bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Novel method for clearing red blood cell debris from BacT/ALERT® blood culture medium for improved microscopic and antimycobacterial drug susceptibility test results
Authors: Gopinath Krishnamoorthy , Kumar Sandeep , Mani Sankar Manimuthu , Singh Sarman 
Published: July 2007

AbstractEven though automation in mycobacterial culture has immensely improved the detection of organisms, identification of species and antimycobacterial susceptibility testing from blood culture bottles remain cumbersome and error‐prone due to the presence of intact red blood cells (RBCs). The removal or lysis of these RBCs and excessive protein from the blood components could theoretically help improve this process. The present study reports an effective method that uses ammonium chloride (NH4Cl) and Triton X‐100 to lyse the RBCs in blood culture medium. The method was optimized by preparing various concentrations of NH4Cl and Triton X‐100, and incubation conditions, leading to eight protocols. The lysis protocol with a concentration of 150 mM of NH4Cl, 0.5% Triton X‐100, and 1% potassium bicarbonate, pH 7.0, and incubation at 37°C for 15 min was found to be optimal. This method not only made the culture medium clear, the protein concentration decreased from 753.5±39.4 to 53.2±4.2 mg/mL in the M. tuberculosis‐spiked culture medium and in the blood culture medium inoculated with the blood from tuberculosis patients. The method had no adverse effect on mycobacteria, and no depletion of M. tuberculosis colony‐forming units was found. The lysate could be used for antimycobacterial susceptibility testing with no difficulty in setting the mycobacterial concentration of inoculum to 0.5 McFarland standards. Furthermore, this method had the added advantage in the microscopy and molecular methods for the speciation of Mycobacterium sp. J. Clin. Lab. Anal. 21:220–226, 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Insulin receptor substrate (IRS)‐1 regulates murine embryonic stem (mES) cells self‐renewal
Authors: Rubin Raphael , Arzumanyan Alla , Soliera Angela Rachele , Ross Brian , Peruzzi Francesca , Prisco Marco 
Published: July 2007

AbstractMouse embryonic stem (mES) cells are pluripotent cells that can be propagated in vitro with leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) and serum. Intracellular signaling by LIF is principally mediated by activation of STAT‐3, although additional pathways for self‐renewal have been described. Here, we identified a novel role for Insulin receptor substrate‐1 (IRS‐1) as a critical factor in mES cells self‐renewal and differentiation. IRS‐1 is expressed and tyrosyl phosphorylated during mES cells self‐renewal. Differentiation of mES cells, by LIF withdrawal, is associated with a marked reduction in IRS‐1 expression. Targeting of IRS‐1 by si‐IRS‐1 results in a severe reduction of Oct‐4 protein expression and alkaline phosphatase activity, markers of undifferentiated mES cells. IRS‐1 targeting does not interfere with LIF‐induced STAT‐3 phosphorylation, but negatively affects protein kinase B (PKB/AKT) and glycogen synthase kinase‐3 (GSK‐3β) phosphorylation, which are downstream effectors of the LIF‐mediated PI3K signaling cascade. Targeting of IRS‐1 also results in a marked down regulation of Id‐1 and Id‐2 proteins expression, which are important components for self‐renewal of ES cells. Conversely, over expression of IRS‐1 inhibits mES cell differentiation. Taken together, these results suggest that expression and activity of IRS‐1 are critical to the maintenance of the self‐renewal program in mES cells. J. Cell. Physiol. 213: 445–453, 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
A mechanism for stimulation of biosynthesis by electromagnetic fields: Charge transfer in DNA and base pair separation
Authors: Blank Martin , Goodman Reba 
Published: July 2007

AbstractElectrons have been shown to move in DNA, and a specific DNA sequence is associated with the response to EM fields. In addition, there is evidence from biochemical reactions that EM fields can accelerate electron transfer. Interaction with electrons could displace electrons in H‐bonds that hold DNA together leading to chain separation and initiating transcription. The effect of charging due to electron displacement on the energetics of DNA aggregation shows that electron transfer would favor separation of base pairs, and that DNA geometry is optimized for disaggregation under such conditions. Electrons in the H‐bonds of both DNA and the surrounding water molecules fluctuate at frequencies that are much higher than the frequencies of the EM fields studied. The characteristics of the fluctuations suggest that the applied EM fields are effectively DC pulses and that interactions extend to microwave frequencies. J. Cell. Physiol. 214:20–26, 2008. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Expression of CLMP, a novel tight junction protein, is mediated via the interaction of GATA with the kruppel family proteins, KLF4 and Sp1, in mouse TM4 sertoli cells
Authors: Sze Kit‐Ling , Lee Will M. , Lui Wing‐Yee 
Published: July 2007

