bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Study of dislocations in CdZnTe single crystals
Authors: Zha Gangqiang , Jie Wanqi , Tan Tingting , Wang Linghang 
Published: June 2007

AbstractExperimental studies have been conducted to investigate the influence of dislocations on the properties of CdZnTe crystals. Dislocations were introduced into CdZnTe wafers by means of bending deformation at elevated temperature. The average infrared (IR) transmittance of CdZnTe wafers after deformation is decreased from 64 to 44%. The polarization absorption of dangling‐bond electrons in dislocations should be responsible for this decrease of IR transmittance. In photoluminescence measurements, the shallow donor–acceptor pair transition peak at 1.557 eV is detected in CdZnTe after deformation. In the defect‐related region, a new band (Dcomplex) located at 1.508 eV appears, which should be attributed to defect levels introduced by dislocations. Meanwhile, leakage current at 15 V is increased from 10–8 to 10–4 A. The analysis suggests that the leakage current of CdZnTe after deformation is dominated by the Poole–Frenkel effect. Te and Cd dislocations created at two faces introduce different electrical characteristics. (© 2007 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Review Article: Hydrogen blistering of silicon: Progress in fundamental understanding
Authors: Terreault Bernard 
Published: June 2007

AbstractThe understanding of blistering mechanisms at the fundamental, atomic‐scale level is still not complete, but large strides towards that goal have been made in the last decade. In this issue's Review Article [1] Bernard Terreault gives a comprehensive survey of this progress, discussing the current questions as well as outlining suggestions for future work.The related cover picture shows atomic force micrographs of a variety of surface morphologies obtained by hydrogen ion implantation into silicon followed by rapid thermal annealing. In this particular case, the ions were implanted through PMMA masks of decreasing width (from left to right, 6 μm, 1 μm, 600 nm and 150 nm) [2]. This is but one application of blistering, the most common being ion‐cutting and layer transfer as used in the commercial production of silicon‐on‐insulator wafers.The author is Honorary retired Professor at the EMT (Energy, Materials, Telecom) Center of the Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique (Université du Québec).Another feature included in the current issue is the Editor's Choice contribution ‘Optical and micro‐analytical study of a copper–conjugated polymer composite’ by Kaushik Mallik et al. [3], where the authors investigate a nanoscale fiber network for potential application in microelectronic systems.
A new series of yeast shuttle vectors for the recovery and identification of multiple plasmids from Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Authors: Frazer LilyAnn Novak , O'Keefe Raymond T. 
Published: June 2007

AbstractThe availability of Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast strains with multiple auxotrophic markers allows the stable introduction and selection of more than one yeast shuttle vector containing marker genes that complement the auxotrophic markers. In certain experimental situations there is a need to recover more than one shuttle vector from yeast. To facilitate the recovery and identification of multiple plasmids from S. cerevisiae, we have constructed a series of plasmids based on the pRS series of yeast shuttle vectors. Bacterial antibiotic resistance genes to chloramphenicol, kanamycin and zeocin have been combined with the yeast centromere sequence (CEN6), the autonomously replicating sequence (ARSH4) and one of the four yeast selectable marker genes (HIS3, TRP1, LEU2 or URA3) from the pRS series of vectors. The 12 plasmids produced differ in antibiotic resistance and yeast marker gene within the backbone of the multipurpose plasmid pBluescript II. The newly constructed vectors show similar mitotic stability to the original pRS vectors. In combination with the ampicillin‐resistant pRS series of yeast shuttle vectors, these plasmids now allow the recovery and identification in bacteria of up to four different vectors from S. cerevisiae. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The Effects of Omega‐3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids on TNF‐α and IL‐10 Secretion by Murine Peritoneal Cells In Vitro
Authors: Skuladottir Ingibjorg H. , Petursdottir Dagbjort H. , Hardardottir Ingibjorg 
Published: June 2007

