bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Designing choice experiments with many attributes. An application to setting priorities for orthopaedic waiting lists
Authors: Witt Julia , Scott Anthony , Osborne Richard H. 
Published: September 2008

AbstractThe aim of this paper is to undertake a discrete choice experiment using a ‘blocked attribute’ design. To date in the health economics literature, most discrete choice experiments have used only a relatively small number of attributes due to concerns about task complexity, non‐compensatory decision rules, simplicity of experimental designs, and the costs of surveys. This may lead to omitted variable bias and reduced explanatory power when attributes have been pre‐selected from a longer list. There may be situations where it is desirable to include a longer list of attributes, such as attaching weights to quality‐of‐life instruments to obtain single index scores. We examine this issue in the context of attaching weights to a disease‐specific quality‐of‐life instrument used to prioritise patients on orthopaedic waiting lists in Victorian hospitals. Eleven attributes are allocated across three separate experimental designs and the data pooled for analysis. Pooling is justified given the specific context of the study, including attempts to minimise the effect of unobserved heterogeneity across the three models when designing the study and collecting data. Blocked attribute designs may offer flexibility to researchers when it is not possible or desirable to reduce the number of attributes. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Proximity to death and participation in the long‐term care market
Authors: Weaver France , Stearns Sally C. , Norton Edward C. , Spector William 
Published: September 2008

AbstractThe extent to which increasing longevity increases per capita demand for long‐term care depends on the degree to which utilization is concentrated at the end of life. We estimate the marginal effect of proximity to death, measured by being within 2 years of death, on the probabilities of nursing home and formal home care use, and we determine whether this effect differs by availability of informal care – i.e. marital status and co‐residence with an adult child. The analysis uses a sample of elderly aged 70+from the 1993–2002 Health and Retirement Study. Simultaneous probit models address the joint decisions to use long‐term care and co‐reside with an adult child. Overall, proximity to death significantly increases the probability of nursing home use by 50.0% and of formal home care use by 12.4%. Availability of informal support significantly reduces the effect of proximity to death. Among married elderly, proximity to death has no effect on institutionalization. In conclusion, proximity to death is one of the main drivers of long‐term care use, but changes in sources of informal support, such as an increase in the proportion of married elderly, may lessen its importance in shaping the demand for long‐term care. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The impact of scaling‐up prevention of mother‐to‐child transmission (PMTCT) of HIV infection on the human resource requirement: the need to go beyond numbers
Authors: Simba Daudi , Kamwela Jerome , Mpembeni Rose , Msamanga Gernard 
Published: September 2008

AbstractAlthough the mother‐to‐child transmission (MTCT) contributes only 5% of transmission of HIV infection, its impact has reversed the decline in infant and child mortality rates. With antenatal service coverage of over 90%, the integration of prevention of MTCT (PMTCT) of HIV infection into the Reproductive and Child Health (RCH) services in Tanzania, this is likely to overstretch the staff capacity and undermine the already compromised quality of health care services. A retrospective study was conducted to assess the impact of integrating and scaling‐up PMTCT of HIV infection into routine RCH services, on the magnitude of staff workload in RCH clinics. The study was conducted in 60 health facilities identified from five regions that had participated in the pilot phase of PMTCT implementation in the Mainland Tanzania. The average staff workload was calculated from staff‐load obtained from attendance records and activity‐time obtained by direct observation; and staff‐time from records that were kept at the clinic. The average staff workload was found to be 50.5% (8–147%) for facilities providing PMTCT of HIV infection and 37.8% (11–82%) for facilities without PMTCT services. The average staff workload was computed on the assumption that all clients attending various antenatal clinics received PMTCT services from trained staff only and the result revealed staff workload of 87.2%. This study concludes that services for PMTCT of HIV infection can easily be scaled‐up and integrated into RCH services using the already existing staff. In the wake of the human resource crisis in the health sector in developing countries, strategies to address the problem will need to go beyond numbers to address issues of staff productivity and their distribution. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Clinical leadership: the elephant in the room
Authors: Edmonstone John 
Published: September 2008

AbstractThe article explores the concept of clinical leadership in the National Health Service in the UK by seeking to establish a workable definition and by contrasting it with managerial leadership, focussing on the ‘disconnected hierarchy’ in professional organizations. It proposes that the problems faced by clinical leadership relate to the current nature of general management in the NHS and concludes by suggesting that clinical leadership is the ‘elephant in the room’—often ignored or unaddressed. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Hexagonal micron scale pillars influence epithelial cell adhesion, morphology, proliferation, migration, and cytoskeletal arrangement
Authors: Nematollahi M. , Hamilton D.W. , Jaeger N.J. , Brunette D.M. 
Published: September 2008

