bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Dihydropteroate synthase (DHPS) gene mutation study in HIV-Infected Indian patients with Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia
Authors: Tyagi Anuj Kumar , Mirdha Bijay Ranjan , Luthra Kalpana , Guleria Randeep , Mohan Anant , Singh Urvashi Balbir , Samantaray Jyotish Chandra , Dar Lalit , Iyer Venkateswaran K , Chaudhry Rama 
Published: November 2010

Introduction: Pneumocystis jirovecii dihydropteroate synthase (DHPS) gene mutations' (55th and 57th codon) association with prior sulfa prophylaxis failure has been reported from both developed and developing countries. We conducted a prospective study to determine the prevalence of P. jirovecii DHPS mutations from 2006 to 2009 on P. jirovecii isolates obtained from HIV-infected patients with a clinical diagnosis of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP) admitted to our tertiary care reference health center in New Delhi, India. Methodology: Detection of P. jirovecii cysts was performed by direct fluorescent antibody (DFA) staining and by Grocott's-Gomori methenamine silver staining (GMS). DNA detection was performed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using primers for the major surface glycoprotein (MSG) gene. P. jirovecii DHPS gene was amplified by nested PCR protocol and sequenced for detecting mutations at the 55th and 57th codons. Results: Out of 147 HIV-positive patients with suspected Pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP), 16 (10.8%) PCP positive cases were detected. Of 16 cases, nine (56.2%) were positive by DFA staining, four (25%) were positive by Grocott's-Gomori methenamine silver staining, and all 16 were positive by MSG PCR. DHPS mutations at the 55th and 57th codons were observed in 6.2% of HIV patients studied, which was relatively low compared to reports from developed nations. Conclusions: Prevalence of Pneumocystis jirovecii DHPS mutations associated with cotrimoxazole treatment failure may be low in the Indian subpopulation of HIV-positive patients and warrants larger studies to elucidate the true picture of Pneumocystis jirovecii sulfa drug resistance in India.
Adverse effects after HAART Initiation in resource-limited settings: a prospective study from Mysore, India
Authors: Sreenivasan Srirangaraj , Dasegowda Venkatesha 
Published: November 2010

Introduction: There are few studies from India documenting the adverse effects of generic HAART (Highly Active Anti-retroviral Therapy). Methodology: A prospective study was conducted at Mysore, India, to study the adverse effects after HAART initiation in a cohort of 100 antiretroviral therapy (ART)-naive patients, who were evaluated prospectively every three months by clinical and laboratory monitoring for adverse effects after HAART initiation for one year. Results: The most common first-line regimens were zidovudine (AZT) plus lamivudine (3TC) plus nevirapine (NVP) (42%); followed by Stavudine (d4T) plus 3TC plus NVP (33%); AZT plus 3TC plus efavirenz (EFV) (13%); and d4T plus 3TC plus EFV (12%). The first-line regimen was modified in14% of patients. The most common reasons for modifying therapy were development of an adverse effect (eight cases; 57.14%) and completion of antituberculous therapy (six cases; 42.86%). The commonest cause for modifying therapy was skin rashes due to NVP (four cases) followed by anaemia two cases) and peripheral neuropathy (two cases). Grade 1 or 2 severity adverse effects by laboratory monitoring were seen in 54 patients after ART initiation and grade 3 or 4 severity adverse effects were seen in eight patients. Conclusions: A significant proportion of patients had adverse effects of a lower grade severity after HAART. A significant proportion of those started on ART substitute therapy due to adverse effects and those on NVP-based regimens are more likely to do so when compared with those on non-NVP- based regimens.
Dendritic Cells Distinguish Individual Chemokine Signals through CCR7 and CXCR4
Authors: Ricart Brendon G. , John Beena , Lee Dooyoung , Hunter Christopher A. , Hammer Daniel A. 
Published: November 2010

Abstract
Dendritic cells (DCs) respond to chemotactic signals to migrate from sites of infection to secondary lymphoid organs where they initiate the adaptive immune response. The key chemokines directing their migration are CCL19, CCL21, and CXCL12, but how signals from these chemokines are integrated by migrating cells is poorly understood. Using a microfluidic device, we presented single and competing chemokine gradients to murine bone-marrow derived DCs in a controlled, time-invariant microenvironment. Experiments performed with counter-gradients revealed that CCL19 is 10–100-fold more potent than CCL21 or CXCL12. Interestingly, when the chemoattractive potencies of opposing gradients are matched, cells home to a central region in which the signals from multiple chemokines are balanced; in this region, cells are motile but display no net displacement. Actin and myosin inhibitors affected the speed of crawling but not directed motion, whereas pertussis toxin inhibited directed motion but not speed. These results provide fundamental insight into the processes that DCs use to migrate toward and position themselves within secondary lymphoid organs.
A GIS dataset compilation of samples collected for the Targeted Geoscience Initiative project: potential for carbonate-hosted Pb-Zn (MVT) deposits in northern Alberta and southern Northwest Territories (NTS blocks 74, 84, 85, 95)
Authors: Hannigan P K 
Published: November 2010

