bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Vesicular Exocytosis under Hypotonic Conditions Shows Two Distinct Populations of Dense Core Vesicles in Bovine Chromaffin Cells
Authors: Amatore Christian , Arbault Stéphane , Bonifas Imelda , Lemaître Frédéric , Verchier Yann 
Published: January 2007

AbstractSeveral previous reports have discussed the effects of external osmolarity on vesicular exocytotic processes. However, few of these studies considered hypotonic conditions on chromaffin cells. Herein, the exocytosis of catecholamines by chromaffin cells was investigated in a medium of low osmolarity (200 mOsm) by amperometry at carbon fiber microelectrodes. It is observed that the frequency of the exocytotic events is significantly higher under hypotonic conditions than under physiological conditions (315 mOsm). This further confirms that the swelling of the polyelectrolytic matrix (which follows ionic exchanges) contained in dense core vesicles is the energetic driving force of the exocytotic phenomenon, being favored by a lower osmolarity. The mean amount of catecholamines released during secretory events also increases importantly under the hypotonic condition. This may be rationalized by the coexistence of two distinct populations of dense core vesicles with a relative content ratio of 4.7. The larger content population is favored under hypotonic conditions but plays only a side role under isotonic conditions.
Molecular deformation and free‐solution electrophoresis of DNA‐uncharged polymer conjugates at high field strengths: Theoretical predictions. Part 1: Hydrodynamic segregation
Authors: McCormick Laurette C. , Slater Gary W. 
Published: January 2007

AbstractRecent advancements in DNA sequencing by end‐labeled free‐solution electrophoresis (ELFSE) show the promise of this novel technique which overcomes the need for a gel by using a label (or drag‐tag) to render the free solution mobility of the DNA size‐dependent. It is the attachment of an uncharged drag‐tag molecule of a set size to various lengths of DNA in the sample that selectively slows down smaller DNA chains which have less force to pull the drag‐tag than larger DNA. So far, only globally random coil conformations have been associated with ELFSE, i.e., the DNA and the label together form a single, undeformed hydrodynamic unit. This paper investigates the conditions under which the DNA and label will segregate into two hydrodynamically distinct units, based on a theoretical approach developed for the electrophoresis of polyampholytes. Optimal experimental conditions tailored to the available label sizes and voltages are predicted along with insight into ideal label architecture.
UPFC sizing by means of an economically correct secure economic dispatch in a deregulated power market scenario
Authors: Menniti D. , Pinnarelli A. , Scordino N. , Sorrentino N. 
Published: January 2007

AbstractIn a deregulated power market scenario, the Independent System Operator (ISO) main problem is how to minimize the power system insecurity risk. To face this problem, in previous papers, assuming the insecurity risk as a part of the global cost, a model named Economically correct Secure Economic Dispatch (EcSED) has been proposed by the authors. Further, the EcSED has been improved considering the presence of an Unified Power Flow Controller (UPFC) device in the transmission network. In this paper, by means of an enhanced formulation of the improved EcSED, the size of an UPFC is determined, by including the UPFC investment cost within the objective function. Indeed, an UPFC installed in the transmission network may minimize the insecurity risk, hence the global cost, although its usage implies an expense, function of the size of the device itself. Some numerical experiments on a 5‐bus test system are also reported, to prove the effectiveness of the enhanced EcSED model formulation. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Addressing the phenomenon of bypassing in Albania: the impact of a primary health care strengthening intervention
Authors: Hotchkiss David R. , Piccinino Linda , Malaj Altin , Berruti Andrés A. , Bose Sujata 
Published: January 2007

AbstractThe purpose of this study is to assess the impact of a primary health care strengthening intervention on bypassing behavior in Albania, a middle‐income country that has experienced substantial structural changes that affect PHC and where bypassing among health care clients is common. The intervention aimed to improve the quality of health care in low‐level facilities through improved availability and use of health information, the adoption of clinical practice guidelines, and provider training. The study employs a quasi‐experimental research design to evaluate the impact of the intervention on health care utilization. The survey findings suggest that the pilot areas outperformed the control areas with respect to a number of key population‐based indicators of health care utilization. For example, in the 2‐year period between December 2002 and December 2004, bypassing for treatment of simple acute health problems during the month prior to the survey decreased by 47%, and the percentage of chronically ill health care clients who utilized PHC facilities for treatment in the month prior to the survey increased by 29%. These differences, which are statistically significant at the 10% level or better, suggest that the improved performance in the pilot areas is attributable to the intervention. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Repair of sheep long bone cortical defects filled with COLLOSS®, COLLOSS® E, OSSAPLAST®, and fresh iliac crest autograft
Authors: Huffer William E. , Benedict James J. , Turner A. S. , Briest Arne , Rettenmaier Robert , Springer Marco , Walboomers X. F. 
Published: January 2007

