bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Real time noninvasive monitoring of contaminating bacteria in a soft tissue implant infection model
Authors: Engelsman Anton F. , van der Mei Henny C. , Francis Kevin P. , Busscher Henk J. , Ploeg Rutger J. , van Dam Gooitzen M. 
Published: July 2008

AbstractInfection is the main cause of biomaterials‐related failure. A simple technique to test in‐vivo new antimicrobial and/or nonadhesive implant coatings is unavailable. Current invitro methods for studying bacterial adhesion and growth on biomaterial surfaces lack the influence of the host immune system. Most in vivo methods to study biomaterials‐related infections routinely involve implant‐removal, preventing comprehensive longitudinal monitoring. In vivo imaging circumvents these drawbacks and is based on the use of noninvasive optical imaging of bioluminescent bacteria. Staphylococcus aureus Xen29 is genetically modified to be stably bioluminescent, by the introduction of a modified full lux operon onto its chromosome. Surgical meshes with adhering S. aureus Xen29 were implanted in mice and bacterial growth and spread into the surrounding tissue was monitored longitudinally from bioluminescence with a highly sensitive CCD camera. Distinct spatiotemporal bioluminescence patterns, extending beyond the mesh area into surrounding tissues were observed. After 10 days, the number of living organisms isolated from explanted meshes was found to correlate with bioluminescence prior to sacrifice of the animals. Therefore, it is concluded that in vivo imaging using bioluminescent bacteria is ideally suited to study antimicrobial coatings taking into account the host immune system. In addition, longitudinal monitoring of infection in one animal will significantly reduce the number of experiments and animals. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 2009
Lessons learned from the Oklahoma Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura‐Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome Registry
Authors: George James N. , Terrell Deirdra R. , Swisher Karen K. , Vesely Sara K. 
Published: July 2008

AbstractThe Oklahoma TTP‐HUS Registry provides a complete community perspective of thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP). This is possible because plasma exchange is the essential treatment for TTP and the Oklahoma Blood Institute provides all plasma exchange procedures for a region encompassing most of the State, including 58 of Oklahoma's 77 counties. The Registry is an inception cohort of consecutive patients for whom plasma exchange treatment was requested for a diagnosis of either TTP or hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). All 382 patients identified from January 1, 1989 to December 31, 2007 have consented to be enrolled. Complete follow‐up is available for 380 of 382 patients. Patients are described both by clinical categories, related to their associated conditions and clinically apparent etiologies, and by the presence of severe ADAMTS13 deficiency. ADAMTS13 activity has been measured on 235 (93%) of 254 patients since 1995. Registry data have provided new perspectives on the definition and diagnoses of these syndromes as well as their outcomes. Long‐term follow‐up has documented that relapse is common among patients with ADAMTS13 deficiency but rarely occurs in patients without ADAMTS13 deficiency. Long‐term follow‐up has also documented persistent abnormalities of health‐related quality‐of‐life and cognitive function. In addition to providing new perspectives on the natural history of these syndromes, The Oklahoma TTP‐HUS Registry provides a support group for our patients, information about evaluation and management for community physicians, and a resource for research and educational programs. J. Clin. Apheresis, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Identifying functional neighborhoods within the cell nucleus: Proximity analysis of early S‐phase replicating chromatin domains to sites of transcription, RNA polymerase II, HP1γ, matrin 3 and SAF‐A
Authors: Malyavantham Kishore S. , Bhattacharya Sambit , Barbeitos Marcos , Mukherjee Lopamudra , Xu Jinhui , Fackelmayer Frank O. , Berezney Ronald 
Published: July 2008

AbstractHigher order chromatin organization in concert with epigenetic regulation is a key process that determines gene expression at the global level. The organization of dynamic chromatin domains and their associated protein factors is intertwined with nuclear function to create higher levels of functional zones within the cell nucleus. As a step towards elucidating the organization and dynamics of these functional zones, we have investigated the spatial proximities among a constellation of functionally related sites that are found within euchromatic regions of the cell nucleus including: HP1γ, nascent transcript sites (TS), active DNA replicating sites in early S‐phase (PCNA) and RNA polymerase II sites. We report close associations among these different sites with proximity values specific for each combination. Analysis of matrin 3 and SAF‐A sites demonstrates that these nuclear matrix proteins are highly proximal with the functionally related sites as well as to each other and display closely aligned and overlapping regions following application of the minimal spanning tree (MST) algorithm to visualize higher order network‐like patterns. Our findings suggest that multiple factors within the nuclear microenvironment collectively form higher order combinatorial arrays of function. We propose a model for the organization of these functional neighborhoods which takes into account the proximity values of the individual sites and their spatial organization within the nuclear architecture. J. Cell. Biochem. 105: 391–403, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Resolvable packings of Kv with K2 × Kc's
Authors: Li Yang , Yin Jianxing 
Published: July 2008

