bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Clinical and neurophysiological characterization of myoclonus in complex regional pain syndrome
Authors: Munts Alexander G. , Van Rootselaar Anne‐Fleur , Van Der Meer Johan N. , Koelman Johannes H.T.M. , Van Hilten Jacobus J. , Tijssen Marina A.J. 
Published: December 2007

AbstractThe origin of myoclonus in patients with complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is unknown. Eight patients with CRPS related myoclonus were clinically evaluated and studied with intermuscular and corticomuscular coherence analysis. Jerks were present at rest, aggravated during action and were frequently associated with tremulousness or dystonia. Electromyography demonstrated a burst duration ranging from 25 to 240 ms with burst frequencies varying from <1 jerk/s during rest to 20 Hz during action. Coherence studies showed increased intermuscular coherence in 4 patients in the 6 to 12 Hz band, as reported in patients with enhanced physiological tremor. In 2 patients side‐to‐side coherence was observed, pointing to a central oscillatory drive. Significant coherence entrainment was detected in 5 patients. We conclude that the characteristics of myoclonus in CRPS are different from other forms of myoclonus. © 2007 Movement Disorder Society
Combination of photodynamic therapy and immunomodulation: Current status and future trends
Authors: Qiang Yong‐Gang , Yow Christine M.N. , Huang Zheng 
Published: December 2007

AbstractPhotodynamic therapy (PDT) has been used for the treatment of nonmalignant and malignant diseases from head to toe. Over the last decade its clinical application has gained increasing acceptance around the world. Pre‐clinical studies demonstrate that, in addition to the direct local cytotoxicity and vascular effects, PDT can induce various host immune responses. Recent clinical data also show that improved clinical outcomes are obtained through the combination of PDT and immunomodulation. This review will summarize and discuss recent progress in developing innovative regimen of PDT combined with immunomodulation for the treatment of both nonmalignant and malignant diseases. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Med Res Rev, 28, No. 4, 632–644, 2008
Biotransformation of brominated flame retardants into potentially endocrine‐disrupting metabolites, with special attention to 2,2′,4,4′‐tetrabromodiphenyl ether (BDE‐47)
Authors: Hamers Timo , Kamstra Jorke H. , Sonneveld Edwin , Murk Albertinka J. , Visser Theo J. , Van Velzen Martin J. M. , Brouwer Abraham , Bergman Åke 
Published: December 2007

AbstractIn this study, the endocrine‐disrupting (ED) potency of metabolites from brominated flame retardants (BFRs) was determined. Metabolites were obtained by incubating single‐parent compound BFRs with phenobarbital‐induced rat liver microsomes. Incubation extracts were tested in seven in vitro bioassays for their potency to compete with thyroxine for binding to transthyretin (TTR), to inhibit estradiol‐sulfotransferase (E2SULT), to interact with thyroid hormone‐mediated cell proliferation, and to (in‐)activate the androgen, progesterone, estrogen, or aryl hydrocarbon receptor. For most BFRs, TTR‐binding potencies, and to a lesser extent E2SULT‐inhibiting potencies, significantly increased after biotransformation. Microsomal incubation had less pronounced effects on other ED modes of action, due to low biotransformation efficiency and background activities determined in control incubations without BFRs. Moreover, cell‐based bioassays suffered from cytotoxicity from metabolites of lower‐brominated polybrominated diphenyl ethers. For the environmentally relevant 2,2′,4,4′‐tetrabromodiphenyl ether (BDE‐47), six hydroxylated metabolites were identified. Individual metabolites had TTR‐binding and E2SULT‐inhibiting potencies 160–1600 and 2.2–220 times higher than BDE‐47 itself, whereas their combined potencies in a realistic mixture were well predicted via concentration addition. In combination with other environmentally relevant hydroxylated organohalogens acting on TTR‐binding and E2SULT inhibition, internal exposure to BFR metabolites may significantly contribute to the overall risk of endocrine disruption.
Regulation of NGFI‐B/Nur77 gene expression in the rat ovary and in leydig tumor cells MA‐10
Authors: Inaoka Yoshihiko , Yazawa Takashi , Uesaka Miki , Mizutani Tetsuya , Yamada Kazuya , Miyamoto Kaoru 
Published: December 2007

