bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Genes Involved in the Adrenal Pathway of Glucocorticoid Synthesis Are Transiently Expressed in the Developing Lung
Authors: Provost Pierre R. , Tremblay Yves 
Published: January 2005

Abstract
We have studied the expression of genes involved in glucocorticoid synthesis in the developing lungs of male and female mouse fetuses on gestation days (GD) 15–18 (surge of surfactant, GD 17; term, GD 19). High levels of steroidogenic acute regulatory protein, cytochrome P450 cholesterol side chain cleavage, 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1, 21- hydroxylase, and 11β-hydroxylase mRNAs were observed in three of the six litters studied on GD 15 and in none of the 14 litters analyzed between GD 16 and 18. Of these three litters, two showed high expression levels for these five genes in lung tissues from female fetuses only, whereas in the remaining litter, only tissues from male fetuses presented high expression of these genes. In contrast, 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 mRNA level was very low on GD 15 and presented a gradual increase between GD 15 and 18 with no sex difference. Our data indicate that, like the mature adrenal, the fetal lung expresses all genes required in glucocorticoid synthesis from cholesterol. In addition, our results demonstrate that transient expression of these genes on GD 15 in the fetal lung occurs for both male and female fetuses, 2 d before the surge of surfactant synthesis, which is stimulated by glucocorticoids.
The Distinct Agonistic Properties of the Phenylpyrazolosteroid Cortivazol Reveal Interdomain Communication within the Glucocorticoid Receptor
Authors: Yoshikawa Noritada , Yamamoto Keiko , Shimizu Noriaki , Yamada Sachiko , Morimoto Chikao , Tanaka Hirotoshi 
Published: January 2005

AbstractRecent structural analyses of the nuclear receptors establish a paradigm of receptor activation, in which agonist binding induces the ligand binding domain (LBD)/activation function-2 helix to form a charge clamp for coactivator recruitment. However, these analyses have not sufficiently addressed the mechanisms for differential actions of various synthetic steroids in terms of fine tuning of multiple functions of whole receptor molecules. In the present study, we used the glucocorticoid receptor (GR)-specific agonist cortivazol (CVZ) to probe the plasticity and functional modularity of the GR. Structural docking analysis revealed that although CVZ is more bulky than other agonists, it can be accommodated in the ligand binding pocket of the GR by reorientation of several amino acid side chains but without major alterations in the active conformation of the LBD. In this induced fit model, the phenylpyrazole A-ring of CVZ establishes additional contacts with helices 3 and 5 of the LBD that may contribute to a more stable LBD configuration. Structural and functional analysis revealed that CVZ is able to compensate for the deleterious effects of a C-terminal deletion of the LBD in a manner that mimics the stabilizing influence of the F602S point mutation. CVZ-mediated productive recruitment of transcriptional intermediary factor 2 to the C-terminally deleted LBD requires the receptor’s own DNA binding domain and is positively influenced by the N-terminal regions of GR or progesterone receptor. These results support a model where ligand-dependent conformational changes in the LBD play a role in GR-mediated gene regulation via modular interaction with the DBD and activation function-1.
Multistage Epilepsy Surgery: Safety, Efficacy, and Utility of a Novel Approach in Pediatric Extratemporal Epilepsy
Authors: Bauman Joel A. , Feoli Enrique , Romanelli Pantaleo , Doyle Werner K. , Devinsky Orrin , Weiner Howard L. 
Published: January 2005

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:
To evaluate the safety, efficacy, and utility of a novel surgical strategy consisting of multiple (more than two) operative stages performed during the same hospital admission with subdural grid and strip electrodes in selected pediatric extratemporal epilepsy.

METHODS:
Subdural grid and strip electrodes were used for multistage chronic electroencephalographic monitoring in 15 pediatric patients (age, &lt;19 yr) with refractory localization-related epilepsy and poor surgical prognostic factors. Initial resective surgery and/or multiple subpial transections were performed, followed by further monitoring and additional resection and/or multiple subpial transections.

