bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Role of heat-labile serum factor or host complement in the inhibition ofPlasmodium falciparumsporogonic stages inAnopheles stephensiby gametocyte carriers' serological factors
Authors: GOUAGNA L. C. , VAN DER KOLK M. , ROEFFEN W. , VERHAVE J.-P. , ELING W. , SAUERWEIN R. , BOUDIN C. 
Published: July 2007

SUMMARYThis study investigated the significance of serum complement on transmission-reducing activity (TRA) of field sera from 24 infectedPlasmodium falciparumgametocyte carriers (from Cameroon) against cultured NF54P. falciparum.Laboratory-rearedAnopheles stephensiwere given infectious blood meals prepared either with sera from naïve Dutch donor (AB type) or pair-matched field serum samples, both with and without active complement. TRA of serum factors and host complement on mosquito infection rate and oocyst intensity were divided into the various components involved in the early stages of sporogony. The majority (>80%) of sera tested showed positive antibody titres to Pfs230, the relevant complement-dependent target of transmission-reducing mechanisms. Regardless of the presence of active complement, bloodmeals with field sera exhibited significantly lower infection rates and oocyst intensity than the control group. Serological reactivity in Capture-ELISA against Pfs230 was significantly correlated with the reduction of parasite infectivity. Contrary to our expectation, the presence of active complement in the mosquito bloodmeal did not increase parasite losses and therefore the magnitude of transmission reduction by individual immune sera. Our findings onP. falciparumare consistent with previous studies on animal hosts ofPlasmodium, indicating that earlyP. falciparumsporogonic stages may be insensitive to the antibody-dependent pathways of complement in human serum.
Uniformly bounded components of normality
Authors: WANG XIAOLING , ZHOU WANG 
Published: July 2007

AbstractSuppose that f(z) is a transcendental entire function and that the Fatou set F(f)≠∅. Set

and

where the supremum supU is taken over all components of F(f). If B1(f)<∞ or B2(f)<∞, then we say F(f) is strongly uniformly bounded or uniformly bounded respectively. We show that, under some conditions, F(f) is (strongly) uniformly bounded.
Total curvature, ropelength and crossing number of thick knots
Authors: DIAO Y. , ERNST C. 
Published: July 2007

AbstractWe first study the minimum total curvature of a knot when it is embedded on the cubic lattice. Let $\mathcal{K}$ be a knot or link with a lattice embedding of minimum total curvature $\tau(\mathcal{K})$ among all possible lattice embeddings of $\mathcal{K}$. We show that there exist positive constants c1 and c2 such that $c_1\sqrt{Cr(\mathcal{K})}\le \tau(\mathcal{K})\le c_2 Cr(\mathcal{K})$ for any knot type $\mathcal{K}$. Furthermore we show that the powers of $Cr(\mathcal{K})$ in the above inequalities are sharp hence cannot be improved in general. Our results and observations show that lattice embeddings with minimum total curvature are quite different from those with minimum or near minimum lattice embedding length. In addition, we discuss the relationship between minimal total curvature and minimal ropelength for a given knot type. At the end of the paper, we study the total curvatures of smooth thick knots and show that there are some essential differences between the total curvatures of smooth thick knots and lattice knots.
On a parametric family of Thue inequalities over function fields
Authors: FUCHS CLEMENS , JADRIJEVIĆ BORKA 
Published: July 2007

AbstractIn this paper we completely solve a family of Thue inequalities defined over the field of functions$\mathbb{C}(T)$, namely deg (X4−4cX3Y+(6c+2)X2Y2+4cXY3+Y4) ≤ degc, where the solutionsx,ycome from the ring$\mathbb{C}\left[ T\right] $and the parameter$c\in \mathbb{C}\left[ T\right] $is some non-constant polynomial.
Completely positive quantum stochastic convolution cocycles and their dilations
Authors: SKALSKI ADAM G. 
Published: July 2007

AbstractStochastic generators of completely positive and contractive quantum stochastic convolution cocycles on aC*-hyperbialgebra are characterised. The characterisation is used to obtain dilations and stochastic forms of Stinespring decomposition for completely positive convolution cocycles on aC*-bialgebra.
The fundamental solutions for irrotational and rotational Stokes flow in spheroidal geometry
Authors: DASSIOS G. 
Published: July 2007

