bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Specific IgE to Respiratory Allergens and IgG Antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii and Streptococcus pneumoniae in Norwegian Military Recruits
Authors: Ellertsen L. K. , Hetland G. , Løvik M. 
Published: February 2008

AbstractDeclining exposure to infections has been implicated as a cause for the rising trend of allergy. Gastrointestinal infections, in particular, have been suggested to have a protective effect against allergy development. In contrast, there are only limited data available regarding the effect of respiratory tract infections with encapsulated bacteria on allergy development. We investigated the association between IgG antibodies against the gastrointestinal parasite Toxoplasma gondii and the bacterium Streptococcus pneumoniae and specific IgE to common allergens in Norwegian military recruits. IgG antibodies to T. gondii and to a 23‐valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (Pneumovax®) were determined by ELISA. Specific IgE to common airborne allergens was determined by Phadiatop®. Individuals with Phadiatop values from class 0–2 were classified as non‐atopic (n = 419), while those with class 3–6 were classified as atopic (n = 201). No significant difference was observed in IgG antibody levels to pneumococcal polysaccharides between atopic and non‐atopic recruits, whereas seropositivity to T. gondii was found to be less frequent among the atopic recruits (odds ratio, 0.37; 95% CI, 0.17–0.81; P = 0.01). Hence, in Norwegian recruits, the serological response to a gastrointestinal pathogen, but not to the respiratory encapsulated bacteria, was found to be associated with a lower probability for being sensitized according to the criteria used. The present study conforms to the hypothesis that reduced rates of infection with certain microorganisms may be associated with an increased risk of allergic sensitization.
Identification of a biologically active, small, secreted peptide in Arabidopsis by in silico gene screening, followed by LC‐MS‐based structure analysis
Authors: Ohyama Kentaro , Ogawa Mari , Matsubayashi Yoshikatsu 
Published: March 2008

SummaryPeptidomics is a challenging field in which to create a link between genomic information and biological function through biochemical analysis of expressed peptides, including precise identification of post‐translational modifications and proteolytic processing. We found that secreted peptides in Arabidopsis plants diffuse into the medium of whole‐plant submerged cultures, and can be effectively identified by o‐chlorophenol extraction followed by LC‐MS analysis. Using this system, we first confirmed that a 12‐amino‐acid mature CLE44 peptide accumulated at a considerable level in the culture medium of transgenic plants overexpressing CLE44. Next, using an in silico approach, we identified a novel gene family encoding small secreted peptides that exhibit significant sequence similarity within the C‐terminal short conserved domain. We determined that the mature peptide encoded by At1g47485, a member of this gene family, is a 15‐amino‐acid peptide containing two hydroxyproline residues derived from the conserved domain. This peptide, which we have named CEP1, is mainly expressed in the lateral root primordia and, when overexpressed or externally applied, significantly arrests root growth. CEP1 is a candidate for a novel peptide plant hormone.
The ectopic overexpression of a seed‐specific transcription factor, HaHSFA9, confers tolerance to severe dehydration in vegetative organs
Authors: Prieto‐Dapena Pilar , Castaño Raúl , Almoguera Concepción , Jordano Juan 
Published: March 2008

SummaryMost plant seeds tolerate desiccation, but vegetative tissues are intolerant to drastic dehydration, except in the case of resurrection plants. Therefore, changes in the regulation of genes normally expressed in seeds are thought to be responsible for the evolutionary origin of desiccation tolerance in resurrection plants. Here, we show that constitutive overexpression of the seed‐specific HSFA9 transcription factor from sunflower is sufficient to confer tolerance to severe dehydration, outside of the developing seed context, to vegetative tissues of transgenic tobacco. Whole 3‐week‐old seedlings could survive severe dehydration. This was quantified as a water loss to 1.96 ± 0.05% of the initial water content, which corresponds to a water potential of ≈ −40 MPa. Survival depended on the water potential, from 40% survival at ≈ −20 MPa to 6.5% survival at ≈ −40 MPa. Whole‐seedling survival was limited by the dehydration sensitivity of the roots. Survival correlated with the ectopic expression of a genetic program involving seed‐specific, small heat‐shock proteins, but not late embryogenesis abundant proteins. The accumulation of sucrose or raffinose family oligosaccharides was not altered by HSFA9. The observed tolerance was achieved without a reduction of growth and development. Our results strongly support the previously suggested contribution of small heat‐shock proteins to the desiccation tolerance of seeds. We provide a successful system for analyzing tolerance to severe dehydration in all vegetative organs of seedlings. We propose that HSFA9 is a potential genetic switch involved in the evolution of tolerance to vegetative desiccation.
Functional domains of SPATULA, a bHLH transcription factor involved in carpel and fruit development in Arabidopsis
Authors: Groszmann Michael , Paicu Teodora , Smyth David R. 
Published: March 2008

