bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Inflammatory rather than infectious insults play a role in exocrine tissue damage in a mouse model for coxsackievirus B4‐induced pancreatitis
Authors: De Palma Armando M , Thibaut Hendrik J , Li Sandra , Van Aelst Ilse , Dillen Chris , Swinnen Melissa , Verbeken Erik , Neyts Johan , Opdenakker Ghislain 
Published: November 2008

AbstractInfection with coxsackievirus B4 (CVB4) may result in an acute severe necrotizing pancreatitis that mostly remains restricted to the acini of the exocrine parenchyma. The mechanisms responsible for this tissue damage, however, remain poorly understood. We here report that COAM, a polyanionic carboxylic acid, provides marked protection against CVB4‐induced pancreatitis in a mouse model. Despite the fact that COAM largely reduced disease severity, as detected by serum amylase and lipase levels as well as histologically, titres of replicating CVB4 in the pancreas were virtually unaffected. COAM treatment diminished the infection‐associated MMP‐9 levels and also resulted in a decreased influx of neutrophils into the infected pancreas. Moreover, we demonstrate that titres of replicating virus in the pancreas did not directly correlate with the severity of disease. In conclusion, our data suggest that immunopathological effects, rather than direct virus‐induced destruction, are responsible for the damage to acinar tissue in CVB4‐induced pancreatitis. Copyright © 2008 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Bone marrow minimal disseminated disease (MDD) and minimal residual disease (MRD) in childhood T‐cell lymphoblastic lymphoma stage III, detected by flow cytometry (FC) and real‐time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RQ‐PCR)
Authors: Stark Batia , Avigad Smadar , Luria Drorit , Manor Sigal , Reshef‐Ronen Tali , Avrahami Gali , Yaniv Isaac 
Published: November 2008

AbstractBackgroundDespite overlapping features of T‐cell lymphoblastic lymphoma (T‐LLy) and T‐cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T‐ALL), which respond favorably to T‐ALL treatment, clinical and biological differences exist. We retrospectively assessed the prevalence of submicroscopic bone marrow (BM) minimal disseminated disease (MDD) at diagnosis and the early response to treatment (minimal residual disease—MRD) and their prognostic significance in 17 children with stage III T‐LLy treated according to Berlin‐Frankfurt‐Munster (BFM) non‐Hodgkin lymphoma protocols.ProcedureFour‐color flow cytometry (FC) was used for lymphoma associated immunophenotype and real‐time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RQ‐PCR) for T‐cell receptor (TCR β/δ/γ) gene rearrangements with at least 0.01% sensitivity.ResultsTwo markers per patient were identified in all cases using FC and in 80% using RQ‐PCR. BM MDD at diagnosis of ≥0.01% was detected by FC and RQ‐PCR in 88% and 80% of patients, respectively, and by at least one of the methods in all patients. A significant correlation was achieved between the methods by Pearson correlation analysis (P = 0.004). MRD levels significantly decreased to very low levels on day 33 in 9 out of 10 patients studied. The only patient that remained positive relapsed.ConclusionsMDD was prevalent in stage III T‐LLy, for which we could not prove a prognostic significance in the context of ALL‐like treatment. This study shows that both FC and RQ‐PCR methods are efficient for MDD and MRD analyses in T‐LLy. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2009;52:20–25. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Gender affects survival for medulloblastoma only in older children and adults: A study from the surveillance epidemiology and end results registry
Authors: Curran Emily K. , Sainani Kristin L. , Le Gem M. , Propp Jennifer M. , Fisher Paul G. 
Published: November 2008

