bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Garlic's ability to prevent in vitro Cu2+-induced lipoprotein oxidation in human serum is preserved in heated garlic: effect unrelated to Cu2+-chelation
Authors: Pedraza-Chaverrí José , Gil-Ortiz Mariana , Albarrán Gabriela , Barbachano-Esparza Laura , Menjívar Marta , Medina-Campos Omar N 
Published: September 2004

Abstract
Background
It has been shown that several extracts and compounds derived from garlic are able to inhibit Cu2+-induced low density lipoprotein oxidation. In this work we explored if the ability of aqueous garlic extract to prevent in vitro Cu2+-induced lipoprotein oxidation in human serum is affected by heating (a) aqueous garlic extracts or (b) garlic cloves. In the first case, aqueous extract of raw garlic and garlic powder were studied. In the second case, aqueous extract of boiled garlic cloves, microwave-treated garlic cloves, and pickled garlic were studied. It was also studied if the above mentioned preparations were able to chelate Cu2+.

Methods
Cu2+-induced lipoprotein oxidation in human serum was followed by the formation of conjugated dienes at 234 nm and 37°C by 240 min in a phosphate buffer 20 mM, pH 7.4. Blood serum and CuSO4 were added to a final concentration of 0.67% and 0.0125 mM, respectively. The lag time and the area under the curve from the oxidation curves were obtained. The Cu2+-chelating properties of garlic extracts were assessed using an approach based upon restoring the activity of xanthine oxidase inhibited in the presence of 0.050 mM Cu2+. The activity of xanthine oxidase was assessed by monitoring the production of superoxide anion at 560 nm and the formation of uric acid at 295 nm. Data were compared by parametric or non-parametric analysis of variance followed by a post hoc test.

Results
Extracts from garlic powder and raw garlic inhibited in a dose-dependent way Cu2+-induced lipoprotein oxidation. The heating of garlic extracts or garlic cloves was unable to alter significantly the increase in lag time and the decrease in the area under the curve observed with the unheated garlic extracts or raw garlic. In addition, it was found that the garlic extracts were unable to chelate Cu2+.

Conclusions
(a) the heating of aqueous extracts of raw garlic or garlic powder or the heating of garlic cloves by boiling, microwave or pickling do not affect garlic's ability to inhibit Cu2+-induced lipoprotein oxidation in human serum, and (b) this ability is not secondary to Cu2+-chelation.
Outcome of Patients with an Indeterminate Emergency Department First‐trimester Pelvic Ultrasound to Rule Out Ectopic Pregnancy
Authors: Tayal Vivek S. , Cohen Hillary , Norton H. James 
Published: September 2004

Abstract Objectives: Pelvic ultrasound performed by emergency physicians can identify a definite diagnosis in the majority of symptomatic first‐trimester pregnant patients on the initial emergency department (ED) visit. However, a significant minority of such patients are diagnosed as having an indeterminate pregnancy state requiring further testing and consultation. The authors investigated the final outcome of patients with an initial indeterminate ED first‐trimester pelvic ultrasound examination in the setting of an interdepartmental protocol to rule out ectopic pregnancy. Methods:This was an observational prospective cohort study performed at a regional, urban ED with more than 100,000 patient visits over a 13‐month period. Pelvic ultrasound for first‐trimester patients was prospectively performed by emergency physicians with gynecologic consultation for lack of intrauterine pregnancy (IUP) ultrasound findings. IUP was defined as a fundal gestational sac with either a yolk sac or a fetal pole. Pelvic ultrasounds were classified into diagnostic categories including definite IUP, embryonic demise, molar pregnancy, definite ectopic pregnancy, and indeterminate. For all patients with indeterminate pelvic ultrasound findings, final diagnostic categories and patient outcome were established by the use of patient records, obstetric ultrasound reports, laboratory studies, operative reports, and pathology reports. All patients with ectopic pregnancy were followed for mode of treatment. Descriptive statistics were calculated. Results: A total of 1,490 ED first‐trimester pelvic ultrasound examinations were performed over 13 months establishing the following diagnostic rates for initial ED visit: IUP 1,037 (70%), demise 127 (8%), definite ectopic pregnancy 24 (2%), molar pregnancy 2 (< 1%), and indeterminate 300 (20%). The 300 indeterminate patients were classified using the above protocol into the following final diagnostic categories: embryonic demise 158 (53%), IUP 88 (29%), ectopic pregnancy 44 (15%), and unknown outcome 10 (3%). Indeterminate patients with ectopic pregnancy were treated with methotrexate in 25 of 44 cases (57%) and surgically in 16 of 44 cases (36%); there were no laparotomies. In contrast, ectopic pregnancy patients diagnosed on initial ED visit were treated surgically in 20 of 24 cases (83%), including four laparotomies. Conclusions: The outcome of symptomatic first‐trimester patients with indeterminate ED pelvic ultrasounds is poor, with significantly high rates of embryonic demise and ectopic pregnancy. However, those indeterminate patients with the eventual diagnosis of ectopic pregnancy have a higher rate of medical methotrexate treatment and a reduced rate of invasive surgical treatment compared with ectopic pregnancy patients diagnosed at initial ED visit.
Canonical Wnt Signaling Is Critical to Estrogen-Mediated Uterine Growth
Authors: Hou Xiaonan , Tan Yi , Li Meiling , Dey Sudhansu K. , Das Sanjoy K. 
Published: September 2004

