bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Perlecan inhibits smooth muscle cell adhesion to fibronectin: Role of heparan sulfate
Authors: Lundmark Karin , Tran Phan Kiet , Kinsella Michael G. , Clowes Alexander W. , Wight Thomas N. , Hedin Ulf 
Published: August 2002

AbstractSmooth muscle cell migration, proliferation, and deposition of extracellular matrix are key events in atherogenesis and restenosis development. To explore the mechanisms that regulate smooth muscle cell function, we have investigated whether perlecan, a basement membrane heparan sulfate proteoglycan, modulates interaction between smooth muscle cells and other matrix components. A combined substrate of fibronectin and perlecan showed a reduced adhesion of rat aortic smooth muscle cells by 70–90% in comparison to fibronectin alone. In contrast, perlecan did not interfere with cell adhesion to laminin. Heparinase treated perlecan lost 60% of its anti‐adhesive effect. Furthermore, heparan sulfate as well as heparin reduced smooth muscle cell adhesion when combined with fibronectin whereas neither hyaluronan nor chondroitin sulfate had any anti‐adhesive effects. Addition of heparin as a second coating to a preformed fibronectin matrix did not affect cell adhesion. Cell adhesion to the 105‐ and 120 kDa cell‐binding fragments of fibronectin, lacking the main heparin‐binding domains, was also inhibited by heparin. In addition, co‐coating of fibronectin and 3H‐heparin showed that heparin was not even incorporated in the substrate. Morphologically, smooth muscle cells adhering to a substrate prepared by co‐coating of fibronectin and perlecan or heparin were small, rounded, lacked focal contacts, and showed poorly developed stress fibers of actin. The results show that the heparan sulfate chains of perlecan lead to altered interactions between smooth muscle cells and fibronectin, possibly due to conformational changes in the fibronectin molecule. Such interactions may influence smooth muscle cell function in atherogenesis and vascular repair processes. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Power characteristics of unsteadily forward–reverse rotating impellers in an unbaffled aerated agitated vessel
Authors: Yoshida Masanori , Ito Akira , Yamagiwa Kazuaki , Ohkawa Akira , Abe Masahiko , Tezura Shuichi , Shimazaki Masuo 
Published: August 2002

AbstractPower characteristics of an unbaffled aerated agitated vessel with unsteadily forward‐reverse rotating impellers, ie a new type of gas–liquid agitator named ‘AJITER’, treating viscous Newtonian liquids were studied experimentally. Measurements were first made on the agitation torque, ie the torque on the drive shaft on which forward–reverse rotating impellers with four delta‐type blades were attached, and the data obtained were analyzed by fitting them to an equation consisting of two terms with respect to the resistance of the fluid, one due to viscous drag and the other due to added moment of inertia. The effects of operating conditions and physical properties of liquids on the drag and added moment of inertia coefficients were then evaluated, and empirical relationships which estimate values of these coefficients, useful to predict the unsteady behavior and magnitude of agitation torque, were presented. Furthermore, equations were developed for estimating the average and maximum power consumptions as a function of the drag and added moment of inertia coefficients. Prediction of respective power levels in AJITER by these equations was also discussed.© 2001 Society of Chemical Industry
Bacteriophages: biology and history
Authors: Sharp Richard 
Published: August 2002

AbstractBacteriophages were initially considered to offer the key to the control of bacterial infections; early studies, however, proved largely unsuccessful. In the 1940s and 1950s, pioneering studies into the structure and physiology of host/phage interactions laid the basis for the development of molecular biology and a spectrum of new biotechnologically‐based industries. Bacteriophages able to infect most procaryotic groups of organisms have been isolated, and are readily isolated from soil, water, and sewage and most environments colonised by bacteria. Ecologically, phages are as varied and as versatile as their hosts with some able to survive extremes of temperature (up to 95 °C) and extremes of pH as low as pH 1.© 2001 Society of Chemical Industry
Activity and stability of lipases from different sources in supercritical carbon dioxide and near‐critical propane
Authors: Habulin Maja , Knez Željko 
Published: August 2002

