bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Fatal Hepatitis After Long-Term Pulse Itraconazole Treatment for Onychomycosis
Authors: Tuccori Marco , Bresci Francesco , Guidi Benedetta , Blandizzi Corrado , Tacca Mario Del , Paolo Marco Di 
Published: June 2008

Objective:To report the occurrence of acute cytolytic hepatitis In a patient exposed to pulse itraconazole therapy for 24 weeks and provide a concise review of the literature on cases of itraconazole-induced hepatitis.Case Summary:A 61 -year-old woman with no apparent risk factors for liver injury developed acute hepatitis one week after the final dose of a long-term course of pulse itraconazole therapy (200 mg orally twice daily, 1 wk on, 3 wk off, for 24 wk) for onychomycosis. Monitoring of liver enzymes was not performed during the treatment period. Serologic evaluations on presentation ruled out Infectious diseases or other etiological factors. Liver function tests showed alanine aminotransferase 3330 U/L, aspartate aminotransferase 3250 U/L, and bilirubin 21 mg/dL Liver function continued to deteriorate, and the patient underwent liver transplantation 17 days after admission. Her liver displayed reduced volume and them was a mild accumulation of ascitic fluid in the retroperitoneal cavity. Histologic evaluation showed massive panlobular necrosis. Complications occurred after transplantation and a rejection crisis worsened the clinical picture until the patient died about 4 months later. Use of the Naranjo probability scale showed the relationship of itraconazole therapy and the occurrence of acute hepatitis as probable.Discussion:Itraconazole pulse therapy for onychomycosis appears to be at least as effective as and safer than a continuous treatment regimen, particularly from the perspective of potential liver damage. Only one case of severe symptomatic hepatitis occurring after pulse therapy with itraconazole for onychomycosis and requiring transplantation has been reported previously. In that case, as well as the one reported here, hepatitis symptoms occurred after completion of long-term treatment in patients who were asymptomatic both before and during therapy.Conclusions:Prolonged exposure to itraconazole, administered either continuously or intermittently, may precipitate severe and irreversible hepatotoxic events. Accordingly, careful monitoring of liver function parameters should be performed both during and after treatment when onychomycosis requires prolonged itraconazole administration, even in asymptomatic patients lacking apparent risk factors of hepatic injury.
Wood solubilization and depolymerization using supercritical methanol. Part 1: Process optimization and analysis of methanol insoluble components (bio-char)
Authors: Soria Andres J. , McDonald Armando G. , Shook Steven R. 
Published: June 2008

Abstract
Conversion of wood into a methanol soluble liquid (bio-oil) was shown to occur under supercritical methanol treatment (SCM). The particle size of the solid material (bio-char) left after evaporating the solvent from the bio-oil was analyzed. Expectedly, the degradation of the particle size was more pronounced during a severe SCM treatment in comparison to subcritical solubilization conditions. Molecular mass was reduced by 90% under optimal conditions of SCM treatment under which the highest degree of solubilization (degradation) was obtained. The bio-char was also analyzed by pyrolysis GC-MS. The composition of the bio-char after sub- and moderate SCM treatments consisted mainly of carbohydrate derived degradation products, which was mixed with some lignin moieties. At near to optimal SCM treatment conditions, the remaining bio-char was composed mainly of modified cellulose and lignin. The optimization of the liquefaction process was performed by means of the statistical design called “response surface model with a central composite design”.
Differential bioavailability of copper complexes to bioluminescentPseudomonas fluorescensreporter strains
Authors: Nybroe Ole , Brandt Kristian K , Ibrahim Yusuf M , Tom-Petersen Andreas , Holm Peter E 
Published: June 2008

