bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
How regular blood donors explain their behavior
Authors: Belda Suárez Isabel Maria , Fernández‐Montoya Antorio , Rodríguez Fernández Andrés , López‐Berrio Antorio , Cillero‐Peñuela Manuel 
Published: September 2004

BACKGROUND:  To understand repeated donation, it is crucial to know its meaning. This issue was explored by asking a sample of regular donors to explain why they maintain this behavior.STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS:  Discourse analysis was conducted in five groups of regular donors, selected according to the setting and number of their donations (from 1990 to 2001), on their motivation, attitudes, commitment to donation, personality, and self‐concept.RESULTS:  Three discursive positions were distinguished in relation to the different cultural meanings attributed to blood donation. Blood donation was understood in a rational and evaluative manner by the majority but in an emotional, personalized, and stereotyped manner by a minority. Continual donation as a form of help was rationalized as a function of internal and external factors, notably personal convenience in comparison to other helping behaviors and ease of access to collection points.CONCLUSIONS:  The discourse referents offered to the donor greatly influence the meanings they attribute to their behavior. Some promotional materials should be revised because they may not connect with the reasons for donating that people find most comprehensible.
Photochemical treatment of platelet concentrates with amotosalen and long‐wavelength ultraviolet light inactivates a broad spectrum of pathogenic bacteria
Authors: Lin Lily , Dikeman Roberta , Molini Barbara , Lukehart Sheila A. , Lane Robert , Dupuis Kent , Metzel Peyton , Corash Laurence 
Published: September 2004

BACKGROUND: Bacterial contamination of platelet (PLT) concentrates can result in transfusion‐transmitted sepsis. A photochemical treatment (PCT) process with amotosalen HCl and long‐wavelength ultraviolet light (UVA), which cross‐links nucleic acids, was developed to inactivate bacteria and other pathogens in PLT concentrates.STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: High titers of pathogenic aerobic and anaerobic Gram‐positive bacteria (10 species), aerobic Gram‐negative bacteria (7 species), and spirochetes (2 species) were added to single‐donor PLT concentrates containing 3.0 × 1011to 6.0 × 1011PLTs in approximately 300 mL of 35 percent plasma and 65 percent PLT additive solution (InterSol, Baxter Healthcare) or saline. After PCT with 150 µmol per L amotosalen and 3 J per cm2UVA, residual bacterial levels were detected by sensitive microbiologic methods.RESULTS: The level of inactivation of viable bacteria was expressed as log reduction. Log reduction of Gram‐positive bacteria forStaphylococcus epidermidiswas > 6.6; forStaphylococcus aureus,6.6; forStreptococcus pyogenes,> 6.8; forListeria monocytogenes,> 6.3; forCorynebacterium minutissimum,> 6.3; forBacillus cereus(vegetative), > 5.5; forLactobacillussp., > 6.4; forBifidobacterium adolescentis,> 6.0; forPropionibacterium acnes,> 6.2; and forClostridium perfringens,> 6.5. Log reduction of Gram‐negative bacteria forEscherichia coliwas > 6.4; forSerratia marcescens,> 6.7; forKlebsiella pneumoniae,> 5.6; forPseudomonas aeruginosa,4.5; forSalmonella choleraesuis,> 6.2; forYersinia enterocolitica,> 5.9; and forEnterobacter cloacae,5.9. Log reduction of spirochetes forTreponema pallidumwas 6.8 to 7.0, and forBorrelia burgdorferi,> 6.9.CONCLUSION: PCT inactivates high levels of a broad spectrum of pathogenic bacteria. The inactivation of bacteria in PLT concentrates offers the potential to prospectively prevent PLT‐transfusion‐associated bacteremia.
In vitro testing of fresh and lyophilized reconstituted human and baboon platelets
Authors: Valeri C.R. , Macgregor H. , Barnard M.R. , Summaria L. , Michelson A.D. , Ragno G. 
Published: September 2004

