bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Sperm release from oviduct epithelial binding is controlled hormonally by peri‐ovulatory graafian follicles
Authors: Hunter R.H.F. 
Published: August 2007

AbstractTo avoid inappropriate conclusions being drawn from the extensive use of in vitro preparations of sperm–oviduct epithelial binding, it is recalled that events in the genital tract of mammals are regulated by the gonads, primarily by their changing secretion of steroid hormones. Key observations from in vivo models are used to emphasise the dynamic interactions between viable sperm cells and the caudal (distal) portion of the oviduct isthmus, the site of the functional sperm reservoir. These include (1) pre‐ovulatory arrest and epithelial binding of intact sperm cells and thereby suppression of completion of capacitation, (2) peri‐ovulatory activation and release from binding of discrete sub‐populations of competent spermatozoa, and (3) post‐ovulatory liberation of large numbers of spermatozoa. These observations underline the influence of endocrine regulation of sperm binding and release by peri‐ovulatory Graafian follicles, a point brought out by the enhanced sperm release prompted by diverse treatments with solutions of progesterone. In the light of this evidence, the suitability of in vitro preparations for clarifying physiological events should be questioned, especially if myosalpingeal catecholamines diffusing out of the autonomic nervous system contribute to sperm activation and/or release. None of this is to infer that sperm cells themselves are without influence on their epithelial binding reaction(s). Nor is it to suggest that in vitro models of sperm–oviduct binding are without relevance to the development of sperm evaluation technologies. However, pre‐ovulatory sperm–epithelial binding and a regulated peri‐ovulatory release should be seen as vital tactics in the overall strategy of achieving successful monospermic fertilisation. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 75: 167–174, 2008. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Muscle membrane excitability after exercise in thyrotoxic periodic paralysis and thyrotoxicosis without periodic paralysis
Authors: Arimura Kimiyoshi , Arimura Yumiko , Ng Arlene R. , Sakoda Shun‐Ichi , Higuchi Itsuro 
Published: August 2007

AbstractWe evaluated whether the paralytic attacks in thyrotoxic periodic paralysis (TPP) are primarily due to the abnormal excitability of the muscle membrane caused by a preexisting latent abnormality or to the effects of thyroid hormone. The prolonged exercise (PE) test was used to evaluate muscle membrane excitability in 21 patients with TPP and 11 patients with thyrotoxicosis without paralytic attacks (Tw/oPP) in the hyperthyroid state. The PE tests were compared between the hyperthyroid and euthyroid states in five of the TPP and three of the Tw/oPP patients. Compared to 20 healthy subjects, a significant increase in compound muscle action potential (CMAP) amplitudes immediately after exercise and a significant time‐dependent gradual decline in CMAP amplitudes starting from 20 min after exercise were observed in the TPP patients. A significant decline in CMAP amplitudes was also observed in the Tw/oPP patients but only at 50 min after exercise. All of the TPP and Tw/oPP patients had a tendency to improve in the euthyroid state; the PE tests remained abnormal only in the TPP patients. Paralytic attacks in TPP patients are due primarily to a preexisting latent abnormal excitability of the muscle membrane, possibly genetic in origin. Muscle Nerve, 2007
Effect of random interpulse interval modulation on neuromuscular fatigue
Authors: Indurthy Maritha , Griffin Lisa 
Published: August 2007

AbstractNeuromuscular endurance during electrical stimulation may be enhanced if naturally occurring motor unit firing patterns are used. Variability in the interpulse interval (IPI) distribution may enable brief periods of rest and optimization of force output. Nine individuals participated in three 3‐minute fatigue protocols of the thenar muscles elicited by supramaximal stimulation of the median nerve. All protocols consisted of a mean IPI of 33.3 ms and differed only in the type of IPI modulation, which was constant (0%), random (±20%), or ramped from 0% to ±20%. M‐wave amplitude declined following all protocols and the reduction was smallest following the ramp protocol. There was no significant difference among the starting or final forces or between the overall force–time integrals for the three protocols. Thus, IPI variability did not improve endurance time during electrical stimulation and the M‐wave amplitude was not a reliable indicator of muscle force output. Muscle Nerve, 2007
Oxidant‐induced atrogin‐1 and transforming growth factor‐β1 precede alcohol‐related myopathy in rats
Authors: Otis Jeffrey S. , Brown Lou Ann S. , Guidot David M. 
Published: August 2007