AbstractThe Stokes operator E2 governs the irrotational axisymmetric Stokes flow and its square governs the corresponding rotational flow. In spheroidal coordinates the elements of the solution space ker E2 enjoy a spectral decomposition into separable eignefunction, while the elements of the ker E4 accept a spectral decomposition in terms of semiseparable eigensolutions involving 3D-by-3D eigenfunctions of the Gegenbauer operator. These spectral characteristics are utilized to construct the fundamental solutions for both the E2 and the E4 operators in spheroidal geometry. The fundamental solution for E2 is expressed in terms of the elements of the irrotational space ker E2, while the fundamental solution for E4 is expressed in terms of the corresponding generalized eigenfunctions alone.
The Hausdorff dimension of pulse-sum graphs
Authors: DEMICHEL YANN , FALCONER KENNETH 
Published: July 2007

AbstractWe consider random functions formed as sums of pulses

where Xn are independent random vectors, 0<α<1, and G is an elementary “pulse” or “bump”. Typically such functions have fractal graphs and we find the Hausdorff dimension of these graphs using a novel variant on the potential theoretic method.
Orthogonal pairs of weak*-closed inner ideals in a JBW*-triple
Authors: EDWARDS C. MARTIN 
Published: July 2007

AbstractPre-symmetric complex Banach spaces have been proposed as models for state spaces of physical systems. A neutral GL-projection on a pre-symmetric space represents an operation on the corresponding system, and has as its range a further pre-symmetric space which represents the state space of the resulting system. Two neutral GL-projectionsSandTon the pre-symmetric spaceA*are said to be L-orthogonal if for all elementsxinSA*andyinTA*,By studying the algebraic properties of the dual spaceAofA*, which is a JBW*-triple, it is shown that, provided that the orthogonal neutral GL-projectionsSandTsatisfy a certain geometrical condition, there exists a smallest neutral GL-projectionS∨Tmajorizing bothSandT, and thatS,TandS∨Tform a compatible family.
Drastic decrease of Salmonella Enteritidis isolated from humans in Belgium in 2005, shift in phage types and influence on foodborne outbreaks
Authors: COLLARD J. M. , BERTRAND S. , DIERICK K. , GODARD C. , WILDEMAUWE C. , VERMEERSCH K. , DUCULOT J. , VAN IMMERSEEL F. , PASMANS F. , IMBERECHTS H. , QUINET C. 
Published: July 2007

SUMMARYIn Belgium, non-typhoidal salmonellosis and campylobacteriosis are the two most frequently reported foodborne illnesses. During 2005, a 71% decrease of Salmonella Enteritidis infections compared with the average annual number cases in the period 2000–2004 was recorded by the Belgian National Reference Centre for Salmonella and Shigella. After the peak of 1999, the total number of salmonellosis cases decreased gradually, with the exception of 2003 when an increase was again recorded due to the rise of isolates belonging to the serotype Enteritidis. PT4, the predominant phage type of serotype Enteriditis over recent years (except in 2003), became the second most prevalent phage type in 2005 after PT21. We present in this paper the epidemiology (incidence and trends) of human salmonellosis in Belgium and assess the role of the vaccination programme in layer flocks on the decline of the incidence of human salmonellosis and foodborne outbreaks due to S. Enteritidis.
Cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) functionality is dependent on coatomer protein I (COPI)
Authors: Yu Ying , Platoshyn Oleksandr , Safrina Olga , Tsigelny Igor , Yuan Jason X.‐J. , Keller Steven H. 
Published: July 2007

Background information. Cystic fibrosis results from mutations in the ABC transporter CFTR (cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator), which functions as a cAMP‐regulated anion channel. The most prevalent mutation in CFTR, the Phe508 deletion, results in the generation of a trafficking and functionally deficient channel. The cellular machineries involved in modulating CFTR trafficking and function have not been fully characterized. In the present study, we identified a role for the COPI (coatomer protein I) cellular trafficking machinery in the development of the CFTR polypeptide into a functional chloride channel. To examine the role of COPI in CFTR biosynthesis, we employed the cell line ldlF, which harbours a temperature‐sensitive mutation in ε‐COP, a COPI subunit, to inhibit COPI function and then determined whether the CFTR polypeptide produced from the transfected gene developed into a cAMP‐regulated chloride channel.Results. When COPI was inactivated in the ldlF cells by an elevated temperature pulse (39°C), the CFTR polypeptide was detected on the cell surface by immunofluorescence microscopy and cell‐surface biotinylation. Therefore, CFTR proceeded upstream in the secretory pathway in the absence of COPI function, a result demonstrated previously by others. In contrast, electrophysiological measurements indicated an absence of cAMP‐stimulated chloride efflux, suggesting that channel function was impaired. In comparison, expression of CFTR at the same elevated temperature (39°C) in an ε‐COP‐rescued cell line [ldlF(ldlF)], which has an introduced wild‐type ε‐COP gene in addition to the mutant ε‐COP gene, showed restoration of cAMP‐stimulated channel activity, confirming the requirement of COPI for channel function.Conclusions. These results therefore suggest that generation of the folded‐functional conformation of CFTR requires COPI.
Morphological effects of transcardially perfused SDS on the rat brain
Authors: Kovács Betti , Bukovics Péter , Gallyas Ferenc 
Published: July 2007