The Targeted Geoscience Initiative project area is located within NTS 1:250 000 map sheets 74 C,D,E,F,K,L,M,N; 84 A through P; 85 A through P; and 95 A through P in Alberta and Northwest Territories, Canada, an area that extends from Fort McMurray and Peace River
(east of Fort St. John, British Columbia) in the south to the west shore of Great Slave Lake in the north. The northeast portion of the project area is occupied by the Canadian Shield. Sedimentary host-rocks for Mississippi Valley-type (MVT) mineralization occur within the Phanerozoic wedge in
the Plains and Foothills of the Western Canada Sedimentary Basin and in the Rocky Mountains of the Cordilleran Orogen. Carbonate-hosted lead and zinc occurrences in the project area are located within the cratonic platform succession beneath the Plains of the Western Canada Sedimentary Basin. MVT
deposits and occurrences are not found in high-temperature metasedimentary rocks of the Canadian Shield. The project area also encompasses the world-class Pine Point Mississippi Valley-type lead-zinc mine-site near the southern shore of Great Slave Lake as well as subsidiary orebodies found in the
Great Slave Reef property located immediately west of Pine Point, NWT.
This GIS dataset is a comprehensive compilation of information for 596 mineralized and non-mineralized samples collected within the TGI project area, specifically to display relevant data commonly used to describe and characterize carbonate-hosted MVT zinc and lead deposits and occurrences. This
three-dimensional dataset may contribute to focusing future exploration efforts within and adjacent to the project area. In addition, for companion purposes, selected samples from known and potential areas for MVT mineralization outside the project area were collected, analyzed, and displayed in
this database. A separate database comprising a compilation of similar data obtained from previously known lead and zinc occurrences in the project area was compiled and is available as a separate CD.
Patterning of YVO4:Eu3+ Luminescent Films by Soft Lithography
Authors: Wang Wenxin , Cheng Ziyong , Yang Piaoping , Hou Zhiyao , Li Chunxia , Li Guogang , Dai Yunlu , Lin Jun 
Published: November 2010

AbstractOrdered arrays of luminescent YVO4:Eu3+ films with square (side length 19.17 ± 2.05 μm) and dot (diameter 11.20 ± 1.82 μm) patterns were fabricated by two kinds of soft lithography processes, namely, microtransfer molding (μTM) and microcontact printing (μCP), respectively. Both soft‐lithography processes utilize a PDMS elastomeric mold as the stamp combined with a Pechini‐type sol‐gel process to produce luminescent patterns on quartz plates, in which a YVO4:Eu3+ precursor solution was employed as ink. The ordered luminescent YVO4:Eu3+ patterns are revealed by optical micro­scopy and their microstructure, consisting of nanometer‐scale particles, is unveiled by scanning electronic microscopy (SEM) observations. Additionally, photoluminescence (PL) and cathodoluminescence (CL) were carried out to characterize the patterned YVO4:Eu3+ samples. A strong red emission as a result of 5D0–7F2 transition of Eu3+ was observed under UV‐light or electron‐beam excitation, which implies that combining soft lithography with a Pechini‐type sol‐gel route has potential for fabricating rare‐earth luminescent pixels for next‐generation field‐emission display devices.
Regulation of light emission from Ag cluster films under mechanical deformation of elastic substrates
Authors: Nepijko S. , Schulze W. , Rabin I. , Viduta L. 
Published: November 2010

AbstractSpectral distribution and integral intensity of the light emitted from Ag cluster films on a mylar and mica substrate were measured under the passage of electrical current. The effect of the substrate deformation at a fixed voltage on the conduction current and integral intensity of the emitted light was studied. The variation of the integral light emission was found to be an order of magnitude larger than that of the conduction current. This result is explained in terms of collective characteristic of film (conduction current) as opposed by individual contributions of emission centres (light emission).
Ein Konzept und seine Umsetzung: Graphen gestern, heute und morgen
Authors: Dreyer Daniel R. , Ruoff Rodney S. , Bielawski Christopher W. 
Published: November 2010

