bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Summary report of a national conference: Evolving concepts in liver allocation in the MELD and PELD era
Authors: Olthoff Kim M. , Brown Robert S. , Delmonico Francis L. , Freeman Richard B. , McDiarmid Sue V. , Merion Robert M. , Millis Michael J. , Roberts John P. , Shaked Abraham , Wiesner Russell H. , Lucey Michael R.
Published: September 2004

A national conference was held to review and assess data gathered since implementation of MELD and PELD and determine future directions. The objectives of the conference were to review the current system of liver allocation with a critical analysis of its strengths and weaknesses. Conference participants used an evidence-based approach to consider whether predicted outcome after transplantation should influence allocation, to discuss the concept of minimal listing score, to revisit current and potential expansion of exception criteria, and to determine whether specific scores should be used for automatic removal of patients on the waiting list. After review of data from the first 18 months since implementation, association and society leaders, and surgeons and hepatologists with wide regional representation were invited to participate in small group discussions focusing on each of the main objectives. At the completion of the meeting, there was agreement that MELD has had a successful initial implementation, meeting the goal of providing a system of allocation that emphasizes the urgency of the candidate while diminishing the reliance on waiting time, and that it has proven to be a powerful tool for auditing the liver allocation system. It was also agreed that the data regarding the accuracy of PELD as a predictor of pretransplant mortality were less conclusive and that PELD should be considered in isolation. Recommendations for the transplant community, based on the analysis of the MELD data, were discussed and are presented in the summary document. (Liver Transpl 2004;10:A6-A22.)
Evolving strategies to prevent HBV recurrence
Authors: Roche Bruno , Samuel Didier
Published: September 2004

Key Points
Retransplantation for recurrent hepatitis C in the MELD era: Maximizing utility
Authors: Burton James R. , Sonnenberg Amnon , Rosen Hugo R.
Published: September 2004

Key Points
Hepatopulmonary syndrome and portopulmonary hypertension in the model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) era
Authors: Mandell Susan M.
Published: September 2004

Key Points
Liver transplantation in patients with HIV infection
Authors: Fung John , Eghtesad Bijan , Patel-Tom Kusum , DeVera Michael , Chapman Holly , Ragni Margaret
Published: September 2004

Key Points
Liver transplantation for alcoholic liver disease: Current concepts and length of sobriety
Authors: Lim Joseph K. , Keeffe Emmet B.
Published: September 2004

Key Points
MELD / PELD and the allocation of deceased donor livers for status 1 recipients with acute fulminant hepatic failure, primary nonfunction, hepatic artery thrombosis, and acute Wilson’s disease
Authors: Wiesner Russell H.
Published: September 2004

Key Points
Peculiar Catalytic Behavior of Poly(vinylidene fluoride) for Cationic Polymerization
Authors: Yamamoto Katsuhiro , Tanaka Hiroyuki , Mouri Masashi , Usami Kaori , Sakaguchi Masato , Shimada Shigetaka , Sasaki Kanako , Akiba Isamu
Published: September 2004

Summary: A cationic polymerization of isobutylene, isobutyl vinyl ether, ethyl vinyl ether, vinylcarbazole and α‐methylstyrene was induced by mixing with poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) powder. The polymerization was an exothermic reaction and gave a high yield. An electron was abstracted from the monomer by PVDF. By the abstraction of the electron, the monomer was converted to a cation radical which induced polymerization. The generation of the cation radicals of the vinyl ethers was confirmed by an ESR spin trapping method, although the cation radicals could be coupled immediately. The resulting polymer was isolated from PVDF (not grafted) and characterized by size exclusion chromatography, IR, UV‐Vis and NMR spectroscopy. The copolymerization of vinyl ethers or vinyl ether/vinylcarbazole was carried out successfully to obtain their random copolymer. PVDF is regarded as a reusable catalyst for cationic polymerizations.

Reaction mechanism of the cationic polymerization of iBVE.

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Reaction mechanism of the cationic polymerization of iBVE.
Activation of Titanium‐Based Single‐Site Catalysts for Ethylene Polymerization Using Supports of Type MgCl2/AlRn(OEt)3–n
Authors: Severn John R. , Chadwick John C.
Published: September 2004

Summary: Easy and effective immobilization and activation of a range of Ti‐based single‐site catalysts for ethylene polymerization has been achieved, without methylaluminoxane or borate activators, using MgCl2/AlRn(OEt)3–n supports obtained by reaction of AlR3 with adducts of magnesium chloride and ethanol. The use of relatively low catalyst loadings leads to efficient uptake by the support and gives high catalyst activity. Catalyst immobilization using these MgCl2‐based supports also leads to stable polymerization kinetics, with negligible decay in catalyst activity during polymerization. Metallocene, half‐metallocene, and non‐metallocene catalysts have been used, particularly high activities being obtained using cyclopentadienyl titanium trichloride and its analogues. The polyethylenes obtained have narrow molecular weight distribution, with $\overline M _{\rm w} /\overline M _{\rm n}$ generally in the range 2–3, indicating retention of single‐site catalyst characteristics after immobilization. Spherical polymer particle morphology was achieved, without reactor fouling.

Temperature profile of ethylene polymerization using [(Indenyl)TiCl3] immobilized on a MgCl2/AlEtn(OEt)3–n support (▴: internal temperature; ▪: cooling mantle temperature).

