bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of a Fingerling-to-Stocker Phase as Part of a New Production Strategy for the Commercial Farming of Channel Catfish
Authors: D'Abramo Louis R , Steeby James A , Hanson Terrill R , Gerard Patrick D 
Published: December 2006

Abstract
Within a three-phase production strategy for farming channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus, the second phase, fingerling to stocker production, was evaluated. A complementary economic analysis compared the cost of producing stockers, food-size fish net returns, and overall cost of production for a three-phase production system with that of the traditional multiple-batch system. Pond run fingerlings (mean length = 10.7 cm; mean weight = 10 g) were stocked into 0.05-ha experimental earthen ponds at densities of 98,840, 123,550, and 148,260 per hectare. They were fed floating fingerling feed with 36% crude protein to satiation during a 180-d grow-out period. At harvest, mean survival (63.7–72.6%) and mean feed conversion ratio (1.5–1.6) did not differ significantly among treatments. Mean harvested biomass (kg/ha) ranged from 5,766.5 to 9,135.6 and increased as density increased. Mean harvest weight (85.8–94.3 g) decreased as density increased but was not statistically different among treatments. Stocker cost of production was US.17, .18, and .22 per stocker for the highest, medium, and lowest initial fingerling stocking treatments, respectively. For the higher stocking rates, total food-size cost of production (variable and fixed costs) was $1.37/kg, which was .02/kg to .28/kg less than the production costs of food-size catfish in multiple-batch production systems. The mean harvest weight goal of 113.5 g was not achieved in any treatment, but a slightly larger fingerling stocking size combined with seasonal water temperatures should produce the desired weight for stocking into the third phase (final grow out) of production. The estimated production cost for the three-phase system appears to be less than that of the multiple-batch system. In addition, the three-phase system offers other advantages, such as better inventory control and minimal loss from bird depredation. This broad management concept has the flexibility to be modified to meet the needs of individual operations.
Direct adaptive command following and disturbance rejection for minimum phase systems with unknown relative degree
Authors: Hoagg Jesse B. , Bernstein Dennis S. 
Published: December 2006

AbstractThis paper considers parameter‐monotonic direct adaptive command following and disturbance rejection for single‐input single‐output minimum‐phase linear time‐invariant systems with knowledge of the sign of the high‐frequency gain (first non‐zero Markov parameter) and an upper bound on the magnitude of the high‐frequency gain. We assume that the command and disturbance signals are generated by a linear system with known characteristic polynomial. Furthermore, we assume that the command signal is measured, but the disturbance signal is unmeasured. The first part of the paper is devoted to a fixed‐gain analysis of a high‐gain‐stabilizing dynamic compensator for command following and disturbance rejection. The compensator utilizes a Fibonacci series construction to control systems with unknown‐but‐bounded relative degree. We then introduce a parameter‐monotonic adaptive law and guarantee asymptotic command following and disturbance rejection. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Gene frequencies of human platelet alloantigens in Bahraini Arabs
Authors: Al‐Subaie Abeer M. , Al‐Absi Iman K. , Al‐Ola Khadija , Saidi Sarra , Fawaz Naglaa A. , Almawi Wassim Y. 
Published: December 2006

AbstractHuman platelet antigens (HPA) are implicated in the pathophysiology of certain hematological disorders, and as varied distribution of HPA‐1 alleles and genotypes were reported fordifferent countries and ethnic populations, we determined the distribution of HPA‐1, ‐2, ‐3, ‐4, and ‐5 alleles, genotypes and haplotypes for 194 healthy Bahraini subjects by polymerase chain reaction with sequence specific primers. The distribution of the HPA polymorphisms was in Hardy‐Weinberg equilibrium. Allele frequencies of 0.76 and 0.24 (HPA‐1a and ‐1b), 0.77 and 0.23 (HPA‐2a and ‐2b), 0.57 and 0.43 (HPA‐3a and ‐3b), 0.93 and 0.07 (HPA‐4a and ‐4b), and 0.86 and 0.13 (HPA‐5a and ‐5b) were seen. With the exception of HPA‐3a/a (30.4%), the frequencies of homozygous HPA‐1a/a (56.8%), 2a/a (60.1%), 4a/a (87.2%), and 5a/a (75.7%) were higher than those of heterozygous (a/b) or homozygous (b/b) variants. Our results provide basic information for further studies of the HPA system polymorphism, which in turn will be instrumental in understanding and treating immune‐mediated platelet disorders. Am. J. Hematol 2007. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Non‐small‐cell lung cancer associated with excessive eosinophilia and secretion of interleukin‐5 as a paraneoplastic syndrome
Authors: Pandit Renu , Scholnik Aaron , Wulfekuhler Louis , Dimitrov Nikolay 
Published: December 2006

