bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effects of bone morphogenetic protein‐7 (BMP‐7) on primordial follicular growth in the mouse ovary
Authors: Lee Woo‐Sik , Yoon Se‐Jin , Yoon Tae‐Ki , Cha Kwang‐Yul , Lee Sook‐Hwan , Shimasaki Shunichi , Lee Sangho , Lee Kyung‐Ah 
Published: July 2004

AbstractPreviously, bone morphogenetic protein‐7 (BMP‐7) was suggested as a factor that may act to facilitate the transition of follicles from primordial stage to the pool of developed primary, preantral, and antral follicles (Lee et al. 2001: Biol Reprod 65:994–999.). Thus, aim of the present study was to evaluate effect(s) of BMP‐7 on the primordial‐primary follicle transition. Neonatal mouse ovaries were cultured in the presence or absence of 100 mIU/ml FSH with various doses of BMP‐7 (0, 10, and 100 ng/ml). After 4‐day culture period, number of follicles was counted and the expression of transcripts for FSH receptor (FSHR), kit ligand (KL), and c‐kit was measured by RT‐PCR. BMP‐7 alone at 100 ng/ml concentration stimulated follicle development with concurrent increase of mRNA for FSHR. BMP‐7 alone down‐regulated KL expression however, the ratio between KL1 and KL2 was increased. There was no change in the c‐kit mRNA expression. Results of the present study suggest that the BMP‐7 is one of the factors involved in primordial‐primary follicle transition in the mouse ovary and it may play a role in expression of FSHR for further follicular development. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 69: 159–163, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Expression of gp20, a human sperm antigen of epididymal origin, is reduced in spermatozoa from subfertile men
Authors: Giuliani V. , Pandolfi C. , Santucci R. , Pelliccione F. , Macerola B. , Focarelli R. , Rosati F. , Della Giovampaola C. , Francavilla F. , Francavilla S. 
Published: July 2004

Abstractgp20, a sialylglycoprotein of human sperm homologous to CD52, is present everywhere on the surface of the freshly ejaculated sperm but is prevalently localized in the equatorial region of the head of capacitated sperm. In the present study, we confirmed this feature on large scale and correlated equatorial exposure of the antigen to the presence of serum albumin (SA) in the capacitation medium. Furthermore, we analyzed the relationship between the presence of the antigen and its equatorial exposure after capacitation and fertility, by comparing immunostaining for gp20 in the motile fraction of spermatozoa from fertile and subfertile men. A significantly higher percentage of nonimmunostained spermatozoa before capacitation (38.5% ± 23 vs. 12% ± 7, P < 0.0001) and a lower increase in the percentage of sperm with equatorial localization after capacitation (19.3% ± 25 vs. 34.6% ± 22, P = 0.039) were observed in subfertile men (n = 60) compared to fertile men (n = 15). In the whole study group, a positive correlation was also found between the percentage of spermatozoa exhibiting equatorial localization in capacitated samples and normal head forms (R = 0.50; P < 0.0001). Mol. Reprod. Dev. 69: 235–240, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Second‐order accurate constraint formulation for subdivision finite element simulation of thin shells
Authors: Green Seth , Turkiyyah George 
Published: July 2004

AbstractWe present a new method for enforcing boundary conditions within subdivision finite element simulations of thin shells. The proposed framework is demonstrated to be second‐order accurate with respect to increasing refinement in the displacement and energy norm for simply supported, clamped, free and symmetric boundary conditions. Second‐order accuracy on the boundary is consistent with the accuracy of subdivision‐based approaches for the interior of a body. Our proposed framework is applicable to both triangular and quadrilateral refinement schemes, and does not impose any topological requirements upon the underlying subdivision control mesh. Several examples from an obstacle course of benchmark problems are used to demonstrate the convergence of the scheme. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Healthcare resource utilization during 1‐year treatment with long‐acting, injectable risperidone
Authors: Leal A. , Rosillon D. , Mehnert A. , Jarema M. , Remington G. 
Published: July 2004

