bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Falcipain-1, aPlasmodium falciparumCysteine Protease with Vaccine Potential
Authors: Kumar Amit , Kumar Krishan , Korde Reshma , Puri Sunil Kumar , Malhotra Pawan , Singh Chauhan Virander 
Published: January 2007

ABSTRACTCysteine proteases (falcipains) ofPlasmodium falciparumare potential targets for antimalarial chemotherapy, since they have been shown to be involved in important cellular functions such as hemoglobin degradation and invasion/rupture of red blood cells during parasite life cycle. The role of falcipain-1 at the asexual blood stages of the parasite still remains uncertain. This is mainly due to a lack of methods to prepare this protein in an active form. In order to obtain biologically active falcipain-1, a number of falcipain-1 constructs were designed and a systematic assessment of the refolding conditions was done. We describe here the expression, purification, and characterization of a falcipain-1 construct encoding mature falcipain-1 and 35 amino acids from the C-terminal of the pro domain. Recombinant falcipain-1 was overexpressed in the form of inclusion bodies, solubilized, and purified by Ni2+-nitrilotriacetic acid affinity chromatography under denaturing conditions. A systemic approach was then followed to optimize refolding parameters. An optimum refolding condition was obtained, and the yield of the purified refolded falcipain-1 was ∼1 mg/liter. Activity of the protein was analyzed by fluorometric and gelatin degradation assays. Immunolocalization studies using anti-falcipain-1 sera revealed a distinct staining at the apical end of theP. falciparummerozoites. Previous studies using falcipain-1-specific inhibitors have suggested a role of falcipain-1 in merozoite invasion. Based on its localization and its role in invasion, we analyzed the immunogenicity of falcipain-1 in mice, followed by heterologous challenge withPlasmodium yoeliisporozoites. Our results suggest a possible role of falcipain-1 in merozoite invasion.
A Pilot Study of the Effects of Atomoxetine on Driving Performance in Adults With ADHD
Authors: Barkley Russell A. , Anderson Deborah L. , Kruesi Markus 
Published: January 2007

Objective: There is a high risk of vehicular crashes, traffic citations, and poorer driving performance in adults with ADHD. This pilot study examines the value of a new nonstimulant (atomoxetine) for improving the driving performance of adults with ADHD. Method: Atomoxetine (1.2 mg/kg daily for 3 weeks) and a placebo are studied on 18 adults with ADHD ( M age = 37 years) using ratings of ADHD symptoms, impairment, and safe driving behavior; a virtual reality driving simulator; and ratings of simulator performance. Results: Atomoxetine improves self-ratings of ADHD symptoms, impairments, safe driving behavior, and simulator driving performance. No effects of atomoxetine are evident on others’ ratings of driving behavior or on the simulator. Practice effects on the simulator may have obscured those drug effects. Conclusion: The authors find a mixed pattern of results such that atomoxetine warrants further study for its effects on driving in this high-risk population.
GraphDNA: a Java program for graphical display of DNA composition analyses
Authors: Thomas Jamie M , Horspool Daniel , Brown Gordon , Tcherepanov Vasily , Upton Chris 
Published: January 2007

Abstract

Background
Under conditions of no strand bias the number of Gs is equal to that of Cs for each DNA strand; similarly, the total number of Ts is equal to that of As. However, within each strand there are considerable local deviations from the A = T and G = C equality. These asymmetries in nucleotide composition have been extensively analyzed in prokaryotic and eukaryotic genomes and related to chromosome organization, transcription orientation and other processes in certain organisms. To carry out analysis of intra-strand nucleotide distribution several graphical methods have been developed.

Results
GraphDNA is a new Java application that provides a simple, user-friendly interface for the visualization of DNA nucleotide composition. The program accepts GenBank, EMBL and FASTA files as an input, and it displays multiple DNA nucleotide composition graphs (skews and walks) in a single window to allow direct comparisons between the sequences. We illustrate the use of DNA skews for characterization of poxvirus and coronavirus genomes.

