bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Urine protein profile of IgA nephropathy patients may predict the response to ACE‐inhibitor therapy
Authors: Rocchetti Maria Teresa , Centra Marta , Papale Massimo , Bortone Grazia , Palermo Carmen , Centonze Diego , Ranieri Elena , Di Paolo Salvatore , Gesualdo Loreto 
Published: December 2007

AbstractThis study was aimed at the search of urinary biomarkers which might help to predict the clinical response of IgA nephropathy (IgAN) patients to angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEi). First, we studied the urinary proteome of 18 IgAN patients (toward 20 healthy controls) who had been chronically treated with ACEi by using 2‐D PAGE coupled to nano‐HPLC‐ESI‐MS/MS analysis. We identified 3 proteins, kininogen (p = 0.02), inter‐α‐trypsin‐inhibitor heavy chain 4 (35 kDa fragment) (p = 0.02) and transthyretin (p<0.0001), whose urinary excretion was different in IgAN patients' responders when compared to those who had not responded to ACEi. A reduction of daily proteinuria >50% and a stable renal function over time were used to classify patients as responders. Then, we adopted immunoblotting to confirm the predictive power of one of the above proteins, kininogen, in 20 patients with biopsy‐proven IgAN, before starting any therapy. Thus, we confirmed that very low levels of kininogen urine excretion were indeed predictive of an inadequate or absent clinical response to ACEi therapy of IgAN patients, after 6‐month follow‐up. Concluding, the analysis of urine proteome of IgAN patients generated a set of proteins which distinguished subjects responsive to ACEi from those unresponsive to the inhibition of renin–angiotensin system (RAS).
Effect of rate retardation in RAFT grafting polymerization from silicon wafer surface
Authors: Li Deling , Luo Yingwu , Li Bo‐Geng , Zhu Shiping 
Published: December 2007

AbstractPolystyrene and poly(butyl acrylate) were grafted from silicon wafer surface by reversible addition‐fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization. Three RAFT agents were immobilized onto silicon wafer through their leaving/initiating groups (R group). Grafting polymerization of butyl acrylate (BA) and styrene (St) was then carried out from the immobilized RAFT agents. The immobilization of the RAFT agents and the subsequent grafting polymerization of St and BA were evaluated by ellipsometry and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy. It was found that type of monomer, structure of RAFT agent, and local RAFT concentration on the surface have dramatic influences on the thickness of grafted polymer layer. The grafting polymerization with more severe rate retardation effect yielded thinner polymer films on the silicon wafer. Selection of a RAFT agent with little rate retardation was critical in the grafting polymerization to achieve thick films. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 970–978, 2008
Synthesis and characterization of novel germanium‐containing poly(p‐phenylenevinylene) derivatives
Authors: Cho Hoon‐Je , Hwang Do‐Hoon , Lee Jong‐Don , Cho Nam‐Sung , Lee Sang‐Kyu , Lee Jonghee , Jung Young Kwan , Shim Hong‐Ku 
Published: December 2007

AbstractNovel blue‐emitting germanium‐containing poly(p‐phenylenevinylene) (PPV) derivatives with well‐defined conjugation lengths were synthesized via Wittig‐condensation polymerizations. The polymers can be color‐tuned by the introduction of various chromophores into the PPV‐based polymer backbones. The photoluminescence (PL) spectra of the polymers, GePVK (containing carbazole moieties), GeMEH (containing dialkoxybenzene moieties), and GePTH (containing phenothiazine moieties), were found to exhibit blue, greenish blue, and green emissions, respectively. GePTH produces more red‐shifted emission than GeMEH and GEPVK, resulting in green emission, and the solution and solid state PL spectra of GePVK consist of almost blue emission. The electroluminescence spectra of GeMEH and GePTH contain yellowy green and yellow colors, respectively. Interestingly, GePVK exhibits white emission with CIE coordinates of (0.33, 0.37) due to electroplex emission in the light‐emitting diodes. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 979–988, 2008
Synthesis and characterization of highly fluorescent polythiophene derivatives containing polystyrene sidearms
Authors: Shen Jie , Tsuchiya Kousuke , Ogino Kenji 
Published: December 2007

