bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Free vascularized fibula and reconstruction of long bones in the child—Our evolution
Authors: Germain Michel A. , Mascard Eric , Dubousset Jean , Nguefack Marcel 
Published: June 2007

AbstractThe aim is to show our evolution for reconstruction of long bones in the child with free vascularized fibula after tumoral resection. Between 1990 and 2004, 78 children were operated on for sarcoma of long bones and one girl with congenital pseudarthrosis. The main applications are illustrated: U‐shaped fibular transplant, fibular epiphysis with growth plate and diaphysis transfer, fibular graft associated to massive allograft. Follow‐up of the children was performed by clinical examination and standard X‐ray. No post operative death occurred. Many benign complications for femoral reconstruction were observed. So our recent evolution is to use vascularized fibula associated with massive allograft; but resorption of allograft was observed 3 years later. Vascularized fibula for reconstruction of long bones is the ideal material. The result is definitive. The future for femur is perhaps vascularized fibula associated with osseous substitute. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc. Microsurgery, 2007.
Time‐dependent expression of myostatin RNA transcript and protein in gastrocnemius muscle of mice after sciatic nerve resection
Authors: Shao Chenxin , Liu Mei , Wu Xin , Ding Fei 
Published: June 2007

AbstractMyostatin, a member of the transforming growth factor‐β (TGF‐β) superfamily, has been identified as a negative regulator of skeletal muscle mass. To provide more data on the role of myostatin in denervation‐induced muscle atrophy, we examined the time‐dependent changes in myostatin mRNA and protein as well as Smad2 and phospho‐Smad2 protein levels in the denervated gastrocnemius muscle of mice after sciatic neurectomy, using quantitative real‐time RT‐PCR and Western blotting, respectively. We conducted morphometric analyses to measure the wet weight ratio of the denervated muscle (the operated side/contralateral nonoperated side) and the cross‐sectional area of muscle fibers, and observed the morphology of denervated muscle. The experimental results showed that in the early stage of denervation, the levels of myostatin mRNA and protein in the denervated gastrocnemius muscle increased instantly, reaching a peak at day 3 and day 7 after sciatic neurectomy, respectively, when compared with the normal values. In addition, the phospho‐Smad2 protein was observed to have a similar expression profile to that of the myostatin mRNA. The present study perhaps opens a new window into myostatin modulation in muscle atrophy due to denervation. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc. Microsurgery, 2007.
Mathematical Modeling of Atom‐Transfer Radical Copolymerization
Authors: Al‐Harthi Mamdouh , Soares João B. P. , Simon Leonardo C. 
Published: June 2007

AbstractA comprehensive mathematical model for atom transfer radical copolymerization in a batch reactor is presented using the concept of pseudo‐kinetic rate constants and the method of moments. The model describes molecular weight, monomer conversion, polydispersity index, and copolymer composition as a function of polymerization time. Model predictions were compared with experimental data for styrene and butyl acrylate copolymerization and excellent agreement was obtained. We have also tested the model with styrene‐acrylonitrile copolymerization data obtained in our laboratory. Finally, we used the model to study the effect of comonomer reactivity ratio, feed composition, activation and deactivation rate constants on the copolymer composition.magnified image
Numerical simulation of ductile shear localization: Plastic‐flow network and slip‐line field
Authors: Wang Sheng‐zu , Sun Jun‐xiu , Ning Jie‐yuan 
Published: June 2007

AbstractThe development of plastic‐flow network (PFN) in plane‐strain elastoplastic medium indented locally is simulated using the finite element method, in which the von Mises criterion and a constitutive relation with post‐yield softening are used. The results of simulations show that the development process of PFN, which is composed of two families of plastic‐flow belts (i.e. ductile shear zones or shear bands) intersecting each other, includes the stages of locally compacting (I), PFN‐spreading (IIa + IIb) and surface‐bulging (III). PFN is similar to but different from the traditional slip‐line network (slip‐line field) that the various solutions of slip‐line field correspond only to some critical states of PFN. PFN occurring in elastoplastic medium can be considered as a PFN in viscoplastic medium with high viscosity or high strain rate and both of them are identical in some basic aspects, such as the conjugate angles equal to or greater than 90°, the direction of the maximum compressive stress in coincidence with the bisector of conjugate angle, the evolution of triangular compacted area, the ingeneration of discontinuity, the weakening effect of the belts and the plastic‐flow background of PFN. The simulations of the simplified models stated in this paper provide a basis for the further studies of numerical simulations of PFN, especially those in viscoplastic medium. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Flame retardancy mechanisms of triphenyl phosphate, resorcinol bis(diphenyl phosphate) and bisphenol A bis(diphenyl phosphate) in polycarbonate/acrylonitrile–butadiene–styrene blends
Authors: Pawlowski Kristin H , Schartel Bernhard 
Published: June 2007

