bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A method for determination of ϕb for statically compacted soils
Authors: Oloo S Y , Fredlund D G 
Published: July 2008

The unsaturated shear strength parameter, ϕb, is usually determined using triaxial of direct shear apparatus that have been modified to allow for the control and (or) measurement of pore-air and pore-water pressures. A fairly high level of expertise is required for the characterization of ϕb using these modified apparatus. A simple procedure for determining ϕb for statically compacted soils at different water contents is presented along with a method of analysis. The tests can be performed on a conventional direct shear apparatus. The unsaturated shear strength parameter, ϕb, obtained using the proposed procedure is shown to be comparable to that obtained using the modified direct shear test. Since the proposed procedure utilizes standard laboratory direct shear equipment and takes a relatively short time to complete, it offers an easy and convenient alternative for the determination of ϕb for statically compacted soils. Key words: shear strength, matric suction, unsaturated soils, statically compacted soils, direct shear test.
Large-scale testing of the Internet's Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) via topological scale-down
Authors: Carl Glenn , Kesidis George 
Published: July 2008

The Internet is a critical communication infrastructure servicing billions of end-users world-wide. Ongoing studies of the Internet's operations show that data loss and increased latency are occurring due to weaknesses in its interdomain routing protocol, BGP. Many solutions have been proposed, but few have experienced widespread adoption. Both the delayed discovery of the protocol's shortcomings, and apathy for its proposed solutions, are partially due to inadequate testing practices. Internet interdomain routing technologies are not evaluated at appropriate scale. Better testing is suggested, which incorporates the specification of large-scale experimental topologies. This is necessary, as BGP performs the distributed operation of interdomain routing across the thousands of networks composing the Internet. However, only small to moderately sized topologies can be currently accommodated by today's testing platforms.A modeling methodology based on path preserving scale-down is proposed to extend the topological scale of interdomain routing experimentation. A given Internet topology is reduced in terms of its autonomous systems (ASes) using a combination of Gaussian elimination and several graphical heuristics. The interdomain routing paths generated by BGP on this reduced topology are also preserved. Path preservation keeps the length, composition, and ordering of these routing paths unchanged. When the routing paths guiding Internet traffic among ASes are preserved across the size reduction, the large-scale traffic engineering induced by BGP can be estimated at much lower scales. Internet data losses due to certain inappropriate interdomain routing behaviors can be identified. As an example, a persistent multiple origin autonomous system (MOAS) conflict is characterized over a topology containing 8826 ASes. It is shown that this problem's large-scale characterization can be obtained using scale-down models that are 70% smaller, and thus more accommodating to common testing platforms (e.g., simulation and networking testbeds).
Twenty Years of Polar Winds from AVHRR: Validation and Comparison with ERA-40
Authors: Dworak Richard , Key Jeffrey R. 
Published: July 2008

Abstract
Recent studies have shown that the Arctic climate has changed markedly over the past 20 years. Two major reanalysis products that can be used for studying recent changes unfortunately exhibit relatively large errors in the wind field over the Arctic where there are few radiosonde data available for assimilation. At least 10 numerical weather prediction centers worldwide have demonstrated that satellite-derived polar winds have a positive impact on global weather forecasts. The impact on reanalyses should be similar. Therefore, a polar wind dataset spanning more than 20 years was generated using Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) data. Comparisons with winds from radiosondes show biases in the AVHRR-derived winds of 0.1–0.8 m s−1, depending on the level. In addition, AVHRR has lower root-mean-square speed errors and speed biases than the 40-yr ECMWF reanalysis product (ERA-40) when compared with rawinsondes not assimilated into the reanalysis. Therefore, it is recommended that the historical AVHRR polar winds be assimilated into future versions of the reanalysis products. The authors also explore possible kinematic reasons for the disparities between ERA-40 and AVHRR wind fields. AVHRR and ERA-40 speed and direction differences for various kinematic flow features are investigated. Results show that, on average, AVHRR winds are faster in jet streams and ridges but are slower in troughs and jet exit regions. The results from this study could lead to a better dynamical understanding of why the reanalysis product produces a less-accurate wind vector field over regions that are void of radiosonde data.
Adverse events associated with intranasal influenza vaccine in the United States
Authors: Vasu Neetu , Ghaffari Gisoo , Craig Ethan T. , Craig Timothy J. 
Published: July 2008