Background information. For explanation of the formation of ‘dark’ neurons, an enigmatic phenomenon in neuropathology, we hypothesized recently that all spaces between the ultrastructural elements visible in the traditional transmission electron microscope are filled with a gel structure that stores free energy in the form of non‐covalent interactions, is continuous in the whole soma—dendrite domains of neurons, and is capable of whole‐cell phase transition. This hypothesis was deduced from the fact that ‘dark’ neurons can be formed, even under conditions extremely unfavourable for enzyme‐mediated biochemical processes, if initiated by a physical damage. In order to gain further information on this gel structure, we perfused transcardially rats for 5 min with physiological saline containing 1 mM SDS before the perfusion of a fixative for electron microscopy.Results. Dramatic compaction of visibly intact ultrastructural elements was caused in the whole soma—dendrite domains of thinly scattered neurons (‘dark’ neurons), whereas substantial cytoplasmic swelling and patchy ultrastructural disintegration occurred in numerous other neurons (‘light’ neurons). Similar morphological changes were observed in scattered astrocytes, oligodendrocytes, pericytes and endothelial cells.Conclusions. These observations: (i) support the existence of the above intracellular gel structure in neurons; (ii) allow the conclusion that this gel structure is present in the form of an ubiquitous trabecular network surrounded by a confluent system of fluid cytoplasm; (iii) draw attention to the possibility that the previous two statements also apply to other cell types of the brain tissue; and (iv) suggest that pressure‐induced direct channels exist between neurons and astrocytes.
Odontogenic capability: bone marrow stromal stem cells versus dental pulp stem cells
Authors: Yu Jinhua , Wang Yijing , Deng Zhihong , Tang Liang , Li Yuanfei , Shi Junnan , Jin Yan 
Published: July 2007

Background information. Although adult bone‐marrow‐derived cell populations have been used to make teeth when recombined with embryonic oral epithelium, the differences between dental and non‐dental stem‐cell‐mediated odontogenesis remain an open question.Results. STRO‐1+ (stromal precursor cell marker) DPSCs (dental pulp stem cells) and BMSSCs (bone marrow stromal stem cells) were isolated from rat dental pulp and bone marrow respectively by magnetic‐activated cell‐sorting techniques. Their odontogenic capacity was compared under the same inductive microenvironment produced by ABCs (apical bud cells) from 2‐day‐old rat incisors. Co‐cultured DPSCs/ABCs in vitro showed more active odontogenic differentiation ability than mixed BMSSCs/ABCs, as indicated by the accelerated matrix mineralization, up‐regulated alkaline phosphatase activity, cell‐cycle modification, and the expression of tooth‐specific proteins and genes. After cultured for 14 days in the renal capsules of rat hosts, recombined DPSC/ABC pellets formed typical tooth‐shaped tissues with balanced amelogenesis and dentinogenesis, whereas BMSSC/ABC recombinants developed into atypical dentin—pulp complexes without enamel formation. DPSC and BMSSC pellets in vivo produced osteodentin‐like structures and fibrous connective tissues respectively.Conclusions. DPSCs presented more striking odontogenic capability than BMSSCs under the induction of postnatal ABCs. This report provides critical insights into the selection of candidate cells for tooth regeneration between dental and non‐dental stem cell populations.
Matrix synthesis and degradation in human intervertebral disc degeneration
Authors: Le Maitre C.L. , Pockert A. , Buttle D.J. , Freemont A.J. , Hoyland J.A. 
Published: July 2007

Degeneration of the intervertebral disc has been implicated in chronic low back pain. Type II collagen and proteoglycan (predominantly aggrecan) content is crucial to proper disc function, particularly in the nucleus pulposus. In degeneration, synthesis of matrix molecules changes, leading to an increase in the synthesis of collagens type I and III and a decreased production of aggrecan. Linked to this is an increased expression of matrix-degrading molecules including MMPs (matrix metalloproteinases) and the aggrecanases, ADAMTS (a disintegrin and metalloprotease with thrombospondin motifs) 1, 4, 5, 9 and 15, all of which are produced by native disc cells. Importantly, we have found that there is a net increase in these molecules, over their natural inhibitors [TIMP-1 (tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-1), 2 and 3], suggesting a deregulation of the normal homoeostatic mechanism. Growth factors and cytokines [particularly TNFα (tumour necrosis factor α) and IL-1 (interleukin 1)] have been implicated in the regulation of this catabolic process. Our work has shown that in degenerate discs there is an increase in IL-1, but no corresponding increase in the inhibitor IL-1 receptor antagonist. Furthermore, treatment of human disc cells with IL-1 leads to a decrease in matrix gene expression and increased MMP and ADAMTS expression. Inhibition of IL-1 would therefore be an important therapeutic target for preventing/reversing disc degeneration.
Tumour-homing peptides: tools for targeting, imaging and destruction
Authors: Enbäck J. , Laakkonen P. 
Published: July 2007

