bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Structure of Charged Poly(propylene imine) Dendrimers: Theoretical Investigation
Authors: Govorun Elena N. , Zeldovich Konstantin B. , Khokhlov Alexei R. 
Published: December 2003

AbstractA mean‐field model for charged dendrimers has been elaborated and applied to Astramol dendrimers of 5th generation in salt‐free solution. The free energy of a dendrimer molecule was minimized with respect to the dendrimer size and to the profile of counterion distribution. The model of highly stretched freely jointed chain was used to describe the elasticity of long branches, the dissociated groups were assumed to be localized mostly on the periphery of the molecule, and the electrostatic interactions were described in the Poisson‐Boltzmann approximation. It was found that the osmotic pressure of counterions leads to moderate expansion of dendrimer molecules upon charging, and a significant fraction of counterions is localized within the dendrimer molecule under typical experimental conditions.The schematic structure of poly(propylene imine) dendrimers for the 4th generation.imageThe schematic structure of poly(propylene imine) dendrimers for the 4th generation.
Modeling of Free‐radical Crosslinking Copolymerization of Acrylamide and N,N′‐Methylenebis(acrylamide) for Radiation Dosimetry
Authors: Fuxman Adrian M. , McAuley Kim B. , Schreiner L. John 
Published: December 2003

AbstractOver the past decade there has been much interest in the development of three‐dimensional gel dosimeters to aid in the determination of the distribution and magnitude of absorbed dose in clinical radiation therapy. A widely used dosimeter for verification of spatial dose distribution is the polyacrylamide system, sometimes termed polyacrylamide gel (PAG). In this paper, we develop a model to describe the kinetic mechanisms in this gel dosimeter, based on the radiation‐induced copolymerization of acrylamide and bisacrylamide monomers in water and gelatin. Using the proposed model, the conversion of both monomers and total vinyl groups, the concentrations of pendant double bonds (PDB), cyclized groups and crosslinks along the polymer chains as well as temperature changes were simulated. The model predictions and experimental findings in PAG dosimeters agree for a variety of recipes and spatially uniform radiation conditions. Further experiments are required to obtain accurate kinetic parameter estimates and to verify model predictions.Comparison between the temperatures changes predicted by the model (dotted lines) and experimental data (solid lines) for PAGs irradiated to different doses.imageComparison between the temperatures changes predicted by the model (dotted lines) and experimental data (solid lines) for PAGs irradiated to different doses.
Expression of the p16INK4a gene and methylation pattern of CpG sites in the promoter region in rat tumor cell lines
Authors: Honoki Kanya , Tsujiuchi Toshifumi , Mori Toshio , Yoshitani Kazuhiro , Tsutsumi Masahiro , Takakura Yoshinori , Mii Yoshio 
Published: December 2003

AbstractLoss of p16INK4a protein expression has frequently been related to DNA methylation in association with gene silencing. Although the methylation status of exon1α for p16INK4a involvement in various cancers has been extensively analyzed, it has been pointed out that some inconsistencies existed in its relationship to gene silencing of p16INK4a. In this study, we focused on the expression and methylation status in the regions of nt −478 to −201, containing a putative TATA box (nt −401 to −396), and nt −233 to 26, both in a recently cloned 5′ upstream region of rat p16INK4a. We showed that rat lung adenocarcinoma RLCNR did not express the p16INK4a gene, whereas rat osteosarcoma COS1NR and malignant fibrous histiocytoma MFH1NR both expressed it at levels similar to normal fibroblasts, even though the region of nt −233 to 26 was hypermethylated in COS1NR rather than RLCNR. In contrast, the CpG islands near the putative TATA box region were consistently methylated in RLCNR, but not in COS1NR and MFH1NR, as well as in normal fibroblasts. Treatment with 5‐aza 2′‐deoxycytidine induced expression of p16INK4a gene in RLCNR after 48 h, but no changes were observed in COS1NR and MFH1NR. The results indicated that methylation of CpG islands near a TATA box region played a critical role for gene silencing of the rat p16INK4a gene, rather than that of other regions. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Limit behaviour of the solution of an evolution boundary‐value problem involving the p‐Laplacian operator for the case of an equivalued condition on a shrinking surface
Authors: Li Fengquan 
Published: December 2003

