bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Long‐term benefits of darifenacin treatment for patient quality of life: Results from a 2‐year extension study
Authors: Dwyer Peter , Kelleher Con , Young Jay , Haab François , Lheritier Karine , Ariely Rinat , Ebinger Ursula 
Published: July 2008

AbstractBackground and AimsOveractive bladder (OAB), a chronic condition requiring long‐term management, is associated with substantial impact on health‐related quality of life (HRQoL). The short‐term benefits of antimuscarinic drug treatment are well known. Here we investigate the impact on HRQoL of long‐term treatment with the M3‐selective muscarinic receptor antagonist darifenacin over 2 years.MethodsHRQoL was assessed using the King's Health Questionnaire (KHQ) for patients with ‘wet’ OAB treated with darifenacin (7.5/15 mg once daily [o.d.]) in an open‐label 2‐year extension of two double‐blind feeder studies. Data were also analyzed for the subset of patients who continued darifenacin 7.5/15 mg o.d. directly into the extension study from the feeder studies (the ‘darifenacin continuation’ group), and also older patients (≥65 years) and men within this group.ResultsThe total study population comprised 716 patients, of whom 303 patients formed the ‘darifenacin continuation’ group (including 85 patients ≥65 years and 41 men). Substantial impairment of HRQoL was noted in baseline KHQ assessments. KHQ scores improved significantly from feeder‐study baseline to extension study end/last visit in eight of the nine domains, with more than 50% of patients reporting improvements in seven of the nine domains. Despite fewer patients, significant improvements in KHQ scores were also observed in the subsets of older patients (≥65 years) and men. Almost two‐thirds of the ‘darifenacin continuation’ group were either satisfied or extremely satisfied with treatment.ConclusionsLong‐term darifenacin treatment was associated with significant and clinically meaningful improvements in HRQoL for patients with ‘wet’ OAB over 2 years. Neurourol. Urodynam. 27:540–547, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Chemical modification and characterization of gigaporous polystyrene microspheres as rapid separation of proteins base supports
Authors: Qu Jian‐Bo , Zhou Wei‐Qing , Wei Wei , Su Zhi‐Guo , Ma Guang‐Hui 
Published: July 2008

AbstractTo overcome the disadvantages of protein denaturation and nonspecific adsorption on poly(styrene‐divinylbenzene) (PS) matrix as chromatographic supports, gigaporous PS microspheres, which we prepared in a previous study, were chemically modified with poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) through two‐step reaction. The microspheres were chloroacetylated through Friedel‐Crafts acetylation with chloroacetyl chloride and modified with hydrophilic PVA through Williamson reaction afterward. The modified microspheres were characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra, X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), scanning electron microscope (SEM), mercury porosimetry measurements (MPM), BET nitrogen adsorption measurements, laser scanning confocal microscope (LSCM), and protein adsorption experiments. Results showed that PS microspheres were successfully coated with PVA, while the gigaporous structure could be maintained. Consequently, the hydrophilicity and biocompatibility of modified microspheres was greatly improved and nonspecific adsorption of proteins was significantly decreased. The coatings contained only stable chemical bonds (e.g., CC, COC) and easily derived hydroxyl moieties. The large pores of gigaporous PS microspheres also facilitated the modification by PVA. After further derivation, the coated gigaporous base supports could apply in various modes of chromatography and have great potentials in high‐speed protein chromatography. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 5794–5804, 2008
Synthesis and properties of polyethylene with side‐chain triphenylamines as hole‐transporting materials
Authors: Park Myung Hwan , Huh Jung Oh , Do Youngkyu , Lee Min Hyung 
Published: July 2008

AbstractThe copolymerization of ethylene with triphenylamine (TPA)‐containing α‐olefin monomer 1 using a rac‐Et(Ind)2ZrCl2 (EBIZr)/MAO catalytic system was investigated to prepare polyethylene with pendent TPA groups. Despite the presence of a large excess of TPA moieties, the polymerization reactions efficiently produce copolymers of high‐molecular‐weight with the comonomer incorporation up to 6.1 mol % upon varying the comonomer concentration in the feed. Inspection of the aliphatic region of the 13C‐NMR spectrum and the estimated copolymerization parameters (r1 ≈ 0 for 1 and rE ≈ 43 for ethylene) reveal the presence of isolated comonomer units in the polymer chain. While UV–vis absorption measurements of the copolymers show an invariant absorption feature, PL spectra exhibit a slightly red‐shifted emission with increasing content of 1 in the polymer chain. All the copolymers show high thermal stability (Td5 > 436 °C), and the electrochemical stability toward oxidation is also observed. Particularly, the copolymer displays hole‐transporting ability for the stable green emission of Alq3 when incorporated into the hole‐transporting layer of an electroluminescence device. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 5816–5825, 2008
Assessment of fungicide systemicity in wheat using LC‐MS/MS
Authors: Klittich Carla JR , Green Fredrick R , Ruiz James M. , Weglarz Ted , Blakeslee Beth A 
Published: July 2008

