bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Efficacy of single‐dose pegfilgrastim after chemotherapy for the mobilization of autologous peripheral blood stem cells in patients with malignant lymphoma or multiple myeloma
Authors: Kroschinsky Frank , Hölig Kristina , Platzbecker Uwe , Poppe‐Thiede Kirsten , Ordemann Rainer , Blechschmidt Matthias , Oelschlaegel Uta , Schaich Markus , Hänel Mathias , Bornhäuser Martin , Ehninger Gerhard 
Published: June 2006

BACKGROUND: A single injection of pegfilgrastim has been shown to be equivalent to daily filgrastim in enhancing neutrophil recovery after chemotherapy, whereas the experiences with pegfilgrastim in mobilization of peripheral blood progenitor cells (PBPCs) are limited.STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Forty unselected patients with lymphoma or multiple myeloma were treated with different chemotherapy regimens followed by 6 mg of pegfilgrastim for mobilization of autologous PBPCs. Patients with an inadequate mobilization (blood CD34+ cells ≤ 10/µL after nadir) were given additional daily doses of 10 µg per kg unconjugated filgrastim.RESULTS: A median blood CD34+ peak concentration of 81 per µL (range, 10‐565/µL) was found in 30 patients, who had only received pegfilgrastim, compared to 13 per µL (median, range 4‐71/µL; p < 0.001) in 10 poor mobilizing patients with additional filgrastim. The median yield of CD34+ cells was 9.8 × 106 per kg (range, 1.5‐88.1) after pegfilgrastim only versus 2.5 × 106 (range, 1.7‐7.0) in poor mobilizers. Patients who needed additional cytokine administration were those with a more extensive previous antineoplastic treatment and mobilizing regimens containing PBPC toxic agents.CONCLUSION: The results confirm the efficacy and feasibility of PBPC mobilization with chemotherapy and single‐dose pegfilgrastim in patients with lymphoproliferative malignacies. In less heavily pretreated patients, 6 mg of pegfilgrastim after chemotherapy induced an adequate mobilization, whereas dose and schedule in patients after numerous cytotoxic regimens need further investigation.
Heritability of Indices for Cardiac Contractility in Ambulatory Recordings
Authors: KUPPER NINA , WILLEMSEN GONNEKE , BOOMSMA DORRET I. , DE GEUS ECO J.C. 
Published: June 2006

Introduction: Overactivity of the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) plays a pivotal role in the development of cardiovascular disease. This involvement suggests that the genetic susceptibility to adverse cardiovascular events may derive in part from individual differences in SNS activity. Methods and Results: To establish a genetic contribution to SNS activity, we measured sympathetic effects on cardiac contractility in 755 healthy adult twins and their singleton siblings. The preejection period (PEP) and the ratio of PEP to the left ventricular ejection time (PEP/LVET ratio) were derived from ambulatory recordings of the ECG and thorax impedance. During this type of prolonged recordings in a real life setting, the extent of cardiac sympathetic activity will vary with the demands of daily activities. Therefore, the genetic architecture of both indices was examined separately across three daytime periods (morning, afternoon, evening), and during nighttime sleep. Results showed significant genetic contribution to PEP (48–62%) over all daily periods. Heritability estimates for PEP/LVET ratio ranged between 35% and 58%. Cardiac sympathetic activity during the waking and sleep periods was largely influenced by genetic factors that were common to the entire 24‐hour period. During sleep, additional genetic influences emerged that accounted for 8% of the variance in PEP. Conclusion: Impedance‐derived measures of sympathetic effects on cardiac contractility show substantial heritability across all periods of the day and during sleep.
VARIATION IN GLYCOLYTIC POTENTIAL AND FRESH PORK QUALITY TRAITS ALONG THE LONGISSIMUS DORSI OF SLAUGHTER WEIGHT PIGS*
Authors: BERTOL T.M. , ELLIS M. , RITTER M.J. , MCKEITH F.K. , HAMILTON D.N. 
Published: June 2006

ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to determine the effects of loin muscle location on glycolytic potential (GP) and fresh pork quality traits. Seven sections (5‐cm thick) from approximately between the eighth rib and fourth lumbar vertebra were evaluated. Numerous quality measurements were taken within each section. Ultimate pH was similar (P > 0.05) at all locations. Drip loss decreased (P < 0.01), while subjective firmness and color scores improved (P < 0.01) toward the posterior end of the loin. Minolta L* values (Minolta, Osaka, Japan) were highest (P < 0.01) in the anterior sections. Intramuscular fat was lower, but shear force and GP were higher in the middle sections than at the extremities (P < 0.01). In conclusion, GP and pork quality traits vary throughout the longissimus dorsi. However, differences in GP among sections were of low magnitude, and ultimate pH was unaffected by loin location. For studies that require multiple measurements of GP, samples should be taken in the region of the longissimus that yielded similar values, i.e., between the 10th rib and the third lumbar vertebra.
EFFECT OF REFRIGERATED STORAGE ON PROTEOLYTIC ACTIVITY AND PHYSICOCHEMICAL AND MICROSTRUCTURAL PROPERTIES OF GIANT SQUID (DOSIDICUS GIGAS) MANTLE MUSCLE
Authors: DUBLÁN‐GARCÍA OCTAVIO , CRUZ‐CAMARILLO RAMÓN , GUERRERO‐LEGARRETA ISABEL , PONCE‐ALQUICIRA EDITH 
Published: June 2006

ABSTRACT Giant squid (Dosidicus gigas) is abundant along the Pacific Coast of Mexico. It possesses a high proteolytic activity that makes it a low‐quality food material. Squid mantle endogenous proteases were partially characterized; physicochemical and structural changes during storage at 4C were also examined. High proteolytic activity was observed at acidic and alkaline pH values. Proteases were strongly inhibited by leupeptine and pepstatin A, as well as by phenyl methyl sulfonyl fluoride, indicating the possible presence of serine, cysteine and metal proteases. Myosin heavy chain was degraded during storage, as shown on sodium dodecyl sulfate–polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis patterns, resulting in a significant decrease (P < 0.001) in muscle water‐holding capacity, texture and gelling capacity. Muscle deterioration was evident in scanning electron micrographs, where the initial compact structure loosened during storage.
EFFECTS OF MUSCLE MASS AND FIBER TYPE COMPOSITION OF LONGISSIMUS DORSI MUSCLE ON POSTMORTEM METABOLIC RATE AND MEAT QUALITY IN PIGS
Authors: RYU Y.‐C. , LEE M.‐H. , LEE S.‐K. , KIM B.‐C. 
Published: June 2006

ABSTRACT The carcass traits, the muscle fiber characteristics and the meat quality traits were evaluated using 200 crossbred pigs. The muscle mass was divided into heavy or light groups according to the carcass weight and the loin‐eye area measurements. In addition, the proportion of the fast‐twitch glycolytic muscle fiber was divided into high or normal groups according to the area percentage of type IIb fiber. Heavier pigs contained larger loin‐eye area and muscle fibers, and also had more total muscle fibers than the lighter ones. The high group showed lower muscle pH, protein solubility, and also showed higher R‐value, drip loss and lightness than the normal group. These results suggest that an increase in total fiber number combined with a higher percentage of oxidative muscle fibers has a beneficial effect on increasing the muscle mass without deteriorating the meat quality.
Non-Equilibrium
Phonon Distributions in Sub-100nm Silicon
Transistors
Authors: Sinha S. , Pop E. , Dutton R.
W. , Goodson K.
E. 
Published: June 2006

Abstract
Intense electron-phonon scattering near the peak electric field in a semiconductor device results in nanometer-scale phonon hotspots. Past studies have argued that ballistic phonon transport near such hotspots serves to restrict heat conduction. We reexamine this assertion by developing a new phonon transport model. In a departure from previous studies, we treat isotropic dispersion in all phonon branches and include a phonon emission spectrum from independent Monte Carlo simulations of electron-phonon scattering. We cast the model in terms of a non-equilibrium phonon distribution function and compare predictions from this model with data for ballistic transport in silicon. The solution to the steady-state transport equations for bulk silicon transistors shows that energy stagnation at the hotspot results in an excess equivalent temperature rise of about 13% in a 90nm gate-length device. Longitudinal optical phonons with non-zero group velocities dominate transport. We find that the resistance associated with ballistic transport does not overwhelm that from the package unless the peak power density approaches 50W∕μm3. A transient calculation shows negligible phonon accumulation and retardation between successive logic states. This work highlights and reduces the knowledge gaps in the electro-thermal simulation of transistors.
Digital Radiographic Evaluation of Medial Joint Space Narrowing after Partial Meniscectomy of Bucket-Handle Medial Meniscus Tears in Anterior Cruciate Ligament–Intact Knees
Authors: Shelbourne K. Donald , Dickens Jonathan F. 
Published: June 2006

