bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Summer regional rainfall over southern Ontario and its associations with outgoing longwave radiation and moisture convergence
Authors: Bao Zhenhao , Ye Hengchun , Taylor Peter A. 
Published: July 2005

AbstractDaily rainfall records at 50 sites across southern Ontario are used to investigate the association of summer regional rainfall with outgoing longwave radiation (OLR) and moisture convergence, from 1991 to 2000. The results suggest that OLR values correspond well to heavy rainfall amounts when rain occurs over more than 90% of the study region. The average regional daily precipitation of 12.1 mm/day corresponds to 213.0 W/m2 of OLR values in the study region. Also, OLR is more significantly associated with the regional daily rainfall amount than moisture convergence in the atmospheric layers between 1000 hPa and 300 hPa although both are associated with precipitation. The study suggests that when a low OLR departure centres over Ontario, the region tends to have extremely heavy rainfall and flooding. The results of this study indicate that OLR is a useful tool for satellite detection of extremely heavy rainfall and possible flash flooding during the summer season over southern Ontario. Copyright © 2005 Royal Meteorological Society
Modelling precipitation trends in England and Wales
Authors: Mills Terence C. 
Published: July 2005

AbstractUsing a variety of trend extraction techniques applied to monthly observations from 1766 to 2002 on the EWP dataset, this study confirms that there is evidence of a trend towards wetter winters (November to March), particularly in December and January, and drier summers, although this feature appears to be concentrated in June and July. Trend precipitation in autumn (August to November) is more difficult to pin down, with alternative methods producing quite different trend patterns, thus highlighting how difficult it can be to extract trends from noisy data. In general, the results appear to be reasonably consistent with those of Alexander & Jones (2001) using rather different techniques, thus lending weight to the views expressed by them. Copyright © 2005 Royal Meteorological Society
MicroRNA identification based on sequence and structure alignment
Authors: Wang Xiaowo , Zhang Jing , Li Fei , Gu Jin , He Tao , Zhang Xuegong , Li Yanda 
Published: July 2005

AbstractMotivation: MicroRNAs (miRNA) are ∼22 nt long non-coding RNAs that are derived from larger hairpin RNA precursors and play important regulatory roles in both animals and plants. The short length of the miRNA sequences and relatively low conservation of pre-miRNA sequences restrict the conventional sequence-alignment-based methods to finding only relatively close homologs. On the other hand, it has been reported that miRNA genes are more conserved in the secondary structure rather than in primary sequences. Therefore, secondary structural features should be more fully exploited in the homologue search for new miRNA genes.Results: In this paper, we present a novel genome-wide computational approach to detect miRNAs in animals based on both sequence and structure alignment. Experiments show this approach has higher sensitivity and comparable specificity than other reported homologue searching methods. We applied this method on Anopheles gambiae and detected 59 new miRNA genes.Availability: This program is available at http://bioinfo.au.tsinghua.edu.cn/miralignContact: daulyd@tsinghua.edu.cnSupplementary information: Supplementary information is available at http://bioinfo.au.tsinghua.edu.cn/miralign/supplementary.htm
Type 2 Diabetes in Children is Frequently Associated with Elevated Alanine Aminotransferase
Authors: Nadeau Kristen J , Klingensmith Georgeanna , Zeitler Phillip 
Published: July 2005