AbstractBACKGROUND: Systemicity is an important attribute of fungicides that is difficult to measure in early‐stage screening without labeling the compound with a radioisotope. A method of measuring translocation that does not require potent fungicidal activity or a radiolabel would guide identification of compounds with desirable attributes.RESULTS: The authors developed an analytical technique that mimics field application, using LC‐MS/MS to screen compounds for translocation in wheat leaves. The method sorted commercial and experimental fungicides appropriately into systemic and non‐systemic categories. A model using LC‐MS/MS data was equivalent to a lipophilicity model and superior to a water solubility model at predicting compound systemicity.CONCLUSION: Early‐stage compounds can be screened for systemicity on whole plants using LC‐MS/MS. Copyright © 2008 Society of Chemical Industry
Relative importance of within‐habitat environment, land use and spatial autocorrelations for determining odonate assemblages in rural reservoir ponds in Japan
Authors: Hamasaki Kenji , Yamanaka Takehiko , Tanaka Koichi , Nakatani Yukinobu , Iwasaki Nobusuke , Sprague David S. 
Published: July 2008

AbstractTo clarify the major factors affecting odonate assemblages in rural reservoir ponds among within‐habitat environments, land use around ponds and spatial autocorrelation, we surveyed odonate adults (Zygoptera and Anisoptera) in 70 study ponds in Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan, during three sampling periods in 2005. Redundancy analyses (RDA) for these three factor groups were executed to determine their strength in explaining the odonate species composition. Their relative contributions were also evaluated by the method of variation partitioning. A total of 41 odonate species were recorded in the study ponds, and 24 of them, excluding rare species, were used for our analysis. Summed effects including all three factor groups explained approximately 39% of the variation in odonate species composition. We found that spatial autocorrelation was the most important, though the within‐habitat environment and land use had comparable effects. We conclude that spatial autocorrelation should be considered in this type of analysis, though we could not clearly explain what caused such a spatial structure. Pond area and debris that had accumulated at the bottom of ponds were selected as the within‐habitat environment, and the forests and paddy fields around ponds were selected for land use after the procedure of forward stepwise selection. These results suggest that the recent decrease of forests around the ponds has had a negative effect on the odonate assemblages.
Enhanced expression of transgene in CHO cells using matrix attachment region
Authors: Wang Tian‐Yun , Yang Rui , Qin Chuan , Wang Li , Yang Xian‐Jun 
Published: July 2008

AbstractThe expression of transgenes in mammalian cells is often at a low level mainly due to position effects from the neighboring chromatin context. To improve this, we have constructed a vector pCAM, which contains chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) reporter gene cassettes, driven by SV40 early promoter and flanked by two human β‐globin MARs in cis. We transfected this vector into the Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cell line, and found that the level of CAT gene expression with MAR was effectively increased, about 5.493‐fold higher than those without MARs. Moreover, the variations of CAT expression among individuals of transformants were decreased 2.670‐fold. Our result also showed that MAR could increase the proportion of positive colonies in recombinants.
Hepatic differentiation of cord blood‐derived multipotent progenitor cells (MPCs) in vitro
Authors: Moon Young Joon , Lee Myoung Woo , Yoon Hee Hoon , Yang Mal Sook , Jang In Keun , Lee Jong Eun , Kim Hyo Eun , Eom Young‐woo , Park Joon Seong , Kim Hugh C. , Kim Young Jin , Lee Kwang‐Ho 
Published: July 2008

