bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Simultaneous determination of low‐molecular‐weight organic acids and chlorinated acid herbicides in environmental water by a portable CE system with contactless conductivity detection
Authors: Xu Yan , Wang Weilong , Li Sam Fong Yau 
Published: April 2007

AbstractThis report describes a method to simultaneously determine 11 low‐molecular‐weight (LMW) organic acids and 16 chlorinated acid herbicides within a single run by a portable CE system with contactless conductivity detection (CCD) in a poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA)‐coated capillary. Under the optimized condition, the LODs of CE‐CCD ranged from 0.056 to 0.270 ppm, which were better than for indirect UV (IUV) detection of the 11 LMW organic acids or UV detection of the 16 chlorinated acid herbicides. Combined with an on‐line field‐amplified sample stacking (FASS) procedure, sensitivity enhancement of 632‐ to 1078‐fold was achieved, with satisfactory reproducibility (RSDs of migration times less than 2.2%, and RSDs of peak areas less than 5.1%). The FASS‐CE‐CCD method was successfully applied to determine the two groups of acidic pollutants in two kinds of environmental water samples. The portable CE‐CCD system shows advantages such as simplicity, cost effectiveness, and miniaturization. Therefore, the method presented in this report has great potential for onsite analysis of various pollutants at the trace level.
Octanol‐based aroma chemicals, Part 4. A simple synthesis of dihydrojasmone
Authors: Zope Dhananjay D. , Patnekar Shridhar G. , Kanetkar Vinod R. 
Published: April 2007

AbstractWe have developed a new synthetic method for the preparation of dihydrojasmone via a five‐step synthesis from n‐octanol. Oxidation of n‐octanol gave n‐octanal, which after Mannich reaction and hydrogenation yields 2‐methyl octanal. Knoevenagel condensation of this substituted aldehyde gave 4‐methyldec‐3‐enoic acid, which on cyclization furnished dihydrojasmone. The process is simple and may be substituted for the existing process of synthesizing dihydrojasmone by the use of 1,4‐dicarbonyl ketones. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A Numerical model based on the mixed interface‐tracking/interface‐capturing technique (MITICT) for flows with fluid–solid and fluid–fluid interfaces
Authors: Cruchaga Marcela A. , Celentano Diego J. , Tezduyar Tayfun E. 
Published: April 2007

AbstractWe propose a numerical model for computation of flow problems that involve both fluid–solid and fluid–fluid interfaces. The model is based on the mixed interface‐tracking/interface‐capturing technique (MITICT), which was introduced earlier for problems that involve both fluid–solid interfaces that are accurately tracked with a moving mesh method and fluid–fluid interfaces that are too complex to track
and therefore treated with an interface‐capturing technique. In our numerical model, fluid–solid interfaces are handled with the moving Lagrangian interface technique (MLIT) and fluid–fluid interfaces with the edge‐tracked interface locator technique (ETILT). The mixed technique is tested in computation of a fluid–particle interaction problem in the presence of a fluid–fluid interface impacted by the particle. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Bacteria and PAMPs activate nuclear factor κB and Gro production in a subset of olfactory ensheathing cells and astrocytes but not in Schwann cells
Authors: Vincent Adele J. , Choi‐Lundberg Derek L. , Harris Julie A. , West Adrian K. , Chuah Meng Inn 
Published: April 2007

AbstractThe primary olfactory nerves provide uninterrupted conduits for neurotropic pathogens to access the brain from the nasal cavity, yet infection via this route is uncommon. It is conceivable that olfactory ensheathing cells (OECs), which envelope the olfactory nerves along their entire length, provide a degree of immunological protection against such infections. We hypothesized that cultured OECs would be able to mount a biologically significant response to bacteria and pathogen‐associated molecular patterns (PAMPs). The response of OECs to Escherichia coli (E. coli) and various PAMPs was compared to that of Schwann cells (SCs), astrocytes (ACs), and microglia (MG). A subset of OECs displayed nuclear localization of nuclear factor κB), an inflammatory transcription factor, after treatment with E. coli (20% ± 5%), lipopolysacchride (33% ± 9%), and Poly I:C (25% ± 5%), but not with peptidoglycan or CpG oligonucleotides. ACs displayed a similar level of activation to these treatments, and in addition responded to peptidoglycan. The activation of OECs and ACs was enhanced by coculture with MG (56% ± 16% and 85% ± 13%, respectively). In contrast, SCs did not respond to any treatment or to costimulation by MG. Immunostaining for the chemokine Gro demonstrated a functional response that was consistent with NFκB activation. OECs expressed mRNA for Toll‐like receptors (TLRs) 2 and 4, but only TLR4 protein was detected by Western blotting and immunohistochemistry. The results demonstrate that OECs possess the cellular machinery that permits them to respond to certain bacterial ligands, and may have an innate immune function in protecting the CNS against infection. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Predictability of drug expenditures: an application using morbidity data
Authors: García‐Goñi Manuel , Ibern Pere 
Published: April 2007

