bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Second‐trimester prenatal screening markers for Down syndrome in women with insulin‐dependent diabetes mellitus
Authors: Huttly Wayne , Rudnicka Alicja , Wald Nicholas J. 
Published: November 2004

AbstractPublished studies have shown that some serum markers used in screening for Down syndrome tend to be lower among women with insulin‐dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM). On this basis, many screening programmes adjust the marker levels to take account of this difference. Recent studies suggested that the marker levels were not different, and so adjustment may no longer be needed, possibly because of better diabetic control. Data from a prenatal screening programme for Down syndrome were examined to see whether the median values of second‐trimester screening markers were still reduced in pregnant women with IDDM. A total of 366 women with IDDM singleton pregnancies without Down syndrome were identified from the screening programme at Barts from 1989 to 2002. After allowing for maternal weight, the median multiples of the median (MoM) for IDDM‐unaffected singleton pregnancies were as follows: 0.88 (95% confidence interval 0.84–0.93) for alphafetoprotein (AFP), 0.95 (0.91–0.99) for unconjugated oestriol (uE3), 0.90 (0.80–1.01) for total human chorionic gonadotrophin (total hCG), 0.98 (0.88–1.08) for free β‐hCG, and 0.99 (0.89–1.10) for inhibin‐A.The median levels for AFP and uE3 were statistically significantly lower in pregnant women with IDDM. The other markers were not significantly different in women with and without IDDM. There remains a case for adjusting AFP and uE3 levels in women with IDDM in prenatal screening programmes for Down syndrome. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Prenatal diagnosis of primary anophthalmia with a 3q27 interstitial deletion involving SOX2
Authors: Guichet Agnès , Triau Stéphane , Lépinard Catherine , Esculapavit Chantal , Biquard Florence , Descamps Philippe , Encha‐Razavi Férechté , Bonneau Dominique 
Published: November 2004

AbstractWe report an interstitial deletion of chromosome 3q26‐q28 in a fetus in which anophthalmia had been detected prenatally. FISH analysis, using BAC clones encompassing the SOX2 locus, showed that SOX2 gene was involved in the chromosomal breakpoint of the deletion. This case confirms that haploinsufficiency for SOX2 plays a crucial role in human eye development and emphasizes the necessity of careful chromosomal analysis, including FISH analysis of the 3q region, in case of prenatal discovery of anophthalmia. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Von der Freiheit in der Welt der Quarks
Authors: Bartels Jochen 
Published: November 2004

AbstractDie Schwedische Akademie der Wissenschaften vergab in diesem Jahr den Physik‐Nobelpreis zu gleichen Teilen an die amerikanischen Physiker David Gross, David Politzer und Frank Wilczek. Sie würdigte damit ihre theoretischen Arbeiten zur asymptotischen Freiheit in der starken Wechselwirkung.
Die Entdeckung des “trägen” Gases
Authors: Jacobi Manfred 
Published: November 2004

AbstractIm Jahr 1904 erhielt der britische Physiker Lord Rayleigh (John William Strutt, 1842 bis 1919) den Nobelpreis für seine Untersuchungen über die Dichte von Gasen und die Entdeckung des Edelgases Argon.
Thermische Muster an Wänden
Authors: Schlichting H.‐Joachim 
Published: November 2004

AbstractDie Natur bringt manchmal erstaunliche Muster hervor, hinter denen sich interessante physikalische Vorgänge verbergen. Im vorliegenden Fall geht es um thermische Muster. Sie entstehen durch thermische Bedingungen an Begrenzungen von Wänden.
Differential expression profiling of human pancreatic adenocarcinoma and healthy pancreatic tissue
Authors: Lu ZhaoHui , Hu LiPing , Evers Stefan , Chen Jie , Shen Yan 
Published: November 2004

