bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Detection of postoperative granulation tissue with an ICG-enhanced integrated OI-/X-ray System
Authors: Meier Reinhard , Boddington Sophie , Krug Christian , Acosta Frank L , Thullier Daniel , Henning Tobias D , Sutton Elizabeth J , Tavri Sidhartha , Lotz Jeffrey C , Daldrup-Link Heike E 
Published: November 2008

Abstract

Background
The development of postoperative granulation tissue is one of the main postoperative risks after lumbar spine surgery. This granulation tissue may lead to persistent or new clinical symptoms or complicate a follow up surgery. A sensitive non-invasive imaging technique, that could diagnose this granulation tissue at the bedside, would help to develop appropriate treatments. Thus, the purpose of this study was to establish a fast and economic imaging tool for the diagnosis of granulation tissue after lumbar spine surgery, using a new integrated Optical Imaging (OI)/X-ray imaging system and the FDA-approved fluorescent contrast agent Indocyanine Green (ICG).

Methods
12 male Sprague Dawley rats underwent intervertebral disk surgery. Imaging of the operated lumbar spine was done with the integrated OI/X-ray system at 7 and 14 days after surgery. 6 rats served as non-operated controls. OI/X-ray scans of all rats were acquired before and after intravenous injection of the FDA-approved fluorescent dye Indocyanine Green (ICG) at a dose of 1 mg/kg or 10 mg/kg. The fluorescence signal of the paravertebral soft tissues was compared between different groups of rats using Wilcoxon-tests. Lumbar spines and paravertebral soft tissues were further processed with histopathology.

Results
In both dose groups, ICG provided a significant enhancement of soft tissue in the area of surgery, which corresponded with granulation tissue on histopathology. The peak and time interval of fluorescence enhancement was significantly higher using 10 mg/kg dose of ICG compared to the 1 mg/kg ICG dose. The levels of significance were p < 0.05. Fusion of OI data with X-rays allowed an accurate anatomical localization of the enhancing granulation tissue.

Conclusion
ICG-enhanced OI is a suitable technique to diagnose granulation tissue after lumbar spine surgery. This new imaging technique may be clinically applicable for postoperative treatment monitoring. It could be also used to evaluate the effect of anti-inflammatory drugs and may even allow evaluations at the bedside with new hand-held OI scanners.
The cost-effectiveness of increasing alcohol taxes: a modelling study
Authors: van den Berg Matthijs , van Baal Pieter HM , Tariq Luqman , Schuit Albertine J , de Wit G Ardine , Hoogenveen Rudolf T 
Published: November 2008

AbstractBackgroundExcessive alcohol use increases risks of chronic diseases such as coronary heart disease and several types of cancer, with associated losses of quality of life and life-years. Alcohol taxes can be considered as a public health instrument as they are known to be able to decrease alcohol consumption. In this paper, we estimate the cost-effectiveness of an alcohol tax increase for the entire Dutch population from a health-care perspective focusing on health benefits and health-care costs in alcohol users.MethodsThe chronic disease model of the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment was used to extrapolate from decreased alcohol consumption due to tax increases to effects on health-care costs, life-years gained and quality-adjusted life-years gained, A Dutch scenario in which tax increases for beer are planned, and a Swedish scenario representing one of the highest alcohol taxes in Europe, were compared with current practice in the Netherlands. To estimate cost-effectiveness ratios, yearly differences in model outcomes between intervention and current practice scenarios were discounted and added over the time horizon of 100 years to find net present values for incremental life-years gained, quality-adjusted life-years gained, and health-care costs.ResultsIn the Swedish scenario, many more quality-adjusted life-years were gained than in the Dutch scenario, but both scenarios had almost equal incremental cost-effectiveness ratios: €5100 per quality-adjusted life-year and €5300 per quality-adjusted life-year, respectively.ConclusionFocusing on health-care costs and health consequences for drinkers, an alcohol tax increase is a cost-effective policy instrument.
Passive immunization against highly pathogenic Avian Influenza Virus (AIV) strain H7N3 with antiserum generated from viral polypeptides protect poultry birds from lethal viral infection
Authors: Shahzad Mirza Imran , Naeem Khalid , Mukhtar Muhammad , Khanum Azra 
Published: November 2008