RESULTS:
Mean patient age was 9.7 years. Mean duration of total invasive monitoring was 10.5 days (range, 8–14 d). The first monitoring period averaged 6.5 days, and the second averaged 3.9 days. Additional surgery was performed in 13 of 15 patients. Two patients who did not undergo additional surgery had a Class I outcome. Rationales for reinvestigation included incomplete localization, multifocality, and proximity to eloquent cortex. Complications were minimal, including two transfusions. There were no cases of wound infection, cerebral edema, hemorrhage, or major permanent neurological deficit. Minimum duration of follow-up was 31 months. Outcomes were 60% Engel Class I (9 of 15 patients), 27% Class III (4 of 15 patients), and 13% Class IV (2 of 15 patients).

CONCLUSION:
In a very select group of pediatric patients with poor surgical prognostic factors, the multistage approach can be beneficial. After failed epilepsy surgery, subsequent reoperation with additional intracranial investigation traditionally is used when a single residual focus is suspected. Our results, however, support the contention that multistage epilepsy surgery is safe, effective, and useful in a challenging and select pediatric population with extratemporal medically refractory epilepsy.
Multiagenten-Technologien für Ambient Intelligence (Multiagent Technologies for Ambient Intelligence)
Authors: Berger Michael , Müller Jörg P. , Seitz Christian 
Published: January 2005

Abstract
Der Begriff Ambient Intelligence (AmI) beschreibt die Vision, in der elektronische Umgebungen aktiv, personalisiert und kontextsensitiv auf die Wünsche der Menschen eingehen. Dieser Artikel skizziert einen möglichen Migrationspfad von Ubiquitous Computing über kontextsensitive Systeme hin zu Agenten-basierten Systemen für AmI. Anhand von zwei Projektbeispielen werden aktuelle Anwendungsmöglichkeiten und Grenzen der Forschung im Bereich AmI aufgezeigt.
Aufbau von Agentensystemen zur Unterstützung komponentenbasierter Entwicklungsprozesse (Architecture of Agent Systems Supporting Component-based Engineering Processes)
Authors: Wagner Thomas , Göhner Peter 
Published: January 2005

Abstract
Die aktive Unterstützung von Entwicklungsprozessen weist ein erhebliches Potenzial für den Einsatz von Agentensystemen auf. Der Architekturentwurf von Agentensystemen für diesen Einsatzbereich muss als wesentlichen Faktor das menschliche Know-how integrieren. Im folgenden Beitrag wird die grundlegende Architektur von Agentensystemen zur Unterstützung von Entwicklungsprozessen diskutiert und an Hand eines Beispiels erläutert.
Psychological benefit of diagnostic certainty for mothers of children with disabilities: Lessons from Down syndrome
Authors: Lenhard W. , Breitenbach E. , Ebert H. , Schindelhauer‐Deutscher H.J. , Henn W. 
Published: January 2005

AbstractDiagnostic and prognostic uncertainty is one of the major psychological stressors for patients in acute and chronic illness, as well as for parents of children with disabilities or chronic disease. Whereas the parents' feeling of uncertainty is undoubtedly very strong shortly after the birth of a child with disabilities, the long‐term effects on the parents of having or not having a precise genetic diagnosis, in terms of emotional stress, remain unclear. In this study, mothers of non‐disabled children are compared to mothers of children with Down syndrome, and to mothers of children with a diagnostically unassigned mental retardation with regard to the level of anxiety, feelings of guilt, and emotional burden. While the mothers of children with Down syndrome score comparably to the mothers of non‐disabled children, the results show broad psychoemotional disadvantages for mothers of children with a mental retardation of unknown etiology. Consequently, the value of genetic diagnosis of infantile disabilities encompasses, beyond clinical considerations like therapy planning and assignment of the recurrence risk for siblings, significant and long‐lasting emotional relief for the parents. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Time–temperature dependency of mode II fracture toughness for bisphenol A type epoxy resin
Authors: Araki Wakako , Asahi Daisuke , Adachi Tadaharu , Yamaji Akihiko 
Published: January 2005