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Temperature profile of ethylene polymerization using [(Indenyl)TiCl3] immobilized on a MgCl2/AlEtn(OEt)3–n support (▴: internal temperature; ▪: cooling mantle temperature).
Highly Fluorinated and Crosslinkable Dendritic Polymer for Photonic Applications
Authors: Ma Hong , Luo Jingdong , Kang Seok Ho , Wong Sharon , Kang Jae Wook , Jen Alex K.‐Y. , Barto Rick , Frank Curtis W.
Published: September 2004

Summary: A novel crosslinkable dendritic polymer has been synthesized by the thermal polymerization of peripheral aryl trifluorovinyl ether moieties of a highly fluorinated dendrimer. The resulting perfluorocyclobutane(PFCB)‐containing dendritic polymer exhibited excellent processability, low optical loss (0.36 dB · cm−1 at 1 310 nm with 1% dye doping), high thermal stability, and good solvent resistance for waveguide‐based photonic applications.

Structure of the crosslinkable fluorinated dendrimer synthesized.

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Structure of the crosslinkable fluorinated dendrimer synthesized.
Novel Gas Separation Membranes Containing Covalently Bonded Fullerenes
Authors: Sterescu Dana M. , Bolhuis‐Versteeg Lydia , van der Vegt Nico F. A. , Stamatialis Dimitrios F. , Wessling Matthias
Published: September 2004

Summary: In this work, we report superior mass transport properties of polymers prepared by the covalent coupling of supermolecular carbon cages (e.g., fullerenes, bucky balls) to a poly(2,6‐dimethyl‐1,4‐phenylene oxide) (PPO) polymer. Dispersing the bucky balls into the polymer reduces gas permeability, whereas covalent bonding enhances permeability up to 80% in comparison to the pure PPO. Gas pair selectivity, however, is not compromised and stays constant.

Schematic representation of the PPO polymer membrane and the PPO‐covalently bonded C60 polymer membrane.

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Schematic representation of the PPO polymer membrane and the PPO‐covalently bonded C60 polymer membrane.
The pallidosubthalamic projection: An anatomical substrate for nonmotor functions of the subthalamic nucleus in primates
Authors: Karachi Carine , Yelnik Jérôme , Tandé Dominique , Tremblay Léon , Hirsch Etienne C. , François Chantal
Published: September 2004

The subthalamic nucleus (STN) is the best target for correcting motor disability in parkinsonian patients with high‐frequency stimulation. However, STN stimulation has also been reported to modify cognitive, emotional, and motivational functions. The aim of this study was to analyze the topographic organization of the STN according to its inputs coming from the sensorimotor, associative, and limbic territories of the external globus pallidus (GPe) in monkeys, with special reference to the limbic projection. Axonal tracers were injected into the different functional territories of the GPe. Injection performed in the limbic GPe resulted in labeling of cell bodies in the dorsal nucleus accumbens and in a dense labeling of axons in the anterior and medioventral portion of the STN. In comparison, injections in the associative and sensorimotor GPe led to labeling in the central and dorsolateral parts of the STN, respectively. Individual pallidosubthalamic axons ramified into numerous varicose branches, which were restricted to a given territory in the STN. These data provide a functional cartography of this structure in primates and suggest that behavioral disorders observed in stimulated parkinsonian patients could result from a dysfunction of the limbic part of the STN. © 2004 Movement Disorder Society
Case–control study of multiple system atrophy
Authors: Vanacore Nicola , Bonifati Vincenzo , Fabbrini Giovanni , Colosimo Carlo , De Michele Giuseppe , Marconi Roberto , Stocchi Fabrizio , Nicholl David , Bonuccelli Ubaldo , De Mari Michele , Vieregge Peter , Meco Giuseppe
Published: September 2004

The epidemiology of multiple system atrophy (MSA) is scarcely known, and risk factors have not been definitely identified. We investigated the effect of family history for neurodegenerative diseases and environmental factors on MSA risk in a multicentric case–control study. A total of 73 MSA patients (42 men, 31 women; age, 64.3 ± 8.1 years; disease duration, 4.8 ± 3.9 years), 146 hospital controls (84 men, 62 women; age, 64.9 ± 8.4 years), and 73 population controls (42 men, 31 women; age, 63.7 ± 8.9 years) matched for sex, age (±3 years), and province of residence were enrolled consecutively at seven neurological centers from 1 January 1994 to 31 July 1998. The following variables were investigated: family history of neurodegenerative diseases, education, smoking habits, hobbies, and occupational history. Occupational history of farming was significantly more frequent among MSA cases than controls (OR adj = 2.52; 95% CI, 1.25 to 5.07, MSA vs. hospital controls; OR adj = 4.53; 95% CI, 1.68 to12.2, MSA cases vs. population controls). A dose–response analysis for years of farming corroborated this association. We recently found that smoking is significantly less frequent among MSA cases than controls (Vanacore et al. [2000] Neurology 54:114–119). Here, we report that the effects of farming and smoking on MSA risk do not interact. Our results suggest that occupational history of farming is a risk factor for MSA. Smoking and farming seem to influence MSA risk independently. Further epidemiological studies might provide clues on the etiopathogenesis of MSA. © 2004 Movement Disorder Society
A general formulation of hypoplasticity
Authors: Lanier J. , Caillerie D. , Chambon R. , Viggiani G. , Bésuelle P. , Desrues J.
Published: September 2004

