bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Optimal seismic‐resistant design of a planar steel frame
Authors: Balling Richard J. , Pister Karl S. , Ciampi Vicenzo 
Published: March 2007

AbstractThis paper illustrates the design of a four‐storey, three‐bay, moment‐resisting, planar steel frame. Non‐linear step‐by‐step integration is used as the analysis technique within the design process itself rather than as a check at the end of the design process.The method of design directly quantifies the accepted seismic‐resistant design philosophy that a properly designed structure: (1) resists moderate ground motion without structural damage, and (2) resists severe ground motion without collapse. Actual ground motion accelerograms are selected and scaled to levels representing moderate and severe ground motions. Constraints quantifying structural damage and limited non‐structural damage are constructed for the case of moderate ground motion, along with constraints quantifying collapse and limited structural damage for the case of severe ground motion. In addition serviceability constraints are imposed on structural behaviour under gravity loads only. Objective functions include the minimization of structural volume as well as the minimization of response quantities such as storey drifts and inelastically dissipated energy.A sophisticated optimization algorithm is utilized to solve the resulting mathematical programming problem. Comparative results concerning the computational phase as well as performance of both preliminary and final designs are presented. The practicality and reliability of the design method are assessed.
The cost of quality improvements due to integrated management of childhood illness (IMCI) in Uganda
Authors: Bishai David , Mirchandani Gita , Pariyo George , Burnham Gilbert , Black Robert 
Published: March 2007

AbstractThe goal of this paper is to measure the marginal change in facility‐level costs of medical care for children under five due to an increase in service quality achieved through the integrated management of childhood illness (IMCI) strategy. Since the beneficial effects of IMCI training on child health outcomes are due to IMCI's effects on service quality, costs of IMCI are regressed against measures of service quality in this paper. Our model shows that quality, as measured by a WHO‐index of integrated child assessment is 44% higher in facilities with at least one health worker trained in IMCI as compared to facilities with no health workers trained in IMCI, adjusting for facility utilization as well as type of facility ownership. Our marginal analysis that tied IMCI training to quality and quality to costs shows that on the margin, investing in IMCI training at a primary facility level can yield a significant 44.3% improvement in service quality for a modest 13.5% increase in annual facility costs. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Comparison and evaluation of two C‐reactive protein assays based on particle‐enhanced immunoturbidimetry
Authors: Şişman Ali Rιza , Küme Tuncay , Taş Gültekin , Akan Pι nar , Tuncel Pι nar 
Published: March 2007

AbstractThe use of C‐reactive protein (CRP) assays is increasing for a wide range of clinical conditions, and consequently the analytical performance requirements for CRP assays are also changing. For this reason, manufacturers have been developing CRP assays based on different methodologies to provide both high sensitivity and a wide measuring range. However, it is questionable whether these methods can meet the desired requirements for CRP assays. CRP Latex on the Cobas Integra 400 and CRP Tina‐quant Latex on the Modular Analytics‐P were evaluated in terms of detection limit, linearity, intra‐ and interassay precision, and comparability with 268 patient samples. The intra‐ and interassay precision of the two methods was <4.1% in the three pools with CRP concentrations ranging from 6.9 to 215 mg/L, and >10% in the pool with concentrations of ∼0.60 mg/L. The detection limits for CRP Latex and Tina‐quant Latex were 0.20 and 0.22 mg/L, respectively. Both methods were linear up to 215 mg/L. There was a good agreement between the two assays, except for a scattering at concentrations near the detection limits. Deming regression analysis for CRP Latex (x‐axis) and Tina‐quant Latex (y‐axis) yielded a slope of 1.067±0.018, an intercept of –0.148±0.358, and an Sy∣x of 5.10 (r=0.996, P<0.0001). The two assays gave comparable results. Low precision was determined for both assays, except for the low pool with a concentration of ∼0.60 mg/L. We concluded that both of these assays should be improved to meet high‐sensitivity criteria. J. Clin. Lab. Anal. 21:71–76, 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Interplay between the retinoblastoma related pRb2/p130 and E2F‐4 and ‐5 in relation to JCV‐TAg
Authors: Caracciolo Valentina , Reiss Krzysztof , Crozier‐Fitzgerald Catena , De Pascali Francesco , Macaluso Marcella , Khalili Kamel , Giordano Antonio 
Published: March 2007

