bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Differences in electrical stimulation thresholds between men and women
Authors: Maffiuletti Nicola A. , Herrero Azael J. , Jubeau Marc , Impellizzeri Franco M. , Bizzini Mario 
Published: February 2008

AbstractObjectiveSurface electrical stimulation (ES) of skeletal muscle is used in a variety of clinical settings in healthy and unhealthy subjects of both sexes. Although women generally present larger amounts of subcutaneous adipose tissue than men, which could limit current flow to the stimulated muscle, sex‐related differences in ES current levels have not been clearly demonstrated to date. We report data from healthy men and womMethodsSensory (current perception), motor (minimal knee extension torque production), and supramotor thresholds (10% of the maximal voluntary knee extension torque) and perceived pain during surface ES of the quadriceps femoris muscle were investigated in 40 healthy volunteers (20 men, 20 women).ResultsSensory threshold was lower in women than in men (−43%; p < 0.001). Similarly, female muscles required lower current amplitudes to attain the supramotor threshold (−17%; p < 0.01). The Visual Analogue Scale pain score was significantly greater in women than in men at motor threshold (+112%; p < 0.01) but not at supramotor threshold (+36%; p > 0.05).InterpretationCollectively, our data demonstrate higher sensory and supramotor excitability to surface ES in female subjects and provide further evidence for a neurophysiological explanation for more pronounced pain perception in women. These observations may help clinicians to better understand the sex‐specific response to ES and to design more rational stimulation treatments with the ultimate goal of optimizing patient care and safety. Ann Neurol 2008
Characterization of hot‐pressed films from superfine wool powder
Authors: Wang Xin , Xu Weilin , Wang Xungai 
Published: February 2008

AbstractIn this study, superfine wool powder was plasticized with glycerol and hot‐pressed into a film. Scanning electron microscopy photos showed that the superfine wool powder could be molded into a smooth film and that the wool powder was distributed evenly in the cross section of the film. Fourier transform infrared analysis revealed no substantial changes in the chemical structure of the wool powder after hot pressing, but the absorbing peaks of glycerol were found in the spectrum. X‐ray diffraction analysis showed that the overall crystallinity increased after the wool powder was hot‐pressed into film. Thermogravimetry (TG) analysis indicated that the thermal stability of the hot‐pressed film decreased. A transition point appeared in the TG curve of the wool hot‐pressed film as glycerol was added. The differential thermal analysis curve of the film showed sharp absorbing peaks similar to that of wool powder. With increasing glycerol content, the film showed increasing ductility and softness. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008
Cobalt Hydroxide Nanosheets and Their Thermal Decomposition to Cobalt Oxide Nanorings
Authors: Liu Xiaohe , Yi Ran , Zhang Ning , Shi Rongrong , Li Xingguo , Qiu Guanzhou 
Published: February 2008

AbstractWe demonstrate herein that single‐crystalline β‐cobalt hydroxide (β‐Co(OH)2) nanosheets can be successfully synthesized in large quantities by a facile hydrothermal synthetic method with aqueous cobalt nitrate as the cobalt source and triethylamine as both an alkaline and a complexing reagent. This synthetic method has good prospects for the future large‐scale production of single‐crystalline β‐Co(OH)2 nanosheets owing to its high yield, low cost, and simple reaction apparatus. Single‐crystalline porous nanosheets and nanorings of cobalt oxide (Co3O4) were obtained by a thermal‐decomposition method with single‐crystalline β‐Co(OH)2 nanosheets as the precursor. A probable mechanism of formation of β‐Co(OH)2 nanosheets, porous Co3O4 nanosheets, and Co3O4 nanorings was proposed on the basis of the experimental results.
Small‐Molecule Inhibitors of Sodium Iodide Symporter Function
Authors: Lecat‐Guillet Nathalie , Merer Goulven , Lopez Roman , Pourcher Thierry , Rousseau Bernard , Ambroise Yves 
Published: February 2008