AbstractUmbilical cord blood (UCB) is a rich source of hematopoietic stem cells that possesses practical and ethical advantages. We previously reported a novel UCB‐derived adult stem cells which we termed umbilical cord blood‐derived multipotent progenitor cells’ (MPCs). MPCs were capable of differentiating into functional neuronal cells. Under appropriate conditions lasting several days or weeks, we now show that the MPCs differentiate into hepatocyte‐like cells in vitro; their properties were verified using reverse transcription‐polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR), Western blot, immunofluorescence, periodic acid‐Schiff (PAS) staining of accumulated glycogen and an enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). We also found that hepatic differentiated cells expressed hepatocyte specific markers, such as albumin, hepatocyte nuclear factor (HNF)‐1α, HNF4, cytokeratin (CK)‐8, CK‐18, tyrosine amino transferase (TAT), and CYP2B6. Moreover, albumin was secreted, which suggests that MPCs from UCB possess multi‐differentiation potential and have the capacity to differentiate into functional cells of hepatic lineage in vitro.
Contractile and coronary vascular effects of pituitary adenylate cyclase activating polypeptide in neonatal pig hearts
Authors: Ascuitto Robert J. , Ross-Ascuitto Nancy T. , Waddell Alice E. , Kadowitz Phillip J. 
Published: July 2008

Abstract

Objective
The purpose was to investigate the influence of the 38-amino-acid neuropeptide, pituitary adenylate cyclase activating polypeptide (PACAP38), on contractile function and coronary vascular tone in neonatal hearts.

Methods
Isolated, paced (150 bpm), isovolumically-beating, piglet hearts (n = 19) underwent retrograde aortic perfusion at constant coronary flow (≈2.5 ml/min/gwet) with an erythrocyte-enriched (Hct 15-0%) solution (37 °C). Agonists were injected into the aortic root of hearts, and the changes in + dP/dtmax and − dP/dtmax (reflecting contractility), and coronary perfusion pressure (reflecting vascular tone) were determined. Responses to PAPCAP38 were compared to isoproterenol, and to the truncated peptide PACAP6–38.

Results
PACAP38 (0.1 and 0.5 nmol) increased + dP/dtmax from 1387.4 ± 134.6 to 1619.0 ± 118.7, and from 1296.2 ± 93.4 to 1872.2 ± 111.4 mmHg/s (P &lt; 0.05); changed −dP/dtmax from −1087.6 ± 107.5 to −1206.6 ± 93.6, and from −1025.0 ± 46.8 to −1375.4 ± 80.9 mmHg/s (P &lt; 0.05) and decreased coronary perfusion pressure from 61.8 ± 2.5 to 51.0 ± 3.8, and from 62.5 ± 1.0 to 45.3 ± 3.3 mmHg (P &lt; 0.05), respectively. In comparison, isoproterenol (0.1 nmol) increased +dP/dtmax from 1313.6 ± 62.8 to 1679.0 ± 74.4 (P &lt; 0.05), and −dP/dtmax from −1026.4 ± 54.1 to −1222.6 ± 57.4 mmHg/s (P &lt; 0.05). PACAP6–38 reduced PACAP38's coronary vasodilatory, but not its contractile, effect. When compared to our previous studies of the the 27-amino-acid neuropeptide PACAP27, PACAP38 had less potent contractile, but similar vasodilatory effects.

Conclusions
PACAP38 enhanced contractility and produced coronary vasodilation in piglet hearts, which may make PACAP38 a promising cardiotonic agent for the treatment of neonates with heart failure.
Kinetics of alkaline phosphatase and lactoperoxidase inactivation, and of β-lactoglobulin denaturation in milk with different fat content
Authors: CLAEYS WENDIE L. , VAN LOEY ANN M. , HENDRICKX MARC E. 
Published: July 2008

In the context of identifying intrinsic time temperature integrators (TTIs) for evaluating heat processing of milk, the extent to which milk fat content has an effect on alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and lactoperoxidase (Lpo) inactivation and on β-lactoglobulin (β-lg) denaturation kinetics was studied. Inactivation and denaturation kinetics were analysed in whole, semi-skimmed and skimmed milk. In previous experiments (isothermal and non-isothermal heating conditions), heat inactivation of ALP and Lpo and heat denaturation of β-lg were found to follow first order kinetics. This allowed experimental design to be simplified. Data analysis was performed by non-linear regression and results were evaluated by construction of joint confidence regions. The possible effect of milk fat was illustrated by temperature time tolerance (TTT-) diagrams. Although initial ALP activity was lower in skimmed milk compared with semi-skimmed or whole milk, kinetics were comparable and fat content did not seem to substantially affect the ALP test result for pasteurized milk. Unlike ALP, Lpo inactivation and β-lg denaturation kinetics differed significantly in milk with different fat content. Differences between Lpo inactivation kinetics were relatively small and acceptable in the context of quantifying the process impact. Denaturation of β-lg, on the other hand, seemed to be enhanced at higher milk fat content (>72 °C).
Addition of fish oil to diets for dairy cows. II. Effects on milk fat and gene expression of mammary lipogenic enzymes
Authors: AHNADI CHARAF E. , BESWICK NAOMI , DELBECCHI LOUIS , KENNELLY JOHN J. , LACASSE PIERRE 
Published: July 2008