SummaryThe SPATULA (SPT) gene is involved in generating the septum, style and stigma: specialized tissues that arise from carpel margins. By matching sequences within the extended bHLH region of AtSPT across species databases, twelve orthologues were identified in eudicots, rice and a gymnosperm. Two conserved structural domains were revealed in addition to the bHLH region: an amphipathic helix and an acidic domain. These are conserved in the tomato orthologue, which can restore carpel function to spt mutants of Arabidopsis. The acidic domain is essential for SPT carpel function, and the amphipathic helix supports it. A bipartite sequence overlapping the bHLH domain is required for nuclear localization, and a mutation in the conserved beta strand adjacent to the bHLH C terminus results in the loss of SPT function. SPT apparently acts as a transcriptional activator, as the addition of the SRDX repression domain phenocopies the spt mutant phenotype. Expression of an artificially activating 35S:SPT‐VP16 construct can induce carpelloid properties in sepals, and new defects in the gynoecium. These disruptions are associated with ectopic expression of the STYLISH2 gene, although STYLISH2 expression does not require SPT function. Ectopic expression of unmodified SPT does not induce such changes, implying that SPT acts in association with essential coactivators present only in regions where SPT is normally active. Because the VP16 activation domain can compensate to some extent for the loss of the amphipathic helix and acidic domain, these domains may normally interact with such co‐activators.
Trans‐generation inheritance of methylation patterns in a tobacco transgene following a post‐transcriptional silencing event
Authors: Lunerová‐Bedřichová Jana , Bleys Annick , Fojtová Miloslava , Khaitová Lucie , Depicker Anna , Kovařík Aleš 
Published: March 2008

SummaryWe have studied the inheritance of the epigenetic state of tobacco transgenes whose expression was post‐transcriptionally silenced by an invertedly repeated silencer locus. We show that, in hybrids, the coding region of the target neomycin phosphotransferase (nptII) gene was almost exclusively methylated at CG configurations, and dense non‐CG methylation occurred in the 3′ untranslated region. Homologous sequences in the silencer locus were heavily methylated at both CG and non‐CG motifs. After segregation of the silencer locus, the CG methylation but not the non‐CG methylation of the target genes was transmitted to the progeny. In the segregants, we observed an overall increase of CG methylation in the target genes, associated with a re‐distribution from the 3′ end of the coding region towards the middle. This pattern was inherited with some fluctuation for at least two additional generations in the absence of a detectable T‐DNA‐derived small RNA fraction. Thus CG methylation is not cleared during meiosis and may be inherited over generations without RNA signals being present. These epi‐allelic variants re‐expressed the reporter gene immediately after segregation of the trigger, showing that relatively dense CG methylation (approximately 60–80%) imprinted on most of the coding region (>500 bp) did not reduce expression compared with the parental non‐methylated locus. We propose that the genic CG methylation seen in euchromatic regions of the genome may originate from ancient post‐transcriptional gene silencing events as a result of adventitiously produced methylation‐directing RNA molecules.
Impact of Point‐of‐care Testing in the Emergency Department Evaluation and Treatment of Patients with Suspected Acute Coronary Syndromes
Authors: Renaud Bertrand , Maison Patrick , Ngako Alfred , Cunin Patrick , Santin Aline , Hervé Jérôme , Salloum Mirna , Calmettes Marie‐Jeanne , Boraud Cyril , Lemiale Virginie , Grégo Jean Claude , Debacker Marie , Hémery François , Roupie Eric 
Published: February 2008