AbstractThe stability and activity of lipases from Pseudomonas fluorescens, Rhizopus javanicus, Rhizopus niveus, porcine pancreas and Candida rugosa in a non‐solvent system at atmospheric pressure, in supercritical carbon dioxide (SC CO2), and near‐critical propane at 100 bar and 40 °C were studied. Esterification of n‐butyric acid with ethanol and isoamyl alcohol was used as a model system. In supercritical carbon dioxide there was a great loss in activity of the examined lipases. Decreased relative activity of lipases in SC CO2 was attributed to the interactions between CO2 and the enzyme. The second reason for this effect was the differences in water partitioning between the enzyme and its surroundings. In contrast, the use of near‐critical propane improved the activity of lipases in the comparison to the non‐solvent system by four‐ (porcine pancreas lipase) to nine‐times (Rhizopus javanicus lipase). The use of near‐critical propane also improved the thermal stability of porcine pancreas lipase compared with the non‐solvent system. The calculated deactivation constant for esterification between butyric acid and isoamyl alcohol, catalyzed by porcine pancreas lipase, showed that there was more than twice as much inactive as active enzyme in the non‐solvent system studied whereas the ratio in propane was 1.© 2001 Society of Chemical Industry
Effect of carbonization temperature on the yield and porosity of char produced from palm shell
Authors: Daud Wan Mohd Ashri Wan , Ali Wan Shabuddin Wan , Sulaiman Mohd Zaki 
Published: August 2002

AbstractSeveral batches of chars were prepared from palm shell by carbonization in a flow of nitrogen using a fixed‐bed reactor. Palm shell was carbonized at temperatures of 500, 600, 700, 800 and 900 °C for 1 h to study the effects of carbonization temperature on char yield and its porosity. The prepared chars were characterized for the micropore volume using CO2 adsorption while the meso‐ and macropore volumes were analyzed using a mercury porosimeter. The char yield was around 25% and is comparable with yields reported from other lignocellulosic materials. The results show that carbonization temperature has a significant effect on the micro‐ and mesopore volumes. However, it has negligible effect on the macropore volume.© 2001 Society of Chemical Industry
The use of chromium waste sludge for the adsorption of colour from dye effluent streams
Authors: Chaudhary Abdul J , Ganguli Bijita , Grimes Susan M 
Published: August 2002

AbstractAdsorption studies show that chromium hydroxide precipitates can be used for the removal of methylene blue, reactive blue, congo red and disperse orange dyes from aqueous media. Three different mechanisms are involved: attraction of positive surface charges on the precipitate at low pH for dye anions (reactive blue and congo red); attraction of negative surface charges on hydroxide at high pH for dye cations (methylene blue), and dye particle entrapment for the neutral disperse orange. The point of zero charge of the chromium hydroxide precipitate based on the dye adsorption studies is pH 10.5. The changes in the surface charge of such precipitates with pH can be used to achieve the removal of any charged dye species.© 2002 Society of Chemical Industry
Sonographic appearance of the uterus after simple square suturing for rapid control of postpartum hemorrhage and preservation of fertility
Authors: Chen Chih‐Ping , Chang Tung‐Yao , Yeh Li‐Fan , Lin Chen‐Ju , Wang Wayseen 
Published: August 2002

AbstractWe describe the postoperative sonographic appearance of the uterus after successful use of simple square suturing for rapid control of profuse bleeding during cesarean section in a pregnant woman with uterine atony and placenta accreta. The serial sonograms initially showed decreased echogenicity in the compressed uterine area, but about 1 week after surgery, echogenicity of the compressed area returned to normal and, 2 weeks after surgery, patency of the uterine canal became evident. This report highlights the usefulness of this suturing technique for controlling such hemorrhage and the role of sonography in evaluating uterine status postoperatively. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Ultrasound 30:189–191, 2002; DOI 10.1002/jcu.10046
Observation of impurities in ice
Authors: Cullen D. , Baker I. 
Published: August 2002

AbstractThis paper presents a new method for determining the microstructural location of impurities in polycrystalline ice, which involves allowing the ice to sublimate under vacuum and then identifying the concentrated impurities using energy dispersive X‐ray microanalysis in a low‐vacuum scanning electron microscope. The method allows the presence of impurities in both the grain boundaries and the lattice of natural polycrystalline ice to be observed. Using this technique on natural ice, filaments consisting chiefly of NaCl were observed in some grain boundaries, small amounts of sulfur and chlorine were found in the grain interiors of the ice, and large concentrations of sulfur were observed in inclusions. Microsc. Res. Tech. 55:198–207, 2001. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Sensory and endocrine characteristics of the avian pineal organ
Authors: Sato Tetsuji 
Published: August 2002

