bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Case report: T‐cell responses during clearance of andes virus from blood cells 2 months after severe hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome
Authors: Manigold Tobias , Martinez Jessica , Lazcano Ximena , Ye Chunyan , Schwartz Shaina , Cuiza Analía , Valdivieso Francisca , Hjelle Brian , Vial Pablo 
Published: September 2008

AbstractHantavirus Cardiopulmonary Syndrome (HCPS) due to Andes virus (ANDV) is endemic in Chile and Argentina and currently demonstrates a case‐fatality rate of 37% in humans. By contrast to the chronically infected rodents, it is believed that ANDV in humans is cleared during the acute phase. Moreover, to date, both magnitude and quality of human T‐cell responses during ANDV infection and clearance are unknown. Using IFN‐γ and granzyme B ELISPOT assays as well as flow cytometry, we prospectively studied the ANDV‐specific T‐cell responses in a 56‐year‐old convalescing survivor of severe HCPS, whose blood cells remained PCR‐positive for ANDV‐RNA until day 53 after hospital admission, that is, 67 days after infection and 42 days after discharge. PCR‐negativity was closely related to the increase and function of (Gn46–60)‐specific IFN‐γ+ granzyme B+ CD8+ T‐cells, but not to neutralizing antibody titers. Concurrently, the phenotype of CD45RA+CCR7− Gn46–60‐specific T‐cells shifted from a CD28−CD27+ “intermediate” to a CD28− CD27− “late” effector memory beyond day 53 after hospital admission. This is the first report that shows that ANDV can persist in the human hosts for more than 2 months. Moreover, the kinetics of T‐cell responses during ANDV clearance may indicate a major role of T‐cells for clearance of ANDV and human immunity to this pathogen. J. Med. Virol. 80:1947–1951, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Identification of the novel KI polyomavirus in the respiratory tract of an Italian patient
Authors: Babakir‐Mina Muhammed , Ciccozzi Massimo , Dimonte Salvatore , Farchi Francesca , Valdarchi Catia , Rezza Giovanni , Perno Carlo Federico , Ciotti Marco 
Published: September 2008

AbstractRecently, a new human polyomavirus, KIV, was detected in respiratory specimens of patients with acute respiratory tract infection. Whether this reflects a causal role of the virus in the respiratory tract is still debated. To investigate the presence of KIV in respiratory samples of Italian patients and to determine the degree of similarity with other known polyomaviruses, 222 respiratory specimens collected by general practitioners between 2006 and 2007 were screened. The entire VP1 gene region was amplified and sequenced. Maximum Likelihood tree was generated by PAUP* software. One out of 222 samples tested was positive for KIV. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that this isolate clustered with other KIV isolates, while the WUV isolates seem to belong to a different lineage. The phylogenetic tree also showed that all other known polyomaviruses are quite distant from this isolate. This is the first report describing the presence of KIV in the respiratory tract of a 5‐year‐old Italian child with acute respiratory symptoms. Further investigations are needed to establish an etiological link of KIV with acute respiratory illness. J. Med. Virol. 80:2012–2014, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Interferon‐α therapy does not modulate hepatic expression of classical type I interferon inducible genes
Authors: Meier Volker , Mihm Sabine , Ramadori Giuliano 
Published: September 2008

AbstractHepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a major cause of chronic liver disease. Treatment with interferon‐alpha2 (IFN‐α2) can induce viral clearance and marked biochemical and histological improvement. IFN‐α2 treatment has been shown to stimulate the expression of type I IFN regulated genes in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of hepatitis C patients; however, whether it affects hepatic expression remains unknown. This study thus aimed at comparing hepatic gene expression with particular emphasis on type I IFN inducible genes in patients with chronic hepatitis C before and during an IFN‐α2 monotherapy. Responsiveness to IFN‐α2 therapy was monitored by determining serum and hepatic viral load. Differential gene expression analysis was performed by two different techniques, namely suppression subtractive hybridization (SSH) and differential display (DD). Expression of two prototype type I IFN regulated genes was quantified in further PBMC and liver samples. Among different genes found to be up‐regulated during an effective, that is, virus clearing, IFN‐α treatment, only a single one was identified which can be accounted to type I IFN responsive genes. Parallel quantitative real time PCR analyses demonstrated significant induction of the type I IFN regulated genes MxA and PKR in PBMC, but not in the liver. Taken together, while IFN‐α treatment leads to the induction of type I IFN regulated genes in PBMC, such an induction appears not to occur in the liver of hepatitis C patients. The mechanism by which IFN‐α treatment causes viral clearance might be independent of hepatic activation of type I IFN regulated genes. J. Med. Virol. 80:1912–1918, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Frequency and genotype of GB virus C among Iranian patients infected with HIV
Authors: Hekmat Soheila , Mohraz Minoo , Vahabpour Rouhollah , Jam Sara , Bahramali Golnaz , Banifazl Mohammad , Aghakhani Arezoo , Eslamifar Ali , Mahboudi Fereidoun , Edalat Rozita , Ramezani Amitis 
Published: September 2008