AbstractNR4A1, also called NGFI‐B in the rat, Nur77 in the mouse and TR3 in humans, belongs to the orphan nuclear steroid hormone receptor superfamily and is one of the immediate‐early genes. In the endocrine organs, including the gonads, NGFI‐B/Nur77 gene expression is rapidly induced by pituitary hormones. NGFI‐B/Nur77 expression was found to be rapidly reduced by an estrogenic endocrine disrupter, diethylstilbestrol (DES) in theca interna cells of immature rat ovaries. DES treatment also triggered a rapid decrease of serum luteinizing hormone (LH) levels, suggesting that DES acts on the hypothalamo–pituitary axis to suppress LH secretion from the pituitary. The transcriptional regulation of NGFI‐B/Nur77 by LH/human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) or 8‐bromoadenosine 3′–5′‐cyclic monophosphate (8 Br‐cAMP) was examined in mouse Leydig tumor cells MA‐10. Luciferase assays using NGFI‐B/Nur77 promoter constructs and electric mobility shift assays (EMSA) showed that NGFI‐B/Nur77 gene expression was mediated through three of the four activator protein‐1 (AP‐1)‐like sites, namely the −233 AP‐1, −213 AP‐1 and −69 AP‐1 sites adjacent to the transcription start site of the NGFI‐B/Nur77 promoter. We also demonstrated here that both the Jun family and cAMP‐responsive element binding (CREB) proteins bind to the −233 AP‐1 site, whereas the main binding protein to the −213 AP‐1 site was CREB, and Jun family protein to the −69 AP‐1 site, respectively. The rapid induction of NGFI‐B/Nur77 gene expression by LH/hCG in MA‐10 cells appears to be mediated by both CREB and Jun family proteins through the cAMP‐protein kinase A (PKA) pathway. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 75: 931–939, 2008. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Expression of fibroblast growth factor 10 and its receptor, fibroblast growth factor receptor 2B, in the bovine corpus luteum
Authors: Castilho A.C. , Giometti I.C. , Berisha B. , Schams D. , Price C.A. , Amorim R.L. , Papa P.C. , Buratini J. 
Published: December 2007

AbstractThere is evidence that several fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) are involved in growth and development of the corpus luteum (CL), but many FGFs have not been investigated in this tissue, including FGF10. The objective of this study was to determine if FGF10 and its receptor (FGFR2B) are expressed in the CL. Bovine CL were collected from an abattoir and classed as corpus hemorrhagica (stage I), developing (stage II), developed (stage III), and regressed (stage IV) CL. Expression of FGF10 and FGFR2B mRNA was measured by reverse transcription‐polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR). Both genes were expressed in bovine CL, and FGF10 expression did not differ between stages of CL development. FGF10 protein was localized to large and small luteal cells by immunohistochemistry. FGFR2B expression was approximately threefold higher in regressed compared to developing and developed CL (P < 0.05). To determine if FGF10 and FGFR2B expression is regulated during functional luteolysis, cattle were injected with PGF2α and CL collected at 0, 0.5, 2, 4, 12, 24, 48, and 64 hr thereafter (n = 5 CL/time point), and mRNA abundance was measured by real‐time RT‐PCR. FGF10 mRNA expression did not change during functional luteolysis, whereas FGFR2B mRNA abundance decreased significantly at 2, 4, and 12 hr after PGF2α, and returned to pretreatment levels for the period 24–64 hr post‐PGF2α. These data suggest a potential role for FGFR2B signaling during structural luteolysis in bovine CL. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 75: 940–945, 2008. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Isolation and characterization of the spermatid‐specific Smrp1 gene encoding a novel manchette protein
Authors: Matsuoka Yasuhiro , Miyagawa Yasushi , Tokuhiro Keizo , Kitamura Kouichi , Iguchi Naoko , Maekawa Mamiko , Takahashi Tohru , Tsujimura Akira , Matsumiya Kiyomi , Okuyama Akihiko , Nishimune Yoshitake , Tanaka Hiromitsu 
Published: December 2007

