bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Compostability of polymers
Authors: Kijchavengkul Thitisilp , Auras Rafael 
Published: March 2008

AbstractIn recent years, biobased polymers have gained attention from industries, consumers and governments as a way to reduce municipal solid waste. Much attention has been given to their production and implementation. However, these materials only reach their potential environmental benefits when they are recovered through recycling or composting and/or their energy is recovered by incineration. These end‐of‐life scenarios allow closing the carbon cycle loop. A lot of confusion and misunderstanding about these new materials and their end‐of‐life scenarios, particularly composting, have been generated. This paper addresses definitions and environmental performance of these materials and their compostability. Current methods for measuring biobased content and biodegradability of polymers and factors affecting it, such as exposure conditions and polymer characteristics, are discussed, and the use of life cycle assessment as a tool to evaluate the environmental performance of biopolymers is presented. Although there are some obstacles for the growth and implementation of biobased polymers, such as consumer adoption and available composting facilities accepting these materials, new opportunities are growing due to government regulation and business initiatives in the past five years. However, consumers' understanding of when the use of these materials provides environmental benefits and when not is still missing. Therefore, to adopt and to implement these new biopolymers cooperative work among industry, consumers and government is needed. Copyright © 2008 Society of Chemical Industry
UV‐curable, oxetane‐toughened epoxy‐siloxane coatings for marine fouling‐release coating applications
Authors: Chen Zhigang , Chisholm Bret , Kim Jongsoo , Stafslien Shane , Wagner Rachel , Patel Sandeep , Daniels Justin , Wal Lyndsi Vander , Li Jun , Ward Kaley , Callow Maureen , Thompson Stephanie , Siripirom Chavanin 
Published: March 2008

AbstractBACKGROUND: UV‐curable coatings are promising candidates for environmentally friendly marine fouling‐release coatings. Cationic UV‐curable epoxy‐siloxane release coatings show good release performance but suffer from poor coating mechanical properties. A difunctional oxetane monomer, DOX, was co‐photopolymerized with an epoxy‐siloxane oligomer at loading levels from 10 to 40 wt% to obtain toughened fouling‐release coatings.RESULTS: The DOX‐toughened coatings showed enhanced cationic photopolymerization activity, solvent resistance and modulus. DOX‐toughened coatings (10 and 20 wt%) exhibited higher impact resistance. The DOX‐toughened coatings showed no leachate toxicity and the coatings were hydrophobic and non‐toxic to biofilm growth when analyzed with marine bacteria and algae. In general, 10 and 20 wt% DOX‐toughened coatings exhibited better marine bacteria and algae fouling‐release performance among the DOX‐toughened coatings. Pseudo‐barnacle shear release stress for the DOX‐toughened coatings increased with increasing DOX content. Live barnacle reattachment assay showed that 10 and 20 wt% DOX‐toughened coatings had comparable barnacle removal stress to commercial silicone reference coatings.CONCLUSIONS: DOX‐toughened (10 and 20 wt%) UV‐curable epoxy‐siloxane coatings exhibited enhanced mechanical properties and better overall marine fouling‐release performance among the toughened UV‐curable release coatings studied. Copyright © 2008 Society of Chemical Industry
A comparison of theoretical efficiencies of multi‐junction concentrator solar cells
Authors: Kurtz Sarah , Myers Daryl , McMahon W. E. , Geisz John , Steiner Myles 
Published: March 2008

AbstractChampion concentrator cell efficiencies have surpassed 40% and now many are asking whether the efficiencies will surpass 50%. Theoretical efficiencies of >60% are described for many approaches, but there is often confusion about “the” theoretical efficiency for a specific structure. The detailed balance approach to calculating theoretical efficiency gives an upper bound that can be independent of material parameters and device design. Other models predict efficiencies that are closer to those that have been achieved. Changing reference spectra and the choice of concentration further complicate comparison of theoretical efficiencies. This paper provides a side‐by‐side comparison of theoretical efficiencies of multi‐junction solar cells calculated with the detailed balance approach and a common one‐dimensional‐transport model for different spectral and irradiance conditions. Also, historical experimental champion efficiencies are compared with the theoretical efficiencies. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Toxicological and biochemical response to azinphos‐methyl in Cydia pomonella L. (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) among orchards from the Argentinian Patagonia
Authors: Soleño Jimena , Anguiano Liliana , de D'Angelo Ana Pechen , Cichón Liliana , Fernández Darío , Montagna Cristina 
Published: March 2008