AbstractGB virus C (GBV‐C) infection is frequent in patients infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) due to similar transmission routes of these viruses. The aim of this study was to determine the rate of infection and genotypic characteristics of GBV‐C in this population. The presence of GBV‐C RNA was determined in serum samples of 106 patients infected with HIV by reverse transcriptase‐nested polymerase chain reaction. GBV‐C genotypes were determined by direct sequencing. Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), hepatitis B surface antibody (anti‐HBs), hepatitis C antibody (anti‐HCV), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels, HIV viral load and CD4+ count were also tested in all patients. The overall prevalence of GBV‐C infection was 11.3% in HIV patients. There was no significant difference between patients with and without GBV‐C infection regarding age, sex, route of transmission, viral load, ALT levels, HBV and HCV co‐infection and treatment with antiretroviral drugs. 66.7% of patients with GBV‐C had a CD4+ count ≥200 and 33.3% had a CD4+ count <200 cells/mm3. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that all GBV‐C isolates were genotype 2, and classified as subtype 2a. GBV‐C infection is relatively common in patients infected with HIV. The prevailing GBV‐C genotype 2a in this study group concurred with reports from other parts of the Middle East. J. Med. Virol. 80:1941–1946, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Intrafamilial transmission of hepatitis C virus: Infection of the father predicts the risk of perinatal transmission
Authors: Indolfi Giuseppe , Bartolini Elisa , Azzari Chiara , Becciolini Laura , Moriondo Maria , de Martino Maurizio , Resti Massimo 
Published: September 2008

AbstractThe aims of the present study were to evaluate in a cohort of mothers infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV) the prevalence of HCV infection of their sexual partners, the influence of infection of the partners on perinatal transmission, and whether this influence is mediated by other well known risk factors for perinatal transmission. Forty‐nine consecutive mothers infected with HCV who transmitted infection to their offspring and, as a control group, 557 consecutive mothers infected with HCV who did not transmit infection, together with their children and the fathers of the children who were also the sexual partners of the mothers were evaluated. History of intravenous drug use was significantly more frequent in women with partners infected with HCV than in women with partners not infected [115/180 (63.9%) vs. 87/401 (21.7%); relative risk (RR): 6.38, 95% confidence intervals (CI): 4.34–9.39,P < 10−3]. HCV infection was more frequent in the partners of mothers who transmitted perinatally HCV [23/49 (46.9%) vs. 174/557 (31.2%); RR: 1.95, 95%CI: 1.08–3.51,P = 0.03]. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that paternal HCV infection is not a risk factor per se for perinatal HCV transmission, but its role is dependent on maternal intravenous drug use [adjusted RR: 1.23 (95%CI: 0.44–3.39,P = 0.6)]. In conclusion, the present study shows that partners of mothers infected with HCV with a history of intravenous drug use were at a higher risk of HCV infection. HCV infection of the father seems to be associated with perinatal transmission but this relationship is dependent on maternal history of intravenous drug use. J. Med. Virol. 80:1907–1911, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Climatic clusters of the Indian region
Authors: Gadgil Sulochana , Joshi N. V. 
Published: September 2008

