bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Russia's imperial blood: Was Rasputin not the healer of legend?
Authors: Kendrick John M.L. 
Published: August 2004

AbstractThe only son of Russia's last Tsar, a great‐grandson of Queen Victoria, continues to be used as the favorite example of the X‐linked inheritance of hemophilia, in spite of the fact that this popular historical diathesis has never been confirmed by any form of modern medical laboratory testing. Certain to be controversial, a new study of the symptoms that were witnessed by those who were closest to the teenaged Russian heir now raises the possibility that his blood disorder might well have been something other than hemophilia. The key to discovering Tsarevich Alexei's true diagnosis is found in those now legendary allegations that the infamous “Mad Monk”, Grigory Rasputin, had possessed a power of healing that was somehow responsible for the young boy's mysterious history of spontaneous recoveries. If we are to accept the popular diagnosis of history and call it a clotting factor deficiency, then the boy's now famous sudden recoveries will remain a complete mystery. The so‐called “Mad Monk” Rasputin, as a direct result of the revolutionary propaganda of the time, is then overblown into a larger‐than‐life legend. If, however, we are to change the diagnosis and call it a platelet disorder, then the air is let out of the legend, and Rasputin is revealed to have been nothing more than a very ordinary middle‐aged Siberian hippie who did not possess any healing powers at all. Am. J. Hematol. 77:92–102, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Double minute chromosomes in monoblastic (M5) and myeloblastic (M2) acute myeloid leukemia: Two case reports and a review of literature
Authors: Thomas Leno , Stamberg Judith , Gojo Ivana , Ning Yi , Rapoport Aaron P. 
Published: August 2004

AbstractDouble minutes (dmin) are small, paired chromatin bodies that lack a centromere and represent a form of extrachromosomal gene amplification. Although they have been found in a variety of solid tumors, their presence in hematological malignancies, especially acute myeloid leukemia (AML), is rare. In addition, the presence of dmin may be a mechanism for upregulated oncogene expression and is generally associated with a poor prognosis. We describe two patients who had dmin at initial presentation of AML, including the first case of M5a with C‐MYC amplification on dmin, and another case with C‐MYC amplification as the only cytogenetic finding. We review here a total of 33 cases with dmin in AML. C‐MYC was amplified by the dmin in 25 cases, while other putative oncogenes were amplified in the other 8. Am. J. Hematol. 77:55–61, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Symptom onset in the first 2 years of employment at a wood products plant using diisocyanates: Some observations relevant to occupational medical screening
Authors: Wang Mei‐Lin , Petsonk Edward L. 
Published: August 2004

AbstractBackgroundQuestionnaires are essential tools for medical screening, but their role in monitoring workers at increased risk of occupational asthma (OA) remains indeterminate.MethodsEmployees who were at a newly established wood products plant without previous exposure to methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI) completed an initial questionnaire and from one to four follow‐up questionnaires during a 2‐year period. Onset of symptoms in 132 workers was assessed by exposure groups and modeled using generalized estimating equations.ResultsOnset of attacks of dyspnea with wheeze, attacks of dyspnea or cough at rest, and chest tightness were significantly associated with MDI exposure after controlling for age, smoking, and wood dust exposure. Onset of cough on most days was significantly related to smoking and dust. Onset of phlegm production was significantly related to both MDI and dust exposure.ConclusionsOnset of certain symptoms is significantly associated with MDI exposure. Early detection of MDI‐associated health effects using a short screening questionnaire appears feasible. Am. J. Ind. Med. 46:226–233, 2004. Published 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Asbestos‐related pleural disease due to tremolite associated with progressive loss of lung function: Serial observations in 123 miners, family members, and residents of Libby, Montana
Authors: Whitehouse Alan C. 
Published: August 2004

