bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
BICARBONATE STIMULATION OF CALCIFICATION AND PHOTOSYNTHESIS IN TWO HERMATYPIC CORALS1
Authors: Herfort Lydie , Thake Brenda , Taubner Isabelle 
Published: February 2008

A wide range of bicarbonate concentrations was used to monitor the kinetics of bicarbonate (HCO3−) use in both photosynthesis and calcification in two reef‐building corals, Porites porites and Acropora sp. Experiments carried out close to the P. porites collection site in Barbados showed that additions of NaHCO3 to synthetic seawater proportionally increased the calcification rate of this coral until the concentration exceeded three times that of seawater (6 mM). Photosynthetic rates were also stimulated by HCO3− addition, but these became saturated at a lower concentration (4 mM). Similar experiments on aquarium‐acclimated colonies of Indo‐Pacific Acropora sp. showed that calcification and photosynthesis in this coral were enhanced to an even greater extent than P. porites, with calcification continuing to increase above 8 mM HCO3−, and photosynthesis saturating at 6 mM. Calcification rates of Acropora sp. were also monitored in the dark, and, although these were lower than in the light for a given HCO3− concentration, they still increased dramatically with HCO3− addition, showing that calcification in this coral is light stimulated but not light dependent.
Prosthetic Rehabilitation of Orofacial Donor Site Fistula Following Surgical Reconstruction: A Clinical Report
Authors: Kumar T. Pavan , Azhagarasan N.S. , Shankar K. Chitra , Rajan Manoj 
Published: February 2008

AbstractOrofacial defects can be either congenital or acquired. Rehabilitation of these patients can be done using a surgical and/or a prosthetic approach. In situations where surgical reconstruction is not possible, prosthetic management becomes the only option. This clinical report describes a simple, economical, and effective technique for the prosthetic rehabilitation of a patient with oro‐cutaneous fistula due to donor site dehiscence following tumor defect reconstruction.
Inducibility of Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation by Isoproterenol and its Relation to the Mode of Onset of Atrial Fibrillation
Authors: ORAL HAKAN , CRAWFORD THOMAS , FREDERICK MELISSA , GADEELA NITESH , WIMMER ALAN , DEY SUJOYA , SARRAZIN JEAN F. , KUHNE MICHAEL , CHALFOUN NAGIB , WELLS DARRYL , GOOD ERIC , JONGNARANGSIN KRIT , CHUGH AMAN , BOGUN FRANK , PELOSI FRANK , MORADY FRED 
Published: February 2008

Background: Isoproterenol has been used to assess inducibility during catheter ablation for paroxysmal PAF. However, no studies have determined the sensitivity and specificity of isoproterenol for the induction of AF. It also is not clear whether isoproterenol is equally effective in inducing AF in the clinical subtypes of vagotonic, adrenergic, and random AF. Objective: To determine the sensitivity and specificity of isoproterenol for the induction of atrial fibrillation (AF). Methods: Isoproterenol was infused at 5, 10, 15, and 20 μg/min at 2‐minute intervals or until AF was induced in 20 control subjects with no history of AF and in 80 patients with PAF. Results: Among the 20 control subjects, AF was induced by isoproterenol in one patient (5%). Among the 80 patients with PAF, persistent AF was induced in 67 patients (84%, P < 0.001). Isoproterenol induced AF in 15 of 17 patients (88%) with vagotonic AF, 11 of 11 patients (100%) with adrenergic AF, and 41 of 52 patients (79%) with random episodes of AF (P = 0.2). The yield of AF was 11% (9/80) after 5 μg/min, 28% (22/80) after 10 μg/min, 51% (40/78) after 15 μg/min, and 88% (67/76) after 20 μg/min of isoproterenol (P < 0.01). Isoproterenol had to be discontinued in four patients (5%) before reaching the maximum dose due to reversible chest pain or systolic blood pressure <85 mmHg. Conclusions: Isoproterenol at infusion rates up to 20 μg/min has a high sensitivity (88%) and specificity (95%) for induction of AF in patients with PAF, regardless of whether the clinical subtype is vagotonic, adrenergic, or random.
Health‐related quality of life in the era of erythropoietin
Authors: WEISBORD Steven D. , KIMMEL Paul L. 
Published: February 2008