AbstractThe Na+/I− symporter (NIS) mediates iodide uptake into thyroid follicular cells. Although NIS has been cloned and thoroughly studied at the molecular level, the biochemical processes involved in post‐translational regulation of NIS are still unknown. The purpose of this study was to identify and characterize inhibitors of NIS function. These small organic molecules represent a starting point in the identification of pharmacological tools for the characterization of NIS trafficking and activation mechanisms. The screening of a collection of 17 020 druglike compounds revealed new chemical inhibitors with potencies down to 40 nM. Fluorescence measurement of membrane potential indicates that these inhibitors do not act by disrupting the sodium gradient. They allow immediate and total iodide discharge from preloaded cells in accord with a specific modification of NIS activity, probably through distinct mechanisms.
Hydrophobic Modification and Regeneration of Shirasu Porous Glass Membranes on Membrane Emulsification Performance
Authors: Cheng C.‐J. , Chu L.‐Y. , Xie R. , Wang X.‐W. 
Published: February 2008

AbstractThe effect of hydrophobic modification and regeneration of Shirasu porous glass (SPG) membranes was systematically investigated on the monodispersity of emulsions. The results showed that the hydrophobic modification and regeneration of SPG membranes had little influence on the monodispersity of emulsions, no matter how many modification and regeneration runs were operated. The emulsification runs affected the emulsification performance to a certain extent when hydrophobically‐modified SPG membranes were used for preparing water‐in‐oil (W/O) emulsions repeatedly. However, they almost did not affect the emulsification performance when regenerated hydrophilic SPG membranes were used for preparing oil‐in‐water (O/W) emulsions. The SPG membranes could be used repeatedly after hydrophobic modification or regeneration with almost the same emulsification performance as fresh or freshly‐modified ones. The results provided some valuable guidance for the repetitive use of SPG membranes to prepare monodisperse O/W and W/O emulsions.
Automated Microscale His‐tagged Protein Purification Using Ni‐NTA Magnetic Agarose Beads
Authors: Meng J. , Walter J.‐G. , Kökpinar Ö. , Stahl F. , Scheper T. 
Published: February 2008

AbstractTo achieve standardized and parallelized microscale protein purification, an automated purification system was developed and optimized using a pipetting robot for purifying large sets of proteins with Ni‐NTA magnetic agarose beads. Recombinant hexahistidine‐tagged proteins β‐glucanase (Bgl‐His) and esterase I of Pseudomonas fluorescens (PFE I) were tested on the system. High purity along with high coherence was achieved. The purification procedure can be applied to 96 samples simultaneously and only takes about 1/3 of the time required for purification conducted by hand. Due to the stability of the robot system, the consistency of the results is much better than the results achieved through manual purification. This rapid and reliable method is reproducible and applicable to high throughput screening of huge amounts of samples.
Investigating Amine Derivatives of Ambruticin VS‐5 and VS‐4
Authors: Tian Zong‐Qiang , Wang Zhan , Xu Yuan , Tran Chau Q. , Myles David C. , Zhong Ziyang , Simmons Jessica , Vetcher Leandro , Katz Leonard , Li Yong , Shaw Simon J. 
Published: February 2008

AbstractA structure–activity relationship around the amine group of the ambruticin VS series has been developed for antifungal activity. It was shown that the amine can be alkylated through reductive amination without loss of potency. However, if it is converted into either an amide, carbamate, or urea, a significant loss of potency is observed. Of the alkyl amines, small nonpolar groups are optimal for both potency and oral bioavailability. As a result of this study, one compound (KOS‐2079) was taken into an animal efficacy model with success.
Combined pegylated liposomal doxorubicin and bortezomib is highly effective in patients with recurrent or refractory multiple myeloma who received prior thalidomide/lenalidomide therapy
Authors: Sonneveld Pieter , Hajek Roman , Nagler Arnon , Spencer Andrew , Bladé Joan , Robak Tadeusz , Zhuang Sen H. , Harousseau Jean‐Luc , Orlowski Robert Z. ,   for the DOXIL‐MMY‐3001 Study Investigators
Published: February 2008