AbstractThe avian pineal organ represents a transitional type between a photosensory organ of lower vertebrates and the endocrine gland of mammals and shows remarkable changes in its innervation and structure during ontogeny. In the avian pineal organ the progressive reduction of the pinealofugal component and the spectacular increase in pinealopetal sympathetic innervation occur in parallel. In domestic fowl the number of intrapineal AChE‐positive (afferent) neurons decreases rapidly during ontogenetic development, whereas the sympathetic innervation becomes more prominent. Furthermore, the end vesicle of the pineal organ is an anatomical entity fully separated from the brain in the adult domestic fowl, as observed in some mammalian pineals. The avian pineal organ contains several types of photoreceptors with different photopigments and the synthesis of melatonin, the pineal hormone, is controlled by light. Immunoreactivity for photopigments is reduced during the posthatching development of chicken, whereas neuron‐specific enolase (NSE)‐immunoreactive pinealocytes increase remarkably in number in the end‐vesicle of the domestic fowl with age, followed by a gradual expansion toward the proximal portion. NSE is the most acidic isoenzyme of the glycolytic enzyme enolase and is useful as a cytoplasmic marker of neurons and neuroendocrine tissue. The above‐mentioned findings reflect the sequence of changes leading from pineal sense organs to pineal gland. The demonstration of melatonin receptors in a variety of avian peripheral tissues suggest a possible direct action of melatonin on the physiological functions of different organ systems in response to internal and external stimuli. Microsc. Res. Tech. 53:2–11, 2001. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The trigeminovascular system in bacterial meningitis
Authors: Hoffmann Olaf , Dirnagl Ulrich , Weber Joerg R. 
Published: August 2002

AbstractHeadache as a cardinal symptom of acute meningitis reflects activation of trigeminal afferents from the meninges. With their perivascular endings, these fibers form the so‐called trigeminovascular system (TVS), which releases proinflammatory neuropeptides upon nociceptive stimulation. In the present article, we review a role of the TVS in enhancing the early inflammatory response of bacterial meningitis. Furthermore, we discuss inhibition of neuropeptide release from the TVS using 5HT1B/D agonists as a potential new anti‐inflammatory treatment strategy for early bacterial meningitis. Microsc. Res. Tech. 53:188–192, 2001. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Integrated approach for segmentation of 3‐D confocal images of a tissue specimen
Authors: Umesh Adiga P.S. 
Published: August 2002

AbstractIn this article we have proposed an integrated approach for segmentation of cells in volumetric image data obtained using the Confocal Microscope. The volumetric images are the stack of two‐dimensional (2‐D) images. Segmentation of cells in such an image stack is a difficult problem due to the complex structure of the objects and the spatial relationship of the object signatures in different image slices of the image stack. Here we have proposed a segmentation technique, which is a combination of several known and novel segmentation methods. Low‐level techniques such as edge operators, middle‐level techniques such as 3‐D watershed, rule‐based merging, and a high level technique, active surface model optimization, are integrated in one approach to get better segmentation with less human interaction. Some image enhancement and noise reduction techniques are also used to reduce the error in intermediate stages and speed up the segmentation process. Results are shown on 3‐D images of prostate cancer tissue specimen. Microsc. Res. Tech. 54:260–270, 2001. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Ubiquitin and actin expression in claw muscles of land crab, Gecarcinus lateralis, and american lobster, Homarus americanus: Differential expression of ubiquitin in two slow muscle fiber types during molt‐induced atrophy
Authors: Koenders Annette , Yu Xiaoli , Chang Ernest S. , Mykles Donald L. 
Published: August 2002