AbstractBackgroundMales have a higher incidence of medulloblastoma (MB) than females, but the effect of gender on survival is unclear. Studies have yielded conflicting results, possibly due to small sample sizes or differences in how researchers defined MB. We aimed to determine the effect of gender on survival in MB using a large data set and strict criteria for defining MB.ProcedureA sample of 1,226 subjects (763 males and 463 females) was identified from 1973 to 2002, using the Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results (SEER‐9) registry. MB was strictly defined to exclude non‐cerebellar embryonal tumors (primitive neuro‐ectodermal tumors). Because children <3 years of age are known to have worse survival, patients were stratified by age <3 years at diagnosis (95 males, 82 females) and >3 years (668 males, 381 females).ResultsOverall, there was no significant difference in survival between males and females (log rank P = 0.22). However, among subjects >3 years, females had significantly greater survival than males (log rank P = 0.02). In children <3 years, there was a non‐significant trend toward poorer survival in females (median survival: males 27 months, females 13 months; log rank P = 0.24). This interaction between age group and gender was statistically significant (P = 0.03).ConclusionFemales with MB have a survival advantage only in subjects >3 years. In children <3 years, females may even have poorer outcome. The effect of gender on survival and incidence in MB warrants additional biologic investigation, and may differ in very young children with MB. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2009;52:60–64. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Quantitative abnormalities of fetal trophoblast cells in maternal circulation in preeclampsia
Authors: Zhang Ling , Wang Yan , Liao Ai‐Hua 
Published: November 2008

AbstractObjectiveTo determine if quantitative abnormalities of circulating fetal trophoblast cells (CFTCs) are associated with preeclampsia.MethodsThe trophoblast cell‐specific antibody, MEM‐G/9 (monoclonal antibody to HLA‐G), was applied to distinguish the trophoblast cells from the maternal circulation. The trophoblast cells were isolated by density‐gradient centrifugation from maternal blood samples of normal pregnant and preeclamptic women, respectively. After preliminary enrichment, the CFTCs were identified by immunocytochemical staining with the MEM‐G/9. To prove fetal origin of the HLA‐G‐positive cells, primer‐extension preamplification (PEP) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) based on single HLA‐G‐positive cells were adopted to detect human sex‐determining region of the Y‐chromosome (SRY) gene.ResultsThere were 6.88 ± 1.54 and 30.56 ± 5.16 HLA‐G‐positive cells in 6 mL maternal blood from the normal pregnant (n = 16) and preeclamptic women (n = 18), respectively. The difference was statistically significant (p < 0.001). The SRY gene from the HLA‐G‐positive cells was detected in all pregnant women carrying male fetuses. The sensitivity and specificity of PEP and PCR for the SRY gene detection were 100%.ConclusionIt is concluded that enhancement of CFTCs numbers is related to preeclampsia, which provides information useful for noninvasive prenatal diagnosis of preeclampsia. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Surface modification of polytetrafluoroethylene films by plasma pretreatment and graft copolymerization to improve their adhesion to bismaleimide
Authors: Lin Tsung‐Kuan , Wu Shao‐Jung , Peng Chih‐Kang , Yeh Chao‐Hsien 
Published: November 2008

AbstractBACKGROUND: Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) is utilized in many engineering applications, but its poor wettability and adhesion properties with other materials have limited its use. The study reported was aimed at achieving surface modification of PTFE films by radiofrequency NH3 and N2 plasma treatment, followed by graft copolymerization, in order to improve the interfacial adhesion of PTFE and bismaleimide.RESULTS: X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy results showed that a short‐time plasma treatment had a distinct defluorination effect and led to nitrogen functional group formation. The nitrogen chemical bonding form was different for NH3 and N2 plasma treatments. Under the same experimental conditions, the NH3 plasma exhibited a better etching effect than did the N2 plasma. Contact angle measurement showed an improvement in both surface energy and wettabliity by short‐time plasma treatment. The concentration of the surface‐grafted bismaleimide on PTFE increased after the plasma pretreatment. The lap shear strength between PTFE and bismaleimide increased significantly after surface modification.CONCLUSION: This study found that plasma treatment caused changes in surface chemistry, thus leading to an increase of the wettability of PTFE surfaces. Hence, the adhesion properties of PTFE with bismaleimide were significantly improved. Copyright © 2008 Society of Chemical Industry
Highly ordered nanoporous thin films by blending of PSt‐b‐PMMA block copolymers and PEO additives as structure directing agents
Authors: Park Sung Chan , Jung Hyunjung , Fukukawa Ken‐ichi , Campos Luis M. , Lee Kyunghee , Shin Kyusoon , Hawker Craig J. , Ha Jeong Sook , Bang Joona 
Published: November 2008