AbstractRegulation of tight junction protein expressions in Sertoli cells is important for germ cell translocation across the blood‐testis‐barrier (BTB) during spermatogenesis. In this study, a novel tight junction transmembrane protein, CLMP, found expressed in mouse testis was shown to localize at the BTB along with the tight junction marker ZO‐1. By the use of transient transfection assay performed in a mouse Sertoli cell–cell line, TM4 cells, we showed that the minimal CLMP promoter was located between nucleotides −550 and −288 relative to the translation start site. Site‐directed mutagenic studies showed that three motifs, namely GATA, KLF4, and SRY, within this region functionally co‐operated with one another to regulate CLMP gene transcription. Using specific antibodies in EMSA analysis, a ternary protein complex GATA‐1/GATA‐6/KLF4 was detected at all the three motifs, suggesting that a looping mechanism might involve in regulating CLMP gene transcription. Interestingly, the ubiquitously expressed transcription factors, Sp1 and Sp3, were also found in this ternary complex over the KLF4 motif. Overexpression of KLF4 significantly increased the promoter activity whilst overexpression of Sp1 or Sp3 exerted an opposite effect. In particular, co‐transfection studies showed that Sp1 could significantly abolish the KLF4‐induced transactivation of the CLMP gene, suggesting that KLF4 and Sp1 might compete for the same binding site on the CLMP promoter. Taken together, this differential interaction of the transcription factors, GATA‐1, GATA‐6, KLF4, Sp1, and Sp3, in CLMP gene expression might provide a precise machinery in regulating Sertoli cell tight junction dynamics. J. Cell. Physiol. 214: 334–344, 2008. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
TGF‐β3 inhibits chondrogenesis of cultured chick leg bud mesenchymal cells via downregulation of connexin 43 and integrin β4
Authors: Jin Eun‐Jung , Lee Sun‐Young , Jung Jae‐Chang , Bang Ok‐Sun , Kang Shin‐Sung 
Published: July 2007

AbstractTransforming growth factor β (TGF‐β) is a multifunctional cytokine that regulates a number of biological responses including chemotaxis, cell cycle progression, differentiation, and apoptosis of cells. Even though temporal and spatial expression of TGF‐β3 suggests its role in chick limb development, it is not well characterized how TGF‐β3 regulates chondrogenic differentiation of limb bud mesenchymal cells. In this study, differential display polymerase chain reaction (DD‐PCR) screening and reverse transcription PCR analysis revealed that the mRNA expression of the gap junction protein, connexin 43 (Cx43), was significantly decreased during the first treatment of TGF‐β3 for 24 h in cultured chick leg bud mesenchymal cells. Treatment of these cells with lindane, a general gap junction blocker, or expression of dominant negative Cx43 increased apoptotic cell death and decreased the level of integrin β4 protein, in a manner similar to that observed when these cells were exposed to TGF‐β3. Similarly, exposure of cultured leg chondroblasts to a functional blocking antibody against integrin‐β4 induced an increase in apoptosis. Treatment of cells with TGF‐β3 decreased the membrane translocation of PKC‐α, leading to activation of ERK. The increase in apoptotic cell death triggered by TGF‐β3 and dominant negative Cx43 was blocked by inhibition of ERK but increased by inhibition of PKC. Collectively, these data indicate that, in cultured chick leg bud mesenchyme cells, TGF‐β3 treatment downregulates Cx43 and induces apoptotic cell death via downregulation of integrin β4, activation of ERK and suppression of PKC‐α activation. J. Cell. Physiol. 214: 345–353, 2008. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Evidence of force exchanges during the six‐legged walking of the bottom‐dwelling fish, Chelidonichthys lucerna
Authors: Jamon Marc , Renous Sabine , Gasc Jean Pierre , Bels Vincent , Davenport John 
Published: July 2007