BACKGROUND:  Studies have been performed on human fresh, liquid‐preserved, and cryopreserved platelets (PLTs) to assess PLT‐adhesive surface receptors, PLT membrane procoagulant activity, PLT aggregation, and thromboxane production. Lyophilization has been developed as a method to preserve PLTs. This study was performed to evaluate these measurements on human and baboon fresh and lyophilized reconstituted PLTs.STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS:  In both human and baboon fresh and lyophilized PLTs, aggregation response and PLT production of thromboxane A2 were measured after stimulation, and PLT surface markers P‐selectin, glycoprotein (GP) Ib, GPIIb‐IIIa, and factor (F) V were measured before and after stimulation.RESULTS:  Fresh PLTs responded to the dual agonists arachidonic acid and adenosine diphosphate (ADP) to aggregate and produce thromboxane A2, and in both the PLT surface markers P‐selectin and GPIIb‐IIIa increased and GPIb decreased after stimulation. Neither human nor baboon lyophilized reconstituted PLTs aggregated to dual agonists, and neither produced thromboxane A2, increased PLT surface markers P‐selectin or GPIIb‐IIIa, or decreased PLT GPIb after stimulation. Nevertheless, after recalcification the lyophilized reconstituted PLTs accumulated FV to a significantly greater degree than fresh PLTs.CONCLUSIONS:  Lyophilized reconstituted PLTs exhibited modification of the PLT membrane that interfered with aggregation and thromboxane production, prevented increases in PLT P‐selectin and GPIIb‐IIIa and decreases in GPIb after stimulation, and increased FV accumulation after recalcification. The in vitro data suggest that lyophilized PLTs may have reduced in vivo survival. In vivo studies are needed to determine the survival and function of lyophilized PLTs.
The independent association of massive blood loss with mortality in cardiac surgery
Authors: Karkouti Keyvan , Wijeysundera Duminda N. , Yau Terrence M. , Beattie W. Scott , Abdelnaem Esamelden , McCluskey Stuart A. , Ghannam Mohammed , Yeo Eric , Djaiani George , Karski Jacek 
Published: September 2004

BACKGROUND:  Although the association between massive perioperative blood loss (MBL) and adverse outcomes is well recognized, it is unclear whether MBL is an independent risk factor or, instead, simply a marker for other adverse events or severity of illness. The objective of this cohort study was to quantify the independent association of MBL in cardiac surgery with all‐cause in‐hospital mortality.STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS:  Data were prospectively collected on consecutive patients who underwent cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass at a quaternary‐care academic center from 1999 to 2003. The number of red blood cell (RBC) units transfused within 1 day of surgery was used as a surrogate measure of perioperative blood loss. Receiver‐operating characteristic curve analyses were employed to identify the most appropriate cutoff for defining MBL. The independent association of MBL with mortality was determined with multivariable logistic regression analyses. Bootstrapping and sensitivity analyses were used to confirm the validity of the results.RESULTS:  MBL was defined as receiving at least 5 units of RBCs within 1 day of surgery. Of 9215 patients analyzed, 1.8 percent (n = 169) died and 9.7 percent (n = 890) had MBL. After adjusting for multiple potential confounders (including perioperative adverse events), MBL was associated with an 8.1‐fold (95% confidence interval, 3.9‐17.0) increase in the odds of death. This risk estimate was stable across different modeling conditions as well as in bootstrap sampling.CONCLUSION:  MBL after cardiac surgery has a strong, independent association with in‐hospital mortality.
Quantifying losses to the donated blood supply due to donor deferral and miscollection
Authors: Custer Brian , Johnson Eric S. , Sullivan Sean D. , Hazlet Tom K. , Ramsey Scott D. , Hirschler Nora V. , Murphy Edward L. , Busch Michael P. 
Published: September 2004