AbstractIncreased levels of Cu in agricultural soils are of concern, because Cu toxicity may adversely affect important soil microorganisms, including pseudomonads. Because total metal concentrations correlate poorly with bioavailability and toxicity, a need exists for more information linking Cu speciation, bioavailability, and toxicity. The objective of the present study was to determine the bioavailability of different Cu complexes to Pseudomonas spp. A Cu-specific bioluminescent Pseudomonas fluorescens reporter strain was used to determine bioavailable Cu, which was operationally defined as those Cu species that induced expression of bioluminescence. Another strain of P. fluorescens, which continuously expressed bioluminescence, was used as a toxicity reporter. Experiments were performed in a defined aqueous medium containing 0.04 μM Cu, which was amended with ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), citrate, or a well-characterized pool of dissolved organic matter (DOM). Bioluminescence emitted by the biosensors was related to data for Cu speciation obtained by geochemical modeling. Changes in Cu bioavailability in the presence of EDTA coincided with modeled changes in Cu2+ activity, indicating that Cu-EDTA complexes were not bioavailable to the Cu-specific reporter. In contrast, changes of Cu bioavailability in the presence of citrate did not correspond to changes in Cu2+, indicating that Cu–citrate complexes were fully bioavailable to the reporter strain. Finally, the response of the Cu-reporter strain to Cu in the presence of DOM indicated that Cu formed bioavailable as well as unavailable complexes with DOM. We conclude that free Cu2+ activity is a poor predictor of Cu bioavailability to Pseudomonas spp. in samples containing organic ligands.
Is the Presence of Retinopathy of Practical Value in Defining Cases of Diabetic Nephropathy in Genetic Association Studies?
Authors: Ng Daniel P.K. , Tai Bee-Choo , Lim Xiu-Li 
Published: June 2008

OBJECTIVE— A key consideration when setting up genetic studies is the case definition. For diabetic nephropathy, the case definition is typically based on the presence of albuminuria. However, it has been long debated whether diabetic nephropathy cases defined in this way may have a high prevalence of nondiabetic kidney disease, especially if diabetic retinopathy is absent.
RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS— We performed a meta-analysis of 53 studies comprising 17,791 subjects investigating the angiotensin-I converting enzyme insertion/deletion polymorphism, taking into account the requirement for diabetic retinopathy in the case definition and assuming a random-effects model.
RESULTS— No publication bias was observed. The overall pooled odds ratio (OR) for all 53 studies was 0.78 (95% CI 0.70–0.87; P &lt; 0.001), which indicated a significant protection against diabetic nephropathy for genotype II compared with carriage of the D-allele. The pooled OR for the 11 studies (n = 3,413) requiring diabetic retinopathy in the case definition was 0.68 (0.53–0.86; P = 0.002), and this was not significantly different from the pooled OR of 0.81 (0.71–0.92; P = 0.001) obtained from the 42 remaining studies (n = 14,378) (P = 0.198). This lack of any significant effect of diabetic retinopathy was reiterated in subgroup analyses based on the type of diabetes present.
CONCLUSIONS— Stipulating the presence of diabetic retinopathy in the case definition of diabetic nephropathy did not appear to confer tangible benefits when detecting genetic associations. Besides reducing sample sizes, this stipulation makes the interpretation of genetic associations more difficult due to the potential confounding presence of diabetic retinopathy.
Mapping mountain vegetation using species distribution modeling, image‐based texture analysis, and object‐based classification
Authors: Dobrowski Solomon Z. , Safford Hugh D. , Cheng Yen Ben , Ustin Susan L. 
Published: June 2008

AbstractObjective: The objective of this study was to map vegetation composition across a 24 000 ha watershed.Location: The study was conducted on the western slope of the Sierra Nevada mountain range of California, USA.Methods: Automated image segmentation was used to delineate image objects representing vegetation patches of similar physiognomy and structure. Image objects were classified using a decision tree and data sources extracted from individual species distribution models, Landsat spectral data, and life form cover estimates derived from aerial image‐based texture variables.Results: A total of 12 plant communities were mapped with an overall accuracy of 75% and a χ‐value of 0.69. Species distribution model inputs improved map accuracy by approximately 15% over maps derived solely from image data. Automated mapping of existing vegetation distributions, based solely on predictive distribution model results, proved to be more accurate than mapping based on Landsat data, and equivalent in accuracy to mapping based on all image data sources.Conclusions: Results highlight the importance of terrain, edaphic, and bioclimatic variables when mapping vegetation communities in complex terrain. Mapping errors stemmed from the lack of spectral discernability between vegetation classes, and the inability to account for the confounding effects of land use history and disturbance within a static distribution modeling framework.
Intra-organizational Communication in Healthcare
Authors: Niazkhani Z. , Berg M. , Bal R. , Pirnejad H. 
Published: June 2008

