bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The limits to the growth of multinational firms in a foreign market
Authors: Tan Danchi 
Published: November 2003

AbstractTheories of growth for firms have suggested that slow managerial growth is a major constraint why firms cannot grow faster. This paper is built on such a view and explores the factors that may influence the growth rate of Japanese firms in a given US industry. It is found that Japanese firms that allocated more internal and international managerial resources (proxied by expatriates) to their US operations tended to achieve higher growth rates. Japanese firms that were geographically diversified and those that spread their international investment projects evenly over time also achieved higher growth rates. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Branch decompositions and minor containment
Authors: Hicks Illya V. 
Published: November 2003

AbstractGiven a simple graph G, a simple connected graph H, and a branch decomposition of G of width k, we present a practical algorithm to test if H is a minor of G. The notion of branch decompositions and its related connectivity invariant for graphs, branchwidth, were introduced by Robertson and Seymour. The algorithm that we present follows the general framework for such an algorithm sketched by Robertson and Seymour with the addition of pruning techniques for runtime speedup. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Simplicial edge representation of protein structures and alpha contact potential with confidence measure
Authors: Li Xiang , Hu Changyu , Liang Jie 
Published: November 2003

AbstractProtein representation and potential function are two important ingredients for studying protein folding, equilibrium thermodynamics, and sequence design. We introduce a novel geometric representation of protein contact interactions using the edge simplices from the alpha shape of the protein structure. This representation can eliminate implausible neighbors that are not in physical contact, and can avoid spurious contact between two residues when a third residue is between them. We developed statistical alpha contact potential using an odds‐ratio model. A studentized bootstrap method was then introduced to assess the 95% confidence intervals for each of the 210 propensity parameters. We found, with confidence, that there is significant long‐range propensity (>30 residues apart) for hydrophobic interactions. We tested alpha contact potential for native structure discrimination using several sets of decoy structures, and found that it often performs comparably with atom‐based potentials requiring many more parameters. We also show that accurate geometric representation is important, and that alpha contact potential has better performance than potential defined by cutoff distance between geometric centers of side chains. Hierarchical clustering of alpha contact potentials reveals natural grouping of residues. To explore the relationship between shape and physicochemical representations, we tested the minimum alphabet size necessary for native structure discrimination. We found that there is no significant difference in performance of discrimination when alphabet size varies from 7 to 20, if geometry is represented accurately by alpha simplicial edges. This result suggests that the geometry of packing plays an important role, but the specific residue types are often interchangeable. Proteins 2003;53:000–000. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Combination of scoring functions improves discrimination in protein–protein docking
Authors: Murphy John , Gatchell David W. , Prasad Jahnavi C. , Vajda Sandor 
Published: November 2003

AbstractTwo structure‐based potentials are used for both filtering (i.e., selecting a subset of conformations generated by rigid‐body docking), and rescoring and ranking the selected conformations. ACP (atomic contact potential) is an atom‐level extension of the Miyazawa–Jernigan potential parameterized on protein structures, whereas RPScore (residue pair potential score) is a residue‐level potential, based on interactions in protein–protein complexes. These potentials are combined with other energy terms and applied to 13 sets of protein decoys, as well as to the results of docking 10 pairs of unbound proteins. For both potentials, the ability to discriminate between near‐native and non‐native docked structures is substantially improved by refining the structures and by adding a van der Waals energy term. It is observed that ACP and RPScore complement each other in a number of ways (e.g., although RPScore yields more hits than ACP, mainly as a result of its better performance for charged complexes, ACP usually ranks the near‐native complexes better). As a general solution to the protein‐docking problem, we have found that the best discrimination strategies combine either an RPScore filter with an ACP‐based scoring function, or an ACP‐based filter with an RPScore‐based scoring function. Thus, ACP and RPScore capture complementary structural information, and combining them in a multistage postprocessing protocol provides substantially better discrimination than the use of the same potential for both filtering and ranking the docked conformations. Proteins 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Construction of molecular assemblies via docking: Modeling of tetramers with D2 symmetry
Authors: Berchanski Alexander , Eisenstein Miriam 
Published: November 2003

