bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Immune modulation of HLA‐G dimer in maternal‐fetal interface
Authors: Kuroki Kimiko , Maenaka Katsumi 
Published: June 2007

AbstractHLA‐G is a non‐classical human MHC class I molecule, which has several characteristics distinct from classical MHC, such as low polymorphism and restricted tissue distribution. HLA‐G is expressed on placenta, thymus and some tumors. At the maternal‐fetal interface, trophoblasts do not express major classical MHC class I molecules (MHCI), HLA‐A and ‐B, to prevent normal T cell responses. Instead, HLA‐G is expressed and can suppress a wide range of immune responses by binding to inhibitory immune cell surface receptors, such as leukocyte Ig‐like receptor (LILR) B1 and LILRB2. HLA‐G exists in various forms, including β2m‐associated or ‐free disulfide‐linked dimers that can be expressed either at the cell surface or in soluble form. However, until recently the physiological role of these different molecular forms has been unclear. In this issue of the European Journal of Immunology, one article demonstrates that the disulfide‐linked homodimer of β2m‐associated HLA‐G is the major fraction expressed by trophoblast cells. The HLA‐G dimer modulates the function of LILRB1‐expressing antigen‐presenting cells by principally binding to LILRB1. On the other hand, another recent report showed that β2m‐free disulfide‐linked HLA‐G dimers are produced by villous cytotrophoblast cells. Taken together, these results provide strong evidence in support of the hypothesis that HLA‐G dimers play a role in immune suppression at the maternal‐fetal interface. Further in‐depth investigation will help to clarify the precise mechanism of HLA‐G receptor recognition and signaling in vivo and the role of these interactions in successful reproduction.See accompanying article: http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/eji.200737089
Effects of forage species and stage of maturity on bovine milk fatty acid composition
Authors: Vanhatalo Aila , Kuoppala Kaisa , Toivonen Vesa , Shingfield Kevin J. 
Published: June 2007

AbstractFive cows were used in a 5×5 Latin square to evaluate the effects of forage type and stage of herbage maturity on milk fatty acid (FA) composition. Four silages were prepared from primary growths of timothy‐meadow fescue and red clover swards at an early and late stage of growth. Treatments consisted of these silages and an additional treatment comprised of an equal mixture of late‐cut grass silage and early‐cut red clover silage. Forages were fedad libitumand supplemented with 9 kg/day of a standard concentrate. Compared with grass silage, red clover silage diets enhanced milk fat monounsaturated FA (MUFA) and polyunsaturated FA (PUFA) content, 18:3 n‐3 in particular, responses that were associated with concomitant reductions in 10:0 to 16:0 concentrations. Decreases in 16:0 and increases in PUFA concentrations were more pronounced for early than late growths of red clover. Even though red clover resulted in marginal increases in total milk fattrans18:1 content, milktrans‐11 18:1 concentrations were lower for red clover than for grass silage diets. It is concluded that replacing grass with red clover silage prepared at an early stage of maturity represents a sustainable nutritional strategy for enhancing the MUFA and PUFA content of milk.
Simulation of flow around a thin, flexible obstruction by means of a deforming grid overlapping a fixed grid
Authors: Liu Kunlun , Radhakrishnan Hari , Barocas Victor H. 
Published: June 2007

AbstractThis paper presents a numerical method for simulation of coupled flows, in which the fluid interacts with a thin deformable solid, such as flows in cardiovascular valves. The proposed method employs an arbitrary Lagrangian–Eulerian (ALE) method for flow near the solid, embodied in the outflow domain in which the mesh is fixed. The method was tested by modelling a two‐dimensional channel flow with a neo‐Hookean obstacle, an idealization of the coupled flow near a cardiovascular valve. The effects of the Reynolds number and the dimensionless elastic modulus of the material on the wall shear stress, the size of the downstream reverse flows, and the velocity and pressure profiles were investigated. The deformation of the obstacle, the pressure drop across the obstacle, and the size of the top reverse flow increased as the Reynolds number increased. Conversely, increasing the elastic modulus of the obstacle decreased the deformation of
the obstacle and the size of the top reverse flows, but did not affect the pressure drop across the obstacle over the range studied. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A New and Efficient Synthesis of the HMG‐CoA Reductase Inhibitor Pitavastatin
Authors: Acemoglu Murat , Brodbeck Andre , Garcia Angel , Grimler Dominique , Hassel Marc , Riss Bernhard , Schreiber Robert 
Published: June 2007