A general formulation of the theory of hypoplasticity is given, under the assumption that Cauchy stress is the only state variable. Such a formulation allows to discuss the relation between the so‐called out‐of‐axis and in‐axis moduli. It is proved that, in general, the out‐of‐axis moduli are independent from the in‐axis moduli, which allows the former to be calibrated making use of experimental shear band data, as it is done in CLoE‐hypoplasticity. The implicit assumptions made in K‐hypoplasticity are detailed for two particular models of this family. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Advanced programming methods and data structures for computational modelling using edge‐based finite volume methods
Authors: Masters I. , Rees I. , Lewis R.W.
Published: September 2004

The generation of a numerical model must consider the separate issues of the governing equations, the numerical representation of those equations, the data structure that describes the model, the choice of programming language and finally the implementation and code management issues. These issues are considered as a whole in this paper and as a consequence, 10 golden rules for numerical modelling are proposed. By way of application, a saturated–unsaturated flow problem is modelled using the Richards equation and an innovative edge‐based finite volume method. The implementation uses a novel data structure. This is shown to have over 91% code re‐use and hence code written in this way is highly flexible and applicable to many different problems. By way of example, a compacted core earth filled dam problem has been solved. Finally, we conclude that this advanced programming method can significantly reduce code development time. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Calcium signal‐dependent plasticity of neuronal excitability developed postnatally
Authors: Zhang Mei , Hung Fen S. , Zhu Yan , Xie Zuoping , Wang Jin‐Hui
Published: September 2004

Neuronal plasticity and its development were investigated at pyramidal neurons in the cortical slices of rats. The threshold and probability of firing spikes were measured by using whole‐cell recording to assess neuronal excitability. Postsynaptic high frequency activity (HFA) at the pyramidal neurons, evoked by 20 trains (250‐ms interval) of five depolarization‐pulses (1 ms) at 100 Hz, persistently lowered the threshold and increased the probability of firing spikes. After long‐term enhancement of neuronal excitability by HFA was stable, another HFA induced further enhancement. Infusing 1 mM 1,2‐bis(2‐aminophenoxy)‐ethane‐N, N,N′,N′‐tetraacetic acid or 100 μM CaMKII(281–301) into the recording neurons prevented HFA‐induced long‐term enhancement of neuronal excitability. The infusion of 40 μM calcineurin autoinhibitory peptide enhanced neuronal excitability, which occluded HFA effect. HFA‐induced long‐term enhancement of intrinsic excitability expressed at most pyramidal neurons after postnatal day (PND) 14, but not at those before PND 9. Our results show a new type of neuronal plasticity induced by physiological activity at cortical neurons, which requires calcium‐dependent protein phosphorylation and develops during postnatal period. An upregulation of intrinsic excitability at cortical neurons facilitates their activity and broadens signal codes; consequently, their computational ability is upgraded. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Neurobiol, 2004
Civil society and public sector institutions: more than a zero‐sum relationship
Authors: Uphoff Norman , Krishna Anirudh
Published: September 2004

Measuring civil society strength has become entangled in competing definitions of civil society (CS). A more productive approach begins by considering CS from the perspective not of what it is but from what it does. Civil society functions—articulating citizens' interests and demands, defending their rights and meeting their needs—can be performed by a variety of institutions and organisations, not all of which are or need to be detached from the government. Determining the strength of CS requires assessing how well these functions are performed by a continuum of organisations and institutions. A disaggregated, multi‐sector model is developed that assists in measuring CS strength in any specific context. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
From policy lessons to policy actions: motivation to take evaluation seriously
Authors: Gordillo Gustavo , Andersson Krister
Published: September 2004

The purpose of this article is to analyse the institutional aspects of creating effective systems for monitoring and evaluations (M&E) in government‐led rural development efforts in developing countries. We argue that the ultimate challenge of creating effective M&E systems for public policy is not only related to thesupplyof information and the delivery of new knowledge to policy makers, but more importantly to theirdemandfor lessons learnt about the effects of earlier policies. The challenge, then, is for governments to construct institutional arrangements that support the transformation of policylessonsinto policyactions. This article shows that the likelihood of this transformation is closely related to the capacity of institutions to deliver mechanisms fordownward accountabilityand processes fororganisational learning. We add to earlier work in this area by considering the conditions under which such a transformation process is more or less likely, given the severe power and information asymmetries that characterise the institutional context of many developing countries' national governments. We use the tools of institutional analysis to examine the incentive structures of the actors involved in two concrete field settings, and assess to what extent these actors are likely to take evaluations seriously. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Reforming war's administrative rubble in Lebanon
Authors: El‐Zein Fares , Sims Holly
Published: September 2004