AbstractBACKGROUNDRecently, the authors reported improved time to disease progression (TTP) with a combination of pegylated liposomal doxorubicin (PLD) and bortezomib compared with bortezomib alone in a phase 3 randomized trial in patients with recurrent/refractory multiple myeloma (MM). In the current analysis, they determined 1) the efficacy of PLD plus bortezomib versus bortezomib alone in patients with MM who had failed on prior thalidomide/lenalidomide (immunomodulatory drug [IMiD]) treatment and 2) the efficacy and safety profile of PLD plus bortezomib in IMiD‐exposed and IMiD‐naive patients.METHODSThis prespecified analysis included 646 patients who were randomized to receive either PLD with bortezomib (n = 324; 194 IMiD‐naive patients and 130 IMiD‐exposed patients) or bortezomib alone (n = 322; 184 IMiD‐naive patients and 138 IMiD‐exposed patients). The primary efficacy endpoint was TTP, and secondary endpoints included overall survival, response rate, and safety.RESULTSThe median TTP was significantly longer with PLD plus bortezomib compared with bortezomib alone in IMiD‐exposed patients (270 days vs 205 days). No statistical difference was noted with respect to TTP between IMiD‐naive (295 days) versus IMiD‐exposed (270 days) subgroups who received PLD plus bortezomib. A sustained trend favoring combination therapy was observed in analyses of overall survival. In patients who achieved a response, the response duration was comparable for IMiD‐naive patients and IMiD‐exposed patients in the combination treatment group and lasted a median of 310 days and 319 days, respectively. The incidence of grade 3/4 adverse events was similar with PLD plus bortezomib regardless of prior IMiD exposure.CONCLUSIONSA significantly prolonged TTP was observed with combined PLD plus bortezomib combination therapy compared with bortezomib alone despite prior IMiD exposure. For the combination treatment arm in the IMiD‐naive and IMiD‐exposed subgroups, TTP was comparable. Similarly, the safety profile of the PLD plus bortezomib combination was unaltered by prior IMiD exposure. Cancer 2008. © 2008 American Cancer Society.
Pulmonary resection in patients with nonsmall‐cell lung cancer treated with gamma‐knife radiosurgery for synchronous brain metastases
Authors: Yang Seung‐Yeob , Kim Dong Gyu , Lee Se‐Hoon , Chung Hyun‐Tai , Paek Sun Ha , Hyun Kim Joo , Jung Hee‐Won , Han Dae Hee 
Published: February 2008

AbstractBACKGROUNDThe aim of the current study was to determine whether a pulmonary resection and gamma‐knife radiosurgery (GKRS) protocol is superior to GKRS alone in selected patients with stage IV nonsmall‐cell lung cancer (NSCLC).METHODSThe authors performed a retrospective case‐control study of 232 consecutive patients with newly diagnosed NSCLC from January 1998 to December 2005 and screened them to identify a study cohort in which all patients had thoracic stage I or II, Karnofsky performance status ≥70, no extracranial metastases, and 1–3 synchronous brain metastases of less than 3 cm, and were treated with GKRS (n = 31). The study cohort was divided into 2 groups, those with and without concomitant pulmonary resection.RESULTSSixteen patients with pulmonary resection were assigned to the treatment group and 15 without pulmonary resection were assigned to the control group. Median follow‐up was 27.3 months (range, 4.4 months to 90.9 months). Mean survivals for the treatment group and the control group were 64.9 and 18.1 months, respectively (P < .001). There was a statistically significant association between pulmonary resection and better survival (OR = 78.408). One‐year and 5‐year local brain tumor control rates were 97.1% and 93.5%, respectively.CONCLUSIONSThe pulmonary resection and GKRS protocol could prolong survival in patients with thoracic stage I or II NSCLC, no extracranial metastases, and a limited number of small synchronous brain metastases. Cancer 2008. © 2008 American Cancer Society.
Neutral and Monocationic Half‐Sandwich Methyl Rare‐Earth Metal Complexes: Synthesis, Structure, and 1,3‐Butadiene Polymerization Catalysis
Authors: Robert Dominique , Spaniol Thomas P. , Okuda Jun 
Published: February 2008