AbstractA new synthetic method for the preparation of pitavastatin is described. The approach circumvents various synthetic problems associated with the buildup of the 3,5‐dihydroxy‐C7 acid side chain of HMG‐CoA reductase inhibitors (statins). The use of the C6‐amide derivative 5 instead of ester derivatives in the coupling reaction with carboxaldehyde 8 (Scheme 3) prevents undesired side reactions, such as eliminations and retro‐aldol reactions. The method provides synthetic statins, such as pitavastatin, in >99% ee and exceptionally high overall yield. The enantiomerically pure starting material, (3S)‐3‐{[(tert‐butyl)dimethylsilyl]oxy}‐5‐oxo‐5‐{[(1S)‐1‐phenylethyl]amino}pentanoic acid (3c), is prepared by an improved procedure from 3‐{[(tert‐butyl)dimethylsilyl]oxy}glutaric anhydride (1) and (1S)‐1‐phenylethylamine (2c; Scheme 1).
Metal‐chelating affinity hydrogels for sustained protein release
Authors: Lin Chien‐Chi , Metters Andrew T. 
Published: June 2007

AbstractAffinity hydrogels based on poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate and a metal‐ion‐chelating ligand, glycidyl methacrylate–iminodiacetic acid, have been developed to systematically decrease protein release rates from hydrophilic tissue engineering scaffolds formed in situ. In the current work, tunable and sustained release of a model protein, hexa‐histidine tagged green fluorescence protein (hisGFP), is accomplished by judiciously increasing ligand:protein ratio or replacing low‐affinity nickel ions with high‐affinity copper ions. Agreement between theoretical predictions of a reaction‐diffusion model and experimental measurements confirm metal‐ ion‐mediated sustained protein release from these affinity hydrogels is governed by equilibrium protein–ligand binding affinity (dissociation constant, Kd) as well as protein–ligand dissociation kinetics (protein debinding rate constant, koff). The former dictates the release rate in the early period of protein release while the latter determines the long‐term sustained release effect. While metal‐ion affinity binding has been widely used for various purposes including protein purification and surface patterning, this is the first report describing its application in systematically controlling protein release from hydrophilic PEG networks suitable for cell encapsulation. By using ligands with proper binding kinetic constants (Kd and koff), localized protein delivery can be sustained over clinically relevant timescales while maintaining a favorable environment for cell encapsulation and viability. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res, 2007
Classification of Aurantii Fructus samples by multivariate analysis
Authors: Chuang Ching‐Ching , Wen Wu‐Che , Sheu Shuenn‐Jyi 
Published: June 2007

AbstractTwenty commercial samples of Aurantii Fructus Immaturus (Poncitrus trifoliata) and 30 of Aurantii Fructus Maturus (Citrus aurantium and C. wilsonii) were collected from the Taiwan and China herbal markets. The contents of 12 constituents in these samples were determined by HPLC and were used to assess the potential relationships with their plant origins. Multivariate analysis including principal component analysis (PCA), cluster analysis (CA), and linear discriminant analysis (LDA) were used as classification procedures. Natural groupings of the samples divided into three sets successfully, 20 P. trifoliata, 15 C. aurantium, and 15 C. wilsonii, were observed by using PCA and CA. The application of LDA gave correct assignation percentages of 100.0% for all three groups.
Amphiphilic Invertible Polyesters as Reducing and Stabilizing Agents in the Formation of Metal Nanoparticles
Authors: Kohut Ananiy , Voronov Andrej , Samaryk Volodymyr , Peukert Wolfgang 
Published: June 2007

AbstractMetal nanoparticles of various size and shape are prepared by the reduction of metal precursors in polymer micellar architectures (nanoreactors). The nanoreactors are developed from the amphiphilic invertible polyesters solved over a wide concentration range in solvents that strongly differ in polarity. In a non‐polar medium, the micelle core contains hydrophilic [poly(ethylene oxide)] fragments, which acts as a reducing agent of metal ions. Nanoparticle stabilization occurs because of the presence of hydrophobic (polymethylene) fragments outside of the micelle structure. The size and shape of the nanoreactors may be altered by the polyester composition and molecular weight as well as by the solvent polarity and concentration of the amphiphilic polyester.magnified image
Prozessintegriertes Pulverbeschichten durch Radial‐Axial Ringwalzen
Authors: Moll H. , Theisen W. , Hammelmann R. , Meier H. 
Published: June 2007