AbstractWe investigated the mode II fracture toughness (KIIc) with time and temperature dependence of the bisphenol A type of epoxy resin. We performed an asymmetric four‐point bending test under various conditions of temperature and displacement rate. We found that KIIc strongly depended on the displacement rate and the temperature, even at room temperature. Moreover, it was governed by the time–temperature equivalence principle in regard to the fracture time. The time–temperature dependency of KIIc was similar to that of the loss modulus (E″), and the transition of brittle to ductile fractures occurred nearly simultaneously when E″ peaked. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 96: 51–55, 2005
Wood‐fiber/high‐density‐polyethylene composites: Coupling agent performance
Authors: Lu John Z. , Wu Qinglin , Negulescu Ioan I. 
Published: January 2005

AbstractThe coupling efficiency of seven coupling agents in wood–polymer composites (WPC) was investigated in this study. The improvement on the interfacial bonding strength, flexural modulus, and other mechanical properties of the resultant wood fiber/high‐density polyethylene (HDPE) composites was mainly related to the coupling agent type, function groups, molecular weight, concentration, and chain structure. As a coupling agent, maleated polyethylene (MAPE) had a better performance in WPC than oxidized polyethylene (OPE) and pure polyethylene (PPE) because of its stronger interfacial bonding. A combination of the acid number, molecular weight, and concentration of coupling agents had a significant effect on the interfacial bonding in WPC. The coupling agents with a high molecular weight, moderate acid number, and low concentration level were preferred to improve interfacial adhesion in WPC. The backbone structure of coupling agents also affected the interfacial bonding strength. Compared with the untreated composites, modified composites improved the interfacial bonding strength by 140% on maximum and the flexural storage modulus by 29%. According to the statistical analysis, 226D and 100D were the best of the seven coupling agents. The coupling agent performance was illustrated with the brush, switch, and amorphous structures. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 96: 93–102, 2005
Effects of cysteine on the pharmacokinetics of intravenous chlorzoxazone in rats with protein–calorie malnutrition
Authors: Kim Yoon G. , Cho Min K. , Kwon Jong W. , Kim Sang G. , Chung Suk J. , Shim Chang‐K. , Lee Myung G. 
Published: January 2005

AbstractThe effects of cysteine on the pharmacokinetics of chlorzoxazone (CZX) and one of its metabolites, 6‐hydroxychlorzoxazone (OH‐CZX), were investigated after intravenous administration of CZX, 25 mg/kg, to control rats (4‐week fed on 23% casein diet) and rats with PCM (4‐week fed on 5% casein diet) and PCMC (PCM with oral cysteine supplementation, 250 mg/kg, twice daily during the fourth week). In rats with PCM, the area under the plasma concentration–time curve from time zero to time infinity (AUC) of OH‐CZX (436 compared with 972 μg min/ml) and the percentages of intravenous dose of CZX excreted in 8‐h urine as OH‐CZX (20.2 compared with 38.5%) were significantly smaller than those in control rats. The above data indicated that the formation of OH‐CZX from CZX decreased significantly in rats with PCM due to a significant decrease in chlorzoxazone‐6‐hydroxylase activity (328 compared with 895 pmol/min/mg protein) in the rats. The results were expected since in rats with PCM, hepatic CYP2E1 expression and its mRNA levels decreased significantly as compared to control, and CZX was metabolized to OH‐CZX primarily by CYP2E1 in rats. By cysteine supplementation (rats with PCMC), some pharmacokinetic parameters restored fully (hepatic microsomal chlorzoxazone 6‐hydroxylation activity based on both mg protein and nmol CYP450) or partially (total body clearance and apparent volume of distribution at steady state of CZX, and AUC, terminal half‐life and 8‐h urinary excretion of OH‐CZX) to control levels. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Evaluation and treatment of covert stereotypy
Authors: Ringdahl Joel E. , Andelman Marc S. , Kitsukawa Kana , Winborn Lisa C. , Barretto Anjali , Wacker David P. 
Published: January 2005

AbstractThe treatment of behavior maintained by automatic reinforcement (e.g. stereotypy) can present a unique challenge if practitioners cannot control delivery of the maintaining reinforcer. Further, some individuals might engage in stereotypy only when care providers are absent. In the current evaluation, an adolescent boy's hand flapping was demonstrated to occur in the absence of social contingencies and care providers. To reduce the behavior, two treatment strategies were assessed. In the first approach, verbal reminders to refrain from hand flapping were delivered on time‐based schedules. In the second approach (differential reinforcement of other behavior, DRO), we provided access to a preferred item contingent on prespecified time lengths with no hand flapping when the participant was alone in a room. Results of the investigation indicated that the verbal reminders were unsuccessful, whereas the DRO program resulted in near‐zero levels of stereotypy. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The effect of providing choices on skill acquisition and competing behavior of children with autism during discrete trial instruction
Authors: Newman Bobby , Needelman Meredith , Reinecke Dana R. , Robek Adrienne 
Published: January 2005

