bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effects of first and second generation antihistamines on muscarinic induced mucus gland cell ion transport
Authors: Liu Huiling , Farley Jerry M 
Published: March 2005

Abstract
Background
The first generation antihistamines, such as diphenhydramine, are fairly potent muscarinic antagonists in addition to being H1 selective antihistamines. The antimuscarinic action is often not desirable since it is in part responsible for the drying of secretions in the airways and the sedative effect. We therefore examined a number of antihistamines for antimuscarinic effects on ion transport by mucus gland cells isolated from the airways of swine. Enzymatically isolated airway mucus gland cells were purified utilizing density gradients and grown in culture on porous inserts (Millicell HA™) at an air interface. Cells grown in this manner maintain phenotype and polarity. Transport of ions, as short-circuit current measured under voltage-clamp, was measured in response to acetylcholine (ACh) or histamine applied to the serosal side of the gland cell layers. Concentration-response relationships for ACh or histamine were generated in the presence and absence of various drugs. The potencies against muscarinic receptor activation were estimated using the dose-ratio method of Schild.

Results
Three known muscarinic antagonists were used to validate the system. Atropine had a pA2 of 9.4 ± 0.1 (n = 9). 4-DAMP and methoctramine had pA2 values of 8.6 ± 0.1 and 5.6 ± 0.1, respectively (n = 12, 11) all consistent with inhibition of an M3 subtype muscarinic receptor. The rank order of potency of the antihistamines against the inhibition of M3 receptors was desloratadine = diphenhydramine > hydroxyzine (pA2; 6.4, 6.2, 4.8, respectively). pA2 values for fexofenadine, loratadine and cetirizine were not determined since they had no effect on the cholinergic response at the highest drug concentrations tested (10, 10 and 100 μM, respectively). The pA2 values for the antihistamines against the histamine response could not be calculated, but the estimates of the rank order of potency were estimated to be desloratadine> cetirizine ≈ hydroxyzine > fexofenadine > loratadine > diphenhydramine.

Conclusion
The rank order of selectivity for histamine receptors over muscarinic receptors was estimated to be cetirizine ≈ fexofenadine > loratadine > desloratadine ≥ hydroxyzine ≥ diphenhydramine.
Medical healthcare use in Parkinson's disease: survey in a cohort of ambulatory patients in Italy
Authors: Cosentino Marco , Martignoni Emilia , Michielotto Donatella , Calandrella Daniela , Riboldazzi Giulio , Pacchetti Claudio , Frigo Gianmario , Nappi Giuseppe , Lecchini Sergio 
Published: March 2005

Abstract
Background
Parkinson's disease (PD) is a chronic neurodegenerative disease which at present has no cure, and it usually results in severe disability. The burden of PD increases as the illness progresses, resulting in the extensive utilisation of both health and community services. Knowledge of healthcare use patterns and of their determinants may greatly contribute to improve patient care, however few studies have examined this issue in PD. The present study was devised to describe the type of and reasons for medical healthcare resource use in persons with PD attending a Centre for PD and Movement Disorders, and to examine drug prescriptions issued on such occasions.

Methods
The study was a retrospective, cross-sectional survey in a cohort of ambulatory patients with PD, conducted by means of standard interviews.

Results
In the year before the study, 92 (70.8%) of 130 patients used medical healthcare resources: 1/5 of the patients was admitted to hospital, 1/5 to emergency room, 2/5 were visited by a non-neurology specialist, and 1/4 by the GP. Reasons were: nearly 20% programmed hospital admissions and visits, and more than 25% injuries and musculo-skeletal diseases. Other conditions typically occurring in PD (e.g. dementia, diabetes and cardio- and cerebro-vascular disease) were less frequently involved. On such occasions, drugs for PD were occasionally changed, however drug prescriptions for other indications were issued to more than 66% of the patients.

