bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
“Er ist das Maß”:1 Franz Kafka in Libuše Moníková
Authors: Haines Brigid 
Published: January 2007

ABSTRACTThis article explores the reception of Franz Kafka in two novels by the Czech writer, Libuše Moníková (1945–98). In Pavane für eine verstorbene Infantin (1983) Moníková does battle with Kafka's legacy in order to assert her own literary presence. The next novel, Die Fassade (1987), testifies to her success in finding her own voice, but this did not mean holding Kafka in any less high regard: this work, whose central metaphor – a Bohemian castle – invokes Kafka directly, explores the view of Kafka's works with which Milan Kundera also engaged, namely that they anticipated the structures and absurdities of totalitarian rule. My reading of the literary encounter between Kafka and Moníková places it within its historical context, taking account both of Kafka's political significance in Czechoslovakia during the 1980s and of his popularity in the West. As a Czech from Prague and a trained Germanist working in the Federal Republic of Germany, Moníková was uniquely placed to appreciate both these aspects. I employ the concept of a minor literature, developed by Deleuze and Guattari to describe Kafka's work, in order to explore Moníková's similarly ambiguous place on the border between Czech and German culture.
Human seminal plasma allergy – a rare cause of recurrent anaphylaxis
Authors: Nist Gabriele C. , Von Den Driesch Peter 
Published: January 2007

SummaryAllergies to sperm are very uncommon. A 23‐year old woman with atopic dermatitis complained of three attacks of angioedema, urticaria, wheezing and weakness. When questioned about factors causing exercise‐induced anaphylaxis, the patient reported having had sexual intercourse with the same partner one hour before each event. When using condoms, no symptoms occurred. Human seminal plasma allergy was confirmed by positive skin testing with the partner's sperm. Specific IgE‐antibodies against human seminal plasma were not found. The patient received an emergency kit for anaphylaxis.
Upstream AP1- and CREB-Binding Sites Confer High Basal Activity on the Adeno-Associated Virus Type 5 Capsid Gene Promoter
Authors: Ye Chaoyang , Pintel David J. 
Published: January 2007

ABSTRACT
In contrast to the prototype adeno-associated virus type 2 (AAV2), the capsid gene P41 promoter of AAV5, within viral constructs that lack inverted terminal repeat sequences, displays a high basal level of expression in 293 cells in the absence of coinfecting adenovirus. Here we demonstrate that this was due to differences in the relative strengths of the core promoter elements and to the presence of active binding sites for the transcription factors CREB and AP1 within the upstream region of P41 that are absent from the AAV2 capsid gene promoter P40. These differences also governed the relative basal activity of the AAV capsid gene promoters within near-full-length viral genomes.
A Structured Viroid RNA Serves as a Substrate for Dicer-Like Cleavage To Produce Biologically Active Small RNAs but Is Resistant to RNA-Induced Silencing Complex-Mediated Degradation
Authors: Itaya Asuka , Zhong Xuehua , Bundschuh Ralf , Qi Yijun , Wang Ying , Takeda Ryuta , Harris Ann R. , Molina Carlos , Nelson Richard S. , Ding Biao 
Published: January 2007

ABSTRACT

RNA silencing is a potent means of antiviral defense in plants and animals. A hallmark of this defense response is the production of 21- to 24-nucleotide viral small RNAs via mechanisms that remain to be fully understood. Many viruses encode suppressors of RNA silencing, and some viral RNAs function directly as silencing suppressors as counterdefense. The occurrence of viroid-specific small RNAs in infected plants suggests that viroids can trigger RNA silencing in a host, raising the question of how these noncoding and unencapsidated RNAs survive cellular RNA-silencing systems. We address this question by characterizing the production of small RNAs of
Potato spindle tuber viroid
(srPSTVds) and investigating how PSTVd responds to RNA silencing. Our molecular and biochemical studies provide evidence that srPSTVds were derived mostly from the secondary structure of viroid RNAs. Replication of PSTVd was resistant to RNA silencing, although the srPSTVds were biologically active in guiding RNA-induced silencing complex (RISC)-mediated cleavage, as shown with a sensor system. Further analyses showed that without possessing or triggering silencing suppressor activities, the PSTVd secondary structure played a critical role in resistance to RISC-mediated cleavage. These findings support the hypothesis that some infectious RNAs may have evolved specific secondary structures as an effective means to evade RNA silencing in addition to encoding silencing suppressor activities. Our results should have important implications in further studies on RNA-based mechanisms of host-pathogen interactions and the biological constraints that shape the evolution of infectious RNA structures.
Anthropometric measures and nutritional status in a healthy elderly population
Authors: Sánchez-García Sergio , García-Peña Carmen , Duque-López María Ximena , Juárez-Cedillo Teresa , Cortés-Núñez Alma Rosa , Reyes-Beaman Sandra 
Published: January 2007