AbstractLocomotion in terrestrial vertebrates is supposed to be derived from preadaptation in bottom‐dwelling fish. A few fish species have been assumed to walk on the substratum, on the basis of coordinated movements of their paired fins. However, the validity of this assumption has remained uncertain, because of a lack of evidence that their fin rays actually exert a force on the substratum. Here, we provide the first conclusive evidence that a benthic teleost fish, the gurnard, Chelidonichthys lucerna (Triglidae), exerts forces on the substratum during its temporary bottom‐dwelling hexapod locomotion. This demonstration was achieved by the use of a photoelastic gel technique combined with a force calibration device. The movement patterns of the three first pairs of rays of the pectoral fins were analysed in relation to the forces exerted on the substratum, by measuring deformations of the photoelastic gel substratum produced by the rays. The rays were shown to produce a force pattern that confirmed the existence of a hexapod locomotion in a vertebrate that was consistent with body propulsion and voluntary substratum walking. J. Exp. Zool. 307A:542–547, 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Wing morphology and flight behavior of pelecaniform seabirds
Authors: Brewer Michael L. , Hertel Fritz 
Published: July 2007

AbstractThe selective pressures associated with flight are significant factors in shaping the morphology of volant forms. Tropical seabirds are of particular interest because of their long foraging bouts, which can last hundreds of kilometers in search of unpredictable (spatially and temporally) resources. Here, we contrast wing loading (WL), aspect ratio (AR), and planform shape among five pelecaniform seabirds and correlate morphological diversity with known differences in flight strategies. Overall, WL and AR scaled with body mass. The Great Frigratebird had lower WL than that predicted, whereas the Red‐tailed Tropicbird had higher WL than that predicted. The tropicbird also exhibited a lower AR than that predicted. Visualization of planform shape was accomplished by using Thin‐plate spline relative warp analysis (TPS/RWA), and three major regions of variations were discovered: wing base, mid‐wing, and distal wing/wing tip. As expected, the three boobies were more similar than either the tropicbird or the frigatebird. The tropicbird had a broader distal wing and more rounded wing tip, associated with its greater use of flapping flight. The frigatebird showed the greatest deviation in the distal wing and wing tip associated with the high maneuverability required for aerial pursuit and kleptoparasitism. By using TPS/RWA, important differences were detected in planform shape that would have otherwise gone unnoticed when using only WL and AR. These differences correlated strongly with parameters such as maneuverability, flapping, and soaring flight. J. Morphol., 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Translating business strategies into action: Managing strategic change
Authors: Stace Doug A. , Dunphy Dexter C. 
Published: July 2007

AbstractIn a volatile business environment, few would argue that the central task of management is the management of change. Yet how to formulate an overall change strategy, particularly one that has overall synergy with an organization's business strategies, has proven to be more difficult. This article describes the results obtained from an intensive and comprehensive field research study, which attempted to trace the linkages between an organization's business strategies, its organizational change strategies and its human resource (HR) strategies. We were interested to see if patterns of co‐alignment could be identified between these three areas. The results of the study provide an alternate framework to the almost universalist prescriptions for incremental and con‐sultatively based organizational change that is so dominant in management literature. We provide a situational model of change strategies, relating it with generic business strategies on the one hand and with a model of HR management strategies on the other. These models combined provide an integrated view of management strategies that are designed to ensure that business strategy repositioning is not only planned, but also effectively implemented.
Planning in a turbulent environment: How to organize your planning process
Authors: Piëst Bert 
Published: July 2007

AbstractFor planning to be effective, there should be alignment between the characteristics of the planning process and the level of environmental turbulence. The logical consequence is that planning processes should be altered due to changing environmental conditions. This article describes how planning can be organized given a certain level of environmental turbulence. A planning audit is given to monitor the effectiveness of the planning process and it is used to describe which conditions must be satisfied to enable the process of strategic planning to be changed.
First Principle Simulations of Ethylene Glycol Addition to Diisocyanates
Authors: Cysewski Piotr , Król Piotr , Shyichuk Alexander 
Published: July 2007