AbstractThe study of resolvable packings of Kv with Kr × Kc's is motivated by the use of DNA library screening. We call such a packing a (v, Kr × Kc, 1)‐RP. As usual, a (v, Kr × Kc, 1)‐RP with the largest possible number of parallel classes (or, equivalently, the largest possible number of blocks) is called optimal. The resolvability implies v ≡ 0 (mod rc). Let ρ be the number of parallel classes of a (v, Kr × Kc, 1)‐RP. Then we have ρ ≤ ⌊(v‐1)/(r + c − 2)⌋. In this article, we present a number of constructive methods to obtain optimal (v, K2 × Kc, 1)‐RPs meeting the aforementioned bound and establish some existence results. In particular, we show that an optimal (v, K2 × K3, 1)‐RP meeting the bound exists if and only if v ≡ 0 (mod 6). © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Combin Designs 17: 177–189, 2009
Finding blunders in thyroid testing: experience in newborns
Authors: Zilka Laurel J. , Lott John A. , Baker Lula C. , Linard Sharon M. 
Published: July 2008

AbstractWe evaluated thyroxin (T4) and thyroid‐stimulating hormone (TSH) data along with clinical information from 600,000 newborns. We looked for certain combinations of tests and clinical data that were questionable and possibly mistaken. Our approach suggests that certain combinations of test results, especially the presence of missing results deserved further evaluation for possible blunders. We found that missing tests were frequently the result of oversight. The laboratory used the well‐known standard blood‐spot‐on‐filter paper methods for TSH and T4. For quantitation of TSH and T4, we used the time‐resolved fluoroimmunoassay available from Perkin Elmer. We found 56 babies with confirmed primary congenital hypothyroidism (PCH) in a total of 600,000 patients. We also found 18 sets of results in the same 600,000 babies that gave inconsistent findings, had missing values, and (or) possible misinterpretations of the clinical and (or) laboratory data. What is an acceptable mistake rate? All mistakes are unacceptable, but there is likely some irreducible mistake rate, and efforts to reduce the mistake or blunder rate still further may not be cost‐effective. What can be done is to study the mistake rate per 600,000 babies from year to year; the mistake rate should be decreasing or not changing. This assumes a stable cohort of babies; an assumption that may be acceptable. We applied a form of pattern recognition to identify cases of possible blunders and missing values in either the laboratory or clinical data. What is clear is that we apparently identified some blunders. The 18 mistakes per 600,000 babies may be “very low” and acceptable. We recommend that seeking ever decreasing mistakes is the way to go, and the level of monitoring the data should be very intense given the serious consequences of mis‐diagnosed thyroid disorders. J. Clin. Lab. Anal. 22:254–256, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
An abductive perspective on clinical reasoning and case formulation
Authors: Vertue Frances M. , Haig Brian D. 
Published: July 2008

AbstractClinical reasoning has traditionally been understood in terms of either hypothetico‐deductive or Bayesian methods. However, clinical psychology requires an organizing framework that goes beyond the limits of these methods and characterizes the full range of reasoning processes involved in the description, understanding, and formulation of the difficulties presented by clients. In this article, the authors present a framework for clinical reasoning and case formulation that is largely based on a broad abductive theory of scientific method (Haig, 2005b). The abductive theory articulates and combines the processes of phenomena detection and theory construction. Both of these processes are applied to clinical reasoning and case formulation, and a running case example is provided to illustrate the application. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Psychol 64:1–24, 2008.
Determination of the adequate minimum model complexity required in anaerobic bioprocesses using experimental data
Authors: Rodríguez Jorge , Roca Enrique , Lema Juan M , Bernard Olivier 
Published: July 2008

