bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Preparation and viral inactivation of cryoprecipitate in blood banks in resource‐limited countries
Authors: Burnouf T. , Goubran H. A. , Radosevich M. , El‐Ekiaby M. 
Published: October 2007

Non‐virally inactivated cryoprecipitate prepared by blood banks is still used in many countries, especially in the developing world, for the treatment of bleeding disorders due to factor VIII (FVIII), von Willebrand factor (VWF), or fibrinogen deficiency. As a consequence, patients receiving cryoprecipitate are at high risk of being infected by plasma‐borne viruses, such as HIV, and hepatitis B virus (HBV) or C virus (HCV). It is therefore urgent to develop easy‐to‐use, affordable and efficient methods for the viral inactivation of cryoprecipitate under conditions that ensure good maintenance of its haemostatic properties. Preparation of cryoprecipitate from large‐pool solvent‐detergent (SD) plasma seems not economically or technically feasible in developing countries. Cryoprecipitate prepared from single‐donor plasma virally inactivated by methylene‐blue/illumination has significantly reduced content of factor VIII and fibrinogen. There are no data on the quality of cryoprecipitate produced from plasma virally inactivated by techniques in development such as S‐51 psoralen/UV irradiation or by riboflavin/UV irradiation, but loss of FVIII and fibrinogen is reported in S‐51/UV‐treated plasma. Dry‐heat treatments of smallpool cryoprecipitate or intermediate‐purity factor VIII have been developed for use by blood banks, but they are not much used and some have not stopped the risk of transmission of HCV. Recently, a mini‐pool process and a closed bag system to perform SD treatment of cryoprecipitate have been developed for use by blood banks. Recovery of factor VIII, VWF, and fibrinogen is over 95%. Viral validation studies revealed reduction factors of > 4·17, > 4·73, and > 4·72 for HIV, BVDV, and PRV, respectively, within a few minutes of treatment. The SD bag system is in the process of CE‐marking and field testing should start in the near future.
Accuracy of serum transferrin receptor levels in the diagnosis of iron deficiency among hospital patients in a population with a high prevalence of thalassaemia trait
Authors: ONG K. H. , TAN H. L. , TAM L. P. , HAWKINS R. C. W. , KUPERAN P. 
Published: October 2007

SummaryThe diagnosis of iron deficiency in hospital patients can be difficult in the presence of inflammation. A raised serum transferrin receptor (sTfR) level is useful as a marker of iron deficiency as it is unaffected by inflammation. However, diseases that cause an increase in erythropoietic activity can also result in a raised sTfR level. In South‐East Asia, the prevalence of thalassaemia trait is high. As thalassaemia trait is associated with ineffective erythropoiesis and therefore an increase in the sTfR level, we studied the influence of thalassaemia trait on the diagnosis of iron deficiency in hospital patients. Among 431 patients with different combinations of iron deficiency, α‐ and β‐thalassaemia trait, we found that the sTfR level is an excellent diagnostic test for iron deficiency only in patients without thalassaemia trait. α‐Thalassaemia trait worsened its diagnostic accuracy and β‐thalassaemia trait rendered it a non‐diagnostic test. We conclude that in populations with a high prevalence of thalassaemia trait, the sTfR level is not useful in diagnosing iron deficiency unless the patient’s thalassaemia status is known.
Can one single test protocol for provoking exercise‐induced bronchoconstriction also be used for assessing aerobic capacity?*
Authors: Stensrud T. , Carlsen K.‐H. 
Published: October 2007