Abstract

Background
Anthropometric evaluation is an essential feature of geriatric nutritional evaluation for determining malnutrition, being overweight, obesity, muscular mass loss, fat mass gain and adipose tissue redistribution. Anthropometric indicators are used to evaluate the prognosis of chronic and acute diseases, and to guide medical intervention in the elderly. We evaluated anthropometric measurements and nutritional status as they relate to age and gender in healthy elderly people.

Methods
The study analyzed data from the national survey "Health needs and health service use by older-than-60-year-old beneficiaries of the Mexican Institute of Social Security (IMSS)". The present study included only individuals who reported no chronic disease in the last 20 years and had no hospital admission in the two months prior to the survey. Anthropometric measurements included weight, height, body mass index (BMI), body circumference (arm, waist, hip and calf), waist to hip ratio (WHR), elbow amplitude and knee-heel length.

Results
Application of the inclusion criteria resulted in a study population elderly of 1,968, representing 12.2% of the original number in the national survey in urban areas beneficiaries of the IMSS. The study population comprised 870 women and 1,098 men, with a mean age of 68.6 years. The average weights were 62.7 kg for women and 70.3 kg for men (p < 0.05), and the mean heights were 1.52 m for women and 1.63 m for men (p < 0.05). Age related changes in anthropometric values were identified. BMI values indicated that 62.3% of the population was overweight, and 73.6% of women and 16.5% of men had high fat tissue distribution.

Conclusion
Our findings suggest that applying the BMI thresholds that identify being overweight in the general adult population may lead to an overestimation in the number of overweight elderly Similar problems appear to exist when assessing waist circumference and WHR values. Prospective studies are required to determine the associations between health and BMI, waist circumference and WHR in the elderly.
Cover Picture: Imaging the Fluorescence Decay Lifetime of a Conjugated‐Polymer Blend By Using a Scanning Near‐Field Optical Microscope (Adv. Mater. 1/2007)
Authors: Cadby A. J. , Dean R. , Elliott C. , Jones R. A. L. , Fox A. M. , Lidzey D. G. 
Published: January 2007

AbstractThe cover image shows the surface topography of a phase‐separated blend of two conjugated polymers. On p. 107, Lidzey and co‐workers show that the fluorescence decay lifetime of a conjugated polymer in such a blend can vary significantly between the different phase‐separated domains. This variation results in a marked dependence of the photoluminescence quantum efficiency on the relative blend composition.
Aggressive T‐cell large granular lymphocyte leukemia: A case report and review of the literature
Authors: Alekshun Todd J. , Tao Jianguo , Sokol Lubomir 
Published: January 2007

AbstractThe majority of patients with T‐cell large granular lymphocyte (LGL) leukemia will have an indolent clinical course. Herein, we report a case of an aggressive T‐cell LGL leukemia in a previously healthy 42‐year‐old Caucasian male who presented with acute onset of B‐symptoms, hepatosplenomegaly, lymphocytosis, moderate anemia, and thrombocytopenia. Immunophenotypically, the malignant cells co‐expressed CD3+CD8+CD56+ markers and the T‐cell receptor beta (TCR β) gene demonstrated clonal rearrangement. The patient was treated with an intensive chemotherapeutic regimen (hyper‐CVAD) and he achieved a complete remission. A systematic review of all available English literature revealed 12 well‐described cases of aggressive T‐cell LGL leukemia suggesting that this variant is a new and distinct entity in the spectrum of LGL disorders. Am. J. Hematol., 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Synthesis, hole mobility, and photovoltaic properties of two alternating poly[3‐(hex‐1‐enyl)thiophene‐co‐thiophene]s
Authors: Zhou Erjun , Tan Zhan'ao , He Youjun , Yang Chunhe , Li Yongfang 
Published: January 2007