AbstractComparative modeling methods are commonly used to construct models of homologous proteins or oligomers. However, comparative modeling may be inapplicable when the number of subunits in a modeled oligomer is different than in the modeling template. Thus, a dimer cannot be a template for a tetramer because a new monomer‐monomer interface must be predicted. We present in this study a new prediction approach, which combines protein‐protein docking with either of two tetramer‐forming algorithms designed to predict the structures of tetramers with D2 symmetry. Both algorithms impose symmetry constraints. However, one of them requires identification of two of the C2 dimers within the tetramer in the docking step, whereas the other, less demanding algorithm, requires identification of only one such dimer. Starting from the structure of one subunit, the procedures successfully reconstructed 16 known D2 tetramers, which crystallize with either a monomer, a dimer or a tetramer in the asymmetric unit. In some cases we obtained clusters of native‐like tetramers that differ in the relative rotation of the two identical dimers within the tetramer. The predicted structural pliability for concanavalin‐A, phosphofructokinase, and fructose‐1,6‐bisphosphatase agrees semiquantitatively with the observed differences between the several experimental structures of these tetramers. Hence, our procedure identifies a structural soft‐mode that allows regulation via relative rigid‐body movements of the dimers within these tetramers. The algorithm also predicted three nearly correct tetramers from model structures of single subunits, which were constructed by comparative modeling from subunits of homologous tetrameric, dimeric, or hexameric systems. Proteins 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Analysis of protein structures reveals regions of rare backbone conformation at functional sites
Authors: Petock John M. , Torshin Ivan Y. , Weber Irene T. , Harrison Robert W. 
Published: November 2003

AbstractRegions of rare conformation were located in 300 protein crystal structures representing seven major protein folds. A distance matrix algorithm was used to search rapidly for 9‐residue fragments of rare backbone conformation using a comparison to a relational database of encoded fragments derived from the database of nonredundant structures. Rare fragments were found in 61% of the analyzed protein structures. Detailed analysis was performed for 78 proteins of different folds. The rare fragments were located near functional sites in 72% of the protein structures. The rare fragments often formed parts of ligand‐binding sites (59%), protein‐protein interfaces (8%), and domain‐domain contacts (5%). Of the remaining structures, 5% had a high average B‐factor or high local B‐factors. Statistical analysis suggests that the association between ligands and rare regions does not occur by chance alone. The present study is likely to underestimate the number of functional sites, because not all analyzed protein structures contained a ligand. The results suggest that rapid searches for regions with rare local backbone conformations can assist in prediction of functional sites in novel proteins. Proteins 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Hydrophobic moments of tertiary protein structures
Authors: Silverman B. David 
Published: November 2003

AbstractThe helical hydrophobic moment is a measure of the amphiphilicity of a segment of protein secondary structure. Such measure yields information of potential relevance for issues relating to cell surface binding and secondary structure function. The present article describes a global analog of the helical hydrophobic moment. The global moment provides a concise measure of the degree and direction of the amphiphilicity or hydrophobic imbalance across the entire protein tertiary structure. Therefore, this measure is a succinct representation of the spatial organization of residue hydrophobicity for each protein. With this measure, a simple comparison of the hydrophobic imbalance or segregation of different protein structures can be made. For example, two structures having the same fold and close in root‐mean‐square deviation may exhibit very different overall hydrophobic organization. Such difference is classified simply by the global moment. Furthermore, the direction of the global moment may point to regions of functional interest. Certain formal issues in the development of such moment are described, and a number of applications to particular protein structures are discussed. Proteins 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Crystal structures of cephaibols
Authors: Bunkóczi Gábor , Schiell Matthias , Vértesy László , Sheldrick George M. 
Published: November 2003