AbstractIn this paper, we discuss the limit behaviour of the solution of an evolution boundary‐value problem involving the p‐Laplacian operator for the case of an equivalued condition on a shrinking surface. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Trapped modes for periodic structures in waveguides
Authors: Edward Julian 
Published: December 2003

AbstractThe Laplace operator is considered for waveguides perturbed by a periodic structure consisting of N congruent obstacles spanning the waveguide. Neumann boundary conditions are imposed on the periodic structure, and either Neumann or Dirichlet conditions on the guide walls. It is proven that there are at least N (resp. N‐1) trapped modes in the Neumann case (resp. Dirichlet case) under fairly general hypotheses, including the special case where the obstacles consist of line segments placed parallel to the waveguide walls. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A new symmetry approach to solve space–time‐dependent KdV systems
Authors: Ruan Hang‐yu , Chen Yi‐xin 
Published: December 2003

AbstractIn this paper, a new method to solve space–time‐dependent non‐linear equations is proposed. After considering the variable coefficient of a non‐linear equation as a new dependent variable, some special types of space–time‐dependent equations can be solved from corresponding space–time‐independent equations by using the general classical Lie approach. The rich soliton solutions of space–time‐dependent KdV equation and mKdV equation are given with the help of the approach. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Sexual dimorphism in interferon‐τ production by in vivo‐derived bovine embryos
Authors: Kimura Koji , Spate Lee D. , Green Mark P. , Murphy Clifton N. , Seidel George E. , Michael Roberts R. 
Published: December 2003

AbstractInterferon‐tau (IFN‐τ) is an anti‐luteolytic factor responsible for preventing regression of the maternal corpus luteum (CL) during early pregnancy of cattle. In vitro‐produced (IVP) bovine embryos first produce IFN‐τ as blastocysts. In the present study, we have examined whether sexually dimorphic production of IFN‐τ, which is observed among IVP blastocysts, also occurs among in vivo‐produced blastocysts, and whether this difference between the sexes persists to day 14 when silencing of one of the X‐chromosomes in the trophectoderm is complete. Embryos were flushed from cattle that had been superovulated and bred by AI. Blastocysts (63 male, 62 female) recovered between days 8.5 and 9.5 of pregnancy, were cultured individually. No differences were observed between males and females in either their developmental stage or quality at the beginning, during, and at the end of culture. Female embryos produced more IFN‐τ than males by 24 hr (mean values, males: 16.6 ± 3.7, females: 49.4 ± 9.0 pg per embryo; P < 0.05) and 48 hr (male: 189.8 ± 37.1, female: 410.9 ± 66.6 pg per embryo; P < 0.05). However, the variability in IFN‐τ production between individual blastocysts was so great that IFN‐τ secretion is unlikely to be of value as a non‐invasive means to predict embryo sex. When conceptuses were recovered at day 14, elongating males (n = 25) and females (n = 24) were similar in dimension and did not differ in their IFN‐τ production after 4.5 hr (male: 2,550 ± 607, female: 2,376 ± 772 ng per conceptus) and 24 hr (male: 12,056 ± 2,438, female: 8,447 ± 1,630 ng per conceptus) of culture. Thus, sexual dimorphism in IFN‐τ production is observed in both IVP and in vivo‐produced expanded blastocysts, but is lost by day 14 of in vivo development. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 67:193–199, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Endophyte‐infected tall fescue diet alters gene expression in heifer luteal tissue as revealed by interspecies microarray analysis
Authors: Jones K.L. , King S.S. , Iqbal M.J. 
Published: December 2003