AbstractTwo alternating poly[3‐(hex‐1‐enyl)thiophene‐co‐thiophene]s, Pa (with 77% trans‐isomer and 23% cis‐isomer) and Pb (with 100% trans‐isomer), were synthesized by the coupling of 2,5‐dibromo‐3‐hex‐1‐enyl‐thiophene to 2,5‐bis(tributylstannyl)thiophene via a Stille reaction and compared with poly(3‐hexylthiophene‐co‐thiophene) (P1) to study the effect of changing the carbon(α)–carbon(β) single bond into a carbon–carbon double bond on the properties of the polymers. From P1 to Pb and to Pa, the ultraviolet–visible absorption peaks of the polymers were slightly redshifted, and their electrochemical bandgaps decreased by 0.05–0.1 eV. X‐ray diffraction analysis indicated that Pa had a better lamellar structure than Pb. The hole mobilities of the three polymers, determined with the space‐charge‐limited current model, were 5.23 × 10−6 (P1), 2.34 × 10−4 (Pb), and 7.02 × 10−4 cm2/V s (Pa). The power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) of polymer solar cells based on the three polymers were 0.87 (P1), 1.16 (Pb), and 1.70% (Pa). The increase in the hole mobility and PCE revealed the important effect of changing the carbon(α)–carbon(β) single bond into a carbon–carbon double bond on the properties of polythiophene derivatives containing 3‐alkylthiophene. The strategy used in this work enlarges the thinking to obtain novel, efficient donor polymers for optoelectronic applications. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 629–638, 2007
Detection ofcis‐vaccenic acid in palm oil by13C NMR spectroscopy
Authors: Ng Soon , Koh Heng Fui 
Published: January 2007

AbstractThe NMR signals of the carbonyl and olefinic carbons of the oils of some species of palm show some relatively weak peaks at characteristic positions that have not been identified previously. These peaks are most intense in the oil of the speciesElaeis oleifera. On the basis of the chemical shift data of the carbonyl and olefinic carbons of several synthetic monoenic triacylglycerols and of the packed‐column gas chromatogram of the methyl esters of the oil ofE. oleifera, the peaks in question are assigned tocis‐vaccenic acid (18∶1,[cis]‐11).13C NMR spectroscopy is an effective technique for the detection ofcis‐vaccenic acid and other monounsaturated fatty acids in vegetable oils or fats.
Phosphatidylcholine synthesis in the rat: The substrate for methylation and regulation by choline
Authors: Datko Anne H. , Aksamit Robert R. , Mudd S. Harvey 
Published: January 2007

AbstractTwo lines of evidence led us to reexamine the possibility that methylation of phosphoethanolamine and its partially methylated derivatives, in addition to methylation of the corresponding phosphatidyl derivatives, plays a role in mammalian phosphatidylcholine biosynthesis: (a) Results obtained by Salerno and Beeler with rat [Salerno, D. M. and Beeler, D. A. (1973)Biochim. Biophys. Acta 326, 325–338] appear to strongly support such a role for methylation of phosphobases; (b) Such reactions have recently been shown to play major roles in phosphatidylcholine synthesis by higher plants [see Datko, A. H. and Mudd, S. H. (1988)Plant Physiol. 88, 854–861 and references therein]. We found that, following coninuous labeling of rat liver with L‐[methyl‐3H]methionine for 10.4 min (intraperitoneal administration) or for 0.75 min (intraportal administration), virtually no3H was detected in methylated derivatives of phosphoethanolamine, but readily detectable amounts of3H were present in the base moiety of each methylated derivative of phosphatidylethanolamine. Thus, there was no indication that phospho‐base methylation makes a significant contribution. Studies of cultured rat hepatoma cells showed definitively for the first time in a mammalian system that choline deprivation up‐regulates the rate of flow of methyl groups originating in methionine into phosphatidylethanolamine and derivatives. Even under these conditions, methylation of phosphoethanolamine bases appeared to play a negligible role.
Separation of Triacylglycerol Species from Interesterified Oils by High‐Performance Liquid Chromatography
Authors: Lee Jeung Hee , Jones Kerby C. , Foglia Thomas A. , Nuñez Alberto , Lee Jong Ho , Kim Yu Mi , Vu Phuong‐Lan , Lee Ki‐Teak 
Published: January 2007