Conclusion
GraphDNA is a platform-independent, Open Source, tool for the analysis of nucleotide trends in DNA sequences. Multiple sequence formats can be read and multiple sequences may be plotted in a single results window.
Effect of an antepartum Pap smear on the coverage of a cervical cancer screening programme: a population-based prospective study
Authors: Nygård Mari , Daltveit Anne-Kjersti , Thoresen Steinar Ø , Nygård Jan F 
Published: January 2007

AbstractBackgroundAlmost one-third of Norwegian women aged 25–69 years invited to have a Pap smear do not attend during the recommended period, and thus constitute a population with high-risk of cervical cancer (CC). Since the incidence of precancerous lesions of the cervix peak with occurrence of pregnancies within the same decade in women aged 25 to 35 years of age, antepartum care presents an opportunity to offer a Pap smear thereby increasing the coverage of the programme. The study objective was to describe the effect of the antepartum Pap smear on the coverage of a cytological CC screening programme.MethodsAmong 2 175 762 women resident in Norway in 31.12.1996, all women who gave birth in 1996–7 were identified from the Medical Birth Registry of Norway. Attendance to the cervical cancer screening was assessed by linkage to the Cytology Registry separately for the pregnant and non-pregnant women cohorts. The results were stratified by age, history of previous Pap smear and history of invitation to the CC screening programme. Logistic regression was used to estimate the relative probabilities of having a Pap smear adjusted for age, screening history, and time since invitation, for pregnant and non-pregnant women, respectively.Results69% of the pregnant women had a Pap smear during one year of follow-up since beginning of the pregnancy with the majority taken during the antepartum period. Irrespectively of age or history of having a Pap smear, pregnant women were 4.3 times more likely to have a Pap smear during follow-up compared to non-pregnant women. 63.2% of the pregnant women had a smear as response to the invitation letter compared to 28.7% of the non-pregnant women, OR = 2.1 (95% CI 1.9 to 2.4). As an indication of "over-screening", 5397 pregnant women (57.8%) with a smear shortly before the start of follow-up also had a new Papsmear, compared to 83 023 (32.3%) in non-pregnant.ConclusionPap smear screening during pregnancy increases the coverage of the CC screening programme. The contribution of the antepartum Pap smear to "over-screening" exists but its effect is modest in countries where women on average become pregnant after the start of recommended age of screening.
Overlapping enhancer/promoter and transcriptional termination signals in the lentiviral long terminal repeat
Authors: Yang Qing , Lucas Aurore , Son Sodany , Chang Lung-Ji 
Published: January 2007

Abstract
Oncoretrovirus, but not lentivirus, displays a high transcriptional readthrough activity in the 3' long terminal repeat (LTR) (Zaiss et al. J. Virol. 76, 7209–7219, 2002). However, the U3-deleted, self-inactivating (SIN) lentiviral LTR also exhibits high transcriptional readthrough activity. Since the canonical "core" polyadenylation signal (AAUAAA) of the lentivirus is located in the R-U5 region, the above finding suggests that additional RNA termination signals must be present in the U3 region. Insertion of alternative termination signals including panhuman T cell leukemia virus type I polyadenylation signal, a 3' end small intron, and a tertiary tRNA motif into the lentiviral SIN LTR did not restore the transcriptional termination function. Functional dissection of the U3 region revealed that 70–80% of the termination signals reside in the transcriptional control region within 124 nt overlapping NFκB, Sp1 and TATA binding sites. Serial deletion analysis of the transcriptional control region indicates that the lentiviral enhancer/promoter elements are essential to the RNA termination function. These results characterize the mechanism of lentiviral transcriptional readthrough, which addresses important fundamental and practical issue of RNA readthrough influencing lentiviral gene function and vector safety.
The face-specific N170 component is modulated by emotional facial expression
Authors: Blau Vera C , Maurer Urs , Tottenham Nim , McCandliss Bruce D 
Published: January 2007

Abstract

Background
According to the traditional two-stage model of face processing, the face-specific N170 event-related potential (ERP) is linked to structural encoding of face stimuli, whereas later ERP components are thought to reflect processing of facial affect. This view has recently been challenged by reports of N170 modulations by emotional facial expression. This study examines the time-course and topography of the influence of emotional expression on the N170 response to faces.

Methods
Dense-array ERPs were recorded in response to a set (n = 16) of fear and neutral faces. Stimuli were normalized on dimensions of shape, size and luminance contrast distribution. To minimize task effects related to facial or emotional processing, facial stimuli were irrelevant to a primary task of learning associative pairings between a subsequently presented visual character and a spoken word.