AbstractBACKGROUND: Azinphos‐methyl is the main insecticide used to control codling moth on apple and pears in Northern Patagonia. The aim of this study was to evaluate the toxicological and biochemical response of diapausing larvae of codling moth in orchards subjected to different insecticide selection pressure.RESULTS: Dose–mortality assays with azinphos‐methyl in diapausing larvae of Cydia pomonella L. showed significant differences between the LD95 from a population collected in one untreated orchard (2.52 µg moth−1) compared with that in a laboratory‐susceptible population (0.33 µg moth−1). Toxicity to azinphos‐methyl in field populations of diapausing larvae collected during 2003–2005 was evaluated by topical application of a discriminating dose (2.5 µg moth−1) that was obtained from larvae collected in the untreated orchard (field reference strain). Significantly lower mortality (37.71–84.21%) was observed in three out of eight field populations compared with that in the field reference strain. Most of the field populations showed higher esterase activity than that determined in both the laboratory susceptible and the field reference strains. Moreover, there was a high association between esterase activity and mortality (R2 = 0.64) among the field populations. On the other hand, a poor correlation was observed between glutathione S‐transferase activity and mortality (R2 = 0.33) among larvae collected from different orchards.CONCLUSIONS: All the field populations evaluated exhibited some degree of azinphos‐methyl tolerance in relation to the laboratory susceptible strain. Biochemical results demonstrated that esterases are at least one of the principal mechanisms involved in tolerance to this insecticide. Copyright © 2008 Society of Chemical Industry
Magnetoelectric laminate based DC magnetic field sensor
Authors: Karmarkar Makarand , Dong Shuxiang , Li Jiefang , Viehland Dwight , Priya Shashank 
Published: March 2008

AbstractWe report on a DC magnetic field sensor that utilizes magnetoelectric (ME) laminate composites. It consists of a ring‐dot piezoelectric transformer laminated to a magnetostrictive disc. When a constant voltage is applied to the ring section of the piezoelectric layer at resonance, a stress is induced in the dot section. Then, if an external magnetic object is introduced in the vicinity of the dot section, the effective elastic stiffness is increased, altering the resonance frequency. (© 2008 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Evaluation of the statistical power for multiple tests: a case study
Authors: Yeo Adeline , Qu Yongming 
Published: March 2008

AbstractIt is challenging to estimate the statistical power when a complicated testing strategy is used to adjust for the type‐I error for multiple comparisons in a clinical trial. In this paper, we use the Bonferroni Inequality to estimate the lower bound of the statistical power assuming that test statistics are approximately normally distributed and the correlation structure among test statistics is unknown or only partially known. The method was applied to the design of a clinical study for sample size and statistical power estimation. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Exploring changes in treatment effects across design stages in adaptive trials
Authors: Friede Tim , Henderson Robin 
Published: March 2008

AbstractThe recently published Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use reflection paper on flexible designs highlights a controversial issue regarding the interpretation of adaptive trials. The guideline suggests that a test for heterogeneity should be preplanned and if treatment effect estimates differ significantly between design stages then data collected before and after the interim analysis might not be combined in a formal analysis. In this paper we investigate error rates for such a procedure in the presence of calendar‐time effects. Furthermore, we present an alternative testing strategy based on change point methods. In a simulation study we demonstrate that our procedure performs well in comparison to that suggested by the guideline. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Application of ion trap technology to liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry quantitation of large peptides
Authors: Shipkova Petia , Drexler Dieter M. , Langish Robert , Smalley James , Salyan Mary Ellen , Sanders Mark 
Published: March 2008