After 17 years of civil strife in Lebanon, an Office of Minister of State for Administrative Reform (OMSAR) was established in 1993 to plan for short‐term rehabilitation and long‐term institutional development within the public sector. Since external technical assistance to public administration was delivered through OMSAR, its role as a host agency for international aid donors' efforts in reform policy‐making and implementation is critical. The article discusses OMSAR's approach to channelling foreign aid for administrative development in post‐war Lebanon. Lessons from the Lebanese experience in post‐war institutional development may interest countries emerging from conflicts and trying to rebuild administrative infrastructure. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Glycaemic control in pregnant women with type 1 diabetes and fetal macrosomia
Authors: Stott A , Nik H , Platt MJ , Casson IF , Walkinshaw SJ , Howard V , Stanisstreet M , Pennycook S
Published: September 2004

Despite improvements in the clinical management of pregnant women with diabetes, pregnancy outcomes compare unfavourably to those of people without diabetes. The link between maternal glycaemia as a measure of metabolic control and fetal size has been the subject of previous studies. Evidence is conflicting due to the small numbers of cases and/or a mixture of different types of diabetes in most of these studies. This population‐based cohort study was carried out on 274 women with type 1 diabetes from 10 maternity units in the Mersey area. We showed that in early (10±2 weeks gestation) and late pregnancy (≥34 weeks gestation), maternal HbA1c is not associated significantly with macrosomic or large for gestational age infants. Good glycaemic control measured by HbA1c in pregnancy, although of proven benefit in reducing perinatal mortality and morbidity, is therefore unable to prevent these problems Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Cardiovascular aspects of erectile dysfunction
Authors: Jackson G
Published: September 2004

Erectile dysfunction (ED) reflects endothelial dysfunction, which is the most common organic cause of ED. Vascular disease and/or diabetes are most frequently associated with ED with coexisting coronary artery disease a major concern. Advising on sexual activity and the treatment of ED is a management challenge but simple guidelines exist for advice in the out‐patient (or out of hospital) and in‐patient setting which allow safe and effective recommendations to be given in properly assessed diabetic patients. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The impact of erectile dysfunction and its treatment with phosphodiesterase type‐5 (PDE5) inhibitors in patients with diabetes
Authors: Cummings MH
Published: September 2004

Men with diabetes are prone to cardiovascular and neurological complications that can result in a higher incidence of erectile dysfunction (ED) than in the general population. Management of ED is similar to that in men without diabetes, with the goal of restoring the sex life the patient had previously enjoyed. Treatments for ED must be suitable for patients with diabetes with or without comorbidities and should not interfere with metabolic control or existing medications.

The oral phosphodiesterase type‐5 (PDE5) inhibitors are the first‐line treatment for most causes of ED in men with diabetes. They promote smooth muscle relaxation by blocking the hydrolysis of cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP). All commercially available PDE5 inhibitors (sildenafil, vardenafil and tadalafil) are effective with minimal side effects in both the general ED population and patients with diabetes. Tadalafil has pharmacokinetic properties different from those of sildenafil and vardenafil. Tadalafil, however, has a long half‐life producing a broad period of responsiveness and its pharmacokinetics are not altered by food. These properties give patients with diabetes and ED, and their partners, further freedom in choosing when to have sex. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Love's labour's lost
Authors: McAughey D
Published: September 2004

Erectile dysfunction (previously referred to as erectile impotence) is a common complication of diabetes in men. It is reported that between 35% and 50% of all men with diabetes will experience an episode of erectile dysfunction at some time in their life. At age 60 the prevalence of the problem increases to 60%.1

Despite this, health care professionals appear reluctant to ask men with diabetes about their erectile status.2 In my experience, which covers 40 years as a man with diabetes and 22 two years as a health professional involved in the diabetes specialty, very few health care professionals feel able to discuss such intimate issues.

Whether it is due to the fact that the health care professional is embarrassed to delve into such personal health matters, or rather to avoid embarrassment on the part of the person with diabetes, is unclear. With such a plethora of treatments available, I consider the attitude ‘We don't ask because we don't want to know’ indefensible.

The following is a report of the Janet Kinson Lecture 2004, given at the Annual Professional Conference of Diabetes UK at the International Conference Centre, Birmingham in March this year, in an attempt to encourage health care professionals to ask the man with diabetes about his erectile status. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Quantitative profiling of plasma peptides in asthmatic mice using liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry
Authors: Yeo SinKoo , Roh Gu Seob , Kim Dong‐Hoon , Lee Jung Min , Seo Seong‐Won , Cho Jin Won , Kim Chan‐Wha , Kwack KyuBum
Published: September 2004

Asthma is increasing in prevalence worldwide as a result of factors associated with a Western lifestyle. However, simple and reliable diagnostic and prognostic markers are yet to be found. In an attempt to identify protein biomarker profiles among small molecular weight ranges, we employed an approach combining liquid chromatography with mass spectrometry, instead of two‐dimensional gel electrophoresis (2‐DE), which has previously been used to analyze protein expression patterns. Here we described its application to compare plasma peptides from control and chronic asthma mice. Peptides were quantitatively profiled as a multidimensional peptide mass fingerprint by a combination of reverse‐phase high‐performance liquid chromatography and matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry. They were identified by peptide mass fingerprinting using matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization time‐of‐flight/time‐of‐flight tandem mass spectrometry. In this study, we quantitatively identified the fragment f of complement 3 (C3f), which is important in inflammation. C3f was significantly higher in controls than chronic asthma mice. Our strategy allowed the detection and identification of different plasma peptides between control and chronic asthma mice on a proteomic scale. Therefore, these results suggest that native small peptides detected by non‐2‐DE techniques may be useful and specific biomarkers of disease.
Proteome analysis of differential protein expression in allergen‐induced asthmatic mice lung after dexamethasone treatment
Authors: Roh Gu Seob , Shin YoungHyun , Seo Seong‐Won , Yoon Bo Ra , Yeo SinKoo , Park Sung Jin , Cho Jin Won , Kwack KyuBum
Published: September 2004