AbstractBackgroundSchizophrenia is associated with disproportionately high costs, mainly due to hospitalization rates. This study assessed healthcare resource use in patients with schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder during treatment with long‐acting risperidone.MethodsPatients (n = 397 [inpatients, 24%; outpatients, 76%]) receiving stable doses of an antipsychotic for ≥4 weeks were eligible to enter this 1‐year, open‐label study. Following a 2‐week run‐in period (oral risperidone 1–6 mg/day), patients received intramuscular long‐acting risperidone (25 or 50 mg modal dose) every 2 weeks. Healthcare resource use in the previous 12 weeks was assessed at baseline and 12‐weekly intervals.ResultsPatients needing hospitalization decreased significantly and continuously from 38% during the 12 weeks before study entry to 12% during the last 12 weeks. Mean hospitalization length during the study was 30.5 days (outpatients, 4.9 days; inpatients, 110 days). This included 28 patients (7%) who remained in hospital throughout the study. During treatment, 71% of those hospitalized at baseline were discharged. Partial hospitalization decreased significantly from 7% of patients during the 12 weeks before treatment to 3% during the last 12 weeks. Outpatient consultations also decreased significantly from 70% of patients to 30% in the first 12 weeks of treatment and remained stable thereafter. Only 9% of patients required an emergency room visit; mostly for non‐psychiatric conditions.ConclusionHealthcare resource use is significantly reduced in patients with stable schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder receiving long‐acting risperidone. It is highly likely that these reductions will decrease healthcare costs in patients receiving long‐acting risperidone. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Effectiveness of amoxicillin, azithromycin, cefprozil and clarithromycin in the treatment of acute otitis media in children: a population‐based study
Authors: Quach Caroline , Collet Jean‐Paul , LeLorier Jacques 
Published: July 2004

AbstractPopulation‐based studies may give results different from randomized clinical trials assessing the efficacy of antibiotics.ObjectiveTo determine the effectiveness of amoxicillin, azithromycin, cefprozil and clarithromycin in the treatment of acute otitis media (AOM) in children.MethodsUsing Quebec Health Insurance databases (RAMQ), we selected a cohort of children aged ≤6 years, with a first episode of AOM between 1999 and 2002. The index AOM was defined as a medical service claim with a diagnosis of AOM and an antibiotic dispensation in the following 72 hours. Failures were defined as a new antibiotic dispensation, a hospitalization or outpatient visit for complications related to AOM in the 30 days after the index AOM. Data were analyzed using logistic regression.ResultsOverall, 12 693 failures occurred among 60 513 first episodes of AOM. Azithromycin was the only antibiotic that was associated with a decreased risk of failure overall, when compared to amoxicillin (OR 0.88, 95%CI: 0.82, 0.94). However in the first 3 days of treatment (n = 680), azithromycin was more associated with treatment failure (OR 1.6, 95%CI: 1.3, 2.0). Compared to amoxicillin, post‐therapy failures (n = 9387) were more likely to occur with cefprozil (OR 1.2, 95%CI: 1.2, 1.3) but were less with azithromycin (OR 0.8 95%CI: 0.8, 0.9).ConclusionsAzithromycin had the lowest risk of failure 30 days after the onset of treatment but an increased risk of failure during the first few days of treatment. Amoxicillin remains an effective first‐line drug for treating first AOM episodes. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Molecular distribution analysis of melt‐crystallized ethylene copolymers
Authors: Chen Fei , Shanks Robert A , Amarasinghe Gandara 
Published: July 2004

AbstractA simple technique employing differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) to investigate the molecular structure of ethylene copolymers is presented in this paper. Three commercial Ziegler–Natta catalysed linear low density polyethylenes (LLDPE) and a commercial single‐site catalysed very low density polyethylene (VLDPE) were subjected to continuous cooling at a slow rate of 0.08 °C min−1. Like other thermal fractionation techniques, the slow continuous cooling (SCC) technique segregates polymers according to their branching density, allowing the short chain branching (SCB), lamellar thickness (L) and methylene sequence length (MSL) distribution to be determined using the DSC melting curves. It was found that the single‐site catalysed VLDPE exhibits narrow SCB, L and MSL distributions, with shorter methylene sequences. In contrast, the Ziegler–Natta catalysed LLDPEs have much broader bimodal SCB, L and MSL distributions, with less SCB, and are composed of both short and long methylene sequences. LLDPEs have thicker lamellae compared with VLDPE (12.9, 12.5, 9.8 nm versus 6.7 nm) and the lamellar thickness values are consistent with the results measured by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The slow continuous cooling and stepwise cooling techniques are complementary: the former provides a continuous distribution profile and the latter a well‐defined histogram for the lamellar thickness. The results obtained are qualitatively comparable to those gained by temperature rising elution fractionation (TREF), because the cooling rate used here is of the order of the rates used in TREF analysis. Copyright © 2004 Society of Chemical Industry
Effects of solvents on electrospun polymeric fibers: preliminary study on polystyrene
Authors: Wannatong Ladawan , Sirivat Anuvat , Supaphol Pitt 
Published: July 2004