Abstract
Our studies were aimed at developing a vaccination strategy that could provide protection against highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (AIV), H7N3 or its variants outbreaks. A purified viral stock of highly pathogenic H7N3 isolate was lysed to isolate viral proteins by electrophresing on 12% sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), followed by their elution from gel through trituration in phosphate buffered saline (PBS). Overall, five isolated viral polypeptides/proteins upon characterization were used to prepare hyperimmune monovalent serum against respective polypeptides independently and a mixture of all five in poultry birds, and specificity confirmation of each antiserum through dot blot and Western blotting. Antiserum generated from various group birds was pooled and evaluated in 2-week old broiler chicken, for its protection against viral challenge. To evaluate in-vivo protection of each antiserum against viral challenges, six groups of 2-week old broiler chicken were injected with antiserum and a seventh control group received normal saline. Each group was exposed to purified highly pathogenic AIV H7N3 strain at a dose 105 embryo lethal dose (ELD50). We observed that nucleoprotein (NP) antiserum significantly protected birds from viral infection induced morbidity, mortality and lowered viral shedding compared with antiserum from individual viral proteins or mixed polypeptides/proteins inclusive of NP component. The capability of individual viral polypeptide specific antisera to protect against viral challenges in decreasing order was nucleoprotein (NP) > hemagglutinin (HA) > neuraminidase (NA) > viral proteins mix > viral polymerase (PM) > non-structural proteins (NS). Our data provide proof of concept for potential utilization of passive immunization in protecting poultry industry during infection outbreaks. Furthermore conserved nature of avian NP makes it an ideal candidate to produce antiserum protective against viral infection.
Feeding biomechanics of juvenile red snapper (Lutjanus campechanus) from the northwestern Gulf of Mexico
Authors: Case Janelle E. , Westneat Mark W. , Marshall Christopher D. 
Published: November 2008

SUMMARYJuvenile red snapper settle across several complex habitats, which function as nurseries for young fish. Little is known about their life history or feeding biomechanics during this time. However, recent studies have shown higher growth rates for juveniles located on mud habitats adjacent to low profile reefs, perhaps because of varied prey availability and abundance. To further investigate the habitat needs of juvenile red snapper and test hypotheses of feeding development, individuals were collected from a low profile shell ridge and adjacent mud areas on Freeport Rocks, TX, USA, and divided into three size classes (≤3.9, 4.0–5.9, ≥6.0 cm SL). Output from a dynamic lever model suggested an ontogenetic shift in feeding morphology. Biomechanical modeling also predicted that off-ridge juveniles would have slower, stronger jaws compared with on-ridge juveniles. Kinematic profiles obtained from actual feeding events validated the models' predictive ability. Analysis of prey capture events demonstrated that on-ridge juveniles exhibited larger jaw displacements than off-ridge juveniles. Shape analysis was used to further investigate habitat effects on morphology. Off-ridge juveniles differed from on-ridge juveniles in possessing a deeper head and body. Results from model simulations, kinematic profiles, behavioral observations and shape analysis all compliment the conclusion that on-ridge juveniles exhibited more suction feeding behavior, whereas off-ridge juveniles used more biting behavior. Habitat disparity and possibly available prey composition generated variations in juvenile feeding biomechanics and behavior that may affect recruitment.
The effect of acute temperature increases on the cardiorespiratory performance of resting and swimming sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka)
Authors: Steinhausen M. F. , Sandblom E. , Eliason E. J. , Verhille C. , Farrell A. P. 
Published: November 2008

SUMMARYThe mechanism underlying the decrease in aerobic scope in fish at warm temperatures is not fully understood and is the focus of this research. Our study examined oxygen uptake and delivery in resting, swimming and recovering sockeye salmon while water temperature was acutely increased from 15°C to 24°C in 2°C h–1 increments. Fish swam at a constant speed during the temperature change. By simultaneously measuring oxygen consumption(ṀO2), cardiac output (Q̇) and the blood oxygen status of arterial and venous blood, we were able to determine where in the oxygen cascade a limitation appeared when fish stopped sustained swimming as temperature increased. High temperature fatigue of swimming sockeye salmon was not a result of a failure of either oxygen delivery to the gills or oxygen diffusion at the gills because oxygen partial pressure(PO2) and oxygen content(CO2) in arterial blood did not decrease with increasing temperature, as would be predicted for such limitations. Instead,arterial oxygen delivery (TaO2) was initially hampered due to a failure to adequately increase Q̇ with increasing temperature. Subsequently, lactate appeared in the blood and venous PO2 remained constant.
Digestive physiology of the Burmese python: broad regulation of integrated performance
Authors: Secor Stephen M. 
Published: November 2008