Asthma has become substantially more prevalent in recent decades and is one of the foremost contributors to morbidity and mortality in industrialized countries. Corticosteroids are among the most effective medications for the treatment of asthma, but some patients do not respond well to corticosteroid treatment. In this study, we characterized the responses to an allergen and identified potential molecular targets of dexamethasone (Dex) treatment in acute asthma. Female BALB/c mice sensitized to ovalbumin (OVA) were challenged with aerosolized OVA for 1 week. During the challenge period, mice were treated daily with Dex by intraperitoneal injection. Phosphate‐buffered saline treated and non‐challenged mice served as control. Histological evaluation of OVA‐induced mice revealed airway inflammation and goblet cell hyperplasia. In addition, interleukin 4 levels and interferon‐γ levels were increased and decreased, respectively. These changes were moderated by Dex treatment. Protein expression profiles were compared in each experimental group by two‐dimensional gel electrophoresis and identified using matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization‐time of flight/time of flight mass spectrometry. Some proteins were increased, while others were decreased by Dex treatment. These results indicated that the regulation of protein expression might play a role in the immunological and pathological development of asthma and could be targeted for therapeutic intervention. These results may assist in the development of quantitative diagnostic markers to monitor disease progression or responses to therapy using proteomic approaches.
Multiplexed fluorescence detection of phosphorylation, glycosylation, and total protein in the proteomic analysis of breast cancer refractoriness
Authors: Ge Yue , Rajkumar Lakshmanswamy , Guzman Raphael C. , Nandi Satyabrata , Patton Wayne F. , Agnew Brian J.
Published: September 2004

The Multiplexed Proteomics (MP) technology is a new approach that permits quantitative, multicolor fluorescence detection of proteins in one‐dimensional or two‐dimensional gels. This methodology allows for multiplexed identification and differential analysis of phosphoproteins, glycoproteins, and total proteins within a single gel electrophoresis experiment. Here the MP system was applied to the differential proteomic analysis of pregnancy‐induced refractoriness to breast cancer using a rat model system. Differential analyses identified multiple proteins with altered phosphorylation, glycosylation, or protein expression patterns.
Proteomic analysis revealed a strong association of a high level of α1‐antitrypsin in gastric juice with gastric cancer
Authors: Lee Kyunghee , Kye Minsu , Jang Joung Soon , Lee Ok Jae , Kim Taehyo , Lim Dongbin
Published: September 2004

To investigate the pathology of gastric disorders, we compared the proteomic patterns of gastric juice from patients with various gastric disorders. In healthy subjects pepsin A, pepsin B and gastric lipase were the major proteins detected by two‐dimensional gel electrophoresis. These digestive enzymes were not detected in 60% of gastric cancer cases (18 out of 30 analyzed cases). Interestingly, an extraordinary amount of α1‐antitrypsin was observed in these cases. In contrast to gastric cancer cases, α1‐antitrypsin was detected in only 5% of patients (three out of 56) with chronic atrophic gastritis, and the detection frequency went up as the disease developed (one of four intestinal metaplasia cases, two of seven tubular adenoma cases, a single examined case of hyperplastic polyp and 60% of gastric cancer). Zymography showed that a 60 kDa protease strongly associated with α1‐antitrypsin and mass spectrometric analysis revealed that the gastric α1‐antitrypsin was a protease‐cleaved form. Our data suggest that α1‐antitrypsin and 60 kDa protease may serve as good diagnostic and prognostic markers for conditions associated with gastric cancer.
Strategic proteome analysis of Candida magnoliae with an unsequenced genome
Authors: Kim Hyo‐Jin , Lee Do‐Yup , Lee Dae‐Hee , Park Yong‐Cheol , Kweon Dae‐Hyuk , Ryu Yeon‐Woo , Seo Jin‐Ho
Published: September 2004

Erythritol is a noncariogenic, low calorie sweetener. It is safe for people with diabetes and obese people. Candida magnoliae is an industrially important organism because of its ability to produce erythritol as a major product. The genome of C. magnoliae has not been sequenced yet, limiting the available proteome database. Therefore, systematic approaches were employed to construct the proteome map of C. magnoliae. Proteomic analysis with systematic approaches is based on two‐dimensional electrophoresis, matrix‐assisted laser desorption ionization time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI‐TOF MS), tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) and database interrogation. First, 24 spots were analyzed using peptide mass fingerprinting along with MALDI‐TOF MS with high mass accuracy. Only four spots were reliably identified as carbonyl reductase and its isoforms. The reason for low sequence coverage seemed to be that these identification strategies were based on the presence of the protein database obtained from the publicly accessible genome database and the availability of cross‐species protein identification. MS/MS (MS/MS ion search and de novo sequencing) in combination with similarity searches allowed successful identification of 39 spots. Several proteins including transaldolase identified by MS/MS ion searches were further confirmed by partial sequences from the expressed sequence tag database. In this study, 51 protein spots were analyzed and then potentially identified. The identified proteins were involved in glycolysis, stress response, other essential metabolisms and cell structures.
A strain‐specific alteration of proteomic expression in mouse liver fructose 1,6‐bisphosphatase isoforms by alcohol
Authors: Park Bokyung , Oh Seung‐Hyun , Seong Je‐Kyung , Paik Young‐Ki
Published: September 2004