Conclusion
Several physicians other than the neurologist may take care of PD patients on different occasions, thus emphasising the need for communication between the reference neurologist and other physicians who from time to time may visit the patient.
Screening for novel enzymes from metagenome and SIGEX, as a way to improve it
Authors: Yun Jiae , Ryu Sangryeol 
Published: March 2005

Abstract
Metagenomics has been successfully applied to isolate novel biocatalysts from the uncultured microbiota in the environment. Two types of screening have been used to identify clones carrying desired traits from metagenomic libraries: function-based screening, and sequence-based screening. Both function- and sequence- based screening have individual advantages and disadvantages, and they have been applied successfully to discover biocatalysts from metagenome. However, both strategies are laborious and tedious because of the low frequency of screening hits. A recent paper introduced a high throughput screening strategy, termed substrate-induced gene-expression screening (SIGEX). SIGEX is designed to select the clones harboring catabolic genes induced by various substrates in concert with fluorescence activated cell sorting (FACS). This method was applied successfully to isolate aromatic hydrocarbon-induced genes from a metagenomic library. Although SIGEX has many limitations, it is expected to provide economic advantages, especially to industry.
In Memorium: Herman P. Schwan [1915–2005]
Authors: Foster Kenneth R 
Published: March 2005

Abstract
Herman P. Schwan [1915–2005] was a distinguished scientist and engineer, and a founding father of the field of biomedical engineering. A man of integrity, Schwan influenced the lives of many, including his wife and children, and his many students and colleagues. Active in science until nearly the end of his life, he will be very much missed by his family and many colleagues.
Typing of human rotaviruses: Nucleotide mismatches between the VP7 gene and primer are associated with genotyping failure
Authors: Rahman Mustafizur , Sultana Rasheda , Podder Goutam , Faruque Abu SG , Matthijnssens Jelle , Zaman Khalequz , Breiman Robert F , Sack David A , Van Ranst Marc , Azim Tasnim 
Published: March 2005

Abstract

Background
Rotavirus genotyping is performed by using reverse transcription PCR with type-specific-primers. Because the high rotavirus mutation rate generates an extensive genomic variation, different G-type-specific primer sets are applied in different geographical locations. In Bangladesh, a significant proportion (36.9%) of the rotavirus strains isolated in 2002 could not be G-typed using the routinely used primer set. To investigate the reason why the strains were untypeable, nucleotide sequencing of the VP7 genes was performed.

Results
Four nucleotide substitutions at the G1 primer-binding site of the VP7 gene of Bangladeshi G1 rotaviruses rendered a major proportion of circulating strains untypeable using the routine primer set. Using an alternative primer set, we could identify G1 rotaviruses as the most prevalent genotype (44.8%), followed by G9 (21.7%), G2 (15.0%) and G4 (13.8%).

Conclusion
Because of the natural variation in the rotaviral gene sequences, close monitoring of rotavirus genotyping methods is important.
Knowledge accessibility, achievement goals, and memory strategy maintenance
Authors: Escribe Christian , Huet Nathalie 
Published: March 2005

Background. An important aim of educational psychology is to account for the difficulties in cognitive strategy maintenance. Possible explanations may be found in developmental studies concerning the interdependence of knowledge accessibility and strategy use, and in current achievement goal models which assume that individuals with a learning goal use deeper strategies than those with a performance goal.Aims. The purpose of this study was to examine how knowledge accessibility and achievement goals separately or conjointly affect the maintenance of a categorization strategy, recall performance, and perception of the strategy (utility, difficulty, effort) in a free recall task.Sample. Participants were 93 first‐year students from a human science university in France.Method. In the first phase, the students were taught how to use a categorization strategy in a recall task involving highly accessible (typical) items. In a subsequent transfer task, the same students were assigned to one of four experimental conditions where they were asked to recall a typical or atypical list and where a learning or performance goal was induced.Results. Analysis showed that whatever the typicality of the list, a learning goal promoted maintenance of the categorization strategy, and of perception of its utility. Performance goal participants only maintained this strategy and its perceptions on typical lists, while on atypical lists they display less clustering and found the strategy less useful.Conclusion. Results suggest that maintenance of a cognitive strategy is facilitated when there is compatibility between a performance goal and the task demands, or when the participants are learning‐goal oriented.
GmN70 and LjN70. Anion Transporters of the Symbiosome Membrane of Nodules with a Transport Preference for Nitrate
Authors: Vincill Eric D. , Szczyglowski Krzysztof , Roberts Daniel M. 
Published: March 2005