AbstractOmega‐3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) affect immune response, partly by affecting cytokine secretion. Omega‐3 PUFA decrease tumor necrosis factor (TNF)‐α secretion by RAW 264.7 macrophages but increase TNF‐α secretion by primary elicited peritoneal macrophages in vitro. In this study, the effects of omega‐3 and omega‐6 PUFA on lipopolysaccharide induced TNF‐α and interleukin (IL)‐10 secretion by murine primary resident and elicited peritoneal macrophages and by RAW 264.7 macrophages, were examined in vitro using an enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay. In addition, the effects of dietary omega‐3 PUFA on the number of cells secreting these cytokines were examined with enzyme‐linked immunospot assay. All cell types secreted more TNF‐α but similar amounts of IL‐10 when incubated with the omega‐3 PUFA, eicosapentaenoic acid or docosahexaenoic acid, compared with that when incubated with the omega‐6 PUFA, linoleic acid or arachidonic acid. Dietary fish oil did not affect the number of TNF‐α secreting resident peritoneal macrophages but decreased the number of macrophages secreting IL‐10 ex vivo. These results show that dietary omega‐3 PUFA and omega‐3 PUFA added to cells in vitro increase TNF‐α secretion by resident peritoneal macrophages, probably by a direct effect on the cells. In contrast, omega‐3 PUFA did not affect IL‐10 secretion by the cells but decreased the number of cells secreting IL‐10 ex vivo, possibly by affecting cell recruitment, maturation or proliferation.
Low triiodothyronine: a strong predictor of outcome in acute stroke patients
Authors: Alevizaki M. , Synetou M. , Xynos K. , Pappa T. , Vemmos K. N. 
Published: June 2007

AbstractBackground  Low triiodothyronine (T3) has been associated with increased short‐term mortality in intensive care unit patients and long‐term mortality in patients with heart disease. The objective of this study was to investigate possible associations of thyroid hormone status with clinical outcome in patients admitted for acute stroke.Materials and methods  A total of 737 consecutive patients with acute first ever stroke who presented within 24 h from symptoms’ onset were studied. Total T3, thyroxin (T4) and thyroid‐stimulating hormone (TSH) levels were assessed in the morning following admission. Cases with T3 values ≤ 78 ng dL−1 (1·2 nmol L−1) (median) were characterized as ‘low T3’. Cases with T4 values ≤ 4·66 µg dL−1 (60 nmol L−1) were characterized as ‘low T4’. Basic and clinical characteristics, stroke risk factors, and brain imaging were evaluated. Neurological impairment was assessed using the Scandinavian Stroke Scale.Results  Four hundred and seventeen (56%) patients had T3 values ≤ 78 ng dL−1 and 320 had normal T3 values. The 1‐year mortality was 27·34% for low T3 and 19·37% for normal T3 cases (P = 0·006). A smaller percentage of patients with low T3 values were independent at 1 year compared to those with normal T3 values [54·2% vs. 68·7%, χ2 = 12·09, P < 0·001, odds ratio (OR) = 0·53, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0·37–0·76]. Cox regression analysis revealed that increased age, haemorrhagic stroke, low Scandinavian Stroke Scale score, increased glucose and low T3 values (hazards ratio 0·69, CI = 0·48–0·98, P = 0·041) were significant predictors of 1‐year mortality.Conclusions  A high proportion of patients with acute stroke were found soon after the event with low T3 values. The low‐T3 syndrome is an independent predictor of early and late survival in patients with acute stroke, and predicts handicap at 1 year.
Caries prevalence in children with cleft lip and palate – a systematic review of case–control studies
Authors: HASSLÖF PAMELA , TWETMAN SVANTE 
Published: June 2007

Aim.  To conduct a systematic review of literature in order to examine the evidence of an increased prevalence of dental caries in children with cleft lip and palate (CLP).Methods.  A search of the PubMed database was conducted through May 2006. Sex‐ and age‐matched case–control studies with noncavitated and manifest caries lesions as endpoint were targeted (n = 6). The studies were assessed independently by two reviewers and scored A–C according to predetermined criteria for methodology and performance.Results.  Significantly more caries in CLP children were reported in two of the four studies in the permanent dentition and in three out of four publications dealing with primary teeth. None of the articles were, however, assessed with the highest grade ‘A’ and the level of evidence was therefore based on three papers graded ‘B’. There was a tendency towards higher caries scores in preschool children, but as conflicting results were revealed, the evidence that children with CLP exhibit more caries than noncleft controls was inconclusive.Conclusion.  This systematic review of literature was unable to find firm evidence for the assumption that CLP children have an increased prevalence of dental caries.
Antimicrobial susceptibility of 800 anaerobic isolates from patients with dentoalveolar infection to 13 oral antibiotics
Authors: Kuriyama T. , Williams D. W. , Yanagisawa M. , Iwahara K. , Shimizu C. , Nakagawa K. , Yamamoto E. , Karasawa T. 
Published: June 2007