SUMMARYAs an apparent adaptation to predictably long episodes of fasting, the sit-and-wait foraging Burmese python experiences unprecedented regulation of gastrointestinal and cardiovascular performance with feeding and fasting. The ingestion of a meal signals the quiescent gut tissues to start secreting digestive acid and enzymes, to upregulate intestinal brush-border enzymes and nutrient transporters, and to grow. An integrated phenomenon, digestion is also characterized by increases in the mass, and presumably the function, of the heart, pancreas, liver and kidneys. Once digestion is complete, the python's stomach and small intestine rapidly downregulate performance. Much of the modulation of intestinal function can be explained by the 5-fold increase in microvillus length and apical surface area with feeding, and the subsequent shortening of the microvilli after digestion has finished. Digestion for the Burmese python is a relatively expensive endeavor, evident by the as much as a 44-fold increase in metabolic rate and equivalent in cost to as much as 37% of the meal's energy. Their large metabolic response is supported by substantial increases in ventilation and cardiac output and the apparent catabolism of glucose and lipids. Unmatched in the magnitude of its numerous physiological responses to feeding, the Burmese python is a very attractive model for examining the capacities and regulatory mechanisms of physiological performance.
Surviving cave bats: auditory and behavioural defences in the Australian noctuid moth,Speiredonia spectans
Authors: Fullard James H. , Jackson Matt E. , Jacobs David S. , Pavey Chris R. , Burwell Chris J. 
Published: November 2008

SUMMARYThe Australian noctuid moth, Speiredonia spectans shares its subterranean day roosts (caves and abandoned mines) with insectivorous bats,some of which prey upon it. The capacity of this moth to survive is assumed to arise from its ability to listen for the bats' echolocation calls and take evasive action; however, the auditory characteristics of this moth or any tropically distributed Australian moth have never been examined. We investigated the ears of S. spectans and determined that they are among the most sensitive ever described for a noctuid moth. Using playbacks of cave-recorded bats, we determined that S. spectans is able to detect most of the calls of two co-habiting bats, Rhinolophus megaphyllusand Miniopterus australis, whose echolocation calls are dominated by frequencies ranging from 60 to 79 kHz. Video-recorded observations of this roost site show that S. spectans adjusts its flight activity to avoid bats but this defence may delay the normal emergence of the moths and leave some `pinned down' in the roosts for the entire night. At a different day roost, we observed the auditory responses of one moth to the exceptionally high echolocation frequencies (150–160 kHz) of the bat Hipposideros ater and determined that S. spectans is unable to detect most of its calls. We suggest that this auditory constraint, in addition to the greater flight manoeuvrability of H. ater, renders S. spectans vulnerable to predation by this bat to the point of excluding the moth from day roosts where the bat occurs.
Limits to running speed in dogs, horses and humans
Authors: Denny Mark W. 
Published: November 2008

SUMMARY
Are there absolute limits to the speed at which animals can run? If so, how close are present-day individuals to these limits? I approach these questions by using three statistical models and data from competitive races to estimate maximum running speeds for greyhounds, thoroughbred horses and elite human athletes. In each case, an absolute speed limit is definable, and the current record approaches that predicted maximum. While all such extrapolations must be used cautiously, these data suggest that there are limits to the ability of either natural or artificial selection to produce ever faster dogs, horses and humans. Quantification of the limits to running speed may aid in formulating and testing models of locomotion.
National Academy of Clinical Biochemistry Laboratory Medicine Practice Guidelines for Use of Tumor Markers in Testicular, Prostate, Colorectal, Breast, and Ovarian Cancers
Authors: Sturgeon Catharine M , Duffy Michael J , Stenman Ulf-Håkan , Lilja Hans , Brünner Nils , Chan Daniel W , Babaian Richard , Bast Robert C , Dowell Barry , Esteva Francisco J , Haglund Caj , Harbeck Nadia , Hayes Daniel F , Holten-Andersen Mads , Klee George G , Lamerz Rolf , Looijenga Leendert H , Molina Rafael , Nielsen Hans Jørgen , Rittenhouse Harry , Semjonow Axel , Shih Ie-Ming , Sibley Paul , Sölétormos György , Stephan Carsten , Sokoll Lori , Hoffman Barry R , Diamandis Eleftherios P 
Published: November 2008

