bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Lessons learned from anti-CD40L treatment in systemic lupus erythematosus patients
Authors: Sidiropoulos P I , Boumpas D T
Published: May 2004

The CD40-CD40L system has pleiotropic effects in a variety of cells and biological processes including immune response, thrombosis and atherogenesis. Within the immune system, these molecules representa critical link between its humoral and cellular arms. As a result of these attributes and based on preclinical data in animals, anti-CD40L antibodies were tested in a variety of immunologic diseases including idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, psoriasis, Crohn’s disease, systemic lupus erythematosus and transplantation.Phase I/II studies in humans with lupus nephritis demonstrated reduction of anti-double-strandedDNA (anti-dsDNA) antibodies but not of protective antibodies. Reduction of anti-DNA was associated with increased serum complement levels and reduced glomerularinflammation. As a result of thromboticeffects, observed even in patients negative for anti-cardiolipinantibodies, there is a temporary halt on further human studies. The reasons for the prothrombotic effects are not clear at present but may represent effects on platelets and/or the endothelium. In view of the significant immunomodulatory effects of anti-CD40L treatment in patients with lupus nephritis, the increasing realizationof the importance of premature atherosclerosis in lupus and an increasing amount of data supportinga role for the CD40-CD40L interactionsin this process, inhibition of this pathway deserves further exploration in lupus.
Experiments with a Miniature Piezocone in Thinly Layered Soil
Authors: Hird CC , Sangtian N
Published: May 2004

A piezocone, with a cross-sectional area of 100 mm2 and a pore pressure filter either at its apex or at its shoulder, was driven at the standard rate of 20 mm/s into samples of thinly layered soil. The samples consisted of alternating layers of normally consolidated kaolin clay about 18 mm thick and layers of fine sand or silt about 2 mm thick enclosed in a 252-mm-diameter rigid-walled cell. The performance of the piezocone was evaluated with respect to the detection of the more permeable layers during penetration and the estimation of the coefficient of consolidation from pore pressure dissipation tests in a clay layer at the end of penetration. Control tests were performed on two clay samples without any sand or silt layers. Changes in the pore pressure response enabled the more permeable layers within the layered samples to be easily detected, but their spacing was too close for individual layers to be detected using the cone resistance profile. Generally, the detection obtained from pore pressures was better with the apex filter than with the shoulder filter. The permeable layers had a measurable influence on the dissipation test results, but their influence on the derived values of the coefficient of consolidation was never large by comparison with their effect on the overall consolidation behavior of the soil.
Leak-Free Pressure Plate Extractor For Measuring the Soil Water Characteristic Curve
Authors: Wang X , Benson CH
Published: May 2004

A new pressure plate extractor, referred to as the leak-free pressure plate extractor (LFPPE), is described where air leakage around the ceramic plate effectively is eliminated. The LFPPE was designed so that it would be robust, easy to use, and readily assembled and disassembled for testing and maintenance. An example shows that the LFPPE yields a soil water characteristic curve (SWCC) that is consistent with portions of the SWCC measured with other independent methods (chilled mirror hygrometer and hanging column). A testing procedure is also described that has been employed for measuring numerous SWCCs with the LFPPE without an incident of air leakage.
Characterization of a Fiberglass Geotextile for Unsaturated In-Plane Water Transport
Authors: Stormont JC , Ramos R
Published: May 2004

The methods and results of the characterization of a woven, multifilament fiberglass geotextile are described in this paper. The moisture characteristic curve was measured with capillary rise and hanging column methods for both wetting and drying paths. In-plane flow was first measured with a simple siphon test, followed by measurement of the unsaturated transmissivity using a constant suction permeameter. The fiberglass geotextile became transmissive during wetting at a suction of 100 mm, and remained transmissive during drying to a suction of 600 mm. A lateral drainage test with the fiberglass geotextile indicated that the geotextile accepted and laterally drained water infiltrating through a soil layer under suctions in excess of 600 mm. The fiberglass geotextile is shown to contain more water and is more transmissive at greater suctions compared to other geotextiles, and has considerable capacity to drain water under suction.
True Triaxial Testing System for Clay with Proportional-Integral-Differential (PID) Control
Authors: Mandeville D , Penumadu D
Published: May 2004

A flexible boundary electro-pneumatic true triaxial system has been developed for testing cohesive soil. The system is capable of applying principal stresses on each face of a cubical specimen using a Proportional-Integral-Differential (PID) based closed loop control algorithm. This device has the ability to measure both the internal and external pore pressures for a 102-mm cubical specimen and uses custom developed Butyl rubber membranes. Measurement of the internal pore pressure is accomplished using a needle piezometer. Appropriate software has been developed that can automatically perform saturation, isotropic or Ko consolidation, and shear testing under stress or strain control along various stress or strain paths. Using this system, results from isotropically consolidated triaxial compression and triaxial extension stress paths are presented for cubical kaolin specimens. Comparative tests using conventional cylindrical specimens using lubricated ends were also performed. Issues related to the interference of the flexible membranes, uniformity of strains and bifurcations, interpreted friction angles, and undrained shear strength are discussed.
Effect of Freeze-Thaw on the Permeation of Arctic Diesel Through a GCL
Authors: Rowe RK , Mukunoki T , Li MH , Bathurst RJ
Published: May 2004