AbstractDiscrete trial instruction was carried out for three students with autism. An alternating treatments design was implemented. In one condition, teachers chose the reinforcers to be used and the order in which programs were conducted. In a second condition, students chose the order of programs and the reinforcers to be used. Speed of skill acquisition and the presence of competing behavior such as tantrums, aggression, escape attempts or idiosyncratic noncompliance responses were measured. Speed of skill acquisition did not differ between the two conditions, but competing behavior was markedly reduced during student choice conditions. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Simultaneous detection of two verotoxin genes using dual‐label time‐resolved fluorescence immunoassay with duplex PCR
Authors: Watanabe Kazuyuki , Arakawa Hidetoshi , Maeda Masako 
Published: January 2005

AbstractVerotoxin (VT) produced by several Escherichia coli serotypes causes haemorrhagic colitis and has been associated with haemolytic uraemic syndrome in humans. Two types of verotoxin are known. Conventional diagnosis of verotoxin‐producing Escherichia coli (VTEC) is conducted after isolation of bacteria from clinical specimens, followed by serological determination and identification of VTs. This method is complicated and time‐consuming. Recently, rapid, direct immunological methods for identification of VTEC, i.e. immunochromatography and latex agglutination, have been developed. However, these techniques continue to suffer from limited sensitivity and a lack of specificity. These difficulties arise from the fact that the antibody used in these procedures reacts exclusively with the O157 antigen; moreover, VTEC strains with non‐O157 antigens, such as O26, O103 and O111 antigens, exist. These VTEC groups did not react with anti‐O157 antibody. Consequently, it is necessary to diagnose the VT gene in these bacteria. Therefore, we have designed a sensitive and specific method for the detection of two VT genes simultaneously, utilizing duplex PCR with time‐resolved fluorescence immunoassay (TRFIA). Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Depressed humoral immunity after weight reduction in competitive judoists
Authors: Ohta Seikou , Nakaji Shigeyuki , Suzuki Katsuhiko , Totsuka Manabu , Umeda Takashi , Sugawara Kazuo 
Published: January 2005

AbstractWe studied changes in serum opsonic activity (SOA) in male judoists who were engaged in active weight reduction. Serum immunoglobulins, complements and SOA, measured by neutrophil‐associated chemiluminescence responses, were investigated 20 days, 7 days and 1 day before a competition and 5 days after the competition. In addition, muscle strength and anaerobic work capacity, as well as body composition, were also determined. A dietary survey was conducted daily during the observation period. Body weight decreased by 4.2 kg over 19 days. SOA significantly decreased 5 days after the competition, as well as the concentrations of serum immunoglobulins, complements and total proteins. These trends were noted in the marked weight reduction group (i.e. reduction weight of body fat/body fat weight before weight reduction ≧25%) more than the slight reduction group (<25%). Depressed SOA was closely correlated with the decreased concentrations of immunoglobulins and complements. These results suggest that the decrease in immunoglobulins and complements following weight reduction is associated with reduced SOA, which might cause susceptibility to infections. This study demonstrated that such immunosuppression appeared in the recovery period after the competition rather than immediately before the competition. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Stochastic‐based descriptors studying biopolymers biological properties: Extended MARCH‐INSIDE methodology describing antibacterial activity of lactoferricin derivatives
Authors: Ramos de Armas Ronal , Díaz Humberto González , Molina Reinaldo , Uriarte Eugenio 
Published: January 2005