AbstractThe closer muscle of large‐clawed decapod crustaceans undergoes a proecdysial (premolt) atrophy to facilitate withdrawal of the appendage at ecdysis. This atrophy involves the activation of both calcium‐dependent (calpains) and ubiquitin (Ub)/proteasome‐dependent proteolytic systems that break down proteins to reduce muscle mass. Moreover, the large slow‐twitch (S1) fibers undergo a greater atrophy than the small slow‐tonic (S2) fibers. Both polyUb mRNA and Ub‐protein conjugates increase during claw muscle atrophy. In this study in situ hybridization and RT‐PCR were used to determine the temporal and spatial expression of polyUb and α‐actin. A cDNA encoding the complete sequence of lobster muscle α‐actin was characterized; a probe synthesized from the cDNA provided a positive control for optimizing RT‐PCR and in situ hybridization. PolyUb was expressed at low levels in claw closer muscle from anecdysial (intermolt) land crab. By early proecdysis (premolt; stage D0), polyUb mRNA levels increased in medial fibers that insert along the midline of the apodeme, with greater expression in S1 than S2, while levels remained low in peripheral fibers. By late proecdysis, polyUb mRNA decreased in central fibers, while mRNA increased in peripheral S1 fibers. In contrast, α‐actin was expressed in lobster claw muscles at relatively constant levels during the intermolt cycle. These results suggest that Ub/proteasome‐dependent proteolysis contributes to enhanced turnover of myofibrillar proteins during claw closer muscle atrophy. Furthermore, atrophy is not synchronous within the muscle; it begins in medial fibers and then progresses peripherally. J. Exp. Zool. 292:618–632, 2002. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Isolation and purification of the IGF‐I protein complex from rabbit seminal plasma: Effects on sperm motility and viability
Authors: Minelli Alba , Moroni Monica , Castellini Cesare 
Published: August 2002

AbstractA protein of about 150 kDa affecting sperm kinetic motility and viability was purified from rabbit seminal plasma. The incubation of rabbit sperm with this purified seminal plasma protein caused significant changes in sperm viability and motility. Moreover, the seminal protein showed a noticeable reactivating effect on immotile spermatozoa. A 10‐mg amount of purified protein, added to immotile rabbit spermatozoa suspended in Tris‐citrate, pH 7.4, resulted in a 48% reactivation. It is known that circulating insulin‐like growth factors are bound to specific high‐affinity binding proteins and form complexes with relative molecular masses of about 150 kDa. Western blotting analyses proved the existence of insulin‐like growth factor in the protein purified from rabbit seminal plasma and immunofluorescence staining showed the existence of IGF‐1 receptor in rabbit spermatozoa. Therefore, we suggest that the purified rabbit seminal plasma protein may represent the protein complex delivering IGF to the sperm cells thus affecting their physiological functions. J. Exp. Zool. 290:279–290, 2001. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Automatic volumetric measurement of lateral ventricles on magnetic resonance images with correction of partial volume effects
Authors: Barra Vincent , Frenoux Emmanuelle , Boire Jean‐Yves 
Published: August 2002

AbstractPurposeTo propose a method for the quantification of lateral ventricle (LV) volumes on a single sequence of 3D magnetic resonance (MR) images.Materials and MethodsThis algorithm, following a preliminary fuzzy tissue classification step, is based on the development of mathematical morphology processes allowing both the extraction of the LVs and the correction of partial volume effects on their boundaries. The procedure is fast and totally unsupervised. The method is tested on a phantom image, then applied to five patients diagnosed as potentially suffering from Alzheimer's disease, and finally applied on several MR acquisitions to show the genericness of the algorithm.Results and ConclusionThis technique yielded both an accurate estimation of ventricular volumes intra‐ and intersubject with respect to published data and a relevant management of partial volume effects. Numerous clinical applications are now expected, from the study of schizophrenia to the longitudinal follow‐up of Alzheimer's patients. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2002;15:16–22. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
MRI detection of myocardial perfusion defects due to coronary artery stenosis with MS‐325
Authors: Kraitchman Dara L. , Chin Bennett B. , Heldman Alan W. , Solaiyappan Meiyappan , Bluemke David A. 
Published: August 2002

AbstractPurposeTo assess the value of an intravascular, albumin‐targeted contrast agent, MS‐325, in visualizing myocardial ischemia with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).Materials and MethodsLeft anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) stenosis was created in 19 pigs using a closed‐chest modified angioplasty technique. Myocardial ischemia was detected by first‐pass, contrast‐enhanced MRI at peak dipyridamole stress and was compared to Technetium‐99m (Tc‐99m) sestamibi single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT). Regional coronary blood flow was determined using microspheres.ResultsInducible myocardial ischemia with >40% reduction in stress myocardial blood flow was created in eight animals. An MRI defect, classified as ≥75% reduction in peak myocardial signal intensity in the affected territory, was detected in 92.3% of these animals. In the presence of mild coronary stenosis, there was uniform enhancement with MRI and tracer uptake by SPECT. Concordance of MRI and SPECT for detecting perfusion defects was 85%.ConclusionThe pattern of prolonged and persistent MR hypoenhancement of the ischemic myocardial bed using MS‐325, which is retained primarily in the vascular bed due to its albumin‐binding properties, facilitates the detection of myocardial perfusion defects. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2002;15:149–158. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Global myocardial blood flow and global flow reserve measurements by MRI and PET are comparable
Authors: Koskenvuo Juha W. , Sakuma Hajime , Niemi Pekka , Toikka Jyri O. , Knuuti Juhani , Laine Hanna , Komu Markku , Kormano Martti , Saraste Markku , Hartiala Jaakko J. 
Published: August 2002