Background Few studies exist that evaluate the effect of partial medial meniscectomy in knees with intact anterior cruciate ligaments. Hypothesis Partial meniscectomy of bucket-handle medial meniscus tears will cause joint space narrowing. Study Design Case series; Level of evidence, 4. Methods Between 1982 and 2001, 135 patients met the study criteria of a partial medial meniscectomy, intact ligaments, no surgery to the contralateral knee, and no chondromalacia greater than grade II. Seventy-nine patients living within 150 miles of the clinic were asked to return for physical examination. Joint space narrowing was measured from the middle of the femoral condyle to the middle of the tibial plateau using digitally magnified weightbearing 45° flexed posteroanterior and full-extension anteroposterior radiographs. Measurements were performed twice with the observer blinded to the previous measurements. Subjective follow-up was obtained prospectively on an annual basis with International Knee Documentation Committee and modified Noyes knee questionnaires. Results Forty-nine patients were examined at a mean of 11.8 years postoperatively. Mean medial joint space narrowing was 1.2 ± 0.5 mm on 45° flexed posteroanterior radiograph and 0.2 ± 0.9 mm on full-extension anteroposterior radiographs (P <. 001). Four patients had 2 mm or more of joint space narrowing. Subjective surveys obtained from 95 patients showed a mean subjective score of 89.9 points. Subjective scores did not decrease through time, and there was no correlation of joint space narrowing to lower subjective scores. Conclusion Partial medial meniscectomy in stable knees causes only mild joint space narrowing (mean, 1.2 mm) at a mean 12-year follow-up. Digitally magnified 45° flexed posteroanterior radiographs are more likely to demonstrate joint space narrowing than are full-extension anteroposterior radiographs.
Dynamic Ultrasound as a Selection Tool for Reducing Achilles Tendon Reruptures
Authors: Kotnis Rohit , David Saronjini , Handley Robert , Willett Keith , Ostlere Simon 
Published: June 2006

Background The optimal method of treatment for acute tendo-Achilles ruptures continues to be debated. Hypothesis The reported lower rerupture rate for operatively treated patients is an effect of tendon end apposition during the healing process, and patients in whom apposition can be demonstrated using ultrasound will have a similar rate of rerupture if treated nonoperatively. Study Design Cohort study; Level of evidence, 2. Method The authors reviewed all patients with an Achilles tendon rupture who were treated to a standard protocol during a 5-year period (2000-2005). Patients with a gap of 5 mm or more in equinus on ultrasound underwent surgery; those with a gap of less than 5 mm received nonoperative treatment. All patients were followed up to a minimum of 12 months. Results: After exclusions, 125 patients were included 67 treated operatively and 58 nonoperatively. There were 2 reruptures in the nonoperative group and 1 with surgery. There was no significant difference between the groups for any complication. Conclusion Reduction of rerupture and surgery risks may be possible using dynamic ultrasound case selection. Further studies are needed to show whether functional results are the same with surgical and nonsurgical treatment when dynamic ultrasound criteria are used for case selection.
Identification of putative domain linkers by a neural network – application to a large sequence database
Authors: Miyazaki Satoshi , Kuroda Yutaka , Yokoyama Shigeyuki 
Published: June 2006

Abstract

Background
The reliable dissection of large proteins into structural domains represents an important issue for structural genomics/proteomics projects. To provide a practical approach to this issue, we tested the ability of neural network to identify domain linkers from the SWISSPROT database (101602 sequences).