AbstractSix solvents [acetic acid, acetonitrile, m‐cresol, toluene, tetrahydrofuran (THF) and dimethylformamide (DMF)] with different properties (eg density, boiling point, solubility parameter, dipole moment and dielectric constant) were used to prepare electrospun polystyrene (PS) fibers. Fiber diameters were found to decrease with increasing density and boiling point of the solvents. A large difference between the solubility parameters of PS and the solvent was responsible for the bead‐on‐string morphology observed. Productivity of the fibers (the numbers of fiber webs per unit area per unit time) increased with increasing dielectric constant and dipole moment of the solvents. Among the solvents studied, DMF was the best solvent that provided PS fibers with highest productivity and optimal morphological characteristics. The beadless, well‐aligned PS fibers with a diameter of ca 0.7 µm were produced from the solution of 10 % (w/v) of PS in DMF at an applied electrostatic field of 15 kV/10 cm, a nitrogen flow rate of 101 ml min−1 and a rotational speed of the collector of 1500 rev min−1. Copyright © 2004 Society of Chemical Industry
Predictive reconstruction of the mitochondrial iron‐sulfur cluster assembly metabolism. II. Role of glutaredoxin Grx5
Authors: Alves Rui , Herrero Enrique , Sorribas Albert 
Published: July 2004

AbstractGrx5 is a Saccharomyces cerevisiae glutaredoxin involved in iron‐sulfur cluster (FeSC) biogenesis. Previous work suggests that Grx5 is involved in regulating protein cysteine glutathionylation, prompting several questions about the systemic role of Grx5. First, is the regulation of mixed protein‐glutathione disulfide bridges in FeSC biosynthetic proteins by Grx5 sufficient to account for the observed phenotypes of the Δgrx5 mutants? If so, does Grx5 regulate the oxidation state of mixed protein‐glutathione disulfide bridges in FeSC biogenesis in general? Alternatively, can the Δgrx5 mutant phenotypes be explained if Grx5 acts on just one or a few of the FeSC biogenesis proteins?In the first part of this article, we address these questions by building and analyzing a mathematical model of FeSC biosynthesis. We show that, independent of the tested parameter values, the dynamic behavior observed in cells depleted of Grx5 can only be qualitatively reproduced if Grx5 acts by regulating the initial assembly of FeSC in scaffold proteins. This can be achieved by acting on the cysteine desulfurase (Nfs1) activity and/or on scaffold functionality.In the second part of this article, we use structural bioinformatics methods to evaluate the possibility of interaction between Grx5 and proteins involved in FeSC biogenesis. Based on such methods, our results indicate that the proteins with which Grx5 is more likely to interact are consistent with the kinetic modeling results.Thus, our theoretical studies, combined with known Grx5 biochemistry, suggest that Grx5 acts on FeSC biosynthesis by regulating the redox state of important cysteine residues in Nfs1 and/or in the scaffold proteins where FeSC initially assemble. Proteins 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Prediction of protein accessible surface areas by support vector regression
Authors: Yuan Zheng , Huang Bixing 
Published: July 2004

AbstractA novel support vector regression (SVR) approach is proposed to predict protein accessible surface areas (ASAs) from their primary structures. In this work, we predict the real values of ASA in squared angstroms for residues instead of relative solvent accessibility. Based on protein residues, the mean and median absolute errors are 26.0 Å2 and 18.87 Å2, respectively. The correlation coefficient between the predicted and observed ASAs is 0.66. Cysteine is the best predicted amino acid (mean absolute error is 13.8 Å2 and median absolute error is 8.37 Å2), while arginine is the least predicted amino acid (mean absolute error is 42.7 Å2 and median absolute error is 36.31 Å2). Our work suggests that the SVR approach can be directly applied to the ASA prediction where data preclassification has been used. Proteins 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Characterization of the conformational space of a triple‐stranded β‐sheet forming peptide with molecular dynamics simulations
Authors: Soto Patricia , Colombo Giorgio 
Published: July 2004

AbstractMolecular dynamics (MD) simulations have been performed on a series of mutants of the 20 amino acid peptide Betanova in order to critically assess the ability of MD simulations to reproduce the folding and stability of small β‐sheet–forming peptides on currently accessible timescales. Simulations were performed in both water and in 40% methanol solution, using an explicit solvent model. The simulations suggest that all mutants adopt a wide range of conformations in solution, that the structures are highly flexible, and that stabilization of compact structures is due to a delicate balance of hydrophobic and polar side‐chain interactions. Simulations longer than 100 ns, although not sufficient for a complete thermodynamic and kinetic description of the system, sample an ensemble of compact conformations characterized by the loss of ordered β‐sheet secondary structure. This suggests that no significant free energy barrier separates the different conformations available. Proteins 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Multi‐method global analysis of thermodynamics and kinetics in reconstitution of monellin
Authors: Xue Wei‐Feng , Carey Jannette , Linse Sara 
Published: July 2004