ABSTRACTBackground:Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, a cause of chronic liver disease in obese adults also occurs in obese children. In susceptible populations, fatty liver progresses to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis and eventually to fibrosis and cirrhosis. Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis is associated with elevation of alanine aminotransferase, although the aminotransferases can also be normal. The prevalence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in type 2 diabetes is unclear in adults and unknown in children.Objectives:The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of elevated serum aminotransferases as a marker of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in pediatric type 2 diabetes and to identify correlates of aminotransferase elevation.Methods:A chart review was completed on 115 children with type 2 diabetes at a pediatric diabetes clinic. The prevalence of elevated alanine aminotransferase was calculated from the 42% of patients with available aminotransferase measurements and correlations with fasting lipids, hemoglobin A‐1c, body mass index, age and diabetes therapy were sought.Results:The prevalence of elevated alanine aminotransferase was 48%. There was no association between elevations and other variables. Among subjects with elevated alanine aminotransferase, 39% were one to two times above normal, 26% were two to three times normal and 35% were greater than three times above normal. Several patients experienced improvement in aminotransferase elevations after using insulin‐sensitizing medications.Conclusions:There is a high prevalence of elevated serum aminotransferases among children with type 2 diabetes unrelated to age, body mass index, glycemic control, blood lipids or diabetic therapy. The significance of this abnormality and its relationship to nonalcoholic fatty liver disease requires further evaluation.
Influence of CARD15 Mutations on Disease Activity and Response to Therapy in 65 Pediatric Crohn Patients from Saxony, Germany
Authors: Roesler Joachim , Thürigen Anett , Sun Liping , Koch Rainer , Winkler Ulf , Laass Martin W , Gahr Manfred , Rösen‐Wolff Angela , Henker Jobst 
Published: July 2005

ABSTRACTObjectives:Certain genetic variants in the CARD15 gene are accompanied by an enhanced risk to develop Crohn disease with the main activity in the terminal ileum and ensuing stricturing early in life. The objective of this study was to evaluate the relation between CARD15 mutations and overall disease activity and response to therapy in pediatric patients.Methods:65 genomic DNA samples from such patients were tested for the presence of three main Crohn associated mutations in CARD15 by direct genomic sequencing. The number of mutations (none, one or two alleles affected) was correlated with body mass index and height, Pediatric Crohn Disease Activity Index, therapy and therapeutical success in terms of body mass index and Pediatric Crohn Disease Activity Index improvement.Results:The authors found a nonsignificant trend of a lower body mass index and higher Pediatric Crohn Disease Activity Index in patients with CARD15 mutations. Physicians uninformed about their CARD15 status prescribed significantly more budesonide and prednisolone intermittently and more alimentary supplementation to these patients. The average improvement in terms of body mass index and Pediatric Crohn Disease Activity Index after 2 years of therapy was roughly similar in all patient groups.Conclusions:Pediatric Crohn patients with CARD15 mutations have a higher disease activity and need a more intensive therapy. With some exceptions, their medium‐term response to therapy is nevertheless satisfying.
Chronic Childhood Constipation Is Associated with Impaired Quality of Life: A Case‐Controlled Study
Authors: Youssef Nader N , Langseder Annette L , Verga Barbara J , Mones Richard L , Rosh Joel R 
Published: July 2005

ABSTRACTObjective:The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of chronic constipation on children's quality of life.Methods:From October 2002 to November 2003, 224 children (140 male, 84 female, aged 10.6 ± 2.9 years) and 224 parents were evaluated by a health related quality of life tool during initial outpatient consultation. Children with constipation (n = 80) were compared with controls with inflammatory bowel disease (n = 42), controls with gastroesophageal reflux disease (n = 56), and with healthy children (n = 46).Results:Children with constipation had lower quality of life scores than did those with inflammatory bowel disease (70 versus 84; P < 0.05), gastroesophageal reflux disease (70 versus 80; P < 0.05), and healthy children (70 versus 88; P < 0.05). Children with constipation reported lower physical scores than did inflammatory bowel disease patients (75 versus 85; P < 0.02), gastroesophageal reflux disease patients (75 versus 85; P < 0.05), or healthy children (75 versus 87; P < 0.05). Parents of children with constipation reported lower scores than did their children (61 versus 70; P < 0.05). Children with constipation had longer duration of symptoms than did the controls with inflammatory bowel disease and gastroesophageal reflux disease (43.8 months versus 14.2 months; P < 0.001). Prolonged duration of symptoms for children with constipation correlated with lower parent‐reported scores (P < 0.002).Conclusions:At initial evaluation, children with constipation have a lower quality of life than do children with inflammatory bowel disease or gastroesophageal reflux disease. Self‐reported lower scores may be a reflection of impaired physical ability. Parental perceptions of low quality of life are probably impacted by the duration of their child's symptoms and by family members with similar complaints. Practitioners should be aware of the high level of parental concern and the relatively low self‐reported and parent‐reported quality of life in children with chronic constipation as they plan therapy.
A hybrid Petri nets model of networked manufacturing systems and its control system architecture
Authors: Wang Zheng , Zhang Jie , Chan Felix T.S. 
Published: July 2005