AbstractAlcohol‐related chronic myopathy is characterized by severe biochemical and structural changes to skeletal muscle. Our goals were to: (1) identify early regulatory elements that precede the overt manifestation of plantaris atrophy; and (2) circumvent these derangements by supplementing alcohol‐fed rats with the glutathione precursor, procysteine. After 6 weeks of daily ingestion, before the development of overt atrophy of the plantaris muscle, alcohol increased several markers of oxidative stress and increased gene expressions of atrogin‐1 and transforming growth factor‐β1 (TGF‐β1) by ∼60‐ and ∼65‐fold, respectively, which were attenuated by procysteine supplementation. Interestingly, after 28 weeks of alcohol ingestion, when overt plantaris atrophy had developed, atrogin‐1 and TGF‐β1 gene expression had returned to baseline levels. Together, these findings suggest that alcohol‐induced, redox‐sensitive alterations drive pro‐atrophy signaling pathways that precede muscle atrophy. Therefore, targeted anti‐oxidant treatments such as procysteine supplementation may benefit individuals with chronic alcohol abuse, particularly if given prior to the development of clinically significant myopathy. Muscle Nerve, 2007
Service management enhancements to IMS architecture
Authors: Kormentzas G. , Andrade T. , Asgari A. (Hamid) , Skianis C. 
Published: August 2007

AbstractOriginally defined by the Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) as part of its standardization work for 3G mobile phone systems, the IMS model has been adopted as a baseline technology for network and service convergence by network (wireless, wireline and cable), service and content operators. Dealing with the same business actors, the ENTHRONE project (FP6‐IP‐507637) builds an MPEG‐21‐based service management system that enables distribution of audio‐visual content with dynamic end‐to‐end QoS guarantees over heterogeneous networks to various types of terminal devices. This system controls the access of users to the content and supervises the delivery of the content to ensure the level of QoS. The paper examines how the IMS model could be extended to include service management features offered by the ENTHRONE management system. These features could constitute a potential vehicle for the IMS entrance to the audio‐visual market chain. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A video broadcasting protocol for bandwidth‐constrained clients
Authors: Zafalao Rogerio M. , da Fonseca Nelson L. S. 
Published: August 2007

AbstractPeriodic broadcast has been considered for the deployment of video on demand services owing to its scalability. However, most existing protocols do not take into consideration the bandwidth limitation at the client. In this paper, a novel protocol based on the polyharmonic broadcasting protocol for users with bandwidth constraints is proposed. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A note on the solution of not balanced banded Toeplitz systems
Authors: Lotti G. 
Published: August 2007

AbstractA direct algorithm is presented for the solution of linear systems having banded Toeplitz coefficient matrix with unbalanced bandwidths. It is derived from the cyclic reduction algorithm, it makes use of techniques based on the displacement rank and it relies on the Morrison–Sherman–Woodbury formula. The algorithm always equals and sometimes outperforms the already known direct ones in terms of asymptotic computational cost. The case where the coefficient matrix is a block banded block Toeplitz matrix in block Hessenberg form is analyzed as well. The algorithm is numerically stable if applied to M‐matrices that are point diagonally dominant by columns. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Projected Schur complement method for solving non‐symmetric systems arising from a smooth fictitious domain approach
Authors: Haslinger J. , Kozubek T. , Kučera R. , Peichl G. 
Published: August 2007

AbstractThis paper deals with a fast method for solving large‐scale algebraic saddle‐point systems arising from fictitious domain formulations of elliptic boundary value problems. A new variant of the fictitious domain approach is analyzed. Boundary conditions are enforced by control variables introduced on an auxiliary boundary located outside the original domain. This approach has a significantly higher convergence rate; however, the algebraic systems resulting from finite element discretizations are typically non‐symmetric. The presented method is based on the Schur complement reduction. If the stiffness matrix is singular, the reduced system can be formulated again as another saddle‐point problem. Its modification by orthogonal projectors leads to an equation that can be efficiently solved using a projected Krylov subspace method for non‐symmetric operators. For this purpose, the projected variant of the BiCGSTAB algorithm is derived from the non‐projected one. The behavior of the method is illustrated by examples, in which the BiCGSTAB iterations are accelerated by a multigrid strategy. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Is small beautiful? Village level taxation of natural resources in Tanzania
Authors: Lund Jens Friis 
Published: August 2007