AbstractIntroduction:  Several different exercise protocols are used to assess exercise‐induced bronchoconstriction (EIB), and to measure peak oxygen uptake (V̇O2 peak) and peak minute ventilation (V̇Epeak).Objective:  The aim of this study was to evaluate if one single test protocol for assessing EIB can also be used to determine aerobic capacity measured by V̇O2 peak and V̇Epeak.Methods:  In a randomised cross‐over design, 40 healthy subjects (♀/♂ = 17/23) aged 14–40 years performed two exercise tests on a treadmill. Twenty subjects (♀/♂ = 7/13) performed the two exercise tests at a treadmill inclination of 10.5%; the remaining 20 subjects (♀/♂ = 10/10) performed at an inclination of 5.3%. A common stepwise protocol with 20 min of warming up was compared to an EIB test protocol of an 8‐min treadmill run without warming up, with a workload corresponding to 95% of maximum heart rate during the last 4 min.Results:  V̇O2 peak did not differ significantly between the two test protocols at 10.5% inclination: 63.3 mL/kg min−1(59.3, 67.4) [mean (95% confidence intervals)] and 63.9 mL/kg min−1 (60.0, 68.0), respectively, or at 5.3% inclination: 56.0 mL/kg min−1 (52.1, 60.0) and 56.1 mL/kg min−1 (51.9, 60.2), respectively. Also, V̇Epeak did not differ between the protocols 158 (144, 173) vs 161 L/min (145, 176) at 10.5% inclination and 123 (114, 132) vs 127 L/min (116, 138) at 5.3% inclination, with the EIB protocol and the stepwise protocol, respectively.Conclusion:  V̇O2 peak and V̇Epeak did not differ between the two test protocols, and one single standardised EIB test may thus be used both for both provoking EIB and assessing V̇O2 peak.Please cite this paper as: Stensrud T and Carlsen K‐H. Can one single test protocol for provoking exercise‐induced bronchoconstriction also be used for assessing aerobic capacity? The Clinical Respiratory Journal 2008; 2: 47–53.
The Lomakin Effect in Annular Gas Seals Under Choked Flow Conditions
Authors: Arghir Mihai , Defaye Cyril , Frêne Jean 
Published: October 2007

Abstract
The paper deals with the static stability of annular gas seals under choked flow conditions. For a centered straight annular seal, choking can occur only in the exit section because the gas is constantly accelerated by friction forces. From the mathematical standpoint, the flow choking corresponds to a singularity that was never dealt with numerically. The present work introduces an original numerical treatment of this singularity that is validated by comparisons to the analytical solution for planar channel flow. An interesting observation stemming from these results is that the usual hypothesis of considering the flow as being isothermal is not correct anymore for a gas accelerated by a pressure gradient; the characteristics of the flow are the same but the quantitative results are different. The analysis of eccentric annular seals then shows that choked flow conditions produce a change in the static stiffness. For a subsonic exit section, the Lomakin effect is represented by a centering radial force opposed to the rotor displacement. For a choked exit section, the radial force stemming from an eccentricity perturbation has the same direction as the rotor displacement. The annular seal becomes then statically unstable. From the physical standpoint, this behavior is explained by the modification of the Lomakin effect, which changes sign. The pressure and Mach number variations along the seal depict the influence of high compressible flow regimes on the Lomakin effect. This characteristic has never been depicted before.
Voriconazole Inhibits Melanization in
Cryptococcus neoformans
Authors: Martinez Luis R. , Ntiamoah Patricia , Gácser Attila , Casadevall Arturo , Nosanchuk Joshua D. 
Published: October 2007

ABSTRACT

Voriconazole is a triazole antifungal drug that inhibits ergosterol synthesis and has broad activity against yeast and molds. While studying the interaction of voriconazole and
Cryptococcus neoformans
, we noted that cells grown in the presence of subinhibitory concentrations of voriconazole reduced melanin pigmentation. We investigated this effect systematically by assessing melanin production in the presence of voriconazole, amphotericin B, caspofungin, itraconazole, and fluconazole. Only voriconazole impeded the formation of melanin at subinhibitory concentrations. Voriconazole did not affect the autopolymerization of
l
-dopa, and 0.5 MIC of voriconazole did affect the gene expression of
C. neoformans
. However, voriconazole inhibited the capacity of laccase to catalyze the formation of melanin. Hence, voriconazole affects melanization in
C. neoformans
by interacting directly with laccase, which may increase the efficacy of this potent antifungal against certain pigmented fungi.
Safety and Pharmacokinetics of GSK364735, a Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Integrase Inhibitor, following Single and Repeated Administration in Healthy Adult Subjects
Authors: Reddy Y. Sunila , Min Sherene S. , Borland Julie , Song Ivy , Lin Jiang , Palleja Sandra , Symonds William T. 
Published: October 2007

