bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
New Fabrication System for Dental Implant Surgical Stents: Time‐Saving Laboratory Technique Using a Light‐Curing Resin and Transparent Artificial Teeth
Authors: Tsuzuki Takashi , Matsuura Takashi , Kido Hirofumi , Ishikawa Masatsugu , Ukon Shinichi , Sato Hironobu 
Published: April 2007

Abstract: Background: Surgical stents are a prerequisite for dental implant diagnosis. However, the traditional fabrication method including wax‐up, investment, and resin polymerization is time consuming. Purpose: This article introduces a new fabrication system using a light‐curing resin and transparent artificial teeth to reduce time spent in the laboratory. Materials and Method: The process of this system includes placing the light‐curing resin and the artificial teeth on the partially edentulous dentition and alveolar ridge, making an appropriate pattern for the stent, light‐curing for 5 minutes, briefly polishing, and making holes for titanium guide pins. Results: This system requires only 30 to 40 minutes in the laboratory to complete a stent after mounting the casts on the articulator. Owing to the elasticity of the light‐curing resin, this system eliminates the need for a blockout procedure on the undercuts of existing teeth on the casts, protects the casts from breakage, and provides the appropriate retention intraorally without any retainers. As well, titanium guide pins embedded in the stent were clearly identified by panoramic and computed tomographies. Conclusions: The new fabrication system proposed here can be time saving and, further, serve benefits for radiographic diagnosis.
Lysostaphin in Treatment of Neonatal
Staphylococcus aureus
Infection
Authors: Oluola Okunola , Kong Lingkun , Fein Mindy , Weisman Leonard E. 
Published: April 2007

ABSTRACT

This study describes lysostaphin's effect against methicillin-sensitive
Staphylococcus aureus
in suckling rats. Standard techniques determined minimal inhibitory and bactericidal concentrations, pharmacokinetics, and efficacy. The numbers of surviving rats after vancomycin, oxacillin, and lysostaphin treatment were comparable and were different from that of controls (
P
< 0.00001). Lysostaphin appears effective in the treatment of neonatal
S. aureus
infection.
Inhibitory Activities of Three Classes of Acyclic Nucleoside Phosphonates against Murine Polyomavirus and Primate Simian Virus 40 Strains
Authors: Lebeau Ilya , Andrei Graciela , Krečmerová Marcela , De Clercq Erik , Holý Antonin , Snoeck Robert 
Published: April 2007

ABSTRACT
Murine polyomavirus and simian virus 40 were used to evaluate the potencies of the compounds of three classes of acyclic nucleoside phosphonates: (i) the original HPMP (3-hydroxy-2-phosphonomethoxypropyl) and PME (2-phosphonomethoxyethyl) derivatives, (ii) the 6-[2-(phosphonomethoxy)alkoxy]-2,4-diaminopyrimidine (DAPy) derivatives, and (iii) a new class of HPMP derivatives containing a 5-azacytosine moiety. The last class showed the highest activities and selectivities against both polyomaviruses.
Comprehensive Analysis of the Effects of Ordinary Nutrients on Hepatitis C Virus RNA Replication in Cell Culture
Authors: Yano Masahiko , Ikeda Masanori , Abe Ken-ichi , Dansako Hiromichi , Ohkoshi Shogo , Aoyagi Yutaka , Kato Nobuyuki 
Published: April 2007

ABSTRACTTo date, only a limited number of studies have reported finding an influence of ordinary nutrients on hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA replication. However, the effects of other nutrients on HCV RNA replication remain largely unknown. We recently developed a reporter assay system for genome-length HCV RNA replication in hepatoma-derived HuH-7 cells (OR6). Here, using this OR6 assay system, we comprehensively examined 46 nutrients from four nutrient groups: vitamins, amino acids, fatty acids, and salts. We found that three nutrients—β-carotene, vitamin D2, and linoleic acid—inhibited HCV RNA replication and that their combination caused additive and/or synergistic effects on HCV RNA replication. In addition, combined treatment with each of the three nutrients and interferon alpha or beta or fluvastatin inhibited HCV RNA replication in an additive manner, while combined treatment with cyclosporine synergistically inhibited HCV RNA replication. In contrast, we found that vitamin E enhanced HCV RNA replication and negated the effects of the three anti-HCV nutrients and cyclosporine but not those of interferon or fluvastatin. These results will provide useful information for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C patients who also take anti-HCV nutrients as an adjunctive therapy in combination with interferon. In conclusion, among the ordinary nutrients tested, β-carotene, vitamin D2, and linoleic acid possessed anti-HCV activity in a cell culture system, and these nutrients are therefore considered to be potential candidates for enhancing the effects of interferon therapy.
Effects of Carbapenem Exposure on the Risk for Digestive Tract Carriage of Intensive Care Unit-Endemic Carbapenem-Resistant
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Strains in Critically Ill Patients
Authors: Peña C. , Guzmán A. , Suarez C. , Dominguez M. A. , Tubau F. , Pujol M. , Gudiol F. , Ariza J. 
Published: April 2007