AbstractBACKGROUND: Modelling of anaerobic bioprocesses requires adequate conciliation between model accuracy and complexity. Anaerobic digestion is a highly complex biocatalysed process in which organic (waste) materials are converted into biogas. Complex mathematical models of the process can be difficult to manage, while too simplistic models may be insufficient for specific applications.RESULTS: A technique based on principal component analysis (PCA) is presented to assess the most adequate complexity in anaerobic bioprocess models using preliminary data. The technique is applied to experimental data from a continuously operated pilot‐scale anaerobic digestion process treating diluted wine and to process simulation data generated by a highly complex model (ADM1). The results obtained suggest that models incorporating only four reactions can describe most of the experimental data variability. Similarly, a simplification of the highly complex modified ADM1 used to a four‐reaction model could attain equivalent simulation accuracy. A set of possible four‐reaction networks was evaluated using the PCA information and a best candidate network of reactions is obtained.CONCLUSION: The developed PCA‐based tool allows for the assessment of the adequate complexity in mathematical models of anaerobic digestion of ethanol, a process that appears describable with a high level of accuracy by considering only four biological reactions. Copyright © 2008 Society of Chemical Industry
Saponaria officinalis karyology and karyotype by means of image analyzer and atomic force microscopy
Authors: Di Bucchianico S. , Venora G. , Lucretti S. , Limongi T. , Palladino L. , Poma A. 
Published: July 2008

AbstractThe aim of this work was to offer a contribution to the characterization of taxonomic entity of Saponaria officinalis (2n = 28; an herbaceous perennial species; saporin, a type 1 Ribosome Inactivating Protein, is present in leaves and seeds) by a cytogenetic and karyomorphological approach. We investigated the karyotype's morphometry correlated with Stebbin's symmetric index; the same information has been used for computing the indices resemblance between chromosomes (REC), symmetric indices (SYI), and total form (TF%) which allow the comparison between species and evaluation of karyological evolution. Fluorescence intensities of the stained nuclei were measured by a flow cytometer and, for the first time, values for nuclear DNA content were estimated by comparing nuclei fluorescence intensities of the test population with those of appropriate internal DNA standards. Our study is also aimed to introduce chromosomal volumes, which were determined by atomic force microscopy (AFM), as novel karyomorphological parameter which could allow for chromosome discrimination especially when tiny ones are present. Microsc. Res. Tech., 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Care and parentage in a skin‐feeding caecilian amphibian
Authors: Kupfer Alexander , Wilkinson Mark , Gower David J. , Müller Hendrik , Jehle Robert 
Published: July 2008

AbstractAn exceptional form of parental care has recently been discovered in a poorly known caecilian amphibian. Mothers of the Taita Hills (Kenya) endemic Boulengerula taitanus provide their own skin as a food source for their offspring. Field data suggest that nursing is costly. Females found attending young had a lower body condition and fat body volume than nonbrooding and egg‐incubating females, and the female condition decreased substantially during parental care. Most mothers and their eggs or offspring were found in close proximity to other nesting females, in high‐density nest sites that enhance the potential for social interactions and highlighting the possibility of communal breeding. Parentage was investigated using Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism (AFLP) genetic markers in 29 offspring from six litters guarded by putative mothers. Our data provide the first evidence of multiple paternity in a caecilian, implying that two fathers sired one litter. Some young from two litters had genotypes not matching the guarding female suggesting that not all offspring are cared for by their biological mothers. This study provides evidence for alloparenting in an amphibian with cost‐intensive parental care. J. Exp. Zool. 309A:460–467, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Unilateral ovariectomy increases egg size and reduces follicular atresia in the semelparous coho salmon, Oncorhynchus kisutch
Authors: Luckenbach John Adam , Kusakabe Makoto , Swanson Penny , Young Graham 
Published: July 2008