AbstractHerein, we present a simple method for producing nanoporous templates with a high degree of lateral ordering by self‐assembly of block copolymers. A key feature of this approach is control of the orientation of polymeric microdomains through the use of hydrophilic additives as structure directing agents. Incorporation of hydrophilic poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) moieties into poly(styrene‐b‐methyl methacrylate) (PSt‐b‐PMMA) diblock copolymers gives vertical alignment of PMMA cylinders on the substrate after solvent annealing. Because of the miscibility between PEO and PMMA, PEO additives were selectively positioned within PMMA microdomains and by controlling the processing conditions, it was found that ordering of PSt‐b‐PMMA diblock copolymers could be achieved. The perpendicular orientation of PMMA cylinders was achieved by increasing the molecular size of the PEO additives leading to an increased hydrophilicity of the PMMA domains and consequently to control the orientation of microdomains in PSt‐b‐PMMA block copolymer thin films. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 8041–8048, 2008
The effect of a trithiol and inorganic fillers on the photo‐induced thermal frontal polymerization of a triacrylate
Authors: Nason Charles , Pojman John A. , Hoyle Charles 
Published: November 2008

AbstractThermal frontal polymerization is a process in which a localized reaction propagates through an unstirred system by the coupling of the thermal diffusion and the Arrhenius kinetics of an exothermic polymerization. A trithiol was found to affect the front velocity and the time for inducing a front upon exposure to UV light for trimethylolpropane triacrylate polymerization fronts with either kaolin or calcium carbonate filler present. The addition of trithiol and filler both decreased the front velocity. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 8091–8096, 2008
Persistent and emission color tunable poly(phenylene‐ethynylene)s covered with polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes
Authors: Miyake Junpei , Chujo Yoshiki 
Published: November 2008

AbstractThe development of chemically and thermally persistent blue‐, and green‐luminescent hybrid π‐conjugated polymers consisting of poly(phenylene‐ethynylene) conjugated backbone wrapped with the rigid three‐dimensional polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) units was successfully achieved by means of the Sonogashira‐Hagihara coupling reaction. Because of the steric effect of POSS units, the luminescence stability of the conjugated backbone was significantly enhanced. Moreover, emission color was also easily tunable only by changing the ratio of POSS moieties incorporated. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 8112–8116, 2008
Toward low‐band gap dithienophosphole copolymers for an application in organic solar cells
Authors: Durben Stefan , Nickel Debby , Krüger Robin A. , Sutherland Todd C. , Baumgartner Thomas 
Published: November 2008

AbstractTwo functionalized dithieno[3,2‐b:2′,3′‐d]phospholes with solubilizing groups have been synthesized that allow for the generation of a series of π‐conjugated AB‐ and ABC‐copolymers. The polymers obtained show notable optoelectronic properties with red‐shifted absorption and emission in the orange to red section of the optical solar spectrum. Although combination of dithienophosphole units with fluorene building blocks gives access to processable polymers with band gaps between 2.2 and 2.3 eV in solution and 2.0 eV in the solid state, an ABC copolymer based on dithienophosphole, fluorene, and bis(thienyl)benzothiadiazole units was found to not only exhibit a suitable band gap for solar cell applications (solution: 2.0 eV; solid state: 1.7 eV) but also showed good solubility as well as good electron transfer properties in the presence of fullerene (C60). © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 8179–8190, 2008
Experimental Investigation on the Heterogeneous Kinetic Process of the Low Thermal Decomposition of Ammonium Perchlorate Particles
Authors: Longuet Baptiste , Gillard Philippe 
Published: November 2008