Abstract
A cDNA was isolated from soybean (Glycine max) nodules that encodes a putative transporter (GmN70) of the major facilitator superfamily. GmN70 is expressed predominantly in mature nitrogen-fixing root nodules. By western-blot and immunocytochemical analyses, GmN70 was localized to the symbiosome membrane of infected root nodule cells, suggesting a transport role in symbiosis. To investigate its transport function, cRNA encoding GmN70 was expressed in Xenopus laevis oocytes, and two-electrode voltage clamp analysis was performed. Ooctyes expressing GmN70 showed outward currents that are carried by anions with a selectivity of nitrate &gt; nitrite ≫ chloride. These currents showed little sensitivity to pH or the nature of the counter cation in the oocyte bath solution. One-half maximal currents were induced by nitrate concentrations between 1 to 3 mm. No apparent transport of organic anions was observed. Voltage clamp records of an ortholog of GmN70 from Lotus japonicus (LjN70; K. Szczyglowski, P. Kapranov, D. Hamburger, F.J. de Bruijn [1998] Plant Mol Biol 37: 651–661) also showed anion currents with a similar selectivity profile. Overall, these findings suggest that GmN70 and LjN70 are inorganic anion transporters of the symbiosome membrane with enhanced preference for nitrate. These transport activities may aid in regulation of ion and membrane potential homeostasis, possibly in response to external nitrate concentrations that are known to regulate the symbiosis.
Transgenic Expression of the Soybean Apyrase in Lotus japonicus Enhances Nodulation
Authors: McAlvin Crystal B. , Stacey Gary 
Published: March 2005

Abstract
The soybean apyrase, GS52, was previously characterized as an early nodulin that is expressed in roots and localized to the plasma membrane. Transgenic Lotus japonicus plants were constructed constitutively expressing the GS52 apyrase. Segregation and Southern-blot analysis identified four single-copy sense lines, several double-copy sense lines, and one double-copy antisense line for further analysis. The single- and double-copy sense gs52 L. japonicus lines had enhanced nodulation that correlated with expression of the transgene. The sense transgenic lines were also found to have increased infection thread formation and enhanced infection zone length when infected by Mesorhizobium loti, the natural symbiont of L. japonicus. The data presented show that expression of the GS52 apyrase can enhance nodulation in L. japonicus and points to an important role for this group of enzymes in nodulation.
Young Magistrates in the Greek East
Authors: Strubbe Johan 
Published: March 2005

AbstractThis article challenges the current view that young men (before the age of 22 or 25) institutionally participated in the government of their cities in the Greek East during the Hellenistic and Roman Imperial periods. First, the laws and Imperial edicts concerning the age of officeholders (magistrates and liturgists) in the East are presented. Then the inscriptions mentioning young officeholders are critically examined and discussed; only thirteen cases are recorded with certainty. In the conclusion it is argued that office holding by children and young men was not a structural phenomenon in the cities. There was great reluctance to entrust responsible offices to young men. The offices young notables did hold were liturgical offices, especially the gymnasiarcheia, and financial magistracies, all implying heavy financial expenses for the holder or his parents, and the low-ranking office of the ephêbarcheia.
Time-Series Designs and Analyses
Authors: Druckman Daniel 
Published: March 2005