AbstractIn den vergangenen Jahren ist das Interesse an Graphen sprunghaft angestiegen. Ähnliche Materialien wurden allerdings schon im Jahr 1962 ausgehend von Graphenoxid erhalten, und chemische Modifikationen von Graphit sind sogar schon seit 1840 bekannt. Indem wir die faszinierenden Entwicklungen bei der Synthese und Charakterisierung von Graphen nachvollziehen, wollen wir hier zeigen, wie sich die Geschichte der Graphen‐Chemie in den spannenden aktuellen Forschungsarbeiten fortsetzt. Auf diesem Gebiet warten noch viele Aufgaben – auch solche, die in technologischer Hinsicht von größter Bedeutung sind.
Synthesis and in vitro Anticancer Activities of some Selenadiazole Derivatives
Authors: Plano Daniel , Moreno Esther , Font María , Encío Ignacio , Palop Juan Antonio , Sanmartín Carmen 
Published: November 2010

AbstractA novel series of fourteen substituted selenadiazoles has been synthesized and the compounds tested for their in vitro antiproliferative and cytotoxic activities. The tests were carried out against leukemia (CCRF‐CEM), colon (HT‐29), lung (HTB‐54), and breast (MCF‐7) cancer cells. In order to assess the selectivity of the compounds under investigation the assays were also carried out on two non‐tumoral lines – one mammary (184B5) and one bronchial epithelium (BEAS‐2B) cell line. Assay‐based antiproliferative activity studies revealed that seven derivatives (2a, 2c, 2e, 2f, 2g, 3a, and 3b) exhibited good activity against MCF‐7 cells: for instance, 2c and 2f inhibited cell growth with nanomolar GI50 values. Compound 2f had a better antitumoral profile than vinorelbine and paclitaxel, two drugs that are used as first‐line treatments in advanced, recurrent, and/or metastatic cancer. In the other cell lines the compounds showed moderate activity or were inactive – with the exception of 2a, which was also found to have antiproliferative activity. Modulation of the cell cycle and apoptotic effects of active compounds were further evaluated in MCF‐7 cells. Of these, 6‐bromo[1,2,5]selenadiazolo[3,4‐b]pyridine (2a) was the most active, with an apoptogenic effect 3.9 times higher than that of camptothecin, which was used as a positive control. Compound 2a also provoked cell cycle arrest with a significant decrease in the G0/G1 phase cell population and an increase in S and G2/M cells, thus suggesting mitotic arrest prior to metaphase.
Synthesis and in‐vitro inotropic evaluation of 2‐(4‐substitutedbenzyl‐1,4‐diazepan‐1‐yl)‐N‐(4,5‐dihydro‐1‐phenyl‐[1,2,4]triazolo[4,3‐a]quinolin‐7‐yl)acetamides
Authors: Jiang Sheng‐Ming , Ye Bai‐Jun , Liu Xue‐Kun , Zhang Tian‐Yi , Cui Xun , Piao Hu‐Ri 
Published: November 2010

AbstractWe describe the synthesis and positive inotropic evaluation of a series of 2‐(4‐substitutedbenzyl‐1,4‐diazepan‐1‐yl)‐N‐(4,5‐dihydro‐1‐phenyl‐[1,2,4]triazolo[4,3‐a]quinolin‐7‐yl)acetamides by measuring left atrial stroke volume in preparations of isolated rabbit‐heart. Several compounds were developed from, and showed favorable activities compared with the standard drug milrinone. Compound 5o was the most potent with an increased stroke volume of 9.17 ± 0.14% (milrinone 2.47 ± 0.08%) at 3 × 10−5 M in our in‐vitro study. The chronotropic effects of those compounds having inotropic effects were also evaluated.
Anti‐inflammatory, Analgesic, Anticonvulsant and Antiparkinsonian Activities of Some Pyridine Derivatives Using 2,6‐Disubstituted Isonicotinic Acid Hydrazides
Authors: Al‐Omar Mohamed A. , Amr Abd El‐Galil E. , Al‐Salahi Rashad A. 
Published: November 2010