AbstractCOLLOSS® and COLLOSS® E are osteoinductive bone void fillers consisting of bone collagen and noncollagenous proteins from bovine and equine bone, respectively. The aim of this study was to compare COLLOSS, COLLOSS E, iliac bone autograft, sintered beta tricalcium phosphate (β‐TCP; OSSAPLAST®), and COLLOSS E plus OSSAPLAST. Materials were placed for 4, 8, or 24 weeks in 5‐mm cortical bone defects in sheep long bones. Histological sections in a plane perpendicular to the long axis of the bone were used to measure the total repair area (original defect plus callus) and the area of bone within the total repair area. The incidence of defect union was also evaluated. At 4 and 8 weeks, defects treated with COLLOSS and COLLOSS E with or without OSSAPLAST had total repair and bone areas equivalent to autograft, and larger than OSSAPLAST‐treated defects. At 8 weeks, the incidence of defect union was higher in defects treated with autograft or COLLOSS E plus OSSAPLAST than in untreated defects. At 24 weeks, the incidence of union was 100% in all treatment groups and 0% in untreated defects. The incidence of union was related to the degree of remodeling between 8 and 24 weeks. This was greater in all treated than nontreated defects. In conclusion, COLLOSS and COLLOSS E were equivalent to each other and to autograft, and superior to β‐TCP, in this study model. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 2007
Diurnal variation of biopyrrin excretion in random urine specimens is not corrected by creatinine
Authors: Ihara Hiroshi , Matsumoto Takayuki , Morita Yoshikazu , Hirano Akiko , Okada Mitsumasa , Hashizume Naotaka , Shioji Izuru , Yoshimura Hajime 
Published: January 2007

AbstractCirculating bilirubin is thought to function as a physiological antioxidant. One of the decomposition products of this process is the biopyrrins, which include two regioisomers: biotripyrrin‐a (1,14,15,17‐tetrahydro‐2,7,13‐trimethyl‐1,14‐deoxy‐3‐vinyl‐16H‐tripyrrin‐8,12‐dipropionic acid) and biotripyrrin‐b (1,14,15,17‐tetrahydro‐3,7,13‐trimethyl‐1,14‐deoxy‐3‐vinyl‐16H‐tripyrrin‐8,12‐dipropionic acid). We measured biopyrrins in random urine specimens and investigated whether the biopyrrin values obtained were valid when expressed as a ratio of the creatinine (Cr) concentrations. All of the random urine specimens collected over 48 hr were from presumably healthy adults. We measured the biopyrrins by means of an enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using an anti‐bilirubin monoclonal antibody. When the values were expressed in terms of the ratio to Cr, the within‐day coefficient of variation (%CV) of the excretion of biopyrrins was reduced to 27%±10% (P<0.05) from 59%±27%. However, assay values on random or spot urine specimens were unreliable because of the large %CV. The biopyrrin concentrations only in the first‐morning‐urine specimens in terms of both absolute amounts and ratios to Cr significantly reflected those in a 24‐hr urine specimen (P<0.001). Concentrations in a random urine specimen voided at the second collection or later did not correlate with the concentration in a 24‐hr urine specimen (P>0.05), even if their values were corrected by Cr. The amounts of biopyrrins excreted in 24‐hr urine specimens were significantly correlated with the 24‐hr cortisol excretion (P<0.001) but not to uropepsin (P>0.05). J. Clin. Lab. Anal. 21:1–7, 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Competitive ELISA studies of neural thread protein in urine in Alzheimer's disease
Authors: Levy Susanna , McConville Matthew , Lazaro Glorie A. , Averback Paul 
Published: January 2007