AbstractIn this paper we derive climatic clusters of the Indian region using data on monthly mean profiles of the precipitation, the moisture index (defined as the ratio of precipitation and potential evapotranspiration) and of the minimum temperature. The delineation of regions over which the patterns of profiles of important climatic factors such as precipitation are similar is necessary for the determination of meteorological zones over which prediction can be made as well as for understanding the distribution of vegetation cover. The latter has been the major aim of the studies of climatic classification. In the traditional approach to this problem, the meteorological stations in the region are assigned to predetermined categories such as arid, semi‐arid etc. on the basis of the values of the climatic factors (or of the bulk parameters derived therefrom) characterizing these stations.Here the variation of the climatic patterns over the Indian region has been analysed to obtain climatic clusters, which represent natural grouping of the patterns and hence of the meteorological stations at which they occur, as well as the climatic boundaries separating these clusters. This analysis is facilitated by an initial reduction of dimensionality in the description of the patterns achieved by using principal component analysis. Sixteen clusters of the mean monthly profiles of the moisture index have been obtained. It is found that there is a close correspondence between these clusters and the distribution of the vegetation types in the country.
The impact of weather and climate on industrial production in Great Britain
Authors: Palutikof Jean 
Published: September 2008

AbstractThe Index of Industrial Production (HP) is used as a measure of output from industry in Great Britain. A time‐series of this Index is derived extending from January 1958 to May 1979. This is compared both with seasonal extremes of climate and with more general departures from ‘average’ conditions, to determine the influence, if any, of weather and climate on industrial production.With respect to extreme seasons, a pronounced decline in industrial production look place during the drought summers of 1975‐6, and the severe winters of 1962‐3 and, to a lesser extent, 1978‐9. Non‐climatic factors, such as industrial disputes, are unlikely 10 have contributed substantially to the shortfall. The categories of industry affected were quite different during the two types of extreme weather event: during the 1962‐3 winter it was industries linked to work out‐of‐doors which suffered, in the 1975‐6 drought it was high water requirement industries.To determine the impact of general weather conditions, three sets of step‐wise multiple regression analyses are performed using a selection of climate and industrial dispute measures as the independent variables. The dependent variables are values of the January and July IIP with the trend expressing economic growth removed, and the size of the labour force in the construction industry in February. The analyses are performed both upon the full time‐series and on the time‐series with the extreme events removed. The results suggest that normal variations in the weather influence industrial production.
European grosswetter during the warm and cold extremes of the El Niñco/Southern Oscillation
Authors: Fraedrich Klaus 
Published: September 2008

AbstractEl Niňo/Southern Oscillation (ENSO) warm and cold events affect the synoptic climatology of the north‐eastern Atlantic‐European sector. The classification of cyclonic and anticyclonic European Grosswetter (1881–1987) is analysed for its response on 26 warm and 21 cold ENSO episodes. Bi‐monthly ranked composites computed over idealized 2–year ENSO warm (cold) episodes show more days of cyclonic (anticyclonic) steering over Europe. This signal is largest in the winter months of January and February following the year of a warm or cold event. The distributions of the occurrence of cyclonic and anticyclonic Grosswetter days are significantly different for warm and cold event winters: (i) there is more variability between individual warm event winter months, whereas the response to cold episodes is relatively uniform; (ii) on average, cyclonic Grosswetter days are experienced on 60 per cent (46 per cent) of the 58 warm (cold) event winter. days‐about 70 per cent (90 per cent) of the warm (cold) event winters realize more than 30 (< 36) days of cyclonic steering. Qualitatively corresponding results are obtained at a representative central European location for sunshine duration and the sum of daily negative temperatures, which characterize the winter strength.
Surface‐enhanced Raman scattering spectroscopy via gold nanostars
Authors: Nalbant Esenturk E. , Hight Walker A. R. 
Published: September 2008

AbstractAnisotropic metallic nanoparticles (NPs) have unique optical properties, which lend them to applications such as surface‐enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) spectroscopy. Star‐shaped gold (Au) NPs were prepared in aqueous solutions by the seed‐mediated growth method and tested for Raman enhancement using 2‐mercaptopyridine (2‐MPy) and crystal violet (CV) probing molecules. For both molecules, the SERS activity of the nanostars was notably stronger than that of the spherical Au NPs of similar size. The Raman enhancement factors (EFs) for 2‐MPy on Au nanostars and nanorods are comparable and estimated as greater than 5 orders of magnitude. However, the enhancement for CV on nanostars was significantly higher than for nanorods, in particular at CV concentrations of 100 nM or lower. This article is a US Government work and is in the public domain in the USA. Published in 2008 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Predictors of recurrent disease after negative second‐look laparotomy for epithelial ovarian cancer
Authors: Ayhan Ali , Urman Bulent , Yarali Hakan , Yüce Kunter , Ayhan Ayşe 
Published: September 2008