AbstractAccurate and precise determinations of thermodynamic parameters of binding are important steps toward understanding many biological mechanisms. Here, a multi‐method approach to binding analysis is applied and a detailed error analysis is introduced. Using this approach, the binding thermodynamics and kinetics of the reconstitution of the protein monellin have been quantitatively determined in detail by simultaneous analysis of data collected with fluorescence spectroscopy, surface plasmon resonance and isothermal titration calorimetry at 25°C, pH 7.0 and 150 mM NaCl. Monellin is an intensely sweet protein composed of two peptide chains that form a single globular domain. The kinetics of the reconstitution reaction are slow, with an association rate constant, kon of 8.8 × 103 M−1 s−1 and a dissociation rate constant, koff of 3.1 × 10−4 s−1. The equilibrium constant KA is 2.8 × 107 M−1 corresponding to a standard free energy of association, ΔG°, of −42.5 kJ/mol. The enthalpic component, ΔH°, is −18.7 kJ/mol and the entropic contribution, ΔS°, is 79.8 J mol−1 K−1 (−TΔS° = −23.8 kJ/mol). The association of monellin is therefore a bimolecular intra‐protein association whose energetics are slightly dominated by entropic factors. Proteins 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Probabilistic models for life‐cycle performance of deteriorating structures: review and future directions
Authors: Frangopol Dan M , Kallen Maarten‐Jan , Noortwijk Jan M van 
Published: July 2004

AbstractIn comparison with the well‐researched field of analysis and design of structural systems, the life‐cycle performance prediction of these systems under no maintenance as well as under various maintenance scenarios is far more complex, and is a rapidly emergent field in structural engineering. As structures become older and maintenance costs become higher, different agencies and administrations in charge of civil infrastructure systems are facing challenges related to the implementation of structure maintenance and management systems based on life‐cycle cost considerations. This article reviews the research to date related to probabilistic models for maintaining and optimizing the life‐cycle performance of deteriorating structures and formulates future directions in this field.
Studies of observed trends in values of Bethe–Bloch parameters extracted from stopping power measurements
Authors: Porter L. E. 
Published: July 2004

AbstractIn the course of previous investigations, trends in values of the Bethe–Bloch parameters, mean excitation energy (I) and Barkas‐effect parameter (b), have been observed. Generally I values decrease with increasing projectile atomic number (z) whereas b values increase. However, the opposite trends have been previously observed for ZnSe and GaAs targets traversed by 1H and 4He projectiles. In the present study, that opposite trend was also followed when 7Li projectiles were included. When selected measurements for 4He, 12C, 14N, and 16O projectiles impinging on Si targets were analyzed, extracted I and b values followed essentially the original trends in z dependence. Stopping power measurements for 12 elemental targets with atomic numbers (Z) lying between 12 and 48 traversed by 29Si projectiles have been analyzed for determination of values of a single effective charge parameter, as part of a continuing study of systematics in such values in terms of both z and Z. Two other sets of measurements featuring 7Li projectiles and eight elemental targets with Z values between 5 and 48 have been similarly analyzed. In some of the effective charge studies the data proved amenable to extraction of three parameters, so that results could be included in the ongoing study of z dependences of extracted values of I and b. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2004
Generation and characterization of ionic and neutral methylene isothiocyanate by a combined tandem mass spectrometry and computational study
Authors: Reddy P. Nagi , Srikanth R. , Bhanuprakash K. , Srinivas R. 
Published: July 2004

AbstractThe heterocumulene, methyleneisothiocyanate ion, CH2NCS+ (1a+), is generated by the dissociative electron ionization of 2‐mercaptoimidazole. This conclusion follows from tandem mass spectrometry experiments and theoretical calculations at the B3LYP/6‐311G** and G2/G2(MP2) levels. The calculations predict that 1a+ is separated by high energy barriers from its isomers CHNCHS (1b+), CHNCSH (1d+), CNCHSH (1e+) and CHNHCS (1f+). The low energy metastable ions 1a+ dissociate by loss of HCN via the pathway 1a+ → 1b+ → HCS+ + HCN. Neutralization‐reionization experiments confirm the theoretical prediction that the hitherto unknown heterocumulene CH2NCS. is a stable species in the rarefied gas phase. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Determination of ochratoxin A in meat products by high‐performance liquid chromatography coupled to electrospray ionisation sequential mass spectrometry
Authors: Losito I. , Monaci L. , Palmisano F. , Tantillo G. 
Published: July 2004