To study alcohol‐related metabolism across inbred mouse strains, liver tissues from C57BL/6J (B6, an alcohol‐preferring mouse) and DBA/2J (D2, an alcohol‐avoiding strain) mice were analyzed for proteomic expression patterns over time after a single‐dose of alcohol (1.5 g/kg ingestion). Despite no significant difference in the elimination rate of blood ethanol, two‐dimensional electrophoresis gel images of liver proteins showed that proteins in B6 mice exhibited faster response and more quantitative (spot numbers) and qualitative (spot densities) changes than in D2 mice. Among the differentially expressed metabolic enzymes, four variants (α, β, γ and δ) of fructose 1,6‐bisphosphatase (FBPase), a key regulatory gluconeogenic enzyme, showed remarkable changes in expression with time across the strains. The degree of spot alteration in α‐ and γ‐variants of FBPase in B6 mice was much higher than in D2 mice, while the β‐ and δ‐forms were not changed as much. Mass spectrometry (MS) analysis showed that the 1714.9 ± 1 mass peak from the α‐ and γ‐variants of FBPase was much stronger than that of the β‐ and δ‐variants in both strains regardless of spot density. This MS peak contains 2‐ANHAPFETDISTLTR‐16, located at the N‐terminal of FBPase, where the N‐terminal alanine was found to be trimethylated. Thus, we propose this N‐terminal fragment as a potential site for enzyme modification in response to ethanol, allowing for differences in two‐dimensional gel spot intensity of variants of FBPase in the two mouse strains.
Fluoropolyethers end‐capped by polar functional groups. IV. A novel approach to the evaluation of reactivities of hydroxy‐terminated ethoxylated fluoropolyethers in the tin(IV)‐catalyzed reactions with isophorone diisocyanate
Authors: Khomko Elena , Mashlyakovskiy Leonid , Tonelli Claudio
Published: September 2004

The effect of catalyst dibutyltin dilaurate (DBTDL) on the kinetics of urethane formation reactions of α,ω‐bis(hydroxy)‐terminated fluoropolyethers Fomblin® Z‐DOL TXs (FPEs) of various molecular weights and poly(oxyethylene) glycol PEG‐400 with isophorone diisocyanate (IPDI) in hexafluoroxylene (HFX) and tetrahydrofuran (THF) at 40 °C and NCO:OH = 2:1 have been studied in a broad range of catalyst (0.10–9.00) ×10−4 M and total reagents (10.0–60.1 wt %) concentrations. The rate of tin‐catalyzed second‐order reactions (with respect to diol and diisocyanate) was found to be proportional to the square root of catalyst concentration [DBTDL]0.5 both in low polar (HFX) and polar (THF) solvents. Effect of catalyst saturation was revealed for all the reaction systems at higher DBTDL concentrations as well as the appearance of the limiting catalyst concentrations Clim below which the rates of reaction were close to zero. Based on these findings new effective rate coefficients have been derived k = kcat/(C − C) that are independent of the total reagent concentration in the range of 10.0–60.1 wt % ([OH] = 0.10–0.91 equiv/L). This new approach highlights that the rate of the tin‐catalyzed urethane formation reactions of α,ω‐bis(hydroxy)‐terminated fluoropolyethers Z‐DOL TXs with IPDI in HFX at 40 °C and NCO:OH = 2:1 increases significantly with increasing MW of FPE from 776 up to 3405. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 5354–5371, 2004
Strategies toward biocompatible artificial implants: Grafting of functionalized poly(ethylene glycol)s to poly(ethylene terephthalate) surfaces
Authors: Fukai Ryoko , Dakwa Piwai H. R. , Chen Wei
Published: September 2004

Epoxide and aldehyde end‐functionalized poly(ethylene glycol)s (PEGs) (Mw = 400, 1000, 3400, 5000, and 20,000) were grafted to poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) film substrates that contained amine or alcohol groups. PET‐PAH and PET‐PEI were prepared by reacting poly(allylamine) (PAH) and polyethylenimine (PEI) with PET substrates, respectively; PET‐PVOH was prepared by the adsorption of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVOH) to PET substrates. Grafting was characterized and quantified by the increase of the intensity of the PEG carbon peak in the X‐ray photoelectron spectra. Grafting yield was optimized by controlling reaction parameters and was found to be substrate‐independent in general. Graft density consistently decreased as PEG chain length was increased. This is likely due to the higher steric requirement of higher molecular weight PEG molecules. Water contact angles of surfaces containing long PEG chains (3400, 5000, and 20,000) are much lower than those containing shorter PEG chains (400 and 1000). This indicates that longer PEG chains are more effective in rendering surfaces hydrophilic. Protein adsorption experiments were carried out on PET‐ and PEG‐modified derivatives using collagen, lysozyme, and albumin. After PEG grafting, the amount of protein adsorbed was reduced in all cases. Trends in surface requirements for protein resistance are: surfaces with longer PEG chains and higher chain density, especially the former, are more protein resistant; PEG grafted to surfaces containing branched or network polymers is not effective at covering the underlying substrate, and thus does not protect the entire surface from protein adsorption; and substrates containing surface charge are less protein‐resistant. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 5389–5400, 2004
Behavior of collagen films in presence of structure modifiers at solid–liquid interface
Authors: Usha R. , Dhathathreyan Aruna , Mandal A. B. , Ramasami T.
Published: September 2004