AbstractThe reaction of addition of ethylene glycol to diisocyanates was studied with the B3LYP method to gain an insight into the mechanism of polyurethane synthesis. It was found that the functional basis set should contain at least one diffusion function for the simulation in order to properly describe thermo‐chemical features of the model reaction. Using the B3LYP/6‐31+G** level the values of Gibbs free energy were estimated for the addition reaction of ethylene glycol to toluene‐2,4‐diisocyanate, toluene‐2,6‐diisocyanate, diisocyanate‐[5‐isocyanato‐1‐(isocyanatomethyl)‐1,3,3‐trimethylcyclohexane], 1,6‐diisocyanatohexane, 4,4′‐methylenebis(cyclohexyl isocyanate) and methylenebis(phenyl isocyanate). Both the gaseous phase and the benzene environment were taken into consideration. Spontaneity of the reaction proved to be dependent on both substrate type and product isomeric configuration. The trans‐urethane isomer has been found to be a more stable product. Considering the values of activation energy the minor dependence on the structure of diisocyanate was observed. This confirmed Flory's postulate to be valid for the polyurethane synthesis. The highest value of activation energy was found for the first stage, which consists of ethylene glycol approach and simultaneous proton transfer to the isocyanate group. For that reason the first stage has been estimated as that limiting the general rate of the urethanisation reaction.magnified image
Asymptotics for steady‐state voltage potentials in a bidimensional highly contrasted medium with thin layer
Authors: Poignard Clair 
Published: July 2007

AbstractWe study the behaviour of steady‐state voltage potentials in two kinds of bidimensional media composed of material of complex permittivity equal to 1 (respectively, α) surrounded by a thin membrane of thickness h and of complex permittivity α (respectively, 1). We provide in both cases a rigorous derivation of the asymptotic expansion of steady‐state voltage potentials at any order as h tends to zero, when Neumann boundary condition is imposed on the exterior boundary of the thin layer. Our complex parameter α is bounded but may be very small compared to 1, hence our results describe the asymptotics of steady‐state voltage potentials in all heterogeneous and highly heterogeneous media with thin layer. The asymptotic terms of the potential in the membrane are given explicitly in local coordinates in terms of the boundary data and of the curvature of the domain, while these of the inner potential are the solutions to the so‐called dielectric formulation with appropriate boundary conditions. The error estimates are given explicitly in terms of h and α with appropriate Sobolev norm of the boundary data. We show that the two situations described
above lead to completely different asymptotic behaviours of the potentials. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A weighted Lq‐approach to Oseen flow around a rotating body
Authors: Farwig R. , Krbec M. , Nečasová Š. 
Published: July 2007

AbstractWe study time‐periodic Oseen flows past a rotating body in ℝ3 proving weighted a priori estimates in Lq‐spaces using Muckenhoupt weights. After a time‐dependent change of coordinates the problem is reduced to a stationary Oseen equation with the additional terms (ω ∧ x) ⋅ ∇ u and −ω ∧ u in the equation of momentum where ω denotes the angular velocity. Due to the asymmetry of Oseen flow and to describe its wake we use anisotropic Muckenhoupt weights, a weighted theory of Littlewood–Paley decomposition and of maximal operators as well as one‐sided univariate weights, one‐sided maximal operators and a new version of Jones' factorization theorem. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Slotline fed microstrip antenna array modules
Authors: Lo Y. T. , Oberhart M. L. , Brenneman J. S. , Aoyagi P. , Moore J. , Lee R. Q. H. 
Published: July 2007

AbstractA feed network comprised of a combination of coplanar waveguide and slot transmission line is described for use in an array module of four microstrip elements. Examples of the module incorporating such networks are presented as well as experimentally obtained impedance and radiation characteristics.
Computer simulation of atmospherically corrupted signals at the focal plane of a parabolic antenna
Authors: Sitterle Jeffrey J. , Claspy Paul C. , Merat Francis L. 
Published: July 2007

AbstractA simulation procedure for generating the signals appearing at the focal plane of a parabolic reflector is presented. The procedure consists of generating the time series of the angle‐of ‐arrival fluctuation and intensity scintillation directly from their temporal power spectra and combining the two processes. An example of the procedure is also given.
The spectral discretization of transmission line system
Authors: Palusinski O. A. , Lee Anyu 
Published: July 2007

