bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Dignity Therapy: A Novel Psychotherapeutic Intervention for Patients Near the End of Life
Authors: Chochinov Harvey Max , Hack Thomas , Hassard Thomas , Kristjanson Linda J. , McClement Susan , Harlos Mike 
Published: August 2005

Purpose This study examined a novel intervention, dignity therapy, designed to address psychosocial and existential distress among terminally ill patients. Dignity therapy invites patients to discuss issues that matter most or that they would most want remembered. Sessions are transcribed and edited, with a returned final version that they can bequeath to a friend or family member. The objective of this study was to establish the feasibility of dignity therapy and determine its impact on various measures of psychosocial and existential distress. Patients and Methods Terminally ill inpatients and those receiving home-based palliative care services in Winnipeg, Canada, and Perth, Australia, were asked to complete pre- and postintervention measures of sense of dignity, depression, suffering, and hopelessness; sense of purpose, sense of meaning, desire for death, will to live, and suicidality; and a postintervention satisfaction survey. Results Ninety-one percent of participants reported being satisfied with dignity therapy; 76% reported a heightened sense of dignity; 68% reported an increased sense of purpose; 67% reported a heightened sense of meaning; 47% reported an increased will to live; and 81% reported that it had been or would be of help to their family. Postintervention measures of suffering showed significant improvement (P = .023) and reduced depressive symptoms (P = .05). Finding dignity therapy helpful to their family correlated with life feeling more meaningful (r = 0.480; P = .000) and having a sense of purpose (r = 0.562; P = .000), accompanied by a lessened sense of suffering (r = 0.327; P = .001) and increased will to live (r = 0.387; P = .000). Conclusion Dignity therapy shows promise as a novel therapeutic intervention for suffering and distress at the end of life.
Circulating CD34+, CD133+, and Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor 2–Positive Endothelial Progenitor Cells in Myelofibrosis With Myeloid Metaplasia
Authors: Massa Margherita , Rosti Vittorio , Ramajoli Isabella , Campanelli Rita , Pecci Alessandro , Viarengo Gianluca , Meli Valentina , Marchetti Monia , Hoffman Ronald , Barosi Giovanni 
Published: August 2005

Purpose Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) are present in circulation and contribute to vasculogenesis in adults. We measured the number of circulating EPCs in patients with myelofibrosis with myeloid metaplasia (MMM), and we examined the relationship between the number of EPCs and severity of the MMM disease process. Patients and Methods The number of EPCs was measured by assaying the CD34+CD133+ vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2) –positive cell phenotype in 110 MMM patients, 16 patients with other Philadelphia-negative chronic myeloproliferative disorders (Ph-negative CMPDs), and 14 healthy participants. In four MMM patients, the capacity of selected CD34+ cells to form endothelial colonies (CFU-End) in vitro was tested. Results CD34+, CD133+, and VEGFR2-positive EPCs were detectable in unselected peripheral-blood cells of 50.9% MMM patients, 37.5% control patients, and 21% healthy participants. Patients with MMM had a median of 0.26% EPCs, significantly higher than that in healthy controls (median, 0%) and in patients with other Ph-negative CMPDs (median, 0.1%). In 14.5% of MMM patients, the numbers of EPCs were greater than the highest value found in patients with other Ph-negative CMPDs. CD34+ selected cells produced colony-forming unit–endothelial (CFU-End), which were vascular endothelial (VE) -cadherin positive, CD31+, von Willebrand factor positive, and CD45−. In MMM patients, the larger the number of EPCs, the smaller the number of circulating immature myeloid cells and circulating CD45+CD34+ hematopoietic progenitor cells. Increased numbers of EPCs were associated with younger age and a diagnosis of prefibrotic MMM. Conclusion Circulating EPCs are elevated in MMM patients in the early stage of the disease. Heightened mobilization of EPCs may represent an important mechanism for development of neoangiogenesis in MMM.
Profile of Daily Life in Children With Brain Tumors: An Assessment of Health-Related Quality of Life
Authors: Bhat Sundeep R. , Goodwin Tress L. , Burwinkle Tasha M. , Lansdale Meagan F. , Dahl Gary V. , Huhn Stephen L. , Gibbs Iris C. , Donaldson Sarah S. , Rosenblum Ruth K. , Varni James W. , Fisher Paul G. 
Published: August 2005