AbstractThe flame retardancy mechanisms of three aryl phosphates, triphenyl phosphate (TPP), resorcinol bis(diphenyl phosphate) (RDP) and bisphenol A bis(diphenyl phosphate) (BDP), in a polycarbonate/acrylonitrile–butadiene–styrene (PC/ABS) blend are investigated and compared. Further, the influence of polytetrafluorethylene (PTFE) on viscosity and thermal decomposition is discussed in the systems PC/ABS and PC/ABS + BDP. Mechanisms are proposed based on the results of various methods. Thermogravimetric analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and kinetics are used to study the pyrolysis. The fire behaviour is studied by means of cone calorimeter measurements at different heat fluxes and the flammability is specified by limiting oxygen index (LOI) and UL 94. Rheology measurements are used to illuminate the changed dripping behaviour due to PTFE. TPP shows only a gas phase action. RDP shows mainly a gas phase action and some condensed phase action. BDP shows a crucial condensed phase action in addition to a gas phase action. TPP and RDP are somewhat superior in terms of flammability (LOI), whereas BDP shows superior performance in forced flaming combustion (cone calorimeter). Synergistic effects between PTFE and BDP are found. Copyright © 2007 Society of Chemical Industry
Isotactic poly(1‐hexene sulfone)s by stereoselective anionic ring‐opening polymerisation
Authors: Callan John F , Fawcett Allan H 
Published: June 2007

AbstractBackground: Poly(olefin sulfone)s have been shown to form helical regions and to display main‐chain liquid‐crystalline behaviour in the bulk when they possess long side‐chains. It is believed that increasing the tacticity of the backbone could enhance their liquid‐crystalline behaviour. This study aims to produce tactic poly(olefin sulfone)s by stereospecific ring‐opening polymerisation.Results:T actic polythiranes were successfully obtained from a racemic mixture of thirane monomers using a series of chiral catalyst systems. The isotactic placement (Pi) was determined using 13C NMR analysis of carbons in or near the backbone. The polysulfides were oxidised by peracetic acid to their corresponding polysulfones. Powder X‐ray diffraction studies showed that the isotactic polysulfones formed more ordered structures than their atactic analogues, an effect attributed to a tightening of the helical pitch.Conclusions: Tactic poly(1‐hexene sulfone)s have been prepared for the first time by stereoselective ring‐opening polymerisation. Copyright © 2007 Society of Chemical Industry
Chemical modification of chitosan: synthesis and biological activity of new heterocyclic chitosan derivatives
Authors: Badawy Mohamed EI 
Published: June 2007

AbstractBACKGROUND: Numerous works have been published on the chemical modification of chitosan; this polymer is still being modified, leading to various derivatives with improved properties. In the present study, heterocyclic aldehydes including furan‐2‐carbaldehyde, 5‐methylfuran‐2‐carbaldehyde, 3‐pyridine carboxyaldehyde, benzo[d][1,3]dioxole‐5‐carbaldehyde and 4‐oxo‐4H‐chromene‐3‐carbaldehyde were reacted with chitosan by a reductive alkylation reaction to produce for the first time five new N‐heterocyclic chitosan derivatives to improve the biological activity of chitosan against the most important economic plant pests including fungi and insects, in particular the cotton leafworm Spodoptera littoralis.RESULTS: The chemical structures of the synthesized compounds were confirmed by 1H NMR spectroscopy and the degree of substitution ranged from 0.30 to 0.43. The fungicidal assessment was investigated in vitro using a mycelia radial growth inhibition technique against soil‐borne pathogenic fungi Fusarium oxysporum and Pythium debaryanum and the rice leaf blast Pyricularia grisea. The results showed that N‐[(5‐methylfuran‐2‐yl)methyl] chitosan was the most active against P. grisea with an EC50 value of 0.919 mg mL−1 while N‐(benzo[d][1,3]dioxol‐5‐ylmethyl) chitosan and N‐(methyl‐4H‐chromen‐4‐one) chitosan exhibited the most potent fungicidal activity against P. debaryanum and F. oxysporum. An insecticidal bioassay against the larvae of S. littoralis showed that N‐(methyl‐4H‐chromen‐4‐one) chitosan exhibited a significant growth inhibition and antifeedant activity among the synthesized compounds.CONCLUSION: The chemical modification of chitosan molecule with a heterocyclic moiety led to an enhancement in the biological activity against the plant pathogenic fungi F. oxysporum, P. debaryanum and P. grisea and the cotton leafworm insect S. littoralis. Copyright © 2007 Society of Chemical Industry
Mass spectrometry analysis of HIV‐1 Vif reveals an increase in ordered structure upon oligomerization in regions necessary for viral infectivity
Authors: Auclair Jared R. , Green Karin M. , Shandilya Shivender , Evans James E. , Somasundaran Mohan , Schiffer Celia A. 
Published: June 2007

