bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Expression profiling of microdissected matched prostate cancer samples reveals CD166/MEMD and CD24 as new prognostic markers for patient survival
Authors: Kristiansen Glen , Pilarsky Christian , Wissmann Christoph , Kaiser Simone , Bruemmendorf Thomas , Roepcke Stefan , Dahl Edgar , Hinzmann Bernd , Specht Thomas , Pervan Janja , Stephan Carsten , Loening Stefan , Dietel Manfred , Rosenthal André 
Published: November 2004

AbstractIn order to screen for differentially expressed genes that might be useful in diagnosis or therapy of prostate cancer we have used a custom made Affymetrix GeneChip containing 3950 cDNA fragments. Expression profiles were obtained from 42 matched pairs of mRNAs isolated from microdissected malignant and benign prostate tissues. Applying three different bioinformatic approaches to define differential gene expression, we found 277 differentially expressed genes, of which 98 were identified by all three methods. Fourteen per cent of these genes were not found in other expression studies, which were based on bulk tissue. Resultant candidate genes were further validated by quantitative RT‐PCR, mRNA in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry. AGR2 was over‐expressed in 89% of prostate carcinomas, but did not have prognostic significance. Immunohistologically detected over‐expression of MEMD and CD24 was identified in 86% and 38.5% of prostate carcinomas respectively, and both were predictive of PSA relapse. Combined marker analysis using MEMD and CD24 expression proved to be an independent prognostic factor (RR = 4.7, p = 0.006) in a Cox regression model, and was also superior to conventional markers. This combination of molecular markers thus appears to allow improved prediction of patient prognosis, but should be validated in larger studies. Copyright © 2004 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Determinants of medicine use in a Swedish primary health care practice population
Authors: Al‐Windi Ahmad 
Published: November 2004

AbstractBackgroundPharmaceuticals represent an increasing share of private and public health care expenditures. The aim of this study was to characterise users and to determine the pattern of uses of prescribed medicines and to identify determinants of medicine use in a multi‐ethnic Swedish general practice population.MethodsThe study was performed in 1055 of 1442 consecutive adult patients visiting the Jordbro Health Centre (JHC) in Stockholm, Sweden.ResultsIn a regression analysis adjusted for the influence of confounders, subjects reporting 10–30 complaint symptoms, subjects with chronic disease and subjects that had a cost limitation card all reported a higher number of used medicines than subjects with a few (0–10) symptoms and those without chronic disease and a cost limitation card. In a Poisson's regression analysis, high age, female gender, not working, more than 10 symptoms, chronic disease and having a cost limitation card were related to use of prescribed medicines. All included variables predicted 19% of the explanation. Marital status, multi‐symptomatology, chronic disease and having a cost limitation card were related to polypharmacy in a logistic regression analysis.ConclusionA high number of complaint symptoms, chronic disease and having a cost limitation card were all significantly and independently related to use of medicines and polypharmacy. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Sequential synthesis of multiblock copolymers by atom transfer radical and cationic polymerization
Authors: Toman Luděk , Janata Miroslav , Spěváček Jiří , Vlček Petr , Látalová Petra , Masař Bohumil , Sikora Antonín 
Published: November 2004

AbstractABCBA‐type pentablock copolymers of methyl methacrylate (MMA), styrene (S), and isobutylene (IB) were prepared by a three‐step synthesis, which included atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) and cationic polymerization: (1) poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) with terminal chlorine atoms was prepared by ATRP initiated with an aromatic difunctional initiator bearing two trichloromethyl groups under CuCl/2,2′‐bipyridine catalysis; (2) PMMA with the same catalyst was used for ATRP of styrene, which produced a poly(S‐b‐MMA‐b‐S) triblock copolymer; and (3) IB was polymerized cationically in the presence of the aforementioned triblock copolymer and BCl3, and this produced a poly(IB‐b‐S‐b‐MMA‐b‐S‐b‐IB) pentablock copolymer. The reaction temperature, varied from −78 to −25 °C, significantly affected the IB content in the product; the highest was obtained at −25 °C. The formation of a pentablock copolymer with a narrow molecular weight distribution provided direct evidence of the presence of active chlorine at the ends of the poly(S‐b‐MMA‐b‐S) triblock copolymer, capable of the initiation of the cationic polymerization of IB in the presence of BCl3. A differential scanning calorimetry trace of the pentablock copolymer (20.1 mol % IB) showed the glass‐transition temperatures of three segregated domains, that is, polyisobutylene (−87.4 °C), polystyrene (95.6 °C), and PMMA (103.7 °C) blocks. One glass‐transition temperature (104.5 °C) was observed for the aforementioned triblock copolymer. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 6098–6108, 2004
Living/controlled copolymerization of acrylates with nonactivated alkenes
Authors: Liu Shengsheng , Sen Ayusman 
Published: November 2004

