bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Development and validation of a clinical prediction rule to distinguish bacterial from viral pneumonia in children
Authors: Moreno Laura , Krishnan Jerry A. , Duran Pablo , Ferrero Fernando 
Published: February 2006

AbstractBackgroundDistinguishing bacterial from viral pneumonia on admission to the hospital could guide the decision of whether or not to use antibiotics. We developed and validated a clinical prediction rule to distinguish bacterial from viral pneumonia in hospitalized children.MethodsWe enrolled consecutive children, aged 1 month to 5 years, admitted to two tertiary children's hospitals in whom a bacterial or viral etiology for pneumonia was identified. Data from 175 children at one hospital were used to develop a clinical prediction rule or Bacterial Pneumonia Score (BPS). Data from 136 children at the second hospital were used to validate it. Based on receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analyses and multivariable logistic regression, significant clinical and laboratory predictors, along with the radiographic score for each participant, were included as factors in the BPS. The main outcome measure was the sensitivity and specificity of the BPS for bacterial pneumonia.ResultsThe BPS (possible range: − 3 to 15; auROCc = 0.996, 95%CI: 0.99–1.0) was developed by attributing 3 points for axillary temperature ≥ 8,000 cells/mm3, 1 point for bands ≥ 5%, and − 3 to 7 points for the chest X‐ray findings. A BPS ≥ 4 predicted bacterial pneumonia with a sensitivity of 100%, specificity of 93.8%, positive predictive value of 75.8%, and negative predictive value of 100%.ConclusionsThe BPS accurately identifies hospitalized children's risk of bacterial pneumonia, helping clinicians determine those not likely to benefit from antibiotic therapy. Pediatr Pulmonol. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Lung function tests in neonates and infants with chronic lung disease: Lung and chest‐wall mechanics
Authors: Gappa Monika , Pillow J. Jane , Allen Julian , Mayer Oscar , Stocks Janet 
Published: February 2006

AbstractThis is the fifth paper in a review series that summarizes available data and critically discusses the potential role of lung function testing in infants and young children with acute neonatal respiratory disorders and chronic lung disease of infancy (CLDI). This review focuses on respiratory mechanics, including chest‐wall and tissue mechanics, obtained in the intensive care setting and in infants during unassisted breathing. Following orientation of the reader to the subject area, we focused comments on areas of enquiry proposed in the introductory paper to this series. The quality of the published literature is reviewed critically with respect to relevant methods, equipment and study design, limitations and strengths of different techniques, and availability and appropriateness of reference data. Recommendations to guide future investigations in this field are provided. Numerous different methods have been used to assess respiratory mechanics with the aims of describing pulmonary status in preterm infants and assessing the effect of therapeutic interventions such as surfactant treatment, antenatal or postnatal steroids, or bronchodilator treatment. Interpretation of many of these studies is limited because lung volume was not measured simultaneously. In addition, populations are not comparable, and the number of infants studied has generally been small. Nevertheless, results appear to support the pathophysiological concept that immaturity of the lung leads to impaired lung function, which may improve with growth and development, irrespective of the diagnosis of chronic lung disease. To fully understand the impact of immaturity on the developing lung, it is unlikely that a single parameter such as respiratory compliance or resistance will accurately describe underlying changes. Assessment of respiratory mechanics will have to be supplemented by assessment of lung volume and airway function. New methods such as the low‐frequency forced oscillation technique, which differentiate the tissue and airway components of respiratory mechanics, are likely to require further development before they can be of clinical significance. Pediatr Pulmonol. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Pyrotechnic Countermeasures: II. Advanced Aerial Infrared Countermeasures
Authors: Koch Ernst‐Christian 
Published: February 2006

AbstractThis paper discusses the technology of advanced aerial infrared countermeasures and related work disclosed in the unclassified literature. Missile‐seeker head counter‐countermeasures include spectral discrimination, kinematical discrimination, rise‐time discrimination, UV/VIS discrimination and area temperature matching. Advanced flare payloads designed to counter dual color seekers contain selectively emitting compositions based primarily on high carbon fuels and perchlorates. Other advanced payloads consist of low temperature emitters like pyrophoric metal foils and gasless pyrotechnic compositions like Fe/KClO4. The optimization of black body flares, still considered essential to a successful countermeasure solution, make use of new fuels based on e.g. meta‐stable alloys and nanometer‐sized powders as well as high energetic oxidizers. Kinematic flares today use combined propellant and infrared grains. 116 references from the public domain are given. For part I see Ref. [1].
A Discussion of the Kamlet‐Jacobs Formula for the Detonation Pressure
Authors: Kazandjian Luc , Danel Jean‐François 
Published: February 2006