AbstractA desirable attribute of implants penetrating epithelium is the inhibition of downward epithelial migration. Simple grooved topographies can inhibit this migration either directly or indirectly by promoting connective tissue attachment, but few studies have focused on the direct effect of geometrically complex topographies on epithelial behavior. Therefore, we examined the influence of novel topographies comprising square floors surrounded by six‐sided pillars on periodontal ligament epithelial cell adhesion, morphology, cytoskeletal organization, and migration. Relative to cells on smooth surface, epithelial cells on the pillar substrata adhered closely, exhibited reduced proliferation, had a reduced velocity, but higher persistence. Vinculin staining demonstrated that cells formed mature adhesions on the pillar tops, but smaller punctate adhesion in the gaps and on the pillar walls. Overall more mature adhesions were found on pillars compared to smooth surfaces, which may account for the reduced speed of migration limited on the pillars. F‐actin stress fibers were predominantly found on pillar tops within 6 h, whereas microtubules (MTs) had a tendency to form in the gaps between the six‐sided pillars. In conclusion, microfabricated pillars altered epithelial migration in ways that could prove useful in inhibition of epithelial downward migration on transmucosal implants. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res 2009
3,4,5‐trihydroxybenzaldehyde from Geum japonicum has dual inhibitory effect on matrix metalloproteinase 9; inhibition of gelatinoytic activity as well as MMP‐9 expression in TNF‐α induced HASMC
Authors: Suh Seok‐Jong , Cho Kang Jin , Moon Tae Chul , Chang Hyeun‐Wook , Park Young‐Guk , Kim Cheorl‐Ho 
Published: September 2008

AbstractThe matrix metalloproteinases (MMP‐9 and MMP‐2) production and smooth muscle cell (SMC) migration may play key roles in the pathogenesis of atherosclerotic lesions. In particular, the cancer cell invasion and SMC migration through vascular wall were shown to be directly associated with inducible MMP‐9 expression. Previously, 3,4,5‐trihydoroxybenzaldehyde (THBA) was purified from Geum japonicum and we demonstrated a direct inhibition effect of THBA on MMP‐9 and MMP‐2 activity in the supernatants of TNF‐α‐induced HASMCs. In addition, MMP‐9 expression and migration was suppressed by THBA in the TNF‐α‐induced HASMCs. In this study, we also investigated whether TNF‐α‐induced MMP‐9 expressions are involved with migrations of HASMCs by using cell signal inhibitors and MMP‐9 inhibitors. An RT‐PCR and luciferase‐tagged promoter analysis revealed that THBA inhibits the transcription of MMP‐9 mRNA. Moreover, an electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) exhibited that THBA also suppressed DNA binding of nuclear factor (NF)‐κB and activator protein (AP)‐1 transcription factors. Furthermore, Western blot analysis indicated TNF‐α‐induced phosphorylation of extracellular signal regulated kinase 1 and 2 (ERK1/2), p38 and c‐Jun N‐terminal kinase (JNK) were inhibited by THBA. Taken together, we suggest that THBA has inhibition effect to the migrations as well as MMP‐2 and MMP‐9 activities in HASMCs. Especially gelatinolytic activity was controlled by enzymatic inhibition of MMP‐2 and MMP‐9, and also down‐regulated MMP‐9 transcription via mitogen‐activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways in THBA treated HASMCs. J. Cell. Biochem. 105: 524–533, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Human embryonic stem cell registries: Value, challenges and opportunities
Authors: Luong Mai X. , Smith Kelly P. , Stein Gary S. 
Published: September 2008

AbstractThe accelerating pace of human embryonic stem cell (hESC) research has created an urgent need for the development of hESC registries, information repositories intended to gather, organize and disseminate hESC information. Although of enormous value to this evolving field, registries face significant challenges to their development. These challenges include addressing the legal and ethical issues surrounding hESC derivation as well as complex intellectual property concerns. In addition to these issues, registries must develop tools to efficiently gather, validate and present many different types of hESC information from a variety of sources. Given the pace and regulatory complexities of this field, it is important that registries develop cooperative mechanisms to avoid duplication and more efficiently support hESC research. J. Cell. Biochem. 105: 625–632, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Crosstalk between c‐Myc and ribosome in ribosomal biogenesis and cancer
Authors: Dai Mu‐Shui , Lu Hua 
Published: September 2008