AbstractBackgroundThe community of Libby, Montana has recently been the focus of national attention secondary to widespread amphibole contamination associated with vermiculite mining and processing.MethodsPatients who had occupational and non‐occupational exposure to amphibole asbestos in Libby, Montana were evaluated for progressive loss of pulmonary function.ResultsOf the 123 patients evaluated, 94 demonstrated average age‐corrected accelerated loss per year of vital capacity at 3.2%, total lung capacity (TLC) 2.3%, and DLCO 3.3%. All patients all had predominantly pleural changes with minimal to no interstitial disease.ConclusionsThe study demonstrates a progressive loss of pulmonary function in patients exposed to tremolite asbestos. Am. J. Ind. Med. 46:219–225, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Mineral fiber problems and their management: UK 1890–1935
Authors: Greenberg Morris 
Published: August 2004

AbstractBackgroundThe first intimation that mineral fibers other than asbestos were biologically active, is generally identified with reports of experimental studies by Stanton and Wrench, and Pott and Friedrichs, in the early 1970s. In 1890 however, man‐made mineral fiber was recognized to present human health hazards; in 1912 experimental study confirmed asbestos to be fibrogenic, and by 1935 other mineral fibers came to notice as potential lung hazards.MethodsPublished and archival sources have been reviewed to trace the emergence between 1890 and 1935 of the awareness of the health hazards of various fibrous minerals, and the development of strategies for their control.ResultsBy the early 1900s there was evidence that the asbestos substituted for the man‐made mineral fiber insulation material employed to improve the thermal efficiency of steam powered engines, presented a serious health problem. In the early 1930s, other mineral fibers came to be suspected of causing pneumoconiosis.ConclusionsContainment, local exhaust ventilation and personal respiratory protection were instituted for the amelioration of asbestosis, but because of the limitations of what was perceived to be reasonably practicable on economic grounds, and what was feasible technologically, their benefits were severely limited. Initial and periodic medical examination were introduced as precautionary measures, based on hope rather than on experience. When in the early 1930s, the investigation of coal mine dust and siliceous dust, threw up the hypothesis that fibrous natural mineral dusts other than asbestos might be fibrogenic, this was ignored and no further investigations were pursued and no precautionary measures were set in train. Am. J. Ind. Med. 46:304–311, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The effect of rate denominator source on US fatal occupational injury rate estimates
Authors: Richardson David , Loomis Dana , Bailer A. John , Bena James 
Published: August 2004

AbstractBackgroundThe Current Population Survey (CPS) is often used as a source of denominator information for analyses of US fatal occupational injury rates. However, given the relatively small sample size of the CPS, analyses that examine the cross‐classification of occupation or industry with demographic or geographic characteristics will often produce highly imprecise rate estimates. The Decennial Census of Population provides an alternative source for rate denominator information. We investigate the comparability of fatal injury rates derived using these two sources of rate denominator information.MethodsInformation on fatal occupational injuries that occurred between January 1, 1983 and December 31, 1994 was obtained from the National Traumatic Occupational Fatality surveillance system. Annual estimates of employment by occupation, industry, age, and sex were derived from the CPS, and by linear interpolation and extrapolation from the 1980 and 1990 Census of Population. Fatal injury rates derived using these denominator data were compared.ResultsFatal injury rates calculated using Census‐based denominator data were within 10% of rates calculated using CPS data for all major occupation groups except farming/forestry/fishing, for which the fatal injury rate calculated using Census‐based denominator data was 24.69/100,000 worker‐years and the rate calculated using CPS data was 19.97/100,000 worker‐years. The choice of denominator data source had minimal influence on estimates of trends over calendar time in the fatal injury rates for most major occupation and industry groups.ConclusionsThe Census offers a reasonable source for deriving fatal injury rate denominator data in situations where the CPS does not provide sufficiently precise data, although the Census may underestimate the population‐at‐risk in some industries as a consequence of seasonal variation in employment. Am. J. Ind. Med. 46:261–270, 2004. Published 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Screening for beryllium disease among construction trade workers at Department of Energy nuclear sites
Authors: Welch Laura , Ringen Knut , Bingham Eula , Dement John , Takaro Tim , McGowan William , Chen Anna , Quinn Patricia 
Published: August 2004