AbstractIn this study, macroinitiators with different content of atom‐transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) functional group on polythiophene backbone were first prepared by the copolymerization of 3‐[1‐ethyl‐2‐(2‐bromopropionate)]thiophene and 3‐hexylthiophene with various feed ratio. Then poly [3‐hexyl‐2,5‐thienylene‐co‐3‐[1‐ ethyl‐2‐(2‐[poly(styrene)]propionate)]‐2,5‐thienylene] (PTTBr‐PS) with different graft density were obtained by ATRP of styrene from these macroinitiators in anisole. The degree of polymerization of PS sidearm (DPPS) was controlled by polymerization time. The structures of obtained graft copolymers were characterized by gel permeation chromatography (GPC), nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Introduction of the PS sidearms onto the backbone of polythiophene was an attempt to trap the polythiophene backbone in a “solution‐like” conformation, thus inhibit the packing of polythiophene backbone and result in the improvement of fluorescent property in solid state. This was verified by the UV–vis and fluorescence analyses. Besides, it was also found that the optical property of PTTBr‐PS graft copolymer was dominated by its graft density and independent on the degree of polymerization of its PS sidearm. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 1003–1013, 2008
Insecticidal activity of menthol derivatives against mosquitoes
Authors: Samarasekera Radhika , Weerasinghe Indira S , Hemalal KD Patrick 
Published: December 2007

AbstractBACKGROUND: The insecticidal activity of essential oil of Mentha piperita L. emend. Huds. against local mosquitoes as disease vectors was recognized and found to be due to the presence of menthol, which is the major aroma compound of the oil. The minor compounds of the oil, i.e. menthone, β‐caryophyllene, menthyl acetate, limonene, α‐pinene and pulegone, showed either less or no activity against the mosquitoes tested. L‐Menthol derivatives were synthesized and their knockdown effect and mortality were evaluated against local mosquitoes of Culex quinquefasciatus Say, Aedes aegypti L. and Anopheles tessellatus Theobald as disease vectors. This is the first report of mosquitocidal activity of menthol and its derivatives against Cx. quinquefasciatus, Ae. aegypti and An. tessellatus.RESULTS: Derivative synthesis followed by structure–activity relationship studies identified several derivatives, i.e. menthyl chloroacetate, menthyl dichloroacetate, menthyl cinnamate, menthone glyceryl acetal, thymol, α‐terpineol and mugetanol, with enhanced mosquitocidal activity against Cx. quinquefasciatus, Ae. aegypti and An. tessellatus relative to the parent compound L‐menthone.CONCLUSION: In ester derivatives of L‐menthol the optimum activity is dependent on the size and shape of the ester group and the presence of chlorine atoms in the ester group. In structurally related derivatives of L‐menthol the optimum activity is dependent on the aromaticity, the degree of unsaturation, the position of the hydroxy group and the type of functional group. Copyright © 2007 Society of Chemical Industry
On convex parameterization of robust control design for minimizing (conditional) performance at risk
Authors: Wang Qian 
Published: December 2007

AbstractThis paper introducesperformance at riskandconditional performance at riskas design metrics for the formulation of robust control design. These two metrics are used to characterize the high percentile or tail distribution of a performance specification when system uncertain parameters are random variables described by statistical distributions. The probabilistic robust control design is then formulated as a minimization problem with respect to the (conditional)performance at riskor as a constrained problem in terms of them. Performance specifications in terms of the high percentile or tail distribution are more stringent than that are defined in terms of the average (mean) value, which are often used in current literature for probabilistic robust control. Furthermore, the convexity of theconditional performance at riskdoes not have particular requirements on the underlying distribution of uncertain parameters; thus, convex optimization can be applied to the probabilistic robust control with respect to uncertain parameters with general distributions. The proposed probabilistic robust approach is applied to search solutions to linear matrix inequality containing random parametric uncertainties as well as to design a stabilizing controller for polynomial vector fields subject to random parametric uncertainties. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Historical Review of Surgical Simulation—A Personal Perspective
Authors: Satava Richard M. 
Published: December 2007