AbstractThe thermal decomposition of ammonium perchlorate has been extensively studied in the past. Nevertheless, the various results published illustrate, on the one hand, significant differences regarding the influence of different parameters on the decomposition and on the other hand, a lack of useful quantitative laws to predict the thermal behaviour of this crystal under a range of conditions (temperature, duration of exposure, presence of confinement).
High‐density guided growth of silicon nanowires in nanoporous alumina on Si(100) substrate: Estimation of activation energy
Authors: Buttard D. , David T. , Gentile P. , Dhalluin F. , Baron T. 
Published: November 2008

AbstractHigh‐density growth of silicon nanowires confined within a nanoporous alumina template is carried out. The growth rate is measured for several temperatures. An incubation time is observed and measured. The activation energy of this system is calculated and compared to that of growth on a free silicon surface. (© 2009 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Application of optimal design methodologies in clinical pharmacology experiments
Authors: Ogungbenro Kayode , Dokoumetzidis Aristides , Aarons Leon 
Published: November 2008

AbstractPharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics data are often analysed by mixed‐effects modelling techniques (also known as population analysis), which has become a standard tool in the pharmaceutical industries for drug development. The last 10 years has witnessed considerable interest in the application of experimental design theories to population pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic experiments. Design of population pharmacokinetic experiments involves selection and a careful balance of a number of design factors. Optimal design theory uses prior information about the model and parameter estimates to optimize a function of the Fisher information matrix to obtain the best combination of the design factors. This paper provides a review of the different approaches that have been described in the literature for optimal design of population pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic experiments. It describes options that are available and highlights some of the issues that could be of concern as regards practical application. It also discusses areas of application of optimal design theories in clinical pharmacology experiments. It is expected that as the awareness about the benefits of this approach increases, more people will embrace it and ultimately will lead to more efficient population pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic experiments and can also help to reduce both cost and time during drug development. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Down‐regulatory effect of usnic acid on nuclear factor‐κB‐dependent tumor necrosis factor‐α and inducible nitric oxide synthase expression in lipopolysaccharide‐stimulated macrophages RAW 264.7
Authors: Jin Ju‐qing , Li Cui‐qin , He Lang‐chong 
Published: November 2008

AbstractThe purpose of this study was to investigate the molecular mechanisms that are responsible for the antiinflammatory effect of usnic acid (UA). UA is one of the most common and abundant lichen metabolites. The present study examined the effects of UA on the tumor necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α) and nitric oxide (NO) production induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in RAW264.7 macrophages and the underlying molecular mechanisms. UA decreased the TNF‐α level in LPS‐stimulated RAW264.7 macrophages in dose‐dependent manner, the IC50 value was 12.8 µM. RT‐PCR analysis indicated that it inhibited TNF‐α mRNA expression. Furthermore, it inhibited NO production in LPS‐activated RAW264.7 macrophages, the IC50 value was 4.7 µM. Western blot analysis showed that UA attenuated LPS‐induced synthesis of iNOS protein and nuclear translocation of NF‐κB p65 in the macrophages, in parallel. UA also inhibited LPS‐mediated I‐κBα degradation. Taken together, this suggests that UA has an antiinflammatory effect by inhibiting TNF‐α and iNOS expression, possibly through suppression of nuclear translocation of NF‐κB p65 and I‐κBα degradation. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Infrared laser desorption/vacuum ultraviolet photoionization mass spectrometry of petroleum saturates: a new experimental approach for the analysis of heavy oils
Authors: Guo Wenyue , Bi Yucheng , Guo Huijun , Pan Yang , Qi Fei , Deng Wenan , Shan Honghong 
Published: November 2008