AbstractDue to poor prognosis and lack of effective treatment, pancreatic carcinoma (PC) is a devastating disease. With the goal of contributing to an improved detection, prevention and treatment of the disease, a comparative proteome analysis of PC and normal tissue was carried out. Paired tissue extracts from 12 patients (pancreatic adenocarcinoma and adjacent healthy tissue) were separated by two‐dimensional electrophoresis. Differential protein expression was analyzed by gel comparison with the help of image analysis software. The differentially expressed spots were identified by matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization‐time of flight mass spectrometry. Seventy proteins were more strongly expressed (mostly two‐fold or more) in cancerous tissue, while 41 were stronger in normal pancreas respectively. Those spots highly expressed in PC were confirmed in gels from independent individual samples. Among them were several cytoskeletal proteins, small GTP‐binding proteins, and members of the S100 protein family etc. Nine proteins had been reported in previous nuclear acid‐based studies. The levels of two proteins were confirmed by immunohistochemistry. One of them, fascin, was detected in 13 out of 21 carcinoma and negative in all normal pancreas samples. Moreover, fascin expression was related to the differentiation of pancreatic carcinoma.
Global proteomic approach unmasks involvement of keratins 8 and 18 in the delivery of cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR)/ΔF508‐CFTR to the plasma membrane
Authors: Davezac Noélie , Tondelier Danielle , Lipecka Joanna , Fanen Pascale , Demaugre France , Debski Janusz , Dadlez Michal , Schrattenholz André , Cahill Michael A. , Edelman Aleksander 
Published: November 2004

AbstractCystic fibrosis (CF) is a genetic disease caused by mutations in the CF gene (cftr). Physiologically, CF is characterized by an abnormal chloride secretion in epithelia due to a dysfunction of a mutated cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR). CFTR is a cAMP‐dependent chloride channel whose most frequent mutation, ΔF508, leads to an aberrantly folded protein which causes a dysfunction of the channel. However, a growing number of reports suggest that modifier genes and environmental factors are involved in the physiology of CF. To identify proteins whose expression depends on wild‐type WT‐CFTR or ΔF508‐CFTR, we chose a global proteomic approach based on the use of two‐dimensional gel electrophoresis (2‐DE) and mass spectrometry. The experiments were carried out with HeLa cells stably transfected with WT‐CFTR (pTCFWT) or ΔF508‐CFTR (pTCFΔF508). These experiments unmasked keratin 8 (K8) and 18 (K18) which were differentially expressed in pTCFWT vs. pTCFΔF508. An immunoblot of K18 confirmed the 2‐DE results. Intracellular localization experiments of WT‐CFTR, ΔF508‐CFTR, K8, and K18 suggest that the expression of these proteins are linked, and that the concentrations of K8 and K18 and/or their distribution may be involved in the traffic of WT‐CFTR/ΔF508‐CFTR. A functional assay for CFTR revealed that specifically lowering K18 expression or changing its distribution leads to the delivery of functional ΔF508‐CFTR to the plasma membrane. This work suggests a novel function of K18 in CF.
Improved mass spectrometric identification of gel‐separated hydrophobic membrane proteins after sodium dodecyl sulfate removal by ion‐pair extraction
Authors: Zischka Hans , Gloeckner Christian Johannes , Klein Christian , Willmann Stefanie , Swiatek‐de Lange Magdalena , Ueffing Marius 
Published: November 2004

AbstractSeparation and identification of hydrophobic membrane proteins is a major challenge in proteomics. Identification of such sodium dodecyl sulfate‐polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS‐PAGE)‐separated proteins by peptide mass fingerprinting (PMF) via matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization‐time of flight (MALDI‐TOF) is frequently hampered by the insufficient amount of peptides being generated and their low signal intensity. Using the seven helical transmembrane‐spanning proton pump bacteriorhodopsin as model protein, we demonstrate here that SDS removal from hydrophobic proteins by ion‐pair extraction prior to in‐gel tryptic proteolysis leads to a tenfold higher sensitivity in mass spectrometric identification via PMF, with respect to initial protein load on SDS‐PAGE. Furthermore, parallel sequencing of the generated peptides by electrospray ionization‐mass spectrometry (ESI‐MS) and tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) was possible without further sample cleanup. We also show identification of other membrane proteins by this protocol, as proof of general applicability.
Vascular proteomics: Linking proteomic and metabolomic changes
Authors: Mayr Manuel , Mayr Ursula , Chung Yuen‐Li , Yin Xiaoke , Griffiths John R. , Xu Qingbo 
Published: November 2004