AbstractEosinophilia associated with solid tumors is an infrequent occurrence. The pathogenesis of tumor‐associated eosinophilia is not well understood. Interleukin‐5 (IL‐5) is a cytokine that has been implicated in the development of eosinophilia in mice and humans. However, there is little data associating IL‐5 production with eosinophilia in the presence of tumor. We report, in a patient with locally advanced NSCLC, the presence of excessive eosinophilia and elevated serum IL‐5 levels at diagnosis. Immunohistochemical staining of the primary tumor showed large amounts of intracellular IL‐5. Both eosinophil count and IL‐5 levels normalized after surgical removal of the tumor. Tumor‐associated eosinophilia observed in this case is mediated by IL‐5. The production of IL‐5 is related to the presence of the tumor. Am. J. Hematol 2007. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Serine/threonine kinase PKR: A sentinel kinase that discriminates a signaling pathway mediated by TLR4 from those mediated by TLR3 and TLR9
Authors: Asakura Yusuke , Fujiwara Yoshihiro , Kato Naoko , Sato Yuko , Komatsu Toru 
Published: December 2006

AbstractCells of the innate immune system discriminate between “noninfectious self” and “infectious nonself” via pattern recognition receptors known as Toll‐like receptors (TLRs). Though TLRs and the related interleukin 1 receptors share considerable homology in their cytoplasmic domains and adaptor molecules, signaling cascades may substantially differ from one another depending on the adaptor proteins recruited. Here we show that ectopic overexpression of catalytically inactive dominant‐negative PKR expression system suppressed NF‐ κ B activation mediated by TLR3, TLR9, TNF receptor 1 and 2 (TNF‐R 1/2), but not by TLR4. Physiological relevance of the observations described here are discussed. Am. J. Hematol 2007. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Very severe thrombocytopenia and fragmentation hemolysis mimicking thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura associated with a giant intracardiac vegetation infected with Staphylococcus epidermidis: Role of monocyte procoagulant activity induced by bacterial supernatant
Authors: Selleng Kathleen , Warkentin Theodore E. , Greinacher Andreas , Morris Andrew M. , Walker Irwin R. , Heggtveit H. Alexander , Eichler Petra , Cybulsky Irene J. 
Published: December 2006

AbstractThe pathogenesis of very severe thrombocytopenia in bacterial endocarditis is uncertain. We report a 50‐year‐old male with platelet counts < 10 × 109/l and fragmentation hemolysis complicating Staphyloccoccus epidermidis pacemaker endocarditis with a giant vegetation. Antibiotics, corticosteroids, high‐dose intravenous gammaglobulin, and plasmapheresis (for initially‐suspected thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura) failed to produce significant platelet count increase. However, therapeutic‐dose heparin anticoagulation was associated with a platelet count increase from <10 to ∼40 × 109/l, with parallel reduction in thrombin‐antithrombin complexes (from 8.9 to 3.5 μg/l), facilitating surgical intervention. The thrombocytopenia promptly resolved following surgical removal of the vegetation. Culture supernatant from S. epidermidis isolated from the patient's blood induced monocytes to express procoagulant activity (assessed by factor Xa generation) equivalent to lipopolysaccharide (1 μg/ml), with half‐maximal activation seen with culture supernatant diluted to 1:12,800. These data are consistent with previous animal models of endocarditis demonstrating staphylococci‐induced procoagulant changes in monocytes. This case demonstrates that heparin anticoagulation can be therapeutic in infective endocarditis‐associated severe thrombocytopenia in a non‐bleeding patient, and that such therapy may ameliorate the platelet count enough to permit surgical intervention. Am. J. Hematol 2007. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
A second case of prothrombin puerto rico I in the united states
Authors: Kling Stephen J. , Jones Kimberly A. , Rodgers George M. 
Published: December 2006

