bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Relation of atrial natriuretic peptides to left ventricular systolic and diastolic function in heart failure
Authors: Wijbenga Anke A.M. , Balk Aggie H.M.M. , Jonkman Fokke A.M. , Boomsma Frans , Simoons Maarten L. , Man in 't Veld Arie J. 
Published: July 2002

AbstractBackground:Plasma concentrations of atrial natriuretic peptides are correlated with atrial pressures, as are left ventricular ejection fraction and left ventricular filling abnormalities.Aims:This study investigated the relation of atrial natriuretic peptides to both left ventricular systolic and diastolic function in heart failure.Methods:Plasma concentrations of atrial natriuretic peptide and N‐terminal pro‐atrial natriuretic peptide were measured in 63 patients with chronic heart failure and left ventricular systolic dysfunction. According to Doppler transmitral flow measurements, 19 patients had a restrictive and 44 patients had a non‐restrictive left ventricular filling pattern.Results:Plasma concentrations of atrial natriuretic peptide and N‐terminal pro‐atrial natriuretic peptide were higher in patients with a restrictive filling pattern than in patients with a non‐restrictive filling pattern (197 vs. 75 pmol/l, P < 0.0001 and 1.14 vs. 0.45 nmol/l, P < 0.0001). In univariate analysis, atrial natriuretic peptide and N‐terminal pro‐atrial natriuretic peptide correlated with deceleration time, E/A ratio and left ventricular ejection fraction. In multivariate analysis, both peptides appeared independently related to left ventricular ejection fraction and left ventricular filling pattern.Conclusion:In patients with chronic heart failure, atrial natriuretic peptides provide information on left ventricular systolic as well as diastolic function.
Comparative evaluation of plate haptic lenses with smaller and larger positioning holes
Authors: Md T Dada , Md N Sharma , Mbbsms V K Dada , Mbbs R B Vajpayee 
Published: July 2002

Purpose: To evaluate the visual outcome, intraoperative problems and postoperative complications of plate haptic intraocular lenses with smaller foot plate positioning holes and larger holes. Methods: Fifty eyes of 50 patients underwent clear corneal phacoemulsification with implantation of either small hole plate haptics (25 eyes) or large hole plate haptic lenses (25 eyes). The intraoperative complications were noted and the postoperative parameters were evaluated on the first day, 1 week, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months and 12 months. These included the best corrected visual acuities, intraocular lens (IOL) decentring, diameter of anterior capsulorhexis and posterior capsule opacification. Results: The mean duration of follow‐up was 14.8 ± 2.1 months in the group with the small foot plate positioning holes (Chiron C10UB) lens and 15.6 ± 3.2 months in the group with the large feet plate positioning holes (Chiron C11UB) lens. The was no significant difference in the visual acuities of the two groups. The mean IOL decentring was 0.42 ± 0.28 mm in the C10UB lenses and 0.24 ± 0.10 mm in the C11UB lenses (P = 0.05). The mean diameter of the anterior capsulorhexis was 4.68 ± 0.23 mm in the former, while it was 4.21 ± 0.68 mm in the latter (P = 0.0027). The posterior capsule opacification was significantly increased in the C11UB group (P = 0.0298). Neodymium : yttrium aluminium garnet (Nd: YAG) laser capsulotomy was required in 8% of the C10UB group, compared to 28% in the C11UB group. Conclusion: Results are similar with the two types of plate haptic lenses. The lenses with larger holes have a significantly higher posterior capsule opacification and more anterior capsulorhexis contracture, although the IOL decentring is less with these lenses.
CNS effects of antihistamines: is there a third generation of non‐sedative drugs?
Authors: Hindmarch I. 
Published: July 2002