Results
Our search detected 3009 putative domain linkers adjacent to or overlapping with domains, as defined by sequence similarity to either Protein Data Bank (PDB) or Conserved Domain Database (CDD) sequences. Among these putative linkers, 75% were "correctly" located within 20 residues of a domain terminus, and the remaining 25% were found in the middle of a domain, and probably represented failed predictions. Moreover, our neural network predicted 5124 putative domain linkers in structurally un-annotated regions without sequence similarity to PDB or CDD sequences, which suggest to the possible existence of novel structural domains. As a comparison, we performed the same analysis by identifying low-complexity regions (LCR), which are known to encode unstructured polypeptide segments, and observed that the fraction of LCRs that correlate with domain termini is similar to that of domain linkers. However, domain linkers and LCRs appeared to identify different types of domain boundary regions, as only 32% of the putative domain linkers overlapped with LCRs.

Conclusion
Overall, our study indicates that the two methods detect independent and complementary regions, and that the combination of these methods can substantially improve the sensitivity of the domain boundary prediction. This finding should enable the identification of novel structural domains, yielding new targets for large scale protein analyses.
Highly variable sperm precedence in the stalk-eyed fly, Teleopsis dalmanni
Authors: Corley Laura S , Cotton Samuel , McConnell Ellen , Chapman Tracey , Fowler Kevin , Pomiankowski Andrew 
Published: June 2006

Abstract

Background
When females mate with different males, competition for fertilizations occurs after insemination. Such sperm competition is usually summarized at the level of the population or species by the parameter, P
2, defined as the proportion of offspring sired by the second male in double mating trials. However, considerable variation in P
2 may occur within populations, and such variation limits the utility of population-wide or species P
2 estimates as descriptors of sperm usage. To fully understand the causes and consequences of sperm competition requires estimates of not only mean P
2, but also intra-specific variation in P
2. Here we investigate within-population quantitative variation in P
2 using a controlled mating experiment and microsatellite profiling of progeny in the multiply mating stalk-eyed fly, Teleopsis dalmanni.

Results
We genotyped 381 offspring from 22 dam-sire pair families at four microsatellite loci. The mean population-wide P
2 value of 0.40 was not significantly different from that expected under random sperm mixing (i.e. P
2 = 0.5). However, patterns of paternity were highly variable between individual families; almost half of families displayed extreme second male biases resulting in zero or complete paternity, whereas only about one third of families had P
2 values of 0.5, the remainder had significant, but moderate, paternity skew.

Conclusion
Our data suggest that all modes of ejaculate competition, from extreme sperm precedence to complete sperm mixing, occur in T. dalmanni. Thus the population mean P
2 value does not reflect the high underlying variance in familial P
2. We discuss some of the potential causes and consequences of post-copulatory sexual selection in this important model species.
Metabolic engineering of potato tuber carotenoids through tuber-specific silencing of lycopene epsilon cyclase
Authors: Diretto Gianfranco , Tavazza Raffaela , Welsch Ralf , Pizzichini Daniele , Mourgues Fabienne , Papacchioli Velia , Beyer Peter , Giuliano Giovanni 
Published: June 2006

Abstract

Background
Potato is a major staple food, and modification of its provitamin content is a possible means for alleviating nutritional deficiencies. beta-carotene is the main dietary precursor of vitamin A. Potato tubers contain low levels of carotenoids, composed mainly of the xanthophylls lutein, antheraxanthin, violaxanthin, and of xanthophyll esters. None of these carotenoids have provitamin A activity.

Results
We silenced the first dedicated step in the beta-epsilon- branch of carotenoid biosynthesis, lycopene epsilon cyclase (LCY-e), by introducing, via Agrobacterium-mediated transformation, an antisense fragment of this gene under the control of the patatin promoter. Real Time measurements confirmed the tuber-specific silencing of Lcy-e. Antisense tubers showed significant increases in beta-beta-carotenoid levels, with beta-carotene showing the maximum increase (up to 14-fold). Total carotenoids increased up to 2.5-fold. These changes were not accompanied by a decrease in lutein, suggesting that LCY-e is not rate-limiting for lutein accumulation. Tuber-specific changes in expression of several genes in the pathway were observed.