AbstractPatients with end‐stage renal disease treated with maintenance hemodialysis suffer substantial impairments in health‐related quality of life (HRQOL). Despite widespread efforts, there are few interventions that improve the overall well‐being and quality of life of this patient population. The current review provides a description of HRQOL as an essential, yet arguably overlooked health‐related domain in hemodialysis patients, and discusses interventions that have been evaluated to improve the functional status and well‐being of this population, with a particular focus on therapy with recombinant human erythropoietin. We review the controversy surrounding recombinant human erythropoietin as it relates to HRQOL, and describe the delicate balance faced by renal providers who seek to reduce hemodialysis patients' morbidity and mortality while simultaneously striving to improve patients' HRQOL.
Hemodialysis: A therapeutic option for severe attacks of acute intermittent porphyria in developing countries
Authors: PRABAHAR MURUGESAN R. , MANORAJAN RAJENDRAN , SATHIYAKUMAR DEVASAHAYAM , SOUNDARARAJAN PERIYASAMY , JAYAKUMAR MATCHA 
Published: February 2008

AbstractAcute intermittent prophyria (AIP) is an autosomal dominant disease that results from a defect in the enzyme porphobilinogen deaminase. Acute intermittent porphyria is the most common of hepatic porphyrias and can tax the therapeutic capabilities of the physician to the limit. Motor weakness is a major feature of an acute attack, and flaccid paralysis of all extremities can occur rapidly, within a matter of days. The acute attacks may be life threatening. Hematin (Heme Arginate) should be given early during an acute attack to prevent neurologic sequel. Hemodialysis and hemoperfusion have been tried in the treatment of acute attacks of AIP with success. As hematin is not available in India, a severe acute attack of AIP in a patient was managed with hemodialysis successfully. Later, hematin was imported and provided to the patient. An 18‐year‐old girl was admitted to our hospital with recurrent abdominal pain and 2 episodes of convulsions. She had undergone an appendectomy earlier at another hospital for abdominal pain. On evaluation, she had hyponatremia, episodic abnormal behavior, generalized muscle pain, hypertension, and sinus tachycardia. In view of the above clinical picture, a clinical diagnosis of acute intermittent porphyria was made. Her 24‐hr urinary porphobilinogen was 90.8 mg/day (<2 mg—normal) and α amino levalunic acid was 108.8 mg/day (1–7 mg—normal), consistent with the diagnosis. Her hyponatremia was corrected. Arrangements were made to import hematin and she was managed with dextrose infusion. Meanwhile, she developed flaccid quardriparesis with urinary incontinence and bulbar palsy. Her brain MRI was normal. Her nerve conduction study was suggestive of motor radiculoneuropathy. Specific treatment for severe porphyric crisis was planned. She failed to improve with dextrose infusion alone. As hematin was not readily available in the country, other therapeutic options were considered. As few case reports of AIP being successfully treated with hemodialysis were available, the option of dialytic support was explained to the family. After procuring informed consent, she was subjected to hemodialysis for 4 hr in the first day, increasing to 6 hr a day for the next 6 days. Her abdominal pain and myalgia subsided on the third day of dialysis. Her lower limb muscle power improved and she became ambulant by the fourth day. Urinary retention improved within 4 days. Hematin was imported by then from the United States. Later, 2 doses of hematin (4 mg/kg–160 mg in 20% albumin) were given via a central vein. She was maintained on physiotherapy. Repeat nerve conduction study revealed recovery. She has been provided with a list of drugs that have to be avoided. Currently, she is on outpatient follow‐up with occasional abdominal pain, which subsides with intravenous dextrose therapy.
Effect of acetate‐free biofiltration with a potassium‐profiled dialysate on the control of cardiac arrhythmias in patients at risk: A pilot study
Authors: MUÑOZ Rosa I. , MONTENEGRO Jesús , SALCEDO Alberto , GALLARDO Isabel , MARTÍNEZ Isabel , QUINTANILLA Nuria , SARACHO Ramón , LEKUONA Iñaki 
Published: February 2008