AbstractA specific and reliable competitive affinity assay kit has been developed to quantitatively measure neural thread protein (NTP) in first morning urine samples. This assay, called the urine neural thread protein test (UNTP), is a competitive enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) format affinity assay using 32‐well microtiter plates. The assay detects UNTP in the 10–60 µg/mL range (an improvement over earlier assays of 103 × ), is linear and more reproducible (average coefficient of variation [CV] 6.2% in precision studies).The utility of the assay has been demonstrated in urine samples from patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and controls (sensitivity of 90% and specificity of 91%). Test–retest assays of subjects with AD and controls were comparatively stable at intervals of 2 days to 4.5 years, which suggests that positive (elevated) or negative (normal) NTP levels do not fluctuate significantly over time with respect to the cutoff. J. Clin. Lab. Anal. 21:24–33, 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Adaptation and evaluation of the Randox full‐range CRP assay on the Olympus AU2700®
Authors: Dupuy A.M. , Michon A.L. , Badiou S. , Cristol J.P. 
Published: January 2007

AbstractThe implementation of a high‐sensitivity CRP (hs‐CRP) assay as a routine laboratory parameter may be necessary. A single CRP method that could yield reliable results for the whole concentration range (0.1–200 mg/L) would be the most practical solution for the laboratory setting. The aim of this study was to assess the Randox full‐range CRP assay on the Olympus AU2700® biochemistry analyzer and evaluate its analytical performance on serum and heparin plasma samples. The Randox CRP turbidimetric assay was compared with the existing CRP assay used routinely on the Olympus AU2700®. The analytical performance of the Randox CRP with both Olympus CRP reagents (CRP for normal application andhs‐CRP) was good. We found that the Randox CRP method in the range of 0.5–160 mg/L was closely correlated to the Olympus CRP and hs‐CRP for serum samples. According to a Bland‐Altman analysis, the serum and heparinized samples showed an excellent agreement in CRP concentrations throughout the entire range (mean difference = −0.035 ± 1.806 mg/L) as well as in CRP levels <10 mg/L. Our data indicate that Randox full‐range CRP measurements using an immunoturbidimetry assay on Olympus systems perform as well for routine diagnostics as other high‐sensitivity applications using serum or heparin plasma. J. Clin. Lab. Anal. 21:34–39, 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Induction of increase in intracellular calcium concentration of embryonic cells and acceleration of morphogenetic cell movements during amphibian gastrulation by a 50‐Hz magnetic field
Authors: Komazaki Shinji , Takano Kazuhiro 
Published: January 2007

AbstractThe influence of an alternating electromagnetic field (EMF) on early development of amphibian embryos was examined. When the embryos developed under the influence of a low‐frequency EMF (50 Hz, 5–30 mT), the rate of early development was accelerated. The effect of EMF was exerted preferentially at the gastrula stage, and the period of gastrulation was shortened. Histological observations showed that EMF promoted morphogenetic cell movements during the gastrulation. The concentration of intracellular free Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i) in the embryonic cells under the influence of EMF was analyzed using Fura‐2, an indicator of the intracellular concentration of calcium ions. The influence of EMF on [Ca2+]i was analyzed in embryonic cells isolated from blastula, gastrula, and neurula, EMF increased a [Ca2+]i particularly in the cells isolated from gastrula. Our results suggest that EMF specifically increased the [Ca2+]i of gastrula cells, thereby, accelerating the rate of morphogenetic cell movements during gastrulation. J. Exp. Zool. 307A, 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The correlation of serum protein association and cellular uptake with lipophilicity and polarity of the backbone substituents of the technetium‐99m‐amine‐oxime chelates
Authors: Li Li , Xu Yong , Su Zifen 
Published: January 2007

AbstractDetection of tumor hypoxia is of importance because hypoxic cancer cells can resist radiation therapy and also induce molecules to help them surviving and metastasizing. Our previous study has reported the development of technetium‐99m labeled amine‐oxime compounds containing 2‐nitroimidazoles to target hypoxic cells. In order to develop new generation of 99mTc, 64Cu, and 67Cu based amine‐oxime chelates with improved selectivity on tumor hypoxia in the future, it is important to understand the correlation of some structural parameters such as lipophilicity and polarity of the backbone ‐constituents of a radiochelate with its serum protein binding potential and cellular‐uptake‐level. The correlation is investigated in this work by using five 99mTc‐amine‐oxime chelates containing 2‐NI group and another five containing aniline group (as control). The results indicate that the level of protein‐and cellular‐binding of a radiochelate increased with their lipophilicity which generally correlates with the lengthening of the alkyl chains on the backbone of the radiochelates. The greater lipophilicity of a radiochelate, the higher percentage it bound to serum proteins and cellular membrane. Our study also indicates that, in addition to lipophilicity, polarity of the constituents is also an important factor of determining the levels of serum protein binding and cellular accumulation of a radiochelate. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Translation efficiencies of the 5′‐untranslated region of genotypes 1a and 3a in hepatitis C infected patients
Authors: Motazakker M. , Preikschat P. , Elliott J. , Smith C.A. , Mills P.R. , Oien K. , Spence E. , Elliott R.M. , McCruden E.A.B. 
Published: January 2007