AbstractThe main features of the Kamlet‐Jacobs formula for the detonation pressure of CHNO explosives are analytically derived from a BKW (Becker‐Kistiakowsky‐Wilson) equation of state of the detonation products. In the derivation, well‐known typical values at the Chapman‐Jouguet state, in particular the nearly constant value of the relative volume of the detonation products, are used.
Calculation of the Energy of Explosives with a Partial Reaction Model. Comparison with Cylinder Test Data
Authors: Sanchidrián José A. , López Lina M. 
Published: February 2006

AbstractThe energy delivered by explosives is described by means of the useful expansion work along the isentrope of the detonation products. A thermodynamic code (W‐DETCOM) is used, in which a partial reaction model has been implemented. In this model, the reacted fraction of the explosive in the detonation state is used as a fitting factor so that the calculated detonation velocity meets the experimental value. Calculations based on such a model have been carried out for a number of commercial explosives of ANFO and emulsion types. The BKW (Becker‐Kistiakowsky‐Wilson) equation of state is used for the detonation gases with the Sandia parameter set (BKWS). The energy delivered in the expansion (useful work) is calculated, and the values obtained are compared with the Gurney energies from cylinder test data at various expansion ratios. The expansion work values obtained are much more realistic than those from an ideal detonation calculation and, in most cases, the values predicted by the calculation are in good agreement with the experimental ones.
Theoretical Studies on Molecular and Explosive Properties of 4,4′,5,5′‐Tetranitro‐2,2′‐bi‐1H‐imidazole (TNBI)
Authors: Cho Soo Gyeong , Goh Eun Mee , Cho Jin Rai , Kim Jeong Kook 
Published: February 2006

AbstractWe performed theoretical studies to predict the molecular structure, molecular properties, and explosive performance of 4,4′,5,5′‐tetranitro‐2,2′‐bi‐1H‐imidazole (TNBI). High levels of ab initio and density functional theories were employed to predict the molecular structure of TNBI. Predicted TNBI structure was in good agreement with that observed by X‐ray crystallography. Heat of formation in the solid phase at 298 K was predicted to be 270.3 kJ/mol. Density of TNBI was predicted to be 1.919–1.956 g/cm3 depending upon the parameter sets of group additivity method. By using these values as input data, we estimated detonation velocity and C–J pressure to be 8.69–8.80 km/s and 34.5‐36.1 GPa, respectively. Impact sensitivity of TNBI was predicted to be 33 cm.
Computational Investigation on 2,4,6‐Trinitrochlorobenzene Crystal
Authors: Ju Xue‐Hai , Qiu Ling , Xiao He‐Ming 
Published: February 2006

AbstractDensity functional theory calculations at the B3LYP level were performed on crystalline 2,4,6‐trinitrochlorobenzene. The carbon, oxygen, and chlorine atoms make up the narrow lower energy bands, while the nitrogen, carbon, and oxygen atoms make up the higher energy bands. Besides, the contributions of these atomic orbitals to the frontier bands are somewhat well‐proportioned. The Mulliken populations obviously demonstrate that the C‐N bonds are the weakest, indicating that the C‐NO2 is prone to rupture upon stimuli. An anisotropic impact on the bulk makes the electron transfer from chlorine to its neighbor carbon atom and from nitrogen atoms to oxygen atoms. The crystal lattice energy is predicted to be −50.99 kJ/mol, after being corrected for basis set superposition error.
Radial Combustion Propagation in Iron(III) Oxide/Aluminum Thermite Mixtures
Authors: Durães Luísa , Campos José , Portugal António 
Published: February 2006