BACKGROUND:  Donors are deferred for multiple reasons. Losses related to disease marker rates are well established. Donor and donation losses for other reasons, however, have not been extensively quantified.STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS:  To quantify these losses, three data sets from the Blood Centers of the Pacific were combined, permitting detailed analysis of year 2000 allogeneic whole‐blood donations.RESULTS:  During 2000, 13.6 percent of 116,165 persons who presented for donation were deferred at presentation. Short‐term deferral accounted for 68.5 percent (hematocrit was most common at 60%); long‐term deferral accounted for 21 percent (travel to a malarial area and tattoo or other nonintravenous drug use needle exposure were most common at 59 and 29%, respectively); and multiple‐year or permanent deferral accounted for 10.5 percent (UK travel [variant Creutzfeldt‐Jakob disease] risk and emigration from a malarial area were most common at 38 and 11%, respectively). Disease‐marker‐reactive donations represented 0.9 percent of donor outcomes. The prevalence of deferral and also miscollection (under‐ and overweight units) varied by age, sex, and first‐time versus repeat donor status. Overall, miscollection led to a loss of 3.8 percent of 100,141 collections, ranging from 1.9 percent in repeat male donors 40 to 54 years of age to 10.7 percent in first‐time female donors 16 to 24 years of age.CONCLUSION:  Loss of units from both first‐time and repeat donors due to temporary deferral and loss of units from miscollection are more common events than losses due to disease marker testing. Some of these losses may be avoidable and could increase the blood supply without having to recruit new donors.
A Framework for Facilitating Sourcing and Allocation Decisions for Make‐to‐Order Items
Authors: Murthy Nagesh N. , Soni Samit , Ghosh Soumen 
Published: September 2004

ABSTRACTThis paper provides a fundamental building block to facilitate sourcing and allocation decisions for make‐to‐order items. We specifically address the buyer's vendor selection problem for make‐to‐order items where the goal is to minimize sourcing and purchasing costs in the presence of fixed costs, shared capacity constraints, and volume‐based discounts for bundles of items. The potential suppliers for make‐to‐order items provide quotes in the form of single sealed bids or participate in a dynamic auction involving open bids. A solution to our problem can be used to determine winning bids amongst the single sealed bids or winners at each stage of a dynamic auction. Due to the computational complexity of this problem, we develop a heuristic procedure based on Lagrangian relaxation technique to solve the problem. The computational results show that the procedure is effective under a variety of scenarios. The average gap across 2,250 problem instances is 4.65%.
A Bayesian Network Estimation of the Service‐Profit Chain for Transport Service Satisfaction
Authors: Anderson Ronald D. , Mackoy Robert D. , Thompson Vincent B. , Harrell Gilbert 
Published: September 2004

ABSTRACTBayesian network methodology is used to model key linkages of the service‐profit chain within the context of transportation service satisfaction. Bayesian networks offer some advantages for implementing managerially focused models over other statistical techniques designed primarily for evaluating theoretical models. These advantages are (1) providing a causal explanation using observable variables within a single multivariate model, (2) analysis of nonlinear relationships contained in ordinal measurements, (3) accommodation of branching patterns that occur in data collection, and (4) the ability to conduct probabilistic inference for prediction and diagnostics with an output metric that can be understood by managers and academics. Sample data from 1,101 recent transport service customers are utilized to select and validate a Bayesian network and conduct probabilistic inference.
The Impact of Organizational Culture on Time‐Based Manufacturing and Performance
Authors: Nahm Abraham Y. , Vonderembse Mark A. , Koufteros Xenophon A. 
Published: September 2004

ABSTRACTFirms are utilizing an array of manufacturing practices in their quest for survival and success in the marketplace. The implementation of those practices has not always resulted in success stories as the focus had been mostly on technical issues, with little concern for “soft issues.” For example, the enabling role of organizational culture has often been ignored. Using Schein's conceptualization of culture as underlying assumptions, espoused values, and artifacts, we examine a framework that relates culture and manufacturing practices to performance. The underlying assumption of customer orientation is posited to affect espoused values such as beliefs on investing in facilities and equipment to leverage intellectual work and to promote creativity, beliefs on working with others, beliefs on making decisions that are global, beliefs on management control, and beliefs on integrating with suppliers. The espoused values are hypothesized to affect visible attributes of culture (behaviors) such as time‐based manufacturing practices, which firms are employing for competitive advantage. A sample of 224 firms is used for developing research instruments and testing the hypothesized relationships advanced. Results indicate that high levels of customer orientation lead to a set of managerial beliefs that are collaborative and integrative. In turn, certain espoused values support a high level of time‐based manufacturing practice, which leads to high performance.
Quantity Flexibility Contracts: Optimal Decisions with Information Updates*
Authors: Sethi Suresh P. , Yan Houmin , Zhang Hanqin 
Published: September 2004