AbstractUsing a 1,3‐regioselective lipase as a catalyst, soybean oil and olive oil were interesterified with the short‐chain triacylglycerol tributyrin (1,2,3‐tributyrylglycerol) to produce mixtures of structured triacylglycerols (SL‐TAG). The SL‐TAG were purified by column chromatography and analyzed by both normal‐phase (silica column; NPSIL) and reversed‐phase [octadecyl silane (ODS) column] high‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Individual SL‐TAG molecular species were detected by evaporative light‐scattering detection, and characterized by mass spectrometry. NPSIL HPLC successfully separated the newly synthesized SL‐TAG into two groups of TAG: one composed of one butyryl group and two long‐chain fatty acyl groups (from soybean or olive oil); the second was composed of two butyryl groups and one long‐chain fatty acyl group. The SL‐TAG species were further analyzed by reversed‐phase HPLC which gave a more detailed separation of the TAG species present in the two SL‐TAG.
Performance of the National Nosocomial Infections Surveillance Risk Index in Predicting Surgical Site Infection in Australia
Authors: Friedman N. Deborah , Bull Ann L. , Russo Philip L. , Gurrin Lyle , Richards Michael 
Published: January 2007

Background.The Victorian Hospital Acquired Infection Surveillance System (VICNISS) hospital-acquired infection surveillance system was established in 2002 in Victoria, Australia, and collates surgical site infection (SSI) surveillance data from public hospitals in Australia.Objective.To evaluate the association between the US National Nosocomial Infections Surveillance (NNIS) system's risk index and SSI rates for 7 surgical procedures.Methods.SSI surveillance was performed with NNIS definitions and methods for surgical procedures performed between November 2002 and September 2004. Correlations were assessed using the Goodman-Kruskal γ statistic.Results.Data were submitted for the following numbers of procedures: appendectomy, 545; coronary artery bypass graft (CABG), 4,632; cholecystectomy, 1,001; colon surgery, 623; cesarean section, 4,857; hip arthroplasty, 3,825; and knee arthroplasty, 2,416. NNIS risk index and increasing SSI rate were moderately well correlated for appendectomy (γ = 0.55), colon surgery (γ = 0.48), and cesarean section (γ = 0.42). A fairly positive correlation was found for cholecystectomy (γ = 0.17), hip arthroplasty (γ = 0.2), and knee arthroplasty (γ = 0.16). However, for CABG surgery, a poor association was found (γ = 0.02).Conclusions.The NNIS risk index was positively correlated with an increasing SSI rate for all 7 procedures; the strongest correlation was found for appendectomy, cesarean section, and colon surgery, and the poorest correlation was found for CABG surgery. We believe that risk stratification with the NNIS risk index is appropriate for comparison of data for most procedures and superior to use of no risk adjustment. However, for some procedures, particularly CABG, further studies of alternative risk indexes are needed to better stratify patients.
The Benign Lymphoepithelial Cyst and a Classification System for Lymphocytic Parotid Gland Enlargement in the Pediatric HIV Population
Authors: Dave Sandeep P. , Pernas Francisco G. , Roy Soham 
Published: January 2007

AbstractObjectives/Hypothesis: The objectives of this study are to present a series of parotid gland benign lymphoepithelial cysts (BLEC) in HIV‐positive children and to propose a three‐tiered classification system for HIV‐associated lymphocytic parotid gland enlargement.Study Design: The authors conducted a retrospective case series and literature review.Methods: The authors conducted a retrospective chart review of four pediatric patients with HIV‐associated parotid gland BLEC who presented to a tertiary care university medical center.Results: Four pediatric HIV‐positive patients (four girls; age range, 7–17 years [mean age, 12.8 years]) were diagnosed with parotid gland BLEC. Two patients presented with acute parotitis and the others presented with asymptomatic enlargement of the parotid glands. Three patients had bilateral parotid gland BLEC. The other patient demonstrated persistent generalized lymphadenopathy (PGL) of the intraparotid and cervical lymph nodes and early BLEC limited to the left parotid gland. One patient also displayed parotid gland microcalcifications and cystic changes in the adenoids, neither of which have been described previously in the setting of HIV‐associated BLEC. Computed tomography was performed on all patients, and one patient underwent fine needle aspiration to confirm the diagnosis. All patients opted for observation and antiretroviral medication therapy as long‐term treatment. Based on these findings and a review of the literature, we propose a three‐tiered classification system for lymphocytic parotid gland enlargement in the HIV population: 1) PGL, 2) benign lymphoepithelial lesions (BLEL), and 3) BLEC.Conclusions: This series equals the largest pediatric series of HIV‐associated parotid gland BLEC in the English literature. One patient in our series also demonstrated PGL; there were no cases of BLEL. A classification system based on morphology is proposed to help resolve the confusion in terminology used to describe this entity. Most pediatric HIV‐infected patients with parotid gland BLEC can be treated with observation and antiretroviral medication therapy. For others, who are symptomatic or more concerned about their cosmetic appearance, sclerotherapy may offer a reasonable option. Radiation therapy and surgery should be reserved for select cases.
Time‐dependent clearance of mycophenolic acid in renal transplant recipients
Authors: Van Hest Reinier M. , Van Gelder Teun , Bouw René , Goggin Timothy , Gordon Robert , Mamelok Richard D. , Mathot Ron A. 
Published: January 2007