AbstractHIV‐1 Vif, an accessory protein in the viral genome, performs an important role in viral pathogenesis by facilitating the degradation of APOBEC3G, an endogenous cellular inhibitor of HIV‐1 replication. In this study, intrinsically disordered regions are predicted in HIV‐1 Vif using sequence‐based algorithms. Intrinsic disorder may explain why traditional structure determination of HIV‐1 Vif has been elusive, making structure‐based drug design impossible. To characterize HIV‐1 Vif's structural topology and to map the domains involved in oligomerization we used chemical cross‐linking, proteolysis, and mass spectrometry. Cross‐linking showed evidence of monomer, dimer, and trimer species via denaturing gel analysis and an additional tetramer via western blot analysis. We identified 47 unique linear peptides and 24 (13 intramolecular; 11 intermolecular) noncontiguous, cross‐linked peptides, among the noncross‐linked monomer, cross‐linked monomer, cross‐linked dimer, and cross‐linked trimer samples. Almost complete peptide coverage of the N‐terminus is observed in all samples analyzed, however reduced peptide coverage in the C‐terminal region is observed in the dimer and trimer samples. These differences in peptide coverage or “protections” between dimer and trimer indicate specific differences in packing between the two oligomeric forms. Intramolecular cross‐links within the monomer suggest that the N‐terminus is likely folded into a compact domain, while the C‐terminus remains intrinsically disordered. Upon oligomerization, as evidenced by the intermolecular cross‐links, the C‐terminus of one Vif protein becomes ordered by wrapping back on the N‐terminal domain of another. In addition, the majority of the intramolecular cross‐links map to regions that have been previously reported to be necessary for viral infectivity. Thus, this data suggests HIV‐1 Vif is in a dynamic equilibrium between the various oligomers potentially allowing it to interact with other binding partners. Proteins 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Estimation and prediction of the HIV–AIDS‐epidemic under conditions of HAART using mixtures of incubation time distributions
Authors: Heisterkamp S. H. , de Vries R. , Sprenger H. G. , Hubben G. A. A. , Postma M. J. 
Published: June 2007

AbstractThe estimation of the HIV‐AIDS epidemic by means of back‐calculation (BC) has been difficult since the introduction of highly active anti‐retroviral therapy (HAART) because the incubation time distributions needed for BC were poorly known. Moreover, it has been assumed that if the general public is aware that effective treatments are available then the majority of infected people would be known, and therefore a hidden epidemic was assumed not to exist. Nevertheless, it was suspected that not every infected person would come to the attention of health‐care providers, and therefore estimates independent of the patients' registration were necessary. In this paper, the incubation time distributions for HIV treated with the HAART regimen are derived from a cohort study. By using estimates of the proportion treated according to the HAART regimen and the incubation time distributions estimated in the era before the implementation of HAART (pre‐HAART), new marginal population incubation time distributions for each of the three risk groups (homosexuals, drug users and others) were constructed. The BC was performed using an empirical Bayesian approach based on the latter incubation time distribution. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Measurement of glycine binding site of N‐methyl‐d‐asparate receptors in living human brain using 4‐acetoxy derivative of L‐703,717, 4‐acetoxy‐7‐chloro‐3‐[3‐(4‐[11c] methoxybenzyl) phenyl]‐2(1H)‐quinolone (AcL703) with positron emission tomography
Authors: Matsumoto Ryohei , Haradahira Terushi , Ito Hiroshi , Fujimura Yota , Seki Chie , Ikoma Yoko , Maeda Jun , Arakawa Ryosuke , Takano Akihiro , Takahashi Hidehiko , Higuchi Makoto , Suzuki Kazutoshi , Fukui Kenji , Suhara Tetsuya 
Published: June 2007