AbstractThis article examines collection of natural resources revenue by village governments in Tanzania as part of a decentralisation reform. An analysis of empirical data in the form of taxation records from 14 villages, which collect and retain revenues on natural resources utilisation suggests that decentralising revenue collection to the lowest local government tier may yield: (i) considerable increases in revenue collection; (ii) increased transparency in public finances through requirements that village governments document their incomes and expenditures to the villagers; and (iii) a financial surplus that is used to finance public services at the village level. The evidence presented in this article suggests that decentralising taxation to the lowest local government tier may be a viable approach to enhance revenue collection on the utilisation of relatively low value natural resources, and assure that a share of the collected revenue is used to finance public services. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Augmented gp130‐mediated cytokine signalling accompanies human gastric cancer progression
Authors: Jackson CB , Judd LM , Menheniott TR , Kronborg I , Dow C , Yeomans ND , Boussioutas A , Robb L , Giraud AS 
Published: August 2007

AbstractH. pylori infection accounts for most cases of gastric cancer, but the initiating events remain unclear. The principal H. pylori pathogenicity‐associated CagA protein disrupts intracellular SHP‐2 signalling pathways including those used by the IL‐6 family cytokines, IL‐6 and IL‐11. Imbalanced IL‐6 family cytokine signalling in the gp130757FF mouse model of gastric cancer arising from hyperactivation of oncogenic STAT3 after altered SHP‐2 : ERK1/2 signalling produces dysplastic antral tumours preceded by gastritis and metaplasia. In a cohort of patient gastric biopsies with known H. pylori and CagA status, we investigated whether (i) STAT3 and ERK1/2 activation is altered in H. pylori‐dependent gastritis; (ii) these profiles are more pronounced in CagA+ H. pylori infection; and (iii) the expression of pro‐inflammatory cytokines that activate STAT3 and ERK 1/2 pathways is associated with progression to gastric cancer. IL‐6, IL‐11, and activated STAT3 and ERK1/2 were quantified in antral biopsies from gastritic stomach, metaplastic tissue, and resected gastric cancer tissues. We observed significantly increased STAT3 and ERK1/2 activation (p = 0.001) in H. pylori‐dependent gastritis, which was further enhanced in the presence of CagA+ H. pylori strains. Of known gastric ligands that drive STAT3 activation, IL‐6 expression was increased after H. pylori infection and both IL‐6 and IL‐11 were strongly up‐regulated in the gastric cancer biopsies. This suggests a mechanism by which IL‐11 drives STAT3 activation and proliferation during gastric cancer progression. We addressed this using an in vitro approach, demonstrating that recombinant human IL‐11 activates STAT3 and concomitantly increases proliferation of MKN28 gastric epithelial cells. In summary, we show increased STAT3 and ERK1/2 activation in H. pylori‐dependent gastritis that is likely driven in an IL‐6‐dependent fashion. IL‐11 expression is associated with adenocarcinoma development, but not gastritic lesions, and we identify a novel mechanism for IL‐11 as a potent inducer of proliferation in the human gastric cancer setting. Copyright © 2007 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Color Doppler ultrasound of spiral artery blood flow for prediction of hypertensive disorders and intra uterine growth restriction: a longitudinal study
Authors: Deurloo K. L. , Spreeuwenberg M. D. , Bolte A. C. , Van Vugt J. M. G. 
Published: August 2007