AbstractProtein production is driven by protein translation and relies on ribosomal biogenesis, globally essential for cell growth, proliferation, and animal development. Deregulation of these sophisticated cellular processes leads to abnormal homeostasis and carcinogenesis. Thus, their tight regulation is vitally important for a cell to warrant normal growth and proliferation. One newly identified key regulator for ribosomal biogenesis and translation is the oncoprotein c‐Myc, whose aberrantly excessive level and activity are highly associated with human cancers, too. Recently, we have shown that ribosomal protein L11 functions as a feedback regulator of c‐Myc. Hence, in this review, we will provide some prospects on the interplay between c‐Myc and ribosomal proteins during ribosomal biogenesis and discuss its implications in cancer. J. Cell. Biochem. 105: 670–677, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Membrane receptor‐initiated signaling in 1,25(OH)2D3‐stimulated calcium uptake in intestinal epithelial cells
Authors: Khanal Ramesh C. , Peters Tremaine M. Sterling , Smith Nathan M. , Nemere Ilka 
Published: September 2008

AbstractDemonstrating 1,25(OH)2D3‐stimulated calcium uptake in isolated chick intestinal epithelial cells has been complicated by simultaneous enhancement of both uptake and efflux. We now report that in intestinal cells of adult birds, or those of young birds cultured for 72 h, 1,25(OH)2D3‐stimulates 45Ca uptake to greater than 140% of corresponding controls within 3 min of addition. Such cells have lost hormone‐stimulated protein kinase C (PKC) activity, believed to mediate calcium efflux. To further test this hypothesis, freshly isolated cells were preincubated with calphostin C, and calcium uptake monitored in the presence or absence of steroid. Only cells treated with the PKC inhibitor demonstrated a significant increase in 45Ca uptake in response to 1,25(OH)2D3, relative to corresponding controls. In addition, phorbol ester was shown to stimulate efflux, while forskolin stimulated uptake. To further investigate the mechanisms involved in calcium uptake, we assessed the role of TRPV6 and its activation by β‐glucuronidase. β‐Glucuronidase secretion from isolated intestinal epithelial cells was significantly increased by treatment with 1,25(OH)2D3, PTH, or forskolin, but not by phorbol ester. Treatment of cells with β‐glucuronidase, in turn, stimulated 45Ca uptake. Finally, transfection of cells with siRNA to either β‐glucuronidase or TRPV6 abolished 1,25(OH)2D3‐enhanced calcium uptake relative to controls transfected with scrambled siRNA. Confocal microscopy further indicated rapid redistribution of enzyme and calcium channel after steroid. 1,25(OH)2D3 and PTH increase calcium uptake by stimulating the PKA pathway to release β‐glucuronidase, which in turn activates TRPV6. 1,25(OH)2D3‐enahnced calcium efflux is mediated by the PKC pathway. J. Cell. Biochem. 105: 1109–1116, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Egr‐1 and serum response factor are involved in growth factors‐ and serum‐mediated induction of E2‐EPF UCP expression that regulates the VHL‐HIF pathway
Authors: Lim Jung Hwa , Jung Cho‐Rok , Lee Chan‐Hee , Im Dong‐Soo 
Published: September 2008

AbstractE2‐EPF ubiquitin carrier protein (UCP) has been shown to be highly expressed in common human cancers and target von Hippel‐Lindau (VHL) for proteosomal degradation in cells, thereby stabilizing hypoxia‐inducible factor (HIF)‐1α. Here, we investigated cellular factors that regulate the expression of UCP gene. Promoter deletion assay identified binding sites for early growth response‐1 (Egr‐1) and serum response factor (SRF) in the UCP promoter. Hepatocyte or epidermal growth factor (EGF), or phorbol 12‐myristate 13‐acetate induced UCP expression following early induction of Egr‐1 expression in HeLa cells. Serum increased mRNA and protein levels of SRF and UCP in the cell. By electrophoretic mobility shift and chromatin immunoprecipitation assays, sequence‐specific DNA‐binding of Egr‐1 and SRF to the UCP promoter was detected in nuclear extracts from HeLa cells treated with EGF and serum, respectively. Overexpression of Egr‐1 or SRF increased UCP expression. RNA interference‐mediated depletion of endogenous Egr‐1 or SRF impaired EGF‐ or serum‐mediated induction of UCP expression, which was required for cancer cell proliferation. Systemic delivery of EGF into mice also increased UCP expression following early induction of Egr‐1 expression in mouse liver. The induced UCP expression by the growth factors or serum increased HIF‐1α protein level under non‐hypoxic conditions, suggesting that the Egr‐1/SRF‐UCP‐VHL pathway is in part responsible for the increased HIF‐1α protein level in vitro and in vivo. Thus, growth factors and serum induce expression of Egr‐1 and SRF, respectively, which in turn induces UCP expression that positively regulates cancer cell growth. J. Cell. Biochem. 105: 1117–1127, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Conformational dependence of charges in protein simulations
Authors: Söderhjelm Pär , Ryde Ulf 
Published: September 2008