AbstractProthrombin deficiency is a very rare autosomal recessive bleeding disorder associated with mild to severe bleeding symptoms. We identified this bleeding disorder in a US‐born patient as due to prothrombin Puerto Rico I. Unlike other prothrombin deficiencies, prothrombin Puerto Rico I is a series of concordant polymorphisms found in people of Puerto Rican descent with a much higher frequency than those prothrombin deficiencies found in the general population. This case underscores the importance of family history in identifying rare bleeding disorders. Am. J. Hematol 2007. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Docosahexaenoic acid, the aquatic diet, and hominin encephalization: Difficulties in establishing evolutionary links
Authors: Carlson Bryce A. , Kingston John D. 
Published: December 2006

AbstractDistinctive characteristics of modern humans, including language, tool manufacture and use, culture, and behavioral plasticity, are linked to changes in the organization and size of the brain during hominin evolution. As brain tissue is metabolically and nutritionally costly to develop and maintain, early hominin encephalization has been linked to a release of energetic and nutritional constraints. One such nutrient‐based approach has focused on the n‐3 long‐chained polyunsaturated fatty acid docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), which is a primary constituent of membrane phospholipids within the synaptic networks of the brain essential for optimal cognitive functioning. As biosynthesis of DHA from n‐3 dietary precursors (alpha‐linolenic acid, LNA) is relatively inefficient, it has been suggested that preformed DHA must have been an integral dietary constituent during evolution of the genus Homo to facilitate the growth and development of an encephalizing brain. Furthermore, preformed DHA has only been identified to an appreciable extent within aquatic resources (marine and freshwater), leading to speculation that hominin encephalization is linked specifically to access and consumption of aquatic resources. The key premise of this perspective is that biosynthesis of DHA from LNA is not only inefficient but also insufficient for the growth and maturation demands of an encephalized brain. However, this assumption is not well‐supported, and much evidence instead suggests that consumption of LNA, available in a wider variety of sources within a number of terrestrial ecosystems, is sufficient for normal brain development and maintenance in modern humans and presumably our ancestors. Am. J. Hum. Biol. 19:132–141, 2007. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Variation of skeletal biomarkers of biological aging in a Chuvashian population: A longitudinal study
Authors: Kalichman Leonid , Malkin Ida , Livshits Gregory , Pavlovsky Oleg , Batsevich Valery , Kobyliansky Eugene 
Published: December 2006

AbstractOsseographic score (OSS) is a skeletal biomarker of biological aging, based on assessment of the hand's radiographic features. The aims of the present cross‐sectional and follow‐up study were: 1) to evaluate age‐related changes of OSS in a large Chuvashian cohort, and 2) to evaluate sex differences in age‐related changes of OSS. This study reports on intersexual differences in the pattern of skeletal aging. The most prominent difference was in the rate of skeletal change, measured as average OSS difference per year. However, no differences were found in the age at which the first skeletal change occurred. The mean values of OSS were higher in males than in females in decades 3–5 of life, but afterwards they reversed. In a follow‐up study, we found that sex differences regarding the rate of OSS change began in the fifth decade, but became statistically significant only in the sixth and seventh decades. Thereafter, the rate of OSS change again became virtually equal between sexes. Am. J. Hum. Biol. 19:74–81, 2007. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Studies of human physique and sexual attractiveness: Sexual preferences of men and women in China
Authors: Dixson Barnaby J. , Dixson Alan F. , Li Baoguo , Anderson M.J. 
Published: December 2006

AbstractMen and women at Northwest University (n = 631), Xi'an, China, were asked to rate the attractiveness of male or female figures manipulated to vary somatotype, waist‐to‐hip ratio (WHR), secondary sexual traits, and other features. In study 1, women rated the average masculine somatotype as most attractive, followed by the mesomorphic (muscular), ectomorphic (slim), and endomorphic (heavily built) somatotypes, in descending order of preference. In study 2, the amount and distribution of masculine trunk (chest and abdominal) hair were altered progressively in a series of front‐posed figures. Women rated figures with no or little trunk hair as most attractive. Study 3 assessed the attractiveness of front‐posed male figures which varied only in length of their nonerect penis. Numerical ratings for this trait were low, but moderate lengthening of the penis (22% or 33% above average) resulted in a significant increase in scores for attractiveness. In study 4, Chinese men rated the attractiveness of back‐posed female images varying in waist‐to‐hip ratio (WHR from 0.5–1.0). The 0.6 WHR figure was most preferred, followed by 0.7, while figures with higher ratios (0.9 or 1.0) were significantly less attractive. Study 5 rated the attractiveness of female skin color: men expressed a marked preference for images which were lighter in color, as compared to images of average or darker skin colors. These results, the first of their kind reported for a Chinese population, support the view that sexual selection has influenced the evolution of human physique and sexual attractiveness in men and women. Am. J. Hum. Biol. 19:88–95, 2007. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Impacts of dietary intake and helminth infection on diversity in growth among schoolchildren in rural south China: A four‐year longitudinal study
Authors: Zhou Huan , Watanabe Chiho , Ohtsuka Ryutaro 
Published: December 2006