AbstractCoronary flow reserve (CFR) measurements have been widely used in assessing the functional significance of coronary artery stenosis because they are more sensitive in predicting major cardiac events than angiographically detected reductions of coronary arteries. Myocardial blood flow can be determined by measuring coronary sinus (CS) flow with velocity‐encoded cine magnetic resonance imaging (VEC‐MRI). The purpose of this study was to compare global myocardial blood flow (MBF) and CFR measured using VEC‐MRI with MBF and CFR measured using positron emission tomography (PET). We measured MBF at baseline and after dipyridamole‐induced hyperemia in 12 male volunteers with VEC‐MRI and PET. With VEC‐MRI, MBF was 0.64 ± 0.09 (ml/min/g) at baseline and 1.59 ± 0.79 (ml/min/g) at hyperemia, which yielded an average CFR of 2.51 ± 1.29. With PET, MBF was 0.65 ± 0.20 (ml/min/g) at baseline and 1.78 ± 0.72 (ml/min/g) at hyperemia, which yielded an average CFR of 2.79 ± 0.97. The correlation of MBFs between these two methods was good (r = 0.82, P < 0.001). The CFRs measured by MRI correlated well with those measured using PET (r = 0.76, P < 0.004). These results suggest that MRI is a useful and accurate method to measure global MBF and CFR. Therefore, it would be suitable for studying risk factor modifications of vascular function at an early stage in healthy volunteers. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2001;13:361–366. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Feasibility of endocardial edge detection by using an inversion recovery artifact
Authors: Laffon Eric , Cassen Christelle , Latrabe Valérie , Montaudon Michel , Laurent François , Massot Philippe , Ducassou Dominique , Barat Jean‐Louis 
Published: August 2002

AbstractAn inversion recovery (IR) artifact was used to delineate the blood/wall boundary in left ventricles. The artifact consisted of a hypointensity signal in pixels located at the boundary of two contiguous tissues with different T1 relaxation times. The feasibility of measuring the ejection fraction using the artifact was tested in ten healthy volunteers, with two IR snapshot‐FLASH sequences possessing different times of repetition (TR = 11msec and TR = 3.5msec) and appropriate times of inversion. The comparison with a cine‐MRI sequence showed that ejection fraction measurements are feasible when performed with a snapshot‐FLASH sequence that has a sufficiently short TR (3.5msec). J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2001;13:461–466. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Qualitative and quantitative analysis of regional left ventricular wall dynamics using real‐time magnetic resonance imaging: Comparison with conventional breath‐hold gradient echo acquisition in volunteers and patients
Authors: Plein Sven , Smith William H.T. , Ridgway John P. , Kassner Andrea , Beacock David J. , Bloomer Timothy N. , Sivananthan Mohan U. 
Published: August 2002

AbstractA real‐time magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) acquisition sequence was evaluated for the assessment of left ventricular wall motion (WM) and wall thickening (WT). Ten normal volunteers and 21 patients were studied. Short‐axis cine images of the left ventricle (LV) were acquired with a fast gradient echo and an ultrafast segmented echo‐planar imaging (EPI) sequence. Qualitative and quantitative analysis of WM and WT was performed on a segmental basis. Qualitative scores agreed between the two methods in 691 of 724 segments (95.4%) with good reproducibility. Quantitative measurements of WM and WT were significantly lower (P < 0.001) with the real‐time method (WM: mean bias, 0.49mm; WT: mean bias, 0.61mm). The largest differences were observed in the anterior and lateral segments and in patients with dilated ventricles. The lower resolution of the real‐time sequence and artifacts was probably responsible for these differences. In conclusion, real‐time cardiac MRI can be used for qualitative assessment of wall dynamics but is presently insufficient for quantitative analysis. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2001;14:23–30. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.