bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Dual‐port dual‐polarization stacked triangular patch antennas
Authors: Row Jeen‐Sheen , Ai Ching‐Yuan 
Published: October 2003

AbstractThis paper presents a design for stacked triangular patch antennas with two feeds for achieving dual‐polarized operations. The top radiating element of the stacked structure is a single‐feed, triangular, planar inverted‐F antenna (PIFA) with a V‐shaped slot, which can radiate an omnidirectional dipole‐like pattern with linear polarization at two separated frequencies. The bottom radiating element is an equilateral‐triangular microstrip patch with two shorting pins, which provides circularly polarized broadside radiation patterns. The proposed stacked structure can not only provide a compact design, but can also be easily installed. In addition, an isolation of better than −20 dB between the feed ports was obtained. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 39: 502–505, 2003
Strong coupled microstrip tapered feedlines for the applications to filters and antennas
Authors: Han Sang‐Min , Kim Young‐Sik 
Published: October 2003

AbstractIn this paper, new feeding structures with strong coupling using linearly and exponentially tapered lines are proposed in order to overcome the design problems due to coupling losses and impedance mismatching. The tapered feedlines are characterized for the optimum feedline length of λg/2 and insertion losses (ILs) and fractional bandwidths (FBWs) with respect to the feeding angle. The proposed structures have been applied to BPFs and patch antennas. The experimental results show lower insertion losses and better matching properties, compared with circuits with conventional feedlines. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 39: 505–508, 2003
Impedance characteristics of the inverted microstrip circular patch antenna
Authors: Siddiqui Jawad Y. , Guha Debatosh 
Published: October 2003

AbstractA CAD model used to calculate accurately the input impedance of a probe‐fed inverted microstrip circular patch (IMCP) antenna is proposed. This alleviates the existing lacunae of design information for IMCPs. The accuracy of the proposed theory is verified experimentally for various antenna parameters and resonating modes. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 39: 508–511, 2003
Cylindrical conformal bow‐tie microstrip antennas with small curvature radius
Authors: Niu Jun‐Wei , Zhong Shun‐Shi 
Published: October 2003

AbstractIn this paper, bow‐tie microstrip antennas (BMAs) conformal to cylinders with small radii are studied. One‐element BMA and two‐element BMA arrays, conformal to cylinders with small radii and finite length, are simulated and measured. Theoretical results are compared with experimental ones, showing good agreement. It is observed that not only radiation patterns are changed, but also the resonant frequency is lowered and the impedance bandwidth is reduced significantly when the cylinder's radius is decreased. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 39: 511–514, 2003
Design of a subharmonic cascode FET mixer for an IMT‐2000 base station
Authors: Kim Jeongpyo , Choi Jaehoon 
Published: October 2003

AbstractIn this paper, a subharmonic cascode FET mixer is proposed to improve the isolation characteristic between the local oscillator (LO) and RF ports of an unbalanced mixer. The mixer is designed by using a single‐gate FET cascode structure and driven by the second harmonic component of the LO signal. When RF power is −30 dBm and LO power is 0 dBm, the designed mixer yields a −47.17‐dBm LO‐to‐RF leakage power level and 10‐dB conversion gain. Since the LO‐to‐RF leakage power level of the designed mixer is as good as that of a double‐balanced mixer, the subharmonic cascode FET mixer can be utilized instead. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 39: 515–518, 2003
cDNA nucleotide sequence coding for stearoyl‐CoA desaturase and its expression in the zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryo
Authors: Hsieh S.L. , Liu R.W. , Wu C.H. , Cheng W.T. , Kuo Ching‐Ming 
Published: October 2003