PurposeTo introduce a Petri nets model that describes a networked manufacturing system and its dynamics.Design/methodology/approachA hybrid Petri nets model is constructed, the continuous part of which is to describe the dynamics of the production process within a manufacturing system and the discrete part of which is to describe the dynamics of the ordering and delivering process between every two manufacturing systems. In addition, the mathematical formulation of the dynamics of networked manufacturing systems is proposed to describe its behaviors in detail. Based on the model, the control system architecture of networked manufacturing systems is constructed to make and execute the production plan, solve the conflicts among manufacturing systems and realize the reconfiguration of the network.FindingsThere are two key aspects in the dynamics of this hybrid system: first, in the continuous part of this hybrid system, the production process, the variables are discrete. Accordingly, the change of the systems states is not always continuous. Second, in the discrete part of this hybrid system the control variables are actually the safety and objective inventory levels and the minimum quantity of cumulative orders to trigger deliveries which determine the time and quantities of ordering or delivery. However, the relations between them are non‐linear.Originality/valueBased on the model, the control system architecture of networked manufacturing systems can be constructed to make and execute the production plan, solve the conflicts among manufacturing systems and realize the reconfiguration of the network.
Model‐supported supply chains for cost‐efficient intelligent enterprises
Authors: Esra Aslanertik B. 
Published: July 2005

PurposeThe twentieth century brought great competition and complexity to business life. Advanced technologies and new production techniques resulted in shortening product life cycles. Firms that wanted to survive began to implement different strategies directly focused on customer satisfaction. Supply chain management, as a management philosophy, highlighted a new area that has the potential to reduce cost further than production costs. This paper promotes the supply chains for cost‐efficient intelligent enterprises.Design/methodology/approachPromotes the use of supply chains by means of simulation and allocating the results to solver in Excel for decision modelling in order to integrate the supplier and manufacturer relationship for the cost‐efficient enterprise.FindingsFinds that a manufacturing firm really needs to develop effective co‐ordination within and beyond its boundaries in order to maximise the potential for converting competitive advantage into profitability. Good co‐ordination with the key suppliers especially will increase product availability.Originality/valueThe synchronisation of activities in supply will create value to both its members (supplier and manufacturer) and in addition it will create value to the end customer by satisfying delivery dates.
Integrated modeling of the major events in the MHC class I antigen processing pathway
Authors: Dönnes Pierre , Kohlbacher Oliver 
Published: June 2005

AbstractRational design of epitope‐driven vaccines is a key goal of immunoinformatics. Typically, candidate selection relies on the prediction of MHC–peptide binding only, as this is known to be the most selective step in the MHC class I antigen processing pathway. However, proteasomal cleavage and transport by the transporter associated with antigen processing (TAP) are essential steps in antigen processing as well. While prediction methods exist for the individual steps, no method has yet offered an integrated prediction of all three major processing events. Here we present WAPP, a method combining prediction of proteasomal cleavage, TAP transport, and MHC binding into a single prediction system. The proteasomal cleavage site prediction employs a new matrix‐based method that is based on experimentally verified proteasomal cleavage sites. Support vector regression is used for predicting peptides transported by TAP. MHC binding is the last step in the antigen processing pathway and was predicted using a support vector machine method, SVMHC. The individual methods are combined in a filtering approach mimicking the natural processing pathway. WAPP thus predicts peptides that are cleaved by the proteasome at the C terminus, transported by TAP, and show significant affinity to MHC class I molecules. This results in a decrease in false positive rates compared to MHC binding prediction alone. Compared to prediction of MHC binding only, we report an increased overall accuracy and a lower rate of false positive predictions for the HLA‐A*0201, HLA‐B*2705, HLA‐A*01, and HLA‐A*03 alleles using WAPP. The method is available online through our prediction server at http://www‐bs.informatik.uni‐tuebingen.de/WAPP.
Hypoxia aggravates lipopolysaccharide-induced lung injury
Authors: Vuichard D , Ganter M T , Schimmer R C , Suter D , Booy C , Reyes L , Pasch T , Beck-Schimmer B 
Published: July 2005

