bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Management of Congenital Melanocytie Nevi: A Decade Later
Authors: Williams Mary L. , Frieden Ilona J. , Suzuki Tadashi , Izaki Seiichi , Ikeda Shigeo , Kitamura Keijiro , Rhodes Arthur R. , Gelmetti Carlo , Rivers Jason K. , Grin Caron M. , Grant‐Kels Jane M. , Enjolras Odile , Ellis Darrel L. , Oranje Arnold P. , Peer Charlotte D. , Paul Eberhard , Lucky Anne W. , Tamayo Lourdes 
Published: March 2008

INTRODUCTIONTwelve years ago we published a symposium entitled “The management of congenital melanocytie nevi.” This subject was addressed because of its controversial nature and because of the tremendous uncertainty as to how these lesions should be handled. In the interim between that symposium and this, considerable numbers of publications have dealt with various aspects of this dilemma. We wondered what impact these data might have on current practices. The responses of several colleagues are printed below.
Environmental Assessment of Waste‐Solvent Treatment Options
Authors: Capello Christian , Hellweg Stefanie , Hungerbühler Konrad 
Published: March 2008

SummaryA comparison of various waste‐solvent treatment technologies, such as distillation (rectification) and incineration in hazardous‐waste‐solvent incinerators and cement kilns, is presented for 45 solvents with respect to the environmental life‐cycle impact. The environmental impact was calculated with the ecosolvent tool that was previously described in Part I of this work. A comprehensive sensitivity analysis was performed, and uncertainties were quantified by stochastic modeling in which various scenarios were considered. The results show that no single treatment technology is generally environmentally superior to any other but that, depending on the solvent mixture and the process conditions, each option may be optimal in certain cases. Nevertheless, various rules of thumb could be derived, and a results table is presented for the 45 solvents showing under which process conditions and amount of solvent recovery distillation is environmentally superior to incineration. On the basis of these results and the ecosolvent tool, an easily usable framework was developed that helps decision makers in chemical industries reduce environmental burdens throughout the solvent life cycle. With clear recommendations on the environmentally optimized waste‐solvent treatment technology, the use of this framework contributes to more environmentally sustainable solvent management and thus represents a practical application of industrial ecology.
Applying Leontief's Price Model to Estimate Missing Elements in Hybrid Life Cycle Inventories
Authors: Strømman Anders Hammer , Solli Christian 
Published: March 2008

SummaryThis article presents an approach to estimate missing elements in hybrid life cycle inventories. Its development is motivated by a desire to rationalize inventory compilation while maintaining the quality of the data. The approach builds on a hybrid framework, that is, a combination of process‐ and input–output‐based life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology. The application of Leontief's price model is central in the proposed procedure. Through the application of this approach, an inventory with no cutoff with respect to costs can be obtained. The formal framework is presented and discussed. A numerical example is provided in Supplementary Appendix S1 on the Web.
Influence of age and regional differences on skin elasticity as measured by the Cutometer®
Authors: Ryu Hyo Sub , Joo Young Hyun , Kim Sun Ok , Park Kyoung Chan , Youn Sang Woong 
Published: March 2008

Background/aim: Aging of skin is accompanied by decrease of skin elasticity. Using the noninvasive suction device Cutometer®, we evaluated the age and regional body differences of the viscoelastic properties of human skin. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the correlation between age and the biomechanical parameters and the regional skin variations.Methods: A total of 96 healthy women aged 20–75 years were included in this study. The biomechanical properties of the skin were measured by using the Cutometer®. Measurements were made on the face, upper arm and back.Results: The age of subjects showed significant positive correlation with R4 and R6, and negative correlation with R2, R5 and R7. The face showed bigger changes of elastic properties than the arm and the back. Especially, the R7 of face was most significantly decreased with aging. We could estimate the so‐called ‘skin age’ by using a correlation equation for this parameter.Conclusion: The viscoelastic properties were significantly influenced by aging. Also, significant regional variations in the viscoelastic properties were observed. Skin elasticity measurement is useful for the quantitative evaluation of age‐related changes.
Insulin-Like Growth Factor-1 Restores Erectile Function in Aged Rats: Modulation the Integrity of Smooth Muscle and Nitric Oxide-Cyclic Guanosine Monophosphate Signaling Activity
Authors: Pu Xiao-Yong , Wang Xing-Huan , Gao Wai-Chen , Yang Zhong-Hua , Li Shi-Lin , Wang Huai-Peng , Wu Yi-Long 
Published: March 2008