Introduction:  The aim of this study was to determine the current antimicrobial susceptibility of the principle anaerobic pathogens involved in dentoalveolar infection, to 13 oral antibiotics, and to assess the value of each antibiotic in the management of the infection.Methods:  A total of 800 isolates from patients with dentoalveolar infection (Prevotella species, Fusobacterium species, Porphyromonas species and Peptostreptococcus micros) were tested for their susceptibility to amoxicillin, amoxicillin/clavulanate, cefaclor, cefuroxime, cefcapene, cefdinir, erythromycin, azithromycin, telithromycin, minocycline, levofloxacin, clindamycin, and metronidazole using an agar dilution method.Results:  Although the majority of Fusobacterium strains were resistant to erythromycin, azithromycin, and telithromycin, the remaining antibiotics demonstrated a high level of antimicrobial activity. P. micros and Porphyromonas species exhibited high susceptibility to all antibiotics tested in this study. In the case of Prevotella species, resistance to amoxicillin occurred in 34% of isolates and all of these resistant strains were found to produce β‐lactamase. Susceptibility of Prevotella strains to cefaclor, cefuroxime, cefcapene, cefdinir, erythromycin, azithromycin, and minocycline was found to correlate with amoxicillin susceptibility. Amoxicillin/clavulanate, telithromycin, clindamycin, and metronidazole exhibited high antimicrobial activity even against amoxicillin‐resistant strains of Prevotella species.Conclusion:  Amoxicillin would still be advocated therefore as being a suitable first‐line agent, while reduced susceptibility of Prevotella strains remains a matter of concern with penicillins. Amoxicillin/clavulanate, clindamycin, and metronidazole are useful alternatives in combating the anaerobic bacteria involved in dentoalveolar infection.
The oligopeptide (opp) gene cluster of Streptococcus mutans: identification, prevalence, and characterization
Authors: Nepomuceno R. S. L. , Tavares M. B. , Lemos J. A. , Griswold A. R. , Ribeiro J. L. , Balan A. , Guimarães K. S. , Cai S. , Burne R. A. , Ferreira L. C. S. , Ferreira R. C. C. 
Published: June 2007

Introduction:  The Opp system is an ATP‐binding cassette‐type transporter formed by membrane‐associated proteins required for the uptake of oligopeptides in bacteria. In gram‐positive bacteria, the Opp system, and particularly the oligopeptide‐binding protein (OppA), has been shown to be involved in different aspects of cell physiology, including intercellular communication and binding to host proteins.Methods:  In the present study we began to investigate the Opp system of Streptococcus mutans, the main etiological agent of dental caries.Results:  Five opp genes (oppABCDF) organized in a single operon were identified in the genome of the S. mutans UA159 strain. Amino acid sequence analyses showed that the S. mutans OppA is closely related to an ortholog found in Streptococcus agalactiae. Incubation of S. mutans UA159 cells with an anti‐OppA‐specific serum did not inhibit biofilm formation on polystyrene plates. Moreover, S. mutans UA159 derivatives carrying deletions on the oppA or oppB genes did not show significant growth impairment, increased sensitivity to aminopterin, or defective capacity to form biofilms on polystyrene wells in the presence or not of saliva. Remarkably, only two out of three laboratory strains and one out of seven clinical strains recovered from tooth decay processes harbored a copy of the oppA gene and expressed the OppA protein.Conclusion:  Collectively, these results indicate that, in contrast to other Streptococcus species, the S. mutans Opp system, and particularly the OppA protein, does not represent an important trait required for growth and colonization.
Impaired single cell firing and long‐term potentiation parallels memory impairment following recurrent seizures
Authors: Zhou Jun‐Li , Shatskikh Tatiana N. , Liu Xianzeng , Holmes Gregory L. 
Published: June 2007