AbstractA cDNA sequence of stearoyl‐CoA desaturase (SCD) was determined from zebrafish (Danio rerio) and compared to the corresponding genes in several teleosts. Zebrafish SCD cDNA has a size of 1,061 bp, encodes a polypeptide of 325 amino acids, and shares 88, 85, 84, and 83% similarities with tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus), grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella), common carp (Cyprinus carpio), and milkfish (Chanos chanos), respectively. This 1,061 bp sequence specifies a protein that, in common with other fatty acid desaturases, contains three histidine boxes, believed to be involved in catalysis. These observations suggested that SCD genes are highly conserved. In addition, an oligonucleotide probe complementary to zebrafish SCD mRNA was hybridized to mRNA of approximately 396 bases with Northern blot analysis. The Northern blot and RT‐PCR analyses showed that the SCD mRNA was expressed predominantly in the liver, intestine, gill, and muscle, while a lower level was found in the brain. Furthermore, we utilized whole‐mount in situ hybridization and real‐time quantitative RT‐PCR to identify expression of the zebrafish SCD gene at five different stages of development. This revealed that very high levels of transcripts were found in zebrafish at all stages during embryogenesis and early development. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 66: 325–333, 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Immunocytochemical localization of DJ‐1 in human male reproductive tissue
Authors: Yoshida Kaoru , Sato Yoko , Yoshiike Miki , Nozawa Shiari , Ariga Hiroyoshi , Iwamoto Teruaki 
Published: October 2003

AbstractDJ‐1 was identified as an activated ras‐dependent oncogene product, and was also found to be an infertility‐related protein (contraception‐associated protein 1; CAP 1) that was reduced in rat spermatozoa treated with ornidazole, one of the endocrine disrupting substances that causes reversible infertility in rats. CAP 1 is present in spermatozoa but is not detectable in the epididymal fluid of fertile rats and appears to be shed from sperm during treatment with ornidazole. To determine the functions of DJ‐1 in the human reproductive system as a target protein of endocrine active substances, we identified the localization of DJ‐1 in human testis, epididymis, ejaculated spermatozoa, and seminal plasma. DJ‐1 was present in cells existing in the seminiferous tubules and Leydig cells. Some strong expressions were observed in Leydig cells and Sertoli cells, suggesting a relation with spermatogenesis via androgen receptor (AR). In ejaculated spermatozoa, DJ‐1 existed on the surface of the posterior part of head and the anterior part of the midpiece. DJ‐1 was also present on sperm flagella when the antibody penetrated the plasma membrane, suggesting that there are two putative roles in fertilization, one is binding to the egg, and the other is flagella movement. In contrast to previous findings, we detected DJ‐1 in seminal plasma of fertile men. These results demonstrate that DJ‐1 in human seminal plasma is not only from spermatozoa but also from the testis and epididymis. It is suggested that DJ‐1 may play an important and as yet uncharacterized role in spermatogenesis and fertilization in humans. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 66: 391–397, 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
One step purification and biochemical characterization of a spermatozoa‐binding protein from porcine oviductal epithelial cells
Authors: Marini Patricia E. , Cabada Marcelo O. 
Published: October 2003

AbstractIn pigs the binding of sperm to oviductal epithelial cells to form a sperm reservoir involves carbohydrate interactions. In the present study, we purify a sperm binding glycoprotein (SBG) from cells from the isthmus of the oviduct using an affinity column. This protein conjugated with FITC is able to bind to the heads of pig sperm. SBG is shown to contain carbohydrates by PAS–silver staining and lectin binding assays. Enzymatic treatment and lectin affinity demonstrate that SBG exposes Galβ1‐3GalNAc disaccharide, which is bound to a serine or a threonin residue by an O‐link. After enzymatic deglycosylation SBG shows an apparent molecular mass of 67.5 kDa, which changes to 85 kDa by reduction with 2‐mercaptoethanol. Both SBG and enzymatically deglycosylated SBG show by isoelectrofocusing two forms of pI 3.6 and pI 3.8. SBG may be involved on sperm–oviduct interaction. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 66: 383–390, 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Gene expression and in vitro development of inter‐species nuclear transfer embryos
Authors: Arat Sezen , Rzucidlo S. Jacek , Stice Steven L. 
Published: October 2003