AbstractCattle consuming endophyte‐infected tall fescue grass have an associated reduction in circulating progesterone and reduced reproductive rates. In this study, commercially available rat microarrays were used to analyze the gene expression in luteal tissues from heifers fed endophyte‐free fescue, endophyte‐infected fescue, or endophyte‐infected fescue supplemented with the dopamine (DA) antagonist, domperidone. The number of hybridized spots represented approximately 40% of the total 10,000 rat genes/ESTs evaluated. Each luteal sample was analyzed in triplicate, resulting in within treatment correlation coefficients of ≥0.98. Median values of mRNA abundance from luteal tissue taken from the endophyte‐infected fed heifers revealed 598 genes and ESTs that were down regulated and 56 genes and ESTs that were upregulated compared with luteal mRNA values from the endophyte‐free treatment. There were fewer comparative differences between median values from luteal mRNA from the endophyte‐free versus feeding endophyte‐infected plus domperidone treated heifers. Only 19 genes and ESTs were upregulated and two were down‐regulated. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 67:154–161, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Direct measurement of human sympathetic nerve conduction velocity
Authors: Kondo Masahide , Iwase Satoshi , Mano Tadaaki , Kuzuhara Shigeki 
Published: December 2003

AbstractWe evaluated a method for direct measurement of conduction velocity (CV) in sympathetic nerves in humans using a double‐recording method of skin sympathetic nerve activity (SSNA) by microneurography. SSNA in the tibial nerve was recorded simultaneously at proximal and distal sites in the popliteal fossa (short‐distance study) or at the popliteal fossa and ankle (long‐distance study). In both studies, CVs were determined by dividing the interelectrode distance on the skin by the difference in conduction time between the rising‐phases (rising‐phase analysis) or peaks of the integrated bursts (peak‐to‐peak analysis). The measurement using long distance and peak‐to‐peak analysis had the highest accuracy; it is an orthodromic conduction measurement, is unrelated to eliciting stimulus, has high temporal resolution, and is not affected by the effector organ conditions. The average CV of resting SSNA was 0.93 ± 0.09 m/s. Muscle Nerve 29: 128–133, 2004
Threshold electrotonus in chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy: Correlation with clinical profiles
Authors: Sung Jia‐Ying , Kuwabara Satoshi , Kaji Ryuji , Ogawara Kazue , Mori Masahiro , Kanai Kazuaki , Nodera Hiroyuki , Hattori Takamichi , Bostock Hugh 
Published: December 2003

AbstractChronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) is characterized by multifocal demyelination along the course of the nerves, and involvement of the intermediate segments may correlate with more severe demyelination associated with breakdown of the blood–nerve barrier. Threshold electrotonus was used to study whether altered membrane properties of the median nerve at the wrist (intermediate segment) are associated with clinical profiles in 21 CIDP patients. In response to hyperpolarizing conditioning stimuli, the threshold changes were significantly greater for CIDP patients than for normal controls (n = 49). The pattern was similar to that of 11 patients with Charcot‐Marie‐Tooth disease type 1a, who exhibited abnormally high thresholds to hyperpolarizing currents. The abnormal threshold electrotonus was present in 48% of the CIDP patients and was associated with longer disease duration, more severe disability, poorer response to immune treatments, and slower nerve conduction velocities. Threshold electrotonus can be used to detect demyelination at the tested sites and may provide new information about pathophysiology and distribution patterns of demyelination in CIDP. Muscle Nerve 29: 28–37, 2004
Effect of load during electrical stimulation training in spinal cord injury
Authors: Crameri Regina M. , Cooper Philip , Sinclair Peter J. , Bryant Grace , Weston Adele 
Published: December 2003

AbstractElectrical stimulation training is known to alter skeletal muscle characteristics after a spinal cord injury, but the effect of load on optimizing the training protocol has not been fully investigated. This study investigated two electrical‐stimulation training regimes with different loads on intramuscular parameters of the paralyzed lower limbs. Six paraplegic individuals with a spinal cord injury underwent electrical stimulation training (45 min daily for 3 days per week for 10 weeks). One leg was trained statically with load, and the contralateral leg was trained dynamically with minimal load. Isometric force assessed with 35‐HZ stimuli increased significantly in both legs from baseline, with the static‐trained leg also being significantly higher than the dynamic‐trained leg. The vastus lateralis muscle of the statically trained leg showed a significant increase in type I fibers, fiber cross‐sectional area, capillary‐to‐fiber ratio, and citrate synthase activity when compared to both baseline and the dynamically trained leg. Relative oxygenation of the vastus lateralis muscle as determined by near infrared spectroscopy was also significantly greater after static training. This study indicates that the load that is applied to paralyzed muscle during an electrical stimulation training program is an important factor in determining the amount of muscle adaptation that can be achieved. Muscle Nerve 29: 104–111, 2004
Clinical efficacy of tolterodine with or without a simplified pelvic floor exercise regimen
Authors: Millard R.J. 
Published: December 2003