AbstractBackground: Updated National Academy of Clinical Biochemistry (NACB) Laboratory Medicine Practice Guidelines for the use of tumor markers in the clinic have been developed.Methods: Published reports relevant to use of tumor markers for 5 cancer sites—testicular, prostate, colorectal, breast, and ovarian—were critically reviewed.Results: For testicular cancer, α-fetoprotein, human chorionic gonadotropin, and lactate dehydrogenase are recommended for diagnosis/case finding, staging, prognosis determination, recurrence detection, and therapy monitoring. α-Fetoprotein is also recommended for differential diagnosis of nonseminomatous and seminomatous germ cell tumors. Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) is not recommended for prostate cancer screening, but may be used for detecting disease recurrence and monitoring therapy. Free PSA measurement data are useful for distinguishing malignant from benign prostatic disease when total PSA is &lt;10 μg/L. In colorectal cancer, carcinoembryonic antigen is recommended (with some caveats) for prognosis determination, postoperative surveillance, and therapy monitoring in advanced disease. Fecal occult blood testing may be used for screening asymptomatic adults 50 years or older. For breast cancer, estrogen and progesterone receptors are mandatory for predicting response to hormone therapy, human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 measurement is mandatory for predicting response to trastuzumab, and urokinase plasminogen activator/plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 may be used for determining prognosis in lymph node–negative patients. CA15-3/BR27–29 or carcinoembryonic antigen may be used for therapy monitoring in advanced disease. CA125 is recommended (with transvaginal ultrasound) for early detection of ovarian cancer in women at high risk for this disease. CA125 is also recommended for differential diagnosis of suspicious pelvic masses in postmenopausal women, as well as for detection of recurrence, monitoring of therapy, and determination of prognosis in women with ovarian cancer.Conclusions: Implementation of these recommendations should encourage optimal use of tumor markers.
Homogeneous geodesics of non-unimodular Lorentzian Lie groups and naturally reductive Lorentzian spaces in dimension three
Authors: Calvaruso G. , Marinosci R. A. 
Published: November 2008

AbstractWe determine, for all three-dimensional non-unimodular Lie groups equipped with a Lorentzian metric, the set of homogeneous geodesics through a point. Together with the results of [G. Calvaruso, Homogeneous structures on three-dimensional Lorentzian manifolds.J. Geom. Phys.57(2007), 1279–1291. MR2287304 (2008b:53066) Zbl 1112.53051] and [G. Calvaruso, R. A. Marinosci, Homogeneous geodesics of three-dimensional unimodular Lorentzian Lie groups.Mediterr. J. Math.3(2006), 467–481. MR2274738 Zbl pre05151042], this leads to the full classification of three-dimensional Lorentzian g.o. spaces and naturally reductive spaces.
Finite type Monge–Ampère foliations
Authors: Kalka Morris , Patrizio Giorgio 
Published: November 2008

Abstract
For plurisubharmonic solutions of the complex homogeneous Monge–Ampère equation whose level sets are hypersurfaces of finite type, in dimension 2, it is shown that the Monge–Ampère foliation is defined even at points of higher degeneracy. The result is applied to provide a positive answer to a question of Burns on homogeneous polynomials whose logarithms satisfy the complex Monge–Ampère equation and to generalize the work of P. M. Wong on the classification of complete weighted circular domains.
Fracture toughness, chip types and the mechanics of cutting wood. A review COST Action E35 2004–2008: Wood machining – micromechanics and fracture
Authors: Wyeth David J. , Goli Giacomo , Atkins Anthony G. 
Published: November 2008

Abstract
Historical studies for predicting cutting forces in wood processing are based on the Piispanen/Ernst-Merchant theory employed in metal cutting where the offcut/chip is formed in shear. This analysis has been recently improved to include significant work of surface separation and formation (i.e., the fracture toughness of the workpiece, as well as the shear yield stress and friction). The new theory is applied here to wood cutting experiments. It is well known that chip formation and surface damage depend on grain orientation and chip thickness, but experiments reveal that chip formation alters with cutting speed as well. During the COST E35 action a series of experiments and special devices to orthogonally cut wood at high and low speed have been developed. In this paper, an overview of the cutting devices and the main results are given.
Die Deutschen als ,das Volk der Dichter und Denker'. Entstehung, Kontexte und Funktionen eines nationalen StereotypsThe German as "the People of Poets and Thinkers". The Development, Contexts, and Functions of a National Stereotype
Authors: Blaicher Günther 
Published: November 2008

