bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Identification of Residues Critical for the Interferon Antagonist Function of Langat Virus NS5 Reveals a Role for the RNA-Dependent RNA Polymerase Domain
Authors: Park Gregory S. , Morris Keely L. , Hallett Roselyn G. , Bloom Marshall E. , Best Sonja M. 
Published: April 2007

ABSTRACT
All pathogenic flaviviruses examined thus far inhibit host interferon (IFN) responses by suppressing the Janus kinase-signal transducer and activator of transcription (JAK-STAT) pathway. Both Langat virus (LGTV; a member of the tick-borne encephalitis virus serogroup) and Japanese encephalitis virus use the nonstructural protein NS5 to suppress JAK-STAT signaling. However, NS5 is also critical to virus replication, contributing methyltransferase and RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRP) activities. The specific amino acid residues of NS5 involved in IFN antagonism are not known. Here, we demonstrate that the LGTV NS5 JAK-STAT inhibitory domain is contained between amino acids 355 and 735 (of 903), a range which lies within the RdRP domain. Furthermore, we identified two noncontiguous stretches of specific amino acids within the RdRP, 374 to 380 and 624 to 647, as critical for inhibition of JAK-STAT signaling. Despite considerable separation on the linear NS5 sequence, these residues localized adjacent to each other when modeled on the West Nile virus RdRP crystal structure. Due to the general conservation of RdRP structures, these results suggest that the specific residues identified act cooperatively to form a unique functional site on the RdRP responsible for JAK-STAT inhibition. This insight into the mechanism underlying flavivirus IFN evasion strategies will facilitate the design of antiviral therapeutics that potentiate the action of IFN during infection.
Proliferative Activity (Ki‐67 Expression) and Outcome in High GradeOsteosarcoma: A Study of 27 Cases
Authors: Jong Roland , Davis Aileen M. , Mendes Maria G. , Wunder Jay S. , Bell Robert S. , Kandel Rita 
Published: April 2007

Purpose. Although pre‐operative chemotherapy has improved the
prognosis for individuals with osteosarcoma, approximately 40% of patients will die of their
disease.The aim of this study was to quantitate proliferative activity in high grade
osteosarcomas and to determine whether proliferation is a prognostic factor.Patients. The study consisted of 27 patients with high grade
non‐metastatic osteosarcoma at various sites for whom pre‐operative biopsies and
resection specimens were available for review. All patients were treated similarly and
had at least 24 months′ follow‐up from the date of diagnosis.Methods. Proliferative activity (Ki‐67 expression) was examined in the
diagnostic biopsies immunohistochemically using the MIB‐1 antibody. Proliferation was
quantitated in two ways; (1) the number of immunopositive cells was counted manually
using an ocular grid; or (2) the percentage of immunopositive nuclear area was assessed
using morphometric image analysis. Proliferative index was evaluated in relation to
patient outcome.Results. Proliferative activity was seen in all biopsies.The median
proliferative index as determined by counting cells was 24% (mean of 27%, range of 7–61%)
and by image analysis was 2% (mean 3%, range 0.32–8.4).The correlation between
MIB‐1 proliferation indices determined either by image analysis methodology or manual cell
counting was high (Spearman′s rho=0.79). Proliferative index did not appear to predict either
disease‐free or overall survival.Discussion. Tumor proliferation does not appear to be prognostic for
high grade osteosarcomas.Whether assessment of this feature in conjunction with other
tumor characteristics might be prognostic requires further study.
A Scale-Dependent Quality Index of Areal Rainfall Prediction
Authors: Yates Eddy , Creutin Jean-Dominique , Anquetin Sandrine , Rivoirard Jacques 
Published: April 2007