SummaryIt is widely accepted that the antihistamines have found their greatest therapeutic potential in the treatment and management of various allergic disorders, including seasonal and perennial rhinitis, urticaria and dermatological conditions. However, the most problematic aspect of their use is sedation, which can severely compromise the safe performance of cognitive and psychomotor tasks of everyday living. The associated increase in accident risk is important when deciding which antihistamine should be prescribed to ambulant patients with allergies and dermatological disorders. Meta‐analyses of placebo and verum (positive) controlled studies published in peer‐reviewed journals show distinct differences between antihistamines in the extent to which they exert sedative activity on the CNS. Evidence has emerged for three distinct groups, or generations, of antihistamines, at least as regards their untoward effects on the CNS. The first generation of antihistamines (e.g. promethazine, diphenhydramine) penetrate the CNS readily at virtually all clinical doses, while the second generation (e.g. cetirizine, loratadine), although they enter the brain, possess little CNS activity at their prescribed clinical dose (10 mg), but at higher doses there is increasing evidence of sedation and other CNS impairment. Fexofenadine is a third generation drug, which does not cross the blood–brain barrier and for which there is no objective evidence of sedation even at doses 2–3 times those normally used for seasonal allergic rhinitis. Improved patient compliance is likely to be associated with antihistamines that are similarly free from sedative side‐effects, thereby improving the efficacy and utility of the drug.
Small angle neutron scattering study on poly(N-isopropyl acrylamide) gels near their volume-phase transition temperature
Authors: Shibayama Mitsuhiro , Tanaka Toyoichi , Han Charles C. 
Published: July 2002

The small angle neutron scattering experiments were conducted on N-isopropyl acrylamide (NIPA) gels in D2O and on the corresponding NIPA solutions. The NIPA gels underwent a sharp, but a continuous volume phase transition at 34.6 °C from a swollen state to a shrunken state with increasing temperature. In the case of the gels, an excess scattering due to the presence of crosslinks was observed at low q region (q≤0.02 Å−1), where q is the magnitude of the scattering vector. The scattered intensity function for the gel was well described with a combination of Gauss and Lorentz-type functions, i.e., I(q)=IG(0)exp[−Ξ2q2]+[IL(0)/(1+ξ2q2)] as proposed by Geissler et al. IG(0) and IL(0) are the intensities at q=0 for the contributions of Gaussian and Lorentzian functions, respectively. The Gaussian part results from solidlike inhomogeneity, having a characteristic size of Ξ, which is due to the introduction of crosslinks into the system. The Lorentzian part is originated from the liquid nature of the local concentration fluctuations of the gel characterized with a thermal blob of dimension ξ. Ξ decreases systematically with polymer volume fraction, φ, indicating the nature of Ξ being the solidlike inhomogeneity. On the other hand, the intensity function for solutions was well fitted with the so-called Ornstein–Zernike (OZ) equation (a Lorentzian function), i.e., I(q)=[IL(0)/(1+ξ2q2)].
It was found that both ξ and IL(0) diverged at the spinodal temperature, Ts. The critical exponents, ν and γ, for the temperature dependence of ξ and IL(0), were estimated to be ∼0.60 and 1.2 for the gel, respectively, which were larger than the values for the solution of the same polymers (ν=0.45 and γ=0.8). These critical exponents for the gels support that the volume-phase transition of gels is classified to the three dimensional Ising model reported by Li and Tanaka. The concentration dependence of ξ and IL(0) was also well described with a power law relationship, i.e., ξ∼φνφ and IL(0)∼φγ;φ. The values of νφ and γφ at 23 °C are −3/4 and ∼−1/4, respectively, for the NIPA solutions, which are in good agreement with the theoretical prediction for polymer solutions in a good solvent. In the case of the NIPA gels, however, both νφ and γφ are ∼−1. These exponents were interpreted by taking account of the effects of crosslinking on the Flory’s interaction parameter.
The injection of methadone and benzodiazepines among Sydney injecting drug users 1996–2000: 5‐year monitoring of trends from the Illicit Drug Reporting System
Authors: DARKE SHANE , TOPP LIBBY , ROSS JOANNE 
Published: July 2002

AbstractTrends in the injection of methadone and benzodiazepines by injecting drug users (IDU) recruited in Sydney for the Illicit Drug Reporting System over the period 1996–2000 were examined. A total of 788 IDU were interviewed over the 5‐year period. The proportion of IDU reporting recent methadone injecting declined significantly over the study period, from a peak of 31% in 1997 to 13% in 2000. Unlike the injection of methadone, there was no significant difference between the proportions of IDU reporting recent benzodiazepine injecting over the study period, which ranged between 10% and 16%. A consistent minority (range 5–7%) of IDU reported having injected both methadone and benzodiazepines in all years of the study. There were no differences in the proportions of males and females reporting recent methadone or benzodiazepine injecting in any individual year. Both methadone and benzodiazepine injecting were independently associated with higher levels of injection‐related health problems. Given the substantial harms associated with these practices, continued monitoring of their prevalence is war ranted.
Serotonin transporter (5‐HTT) gene polymorphisms and susceptibility to cocaine dependence among African‐American individuals
Authors: Patkar Ashwin A. , Berrettini Wade H. , Hoehe Margaret , Hill Kevin P. , Sterling Robert C. , Gottheil Edward , Weinstein Stephen P. 
Published: July 2002