AbstractLactoferricin are a number of related peptides derived from the enzymatic cleavage of lactoferrin, an iron‐binding protein. These peptides, and other peptides derived from them by simple amino acid substitutions, have shown interesting antibacterial activity. In this paper we applied the MARCH‐INSIDE methodology extended to peptide and proteins, to a QSAR study related to antibacterial activity of 31 derivatives of lactoffericin against E. Coli and S. Aureus by means of Linear Discriminant (LDA) and Multiple Linear Regression Analysis (MLR). In the case of LDA we obtained models that classify correctly more than 80% of all cases (85.7% for E. Coli antibacterial activity and 83.9 for S. Aureus). With the application of a Leave‐One‐Out Cross Validation Procedure, the percentage of good classification of both classification models remained near the above reported values (87.1% for E. Coli antibacterial activity and 83.9 for S. Aureus). We obtained several linear regression models taking into account total and local descriptors. The inclusion of those local descriptors improved the correlation parameters, the statistical quality, and the predictive power of the former model obtained only with total descriptors. The best models explained more than 80% of the experimental variance in the antimicrobial activity of those compounds. These results are comparable with those reported previously by Strom (Strom, M. B.; Rekdal, O.; Svendesen, J. S. J Peptide Res 2001, 57, 127–139.) and Tore‐Lejon (Lejon, T.; Strom, M.; Svendsen, S. J Protein Sci 2001, 7, 74–78.; Lejon, T.; Svendsen J. S.; Haug, B. E. J Peptide Sci 2002, 8, 302–306.) in a smaller dataset applying Z‐scales and volume‐based descriptors and PLS as statistical techniques. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Biopolymers, 2005
Specific 3′‐Terminal Modification of DNA with a Novel Nucleoside Analogue that Allows a Covalent Linkage of a Nuclear Localization Signal and Enhancement of DNA Stability
Authors: Ikeda Yutaka , Kawahara Shun‐ichi , Yoshinari Koichi , Fujita Satoshi , Taira Kazunari 
Published: January 2005

AbstractWe report a straightforward method for the site‐specific modification of long double‐stranded DNA by using a maleimide adduct of deoxycytidine. This novel nucleoside analogue was efficiently incorporated at the 3′‐termini of DNA by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT). Thiol‐containing compounds can be covalently linked to the maleimide moieties. We added a nuclear localization signal peptide to the 3′‐terminal of a 350 bp‐long DNA that encoded short‐hairpin RNA, and these modifications resulted in the enhancement of silencing activity by RNA interference. This enhancement is mainly attributed to increased stability of the template DNA.
Asprich: A Novel Aspartic Acid‐Rich Protein Family from the Prismatic Shell Matrix of the Bivalve Atrina rigida
Authors: Gotliv Bat‐Ami , Kessler Naama , Sumerel Jan L. , Morse Daniel E. , Tuross Noreen , Addadi Lia , Weiner Steve 
Published: January 2005

AbstractAlmost all mineralized tissues contain proteins that are unusually acidic. As they are also often intimately associated with the mineral phase, they are thought to fulfill important functions in controlling mineral formation. Relatively little is known about these important proteins, because their acidic nature causes technical difficulties during purification and characterization procedures. Much effort has been made to overcome these problems, particularly in the study of mollusk‐shell formation. To date about 16 proteins from mollusk‐shell organic matrices have been sequenced, but only two are unusually rich in aspartic and glutamic acids. Here we screened a cDNA library made from the mRNA of the shell‐forming cells of a bivalve, Atrina rigida, using probes for short Asp‐containing repeat sequences, and identified ten different proteins. Using more specific probes designed from one subgroup of conserved sequences, we obtained the full sequences of a family of seven aspartic acid‐rich proteins, which we named “Asprich”; a subfamily of the unusually acidic shell‐matrix proteins. Polyclonal antibodies raised against a synthetic peptide of the conserved acidic1 domain of these proteins reacted specifically with the matrix components of the calcitic prismatic layer, but not with those of the aragonitic nacreous layer. Thus the Asprich proteins are constituents of the prismatic layer shell matrix. We can identify different domains within these sequences, including a signal peptide characteristic of proteins destined for extracellular secretion, a conserved domain rich in aspartic acid that contains a sequence very similar to the calcium‐binding domain of Calsequestrin, and another domain rich in aspartic acid, that varies between the seven sequences. We also identified a domain with DEAD repeats that may have Mg‐binding capabilities. Although we do not know, as yet, the function of these proteins, their generally conserved sequences do indicate that they might well fulfill basic functions in shell formation.