ABSTRACT

To determine the epidemiology and risk factors for carbapenem-resistant
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
(CR-PA) digestive tract colonization, weekly rectal and pharyngeal swabs were obtained in two serial incidence surveys (266 patients). Forty-two (16%) patients were CR-PA colonized (12 [29%] on admission and 30 [71%] in intensive care units). Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis showed extensive clonal diversity, although one specific clone (type B) was isolated from 11 patients. The presence of similar genotypes of CR-PA colonizing 30% of the CR-PA-colonized patients suggests the occurrence of cross-colonization; in addition, 10 pairs of carbapenem-susceptible
P. aeruginosa
(CS-PA) and subsequent CR-PA strains isolated from the same patients were found to be clonally identical and were considered to have been endogenously acquired (33%). All endogenously acquired CR-PA strains were isolated after exposure to a carbapenem, and 80% showed a phenotype of imipenem resistance (IR pattern) alone, while 67% of the CR-PA strains acquired by cross-transmission exhibited a multiresistant (MR) phenotype, with previous carbapenem exposure in 44%. Logistic regression analysis identified severity of acute illness (odds ratio [OR], 1.0; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.0 to 1.1), prior carbapenem use (OR, 7.8; 95% CI, 1.7 to 35.3), and prior use of fluoroquinolones (OR, 11.0; 95% CI, 1.7 to 67.9) as independent risk factors for CR-PA digestive tract colonization. Overall, the local epidemiology of CR-PA digestive tract colonization was characterized by polyclonal endemicity with phenotype patterns of IR and MR divided evenly between patients. Restricting the use of particular agents, such as carbapenems and fluoroquinolones, should be considered advisable to minimize the problem of this antibiotic resistance. However, the possible risk for development of collateral unexpected bacterial resistance patterns should be accurately monitored.
Serum Differentially Alters the Antifungal Properties of Echinocandin Drugs
Authors: Paderu Padmaja , Garcia-Effron Guillermo , Balashov Sergey , Delmas Guillaume , Park Steven , Perlin David S. 
Published: April 2007

ABSTRACT

Antifungal efficacies of the echinocandin drugs caspofungin, micafungin, and anidulafungin were reduced significantly in the presence of 50% human serum, which yielded nearly equivalent MICs or minimum effective concentrations against diverse
Candida
spp. and
Aspergillus
spp. Consistent with a direct drug interaction, serum decreased the sensitivity of glucan synthase to echinocandin drugs.
In Vitro Activities of CG400549, a Novel FabI Inhibitor, against Recently Isolated Clinical Staphylococcal Strains in Korea
Authors: Yum Jong Hwa , Kim Chang Ki , Yong Dongeun , Lee Kyungwon , Chong Yunsop , Kim Cheol Min , Kim Jeong Mi , Ro Seonggu , Cho Joong Myung 
Published: April 2007

ABSTRACT

The in vitro activities of CG400549, a novel FabI inhibitor, were compared to those of linezolid and commonly used antimicrobials against recent bacterial isolates. CG400549 had an MIC
90
of 0.5 μg/ml for
Staphylococcus aureus
strains and was more potent than either linezolid or vancomycin.
Neisseria gonorrhoeae
Isolates with Reduced Susceptibility to Cefixime and Ceftriaxone: Association with Genetic Polymorphisms in
penA
,
mtrR
,
porB1b
, and
ponA
Authors: Lindberg Robert , Fredlund Hans , Nicholas Robert , Unemo Magnus 
Published: April 2007