AbstractPatients with epilepsy are at substantial risk for memory impairment. Animal studies have paralleled these clinical observations, demonstrating impaired hippocampal function as measured by spatial memory in rodents subjected to seizures. However, the mechanism of seizure‐induced hippocampal impairment is unclear. Here we investigated the effects of recurrent seizures on water‐maze performance, a behavioural measure of learning and memory, long‐term potentiation (LTP; considered a test of synaptic plasticity and memory) and place‐cell firing patterns, a single‐cell indicator of spatial memory. LTP and CA1 place‐cell activity were examined in separate groups of freely moving rats, before and after 10 flurothyl‐induced seizures. Water maze performance was examined in a third group of rats, five with previously induced seizures and five controls. Recurrent flurothyl seizures were associated with marked impairment in LTP and a reduction in the frequency of the peak theta power. Compared to baseline recordings, place‐cell firing patterns following recurrent seizures were significantly less precise, had lower firing rates and were less stable. Impaired place‐cell firing was seen as early as after two seizures and persisted at least 72 h after the last seizure. Water‐maze performance was also significantly impaired in animals that underwent recurrent seizures. No cell loss or synaptic reorganization was observed in the hippocampus or in several other cortical areas that are vulnerable to seizures. These results demonstrate that relatively brief excitatory events, not producing visible cell damage, can nevertheless cause long‐lasting changes in hippocampal physiology, observable as impairments in place‐cell function, LTP and spatial memory.
Anticipatory changes in beta synchrony in the human corticospinal system and associated improvements in task performance
Authors: Androulidakis Alexandros G. , Doyle Louise M. F. , Yarrow Kielan , Litvak Vladimir , Gilbertson Thomas P. , Brown Peter 
Published: June 2007

AbstractSynchronized oscillatory activity in the beta frequency band (13–30 Hz) can be detected in the cerebral motor cortex of healthy humans in the form of corticomuscular coherence. Elevated beta activity is associated with impaired processing of new movements and with more efficient postural or tonic contraction. Accordingly, beta activity is suppressed prior to voluntary movements, rebounding thereafter in the face of peripheral afferance. However, it remains to be established whether synchronized activity in the beta band can be up‐regulated in a task‐appropriate way independently of confounding changes in sensory afferance. Here we show that there is a systematic and prospective increase in beta synchrony prior to an expected postural challenge. This up‐regulation of beta synchrony is associated with improved behavioural performance. We instructed nine healthy subjects to perform a reaction‐time movement of the index finger in response to an imperative visual cue or to resist a stretch to the finger in the same direction. These events were preceded by congruent and less common incongruent warning cues. Beta synchrony was temporally increased when subjects were warned of an impending stretch and decreased following a warning cue signalling a forthcoming reaction‐time task. Finger positions were less successfully maintained in the face of stretches and reaction times were longer when warning cues were incongruent. The results suggest that the beta state is modulated in a task‐relevant way with accompanying behavioural consequences.
Fibromyalgia patients show an abnormal dopamine response to pain
Authors: Wood Patrick B. , Schweinhardt Petra , Jaeger Erik , Dagher Alain , Hakyemez Helene , Rabiner Eugenii A. , Bushnell M. Catherine , Chizh Boris A. 
Published: June 2007

AbstractFibromyalgia is characterized by chronic widespread pain and bodily tenderness and is often accompanied by affective disturbances. Accumulating evidence indicates that fibromyalgia may involve a dysfunction of modulatory systems in the brain. While brain dopamine is best known for its role in pleasure, motivation and motor control, recent evidence suggests that it is also involved in pain modulation. Because dopamine is implicated in both pain modulation and affective processing, we hypothesized that fibromyalgia may involve a disturbance of dopaminergic neurotransmission. Fibromyalgia patients and matched healthy control subjects were subjected to deep muscle pain produced by injection of hypertonic saline into the anterior tibialis muscle. In order to determine the endogenous release of dopamine in response to painful stimulation, we used positron emission tomography to examine binding of [11C]‐raclopride (D2/D3 ligand) in the brain during injection of painful hypertonic saline and nonpainful normal saline. Fibromyalgia patients experienced the hypertonic saline as more painful than healthy control subjects. Control subjects released dopamine in the basal ganglia during the painful stimulation, whereas fibromyalgia patients did not. In control subjects, the amount of dopamine release correlated with the amount of perceived pain but in fibromyalgia patients no such correlation was observed. These findings provide the first direct evidence that fibromyalgia patients have an abnormal dopamine response to pain. The disrupted dopaminergic reactivity in fibromyalgia patients could be a critical factor underlying the widespread pain and discomfort in fibromyalgia and suggests that the therapeutic effects of dopaminergic treatments for this intractable disorder should be explored.
Injury‐induced neurogenesis in Bax‐deficient mice: evidence for regulation by voltage‐gated potassium channels
Authors: Shi Jian , Miles Darryl K. , Orr Benjamin A. , Massa Stephen M. , Kernie Steven G. 
Published: June 2007