The hydraulic conductivity of a scrim reinforced nonwoven thermal locked geosynthetic clay liner (GCL) with respect to both de-aired distilled water and arctic diesel (jet fuel) are examined for different numbers of freeze and thaw cycles. The hydraulic conductivity of jet fuel is found to be about one order of magnitude smaller than that for de-aired water. Increasing numbers of freeze and thaw cycles, did not significantly change the hydraulic conductivity although the permittivity with respect to water decreased. The intrinsic permeability of the GCL permeated by jet fuel increased slightly with an increasing number of freeze-thaw cycles. It is shown that under the conditions examined, the GCL performed very well.
A Device for Determination of Thermal Properties of Soil
Authors: Krishnaiah S , Singh DN
Published: May 2004

This paper deals with the details of a device we call the thermal property detector, THERMODET, which can be used for easily determining soil thermal properties such as thermal resistivity, diffusivity, and specific heat in the laboratory. Details of the fabrication of the device, its working methodology, and analysis of the results are presented in the paper. To demonstrate the efficiency of the device, studies have been conducted on soils with totally different properties such as clay, silty soil, and sand. It was determined that THERMODET works quite efficiently and is a reliable device for determining soil thermal properties.
Quantitative Fabric Drape Evaluation System Using Image Processing Technology (Part 1: Measurement System and Geometric Model)
Authors: Park CK , Kim S , Yu WR
Published: May 2004

A quantitative fabric drape evaluation system that uses image processing technology and simple instruments has been developed. The purpose of this research is to obtain detailed quantitative information on fabric drapability from digital images captured with a commercial digital camera (or a scanner). A two-dimensional geometric drape model transformed from a drape shadow image was defined with shape parameters such as the number of nodes, the position of the nodes, and their frequency and amplitude. Statistical information including maximum, average, and variance of drape shape parameters can be obtained by using frequency analysis, as well as drape coefficients. A three-dimensional drape shape can be regenerated from its captured two-dimensional drape images with a three-dimensional simulator. The hardware required to capture drape images consists of a digital USB camera, a frame cover, and a stand to attach the camera to a traditional Cusick type drape tester. All evaluation softwares are coded with Microsoft Visual C++ and operated under Microsoft Windows 9x or above.
Development of an Innovative Computer-Controlled Water Deairing System for Hydraulic Testing of Geosynthetics
Authors: Aydilek AH , Kutay ME
Published: May 2004

Use of deaired water is essential in many hydraulic tests conducted on geosynthetics. This is because air bubbles present in tap water adversely affect the test results. Additionally, long-term flow should be maintained, which requires large quantities of deaired water. An innovative computer-controlled fully automated system was developed to provide this continuous supply of deaired water and the approach is presented in this paper. The system is composed of two water deairing tanks and a control unit (hardware and software). These units were constructed to take advantage of the most recent technology available in the area of instrumentation. The efficiency of the system was checked through gradient ratio tests conducted on various soil/geotextile combinations.
Absence of Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein and Vimentin Prevents Hypertrophy of Astrocytic Processes and Improves Post-Traumatic Regeneration
Authors: Wilhelmsson Ulrika , Li Lizhen , Pekna Marcela , Berthold Claes-Henric , Blom Sofia , Eliasson Camilla , Renner Oliver , Bushong Eric , Ellisman Mark , Morgan Todd E. , Pekny Milos
Published: May 2004

The regenerative capacity of the CNS is extremely limited. The reason for this is unclear, but glial cell involvement has been suspected, and oligodendrocytes have been implicated as inhibitors of neuroregeneration (Chen et al., 2000, GrandPre et al., 2000; Fournier et al., 2001). The role of astrocytes in this process was proposed but remains incompletely understood (Silver and Miller, 2004). Astrocyte activation (reactive gliosis) accompanies neurotrauma, stroke, neurodegenerative diseases, or tumors. Two prominent hallmarks of reactive gliosis are hypertrophy of astrocytic processes and upregulation of intermediate filaments. Using the entorhinal cortex lesion model in mice, we found that reactive astrocytes devoid of the intermediate filament proteins glial fibrillary acidic protein and vimentin (GFAP-/-Vim-/-), and consequently lacking intermediate filaments (Colucci-Guyon et al., 1994; Pekny et al., 1995; Eliasson et al., 1999), showed only a limited hypertrophy of cell processes. Instead, many processes were shorter and not straight, albeit the volume of neuropil reached by a single astrocyte was the same as in wild-type mice. This was accompanied by remarkable synaptic regeneration in the hippocampus. On a molecular level,GFAP-/-Vim-/-reactive astrocytes could not upregulate endothelin B receptors, suggesting that the upregulation is intermediate filament dependent. These findings show a novel role for intermediate filaments in astrocytes and implicate reactive astrocytes as potent inhibitors of neuroregeneration.
Endocannabinoid-Independent Retrograde Signaling at Inhibitory Synapses in Layer 2/3 of Neocortex: Involvement of Vesicular Glutamate Transporter 3
Authors: Harkany Tibor , Holmgren Carl , Härtig Wolfgang , Qureshi Tayyaba , Chaudhry Farrukh A. , Storm-Mathisen Jon , Dobszay Marton B. , Berghuis Paul , Schulte Gunnar , Sousa Kyle M. , Fremeau Robert T. , Edwards Robert H. , Mackie Ken , Ernfors Patrik , Zilberter Yuri
Published: May 2004

Recent studies implicate dendritic endocannabinoid release from subsynaptic dendrites and subsequent inhibition of neurotransmitter release from nerve terminals as a means of retrograde signaling in multiple brain regions. Here we show that type 1 cannabinoid receptor-mediated endocannabinoid signaling is not involved in the retrograde control of synaptic efficacy at inhibitory synapses between fast-spiking interneurons and pyramidal cells in layer 2/3 of the neocortex.