AbstractStudies indicate that the serotonin system, particularly the serotonin transporter (5‐HTT), may modulate the central effects of cocaine. We investigated whether a polymorphism in the 5′ promotor region (5‐HTTLPR) of the 5‐HTT gene confers susceptibility to cocaine dependence. One hundred and ninety‐seven cocaine‐dependent African‐American subjects and 101 controls were studied. Polymerase chain reaction based genotyping of a biallelic repeat polymorphism in the 5′ promotor region yielded 2 alleles containing 484 (S) and 528 bp (L) repeats, respectively. There were no significant differences between controls of European background (n = 40) and African‐American controls (n = 61) in distribution of genotypes (European: LL = 32.5%, LS = 40.0%, SS = 27.5%; African‐American: LL = 27.9%, LS = 57.4%, SS = 14.7%) (χ2= 3.60, df = 2, p = 0.16) or allele frequencies (European: L = 52.5%, S = 47.5%; African‐American: L = 56.6%, S = 43.4%) (χ2= 2.21, df = 1, p = 0.13). When cocaine patients were compared to an ethnically diverse control group (n = 101), frequencies of the L variant (65.0%) were significantly higher while the S variant (35.0%) was less frequent among cocaine patients compared to controls (L = 53.9%, S = 46.1%) (χ2= 6.83, df = 1, p < 0.01). Similarly, there were more cocaine patients with the LL genotype (41.1%) and less with the SS genotype (11.2%) compared to controls (LL = 29.7%, SS = 21.8%) (χ2= 7.43, df = 2, p < 0.05). However, after restricting controls to African‐American individuals only (n = 61), cocaine subjects and controls did not differ significantly with respect to genotype distribution (χ2= 4.24, df = 2, p = 0.12) or allele frequencies (χ2= 2.83, df = 1, p = 0.10). In conclusion, although comparisons with a heterogeneous control group indicated a possible association between allelic variants of 5‐HTTLPR and cocaine dependence among African‐American cocaine subjects, this relationship was not observed when the control group was limited to African‐American people only. Our findings need to be confirmed on larger samples of ethnically matched individuals.
Gender differences in the pharmacology of nicotine addiction
Authors: Benowitz Neal L. , Hatsukami Dorothy 
Published: July 2002

AbstractSmoking rates have declined in recent years less rapidly in women than in men. More adolescent girls than boys are currently smoking. Quitting smoking is reported in many studies to be more difficult in women than in men. These observations suggest that there may be gender differences in the nature of nicotine addiction. Gender differences in various pharmacological processes involved in nicotine addiction are reviewed. Women take in less nicotine from smoking per cigarette than men but, because of slower metabolism, nicotine levels in the body for a given number of cigarettes per day are similar in male and female smokers. Women tend to be less sensitive to the discriminative effects of nicotine and tend to regulate nicotine intake less precisely than men. On the other hand, women appear to be more sensitive to the effects of nicotine in reducing negative affect and reducing body weight. There is a strong association between depression and smoking, and this association appears to be stronger in women than in men. Women tend to respond more to environmental cues associated with smoking than do men. Thus, several lines of evidence suggest that nicotine addiction is different in women than in men. Understanding the basis for gender differences may be of utility in individualizing and optimizing smoking cessation therapy.
A human tissue‐engineered vascular media: a new model for pharmacological studies of contractile responses
Authors: L’HEUREUX NICOLAS , STOCLET JEAN‐CLAUDE , AUGER FRANÇOIS A. , LAGAUD GUY JEAN‐LOUIS , GERMAIN LUCIE , ANDRIANTSLTOHAINA RAMAROSON 
Published: July 2002