AbstractA novel method combining infrared (IR) laser desorption with tunable synchrotron vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) photoionization mass spectrometry (LD/VUV PIMS) is applied to characterize a number of petroleum saturates samples from Lungu atmospheric residue (LGAR) under different treatment procedures. The mass spectra of these saturates are well resolved with even masses as the dominant ions and are clearly sample‐dependent. In order to assess the ability of IR LD/VUV PIMS to determine the average molecular weight of heavy oils, the dependence of the measured molecular weight distributions on the VUV ionization photon energies is also discussed. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Dynamics of organizational information security
Authors: Dutta Amitava , Roy Rahul 
Published: November 2008

AbstractWhile technology is important, organizational and human factors also play a crucial role in achieving information security. In this paper we develop a system dynamics model of the interplay between technical and behavioral security factors, along with their impact on business value of an organization's IT infrastructure. The model captures delays associated with perception of security risk, the mechanics of user compliance and the mechanics of risk mitigation achieved by investments in security technology and user training. These structural model components interact to mediate the impact of security incidents on the business value generated by information technology enabled transactions. The model reveals the dynamics of erosion in and recovery of business value resulting from security incidents. Experiments with the model suggest that information security drills, analogous to fire drills, may be useful in maintaining user compliance, in addition to usual training and awareness activities. Among the management policy parameters examined, we find that improvement in realized business value is statistically significant for the minimum security risk the firm is willing to accept, and the proportion of security‐related investment spent on security technology versus security training and awareness. We also discuss how our model can be extended to help justify an organization's investments in information security, an objective that has been notoriously difficult to achieve in practice. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A penalized likelihood approach for mixture cure models
Authors: Corbière Fabien , Commenges Daniel , Taylor Jeremy M.G , Joly Pierre 
Published: November 2008

AbstractCure models have been developed to analyze failure time data with a cured fraction. For such data, standard survival models are usually not appropriate because they do not account for the possibility of cure. Mixture cure models assume that the studied population is a mixture of susceptible individuals, who may experience the event of interest, and non‐susceptible individuals that will never experience it. Important issues in mixture cure models are estimation of the baseline survival function for susceptibles and estimation of the variance of the regression parameters. The aim of this paper is to propose a penalized likelihood approach, which allows for flexible modeling of the hazard function for susceptible individuals using M‐splines. This approach also permits direct computation of the variance of parameters using the inverse of the Hessian matrix. Properties and limitations of the proposed method are discussed and an illustration from a cancer study is presented. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Prenatal evaluation of a scrotal mass using a high‐frequency probe in the diagnosis of inguinoscrotal hernia
Authors: Frati A. , Ducarme G. , Vuillard E. , Pecastaing A. , Yver C. , Pejoan H. , Luton D. 
Published: November 2008

AbstractWhereas inguinal hernia is a common pediatric disease, fetal inguinal hernia is rarely diagnosed because intra‐abdominal pressure usually occurs only after birth. We report a case of prenatal diagnosis of a scrotal mass at 35 weeks' gestation. The initial differential diagnosis included hydrocele, testicular teratoma and testicular torsion, but inguinoscrotal hernia was considered the most likely diagnosis when further ultrasound imaging using a high‐frequency probe demonstrated bowel loop movements around the mesenteric artery. This diagnosis was confirmed postnatally. Copyright © 2008 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Assessing functional connectivity using empirical data
Authors: Kadoya Taku 
Published: November 2008

AbstractThe potential for connectivity to impact populations in heterogeneous landscapes, and the obvious implications for conservation biology, has led to increasing interest in connectivity and a proliferation of connectivity measures. Despite the pivotal role of this measure in ecology, however, there is no generally accepted and employed formal definition of connectivity. In addition, despite the strong desire from conservationists, who are increasingly asked to design and implement corridor plans, empirically determining measures of movement and dispersal, and assessing connectivity from field data remain challenging tasks in spatial ecology. Here I summarize the current use of connectivity concepts in terms of both metapopulation and landscape ecology, and present recently developed promising techniques in spatial ecology, such as graph theory, pattern‐oriented modeling, and state–space modeling, which will help to improve assessment of species‐centered or functional connectivity based on empirical data.