AbstractAlthough simulation is relatively new to surgical education, there is a long history in many other disciplines, such as military, aviation, and nuclear power plant operations, among others. In the late 1980s these technologies began to be adapted to the surgical world, along with the new technology of virtual reality. This is a review of the introduction of manikins, computers, and virtual reality into education and training for surgical skills. Two concomitant revolutions occurred: objective assessment of surgical skills and converting training from the apprenticeship model to one of criterion‐based training. A personal perspective on these developments adds information not previously published.
NEONATAL MORTALITY IN THE EMPOWERED ACTION GROUP STATES OF INDIA: TRENDS AND DETERMINANTS
Authors: AROKIASAMY PERIANAYAGAM , GAUTAM ABHISHEK 
Published: December 2007

SummaryIn India, the eight socioeconomically backward states of Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Orissa, Rajasthan, Uttaranchal and Uttar Pradesh, referred to as the Empowered Action Group (EAG) states, lag behind in the demographic transition and have the highest infant mortality rates in the country. Neonatal mortality constitutes about 60% of the total infant mortality in India and is highest in the EAG states. This study assesses the levels and trends in neonatal mortality in the EAG states and examines the impact of bio-demographic compared with health care determinants on neonatal mortality. Data from India’s Sample Registration System (SRS) and National Family and Health Survey (NFHS-2, 1998–99) are used. Cox proportional hazard models are applied to estimate adjusted neonatal mortality rates by health care, bio-demographic and socioeconomic determinants. Variations in neonatal mortality by these determinants suggest that universal coverage of all pregnant women with full antenatal care, providing assistance at delivery and postnatal care including emergency care are critical inputs for achieving a reduction in neonatal mortality. Health interventions are also required that focus on curtailing the high risk of neonatal deaths arising from the mothers’ younger age at childbirth, low birth weight of children and higher order births with short birth intervals.
PATHWAYS INTO CHILDLESSNESS: EVIDENCE OF GENDERED LIFE COURSE DYNAMICS
Authors: KEIZER RENSKE , DYKSTRA PEARL A. , JANSEN MIRANDA D. 
Published: December 2007

SummaryUsing data from the first wave of the Netherlands Kinship Panel Study (NKPS) for 2867 women and 2195 men aged 40 to 79, this study examines to what extent educational, employment and marital pathways shape the likelihood of remaining childless, and whether these pathways are gendered. The findings indicate that women and men have distinctive pathways into childlessness. Educational attainment increases the likelihood of remaining childless among women only. A stable career increases the likelihood of remaining childless among women, but it increases the likelihood of entering fatherhood. Years without a partner is positively associated with childlessness among both women and men. Not having had a partnership and having had multiple partnerships are strong determinants of childlessness, especially among men.
Differentiation of C2D Macrophage Cells after Adoptive Transfer
Authors: Potts Betsey E. , Hart Marcia L. , Snyder Laura L. , Boyle Dan , Mosier Derek A. , Chapes Stephen K. 
Published: December 2007

ABSTRACTC2D macrophage cells protect immunocompromised mice from experimentally induced pneumonias after intraperitoneal (i.p.) adoptive transfer. These macrophage cells are immature and display minimal activity in vitro. Therefore, we wanted to understand how adoptive transfer affected these cells. We believe that the in vivo environment affects the phenotypic and functional characteristics of macrophages that help maintain the physiological integrity of the host. To test this hypothesis, we characterized the trafficking patterns and cellular changes of the established macrophage C2D cell line after adoptive transfer. We examined phenotypic changes of the C2D macrophage cells in vivo with and without stimulation with gamma interferon (IFN-γ). After in vivo i.p. adoptive transfer, C2D macrophage cells trafficked to the lungs, spleen, lymph nodes, and bone marrow of recipient mice. The cells were detected for as long as 2 months, and the cells expressed increased levels of CD11b, c-fms, and F4/80 on their surface, becoming more differentiated macrophages compared to cells maintained in vitro. Upon in vivo stimulation with IFN-γ, c-fms levels decreased while Gr-1 levels increased compared to in vivo, unstimulated, phosphate-buffered saline-injected controls. These responses were independent of the genetic backgrounds of the recipient mice. These data support the hypothesis and indicate that C2D macrophage cells respond to in vivo signals that are absent during in vitro culture.
Sequential Analysis of
Anaplasma phagocytophilum msp2
Transcription in Murine and Equine Models of Human Granulocytic Anaplasmosis
Authors: Scorpio Diana G. , Leutenegger Christian , Berger Jeannine , Barat Nicole , Madigan John E. , Dumler J. Stephen 
Published: December 2007