AbstractN‐methyl‐D‐aspartate (NMDA) receptors are of major interest in brain functions and neuropsychiatric disorders. However, at present there are few suitable radioligands for in vivo imaging of NMDA receptors. 7‐Choloro‐4‐hydroxy‐3‐[3‐(4‐methoxybenzyl) phenyl]‐2(1H)‐quinolone (L‐703,717) is one of the potent ligands for the glycine‐binding site of NMDA receptors. 4‐Acetoxy derivative of L‐703,717 (AcL703) is a candidate, as a positron emission tomography (PET) ligand for NMDA receptors, because of its better permeability at the blood–brain barrier compared with L‐703,717. After intravenous injection of 624–851 MBq of [11C]AcL703, dynamic PET scan was performed on six healthy males for 90 min. Regions‐of‐interest were located on the cerebral cortices, cerebellar cortex, and cerebral white matter. The binding potential (BP) was calculated from the ratio of the area under the curve (AUC) of radioactivities from 40 to 90 min in the target region to that in white matter. Regional radioactivities reached close to equilibrium in all regions after about 40 min postinjection. Regional brain uptake of [11C]AcL703 at 40 min after injection was 0.00028–0.00065% of the injected dose/milliliter. Radioactivity concentration of [11C]AcL703 was highest in the cerebellar cortex and lowest in white matter. AUC in the cerebellar cortex was higher than those of cerebral cortices, thalamus, striatum, and white matter. BP in the cerebellar cortex was twofold higher than in the cerebral cortices (cerebellar cortex: BP = 2.20 ± 0.72; cerebral cortices: BP = 1.05 ± 0.45). Despite the low brain uptake of [11C]AcL703, regional distributions were in good agreement with our previous studies of rodents. This indicates the possibility of in vivo evaluation of NMDA receptors using PET with [11C]AcL703 in living human brain. Synapse 61:795–800, 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Progressive changes of pre‐ and post‐synaptic dopaminergic biomarkers in conscious MPTP‐treated cynomolgus monkeys measured by positronemission tomography
Authors: Nagai Yuji , Obayashi Shigeru , Ando Kiyoshi , Inaji Motoki , Maeda Jun , Okauchi Takashi , Ito Hiroshi , Suhara Tetsuya 
Published: June 2007

AbstractPositron emission tomography (PET) is a useful technique for the consecutive investigation of the relationship between changes in neurotransmission biomarkers and behavioral signs in animal models of Parkinson's disease (PD). In this study, we aimed to investigate the threshold of dopamine (DA) neuron damage for the appearance of tremor by observing the longitudinal changes of pre‐ and post‐synaptic DA biomarkers in awake monkeys using PET with multiple tracers. Three cynomolgus monkeys were treated with MPTP every 3–6 weeks until tremor was observed. Brain uptake of [11C]PE2I, [β‐11C]DOPA, and [11C]raclopride for DA transporter (DAT), DOPA utilization, and DA D2 receptor were measured using PET as a single set in awake condition. Sets of PET scans were repeated in parallel with continuous behavioral estimation. The pre‐synaptic biomarkers of DA neuron in the striatum decreased [11C]PE2I binding and [β‐11C]DOPA uptake in an MPTP dose‐dependent manner. Tremor was not observed until striatal [11C]PE2I binding was reduced to about 15% of the pretreatment level and [β‐11C]DOPA uptake was reduced to about 34%. DA D2 receptor measured by [11C]raclopride was not significantly changed throughout the experiment. Our results revealed that it is possible to quantitatively define the threshold of the onset of behavioral PD signs by monitoring spontaneous motor activity, and in vivo PET with DAT marker can be a biomarker for early diagnosis at the presymptomatic stage of PD and for high‐risk groups. Synapse 61:809–819, 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Characterization of Pentadesma butyracea sabine Butters of Different Production Regions in Benin
Authors: Tchobo Fidèle P. , Natta Armand K. , Barea Bruno , Barouh Nathalie , Piombo Georges , Pina Michel , Villeneuve Pierre , Soumanou Mohamed M. , Sohounhloue Dominique C. K. 
Published: June 2007