AbstractA method based on liquid chromatography with electrospray ionisation ion trap mass spectrometry, for the determination of ochratoxin A (OTA) in meat products using ochratoxin B (OTB) as an internal standard, is described. Fragmentation patterns of OTA and OTB were studied by sequential mass spectrometry. Trace determination was then accomplished by consecutive reaction monitoring (CRM) of a fragment obtained by MS3 experiments. This led to a better signal‐to‐noise ratio and to a higher specificity of the technique. The response to OTA was linear over at least one concentration decade with a limit of detection of 0.6 ng/g. The method was applied to pig tissue samples naturally contaminated by OTA. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Abgehängte Fassaden im Zentrum Paul Klee
Authors: Lang Robert , Schmid Volker 
Published: July 2004

AbstractDie sichtbare Gebäudehülle des “Zentrum Paul Klee” in Bern besteht nur aus zwei Elementen – der wellenförmigen Dachstruktur und der markanten, zweistöckigen Frontfassade. Der vorliegenden Aufsatz erläutert den Entwurf und die Konstruktionsprinzipien der bis zu 19,5 m hohen, von den Frontbögen abgehängten Glasfassaden. Die Wahl des Tragsystems wird insbesondere von den großen Verformungen des Bogendaches bestimmt, die möglichst zwängungsfrei von den Fassaden aufgenommen werden müssen. Ein quer zur Fassadenebene angeordneter “Balancier” wird eingeführt, um Spannkraftverluste in den oberen vorgespannten Kabeln zu vermeiden.
Form follows performance: Entwicklung des modularen, weitgespannten Tragwerks für ein neues Montagewerk
Authors: Reichardt Jürgen , Eckert Andreas , Baum Thomas 
Published: July 2004

AbstractZunehmender globaler Wettbewerb erfordert gegenwärtig für alle Projektbeteiligten besondere Anstrengungen im Hinblick auf Qualität, Termintreue und Kostenbewußtsein. Für Konzeption, Projektsteuerung, Realisierung und das Betreiben komplexer Fabrikbauten bedeutet das in der Automobilindustrie geläufige Prinzip der ‘zero tolerance’ insbesondere die Vermeidung von Schnittstellen bisweilen separierter Fachplanungen. Der Aufbau eines integrierten, durchgängigen 3D‐Datenmodells nutzt die Potentiale gegenwärtiger CAD/CAM‐Datenbanktechniken zugunsten einer übergreifenden Projektoptimierung und zyklischen 3D‐Qualitätssicherung. Die Methodik der synergetischen Fabrikplanung wird am Fallbeispiel der Entwicklung eines modularen, weitgespannten Tragwerks erläutert und zur Diskussion gestellt.
Numerische Untersuchungen zur Ermüdungsbeanspruchung vorgespannter Ringflanschstöße mit Imperfektionen
Authors: Jakubowski Alexander , Schmidt Herbert 
Published: July 2004

AbstractFür die Bemessung vorgespannter geschraubter Ringflanschstöße in turmartigen Stahlbauten (z. B. Schornsteine oder Rohrtürme von Windenergieanlagen) ist der Nachweis gegen Ermüdung der Schrauben sehr wichtig. Klaffungen zwischen den Kontaktflächen vor dem Vorspannen der Schrauben (sogenannte Flanschimperfektionen) können einen negativen Einfluß auf die ermüdungsrelevanten Schraubenspannungen haben. Es wurde ein FE‐Modell für imperfekte Ringflansche aufgebaut und mit Hilfe der Ergebnisse großmaßstäblicher Rohrbiegeversuche an Ringflanschstößen validiert. Über diese Versuche war ebenfalls in dieser Zeitschrift berichtet worden. Mit dem validierten FE‐Modell wurde eine Parameterstudie an imperfekt simulierten L‐Ringflanschverbindungen mit baupraktischen Abmessungen aus dem WEA‐Bau durchgeführt. Die Ergebnisse ermöglichen eine Differenzierung der verschiedenen Klaffungsformen hinsichtlich ihres negativen Einflusses auf die Schraubenermüdung. Dieser Einfluß darf beim Ermüdungssicherheitsnachweis der Schrauben keinesfalls vernachlässigt werden.