AbstractWe have studied the conformational dependence of molecular mechanics atomic charges for proteins by calculating the charges fitted to the quantum mechanical (QM) electrostatic potential (ESP) for all atoms in complexes between avidin and seven biotin analogues for 20 snapshots from molecular dynamics simulations. We have studied how various other charge sets reproduce those charges. The QM charges, even if averaged over all snapshots or all residues, in general have a larger magnitude than standard Amber charges, indicating that the restraint toward zero in the restrained ESP method is too strong. This has a significant influence on the electrostatic conformational energies and the interaction energy between the biotin ligand and the protein, giving a difference between the QM and Amber charges of 43 and 8 kJ/mol for the negatively charged and neutral biotin analogues, respectively (3–4%). However, this energy difference is strongly reduced if the solvation energy (calculated by the Poisson–Boltzmann or Generalized Born methods) is added, viz., to 7 kJ/mol for charged and 3 kJ/mol for uncharged ligand. In fact, charges need to be recalculated with a QM method only for residues within 7 or 4 Å of the ligand, if the error should be less than 4 kJ/mol. Unfortunately, the QM charges do not give significantly better MM/PBSA estimates of ligand‐binding affinities than standard Amber charges. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Comput Chem, 2009
Internal jugular vein valve incompetence in COPD and primary pulmonary hypertension
Authors: Doepp Florian , Bähr Dieter , John Matthias , Hoernig Sören , Valdueza José M. , Schreiber Stephan J. 
Published: September 2008

AbstractPurpose.Under physiologic conditions, intact internal jugular vein valves (IJVVs) efficiently prevent retrograde venous flow during intrathoracic pressure increase. Chronically elevated central venous pressure found in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and primary pulmonary hypertension (PPH) might lead to IJVV incompetence (IJVVI). The aim of this study was to analyze the prevalence of IJVVI in patients with COPD and PPH using duplex sonography (DUS).Method.We included 30 COPD patients, 5 PPH patients, and 100 healthy controls in the study. IJVVI was diagnosed if retrograde jugular blood flow was seen on DUS during a Valsalva maneuver. Retrograde venous flow intensity was evaluated and graded according to extent and duration of reflux.Results.IJVVI was found in 18 (60%) COPD patients and in all 5 (100%) PPH patients, which was significantly different from the controls (27%; p < 0.005). The intensity of venous retrograde flow correlated with the pulmonary artery pressure.Conclusion.Compared with healthy controls, COPDand PPH patients demonstrated a significantlygreater prevalence of IJVVI, which seems to be caused by the elevated central venous pressure. These patients may be at higher risk to develop central nervous system diseases related to cerebral outflow obstruction. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Ultrasound, 2008.
Performance of electrospun nanofibers for SPE of drugs from aqueous solutions
Authors: Kang Xue‐jun , Chen Li‐qin , Zhang Yi‐yun , Liu Yang‐wei , Gu Zhong‐ze 
Published: September 2008

AbstractA novel extraction technique was reported. The solid phase material, nanofiber, was prepared by electrospinning using polystyrene. Twenty different drugs (10 μg/L in water) were extracted using 1 mg of nanofibers within 5 min. The analytes can be desorpted from the fibers with 50 μL of the methanol and then monitored by LC coupled to a UV detector. Packed‐fiber SPE (PFSPE) provide high recoveries (>50%) for some relatively non‐polar drugs (log P >1.5) (n‐octanol‐to‐water partition ratio), and relatively low recoveries (9.9–39.8%) for the drugs within the log P window below 1. Experimental optimization of the technique has been carried out using seven representative drugs, edaravone, cinchonine, quinine, voriconazole, chlordiazepoxide, verapamil, and rutonding. Except for edaravone, the maximum yields of seven drugs (0.2 μg/L) from water samples were approximately 100%, and were 33.7–88.2% from human plasma. The advantageous aspect of the technique encompasses high throughput, high sensitivity, simplicity, low cost, and green chemistry.
Separation of strontium ions from a simulated highly active liquid waste using a composite of silica‐crown ether in a polymer
Authors: Zhang Anyun , Wang Weihong , Chai Zhifang , Kumagai Mikio 
Published: September 2008