AbstractPulvermetallurgisch hergestellte Bauteile, die hohen Spannungen und/oder starken abrasiven Verschleißbelastungen ausgesetzt sind, tolerieren keinerlei Restporosität. Der oftmals eingesetzte Prozess des Heiß‐Isostatischen Pressens ermöglicht zuverlässig eine Komprimierung bis zur theoretischen Dichte, ist jedoch teuer und beschränkt die herstellbare Bauteilgröße aufgrund der Dimensionen existierender HIP‐Öfen. Die Volkswagenstiftung fördert die Entwicklung eines alternativen Produktionsprozesses, durch den, auf Basis des Radial‐Axial Ringwalzens, pulvermetallurgische Verschleißschutzschichten aus Metal‐Matrix‐Composites (MMC) auf ringförmige Bauteile aufgebracht werden können. Die in diesem Prozess eingesetzten Ringrohlinge verfügen über eine, auf der Stirnseite des Ringes eingebrachte Aussparung, die durch ein Blech verschlossen wird. Der so geschaffene Kapselraum nimmt die Pulvermischung auf, aus der im Verlauf des Prozesses die Beschichtung erzeugt wird. DerWalzprozess führt zur Verdichtung des Pulvers und Anbindung der Schicht an den Grundwerkstoff. Darüber hinaus werden die Umformkräfte genutzt, um den Ringdurchmesser aufzuweiten.
Voxel based morphometry reveals specific gray matter changes in primary dystonia
Authors: Egger Karl , Mueller Joerg , Schocke Michael , Brenneis Christian , Rinnerthaler Martina , Seppi Klaus , Trieb Thomas , Wenning Gregor K. , Hallett Mark , Poewe Werner 
Published: June 2007

AbstractThe present study assessed patterns of brain tissue alterations in different types of primary dystonia using voxel‐based morphometry (VBM). Nine patients with primary generalized dystonia (GD), 11 patients with primary cervical dystonia (CD), and 11 patients with primary focal hand dystonia (FHD) as well as 31 age and gender‐matched controls were included. When compared with healthy controls, patients with primary dystonia (n = 31) showed gray matter volume increase bilaterally in the globus pallidus internus, nucleus accumbens, prefrontal cortex, as well as unilaterally in the left inferior parietal lobe. This is the first study using VBM in patients with different types of primary dystonia, showing a common pattern of gray matter changes. © 2007 Movement Disorder Society
Dual‐mode DC‐block semicircular‐patch bandpass filter using slot technique
Authors: Liu Haiwen , Knoechel Reinhard H. , Sun Lingling , Schuenemann Klaus F. 
Published: June 2007

AbstractA simple semicircular‐patch bandpass filter (BPF) is presented in this letter. The slot between two semicircular‐patch resonators provides DC blocking and a strong coupling, while the slotted orthogonally feed lines are used to obtain the dual‐mode characteristics. Measurement demonstrates the proposed design methodology and filter. As we know, this is the first report on the microstrip dual‐mode BPF using semicircular‐patch structure. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 49: 2261–2263, 2007; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.22676
Estimating the magnitude of data asymmetry in palaeozoological biogeography
Authors: Lyman R. L. 
Published: June 2007

AbstractPalaeozoological data are asymmetrical because they indicate the presence of a species in the area in which its remains are recovered, but the absence of remains is not necessarily evidence for the absence of a species. It is impossible to measure the magnitude of data asymmetry with respect to biogeography, but the magnitude can be estimated. The proportion of sites in an area where a species is known to occur that have not produced remains of that species is an estimate of counter‐ubiquity. The proportion of identified faunal remains in an area where a species is known to occur that do not represent that species is another estimate of data asymmetry. Bivariate plots of the number of sites in an area that have produced remains of a taxon against the total number of faunal remains identified in the area indicate that data asymmetry can be estimated as the inverse of sample size. More sites and more identified faunal remains tend to produce more occurrences of a species, so more sites and more identified faunal remains will tend to provide a database that is not only more accurate but also less asymmetrical with respect to the geographical range of a species. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Percent absent end‐diastolic velocity in the umbilical artery waveform as a predictor of intrauterine fetal demise of the donor twin after selective laser photocoagulation of communicating vessels in twin–twin transfusion syndrome
Authors: Kontopoulos E. V. , Quintero R. A. , Chmait R. H. , Bornick P. W. , Russell Z. , Allen M. H. 
Published: June 2007