AbstractThe crystal structures of the peptaibol antibiotics cephaibol A, cephaibol B and cephaibol C have been determined at ca. 0.9 Å resolution. All three adopt a helical conformation with a sharp bend (of about 55° ) at the central hydroxyproline. All isovalines were found to possess the D configuration, superposition of all four models (there are two independent molecules in the cephaibol B structure) shows that the N‐terminal helix is rigid and the C‐terminus is flexible. There are differences in the hydrogen bonding patterns for the three structures that crystallize in different space groups despite relatively similar unit cell dimensions, but only in the case of cephaibol C does the packing emulate the formation of a membrane channel believed to be important for their biological function. Copyright © 2003 European Peptide Society and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Trichogin: a paradigm for lipopeptaibols
Authors: Peggion Cristina , Formaggio Fernando , Crisma Marco , Epand Raquel F. , Epand Richard M. , Toniolo Claudio 
Published: November 2003

AbstractLipopeptaibols are members of a novel family of naturally occurring, short peptides with antimicrobial activity, characterized by a lipophilic acyl chain at the N‐terminus, a high content of turn/helix inducing α‐aminoisobutyric acid and a 1,2‐amino alcohol at the C‐terminus. Using solution methods, the prototypical lipopeptaibol trichogin GA IV and a large series of appropriately designed analogues were synthesized, which allow: (i) determination of the minimal lipid chain and peptide main‐chain lengths for the onset of membrane activity, and (ii) exploitation of a number of physico‐chemical techniques aimed at assessing the trichogin preferred conformation under a variety of conditions and at investigating its mechanism of interaction with the phospholipid membranes. Copyright © 2003 European Peptide Society and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Adiabatic potential analysis for some carbon‐containing molecules
Authors: Abarenkov I. V. , Smelkov K. V. 
Published: November 2003

AbstractIn the current article, the procedure to separate a molecule into the ion radicals and bonds, proposed earlier by one of authors within the Hartree–Fock (HF) approach, is used. In this procedure the ion‐radical–occupied orbitals are defined as solutions of HF equations for ion radical in the basis of occupied molecular orbital (MO) of the whole molecule. The bond orbitals are constructed to complete the functional space span by the occupied MO of ion radicals to the functional space span by occupied MO of the whole molecule. In this approach it is easy to calculate the electron density of all ion radicals and bonds, which add up to the total electron density of the whole molecule, the densities overlap being taken into account. Hence, the adiabatic potential of the molecule is expressed as a sum of ion radicals and bonds self‐energies and of various intramolecular interaction energies. The results of ab initio adiabatic potential calculations and its decomposition for several carbon‐containing molecules, such as CH4, CH3Li, CH3F, and C2H6, which can be considered as two ion radicals connected by a single chemical bond, are presented here. The dependence of adiabatic potential components on the bond length is analyzed, and simple approximate equations for them are generated. In addition, the electronic structure of ion‐radical CH, common for all molecules calculated here, is considered, and its dependence on the molecular environment is analyzed. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2004
Modifications to the electronic structure of carbon nanotubes with symmetric and random vacancies
Authors: Belavin V. V. , Bulusheva L. G. , Okotrub A. V. 
Published: November 2003

AbstractThe influence of different types of atomic vacancies on the electronic structure of carbon nanotubes (20, 0) and (12, 12) was investigated using an empirical tight‐binding method. The models with vacancies randomly and symmetrically arranged in an extended unit cell were constructed. The symmetrical distribution of defects was obtained by rotating a pore, obtained by removing a hexagonal ring from a graphitic shell around the tube axis. The random defects were generated by a specially developed algorithm, which eliminates a given number of atoms from the unit cell so that the remaining carbon atoms have no more than one dangling bond. The presence of vacancies in carbon nanotube causes an enhancement of density of occupied states that is near the Fermi level and whose localization increases with the number of two‐coordinated atoms at the pore boundaries. It was found that the occurrence of atomic vacancies in the carbon nanotube walls might result in the narrow‐gap semiconductors and ferromagnetic materials. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2004
A Review of Computer-Aided Body Surface Area Determination
Authors: Neuwalder J. M. , Sampson C. , Breuing K. H. , Orgill D. P. 
Published: November 2003