ABSTRACT

Anaplasma phagocytophilum
causes human granulocytic anaplasmosis by inducing immunopathologic responses. Its immunodominant Msp2 protein is encoded by a family of >100 paralogs. Msp2 (
msp2
) expression modulates in the absence of immune pressure, and prolonged in vitro passage modulates in vivo virulence. Because programmed MSP2 expression occurs in
Anaplasma marginale
, we hypothesized a similar event in
A. phagocytophilum
in vivo, with specific Msp2 expression triggering immunopathologic injury or clinical manifestations of disease. We examined
msp2
transcripts in 11 B6 mice and 6 horses inoculated with low- or high-passage
A. phagocytophilum
Webster strain. Blood was sequentially obtained through 3 weeks postinfection for
msp2
reverse transcription-PCR. Horses were additionally assessed for clinical manifestations, seroconversion, complete blood count, blood chemistry, and cytokine gene transcription. In both species, there was no consistent emergence of
msp2
transcripts, and all 22
msp2
variants were detected in both passage groups. Clinical severity was much higher for high-passage-infected than for low-passage-infected horses, preceded by higher levels of blood gamma interferon transcription on day 7. Antibody was first detected on day 7, and all horses seroconverted by day 22, with a trend toward lower antibody titers in low-passage-infected animals. Leukocyte and platelet counts were similar between experimental groups except on day 13, when low-passage-infected animals had more profound thrombocytopenia. These findings corroborate studies with mice, where
msp2
diversity did not explain differences in hepatic histopathology, but differ from the paradigm of low-passage
A. phagocytophilum
causing more significant clinical illness. Alteration in transcription of
msp2
has no bearing on clinical disease in horses, suggesting the existence of a separate proinflammatory component differentially expressed with changing in vitro passage.
Distribution of Conjugative-Plasmid-Mediated 16S rRNA Methylase Genes among Amikacin-Resistant
Enterobacteriaceae
Isolates Collected in 1995 to 1998 and 2001 to 2006 at a University Hospital in South Korea and Identification of Conjugative Plasmids Mediating Dissemination of 16S rRNA Methylase
Authors: Kang Hee Young , Kim Ki Young , Kim Jungmin , Lee Je Chul , Lee Yoo Chul , Cho Dong Taek , Seol Sung Yong 
Published: December 2007

ABSTRACT

The distribution of conjugative-plasmid-mediated 16S rRNA methylase genes among amikacin-resistant
Enterobacteriaceae
collected between 1995 and 1998 and between 2001 and 2006 at a university hospital in South Korea was examined, and conjugative plasmids carrying the 16S rRNA methylase genes were characterized by PCR-based replicon typing and by determination of their antimicrobial resistance pattern. Among the 7,127 isolates, 463 isolates showed a high level of resistance to amikacin, and 218 of the 463 isolates transferred amikacin resistance by conjugation. Among the 218 isolates,
armA
was detected in 153 isolates (88
Klebsiella pneumoniae
, 28
Escherichia coli
, 19
Enterobacter cloacae
, and 6
Serratia marcescens
isolates and 12 isolates of other organisms), and
rmtB
was detected in 51 isolates (32
K. pneumoniae
isolates, 18
E. coli
isolates, and 1
Citrobacter freundii
isolate). The first appearance of
armA
was in 1997. The
armA
gene was carried by conjugative plasmids of replicon groups IncL/M, IncFIIAs, IncF, IncA/C, IncHI2, and Inc(unidentified) in 38, 20, 7, 9, 4, and 75 strains, respectively. The
rmtB
gene was carried by conjugative plasmids of groups IncA/C, IncF, and IncI1-Iγ in 43 strains, 7 strains, and 1 strain, respectively. Transconjugants that received the IncL/M plasmid carrying
armA
or the IncA/C plasmid carrying
rmtB
showed an additional resistance to cefotaxime. Transconjugants that received the IncFIIA plasmid or Inc(unidentified) plasmid carrying the
armA
gene showed an additional resistance to cefoxitin and a high MIC
50
(0.25 mg/liter) of ciprofloxacin. In conclusion, this study demonstrated that the dissemination of 16S rRNA methylase genes among the
Enterobacteriaceae
is mediated by conjugative plasmids of various incompatibility groups that confer resistance to multiple drugs, including aminoglycosides, extended-spectrum β-lactams, and/or quinolones.
Multiplex PCR That Can Distinguish between Immunologically Cross- Reactive Serovar 3, 6, and 8Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniaeStrains
Authors: Zhou L. , Jones S. C. P. , Angen Ø. , Bossé J. T. , Nash J. H. E. , Frey J. , Zhou R. , Chen H. C. , Kroll J. S. , Rycroft A. N. , Langford P. R. 
Published: December 2007