AbstractCardiovascular diseases constitute the largest of death in the Western world. Various stressors, including elevated blood pressure, smoking, diabetes, and hypercholesterolemia directly or indirectly damage the vessel wall, eventually inducing arterial stiffness (arteriosclerosis) and lipid accumulation (atherosclerosis). However, the molecular mechanisms of atheroma formation are not yet fully clarified. While many investigators have used proteomic techniques to study cardiac diseases, vascular proteomics is still in its infancy. The present review highlights studies, in which proteomics has been successfully applied to study protein alterations in the vasculature. Furthermore, we will summarize our recent progress in combining proteomic and metabolomic techniques to reveal protein and metabolite alterations in the cardiovascular system: two‐dimensional (2‐D) gel electrophoresis proved to be highly complementary to nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, in that post‐translational modifications of the most abundant enzymes were displayed on 2‐D gels while NMR spectroscopy revealed changes in the corresponding metabolites. Importantly, the simultaneous assessment of protein and metabolite changes translated purely descriptive proteomic and metabolomic profiles into a functional context and provided important insights into pathophysiological mechanisms that would not have been obtained by other techniques.
Towards a comprehensive understanding of Bacillus subtilis cell physiology by physiological proteomics
Authors: Hecker Michael , Völker Uwe 
Published: November 2004

AbstractUsing Bacillus subtilis as a model system for functional genomics, this review will provide insights how proteomics can be used to bring the virtual life of genes to the real life of proteins. Physiological proteomics will generate a new and broad understanding of cellular physiology because the majority of proteins synthesized in the cell can be visualized. From a physiological point of view two major proteome fractions can be distinguished: proteomes of growing cells and proteomes of nongrowing cells. In the main analytical window almost 50% of the vegetative proteome expressed in growing cells of B. subtilis were identified. This proteomic view of growing cells can be employed for analyzing the regulation of entire metabolic pathways and thus opens the chance for a comprehensive understanding of metabolism and growth processes of bacteria. Proteomics, on the other hand, is also a useful tool for analyzing the adaptational network of nongrowing cells that consists of several partially overlapping regulation groups induced by stress/starvation stimuli. Furthermore, proteomic signatures for environmental stimuli can not only be applied to predict the physiological state of cells, but also offer various industrial applications from fermentation monitoring up to the analysis of the mode of action of drugs. Even if DNA array technologies currently provide a better overview of the gene expression profile than proteome approaches, the latter address biological problems in which they can not be replaced by mRNA profiling procedures. This proteomics of the second generation is a powerful tool for analyzing global control of protein stability, the protein interaction network, protein secretion or post‐translational modifications of proteins on the way towards the elucidation of the mystery of life.
Multifunctional coupling agents: Synthesis and model reactions
Authors: Jakisch L. , Komber H. , Böhme F. 
Published: November 2004

AbstractNew multifunctional coupling agents with one 2‐oxazoline group, one oxazinone group, and one allyl ether group were prepared. It was shown by means of model reactions that under the conditions of reactive extrusion, the 2‐oxazoline group and the oxazinone group reacted selectively with carboxylic groups and amino groups, respectively. The allyl ether group remained unaffected under the reaction conditions chosen. As a model reaction, the conversion of the coupling agents with 11‐aminoundecanoic acid resulted in the formation of an allyloxy‐functionalized poly(ester amide). The reaction could be performed stepwise, in the course of which the reaction of the amino group proceeded at 110 °C in solution, whereas the reaction of the carboxylic group was performed in the melt at 220 °C. Furthermore, the utilization of the coupling agents for the preparation of telechelic poly(propylene glycol) with one oxazoline group and one allyl ether group on each chain end was described. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 41: 655–667, 2003
Synthesis and properties of π‐conjugated dithiafulvene oligomers by addition of a monofunctionalized compound
Authors: Naka Kensuke , Gelover‐Santiago Adriana , Uemura Takashi , Chujo Yoshiki 
Published: November 2004