AbstractMany performance indexes have been proposed to assess the quality of predicted rainfall fields. Each new index is generally tested on schematic cases or on case studies. A quality index of predicted rainfall fields is proposed based on the evolution versus scale of the correlation between observed and predicted areal rainfalls, for different scales of integrating surfaces. The authors examine this quality index with both an analytical and a numerical approach. The geostatistical structure of the rainfall field is assumed known. The index generally shows a fast increase around a scale, which is called “critical scale.”The effect on this index of a bad localization of the predicted field is to change the critical scale, and there is a simple link between the shift and this critical scale. This link depends on the short-range structure of the rainfall field for small shifts.The effect of having a reference known only by point measures and interpolation is a decrease of the index. An even repartition of the rain gauges improves the index. The critical scale for a perfectly localized simulation corresponds to a surface containing one rain gauge. If the simulation is badly localized, the index cannot see the bad localization if the shift is smaller than the distance between two rain gauges.
Microstructure and Strength of Injection Molded Natural Fiber Composites
Authors: Nyström B. , Joffe R. , Långström R. 
Published: April 2007

Injection molded short natural fiber composites (NFC) are studied in this article. Micromechanical models are employed to investigate effects of fiber length distribution, fiber orientation, and fiber/matrix adhesion on mechanical performance of NFCs. A parametric study showed that length/diameter ratio strongly affects the composite strength, whereas fiber strength has very little influence on strength of the composites when fiber/matrix adhesion is poor. In order to verify conclusions based on theoretical predictions, modeling results are compared with experimental results of wood powder-, flax-, pulp-, and glass fiber composites. Recommendations on improvement of strength of NFC through change of the internal structure of the materials are formulated based on results of this investigation.
Patient-Care Questions that Physicians Are Unable to Answer
Authors: Ely John W. , Osheroff Jerome A. , Maviglia Saverio M. , Rosenbaum Marcy E. 
Published: April 2007

AbstractObjective: To describe the characteristics of unanswered clinical questions and propose interventions that could improve the chance of finding answers.Design: In a previous study, investigators observed primary care physicians in their offices and recorded questions that arose during patient care. Questions that were pursued by the physician, but remained unanswered, were grouped into generic types. In the present study, investigators attempted to answer these questions and developed recommendations aimed at improving the success rate of finding answers.Measurements: Frequency of unanswered question types and recommendations to increase the chance of finding answers.Results: In an earlier study, 48 physicians asked 1062 questions during 192 half-day office observations. Physicians could not find answers to 237 (41%) of the 585 questions they pursued. The present study grouped the unanswered questions into 19 generic types. Three types accounted for 128 (54%) of the unanswered questions: (1) “Undiagnosed finding” questions asked about the management of abnormal clinical findings, such as symptoms, signs, and test results (What is the approach to finding X?); (2) “Conditional” questions contained qualifying conditions that were appended to otherwise simple questions (What is the management of X, given Y? where “given Y” is the qualifying condition that makes the question difficult.); and (3) “Compound” questions asked about the association between two highly specific elements (Can X cause Y?). The study identified strategies to improve clinical information retrieval, listed below.Conclusion: To improve the chance of finding answers, physicians should change their search strategies by rephrasing their questions and searching more clinically oriented resources. Authors of clinical information resources should anticipate questions that may arise in practice, and clinical information systems should provide clearer and more explicit answers.
Reverse shoulder arthroplasty for the treatment of three- and four-part fractures of the proximal humerus in the elderly
Authors: Bufquin T. , Hersan A. , Hubert L. , Massin P. 
Published: April 2007