AbstractThis study examined the chromatin morphology, in vitro development, and expression of selected genes in cloned embryos produced by transfer of mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEF) into the bovine ooplasm. After 6 hr of activation, inter‐species nuclear transfer (NT) embryos (MEF‐NT) had one (70%) or two pronuclei (20%), respectively. After 72 hr of culture in vitro, 62.6% of the MEF‐NTs were arrested at the 8‐cell stage, 31.2% reached the 2‐ to 4‐cell stage, and only 6.2% had more than eight blastomeres, but none of these developed to the blastocyst stage. Whereas, 20% of NT embryos derived from bovine embryonic fibroblast fused with bovine ooplasm (BEF‐NT) reached the blastocyst stage. Donor MEF nuclei expressing an Enhanced Green Fluorescent Protein (EGFP) transgene resulted in 1‐ to 8‐cell stage MEF‐NT that expressed EGFP. The expression of selected genes was examined in 8‐cell MEF‐NTs, 8‐cell mouse embryos, enucleated bovine oocytes, and MEFs using RT‐PCR. The mRNA for heat shock protein 70.1 (Hsp 70.1) gene was detected in MEF‐NTs and MEF, but not in mouse embryos. The hydroxy‐phosphoribosyl transferase (HPRT) mRNA was found in normal mouse embryos and MEF but not in MEF‐NTs. Expression of Oct‐4 and embryonic alkaline phospatase (eAP) genes was only detected in normal mouse embryos and not in the inter‐species NT embryos. Abnormal gene expression profiles were associated with an arrest in the development at the 8‐cell stage, but MEF‐NT embryos appeared to have progressed through gross chromatin remodeling, typical of intra‐species NT embryos. Therefore, molecular reprogramming rather than chromatin remodeling may be a better indicator of nuclear reprogramming in inter‐species NT embryos. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 66: 334–342, 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Changes in JNK1 activity in the frog (Rana esculenta) testis
Authors: Chieffi Paolo 
Published: October 2003

AbstractSeveral lines of evidences support a key role of mitogen‐activated protein kinases (MAPK) in male fertility. It has been used as a non‐mammalian vertebrate model, the frog Rana esculenta, to investigate the regulation of Jun amino‐terminal kinase 1 (JNK1) activity in the testis in two different periods of the annual reproductive cycle: winter stasis and breeding season. JNK1 protein was localized by immunohistochemistry in the cytoplasm and nucleus of spermatogonia (SPG) and spermatocytes (SPC) during all the year. Immunoprecipitation analysis of JNK1 clearly shows that this isoform presents a strong phosphorylation status (thr183/Tyr185) in the breeding period, in contrast with only very low activity during the winter stasis. Simultaneously, during the breeding period c‐Jun protein is highly phosphorylated on Ser‐63. These data suggest that the increase of JNK1 activity, with strong c‐Jun phosphorylation (Ser‐63) during the breeding period, could be the signal of increasing transcriptional activity in the frog testis. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 66: 398–402, 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Feasibility of global gene expression analysis in testicular biopsies from infertile men
Authors: Fox Mark S. , Ares V. Ximena , Turek Paul J. , Haqq Christopher , Reijo Pera Renee A. 
Published: October 2003

AbstractNumerous studies have documented the use of microarray analysis to identify patterns of global gene expression that distinguish normal development from that of the diseased state. Yet, there are no reports that compare global gene expression in the fertile and infertile human testis. Here, we report an initial study of global gene expression in testicular biopsies from several men with different infertility phenotypes. We found that microarray analysis of small biopsy samples was suitable for profiling expression of genes known to function in germ cell development and also identified expression of novel genes. Since it is now common for infertile men with spermatogenic failure to use intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) to achieve biological paternity, we hypothesize that molecular screening of testicular biopsies with microarrays may be suitable: (1) to categorize the molecular phenoytpes of infertile testes in a manner similar to standard morphologic analysis and (2) to initiate larger studies of gene expression in the infertile testes that may identify genetic signatures from biopsies that allow prediction of outcomes. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 66: 403–421, 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Accumulation of zinc, copper, and metallothionein mRNA in lizard ovary proceeds without a concomitant increase in metallothionein content
Authors: Riggio Marilisa , Trinchella Francesca , Filosa Silvana , Parisi Elio , Scudiero Rosaria 
Published: October 2003