AbstractHuman polyomaviruses, which include JC virus (JCV) and BK virus (BKV), as well as the simian virus 40 (SV40), have been associated with human tumors and have been shown to be highly tumorigenic in experimental animal models. Although the mechanism by which JCV induces tumorigenesis is not entirely clear, earlier studies point to the involvement of the viral early protein T‐antigen which has the ability to bind and inactivate tumor suppressors and cell cycle regulatory proteins, such as the retinoblastoma family proteins and p53. We investigated if the distribution between nucleus and cytoplasm of the transcription factors E2F4 and E2F5 is mediated by pRb2/p130 and if the presence of JCV T‐antigen may impair this shuttling by sequestering pRb2/p130. The results showed that E2F4 was prevalently localized in the nucleus of both T‐antigen positive and ‐negative R503 cells independently of the cell cycle phase. E2F5 instead was prevalently localized in the cytoplasmic fraction in G0/G1, S‐phase synchronized, and asynchronous R503 and R503 T‐Ag positive cells. The presence of T‐antigen did not influence the subcellular localization of these transcription factors E2F4 and E2F5, at least in this murine cellular model. Moreover, Small interference RNA experiments directed toward silencing the Rb2/p130 gene demonstrated that pRb2/p130 does not play a predominant role in the nuclear transportation of E2F4 and E2F5. J. Cell. Physiol. 212: 96–104, 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Rotavirus genotypes in Slovenia: Unexpected detection of G8P[8] and G12P[8] genotypes
Authors: Steyer Andrej , Poljšak‐Prijatelj Mateja , Bufon Tatjana Lužnik , Marčun‐Varda Nataša , Marin Jožica 
Published: March 2007

AbstractA rotavirus surveillance study was undertaken in Slovenia from December 2005 to March 2006. Stool samples from 114 children hospitalized with acute viral gastroenteritis were collected from two main Slovenian hospitals. These confirmed rotavirus‐positive samples were selected for a rotavirus G and P genotype prevalence study. Six untypable strains of genotype G were further analyzed with sequencing of the VP7, VP8*, and NSP4 genes. The findings of the study were that the G1 genotype was the most prevalent, found in 72 samples (63.2%), followed by G9 in 26 samples (22.8%), G4 in 10 samples (8.8%), and G3 in 2 samples (1.7%). All G genotypes were combined with the P[8] genotype specificity. After sequence analysis, one G8 and two G12 genotypes were also characterized. In a VP7‐based phylogenetic analysis, the G8P[8] strain (SI‐885/06) was more closely related to the Cody I801 bovine strain than to other human strains. Both G12 strains (SI‐264/06 and SI‐403/06) were shown to belong to the Se585 G12 cluster. In the VP8* phylogenetic tree, all analyzed strains except one, belonged to the P[8] lineage II and shared high identity in amino acid sequence. All characterized strains were clustered into the NSP4 genotype B. The molecular characterization of this G8 strain supports the theory of interspecies transmission of rotaviruses and animal‐human genome reassortment. This is the first report on rotavirus G12 detection in Slovenia. J. Med. Virol. 79:626–632, 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Quantitative detection of herpes simplex virus DNA in the lower respiratory tract
Authors: Gooskens J. , Templeton K.E. , Claas E.C. , van Bussel M.J. , Smit V.T. , Kroes A.C. 
Published: March 2007