Abstract
Estimates of percent body surface area (%BSA) burns correlate well with fluid needs, nutritional requirements, and prognosis. Most burn centers rely on the Lund Browder chart and “rule of nines,” to calculate the %BSA. Computer-based methods may improve precision and data analysis. We studied two new methods of determining %BSA: a two-dimensional Web-based program (Sage II) and a three-dimensional computer-aided design program (EPRI 3D Burn Vision). Members of our burn team found the Sage II program easy to use and found many of the features useful for patient care. The EPRI program has the advantage of 3D images and different body morphologies but required training to use. Computer-aided methods offer the potential for improved precision and data analysis of %BSA measurements.
A Pilot Study Comparing Percutaneous Decompression With Decompressive Laparotomy for Acute Abdominal Compartment Syndrome in Thermal Injury
Authors: Latenser Barbara A. , Kowal-Vern Areta , Kimball Douglas , Chakrin Alan , Dujovny Nadav 
Published: November 2003

Abstract
Abdominal Compartment Syndrome (ACS) has multiple causes, and decompressive laparotomy has been the most frequent modality to prevent worsening cardiovascular, respiratory, and renal function. This pilot study evaluated the utility of percutaneous drainage (PD) of peritoneal fluid compared with decompressive laparotomy in burn patients. A 26-month review was conducted. Nine of 13 (69%) study patients developed intra-abdominal hypertension (IAH) that progressed to abdominal compartment syndrome in 4 (31%). All were treated with PD using a diagnostic peritoneal lavage catheter. Peritoneal fluid analysis revealed a sterile plasma ultrafiltrate with electrolyte and other chemistries reflecting patient serum levels. Five patients underwent PD successfully, and their IAH did not progress to ACS. Four patients with greater than 80% TBSA and severe inhalation injury did not respond to PD and required decompressive laparotomy. There was no evidence of bowel edema, ischemia, or necrosis. All patients requiring decompressive laparotomies died either from sepsis or respiratory failure. Percutaneous decompression is a safe and effective method of decreasing IAH and preventing ACS in patients with less than 80% TBSA thermal injury.
The Development of an Educational Web Site for Burn Care: Burnsurgery.org
Authors: Orgill D. P. , Neuwalder J. M. , Arch M. , Orgill J. , Demling R. 
Published: November 2003

Abstract
Advances in burn care are well documented in the literature but often do not reach health care professionals who treat burn patients. The World Wide Web provides instant access to a wide variety of information globally. We describe the development of www.burnsurgery.org, a nonprofit Web site dedicated to the education of burn care professionals. Internet-based medical education is becoming a dominant method of information transfer and we believe that it will help to standardize and improve burn care throughout the world.
Predictors of Quality of Life as Measured by the Burn Specific Health Scale in Persons With Major Burn Injury
Authors: Cromes G. F. , Holavanahalli R. , Kowalske K. , Helm P. 
Published: November 2003

Abstract
To determine 1) change over time in Quality of Life (QOL) and 2) functional, community reentry, and psychosocial predictors of QOL, data were prospectively collected from adults with major burn injury 2 months after hospital discharge (n = 110) and 6 (n = 97) and 12 (n = 69) months after injury. The dependent QOL variable was the Burn Specific Health Scale (BSHS) and the predictor variables were Brief Symptom Inventory, Functional Assessment Screening Questionnaire, Functional Independence Measure, Pain Analog Scale, and Community Integration Questionnaire. BSHS global scores were unchanged across the measurement periods. Stepwise multiple-regression analyses resulted in statistically significant multiple R s of .79 at 2 months, .81 at 6 months, and .76 at 12 months. Variables predicting more favorable BSHS global score were less emotional distress and pain at 2 months, less emotional distress and pain and better community reentry at 6 months, and less emotional distress and better community reentry at 12 months.
Catheter Infection Risk Related to the Distance Between Insertion Site and Burned Area
Authors: Ramos Guillermo E. , Bolgiani Alberto N. , Patiño Osvaldo , Prezzavento Gustavo E. , Guastavino Paula , Durlach Ricardo , Fernandez Canigia Liliana B. , Benaim Fortunato 
Published: November 2003