Methods: The goal of this review was to analyze the post-vaccination adverse effects associated with Live Attenuated Influenza Vaccine (LAIV) compared to those of the Injectable Trivalent Inactivated Vaccine (TIV) in patients with egg allergy and asthma. PubMed, Ovid, and Google searches were conducted. Searched articles relating to allergic reactions, asthma or food allergy, and LAIV were reviewed. Results: Similar or superior efficacy of LAIV compared to TIV was reported by various studies. Respiratory symptoms were the most common adverse events following both vaccinations. Although no evidence was found of a direct causal relationship between intranasal influenza vaccine and anaphylaxis due to egg allergy, a number of cases of anaphylaxis were reported. To date, there are no studies directly comparing the frequency of anaphylactic reactions between the two vaccines. Conclusions: The safety of LAIV in individuals with unstable asthma and egg allergy has not been established and it should be avoided in these populations. For patients with unstable asthma, TIV should remain the therapy of choice.
Temporal, quantitative, and functional characteristics of single-KIR–positive alloreactive natural killer cell recovery account for impaired graft-versus-leukemia activity after haploidentical hematopoietic stem cell transplantation
Authors: Vago Luca , Forno Barbara , Sormani Maria Pia , Crocchiolo Roberto , Zino Elisabetta , Di Terlizzi Simona , Lupo Stanghellini Maria Teresa , Mazzi Benedetta , Perna Serena K. , Bondanza Attilio , Middleton Derek , Palini Alessio , Bernardi Massimo , Bacchetta Rosa , Peccatori Jacopo , Rossini Silvano , Roncarolo Maria Grazia , Bordignon Claudio , Bonini Chiara , Ciceri Fabio , Fleischhauer Katharina 
Published: July 2008

AbstractIn this study, we have characterized reconstitution of the natural killer (NK) cell repertoire after haploidentical CD34+ selected hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) for high-risk hematologic malignancies. Analysis focused on alloreactive single-KIR+ NK cells, which reportedly are potent antileukemic effectors. One month after HSCT, CD56bright/CD56dim NK-cell subsets showed inverted ratio and phenotypic features. CD25 and CD117 down-regulation on CD56bright, and NKG2A and CD62L up-regulation on CD56dim, suggest sequential CD56bright-to-CD56dim NK-cell maturation in vivo. Consistently, the functional potential of these maturation intermediates against leukemic blasts was impaired. Mature receptor repertoire reconstitution took at least 3 months. Importantly, at this time point, supposedly alloreactive, single-KIR+ NK cells were not yet fully functional. Frequency of these cells was highly variable, independently from predicted NK alloreactivity, and below 1% of NK cells in 3 of 6 alloreactive patients studied. In line with these observations, no clinical benefit of predicted NK alloreactivity was observed in the total cohort of 56 patients. Our findings unravel the kinetics, and limits, of NK-cell differentiation from purified haploidentical hematopoietic stem cells in vivo, and suggest that NK-cell antileukemic potential could be best exploited by infusion of mature single-KIR+ NK cells selected from an alloreactive donor.
Functional and biochemical characterization of the 20S proteasome in a yeast temperature-sensitive mutant, rpt6-1
Authors: Chouduri Aktar Uzzaman , Tokumoto Toshinobu , Dohra Hideo , Ushimaru Takashi , Yamada Shinpei 
Published: July 2008

Abstract

Background

Rpt6-1 is a thermosensitive yeast mutant with a deletion of a gene encoding a regulatory subunit of the 26S proteasome, RPT6, which is able to grow at 25°C but not at 37°C. In this study, peptidase activities, activation profiles, and the subunit composition of the 20S proteasome purified from the rpt6-1 mutant was characterized.

Results
The 20S proteasome purified from rpt6-1 exhibited low levels of peptidase activities in the absence of activators, but nearly same activated activities in the presence of activators, suggesting a gating defect in the proteasome channel. Detailed analyses of the composition of the 20S proteasome through separation of all subunits by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis followed by identification of each subunit using MALDI-TOF-MS revealed that two subunits, α1 and α7, differed from those of wild-type cells in both electrophoretic mobility and pI values. The changes in these two α-subunits were apparent at the permissive temperature, but disappeared during stress response at the restrictive temperature. Interestingly, upon disappearance of these changes, the levels of peptidase activity of the 20S proteasome in the rpt6-1 mutant were restored as the wild-type. These results suggest that two different forms of the α-subunits, α1 and α7, block the proteasome channel in the rpt6-1 mutant.