AbstractThe growth of pharmaceutical expenditure and its prediction is a major concern for policymakers and healthcare managers. This paper explores different predictive models to estimate future drug expenses, using demographic and morbidity individual information from an integrated healthcare delivery organization in Catalonia for years 2002 and 2003. The morbidity information consists of codified health encounters grouped through the Clinical Risk Groups (CRGs). We estimate pharmaceutical costs using several model specifications, and CRGs as risk adjusters, providing an alternative way of obtaining high predictive power comparable to other estimations of drug expenditures in the literature. These results have clear implications for the use of risk adjustment and CRGs in setting the premiums for pharmaceutical benefits. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Surgery for head and neck skin tumors in the elderly
Authors: Dhiwakar Muthuswamy , Khan Najib A. , McClymont Leo G. 
Published: April 2007

AbstractBackground.Our aim was to determine the surgical characteristics of an elderly cohort of patients undergoing resection of head and neck skin neoplasms.Methods.All cases of patients with head and neck skin neoplasms (excluding malignant melanoma) who underwent surgical resection in a regional referral center over a 10‐year period were retrospectively reviewed. The study group comprised 152 patients (208 cases) aged ≥80 years. They were compared with 311 patients (430 cases) aged <80 years.Results.Elderly patients had higher Charlson comorbidity index, American Society of Anesthesiologists' physical status scores, dementia, and aspirin intake (all p < .05). They also had a higher incidence of scalp involvement and lower incidence of nasal involvement (both p < .05). Elderly patients had a larger lesion size at presentation and required sacrifice of a greater area of skin (both p < .05). However, they also underwent more local anesthetic procedures, although the need for local flap or skin graft repair was not increased. Two elderly patients had intraoperative tachyarrythmias induced by local anesthesia. However, no patient died within 30 days of surgery, and wound complication rate and disease‐free survival were comparable to younger patients.Conclusion.With careful attention to comorbid illness and perioperative monitoring, surgical resection of head and neck skin neoplasms is safe in the elderly. Lesions are more advanced at presentation and hence require sacrifice of a larger area of skin to obtain macroscopic clearance. Yet for the majority of lesions, local anesthesia is adequate and surgical resection and simple skin closure can be accomplished without the need for complex flap or skin graft reconstructions. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck, 2007
Locoregional control in patients with palpable medullary thyroid cancer: Results of standardized compartment‐oriented surgery
Authors: de Groot Jan Willem B. , Links Thera P. , Sluiter Willem J. , Wolffenbuttel Bruce H. R. , Wiggers Theo , Plukker John Th. M. 
Published: April 2007

AbstractBackground.Extent of neck dissection is controversial in patients with palpable medullary thyroid cancer (MTC).Methods.We evaluated 64 MTC patients (19 hereditary, 45 sporadic) with palpable thyroid nodules (group 1, n = 35) or palpable lymph node metastases (group 2, n = 29). Standard surgery included total thyroidectomy, central compartment dissection, and additional neck dissection on indication.Results.In group 1, 40% of the patients were cured. Thirty‐one percent of all patients had central, 23% ipsilateral, 14% contralateral, and 14% mediastinal, metastases. Fifty‐one percent developed locoregional recurrence. Locoregional recurrence (p = .043) and reoperations (p = .020) were noted more often after a less than standard initial procedure. In group 2, no patients were cured. All had central, 93% ipsilateral, 45% contralateral, and 52% mediastinal metastases. Thirty‐eight percent developed locoregional recurrence.Conclusions.Locoregional recurrence frequently occurs in palpable MTC, and tumor control may be improved by standard central, bilateral, and upper mediastinal neck dissection. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck, 2007
Mycobacterium fortuitum–induced persistent parotitis: Successful therapy with clarithromycin and ciprofloxacin
Authors: Chen Chien‐Cheng , Chen Shiou‐Yi , Chen Yun‐Sung , Lo Cheng‐Yu , Cheng Po‐Wen 
Published: April 2007