AbstractThis article describes the way time-series designs are used in research on international negotiation and related processes. Both quantitative and qualitative applications are discussed. One use of the techniques is to predict known outcomes of historical cases of negotiation. Both inductive and deductive approaches have been used in studies that evaluate alternative models of the way that negotiators respond to each other through the course of the talks. Another use of the techniques is to evaluate the impacts of such interventions as mediations or combat (referred to as interruptions) on the dynamics of conflict between nations. A third approach involves probabilistic forecasting with Bayesian analysis. This consists of revising initial probabilities of events (coups, peace agreements) based on current information about indicators that signal the occurrence of the event. Qualitative techniques have also been used to capture changes in conflict processes over time. These include charting changes in typological categories or in the use of influence strategies used by national actors in enduring rivalries. They also include tracing of paths to agreement or stalemate in negotiation, documenting progress in small-group dialogues, and developing chains of communication leading to peace agreements. By combining several of these techniques an analyst can draw conclusions about the likelihood that an event will occur (Bayesian analysis), its impact on a process (interrupted time series), and the way it emerged from prior events (process tracing).
Methodological Challenges in the Study of Negotiator Affect
Authors: Fulmer Ingrid Smithey , Barry Bruce 
Published: March 2005

AbstractThis article examines methodological issues that accompany expanding research attention to affect and emotion in bargaining and negotiation. The role of affect in negotiation is presumed to have anterior, experiential, and strategic components. After reviewing existing empirical research on emotion as predictor, consequence, and tactic in negotiation, we consider complications that challenge the researcher's ability to isolate the impact of specific affect states on particular components of the negotiation dynamic. That analysis leads to a survey and discussion of potential methodological remedies that will increase the ability of researchers to capture the "real" emotions that individuals experience, express, mask, and strategically deploy within the negotiation encounter.
Origin of the clay mineral assemblages in the Germanic facies of the English Trias: application of the spore colour index method
Authors: Jeans C. V. , Fisher M. J. , Merriman R. J. 
Published: March 2005

AbstractThe origin of the regional and stratigraphical variation in the Triassic authigenic clay assemblages of England is discussed in relation to new estimates of the palaeotemperatures experienced by their host sediments and a preliminary study by transmission electron microscopy of their microtextural features. Spore colour index measurements, based on the spore type Deltoidospora s.l. occurring in the sediments (Penarth Group) at the very top of the Triassic sequence, give estimated palaeotemperatures ranging from 60–74°C (south Devon) to 89–97°C (northeast Yorkshire). Calculated palaeotemperatures, based on a gradient of 25°C/km, for the main zone of authigenic clay minerals range from 63–77°C to 89–97°C for the top to 71–85°C to 94–104°C for the base. Irregular mixed-layer smectite-chlorite, corrensite and Mg-rich chlorite are associated with calculated palaeotemperatures of 66–86°C, 66–104°C and 75–104°C respectively. The suggestion that elsewhere in the UK corrensite and Mg-rich chlorite were formed at temperatures in excess of 100°C finds no support. Geothermal gradients would have to have been of the order of at least 100–300°C/km to obtain these temperatures within the Triassic sediments; such values are associated typically with high-level magmatic intrusions or geothermal systems of which there is no geological evidence. The balance of evidence suggests that the Triassic authigenic clay assemblages formed by neoformation during the early stages of sediment diagenesis under the influence of variation in the alkalinity of the depositional environments.
Computational investigation of Al/Si and Al/Mg ordering in aluminous tremolite amphiboles
Authors: Palin E. J. , Dove M. T. , Welch M. D. , Redfern S. A. T. 
Published: March 2005

AbstractThe [4]Al/Si and [6]Al/Mg order-disorder behaviour of minerals in the tremolite-tschermakite solid solution (namely, end-member tschermakite and the 50:50 composition, magnesiohornblende) has been investigated by Monte Carlo simulation, using a model Hamiltonian in which atomic interaction parameters Ji were derived from empirical lattice energy calculations, and chemical potential terms μj (to express the preferences of cations for particular crystallographic sites) were derived from ab initio methods. The simulations performed were increasingly complex. Firstly, ordering in one tetrahedral double chain with Al:Si = 1:3 (tschermakite) was simulated. Although the low-temperature cation distribution in this system was ordered, there was no phase transition (due to the quasi-one-dimensional nature of the system). Next, interactions between tetrahedral Al:Si = 1:3 double chains were included, and a phase transition was observed, with the cation distribution in one double chain lining up with respect to that in the next. Finally, interactions between tetrahedral and octahedral sites were incorporated, to model the whole unit cell, and compositions corresponding to tschermakite and magnesiohornblende were investigated. The whole-cell simulation results compare favourably with experimental conclusions for magnesiohornblende, in that Al at T1 is preferred over Al at T2, and Al at M2 is favoured over that at M1 and M3, but the significant amount of Al at M1 is at odds with experimental observation.
Occurrence and chemical composition of barian feldspars in a jadeitite from the Itoigawa-Ohmi district in the Renge high-P/T-type metamorphic belt, Japan
Authors: Morishita T. 
Published: March 2005