AbstractCardiac arrhythmias are a frequent event in chronic hemodialysis patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of acetate‐free hemofiltration with potassium‐profiled dialysate (AFB‐K) dialysis compared with constant potassium acetate‐free biofiltration (AFB). Twelve patients (mean age 79 years) affected by cardiac arrhythmias or at a high risk for arrhythmia (advanced age, hypertension, left ventricular hypertrophy, heart valve disease, coronary artery disease, diabetes, paroxysmal atrial fibrillation) participated in a single‐center, sequential cohort study. All were treated with hemodialysis 3 times per week, using constant potassium AFB for the first 3 weeks, followed by an AFB‐K dialysate for the subsequent 3 weeks. The hemofilter, duration of dialysis, and electrolyte concentration were the same in both treatments. Both AFB‐K and constant potassium AFB dialytic techniques were safe and well tolerated. The results of biochemical tests were similar, except for serum potassium levels after 2 hr of dialysis, which were significantly higher in the AFB‐K group (4.0 mmol/L) than in the constant potassium AFB group (3.6 mmol/L) (p<0.001). All cardiac variables improved during AFB‐K dialysis. There was a significant reduction of postdialysis QT intervals corrected for heart rate in the AFB‐K group (448.8 ms) compared with the constant potassium AFB group (456.8 ms) (p=0.039). The severity and mean number of ventricular extasystoles also decreased (163.5 vs. 444.5/24 hr). Potassium profiling during hemodialysis treatment may be beneficial for patients with arrhythmias or at those risk of arrhythmias, particularly those with predialysis hyperkalemia.
Activation of TGF‐β within cultured hepatocytes and in liver injury leads to intracrine signaling with expression of connective tissue growth factor
Authors: Gressner Olav A. , Lahme Birgit , Siluschek Monika , Rehbein Katharina , Herrmann Jens , Weiskirchen Ralf , Gressner Axel M. 
Published: February 2008

AbstractRecently, synthesis and secretion of connective tissue growth factor (CTGF)/CYR61/CTGF/NOV‐family member 2 (CCN2) in cultures of hepatocytes were shown, which are sensitively up‐regulated by exogenous TGF‐β. In this study TGF‐β‐dependent CTGF/CCN2 expression in hepatocytes cultured under completely TGF‐β‐free conditions was analysed by Western‐blots, metabolic labelling, and CTGF‐reporter gene assays. In alkaline phosphatase monoclonal anti‐alkaline phosphatase complex (APAAP)‐staining of cultured hepatocytes it was demonstrated that latent TGF‐β within the hepatocytes becomes rapidly detectable during culture indicating an intracellular demasking of the mature TGF‐β antigen. Subsequent signaling to theCTGF/CCN2 promoter occurs via p‐Smad2, whereas p‐Smad3 does not seem to be involved. Cycloheximide did not abolish the rapid immunocytochemical appearance of mature TGF‐β, but calpain inhibitors partially suppressed intracellular TGF‐β activation and subsequently CTGF up‐regulation. Calpain treatment had the reverse effect. None of the inhibitors of extracellular TGF‐β signalling was effective in the reduction of spontaneous CTGF synthesis, but intracellularly acting Alk 4‐/Alk 5‐specific inhibitor SB‐431542 was able to diminish CTGF expression. The assumption that latent intracellular TGF‐β is activated by calpains during culture‐induced stress or injurious conditions in the liver in vivo was further validated by a direct effect of calpains on the activation of recombinant latent TGF‐β. In conclusion, these data are the first to suggest the possibility of intracrine TGF‐β signalling due to calpain‐dependent intracellular proteolytic activation leading to transcriptional activation of CTGF/CCN2 as a TGF‐β‐sensitive reporter gene. This mechanism might be deleterious for keeping long‐term hepatocyte cultures due to TGF‐β‐induced apoptosis and, further, might be of relevance for induction of apoptosis or epithelial‐mesenchymal transition of hepatocytes in injured liver.
Rural veterinary services in Western Australia: Part A. Government veterinary services
Authors: Maxwell JAL , Costa ND , Layman LL , Robertson ID 
Published: February 2008