AbstractMajor biological effects of estrogen in the uterus are thought to be primarily mediated by nuclear estrogen receptors, ERα and ERβ. We show here that estrogen in an ER-independent manner rapidly up-regulates the expression of Wnt4 and Wnt5a of the Wnt family and frizzled-2 of the Wnt receptor family in the mouse uterus. One of the mechanisms by which Wnts mediate canonical signaling involves stabilization of intracellular β-catenin. We observed that estrogen treatment prompts nuclear localization of active β-catenin in the uterine epithelium. We also found that adenovirus mediated in vivo delivery of SFRP-2, a Wnt antagonist, down-regulates estrogen-dependent β-catenin activity without affecting some of the early effects (water imbibition and angiogenic markers) and inhibits uterine epithelial cell growth, suggesting that canonical Wnt signaling is critical to estrogen-induced uterine growth. Our present results provide evidence for a novel role of estrogen that targets early Wnt/β-catenin signaling in an ER-independent manner to regulate the late uterine growth response that is ER dependent.
Natural Bond Orbital Analysis of Pericyclic and Pseudopericyclic 1,5-Electrocyclizations of Conjugated Nitrileimines
Authors: Fukushima Kazuaki , Iwahashi Hideo 
Published: September 2004

Abstract
Ab initio and DFT studies have revealed that there are three mechanisms in 1,5-electrocyclizations of conjugated nitrileimines. The first one is a pericyclic 1,5-electrocyclization of vinyl or (Z)-imino nitrileimine. Interactions between π-orbitals at C1 and X5 lead to formation of σC1–X5 bonds. The second one is a typical pseudopericyclic 1,5-electrocyclization of formyl nitrileimine. Nucleophilic interaction of lone pair electrons at O5 to π*C1–N2(h) leads to formation of a σC1–O5 bond. The natural bond orbital (NBO) analysis for the reaction has shown that there are two disconnections of orbital interactions at C1 and O5 at the transition state because of the orthogonal array of the forming σC1–O5 bond and the other π-orbitals. The third one is an incomplete pseudopericyclic 1,5-electrocyclization of (E)-imino nitrileimine. Nucleophilic interactions of lone pair electrons at N5 to π*C1–N2(h) and π*C1–N2(v) lead to formation of a σC1–N5 bond. There is a single disconnection of orbital interactions at N5 at the transition state, because the forming σC1–N5 bond and the other π-orbitals are orthogonal at N5 but not at C1, owing to twisting in the nitrileimine moiety.
Novel Fluorene Based Host Compounds Designed to Probe Solid-State Fluorescence
Authors: Scott Janet L , Yamada Tomohiko , Tanaka Koichi 
Published: September 2004