AbstractTriple quadrupole mass spectrometers are generally considered the instrument of choice for quantitative analysis. However, for the analysis of large peptides we have encountered some cases where, as the data presented here would indicate, ion trap mass spectrometers may be a good alternative. In general, specificity and sensitivity in bioanalytical liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS) assays are achieved via tandem MS (MS/MS) utilizing collision‐induced dissociation (CID) while monitoring unique precursor to product ion transitions (i.e. selected reaction monitoring, SRM). Due to the difference in CID processes, triple quadrupoles and ion traps often generate significantly different fragmentation spectra of product ion species and intensities. The large peptidic analytes investigated here generated fewer fragments with higher relative abundance on the ion trap as compared to those generated on the triple quadrupole, resulting in lower limits of detection on the ion trap. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Modular prostheses in the treatment of proximal humerus metastases: review of 40 cases
Authors: Scotti C. , Camnasio F. , Peretti G. M. , Fontana F. , Fraschini G. 
Published: March 2008

AbstractBackgroundThe humerus is the second most common site of metastatic bone disease involving long bones. Tumors which have a predilection for dissemination to bone are those of breast, prostate, thyroid, lung and kidney. The rationale for surgical treatment of these lesions is to prevent or treat pathological fractures in order to relieve pain and improve function.Materials and methodsForty patients who had resection of the proximal humerus for metastatic bone disease and reconstruction with a modular prosthesis were retrospectively reviewed.ResultsMean functional outcome was 73.1% (Enneking score) and better results were achieved when a reverse prosthesis was implanted. Overall survival was 70% at 1 year, 42.5% at 2 years and 20% at 5 years. Local recurrence occurred in 4 patients, each of whom had initially been treated for a pathological fracture.ConclusionsIt is important to follow rational guidelines, like those of Capanna and Mirels, in order to prevent pathological fractures and to give the patient a definitive treatment, as the advances in the management of cancer prolong the survival of these patients. In this series, satisfactory results were obtained, giving the patients an acceptable quality of life.
How do porosity-inducing techniques affect antibiotic elution from bone cement? An in vitro comparison between hydrogen peroxide and a mechanical mixer
Authors: Shiramizu K. , Lovric V. , Leung A. , Walsh W. R. 
Published: March 2008

AbstractBackgroundIncreasing the porosity of an antibiotic-loaded cement spacer increases the antibiotic elution, but the correlation between porosity and antibiotic elution is not well documented. The purposes of this study was to attempt new porosity-increasing methods and to investigate the correlation between antibiotic elution and both total and surface porosity.Materials and methodsFive types of antibiotic-loaded bone cement (ALBC) using 2 g cefazolin and 40 g cement were prepared. Other than manual mixing, hydrogen peroxide was used as a foaming agent and a mixing drill piece was used as a mechanical device to try to induce porosity when mixing the cement. Elution of antibiotic into phosphate-buffered saline was measured from 1 h to 1 week. Surface porosity was calculated from density values which were measured with a density kit and an electronic balance, while total porosity was quantified using micro-computed tomography.ResultsWhen a mixing drill piece was used to induce porosity, we observed a significant increasin antibiotic elution compared to a manually mixed ALBC. On the other hand, hydrogen peroxide reduced the elution significantly. Mild correlation between the total amount of cluted in 1 week antibiotic elution and total porosity was observed.ConclusionsIn terms of improving elution, the mixing drill piece seemed to be efficient. A relationship between surface porosity and elution efficacy was not observed.
Low‐dose aspirin promotes endothelial progenitor cell migration and adhesion and prevents senescence
Authors: Hu Zhengli , Zhang Fumin , Yang Zhijian , Zhang Jinying , Zhang Dingguo , Yang Naiquan , Zhang Yuqing , Cao Kejiang 
Published: March 2008

AbstractCirculating endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) play a key role in restoring endothelial function and enhancing angiogenesis. However, the effects of low‐dose aspirin on circulating EPCs are not well known. We investigated the effects of low‐dose aspirin on EPC migration, adhesion, senescence, proliferation, apoptosis and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) expression. EPC migration was detected by a modified Boyden chamber assay. EPC adhesion assay was performed by counting adherent cells on fibronectin‐coated culture dishes. EPC senescence was assessed by both senescence‐associated‐β‐galactosidase staining and DAPI staining. EPC proliferation was analyzed by MTT assay. EPC apoptosis was evaluated by flow cytometric analysis. eNOS protein expression was measured by Western blotting analysis. Aspirin promoted EPC migratory and adhesive capacity at concentrations between 0.1 and 100 μmol/L and prevented senescence at concentrations between 50 and 100 μmol/L. Meanwhile, aspirin in a range of these concentrations did not affect EPC proliferation, apoptosis or eNOS expression. Our findings indicate that low‐dose aspirin promotes migration and adhesion and delays the onset of senescence of EPCs.
Effects of Wnt proteins on cell proliferation and apoptosis in HEK293 cells
Authors: Jia Liwei , Miao Chenglin , Cao Yujing , Duan En Kui 
Published: March 2008