AbstractThe manchette, which is the structure that appears around the nuclei of elongated spermatids, is assumed to be involved in nuclear shaping during spermiogenesis and the transport of various proteins between the nucleus and sperm tail. In this report, we describe the molecular cloning and characterization of a mouse spermatid‐specific manchette‐related protein 1 (Smrp1) from a spermatid‐specific subtracted mouse testis cDNA library. The isolated Smrp1 cDNA clones could be divided into three variants based on sequence analysis. Computer‐assisted analysis showed that these variants were splice variants from a single locus of the mouse genome. The three putative proteins consisted of 296, 260, and 175 amino acids, respectively. Although 155 amino acids of the N terminus were common to the three proteins, they were distinguished by their C‐terminal regions. Western blot analyses using specific antisera showed that SMRP1 expression was specific to the testes and that only the 261‐amino‐acid form was translated into protein. Immunohistochemistry revealed that SMRP1 was localized to the cytoplasm of step 9–12 elongated spermatids. The protein appeared in a cap formation that covered the caudal sides of the elongated nuclei. This localization pattern coincided with that of the manchette. SMRP1 may play an important role as a functional protein that co‐operates with manchette proteins. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 75: 967–975, 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Cre‐loxP system as a versatile tool for conferring increased levels of tissue‐specific gene expression from a weak promoter
Authors: Nakamura Shingo , Watanabe Satoshi , Ohtsuka Masato , Maehara Tadaaki , Ishihara Masayuki , Yokomine Takaaki , Sato Masahiro 
Published: December 2007

AbstractAttempts to image reporter gene expression driven by weak promoters are often hampered by the poor transcriptional activity of such promoters. Most tissue‐specific promoters are weak compared with stronger but constitutively expressing viral promoters. In this study, we validated methods of enhancing the transcriptional activity of weak promoters using a Cre‐loxP system in vitro and in vivo. We constructed a tester vector, pCTL, which carries a strong systemic cytomegalovirus enhancer/ chicken β‐actin promoter (CAG), loxP‐flanked CAT, and firefly luciferase (luc) cDNAs. Herpes simplex virus‐thymidine kinase (HSV‐tk) promoter was used as a weak and systemic promoter and ligated to Cre for construction of pTC. Luc activity was higher (about 10‐fold enhancement) in co‐transfected (with pCTL and pTC) than in singly (with HSV‐tk promoter‐driven luc expression vector pTL) transfected NIH3T3 cells. In vivo electroporation‐mediated gene delivery of both pCTL and pTC into murine oviductal epithelium yielded results (about 16‐fold enhancement) similar to those obtained with in vitro‐transfected NIH3T3 cells. To evaluate tissue‐specific enhancement of gene expression, podocyte (glomerular visceral epithelial cell)‐specific nephrin promoter was ligated to the Cre gene or luc cDNA to create pNC and pNL, respectively. We achieved 2.4‐fold improvement of luc gene expression in the mouse kidney in vivo when pCTL and pNC were co‐transfected via the tail vein via the lipoplex method. The combination of a weak tissue‐specific promoter with the Cre‐loxP system could thus be used to enhance the strength of tissue‐specific promoters in vitro and in vivo. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 75: 1085–1093, 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Characterization of secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor as an inhibitor of implantation serine proteinases
Authors: Sharma Navneet , Kaur Jaspreet , Xu Hui , zur Nieden Nicole , Rancourt Derrick 
Published: December 2007

AbstractWe have recently identified and characterized twoimplantationserineproteinase genes, ISP1 and ISP2, which give rise to a dimeric proteinase, ISP that facilitates embryo invasion during peri‐implantation period. As many proteinases have cognate serpins that regulate their proteolytic activity, we have been investigating anti‐tryptases, expressed during this window of implantation. Here, we report the differential expression of secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor (SLPI) in uterine endometrium around the implantation period. The co‐localization of SLPI and ISP suggests the possibility that SLPI is an ISP serpin and that expression of SLPI may lead to a reduction in ISP activity. The expression of SLPI is down regulated during the window of embryo‐uterine receptivity. Our results are consistent with a model suggesting that the drop in SLPI expression may help to refine the opening of the window of implantation, by allowing the proteolytic activity of embryo invasive serine proteinases such as the ISPs. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 75: 1136–1142, 2008. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Coupled simulation of wave propagation and water flow in soil induced by high‐speed trains
Authors: Kettil P. , Lenhof B. , Runesson K. , Wiberg N.‐E. 
Published: December 2007