AbstractBackground.Parotitis caused by nontuberculous mycobacteria, a very rare disease entity, has never been reported to be caused by Mycobacterium fortuitum (M. fortuitum) in the literature.Methods and Results.An 8‐year‐old girl was seen with painful swelling of the right parotid gland despite antibiotic treatment of more than 1 month. Elevated serum amylase activity and diffuse contrast‐enhanced CT of the parotid gland confirmed the diagnosis of parotitis. Histopathological study of specimens taken from the right parotid tail mass showed granulomatous inflammation with acid‐fast positive bacilli; culture later confirmed M. fortuitum. After administration of clarithromycin and ciprofloxacin for 9 consecutive months, the parotitis and parotid tail mass were completely resolved at follow‐up examination.Conclusion.To our knowledge, this is the first case report of parotitis caused by M. fortuitum and its successful medical treatment. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck, 2007
What is the best way to represent surface conductance for a range of vegetated sites?
Authors: Komatsu Hikaru , Hotta Norifumi , Kume Tomonori 
Published: April 2007

AbstractSurface conductance Gs is a significant parameter for indicating the evaporative and photosynthetic properties of a vegetated surface. When comparing Gs values between different observation sites, some studies have used Gsmax and others have used Ĝsmax (where Gsmax is the maximum Gs value measured during the measurement period, and Ĝsmax is the maximum Gs value obtained with a vapour pressure deficit (VPD) of ≥ 1·0 kPa during the measurement period).In this study, we demonstrate a clear justification for using Ĝsmax instead of Gsmax when comparing Gs values between different sites. We examined whether both Ĝsmax and Gsmax lead to the same conclusions in classifying vegetated sites. Komatsu (2003b) [Hydrological Processes 17: 2503–2512] reported a clear relationship between canopy height h and Ĝsmax for coniferous forests with a projected leaf area index (LAI) of ≥ 3·0. We examined not only the relationship between h and Ĝsmax but also the relationship between h and Gsmax for coniferous forests with a projected LAI of ≥ 3·0.Both Ĝsmax and Gsmax decreased with increasing h. However, the relationship between h and Gsmax was less well defined than the relationship between h and Ĝsmax because of biased Gsmax data. Consequently, we conclude that Ĝsmax is a more appropriate index than Gsmax to represent Gs for sites with different vegetation. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Impact of long‐term water and energy consumption in Tokyo on wastewater effluent: implications for the thermal degradation of urban streams
Authors: Kinouchi Tsuyoshi 
Published: April 2007

AbstractThe heated effluent of urban wastewater results in the thermal degradation of urban streams. To better understand the process of wastewater heating and its thermal impact on streams, a watershed‐scale water and heat balance model which accounts for water and energy supply, consumption, and transport processes within urban areas is proposed to quantify the annual and monthly mean effluent temperatures from treatment plants. The model is then applied to the central Tokyo area and shown to accurately reproduce the increase in the measured effluent temperatures over the past 34 years. The marked increasing trend in effluent temperature is attributed mainly to the increased heating of wastewater that occurred over this time period. Although there was also an increase in supply water temperature during this period, the effect of this on effluent temperature is shown to be relatively small. Of the three energy‐use sectors considered in this publication, the residential sector had the largest increase in estimated drain temperature. This increase is probably due to the increase in the amount of water and energy used for bathing, which is likely to be due to the increasing use of showers and the increasing size of bathtubs. In the commercial sector, the rise in calculated drain temperature is shown to originate from the increasing floor area and the resulting increase in energy consumption. It is shown that energy‐use changes in the residential sector are the primary cause of the rising effluent temperatures in the central Tokyo area. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Field experiment on transpiration from isolated urban plants
Authors: Hagishima Aya , Narita Ken‐ich , Tanimoto Jun 
Published: April 2007