AbstractPentadesma butter (Pentadesmabutyracea, sabine, clusiaceae) is an extract of the kernels of tree fruits in West Africa and similar to shea butter. The study of the fatty acid composition, triacylglycerols, sterols and tocopherols of Pentadesma butter was carried out on seeds collected in ten production areas in Benin. The results obtained show that the composition in fatty acids is characterized by the presence of stearic acid and oleic acid, which represent nearly 96% of the total fatty acids. The triacylglycerols profile of the different butters is marked by the overwhelming presence of the triacylglycerols SOS and SOO. The unsaponifiable fraction shows, for the sterolic composition, a predominance of stigmasterol (nearly 68% of the total sterols) whilst the β‐tocopherol is the main tocopherol.
Patients' Self-Care Improvement with Nurse Education Intervention in Spain Assessed by the European Heart Failure Self-Care Behaviour Scale
Authors: Lupón Josep , González Beatriz , Mas Dolors , Urrutia Agustín , Arenas Miquel , Domingo Mar , Altimir Salvador , Valle Vicente 
Published: June 2007

The European Heart Failure Self-care Behaviour Scale (EHFScBS) has been developed for assessing patients' self-care level. We used it to assess our patients' self-care progress after a medium-term period of nurse education intervention. Patients and method: We prospectively studied 151 patients (111 men and 40 women, mean age 65.4 ± 11.9 years). All patients were evaluated twice with the EHFScBS: during the first visit to the Unit and after 1 year of nurse educational intervention. Results: Mean score obtained by our patients in the initial evaluation was 24.8 ± 7.6. In the second evaluation patients showed a significant ( p < 0.001) improvement in self-care behaviour (mean score 19.9 ± 5.7). Analyzing item by item of the scale, patients show improvement in all items except in four: “If I am short of breath, I take it easy”, “I take a rest during the day”, “I eat a low salt diet” and “I take my medication as prescribed”. Conclusions: Improvement in self-care behaviour, assessed with the EHFScBS, was achieved with nurse educational intervention in patients without previous heart failure education. However, in our population, this improvement was not obtained in one important aspect such is low salt diet compliance, although punctuation in this item was quite acceptable already initially.
Congenital cardiac disease and inbreeding: specific defects escape higher risk due to parental consanguinity
Authors: Chehab Ghassan , Chedid Philippe , Saliba Zakhia , Bouvagnet Patrice 
Published: June 2007

AbstractAimsTo test on a large cohort whether parental consanguinity varies among different types of congenitally malformed hearts.Methods and ResultsBetween 1 May, 1999, and 28 February, 2006, a large cohort of 1585 newly diagnosed cases with non-syndromic congenitally malformed heart was enrolled at the National Register of Paediatric and Congenital Heart Disease, Lebanese Society of Cardiology, Beirut. Another group, made up of 1979 cases referred to the National Register of Paediatric and Congenital Heart Disease, but free of any malformation, and with a rate of consanguinity similar to a recent survey made by UNICEF in Lebanon, was used for the purposes of control. We used the Chi-squared test, and ratio of risk, to compare the groups.Subgroups with first degree cousins, first plus second degree cousins, and any degree of consanguinity, are significantly larger in the cohort with congenitally malformed hearts than in the control cohort, with proportions of 19.4%, 25.7%, and 27.4% versus 14.4%, 20.3%, and 23.9%, respectively. Those with tetralogy of Fallot, valvar aortic stenosis, and atrial septal defect have a significantly higher percentage of consanguineous parents than do the controls. By contrast, this is not the case for those with atrioventricular septal defect and common atrioventricular junction (“atrioventricular canal”), or discordant ventriculo-arterial connections (“transposition”). These differences persist when the types of congenital cardiac defect types are pooled according to presumed embryological processes. Those with hypoplasia of the left heart have increased parental consanguinity, but not the group of various types of discordant ventriculo-arterial connections.ConclusionOnly some types of congenitally malformed hearts have an increased percentage of parental consanguinity, suggesting that those types with no increased risk due to parental consanguinity are determined by genetic factors that are X-linked or exclusively autosomal dominant.
The genesis, evolution and crisis of an institution: the Protected Designation of Origin in wine markets
Authors: BARRÈRE CHRISTIAN 
Published: June 2007

Abstract:This paper addresses a specific institution, the Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) in wine markets. To understand the present strategic choices in the context of the globalization of wine markets, the paper seeks to explain the economic logic of this specific institution, its genesis and its evolution. Using an evolutionary games approach, we build an evolutionary model of the strategic determination of quality. Four configurations emerge. The PDO can be related to signals and policies of quality in strategic situations. This study also yields general results for use in the evolutionary analysis of other institutions.