AbstractThe purpose of this paper is to simulate the coupled dynamic deformation and water flow that occur in saturated soils when subjected to traffic loads, which is a problem with several practical applications. The wave propagation causes vibrations leading to discomfort for passengers and people in the surroundings and increase wear on both the vehicle and road structure. The water flow may cause internal erosion and material transport in the soil. Further, the increased pore water pressure could reduce the bearing capacity of embankments. The saturated soil is modelled as a water‐saturated porous medium. The traffic is modelled as a number of moving wheel contact loads. Dynamic effects are accounted for, which lead to a coupled problem with solid displacements, water velocity and pressure as primary unknowns. A finite element program has been developed to perform simulations. The simulations clearly demonstrate the induced wave propagation and water flow in the soil. The simulation technique is applicable to railway as well as road traffic. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Ultimate bearing capacity of equally spaced multiple strip footings on cohesionless soils without surcharge
Authors: Kouzer K. M. , Kumar Jyant 
Published: December 2007

AbstractThe ultimate bearing capacity of a group of equally spaced multiple rough strip footings was determined due to the contribution of soil unit weight. The analysis was performed by using an upper bound theorem of limit analysis in combination with finite elements and linear programming. Along the interfaces of all the triangular elements, velocity discontinuities were considered. The value of ξγ was found to increase continuously with a decrease in S/B, where (i) ξγ is the ratio of the failure load of an interfering strip footing of a given width (B) to that of a single isolated strip footing having the same width and (ii) S is the clear spacing between any two adjacent footings. The effect of the variation of spacing on ξγ was found to be very extensive for small values of S/B; ξγ approaches infinity at S/B=0. In all the cases, the velocity discontinuities were found to exist generally in a zone only around the footing edge. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Analysis of beams on tensionless reinforced granular fill‐soil system
Authors: Maheshwari Priti 
Published: December 2007

AbstractIn this paper, a beam subjected to end concentrated loads has been modeled and analyzed to estimate its flexural response. The beam has been assumed to rest on reinforced earth beds with reinforcing elements having some finite bending stiffness. The reinforcing elements have been idealized as beams with smooth surface characteristics. The foundation system has been assumed to react only in compression (tensionless foundation), i.e. the separation between the upper beam and the ground surface has been taken into consideration. Winkler springs of different stiffnesses have been used to idealize the upper dense and lower poor soils. As the analysis considers the separation between the upper beam and the soil, the weight of the upper beam has been taken into account. The governing differential equations have been derived and presented in a non‐dimensional form. These equations have been solved using finite difference method with the help of appropriate boundary and continuity conditions. The response of the foundation system has been compared with the case when the beam is in perfect contact with the ground surface. The parametric study shows that the response of the model is greatly affected by the length ratio of beams, ratio of stiffness of upper and lower soil layers, ratio of flexural rigidity of upper and lower beams and weight of the upper foundation beam. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Harmonic and refined Rayleigh–Ritz for the polynomial eigenvalue problem
Authors: Hochstenbach Michiel E. , Sleijpen Gerard L. G. 
Published: December 2007

AbstractAfter reviewing the harmonic Rayleigh–Ritz approach for the standard and generalized eigenvalue problem, we discuss several extraction processes for subspace methods for the polynomial eigenvalue problem. We generalize the harmonic and refined Rayleigh–Ritz approaches which lead to new approaches to extract promising approximate eigenpairs from a search space. We give theoretical as well as numerical results of the methods. In addition, we study the convergence of the Jacobi–Davidson method for polynomial eigenvalue problems with exact and inexact linear solves and discuss several algorithmic details. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Algebraic multigrid for stationary and time‐dependent partial differential equations with stochastic coefficients
Authors: Rosseel E. , Boonen T. , Vandewalle S. 
Published: December 2007

AbstractWe consider the numerical solution of time‐dependent partial differential equations (PDEs) with random coefficients. A spectral approach, called stochastic finite element method, is used to compute the statistical characteristics of the solution. This method transforms a stochastic PDE into a coupled system of deterministic equations by means of a Galerkin projection onto a generalized polynomial chaos. An algebraic multigrid (AMG) method is presented to solve the algebraic systems that result after discretization of this coupled system. High‐order time integration schemes of an implicit Runge–Kutta type and spatial discretization on unstructured finite element meshes are considered. The convergence properties of the AMG method are demonstrated by a convergence analysis and by numerical tests. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Augmentation block preconditioners for saddle point‐type matrices with singular (1, 1) blocks
Authors: Cao Zhi‐Hao 
Published: December 2007