Abstract

Introduction
Insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) is one of the growth factors that have a wide range of biologic effects. We have confirmed that gene transfer of IGF-1 to the penis could improve erectile capacity. However, there are some limitations in gene therapies, such as toxicity or a risk of insertional mutagenesis. Protein treatment may be another choice for decreasing these risks.

Aim
To investigate whether intracavernosal injection of IGF-1 protein can restore erectile function in the aging rat.

Main Outcome Measures
Erectile responses, morphological changes, and nitric oxide-cyclic guanosine monophosphate (NO-cGMP) signaling pathways-related marker were determined.

Methods
Ten young (4 months) and 30 old (24 months) Sprague-Dawley male rats were enrolled in this study. The old rats were divided into three groups: vehicle-only (N=10), IGF-1 1 µg/kg (N=10) and IGF-1 10 µg/kg treatment group (N=10). After 4 and 8 weeks of single IGF-1 injection treatment, intracavernous pressure (ICP) responses with electrical stimulation to the cavernous nerve were evaluated. The percent of smooth muscle in corpus cavernosum tissue, the expression of mRNA and protein of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) were also evaluated. The activity of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) and concentration of guanosine 3′,5′-cyclic-monophosphate (cGMP) that act upon the major NO-cGMP signaling pathways in penile tissue were also analyzed.

Results
After IGF-1 treatment, the ICP responses was significantly increased as the young control group in both the IGF-1 1 µg/kg and the IGF-1 10 µg/kg group compared with the vehicle-only group at 4 and 8 weeks (P &lt;0.05). Masson's trichrom staining showed the percentage of cavernosal smooth muscle was increased in IGF-1 treatment group. IGF-1 increased e-NOS expression. NOS activities and cGMP concentrations were also significantly increased in IGF-1 treatment rats.

Conclusions
IGF-1 improved erectile function in aged rats via restoration the integrity of smooth muscle of corpus cavernosum and modulation of NO-cGMP pathways.
PHYSICAL, SENSORY AND FLOW PROPERTIES OF WHEAT STARCH–DAIRY BY‐PRODUCT SPRAY‐DRIED PEKMEZ MIXTURES
Authors: SERT DURMUŞ , YILMAZ MUSTAFA T. , KARAKAYA MUSTAFA 
Published: March 2008

ABSTRACT Pekmez, also known as a concentrated grape juice, was spray dried in a laboratory‐type pilot drying unit to obtain pekmez powder (PP). The flow characteristics of PP, wheat starch (WS) and some dairy by‐products (whey powder, skim milk powder, calcium caseinate and sodium caseinate) systems as binary and ternary mixtures were studied. The empirical power law model fitted the apparent viscosity–rotational speed data. PP–dairy by‐product and WS–dairy by‐product mixed solutions exhibited a shear‐thinning behavior at 21C with flow behavior index (n) values of 0.86 ≤ n ≤ 0.92 and 0.06 ≤ n ≤ 0.27, respectively. WS–dairy by‐product mixed solutions showed high shear‐thinning behavior with the highest consistency index (k = 25,425–180,599 mPa·sn). However, PP–WS and PP–WS–dairy by‐product mixed solutions at the same temperature exhibited the shear‐thickening behavior with flow behavior index (n) values of 1.05 ≤ n ≤ 1.18.PRACTICAL APPLICATIONSPekmez has become popular as a healthy food product; therefore, its rheologic properties were extensively studied by some researchers. However, pekmez powder (PP) is a new product and has not been produced yet in the food industry. Spray drying of foods has been spread recently in almost all food industry branches because it provides some advantages such as extending the shelf life, storage stability, decreasing the storage costs of the food products, etc. For this reason, production technology is first developed; PP is produced and studied in this study. There is no published data informing the rheologic, physical and sensory properties of pekmez or PP as binary and ternary mixtures with other components such as wheat starch (WS) and any dairy by‐product. The purpose of this study was mainly to characterize the rheologic behavior of the PP–WS–dairy by‐product mixed solutions and determine their physical and sensory properties.
STRESS RELAXATION BEHAVIOR OF MICROWAVE‐VACUUM‐DRIED ALGINATE GELS
Authors: JAYA S. , DURANCE T.D. 
Published: March 2008