AbstractDithiafulvene oligomers (3) were prepared by cycloaddition polymerization of aldothioketenes with their alkynethiol tautomers derived from 1,4‐diethynylbenzene (2) with the addition of 1‐ethynyl‐4‐methylbenzene (1) as a monofunctionalized compound. Different feed ratios of 2/1were used to control the molecular weights of 3. The structures of 3 were confirmed by IR and 1H NMR spectroscopies in comparison with those of 2‐(4‐tolylidene)‐4‐tolyl‐1,3‐dithiol (4) as a model compound, which was obtained by the treatment of lithium 2‐tolylethynethiolate with water in Et2O. The number‐average degree of polymerization (DP) and the number‐average molecular weight were measured by gel permeation chromatographic and 1H NMR analysis. DP increased with an increasing feed ratio of 2/1. The ultraviolet–visible spectra of 3 in diluted acetonitrile showed that the absorption maxima of 3 increased with an increasing DP of 3. These redshifts are ascribed to an effective expansion of the π‐conjugation system in 3. The oligomers exhibited a maximum conjugation length of seven repeating units. The redox properties of 3 were examined by cyclic voltammetry. The oxidation half‐peak potentials (Ep/2) of 3 were slightly cathodically shifted with increasing DP. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 41: 708–715, 2003
Bereavement outcomes for parents who lose a child to cancer: Are place of death and sex of parent associated with differences in psychological functioning?
Authors: Goodenough Belinda , Drew Donna , Higgins Susan , Trethewie Susan 
Published: November 2004

AbstractDespite increasing cure rates, cancer is a leading cause of non‐accidental death in childhood. Models of psychosocial care in pediatric cancer may therefore need to address bereavement planning for a ‘minority group’ of parents (approximately 25%) for whom cure of their child is not possible. This study addresses a gap in knowledge concerning long‐term bereavement and psychological outcomes for parents, as a function of the sex of the parent and the place of the child's death: home versus hospital. Fifty Australian parents (25 father–mother dyads), whose child had died at least 1 year prior to study participation, independently completed measures of psychological functioning (depression, anxiety and stress), family functioning, and pathological grieving (separation distress, and traumatic distress). The results showed some support for a hypothesized interaction between place of death and sex of parent. Fathers reported significantly higher levels of depression, anxiety and stress when the child died in hospital rather than at home. By way of contrast, differences for mothers as function of place of death were not reflected in psychological outcomes but were more closely tied to symptoms of pathological grieving. The findings are discussed with respect to the needs for services for surviving adult family members, especially for fathers who may have an enhanced psychological vulnerability after the death of a child in hospital rather than at home. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Specific DNA recognition by the Antp homeodomain: MD simulations of specific and nonspecific complexes
Authors: Gutmanas Aleksandras , Billeter Martin 
Published: November 2004

AbstractFour molecular dynamics simulation trajectories of complexes between the wild‐type or a mutant Antennapedia homeodomain and 2 DNA sequences were generated in order to probe the mechanisms governing the specificity of DNA recognition. The starting point was published affinity measurements showing that a single protein mutation combined with a replacement of 2 base pairs yields a new high‐affinity complex, whereas the other combinations, with changes on only 1 macromolecule, exhibited lower affinity. The simulations of the 4 complexes yielded fluctuating networks of interaction. On average, these networks differ significantly, explaining the switch of affinity caused by the alterations in the macromolecules. The network of mostly hydrogen‐bonding interactions involving several water molecules, which was suggested both by X‐ray and NMR structures of the wild‐type homeodomain and its DNA operator sequence, could be reproduced in the trajectory. More interestingly, the high‐affinity complex with alterations in both the protein and the DNA yielded again a dynamic but very tight network of intermolecular interactions, however, attributing a significantly stronger role to direct hydrophobic interactions at the expense of water bridges. The other 2 homeodomain–DNA complexes, with only 1 molecule altered, show on average over the trajectories a clearly reduced number of protein–DNA interactions. The observations from these simulations suggest specific experiments and thus close the circle formed by biochemical, structural, and computational studies. The shift from a water‐dominated to a more “dry” interface may prove important in the design of proteins binding DNA in a specific manner. Proteins 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Dust explosion prevention and the critical importance of housekeeping
Authors: Frank Walter L. 
Published: November 2004