Vesicular neurotransmitter transporters, such as vesicular glutamate transporters (VGLUTs) 1 and 2, are localized to presynaptic terminals and accumulate neurotransmitters into synaptic vesicles. A third subtype of VGLUTs (VGLUT3) was recently identified and found localized to dendrites of various cell types. We demonstrate, using multiple immunofluorescence labeling and confocal laser-scanning microscopy, that VGLUT3-like immunoreactivity is present in dendrites of layer 2/3 pyramidal neurons in the rat neocortex. Electron microscopy analysis confirmed that VGLUT3-like labeling is localized to vesicular structures, which show a tendency to accumulate in close proximity to postsynaptic specializations in dendritic shafts of pyramidal cells. Dual whole-cell recordings revealed that retrograde signaling between fast-spiking interneurons and pyramidal cells was enhanced under conditions of maximal efficacy of VGLUT3-mediated glutamate uptake, whereas it was reduced when glutamate uptake was inhibited by incrementing concentrations of the nonselective VGLUT inhibitor Evans blue (0.5-5.0 μm) or intracellular Cl-concentrations (4-145 mm). Our results present further evidence that dendritic vesicular glutamate release, controlled by novel VGLUT isoforms, provides fast negative feedback at inhibitory neocortical synapses, and demonstrate that glutamate can act as a retrograde messenger in the CNS.
An Experiment of Nature: Brain Anatomy Parallels Cognition and Behavior in Williams Syndrome
Authors: Reiss Allan L. , Eckert Mark A. , Rose Fredric E. , Karchemskiy Asya , Kesler Shelli , Chang Melody , Reynolds Margaret F. , Kwon Hower , Galaburda Al
Published: May 2004

Williams syndrome (WS) is a neurogenetic-neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by a highly variable and enigmatic profile of cognitive and behavioral features. Relative to overall intellect, affected individuals demonstrate disproportionately severe visual-spatial deficits and enhanced emotionality and face processing. In this study, high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging data were collected from 43 individuals with WS and 40 age- and gender-matched healthy controls. Given the distinct cognitive-behavioral dissociations associated with this disorder, we hypothesized that neuroanatomical integrity in WS would be diminished most in regions comprising the visual-spatial system and most “preserved” or even augmented in regions involved in emotion and face processing. Both volumetric analysis and voxel-based morphometry were used to provide convergent approaches for detecting the hypothesized WS neuroanatomical profile. After adjusting for overall brain volume, participants with WS showed reduced thalamic and occipital lobe gray matter volumes and reduced gray matter density in subcortical and cortical regions comprising the human visual-spatial system compared with controls. The WS group also showed disproportionate increases in volume and gray matter density in several areas known to participate in emotion and face processing, including the amygdala, orbital and medial prefrontal cortices, anterior cingulate, insular cortex, and superior temporal gyrus. These findings point to specific neuroanatomical correlates for the unique topography of cognitive and behavioral features associated with this disorder.
Subclinical Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy Infection in Transgenic Mice Expressing Porcine Prion Protein
Authors: Castilla Joaquín , Gutiérrez-Adán Alfonso , Brun Alejandro , Doyle Deirdre , Pintado Belén , Ramírez Miguel A. , Salguero Francisco J. , Parra Beatriz , Segundo Fayna Díaz San , Sánchez-Vizcaíno José M. , Rogers Mark , Torres Juan M.
Published: May 2004

The bovine-porcine species barrier to bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) infection was explored by generating transgenic mouse lines expressing the porcine prion protein (PrP) gene. All of the porcine transgenic (poTg) mice showed clinical signs of BSE after intracerebral inoculation with a high-titer BSE inoculum. The protease-resistant PrP (PrPres) was detected in 14% (3 of 22) of the BSE-infected poTg mice by immunohistochemical or immunoblot analysis. Despite being able to infect 42% (5 of 12) of control mice, a low-dose BSE inoculum failed to penetrate the species barrier in our poTg mouse model. The findings of these infectivity studies suggest that there is a strong species barrier between cows and pigs. However, after second-passage infection of poTg mice using brain homogenates of BSE-inoculated mice scoring negative for the incoming prion protein as inoculum, it was possible to detect the presence of the infectious agent. Thus, porcine-adapted BSE inocula were efficient at infecting poTg mice, giving rise to an incubation period substantially reduced from 300 to 177 d after inoculation and to the presence of PrPresin 100% (21 of 21) of the mice. We were therefore able to conclude that initial exposure to the bovine prion may lead to subclinical infection such that brain homogenates from poTg mice classified as uninfected on the basis of the absence of PrPresare infectious when used to reinoculate poTg mice. Collectively, our findings suggest that these poTg mice could be used as a sensitive bioassay model for prion detection in pigs.
Visualization of Glucocorticoid Receptor and Mineralocorticoid Receptor Interactions in Living Cells with GFP-Based Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer
Authors: Nishi Mayumi , Tanaka Masayuki , Matsuda Ken-ichi , Sunaguchi Masataka , Kawata Mitsuhiro
Published: May 2004