AbstractThe self‐sustained thermite reaction between iron oxide (Fe2O3) and aluminum is a classical source of energy. In this work the radial combustion propagation on thin circular samples of stoichiometric and over aluminized Fe2O3/Al thermite mixtures is studied. The radial geometry allows an easy detection of sample heterogeneities and the observation of the combustion behavior in their vicinity. The influence of factors like reactant mixtures stoichiometry, samples green density and system geometry on the rate of propagation of the combustion front is analyzed. The radial combustion front profiles are registered by digital video‐crono‐photography. Combustion thermograms are obtained for two sample radii. Theoretical calculations, based on the impurity levels reported by the reactants manufacturers and on the thermite reaction stoichiometry, were used to define the stoichiometric mixture with unitary equivalence ratio (E. R.). However, it was found from the experimental results that the excess of aluminum only starts for E. R. values between 1.12 and 1.27. This was explained by the further oxidation of aluminum during storage and/or by the reaction incompleteness. In the range studied, the combustion rates of the thermite mixtures did not show any significant dependence on the green density. Combustion rates obtained in this work were slightly higher than those obtained in an earlier work for long square channel geometry. A considerable dispersion of temperature values was observed and attributed to thermocouples sensitivity to micro‐scale variations.
Burning Characteristics of AP/HTPB Composite Propellants Prepared with Fine Porous or Fine Hollow Ammonium Perchlorate
Authors: Kohga Makoto 
Published: February 2006

AbstractFine porous and hollow ammonium perchlorate (AP) particles were prepared by the spray‐drying method. Propellants prepared with porous or hollow AP were found to have bubble contamination. The bubble in the propellant appeared inside the porous and hollow AP particles because the voids in porous and hollow AP cannot be completely filled with HTPB. The relationship between the burning rate and the weight mean diameter, Dw, and the specific surface area, Sw, is divided into two regions. The burning rate was almost constant above the critical Dw and increased with decreasing Dw below that. The burning rate was almost constant below the critical Sw and increased with increasing Sw above that. These critical points did not depend on the voids in the AP particles. The burning rate of the propellant prepared with spherical AP was dependent on Dw and Sw. The burning rates of the propellants prepared with porous or hollow AP were not associated with Dw or Sw alone and were greater than that of the propellant prepared with spherical AP at a constant Dw or Sw. The voids in porous and hollow AP particles thus had a positive effect on the burning rate.
On the Emitter of Blue Light in Copper‐Containing Pyrotechnic Flames
Authors: Sturman Barry T. 
Published: February 2006

AbstractThermodynamic modeling of eight copper‐containing pyrotechnic flames was carried out to investigate a suggestion that the emitter of blue light is Cu3Cl3. In seven of them the dominant Cu species was CuCl and in three, Cu3Cl3 was essentially absent (mole fraction <0.000005). This is consistent with previous spectroscopic studies showing that the blue light emitter is CuCl. The calculated adiabatic temperatures of flames from formulations reported to give good to excellent blue colors ranged from 1660 K to 2500 K. This is inconsistent with statements in the literature that the flame temperature has to be below 1500 K. An eighth formulation, specifically formulated to give a high temperature blue flame but reported to give a poor color, had a flame temperature of ~ 2900 K and the dominant Cu species was atomic Cu.
Adenovirus‐mediated CD40 ligand therapy induces tumor cell apoptosis and systemic immunity in the TRAMP‐C2 mouse prostate cancer model
Authors: Dzojic Helena , Loskog Angelica , Tötterman Thomas H. , Essand Magnus 
Published: February 2006

AbstractBackgroundThe interaction between CD40 ligand (CD40L) and CD40 on antigen presenting cells is essential for the initiation of antigen‐specific T‐cell responses, whereas CD40L stimulation of CD40+ tumor cells can induce cellular apoptosis. We investigated the anti‐tumor effects induced by CD40L gene transfer into the mouse prostate adenocarcinoma cell line TRAMP‐C2, both in vitro and in vivo.MethodsTRAMP‐C2 cells were transduced with an adenoviral vector encoding CD40L (AdCD40L). The induced expression of co‐stimulatory molecules and cell viability was analyzed. AdCD40L‐transduced TRAMP‐C2 cells were used in prophylactic vaccination studies, while therapeutic studies were performed using peritumoral injections of AdCD40L.ResultsAdCD40L yielded reduced TRAMP‐C2 cell viability and induced apoptosis in vitro. Vaccination with CD40L‐expressing TRAMP‐C2 cells induced anti‐tumor immunity and peritumoral AdCD40L injections induced tumor growth suppression.ConclusionsOur observations highlight the therapeutic potential of using AdCD40L as a monotherapy or in combination with conventional chemotherapy or novel therapies (e.g., oncolytic viruses). The use of AdCD40L offers an attractive option for future clinical trials. Prostate © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
In vitro and in vivo prodrug therapy of prostate cancer using anti‐γ‐Sm‐scFv/hCPA fusion protein
Authors: Hao Xiao‐Ke , Liu Jia‐Yun , Yue Qiao‐Hong , Wu Guo‐Jun , Bai Yu‐Jie , Yin Ying 
Published: February 2006