AbstractQuantitation of herpes simplex virus (HSV) DNA in bronchoalveolar lavage specimens could indicate an infectious role in the lower respiratory tract. The aim of this study was to compare quantitative HSV DNA results from adult bronchoalveolar lavage specimens to clinical outcome. Quantitative real‐time PCR assays targeting HSV and other herpes viruses were performed on adult bronchoalveolar lavage specimens obtained from a largely immunocompromised population during a 1‐year period. The results were compared to patient characteristics and outcome. HSV DNA was detected in 11 (19%) of 57 bronchoalveolar lavage specimens with a mean viral level of 5.6 log genome equivalents/ml (range, 2.9–8.1 log). A threshold of HSV DNA levels equal or higher than 5.0 log (n = 7) was associated with mortality within 28 days following hospital admission (odds ratio [OR], 6.8; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.2–39.2). A threshold level of 5.5 log was associated with mortality within 28 days of sampling (OR 8.5; 95% CI 1.2–62.1), only after excluding patients receiving specific antiviral medication. Patients with HSV DNA levels equal or higher than 7.5 log had severe respiratory failure. Viral pneumonia was histologically proven in one patient with 8.0 log at autopsy. No patient with HSV DNA levels below 5.5 log (n = 5) or DNA levels higher than 5.0 log of cytomegalovirus (CMV) (n = 3), Epstein‐Barr virus (EBV) (n = 9), varicella‐zoster virus (VZV) (n = 1), or human herpesvirus 6 (HHV‐6) (n = 0) died within 28 days of hospital admission. We conclude that quantitative detection of HSV DNA in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid is a potential diagnostic tool for detection of relevant viral infection of the lower respiratory tract. J. Med. Virol. 79:597–604, 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Selective protection against oxidative damage in brain of mice with a targeted disruption of the neuronal nitric oxide synthase gene
Authors: Martínez‐Lazcano Juan Carlos , Pérez‐Severiano Francisca , Escalante Bruno , Ramírez‐Emiliano Joel , Vergara Paula , González Rosa O. , Segovia José 
Published: March 2007

AbstractNitric oxide (NO) is an essential messenger molecule in brain, where it is produced in neurons mostly by the activity of the neuronal isoform of nitric oxide synthase (nNOS). To understand the participation of the different isoforms of NOS in physiological functioning and in pathological processes, mice with null mutations for each of the NOS isoforms have been generated. In the present paper, we report that there is a selective protection from oxidative damage in the brain of mice with a targeted disruption of the nNOS gene. The cerebellum of these mice shows reduced levels of lipid peroxidation (LP) at the different ages tested, compared with wild‐type mice, and also a reduction in the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). We observed a decrease of LP in cortex, and no effect on either LP or ROS formation was observed in striatum of knockout mice compared with wild type. We also report increased spontaneous motor activity of knockout mice. The expression and activity of nNOS are crucial to maintain redox status in brain, and we consider that the alteration in oxidative damage may help us to explain the phenotypical characteristics of nNOS knockout mice and their differential susceptibility to brain insults. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
A variable poly‐T sequence modulates α‐synuclein isoform expression and is associated with aging
Authors: Beyer Katrin , Humbert Jordi , Ferrer Anna , Lao José I. , Latorre Pilar , Lopez Dolores , Tolosa Eduard , Ferrer Isidro , Ariza Aurelio 
Published: March 2007

Abstractα‐Synuclein, the main component of proteinaceous inclusions in synucleinopathies, is centrally involved in aggregation processes preceding Lewy body formation. Here we describe a new α‐synuclein gene poly‐T polymorphism that is situated upstream to exon 3 and consists of three different alleles. A correlation between poly‐T length and expression of α‐synuclein 126 mRNA, an isoform lacking exon 3, was detected in the human cerebral cortex. Specifically, when compared with the most frequent 7T/7T genotype, the shortest poly‐T stretch (5T) was associated with the lowest α‐synuclein 126 expression levels, whereas the longest poly‐T stretch (12T) was accompanied by the highest α‐synuclein 126 expression levels. Thus, three different expression‐level‐specific genotypes, with 5T+ genotypes as low α‐synuclein 126 expression genotypes and 12T+ genotypes as high α‐synuclein 126 expression genotypes, could be established. Poly‐T genotype distributions were also analyzed in a healthy control population. Age‐dependent variations in this distribution were observed and showed accumulation of low α‐synuclein 126 expression genotypes at ages under 60 years and high α‐synuclein 126 expression genotypes at ages over 80 years. To determine human specificity of the variable poly‐T strech, the mouse α‐synuclein gene sequence was analyzed. Although α‐synuclein is very well conserved in vertebrates, the poly‐T sequence was found to be absent in mice, and an α‐synuclein 126 mouse homologue could not be detected. In conclusion, this newly identified poly‐T polymorphism is a human‐specific sequence; its length influences α‐synuclein 126 expression levels; and, finally, it seems to exert a specific influence on normal aging. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Activation of the nociceptin opioid system in rat sensory neurons produces antinociceptive effects in inflammatory pain: Involvement of inflammatory mediators
Authors: Chen Yong , Sommer Claudia 
Published: March 2007