Objective    To determine the status of rural veterinary services in Western Australia.Procedure    Two questionnaires were mailed to eligible, registered veterinary surgeons in Western Australia in 2006. The first was mailed to government veterinarians and the second to private practitioners in rural practice. Part A presents the replies from government veterinary officers and Part B the replies from rural practitioners. Replies were transferred to Microsoft Excel for analysis.Results    Sixty‐seven per cent of government veterinary officers responded to the questionnaire. Eighty per cent of these had been in the service for 20 years or more and their average age was 54. Work with sheep and beef cattle occupied 75% of their time, with dairy cattle receiving 10% and pigs and poultry less than 10%. The majority of respondents reported changes in the attitude of farmers to the service as a result of rural recessions and the decision to make a direct charge for government veterinary services. Although most respondents thought that the government veterinary service would continue in the future there were differences of opinion as to what form that would take.Conclusion    Government veterinary services in Western Australia are undergoing major changes, with the service decreasing in size and scope. Recently the Department of Agriculture has been renamed the Department of Agriculture and Food and it is likely that the role of its veterinary officers will change accordingly.
QUENCHING OF THE TRIPLET STATE OF CHLOROPHYLL a BY ASCORBIC ACID AND ASCORBATE IN ETHANOLIC SOLUTION
Authors: Holmes DeField T. 
Published: February 2008

Abstract— Ascorbic acid and ascorbate in chlorophyll ethanol solution were found to be fairly efficient quenchers of the chlorophyll triplet state; comparable to the efficiency of ascorbic acid as a quencher in aqueous pyridine solution.It has been well established that ascorbic acid quenches the triplet state of chlorophyll in aqueous pyridine solution.(1,2) The bimolecular quenching constant, kQ, is very much less than that for O2 or quinine.(3,4)Information regarding the quenching of the triplet state of chlorophyll by ascorbic acid in ethanolic solution is lacking. There has been some question as to whether ascorbic acid reduces photoexcited chloro‐phyll‐ethanolic solution because of its high oxidation potential, or because like the ascorbate ion, it acts only as a quencher; both ascorbic acid and ascorbate in high concentrations gave low quantum yields.(5) The quenching of the triplet state by ascorbic acid and ascorbate was determined by the flash‐photolytic method.
Quantification of PRL/Stat5 signaling with a novel pGL4-CISH reporter
Authors: Fang Feng , Antico Giovanni , Zheng Jiamao , Clevenger Charles V 
Published: February 2008

Abstract

Background
Elevations of serum prolactin (PRL) are associated with an increased risk for breast cancer. PRL signaling through its prolactin receptor (PRLr) involves the Jak2/Stat5 pathway. Luciferase-based reporter assays have been widely used to evaluate the activity of this pathway. However, the existing reporters are often not sensitive enough to monitor the effect of PRL in this pathway.

Results
In this study, a new biologically relevant reporter, pGL4-CISH, was generated to study the PRL/Jak2/Stat5 signaling pathway. The sensitivity of pGL4-CISH to detect PRL was superior to that of several other commonly utilized Stat5-responsive reporters. Interestingly, the enhanced function pGL4-CISH was restricted to the estrogen receptor positive (ER+) human breast cancer cell lines T47D and MCF7, but not in the ER-MDA-231, BT-474, or MCF10A cell lines. Overexpression of Stat5 further enhanced the effect of PRL on pGL4-CISH.