AbstractObjectiveAbsent end‐diastolic velocity (AEDV) in the umbilical artery of the donor twin is a known risk factor for intrauterine fetal demise (IUFD) of this fetus after selective laser photocoagulation of communicating vessels (SLPCV) for twin–twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS). The aim of this study was to assess the proportion of time, expressed as a percentage, of the cardiac cycle spent in AEDV (%AEDV) as a predictor of IUFD of the donor.MethodsAll patients referred for possible SLPCV underwent complete preoperative staging evaluation including Doppler assessment of the umbilical artery. %AEDV was calculated retrospectively as 100 × (time of the cycle spent in AEDV divided by duration of total cardiac cycle). Patients without AEDV were considered to have a %AEDV of 0. Follow‐up Doppler studies were performed 16–24 h after SLPCV. IUFD of the donor was recorded if the donor twin died any time prior to delivery.ResultsOf 401 patients undergoing SLPCV, 127 had AEDV. Preoperative AEDV of the donor twin was associated with an increased risk of IUFD of the donor (40.9% vs. 14.2%, P < 0.0001). %AEDV was measured in 72/127 (56.7%) donors with AEDV for whom digital images were available. Within these 72 patients, the mean %AEDV was significantly higher in patients with IUFD of the donor (36.5% vs. 29.6%, P = 0.01). IUFD of the donor was similar in patients with AEDV, regardless of whether %AEDV was measured (36% vs. 47%, P = 0.2). A %AEDV > 30 was associated with a 4.3‐fold increase in the risk of IUFD of the donor (95% CI, 1.4–12.7), a sensitivity of 77% and a negative predictive value of 81.3%. Logistic regression showed that %AEDV, but not number of anastomoses, placental location, presence of artery‐to‐artery anastomoses or the presence or absence of EDV was associated significantly with IUFD of the donor.Conclusion%AEDV is a novel Doppler parameter in the assessment of patients with TTTS. %AEDV, rather than AEDV alone, is a significant risk factor for IUFD of the donor twin and %AEDV > 30 is associated with an increased risk of IUFD of the donor in TTTS patients treated with SLPCV. Assessment of %AEDV should be considered part of the preoperative evaluation of TTTS patients. Copyright © 2007 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Cross-protective and cross-reactive immune responses to recombinant vaccinia viruses expressing full-length lyssavirus glycoprotein genes
Authors: WEYER J. , KUZMIN I. V. , RUPPRECHT C. E. , NEL L. H. 
Published: June 2007

SUMMARYLyssaviruses cause acute, progressive encephalitis in mammals. Current rabies vaccines offer protection against the lyssaviruses, with the notable exceptions of Mokola virus (MOKV), Lagos bat virus (LBV) and West Caucasian bat virus (WCBV). Here we describe the cross-protective and cross-reactive immune responses induced by experimental recombinant vaccinia viruses encoding the glycoprotein genes of rabies virus (RABV), MOKV and WCBV, either singly or in dual combinations. Constructs expressing a single glycoprotein gene protected mice against lethal intracranial challenge with homologous virus. Similarly, recombinants expressing glycoprotein genes from two different lyssaviruses offered mice protection against both homologous viruses. VNAb induced by vaccines that included a MOKV glycoprotein gene cross-neutralized LBV, but not WCBV. We concluded that a single recombinant poxvirus-vectored vaccine including MOKV and RABV glycoprotein genes, should be a major addition to available rabies biologics and should offer broad protection against all of the lyssaviruses, except WCBV.
Recovery of Vestibular Imbalances After Vestibular Neuritis
Authors: Choi Kwang‐Dong , Oh Sun‐Young , Kim Hyo‐Jung , Koo Ja‐Won , Cho Byung Mann , Kim Ji Soo 
Published: June 2007

AbstractObjectives: To determine chronological characteristics of vestibular recovery after vestibular neuritis (VN) by using various clinical parameters.Study Design: Prospective clinical study.Methods: Twenty of 22 consecutive patients with acute VN underwent serial follow‐ups of static (spontaneous nystagmus, subjective visual vertical, and ocular torsion) and dynamic (head‐shaking nystagmus [HSN], vibration‐induced nystagmus [VIN], head thrust test, and caloric test) vestibular imbalances for 1 year after symptom onset.Results: Static vestibular imbalances improved more rapidly than dynamic imbalances. Among the dynamic imbalances, a trend of higher recovery rate was found in head thrust sign, HSN, and VIN than in caloric asymmetry. HSN tended to be more sensitive in detecting vestibular asymmetry than VIN and head thrust sign. Some patients showed direction reversal of HSN (n = 5, 25.0%) or VIN (n = 5, 25.0%) during follow‐up. Direction of VIN changed according to the stimulation sites in four (20.0%) patients.Conclusions: In view of more rapid resolution of static vestibular imbalance after VN, evaluation of the dynamic vestibular imbalances may provide more useful information for underlying vestibulopathy, especially in the compensated phase. The different temporal profiles ofdynamic vestibular recovery may reflect different chronological characteristics of vestibular compensation according to stimulus frequency. Direction reversal of HSN and VIN during follow‐up suggests that lateralization of VNbased on the direction of these nystagmus should be considered in the context of disease phase.
Cochlear Reimplantation: Causes of Failure, Outcomes, and Audiologic Performance
Authors: Côté Mathieu , Ferron Pierre , Bergeron François , Bussières Richard 
Published: June 2007