ABSTRACT
GSK364735 is a human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) integrase strand transfer inhibitor with potent in vitro antiviral activity. This study was a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, dose escalation, phase I study to assess single- and repeated-dose safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics (PK), and food effect of GSK364735 in healthy subjects. In part A, three alternating cohorts of 10 subjects (8 receiving the active drug and 2 receiving a placebo) received single doses of 50 to 400 mg while fasting or 200 mg and 400 mg coadministered with food. In part B, five cohorts received repeated doses of 100 to 600 mg daily coadministered with food for 8 days. Safety was assessed throughout the study. Serial blood samples were analyzed for GSK364735 plasma concentrations using a validated high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry assay. PK parameters were estimated using noncompartmental methods. Seventy-nine (30 in part A and 49 in part B) subjects were enrolled and received GSK364735 or placebo. GSK364735 was readily absorbed following oral dose administration, with the maximum concentration achieved between 0.75 to 5.0 h postdose. GSK364735 exposure increased less than dose proportionally, demonstrated wide variability, and appeared to reach a plateau at 100- to 200-mg doses. Food increased GSK364735 exposure by 28 to 91%. GSK364735 was safe and well tolerated after single- and repeated-dose administration. No serious or severe adverse events (AEs) or AEs leading to withdrawal and few drug-related AEs were reported. Despite solubility-limited absorption, GSK364735 exceeded therapeutic trough concentrations for the majority of doses studied. The PK and safety profile supported the continued investigation of GSK364735 in HIV-infected subjects.
Autophagy during Proliferation and Encystation in the Protozoan ParasiteEntamoeba invadens
Authors: Picazarri Karina , Nakada-Tsukui Kumiko , Nozaki Tomoyoshi 
Published: October 2007

ABSTRACTAutophagy is one of the three systems responsible for the degradation of cytosolic proteins and organelles. Autophagy has been implicated in the stress response to starvation, antigen cross-presentation, the defense against invading bacteria and viruses, differentiation, and development.Saccharomyces cerevisiaeAtg8 and its mammalian ortholog, LC3, play an essential role in autophagy. The intestinal protozoan parasiteEntamoeba histolyticaand a related reptilian species,Entamoeba invadens, possess the Atg8 conjugation system, consisting of Atg8, Atg4, Atg3, and Atg7, but lack the Atg5-to-Atg12 conjugation system. Immunofluorescence imaging revealed that polymorphic Atg8-associated structures emerged in the logarithmic growth phase and decreased in the stationary phase and also increased in the early phase of encystation inE. invadens. Immunoblot analysis showed that the increase in phosphatidylethanolamine-conjugated membrane-associated Atg8 was also accompanied by the emergence of Atg8-associated structures during the proliferation and differentiation mentioned above. Specific inhibitors of class I and III phosphatidylinositol 3-kinases simultaneously inhibited both the growth of trophozoites and autophagy and also both encystation and autophagy inE. invadens. These results suggest that the core machinery for autophagy is conserved and plays an important role during proliferation and differentiation inEntamoeba.
Macrophage-Mediated but Gamma Interferon-Independent Innate Immune Responses Control the Primary Wave ofPlasmodium yoeliiParasitemia
Authors: Couper Kevin N. , Blount Daniel G. , Hafalla Julius C. R. , van Rooijen Nico , de Souza J. Brian , Riley Eleanor M. 
Published: October 2007