ABSTRACT

The recent emergence and transmission of
Neisseria gonorrhoeae
isolates with reduced susceptibility to expanded-spectrum cephalosporins such as cefixime and ceftriaxone have been reported. The aim of this study was to determine the correlation of different polymorphisms in the
penA
,
mtrR
,
porB1b
(
penB
), and
ponA
genes of
N. gonorrhoeae
with reduced susceptibility to cefixime and ceftriaxone. Eighteen gonococcal isolates with reduced cefixime and ceftriaxone susceptibility (Cef
i
) and two susceptible isolates were characterized using serovar determination, antibiograms,
N. gonorrhoeae
multiantigen sequence typing (NG-MAST), and sequencing of
penA
,
mtrR
,
porB1b
, and
ponA
alleles. For the Cef
i
isolates (
n
= 18), the MICs of cefixime and ceftriaxone ranged between 0.032 to 0.38 μg/ml and 0.064 to 0.125 μg/ml, respectively. These isolates were assigned five different serovars and six divergent NG-MAST sequence types. Eleven isolates (61%) with higher MICs of cefixime and ceftriaxone contained a nearly identical
penA
mosaic allele and previously described polymorphisms in
mtrR
(a single nucleotide [A] deletion in the promoter),
penB
(mutations in
porB1b
encoding loop 3 of PorB1b), and
ponA
(
ponA1
polymorphism). The remaining seven Cef
i
isolates (39%), which had somewhat lower MICs of cefixime and ceftriaxone, contained an aspartic acid insertion (Asp-345a) in PBP 2 in conjunction with alterations of 4 to 10 amino acid residues in the C-terminal region of the transpeptidase domain of
penA
. In conclusion, an unambiguous association between
penA
mosaic alleles, in conjunction with genetic polymorphisms in
mtrR
,
porB1b
, and
ponA
, and greater reduced susceptibility to cefixime and ceftriaxone was identified.
Identification of a Novel Two-Partner Secretion Locus in
Moraxella catarrhalis
Authors: Plamondon Pascale , Luke Nicole R. , Campagnari Anthony A. 
Published: April 2007

ABSTRACT

Although
Moraxella catarrhalis
continues to be a significant cause of disease in both children and adults, the steps involved in pathogenesis remain poorly understood. We have identified three open reading frames in the
M. catarrhalis
genome that encode homologues of the two-partner secretion system (TPS). The sequenced
M. catarrhalis
hemagglutinin-like locus of strain 7169 has a unique gene organization composed in the order of
mchA1
,
mchB
, and
mchA2
, where
mchA1
is divergent. MchA1 and MchA2 are 74% identical at the amino acid level and diverge only in the C-terminal regions. The TPS motif identified in the common N-terminal regions of MchA1 and MchA2 was found to be homologous to the filamentous hemagglutinin of
Bordetella pertussis
, and MchB has homology to other TpsB transporters. The presence of MchA1 and MchA2 in outer membrane protein preparations and concentrated culture supernatants (CCSs) of strain 7169 was confirmed by immunoblotting using specific antisera. Nanoscale liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry peptide sequencing of the antibody-reactive bands from the CCSs was performed and demonstrated that 13 different peptides mapped to identical regions of MchA1 and MchA2. Quantitative adherence assays revealed a decrease of binding to primary normal human bronchial epithelial cells by the
mch
mutants 7169mchB and 7169mchA1A2B compared to that by the wild-type strain. These studies show that MchA1, MchA2, and MchB are components of a novel TPS identified in
M. catarrhalis
and suggest that these proteins may be involved in colonization.
Growth of
Yersinia pseudotuberculosis
in Mice Occurs Independently of Toll-Like Receptor 2 Expression and Induction of Interleukin-10
Authors: Auerbuch Victoria , Isberg Ralph R. 
Published: April 2007