Each normal organ and pathological condition contains organ- or disease-specific molecular tags on its vasculature that constitute a vascular ‘zip code’ system. Tissue-selective tumour metastasis may also depend on vascular addresses. We have used phage display peptide libraries to map disease-specific differences in the vasculature. By using this technology, we have isolated several peptides which are targeted specifically to tumour blood vessels, lymphatic vessels and/or tumour cells. Some of the tumour-homing peptides recognize common angiogenesis markers and are capable of binding to several types of tumour, whereas other peptides recognize tumour-type-specific differences. We have also shown that the vasculature of a pre-malignant lesion differs from that of a full-blown tumour and also from the vasculature of the corresponding normal organ. Our peptides have revealed molecules that act as novel biomarkers of this vascular heterogeneity. Interestingly, some of our homing peptides are able to penetrate the target cells. This internalization differs from that of the Tat, penetratins and other related peptides in that our peptides enter the cell in a cell-type-specific manner. These peptides appear to be able to concentrate in the target tissue, making them particularly efficient delivery vectors for the targeting of drugs, other therapeutic moieties and imaging agents.
Cell-penetrating peptide–morpholino conjugates alter pre-mRNA splicing of DMD (Duchenne muscular dystrophy) and inhibit murine coronavirus replication in vivo
Authors: Moulton H.M. , Fletcher S. , Neuman B.W. , McClorey G. , Stein D.A. , Abes S. , Wilton S.D. , Buchmeier M.J. , Lebleu B. , Iversen P.L. 
Published: July 2007

The cellular uptake of PMOs (phosphorodiamidate morpholino oligomers) can be enhanced by their conjugation to arginine-rich CPPs (cell-penetrating peptides). Here, we discuss our recent findings regarding (R-Ahx-R)4AhxB (Ahx is 6-aminohexanoic acid and B is β-alanine) CPP–PMO conjugates in DMD (Duchenne muscular dystrophy) and murine coronavirus research. An (R-Ahx-R)4AhxB–PMO conjugate was the most effective compound in inducing the correction of mutant dystrophin transcripts in myoblasts derived from a canine model of DMD. Similarly, normal levels of dystrophin expression were restored in the diaphragms of mdx mice, with treatment starting at the neonatal stage, and protein was still detecTable 22 weeks after the last dose of an (R-Ahx-R)4AhxB–PMO conjugate. Effects of length, linkage and carbohydrate modification of this CPP on the delivery of a PMO were investigated in a coronavirus mouse model. An (R-Ahx-R)4AhxB–PMO conjugate effectively inhibited viral replication, in comparison with other peptides conjugated to the same PMO. Shortening the CPP length, modifying it with a mannosylated serine moiety or replacing it with the R9F2 CPP significantly decreased the efficacy of the resulting PPMO (CPP–PMO conjugate). We attribute the success of this CPP to its stability in serum and its capacity to transport PMO to RNA targets in a manner superior to that of poly-arginine CPPs.
Surgical interruption of pelvic nerve pathways in dysmenorrhea: a systematic review of effectiveness
Authors: LATTHE P.M. , PROCTOR M.L. , FARQUHAR C.M. , JOHNSON N. , KHAN K.S. 
Published: July 2007