AbstractThe possible role of metallothionein (MT) in metal homeostasis has been investigated in growing oocytes and eggs of the lizard Podarcis sicula. Chromatographic analysis does not reveal the presence of MT in both ovary and eggs, the only metal‐binding proteins detected being represented by high molecular mass components. De novo synthesis of MT could be observed in the ovary of cadmium‐treated lizards. A cDNA encoding MT was obtained from the liver of P. sicula by RT‐PCR followed by a RACE strategy, using primers designed on consensus motifs of vertebrate MT. In spite of the lack of MT in the ovary of untreated animals, Northern blot analysis demonstrates that the maternal untranslated MT transcript is expressed constitutively in the ovary in all the periods of the ovarian cycle. MT mRNA content increases during the oocyte growth, reaching the highest level in ovulated eggs, concomitantly with the accumulation of zinc and copper. Our findings suggest that maternal MT mRNA accumulates in the egg and is translated sometime during development to cope with the future needs of the growing embryo. The appearance of MT after cadmium treatment suggests that the block that makes the oocytarian MT mRNA untranslatable is removed by the metal. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 66: 374–382, 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Calgizarrin like gene (Cal) deficient mice undergo normal spermatogenesis
Authors: Mannan Ashraf U. , Nica Gabriela , Nayernia Karim , Mueller Christian , Engel Wolfgang 
Published: October 2003

AbstractThe murine calgizzarin like gene (Cal) encodes for a calcium binding protein, which belongs to the S100 family of EF‐hand proteins. It is specifically expressed in Sertoli cells in the testis and its expression is down‐regulated by unknown factor(s) from spermatocytes/spermatids. In this paper, we show by transfection of a fusion protein of green fluorescent protein and Cal protein into NIH3T3 cells, that the expression of Cal is restricted only in the cytoplasm of the cell. A differentially regulated cytoplasmic expression of the Cal in Sertoli cells during mouse development suggests that Cal might play an important role during spermatogenesis. In order to elucidate the function of the Cal protein in the spermatogenesis, we disrupted the Cal locus in mouse by homologous recombination. In our knockout mouse, we deleted exon 2 and exon 3 of the Cal gene and replaced them with a neomycin cassette, which resulted in a complete loss of the Cal transcript. Male and female Cal4+/− and Cal4−/− mice from genetic backgrounds C57BL/6J × 129X1/SvJ hybrid and 129X1/SvJ inbred exhibited normal phenotype and were fertile. An intensive phenotypic analysis showed no gross abnormalities in testis morphology. The lack of the Cal protein also does not affect the parameters of sperm, as they are able to fertilize the oocytes in a competent manner, which is comparable to wild‐type sperm. Collectively our results demonstrate that Cal is a nonessential protein and it does not play an important role in mouse spermatogenesis or in process of fertilization. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 66: 431–438, 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Superoxide dismutase content and fatty acid composition in subsets of human spermatozoa from normozoospermic, asthenozoospermic, and polyzoospermic semen samples
Authors: Calamera J. , Buffone M. , Ollero M. , Alvarez J. , Doncel G.F. 
Published: October 2003

AbstractHuman ejaculated sperm comprised discrete subsets of spermatozoa, with different degrees of maturation. These subpopulations can be isolated through density gradient centrifugation. Sperm from the lowest density layer show the highest content of docosahexaenoic acid and sterols, and produce the highest levels of reactive oxygen species. The main objective of this study was to determine the superoxide dismutase (SOD) content and fatty acid composition of subsets of spermatozoa isolated from normozoospermic, asthenozoospermic, and polyzoospermic semen samples. Four sperm fractions (1–4) were obtained using ISolate gradient centrifugation. Morphology, motion parameters, SOD content, and fatty acid composition were assessed in the original samples and their fractions. Overall, sperm from normozoospermic samples had higher SOD content than those of asthenozoospermic or polyzoospermic samples. Once fractionated in subsets, the sperm SOD content decreased significantly (P < 0.0001) from fraction 1 (top) to 4 (bottom) in all three groups of samples. Fatty acid content as well as the oxidation coefficient followed the same pattern, decreasing from fraction 1 to 4 (F1–F4). Normo‐ and polyzoospermic samples showed similar amounts of fatty acids, while asthenozoospermic samples mostly revealed increased levels. Normozoospermic samples displayed the lowest unsaturated fatty acid (UFA)/SOD ratio. Spermatozoa from astheno‐ and polyzoospermic samples, two common seminal pathologies, showed higher UFA and lower SOD content than normal sperm, therefore exhibiting a higher susceptibility to peroxidative damage. F4 from all groups, containing the most mature spermatozoa, displayed the lowest polyunsaturated fatty acid and SOD content of all subsets, suggesting that excessive SOD activity as well as abundant peroxidative targets may both be deleterious to sperm function. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 66: 422–430, 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Novel purification method for mammalian seminal plasma phospholipid‐binding proteins reveals the presence of a novel member of this family of protein in stallion seminal fluid
Authors: Ménard Martin , Nauc Veronica , Lazure Claude , Vaillancourt Denis , Manjunath Puttaswamy 
Published: October 2003