AbstractBACKGROUNDRaising selectivity to tumor cells is a major challenge for most chemotherapy drugs. One of approaches to realizing this goal is antibody‐directed enzyme prodrug therapy (ADEPT). This study was done to investigate the curative effect of a new ADEPT system for the treatment of prostate cancer.METHODSMethotrexate (MTX) prodrugs were synthesized and anti‐seminoprotein (SM) single‐chain antibody/human carboxypeptidase‐A fusion protein (scFv/hCPA) was prepared. Therapeutic effects of this ADEPT system were evaluated.RESULTSThe synthesis of prodrugs was successful and the prodrugs were confirmed no cytotoxicity, but hydrolysis with tumor‐targeted scFv/hCPA fusion protein gave 1,000‐fold higher cytotoxicity than MTX‐α‐Phe only. Cell cycle assays showed that tumor cells were arrested in the S phase after ADEPT treatment; furthermore, tumors were inhibited significantly in scFv/hCPA and MTX‐α‐Phe treated mice.CONCLUSIONSOur results suggest that targeted activation cytotoxicity against established prostate cancer by scFv/hCPA mediated ADEPT is tumor‐specific and has no systemic toxicity in vitro and in vivo. Prostate 66: 858–866, 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Calmodulin signaling: Analysis and prediction of a disorder‐dependent molecular recognition
Authors: Radivojac Predrag , Vucetic Slobodan , O'Connor Timothy R. , Uversky Vladimir N. , Obradovic Zoran , Dunker A. Keith 
Published: February 2006

AbstractCalmodulin (CaM) signaling involves important, wide spread eukaryotic protein–protein interactions. The solved structures of CaM associated with several of its binding targets, the distinctive binding mechanism of CaM, and the significant trypsin sensitivity of the binding targets combine to indicate that the process of association likely involves coupled binding and folding for both CaM and its binding targets. Here, we use bioinformatics approaches to test the hypothesis that CaM‐binding targets are intrinsically disordered. We developed a predictor of CaM‐binding regions and estimated its performance. Per residue accuracy of this predictor reached 81%, which, in combination with a high recall/precision balance at the binding region level, suggests high predictability of CaM‐binding partners. An analysis of putative CaM‐binding proteins in yeast and human strongly indicates that their molecular functions are related to those of intrinsically disordered proteins. These findings add to the growing list of examples in which intrinsically disordered protein regions are indicated to provide the basis for cell signaling and regulation. Proteins 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Conformational flexibility may explain multiple cellular roles of PEST motifs
Authors: Sandhu Kuljeet Singh , Dash Debasis 
Published: February 2006

AbstractPEST sequences are one of the major motifs that serve as signal for the protein degradation and are also involved in various cellular processes such as phosphorylation and protein–protein interaction. In our earlier study, we found that these motifs contribute largely to eukaryotic protein disorder. This observation led us to evaluate their conformational variability in the nonredundant Protein Data Bank (PDB) structures. For this purpose, crystallographic temperature factors, structural alignment of multiple NMR models, and dihedral angle order parameters have been used in this study. The study has revealed the hypermobility of PEST motifs as compared to other regions of the protein. Conformational flexibility may allow them to participate in number of molecular interactions under different conditions. This analysis may explain the role of protein backbone flexibility in bringing about multiple cellular roles of PEST motifs. Proteins 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Crystal structure of a consensus‐designed ankyrin repeat protein: Implications for stability
Authors: Binz H. Kaspar , Kohl Andreas , Plückthun Andreas , Grütter Markus G. 
Published: February 2006