AbstractCoexisting Ba-rich (Cn56–59Or40–42Ab2An0–1) and Ba-poor (Cn7–15Or83–92Ab1–3An0–1) feldspars were found in a jadeitite collected from the Itoigawa-Ohmi district in the Renge high-P/T-type metamorphic belt, Japan. There is an apparent compositional gap in these barian feldspars at Cn15–56 in the ternary system BaAl2Si2O8–KAlSi3O8–NaAlSi3O8. Barian feldspars occur as interstitial phases between subhedral to euhedral jadeite and prehnite, and sometimes cut a jadeite crystal. The occurrence of barian feldspars combined with the texture and mineral assemblages of the host jadeitite suggest that barian feldspars were formed from residual fluids after the formation of jadeite and prehnite from primary aqueous fluids at low-T conditions (<350°C) and pressure of ~0.6 GPa. The Ba content in the residual fluids would increase locally during the formation of jadeite because Ba is incompatible with clinopyroxene. This study supports the suggestion that Ba-rich minerals are not uncommon in jadeitites and albitites/metasomatized rocks that occur as tectonic blocks in serpentinite-matrix mélanges. Barium is an important minor element in metasomatizing fluids related to the formation of jadeitites and might have been derived from subducted oceanic crust at the beginning of the subduction.
Parasellar epidermoid cyst rupturing into the nasopharynx
Authors: Shaw A S , Connor S E J 
Published: March 2005

Epidermoid tumours are non-neoplastic inclusion cysts representing up to 1.1 per cent of all intracranial tumours, typically presenting with symptoms related to pressure or intracranial rupture in the fourth or fifth decade of life. The authors present a case of a parasellar epidermoid cyst which has ruptured in to the nasopharynx; to the best of their knowledge, this has not been previously reported. The computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are presented. The pathology and radiological features of epidermoid tumours are discussed, particularly in relation to extracranial connections. The differential diagnosis of lesions eroding the central skull base is reviewed.
Course and long-term outcome of ’refractory’ secretory otitis media
Authors: Ryding Marie , White Peter , Kalm Olof 
Published: March 2005

Objective: The course and the long-term outcome of ’refractory’ secretory otitis media (SOM), defined as continuous SOM for more than 6 years, were studied in 52 young patients. They had during childhood been treated for bilateral SOM on average for 12 years (range 6 to 26 years). The mean interval between resolution of SOM and examination was 7 years.Methods: At follow up the patients’ medical records were scrutinized with regards to transmyringeal ventilation tubes, adenoidectomy, sequelae and complications, and a questionnaire was filled in to document other diseases.Results: The onset of SOM showed two peaks, one at the age of one year and one at the age of 3.5 years. Patients whose onset of SOM was related to an episode of acute otitis media (AOM) were younger at SOM onset than those who had no such relation. Otorrhoea and AOM episodes were more frequent during the SOM periods, with blocked or expelled tubes, than during periods with patent tubes. Cholesteatoma were seen in 3 per cent and perforations in 5 per cent of patients.Conclusions: Extremely long-standing SOM does not necessarily result in myringeal perforation or cholesteatoma to a greater extent than that seen in patients with shorter durations of SOM. However, at follow up one-third of the patients reported hearing impairment and a majority felt discomfort when flying or diving.