Conclusion
These studies demonstrate that pGL4-CISH is a novel and sensitive reporter for assessing the activity of the PRL/Stat5 signaling pathway in the ER+ human breast cancer cells.
Proapoptotic BH3-Only Protein Bid Is Essential For Death Receptor–Induced Apoptosis of Pancreatic β-Cells
Authors: McKenzie Mark D. , Carrington Emma M. , Kaufmann Thomas , Strasser Andreas , Huang David C.S. , Kay Thomas W.H. , Allison Janette , Thomas Helen E. 
Published: February 2008

OBJECTIVE—Apoptosis of pancreatic β-cells is critical in both diabetes development and failure of islet transplantation. The role in these processes of pro- and antiapoptotic Bcl-2 family proteins, which regulate apoptosis by controlling mitochondrial integrity, remains poorly understood. We investigated the role of the BH3-only protein Bid and the multi-BH domain proapoptotic Bax and Bak, as well as prosurvival Bcl-2, in β-cell apoptosis.RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS—We isolated islets from mice lacking Bid, Bax, or Bak and those overexpressing Bcl-2 and exposed them to Fas ligand, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, and proinflammatory cytokines or cytotoxic stimuli that activate the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway (staurosporine, etoposide, γ-radiation, tunicamycin, and thapsigargin). Nuclear fragmentation was measured by flow cytometry.RESULTS—Development and function of islets were not affected by loss of Bid, and Bid-deficient islets were as susceptible as wild-type islets to cytotoxic stimuli that cause apoptosis via the mitochondrial pathway. In contrast, Bid-deficient islets and those overexpressing antiapoptotic Bcl-2 were protected from Fas ligand–induced apoptosis. Bid-deficient islets were also resistant to apoptosis induced by TNF-α plus cycloheximide and were partially resistant to proinflammatory cytokine-induced death. Loss of the multi-BH domain proapoptotic Bax or Bak protected islets partially from death receptor–induced apoptosis.CONCLUSIONS—These results demonstrate that Bid is essential for death receptor–induced apoptosis of islets, similar to its demonstrated role in hepatocytes. This indicates that blocking Bid activity may be useful for protection of islets from immune-mediated attack and possibly also in other pathological states in which β-cells are destroyed.
Elastic Janus Microarray Film Strain Sensors with Heterogeneous Modulus and Conductivity for Healthcare and Braille Identification
Authors: Shao He‐Qing , Wei Kai‐Dong , Gong Tao , Jia Jin , Tang Chun‐Yan , Zha Xiang‐Jun , Ke Kai , Bao Rui‐Ying , Zhang Kai , Wang Yu , Yang Wei 
Published: April 2024

AbstractMost stretchable film strain sensors generally present nonlinear electrical responses to applied strain, leading to an inaccurate acquisition of sophisticated signals, difficult signal processing, and zero‐calibration, which hampers practical applications severely. Here, a Janus hetero‐structured microarray film sensor is developed by in‐situ growth of silver nanoparticles on the surface of micro‐patterned elastomer films fabricated via low‐temperature imprinting followed by scraping‐induced particle trapping. Heterogeneous property designs in both modulus and electrical conductivity via introducing polymer microarrays enable modulating the electron transport manner in the conductive layer of elastic Janus films upon stretching, allowing to tune signal linearity effectively. Therefore, such a hetero‐structured film sensor shows good signal linearity (fluctuation of gauge factor [GF] below ±0.02) and relatively high sensitivity (GF > 10) within 55% strain, a detection limit of 0.2% strain, and a response/recovery time of 16.3/46.9 ms, respectively. Correspondingly, it enables monitoring human respiration and body motion with higher resolution compared with the nonlinear one, meanwhile, it is capable of detecting tiny pressure to discriminate braille alphabets via touch identification. Overall, it unveils a simple strategy to fabricate film strain sensors for high‐resolution healthcare and body motion monitoring, as well as electronic skins toward tactile sensing and touch identification.
Large‐Area Flexible Carbon Nanofilms with Synergistically Enhanced Transmittance and Conductivity Prepared by Reorganizing Single‐Walled Carbon Nanotube Networks
Authors: Yue Ying , Zhang Di , Wang Pengyu , Xia Xiaogang , Wu Xin , Zhang Yuejuan , Mei Jie , Li Shaoqing , Li Mingming , Wang Yanchun , Zhang Xiao , Wei Xiaojun , Liu Huaping , Zhou Weiya 
Published: April 2024