AbstractHalf‐sandwich rare‐earth metal tetramethylaluminate complexes [Ln(η5‐C5Me4SiMe3){(μ‐Me)2(AlMe2)}2] (Ln = Y, La, Nd, Sm, Gd, Lu) were obtained by reaction of the neutral homoleptic tetramethylaluminate complex [Ln{(μ‐Me)2(AlMe2)}3] with tetramethyl(trimethylsilyl)cyclopentadiene, (C5Me4H)SiMe3. Protonolysis reaction of the neutral mono(cyclopentadienyl) complexes with the Brønsted acid [NEt3H]+[BPh4]– in thf led to the formation of the monocationic methyl complexes [Ln(η5‐C5Me4SiMe3)Me(thf)3]+[BPh4]– (Ln = Y, La, Nd, Sm, Lu). Single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction study on the Y, Sm, and Lu derivatives showed a four‐legged piano‐stool configuration. Upon activation with [Ph3C]+[B(C6F5)4]–, the neutral half‐sandwich tetramethylaluminate complex [La(η5‐C5Me4SiMe3){(μ‐Me)2(AlMe2)}2] catalyzed the polymerization of butadiene in the presence of [AliBu3] to give trans‐1,4‐polybutadiene with narrow polydispersities (Mn/Mw = 1.05–1.09).(© Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2008)
Implementation of high‐order compact finite‐difference method to parabolized Navier–Stokes schemes
Authors: Esfahanian Vahid , Hejranfar Kazem , Mahmoodi Darian Hossein 
Published: February 2008

AbstractThe numerical solution to the parabolized Navier–Stokes (PNS) and globally iterated PNS (IPNS) equations for accurate computation of hypersonic axisymmetric flowfields is obtained by using the fourth‐order compact finite‐difference method. The PNS and IPNS equations in the general curvilinear coordinates are solved by using the implicit finite‐difference algorithm of Beam and Warming type with a high‐order compact accuracy. A shock‐fitting procedure is utilized in both compact PNS and IPNS schemes to obtain accurate solutions in the vicinity of the shock. The main advantage of the present formulation is that the basic flow variables and their first and second derivatives are simultaneously computed with the fourth‐order accuracy. The computations are carried out for a benchmark case: hypersonic axisymmetric flow over a blunt cone at Mach 8. A sensitivity study is performed for the basic flowfield, including profiles and their derivatives obtained from the fourth‐order compact PNS and IPNS solutions, and the effects of grid size and numerical dissipation term used are discussed. The present results for the flowfield variables and also their derivatives are compared with those of other basic flow models to demonstrate the accuracy and efficiency of the proposed method. The present work represents the first known application of a high‐order compact finite‐difference method to the PNS schemes, which are computationally more efficient than Navier–Stokes solutions. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Strategic HRM practices and their impact on company performance in Chinese enterprises
Authors: Akhtar Syed , Ding Daniel Z. , Ge Gloria L. 
Published: February 2008

AbstractThis study examined the factorial validity of strategic human resource management practices and their effects on company performance in a sample of 465 Chinese enterprises. Data were collected through two questionnaire surveys among general managers and HRM directors on product/service performance of their companies and a range of strategic HRM practices. Our findings indicate that a valid set of strategic HRM practices (training, participation, results‐oriented appraisals, and internal career opportunities) affect both product/service performance and financial performance. Employment security and job descriptions contribute uniquely to product/service performance, whereas profit sharing contributes uniquely to financial performance. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Institutional antecedents and performance consequences of employment security and career advancement practices: Evidence from the people's republic of China
Authors: Gong Yaping , Chang Song 
Published: February 2008

AbstractIn this study, we examine the provision of employment security and career advancement opportunities in firms of diverse institutional ownership and the impact of such practices on employee and firm outcomes. The sample included 478 state‐owned and non‐state‐owned firms (i.e., domestic private firms, Sino‐foreign joint ventures, and wholly‐foreign‐owned firms) in the People's Republic of China. We found that the provision of employment security was greater in state‐owned than in non‐state‐owned firms. The provision of career advancement opportunities in domestic private firms and Sino‐foreign joint ventures was similar to that in wholly foreign‐owned firms, but greater than that in state‐owned firms. The provision of career advancement opportunities was positively related to employee organizational commitment, citizenship behaviors, and firm performance. The provision of employment security was positively related to employee organizational commitment, but not to citizenship behaviors or firm performance. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
How do I trust thee? The employee‐organization relationship, supervisory support, and middle manager trust in the organization
Authors: Zhang Ann Yan , Tsui Anne S. , Song Lynda Jiwen , Li Chaoping , Jia Liangding 
Published: February 2008