ABSTRACTIn most models of blood-stage malaria infection, proinflammatory immune responses are required for control of infection and elimination of parasites. We hypothesized therefore that the fulminant infections caused in mice by the lethal strain ofPlasmodium yoelii(17XL) might be due to failure to activate a sufficient inflammatory response. Here we have compared the adaptive CD4+T-cell and innate immune response toP. yoelii17XL with that induced by the self-resolving, nonlethal strain ofP. yoelii, 17X(NL). During the first 7 to 9 days of infection, splenic effector CD4+T-cell responses were similar in mice with lethal and nonlethal infections with similar levels of activation in vivo and equivalent proliferation in vitro following mitogenic stimulation. Nonspecific T-cell hyporesponsiveness was observed at similar levels during both infections and was due, in part, to suppression mediated by CD11b+cells. Importantly, however, RAG−/−mice were able to control the initial growth phase of nonlethalP. yoeliiinfection as effectively as wild-type mice, indicating that T cells and/or B cells play little, if any, role in control of the primary peak of parasitemia. Somewhat unexpectedly, we could find no clear role for either NK cells or gamma interferon (IFN-γ) in controlling primaryP. yoeliiinfection. In contrast, depletion of monocytes/macrophages exacerbated parasite growth and anemia during both lethal and nonlethal acuteP. yoeliiinfections, indicating that there is an IFN-γ-, NK cell-, and T-cell-independent pathway for induction of effector macrophages during acute malaria infection.
Bubble formation in ϕ6 potential
Authors: Widyan Hatem 
Published: October 2007

The scalar field theory of the ϕ6 potential is studied at zero temperature and at high temperature. The equations of motion are solved numerically to obtain O(4) spherical symmetric and O(3) cylindrical symmetric bounce solutions. These solutions control the rates for tunneling from the false vacuum to the true vacuum by bubble formation. The range of validity of the thin-wall approximation is investigated. An analytical solution for the bounce is presented, which reproduces the action in the thin-wall as well as the thick-wall limits. PACS Nos.: 11.10.Ef, 05.70.Fh, 11.10.Wx
Variational principle for mixed classical–quantum systems
Authors: Grigorescu M 
Published: October 2007

An extended variational principle providing the equations of motion for a system consisting of interacting classical, quasiclassical, and quantum components is presented, and applied to the model of bilinear coupling. The relevant dynamical variables are expressed in the form of a quantum state vector that includes the action of the classical subsystem in its phase factor. It is shown that the statistical ensemble of Brownian state vectors for a quantum particle in a classical thermal environment can be described by a density matrix evolving according to a nonlinear quantum Fokker–Planck equation. Exact solutions of this equation are obtained for a two-level system in the limit of high temperatures, considering both stationary and nonstationary initial states. A treatment of the common time shared by the quantum system and its classical environment as a collective variable, rather than as a parameter, is presented in the Appendix. PACS Nos.: 03.65.–w, 03.65.Sq, 05.30.–d, 45.10.Db
A simple air pressure gauge for unsaturated soils
Authors: Sedano Julio  Ángel Infante , Vanapalli Sai K. , Garga Vinod K. 
Published: October 2007

This paper presents the design details of a simple compressible air column pressure gauge system. The main components of this pressure gauge consist of a Mariotte bottle, plastic tubing, and a graduated scale. This low-cost gauge design is based on applying the principle of Boyle’s law for gases, which makes it particularly well-suited for the measurement of soil–water characteristics of coarse-grained soils, which desaturate at a faster rate, particularly in the low matric suction range of 0–10 kPa. Among its many uses, this precise gauge is best employed in the axis translation technique to measure matric suction in the range of 0–700 kPa.
Quantification of slope displacement rates using acoustic emission monitoring
Authors: Dixon N. , Spriggs M. 
Published: October 2007

In soil slopes, developing shear surfaces generate acoustic emission (AE). The authors have previously proposed the use of active waveguides for monitoring the stability of such slopes. Active waveguides consist of a steel tube installed in a preformed borehole through a slope with coarse-grained soil backfill placed in the annulus around the tube. Deformation of the host soil generates AE in the active waveguide. Field trials of this system reported previously have shown that AE rates are linked to slope deformation rates. This paper extends the study by detailing a method for quantifying slope movement rates using an active waveguide. A series of laboratory experiments are presented and used to define the relationship between AE event count rate and displacement rate. The method was shown to differentiate rates within an order of magnitude, which is consistent with standard landslide movement classification (i.e., 1–0.001 mm/min), using a relationship derived between the gradient of the event count rate with time and the deformation rate. In addition, it was possible to detect a change in displacement rate within 2 min of it occurring even at very slow rates (i.e., 0.0018 mm/min). Knowledge of changes in displacement rate is important in situations where slope movements are suddenly triggered or displacements accelerate in response to a destabilizing event. Field trials of a real-time AE monitoring system are currently in progress to compare performance against traditional instrumentation.
Truncated recombinant human SP-D attenuates emphysema and type II cell changes in SP-D deficient mice
Authors: Knudsen Lars , Ochs Matthias , MacKay Rosemarie , Townsend Paul , Deb Roona , Mühlfeld Christian , Richter Joachim , Gilbert Fabian , Hawgood Samuel , Reid Kenneth , Clark Howard 
Published: October 2007