AbstractObjectivesTo investigate whether the combination of tolterodine plus (Tp) a simple pelvic floor muscle exercise (PFME) program would provide improved treatment benefits compared with tolterodine alone (Ta) in patients with symptoms of overactive bladder (OAB).MethodsAfter a 1–2 week run‐in period, 480 patients with symptoms of urinary frequency (≥8 micturitions/24 hr), urgency, and urge incontinence (≥1 episode/24 hr), were randomized to receive tolterodine 2 mg bid with or without a simple PFME program for 24 weeks in this multinational study. Treatment efficacy was assessed by comparing the change from baseline in 3‐day micturition diary recordings.ResultsAfter 24 weeks' treatment, in the Ta group the urgency episodes reduced from mean of 4.1 to 1.5 (83% reduction) while in the Tp group the urgency episodes reduced from 4.2 to 2.1 (78.7% reduction). Mean incontinence episodes per day decreased from 3.21 (standard deviation (SD) 3.4) to 0.95 (SD 1.9) in Ta group and from 3.44 (SD 3.4) to 1.25 (SD 2.7) in the Tp group. Similarly, the number of micturition/24 hr were significantly reduced, from 12.78 to 9.20 (27.3% reduction) in the Ta group and from 11.87 to 9.29 (23% reduction) in the Tp group. There was an improvement in the patients' perception of urinary symptoms in 85.9% of patients on Ta and 81.7% patients on Tp PFME. There were no statistically significant differences between the groups with regard to any of the outcome parameters.ConclusionsTolterodine therapy for 24 weeks results in significant improvement in urgency, frequency, and incontinence, however, no additional benefit was demonstrated for a simple PFME program. Neurourol. Urodynam. 23:48–53, 2004. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Morphological description, biometry and phylogenetic position of the skull of Ngawi 1 (east Java, Indonesia)
Authors: Widianto H. , Zeitoun V. 
Published: December 2003

AbstractThe skull of Ngawi 1 was discovered fortuitously in August 1987 on the left bank of the river Solo near the village of Selopuro (east Java, Indonesia). It is a complete, well preserved and strongly mineralized calvaria. The present article provides a complete description of this specimen. Its general morphological pattern is first considered; then, each anatomical complex is considered individually, allowing us a comparison with other Asian Pleistocene fossils. A broad biometric framework and a morphological database are both used to perform a cladistic analysis aiming at a more accurate determination of the phylogenetic position of this skull among ‘Homo erectus’. This work confirms that Ngawi 1 is closer to the Ngandong‐Sambungmachan series than to the Trinil‐Sangiran series. Following the hypothesis of a young age (40,000 years) for the former series, the question is whether this skull belongs to a subspecies of Homo sapiens, as suggested by early authors, or to a separate species, Homo soloensis. An evolutionary process is suggested here, where Ngawi 1 belongs to a particular human group that is geographically and chronologically restricted. This Indonesian human group may have evolved at the same time as the Neandertals in Europe, an area which represented the westernmost end of Eurasia when Indonesia was its easternmost end. The question is raised as to whether insularity, that isolated this taxon, is comparable to the cool climate which isolated the Neandertals for thousands of years. If so, the Ngawi‐Ngandong‐Sambungmachan series might have evolved from an older, local Homo erectus population. On the other hand, due to local, drastic volcano‐tectonic events that occurred 71,000 years ago, and catastrophic events 780,000 years ago, the first inhabitants of Java may have disappeared. According to this alternative hypothesis, Ngawi 1 could be one of the new invaders from continental Asia. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Can intensive three‐day programmes improve nurses' communication skills in cancer care?
Authors: Wilkinson S. M. , Leliopoulou C. , Gambles M. , Roberts A. 
Published: December 2003