AbstractGiven the assumption that most employers would like to gain the trust of their employees, what would initiate this trust? This study explores the joint role of the employee‐organization relationship (EOR) and supervisory support in initiating trust among middle managers. The results from a study of 545 middle managers in China show that both EOR and supervisory support are important in creating trust, with supervisory support having a stronger influence than EOR. Further, supervisors play a synergistic role by accentuating the positive influence of the mutual investment EOR approach and attenuating the negative influence of the quasi‐spot contract EOR with the managers. Results reinforce the importance of both formal structure and social processes in cultivating employee trust in the organization. We discuss implications of these findings for future research and human resource management practices. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Spatial heterogeneity of water temperature across an alpine river basin
Authors: Brown Lee E. , Hannah David M. 
Published: February 2008

AbstractRiver temperature remains a subject of major worldwide research, yet understanding of multi‐scale thermal variability across river systems is limited. Such studies are necessary to elucidate the relative importance of site‐specific (reach‐scale) versus landscape controls. This article addresses this research need by identifying water temperature variability across an alpine river basin, using high‐resolution (15 min) water column temperature data at 29 sites in the Taillon–Gabiétous basin, French Pyrénées. Thermal patterns were examined in relation to a suite of meteorological (incoming shortwave radiation, air temperature, and precipitation) and basin characteristics (altitude, azimuth, stream length, and stream order). Mean water temperature for the monitoring period varied markedly across the river basin, ranging from 0·4 °C at the Taillon Glacier to 14·6 °C in a south‐facing hillslope groundwater stream. Basin‐scale water temperature patterns were strongly influenced by stream water source. Stream temperature was also significantly associated with basin characteristics, most notably altitude, azimuth, and stream length. Thermal heterogeneity across the basin was higher than that along the Taillon Glacier stream, despite rapid longitudinal warming rates with distance from the glacier snout. The timing of thermal extremes (maximum/minimum) during two contrasting hydrometeorological events (hot summer day vs intense hail/rain storm) revealed a clear synchronicity of thermal response among sites, although notable exceptions included karstic groundwater streams that were weakly influenced by concurrent meteorological conditions. Overall, the study demonstrates high thermal heterogeneity at the basin scale (being equal to, or greater than, that found in previous investigations), and the major effect of water source and landscape factors such as altitude, azimuth, and stream length on alpine stream temperature. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The influence of riparian woodland on stream temperatures: implications for the performance of juvenile salmonids
Authors: Malcolm I. A. , Soulsby C. , Hannah D. M. , Bacon P. J. , Youngson A. F. , Tetzlaff D. 
Published: February 2008

AbstractStream temperature was monitored at five mainstem locations and one tributary location on the Girnock Burn, a 31‐km2 tributary catchment of the Aberdeenshire Dee in north‐east Scotland. Stream temperature was recorded at 15‐min resolution between April 2003 and March 2006 to investigate the influence of semi‐natural riparian woodland on the spatial and temporal variability of stream temperature and the influence that this had on the performance of juvenile Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar). Two upstream sites were located in open moorland locations, while three downstream sites were located in areas of mixed deciduous/coniferous woodland areas at progressive distances of 0·75, 1·5 and 2·0 km from the upstream edge of continuous riparian tree cover. The effects of riparian woodland on stream temperature varied through the year, increasing during the spring to a maximum in summer, before decreasing once again in autumn. Maximum, mean and diel temperature amplitude were lower and minimum temperatures higher at woodland sites when compared to those located in open moorland. Although significant differences in fish performance were detected between sites, the influence of temperature variability was unclear due to confounding factors, some of which could not be measured during the study. It is recommended that future studies should combine advances in field‐based temperature monitoring with those in hydroclimatology to develop realistic process‐based models that can be used for stream temperature prediction. Further advances are needed in understanding the relationship between naturally variable thermal regime and fish performance in order that ecological predictions can be usefully made from field and modelled temperature data. © Crown Copyright 2008. Reproduced with the permission of Her Majesty's Stationery Office. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.