AbstractThe authors carried out six transverse anthropometric, dietary, and parasitological surveys of 274 schoolchildren (138 boys and 136 girls), aged 10–12 years (in 2001), from the Dongting Lake region in rural South China from 2001 to 2005 to examine intra‐population differences in growth. Compared to the Chinese references, the subject children were judged to be retarded in growth at the population level. Comparisons among tertiles classified by the extents of change in weight‐for‐age Z score from the first to the last survey revealed significant effects of dietary intakes and parasite infections. In particular, there were two observations for the high‐tertile boys and girls, whose Z scores of height‐for‐age, weight‐for‐age and BMI‐for‐age in higher ages were similar to, or higher than, the Chinese references. First, their energy intakes were larger than those of mid‐ and low‐tertile boys and girls but were only 80–88% of the recommended dietary allowances for Chinese. Second, they were characterized by high prevalence of Schistosoma japonicum at the first survey but nil from the second survey. In conclusion, there is a high possibility that the children, who are recognized as undernourished at the population level, are able to attain the Chinese standards by increase of energy intake to the level of 10% lower than the recommended allowance for Chinese and eradication of S. japonicum. Am. J. Hum. Biol. 19:96–106, 2007. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Generating information for real‐time optimization
Authors: Pfaff George , Fraser Forbes J. , James McLellan P. 
Published: December 2006

AbstractReal‐time optimization (RTO) applications monitor the behavior of processes, adjusting the setpoints of process controllers to track significant, low‐frequency changes in the plant optimum. The performance of the optimizer depends on its ability to track these changes effectively and locate the true plant optimum operating conditions. The ability to track changes in turn depends on having sufficient plant information to update parameter estimates, improving the model predictions of the process behavior. This paper proposes an improvement to RTO performance by integrating information generation using experimental design techniques into the RTO algorithm to reduce uncertainty in the final optimization results.An expansion of the command conditioning (CC) subsystem evaluates when the predicted result from the economic optimizer will not generate a sufficient amount of information for updating. An A‐optimal experimental design criterion is used to reduce uncertainty associated with decision variables by perturbing from the optimal point to another that generates more information. By sacrificing short‐term profit, greater profit can be realized in future RTO intervals. Copyright © 2006 Curtin University of Technology and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Palladium Catalysts on Alkaline‐Earth Supports for Racemization and Dynamic Kinetic Resolution of Benzylic Amines
Authors: Parvulescu Andrei N. , Jacobs Pierre A. , De Vos Dirk E. 
Published: December 2006

AbstractPalladium catalysts on alkaline‐earth supports were studied as new heterogeneous catalysts for racemization of chiral benzylic amines such as 1‐phenylethylamine. Particularly 5 % Pd/BaSO4 and 5 % Pd/CaCO3 were able to selectively racemize amines, with minimal formation of secondary amines or hydrogenolysis to ethylbenzene. In contrast, these side reactions were pronounced on Pd/C. A reaction mechanism is proposed that is consistent with the reaction kinetics. The catalyst activity was found to depend on the number of available surface Pd atoms, determined by titration with CO. The selectivity crucially depends on the rate of condensation of the amine and the primary imine, which is highest on Pd/C. The racemization catalysts were combined in one pot with an immobilized lipase to perform dynamic kinetic resolution of chiral amines. High yields (up to 88 %) of essentially enantiopure amides were obtained in a single step. The chemo‐enzymatic catalyst system proved to be stable and could be reused without losing the initial activity.
Intensity‐modulated or conformal radiotherapy improves the quality of life of patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma
Authors: Fang Fu‐Min , Tsai Wen‐Ling , Chen Hui‐Chun , Hsu Hsuan‐Chih , Hsiung Ching‐Yeh , Chien Chih‐Yen , Ko Sheung‐Fat 
Published: December 2006