ABSTRACT Swelling of alginate polymer matrix in water involves a build up of network pressure due to an elastic extension of the polymeric matrix. When this network pressure undergoes relaxation by means of dehydration, shrinkage may take place. Three different types of wet alginate gels were prepared and dried using microwave‐vacuum‐drying technique. Dried alginate gel solids had a porous structure. To understand the stress relaxation behavior of alginate gel‐based porous solid structures, uniaxial compressive relaxation studies were performed at selected strain rates, preloads and relaxation times Experimental relaxation curves were normalized and fitted to an empirical relationship, and relaxation behavior was explained. Stress relaxation data were also fitted to another empirical model. All three types of gels had similar elastic components. At lower strain rate, all samples had more resistance to elastic deformation. Stress relaxation information of the dried gel was related to its microstructure. Type 2 gel had more stiffness than type 1 and type 3 gels. The mechanism involved in stress relaxation was entanglement coupling of larger polymer chains in covalently cross‐linked alginate gels.
The Ailing Healthcare Supply Chain: A Prescription for Change
Authors: McKone‐Sweet Kathleen E. , Hamilton Paul , Willis Susan B. 
Published: March 2008

SUMMARYDespite well‐documented evidence of significant competitive advantage and cost reduction resulting from supply chain management (SCM) practices, the healthcare industry has been extremely slow to embrace these practices. This article, through literature review and case studies within the healthcare industry supply chain, explores the barriers to implementation of SCM practices. These barriers include: lack of executive support; misaligned or conflicting incentives; need for data collection and performance measurement; limited education on supply chain; and inconsistent relationships with group purchasing organizations and other supply chain partners. Practical recommendations are made for hospitals and supply chain partners struggling to implement workable SCM solutions.
SCM Involving Small Versus Large Suppliers: Relational Exchange and Electronic Communication Media
Authors: Larson Paul D. , Carr Peter , Dhariwal Kewal S. 
Published: March 2008

SUMMARYThis article develops and tests hypotheses on relational exchange and electronic communication media in supply chains involving small versus large suppliers. Through a combination of focus groups, e‐mail surveys and case studies, the article addresses the differences in relational exchange due to supplier size. Findings indicate significantly greater use of relational exchange and electronic communication media with large suppliers compared to small suppliers. The article offers solutions to reducing the relational and technological gaps between large and small suppliers.
An extended outbreak of congenital chondrodysplasia in calves in South East Australia
Authors: Cave JG , Mclaren PJ , Whittaker SJ , Rast L , Stephens A , Parker EM 
Published: March 2008