ABSTRACTOur method for producing tissue‐engineered blood vessels based exclusively on the use of human cells, i.e., without artificial scaffolding, has previously been described (1). In this report, a tissue‐engineered vascular media (TEVM) was specifically produced for pharmacological studies from cultured human vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC). The VSMC displayed a differentiated phenotype as demonstrated by the re‐expression of VSMC‐specific markers and actual tissue contraction in response to physiological stimuli. Because of their physiological shape and mechanical strength, rings of human TEVM could be mounted on force transducers in organ baths to perform standard pharmacological experiments. Concentration‐response curves to vasoconstrictor agonists (histamine, bradykinin, ATP, and UTP) were established, with or without selective antagonists, allowing pharmacological characterization of receptors (H1,B2, and P2Y1, and pyrimidinoceptors). Sustained agonist‐induced contractions were associated with transient increases in cytosolic Ca2+ concentration, suggesting sensitization of the contractile machinery to Ca2+. ATP caused both Ca2+ entry and Ca2+ release from a ryanodine‐ and caffeine‐sensitive store. Increased cyclic AMP or cyclic GMP levels caused relaxation. This human TEVM displays many of functional characters of the normal vessel from which the cells were originally isolated, including contractile/relaxation responses, cyclic nucleotide sensitivity, and Ca2+ handling mechanisms comparable to those of the normal vessel from which the cells were originally isolated. These results demonstrate the potential of this human model as a versatile new tool for pharmacological research.—L Heureux, N., Stoclet, J.‐C., Auger, F. A., Lagaud, G. J.‐L., Germain, L., Andriantsitohaina, R. A human tissue‐engineered vascular media: a new model for pharmacological studies of contractile responses. FASEB J. 15, 515‐524 (2001)
Atomic‐Scale Observation of Grain Boundary Dominated Unsynchronized Phase Transition in Polycrystalline Cu2Se
Authors: Yuan Hua‐Lei , Wang Kaiwen , Hu Hanwen , Yang Lei , Chen Jie , Zheng Kun 
Published: August 2022

AbstractPhase transition is a physical phenomenon that attracts great interest of researchers. Although the theory of second‐order phase transitions is well‐established, their atomic‐scale dynamics in polycrystalline materials remains elusive. In this work, second‐order phase transitions in polycrystalline Cu2Se at the transition temperature are directly observed by in situ aberration‐corrected transmission electron microscopy. Phase transitions in microcrystalline Cu2Se start at the grain boundaries and extend inside the grains. This phenomenon is more pronounced in nanosized grains. Analysis of phase transitions in nanocrystalline Cu2Se with different grain boundaries demonstrates that grain boundary energy dominates unsynchronized phase transition behavior. This suggests that the energy of grain boundaries is the key factor influencing the energetic barrier for initiation of phase transition. The findings advance atomic‐scale understanding of second‐order phase transitions, which is crucial for the control of this process in polycrystalline materials.
Boosting Reversibility and Stability of Zn Anodes via Manipulation of Electrolyte Structure and Interface with Addition of Trace Organic Molecules
Authors: Huang Haiji , Xie Dongmei , Zhao Jiachang , Rao Pinhua , Choi Won Mook , Davey Kenneth , Mao Jianfeng 
Published: August 2022

AbstractThe practical application of aqueous zinc‐ion batteries (AZIBs) is significantly limited by poor reversibility and stability of the Zn anode. Here, the first time addition of trace organic gamma butyrolactone (GBL) is reported to a typical ZnSO4 electrolyte to controllably manipulate the electrolyte structure and interface. Judiciously combined experimental characterization and theoretical computation confirm that the GBL additive weakens the bonding strength between Zn2+ ion and solvated H2O and rearranges the “Zn2+−H2O−SO42– GBL” bonding network to reduce water activity and suppress corrosion and side products. The GBL molecules preferentially absorb on the surface of the Zn anode to give a uniform and compact Zn deposition. As a result, the Zn anode is boosted to run over 3105 cycles (6210 h) with average Coulombic efficiency of 99.93% under 1 mA cm–2 and 1 mAh cm–2, and exhibit stable cycling for 1170 h under harsh testing conditions of 10 mA cm–2 and 10 mAh cm–2. Additionally, the Zn–MnO2 full cells using the ZnSO4–GBL electrolyte exhibit a high capacity of 287 mAh g–1 at 0.5 A g–1 and good capacity retention of 87% following 400 cycles. These findings will be of immediate benefit to design low cost AZIBs for clean energy storage.
Remarkably rapid, recent diversification of Cochemiea and Mammillaria in the Baja California, Mexico region
Authors: Breslin Peter B. , Wojciechowski Martin F. , Majure Lucas C. 
Published: August 2022