AbstractThe living/controlled copolymerization of methyl acrylate with 1‐alkenes and norbornene derivatives through several radical polymerization techniques has been achieved. These techniques include atom transfer radical polymerization, reversible addition–fragmentation transfer polymerization, nitroxide‐mediated polymerization, and degenerative transfer polymerization. These systems display many of the characteristics of a living polymerization process: the molecular weight increases linearly with the overall conversion, but the polydispersity remains low. Novel block copolymers have been synthesized through the sequential addition of monomers or chain extension. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 6175–6192, 2004
Hyperbranched fluoropolymer and linear poly(ethylene glycol) based amphiphilic crosslinked networks as efficient antifouling coatings: An insight into the surface compositions, topographies, and morphologies
Authors: Gudipati Chakravarthy S. , Greenlief C. Michael , Johnson Jeremiah A. , Prayongpan Pornpimol , Wooley Karen L. 
Published: November 2004

AbstractPolymer coatings with features of differing hydrophilicity, mobility, and topography, distributed across a substrate in microscopic and nanoscopic patches were designed as complex materials equipped with sufficient variability in composition, structure, and dynamics to inhibit interactions associated with biomacromolecular fouling. These complex polymer coatings were prepared by the in situ phase separation and crosslinking of mixtures of hyperbranched fluoropolymer (HBFP) and diamino‐terminated poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG), for which the degree of crosslinking, compositions, topographies, and morphologies were varied by alteration of the PEG/HBFP stoichiometries (14, 29, 45, and 55 wt % PEG). This article examines the physicochemical details of HBFP–PEG network coatings prepared on glass substrates, functionalized by 3‐aminopropyltriethoxysilane, as characterized by atomic force microscopy (AFM), contact‐angle measurements, X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and thermogravimetric analysis. Upon incubation in water or artificial seawater, the surfaces underwent reconstruction, which was believed to be driven by the swelling of the PEG domains and the energetic favorability offered by the segregation of PEG to the solid–water interface. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 6193–6208, 2004
Chemical degradation of an uncrosslinked pure fluororubber in an alkaline environment
Authors: Mitra Susanta , Ghanbari‐Siahkali Afshin , Kingshott Peter , Hvilsted Søren , Almdal Kristoffer 
Published: November 2004

AbstractThe chemical degradation of an uncrosslinked pure fluoroelastomer (FKM; Viton A) in an alkaline environment (10% NaOH and 80 °C) was investigated. Scanning electron microscopy images showed that on a microscopic level, significant degradation substantially increased the surface roughness after prolonged exposure (e.g., 12 weeks). The molecular mechanisms of the chemical degradation processes at the surface were evaluated with X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy and attenuated total reflectance/Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The results revealed that the early degradation proceeded primarily via dehydrofluorination reactions, creating double bonds in the rubber backbone. This further accelerated the degradation after longer exposure times. Furthermore, the resulting double bonds underwent nucleophilic attack by an aqueous NaOH solution to form several oxygenated species. All these species ultimately recombined to form crosslinks, as evidenced by the increase in the gel fraction and surface hardness (Shore A). The pronounced effect of chemical degradation through a reduction in the thermal stability of the pure FKM rubber upon exposure was also evident from thermogravimetric analysis and differential thermogravimetry. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 6216–6229, 2004
Reversible addition–fragmentation transfer (RAFT) copolymerization of methyl methacrylate and styrene in miniemulsion
Authors: Luo Yingwu , Liu Xinzhi 
Published: November 2004