Purpose The survival of children with CNS tumors approaches 70%, yet health-related quality of life (HRQOL) has not been investigated rigorously in this population. We aimed to show that universal assessment of HRQOL could be obtained easily by using the PedsQL 4.0 and to provide a composite profile of their daily lives. Patients and Methods The PedsQL was administered to all patients seen in the neuro-oncology clinic at Lucile Packard Children's Hospital (Palo Alto, CA) from December 2001, to September 2002. Patients were compared with healthy controls by using two-sided t tests to evaluate statistically significant differences. Results One hundred thirty-four patients (73 male; mean age ± standard deviation, 11.8 ± 5.4 years; 55 had low-grade glioma, 32 had medulloblastoma/primitive neuroectodermal tumor/embryonal tumor, 17 had malignant astrocytoma, nine had germ-cell tumor, and 21 had other types of tumors) were assessed, each in less than 20 minutes. Scores on both child and parent-proxy reports for the total HRQOL, psychosocial, physical, emotional, social, and school-functioning scales were all significantly lower than controls (P < .01). Patients with low-grade glioma were reported to have the highest total HRQOL. Children receiving radiation therapy (XRT) but no chemotherapy had significantly lower total, psychosocial, emotional, and social functioning than those receiving other treatments, including XRT plus chemotherapy. Conclusion The PedsQL can be used to assess HRQOL rapidly and easily in children with CNS tumors, who have significantly worse HRQOL than healthy children. Children receiving XRT fare worse overall; chemotherapy added to XRT does not seem to worsen HRQOL. Assessment of HRQOL should be included as an outcome in future clinical trials.
Abbreviated Chemotherapy With Fludarabine Followed by Tositumomab and Iodine I 131 Tositumomab for Untreated Follicular Lymphoma
Authors: Leonard John P. , Coleman Morton , Kostakoglu Lale , Chadburn Amy , Cesarman Ethel , Furman Richard R. , Schuster Michael W. , Niesvizky Ruben , Muss Daniel , Fiore Jennifer , Kroll Stewart , Tidmarsh George , Vallabhajosula Shankar , Goldsmith Stanley J. 
Published: August 2005

Purpose To evaluate the safety and efficacy of a sequential chemotherapy plus radioimmunotherapy (RIT) regimen in previously untreated follicular non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Patients and Methods Thirty-five patients received an abbreviated course (three cycles) of fludarabine followed 6 to 8 weeks later by tositumomab and iodine I 131 tositumomab. Results After fludarabine, 31 (89%) of 35 patients responded, with three (9%) of 31 patients achieving a complete response (CR). After the full regimen of fludarabine and iodine I 131 tositumomab, all 35 patients responded; 30 (86%) of 35 patients achieved CR, and five (14%) of 35 achieved partial response. After a median follow-up of 58 months, the median progression-free survival (PFS) had not been reached (95% CI, 27 months to not reached), but it will be at least 48 months. The 5-year estimated PFS rate is 60%. Baseline Follicular Lymphoma International Prognostic Index (FLIPI) was significantly associated (P = .003) with PFS. Five of six patients with more than 25% bone marrow involvement at baseline achieved adequate bone marrow cytoreduction to receive standard-dose iodine I 131 tositumomab. Ten (77%) of 13 patients with baseline bone marrow Bcl-2 positivity demonstrated molecular remissions at month 12. Toxicities were manageable and principally hematologic. Two (6%) of 35 patients developed human antimurine antibodies (HAMA) after RIT. Conclusion Use of abbreviated fludarabine before iodine I 131 tositumomab can reduce bone marrow involvement, when needed, to allow the use of RIT and can suppress HAMA responses. This sequential treatment regimen is highly effective as front-line therapy for follicular lymphoma, particularly for low- or intermediate-risk FLIPI patients.
Mosquito natriuretic peptide identified as a calcitonin-like diuretic hormone inAnopheles gambiae(Giles)
Authors: Coast Geoffrey M. , Garside Christopher S. , Webster Simon G. , Schegg Kathleen M. , Schooley David A. 
Published: August 2005