AbstractBackgroundTo determine whether current and former construction workers are at significant risk for occupational illnesses from work at the Department of Energy's (DOE) nuclear weapons facilities, screening programs were undertaken at the Hanford Nuclear Reservation, Oak Ridge Reservation, and the Savannah River Site.MethodsMedical examination for beryllium disease used a medical history and a beryllium blood lymphocyte proliferation test (BeLPT). Stratified and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to explore the risk of disease by age, race, sex, trade, duration of DOE employment, reported work in buildings where beryllium was used, and time since last DOE site employment.ResultsOf the 3,842 workers included in this study, 34% reported exposure to beryllium. Overall, 2.2% of workers had at least one abnormal BeLPT test, and 1.4% were also abnormal on a second test. Regression analyses demonstrated increased risk of having at least one abnormal BeLPT to be associated with ever working in a site building where beryllium activities had taken place.ConclusionsThe prevalence of beryllium sensitivity and chronic beryllium disease (CBD) in construction workers is described and the positive predictive value of the BeLPT in a population with less intense exposure to beryllium than other populations that have been screened is discussed. The BeLPT findings and finding of cases of CBD demonstrate that some of these workers had significant exposure, most likely, during maintenance, repair, renovation, or demolition in facilities where beryllium was used. Am. J. Ind. Med. 46:207–218, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Effects of data limitations when modeling fatal occupational injury rates
Authors: Bena James F. , Bailer A. John , Loomis Dana , Richardson David , Marshall Steve 
Published: August 2004

AbstractBackgroundOccupational fatal injury rate studies are often based upon uncertain and variable data. The numerator in rate calculations is often obtained from surveillance systems that can understate the true number of deaths. Worker‐years, the denominator in many occupational rate calculations, are frequently estimated from sources that exhibit different amounts of variability.MethodsEffects of these data limitations on analyses of trends in occupational fatal injuries were studied using computer simulation. Fatality counts were generated assuming an undercount. Employment estimates were produced using two different strategies, reflecting either frequent but variable measurements or infrequent, precise estimates with interpolated estimates for intervening years. Poisson regression models were fit to the generated data. A range of empirically motivated fatality rate and employment parameters were studied.ResultsUndercounting fatalities resulted in biased estimation of the intercept in the Poisson regression model. Relative bias in the trend estimate was near zero for most situations, but increased when a change in fatality undercounting over time was present. Biases for both the intercept and trend were larger when small employment populations were present. Denominator options resulted in similar rate and trend estimates, except where the interpolated method did not capture true trends in employment.ConclusionsData quality issues such as consistency of conditions throughout the study period and the size of population being studied affect the size of the bias in parameter estimation. Am. J. Ind. Med. 46:271–283, 2004. Published 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Upper extremity pain and computer use among engineering graduate students
Authors: Schlossberg Eric B. , Morrow Sandra , Llosa Augusto E. , Mamary Edward , Dietrich Peter , Rempel David M. 
Published: August 2004

AbstractBackgroundThe objective of this study was to investigate risk factors associated with persistent or recurrent upper extremity and neck pain among engineering graduate students.MethodsA random sample of 206 Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (EECS) graduate students at a large public university completed an online questionnaire.ResultsApproximately 60% of respondents reported upper extremity or neck pain attributed to computer use and reported a mean pain severity score of 4.5 (±2.2; scale 0–10). In a final logistic regression model, female gender, years of computer use, and hours of computer use per week were significantly associated with pain.ConclusionsThe high prevalence of upper extremity pain reported by graduate students suggests a public health need to identify interventions that will reduce symptom severity and prevent impairment. Am. J. Ind. Med. 46:297–303, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Varying loads of the mitochondrial DNA A3243G mutation in different tissues: Implications for diagnosis
Authors: Shanske Sara , Pancrudo Jacklyn , Kaufmann Petra , Engelstad Kristin , Jhung Sarah , Lu Jiesheng , Naini Ali , DiMauro Salvatore , De Vivo Darryl C. 
Published: August 2004