Abstract
A prospective observational study of central venous catheters (CVC) was carried out in order to determine if a CVC inserted near an open burn wound increases catheter infection risk in burned patients. The study was carried out during a 12-month period (1998–1999) at the Benaim Foundation's Burn Unit in Buenos Aires (C.E.P.A.Q.). Eighty-three CVCs were inserted in 20 burned patients during the study period. Twenty-six catheters were inserted near an open wound (NOW) and 57 far from an open wound (FOW). NOW CVCs were considered when 25 cm2 surrounding the catheter's insertion site overlapped the wound. Colonization rates were 84% (22/26 CVCs) in those inserted NOW and 47% (27/57 CVCs) in FOW (P = 0.001). Colonization relative risk of NOW-CVCs was 1.79 (95% confidence interval, 1.3–2.46). Bacteremia rates were 27% (7/26 CVCs) in CVCs inserted NOW and 6% (3/57 CVCs) in FOW (P = 0.004). Bacteremic risk of NOW-CVCs was 5.12 (95% confidence interval, 1.44–18.22). Colonization rates were higher and sooner in NOW-CVCs than in FOW-CVCs. We suggest that insertion of catheters near an open burn wound should be avoided and, if inevitable, should not be left in place for period exceeding 3 days.
Effect of Exercise Training on Pulmonary Function in Children With Thermal Injury
Authors: Suman Oscar E. , Mlcak Robert P. , Herndon David N. 
Published: November 2003

Abstract
Severe thermal injury in children results in a decrease in pulmonary function (PF) which lasts well into convalescence. Exercise has been used successfully to improve PF in other populations exhibiting a compromised PF such as in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Yet, whether exercise training will induce improvements in PF in burned children is presently unknown. We therefore evaluated if an exercise program improved PF in severely burned children (BC). Twenty healthy controls, nonburn children (NB) age 7 to &lt;18 and 31 severely burned children; ages 7 to &lt;18 years old, with greater than 40% of total body surface area burned were enrolled in the study. Burned children were randomized into two groups. One to participate in a 12-week in-hospital physical rehabilitation program supplemented with an exercise-training program (REX, n = 17) and the other nonexercising group (R, n = 14) to participate in a 12-week, home-based physical rehabilitation program without exercise. Pulmonary function tests were performed for all groups at baseline, but only the REX and R groups were tested after 12 weeks of either exercise or no exercise. Baseline PF for the NB group was normal and no differences in PF were found between the R vs REX groups. However, PF was decreased in BC compared to NB children. There was a significant improvement in PF in the REX group. In contrast, PF in the R group remained relatively unchanged. Severely burned children improve PF as a result of an exercise program and such should be a fundamental component of a multidisciplinary outpatient treatment program for victims of thermal injury.
Insulin-Like Growth Factor-I Inhibits Lysosomal and Proteasome-Dependent Proteolysis in Skeletal Muscle After Burn Injury
Authors: Fang Cheng-Hui , Li Bing-Guo , Wray Curtis J. , Hasselgren Per-Olof 
Published: November 2003

Abstract
Previous studies suggest that insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) inhibits burn-induced muscle wasting mainly by reducing muscle protein degradation. The intracellular mechanisms of this effect of IGF-I are not known. In the present study, we examined the influence of IGF-I on individual proteolytic pathways in muscles from burned rats. Extensor digitorum longus muscles from burned rats were incubated with specific blockers of lysosomal, calcium-calpain-dependent, and ubiquitin-proteasome-dependent proteolytic pathways in the absence or presence of IGF-I. In addition, cathepsin B and L activities and 20S proteasome activity were determined. IGF-I inhibited lysosomal and ubiquitin-proteasome-dependent protein breakdown in skeletal muscle from burned rats by 70 and 90%, respectively, but did not influence calcium-calpain-dependent protein breakdown. The hormone blocked the burn-induced increase in cathepsin B and L activities but did not reduce 20S proteasome activity. Results are important because they provide novel information about intracellular mechanisms by which IGF-I inhibits the catabolic response to burn injury in skeletal muscle.