AbstractObjectiveTo construct reference ranges for spiral artery (SA) flow velocities and examine the possibility to predict intra uterine growth restricted (IUGR) fetuses, pregnancy‐induced hypertension (PIH) and/or preeclampsia.MethodsSpiral artery flow velocity measurements were performed using Color Doppler between 11 to 13 + 6, between 14 to 17 + 6 and between 18 to 24 weeks of gestation, each measurement was performed twice. Spiral artery flow velocities were analyzed with multilevel modeling: individual regression curves were estimated and combined to obtain the reference intervals for SA flow velocities in normal pregnancies. Mann–Whitney U tests was used to compare the deviation from expected flow velocity between normal and complicated pregnancies.ResultsOne hundred and eight pregnancies were included; 4 pregnancies were complicated with preeclampsia, 10 pregnancies with IUGR fetuses (<P10) and 7 with PIH. In the uncomplicated pregnancies, systolic/diastolic (SD) ratios, resistance index (RI) and pulsatility index (PI) decreased progressively with advancing gestational age. The best fits for SD, RI and PI versus gestational age were linear regression equations. According to these equations, the mean predicted SD ratio decreased from 1.75 at 11 weeks of gestation (P5–P95: 1.32–2.17) to 1.48 at 24 weeks of gestation (P5–P95: 1.01–2.20). The predicted RI en PI showed similar decrement: mean RI from 0.44 (P5–P95: 0.26–0.60) at 11 weeks of gestation to 0.34 (P5–P95: 0.15–0.50) at 24 weeks of gestation, mean PI from 0.59 (P5–P95: 0.31–0.75) at 11 weeks of gestation to 0.40 (P5–P95: 0.11–0.66) at 24 weeks of gestation. The Mann–Whitney tests found no difference in PI, SD‐ratio or PI in pregnancies complicated by PE and IUGR fetuses. However, significantly lower RI, PI and SD‐ratio were found preclinically in pregnancies complicated by PIH.ConclusionSpiral artery flow velocities decrease progressively with advancing gestational age. Reference ranges for SA blood velocities are wide and early measurements of PI, RI or SD‐ratios are not sensitive enough to predict preeclampsia, PIH or IUGR fetuses. The significantly lower spiral artery impedance values preceding pregnancies complicated by PIH are likely caused by a hyperdynamic circulation in women with preexistent hypertension. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Interventions addressing transition difficulties for individuals with autism
Authors: Sterling‐Turner Heather E. , Jordan Sara S. 
Published: August 2007

AbstractTransitioning between activities can pose difficulties when working with students with autism. Individuals with autism may resist transitions by exhibiting a host of problem behaviors such as aggression and tantrums. Although scant, there is available research that provides sound recommendations for assessing and intervening for problem behaviors occurring during transition times. The present article presents a summary of the current transition literature, with a special emphasis on interventions for students with autism. Recommendations for the functional assessment and treatment evaluation of transitional difficulties are presented as well. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Psychol Schs 44: 681–690, 2007.
Gleichgewicht auf zwei Rädern. Physik des Fahrradfahrens
Authors: Suhr Wilfried , Schlichting Hans‐Joachim 
Published: August 2007

AbstractDynamische Kräfte ermöglichen Gleichgewichtslagen des Fahrrades, bei denen es stationäre Kreisbahnen durchfährt. Befindet man sich als Radfahrer in solch einer Gleichgewichtslage, so genügen bereits geringfügige Änderungen des Lenkeinschlags oder sehr kleine Gewichtsverlagerungen, um ein leicht gestörtes Gleichgewicht wieder herzustellen. Daher kann unser Balanciergleichgewicht dies in solchen Fahrlagen ganz beiläufig leisten. Welche Gleichgewichtslagen möglich sind, ergibt sich aus einer Bilanz wirksamer Kräfte und Drehmomente.
Proteome analysis of chemically induced mouse liver tumors with different genotype
Authors: Strathmann Julia , Paal Krisztina , Ittrich Carina , Krause Eberhard , Appel Klaus E. , Glauert Howard P. , Buchmann Albrecht , Schwarz Michael 
Published: August 2007

AbstractMouse liver tumors frequently harbor mutations in Ha‐ras, B‐raf, or Ctnnb1 (encoding β‐catenin). We conducted a proteome analysis with protein extracts from normal mouse liver and from liver tumors which were induced by a single injection of N‐nitrosodiethylamine (DEN) as initiator followed by multiple injections of two different polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) as tumor promoters, or corn oil as a control. Liver tumors were stratified into two classes: they were either mutated in Ctnnb1 and positive for the marker glutamine synthetase (GS(+)), or they lacked Ctnnb1 mutations and were therefore GS‐negative (GS(–)). Proteome analysis by 2‐DE and MS revealed 98 significantly deregulated proteins, 44 in GS(+) and 54 in GS(–) tumors. Twelve of these proteins showed expression changes in both tumor types, but only seven of them were deregulated in the same direction. Several of the identified enzymes could be assigned to fundamental metabolic or other cellular pathways with characteristically different alterations in GS(+) and GS(–) tumors such as ammonia and amino acid turnover, cellular energy supply, and calcium homeostasis. Our data suggest that GS(+) and GS(–) tumor cells show a completely different biology and use divergent evolutionary strategies to gain a selective advantage over normal hepatocytes.
Pixel‐based analysis of multiple images for the identification of changes: A novel approach applied to unravel proteome patters of 2‐D electrophoresis gel images
Authors: Færgestad Ellen Mosleth , Rye Morten , Walczak Beata , Gidskehaug Lars , Wold Jens Petter , Grove Harald , Jia Xiaohong , Hollung Kristin , Indahl Ulf G. , Westad Frank , van den Berg Frans , Martens Harald 
Published: August 2007