Abstract
Two novel host compounds, 2,7-bis(3-hydroxy-3,3-diphenylprop-1-ynyl)fluorene and 2,7-bis[3,3-(biphenyl-2,2′-diyl)-3-hydroxyprop-1-ynyl]fluorene have been synthesized. Many inclusion complexes of these host compounds with common volatile guests show solid-state fluorescence, which is ascribed to the existence of rigid dimers in the crystal structures, allowing excimer formation. Differential intermolecular interactions about the fluorescent moiety result in various colored emissions.
The Effects of Free Sample Promotions on Incremental Brand Sales
Authors: Bawa Kapil , Shoemaker Robert 
Published: September 2004

The authors present a model of free sample effects and evidence from two field experiments on free samples. The model incorporates three potential effects of free samples on sales: (1) an acceleration effect, whereby consumers begin repeat purchasing of the sampled brand earlier than they otherwise would; (2) a cannibalization effect, which reduces the number of paid trial purchases of the brand; and (3) an expansion effect, which induces purchasing by consumers who would not consider buying the brand without a free sample. The empirical findings suggest that, unlike other consumer promotions such as coupons, free samples can produce measurable long-term effects on sales that can be observed as much as 12 months after the promotion. The data also show that the effectiveness of free sample promotions can vary widely, even between brands in the same product category. Application of the model to the data from the two experiments reveals that the magnitude of acceleration, cannibalization, and expansion effects varies substantially across the two free sample promotions. These and other findings suggest that the model can be a useful tool for obtaining insights into the nature of free sample promotions.
Modeling Browsing Behavior at Multiple Websites
Authors: Park Young-Hoon , Fader Peter S. 
Published: September 2004

While there is a growing literature on investigating the Internet clickstream data collected for a single site, such datasets are inherently incomplete because they generally do not capture shopping behavior across multiple websites. A customer's visit patterns at one or more other sites may provide relevant information about the timing and frequency of his or her future visit patterns at the site of interest. We develop a stochastic timing model of cross-site visit behavior to understand how to leverage information from one site to help explain customer behavior at another. To this end, we incorporate two sources of association in browsing patterns: one for the observable outcomes (i.e., arrival times) of two timing processes and the other for the latent visit propensities across a set of competing sites. This proposed multivariate timing mixture model can be viewed as a generalization of the univariate exponential-gamma model. In our empirical analysis, we show that a failure to account for both sources of association not only leads to poor fit and forecasts, but also generates systematically biased parameter estimates. We highlight the model's ability to make accurate statements about the future behavior of the “zero class” (i.e., previous nonvisitors to a given site) using summary information (i.e., recency and frequency) from past visit patterns at a competing site.
From Density to Destiny: Using Spatial Dimension of Sales Data for Early Prediction of New Product Success
Authors: Garber Tal , Goldenberg Jacob , Libai Barak , Muller Eitan 
Published: September 2004

One of the main problems associated with early-period assessment of new product success is the lack of sufficient sales data to enable reliable predictions. We show that managers can use spatial dimension of sales data to obtain a predictive assessment of the success of a new product shortly after launch time. Based on diffusion theory, we expect that for many innovative products, word of mouth and imitation play a significant role in the success of an innovation. Because word-of-mouth spread is often associated with some level of geographical proximity between the parties involved, one can expect “clusters” of adopters to begin to form. Alternatively, if the market reaction is widespread reluctance to adopt the new product, then the word-of-mouth effect is expected to be significantly smaller, leading to a more uniform pattern of sales (assuming that there are no external reasons for clustering). Hence, the less uniform a product's distribution, the higher its likelihood of generating a “contagion process” and therefore of being a success. This is also true if the underlying baseline distribution is nonuniform, as long as it is an empirical distribution known to the firm. We use a spatial divergence approach based on cross-entropy divergence measures to determine the “distance” between two distribution functions. Using both simulated and real-life data, we find that this approach has been capable of predicting success in the beginning of the adoption process, correctly predicting 14 of 16 actual product introductions in two product categories. We also discuss the limitations of our approach, among them the possible confusion between natural formation of geodemographic clusters and word-of-mouth-based clusters.
Shame as a social phenomenon: A critical analysis of the concept of dispositional shame
Authors: Leeming Dawn , Boyle Mary 
Published: September 2004