Zusammenfassung
Basierend auf der Annahme, daß das Stereotyp vom ,Volk der Dichter und Denker' im Laufe des 19. Jahrhunderts innerhalb des Diskurses über die nationale Identität der Deutschen entstanden ist, untersucht der Aufsatz Darstellungen der Nationalgeschichte, der deutschen Literaturgeschichte sowie zeitdiagnostische Essays. Während in diesem Diskurs bis 1871 die Rede über die Bedeutung ,unserer (großen) Dichter und Denker' dominierte, konnte die Formel ,Volk der Dichter und Denker' erst in den achtziger Jahren nachgewiesen werden. Sie diente in ironischer und sarkastischer Verwendung als Schlagwort, um die sich im Bismarck-Reich auftuende Diskrepanz zwischen dem Anspruch auf kulturelle Überlegenheit und einer enttäuschenden Wirklichkeit aufzuzeigen.
A Kinetic Study on the Nitric Oxide Trapping by the Fe(III)-Dithiocarbamate-Nitroxyl Complex: Influence of the Ligand Structure and External Pressure on the Trapping Rate
Authors: Yoshioka Daisuke , Kotake Yashige , Sueshi Yoshimi 
Published: November 2008

Abstract
The Fe(III)-dithiocarbamate-nitroxyl (Fe-dtc-nitroxyl) complex, where nitroxyl represents nitroxyl free radical (R-N(O)-R’), has been shown to trap nitric oxide (NO) in aqueous solution, replacing the nitroxyl ligand. As a result, non-complexed nitroxyl radical was released to the solution. Fe(III)-dithiocarbamate (Fe-dtc) complexes without the nitroxyl ligand also traps NO, producing NO-Fe-dtc complex. These two reactions have been used for the purpose of NO detection. We investigated how the ligand structure and external pressure influence NO trapping rates in these complexes. The ratios of NO trapping rates (k
1/k
2) between various Fe-dtc-nitroxyl complexes and the Fe-dtc complex were determined by using a competitive NO trapping method. The ratio k
1/k
2 was 29.8±2.8 for Fe-dtc-nitroxyl and Fe-dtc, where dtc = N-(dithiocarboxy) sarcosine (DTCS) and nitroxyl = 2,2,6,6-tetramethyl- piperidine-1-oxyl (TEMPO). For another combination, dtc = N-methyl-D-glucamine dithiocarbamate (MGD)/nitroxyl = TEMPO, k
1/k
2 was 7.19±0.25. Overall, NO trapping rate of the Fe-dtc-nitroxyl complex was faster than that of the Fe-dtc complex, and k
1/k
2 for Fe-MGD complex was dependent on the electron-withdrawing or -repelling nature of the functional group in the ligand. Based on pressure dependence experiments for the competitive reaction, we obtained large negative activation volumes for NO trapping of the Fe-dtc-nitroxyl complex as well as the difference in activation volumes (–45 to –26 cm3 mol–1) between the NO trapping reactions by the two Fe complexes. These data sets with different nature allowed us to speculate the reaction mechanism for NO trapping of the Fe-dtc-nitroxyl complex.
Composition Fluctuations in Phospholipid-Sterol Vesicles – a Small-angle Neutron Scattering Study
Authors: Krivanek R. , Jeworrek C. , Czeslik Claus , Winter Roland 
Published: November 2008

Abstract
Sterols regulate biological processes and sustain the domain structure of cellular membranes. While cholesterol is the major sterol of vertebrates, ergosterol plays a key role in fungal membranes. In this study, small-angle neutron scattering in combination with the H/D contrast variation technique was employed to probe the lateral compositional organization in dipalmitoyl-phosphatidylcholine/ergosterol (DPPC/erg) model membranes over the temperature range from 26 to 78 °C. In addition, small-angle X-ray scattering and calorimetric measurements were carried out to characterize the phase behavior of this system in the temperature interval covered. The SANS measurements clearly demonstrate the absence of critical-point-like composition fluctuations at the temperature where the liquid-ordered/liquid-disordered (lo/ld) two-phase region closes and gives way to the all-fluid phase. Furthermore, no scattering due to large-scale composition fluctuations has been found in the whole lo+ld two-phase region of the system. It is concluded that this binary phospholipid-sterol mixture in the lo+ld coexistence region exhibits a homogeneous membrane with fluctuating nano-scale domains rather than a macroscopically separated two-phase coexistence region as observed for ternary phospholipid-sterol mixtures. Such small domains are expected to have particular properties like an increased line energy, a spontaneous curvature and limited lifetimes, which will probably also prevail for the small raft-like domains in cellular membranes.