Conclusion
Two α-subunits (α1 and α7) of the 20S proteasome in the rpt6-1 mutant differed from their wild-type counterparts and peptidase activities were found to be lower in the mutant than in the wild-type strain.
A multicopy suppressor screening approach as a means to identify antibiotic resistance determinant candidates in Yersinia pestis
Authors: Stirrett Karen L , Ferreras Julian A , Rossi Sebastian M , Moy Richard L , Fonseca Fabio V , Quadri Luis EN 
Published: July 2008

Abstract

Background

Yersinia pestis is the causative agent of plague and a potential agent of bioterrorism and biowarfare. The plague biothreat and the emergence of multidrug-resistant plague underscore the need to increase our understanding of the intrinsic potential of Y. pestis for developing antimicrobial resistance and to anticipate the mechanisms of resistance that may emerge in Y. pestis. Identification of Y. pestis genes that, when overexpressed, are capable of reducing antibiotic susceptibility is a useful strategy to expose genes that this pathogen may rely upon to evolve antibiotic resistance via a vertical modality. In this study, we explored the use of a multicopy suppressor, Escherichia coli host-based screening approach as a means to expose antibiotic resistance determinant candidates in Y. pestis.

Results
We constructed a multicopy plasmid-based, Y. pestis genome-wide expression library of nearly 16,000 clones in E. coli and screened the library for suppressors of the antimicrobial activity of ofloxacin, a fluoroquinolone antibiotic. The screen permitted the identification of a transcriptional regulator-encoding gene (robA
Yp) that increased the MIC99 of ofloxacin by 23-fold when overexpressed from a multicopy plasmid in Y. pestis. Additionally, we found that robA
Yp overexpression in Y. pestis conferred low-level resistance to many other antibiotics and increased organic solvent tolerance. Overexpression of robA
Yp also upregulated the expression of several efflux pumps in Y. pestis.

Conclusion
Our study provides proof of principle for the use of multicopy suppressor screening based on the tractable and easy-to-manipulate E. coli host as a means to identify antibiotic resistance determinant candidates of Y. pestis.
The characterisation of sexual behaviour in Chinese male university students who have sex with other men: A cross-sectional study
Authors: Cong Liming , Ono-Kihara Masako , Xu Guozhang , Ma Qiaoqin , Pan Xiaohong , Zhang Dandan , Homma Takayuki , Kihara Masahiro 
Published: July 2008

Abstract

Background
The risks for Chinese male university students who have sex with other men (MSM) have not been compared with those for non-MSM students. This information is important for the development of targeted HIV prevention programmes for this population.

Methods
Sexually active MSM and non-MSM students were compared for demographic characteristics, sexual behaviour, and related psychosocial variables using bivariate analyses. The data were a subset drawn from a large-scale cross-sectional questionnaire survey of sexually active male students conducted at two universities in a large city in Zhejiang Province, China, in 2003.

Results
Of 1824 sexually active male students, 68 (3.7%) reported having had sex with a man at least once; 33.8% of these 68 men had also had female partners. Compared with non-MSM students, MSM students were 3–6.5 times more likely to have had sexual encounters with casual or commercial sex partners and were three times less likely to have protected sex in the past year or during their lifetime. They were three to five times more likely to have had multiple partners and 15 times more likely to have had a sexually transmitted disease (STD). In addition, the MSM students knew half as much about HIV and had less condom-decision than did non-MSM students and were two times more accepting of commercial sex. However, the MSM students were twice as aware of the risks for HIV infection.

Conclusion
MSM composed 3–4% of the male sexually active university student population studied and was found to be at greater risk than non-MSM students for STD/HIV infection. There is an urgent need for STD/HIV programmes in university health services that take into consideration the sexuality and psychosocial issues of MSM students.
Effects of work ability and health promoting interventions for women with musculoskeletal symptoms: A 9-month prospective study
Authors: Larsson Agneta , Karlqvist Lena , Gard Gunvor 
Published: July 2008