AbstractA series of novel thiazolo derivatives2–15was synthesized by initial condensation of 2,6‐dihydroxyisonicotinohydrazide1and 2‐chloro‐6‐hydrazinylisonicotinohydrazide11with different organic reagents. The pharmacological screening showed that many of these obtained compounds have good anti‐inflammatory, analgesic, anticonvulsant, and antiparkinsonian activities comparable to diclofenac potassium, Voltarene®, Carbamazepine®, and Benzotropene® as reference drugs. Initially the acute toxicity of the compounds was assayed via the determination of their LD50. The structures of newly synthesized compounds were confirmed by IR,1H‐NMR,13C‐NMR, MS spectral data and elemental analysis. The detailed synthesis, spectroscopic data, LD50and pharmacological activities of the synthesized compounds were reported.
Functionalization of Fatty Acid Mimetics for Solid‐Phase Coupling and Subsequent Target Identification
Authors: Dittrich Michaela , Zettl Heiko , Schubert‐Zsilavecz Manfred 
Published: November 2010

AbstractFatty acid mimetics such as pirinixic acid (PA) derivatives and 2‐(phenylthio)alkanoic acid derivatives are drug‐like small molecules with an interesting pharmacological profile. Previously, we have characterized PA derivatives (e.g., 1) as dual agonists of peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptors (PPARs) α and γ and as inhibitors of microsomal prostaglandin E2‐synthase‐1 (mPGES‐1) and 5‐lipoxygenase (5‐LO). 2‐(Phenylthio)alkanoic acids (e.g., 2) were shown to act as highly active and selective PPARα agonists. Encouraged by these results, we would like to identify other target proteins and, thereby, further explore the pharmacological profile of these molecules. An elegant method to screen for potential interaction partners is the so‐called “protein‐fishing” approach. Requirement is coupling of a functionalized small molecule to a solid phase which is used for biological experiments. Ideally, the pharmacophore of the small molecule remains intact as far as possible. Here, we describe the successful design and synthesis of functionalized fatty acid mimetics, thus providing an eligible starting point for solid‐phase coupling and subsequent “protein‐fishing” experiments.
Brain‐Specific Delivery of Naproxen Using Different Carrier Systems
Authors: Mahmoud Sheha , Mohammad Alhawi 
Published: November 2010

AbstractNaproxen is one of the most potent NSAIDs and plays an important role in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. Poor brain delivery of naproxen at therapeutic doses, in addition to its serious gastrointestinal side effects, has prompted research into the development of a specific carrier system that is capable of delivering naproxen to the brain at smaller doses. The purpose of this study was to evaluate two brain‐specific carrier systems of naproxen. The first was the dihydropyridine/pyridinium redox system that utilized a lipophilic chemical delivery system coupled to the carboxylic acid group of naproxen through an ethanolamine linker. Secondly, an ascorbic acid system, which has reducing properties and acts as a biological carrier through sodium‐dependent vitamin‐C transporter, was used for brain‐specific delivery of naproxen. The prepared prodrugs were stable in aqueous buffers (pH 1.2 and 7.4) and rapidly hydrolyzed in biological fluids. Bioavailability studies revealed that both prodrugs 10 and 17 were rapidly cleared from blood with half lives of about 1 h, which will likely decrease systemic adverse effects. The rapid clearance from the blood was accompanied by an increase in the prodrug concentration in the brain, which occurred as a result of the prodrug being more locked in compared to the parent drug naproxen.
Decentralized adaptive fuzzy neural iterative learning control for nonaffine nonlinear interconnected systems
Authors: Wang Ying‐Chung , Chien Chiang‐Ju 
Published: November 2010

AbstractIn this paper, we study the design of iterative learning controllers for nonaffine nonlinear interconnected systems with repeatable control tasks. The interaction between each subsystem can be a general type of unknown nonlinear function if a bounding condition is satisfied. An error model is derived such that only local subsystem information is required for the controller design. An adaptive iterative learning controller for each subsystem is constructed based on a fuzzy neural learning component and a robust learning component. The fuzzy neural learning component designed by an output recurrent fuzzy neural network is utilized as an approximator to approximate the system nonaffine nonlinearities and interconnections. The approximation error due to the fuzzy neural learning component will be then compensated by a robust learning component. Stable adaptive laws are derived to update the control parameters in order to guarantee the stability and convergence. We show that the internal signals are bounded during the learning process and the state tracking errors of each subsystem converge asymptotically along the iteration axis to a tunable residual set.Copyright © 2010 John Wiley and Sons Asia Pte Ltd and Chinese Automatic Control Society
Improvement of Takagi‐Sugeno fuzzy model for the estimation of nonlinear functions
Authors: Jiménez Agustín , Al‐Hadithi Basil M. , Matía Fernando , Haber‐Haber Rodolfo 
Published: November 2010