Adrenal corticosteroids readily enter the brain and exert markedly diverse effects, including stress responses in the target neural cells via two receptor systems, the mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) and the glucocorticoid receptor (GR). It has been shown that the GR and MR are highly colocalized in the hippocampus. Given the differential action of the MR and GR in the hippocampal region, it is important to elucidate how these receptors interact with each other in response to corticosteroids. We investigated the heterodimerization of the MR and GR with green fluorescent protein-based fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) microscopy in living cells with spatiotemporal manner. FRET was evaluated in three ways: (1) ratio imaging; (2) emission spectra; and (3) acceptor photobleaching. FRET analysis demonstrated that cyan fluorescent protein-GR and yellow fluorescent protein-MR form heterodimers after corticosterone (CORT) treatment both in the nucleus of cultured hippocampal neurons and COS-1 cells, whereas they do not form heterodimers in the cytoplasm. The content of the GR-MR heterodimer was higher at 10-6mCORT than at 10-9mCORT and reached a maximum level after 60 min of CORT treatment in both cultured hippocampal neurons and COS-1 cells. The distribution pattern of heterodimers in the nucleus of cultured hippocampal neurons was more restricted than that in COS-1 cells. The present study using mutant fusion proteins in nuclear localization signal showed that these corticosteroid receptors are not translocated into the nucleus in the form of heterodimers even after treatment with ligand and thus allow no heterodimerization to take place in the cytoplasm. These results obtained with FRET analyses give new insights into the sites, time course, and effects of ligand concentration on heterodimersization of the GR and MR.
Pregnancy in a healthy woman with untreated citrullinemia
Authors: Potter Murray A. , Zeesman Susan , Brennan Barbara , Kobayashi Keiko , Gao Hong‐Zhi , Tabata Ayako , Saheki Takeyori , Whelan Donald T.
Published: May 2004

We report the clinical and biochemical data on a second successful pregnancy in a woman with citrullinemia due to argininosuccinate synthetase deficiency (CTLN1). Despite very elevated plasma and urine citrulline and little or no measurable argininosuccinate synthetase enzyme activity on cultured skin fibroblasts, this 29‐year‐old woman, who was identified through newborn screening, has remained asymptomatic throughout her life. Mutation analysis has recently revealed that she is a compound heterozygote for a known and a novel mutation (IVS15‐1G > C and K310Q, respectively). Many newborn screening programs have recently been expanded to include citrullinemia and numerous asymptomatic hypercitrullinemic infants and children have been identified. It is now important to define prognostic indicators that will help with treatment decisions and genetic counseling for these patients. This patient, as the only citrullinemic adult who has been followed prospectively, contributes important information in this regard. In addition, her child was unaffected by the high citrulline levels demonstrated in amniotic fluid and breast milk suggesting that citrulline is not teratogenic. Although pregnancy is an important risk factor for women with CTLN1, it appears that females with citrullinemia can have normal pregnancy outcomes, as long as metabolic crisis is avoided. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Gene discovery in the auditory system using a tissue specific approach
Authors: Morton Cynthia C.
Published: May 2004

Molecular methods applied to the study of hereditary hearing loss in the past decade have revealed a copious number of genes representing a great diversity of cellular functions. In some instances, identification of these genes involved in deafness disorders has provided the portal to investigations of pathways not previously envisioned to underlie human hearing. Sequence analysis of a human fetal cochlear cDNA library has been employed to generate thousands of ESTs (expressed sequence tags) that provide a transcript map of the human cochlea and are a resource of candidate genes for positional cloning endeavors. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Turner syndrome: Evaluation of prenatal diagnosis in 19 European registries
Authors: Baena Neus , De Vigan C. , Cariati E. , Clementi M. , Stoll C. , Caballín M.R. , Guitart M. ,   The Euroscan working group
Published: May 2004

This study evaluated the prenatal diagnosis of Turner syndrome by ultrasound examination in an unselected population from all over Europe. Data from 19 congenital malformation registries from 11 European countries were analyzed. Turner syndrome was diagnosed in 125 cases (7.2%) in a total of 1,738 chromosome abnormalities. Sixty‐seven percent of cases were detected prenatally by ultrasound examination due to the presence of congenital defects. The most frequent anomalies were cystic hygroma (59.5%) and hydrops fetalis (19%). The most frequent karyotype was 45,X (81.6%) followed by different types of mosaicism (16.8%). Significant differences in congenital defects (P = 0.0003) were observed between 45,X karyotypes and 45,X mosaicism cases. Prenatal counseling for 45,X mosaicism should take into account the expectation of a milder phenotype. In 78.6% of cases diagnosed by ultrasound examination due to congenital anomalies, the pregnancy was terminated. Prenatal detection of Turner syndrome by ultrasound examination was high in this unselected population. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Germline mosaicism resulting in the transmission of severe hemophilia B from a grandfather with a mild deficiency
Authors: Cutler Jacqueline A. , Mitchell Michael J. , Smith Mark P. , Savidge Geoffrey F.
Published: May 2004

We report a family in which the normal pattern of X‐linked inheritance of hemophilia B (Factor IX deficiency) is complicated by mosaicism in the proband's maternal grandfather. The proband, an infant with severe Factor IX deficiency, was initially thought to be a sporadic case. Testing of other family members identified his mother as a carrier of the disorder, and his asymptomatic maternal grandfather as having very mild FIX deficiency. The causative familial mutation was identified as a two base pair deletion (AG within codons 134–135) in the Factor IX gene. The grandfather was shown to be “heterozygous” for the deletion. Karyotype analysis confirmed him to be 46XY thereby ruling out Klinefelter syndrome. The proband's aunt, who as the daughter of a man with hemophilia is theoretically an obligate carrier, was found not to carry this familial mutation, and thus not to be a carrier of hemophilia B. The grandfather must therefore be an X chromosome somatic and germline mosaic, with consequent segregation of the affected and non‐affected Factor IX genes. This observation underlines the importance of confirming carrier status even in those individuals assumed to be obligate carriers, and has implications for genetic counseling. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Family‐based and case‐control association studies of DRD4 and DAT1 polymorphisms in Chinese attention deficit hyperactivity disorder patients suggest long repeats contribute to genetic risk for the disorder
Authors: Qian Qiujin , Wang Yufeng , Zhou Rulun , Yang Li , Faraone Stephen V.
Published: May 2004