AbstractEffective communication is widely regarded as a crucial component of patient care that can determine patient satisfaction, compliance and recovery. The plethora of communication skills training programmes available to health professionals is also a testament to the importance of this element of care. However a review of studies evaluating the effectiveness of such training programmes concluded that little behavioural change in health professionals' communication skills was evident. This paper reports the findings of a programme offered to cancer/palliative care nurses (n=108) via eight condensed three‐day workshops at various UK venues. Behavioural change was assessed through evaluation of audiotaped nursing assessments made pre‐ and six weeks post‐course, scored along nine previously identified key communication areas. Mean overall scores rose by 6 points ( p<0.001) to 20 (out of 27) with statistically significant improvements on eight of the nine individual areas. Improvements in subjective levels of confidence in the areas of communication found difficult pre‐course were observed immediately post‐course ( p<0.001) and were still evident six weeks later. Similar improvements immediately post‐course for teaching communication skills to colleagues ( p<0.001) were further improved six weeks post‐course for seven of the eight areas assessed. These results suggest that three‐day training courses can lead to clinically relevant behavioural change and improvements in perceived confidence in communication and dissemination of skills. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A three‐year study of chaplains' professional activities at Memorial Sloan‐Kettering Cancer Center in New York city
Authors: Flannelly Kevin J. , Weaver Andrew J. , Handzo George F. 
Published: December 2003

AbstractThe pastoral‐care interventions of chaplains at Memorial Sloan‐Kettering Cancer Center were documented during two‐week periods in each of three years. The study describes the pattern of referrals to and from chaplains and the kinds of interventions performed during the chaplains' contacts with patients and their families and friends. Nearly a fifth of all chaplain interventions were the result of referrals. The vast majority of staff referrals to chaplains came from nurses, with the frequency and proportion of referrals from nurses significantly increasing over time. More than a third of all chaplain contacts were with friends and family without the patient present, and over 40% of referrals to chaplains were for the friends and family of patients. Pastoral visits were significantly shorter when patients were not present. In particular, pastoral‐care interventions were found to differ according to the patient's religion and the circumstances of the chaplain's visit to the patient (i.e. patient status). Visit duration also varied by patient status, with pre‐operative visits being significantly shorter than post‐operative or treatment visits. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Prostate cancer patients' support and psychological care needs: Survey from a non‐surgical oncology clinic
Authors: Lintz Kathleen , Moynihan Clare , Steginga Suzanne , Norman Andy , Eeles Ros , Huddart Robert , Dearnaley David , Watson Maggie 
Published: December 2003

AbstractWhile there are numerous uncertainties surrounding prostate cancer's detection and treatment, more research focusing on the psychological needs of prostate patients is required. This study investigated the support and psychological care needs of men with prostate cancer. Patients were approached during urological oncology clinics and asked to complete the: Support Care Needs Survey (SCNS), Support Care Preferences Questionnaire, EORTC QLQ‐C30 (Version 3) Measure plus Prostate Module, and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Of the 249 patients meeting study entry criteria, there was an 89% response rate resulting in a cohort of 210 patients. The data showed that significant unmet need exists across a number of domains in the areas of psychological and health system/information. The more commonly reported needs were ‘fears about cancer spreading (44%),’ ‘concerns about the worries of those close to you (43%),’ and ‘changes in sexual feelings (41%).’ Half of all patients reported some need in the domain of sexuality, especially men younger than 65 years. Needs were being well met in the domain of patient care and support. A significant number of patients reported having used or desiring support services, such as information about their illness, brochures about services and benefits for patients with cancer (55%), a series of talks by staff members about aspects of prostate cancer (44%), and one‐on‐one counselling (48%). Quality of life (QoL) was most negatively impacted in those who: were ⩽65 years old, had been diagnosed within one year, or had metastatic disease. Men ⩽65 had decreased social functioning, greater pain, increased sleep disturbance, and were more likely to be uncomfortable about being sexually intimate. Patients recently diagnosed had increased fatigue, more frequent urination, greater disturbance of sleep, and were more likely to have hot flushes. Those with advanced disease scored lower on 12 out of 15 QoL categories. PSA level had no effect on QoL or anxiety/depression scores. Men with advanced disease had greater levels of depression and those ⩽65 years old were more likely to be anxious. Although most men with prostate cancer seem to function quite well, a substantial minority report areas of unmet need that may be targets for improving care. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.