AbstractTo partition Sr(II) from highly active liquid waste (HLW), a macroporous silica‐based 4,4′,(5′)‐di(t‐butylcyclohexano)‐18‐crown‐6 (DtBuCH18C6)‐tri‐n‐butyl phosphate (TBP) polymeric composite, (DtBuCH18C6+TBP)/SiO2‐P, was synthesized. It was done by impregnation and immobilization of DtBuCH18C6 and TBP into the pores of the SiO2‐P particles, where DtBuCH18C6 was modified with TBP. The sorption of Sr(II) and some co‐existent elements contained in a simulated HLW onto (DtBuCH18C6+TBP)/SiO2‐P was investigated at 323 K. It was found that in 2.0 M HNO3, Sr(II) exhibited strong sorption ability and high selectivity over all the tested metals except Ba(II). Chromatographic partitioning of Sr(II) from 2.0 M HNO3 containing 5 mM of the tested elements was performed by (DtBuCH18C6+TBP)/SiO2‐P packed column. La(III), Y(III), Na(I), K(I), Cs(I), Ru(III), Mo(VI), and Pd(II) had almost no sorption and flowed into effluent along with 2.0 M HNO3. Sr(II) adsorbed strongly by (DtBuCH18C6+TBP)/SiO2‐P was then eluted effectively by water, while Ba(II) flowed into effluent along with Sr(II) due to the similar chemical properties. In addition, the bleeding of total organic carbon in aqueous phase was evaluated. The results demonstrated that in 2.0 M HNO3, application of the macroporous silica‐based DtBuCH18C6 polymeric composite in chromatographic partitioning of Sr(II) from the simulated HLW is feasible.
Nanostructuration of Unsaturated Polyester by All‐Acrylic Block Copolymers, 1 ‐ Use of High‐Molecular‐Weight Block Copolymers
Authors: Serrano Elena , Gerard Pierre , Lortie Frederic , Pascault Jean‐Pierre , Portinha Daniel 
Published: September 2008

AbstractNanostructuration of maleate and orthophthalic unsaturated polyester (UP) resins was achieved by the use of high molecular weight amphiphilic PBA‐b‐P(MMA‐co‐DMA)2 triblock copolymers. PBA is fully immiscible in cured UP resins, and the miscibility of P(MMA‐co‐DMA) random copolymers can be ensured with a minimum DMA content of 12 mol‐%. When using the triblock copolymers, fully transparent and nanostructured thermosets are obtained with a minimum DMA content in the outer blocks; the value of which is higher than 12 mol‐% and depends on the UP chemical structure. Finally, the fracture toughness of nanostructured thermoset was evaluated: for a triblock copolymer content as low as 5 wt.‐%, a 50% increase of KIc was obtained, as compared to the neat thermoset.magnified image
Fabrication of a Practical and Polymer‐Rich Organic Radical Polymer Electrode and its Rate Dependence
Authors: Suguro Masahiro , Iwasa Shigeyuki , Nakahara Kentaro 
Published: September 2008

AbstractA practical and polymer‐rich organic radical cathode that contains 80 wt.‐% poly(4‐vinyloxy‐2,2,6,6‐tetramethylpiperidine‐N‐oxyl) (PTVE) and 15 wt.‐% vapor‐grown carbon fiber (VGCF) has been fabricated. The PTVE/VGCF composite electrode shows a reversible redox peak at 3.56 V (vs Li/Li+) in cyclic voltammetry. A coin‐type cell with the PTVE/VGCF composite electrode as the cathode and lithium metal as the anode has also been fabricated and used for charge/discharge measurements. When the cell was discharged at 0.3 mA · cm−2 (1 C), a capacity of 104 mAh · g−1, which is 77% of PTVE's theoretical capacity (135 mAh · g−1), was obtained. When it was discharged at 9.0 mA · cm−2 (30 C), its capacity was 52% of the capacity it had when it was discharged at 0.3 mA · cm−2 (1 C). Even when discharged at 24 mA · cm−2 (80 C), it surprisingly had 32% of the capacity it had when discharged at 0.3 mA · cm−2. The observed rate dependence shows that the polymer‐rich electrode could discharge over 50% of the cell capacity in two minutes and over 30% within one minute.magnified image