AbstractDespite a large body of literature on the nociceptin (NC) opioid system in pain modulation, the mechanism of action of NC remains largely unexplored. Here, we investigated the role and mode of action of the spinal NC system in inflammatory pain. Preemptive intrathecal administration of NC attenuated thermal hyperalgesia and mechanical allodynia in rats with intraplantar complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) injection. By using immunohistochemistry in L4 dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons, a marked increase of NC and ORL1 receptor immunoreactivity was detected following CFA. Intrathecal administration of NC attenuated the CFA‐induced increases of calcitonin gene‐related peptide, transient receptor potential vanilloid‐1, and tumor necrosis factor‐α in DRG neurons. Real‐time reverse transcription‐polymerase chain reaction showed that NC reduced the up‐regulation of inducible nitric oxide synthase mRNA but not that of neuronal nitric oxide synthase mRNA in spinal cord segments after CFA. Furthermore, [Nphe1]NC(1–13)NH2, a selective opioid receptor‐like 1 (ORL1) receptor antagonist, significantly antagonized the effects of NC on pain modulation and on the expression of inflammatory mediators, indicating a specific NC action through the ORL1 receptor. Together, these findings reveal novel mechanisms by which the NC system produces analgesia. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Effect of hesperidin and naringin on the plasma lipid profile and plasma antioxidant activity in rats fed a cholesterol‐containing diet
Authors: Gorinstein Shela , Leontowicz Hanna , Leontowicz Maria , Krzeminski Ryszard , Gralak Mikolaj , Jastrzebski Zenon , Park Yong‐Seo , Jung Soon‐Teck , Kang Seong‐Gook , Trakhtenberg Simon 
Published: March 2007

AbstractThe objective of this study was to compare the influence of hesperidin and naringin, the main flavonones of orange and grapefruit, on plasma lipid profile and antioxidant activity in rats fed a cholesterol‐containing diet. Sixty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into six groups of 10, named Control, Hesperidin, Naringin, Chol, Chol/Hesperidin and Chol/Naringin. The Control group was fed a basal diet (BD) and 1–2 mL of distilled water. To the BD of the other five groups were added 0.1–0.2 mg of hesperidin dissolved in 1–2 mL of distilled water (Hesperidin group), 0.46–0.92 mg of naringin in 1–2 mL of water (Naringin group), 1% of non‐oxidised cholesterol (NOC) and 1–2 mL of water (Chol), 1% of NOC and 0.1–0.2 mg of hesperidin in 1–2 mL of water (Chol/Hesperidin), 1% of NOC and 0.46–0.92 mg of naringin in 1–2 mL of water (Chol/Naringin). After 30 days of the experiment it was found that the diets supplemented with hesperidin and naringin increased the plasma antioxidant activity. In conclusion, diets supplemented with hesperidin and naringin significantly hindered the increase in plasma lipid levels caused by cholesterol feeding. Hesperidin and naringin, bioactive compounds of citrus fruits, are powerful plasma lipid lowering and plasma antioxidant activity increasing flavonones. Copyright © 2007 Society of Chemical Industry
Effect of cooling on thixotropic position‐sense error in human biceps muscle
Authors: Sekihara Chikara , Izumizaki Masahiko , Yasuda Tomohiro , Nakajima Takayuki , Atsumi Takashi , Homma Ikuo 
Published: March 2007

AbstractMuscle temperature affects muscle thixotropy. However, it is unclear whether changes in muscle temperature affect thixotropic position‐sense errors. We studied the effect of cooling on thixotropic position‐sense errors induced by short‐length muscle contraction (hold‐short conditioning) in the biceps of 12 healthy men. After hold‐short conditioning of the right biceps muscle in a cooled (5.0°C) or control (36.5°C) environment, subjects perceived greater extension of the conditioned forearm at 5.0°C. The angle differences between the two forearms following hold‐short conditioning of the right biceps muscle in normal or cooled conditions were significantly different (–3.335 ± 1.680° at 36.5°C vs. –5.317 ± 1.096° at 5.0°C; P = 0.043). Induction of a tonic vibration reflex in the biceps muscle elicited involuntary forearm elevation, and the angular velocities of the elevation differed significantly between arms conditioned in normal and cooled environments (1.583 ± 0.326°/s at 36.5°C vs. 3.100 ± 0.555°/s at 5.0°C, P = 0.0039). Thus, a cooled environment impairs a muscle's ability to provide positional information, potentially leading to poor muscle performance. Muscle Nerve, 2007
Curing kinetics and mechanical properties of epoxy nanocomposites based on different organoclays
Authors: Ngo T.‐D. , Ton‐That M.‐T. , Hoa S.V. , Cole K.C. 
Published: March 2007