Objective  To report an outbreak of congenital chondrodystrophy in calves in South East Australia.Methods  District veterinarians investigated reported cases of calf deformities. Owners of affected herds were interviewed using a standard questionnaire to identify potential risk factors. Dams of several affected calves were serologically tested for Akabane virus, Aino virus, pestivirus and bluetongue, and affected calves were tested for pestivirus antigen and serum immunoglobulin concentrations. Gross and histopathological examinations of numerous calves were performed, concentrating on the musculoskeletal system.Results  A case definition of distinctive skeletal deformities was established, and 89 property owners reported calves with chondrodystrophy in Spring 2003, 2004 or 2005. Some 14 property owners reported affected calves in more than one year. Prevalence and severity of deformity varied greatly between and within properties. None of breed, sex, age of dam, lineage, pasture type, supplementary feeding, fertiliser use or toxic plants was consistently associated with the disease. All dams experienced hot, dry conditions during the first trimester of pregnancy and were exposed to adverse conditions thereafter. Consistently dams were reported to have been grazing undulating to hilly terrain during early pregnancy. All serological tests were negative for Akabane virus, Aino virus, pestivirus and bluetongue. Histopathology of affected skeletal samples showed chondrodysplasia.Conclusion  The outbreak had similarities with previous outbreaks reported in the region. No specific aetiology could be determined. There is some evidence that the cause of the deformities could be a manganese deficiency during foetal development. Ongoing work to test this hypothesis is therefore warranted.
Cross species transmission of ovine Johne's disease from sheep to cattle: an estimate of prevalence in exposed susceptible cattle
Authors: Moloney BJ , Whittington RJ 
Published: March 2008

Objective  To determine the prevalence of infection of cattle with the sheep strain of Mycobacterium avium subsp paratuberculosis at least two years after exposure at < 6 months old.Design  Prospective survey One thousand seven hundred and seventy‐four cattle from 12 properties (Farms A to L) were sampled by ELISA and faecal culture to detect evidence of infection with M a paratuberculosis. All properties had a known history of Johne's disease (JD) in sheep, and sampled cattle were likely to be susceptible to JD at the time they were first exposed, being at an age of 6 months or less. In addition, opportunistic investigations were undertaken of ELISA reactor cattle discovered during testing for the Australian Johne's Disease Market Assurance Program for Cattle (Farms M and N).Results  All animals in the survey gave negative results on serology while one animal from a herd of 349 gave a positive faecal culture result. Follow‐up faecal culture, post‐mortem and histopathology on the latter animal were negative, suggesting that it was a passive faecal shedder or carrier.Two occurrences of OJD transmission to cattle were detected during the opportunistic investigations.Conclusion  These observations confirm existing beliefs about the risk of transmission of OJD to cattle, that the risk of transmission is low. However transmission occurs sporadically. An estimated upper limit of prevalence of S strain M a paratuberculosis infection in susceptible exposed cattle in the OJD high prevalence area of New South Wales is 0.8%, assuming a common prevalence within herds.
Sex-Dependent Differences in Plasma Cytokine Responses to Hantavirus Infection
Authors: Klingström Jonas , Lindgren Therese , Ahlm Clas 
Published: March 2008

ABSTRACT
There are often sex differences in susceptibility to infectious diseases and in level of mortality after infection. These differences probably stem from sex-related abilities to mount proper or unwanted immune responses against an infectious agent. We report that hantavirus-infected female patients show significantly higher plasma levels of interleukin-9 (IL-9), fibroblast growth factor 2, and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor and lower levels of IL-8 and gamma interferon-induced protein 10 than male patients. The results demonstrate that a virus infection can induce sex-dependent differences in acute immune responses in humans. This finding may, at least partly, explain the observed sex differences in susceptibility to infectious diseases and in mortality following infection.
Vaccine-Induced Opsonophagocytic Immunity to
Neisseria meningitidis
Group B
Authors: Plested J. S. , Granoff D. M. 
Published: March 2008