AbstractObjectives:  To assess the impact of point‐of‐care testing (POCT) for troponin I (cTnI) measurement on the time to anti‐ischemic therapy (TAIT) for patients with suspected non–ST‐segment elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTE‐ACS) presenting to the emergency department (ED).Methods:  This was an open‐label, randomized, single‐center trial conducted in a university‐affiliated hospital. cTnI measurement of patients with suspicion of NSTE‐ACS coming to the ED was randomly allocated to POCT or central hospital laboratory testing (CHLT). The authors compared patients’ baseline characteristics, time to anti‐ischemic therapy, and medical outcomes between the randomized groups, in all study participants and in high‐risk NSTE‐ACS (cTnI level ≥ 0.10 μg/mL), and in those with low suspicion ACS (no chest pain and no ST deviation).Results:  Of the 860 patients enrolled, 113 were high‐risk NSTE‐ACS patients, including 53 (46.9%) allocated to POCT and 60 (53.1%) to CHLT. POCT was associated with decreased time to anti‐ischemic therapy of about three‐quarters of an hour, which was due to a shorter time to physician notification of cTnI level, in both all and subgroup participants. In contrast, neither ED length of stay nor medical outcomes differed between study groups.Conclusions:  Point‐of‐care testing for cTnI measurement might be clinically relevant for ED patients with a suspicion of NSTE‐ACS, particularly for high‐risk patients with a low suspicion of ACS.
Pretreatment frontal EEG and changes in suicidal ideation during SSRI treatment in major depressive disorder
Authors: Iosifescu D. V. , Greenwald S. , Devlin P. , Perlis R. H. , Denninger J. W. , Alpert J. E. , Fava M. 
Published: February 2008

Objective:  We investigated frontal quantitative EEG (QEEG) as predictor of changes in suicidal ideation (SI) during SSRI treatment in major depressive disorder (MDD).Method:  Eighty‐two subjects meeting DSM‐IV criteria for MDD entered an 8‐week, prospective, open‐label treatment with flexible dose SSRIs and completed at least 4 weeks of treatment. We assessed MDD severity with the 17‐item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM‐D‐17); change in SI was measured with HAM‐D item no. 3. We recorded four‐channel EEGs (F7‐Fpz, F8‐Fpz, A1‐Fpz, A2‐Fpz) before treatment.Results:  During the first 4 weeks of treatment 9 (11%) subjects experienced worsening SI. Left‐right asymmetry of combined theta + alpha power correlated significantly with change in SI from baseline, even when adjusting for changes in depression severity (HAM‐D‐17) and for the SSRI utilized.Conclusion:  Frontal QEEG parameters before treatment may predict worsening SI during SSRI treatment in MDD.
Infill of a structurally controlled estuary: An example from southern Whanganui Inlet, New Zealand
Authors: Kennedy David M. , Paulik Ryan , Millar Michael 
Published: February 2008

Abstract:  Whanganui Inlet, South Island, New Zealand, is a structurally controlled estuary where most of the accommodation space has been occupied by sediment and expanses of mud/sand flats are exposed at low tide. A flood‐tide delta extends 1.5 km from the entrance; however, both a mud basin and surfical fluvial deltas are absent from the inlet. Sedimentological and foraminiferal analysis of vibrocores from the inlet's southern half indicates that the intertidal flats accreted close to modern elevations soon after sea level flooding. The present surfical morphology of Whanganui Inlet therefore appears to be inherited from sedimentation that took place soon after sea level stabilized, with little deposition now occurring on the intertidal flats.
Clinical evaluation of glass‐ionomer tunnel restorations in primary molars: 36 months results
Authors: Markovic D , Peric T 
Published: February 2008