Sixteen Holstein cows in mid-lactation were used to determine whether alterations of mammary fatty acid metabolism are responsible for the milk fat depression associated with consumption of fish oil. Cows were given a total mixed ration with no added fish oil (control), unprotected fish oil (3.7% of dry matter), or glutaraldehyde-protected microcapsules of fish oil (1.5% or 3.0% of dry matter) for 4 weeks. Milk samples were taken once a week and a mammary biopsy was taken from a rear quarter at the end of the treatment period. Milk fat content was lower in cows given unprotected fish oil (26.0 g/kg), 1.5% protected fish oil (24.6 g/kg) and 3% protected fish oil (20.4 g/kg) than in cows fed the control diet (36.0 g/kg). This was mainly due to a decrease in the synthesis of short-chain fatty acids. Consumption of protected fish oil decreased the abundance of lipogenic enzymes mRNA in the mammary gland. Acetyl-CoA carboxylase, fatty acid synthase, and stearoyl-CoA desaturase mRNAs for cows given 3% protected fish oil averaged only 30%, 25% and 25% of control values, respectively. Dietary addition of unprotected fish oil slightly decreased mRNA abundance of these enzymes but markedly reduced the amount of lipoprotein lipase mRNA. Milk fat content was significantly correlated with gene expression of acetyl-CoA carboxylase, fatty acid synthase, and stearoyl-CoA desaturase but not lipoprotein lipase. These results suggest that fish oil reduces milk fat percentage by inhibiting gene expression of mammary lipogenic enzymes.
Law and love: the Jewish family in early modern Italy
Authors: TZVI ADELMAN HOWARD 
Published: July 2008

In legal texts, women, acting on their own volition, are actually described as individuals in negative terms. This study examines clandestine betrothals and marriages; adultery, especially the treatment of adulterous women; the abused wife and her ability to initiate divorce proceedings against her husband; and testaments left with Christian notaries by Jewish women.While they were limited by various laws and customs, individuals managed to use laws and social structures for their own advantage, negotiated space for themselves, and devised strategies to fulfil their wishes, which could be described as the pursuit of love, by circumventing obstacles placed in their way by communities, families, and the law. These practices raise questions about familial control, rabbinic authority, and communal power.
Regional blow-up for a higher-order semilinear parabolic equation
Authors: CHAVES MANUELA , GALAKTIONOV VICTOR A. 
Published: July 2008

We study the blow-up behaviour of solutions of a 2mth order semilinear parabolic equation[formula here]with a superlinear function q(u) for |u| Gt; 1. We prove some estimates on the asymptotic blow-up behaviour. Such estimates apply to general integral evolution equations. We answer the following question: find a continuous function q(u) with a superlinear growth as u → ∞ such that the parabolic equation exhibits regional blow-up in a domain of finite non-zero measure. We show that such a regional blow-up can occur for q(u) = u|ln|u‖2m. We present a formal asymptotic theory explaining that the stable (generic) blow-up behaviour as t → T− is described by the self-similar solution[formula here]of the complex Hamilton–Jacobi equation[formula here].
Science under Socialism in the USSR and Beyond
Authors: Pollock Ethan 
Published: July 2008