AbstractUnilateral ovariectomy (ULO, removal of one ovary) is a powerful technique for studying aspects of reproductive physiology, including follicular recruitment and growth. To examine effects of ULO for the first time in a semelparous species, coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) were unilaterally ovariectomized during mid‐vitellogenesis approximately 3 months before spawning. At termination of the study (79 days post‐surgery), single ovaries of ULO fish were gravimetrically equivalent to paired ovaries of sham surgery, control fish. There was no evidence of recruitment of new vitellogenic follicles. Instead, the dramatic increase in ovary mass was attributable to hypertrophy of existing vitellogenic follicles (33% increase in volume) and increased fecundity achieved through a greater than two‐fold reduction in follicular atresia. The composition of whole ovaries on a dry weight basis from ULO fish was greater in protein, but lower in lipid than that of control fish. Expressing the data on a per follicle basis, however, showed that follicles of ULO fish contained more protein, ash, water, and lipid. The results indicate that ULO of coho salmon induces compensatory hypertrophy of existing vitellogenic follicles, while maximizing fecundity through reduction of atresia. Thus, 3 months before spawning, coho salmon exhibit the ability to adjust final egg size and number when faced with significant depletion of ovarian follicles. This in vivo system provides a platform for further study of physiological mechanisms regulating follicular growth and atresia, and the trade‐off between egg size and egg number. J. Exp. Zool. 309A:468–476, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The tissue plasminogen activator gene promoter: a novel tool for radiogenic gene therapy of the prostate?
Authors: Marignol L. , Robson T. , McCarthy H. O. , Worthington J. , Murray M. M. , Hollywood D. , Lawler M. , Hirst D. G. 
Published: July 2008

AbstractBackgroundRadiation therapy is a treatment modality routinely used in cancer management so it is not unexpected that radiation‐inducible promoters have emerged as an attractive tool for controlled gene therapy. The human tissue plasminogen activator gene promoter (t‐PA) has been proposed as a candidate for radiogenic gene therapy, but has not been exploited to date. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the potential of this promoter to drive the expression of a reporter gene, the green fluorescent protein (GFP), in response to radiation exposure.MethodsTo investigate whether the promoter could be used for prostate cancer gene therapy, we initially transfected normal and malignant prostate cells. We then transfected HMEC‐1 endothelial cells and ex vivo rat tail artery and monitored GFP levels using Western blotting following the delivery of single doses of ionizing radiation (2, 4, 6 Gy) to test whether the promoter could be used for vascular targeted gene therapy.ResultsThe t‐PA promoter induced GFP expression up to 6‐fold in all cell types tested in response to radiation doses within the clinical range.ConclusionsThese results suggest that the t‐PA promoter may be incorporated into gene therapy strategies driving therapeutic transgenes in conjunction with radiation therapy. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Significant antitumor activity of oncolytic adenovirus expressing human interferon‐β for hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: He Ling Feng , Gu Jin Fa , Tang Wen Hao , Fan Jun Kai , Wei Na , Zou Wei Guo , Zhang Yan Hong , Zhao Li Li , Liu Xin Yuan 
Published: July 2008

AbstractBackgroundHuman interferon‐β (IFN‐β) has been widely used in gene therapy for its antitumor activity but its therapeutic effect is limited. The conditionally replicative adenovirus ONYX‐015 (a E1B‐55‐kDa‐deleted adenovirus) targets well to tumor cells, but is not potent enough to cause significant tumor regression. To solve these problems, a tumor‐selective replicating adenovirus expressing IFN‐β was constructed in this study.MethodsThe oncolytic adenoviruses were generated by homologous recombination in packaging cells. The expression of the IFN‐β protein was detected by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The antitumor efficacy of ZD55‐IFN‐β was evaluated in cell lines and human hepatocellular carcinoma xenografts in nude mice.ResultsZD55‐IFN‐β can express much more IFN‐β than Ad‐IFN‐β because of the replication of the ZD55 vector. Our data showed that ZD55‐IFN‐β could exert a strong cytopathic effect on tumor cells (about 100‐fold higher than Ad‐IFN‐β or ONYX‐015). Moreover, no obvious cytotoxic or apoptotic effects were detected in normal cells infected with ZD55‐IFN‐β.ConclusionsThe antitumor efficacy of IFN‐β could be significantly improved due to the increased gene expression level from the tumor‐selective replicating vector. The oncolytic adenovirus expressing IFN‐β may provide a novel approach for cancer gene therapy. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Cycle spaces in topological spaces
Authors: Vella Antoine , Richter R. Bruce 
Published: July 2008