AbstractIn the reversible addition–fragmentation transfer (RAFT) copolymerization of two monomers, even with the simple terminal model, there are two kinds of macroradical and two kinds of polymeric RAFT agent with different R groups. Because the structure of the R group could exert a significant influence on the RAFT process, RAFT copolymerization may behave differently from RAFT homopolymerization. The RAFT copolymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA) and styrene (St) in miniemulsion was investigated. The performance of the RAFT copolymerization of MMA/St in miniemulsion was found to be dependent on the feed monomer compositions. When St is dominant in the feed monomer composition, RAFT copolymerization is well controlled in the whole range of monomer conversion. However, when MMA is dominant, RAFT copolymerization may be, in some cases, out of control in the late stage of copolymerization, and characterized by a fast increase in the polydispersity index (PDI). The RAFT process was found to have little influence on composition evolution during copolymerization. The synthesis of the well‐defined gradient copolymers and poly[St‐b‐(St‐co‐MMA)] block copolymer by RAFT miniemulsion copolymerization was also demonstrated. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 6248–6258, 2004
Ring‐banded spherulites in poly(pentamethylene terephthalate): A model of waving and spiraling lamellae
Authors: Wu Pi Ling , Woo E. M. , Liu Hung‐Ling 
Published: November 2004

AbstractA new aryl polyester, poly(pentamethylene terephthalate) (PPT) with five methylene groups in the repeat unit, was synthesized. Its multiple‐melting behavior and crystal structure were analyzed with differential scanning calorimetry and wide‐angle X‐ray diffraction. In addition, the spherulitic/lamellar morphology of melt‐crystallized PPT was investigated. Typical Maltese‐cross spherulites (with no rings) were seen in melt‐crystallized PPT at low temperatures (70–90 °C), but ring patterns were seen in PPT crystallized only at temperatures ranging from 100 to 115 °C, whereas rings disappeared with crystallization above 120 °C. The mechanisms of the rings in PPT were explained with several coordinated directional changes (wavy changes, twisting changes, and combinations) in the lamellae during growth. Scanning electron microscopy, in combination with atomic force microscopy, further proved that the ringed spherulites originated from the aggregation of sufficient numbers of edge‐on lamellar crystals; the radial‐growth edge‐on/flat‐on lamellae could be twisted and/or waved to form realistic band patterns. A postulated model properly described a possible origin of the ring bands through combined mechanisms of waving (zigzagging) and twisting (spiraling) of the lamellae during crystallization. Superimposed twisting and/or wavy models during crystallization were examined as examples. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 42: 4421–4432, 2004
Plant allometry: is there a grand unifying theory?
Authors: Niklas Karl J. 
Published: November 2004

ABSTRACTThe study of size and its biological consequences – called allometry – has fascinated biologists for centuries. Recent advances in this area of study have stimulated a renewed interest in these scaling phenomena, especially in terms of the search for mechanistic explanations that transcend mere descriptive phenomenology. These advances are reviewed in the context of plant biology. Allometric derivations are presented that predict how annual growth in total body biomass is partitioned to construct new leaf, stem, and root tissues at the level of an individual plant. Derivations are also presented to predict annual reproductive effort and to predict how the biomass of body parts changes as a function of the number of plants per unit area in communities. The predictions emerging from these derivations are then examined empirically by comparing predicted and observed scaling exponents for each relationship using a world‐wide data compendium gathered from the primary literature. These comparisons provide strong statistical support for each of the allometric predictions. This support is taken as evidence that a general unifying allometric theory for plant biology is near at hand. Nevertheless, the validation of this theory requires much additional work and raises a number of procedural and conceptual concerns that must be resolved before a single‘global’theory is accepted.
BORDERED MATRICES AND SINGULARITIES OF LARGE NONLINEAR SYSTEMS
Authors: GOVAERTS W. 
Published: November 2004