We used an inverted shoulder arthroplasty in 43 consecutive patients with a mean age of 78 years (65 to 97) who had sustained a three- or four-part fracture of the upper humerus. All except two were reviewed with a mean follow-up of 22 months (6 to 58). The clinical outcome was satisfactory with a mean active anterior elevation of 97° (35° to 160°) and a mean active external rotation in abduction of 30° (0° to 80°). The mean Constant and the mean modified Constant scores were respectively 44 (16 to 69) and 66% (25% to 97%). Complications included three patients with reflex sympathetic dystrophy, five with neurological complications, most of which resolved, and one with an anterior dislocation. Radiography showed peri-prosthetic calcification in 36 patients (90%), displacement of the tuberosities in 19 (53%) and a scapular notch in ten (25%). Compared with conventional hemiarthroplasty, satisfactory mobility was obtained despite frequent migration of the tuberosities. However, long-term results are required before reverse shoulder arthroplasty can be recommended as a routine procedure in complex fractures of the upper humerus in the elderly.
Embolic phenomena during computer-assisted and conventional total knee replacement
Authors: Church J. S. , Scadden J. E. , Gupta R. R. , Cokis C. , Williams K. A. , Janes G. C. 
Published: April 2007

Systemic emboli released during total knee replacement have been implicated as a cause of peri-operative morbidity and neurological dysfunction. We undertook a prospective, double-blind, randomised study to compare the cardiac embolic load sustained during computer-assisted and conventional, intramedullary-aligned, total knee replacement, as measured by transoesophageal echocardiography. There were 26 consecutive procedures performed by a single surgeon at a single hospital. The embolic load was scored using the modified Mayo grading system for echogenic emboli. Fourteen patients undergoing computer-assisted total knee replacement had a mean embolic score of 4.89 (3 to 7) and 12 undergoing conventional total knee replacement had a mean embolic score of 6.15 (4 to 8) on release of the tourniquet. Comparison of the groups using a two-tailed t-test confirmed a highly significant difference (p = 0.004). This study demonstrates that computer-assisted knee replacement results in the release of significantly fewer systemic emboli than the conventional procedure using intramedullary alignment.
A three-dimensional quantitative analysis of carpal deformity in rheumatoid wrists
Authors: Arimitsu S. , Murase T. , Hashimoto J. , Oka K. , Sugamoto K. , Yoshikawa H. , Moritomo H. 
Published: April 2007

We have measured the three-dimensional patterns of carpal deformity in 20 wrists in 20 rheumatoid patients in which the carpal bones were shifted ulnarwards on plain radiography. Three-dimensional bone models of the carpus and radius were created by computerised tomography with the wrist in the neutral position. The location of the centroids and rotational angle of each carpal bone relative to the radius were calculated and compared with those of ten normal wrists. In the radiocarpal joint, the proximal row was flexed and the centroids of all carpal bones translocated in an ulnar, proximal and volar direction with loss of congruity. In the midcarpal joint, the distal row was extended and congruity generally well preserved. These findings may facilitate more positive use of radiocarpal fusion alone for the deformed rheumatoid wrist.
Clinical outcome and rate of complications after primary total knee replacement performed with quadriceps-sparing or standard arthrotomy
Authors: Kim Y.-H. , Kim J.-S. , Kim D.-Y. 
Published: April 2007

We performed a prospective, randomised study to compare the results and rates of complications of primary total knee replacement performed using a quadriceps-sparing technique or a standard arthrotomy in 120 patients who had bilateral total knee replacements carried out under the same anaesthetic. The clinical results, pain scales, surgical and hospital data, post-operative complications and radiological results were compared. No significant differences were found between the two groups with respect to the blood loss, knee score, function score, pain scale, range of movement or radiological findings. In contrast, the operating time (p = 0.0001) and the tourniquet time (p < 0.0001) were significantly longer in the quadriceps-sparing group, as was the rate of complications (p = 0.0468). We therefore recommend the use of a standard arthrotomy with the shortest possible skin incision for total knee replacement.
Long-term survivorship of the Charnley Elite Plus femoral component in young patients
Authors: Kim Y.-H. , Kim J.-S. , Yoon S.-H. 
Published: April 2007