AbstractThe interconnections used in packaging of modern circuits introduce the delays that are comparable or even greater than the delays of gates. This causes the degradation of overall system performance. One may choose to solve the problem of delay by increasing the density of the system. This, however, introduces the problem of “crosstalk.” The analysis of delay and crosstalk in a system of interconnections requires the use of computer simulation. This paper introduces a very efficient and flexible time‐domain analysis technique to predict the reflections and crosstalks. Numerical results show that this technique is indeed efficient and accurate in the transient analysis of general multiple coupled‐line systems. The algorithm yields an equivalent linear hybrid n‐port network for the interconnection system that facilitates the analysis of interconnections together with driving and receiving circuits with the aid of standard network analyzers like, for example, SPICE.
11‐ghz fiber optic links for airborne satellite communications applications
Authors: Gee C. M. , Thurmond G. D. , Newberg I. L. , Yen H. W. , Lafaw D. , Spink B. 
Published: July 2007

AbstractWe report the first implementation of fiber optics at 11 GHz in an experimental satellite communication EHF/SHF research terminal for airborne applications. Signal‐to‐noise and bit‐error rate were measured to characterize the system after a 100‐m‐long fiber optic link replaced a 4‐ft‐long coaxial cable to enable X‐band signal remoting.
Quasihomogeneous sources with longitudinal periodicity
Authors: Ojeda‐Castañeda J. , Pons A. 
Published: July 2007

AbstractFree‐propagation of the mutual intensity function on the paraxial approximation is expressed by a differential operator, which is applied to identify planar quasihomogeneous sources that have mutual intensities with longitudinal periodicity. Our formula describes in a simple, yet formal, way the formation of Lau bands at finite distances.
The calculation of the nearfield of curved edge paraboloid
Authors: Mao Yukuan , Shao Jiangda 
Published: July 2007

AbstractThe SWE method is used to calculate the nearfield distribution at any point in front of a curved edge symmetrical paraboloid. Comparing the results with those from the GTD method, we find that without correction, using the physical optics current approximation, we can get relatively accurate nearfield distribution in front of the dish.
Pure bending‐induced birefringence in optical waveguides: A simple analytical expression
Authors: Cheng Y. H. , Lin W. G. 
Published: July 2007

AbstractThe local field in the bent optical waveguide and the birefringence caused by the pure bent geometry effect are investigated. It is found that, this birefringence is independent of the local field in the bent guide and only dependent on the unperturbed propagation constant and the radius of the guide bend.
Optimization of the gap geometry in ultrafast optoelectronic switching experiments
Authors: Bergner H. , Brueckner V. , Lenzner M. , Strobel R. 
Published: July 2007

AbstractIn order to increase the output voltages of optoelectronic switches the influence of the gap geometry of these devices on the applicable voltage and the switching efficiency is investigated. It is theoretically shown that electrodes with distinctly rounded corners cause a maximum output signal at a given biased voltage. Experimental results are presented for semicircular and rectangular electrodes.
Measuring phase retardation of wave plates: A NOVEL TECHNIQUE
Authors: Yao Lin , Zhiyao Zhou , Runwen Wang 
Published: July 2007

AbstractThis paper proposes and discusses an optical heterodyne technique to measure the phase retardation of a wave plate. The accuracy of this measurement technique in determining the optical path difference of a quarter wave plate is smaller than the wavelength of light source divided by 6000, exceeding the accuracies of other measurement techniques.
Finite‐element matrices for loss calculation in quasi‐tem analysis of microwave transmission lines
Authors: Pantić‐Tanner Zorica , Mittra Raj 
Published: July 2007

AbstractFinite‐element matrices for loss calculation of a dominant quasi‐TEM mode propagating along a uniform transmission line are given. These matrices refer to Nth‐order polynomial expansions of the field and are independent of the shape of the triangular element. The dielectric and conductor losses are calculated using a perturbational approach.
On volume modes and surface modes in partial‐height ferrite circulators and their bandwidth expansion at millemeter wave band
Authors: Dou W. B. , Li S. F. 
Published: July 2007

AbstractThe electromagnetic field modes in partial‐height ferrite circulators are classified into two categories: volume modes and surface modes. Their properties are described in detail. The method of expanding the circulator bandwidth at the millimeter wave band is investigated. A set of theoretical results are calculated for a n = 2 Chebyshev response. A Ka‐band circulator is designed. The measured minimum isolation is 15 dB over a 9‐GHz bandwidth. The experimental result and theoretical prediction are similar.