ABSTRACT

The role of opsonophagocytosis (OP) in protection against meningococcal disease is controversial because patients with deficiencies in terminal complement proteins whose sera support OP but not bactericidal activity (BA) are at greatly increased risk of disease. We assayed complement-mediated BA and OP bactericidal activity in sera from 32 adults immunized with an outer membrane vesicle vaccine given alone or combined with an investigational recombinant protein, genome-derived neisserial antigen (GNA2132). The sera were heat inactivated to remove internal complement activity, and BA was measured with exogenous nonimmune human serum as a complement source. OP was measured with human polymorphonuclear cells (PMNs) and C6-depleted complement, which without PMNs did not support BA. Before immunization, 9 to 19% of sera from subjects in both vaccine groups combined had BA titers of ≥1:4, which increased to 41 to 72% after immunization (
P
< 0.01 against each of three test strains). The percentages of sera with OP titers of ≥1:5 were 3 to 16%, which increased to 55 to 72% (
P
< 0.001 for each strain). Most postimmunization BA-positive sera were OP positive, but 10 to 37% of BA-negative sera also were OP positive. Comparing the two vaccine groups, there were no significant differences in the percentages of sera with BA or OP activity except for a higher percentage of OP against one strain in postimmunization sera from subjects in the combination vaccine group (
P
≤ 0.02). The data support independent roles for serum BA and OP bactericidal activity in protection against group B disease.
Direct Comparison of the GenoType MTBC and Genomic Deletion Assays in Terms of Ability To Distinguish between Members of the
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
Complex in Clinical Isolates and in Clinical Specimens
Authors: Somoskovi Akos , Dormandy Jillian , Rivenburg Jeremy , Pedrosa Maria , McBride Melinda , Salfinger Max 
Published: March 2008

ABSTRACT

The automated GenoType MTBC assay was evaluated for the ability to detect and identify members of the
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
complex. In addition to 35 reference strains and 157 clinical isolates, performance of this assay was tested directly on 79 smear-positive clinical specimens. The assay proved as accurate as the reference deletion analysis for all 192 isolates and detected and identified
M. tuberculosis
complex members in 93.2% of the specimens containing the
M. tuberculosis
complex.
Differences in Virulence Markers betweenHelicobacter pyloriStrains from Iraq and Those from Iran: Potential Importance of Regional Differences inH. pylori-Associated Disease
Authors: Hussein Nawfal R. , Mohammadi Marjan , Talebkhan Yeganeh , Doraghi Masoumeh , Letley Darren P. , Muhammad Merdan K. , Argent Richard H. , Atherton John C. 
Published: March 2008

ABSTRACTHelicobacter pyloricauses peptic ulceration and gastric adenocarcinoma; the latter is common in Iran but not in Iraq. We hypothesized that more virulentH. pyloristrains may be found in Iran than in Iraq and so compared established and newly described virulence factors in strains from these countries. We studied 59 unselected dyspeptic patients from Iran and 49 from Iraq.cagAwas found in similar proportions of strains from both countries (76% in Iran versus 71% in Iraq) and was significantly associated with peptic ulcer disease in Iraq (P≤ 0.01) but not in Iran.cagAalleles encoding four or more tyrosine phosphorylation motifs were found in 12% of the Iranian strains but none of the Iraqi strains (P= 0.02). There were no significant differences in thevacAsignal-, middle-, or intermediate-region types between Iranian and Iraqi strains. Among the strains from Iran,vacAgenotypes showed no specific peptic ulcer associations, but among the strains from Iraq,vacAi1 strains were associated with gastric ulcer (P≤ 0.02), mimicking their previously demonstrated association with gastric cancer in Iran.dupAwas found in similar proportions of Iranian and Iraqi strains (38% and 32%, respectively) and was associated with peptic ulceration in Iraqi patients (P≤ 0.01) but not Iranian patients.H. pyloristrains from Iraq and Iran possess virulence factors similar to those in Western countries. The presence ofcagAwith more phosphorylation motifs in Iranian strains may contribute to the higher incidence of gastric cancer. However, the association between strain virulence markers and disease in Iraq but not Iran suggests that other host and environmental factors may be more important in the disease-prone Iranian population.
Optimum Diagnostic Assay and Clinical Specimen for Routine Rotavirus Surveillance
Authors: Stockman Lauren J. , Staat Mary A. , Holloway Michol , Bernstein David I. , Kerin Tara , Hull Jennifer , Yee Eileen , Gentsch Jon , Parashar Umesh D. 
Published: March 2008

ABSTRACT
Rates of detection of rotavirus were compared by diagnostic assay and specimen type. For bulk stools, rates of detection by reverse transcriptase PCR (RT-PCR) and enzyme immunoassay (EIA) were similar, but 18% of healthy controls tested positive by RT-PCR. Testing of bulk stools by EIA appears to be optimum for rotavirus surveillance.