AbstractLarge‐area flexible transparent conductive films (TCFs) are highly desired for future electronic devices. Nanocarbon TCFs are one of the most promising candidates, but some of their properties are mutually restricted. Here, a novel carbon nanotube network reorganization (CNNR) strategy, that is, the facet‐driven CNNR (FD‐CNNR) technique, is presented to overcome this intractable contradiction. The FD‐CNNR technique introduces an interaction between single‐walled carbon nanotube (SWNT) and Cu─‐O. Based on the unique FD‐CNNR mechanism, large‐area flexible reorganized carbon nanofilms (RNC‐TCFs) are designed and fabricated with A3‐size and even meter‐length, including reorganized SWNT (RSWNT) films and graphene and RSWNT (G‐RSWNT) hybrid films. Synergistic improvement in strength, transmittance, and conductivity of flexible RNC‐TCFs is achieved. The G‐RSWNT TCF shows sheet resistance as low as 69 Ω sq−1 at 86% transmittance, FOM value of 35, and Young's modulus of ≈45 MPa. The high strength enables RNC‐TCFs to be freestanding on water and easily transferred to any target substrate without contamination. A4‐size flexible smart window is fabricated, which manifests controllable dimming and fog removal. The FD‐CNNR technique can be extended to large‐area or even large‐scale fabrication of TCFs and can provide new insights into the design of TCFs and other functional films.
Molten Guest‐Mediated Metal–Organic Frameworks Featuring Multi‐Modal Supramolecular Interaction Sites for Flame‐Retardant Superionic Conductor in All‐Solid‐State Batteries
Authors: Xie Yufeng , Xu Liangliang , Tong Yan , Ouyang Yuan , Zeng Qinghan , Li Dixiong , Xiao Yingbo , Yu Siting , Liu Xiaolong , Zheng Cheng , Zhang Qi , Huang Shaoming 
Published: April 2024

AbstractThe development of solid‐state electrolytes (SSEs) with outstanding comprehensive performance is currently a critical challenge for achieving high energy density and safer solid‐state batteries (SSBs). In this study, a strategy of nano‐confined in situ solidification is proposed to create a novel category of molten guest‐mediated metal–organic frameworks, named MGM–MOFs. By embedding the newly developed molten crystalline organic electrolyte (ML20) into the nanocages of anionic MOF–OH, MGM–MOF–OH, characterized by multi‐modal supramolecular interaction sites and continuous negative electrostatic environments within nano‐channels, is achieved. These nanochannels promote ion transport through the successive hopping of Li+ between neighbored negative electrostatic environments and suppress anion movement through the chemical constraint of the hydroxyl‐functionalized pore wall. This results in remarkable Li+ conductivity of 7.1 × 10−4 S cm−1 and high Li+ transference number of 0.81. Leveraging these advantages, the SSBs assembled with MGM–MOF–OH exhibit impressive cycle stability and a high specific energy density of 410.5 Wh kganode + cathode + electrolyte−1 under constrained conditions and various working temperatures. Unlike flammable traditional MOFs, MGM–MOF–OH demonstrates high robustness under various harsh conditions, including ignition, high voltage, and extended to humidity.