We develop a general numerical method for the study of bifurcation problems (turning points, simple bifurcations, pitchfork bifurcations and a host of other singularities) that occur in the solutions to boundary value problems that depend on parameters. Consider time-evolution equations of the form [Formula: see text] where u∈Rn is the state vector, λ∈Rp is a vector of parameters and F is a sufficiently smooth function with values in Rn. If this system describes a time-dependent boundary value problem then n≫p and the Jacobian Fu typically has a special sparsity pattern (banded, block banded,…). A bordered matrix is an (n+m, n+m) matrix M (n≫m) that consists of a main (n, n) block A in the upper left corner (typically A is Fu or closely related to it) and bordering rows and columns. We consider methods for computing singularities of the steady state solutions F(u, λ)=0 in the general sense of Golubitsky & Schaeffer [1985]. In the case of the cusp catastrophe, Griewank & Reddien [1989] showed that Newton schemes can be set up to compute such singularities by solving only a small number of bordered linear systems in each Newton step. Their method extends similar, older methods for the simplest catastrophe, the turning point. We show that it is possible to set up a general scheme to compute any singularity with a small number of solutions of bordered systems in each Newton step; this number depends on the type of singularity but not on n.
PERIODS FOR MAPS OF THE FIGURE-EIGHT SPACE
Authors: GILLOT CHRISTIAN , LLIBRE JAUME 
Published: November 2004

Let Per (f) denote the set of periods of all periodic points of a map f from a topological space into itself. Let 8 be the figure-eight space. We extend to the 8 the following theorem from the circle due to Block [1981]. Let [Formula: see text] be the circle. For every map [Formula: see text] with Per (f) ∩ {1, 2, …, n} = {1, n} and n > 2 we have Per (f) = {1, n, n+1, n+2, …}. Conversely, for every n ∈ ℕ with n > 2 there exists a map [Formula: see text] such that Per (f) = {1, n, n+1, n+2, …}. For the space 8 we prove the following. Let f: 8 → 8 be a continuous map having the branching point fixed and such that Per (f) ∩ {1, 2, …, n} = {1, n} with n > 4. Then Per (f) is either {1, n, n+1, n+2, …}, or {1, n, n+2, n+4, …} with n even, or {1, n, n+2, n+4, …}∪ {2n+2, 2n+4, 2n+6, …} with n odd. Conversely, for every n ∈ ℕ with n > 4, if A (n) is one of the above three subsets of ℕ, then there is a continuous map f: 8 → 8 having the branching point fixed and such that Per (f) = A (n).
TEMPORAL CHARACTERISTICS OF ACOUSTIC RAY PROPAGATION THROUGH "INFINITE" AND "BOX MODEL" TURBULENCE
Authors: KARWEIT MICHAEL , BLANC-BENON PHILIPPE 
Published: November 2004

In this work, we investigate the temporal characteristics of acoustic ray propagation through simulated, weakly turbulent temperature fields. In a first set of experiments, we generate ensembles of random scalar fields from randomly oriented Fourier temperature modes. Then, by integrating the ray trace equations, we estimate the distribution of arrival times for rays propagating a distance R through them. We demonstrate that these arrival time distributions are Gaussian for both axial and 3-D propagation and are primarily determined by the lower wave numbers of the 1-D fluctuation spectrum. In a second set of experiments, we generate random fields comprised of Fourier modes prescribed on a lattice, as in "box model" turbulence. In these simulations, we find that acoustic travel times are significantly affected both by the periodicity of the fields and by the direction of acoustic propagation with respect to the orientation of the box. Both effects can ultimately be attributable to an inadequate representation of the low wave number region of the 1-D spectrum. We suggest that these artifacts of simulated periodic fields may preclude their use for acoustic propagation studies.
Inhibition of plasma kallikrein by C1-inhibitor: role of endothelial cells and the amino-terminal domain of C1-inhibitor
Authors: Ravindran Sriram , Grys Thomas , A.Welch Rodney , Schapira Marc , Patston Philip 
Published: November 2004