Summary

Objectives:
Intra-organizational communication is mostly interpersonal. Synchronous interruptive communication is recognized as aprimary source of inefficiency anderror in healthcare, and there is much potential for information and communication technology (ICT) to improve such communication. As recently suggested, however, due to communication failures ICT can also compound medical errors. In this paper we analyze factors that restrict the role of ICT in improving interpersonal healthcare communication and suggest solutions. Methods: We critically analyzed the literature from a selection of diverse scientific disciplines. These were related to interpersonal communication, tothe role and place of standardization and computerization in its improvement, and to reducing medical errors.

Results:
Four possible scenarios were defined on how ICT can serve healthcare communication. Two differing conceptual frameworks about communication in health-care were discussed. Considering “information space” as apart of “communication space ” allows the recognition and control of the source of the semantic gaps in conventional standardization and an enhancement of the role of ICT in improving intra-organizational communication. Moreover, cognitive, social, and organizational dimensions of complexity in interpersonal communication can be managed. Three approaches to control the variability in those dimensions and to promote therole of ICT in intra-organizational communication were discussed.

Conclusion:
A multi-dimensional approach is required to promote the role of ICT in intra-organizational communication in healthcare. Parallel to conventional standardization, atleast three dimensions need to be addressed: controlling the effect of the social context, developing standard information processing skills, and most importantly, controlling variations in care practices’ performance.
Hierarchical WO3 Hollow Shells: Dendrite, Sphere, Dumbbell, and Their Photocatalytic Properties
Authors: Chen Di , Ye Jinhua 
Published: June 2008

AbstractIn this work, hierarchical WO3 hollow shells: dendrites, spheres and dumbbells have been successfully synthesized by simply calcining the acid‐treated PbWO4 and SrWO4 as precursors at 500 °C for 2 h. These hollow structures were characterized using X‐ray diffraction, scanning and transmission electron microscopies, Brunauer–Emmet–Teller surface area and diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, respectively. Possible formation mechanisms for hollow WO3 shells consisted of tiny nanoplatelets were investigated in detail. Comparing with commercial WO3 particles, all the obtained hollow shells with larger BET surface areas showed enhanced photocatalytic activities for the degradation of organic contaminants under visible light irradiation.
Experimental study of fluidization of 1G‐Geldart D‐type particles in a rotating fluidized bed with a rotating chimney
Authors: De Wilde Juray , de Broqueville Axel 
Published: June 2008

AbstractThe new concept of a rotating chimney for rotating fluidized beds is experimentally investigated using a step‐response technique. The chimney rotates in the same sense as the rotating particle bed, but not necessarily at the same rotational speed. In particular, chimney rotational speeds such that the particles at contact with the chimney obtain a rotational speed higher than the average particle bed rotational speed are possible. The increase of the centrifugal force in the vicinity of the chimney allows to reduce solids losses via the chimney and to build up a higher solids loading in the fluidization chamber at given fluidization gas flow and solids feeding rates. Alternatively, at given solids loading and fluidization gas flow rate, the rotating chimney allows to control the particle residence time in the fluidization chamber. The influence of the chimney rotational speed and the fluidization gas flow rate is studied using 1G‐Geldart D‐type particles. © 2008 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2008
Reticular Chemistry of Metal–Organic Polyhedra
Authors: Tranchemontagne David J. , Ni Zheng , O'Keeffe Michael , Yaghi Omar M. 
Published: June 2008