AbstractDifferences between the translation efficiencies mediated by the 5′‐untranslated regions (5′‐UTR) of genotypes (gt) 1 and 3 of hepatitis C virus (HCV) have been reported but it is unknown if such differences are biologically significant. The 5′‐UTR was sequenced from paired serum and liver samples from 26 patients with chronic HCV hepatitis (11 gt 1a, 15 gt 3a). To determine whether there is a consistent difference between gts 1a and 3a translation efficiency, 5′‐UTR (nt 1–356) and 5′‐UTR plus core (nt 1–914) sequences were cloned into bicistronic, luciferase‐encoding constructs and relative translation efficiencies (RTE) measured in Huh7 cells and BHK cells. The relationships between viral load, liver biopsy Ishak scores, degree of steatosis and translational activity of the patient‐derived nucleotide sequence were examined. There were no differences in 5′‐UTR sequence between serum and corresponding liver samples. The mean RTE of 5′‐UTR sequences from gt 3a isolates was not significantly different from gt 1a whether or not the core encoding sequence was included, although inclusion of core led to a reduction in RTE by 93–97% for both genotypes. No correlation was found between RTE and serum HCV RNA levels, liver steatosis, inflammation, or fibrosis. However, a significant correlation was found between the presence of steatosis and infection with HCV gt 3a. It is concluded that there was no difference in translation efficiencies of 5′‐UTRs from patients infected with gts 1a and 3a, and translation activity measured in vitro does not correlate with viral load or severity of liver disease. J. Med. Virol. 79:259–269, 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Seroprevalence of human metapneumovirus (hMPV) in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan analyzed by a recombinant nucleocapsid protein‐based enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay
Authors: Liu Li , Bastien Nathalie , Sidaway Fred , Chan Edward , Li Yan 
Published: January 2007

AbstractHuman metapneumovirus (hMPV) is a newly identified respiratory virus associated with respiratory tract infection in both adults and children. Previous reports showed that infection of hMPV appeared to be ubiquitous. To determine the seroprevalence of hMPV, a total of 576 human sera from patients in Saskatchewan, Canada, were screened by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) based on expression of the nucleocapsid (N) protein of hMPV in recombinant baculovirus. The recombinant N protein with a molecular mass of 43.5 kDa was abundantly produced in insect cells. Moreover, the recombinant N proteins of the prototype viruses for the two major groups of hMPV have cross‐antigenicity. The seropositive rate for each age group was 13.5% (13/96) (0–5 years), 26.1% (25/96) (6–10 years), 32.3% (31/96) (11–15 years), 99.0% (95/96) (16–30 years), 91.7% (88/96) (31–60 years), and 93.8% (90/96) (61+ years), respectively. The data indicated that exposure to hMPV is a common phenomenon. The ELISA based on recombinant baculovirus produced N protein of hMPV provides a useful tool for seroepidemiological study of this virus. J. Med. Virol. 79:308–313, 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Rotavirus immunoglobulin levels among Indian mothers of two socio‐economic groups and occurrence of rotavirus infections among their infants up to six months
Authors: Ray Pratibha G. , Kelkar Shobhana D. , Walimbe Atul M. , Biniwale Vaishali , Mehendale Savita 
Published: January 2007