AbstractWe consider the use of block preconditioners for the application of the preconditioned Krylov subspace iterative methods to the solution of large saddle point‐type systems with singular (1, 1) blocks. Two block triangular preconditioners are introduced and the block diagonal preconditioner in Greif and Schötzau (Electron. Trans. Numer. Anal. 2006; 22:114–121) is extended to nonsymmetric saddle point systems. All these preconditioners are based on augmentation, using nonsingular weight matrices. If the nullity of the (1, 1) block takes its highest possible value, the preconditioned matrix with either block triangular preconditioner has precisely three distinct eigenvalues, and the preconditioned matrix with the block diagonal preconditioner has precisely two distinct eigenvalues, giving rise to immediate convergence of preconditioned GMRES. Finally, numerical experiments that validate the analysis are reported. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Urban congregations as incubators of service organizations
Authors: Kinney Nancy T. , Carver Mary L. 
Published: December 2007

AbstractA growing body of research has begun to describe the variety and pervasiveness of community services offered by religious congregations across the United States. This study investigated the process whereby a congregation forms a new community service entity by tracing patterns in its development from formation through emancipation. Based on a sample of twenty‐three spin‐off organizations engaged in housing services in three cities (Cleveland, Pittsburgh, and St. Louis), this exploratory study found that religious congregations provided very limited forms of incubation for new entities. Although the congregations exhibited considerable involvement in governance, their inability to undertake management of daily spin‐off operations notably contributed to the eventual separation between parent and organizational offspring.
Parents' perspectives on having their children interviewed for research
Authors: Hadley Emily K. , Smith Carrol A.M. , Gallo Agatha M. , Angst Denise B. , Knafl Kathleen A. 
Published: December 2007

AbstractWe describe parents' perspectives on research interviews with their children with single gene conditions. One hundred forty‐two parents were interviewed between 2002 and 2003 in a larger study using a qualitative descriptive design. Two questions from the semi‐structured interview guide were used to identify parents' perspectives about future interviews. Almost all of the parents said they would allow an interview with their children, but some parents specified stipulations. These stipulations included: focusing on age‐appropriate information, limiting information with child, considering input from parents, and providing a child‐oriented environment. Knowing this information, researchers can prepare to work more collaboratively with parents and include them more fully in the research process. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Res Nurs Health 31:4–11, 2008
Development and psychometric evaluation of the instrument: Attitude toward patient advocacy
Authors: Bu Xiaoyan , Wu Yow‐wu B. 
Published: December 2007

AbstractNurses' patient advocacy can influence patient outcomes. There is a lack of reliable and valid instruments on patient advocacy. The purpose of this study was to develop an instrument to measure nurses' attitudes toward patient advocacy. Bu and Jezewski's theory of patient advocacy and Fishbein and Ajzen's definition of attitude were used to guide the development and evaluation of the scale. Seven experts evaluated scale content validity. Two samples (N = 200; N = 2,500) were randomly selected from the Oncology Nursing Society membership to allow us to examine psychometric properties of the scale. The scale possessed satisfactory psychometric properties. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Res Nurs Health 31:63–75, 2008
Negotiating the challenges of multidisciplinary responses to sexual assault victims: Sexual assault nurse examiner and victim advocacy programs
Authors: Cole Jennifer , Logan T.K. 
Published: December 2007

AbstractThe purpose of this study was to examine Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) programs' relationships with victim advocacy organizations. A national telephone survey was conducted of randomly selected SANE programs, all of which served adults, and some of which also served adolescents and children. Nearly one‐third of 231 participants reported that SANEs in their program had experienced conflicts related to roles and boundaries with victim advocacy organizations at some point during the program's history. The most frequently mentioned conflicts involved professional autonomy, control, or turf issues. Future researchers should address personnel, organizational, and structural factors that facilitate collaborative relationships between SANE and victim advocacy organizations. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Res Nurs Health 31:76–85, 2008