AbstractThe effect of different organoclays and mixing methods on the cure kinetics and properties of epoxy nanocomposites based on Epon828 and Epicure3046 was studied. The two kinds of organoclay used in this study, both based on natural montmorillonite but differing in intercalant chemistry, were I.30E (Nanomer I.30E—treated with a long‐chain primary amine intercalant) and C.30B (Cloisite 30B—treated with a quaternary ammonium intercalant, less reactive with epoxy than the primary amine). The two mixing processes used to prepare the nanocomposites were (i) a room‐temperature process, in which the clay and epoxy are mixed at room temperature, and (ii) a high‐temperature process, in which the clay and epoxy are mixed at 120°C for 1 h by means of mechanical mixing. The nanocomposites were cured at room temperature and at high temperature. The quality of dispersion and intercalation/exfoliation were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and X‐ray diffraction. The heat evolution of the epoxy resin formulation and its nanocomposite systems was measured using differential scanning calorimetry at different heating rates of 2.5, 5, 10, 15, and 20°C min−1. The cure kinetics of these systems was modeled by means of different approaches. Kissinger and isoconversional models were used to calculate the kinetics parameters while the Avrami model was utilized to compare the cure behavior of the epoxy systems. The cure kinetics and mechanical properties were found to be influenced by the presence of nanoclay, by the type of intercalant, and by the mixing method. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 47:649–661, 2007. © 2007 Society of Plastics Engineers.
Nonisothermal crystallization kinetics of kenaf fiber/polypropylene composites
Authors: Grozdanov A. , Buzarovska A. , Bogoeva‐Gaceva G. , Avella M. , Errico M.E. , Gentile G. 
Published: March 2007

AbstractNonisothermal crystallization behavior of model ecocomposites based on polypropylene (PP), maleic anhydride modified polypropylene (PPm), and kenaf fibers were extensively studied. Melting and crystallization behavior of the composites with 20 wt/wt% kenaf fibers were analyzed by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) in dynamic regime (with heating rate of 10 K/min, and cooling rates of 5, 10, 15, 20, and 40 K/min). It was shown that the kenaf fiber surface acts as a nucleating agent during nonisothermal crystallization of both PP matrices, shifting the onset and peak crystallization temperatures toward higher values. Crystallization behavior was analyzed by Avrami, Jeziorny, Ozawa, Mo, and Kissinger methods. The results confirmed the applicability of the used models, with exception of the Ozawa approach that was rather inapplicable for these composites. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 47:745–749, 2007. © 2007 Society of Plastics Engineers.
Particulate reinforcement of polyacrylate elastomers. II. Mechanical properties
Authors: Blackley David C. , Sheikh Majid W. 
Published: March 2007

AbstractThis paper presents and discusses results which have been obtained for the mechanical properties of crosslinked polyethylacrylates containing various amounts of microscopic glass beads. The adhesion between the glass beads and the elastomer matrix was varied by subjecting the beads to different surface treatments. That the adhesion is affected by surface treatment has been demonstrated in two ways: (i) Unfilled elastomer sheets have been cast in contact with glasses surfaces which had been treated with the same reagents as were used to treat the beads. The force required to peel the elastomer from the glass was then measured and found to depend strongly upon the surface treatment, (ii) Scanning electron micrographs of the ruptured surfaces of used tensile test‐pieces cut from filled elastomer sheets confirm that surface treatment has a profound effect upon the adhesion between bead and matrix.Results are presented for the hardness and tensile stress‐strain properties of elastomers containing various amounts of beads. In all cases, the stiffening effect of the beads increases as the adhesion between beads and matrix is improved. Beads which had been treated in such a way as to minimise the, adhesion to the matrix were found to cause an apparent softening of the material as revealed by the tensile stress‐strain curve. It has been shown that this effect can be satisfactorily explained if it is assumed that in this case the beads merely serve to increase the void content of the material.