AbstractA novel approach for revealing patterns of proteome variation among series of 2‐DE gel images is presented. The approach utilises image alignment to ensure that each pixel represents the same information across all gels. Gel images are normalised, and background corrected, followed by unfolding of the images to 1‐D pixel vectors and analysing pixel vectors by multivariate data modelling. Information resulting from the data analysis is refolded back to the image domain for visualisation and interpretation. The method is rapid and suitable for automatic routines applied after the gel alignment. The approach is compared with spot volume analysis to illustrate how this approach can solve persistent problems like mismatch of protein spots, erroneous missing values and failure to detect variation in overlapping proteins. The method may also detect variation in the border area of saturated proteins. The approach is given the name pixel‐based analysis of multiple images for the identification of changes (PMC). The method can be used for multiple images in general. Effects of pretreatment of the images are discussed.
Dynamics of protein phosphorylation on Ser/Thr/Tyr in Bacillus subtilis
Authors: Eymann Christine , Becher Dörte , Bernhardt Jörg , Gronau Katrin , Klutzny Anja , Hecker Michael 
Published: August 2007

AbstractThe Ser/Thr/Tyr phosphoproteome of Bacillus subtilis was analyzed by a 2‐D gel‐based approach combining Pro‐Q Diamond staining and [33P]‐labeling. In exponentially growing B. subtilis cells 27 proteins could be identified after staining with Pro‐Q Diamond and/or [33P]‐labeling and one additional protein was labeled solely by [33P] resulting in a total of 28 potentially phosphorylated proteins. These proteins are mainly involved in enzymatic reactions of basic carbon metabolism and the regulation of the alternative sigma factor σB. We also found significant changes of the phosphoproteome including increased phosphorylation and dephosphorylation rates of some proteins as well as the detection of four newly phosphorylated proteins in response to stress or starvation. For nine proteins, phosphorylation sites at serine or threonine residues were determined by MS. These include the known phosphorylation sites of Crh, PtsH, and RsbV. Additionally, we were able to identify novel phosphorylation sites of AroA, Pyk, and YbbT. Interestingly, the phosphorylation of RsbRA, B, C, and D, four proteins of a multicomponent protein complex involved in environmental stress signaling, was found during exponential growth. For RsbRA, B, and D, phosphorylation of one of the conserved threonine residues in their C‐termini were verified by MS (T171, T186, T181, respectively).
Effect of oxidative stress on protein thiols in the blue mussel Mytilus edulis: Proteomic identification of target proteins
Authors: McDonagh Brian , Sheehan David 
Published: August 2007

AbstractProtein thiols are targets of oxidative stress. Their modification was analysed in gill extracts of the mussel Mytilus edulis, exposed to menadione. Diagonal gel electrophoresis revealed two clusters of carbonylated proteins involved in interchain disulphide linkages. Immunoblotting identified these as being associated with protein disulphide isomerase (PDI) and actin and this was confirmed by immunoprecipitation. Protein free thiols (–SH) were identified in 2‐DE separations by labelling with 5‐iodoacetamidofluorescein (IAF). Cysteines involved in disulphide bridges were identified by blocking free –SH with N‐ethylmaleimide, reducing disulphides with DTT and IAF labelling. Several protein spots containing free thiols disappeared on exposure to menadione. Conversely, new protein spots containing disulphides appeared in response to menadione which may be protective against oxidative stress. In‐gel tryptic digestion followed by LC/MS‐MS and database searching identified some of the free thiol targets: PDI; hsp gp96; calreticulin; heavy metal binding protein. Tubulin, PDI, enolase and gelsolin contained new disulphide bridges in response to menadione. Our findings indicate a protein level response to oxidative stress principally involving PDI, chaperone‐like and cytoskeletal proteins. Since many environmental pollutants cause oxidative stress, studies on PDI and structural proteins may be particularly relevant to understanding toxicity in this popular sentinel species.