AbstractWe develop a general model of edge spaces in order to generalize, unify, and simplify previous work on cycle spaces of infinite graphs. We give simple topological criteria to show that the fundamental cycles of a (generalization of a) spanning tree generate the cycle space in a connected, compact, weakly Hausdorff edge space. Furthermore, in such a space, the orthogonal complement of the bond space is the cycle space. This work unifies the two different notions of cycle space as introduced by Diestel and Kühn [Combinatorica 24 (2004), 68–89 and Eur J Combin 25 (2004), 835–862] and by Bonnington and Richter [J Graph Theory 44 (2003), 132–147]. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Graph Theory 59: 115–144, 2008
The bond and cycle spaces of an infinite graph
Authors: Casteels Karel , Richter R. Bruce 
Published: July 2008

AbstractBonnington and Richter defined the cycle space of an infinite graph to consist of the sets of edges of subgraphs having even degree at every vertex. Diestel and Kühn introduced a different cycle space of infinite graphs based on allowing infinite circuits. A more general point of view was taken by Vella and Richter, thereby unifying these cycle spaces. In particular, different compactifications of locally finite graphs yield different topological spaces that have different cycle spaces. In this work, the Vella‐Richter approach is pursued by considering cycle spaces over all fields, not just ℤ2. In order to understand “orthogonality” relations, it is helpful to consider two different cycle spaces and three different bond spaces. We give an analog of the “edge tripartition theorem” of Rosenstiehl and Read and show that the cycle spaces of different compactifications of a locally finite graph are related. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Graph Theory 59: 162–176, 2008
Theoretical and experimental study of tropylium formation from substituted benzylpyridinium species
Authors: Zins Emilie‐Laure , Pepe Claude , Rondeau David , Rochut Sophie , Galland Nicolas , Tabet Jean‐Claude 
Published: July 2008

AbstractFragmentation pathways of unsubstituted and substituted benzylpyridinium compounds were investigated using mass‐analysed kinetic energy (MIKE) technique in combination with high level of quantum chemical calculations in the gas phase. Fast atom bombardment (FAB) source was used for ionisation of the studied compounds. The formation of both benzylium and tropylium species were investigated. Hybrid Hartree‐Fock/Density Functional Theory calculations have been performed to assess the geometries and the energies of the transition states and intermediates. For each cases, different reaction pathways were investigated, and particularly in the case of the formation of tropylium species, the formation of the seven‐membered ring before or after the loss of pyridine were studied. The effect of para‐methyl and para‐methoxy substituents on the activation energy of the rearrangement process to form thermodynamically stable tropylium compounds has been studied. Theoretical calculations showed competition between direct bond cleavage and rearrangement reactions to form benzylium and tropylium compounds, respectively. Experimental results also suggested that the rearrangement process takes place to yield stable tropylium under “soft ionisation techniques”, such as FAB. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Activation of adenosine A1receptor–induced neural stem cell proliferation via MEK/ERK and Akt signaling pathways
Authors: Migita Hideyuki , Kominami Katsuya , Higashida Mami , Maruyama Rumi , Tuchida Nobuko , McDonald Fiona , Shimada Fumiki , Sakurada Kazuhiro 
Published: July 2008

AbstractAdenosine, a modulator of neuronal function in the mammalian central nervous system, exerts a neuroprotective effect via the adenosine A1receptor; however, its effect on neural stem cells (NSCs) remains unclear. Because adenosine is released in response to pathological conditions and NSCs play a key role in neuroregeneration, we tested the hypothesis that adenosine is capable of stimulating NSC proliferation. We demonstrated that NSCs dominantly express adenosine A1and A2Breceptors. Adenosine and the adenosine A1receptor agonist cyclopentyladenosine (CPA) increased proliferation of NSCs, and this CPA‐induced cell proliferation was attenuated by the A1antagonist 8‐cyclopentyl‐1,3‐dipropylxanthine (DPCPA). CPA also induced phosphorylation of extracellular signal–regulated kinase (ERK), mitogen‐activated protein kinase/ERK kinase (MEK), and Akt, and their phosphorylation was inhibited by DPCPA. In addition, CPA‐induced cell proliferation was inhibited by MEK and Akt inhibitors. These results suggest that activation of adenosine A1receptor–stimulated proliferation of NSCs occurs via MEK/ERK and Akt signaling pathways. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.