We studied prospectively the long-term results of the Charnley Elite-Plus femoral stem in 184 consecutive young patients (194 hips). There were 130 men and 54 women with a mean age of 49.1 years (21 to 60). The predominant diagnosis was osteonecrosis of the femoral head (63.6%, 117 patients). Clinical and radiological evaluation was undertaken at each follow-up. The mean follow-up was 11.2 years (10 to 12). The mean pre-operative Harris hip score was 43.4 (12 to 49) which improved to 91 (59 to 100) at the final follow-up. The survival of the femoral stem at 12 years was 99% with revision as the end-point. The mean annual linear wear of the polyethylene liner was 0.17 mm (0.13 to 0.22). The prevalence of acetabular osteolysis was 10.8% (21 hips) and osteolysis of the calcar femorale 12.9% (25 hips). A third-generation cementing technique, accurate alignment of the stem and the use of a 22 mm zirconia head were important factors in the prevention of aseptic loosening of the Elite Plus femoral stem in these high-risk young patients.
The effect of tourniquet padding on the efficiency of tourniquets of the upper limb
Authors: Rajpura A. , Somanchi B. V. , Muir L. T. S. W. 
Published: April 2007

We report the effect of padding on the efficiency of the pneumatic tourniquet for the upper limb. Varying thicknesses of two commercially-available types of orthopaedic padding (Cellona and Velband) were applied to the arms of 20 volunteers, with three pressure transducers placed directly beneath the padding. A tourniquet was positioned over the padding and inflated to 220 mmHg. Significant reductions in the transmitted pressure were recorded from the transducers with both padding materials. With eight layers of padding, reductions in pressure of 13% (1% to 26%) and 18% (7% to 35%) were seen with Cellona and Velband, respectively. The reduction in pressure with Velband padding correlated with increasing arm circumference (Pearson’s correlation coefficient 0.711, p < 0.001). Studies to date have examined how arm circumference affects the required tourniquet inflation pressure. Our study is the first to investigate the effect of the padding and the findings suggest that using more than two layers results in a significant reduction in the transmitted pressure.
Social Activity and Healthy Aging: A Study of Aging Danish Twins
Authors: McGue Matt , Christensen Kaare 
Published: April 2007

AbstractAlthough social and intellectual engagement have been consistently associated with late-life functioning, rather than true causation, these associations may reflect the experiential choices of high functioning individuals (i.e., selection effects). We investigated the association of social activity with late-life physical functioning, cognitive functioning, and depression symptomatology using data from 1112 pairs of like-sex twins who participated in the Longitudinal Study of Aging Danish Twins. Consistent with previous research, we found that social activity was significantly correlated with overall level of physical functioning, cognitive functioning, and depression symptomatology. We also found that social activity was significantly and moderately heritable (estimate of .36), raising the possibility that its association with late-life functioning might reflect selection processes. Further, social activity did not predict change in functioning and in monozygotic twin pairs discordant on level of social activity, the more socially active twin was not less susceptible to age decreases in physical and cognitive functioning and increases in depression symptomatology than the less socially active twin. These results are interpreted in the context of the additional finding that nonshared environmental factors, although apparently not social activity, are the predominant determinant of changes in late-life functioning.
The Psychological Benefits of Vigorous Exercise: A Study of Discordant MZ Twin Pairs
Authors: Johnson Wendy , Krueger Robert F. 
Published: April 2007

AbstractThe physiological benefits of vigorous exercise are well established. The existence of psychological benefits is less clear, however, due to methodological limitations common to investigatory studies. Two of these limitations are the difficulty of establishing appropriate control groups and the large variety of highly specific measures of psychological function available for consideration of effects. To address these limitations, we identified 63 pairs of monozygotic twins from the National Survey of Midlife Development in the United States who were discordant for the amount of vigorous exercise in which they engaged regularly. The twins who regularly engaged in vigorous exercise experienced greater positive psychological functioning than their nonexercising co-twins as measured by the latent factor representing the variance common to 8 measures of mood, optimism, control over life, and interpersonal aspects of personality. The magnitude of the difference was in excess of .4 standard deviations.
Evidence for Nonadditive Genetic Effects on Eysenck Personality Scales in South Korean Twins
Authors: Hur Yoon-Mi 
Published: April 2007

