surface microhardness values for the acrylic resins were submitted to ANOVA, followed by the Tukey test. Results: The disinfection and the period of storage did not statistically influence the surface microhardness of the acrylic resin, independent of the method of investment of the specimens (Zetalabor or Vipi Sil). The investment of specimens with Zetalabor silicone presented a greater surface hardness, independent of the type of disinfection and the period of storage. Conclusions: Based on these results, we suggest that the microhardness of the resin evaluated was not influenced by the method of disinfection or the time of storage used and was affected only by the investment material.