Vera Tolz, Russian Academicians and the Revolution: Combining Professionalism and Politics (New York: St. Martin's Press, 1997), 236 pp., £40.00, ISBN 0-333-71239-0.Nikolai Krementsov, Stalinist Science (Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1997), 371 pp., hb, £40, ISBN 0-691-02877-X.Paul R. Josephson, New Atlantis Revisited: Akademgorodok, the Siberian City of Science (Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1997), 351 pp., £27.50, ISBN 0-691-04454-6.Kristie Macrakis and Dieter Hoffmann, eds., Science under Socialism: East Germany in Comparative Perspective (Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1999), 380 pp., hb, £41.50, ISBN 0-674-79477-X.Loren Graham, What Have We Learned About Science and Technology from the Russian Experience? (Stanford: Stanford University Press, 1998), 177 pp., hb, $42.00, ISBN 0-804-73276-0.Is the position of a citizen in the country to be determined only by his political weight?
There was a time when alongside the emperor stood the patriarch: the church was then the
bearer of culture. The church is becoming obsolete, the patriarchs have had their day, but
the country cannot manage without leaders in the sphere of ideas …Only science and scientists can move our technology, economy and state order forward
…Sooner or later we will have to raise scientists to the rank of patriarch. That will be
necessary because without that you will not make scientists always serve the country with
enthusiasm … Without that patriarchal position for the scientists the country cannot grow
culturally on its own, just as Bacon noted in his ‘New Atlantis’. It is time, therefore, for
comrades of Comrade [Lavrenty] Beria's type to begin to learn respect for scientists.Letter from Peter Leonidovich Kapitsa to Joseph Stalin, 3 October 1945
Weakly Saturated Hypergraphs and Exterior Algebra
Authors: PIKHURKO OLEG 
Published: July 2008

Given an r-graph F, an r-graph G is called weakly F-saturated if the edges missing from G
can be added, one at a time, in some order, each extra edge creating a new copy of F. Let
w-sat(n, F) be the minimal size of a weakly F-saturated graph of order n. We compute the
w-sat function for a wide class of r-graphs called pyramids: these include many examples
for which the w-sat function was known, as well as many new examples, such as the
computation of w-sat(n,Ks + Kt), and enable us to prove a conjecture of Tuza.Our main technique, developed from ideas of Kalai, is based on matroids derived from
exterior algebra. We prove that if it succeeds for some graphs then the same is true for the
‘cones’ and ‘joins’ of such graphs, so that the w-sat function can be computed for many
graphs that are built up from certain elementary graphs by these operations.
The meaning of quality of life: Narrations by patients with incurable cancer in palliative home care
Authors: Melin-Johansson Christina , Ödling Gunvor , Axelsson Bertil , Danielson Ella 
Published: July 2008

ABSTRACTObjective:The objective of this qualitative study was to elucidate the meaning of quality of life as narrated by patients with incurable cancer approaching death in palliative home care in Sweden.Methods:To gain a deeper understanding of what quality of life means for dying patients, data were collected from narrative interviews with eight patients in their homes in 2004–2006. Qualitative content analysis was used to interpret the meaning regarding quality of life.Results:Three main themes were found: being in intense suffering, having breathing space in suffering, and being at home. Living with incurable cancer at the end of life was experienced as living in physical distress as the body became incapacitated by unexpected physical complications. This incapacity had consequences on patients’ psychological, social, and existential well-being. As the complication phase abated, the patients experienced that they regained hopefulness and had time to reflect on existential issues. Patients were provided affirmative care at home from family caregivers and the palliative home care team.Significance of results:This study shows that it is feasible to perform individual interviews with patients approaching death and elucidate the meaning of patients’ quality of life in palliative home care. Patients oscillate between being in intense suffering and having breathing space in this suffering, which somewhat opposes the traditional picture of a continuous linear deterioration. Being cared for at home by family caregivers and health care professionals provided a sense of independency and security. Being at home safeguards patients’ entire life situation and increases quality of life.
The conjoint use of music therapy and reflexology with hospitalized advanced stage cancer patients and their families
Authors: Magill Lucanne , Berenson Susan 
Published: July 2008

ABSTRACTAdvanced stage cancer patients experience debilitating physical symptoms as well as profound emotional and spiritual struggles. Advanced disease is accompanied by multiple changes and losses for the patient and the family. Palliative care focuses on the relief of overall suffering of patients and families, including symptom control, psychosocial support, and the meeting of spiritual needs. Music therapy and reflexology are complementary therapies that can soothe and provide comfort. When used conjointly, they provide a multifaceted experience that can aid in the reduction of anxiety, pain, and isolation; facilitate communication between patients, family members, and staff; and provide the potential for a more peaceful dying experience for all involved. This article addresses the benefits of the combined use of music therapy and reflexology. Two case studies are presented to illustrate the application and benefits of this dual approach for patients and their families regarding adjustment to the end of life in the presence of anxiety and cognitive impairment.