AbstractRotavirus specific immunoglobulin levels were estimated and compared between mothers undergoing delivery from two socio‐economic groups (n = 56 each) by direct/capture ELISA. IgG geometric mean titers (GMTs) of cord blood/mothers serum at delivery were significantly higher in the higher socio‐economic group (HSG) as compared to the lower socio‐economic group (LSG) (P < 0.01). Thirty‐four mother‐infant pairs (17 from each group) were followed‐up up to 6 months for the occurrence of rotavirus infections. All follow‐up LSG infants were low birth weight as against none from the HSG. Detection of virus by ELISA/RT‐PCR and considering IgM/IgA seroconversion as an index of infection, 11 and 17 infants from HSG and LSG respectively had rotavirus infections. Two infants from LSG were hospitalized for severe rotavirus diarrhea but none from the HSG. Lower IgG levels in the LSG mother‐infant pairs as compared to those of HSG, suggests a possible role of under nutrition in development of antibodies and immunity. Infants from the HSG who did not have rotavirus infections had significantly higher IgG GMTs in cord blood and serum samples at 6 months, than those HSG infants who had symptomatic/asymptomatic rotavirus infections (P < 0.05). In conclusion, fewer rotavirus infections occur when cord blood contains higher level of IgG antibodies, suggesting a role of protective immunity. J. Med. Virol. 79:341–349, 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
2,5‐Substituted PPV‐Derivatives with Different Polarities: The Effect of Side Chain Polarity on Solubility, Optical and Electronic Properties
Authors: Van Severen Ineke , Breselge Martin , Fourier Sofie , Adriaensens Peter , Manca Jean , Lutsen Laurence , Cleij Thomas J. , Vanderzande Dirk 
Published: January 2007

AbstractThree 2,5‐substituted polar PPV derivatives have been prepared using the sulfinyl precursor route and compared to the apolar MDMO‐PPV. All polymers were obtained in excellent yield and with improved purity as compared to other methods. The influence of the polarity of the side chains, i.e. oligo(oxyethylene) and alkyl substituents, on the optical and electronic properties were investigated. In thin films, the oligo(oxyethylene) substituents do not significantly alter the optical properties of the conjugated backbone and the field effect mobility. In contrast, other thin film electrical properties, such as relative permittivity and conductivity, are markedly affected by the polar substituents. This is also the case for their solubility and solution properties. The polar PPV‐derivatives are not only soluble in a wide range of solvents, but also exhibit aggregation phenomena.magnified image
The effect of surface topography on weakly nonlinear roll waves
Authors: Kluwick Alfred 
Published: January 2007

AbstractThe propagation of short waves in turbulent single layer flows forming on inclined surfaces has received considerable interest in the past. It is well known that such flows on flat surfaces are unstable if the Froude number of the unperturbed uniform state exceeds a critical value. In the initial linear stage disturbances grow exponentially with propagation distance but it has been shown that weakly nonlinear effects may limit the maximum wave amplitude under strictly periodic conditions leading in turn to a train of permanent roll waves. The present study investigates how the flow behaviour is affected if the slope of the bounding surface is no longer constant but changing slowly in the streamwise direction. (© 2006 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Factorization of the Non‐stationary Heat Equation
Authors: Cerejeiras Paula 
Published: January 2007

AbstractIn this paper we describe a factorization of the heat operator Δx – ∂t based on methods of Clifford analysis, in order to reduce the non‐stationary Schrödinger equation to a first order differential equation, which is the direct n‐dimensional generalization of the ordinary differential Riccati equations. (© 2006 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Existence and uniqueness of solutions of stationary transport equations
Authors: Karabash Illya 
Published: January 2007

AbstractWe consider the abstract kinetic equation dψ /dx = –JLψ, x ∈ [0, τ ], in a Hilbert space H. It is supposed that J = J * = J–1, L = L * ≥ 0, ker L = 0. The following theorem is proved: if JL is similar to a self‐adjoint operator, then an associated boundary problem has a unique solution. We apply this theorem to the stationary equation of Brownian motion (sgn μ)|μ |α (∂ψ /∂x) (x,μ) = (∂2ψ /∂μ2) (x,μ), 0 < x < τ, μ ∈ ℝ. (© 2006 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
A moving two‐reaction zones model: global existence of solutions
Authors: Muntean Adrian , Böhm Michael 
Published: January 2007

AbstractWe address some aspects concerning the analysis of a moving‐boundary system modeling concrete carbonation. The model is based on the fact that carbonation might be considered as a reaction which is localized on two distincta prioriunknown internal zones which progress into concrete. We report on the existence of local and global weak solutions. The main feature of the problem is that the nonlinear coupling of the system occurs due to the moving boundary and nonlinearity of the involved productions. (© 2006 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)