SummaryActivation of plasma prekallikein and generation of bradykinin are responsible for the angioedema attacks observed with C1inhibitor deficiency. Heterozygous individuals with <50% levels of active C1-inhibitor are susceptible to angioedema attacks indicating a critical need for C1-inhibitor to be present at maximum levels to prevent unwanted prekallikrein activation. Studies with purified proteins do not adequately explain this observation. Therefore to investigate why reduction of C1inhibitor to levels seen in angioedema patients results in excessive kallikrein generation we examined the effect of endothelial cells on the inhibition of kallikrein by C1-inhibitor. Surprisingly, it was found that a C1-inhibitor concentration of greater than 1 µM was needed to inhibit 3 nM kallikrein. We propose that this apparent protection from inhibition was mediated by kallikrein binding to the cells via the heavy chain in a high molecular weight kininogen and zinc independent manner. Protection of kallikrein from inhibition was not observed when C1-inhibitor truncated in the amino-terminal domain by the StcE metalloproteinase was used, which suggests a novel function for this unique domain. The requirement for high concentrations of C1-inhibitor to fully inhibit kallikrein is consistent with the fact that reduced levels of C1-inhibitor result in the kallikrein activation seen in angioedema.
Inhibition of monocyte, lymphocyte, and neutrophil adhesion to endothelial cells by human milk oligosaccharides
Authors: Bode Lars , Kunz Clemens , Muhly-Reinholz Marion , Mayer Konstantin , Seeger Werner , Rudloff Silvia 
Published: November 2004

SummaryExcessive leukocyte infiltration causes severe tissue damage in a variety of inflammatory diseases. The initial step in leukocyte extravasation is mediated by selectins and oligosaccharides on their glycoconjugate ligands. Human milk is a rich source of lactose-derived oligosaccharides that are partly absorbed in the intestine and excreted with the urine. As these components contain binding determinants for the selectins we investigated whether human milk oligosaccharides are able to affect leukocyte rolling and adhesion to endothelial cells under dynamic conditions. Therefore, monocytes, lymphocytes, or neutrophils isolated from human peripheral blood were passed over TNF-α-activated HUVEC under shear stress. The influence of different oligosaccharide fractions was determined by video-micros-copy and compared with the effects of various individual oligosaccharides. Within a physiological range (12.5-125 µg/ml) the acidic fraction significantly inhibited leukocyte rolling and adhesion (up to 24.0% and 52.8%, respectively) in a concentrationdependent manner. These effects were even more pronounced than those achieved by soluble sialyl-Lewis x, a physiological binding determinant for selectins. Several active components within the oligosaccharide fraction of human milk were identified, e.g. 3’-sialyl-lactose and 3’-sialyl-3-fucosyl-lactose. These results indicate that specific oligosaccharides in human milk may serve as anti-inflammatory components and might therefore contribute to the lower incidence of inflammatory diseases in human milk-fed infants.
Effect of selective inhibition of the p38 MAP kinase pathway on platelet aggregation
Authors: Kuliopulos Athan , Mohanlal Ramon , Covic Lidija 
Published: November 2004

SummarySystemic inflammation has been shown to be a contributing factor to the instability of atherosclerotic plaques in patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS). VX-702, a novel p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) inhibitor, is currently under investigation in ACS patients with unstable angina to evaluate its safety and efficacy during percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).The role of p38 MAPK in platelet aggregation of normal individuals was examined using the selective second generation p38 MAPK inhibitor VX-702. Treatment of platelets with thrombin (activates PAR1 and PAR4 thrombin receptors), SFLLRN (PAR1), AYPGKF (PAR4), collagen (α2β1 and GPVI/FCγIIR receptors) and U46619 (TXA2) resulted in strong activation of p38 MAPK. Activation of the GPIb von Willebrand factor receptor with ristocetin did not stimulate p38 MAPK. Pre-treatment of platelets with 1 μM VX-702 completely inhibited activation of p38 MAPK by thrombin, SFLLRN, AYPGKF, U46619, and collagen. There was no effect of VX-702 on platelet aggregation induced by any of the agonists in the presence or absence of aspirin, heparin or apyrase. It has been postulated that a potential role of p38 MAPK is to activate phospholipase A2 (cPLA2) which catalyses formation of arachidonic acid leading to production of thromboxane. Interestingly, we show contrasting effects of p38 MAPK inhibition as compared to aspirin inhibition on platelet aggregation in response to collagen. Blockade of TXA2 production by aspirin results in significant inhibition of collagen activation. However, VX-702 has no effect on collagen-mediated platelet aggregation, suggesting that blocking p38 MAPK does not effect thromboxane production in human platelets. Therefore, unlike aspirin blockade of thromboxane production in platelets, p38 MAPK inhibitors such as VX-702 do not significantly affect platelet function and would not be expected to contribute to an elevated risk of bleeding side-effects in treated patients.