ABSTRACTWe study single and multiperiod quantity flexibility contracts involving one demand forecast update in each period and a spot market. We obtain the optimal order quantity at the beginning of a period and order quantities on contract and from the spot market at the then prevailing price after the forecast revision and before the demand materialization. The amount that can be purchased on contract is bounded by a given flexibility limit. We discuss the impact of the forecast quality and the level of flexibility on the optimal decisions and managerial insights behind the results.
The
vimE
Gene Downstream of
vimA
Is Independently Expressed and Is Involved in Modulating Proteolytic Activity in
Porphyromonas gingivalis
W83
Authors: Vanterpool Elaine , Roy Francis , Fletcher Hansel M. 
Published: September 2004

ABSTRACT

Regulation/activation of the
Porphyromonas gingivalis
gingipains is poorly understood. A unique 1.3-kb open reading frame downstream of the
bcp-recA-vimA
transcriptional unit was cloned, insertionally inactivated with the
ermF-ermAM
antibiotic resistance cassette, and used to create a defective mutant by allelic exchange. In contrast to the wild-type W83 strain, the growth rate of the mutant strain (designated FLL93) was reduced, and when plated on
Brucella
blood agar it was nonpigmented and nonhemolytic. Arginine- and lysine-specific gingipain activities were reduced by approximately 90 and 85%, respectively, relative to activities of the parent strain. These activities were unaffected by the culture's growth phase, in contrast to the
vimA
-defective mutant
P. gingivalis
FLL92, which has increased proteolytic activity in stationary phase. Expression of the
rgpA
,
rgpB
, and
kgp
gingipain genes was unaltered in
P. gingivalis
FLL93 compared to that of the wild-type strain. Further, in extracellular protein fractions a 64-kDa band was identified that was immunoreactive with the RgpB-specific proenzyme antibodies. Active-site labeling with dansyl-glutamyl-glycyl-arginyl chloromethyl ketone or immunoblot analysis showed no detectable protein band representing the gingipain catalytic domain. In vitro protease activity could be slightly induced by a urea denaturation-renaturation cycle in an extracellular protein fraction, in contrast to the
vimA
-defective mutant
P. gingivalis
FLL92. Expression of flanking genes, including
recA
,
vimA
, and
Pg079
2, was unaltered by the mutation. Taken together, these results suggest that the
vimA
downstream gene, designated
vimE
(for virulence-modulating gene E), is involved in the regulation of protease activity in
P. gingivalis
.
A Bicistronic DNA Vaccine Containing Apical Membrane Antigen 1 and Merozoite Surface Protein 4/5 Can Prime Humoral and Cellular Immune Responses and Partially Protect Mice against VirulentPlasmodium chabaudi adamiDS Malaria
Authors: Rainczuk A. , Scorza T. , Spithill T. W. , Smooker P. M. 
Published: September 2004

ABSTRACTThe ultimate malaria vaccine will require the delivery of multiple antigens from different stages of the complex malaria life cycle. In order to efficiently deliver multiple antigens with use of DNA vaccine technology, new antigen delivery systems must be assessed. This study utilized a bicistronic vector construct, containing an internal ribosome entry site, expressing a combination of malarial candidate antigens: merozoite surface protein 4/5 (MSP4/5) (fused to a monocyte chemotactic protein 3 chemoattractant sequence) and apical membrane antigen 1 (AMA-1) (fused to a tissue plasminogen activator secretion signal). Transfection of COS 7 cells with bicistronic plasmids resulted in production and secretion of both AMA-1 and MSP4/5 in vitro. Vaccination of BALB/c mice via intraepidermal gene gun and intramuscular routes against AMA-1 and MSP4/5 resulted in antibody production and significant in vitro proliferation of splenocytes stimulated by both AMA-1 and MSP4/5. Survival of BALB/c mice vaccinated with bicistronic constructs after lethalPlasmodium chabaudi adamiDS erythrocytic-stage challenge was variable, although significant increases in survival and reductions in peak parasitemia were observed in several challenge trials when the vaccine was delivered by the intramuscular route. This study using a murine model demonstrates that the delivery of malarial antigens via bicistronic vectors is feasible. Further experimentation with bicistronic delivery systems is required for the optimization and refinement of DNA vaccines to effectively prime protective immune responses against malaria.
Microarray Analysis of Pneumococcal Gene Expression during Invasive Disease
Authors: Orihuela Carlos J. , Radin Jana N. , Sublett Jack E. , Gao Geli , Kaushal Deepak , Tuomanen Elaine I. 
Published: September 2004