AbstractObjectives. To assess the effectiveness of surgical interruption of pelvic nerve pathways in primary and secondary dysmenorrhea. Data sources. The Cochrane Menstrual Disorders and Subfertility Group Trials Register (9 June 2004), CENTRAL (The Cochrane Library, Issue 2, 2004), MEDLINE (1966 to Nov. 2003), EMBASE (1980 to Nov. 2003), CINAHL (1982 to Oct. 2003), MetaRegister of Controlled Trials, the citation lists of review articles and included trials, and contact with the corresponding author of each included trial. Review methods. The inclusion criteria were randomized controlled trials of uterosacral nerve ablation or presacral neurectomy (both open and laparoscopic procedures) for the treatment of dysmenorrhea. The main outcome measures were pain relief and adverse effects. Two reviewers extracted data on characteristics of the study quality and the population, intervention, and outcome independently. Results. Nine randomized controlled trials were included in the systematic review. There were two trials with open presacral neurectomy; all other trials used laparoscopic techniques. For the treatment of primary dysmenorrhea, laparoscopic uterosacral nerve ablation at 12 months was better when compared to a control or no treatment (OR 6.12; 95% CI 1.78–21.03). The comparison of laparoscopic uterosacral nerve ablation with presacral neurectomy for primary dysmenorrhea showed that at 12 months follow‐up, presacral neurectomy was more effective (OR 0.10; 95% CI 0.03–0.32). In secondary dysmenorrhea, along with laparoscopic surgical treatment of endometriosis, the addition of laparoscopic uterosacral nerve ablation did not improve the pain relief (OR 0.77; 95% CI 0.43–1.39), while presacral neurectomy did (OR 3.14; 95% CI 1.59–6.21). Adverse events were more common for presacral neurectomy than procedures without presacral neurectomy (OR 14.6; 95% CI 5–42.5). Conclusion. The evidence for nerve interruption in the management of dysmenorrhea is limited. Methodologically sound and sufficiently powered randomized controlled trials are needed.
The Hausdorff dimension of visible sets of planar continua
Authors: O’Neil Tacey 
Published: July 2007

For a compact set

Γ
⊂

R

2

\Gamma \subset \mathbb {R}^2

and a point

x
x

, we define the visible part of

Γ
\Gamma

from

x
x

to be the set
\[

Γ
x

=
{
u
∈
Γ
:
[
x
,
u
]
∩
Γ
=
{
u
}
}
.

\Gamma _x=\{u\in \Gamma : [x,u]\cap \Gamma =\{u\}\}.

\]
(Here

[
x
,
u
]

[x,u]

denotes the closed line segment joining

x
x

to

u
u

.) In this paper, we use energies to show that if

Γ
\Gamma

is a compact connected set of Hausdorff dimension greater than one, then for (Lebesgue) almost every point

x
∈

R

2

x\in \mathbb {R}^2

, the Hausdorff dimension of

Γ
x

\Gamma _x

is strictly less than the Hausdorff dimension of

Γ
\Gamma

. In fact, for almost every

x
x

,
\[

dim
H

⁡
(

Γ
x

)
≤

1
2

+

dim
H

⁡
(
Γ
)
−

3
4

.

\dim _H (\Gamma _x)\leq \frac {1}{2}+\sqrt {\dim _H(\Gamma )-\frac {3}{4}}.

\]
We also give an estimate of the Hausdorff dimension of those points where the visible set has dimension greater than

σ
+

1
2

+

dim
H

⁡
(
Γ
)
−

3
4

\sigma +\frac {1}{2}+\sqrt {\dim _H (\Gamma )-\frac {3}{4}}

for some

σ
>
0

\sigma >0

.
Cadmium and mercury in Seine Estuary flounders and mussels: the results of two decades of monitoring
Authors: Nakhlé K. , Cossa D. , Claisse D. , Beliaeff B. , Simon S. 
Published: July 2007

Abstract
Nakhlé, K., Cossa, D., Claisse, D., Beliaeff, B., and Simon, S. 2007. Cadmium and mercury in Seine Estuary flounders and mussels: the results of two decades of monitoring. – ICES Journal of Marine Science, 64: 929–938. The flounder (Platichthys flesus) is a flatfish that inhabits marine coastal environments, especially estuaries. It is an alternative quantitative biological indicator to the common marine mussel (Mytilus spp.), which is currently used as a sentinel species to monitor chemical contamination in numerous monitoring programmes. Findings from two decades of monitoring cadmium (Cd) and mercury (Hg) using both sentinel species in the Seine Estuary (France) are reported. For comparison, time-series of water concentrations for the same two metals at the mouth of the River Seine are given. Cd concentrations in the liver of the fish and in the soft tissue of mussels show similar temporal trends, consistent with the major temporal variations of Cd concentrations recorded in river water and with changes in industrial discharge of Cd (phosphogypsum waste) within the Seine Estuary. On the other hand, Hg concentrations in the muscles of flounders show temporal variations with no link to that observed in mussels or fluvial Hg contributions, which are in fact nearly covariant. It is concluded that optimization of the use of flounders as sentinel organisms for monitoring temporal trends of metal contamination in estuarine environments requires in-depth knowledge of its ecology within the area studied. An adapted sampling strategy based on this knowledge should provide results that are easier to interpret.