AbstractWhile evidence supporting for nonadditive genetic influences on personality traits in Caucasian populations has been growing in recent years, twin studies that explored the existence of genetic nonadditivity in personality variation in Asian populations are still lacking. Seven hundred and sixty-five pairs of adolescent and young adult twins registered with the South Korean Twin Registry completed the 7 scales of the Eysenck Personality Scales through a mail survey. Maximum likelihood twin correlations were computed and model-fitting analyses were conducted. Monozygotic twin correlations were consistently higher than twice the dizygotic twin correlations for all 7 scales, suggesting pervasive influences of nonadditive genetic effects on personality traits in the South Korean population. Model-fitting analyses indicated that genetic nonadditivity is particularly important for the variation of Impulsivity, Venturesomeness, Empathy, Lie, and Psychoticism. According to the best fitting models, nonadditive genetic effects ranged from 34 to 49% for these scales. For Neuroticism and Extraversion, models that included an additive genetic component fit better than those including a nonadditive genetic variance component.
Comparison of Motor Development Between Twins and Singletons in Japan: A Population-Based Study
Authors: Yokoyama Yoshie , Wada Saeko , Sugimoto Masako , Saito Miyuki , Matsubara Miyoko , Sono Jun 
Published: April 2007

AbstractThis study was performed using population-based data to analyze whether motor development in early life is different between singletons and twins in Japan. For better comparison and investigation, we divided the 2 groups into a group with a birthweight of 2.5 kg or greater (subgroup A) and a group with a birthweight of less than 2.5 kg (subgroup B), respectively. We analyzed the database of medical check-ups for children aged 3 years between April 2001 and July 2004. They received medical checkups at 4 months, 1.5, and 3 years of age. Children who were suspected of having neurological abnormality or disability were referred to specialists and excluded from the database. The data of 14,132 children were analyzed. Among these, 13,040 (92.3%) children were singletons in subgroup A, 75 (0.5%) were twins in subgroup A, 866 (6.1%) were singletons in subgroup B and 151 (1.1%) were twins in subgroup B. The mean age at achieving milestones was slower in twins of subgroup A for each developmental outcome than singletons of subgroup A, and the difference between twins and singletons was significant after adjustment for rolling over. On the contrary, after adjusting for a confounding factor (gestational age), singletons of subgroup B attained motor development facilitating walking independently slower than twins of subgroup B. There were different tendencies in the results regarding the motor development of subjects of subgroup A and that of subjects of subgroup B.
A Retrospective Analysis of Placentas From Twin Pregnancies Derived From Assisted Reproductive Technology
Authors: Chan Owen T. M. , Mannino Frank L. , Benirschke Kurt 
Published: April 2007

AbstractThere are conflicting studies associating twin pregnancies derived from assisted reproductive technology (ART) with preterm birth, low birthweight, and other negative outcomes. This work investigates whether ART is linked with any placental pathology, given that placentation significantly influences fetal development. A 5-year, retrospective cohort study was conducted on placentas from twin pregnancies. The placental information from 417 patients was divided into two groups: placentas derived from ART and placentas derived from spontaneous pregnancies (non-ART). Available clinical information and pathologic findings from both groups then were compared. There was no statistical difference in the prevalence of placental pathology between the non-ART and ART cohorts (i.e., cord insertion, single umbilical artery, cord knot, retroplacental hemorrhage, infarction, vasculopathy, vascular anastomoses, chorangiosis, villitis, deciduitis, chorioamnionitis, meconium staining). However, 8% of ART multiple pregnancies were monochorionic. While monochorionicity is a known risk factor for adverse obstetric and neonatal outcomes, the rate of monochorionic placentation did not increase as a result of ART. Nevertheless, it is interesting to note that this small percentage of monochorionic placentation occurred in the ART cohort despite the implantation of individual embryos. Overall, the data suggests that ART does not have a role in the pathologic placentation of twin pregnancies.