Molecular genetic studies of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) have implicated the variable number of tandem repeat (VNTR) polymorphisms of two candidate genes, the dopamine D4 receptor (DRD4) and the dopamine transporter (DAT1). We sought to determine if these genes were relevant to the etiology of ADHD in China by using both family‐based (N = 202 nuclear ADHD families) and case‐control (N = 340 ADHD cases, and 226 controls) association study designs. Diagnoses and subtypes were ascertained according to Clinical Diagnostic Interview Scales (CDIS) using DSM‐IV criteria. The repeat numbers at the DRD4 VNTR ranged from 2 to 6 repeats in the Han Chinese controls, with the most common being the 4‐repeat (77%) and 2‐repeat (19.4%) alleles. Neither the 7‐repeat allele nor longer repeats were found. For the DAT1 VNTR, the repeat numbers ranged from 6 to 7 repeats and 9 to 11 repeats. The 10‐repeat allele was the most frequent (90.7%). The long‐repeat alleles of DRD4 (ranging from 4 to 6 repeats) and DAT1 (ranging from 11 to 12 repeats), were present more frequently in ADHD probands than controls (P < 0.05), although there was no significant allelic association when the alleles were analyzed separately from each other and there findings were not supported by within family tests of association. An exploratory stratification by gender suggests that long‐repeat alleles of DRD4 and DAT1 may increase the risk for ADHD in Han Chinese children. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
A score‐driven approach to music information retrieval
Authors: Haus Goffredo , Longari Maurizio , Pollastri Emanuele
Published: May 2004

As the dimension and number of digital music archives grow, the problem of storing and accessing multimedia data is no longer confined to the database area. Specific approaches for music information retrieval are necessary to establish a connection between textual and content‐based metadata. This article addresses such issues with the intent of surveying our perspective on music information retrieval. In particular, we stress the use of symbolic information as a central element in a complex musical environment. Musical themes, harmonies, and styles are automatically extracted from electronic music scores and employed as access keys to data. The database schema is extended to handle audio recordings. A score/audio matching module provides a temporal relationship between a music performance and the score played. Besides standard free‐text search capabilities, three levels of retrieval strategies are employed. Moreover, the introduction of a hierarchy of input modalities assures meeting the needs and matching the expertise of a wide group of users. Singing, playing, and notating melodic excerpts is combined with more advanced musicological queries, such as querying by a sequence of chords. Finally, we present some experimental results and our future research directions.
Recognition and analysis of audio for copyright protection: The RAA project
Authors: Batlle Eloi , Neuschmied Helmut , Uray Peter , Ackermann Gerd
Published: May 2004

Automatic generation of play lists for commercial broadcast radio stations has become a major research topic. Audio identification systems have been around for a while, and they show good performance for clean audio files. However, songs transmitted by commercial radio stations are highly distorted to cause greater impact on the casual listener. This impact helps increase the probability that the listener will stay tuned in, but the price we have to pay is a severe modification in the audio itself. This causes the failure oftraditionalidentification systems. Another problem is the fact that songs are never played from the beginning to the end. Actually, they are put on the air several seconds after their real beginning and almost always under the voice of a speaker. The same thing happens at the end. In this article, we present the RAA project, which was conceived to deal with real broadcast audio problems. The idea behind this project is to extract automatically an audio fingerprint (the so‐called AudioDNA) that identifies the fragment of audio. This AudioDNA has to be robust enough to appear almost the same under several degrees of distortion. Once this AudioDNA is extracted from the broadcast audio, a matching algorithm is able to find its fragments inside a database. With this approach, the system can find not only a whole song but also small fragments of it, even with high distortion caused by broadcast (and DJ) manipulations.
Modellierung des nichtlinearen Kriechens von Beton
Authors: Bockhold Jörg , Stangenberg Friedhelm
Published: May 2004

Die genaue Analyse des Tragverhaltens von Beton unter hohen Dauerlasten verlangt neben einem Modell für die Beschreibung des Materialverhaltens unter momentaner Belastung eine exakte Vorhersage der zeitabhängigen Kriechverformungen und deren Einfluß auf den Schädigungszustand des Tragwerks. Der Beitrag stellt die Grundzüge eines Materialmodells zur Berechnung des gekoppelten Kriechschädigungsverhaltens von Beton bei verhindertem Feuchteaustausch vor.
Messung der Betondeckung — Auswertung und Abnahme
Authors: Brameshuber Wolfgang , Schmidt Hubert , Schröder Petra , Fingerloos Frank
Published: May 2004

Eine Möglichkeit an fertigen Betonbauteilen die Zuverlässigkeit der Ausführungsergebnisse zu beurteilen, ist die Messung der Betondeckung. Aufgrund der bauseitig nicht zu vermeidenden Streuungen ist die Betondeckung keine feste geometrische Größe, sondern unterliegt einer statistischen Verteilung. Es wird ein Näherungsverfahren zur Auswertung der Betondeckungsmessung vorgestellt, das mit einfachster Rechnerausstattung genutzt werden kann. Anwendung findet dieses Näherungsverfahren als quantitativer Nachweis im DBV‐Merkblatt „Betondeckung und Bewehrung”︁, Fassung Juli 2002.
Hydration of proteins: SAXS study of native and methoxy polyethyleneglycol (mPEG)‐modified L‐asparaginase and bovine serum albumin in mPEG solutions
Authors: Murthy N. S. , Knox J. R.
Published: May 2004