AbstractMetal–organic polyhedra (MOPs), are discrete metal–organic molecular assemblies. They are useful as host molecules that can provide tailorable internal volume in terms of metrics, functionality, and active metal sites. As a result, these materials are potentially useful for a variety of applications, such as highly selective guest inclusion and gas storage, and as nanoscale reaction vessels. This review identifies the nine most important polyhedra, and describes the design principles for the five polyhedra most likely to result from the assembly of secondary building units, and provides examples of these shapes that are known as metal–organic crystals.
The effect of alkali treatment and filler size on the properties of sawdust/UPR composites based on recycled PET wastes
Authors: Ahmad I. , Mosadeghzad Z. , Daik R. , Ramli A. 
Published: June 2008

AbstractIn this study, natural sawdust fillers from acacia were mixed with unsaturated polyester resin (UPR), which was prepared by recycling of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) waste bottles to prepare sawdust/UPR composite. PET wastes were recycled through glycolysis and depolymerized to produce a formulation for the resin. The effects of alkali treatment, filler content, and filler size on the tensile, flexural, hardness, and water absorption of the composites were investigated. The results show that the modulus of both tensile and flexural increased with increasing filler contents, but the tensile and flexural strength of composites decreased. The size of sawdust also played a significant role in the mechanical properties, with smaller size sawdust producing higher strength and modulus. This is due to the greater surface area for filler–matrix interaction. The results also show that alkali treatment causes a better adhesion between sawdust and UPR matrix and improves the mechanical properties of the composites. Furthermore, surface treatment reduced the water absorption of composites. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008
Self‐organized MEH‐PPV domains in a TPU matrix and the consequences to the luminescence spectra
Authors: dos Reis Bombardi André , Laureto Edson , Duarte José L. , da Silva Marco A. T. , Dias Ivan F. L. , Patrício Patrícia S. O. , Silva Glaura G. , Cury Luiz A. 
Published: June 2008

AbstractSelf‐sustained cast films formed from heterogeneous blends of poly(2‐methoxy‐5‐(2′‐ethyl‐hexyloxy)‐1,4‐phenylenevinylene) (MEH‐PPV) conjugated polymer and thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) were investigated by photoluminescence (PL) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). A blue shift is observed for the pure electronic transition PL peak (E00) with decreasing MEH‐PPV concentration. The two clear shoulders in the PL spectra at higher energy than the E00 peak appear due to the formation of small conjugation segments of the MEH‐PPV molecules at the interface of the spherical MEH‐PPV domains. This assumption and the origin of the blue shift were confirmed by correlating the average size of the MEH‐PPV domains, observed from SEM images, and the analysis of the PL spectra at low temperatures. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008
Pilling in cellulosic fabrics, Part 2: A study on kinetics of pilling in alkali‐treated lyocell fabrics
Authors: Bui Huong M. , Ehrhardt Anelise , Bechtold Thomas 
Published: June 2008

AbstractAs pilling in textiles originates from many factors, the kinetic of pilling formation play an important role in the investigation and approaches of pilling. The single jersey‐knitted lyocell fabrics were treated with different alkaline solution concentrations and submitted to Rapid Pilling Test—a wet‐state Martindale test for cellulosic fabrics performed with increasing abrasion cycles. After each type of cycles, the pilling density was microscopically counted, and then pilling was visually rated. The changes in fiber properties were followed by water retention values (WRV), fibers swelling, fiber wet abrasion resistance (NSF), and fibers tenacity/elongation in wet and in dry states. The kinetics of pill formation—quantified by pills/cm2—occurred in the following steps: pills are promptly formed at first abrasion cycles, reached the pill plateau cycles, and are self‐removed from the fabric surface. The untreated and alkali‐treated lyocell fabrics followed a similar trend of pill formation. However, the pilling propensity is distinct depending on the concentrations. The changes in the swollen state of fiber properties and fiber–fiber friction mainly determined the pill kinetics in lyocell fabrics. The kinetic model aims to figure out the pilling mechanism and the appropriate treatment for pilling resistance. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008
Characteristics and performance of electroactive paper actuator made with cellulose/polyurethane semi‐interpenetrating polymer networks
Authors: Cai Zhijiang , Kim Jaehwan 
Published: June 2008