Abstract

Background
Surfactant protein D (SP-D) deficient mice develop emphysema-like pathology associated with focal accumulations of foamy alveolar macrophages, an excess of surfactant phospholipids in the alveolar space and both hypertrophy and hyperplasia of alveolar type II cells. These findings are associated with a chronic inflammatory state. Treatment of SP-D deficient mice with a truncated recombinant fragment of human SP-D (rfhSP-D) has been shown to decrease the lipidosis and alveolar macrophage accumulation as well as production of proinflammatory chemokines. The aim of this study was to investigate if rfhSP-D treatment reduces the structural abnormalities in parenchymal architecture and type II cells characteristic of SP-D deficiency.

Methods
SP-D knock-out mice, aged 3 weeks, 6 weeks and 9 weeks were treated with rfhSP-D for 9, 6 and 3 weeks, respectively. All mice were sacrificed at age 12 weeks and compared to both PBS treated SP-D deficient and wild-type groups. Lung structure was quantified by design-based stereology at the light and electron microscopic level. Emphasis was put on quantification of emphysema, type II cell changes and intracellular surfactant. Data were analysed with two sided non-parametric Mann-Whitney U-test.

Main Results
After 3 weeks of treatment, alveolar number was higher and mean alveolar size was smaller compared to saline-treated SP-D knock-out controls. There was no significant difference concerning these indices of pulmonary emphysema within rfhSP-D treated groups. Type II cell number and size were smaller as a consequence of treatment. The total volume of lamellar bodies per type II cell and per lung was smaller after 6 weeks of treatment.

Conclusion
Treatment of SP-D deficient mice with rfhSP-D leads to a reduction in the degree of emphysema and a correction of type II cell hyperplasia and hypertrophy. This supports the concept that rfhSP-D might become a therapeutic option in diseases that are characterized by decreased SP-D levels in the lung.
Computational analysis of the relationship between allergenicity and digestibility of allergenic proteins in simulated gastric fluid
Authors: Jiang Bingjun , Qu Hong , Hu Yuanlei , Ni Ting , Lin Zhongping 
Published: October 2007

Abstract

Background
Safety assessment of genetically modified (GM) food, with regard to allergenic potential of transgene-encoded xenoproteins, typically involves several different methods, evaluation by digestibility being one thereof. However, there are still debates about whether the allergenicity of food allergens is related to their resistance to digestion by the gastric fluid. The disagreements may in part stem from classification of allergens only by their sources, which we believe is inadequate, and the difficulties in achieving identical experimental conditions for studying digestion by simulated gastric fluid (SGF) so that results can be compared. Here, we reclassify allergenic food allergens into alimentary canal-sensitized (ACS) and non-alimentary canal-sensitized (NACS) allergens and use a computational model that simulates gastric fluid digestion to analyze the digestibilities of these two types.

Results
The model presented in this paper is as effective as SGF digestion experiments, but more stable and reproducible. On the basis of this model, food allergens are satisfactorily classified as ACS and NACS types by their pathways for sensitization; the former are relatively resistant to gastric fluid digestion while the later are relatively labile.

Conclusion
The results suggest that it is better to classify allergens into ACS and NACS types when understanding the relationship between their digestibility and allergenicity and the digestibility of a target foreign protein is a parameter for evaluating its allergenicity during safety assessments of GM food.