AbstractConsensus‐designed ankyrin repeat (AR) proteins are thermodynamically very stable. The structural analysis of the designed AR protein E3_5 revealed that this stability is due to a regular fold with highly conserved structural motifs and H‐bonding networks. However, the designed AR protein E3_19 exhibits a significantly lower stability than E3_5 (9.6 vs. 14.8 kcal/mol), despite 88% sequence identity. To investigate the structural correlations of this stability difference between E3_5 and E3_19, we determined the crystal structure of E3_19 at 1.9 Å resolution. E3_19 as well has a regular AR domain fold with the characteristic H‐bonding patterns. All structural features of the E3_5 and E3_19 molecules appear to be virtually identical (RMSDCα ≈ 0.7 Å). However, clear differences are observed in the surface charge distribution of the two AR proteins. E3_19 features clusters of charged residues and more exposed hydrophobic residues than E3_5. The atomic coordinates of E3_19 have been deposited in the Protein Data Bank. PDB ID: 2BKG. Proteins 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Influence of heat treatment on the damping behaviour of a Cu–Al–Mn shape memory alloy
Authors: Wang Qingzhou , Han Fusheng , Hao Gangling , Wu Jie 
Published: February 2006

AbstractThe effect of heat treatment on the damping behaviour of a Cu–11.9Al–2.5Mn (wt%) alloy was investigated and correlated with the martensite microstructures. It is found that elevated quenching temperature and rapid cooling can give rise to increased damping capacity due to the formation of favourable martensite microstructures characterized by coarse twin boundaries and a high twin content. (© 2006 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Effects of oxygen ion implantation in spray‐pyrolyzed ZnO thin films
Authors: Vijayakumar K. P. , Ratheesh Kumar P. M. , Sudha Kartha C. , Wilson K. C. , Singh F. , Nair K. G. M. , Kashiwaba Y. 
Published: February 2006

AbstractZnO thin films, prepared using the chemical spray pyrolysis technique, were implanted using 100 keV O+ ions. Both pristine and ion‐implanted samples were characterized using X‐ray diffraction, optical absorption, electrical resistivity measurements, thermally stimulated current measurements and photoluminescence. Samples retained their crystallinity even after irradiation at a fluence of ∼1015 ions/cm2. However, at a still higher fluence of 2 × 1016 ions/cm2, the films became totally amorphous. The optical absorption edge remained unaffected by implantation and optical absorption spectra indicated two levels at 460 and 510 nm. These were attributed to defect levels corresponding to zinc vacancies (VZn) and oxygen antisites (OZn), respectively. Pristine samples had a broad photoluminescence emission centred at 517 nm, which was depleted on implantation. In the case of implanted samples, two additional emissions appeared at 425 and 590 nm. These levels were identified as due to zinc vacancies (VZn) and oxygen vacancies (VO), respectively. The electrical resistivity of implanted samples was much higher than that of pristine, while photosensitivity decreased to a very low value on implantation. This can be utilized in semiconductor device technology for interdevice isolation. Hall measurements showed a marked decrease in mobility due to ion implantation, while carrier concentration slightly increased. (© 2006 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Spatial patterns of fish communities in the Upper Mississippi River System: assessing fragmentation by low‐head dams
Authors: Chick John H. , Pegg Mark A. , Koel Todd M. 
Published: February 2006

AbstractWe assessed the similarity of fish communities among river reaches to assess community‐level fragmentation by low‐head dams in the Upper Mississippi River System (UMRS). The spatial coverage of standardized electrofishing sampling used in the Long Term Resource Monitoring Program (LTRMP) was extended for three of the six regional trend areas (RTA; pools 4, 13, and the Open River Reach) to include river reaches (outpools) immediately upstream and downstream from the standard RTA from 15 June to 31 October 2000. Additionally, pools 19 and 20 were sampled in September 2000. Cluster analysis and non‐metric multidimensional scaling of community composition and structure data revealed two major groups, upper and lower reaches, and four (for composition) or five (for structure) sub‐groupings of river reaches. In general, all outpools grouped with the nearest RTA for both community composition (no exception) and community structure (one exception). This suggests that fragmentation of fish communities from low‐head dams is minimal. Mantel correlations demonstrated strong inverse association between the similarity of fish communities with the distance between reaches. Habitat variables measured during electrofishing collections were significantly correlated with spatial variation of fish composition and community structure, but provided only marginal improvements to correlations with distance between reaches alone. Furthermore, habitat variability among river reaches also was related to distance between reaches. Determining the extent to which variation of fish communities is related to habitat or demographic processes (e.g. migration, larval drift, source‐sink dynamics) will be challenging for this system. Although low‐head dams on the UMRS may restrict movements for individuals and populations of certain fish species, we found little evidence that these effects have led to substantial, community‐level fragmentation. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.