Results
N170 to faces showed a strong modulation by emotional facial expression. A split half analysis demonstrates that this effect was significant both early and late in the experiment and was therefore not associated with only the initial exposures of these stimuli, demonstrating a form of robustness against habituation. The effect of emotional modulation of the N170 to faces did not show significant interaction with the gender of the face stimulus, or hemisphere of recording sites. Subtracting the fear versus neutral topography provided a topography that itself was highly similar to the face N170.

Conclusion
The face N170 response can be influenced by emotional expressions contained within facial stimuli. The topography of this effect is consistent with the notion that fear stimuli exaggerates the N170 response itself. This finding stands in contrast to previous models suggesting that N170 processes linked to structural analysis of faces precede analysis of emotional expression, and instead may reflect early top-down modulation from neural systems involved in rapid emotional processing.
Modified Opsite® Sandwich for Temporary Abdominal Closure: A Non-Traumatic Experience
Authors: Wilde JM , Loudon MA 
Published: January 2007

INTRODUCTION Laparostomy techniques have advanced since the advent of damage control surgery for the critically injured patient. Numerous methods of temporary abdominal closure (TAC) are described in the literature with most reports focusing on trauma. We describe a modified technique for TAC and report its use in a series of critically ill non-trauma patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS Eleven patients under the care of one consultant underwent TAC over a 36-month period. A standardised technique was used in all cases and this is described. Severity of illness at the time of the first laparotomy was assessed using the Portsmouth variant of the Physiological and Operative Severity Score for the enUmeration of Mortality and morbidity (P-POSSUM). RESULTS Nineteen TACs were performed in 11 patients with a variety of serious surgical conditions. In-hospital mortality was zero despite seven of the patients having an individual P-POSSUM predicted mortality in excess of 50%. The laparostomy dressing proved simple in construction, facilitated nursing care and was well-tolerated in the critical care environment. All patients underwent definitive fascial closure during the index admission. CONCLUSIONS Laparostomy is a useful technique outwith the context of trauma. We have demonstrated the utility of the modified Opsite® sandwich vacuum pack for TAC in a series of critically ill patients with a universally favourable outcome. This small study suggests that selective use of TAC may reduce surgical mortality.
An Algorithm for the Management of Bile Leak Following Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy
Authors: Ahmad F , Saunders RN , Lloyd GM , Lloyd DM , Robertson GSM 
Published: January 2007

INTRODUCTION The management of bile leaks following laparoscopic cholecystectomy has evolved with increased experience of ERCP and laparoscopy. The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of a minimally invasive management protocol. PATIENTS AND METHODS Twenty-four patients with a bile leak following laparoscopic cholecystectomy were recorded consecutively between 1993 and 2003. Between 1993–1998, 10 patients were managed on a case-by-case basis. Between 1998–2003, 14 patients were managed according to a minimally invasive protocol utilising ERC/biliary stenting and re-laparoscopy if indicated. RESULTS Bile leaks presented as bile in a drain left in situ post laparoscopic cholecystectomy (8/10 versus 10/14) or biliary peritonitis (2/10 versus 4/14). Prior to 1998, neither ERC nor laparoscopy were utilised routinely. During this period, 4/10 patients recovered with conservative management and 6/10 (60%) underwent laparotomy. There was one postoperative death and median hospital stay post laparoscopic cholecystectomy was 10 days (range, 5–30 days). In the protocol era, ERC ± stenting was performed in 11/14 (P = 0.01 versus pre-protocol) with the main indication being a persistent bile leak. Re-laparoscopy was necessary in 5/14 (P = 0.05 versus preprotocol). No laparotomies were performed (P < 0.01 versus pre-protocol) and there were no postoperative deaths. Median hospital stay was 11 days (range, 5–55 days). CONCLUSIONS The introduction of a minimally invasive protocol utilising ERC and re-laparoscopy offers an effective modern algorithm for the management of bile leaks after laparoscopic cholecystectomy.
Alterations in Proximal Femur Geometry in Children Treated with Glucocorticoids for Crohn Disease or Nephrotic Syndrome: Impact of the Underlying Disease
Authors: Burnham Jon M , Shults Justine , Petit Moira A , Semeao Edisio , Beck Thomas J , Zemel Babette S , Leonard Mary B 
Published: January 2007