AbstractWnt proteins and Wnt signalings have been implicated in a variety of development and cell processes, while aberrant activation of Wnt signaling is linked to a range of cancers in many tissues. In this study, we used the HEK293 cell line to investigate the effects of Wnt3a and Wnt5a on proliferation and apoptosis in a serum starvation culture. After Wnt3a and Wnt5a proteins were expressed, they both promoted the proliferation of HEK293 cells under serum starvation. After 48 h of serum starvation, both Wnt3a and Wnt5a inhibited serum starvation‐induced apoptosis of HEK293 cells and continued up to 96 h. We demonstrated that Wnt3a and Wnt5a can promote proliferation of HEK293 cells and inhibit serum starvation‐induced apoptosis, which implies that Wnt3a and Wnt5a can maintain the survival of HEK293 cells under stress, and also provide a novel insight into the role of Wnt3a and Wnt5a and their related signalings in carcinogenesis.
Effects of FGF2 and TGFβ1 on the differentiation of human dental pulp stem cells in vitro
Authors: He Huixia , Yu Jinhua , Liu Yuan , Lu Shouchang , Liu Hongchen , Shi Junnan , Jin Yan 
Published: March 2008

AbstractTwo crucial growth factors, FGF2 and TGFβ1, were investigated in this study to determine their inductive effects on the odontoblastic differentiation of human dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) in vitro. DPSCs were isolated by immunomagnetic bead selection using the STRO‐1 antibody, and then co‐cultured respectively with FGF2, TGFβ1 and FGF2 + TGFβ1. The results showed that FGF2 can exert a significant effect on the cell proliferation, while TGFβ1 or FGF2 + TGFβ1 can initiate an odontoblast‐like differentiation of DPSCs. Moreover, FGF2 can synergistically upregulate the effects of TGFβ1 on the odontoblastic differentiation of DPSCs, as indicated by the increased alkaline phosphatase activity, the polarized cell appearance and secretary ultrastructural features, the formation of mineralized nodules and the gene/protein expression of dentin sialoprotein and dentin matrix protein‐1. Together, FGF2 acted primarily on the cell proliferation, while TGFβ1 and FGF2 + TGFβ1 mainly stimulated the odontoblastic differentiation of DPSCs. This study provides interesting progress in the odontoblastic differentiation of DPSCs induced by FGF2 and TGFβ1.
Arousal has no effect on non‐nutritive breathing–swallowing coordination during the first year of human life
Authors: Kelly Bronwen N. , Huckabee Maggie‐Lee , Frampton Christopher M.A. , Jones Richard D. 
Published: March 2008

AbstractAlthough the brainstem plays an important role in breathing–swallowing coordination (BSC), the role of suprabulbar structures is ill defined. Given the known decrease in global cerebral activity during sleep, the sleep–wake paradigm was used to elucidate suprabulbar influences. Non‐nutritive BSC of 10 healthy human infants was monitored longitudinally during wakefulness and sleep from birth to 1 year of age. Time‐locked recordings of submental muscle activity, nasal airflow, and thyroid acoustics enabled the categorization of swallows depending on the preceding and following respiratory phase. In contrast to the change in the overall pattern of BSC with age, and despite well‐known marked postnatal cortical development over this time, no arousal‐related differences were seen during the first year of life. This most likely reflects complete brainstem control of non‐nutritive BSC in infants.
Effects of an anti‐thyroid drug, methimazole, administration to rat dams on the cerebellar cortex development in their pups
Authors: Hasebe Miki , Matsumoto Ikumi , Imagawa Tomohiro , Uehara Masato 
Published: March 2008