AbstractThe effect of pot plant density on plant transpiration rate was examined in a series of field experiments. Three spatial densities were created using 203 nearly homogeneous pot plants; the ratios of plant separation to plant height were 0·25, 0·5, and 3 for the ‘high,’ ‘medium,’ and ‘low’ groups respectively. The daily transpiration rate of 55 pot plants was measured for 28 days. During that period, the plants were randomly rotated each day to statistically eliminate individual characteristics and to successfully ascertain the effect of plant spatial density on the transpiration rate. As a best‐case scenario, the soil for each plant was saturated at the start of each experiment. The results showed that the transpiration rate of potted plants in the ‘low’ group was about 1·5 times greater than that of the ‘high’ group. On the basis of the transpiration rate per unit of vegetation area projected on a horizontal plain, which is a general index used in meteorological modeling, the plants in the ‘low’ group evaporated 2·7 times as much water as those in the centre of the ‘high’ group. These results indicate the need for modified models that can consider the relative increase in evapotranspiration from vegetation in small‐size plants or low spatial density of vegetation to estimate latent heat flux in urban areas. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Application of in vivo microdialysis for studying the efficacy of protective preparations against sulfur mustard penetrating the skin
Authors: Karvaly G. , Gachályi A. , Fürész J. 
Published: April 2007

AbstractSubcutaneous microdialysis was employed for monitoring thiodiglycol (2,2′‐thiodiethanol, TDG) levels with the aim of characterizing the transdermal penetration of topically applied liquid sulfur mustard (2,2′‐dichlorodiethyl sulfide, SM) in rats. TDG levels, evaluated in 20 min dialysates collected over a 6 h sampling period, were plotted against time after pooling. Linear correlation was identified between the SM dose and the mean areas under the 0–60 min or the whole curve (AUC0–60 and AUC, respectively) as well as mean peak concentrations (Cmax) in the range of 1.0–3.0 µl applied volume (7.2–21.7 nmol).A commercially available barrier cream, a perfluoropolyether oil and a vaseline based ointment containing zinc oxide were subsequently tested as topical protectants. Each preparation was layered on the skin surface prior to the application of 2.0 µl SM. The evaluation of the efficacy of the preparations was based on obtained AUC0–60, AUC and Cmax values. A statistical comparison of these parameters with those obtained when 2.0 µl SM was applied without pretreatment indicated that the barrier cream and the perfluoropolyether oil significantly (P < 0.01) reduced the amount of penetrating SM within the sampling period. In addition, the perfluoropolyether oil almost completely prevented the penetration of SM for 20 min. Pretreatment with the ointment did not prove to be an effective countermeasure as its administration resulted in no significant reduction in AUC0–60, AUC and Cmax values. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Influence of α‐tocopherol, propolis and piperine on therapeutic potential of tiferron against beryllium induced toxic manifestations
Authors: Nirala Satendra Kumar , Bhadauria Monika , Mathur Ramesh , Mathur Asha 
Published: April 2007

AbstractThe therapeutic potential of the chelator tiferron (sodium‐4,5‐dihydroxy‐1,3‐benzene disulphonate; 300 mg kg−1, i.p.) and adjuvants, i.e. α‐tocopherol (25 mg kg−1, p.o.), propolis (a honey‐bee hive product; 200 mg kg−1, p.o.) and piperine (10 mg kg−1, p.o.) were evaluated individually and in combination against beryllium induced biochemical alterations and oxidative stress consequences. Female albino rats were exposed to beryllium nitrate (1 mg kg−1, i.p.) daily for 28 days followed by treatment with the above mentioned therapeutic agents for 5 consecutive days. Administration of beryllium altered blood biochemical variables with significant depletion in hemoglobin, blood sugar, total serum protein, albumin and significant enhancement in the release of serum transaminases. A significantly increased lipid peroxidation and a decreased level of glutathione after beryllium exposure indicated oxidative stress in the liver and kidney. Beryllium exposure decreased total protein and glycogen contents, whereas triglycerides and cholesterol increased significantly in liver and kidney. Individual administration of all the four compounds showed significant therapeutic potential in reverse of some of the biochemical parameters mentioned above. Furthermore, the combination of tiferron with α‐tocopherol, propolis or piperine, respectively, could reverse all the variables significantly more towards the control. None of the test compounds showed any significant change in choleretic activity (bile flow and bile solids), indicating that these compounds had no adverse effects at these dose levels. It was concluded that all the combinations of tiferron and adjuvants played a beneficial role in reducing beryllium induced systemic toxicity at relatively lower doses and the combination of tiferron and propolis showed a more pronounced therapeutic potential. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Fusion expression of DDR2 extracellular domain in insect cells and its purification and function characterization
Authors: Zhang Wei , Ding Tianbing , Zhang Jian , Su Jin , Yu Jiangtian , Li Jipeng , Li Fuyang , Wang Chunmei , Liu Nannan , Liu Xinping , Ma Wenyu , Yao Libo 
Published: April 2007