AbstractTesting for common mutations in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), including the A3243G MELAS (mitochondrial encephalomyopathy, lactic acidosis, and strokelike episodes) mutation, is routinely done in DNA isolated from blood. Since the blood level of the A3243G mutation may be low in probands and even lower in asymptomatic or oligosymptomatic maternal relatives, we assessed the proportion of A3243G mutant genomes in other accessible tissues. We studied five tissues (leukocytes, skin fibroblasts, hair roots, urinary sediment, and cheek mucosa) in 61 individuals from 22 families harboring the A3243G mutation. Although mutational loads varied widely among these tissues, as a rule DNA from urinary sediment had the highest and blood the lowest proportion of mutant genomes; individual hair roots differed markedly from one another; fibroblasts and cheek mucosa tended to have higher mutation loads than blood but lower than urinary sediment. In all individuals in whom the mutation was detectable in blood, it was also detected in other tissues. Conversely, in some individuals the mutation was undetectable in blood but clearly present in other tissues. We conclude that urinary sediment and cheek mucosa are tissues of choice for the diagnosis of mtDNA mutations, as they are easy to obtain and the mutation load is almost always greater than in blood. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Diagnostic differences in mandibular P4 shape between Neandertals and anatomically modern humans
Authors: Bailey Shara E. , Lynch John M. 
Published: August 2004

AbstractThis study uses elliptical Fourier analysis to quantify shape differences observed in the P4 crown of Neandertals and anatomically modern humans. Previously, P4 shape was assessed qualitatively, and results suggested marked differences between Neandertals and anatomically modern humans (Bailey [2002] New Anat. 269:148–156). The goal of this study was to investigate the P4 shape in more detail, quantifying it in order to determine its utility for taxonomic classification and phylogenetic analysis. A comparison of mean shapes confirms that the mesiolingual portion of the P4 is truncated in Neandertals, and that this produces a distinctively asymmetrical P4. A randomization test confirms that the shape difference between Neandertals and anatomically modern humans is significant. Principal component and discriminant function analyses indicate that the relative size of the lingual portion of the tooth also affects tooth shape, with the lingual portion of the Neandertal P4 being narrower than that of anatomically modern humans. Classification of P4 crown shapes using discriminant functions analysis is far from perfect. While 86.4% of the teeth were correctly classified, classification was much better for anatomically modern humans (98.1%) than it was for Neandertals (65%). Fortunately, crown shape is but one of several diagnostic characters of the P4 crown. P4 crown asymmetry can be added to the growing list of dental morphological characters distinguishing Neandertals from anatomically modern humans. Moreover, based on a comparison of mean tooth shapes in fossil and recent humans, symmetry, rather than asymmetry, appears to be the primitive state, and the high frequency of P4 asymmetry is likely derived in Neandertals. Am J Phys Anthropol, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Prediction of molecular weight distribution of cellulose by using the rheological method
Authors: Zhang Huihui , Zhang Yaopeng , Shao Huili , Hu Xuechao 
Published: August 2004

AbstractIn this article, a rheological method that can predict the molecular weight distribution (MWD) of polymer was introduced. Using this method, the MWDs of four cellulose samples were compared from rheological data of the cellulose / N‐methyl morpholine N‐oxide (NMMO) / H2O solutions. The MWDs of cellulose also were determined by gel permeation chromatography (GPC) calibrated with narrow distribution polystyrene standards, using 0.5% lithium chloride (LiCl) in N,N‐dimethylacetamide (DMAc) as the eluent. Comparison of the results from rheology and GPC showed that the MW and MWD of cellulose could be roughly inferred from their rheological data. Although the differential MWD obtained from the rheological method was bell shaped and can not reflect the fine characteristics of cellulose as GPC, it may be feasible to compare the MWDs of cellulose by using the rheological method. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 94: 598–603, 2004
Synthesis and antimicrobial activities of new water‐soluble bis‐quaternary ammonium methacrylate polymers
Authors: Dizman Bekir , Elasri Mohamed O. , Mathias Lon J. 
Published: August 2004