AbstractTwo new and efficient approaches are presented to improve the local and global estimation of the Takagi‐Sugeno (T‐S) fuzzy model. The main aim is to obtain high function approximation accuracy and fast convergence. The main problem is that the T‐S identification method can not be applied when the membership functions are overlapped by pairs. The approaches developed here can be considered as generalized versions of T‐S method with optimized performance. The first uses the minimum norm approach to search for an exact optimum solution at the expense of increasing complexity and computational cost. The second is a simple and less computational method, based on weighting of parameters. Illustrative examples are chosen to evaluate the potential, simplicity and remarkable performance of the proposed methods and the high accuracy obtained in comparison with the original T‐S model.Copyright © 2010 John Wiley and Sons Asia Pte Ltd and Chinese Automatic Control Society
Input‐to‐state stability of min‐max MPC scheme for nonlinear time‐varying delay systems
Authors: Chen Qiu‐Xia , He De‐Feng , Yu Li 
Published: November 2010

AbstractThis paper studies the robustness problem of the min–max model predictive control (MPC) scheme for constrained nonlinear time‐varying delay systems subject to bounded disturbances. The notion of the input‐to‐state stability (ISS) of nonlinear time‐delay systems is introduced. Then by using the Lyapunov–Krasovskii method, a delay‐dependent sufficient condition is derived to guarantee input‐to‐state practical stability (ISpS) of the closed‐loop system by way of nonlinear matrix inequalities (NLMI). In order to lessen the online computational demand, the non‐convex min‐max optimization problem is then converted to a minimization problem with linear matrix inequality (LMI) constraints and a suboptimal MPC algorithm is provided. Finally, an example of a truck‐trailer is used to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed results.Copyright © 2010 John Wiley and Sons Asia Pte Ltd and Chinese Automatic Control Society
A simple derivation of all stabilizing proportional controllers for first order time‐delay systems
Authors: Nesimioglu B. S. , Soylemez M. T. 
Published: November 2010

AbstractIn this paper, a new simple derivation of all stabilizing proportional controllers, for first order linear time invariant systems with time‐delay, is presented. Although several results based on the Hermite‐Biehler theorem for finding such a set of controllers exist, the aim of this article is to present a shorter and more instructive derivation, which can be followed easily.Copyright © 2010 John Wiley and Sons Asia Pte Ltd and Chinese Automatic Control Society
Function and evolution of sex determination mechanisms, genes and pathways in insects
Authors: Gempe Tanja , Beye Martin 
Published: November 2010

AbstractAnimals have evolved a bewildering diversity of mechanisms to determine the two sexes. Studies of sex determination genes – their history and function – in non‐model insects and Drosophila have allowed us to begin to understand the generation of sex determination diversity. One common theme from these studies is that evolved mechanisms produce activities in either males or females to control a shared gene switch that regulates sexual development. Only a few small‐scale changes in existing and duplicated genes are sufficient to generate large differences in sex determination systems. This review summarises recent findings in insects, surveys evidence of how and why sex determination mechanisms can change rapidly and suggests fruitful areas of future research.
Laparoscopic resection of advanced colorectal cancer
Authors: Verheijen P M , Stevenson A R L , Lumley J W , Clark A J , Stitz R W , Clark D A 
Published: November 2010

Abstract

Background
Palliative resection of the primary tumour in asymptomatic patients with stage IV colorectal cancer is associated with improved survival and fewer complications. Laparoscopic surgery is widely employed in the curative treatment of colorectal cancer, but its value in advanced colorectal cancer remains unclear.

Methods
All patients who underwent laparoscopic resection of primary colorectal cancer in this unit between June 1991 and Jan 2010 were entered into a prospective computerized database. Outcomes for patients with laparoscopic resection of stage IV colorectal cancer were compared with those of patients who had laparoscopic surgery for stage I disease.

Results
Some 185 patients with stage IV colorectal cancer who underwent laparoscopic resection were compared with 310 patients who had stage I colorectal cancer. Some 94·1 and 98·4 per cent of operations respectively were completed laparoscopically. Hospital stay was slightly longer in the group with stage IV disease (mean 6·2 versus 5·3 days; P = 0·091). The 30-day mortality rate was 2·7 per cent in patients with stage IV disease and 0·6 per cent in those with stage I tumours (P = 0·061). There was no difference in complications. One-year survival rates were 77·8 and 99·0 per cent respectively (P &lt; 0·001).

Conclusion
Short-term outcomes after laparoscopic surgery for stage IV colorectal cancer in selected patients are equivalent to those for stage I cancers.