ABSTRACT

Pathogenic
Yersinia
translocates effector proteins into target cells via a type III secretion system (TTSS), modulating the host immune response. A component of the TTSS translocon, LcrV, has been implicated in preventing inflammation through Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) by inducing expression of the anti-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-10 (IL-10). TLR2
−/−
mice were reported to be less susceptible to the enteropathogen
Yersinia enterocolitica
. To determine whether TLR2 also plays a role in recognition of the enteropathogen
Yersinia pseudotuberculosis
and whether this results in an immune response that is detrimental to the host, we evaluated the macrophage cytokine response to live
Y. pseudotuberculosis
and analyzed the susceptibility of TLR2
−/−
mice to enteropathogenic
Yersinia
. We find that
Yersinia
induction of macrophage IL-10 occurs independently of TLR2 and LcrV and is blocked by the TTSS. In particular, the TTSS effector protein YopJ, which inhibits production of the inflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), also inhibits IL-10 expression. Consistent with these results, IL-10 is undetectable in
Y. pseudotuberculosis
-infected mouse tissues until advanced stages of infection. In addition, we find that TLR2
−/−
mice (derived independently from those used in previous studies) do not display altered susceptibility to enteropathogenic
Yersinia
compared to wild-type mice. Tissue levels of IL-10, as well as the inflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IL-6, and gamma interferon and the chemokine macrophage chemotactic protein 1, are similar in TLR2
+/+
and TLR2
−/−
mice during enteropathogenic
Yersinia
infection. Therefore, the absence of TLR2 alone does not affect the cytokine response of macrophages to, or the in vivo growth and survival of, enteropathogenic
Yersinia
.
Nucleotide-binding site (NBS) profiling of genetic diversity in durum wheat
Authors: Mantovani Paola , van der Linden Gerard , Maccaferri Marco , Sanguineti Maria Corinna , Tuberosa Roberto 
Published: April 2007

Molecular markers are effective tools to investigate genetic diversity for resistance to pathogens. NBS (nucleotide-binding site) profiling is a PCR (polymerase chain reaction)-based approach to studying genetic variability that specifically targets chromosome regions containing R-genes and R-gene analogues. We used NBS profiling to measure genetic diversity among 58 accessions of durum wheat. Mean polymorphism rates detected using MseI and AluI as restriction enzymes were 34% and 22%, respectively. Mean number of polymorphisms per enzyme–primer combination was equal to 23.8 ± 5.9, ranging from 13 to 31 polymorphic bands. In total, 96 markers over 190 indicated a good capacity to discriminate between accessions (the polymorphic index content ranging from 0.30 to 0.50). The results obtained with NBS profiling were compared with simple sequence repeat (SSR) and amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) data of the same set of accessions. The genetic distances computed with 190 NBS profiling markers were in close agreement with those obtained with AFLP and SSR markers (r = 0.73 and 0.76, respectively). Our results indicate that NBS profiling provides an effective means to investigate genetic diversity in durum wheat.
Genetic mapping of agronomic traits in false flax (Camelina sativa subsp.sativa)
Authors: Gehringer A. , Friedt W. , Lühs W. , Snowdon R.J. 
Published: April 2007

The crucifer oilseed plant false flax (Camelina sativa subsp. sativa) possesses numerous valuable agronomic attributes that make it attractive as an alternative spring-sown crop for tight crop rotations. The oil of false flax is particularly rich in polyunsaturated C18-fatty acids, making it a valuable renewable feedstock for the oleochemical industry. Because of the minimal interest in the crop throughout the 20th century, breeding efforts have been limited. In this study, a genetic map for C. sativa was constructed, using amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) markers, in a population of recombinant inbred lines that were developed, through single-seed descent, from a cross between ‘Lindo’ and ‘Licalla’, 2 phenotypically distinct parental varieties. Three Brassica simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers were also integrated into the map, and 1 of these shows linkage to oil-content loci in both C. sativa and Brassica napus. Fifty-five other SSR primer combinations showed monomorphic amplification products, indicating partial genome homoeology with the Brassica species. Using data from field trials with different fertilization treatments (0 and 80 kg N/ha) at multiple locations over 3 years, the map was used to localize quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for seed yield, oil content, 1000-seed mass, and plant height. Some yield QTLs were found only with the N0 treatment, and might represent loci contributing to the competitiveness of false flax in low-nutrient soils. The results represent a starting point for future marker-assisted breeding.
PERSONALIZED SEARCH BASED ON A MEMORY RETRIEVAL THEORY
Authors: GASPARETTI FABIO , MICARELLI ALESSANDRO 
Published: April 2007

Personalization is the ability to retrieve information content related to users' profile and facilitate their information-seeking activities. Several environments, such as the Web, take advantage of personalization techniques because of the large amount of available information. For this reason, there is a growing interest in providing automated personalization processes during the human-computer interaction.In this paper we introduce a new approach for user modeling, which grounds in the Search of Associative Memory (SAM) theory. By means of implicit feedback techniques, the approach is able to unobtrusively recognize user needs and monitor the user working context in order to provide important information useful to personalize traditional search tools and implement recommender systems. Experimental results based on precision and recall measures indicate improvements in comparison with traditional user models.
UNOBTRUSIVE USER MODELING FOR ADAPTIVE HYPERMEDIA
Authors: HOLZ HILARY J. , HOFMANN KATJA , REED CATHERINE 
Published: April 2007

