bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The RHCE allele ceRT: D epitope 6 expression does not require D‐specific amino acids
Authors: Wagner Franz F. , Ladewig Birgit , Flegel Willy A. 
Published: December 2004

BACKGROUND:  False‐positive D typing in patients may lead to anti‐D immunization caused by D+ transfusions or by omission of anti‐D prophylaxis. Known causes of such errors are RhCE variants carrying RhD‐specific amino acids and cold agglutinin activity of some frequently used monoclonal anti‐D.STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS:  The molecular basis of eight samples referred because of “false‐positive” reactions with some commercial monoclonal anti‐D was investigated by PCR and nucleotide sequencing from genomic DNA. PCR with sequence‐specific priming was developed to specifically detect the underlying aberrant RHCE allele. The D epitope profile of the allele was determined by serology.RESULTS:  The aberrant reactivity of the samples was caused by the RHCE allele RHCE(R154T) that occurred in a cde haplotype. The phenotype dubbed ceRT expressed the important D epitope 6, which is the target epitope of most monoclonal anti‐D used in routine typing.DISCUSSION:  The characterization of ceRT demonstrated a previously unknown mechanism of antigen D expression that does not require any D‐specific amino acid. At least for some D epitopes, D‐like structures may be mimicked by RhCE proteins carrying amino acid substitutions not representative for RhD.
Protein composition and activation markers in plasma collected by three apheresis procedures
Authors: Burnouf Thierry , Kappelsberger Claudia , Frank Kerstin , Burkhardt Thomas 
Published: December 2004

BACKGROUND: Scientific and technical advances made in transfusion medicine sustain the need for more comprehensive understanding of the impact of collection procedures on the quality of plasma for fractionation and for transfusion. This prospective work evaluated protein composition and markers of activation in plasma donations collected with three different automatic collection procedures (performed on Haemonetics machines), including a new procedure using a high‐separation core‐molded bowl.STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: A total of 90 collection procedures have been performed from a population of 37 donors, under comprehensively standardized conditions. Plasma aliquots were taken from the plasma units within 30 minutes of the end of the collection procedures and immediately frozen at −70°C. Content in an extended range of proteins and of markers of activation of the coagulation and fibrinolytic systems has been measured using standard in vitro testing methods.RESULTS: Plasma donations had normal mean total protein, IgG, IgM, and fibrinogen content. The mean levels in coagulation FV, FVII, FVIII, and FXI and in antithrombin were above the standard international requirements. There was no sign of activation of the hemostasis system, as assessed by activated FVII, thrombin antithrombin complex, Prothrombin fragment 1+2, and D‐dimers. Activated complement component C3 and C5 were low.CONCLUSION: Data indicates the good and consistent protein composition of plasma obtained by those automatic apheresis procedures. In particular, the new high‐separation core procedure yields a high‐quality plasma meeting requirements for transfusion and fractionation.
Women Reconciling Paid and Unpaid Work in a Confucian Welfare State: The Case of South Korea
Authors: Sung Sirin 
Published: December 2004

AbstractThe participation of married women in the labour market has been increasing since industrialization in the 1960s in Korea; in 1999 it overtook that of unmarried women. This raises the issue of how women reconcile paid and unpaid work and how state policy responds to this issue. In Korea, there have been numerous policy reforms designed to support working women in combining work and family life. For example, a parental leave scheme was introduced in 1995 and maternity benefits were also introduced in 2001. However, it is doubtful whether these policies can be effective in practice in Korea, where Confucian traditions in respect of women's roles remain strong. Confucian tradition has long influenced Korean society culturally and socially. Although Korean society today is not as Confucian as in the past, some traditions still remain strong, particularly with regard to the family: for example filial piety, seniority, the married woman's responsibility for her parents‐in‐law. This paper will argue that Confucian tradition makes for difficulties in Korean women's experiences of reconciling paid and unpaid work and also affects the formation of state policy. The paper explores the impact of the Confucian welfare regimes on Korean women's experience of reconciling paid and unpaid care work, and questions the gendered characteristics of the Confucian welfare state.
Early Stopping by Using Stochastic Curtailment in a Three-Arm Sequential Trial
Authors: Leung Denis Heng-Yan , Wang You-Gan , Amar David 
Published: December 2004