Two mPEG‐modified globular proteins [mPEG: methoxy poly(ethylene glycol)], and their native unmodified forms, were examined by small‐angle x‐ray scattering to evaluate the extent of their surface hydration. The effects of free and protein‐bound mPEG on the hydration shell were modeled with discrete electron density profiles. We show that an mPEG‐depleted layer can account for the decrease in the measured radius of gyration Rg from 34.1 to 31.1 Å in native L‐asparaginase, and from 32.4 to 31.0 Å in native bovine serum albumin (BSA) in mPEG‐containing solvents. For mPEG‐modified proteins in mPEG‐free solvents, we attribute the observed increase in the Rg over that of the native proteins (∼3% in L‐asparaginase, and 10% in BSA) to the presence of mPEG on the protein surface. The Rg of the mPEG‐modified proteins in mPEG solutions generally decrease with mPEG concentration. Relative to the corresponding unmodified protein, this decrease in Rg is much larger in BSA (from 35.6 to 31.2 Å) but much smaller (from 34.9 to 34.3 Å) in L‐asparaginase. From these studies, the thickness of the hydration layer around L‐asparaginase and BSA is estimated to be ∼15 Å. Exclusion of polyols from the protein domain could be related to the presence of the hydration shell around the protein. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Biopolymers, 2004
The Asymptomatic Carotid Surgery Trial: bigger study, better evidence
Authors: Naylor A R
Published: May 2004

Surgery works for asymptomatic disease
Bacteria Displaying Interleukin‐4 Mutants Stimulate Mammalian Cells and Reflect the Biological Activities of Variant Soluble Cytokines
Authors: Krause Sebastian , Würdemann Dieco , Wentzel Alexander , Christmann Andreas , Fehr Holger , Kolmar Harald , Friedrich Karlheinz
Published: May 2004

We describe a novel procedure that allows the rapid determination of cytokine activity on cells that express their cognate receptor. The four‐helix bundle cytokine interleukin‐4 (IL‐4) was inducibly expressed as a fusion with the E. coli outer‐membrane protein intimin, such that IL‐4 was presented on the surfaces of the bacteria. Expression and accessibility of the cytokine on the cell exteriors were monitored by Western blotting and fluorescence microscopy, making use of two epitopes flanking the IL‐4 component of the fusion protein. To demonstrate the biological activity of the immobilized cytokine, a Ba/F3‐derived cell line stably transfected with both the bipartite human IL‐4 receptor and an IL‐4‐specific luciferase reporter gene construct was employed. Bacterial cells displaying interleukin‐4 elicited a specific, dose‐dependent response in the reporter cells. Two variants of IL‐4 with previously characterized (partial) antagonistic properties were also expressed as membrane‐bound fusion proteins and were tested for their activity in the immobilized state. In comparison with bacteria displaying wild‐type IL‐4, E. coli clones presenting variants IL‐4 Y124G and Y124D showed diminished or abolished activity, respectively, on murine reporter cells. The relative signaling potencies of the immobilized IL‐4 variants thus closely mirror the agonistic properties of the corresponding soluble cytokines. This approach should be generally applicable for the mutational analysis of numerous signal mediators that trigger cellular responses through dimerization of transmembrane receptors.
Spectral, Structural, and Electrochemical Properties of Ruthenium Porphyrin Diaryl and Aryl(alkoxycarbonyl) Carbene Complexes: Influence of Carbene Substituents, Porphyrin Substituents, and trans‐Axial Ligands
Authors: Li Yan , Huang Jie‐Sheng , Xu Guo‐Bao , Zhu Nianyong , Zhou Zhong‐Yuan , Che Chi‐Ming , Wong Kwok‐Yin
Published: May 2004