We propose a technique for user modeling in Adaptive Hypermedia (AH) that is unobtrusive at both the level of observable behavior and that of cognition. Unobtrusive user modeling is complementary to transparent user modeling. Unobtrusive user modeling induces user models appropriate for Educational AH (EAH) based on metaphors characterized by a shared locus of control over learning, such as small group learning. Transparent user modeling, on the other hand, induces user models appropriate for EAH based on metaphors characterized by an independent locus of control, such as social navigation. We extend an existing decomposition model of adaptation in AH to incorporate summative evaluation of unobtrusive user modeling. Summative evaluation examines the effects or outcomes of a system, while formative evaluation is used to improve a system under development. We also introduce a separate, two-stage model for formative evaluation of unobtrusive user modeling. We then present results from a field study for the first of the two developmental stages and describe the current field study of the second developmental stage. Finally, we compare unobtrusive and transparent user modeling, and explain the role of each.
CHALLENGES FOR IMPROVING CONSENSUS REACHING PROCESS IN COLLECTIVE DECISIONS
Authors: MARTÍNEZ L. , MONTERO J. 
Published: April 2007

The majority rule is frequently presented as a cornerstone of any democratic society, guiding many group decision-making processes where final decision requires the agreement of more than half the people involved. But sometimes, some key decisions require a higher level of agreement. In such cases, an added value would be to reach some consensus about the decision-making problem. Decision making under consensus drives to decisions which are better accepted and appreciated. But it also implies a greater complexity and time consuming process to reach a final decision, and it may even lead to a deadlock or unsuccessful results, whenever the searched agreement is not achieved. Meanwhile, these problems arise because the requirements to achieve the consensus are too strong, and different processes have softened their requirements. In particular, soft consensus is one of the most widespread consensus reaching processes that uses fuzzy logic to soften the consensus requirements. However, several problems still persist despite the softening of the requirements.In this paper, we are going to make a brief revision of the different concepts about consensus and about different consensus reaching processes, both in the crisp and fuzzy environment. We shall then analyze how to overcome their lacks, indicating the challenges facing these processes in order to obtain successful results in those group decision problems in which they are required to make a decision under consensus.
Androgen-Dependent Gene Expression of Prostate-Specific Antigen Is Enhanced Synergistically by Hypoxia in Human Prostate Cancer Cells
Authors: Horii Kou , Suzuki Yasutomo , Kondo Yukihiro , Akimoto Masao , Nishimura Taiji , Yamabe Yukako , Sakaue Motoharu , Sano Toshihiro , Kitagawa Takayuki , Himeno Seiichiro , Imura Nobumasa , Hara Shuntaro 
Published: April 2007

Abstract
The androgen receptor (AR) is implicated in prostate cancer growth, progression, and angiogenesis. Hypoxia-inducible factor-1 (HIF-1), which transcriptionally regulates hypoxia-inducible angiogenic factors, is up-regulated in prostate cancers compared with adjacent normal tissues. HIF-1 may be involved in prostate cancer as well as the AR, but the involvement of HIF-1 in prostate cancer angiogenesis and progression has not been fully elucidated. In the present study, we found that in prostate cancer LNCaP cells dihydrotestosterone enhanced the expression of GLUT-1, one of the HIF-1 target genes, and also that hypoxia enhanced the expression of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) that is one of the AR target genes and is involved in tumor invasion. Small interfering RNA that specifically inhibits HIF-1 reduced the expression levels of PSA as well as GLUT-1. Reporter gene analysis showed that dihydrotestosterone activated the HIF-1–mediated gene expression and hypoxia enhanced the AR-induced promoter activity of human PSA gene. Deletion and site-directed mutation of the 5′-flanking region of human PSA gene revealed that the sequence ACGTG between −3951 and −3947 was essential in the response to hypoxia. Furthermore, chromatin immunoprecipitation assay indicated that HIF-1 interacts with the AR on the human PSA gene promoter. These results indicated that in prostate cancers, HIF-1 might cooperate with the AR to activate the expression of several genes related to tumor angiogenesis, invasion, and progression. (Mol Cancer Res 2007;5(4):383–91)