SummaryThe animal model of inflammatory response induced by intratracheal application of lipopolysaccharide includes many typical features of acute lung injury or the acute respiratory distress syndrome. A number of experimental investigations have been performed to characterize the nature of this injury more effectively. In inflammatory conditions, hypoxia occurs frequently before and in parallel with pulmonary and non-pulmonary pathological events. This current study was designed to examine the in vivo effect of hypoxia as a potentially aggravating condition in endotoxin-induced lung injury. Lipopolysaccharide, 150 µg, was instilled intratracheally into rat lungs, and thereafter animals were exposed to either normoxia or hypoxia (10% oxygen). Lungs were collected 2, 4, 6 and 8 h later. Inflammatory response and tissue damage were evaluated by quantitative analysis of inflammatory cells and mediators, surfactant protein and vascular permeability. A significantly enhanced neutrophil recruitment was seen in lipopolysaccharide-animals exposed to hypoxia compared to lipopolysaccharide-animals under normoxia. This increased neutrophil accumulation was triggered by inflammatory mediators such as tumour necrosis factor-α and macrophage inflammatory protein-1β, secreted by alveolar macrophages. Determination of vascular permeability and surfactant protein-B showed enhanced concentrations in lipopolysaccharide-lungs exposed to hypoxia, which was absent in animals previously alveolar macrophage-depleted. This study demonstrates that hypoxia aggravates lipopolysaccharide injury and therefore represents a second hit injury. The additional hypoxia-induced inflammatory reaction seems to be predominantly localized in the respiratory compartment, underlining the compartmentalized nature of the inflammatory response.
Regulation of Toll-like receptor (TLR)2 and TLR4 on CD14dimCD16+ monocytes in response to sepsis-related antigens
Authors: Skinner N A , MacIsaac C M , Hamilton J A , Visvanathan K 
Published: July 2005

SummaryRapid overproduction of proinflammatory cytokines are characteristic of sepsis. CD14dimCD16+ monocytes are thought to be major producers of cytokine and have been shown to be elevated in septic patients. Toll-like receptors (TLR) are pattern recognition receptors important in mediating the innate immune response and their activation can lead to production of cytokines. Using whole blood culture and flow cytometry we have investigated TLR2 and TLR4 regulation after stimulation with sepsis-relevant antigens [lipopolysaccharide (LPS), Staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB) and peptidoglycan (PGN)]. The percentage of CD14dimCD16+ monocyte population expanded at 20 h post-stimulation, after a rise in tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α and interleukin (IL)-6 at 2 h. A strong positive correlation between the percentage of CD14dimCD16+ monocytes and secreted TNF-α was demonstrated (r = 0·72). Furthermore, we were able to induce expansion of the CD14dimCD16+ population to approximately 35% of all monocytes with the addition of recombinant TNF-α to the whole blood culture. TLR4 was found to be expressed 2·5 times higher on CD14dimCD16+ compared to CD14+ CD16– monocytes, while TLR2 expression was similar in both subpopulations. The CD14dimCD16+ and CD14+ CD16– monocyte populations were different in their response to various antigens. LPS down-regulated TLR4 by 4·9 times in CD16+ monocytes compared to only 2·3 times in CD16– monocytes at 2 h. LPS was able to up-regulate TLR2 by 6·2 times after 2 h, with no difference between the subpopulations. LPS further up-regulated TLR2 by 18·4 times after 20 h only in the CD14+ CD16– population. PGN and SEB induced no significant changes in TLR2 or TLR4 expression. We hypothesize that following exposure to bacterial antigens, subsequent TNF-α drives a differentiation of monocytes into a CD14dimCD16+ subpopulation.
Use of pro‐atrial natriuretic peptide in the detection of myocardial ischaemia
Authors: Bocek T. , Morgenthaler N. G. , Staub D. , Nusbaumer C. , Christ A. , Zellweger M. J. , Mueller‐Brand J. , Mueller B. , Perruchoud A. P. , Mueller C. 
Published: July 2005