AbstractIn the present study, the effects of methimazole (a major anti‐thyroid drug) administration to rat dams on the development of cerebellum of their pups were investigated with morphological, morphometrical and functional procedures. A motor performance in the pups was evaluated by a rota‐rod test. Brains removed on 6, 9, 12, 15, 25, and 30 postnatal days were analyzed using the sagittal sections of the cerebellum. Results showed that orally administered methimazole to dams produced a congenital hypothyroid model accompanied with an impaired motor coordination assured by the reduced thyroid hormones. The prominent anomaly was found in the internal granular layer in that there were excess bulges or branching and formation of excess sublobules although the normal lobulation pattern was kept. Three dimensional reconstruction imaging revealed the complex morphological pattern of internal granular layer of the cerebellar hemispheres as well as of the vermis, in which bulges and branches were viewed stereoscopically as the smooth ridges rather than irregular or nodal. In addition, the external granular layer in hypothyroidism survived another several days than that in controls. It is suggested that the complex internal granular layer resulted from the overproduced internal granular cells, which originate in the prolonged external granular layer.
Opioid Use in the Philippines — 20 years after the introduction of the WHO analgesic ladder
Authors: Javier Francis O. , Calimag Minerva P. 
Published: March 2008

Aim: To find out if the opioid usage has improved in the Philippines 20 years after the introduction of the WHO analgesic ladder.Background: Twenty years after the introduction of the WHO analgesic ladder in the Philippines, usage of morphine for cancer pain relief is still low. Barriers to opioid prescribing persist because of factors attributable to physicians, patients, families and constraints imposed by government regulatory bodies.Methods: A survey of 211 physicians on a purposive sampling representing various regions in the country was done. Respondents included anesthesiologists, surgeons, oncologists, and palliative care specialists, who were expected to prescribe opioids in their practice. A 20‐item multiple‐choice questionnaire was developed to explore possible barriers to opioid prescribing.Results: There is a very good awareness of the WHO analgesic ladder (72%) as well as the availability of opioids in their areas of practice (89.57%). Monitoring of pain as the “fifth vital sign” is adhered to by 68.25% of the respondents. There was only 60.66% compliance regarding availment of a narcotics license among respondent physicians. Various reasons were identified as to why they failed to get a narcotics license.Conclusions: There was adequate knowledge about the WHO analgesic ladder among the respondents. There is a perceived resistance to prescribe strong opioids like morphine making the step 2 of the ladder as a comfort zone by the physicians who tend to “overstay” in this step. Government regulatory policies have affected the physicians' attitudes concerning narcotics license application. There is a very slow, though steady increase in morphine and oxycodone usage in the country. Barriers to opioid use in cancer pain management still persist twenty years after the introduction of the WHO analgesic ladder.
Proposed 5‐step World Health Organization analgesic and side effect ladder
Authors: Riley Julia , Ross Joy R. , Gretton Sophy K. , A'Hern Roger , du Bois Ron , Welsh Ken , Thick Michael 
Published: March 2008

The WHO analgesic ladder has, up to now, been the “gold standard” for pain management. The ladder focuses on the presence or absence of pain relief but, at present, does not take into account the intolerable side effects of opioids. We believe that debilitating side effects are an equally valid reason for changing analgesia, particularly in light of new evidence supporting 'opioid switching'. Opioid switching involves changing a patient's strong opioid to an alternative strong opioid with the aim of improving analgesic response and/or reducing adverse side effects.We propose adding two additional steps to the WHO analgesic ladder to build an alternative five step ladder. The proposed fourth step involves 'opioid switching' and includes both pain and side effects as criteria for switching analgesics. The evidence for Step IV uses an algorithm derived from analysis of intervention patterns based on our recent trial data to identify the point at which a change in management is indicated. In our prospective study we identified four main factors which predict the need to switch. Three out of the four factors are opioid‐induced side effects. Thus, once a strong opioid has been commenced (Step 3) and a patient has had an adequate trial of titration on their first‐line strong opioid, the need for opioid switching (Step 4) is identified in the clinical setting once side effect scores fall within a critical range, triggering a change of treatment.If switching opioids fails, we propose that the fifth and final step of the WHO analgesic ladder should involve anaesthetic intervention.