A wide variety of ruthenium porphyrin carbene complexes, including [Ru(tpfpp)(CR1R2)] (CR1R2 = C(p‐C6H4Cl)2 1 b, C(p‐C6H4Me)2 1 c, C(p‐C6H4OMe)2 1 d, C(CO2Me)2 1 e, C(p‐C6H4NO2)CO2Me 1 f, C(p‐C6H4OMe)CO2Me 1 g, C(CHCHPh)CO2CH2(CHCH)2CH3 1 h), [Ru(por)(CPh2)] (por=tdcpp 2 a, 4‐Br‐tpp 2 b, 4‐Cl‐tpp 2 c, 4‐F‐tpp 2 d, tpp 2 e, ttp 2 f, 4‐MeO‐tpp 2 g, tmp 2 h, 3,4,5‐MeO‐tpp 2 i), [Ru(por){C(Ph)CO2Et}] (por=tdcpp 2 j, tmp 2 k), [Ru(tpfpp)(CPh2)(L)] (L = MeOH 3 a, EtSH 3 b, Et2S 3 c, MeIm 3 d, OPPh3 3 e, py 3 f), and [Ru(tpfpp){C(Ph)CO2R}(MeOH)] (R = CH2CHCH2 4 a, Me 4 b, Et 4 c), were prepared from the reactions of [Ru(por)(CO)] with diazo compounds N2CR1R2 in dichloromethane and, for 3 and 4, by further treatment with reagents L. A similar reaction of [Os(tpfpp)(CO)] with N2CPh2 in dichloromethane followed by treatment with MeIm gave [Os(tpfpp)(CPh2)(MeIm)] (3 d‐Os). All these complexes were characterized by 1H NMR, 13C NMR, and UV/Vis spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, and elemental analyses. X‐ray crystal structure determinations of 1 d, 2 a,i, 3 a, b, d, e, 4 a–c, and 3 d‐Os revealed RuC distances of 1.806(3)–1.876(3) Å and an OsC distance of 1.902(3) Å. The structure of 1 d in the solid state features a unique “bridging” carbene ligand, which results in the formation of a one‐dimensional coordination polymer. Cyclic voltammograms of 1 a–c, g, 2 a–d, g–k, 3 b–d, 4 a, b, and 3 d‐Os show a reversible oxidation couple with E1/2 values in the range of 0.06–0.65 V (vs Cp2Fe+/0) that is attributable to a metal‐centered oxidation. The influence of carbene substituents, porphyrin substituents, and trans‐ligands on the RuC bond was examined through comparison of the chemical shifts of the pyrrolic protons in the porphyrin macrocycles (1H NMR) and the MC carbon atoms (13C NMR), the potentials of the metal‐centered oxidation couples, and the RuC distances among the various ruthenium porphyrin carbene complexes. A direct comparison among iron, ruthenium, and osmium porphyrin carbene complexes is made.
Ionic Liquids with Symmetrical Dialkoxymethyl‐Substituted Imidazolium Cations
Authors: Pernak Juliusz , Sobaszkiewicz Kinga , Foksowicz‐Flaczyk Joanna
Published: May 2004

A new one‐step procedure is described for the synthesis of disubstituted imidazolium chlorides. 1,3‐Dialkoxymethylimidazolium chlorides thus obtained can be employed as synthetic precursors of symmetrical ILs. The salts have been found to exhibit antimicrobial activity and an antielectrostatic effect. Their densities and viscosities have been determined and are reported herein. It has also been demonstrated that the ILs can be decomposed using an aqueous solution of KMnO4. For each IL, the permanganate index (IMn) has been estimated, which varies with the structure of cation. The only limitation of IMn is the degree to which the IL dissolves in water.
Supramolecular Porphyrin Assemblies through Amidinium–Carboxylate Salt Bridges and Fast Intra‐Ensemble Excited Energy Transfer
Authors: Otsuki Joe , Iwasaki Kosyo , Nakano Yosuke , Itou Mitsunari , Araki Yasuyuki , Ito Osamu
Published: May 2004

Well‐defined supramolecular assemblies of Zn and free‐base porphyrins are constructed through the formation of amidinium–carboxylate salt bridges. A one‐to‐one donor–acceptor pair and a four‐to‐one antenna‐type assembly are investigated. The steady‐state and time‐resolved fluorescence measurements unequivocally showed that efficient singlet–singlet excited energy transfer from the Zn–porphyrin complex to the free‐base porphyrin takes place in these assemblies. Indeed, the observed energy‐transfer rates in both types of assemblies are much faster than those the Förster mechanism would suggest, implying the involvement of an intermolecular through‐bond mechanism.
Association between serum levels of soluble tumor necrosis factor receptors/CA 125 and disease progression in patients with epithelial ovarian malignancy
Authors: Burger Robert A. , Darcy Kathleen M. , DiSaia Philip J. , Monk Bradley J. , Grosen Elizabeth A. , Gatanaga Tetsuya , Granger Gale A. , Wang Jianmin , Tian Chunqiao , Hanjani Parviz , Cohn David E.
Published: May 2004

BACKGROUND

A prospective study was undertaken within the Gynecologic Oncology Group to determine whether serum levels of soluble tumor necrosis factor receptors I (sTNFR‐I) and II (sTNFR‐II), alone or in combination with CA 125, were associated with clinicopathologic characteristics or outcome in patients with epithelial ovarian malignancies.

METHODS

Quantitative immunoassays were performed on valid pretreatment serum specimens obtained from patients with epithelial ovarian malignancies to assess levels of sTNFR‐I, sTNFR‐II, and CA 125. The authors then analyzed the results of these immunoassays for potential correlations with clinicopathologic characteristics and outcome.

RESULTS

The median age of the 139 women evaluated was 59 years. Seventy‐eight percent had Stage III or IV disease, and 58% had serous carcinomas. sTNFR‐II was associated with age (P = 0.013), and CA 125 was associated with histologic subtype (P = 0.0009). In addition, sTNFR‐I (P = 0.037) and CA 125 (P < 0.0001) were associated with extent of disease. After adjusting for patient age, histologic subtype, and extent of disease, all three biomarkers were predictive of progression‐free survival, but not overall survival, when the combination was included in the model. The authors observed a 51% reduction (hazard ratio [HR], 0.49; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.24–0.99), a 2.9‐fold increase (HR, 2.87; 95% CI, 1.15–7.20), and a 22% increase (HR, 1.22; 95% CI, 0.99–1.51) in the risk of progression for each unit increase in the log‐transformed levels of sTNFR‐I, sTNFR‐II, and CA 125, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

The observations made in the current study—that among patients with low or high CA 125 levels, those with high sTNFR‐I levels and low sTNFR‐II levels had the lowest risk, that patients with low‐low or high‐high sTNFR‐I and sTNFR‐II levels, respectively, had an intermediate risk, and that patients with low sTNFR‐I levels and high sTNFR‐II levels had the highest risk of progression—suggested the potential value of simultaneous assessment of all three biomarkers in patients with epithelial ovarian malignancies. Cancer 2004. © 2004 American Cancer Society.
Smoking and drinking can induce p15 methylation in the upper aerodigestive tract of healthy individuals and patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: Chang Hsiao Wen , Ling Guang Sheng , Wei William Ignace , Yuen Anthony Po‐Wing
Published: May 2004

BACKGROUND

The consumption of tobacco and alcohol has been implicated in the development of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Promoter methylation of tumor suppressor genes is common in HNSCC. In this study, the authors evaluated the effects of tobacco and alcohol on p15 gene methylation of cells in cells from the mouth and throat of physically healthy individuals and patients with HNSCC.