AbstractBackgroundWomen working in the public human service sector in 'overstrained' situations run the risk of musculoskeletal symptoms and long-term sick leave. In order to maintain the level of health and work ability and strengthen the potential resources for health, it is important that employees gain greater control over decisions and actions affecting their health – a process associated with the concept of self-efficacy. The aim of this study was to describe the effects of a self-efficacy intervention and an ergonomic education intervention for women with musculoskeletal symptoms, employed in the public sector.MethodsThe design of the study was a 9-month prospective study describing the effects of two interventions, a comprehensive self-efficacy intervention (n= 21) and an ergonomic education intervention (n= 21). Data were obtained by a self-report questionnaire on health- and work ability-related factors at baseline, and at ten weeks and nine months follow-up. Within-group differences over time were analysed.ResultsOver the time period studied there were small magnitudes of improvements within each group. Within the self-efficacy intervention group positive effects in perceived work ability were shown. The ergonomic education group showed increased positive beliefs about future work ability and a more frequent use of pain coping strategies.ConclusionBoth interventions showed positive effects on women with musculoskeletal symptoms, but in different ways. Future research in this area should tailor interventions to participants' motivation and readiness to change.
Structural analysis of urate oxidase in complex with its natural substrate inhibited by cyanide: Mechanistic implications
Authors: Gabison Laure , Prangé Thierry , Colloc'h Nathalie , El Hajji Mohamed , Castro Bertrand , Chiadmi Mohamed 
Published: July 2008

Abstract

Background
Urate oxidase (EC 1.7.3.3 or UOX) catalyzes the conversion of uric acid and gaseous molecular oxygen to 5-hydroxyisourate and hydrogen peroxide, in the absence of cofactor or particular metal cation. The functional enzyme is a homo-tetramer with four active sites located at dimeric interfaces.

Results
The catalytic mechanism was investigated through a ternary complex formed between the enzyme, uric acid, and cyanide that stabilizes an intermediate state of the reaction. When uric acid is replaced by a competitive inhibitor, no complex with cyanide is formed.

Conclusion
The X-ray structure of this compulsory ternary complex led to a number of mechanistic evidences that support a sequential mechanism in which the two reagents, dioxygen and a water molecule, process through a common site located 3.3 Å above the mean plane of the ligand. This site is built by the side chains of Asn 254, and Thr 57, two conserved residues belonging to two different subunits of the homo-tetramer. The absence of a ternary complex between the enzyme, a competitive inhibitor, and cyanide suggests that cyanide inhibits the hydroxylation step of the reaction, after the initial formation of a hydroperoxyde type intermediate.
Assessment of the biopotency of follitropin alfa and lutropin alfa combined in one injection: a comparative trial in Sprague-Dawley rats
Authors: Alper Michael , Meyer Randal , Dekkers Chris , Ezcurra Diego , Schertz Joan , Kelly Eduardo 
Published: July 2008

Abstract

Background
The current study was designed to determine if follitropin alfa (recombinant human follicle-stimulating hormone; r-hFSH) and lutropin alfa (recombinant human luteinizing hormone; r-hLH) biopotencies were unchanged by reconstituting in sterile water for injection and mixing prior to injection.

Methods
The biopotencies of r-hFSH and r-hLH were determined following injection of female Sprague-Dawley rats with a mixture of follitropin alfa revised formulation female (RFF) and lutropin alfa (1:1, r-hFSH:r-hLH). Biopotencies of follitropin alfa RFF and lutropin alfa were measured using ovarian weight and ascorbic acid depletion assays, respectively, and compared with a reference standard. Stock mixtures of follitropin alfa RFF and lutropin alfa (1:1) were prepared within 1 h prior to each respective assay's injection and stored at 6 +/- 2°C. Separate low dose (follitropin alfa RFF 1.5 IU/rat, lutropin alfa 2 IU/rat) and high dose (follitropin alfa RFF 3 IU/rat, lutropin alfa 8 IU/rat) treatments were prepared from stock mixtures or individual solutions by diluting with 0.22% bovine serum albumin saline solution and injected within 1 h of preparation. The main outcome measures were ovarian weight and ovarian ascorbic acid depletion.

Results
FSH bioactivities were similar (p > 0.10) between the individual follitropin alfa RFF test solution (84.2 IU) and follitropin alfa RFF/lutropin alfa (87.6 IU) mixtures prepared within 1 h of injection and stored at 6 +/- 2°C. LH bioactivities were similar (p > 0.10) between lutropin alfa (94.7 IU) test solution and lutropin alfa/follitropin alfa RFF (85.3 IU) mixtures prepared within 1 h of injection and stored at 6 +/- 2°C for not more than 1 h prior to injection.