Abstract
Proximal femur geometry was assessed in children and young adults treated with chronic GCs for CD or SSNS. Subperiosteal width and section modulus were significantly lower in CD and greater in SSNS compared with controls, highlighting the importance of the underlying disease, persistent inflammation, and alterations in lean mass.
Introduction: The impact of glucocorticoid (GC) therapy on bone structure during growth is unknown. Our objective was to characterize proximal femur geometry in children and young adults with Crohn disease (CD) or steroid-sensitive nephrotic syndrome (SSNS) compared with controls and to evaluate the influence of lean mass and GC therapy on bone parameters.
Materials and Methods: DXA scans of the hip and whole body were obtained in 88 subjects with CD, 65 subjects with SSNS, and 128 controls (4–26 years of age). Hip structural analysis parameters (subperiosteal width, cross-sectional area [CSA], and section modulus in the narrow neck [NN], intertrochanteric region [IT], and femoral shaft [FS]), areal BMD, and whole body lean mass were expressed as Z scores compared with controls. Multivariable linear regression was used to adjust outcomes for group differences in age, sex, race, and height.
Results: Mean lean mass Z scores were lower in CD (−0.63, p &lt; 0.001) and greater in SSNS (0.36, p = 0.03) compared with controls. Hip areal BMD Z scores were lower in CD (−0.73, p &lt; 0.001) but not SSNS (−0.02, p &gt; 0.2) compared with controls. In CD, Z scores for subperiosteal width (NN: −1.66, p &lt; 0.001; FS: −0.86, p &lt; 0.001) and section modulus (NN: −0.60, p = 0.003; FS: –0.36, p = 0.03) were significantly lower than controls. In contrast, in SSNS, Z scores were greater for IT subperiosteal width (0.39, p = 0.02), FS CSA (0.47, p = 0.005), and FS section modulus (0.49, p = 0.004). Alterations in section modulus in CD and SSNS were eliminated after adjustment for lean mass. Cumulative GC dose was inversely associated with FS subperiosteal width and section modulus only in CD.
Conclusions: These data show that the effects of GC on proximal femur geometry during growth are influenced by the underlying disease, persistent inflammation, and alterations in lean mass. These data also provide insight into the structural basis of hip fragility in CD.
Full-scale reinforced embankment on deep jet mixing improved ground
Authors: Lai Y. P. , Bergado D. T. , Lorenzo G. A. , Duangchan T. 
Published: January 2007

A 6 m high reinforced embankment constructed on deep-mixing improved soft Bangkok clay is presented. The jet mixing method with cement slurry employing a jet pressure of 20 MPa was utilised in the installation of deep mixing piles. Surface settlements and lateral movements were monitored during and after construction. The deep mixing improvement has effectively reduced the settlement by as much as 70%. The differential settlement between pile and soil ranged from 8 to 20% of the average settlement. Moreover, the back analysis confirmed the laboratory investigation that the soil–cement pile installed by jet mixing can have a higher after-curing void ratio and, consequently, higher permeability and coefficient of consolidation. Finally, the higher permeability ratios, Kv,p/Kv,c, of 30 and 40 were confirmed from numerical and analytical back analyses, respectively. Une berge renforcée de 6 m de hauteur, construite sur une argile tendre de Bangkok améliorée par mixage profond fait l'objet de cette étude. Nous avons utilisé la méthode de mixage par injection de ciment liquide, sous une pression de 20 MPa, dans l'installation de piles à mixage profond. Les affaissements de surface et les mouvements latéraux ont été suivis pendant et après la construction. L'amélioration par mixage profond a effectivement réduit de 70% l'affaissement. L'affaissement différentiel entre pile et sol représente 8 à 20% de l'affaissement moyen. De plus, la rétro-analyse a confirmé l'étude en laboratoire montrant que la pile sol-ciment installée par mixage à injection peut avoir un taux de pore plus élevé après cuisson et, en conséquence, une perméabilité et un coefficient de consolidation plus élevés. Enfin, des taux plus élevés de perméabilité, Kv;p/Kv;c, de 30 et 40, ont été confirmés par les rétro analyses numériques et analytiques respectivement.
Stabilisation of granular media and formation soil using geosynthetics with special reference to railway engineering
Authors: Indraratna B. , Shahin M. A. , Salim W. 
Published: January 2007