AbstractTwenty‐four patients with epithelial ovarian cancer who had negative second‐look laparotomy (SLL) were assessed in regard to recurrent disease. Four patients showed recurrence 11–36 months after negative SLL. All four patients had advanced stage and grade III tumors, with two having residual tumors greater than 1 cm in diameter after initial laparotomy. We believe that patients with advanced stage and high‐grade tumors should receive some kind of treatment after negative SLL.
Sustainable land and water management policies and practices: a pathway to environmental sustainability in large irrigation systems
Authors: Khan S. , Hanjra M. A. 
Published: September 2008

AbstractWater cycle, land management, and environmental sustainability are intimately linked. Sustainable land and water management practices are vital for sustaining agricultural productivity and regional development. Unsustainable land and water management practices that violate the system's carrying capacity constraint over long periods can impose significant costs in terms of lost opportunities in farm production and regional development, say by causing waterlogging and salinity. On‐farm and regional salt and water balance dynamics are modeled as a sustainability or carrying capacity constraint, proxied by regional salt and water balance; on‐farm land and water management practices are then adjusted to meet the constraint, such that individual actions do not lead to a net change in the ground water and salt balance. Common actions across the farms would achieve the overall environmental sustainability. An irrigated area in southern Murray‐Darling Basin in Australia serves as a case study example. Integrated hydrologic, economic, agricultural, and environmental models called SWAGMAN series are used to evaluate the impacts of a range of on‐farm interventions on farm income and environmental sustainability. The results show that policies such as restrictions on area under certain crops, and tradable groundwater recharge/salinity credits both offer higher total gross margin and net present value than the business as usual scenario, specifically in the long run—win–win options for the farmers and the environment. The modeling results thus confirm the widely held view that unsustainable land and water management practices that violate the system's carrying capacity can impose significant costs on regional communities. In‐depth hydrological and economic analyses are needed to shape and guide society's vision for sustainable land and water management. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
All‐optical virtual private network in passive optical networks
Authors: Su Y. , Tian Y. , Wong E. , Nadarajah N. , Chan C.C.K. 
Published: September 2008

AbstractWe review recent progress on all‐optical virtual‐private‐network (VPN) schemes in passive optical networks (PONs). PON is a promising candidate in future access areas to provide broadband services with low cost. With all‐optical virtual private network (VPN) function, PON can support efficient internetworking among end users with dedicated optical channels, thus enabling guaranteed bandwidth and enhanced security at the physical layer. Here, we discuss and compare existing schemes of all‐optical VPNs in time‐division‐multiplexed (TDM) PONs, and also recently proposed schemes for deployment in wavelength‐division‐multiplexed (WDM) PONs and two‐stage TDM/WDM PONs.
Alterations in mrna levels for growth‐related genes after transplantation into castrated hosts in oncogene‐induced clonal mouse prostate carcinoma
Authors: Egawa Shin , Kadmon Dov , Miller Gary J. , Scardino Peter T. , Thompson Timothy C. 
Published: September 2008