AbstractBackground:  The purpose of this study was to clinically examine the efficacy of tunnel preparations in primary molars restored with glass‐ionomer cement during a 36‐month observation period.Methods:  A total of 233 tunnel restorations were placed in primary molars of 203 patients aged 6–10 years. Restorations were evaluated after 12, 24 and 36 months using the modified USPHS criteria for secondary caries, marginal discolouration, marginal adaptation and anatomic form. The Alpha+Bravo score (except for caries) and absence of clinical signs of endodontic complications was considered as a clinical success.Results:  At the end of the 36‐month experimental period, the cumulative survival rate of tunnel restorations in primary molars was 72 per cent. The main reasons for failure were endodontic complications (46 per cent of the failures), secondary caries (31 per cent of the failures) and marginal ridge fractures (19 per cent of the failures).Conclusions:  The tunnel preparation filled with reinforced restorative glass‐ionomer cement is a suitable treatment for minimal proximal caries lesions in primary molars.
A First-Order Second-Moment Approach to Systems Fatigue Reliability
of Offshore Structures
Authors: Hu Y. , Chen B. 
Published: February 2008

Abstract
A method to evaluate the probability of failure of a failure path leading to fatigue collapse of an offshore structure is presented. The failure path is modeled by a number of failure elements, which represent the fatigue-sensitive joints in the structure, connecting in parallel and failing in sequence. The probability of failure of the parallel system is calculated by using first-order second-moment method. The formulation is further improved by considering the probability of occurrence of a specified sequence in which the failure elements fail. The method can be employed both in searching for important failure paths and in evaluating the probability of failure of the whole structure in systems fatigue reliability analysis of offshore structures.
Effect of Mooring Line Arrangement on the Dynamics of Spread Mooring
Systems
Authors: Bernitsas M. M. , Garza-Rios L. O. 
Published: February 2008

Abstract
A design methodology is formulated to reveal the dependence of nonlinear slowmotion dynamics of spread mooring systems (SMS) on mooring line arrangement. For a given SMS configuration, catastrophe sets are developed in the parametric design space showing the dependence of stability boundaries and singularities of bifurcations on design variables. This approach eliminates the need for nonlinear simulations. For general SMS design, however, the designer relies on experience rather than scientific understanding of SMS nonlinear dynamics, due to the high number of design variables. Several numerical applications are used to demonstrate counterintuitive ways of improving SMS dynamics. The SMS design methodology formulated in this paper aims at providing fundamental understanding of the effects of mooring line arrangement and pretension on SMS horizontal plane dynamics. Thus, the first guidelines are developed to reduce trial and error in SMS design. The methodology is illustrated by comparing catastrophe sets for various SMS configurations with up to three mooring lines. Numerous examples for a barge and a tanker SMS which exhibit qualitatively different nonlinear dynamic behavior are provided.
A Computer Model of Glaze Accretion on Wires
Authors: Draganoiu G. , Lamarche L. , McComber P. 
Published: February 2008

Abstract
The design of power transmission lines requires a knowledge of combined wind and ice loading and of the dynamic behavior of wires loaded with ice accretion. The calculation of the wind forces, in turn, imposes a need for a more detailed computer model for determining glaze accretion shape. For this purpose, a computer model of glaze accretion on wires, was developed. It is based on experimental results in the area of ice accretion on wires, as well as on results in the related field of the glaze ice accretion on airfoils. The model incorporates the time dependent on feedback between the growing accretion and the air stream, the variation of the heat transfer coefficient around the cylinder, and the surface runback of water. The main components of the model are the computation of the air flow field, the computation of the impingement water at the control volume level, the solving of the heat balance equation, and the computation of the accretion shape on the wire. The surface air velocity is obtained through the solution of the potential flow around the iced wire and wake, followed by the integration on the surface of the laminar boundary layer. The water flux is computed in each control Volume down to the separation point. The heat balance equation derived from the energy equation is solved to determine the freezing fraction and the resulting modified ice surface geometry.
Risk Assessment of Production and Storage Tankers
Authors: Vinnem J. E. , Haugen S. , Børresen R. 
Published: February 2008