AbstractAdult neural stem and progenitor cells may help remodel the brain in response to injury. The pro‐apoptotic molecule Bax has recently been identified as a key player in adult neural stem cell survival. In Bax‐deficient mice that have undergone traumatic brain injury, we find increased numbers of neural progenitor cells in the dentate gyrus and improved remodeling of the hippocampus. Exogenous potassium chloride mimics spreading depression (SD)‐like eventsin vitro, and Bax‐deficient neural stem cells proliferate in response to these events more robustly than wild‐type neural stem cells. Selective potassium channel blockers interrupt SD‐mediated stimulation of stem cells. In addition, the potassium channel Kv4.1 is expressed within neural stem and progenitor cells in the dentate gyrus and is increased in Bax‐deficiency. These data suggest that the neuroprotection observed after injury in Bax‐deficiency may be due to increased neurogenesis via activation of the Kv4 family of potassium channels.
Cytokine and Chemokine Profiles following Vaccination with Human Papillomavirus Type 16 L1 Virus-Like Particles
Authors: García-Piñeres Alfonso , Hildesheim Allan , Dodd Lori , Kemp Troy J. , Williams Marcus , Harro Clayton , Lowy Douglas R. , Schiller John T. , Pinto Ligia A. 
Published: June 2007

ABSTRACTTo determine the systemic cytokine pattern induced by vaccination with human papillomavirus (HPV) L1 virus-like particles (VLP), we analyzed 22 different cytokines in culture supernatants of L1 VLP-stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells from vaccine (n= 19) and placebo (n= 7) recipients at months 0 and 2 after vaccination, using a multiplex cytokine bead array. In vaccine recipients, incubation with L1 VLP in vitro led to a statistically significant increase in production of Th1 (granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor, interleukin-2 [IL-2], gamma interferon;P< 0.0007) and Th2 (IL-4, IL-5, IL-10, IL-13;P< 0.0017) cytokines and the chemokine IP-10 (P= 0.0021) at month 2 after immunization, compared to levels seen prior to vaccination. These responses were not seen in placebo recipients. Cytokine and neutralizing antibody responses to vaccination followed the same pattern, with the highest antibody responses seen for subjects with higher cytokine responses. Cytokine profiling studies using samples from efficacy trials may provide important information about discriminators of long-term protection against HPV.
Use of Bronchoalveolar Lavage To Detect Galactomannan for Diagnosis of Pulmonary Aspergillosis among Nonimmunocompromised Hosts
Authors: Nguyen M. Hong , Jaber Reia , Leather Helen L. , Wingard John R. , Staley Benjamin , Wheat L. Joseph , Cline Christina L. , Baz Maher , Rand Kenneth H. , Clancy Cornelius J. 
Published: June 2007

ABSTRACT

Pulmonary aspergillosis in nonimmunocompromised hosts, although rare, is being increasingly recognized. The diagnosis of pulmonary aspergillosis is difficult, since the recovery of
Aspergillus
from respiratory samples cannot differentiate colonization from invasion. We assessed the role of bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) in detecting galactomannan (GM) for diagnosing pulmonary aspergillosis in 73 nonimmunocompromised patients with pulmonary infiltrates for whom the test was ordered. Six patients had pulmonary aspergillosis, two each with acute invasive pulmonary aspergillosis, chronic necrotizing pulmonary aspergillosis, and aspergilloma. All six patients had a BAL GM level of ≥1.18. The sensitivity, specificity, and negative predictive value (NPV) for a BAL GM level of ≥1.0 were 100%, 88.1%, and 100%, respectively. Notably, the positive predictive value (PPV) was only 42.9%, likely reflecting the low prevalence of pulmonary aspergillosis among nonimmunosuppressed patients. The combination of BAL microscopy and culture had a sensitivity and NPV similar to those of BAL GM detection but a higher specificity and PPV (92.5% and 54.6%, respectively). Moreover, a BAL GM test did not identify any cases that were not diagnosed by conventional methods like microscopy and culture. In conclusion, there was no conclusive benefit of determining BAL GM levels in the diagnosis of pulmonary aspergillosis among nonimmunocompromised hosts. Given the likelihood of false-positive results, a BAL GM test should not be ordered routinely in this population.