Railway ballast breaks down and deteriorates progressively under train cyclic loading, and soft formation soil fails due to repetitive stress, leading to costly rail track maintenance. Using geosynthetics, track conditions can be improved and maintenance costs can be reduced. This paper addresses the potential use of geosynthetics for improving the deformation characteristics of rail ballast and formation soil. The prospective use of different types of geosynthetics was investigated using a large-scale prismoidal triaxial rig, and a plane strain finite element analysis (PLAXIS) of the rig was carried out to obtain the optimum location of geosynthetics in rail track substructure. A large-scale consolidometer was also employed to determine the effect of prefabricated vertical drains (PVDs) in optimising the accelerated primary consolidation of track soft formation. This paper also includes a section where recommendations are made on how to prepare the stability of rail tracks on surface formation soils considerably disturbed/remoulded by the Asian tsunami in Sri Lanka. The research findings reveal that geosynthetics have a good potential for resilient track construction and for reducing the cost of track maintenance. Le ballast d'infrastructure ferroviaire se fracture et se détériore progressivement sous le chargement cyclique des trains et le sol de formation molle se fracture en raison de la charge répétée. Ces dégradations sont à l'origine d'une maintenance coûteuse des voies ferrées. Les conditions de ces infrastructures peuvent s'améliorer et le coût de leur maintenance diminuer grâce à l'utilisation de la géosynthétique. Cet article illustre l'application potentielle de la géosynthétique pour l'amélioration des caractéristiques de déformation du ballast des voies ferroviaires et du sol de formation. L'utilisation prospective de différents types de géosynthétique est étudiée au moyen d'un montage triaxial prismoïde et une analyse en éléments finis en déformation plane (PLAXIS) du montage est réalisée pour obtenir l'emplacement optimal de la géosynthétique au niveau de la sous-structure de la voie ferrée. Un consolidomètre de grande échelle a également permis de déterminer le role des drains verticaux préfabriqués (DVP) dans l'optimisation de la consolidation primaire accélérée de la formation molle de la voie. L'article présente également une section comportant des recommandations sur les moyens de préparer la stabilité des voies ferrées sur le sols de formation en surface considérablement perturbés / remodelés par le tsunami asiatique qui a touché le Sri Lanka. Les résultats de ces travaux indiquent que la géosynthétique se révèle prometteuse en termes de construction de voies ferrées é lastiques et de réduction des coûts de maintenance des voies.
How Does Plant Population Density Affect the Yield, Quality, and Canopy of Native Bluestem (Andropogon spp.) Forage?
Authors: Springer T. L. , Gillen R. L. 
Published: January 2007

ABSTRACTThe density at which a crop is grown is known to affect its growth and quality, but little is known about how plant density affects the growth of native perennial forage grasses. The objectives were to investigate the effects of plant population density on the forage yield, forage quality, and plant canopy structure of two native bluestem species. Big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii Vitman) and sand bluestem (A. hallii Hack.) were established at six plant densities (1.2, 1.8, 2.7, 3.6, 5.4, and 10.8 plants m−2) in a split plot experiment with whole plots in four randomized blocks. Plant density was the main plot and bluestem species was the split plot. Data were analyzed with a mixed model analysis of variance with blocks within year as random effects and year as a repeated measure. The optimum plant density for forage production was between 3.6 and 5.4 plants m−2 However, the optimum for crude protein (CP) concentration occurred at 1.2 and 10.8 plants m−2 and followed a quadratic response as plant density increased. The greatest leaf area index (LAI; leaf area per square meter) was at 10.8 plants m−2 At 10.8 plants m−2, the average yield loss from maximum was about 8.5% dry matter (DM). Also, the CP concentration was 8.5% greater for plants grown at 10.8 plants m−2 than for those grown at 3.6 to 5.4 plants m−2 A plant density of 10.8 plants m−2 would produce high quality forage with only slight reductions in DM yield as compared with plants grown at 3.6 to 5.4 plants m−2