AimsPharmacokinetic studies of the immunosuppressive compound mycophenolic acid (MPA) have shown a structural decrease in clearance (CL) over time after renal transplantation. The aim of this study was to characterize the time‐dependent CL of MPA by means of a population pharmacokinetic meta‐analysis, and to test whether it can be described by covariate effects.MethodsOne thousand eight hundred and ninety‐four MPA concentration‐time profiles from 468 renal transplant patients (range 1–9 profiles per patient) were analyzed retrospectively by nonlinear mixed effect modelling. Sampling occasions ranged from day 1–10 years after transplantation.ResultsThe pharmacokinetics of MPA were described by a two‐compartment model with time‐lagged first order absorption, and a first‐order term for time‐dependent CL. The model predicted the mean CL to decrease from 35 l h−1 (CV = 44%) in the first week after transplantation to 17 l h−1 (CV = 38%) after 6 months. In a covariate model without a term for time‐dependent CL, changes during the first 6 months after transplantation in creatinine clearance from 19 to 71 ml min−1, in albumin concentration from 35 to 40 g l−1, in haemoglobin from 9.7 to 12 g dl−1 and in cyclosporin predose concentration from 225 to 100 ng ml−1 corresponded with a decrease of CL from 32 to 19 l h−1. Creatinine clearance, albumin concentration, haemoglobin and cyclosporin predose concentration explained, respectively, 19%, 12%, 4% and 3% of the within‐patient variability in MPA CL.ConclusionsBy monitoring creatinine clearance, albumin concentration, haemoglobin and cyclosporin predose concentration, changes in MPA exposure over time can be predicted. Such information can be used to optimize therapy with mycophenolate mofetil.
Characterization of a petunia acetyltransferase involved in the biosynthesis of the floral volatile isoeugenol
Authors: Dexter Richard , Qualley Anthony , Kish Christine M. , Ma Choong Je , Koeduka Takao , Nagegowda Dinesh A. , Dudareva Natalia , Pichersky Eran , Clark David 
Published: January 2007

SummaryPetunia flower petals emit large amounts of isoeugenol, which has been shown to be synthesized by isoeugenol synthase (PhIGS1) from an ester of coniferyl alcohol, hypothesized to be coniferyl acetate. This paper describes the identification and characterization of a novel petunia gene encoding an enzyme belonging to the BAHD acyltransferase family whose expression correlates with isoeugenol biosynthesis. RNAi suppression of this gene results in inhibition of isoeugenol biosynthesis. Biochemical characterization of the protein encoded by this gene showed that it has acetyltransferase activity and is most efficient with coniferyl alcohol among the alcohol substrates tested. Overall, these data support the conclusion that coniferyl acetate is the substrate of isoeugenol synthase.
Use of isolated infected spores to determine the sporocidal efficacy of two commercial antifungal rinses against Microsporum canis
Authors: Moriello Karen A. , Verbrugge Maria 
Published: January 2007

AbstractIn this study, isolated infective Microsporum canis spores were used in an in vitro test model to compare the sporocidal activity of two commercial topical antifungal rinses. The two commercial test solutions used in the study were a lime sulphur solution 97.8% (LymDyp®) and miconazole base 5.2%/chlorhexidine gluconate 5.9% mixture (Malaseb® Concentrate Rinse). Water and household bleach were used as controls. Isolated infective spores were harvested from infected hairs and 500 µL of the spore suspension was incubated with an equal volume of dilutions of lime sulphur or the miconazole/chlorhexidine gluconate combination for 5 min and 4 h followed by fungal culture. There were too many to count colonies on the water control plates. Lime sulphur was 100% sporocidal at all test dilutions at both times. Miconazole/chlorhexidine gluconate was 100% sporocidal at all but the 1 : 128 dilution after 5 min of incubation and 100% sporocidal when incubated with spores for 4 h. It is not known if the two products have similar antifungal activity against infective spores on or within hairs; however, based on the findings of this study there is good evidence to recommend either rinse as an adjuvant topical therapy in a dermatophyte treatment and control program.