Conclusion
Mixing follitropin alfa RFF and lutropin alfa did not alter the bioactivity of either FSH or LH.
Del(6)(q22) and BCL6 Rearrangements in Primary CNS Lymphoma Are Indicators of an Aggressive Clinical Course
Authors: Cady Francois M. , O'Neill Brian Patrick , Law Mark E. , Decker Paul A. , Kurtz David M. , Giannini Caterina , Porter Alyx B. , Kurtin Paul J. , Johnston Patrick B. , Dogan Ahmet , Remstein Ellen D. 
Published: July 2008

Purpose Primary CNS lymphoma (PCNSL) is an aggressive lymphoma but clinically validated biologic markers that can predict natural history to tailor treatment according to risk are lacking. Several genetic changes including BCL6 rearrangements and deletion of 6q22, containing the putative tumor suppressor gene PTPRK, are potential risk predictors. Herein we determined the prevalence and survival impact of del(6)(q22) and BCL6, immunoglobulin heavy chain (IGH), and MYC gene rearrangements in a large PCNSL cohort treated in a single center. Patients and Methods Interphase fluorescence in situ hybridization was performed using two-color probes for BCL6, MYC, IGH-BCL6, and del(6)(q22) on thin sections of 75 paraffin-embedded samples from 75 HIV-negative, immunocompetent patients newly diagnosed with PCNSL. Survival data were analyzed using Kaplan-Meier survival curves, log-rank tests, and proportional hazards regression adjusting for age, deep structure involvement, and high-dose methotrexate (HDMTX) treatment. Results The prevalence of del(6)(q22) and BCL6, IGH, and MYC translocations was 45%,17%, 13%, and 3%, respectively. The presence of del(6)(q22) and/or a BCL6 translocation was associated with inferior overall survival (OS; P = .0097). The presence of either del(6)(q22) alone or a BCL6 translocation alone was also associated with inferior OS (P = .0087). Univariable results held after adjusting for age, deep structure involvement, and HDMTX. Conclusion Del (6)(q22) and BCL6 rearrangements are common in PCNSL and predict for decreased OS independent of deep structure involvement and HDMTX. Unlike systemic diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, del(6)(q22) is common and IGH translocations are infrequent and usually involve BCL6 rather than BCL2, suggesting a distinct pathogenesis.
Rhenium-catalyzed Coupling of 2-Propynyl Alcohols and Several Nucleophiles via Dehydration
Authors: Kuninobu Yoichiro , Ueda Hirokazu , Takai Kazuhiko 
Published: July 2008

Abstract
Treatment of 2-propynyl alcohols with several nucleophiles in the presence of a catalytic amount of a rhenium complex, [ReBr(CO)3(thf)]2, gave coupling products via dehydration. In these reactions, C–C, C–O, and C–S bonds can be constructed under mild conditions.
Novel Purely Organic Conductor with an Aminoxyl Radical, α-(BEDT-TTF)2(PO–CONHCH2SO3)·2H2O (PO = 2,2,5,5-Tetramethyl-3-pyrrolin-1-oxyl Free Radical)
Authors: Akutsu Hiroki , Yamashita Shinji , Yamada Jun-ichi , Nakatsuji Shin’ichi , Turner Scott S 
Published: July 2008

Abstract
A novel bis(ethylenedithio)tetrathiafulvalene (BEDT-TTF)-based salt with an aminoxyl radical 2,2,5,5-tetramethyl-3-pyrrolin-1-oxyl (PO) has been prepared. The salt has α-type 2-D conducting sheets and is a semiconductor with ρRT=26 Ω·cm and Ea=0.31 eV. The temperature dependence of the magnetic susceptibility suggests that both the aminoxyl radical and the BEDT-TTF layer have local spin moments at room temperature.
Coordination of Carboxylate on Metal Nanoparticles Characterized by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy
Authors: Wulandari Priastuti , Nagahiro Takeshi , Michioka Kanae , Tamada Kaoru , Ishibashi Ken-ichi , Kimura Yasuo , Niwano Michio 
Published: July 2008

Abstract
The coordination of carboxylate capping agents on silver and gold nanoparticles is investigated by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The shift of carboxylate stretching frequency confirmed that carboxylate bound on gold nanoparticle forms unidentate coordination, while that on silver nanoparticle shows ionic bonding. The different coordinations on gold and silver NPs are reasonably interpreted by molecular orbital (MO) calculation based on metal carboxylate molecules.