SUMMARYMosquito natriuretic peptide (MNP), an uncharacterised peptide from the yellow fever mosquito, Aedes aegypti, acts via cyclic AMP to stimulate secretion of Na+-rich urine by opening a Na+ conductance in the basolateral membrane of Malpighian tubule principal cells. Corticotropin releasing factor (CRF)-related peptides and calcitonin (CT)-like diuretic peptides use cyclic AMP as a second messenger and were therefore considered likely candidates for MNP. BLAST searches of the genome of the malaria mosquito Anopheles gambiae, gave sequences for the CRF-related peptide Anoga-DH44 and the CT-like peptide Anoga-DH31, which were synthesised and tested for effects on Malpighian tubules from An. gambiae and Ae. aegypti,together with 8-bromo-cyclic AMP.The cyclic AMP analogue stimulated secretion of Na+-rich urine by An. gambiae Malpighian tubules, reproducing the response to MNP in Ae. aegypti. It also depolarised the principal cell basolateral membrane voltage (Vb) while hyperpolarising the transepithelial voltage (Vt) to a similar extent.Anoga-DH44 and Anoga-DH31 stimulated production of cyclic AMP, but not cyclic GMP, by Malpighian tubules of An. gambiae. Both peptides had diuretic activity, but only Anoga-DH31 had natriuretic activity and stimulated fluid secretion to the same extent as 8-bromo-cyclic AMP. Likewise, Anoga-DH31 reproduced the effects of cyclic AMP on tubule electrophysiology, whereas Anoga-DH44initially hyperpolarised Vb and depolarised Vt, which is the opposite of the effect of Anoga-DH31.Anoga-DH44 and Anoga-DH31 were also tested for effects on fluid secretion and ion transport by Ae. aegypti tubules. As in An. gambiae, the CRF-related peptide Anoga-DH44 had a non-specific effect on the transport of Na+ and K+,whereas the CT-like peptide Anoga-DH31 specifically stimulated transepithelial Na+ transport.We conclude that the CT-like peptide Anoga-DH31 is the previously uncharacterised mosquito natriuretic peptide.
Muscle fiber angle, segment bulging and architectural gear ratio in segmented musculature
Authors: Brainerd Elizabeth L. , Azizi Emanuel 
Published: August 2005

SUMMARY
The anatomical complexity of myomeres and myosepta has made it difficult to develop a comprehensive understanding of the relationship between muscle fiber architecture, connective tissue mechanics, and locomotor function of segmented axial musculature in fishes. The lateral hypaxial musculature (LHM) of salamanders is less anatomically complex and therefore a good system for exploring the basic mechanics of segmented musculature. Here, we derive a mathematical model of the LHM and test our model using sonomicrometry and electromyography during steady swimming in an aquatic salamander, Siren lacertina. The model predicts longitudinal segment strain well, with predicted and measured values differing by less than 5% strain over most of the range. Deviations between predicted and measured results are unbiased and probably result from the salamanders performing slight turns with associated body torsion in our unconstrained trackway swimming experiments. Model simulations of muscle fiber contraction and segment shortening indicate that longitudinal segment strain, for a given amount of muscle fiber strain,increases with increasing initial fiber angle. This increase in architectural gear ratio (AGR = longitudinal strain/fiber strain) is mediated by muscle fiber rotation; the higher the initial fiber angle, the more the fibers rotate during contraction and the higher the AGR. Muscle fiber rotation is additionally impacted by bulging in the dorsoventral (DV) and/or mediolateral(ML) dimensions during longitudinal segment shortening. In segments with obliquely oriented muscle fibers, DV bulging increases muscle fiber rotation,thereby increasing the AGR. Extending the model to include force and work indicates that force decreases with increasing initial muscle fiber angle and increasing DV bulging and that both longitudinal shortening and DV bulging must be included for accurate calculation of segment work.
Evolving neural models of path integration
Authors: Vickerstaff R. J. , Di Paolo E. A. 
Published: August 2005

SUMMARYWe use a genetic algorithm to evolve neural models of path integration,with particular emphasis on reproducing the homing behaviour of Cataglyphis fortis ants. This is done within the context of a complete model system, including an explicit representation of the animal's movements within its environment. We show that it is possible to produce a neural network without imposing a priori any particular system for the internal representation of the animal's home vector. The best evolved network obtained is analysed in detail and is found to resemble the bicomponent model of Mittelstaedt. Because of the presence of leaky integration, the model can reproduce the systematic navigation errors found in desert ants. The model also naturally mimics the searching behaviour that ants perform once they have reached their estimate of the nest location. The results support possible roles for leaky integration and cosine-shaped compass response functions in path integration.
Hypoxia progressively lowers thermal gaping thresholds in bearded dragons,Pogona vitticeps
Authors: Tattersall Glenn J. , Gerlach Rebecca M. 
Published: August 2005