AbstractThis article introduces a cellulose/polyurethane (PU) semi‐IPN‐based electroactive paper (EAPap) actuator. The fabrication process, bending actuation test, and its characteristics are explained. For the fabrication of cellulose/PU semi‐IPN EAPap actuator, cotton cellulose was dissolved into N,N‐dimethylacetamide (DMAc) and lithium chloride (LiCl) solvent system. PU prepolymer prepared by poly[di(ethylene glycol) adipate] and hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI) was mixed with DMAc cellulose solution by stirring. The mixed solution was spin‐coated on a wafer and cured to form cellulose/PU semi‐IPN films using 1,1,1‐tris(hudroxymethyl)propane as the crosslinker. The characteristics of the cellulose/PU semi‐IPN film were investigated by FTIR, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X‐ray diffraction pattern (XRD), and tensile test. The bending actuation performance of the actuator was evaluated in terms of free bending displacement with respect to the actuation frequencies, voltages, and humidity levels. It shows a good bending actuation at room humidity condition. The actuation principle of the actuator is also discussed. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008
Equilibrium swelling behavior and elastic properties of polymer–clay nanocomposite hydrogels
Authors: Abdurrahmanoglu Suzan , Can Volkan , Okay Oguz 
Published: June 2008

AbstractNanocomposite hydrogels were prepared by free‐radical polymerization of the monomers acrylamide (AAm), N,N‐dimethylacrylamide (DMA), and N‐isopropylacrylamide (NIPA) in aqueous clay dispersions at 21°C. Laponite XLS was used as clay nanoparticles in the hydrogel preparation. The hydrogels based on DMA or NIPA monomers exhibit much larger moduli of elasticity compared with the hydrogels based on AAm monomer. Calculations using the theory of rubber elasticity reveal that, in DMA‐clay or NIPA‐clay nanocomposites, both the effective crosslink density of the hydrogels and the functionality of the clay particles rapidly increase with increasing amount of Laponite up to 10% (w/v). The results suggest that DMA‐clay and NIPA‐clay attractive interactions are stronger than AAm‐clay interactions due to the formation of multiple layers on the nanoparticles through hydrophobic associations. It was also shown that, although the nanocomposite hydrogels do not dissolve in good solvents such as water, they dissolve in dilute aqueous solutions of acetone or poly(ethylene oxide) of molecular weight 10,000 g/mol, demonstrating the physical nature of the crosslink points. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008
Kinetics of the thermal inactivation of Bacillus subtilis α‐amylase and its application on the desizing of cotton fabrics
Authors: Shao‐Wei Dong , Da‐Nian Lu 
Published: June 2008

AbstractThe thermal inactivation of Bacillus subtilis α‐amylase was studied in the presence and in the absence of Ca2+ at various temperatures. Inactivation rate constant (k), half‐life time (t1/2), and activation energy (Ea) were determined to characterize the inactivation of the enzyme. Results obtained showed that the thermal inactivation of Bacillus subtilis α‐amylase followed a first‐order kinetics. The addition of Ca2+ had a good thermostabilizing effect on the enzyme. The stabilizing effect of Ca2+ is reflected by the increased values of the activation energy, which is about two times higher in the presence than that in the absence of 20 mM Ca2+, and the decreased values of the inactivation rate constants. The desizing of the cotton fabrics was performed through steaming at 100°C with Bacillus subtilis α‐amylase. The desizing efficiency seemed to be dependent on the concentration and pH value of the enzyme solution. It was found that through the steaming process with α‐amylase, the desizing ratio of the cotton fabrics could be beyond 98% and little damage happened to the fibers of the fabrics. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008
Isolation of potato proteins using simulated moving bed technology
Authors: Andersson Jonatan , Sahoo Deepti , Mattiasson Bo 
Published: June 2008

AbstractThe simulated moving bed (SMB) concept of chromatography was applied to treat potato juice from production of starch. The aim was to harvest proteins. SMB offers possibilities to operate with different process strategies and in this study it was shown possible to harvest up to 80% of the protein in a process utilizing very little extra water besides that already present in the juice. After depleting protein from the juice in the adsorption step, the flow through was used to recondition the column after elution. The present study illustrates a new concept of applying chromatography as a capturing step of bulk products. Biotechnol. Bioeng. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.