ABSTRACT

Streptococcus pneumoniae
is a leading cause of invasive bacterial disease. This is the first study to examine the expression of
S. pneumoniae
genes in vivo by using whole-genome microarrays available from The Institute for Genomic Research. Total RNA was collected from pneumococci isolated from infected blood, infected cerebrospinal fluid, and bacteria attached to a pharyngeal epithelial cell line in vitro. Microarray analysis of pneumococcal genes expressed in these models identified body site-specific patterns of expression for virulence factors, transporters, transcription factors, translation-associated proteins, metabolism, and genes with unknown function. Contributions to virulence predicted for several unknown genes with enhanced expression in vivo were confirmed by insertion duplication mutagenesis and challenge of mice with the mutants. Finally, we cross-referenced our results with previous studies that used signature-tagged mutagenesis and differential fluorescence induction to identify genes that are potentially required by a broad range of pneumococcal strains for invasive disease.
Humoral Immunity through Immunoglobulin M Protects Mice from an Experimental Actinomycetoma Infection byNocardia brasiliensis
Authors: Salinas-Carmona Mario C. , Pérez-Rivera Isabel 
Published: September 2004

ABSTRACTAn experimental model of infection withNocardia brasiliensis, used as an example of a facultative intracellular pathogen, was tested.N. brasiliensiswas injected into the rear foot pads of BALB/c mice to establish an infection. Within 30 days, infected animals developed a chronic actinomycetoma infection. Batch cultures ofN. brasiliensiswere used to purify P61, P38, and P24 antigens; P61 is a catalase, and P38 is a protease with strong caseinolytic activity. Active and passive immunizations of BALB/c mice with these three purified soluble antigens were studied. Protection was demonstrated for actively immunized mice. However, immunity lasted only 30 days. Other groups of immunized mice were bled at different times, and their sera were passively transferred to naive recipients that were then infected withN. brasiliensis. Sera collected 5, 6, and 7 days after donor immunization conferred complete, long-lasting protection. The protective effect of passive immunity decreased when sera were collected 2 weeks after donor immunization. However, neither the early sera (1-, 2-, and 3-day sera) nor the later sera (30- or 45-day sera) prevented the infection. Hyperimmune sera with the highest levels of immunoglobulin G (IgG) toN. brasiliensisantigens did not protect at all. The antigens tested induced two IgM peaks. The first peak was present 3 days after immunization but was not antigen specific and did not transfer protection. The second peak was evident 7 days after immunization, was an IgM response, was antigen specific, and conferred protection. This results clearly demonstrate that IgM antibodies protect the host against a facultative intracellular bacterium.
Structural Organization of the pFra Virulence-Associated Plasmid of Rhamnose-Positive
Yersinia pestis
Authors: Golubov Andrey , Neubauer Heinrich , Nölting Christina , Heesemann Jürgen , Rakin Alexander 
Published: September 2004

ABSTRACT

The
137,036-bp plasmid pG8786 from rhamnose-positive
Yersinia
pestis
G8786 isolated from the high mountainous Caucasian plague
focus in Georgia is an enlarged form of the pFra virulence-associated
plasmid containing genes for synthesis of the antigen fraction 1 and
phospholipase D. In addition to the completely conserved genes of the
pFra backbone, pG8786 contains two large regions consisting of 4,642
and 32,617 bp, designated regions 1 and 2, respectively. Region 1
retains a larger part of
Salmonella enterica
serovar Typhi
plasmid pHCM2 resembling the backbone of pFra replicons, while region 2
contains 25 open reading frames with high levels of similarity to the
transfer genes of the F-like plasmids. Surprisingly, region 1 is also
present in the pFra plasmid of avirulent
Y. pestis
strain
91001 isolated in Inner Mongolia, People's Republic of China.
Despite the fact that some genes typically involved in conjugative
transfer of the F-like replicons are missing in pG8786, we cannot
exclude the possibility that pG8786 might be transmissive under certain
conditions. pG8786 seems to be an ancient form of the pFra group of
plasmids that were conserved due to the strict geographical isolation
of rhamnose-positive
Y. pestis
strains in the high mountainous
Caucasian plague
locus.