AbstractA clonal mouse prostate carcinoma was established by the introduction of the ras and myc oncogenes via the recombinant retrovirus Zipras/myc 9 using a mouse prostate reconstitution model system. A single‐cell suspension derived from an early passage ras+myc—induced carcinoma was inoculated into the flanks of intact or castrated adult male C57BL/6 mice, and tumors were harvested 3 wk postinoculation for northern and Southern blotting. Tumor volume analysis showed that this carcinoma was not dependent on testicular androgens for growth. Southern blot analysis of virus‐cell DNA junction fragments revealed that tumor cell populations recovered from both intact and castrated mice were progeny of the same virus‐infected cell. Northern blotting showed that mRNA levels for the four growth‐related genes transforming growth factor‐beta 1 (TGF‐β1), transforming growth factor‐beta 3 (TGF‐β3), tissue‐type plasminogen activator (tPA), and c‐myc were significantly elevated in clonal mouse prostate carcinomas grown in castrated hosts. In contrast, androgen receptor mRNA levels were significantly reduced under the same conditions. The response of TGF‐β1, tPA, and c‐myc mRNA levels in the carcinomas grown in castrated hosts was similar to that shown previously in normal rat ventral prostate. However, unlike normal rat ventral prostate after castration, increased numbers of apoptotic cells were not seen in the castrated group relative to the intact group at the time of analysis, indicating that the altered gene expression was not associated with cell death. In addition, testosterone‐repressed prostate mRNA number 2 levels, shown previously to be elevated after castration in normal rat ventral prostate, were not increased in the androgen‐deprived clonal mouse prostate carcinomas. Therefore, this early passage clonal ras+myc‐induced prostate carcinoma demonstrates unique patterns of expression for a set of growth‐related genes in an androgen‐deprived environment.
Design guidelines for low‐loss slow‐wave coplanar transmission lines in RF‐CMOS technology
Authors: Kaddour D. , Issa H. , Abdelaziz M. , Podevin F. , Pistono E. , Duchamp J.‐M. , Ferrari P. 
Published: September 2008

AbstractSlow wave coplanar transmission lines (S‐CPW) based on conventional coplanar CPW transmission lines with a floating patterned ground plane are good candidates for the integration of distributed RF circuits for front‐end modules. They offer high quality factors when compared to conventional coplanar transmission lines. In this article, guidelines are carried out for the design of such transmission lines. Simulations are first compared to already published measurements thus validating the simulation method used throughout the article. Next, considering a standard 0.35 μm CMOS process, design guidelines are presented in order to determine the characteristic impedance, the phase velocity, and the dielectric effective constant of the S‐CPW transmission lines, along with the attenuation loss and the quality factor. The effects of CPW dimensions, the floating strips duty cycle, the floating strip width, and the ground plane width are studied, and an optimized 50‐Ω transmission line is designed. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 50: 3029–3036, 2008; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.23865
Integrated electrooptical electromagnetic field sensor with Mach‐Zehnder waveguide modulator and annular antenna
Authors: Lee Tsung‐Hsin , Shay Wen‐Tron , Lee Ching‐Ting 
Published: September 2008

AbstractA small electromagnetic field sensor in the frequency range from 50 MHz to 2 GHz was developed that consisted of a Mach‐Zehnder waveguide modulator and a micro annular antenna, which was directly integrated with the traveling‐wave electrode of the Mach‐ Zehnder waveguide modulator on the same LiNbO3 substrate. The size of the sensor is 45 mm × 10 mm × 1 mm, demonstrating that the new kind of design successfully miniaturized the sensor size. The average minimum detectable electromagnetic field intensity of the sensor is 3.9 mV/m. The result indicates that the new kind of sensor is of potential interest for future application. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 50: 3125–3128, 2008; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.23868
16×16 Mirror type optical switch with integrated fiber alignment and steady switching state
Authors: Chen Qinghua H. , Wu Wengang G. , Wang Ziqian Q. , Zou Zibin B. , Yan Guizhen Z. , Hao Yilong L. 
Published: September 2008

AbstractThis paper reports a micro electro mechanical system (MEMS) 16×16 free space optical switch based on high‐reflectivity mirrors. The mirror monolithically integrated with the fiber grooves can enlarge its rotation angles up to 90°, and keep this as a steady state to steer the optical signal. The reflectivity of the mirror is measured to be 93.1 ∼ 96.3%. The smallest fiber‐mirror‐fiber insertion loss is 2.1 dB by utilizing optiFocusTMcollimating lensed fibers. Moreover, only about ±0.01 dB oscillating amplitude of insertion loss is provoked after the device is tested for 15 min for 5 ∼ 90 Hz in the vertical vibration amplitude of 3 mm. In addition, excellent antifatigue performance of the mirror, which can endure more than 109cycles of actuation, has been proven. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 50: 3012–3016, 2008; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.23879