AbstractNew methacrylate monomers containing pendant quaternary ammonium moieties based on 1,4‐diazabicyclo‐[2.2.2]‐octane (DABCO) were synthesized. The DABCO group contains either a butyl or a hexyl pendant group comprising the hydrophobic segment of the monomers and one tether group to the methacrylate moiety. The monomers were homopolymerized in water by using 2,2′‐azobis(2‐methylpropionamide) dihydrochloride (V‐50) as an initiator. The monomers and polymers were characterized by elemental analysis, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), FTIR, and 13C‐NMR. The antimicrobial activities of the corresponding small molecules (bis‐quaternary ammonium monocarboxylates) and polymers were investigated against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. Although the small molecules did not show any antimicrobial activity, the polymers were moderately effective against both Gram‐positive and Gram‐negative bacteria. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values of the polymers with butyl and hexyl hydrocarbon chains against S. aureus and E. coli were found to be 250 and 62.5 μg/mL, respectively. The minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) value for the polymer with the butyl group was higher than 1 mg/mL, whereas the MBC value for the polymer with hexyl group was found to be 62.5 μg/mL. Thus, an increase of the alkyl chain length from 4 to 6 significantly increased the antimicrobial activity of the polymer. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 94: 635–642, 2004
Enhanced drug uptake and retention by surface phosporylated polyvinyl alcohol
Authors: Sreenivasan K. 
Published: August 2004

AbstractPolyvinyl alcohol (PVA) is one of the widely used synthetic polymers for a variety of medical applications. Surface modification of polymers is often used to improve the surface‐mediated interactions with the bioenvironment. When phosphate groups are introduced onto the surface of PVA, the modification enhances the hydrophilicity of the polymer. A severalfold enhancement in the extent of uptake of antibacterial drugs such as ampicillin occurs as a result of the phosphorylation. It is also found that drug retention is prolonged significantly by the modification process. Interestingly, the modification did not alter bulk features like the crystallinity of the PVA. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 94: 651–656, 2004
Preparation of aqueous anionic poly‐(urethane‐urea) dispersions: Influence of the nature and proportion of the urethane groups on the dispersion and polymer properties
Authors: Durrieu Vanessa , Gandini Alessandro , Belgacem Mohamed Naceur , Blayo Anne , Eiselé Gilles , Putaux Jean‐Luc 
Published: August 2004

AbstractAqueous poly(urethane‐urea) dispersions were prepared by the prepolymer mixing technique without the use of any organic solvent. Most of the work focused on the use of two aliphatic diisocyanates (α,α, α', α'‐tetramethyl‐1,3‐xylylene diisocyanate and isophorone diisocyanate) and two macrodiols (α,ω‐poly(propylene glycol) (Mn = 1000) and α,ω‐poly(caprolactone) (Mn = 530)) in conjunction with a fixed proportion of emulsifying agent (dimethylol propionic acid, neutralized with triethyl amine) and the same chain extender (1,2‐ethylene diamine). The properties of both the dispersions and the dried polymer films, as well as those of some model prepolymers, were characterized as a function of the initial composition to establish criteria leading to the optimized performance in terms of dispersion stability and particle size and polymer properties. The most important parameter in this search was found to be the [NCO]/[OH] ratio, which gave the best results when it approached a value of 2. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 94: 700–710, 2004
Thermal properties and rheological behavior of biodegradable aliphatic polycarbonate derived from carbon dioxide and propylene oxide
Authors: Li X. H. , Meng Y. Z. , Chen G. Q. , Li R. K. Y. 
Published: August 2004

AbstractAlternating poly(propylene carbonate)s (PPCs) were synthesized from carbon dioxide and propylene oxide on a relatively larger scale. The thermal properties of the alternating PPC copolymers, with various molecular weights, were investigated with modulated differential scanning calorimetry (MDSC) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The melt‐flow indices of the as‐made PPCs were determined in a melt‐flow indexer, and the rheological properties of the PPCs were studied with a capillary rheometer. The MDSC and TGA results showed that the glass‐transition temperatures of the PPCs increased with increasing molecular weight. The rheological measurements revealed that the PPCs exhibited pseudoplastic flow behavior in the melt. The molecular weight played a key role in the rheological behavior of the PPCs. Moreover, the PPCs with high molecular weights were more sensitive to the temperature and shear rate than those with low molecular weights. The melt viscosity of the PPCs with low molecular weights decreased dramatically with increasing temperature. The flow activation energy of such PPCs diminished with an increase in the shear rate, whereas the flow activation energy of the PPCs with high molecular weights remained nearly unchanged. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 94: 711–716, 2004