SUMMARYMost animals, including reptiles, lower body temperature(Tb) under hypoxic conditions. Numerous physiological and behavioural traits significant to the regulation of Tb are altered by hypoxia in ways that suggest an orchestrated adjustment of Tb at a new and lower regulated level. We examined this matter in bearded dragons, Pogona vitticeps, a species of reptile that naturally exhibits open mouth gaping at high temperatures, presumably in order to promote evaporation and thus prevent or avoid further increases in Tb. The threshold for the onset of gaping (assessed as the temperature at which lizards spent 50% of their time gaping) was reduced from 36.9°C in normoxia to 35.5°C at 10% and 34.3°C at 6%O2. The overall magnitude or degree of gaping, measured qualitatively, was more pronounced at lower temperatures in hypoxia. Females consistently had lower gaping threshold temperatures than did males, and this difference was retained throughout exposure to hypoxia. In addition to gaping,evaporative water loss from the cloaca may also play a significant role in temperature regulation, since the ambient temperature at which cloacal discharge occurred was also reduced significantly in hypoxia. The results reported herein strongly support the view that hypoxia reduces temperature set-point in lizards and that such changes are coordinated by specific behavioural thermoeffectors that modulate evaporative water loss and thus facilitate a high potential for controlling or modifying Tb.
Adsorption of Nitrate Ions onto Sepiolite and Surfactant-Modified Sepiolite
Authors: Özcan Adnan , Şahin Mutlu , Özcan Asiye Safa 
Published: August 2005

The adsorption of nitrate ions onto clay minerals has not been given much attention, possibly because clay surfaces are negatively charged. In order to increase the positive charge on the surface, sepiolite was modified in the present studies by treatment with dodecylethyldimethylammonium (DEDMA) bromide. After such modification, it was found that the maximum amount of nitrate ion adsorbed occurred at a pH value of 2.0. The chemical composition of natural sepiolite was determined by EDX methods and surface characterization of both natural and modified sepiolite samples was undertaken using FT-IR spectroscopic techniques. The adsorption of nitrate ions onto these adsorbents was determined by ion chromatography. The kinetic parameters of the adsorption process were calculated and it was shown that the reaction kinetic data could be fitted using the pseudo-second-order rate model. The calculated results indicate that both natural and surfactant-modified sepiolite are effective sorbents for the removal of anionic contaminants; however, the surfactant-modified sepiolite (453 mmol/kg) was more effective than the unmodified sepiolite (408 mmol/kg) in this respect. The adsorption data obtained were well described by the Freundlich adsorption isotherm.
Adsorption of Quadrupolar, Diatomic Nitrogen onto Graphitized Thermal Carbon Black and in Slit-Shaped Carbon Pores. Effects of Surface Mediation
Authors: Do D.D. , Do H.D. 
Published: August 2005

In this paper, we study the effect of solid surface mediation on the intermolecular potential energy of nitrogen, and its impact on the adsorption of nitrogen on a graphitized carbon black surface and in carbon slit-shaped pores. This effect arises from the lower effective interaction potential energy between two particles close to the surface compared to the potential energy of the same two particles when they are far away from the surface. A simple equation is proposed to calculate the reduction factor and this is used in the Grand Canonical Monte Carlo (GCMC) simulation of nitrogen adsorption on graphitized thermal carbon black. With this modification, the GCMC simulation results agree extremely well with the experimental data over a wide range of pressure; the simulation results with the original potential energy (i.e. no surface mediation) give rise to a shoulder in the neighbourhood of monolayer coverage and a significant over-prediction of the second and higher layer coverages. The influence of this surface mediation on the dependence of the pore-filling pressure on the pore width is also studied. It is shown that such surface mediation has a significant effect on the pore-filling pressure. This implies that the use of the local isotherms obtained from the potential model without surface mediation could give rise to a serious error in the determination of the pore-size distribution.
Mixer-Ejector Nozzles: Acoustic and Thrust Characteristics
Authors: Krasheninnikov Sergey Ju. , Mironov Alexey K. , Pavlyukov Evgeny V. , Shenkin Andrey V. , Zhitenev Vladimir K. 
Published: August 2005

The paper presents the review of the CIAM/TsAGI investigations of mixer-ejector models, which could be considered to be prototypes of real variable area nozzles for future supersonic aircraft. Acoustic and aerodynamic characteristics of both 2-D and axisymmetrical models were obtained. The influence of nozzle geometry (number of lobes, lobe shape, ejector length, auxiliary inlets in the ejector walls) on its noise and thrust performances is discussed. The experimental data show that the best mixer-ejector configuration tested provides a noise reduction efficiency of about 3 ∼ 3.5 PNdB per 1% thrust loss at static conditions.
Ratiometric Singlet Oxygen Nano‐optodes and Their Use for Monitoring Photodynamic Therapy Nanoplatforms
Authors: Cao Youfu , Koo Yong‐Eun Lee , Koo Sang Man , Kopelman Raoul 
Published: August 2005