Films of soluble collagen extracted from rat‐tail tendon were studied at the solid–solution interface, and the surface energy of the films was evaluated. The films transferred onto solid substrates using the Langmuir–Blodgett film (LB film) technique were characterized using Fourier transform IR attenuated total reflectance spectroscopy and atomic force microscopy. The properties of the protein in contact with different structure modifiers like basic chromium sulfate (BCS) and formaldehyde (HCHO) were analyzed for the effect of various tanning agents on the protein structure. The thermal properties of the films were studied using differential scanning calorimetry. The results show that the film of collagen treated with BCS exhibits an increase in the peak temperature and enthalpy changes compared to the pure collagen as well as the protein with HCHO. These differences are attributed to the changes in the crosslinks arising from both coordinate–covalent and covalent interactions, respectively. The atomic force micrographs showed an increase in order for the collagen film with BCS compared to the HCHO treated analogue. A similar trend is seen in the surface energy parameters of the protein films on solid surfaces on reacting with BCS and HCHO, suggesting a molecular level ordering process in collagen assemblies. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 42: 3859–3865, 2004
Structural and transport characteristics of polyethylene oxide/phenolic resin blend solid polymer electrolytes
Authors: Chu Peter P. , Reddy M. Jaipal , Tsai Joyce
Published: September 2004

Details on the structure and transport characteristics of the solid polymer electrolyte polyethylene oxide (PEO)/lithium salt (LiClO4) modified by novolac phenolic resin are presented here. From IR spectra it could be concluded that complex formation occurred through multiple interactions between the ether oxygen of PEO–lithium, phenolic lithium, and the phenolic ether oxygen of PEO. The free hydroxyl band in phenolic reflected that phenolic closely interacted with both the PEO polymer and ionic salt. With increasing salt content in PEO, the vibration band corresponding to the ClO anion (∼623 cm−1) displayed growth of a shoulder at ∼635 cm−1, suggesting the formation of Li+…ClO4− ion pairing. However, in the presence of phenolic, ion‐pairing formation was effectively suppressed, which suggested that the phenolic moiety facilitated a greater degree of LiClO4 salt dissociation. Activation energy analysis revealed two conducting pathways: one through the amorphous PEO and the other through the PEO/phenolic amorphous matrix. The high ion conductivity originated from effective salt dissociation and the establishment of a new conduction network formed by PEO and phenolic. Furthermore, the structural modification also extended the thermal stability and mechanical strength of the solid polymer electrolyte composite. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 42: 3866–3875, 2004
Deuteron tunneling and phase transition in M3D(AO4)2 antiferroelectrics
Authors: Dolin S. P. , Levin A. A. , Mikhailova T. Y. , Solin M. V. , Polyakov E. V. , Strokach N. S.
Published: September 2004

An effect of the AO4 tetrahedron reorganization vibrational modes on the deuteron tunneling splitting ΔD is treated for fully deuterated M3D(AO4)2 materials (M alkali metal; A = S, Se) of the TKHS family using various quantum chemical models and computational techniques. It is found that the reorganization of the nonhydrogen framework of the D(AO4) dimers in a crystal results in the reduction of ΔD and favors the transition of a material in the ordered (antiferroelectric) phase. Numerical estimation of this effect with the use of the available diffraction data leads to only minor reduction of ΔD. At the same time, substantial pronounced contributions to ΔD reduction is due to the corrections of potential energy profiles, calculated by different quantum chemical techniques. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2004
Dynamics of nematic liquid crystals with conformational degrees of freedom
Authors: Ivashin A. P. , Kovalevsky M. Y. , Logvinova L. V.
Published: September 2004

On the bases of the Hamilton approach the dynamics of the biaxial nematic are considered. The hydrodynamic parameters that are bound up with broken symmetry are introduced in terms of the distortion tensor. The density and flux density of additive integrals of motion are given in terms of energy density. The equations for ideal hydrodynamics are obtained and the spectra of collective excitations of biaxial nematics are considered taking into account the factor of the form of molecules. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2004
Wannier functions and chemical bonding in crystals with the perovskite‐like structure: SrTiO3, BaTiO3, PbTi3, and LaMnO3
Authors: Usvyat D. E. , Evarestov R. A. , Smirnov V. P.
Published: September 2004