Abstract
Production and storage tankers are being evaluated extensively for development of marginal oil and gas fields in the North Sea. The main safety aspects of these vessels are discussed, based on a number of quantitative risk assessments for these vessel concepts. These studies have confirmed the importance of several important safety features, such as a fire-protected, enclosed escape way along one of the sides of the ship. Other important safety features include weather-vaning capability as a function of the turret location, location and configuration of the flare system, protection of cargo tanks by inert gas blanketing, as well as procedures for strict control of tank intervention. The results, show that the production and storage vessels have favorable safety characteristics, and that these concepts represent an acceptable and feasible solution for the marginal fields.
Hydrodynamic Loads on a Conical Slender Cylinder
Authors: Galper A. R. , Miloh T. 
Published: February 2008

Abstract
We consider the problem of calculating the wave load distribution acting on a large conical vertical ocean structure (monotower) due to an ambient nonuniform flow field. Under the assumption of weak flow nonuniformity, it is demonstrated that the leading-order solution for a vertical structure with variable cross section exhibits nonlocal terms, in contrast with a straight column with a constant cross section.
Semi-Analytical Hydrodynamics and Motions for a TLP Structure—Part I:
Enhancement of Pontoon Results Using Two of Haskind’s Theorems
Authors: Mullarkey T. P. , McNamara J. F. 
Published: February 2008

Abstract
A semi-analytical solution procedure for the derivation of first-order wave forces, added mass, and damping terms is presented for rectangular pontoons which may be floating, submerged, or resting on the seabed. The development is based on a solution matching technique for the scattered and radiated wave potentials and gradients across common boundaries of the subdivided solution domain. The final expressions are true for waves of arbitrary angle of incidence and singularities due to the case of normal incidence are eliminated. The approach is also generalized for the case where the pontoon is a unit of a TLP offshore production system by referring all quantities to a global coordinate system. Numerical results are extracted for a number of benchmark problems and compared with independent values where available in the literature. Excellent agreement is obtained for wave forces, added mass, and damping Values for cases involving floating, submerged, and bottom-founded pontoon configurations.
An Alternative Stochastic Representation of Drag Forces on Offshore
Structures for Dynamic Analyses
Authors: Naess A. , Høegh Krohn L. J. , Pisano A. A. 
Published: February 2008

Abstract
A new method for stochastic representation of the hydrodynamic drag forces on offshore structures subjected to irregular waves is described. For the case of zero current, it is shown that it is possible to construct a genuinly quadratic representation of the drag force that reproduces the statistical properties of the standard formulation of the drag force closely, and which has a spectral density that approximates the desired force spectrum reasonably well. The distinct advantage of this representation is that it brings dynamic analysis back into the frequency domain, in a similar manner as achieved for a linearized force representation.
Force Coefficients for a Centrally Grooved Short Squeeze Film
Damper
Authors: Zhang J. X. , Roberts J. B. 
Published: February 2008

Abstract
A centrally grooved short squeeze film damper (SFD), together with its lubricant supply mechanism (LSM), is analyzed, using an integrated theoretical model. It is shown that the traditional analysis for such a damper, where the effects of the central groove and the LSM are ignored, can lead to a seven-fold underestimation of the magnitude of the hydrodynamic force coefficients. The new theory gives predictions for the damping coefficients which are in good agreement with corresponding experimental results. Moreover, a five-fold improvement is obtained for both the temporal and convective inertia coefficients, at low values of eccentricity. The new model leads to the prediction of a nonzero fluid static force which, in conformity with experimental results, is linearly related to the supply pressure. The existence of this static force has not been explained by previous theoretical work on SFDs.
Inadequacy of a Conventional Keulegan-Carpenter Number for Wave and
Current Combination
Authors: Zdravkovich M. M. 
Published: February 2008

Abstract
The physical consideration, taken as a starting point, has been based on the change of duration of each wave half-cycle by the superposition of a current. The Keulegan-Carpenter number could reflect that feature if the wave plus current velocity replaces the wave velocity as the reference velocity. It is also argued that the ratio of current to wave velocity is a more appropriate parameter than the reduced velocity. The modified Keulegan-Carpenter numbers separate different observed flow regimes in a coherent manner in drag coefficient and current-to-wave velocity plane.