AbstractDiscoidin domain receptor 2 (DDR2) is a kind of protein tyrosine kinases associated with cell proliferation and tumor metastasis, and collagen, a ligand for DDR2, up‐regulates matrix metalloproteinase 1 (MMP‐1) and MMP‐2 expression in extracellular matrix (ECM). To investigate the role of DDR2 in cartilage destruction in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), we expressed the extracellular domain (ECD) of DDR2 (without signal peptide and transmembrane domain, designated DR) in insect cells, purified and characterized DR, hoping to use it as a specific antagonist of DDR2. By using Bac‐To‐Bac Expression System with a His tag, we successfully obtained the recombinant bacularvirus containing DDR2 ECD, purified it and characterized its function. The soluble fraction of DR was about 12% of the total fused protein. After chromatographic purification, DR with 92% purity was obtained. Competitive inhibition assay demonstrated that DR blocked the binding between DDR2 and natural DDR2 receptors on NIH3T3 and synovial cells. Results of RT‐PCR, Western blotting, and gelatinase zymography showed that DR was capable of inhibiting MMP‐1 and MMP‐2 secretion from NIH3T3 and RA synoviocytes stimulated by collagen II. For MMP‐1, inhibition was displayed at the levels of mRNA and protein, whereas for MMP‐2 it was at the level of protein. These findings suggested that the expressed DR inhibited the activity of natural DDR2 and relevant MMP‐1 and MMP‐2 expression in RA synoviocytes and NIH3T3 cells provoked by collagen II. J. Cell. Biochem. 102: 41–51, 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The transcription factor SOX17 is involved in the transcriptional control of the uteroglobin gene in rabbit endometrium
Authors: Garcia Carlos , Calvo Enrique , Nieto Antonio 
Published: April 2007

AbstractThe transcription of the uteroglobin gene (ug) is induced by progesterone in the rabbit endometrium, primarily through the binding of the progesterone receptor to the distal region of the ug promoter. However, other transcription factors participate in the progesterone action. The proximal ug promoter contains several putative consensus sequences for the binding of various progesterone‐dependent endometrial nuclear factors (Perez Martinez et al. [1996] Arch Biochem Biophys 333: 12–18), suggesting that several transcription factors might be implicated in the hormonal induction of ug. We report here that one of these progesterone‐dependent factors specifically binds to the sequence CACAATG (−183/−177) of the rabbit ug promoter. This sequence (hereafter called element G′) is very similar to the consensus sequence for binding of the SOX family of transcription factors. Mutation of the element G′ reduced transcription from the ug promoter in transient expression experiments. The endometrial factor was purified and analyzed by nano‐liquid chromatography and ion trap coupled mass spectrometry yielding two partial amino acid sequences corresponding to a region of SOX17 that is highly conserved inter‐species. This identification was confirmed by immunological techniques using a specific anti‐SOX17 antibody. In agreement with the above findings, overexpression of SOX17 in transfected endometrial cells increased transcription from the ug promoter. SOX17 gradually accumulated in the nucleus in vivo concomitant with the induction of ug expression by progesterone in the endometrium. Thus, these findings implicate, for the first time, SOX17 in the transcriptional control of rabbit ug. J. Cell. Biochem. 102: 665–679, 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.