METHODS

The study participants were divided into 3 groups, including a group of 37 healthy nonsmokers and nondrinkers, a group of 22 healthy smokers and/or drinkers and a group of 31 patients with HNSCC.

RESULTS

Methylation of p15 was detected in cells obtained from mouth and throat (M&T) rinsing fluid samples from 3 of 37 healthy individuals (8%) who did not drink or smoke, from 15 of 22 healthy smokers and/or drinkers (68%), and from 15 of 31 patients (48%) with HNSCC. Among 31 patients with HNSCC, 20 patients (65%) had methylated p15 gene in their tumor biopsies. With the use of β‐actin as a reference, the ratio of methylated p15 to β‐actin was calculated as an index of the percentage of cells with p15 methylation. The percentage of exfoliated cells from M&T rinsing fluid samples that had p15 methylation ranged from 0% to 11% for patients with HNSCC and from 0% to 21% for healthy smokers/drinkers, respectively. The methylation index of tumor cells with p15 methylation ranged from 0% to 65%.

CONCLUSIONS

The results suggest that p15 gene methylation can be induced by chronic smoking and drinking and may play a role in the very early stages of carcinogenesis in HNSCC. Cancer 2004. © 2004 American Cancer Society.
Immunochemotherapy with rituximab and temozolomide for central nervous system lymphomas
Authors: Wong Eric T. , Tishler Roy , Barron Loretta , Wu Julian K.
Published: May 2004

BACKGROUND

Methotrexate‐based and alkylator‐based chemotherapy regimens are associated with renal and bone marrow toxicities, which limit their use in patients with central nervous system (CNS) lymphomas. The authors report their experience with an immunochemotherapy regimen consisting of rituximab and temozolomide in patients with primary or metastatic CNS lymphoma.

METHODS

Seven patients who had received rituximab and temozolomide were identified from the database of the brain tumor clinic at the authors' institution: three patients had developed recurrent primary CNS lymphoma (PCNSL), one patient had newly diagnosed PCNSL but had poor renal function, and three other patients with systemic non‐Hodgkin lymphoma developed recurrent lymphoma in the brain only. Patients were scheduled to receive 4 cycles of induction rituximab on Day 1 and temozolomide on Days 1–5 of a 28‐day cycle. Thereafter, their treatment included a total of up to 8 maintenance cycles of temozolomide alone on Days 1–5 of a 28‐day cycle. A gadolinium‐enhanced magnetic resonance image of the head was obtained after every two cycles of treatment.

RESULTS

All patients received rituximab without toxicity. Of the 4 patients who received induction temozolomide at doses > 150 mg/m2 daily on Days 1–5, 2 experienced Grade 2 leukopenia and thrombocytopenia. Five patients achieved a radiographic complete response, and two patients had partial responses after induction treatment. The median response duration was 6 months (range 3–12+ months), and the median survival was 8 months (range 3+–12+ months).

CONCLUSIONS

Although median survival was short, immunochemotherapy with rituximab and temozolomide was well tolerated and exhibited efficacy in this elderly and heavily pretreated cohort. The data obtained in the current study suggest that the optimal induction dose combination consists of rituximab 375 mg/m2 on Day 1 and temozolomide 150 mg/m2 daily on Days 1–5. Cancer 2004. © 2004 American Cancer Society.
Imatinib mesylate therapy reduces bone marrow fibrosis in patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia
Authors: Bueso‐Ramos Carlos E. , Cortes Jorge , Talpaz Moshe , O'Brien Susan , Giles Francis , Rios Mary Beth , Medeiros L. Jeffrey , Kantarjian Hagop
Published: May 2004

BACKGROUND

Reticulin‐stained bone marrow fibrosis is associated with a poor prognosis in patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML). Resolution of fibrosis with therapy may improve patient outcome.

METHODS

The effect of imatinib therapy on bone marrow fibrosis was evaluated in 40 patients with chronic‐phase CML who were treated after interferon‐α failure.

RESULTS

Thirty‐one patients (78%) had severe (Grade 3 or 4) reticulin fibrosis prior to therapy. After imatinib therapy was administered for 3 to > 24 months, fibrosis was reduced by at least 2 grades in 19 of the 31 patients (61%) and by at least 1 grade in 34 patients (85%). There was no correlation noted between reduction of fibrosis and cytogenetic response. However, a reduction in fibrosis was found to correlate with a reduction in bone marrow megakaryocytosis (P = 0.002).

CONCLUSIONS

Treatment with imatinib mesylate appears to reduce CML‐associated bone marrow fibrosis in most patients who are treated during the chronic phase of disease. This effect may be independent of the degree of suppression of Philadelphia chromosome‐positive cells, and may improve prognosis in patients with CML. Cancer 2004. © 2004 American Cancer Society.