AbstractBACKGROUND.It was reported previously that the dosimetric superiority of conformal radiotherapy (RT), either 3‐dimensional conformal RT (3D‐CRT) or intensity‐modulated RT (IMRT), over conventional 2D‐RT translated into clinical benefits for patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). In this study, the authors compared quality‐of‐life (QOL) outcomes of NPC survivors who received treatment with 1 of 4 different RT techniques at a single institute during different periods.METHODS.The authors analyzed QOL data of from 237 patients with NPC who were cancer free for 2 or 3 years when their QOL was assessed. The study population included 152 patients who received conventional RT (2D‐RT, 61 patients; 2D‐RT plus 3D‐CRT boost, 91 patients) and 85 patients who received conformal RT (3D‐CRT, 33 patients; IMRT, 52 patients). The European Organization for the Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) Core QOL questionnaire and the EORTC Head and Neck QOL questionnaire were completed.RESULTS.Compared with patients who received with conventional RT, patients who received conformal RT had both statistically (P < .05) and clinically (a difference in mean scores ≥10 points) significant improvements in the scales of global QOL, pain, appetite loss, senses, speech, social eating, teeth, opening mouth, xerostomia, sticky saliva, and feeling ill. No significant difference was observed in any of the scales that compared 2D‐RT with 2D‐RT plus 3D‐CRT boost or that compared 3D‐CRT with IMRT. Survivors who received conformal RT had a 2.01‐fold higher probability (odds ratio [OR], 2.01; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 1.19–3.68) of reporting good global QOL and a 2.70‐fold lower probability (OR, 0.37; 95% CI, 0.20–0.66) of reporting a high level of xerostomia than survivors who received conventional RT.CONCLUSIONS.Conformal RT substantially improved head and neck‐related symptoms and broad aspects of QOL for survivors of NPC. Cancer 2007. © 2006 American Cancer Society.
Venous thromboembolism occurs infrequently in meningioma patients receiving combined modality prophylaxis
Authors: Gerber David E. , Segal Jodi B. , Salhotra Amandeep , Olivi Alessandro , Grossman Stuart A. , Streiff Michael B. 
Published: December 2006

AbstractBACKGROUND.Individuals with brain tumors have an increased risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE). Within this population, patients with meningiomas have been reported to have the highest incidence, exceeding rates associated with gliomas and brain metastases. However, earlier studies did not employ VTE prophylaxis, and VTE were detected with radionuclide scans, the reliability of which has since been questioned. Therefore, we conducted a retrospective review of postoperative meningioma patients receiving contemporary VTE prophylaxis and diagnostic methods to define the current incidence of and risk factors for symptomatic VTE in this population.METHODS.Medical records were reviewed from all patients undergoing craniotomy for meningioma at Johns Hopkins Hospital in 2004 and 2005. The association between clinical characteristics and VTE was assessed using parametric and nonparametric statistical tests and survival analysis.RESULTS.A total of 224 individuals met criteria for the review. The mean age was 52 years (standard deviation [SD] 14 years), and 167 patients (75%) were women. Median follow‐up time was 230 days (interquartile range [IQR], 89–428 days). VTE was diagnosed in 11 patients (4.9%; 95% confidence interval, 2.5%–8.6%) at a median of 16 days (IQR, 7–33 days) postoperatively. The development of VTE was associated with older age (mean, 68 years vs 52 years; P = .0001), male gender (P = .007), and nonambulatory status postoperatively (P < .0001).CONCLUSIONS.VTE occurs infrequently in postoperative meningioma patients who receive combined modality VTE prophylaxis. VTE risk factors in these patients include advanced age, male gender, and nonambulatory status postoperatively. Cancer 2007. © 2006 American Cancer Society.
ZnO Nanoparticles From a Metal‐Organic Framework Containing ZnII Metallacycles
Authors: Thakuria Harjyoti , Borah Ballav Moni , Das Gopal 
Published: December 2006

AbstractNitrilotriacetic acid (H3NTA) reacts in the solid phase with zinc hydroxide (1:1) to form a 3D ladder‐like metal‐organic framework that forms wurtzite ZnO nanoparticles when heated above 600 °C. Complex 1 contains a 1D zig‐zag water chain. A mixed coordination network 2 is formed with excess ZnII hydroxide, which, on decomposition at about 500 °C, forms microwires of ZnO.(© Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2007)