AbstractPremiseThe Cactaceae of northwestern Mexico and the southwestern United States constitute a major component of the angiosperm biodiversity of the region. The Mammilloid clade, (Cactaceae, tribe Cacteae), composed of the genera Cochemiea, Coryphantha, Cumarinia, Mammillaria, and Pelecyphora is especially species rich. We sought to understand the timing, geographical and climate influences correlated with expansion of the Mammilloid clade, through the Sonoran Desert into Baja California.MethodsWe reconstructed the historical biogeography of the Mammilloid clade, using Bayesian and maximum likelihood methods, based on a strongly supported molecular phylogeny. We also estimated divergence times, the timing of emergence of key characters, and diversification rates and rate shifts of the Mammilloid clade.ResultsWe found that the most recent common ancestor of Cochemiea arrived in the Cape region of Baja California from the Sonoran Desert region approximately 5 million years ago, coinciding with the timing of peninsular rifting from the mainland, suggesting dispersal and vicariance as causes of species richness and endemism. The diversification rate for Cochemiea is estimated to be approximately 12 times that of the mean background diversification rate for angiosperms. Divergence time estimation shows that many of the extant taxa in Cochemiea and Baja California Mammillaria emerged from common ancestors 1 million to 200,000 years ago, having a mid‐Pleistocene origin.ConclusionsCochemiea and Mammillaria of the Baja California region are examples of recent, rapid diversification. Geological and climatic forces at multiple spatial and temporal scales are correlated with the western distributions of the Mammilloid clade.
Anti‐counterfeiting Behaviour of Organic‐Inorganic Hybrid Silica Film with a Chiral Smectic C Structure
Authors: Sun Wei , Chen Xiaofang , Li Yi , Liu Wei , Li Hongkun , Yang Yonggang 
Published: August 2022

AbstractArtificial photonic materials based on chiral liquid‐crystalline nanostructures have attracted increasing interests for their wide applications as sensors, anti‐counterfeit measures, displays and colour filters. Although the structurally coloured films with chiral nematic structures or blue phases have been prepared, the ones fabricated by fixing chiral smectic C (SmC*) phases have been rarely reported. In this work, organic‐inorganic hybrid silica (OIHS) films with a SmC* structure were reported for the first time. An organosilane (CSC) with an enantiotropic SmC* phase was synthesized. The OIHS films with a SmC* structure were fabricated by the polycondensation of CSC under an acidic condition. The colour patterns can be observed in the oblique view, but not be observed in the vertical view, which is mainly due to the light scattering of the nanoparticles on film surface and the selective Bragg reflection of film inside. Therefore, such properties make the OIHS films promising candidates for anti‐counterfeiting applications.
A jury of scientists: Formal education in biobehavioral sciences reduces the odds of punitive criminal sentencing
Authors: Thomaidou Mia A. , Berryessa Colleen M. 
Published: August 2022

AbstractThis study examines how formal education in biological and behavioral sciences may impact punishment intuitions (views on criminal sentencing, free will, responsibility, and dangerousness) in cases involving neurobiological evidence. In a survey experiment, we compared intuitions between biobehavioral science and non‐science university graduates by presenting them with a baseline case without a neurobiological explanation for offending followed by one of two cases with a neurobiological explanation (described as either innate or acquired biological influences to offending). An ordinal logistic regression indicated that both science and non‐science graduates selected significantly more severe punishments for the baseline case as compared to when an innate neurobiological explanation for offending was provided. However, across all cases, science graduates selected significantly less severe sentences than non‐science graduates, and only science graduates' decisions were mediated by free will and responsibility attributions. Findings are discussed in relation to scientific understandings of behavior, the impact of science education on attitudes towards punishment, and potential criminal‐legal implications.