An increased clinical interest in shame has been reflected in the growing number of research studies in this area. However, clinically orientated empirical investigation has mostly been restricted to the investigation of individual differences in dispositional shame.This study reviews recent work on dispositional shame but then argues that the primacy of this construct has been problematic in a number of ways. Most importantly, the notion of shame as a context‐free intrapsychic variable has distracted clinical researchers from investigating the management and repair of experiences of shame and shameful identities and has made the social constitution of shame less visible.Several suggestions are made for alternative ways in which susceptibility to shame could be conceptualized, which consider how shame might arise in certain contexts and as a product of particular social encounters. For example, persistent difficulties with shame may relate to the salience of stigmatizing discourses within a particular social context, the roles or subject positions available to an individual, the establishment of a repertoire of context‐relevant shame avoidance strategies and the personal meaning of shamefulness.
The credibility of psychodynamic, cognitive and cognitive‐behavioural psychotherapy in a randomly selected sample of the general public
Authors: Bragesjö Maria , Clinton David , Sandell Rolf 
Published: September 2004

Purpose: To examine the credibility of psychodynamic, cognitive and cognitive‐behavioural psychotherapy in the general population.Methods: A random sample (N = 121) of individuals from the county of Östergötland in Sweden between 20 and 60 years of age rated written descriptions of the three forms of psychotherapy.Results: A clear majority of respondents rated cognitive and cognitive‐behavioural therapies as more credible than psychodynamic therapy, although the latter was rated as the most credible form of psychotherapy among those who had previous experience of treatment for psychological distress.Conclusions: Each form of psychotherapy appears to have its own ‘market segment’ with a high degree of credibility to those within that segment.
The Reasons for Depression Questionnaire (RFD): UK Standardization for clinical and non‐clinical populations
Authors: Thwaites Richard , Dagnan Dave , Huey Dale , Addis Michael E. 
Published: September 2004

Recent research into reason giving for depression has illustrated the importance of client beliefs about the cause of their depression. Reasons given have been found to be associated with level of depression, perceived credibility of treatments and therapy outcome. It has been suggested that giving reasons for depression is a form of rule‐governed behaviour and as such can cause the depression to be harder to treat (i.e. the reasons become functionally true for the individual).This study investigates the reliability and validity of the Reasons for Depression Questionnaire (RFD; Addis, Truax, & Jacobson, 1995), a 48‐item self‐report measure developed to measure explanations for the causes of depression. The study provides preliminary normative data for both clinical (n = 123) and non‐clinical (n = 105) UK samples. The data indicate high reliability for all subscales including a further subscale (biological) added since the measure was initially developed. Certain subscales correlate significantly with level of depression and specific aspects of self‐esteem. This supports the validity of the measure and suggests that it is measuring a distinct concept rather than significantly overlapping with individuals' general beliefs about themselves.
Becoming a self‐therapist: Using cognitivebehavioural therapy for recurrent depression and/or dysthymia after completing therapy
Authors: Glasman D. , Finlay W.M.L. , Brock D. 
Published: September 2004

Objectives: To explore the ways in which people use cognitive‐behavioural therapy (CBT) for recurrent depression and/or dysthymia after leaving therapy.Design: A qualitative interview was used in this study.Method: Semi‐structured interviews were carried out with nine people who had completed a course of CBT at least three months previously. The interviews explored their use of CBT techniques or models outside of therapy and their everyday management of depression.Results: Eight of the nine participants reported engaging in some self‐therapeutic activity, and identified depression, or the threat of depression, as a continuing presence in their lives. They used a range of techniques, either directly transferred from therapy or modified in some way, and identified a number of changes in the way they reacted to difficult situations or negative emotions. These included enactive responses such as leaving the room, making self‐efficacy statements, or remembering what the therapist had said to them. Participants also described situations in which they could not use the things they had learnt in CBT. Finally, a range of factors that influenced the ways in which participants became self‐therapists were identified.Conclusions: A number of implications for clinical practice are described. An understanding of how people modify CBT and use it (or not) in their everyday lives is important to understanding and improving effectiveness.
Operational Restructuring Charges and Post‐Restructuring Performance*
Authors: ATIASE ROWLAND K. , PLATT DAVID E. , TSE SENYO Y. 
Published: September 2004