The electronic structure of the cubic perovskites SrTiO3, BaTiO3, PbTiO3, and LaMnO3 is calculated by Hartree–Fock and density functional theory methods in the approximation of linear combinations of atomic orbitals. The local properties of the electronic structure of these crystals (atomic charges, bond orders, atomic covalences, and total valences) are obtained using the minimal valence basis of Wannier‐type atomic orbitals (WTAOs). WTAOs are defined as the mostly localized atomic‐like Wannier functions generated from the Bloch states, corresponding to some occupied and vacant bands. WTAOs are constructed by means of a variational procedure suggested earlier. The atomic charges obtained via WTAO technique are compared to the traditional Mulliken atomic charges. The results of the population analysis demonstrate the closeness of the local properties of cubic SrTiO3, BaTiO3, and PbTiO3. The covalence appears to be essential for the nearest‐neighbor oxygentransition metal bond. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2004
The effect of the presence of foreign salts on the formation of gaseous ions for electrospray and laser spray
Authors: Hiraoka Kenzo , Asakawa Yoshiki , Kawashima Yoko , Okazaki Shigemitsu , Nakamura Masana , Yamamoto Yasuteru , Takamizawa Atsushi
Published: September 2004

The effect of the presence of foreign salts (NaCl, aerosol OT, tetra‐n‐hexylammonium bromide, and CH3COONH4) on the formation of gaseous ions for electrospray (ES) and laser spray (LS) was studied in the positive and negative modes of operations. The ion signals for amino acids show sudden decrease with the concentration of foreign salts greater than 10−5 M for both ES and LS. When the surface‐active counter ions were added, the signal intensities showed a marked decrease for both ES and LS. This may be due to the enrichment of the surface‐active counter ions on the surface of the charged droplets. When CH3COONH4 was added to an aqueous solution of 10−6 M lysozyme chloride, an increase of the signal intensities for (lysozyme+nH)n+ and a decrease in the values of n were observed. The decrease in n may be due to the salt formation of (lysozyme+nH)n+ with the negative acetate ion leading to the reduction of positive charges. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A multi‐residue screening method for the determination of 73 pesticides and metabolites in fruit and vegetables using high‐performance liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry
Authors: Hetherton Christel L. , Sykes Mark D. , Fussell Richard J. , Goodall David M.
Published: September 2004

A multi‐residue screening method was developed for the simultaneous analysis of 73 pesticides and their metabolites using high‐performance liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray tandem mass spectrometry. These pesticides were determined under a single set of experimental conditions involving a simple acetonitrile extraction without the requirement for a clean‐up step. Validation was achieved at 0.01 and 0.1 mg kg−1 levels in apple, lettuce and orange. Recoveries were in the range 77–124% for the majority of pesticides. © Crown Copyright 2004. Reproduced with the permission of Her Majesty's Stationery Office. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Some aspects of the seasonal sea level variations around Spain
Authors: García‐Lafuente J. , Del Río J. , Alvarez Fanjul E. , Gomis D. , Delgado J.
Published: September 2004

Tide gauge stations are used to investigate the seasonal variability of sea level around Spain, which exhibits a well‐defined annual cycle and a small but distinguishable semiannual cycle in all stations. The contribution of different sources to observed sea level has been analyzed. The effect of wind and atmospheric pressure has been explored, analyzing sea level residuals computed with a barotropic ocean model forced by the meteorological fields. Sea level corrected for meteorological forcing contains only an annual signal, indicating that the semiannual cycle in the observed sea levels is mainly forced by these meteorological agents. Additional data sets (sea surface temperature satellite images and climatologies) are used to show that the annual cycle is related to the seasonal steric anomaly, which accounts for ∼60% of the cycle amplitude. The lack of agreement between the annual phases of sea level and steric anomaly cycles for the stations located in the continental margin of the Atlantic Ocean suggests the existence of other effects in the observed sea levels related to seasonal changes in ocean circulation. On the contrary, open‐ocean stations of the Canary Islands have sea level annual cycles phase locked with the steric anomaly cycles, although amplitudes differ significantly from one station to the other. This fact is interpreted as the local response to large‐scale seasonal fluctuations of the Canary Current. Sea level cycle in stations within the semienclosed Mediterranean Sea suggests the existence of a hydrological cycle that must include a seasonal barotropic signal through the Strait of Gibraltar.
Effect of limited storm duration on landscape evolution, drainage basin geometry, and hydrograph shapes
Authors: Sólyom Peter B. , Tucker Gregory E.
Published: September 2004

Landscape evolution models that calculate erosion as a function of discharge usually assume steady state runoff conditions and compute discharge as a power law function of the contributing area. This assumption is appropriate for small catchments and for regions in which the climate is characterized by long‐lasting rainfall events. With larger catchments or shorter storms, however, the travel time of a water particle from the divide to the catchment outlet is typically longer than the characteristic storm duration. Hence a hydrologic steady state cannot be reached. This paper offers an analytic solution for nonsteady state peak discharge and investigates how changes in storm duration alter hydrograph characteristics and the shape of the resulting equilibrium landscape. An asymptotic function is used to incorporate the effect of storm duration into a landscape evolution model. We demonstrate with numerical simulations and analytical results that decreasing relative storm duration results in downstream‐decreasing equilibrium channel concavity and decreasing valley density. It is also shown that this nonsteady state runoff system is less stable than the system of steady state runoff processes. Under certain conditions, no fixed dynamic equilibrium state exists. Furthermore, analysis of the shape of runoff hydrographs reveals feedback mechanisms manifested between hydrograph shape, erosion, and morphogenesis, demonstrating a compensatory mechanism between external precipitation input and internal runoff production.