ABSTRACTRatiometric photonic explorers for bioanalysis with biologically localized embedding (PEBBLE) nanoprobes have been developed for singlet oxygen, using organically modified silicate (ORMOSIL) nanoparticles as the matrix. A crucial aspect of these ratiometric singlet‐oxygen fluorescent probes is their minute size. The ORMOSIL nanoparticles are prepared via a sol‐gel–based process and the average diameter of the resultant particles is about 160 nm. These sensors incorporate the singlet‐oxygen–sensitive 9,10‐dimethyl anthracene as an indicator dye and a singlet‐oxygen–insensitive dye, octaethylporphine, as a reference dye for ratiometric fluorescence‐based analysis. We have found experimentally that these nanoprobes have much better sensitivity than does the conventional singlet‐oxygen–free dye probe, anthracene‐9, 10‐dipropionic acid disodium salt. The much longer lifetime of singlet oxygen in the ORMOSIL matrix, compared to aqueous solutions, in addition to the relatively high singlet oxygen solubility because of the highly permeable structure and the hydrophobic nature of the outer shell of the ORMOSIL nanoparticles, results in an excellent overall response to singlet oxygen. These nanoprobes have been used to monitor the singlet oxygen produced by “dynamic nanoplatforms” that were developed for photodynamic therapy. The singlet oxygen nanoprobes could potentially be used to quantify the singlet oxygen produced by macrophages.
Photoconvertible Fluorescent Protein EosFP: Biophysical Properties and Cell Biology Applications
Authors: Nienhaus G. Ulrich , Nienhaus Karin , Hölzle Angela , Ivanchenko Sergey , Renzi Fabiana , Oswald Franz , Wolff Michael , Schmitt Florian , Röcker Carlheinz , Vallone Beatrice , Weidemann Wolfgang , Heilker Ralf , Nar Herbert , Wiedenmann Jörg 
Published: August 2005

ABSTRACTEosFP is a fluorescent protein from the coral Lobophyllia hemprichii that changes its fluorescence emission from green to red upon irradiation with near‐UV light. Here we present the spectroscopic properties of wild‐type EosFP and a variety of monomeric and dimeric mutants and provide a structural interpretation of its oligomerization and photoconversion, which is based on X‐ray structure analysis of the green and red species that we reported recently. Because functional expression of the monomeric EosFP variant is limited to temperatures of 30°C, we have developed a tandem dimer. This construct, in which two EosFP subunits are connected by a flexible 12 amino acid linker, expresses well after fusion with the androgen and endothelin A receptors at 37°C. A variety of applications in cellular imaging, developmental biology and automated high‐content screening applications are presented, which demonstrate that EosFP is a powerful tool for in vivo monitoring of cellular processes.
Efficacy of Formalin and Hydrogen Peroxide to Increase Survival of Channel Catfish Infected with Saprolegniasis
Authors: Rach Jeff J , Schreier Theresa , Gaikowski Mark P , Schleis Susan M 
Published: August 2005

Abstract
The efficacy of formalin and hydrogen peroxide to increase survival associated with external saprolegniasis on fingerlings of channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus was evaluated in four laboratory trials. Fungal epizootics were initiated according to procedures developed in a fungal-disease model. Fish were abraded with a dremel tool and then placed in an aerated static infection tank containing fungal-infected hemp seeds held in teaballs that were suspended in 100 L of water for 24 h (trials 1–3) or 6 h (trial 4). In the formalin trials, treatment regimens of 0, 82, and 166 mg/L (trial 1) or 0 and 83 mg/L (trial 2) were administered to channel catfish for 60 min once every other day for a total of three treatments (trial 1) or once daily for a total of seven treatments (trial 2). In the hydrogen peroxide trials, treatment regimens of 0, 75, and 102 mg/L (trial 3) or 0 and 75 mg/L (trial 4) were administered to channel catfish for 60 min once every other day for a total of three treatments. Each treatment regimen was tested in triplicate, with 10 fish per replicate. Formalin exposures of 83 (seven treatments; 33% survival) and 166 mg/L (three treatments; 63% survival) for 60 min significantly (P ≤ 0.01) increased channel catfish survival in comparison with controls (of which 3% and 13%, respectively, survived). In trial 4, hydrogen peroxide exposure of 75 mg/L (63% survival) for 60 min significantly (P ≤ 0.01) increased channel catfish survival in comparison with the untreated controls (13% survival). Formalin and hydrogen peroxide treatments were effective in increasing survival in channel catfish infected with fungus.