Conclusion
The data suggest that epsilon-cyclization of lycopene is a key regulatory step in potato tuber carotenogenesis. Upon tuber-specific silencing of the corresponding gene, beta-beta-carotenoid and total carotenoid levels are increased, and expression of several other genes in the pathway is modified.
Design of the New Life(style) study: a randomised controlled trial to optimise maternal weight development during pregnancy. [ISRCTN85313483]
Authors: Althuizen Ellen , van Poppel Mireille NM , Seidell Jacob C , van der Wijden Carla , van Mechelen Willem 
Published: June 2006

AbstractBackgroundPreventing excessive weight gain during pregnancy is potentially important in the prevention of overweight and obesity among women of childbearing age. However, few intervention studies aiming at weight management during pregnancy have been performed and most of these interventions were not as successful as expected. In this paper the design of the New Life(style) study is described as well as the content of the individually tailored intervention program, which focuses on controlling weight development during pregnancy.MethodsThe effectiveness of the New Life(style) intervention program versus usual care by midwives is evaluated in a randomised controlled trial. Women who expect their first child and visit one of the participating midwifery practices are included. The intervention is standardised in a protocol and executed by trained counsellors with the women who are randomised in the intervention group. During 5 sessions – at 18, 22, 30 and 36 weeks of pregnancy and at 8 weeks postpartum – individual weight gain is discussed in relation to weight gain guidelines for pregnant women of the American Institute of Medicine. Counsellors coach the women to maintain or optimise a healthy lifestyle, in a period of drastic physical and mental changes. Data is collected at 15, 25, 35 weeks of pregnancy and at 6, 26, and 52 weeks after delivery. Primary outcome measures are body weight, BMI, and skinfold thickness. Secondary outcome measures include physical activity, nutrition and blood levels of factors that are associated with energy homeostasis.DiscussionResults of the current RCT will improve the knowledge of determinants of weight gain during pregnancy, weight retention after childbirth and of the effectiveness of the intervention program that is described. Caregivers and researchers in the field of health promotion are offered more insight in specific elements of the New Life(style) intervention program.
A general method for the unbiased improvement of solution NMR structures by the use of related X-Ray data, the AUREMOL-ISIC algorithm
Authors: Brunner Konrad , Gronwald Wolfram , Trenner Jochen M , Neidig Klaus-Peter , Kalbitzer Hans Robert 
Published: June 2006

Abstract

Background
Rapid and accurate three-dimensional structure determination of biological macromolecules is mandatory to keep up with the vast progress made in the identification of primary sequence information. During the last few years the amount of data deposited in the protein data bank has substantially increased providing additional information for novel structure determination projects. The key question is how to combine the available database information with the experimental data of the current project ensuring that only relevant information is used and a correct structural bias is produced. For this purpose a novel fully automated algorithm based on Bayesian reasoning has been developed. It allows the combination of structural information from different sources in a consistent way to obtain high quality structures with a limited set of experimental data. The new ISIC (I ntelligent S tructural I nformation C ombination) algorithm is part of the larger AUREMOL software package.

Results
Our new approach was successfully tested on the improvement of the solution NMR structures of the Ras-binding domain of Byr2 from Schizosaccharomyces pombe, the Ras-binding domain of RalGDS from human calculated from a limited set of NMR data, and the immunoglobulin binding domain from protein G from Streptococcus by their corresponding X-ray structures. In all test cases clearly improved structures were obtained. The largest danger in using data from other sources is a possible bias towards the added structure. In the worst case instead of a refined target structure the structure from the additional source is essentially reproduced. We could clearly show that the ISIC algorithm treats these difficulties properly.

Conclusion
In summary, we present a novel fully automated method to combine strongly coupled knowledge from different sources. The combination with validation tools such as the calculation of NMR R-factors strengthens the impact of the method considerably since the improvement of the structures can be assessed quantitatively. The ISIC method can be applied to a large number of similar problems where the quality of the obtained three-dimensional structures is limited by the available experimental data like the improvement of large NMR structures calculated from sparse experimental data or the refinement of low resolution X-ray structures. Also structures may be refined using other available structural information such as homology models.