AbstractTwo recent, tragic events remind us that the broad topic of high‐energy release events encompasses more than vapor cloud explosions and reactive chemical incidents. Dust explosions also have potential for causing catastrophic harm to personnel and facilities. This paper describes recent, major dust explosions with a particular focus on learnings related to a commonly underconsidered aspect of facility operations—housekeeping. © 2004 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Process Saf Prog 23: 175–184, 2004
Emergency response of toxic chemicals in Taiwan: The system and case studies
Authors: Chen Jenq‐Renn , Hung C.H. , Fan K.S. , Ho T.C. , Chen F.L. , Horng J.J. , Ho S.C. , Chen W.D. 
Published: November 2004

AbstractIn this paper we describe an emergency response system in Taiwan funded by the Taiwan Environmental Protection Administration and consisted of three local response centers held by the Industrial Technology Research Institute, National Yunlin University of Science and Technology, and National Kaohsiung First University of Science and Technology in the north, central, and south part of the island, respectively. The system is set up for the effective and efficient response to incidents involving toxic chemicals, and reducing the potential impact on the environment from these incidents. Case studies are also provided for the incidents. These incidents range from a fire in a chemical plant to a spillage from a tank truck on the road. The responded incidents are analyzed and possible root causes are identified and classified. The information provided should benefit areas with growing industrial development in developing strategies to prevent or reduce the potential impacts from chemical incidents. © 2004 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Process Saf Prog 23: 206–213, 2004
Labour market concentration of Asian ethnic groups in US metropolitan areas: a disaggregated study
Authors: Wang Qingfang 
Published: November 2004

AbstractEthnic labour market concentration has been attracting increasing attention in recent years. But the Asian ethnic group has been treated as a homogeneous group in most studies on ethnic labour market segmentation. Using the 1% Public Use Microdata Samples (PUMS) from the metropolitan areas in the United States with the largest Asian populations, this study shows that Asian ethnic groups are quite diverse in their labour market concentrations. Asian Indian, Japanese and Filipino workers are more concentrated in professional and management employment sectors, which generally require higher levels of skill, English proficiency and education. By contrast, Vietnamese, Korean and Chinese groups are more concentrated in the labour‐intensive, semi‐ or low‐skilled manufacturing and personal service sectors. Their concentration patterns are closely related to their human capital characteristics. However, human capital cannot entirely explain the process of labour market choice. Analysis indicates that working with co‐ethnic populations could provide more job opportunities for disadvantaged workers, as a result of social networking. Location factors also impact niche employment choice. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Use of generalized estimating equations in a trial in influenza to explore treatment effects over time
Authors: Keene Oliver N. , Davis Randy L. , Koch Gary G. 
Published: November 2004

AbstractFor trials with repeated measurements of outcome, analyses often focus on univariate outcomes, such as analysis of summary measures or of the last on‐treatment observation. Methods which model the whole data set provide a rich source of approaches to analysis. For continuous data, mixed‐effect modelling is increasingly used. For binary and categorical data, models based on use of generalized estimating equations account for intra‐subject correlation and allow exploration of the time course of response, as well as providing a useful way to account for missing data, when such data can be maintained as missing in the analysis. The utility of this approach is illustrated by an example from a trial in influenza. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
A Method of Estimating the Process Capability Index from the First Four Moments of Non‐normal Data
Authors: Ding Jianmin 
Published: November 2004

AbstractA method is presented to estimate the process capability index (PCI) for a set of non‐normal data from its first four moments. It is assumed that these four moments, i.e. mean, standard deviation, skewness, and kurtosis, are suitable to approximately characterize the data distribution properties. The probability density function of non‐normal data is expressed in Chebyshev–Hermite polynomials up to tenth order from the first four moments. An effective range, defined as the value for which a pre‐determined percentage of data falls within the range, is solved numerically from the derived cumulative distribution function. The PCI with a specified limit is hence obtained from the effective range. Compared with some other existing methods, the present method gives a more accurate PCI estimation and shows less sensitivity to sample size. A simple algebraic equation for the effective range, derived from the least‐square fitting to the numerically solved results, is also proposed for PCI estimation. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.