AbstractBackground  Because of its unique storage and release mechanisms allowing a very rapid response to haemodynamic changes, pro‐atrial natriuretic peptide (proANP) may be a helpful cardiac marker in the detection of myocardial ischaemia.Materials and methods  A total of 260 consecutive patients with suspected myocardial ischaemia referred for rest/ergometry myocardial perfusion single‐photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) were enrolled. Levels of plasma proANP were determined before and 1 min after maximal exercise.Results  Baseline proANP and peak exercise proANP were significantly higher in patients with myocardial ischaemia as compared to those without ischaemia (median, 82 [IQR, 57–112] vs. 67 [IQR, 50–106] pmol L−1, P = 0·007; and 89 [IQR, 65–121] vs. 78 [IQR, 57–116] pmol L−1, P = 0·033). The area under the ROC curve for baseline proANP was 0·597 (95% CI, 0·527–0·667), as compared to 0·577 (95% CI, 0·507–0·648) for peak exercise proANP. Exercise‐induced changes in proANP were similar in patients with and without myocardial ischaemia, and showed no correlation with the extent of myocardial ischaemia.Conclusions  Baseline proANP and peak exercise proANP are significantly higher in patients with myocardial ischaemia. However, because of considerable overlap in proANP levels between patients with and without myocardial ischaemia, neither measurement seems helpful in the detection of myocardial ischaemia in clinical practice.
Dental erosion in 12‐year‐old schoolchildren: a cross‐sectional study in Southern Brazil
Authors: PERES K. G. , ARMÊNIO M. F. , PERES M. A. , TRAEBERT J. , DE LACERDA J. T. 
Published: June 2005

Summary. Objective. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence and severity of dental erosion among 12‐year‐old schoolchildren in Joaçaba, southern Brazil, and to compare prevalence between boys and girls, and between public and private school students.Methods.  A cross‐sectional study was carried out involving all of the municipality's 499, 12‐year‐old schoolchildren. The dental erosion index proposed by O'Sullivan was used for the four maxillary incisors. Data analysis included descriptive statistics, location, distribution, and extension of affected area and severity of dental erosion.Results.  The prevalence of dental erosion was 13·0% (95% confidence interval = 9·0–17·0). There was no statistically significant difference in prevalence between boys and girls, but prevalence was higher in private schools (21·1%) than in public schools (9·7%) (P < 0·001). Labial surfaces were less often affected than palatal surfaces. Enamel loss was the most prevalent type of dental erosion (4·86 of 100 incisors). Sixty‐three per cent of affected teeth showed more than a half of their surface affected.Conclusion.  The prevalence of dental erosion in 12‐year‐old schoolchildren living in a small city in southern Brazil appears to be lower than that seen in most of epidemiological studies carried out in different parts of the world. Further longitudinal studies should be conducted in Brazil in order to measure the incidence of dental erosion and its impact on children's quality of life.
Finding more meaning: the antecedents of uncertainty revisited
Authors: Wallace Meredith 
Published: June 2005

Aims and objectives.  The objective of this study was to explore the extent to which several antecedents explained the uncertainty of men who were undergoing the watchful waiting management option for prostate cancer.Background.  Uncertainty plays a significant role in explaining various outcomes in the chronically ill. However, little is known about the factors that accompany and modify uncertainty. For uncertainty to predict the outcomes of individuals coping with illness, it is imperative to understand its accompanying antecedents.Design.  The study used a correlational single group non‐experimental design.Methods.  The convenience sample completed a one‐time mailed questionnaire aimed at measuring the antecedents of uncertainty.Results.  A total of 19 participants completed questionnaires. The results revealed significant relationships between level of education and length of time with illness and uncertainty. Stepwise multiple regression indicated that education explained 52% of the variance in uncertainty.Conclusions.  This study strengthens the relationship between both education and length of time with illness, and uncertainty. It further supports the Uncertainty in Illness Model and enhances the understanding of the factors that influence uncertainty in the sample.Relevance to clinical practice.  This study assisted in the identification of factors that influence uncertainty in men undergoing the watchful waiting management option for prostate cancer. Future study should examine the role of antecedents in explaining uncertainty in additional populations and using alternative measures, when necessary.