AbstractObjectives/Hypothesis: To review Quebec's experience with cochlear reimplantation in adults and children and describe failure rates, causes of revision, surgical findings, and the impact of reimplantation on audiologic performances.Study Design: Retrospective analysis of all 45 cochlear implant revision surgeries (43 reimplantations) performed on 16 adults and 25 children at the Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Québec (Hôtel‐Dieu de Québec) in Quebec City, between 1987 and 2005.Methods: Data on patient demographics, failure sources including review of manufacturer's investigation reports, surgical findings, and outcomes (electrode insertion, complications, and audiologic performances).Results: Mean length of device use before explantation was 5.5 years and ranged from 3 months to 17 years. Explantation was related to documented hard failure (53.3%), traumatic device failure (13.3%, only in children), extrusion of electrode array or scalp flap infection (13.3%), a decrease in performance or soft failure (11.1%), intratemporal pathology (6.7%), and a perilymphatic fistula (2.2%). Overall revision rates of 8.0% and 5.4% were obtained for children and adults, respectively. Total device failure rates of 6.2% in children and 3.3% in adults were calculated. Failure rates decreased with each new generation of Nucleus devices. Perioperative complications were uncommon. A moderate amount of fibrosis was found in the cochlea lumen, and sometimes osteoneogenesis made the reinsertion challenging. Electrode reinsertion depth was mostly comparable with the initial surgery. Speech perception abilities were maintained after reimplantation.Conclusions: Management of implant failures, including revision surgeries, is becoming an increasingly important part of cochlear implant program activity. It appears more commonly in children because of trauma. Medical and audiologic outcomes are generally excellent. Revision implantation appears to be a safe and effective procedure.
Idiosyncrasies of Scalp Melanoma
Authors: Rigual Nestor R. , Cheney Richard T. , Iwenofu Obiajulu H. , Li Qiang , Loree Thom R. , Popat Saurin R. , Merzianu Mihai 
Published: June 2007

AbstractObjectives/Hypothesis: Examine the accuracy of sentinel lymph node biopsy (SNB) in scalp melanoma (SM), patterns of nodal metastases, patient outcomes, and the utility of immunohistochemistry (IHC) in SNB evaluation.Study Design: Retrospective.Methods: There were 22 patients, 4 females and 18 males. Sentinel lymph nodes (SLN) were localized via preoperative lymphoscintigraphy, intraoperative gamma probe, and Lymphazurin injection. SLNs were stained with hematoxylin‐eosin, S‐100, HMB‐45, Melan‐A, micropthalmia transcription factor, and tyrosinase. SLNs were grouped into cervical (levels 1–5) and extracervical (parotid, suboccipital, retroauricular) regions.Results: There were 13 posterior and 9 anterior SMs. The first SNB were mapped to the extracervical regions in 77% of posterior and 78% of anterior lesions. SLN number ranged from 1 to 5. Ten patients had positive SLNs (PSLN). Forty percent of the PSLN group had SLNs mapped in both cervical and extracervical sites. Six underwent completion lymphadenectomy, with no additional positive nodes identified. No significant difference between PSLN and negative sentinel node (NSLN) patients was seen when compared by SLN number, Breslow's thickness, tumor ulceration, and clinical outcomes. Mean follow‐up was 35 months. One patient died of disease. One isolated regional recurrence occurred. Sixty percent of PSLN and 92% of NSLN patients were recurrence free at last follow‐up. One distant metastasis occurred in the NSLN group, and one local, one regional, and two patients with distant metastases were in the PSLN group at the time of last follow‐up. Additional IHC did not detect other metastases in the NSLN group.Conclusions: SM is aggressive, as demonstrated by the high rate of SLN metastases, and there were no significant histopathologic factors in the primary tumor that predicted the presence of SLN metastases. SNB was accurate. The majority of first SLNs were localized in extracervical basins.