ABSTRACTWe describe a highly sensitive and specific multiplex PCR, based on capsular loci and the species specificapxIVgene, that unequivocally differentiates serovar 3, 6, and 8Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniaestrains that are cross-reactive in conventional immunological tests.
Virus-Specific T-Cell Immunity Correlates with Control of GB Virus B Infection in Marmosets
Authors: Woollard David J. , Haqshenas Gholamreza , Dong Xuebin , Pratt Bridget F. , Kent Stephen J. , Gowans Eric J. 
Published: December 2007

ABSTRACTGB virus B (GBV-B) is a hepatotropic virus that is closely related to hepatitis C virus (HCV). GBV-B causes acute hepatitis in infected marmosets and tamarins and is therefore a useful small-animal model for the study of HCV. We investigated virus-specific T-cell responses in marmosets infected with GBV-B. Gamma interferon (IFN-γ) enzyme-linked immunospot (ELISPOT) assay responses in the peripheral blood of two marmosets were assessed throughout the course of GBV-B infection. These T-cell responses were directed against the GBV-B nonstructural proteins 3 (NS3), 4A (NS4A), and 5B (NS5B), and their appearance was temporally associated with clearance of viremia. These marmosets were then rechallenged with GBV-B at least 3 months after clearance of the primary infection to determine if the animals were protected from reinfection. There was no detectable viremia following reinfection, although a sharp increase in T-cell responses against GBV-B proteins was observed. Epitope mapping of T-cell responses to GBV-B was performed with liver and blood samples from both marmosets after rechallenge with GBV-B. Three shared, immunodominant T-cell epitopes within NS3 were identified in animals with multiple common major histocompatibility complex class I alleles. IFN-γ ELISPOT responses were also detected in the livers of two marmosets that had resolved a primary GBV-B infection. These responses were high in frequency and were directed against epitopes within GBV-B NS3, NS4A, and NS5B proteins. These results indicate that virus-specific T-cell responses are detectable in the liver and blood of GBV-B-infected marmosets and that the clearance of GBV-B is associated with the appearance of these responses.
CD4 T Cells Contribute to Virus Control and Pathology following Central Nervous System Infection with Neurotropic Mouse Hepatitis Virus
Authors: Stohlman Stephen A. , Hinton David R. , Parra Beatriz , Atkinson Roscoe , Bergmann Cornelia C. 
Published: December 2007

ABSTRACTReplication of the neurotropic mouse hepatitis virus strain JHM (JHMV) is controlled primarily by CD8+T-cell effectors utilizing gamma interferon (IFN-γ) and perforin-mediated cytotoxicity. CD4+T cells provide an auxiliary function(s) for CD8+T-cell survival; however, their direct contribution to control of virus replication and pathology is unclear. To examine a direct role of CD4+T cells in viral clearance and pathology, pathogenesis was compared in mice deficient in both perforin and IFN-γ that were selectively reconstituted for these functions via transfer of virus-specific memory CD4+T cells. CD4+T cells from immunized wild-type, perforin-deficient, and IFN-γ-deficient donors all initially reduced virus replication. However, prolonged viral control by IFN-γ-competent donors suggested that IFN-γ is important for sustained virus control. Local release of IFN-γ was evident by up-regulation of class II molecules on microglia in recipients of IFN-γ producing CD4+T cells. CD4+T-cell-mediated antiviral activity correlated with diminished clinical symptoms, pathology, and demyelination. Both wild-type donor CD90.1 and recipient CD90.2 CD4+T cells trafficked into the central nervous system (CNS) parenchyma and localized to infected white matter, correlating with decreased numbers of virus-infected oligodendrocytes in the CNS. These data support a direct, if limited, antiviral role for CD4+T cells early during acute JHMV encephalomyelitis. Although the antiviral effector mechanism is initially independent of IFN-γ secretion, sustained control of CNS virus replication by CD4+T cells requires IFN-γ.