AbstractA family of bull seminal plasma (BSP) phospholipid‐binding proteins (BSP proteins), potentiate heparin‐ and HDL‐induced capacitation. The homologous proteins have been purified from stallion and boar seminal plasma, and detected in low concentrations in other mammalian seminal plasma. In this study, we developed a new isolation method for mammalian seminal plasma choline phospholipid‐binding proteins wherein they are present in low concentrations. The method is based on the interaction of this family of proteins with egg yolk low‐density lipoprotein fraction (LDF). In order to demonstrate the feasibility of the method, we incubated LDF with alcohol precipitates of bull, boar, and stallion seminal plasma. LDF were re‐isolated by ultracentrifugation along with bound proteins. LDF with associated proteins were dialyzed, lyophilized, and delipidated. BSP homologous proteins were finally purified by p‐aminophenyl phosphorylcholine (PPC)–agarose and/or gelatin–agarose chromatographies, and analyzed by SDS–PAGE. With this new protocol, phospholipid‐binding proteins of bull, boar, and stallion seminal plasma were recovered almost 100%. A new 12 kDa stallion seminal plasma protein of the same family was also isolated and partially sequenced. The radio‐immunoassay (RIA) data showed that 10 mg of LDF can bind all BSP proteins present in 120 mg of alcohol precipitated BSP proteins. These results confirm the efficiency of the method and that the LDF step could be used for the isolation of all BSP proteins homologs from different mammalian species. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 66: 349–357, 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Experience in calibrating the double‐hardening constitutive model Monot
Authors: A. Hicks M. 
Published: October 2003

AbstractThe Monot double‐hardening soil model has previously been implemented within a general purpose finite element algorithm, and used in the analysis of numerous practical problems. This paper reviews experience gained in calibrating Monot to laboratory data and demonstrates how the calibration process may be simplified without detriment to the range of behaviours modelled. It describes Monot's principal features, important governing equations and various calibration methods, including strategies for overconsolidated, cemented and cohesive soils. Based on a critical review of over 30 previous Monot calibrations, for sands and other geomaterials, trends in parameter values have been identified, enabling parameters to be categorized according to their relative importance. It is shown that, for most practical purposes, a maximum of only 5 parameters is needed; for the remaining parameters, standard default values are suggested. Hence, the advanced stress–strain modelling offered by Monot is attainable with a similar number of parameters as would be needed for some simpler, less versatile, models. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Modelling crack propagation in concrete structures with a two scale approach
Authors: Haidar Khalil , Dubé Jean François , Pijaudier‐Cabot Gilles 
Published: October 2003

AbstractA simplified computational technique based on a refined global–local method is applied to the failure analysis of concrete structures. The technique distinguishes the scale of the structure, modelled with large size finite elements, from the scale at which material non‐linearity occurs due to progressive cracking and macro‐crack propagation. The finite element solution is split into two parts: a linear elastic analysis on a coarse mesh over the entire structure and a non‐linear analysis over a small part of the structure where a dense finite element grid is employed. In the non‐linear calculation, a non‐local damage model is implemented. These two computations are coupled with the help of an iterative scheme. The size and location of the region where a non‐linear analysis is performed, is adapted to follow the development of the damage zone. Numerical examples of mode I fracture of concrete specimens with straight and curved cracks are presented. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Numerical solution of eddy current problems in ferromagnetic bodies travelling in a transverse magnetic field
Authors: Peterson W. 
Published: October 2003

AbstractEddy currents are investigated in a ferromagnetic bar travelling in a transverse magnetic field. Such an open boundary field problem is analysed by a hybrid approach based on Galerkin finite element formulation coupled with a separation of variables. A steady state is considered, introducing time‐periodic boundary conditions. The resultant system of non‐linear equations is solved by an iterative procedure based on Brouwer's fixed‐point theorem. Numerical results are presented for a bar of circular cross‐section made of cast steel or cast iron. Selected examples of the field distribution and characteristics of eddy‐current power losses are enclosed in graphic form. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.