AbstractFirms incur restructuring charges as a result of actions intended to improve their operating performance. However, there is little evidence on whether restructuring charges are associated with improved performance. We examine a sample of firms reporting restructuring in 1991‐93 and find that the restructuring firms' earnings increase over the levels immediately before restructuring. Compared with a control sample of firms that report no restructuring, the restructuring firms improve their earnings and operating income, but evidence for improvements in cash flow from operations is mixed. In regression analysis, we find that restructuring charges are significantly positively associated with post‐restructuring changes in earnings relative to the restructuring year, but this association is largely driven by firms with multiple restructurings and firms reporting losses in the restructuring year. We find no association between restructuring charges and post‐restructuring changes in earnings relative to the year before restructuring. Restructuring charges are significantly positively associated with post‐restructuring changes in operating income and cash flow from operations for firms with multiple restructurings. In summary, restructuring charges are associated with improved earnings, but our results suggest that restructuring in the early 1990s did not necessarily guarantee improved operating performance.
Conserved Repressive Regulation of Connective Tissue Growth Factor/Hypertrophic Chondrocyte-Specific Gene 24 (ctgf/hcs24) Enabled by Different Elements and Factors among Vertebrate Species
Authors: Mukudai Y. , Kubota S. , Takigawa M. 
Published: September 2004

Abstract
CTGF/Hcs24 is a multifunctional growth factor that potentiates the growth and differentiation of various cells.
Our previous study revealed that the 3'-UTR of mammalian CTGF/Hcs24 mRNA contains a small segment
that represses the gene expression in cis fashion. In
this study, we isolated and characterized a chicken
CTGF/Hcs24 cDNA clone. Chicken ctgf/hcs24 mRNA
showed highly conserved homology in the ORF to that
of mammalian species, whereas the homology in the
3'-UTR was relatively low. Northern blotting analysis
revealed that chicken ctgf/hcs24 mRNA was expressed most strongly in cartilage, and also in brain,
lung, heart, but faintly in liver. Thereafter we analyzed
the functional potential of the 3'-UTR of ctgf/hcs24
cDNA to regulate its gene expression by reporter gene
assay, and found that it repressed gene expression in
cis fashion, specifically in avian cells, but not in mammalian cells. Conversely, the mammalian 3'-UTR
showed less repressive activity in avian cells than in
mammalian cells. Deletion analysis showed that a segment near the polyadenyl tail of the 3'-UTR of chicken
ctgf/hcs24 played an important functional role, unlike
in the mammalian species. Thus, we uncovered a novel
mode of functional conservation of the ctgf/hcs24 3
UTR among vertebrate species mediated by different
factors.
Different Sensitivities of Mutants and Chimeric Forms of Human Muscle and Liver Fructose- 1,6-Bisphosphatases towards AMP
Authors: Rakus D. , Tillmann H. , Wysocki R. , Ulaszewski S. , Eschrich K. , Dzugaj A. 
Published: September 2004

AbstractAMP is an allosteric inhibitor of human muscle and liver fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase (FBPase). Despite strong similarity of the nucleotide binding domains, the muscle enzyme is inhibited by AMP approximately 35 times stronger than liver FBPase: I0.5 for muscle and for liver FBPase are 0.14 uM and 4.8 uM, respectively. Chimeric human muscle (L50M288) and chimeric human liver enzymes (M50L288), in which the N-terminal residues (1-50) were derived from the human liver and human muscle FBPases, respectively, were inhibited by AMP 2-3 times stronger than the wild-type liver enzyme. An amino acid exchange within the Nterminal region of the muscle enzyme towards liver FBPase (Lys20→Glu) resulted in 13-fold increased I0.5 values compared to the wild-type muscle enzyme. However, the opposite exchanges in the liver enzyme (Glu20→Lys and double mutation Glu19→Asp/Glu20→Lys) did not change the sensitivity for AMP inhibition of the liver mutant (I0.5 value of 4.9 uM). The decrease of sensitivity for AMP of the muscle mutant Lys20→Glu, as well as the lack of changes in the inhibition by AMP of liver mutants Glu20→Lys and Glu19→Asp/Glu20→Lys, suggest a different mechanism of AMP binding to the muscle and liver enzyme.