Summary
Interim analysis is important in a large clinical trial for ethical and cost considerations. Sometimes, an interim analysis needs to be performed at an earlier than planned time point. In that case, methods using stochastic curtailment are useful in examining the data for early stopping while controlling the inflation of type I and type II errors. We consider a three-arm randomized study of treatments to reduce perioperative blood loss following major surgery. Owing to slow accrual, an unplanned interim analysis was required by the study team to determine whether the study should be continued. We distinguish two different cases: when all treatments are under direct comparison and when one of the treatments is a control. We used simulations to study the operating characteristics of five different stochastic curtailment methods. We also considered the influence of timing of the interim analyses on the type I error and power of the test. We found that the type I error and power between the different methods can be quite different. The analysis for the perioperative blood loss trial was carried out at approximately a quarter of the planned sample size. We found that there is little evidence that the active treatments are better than a placebo and recommended closure of the trial.
TRALI after the transfusion of cross‐match‐positive granulocytes
Authors: Sachs Ulrich J. , Bux Jürgen 
Published: December 2004

BACKGROUND: TRALI is a serious complication of transfusion. WBC antibodies have been associated with TRALI. The importance of such antibodies for the transfusion of granulocytes is unknown.CASE REPORT: A patient with hematologic malignancy and neutropenia‐associated pneumonitis received 2 units of granulocytes despite a positive serologic cross‐ match. She developed severe TRALI after the second transfusion.RESULTS: The recipient's serum was reactive with immobilized HLA class I antigens from donor cells in a glycoprotein‐specific assay. With an absorption‐elution technique, at least anti‐HLA‐A2 could be identified as one of the donor‐reactive antibodies in the recipient's serum.CONCLUSION: Granulocyte‐reactive antibodies are associated with TRALI in an alloimmunized patient receiving granulocyte transfusions. Performing a cross‐match procedure may be helpful in preventing severe pulmonary reactions. Additional data are required to determine whether cross‐matching as a regular practice in granulocyte transfusions would be beneficial for patients.
Collection of two units of leukoreduced RBCs from a single donation with a portable multiple‐component collection system
Authors: Snyder Edward L. , Elfath M. Dean , Taylor Harry , Rugg Neeta , Greenwalt Tibor J. , Baril Laurene , Whitley Pamela , Brantigan Barbara , Story Ken 
Published: December 2004

BACKGROUND: A portable automated component collection system that produces double (2) units of leukoreduced RBCs (DRBCs) from a single donation was evaluated. This study analyzed quality of the collected and final products, the efficacy of automated leukoreduction, and donor safety.STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: The system was used to collect 120 DRBCs. WBCs were removed from 90 products with machine‐controlled filtration. DRBCs were collected in ACD‐A and stored in AS‐1 for 42 days at 1 to 6°C. Pre‐ and postprocedure donor vital signs and hematologic parameters were measured. Procedure time, product characteristics, and adverse events were also recorded. In vitro studies were performed on all products on Day 0 and at end of storage. In vivo recoveries of 28 leukoreduced and 9 nonleukoreduced products were measured on Day 42.RESULTS: Day 0 mean percentage of hemolysis for leukoreduced and nonleukoreduced units was 0.05 percent. DRBCs had residual WBC counts of less than 1 × 106 cells per unit and mean RBC recovery after filtration of 91.9 ± 2.7 percent. Mean 24‐hour recovery after infusion for leukoreduced units at end of storage was 80.9 ± 6.9 percent and nonleukoreduced units was 77.6 ± 5.8 percent (p> 0.05). No clinically significant changes in donor vital signs or serious adverse events were observed.CONCLUSIONS: The quality of leukoreduced RBCs collected with this portable automated component collection system met or exceeded FDA requirements. This automated system is safe and effective for collection and processing of 2 units of RBCs suitable for transfusion.
Characteristics of mutations at the D5S818 locus studied with a tightly linked marker
Authors: Edwards Michael , Allen Robert W. 
Published: December 2004

BACKGROUND:  Mutations to STR alleles are not well understood in terms of the mechanism(s) underlying such mutations or their relative frequency among different alleles at the locus.STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS:  A cytosine/thymosine (C/T) polymorphism was discovered 13 nucleotides upstream from the 5′‐end of the tandem array of the D5S818 locus (−13SNP). The −13SNP coinci‐dentally creates a restriction site polymorphism for the restriction endonuclease SnaBI that is tightly linked to the tandem array of D5S818. Forty D5S818 addition/deletion mutations in the tandem array were characterized with RFLP analysis with SnaBI.RESULTS:  Among 40 mutations studied, 34 (∼85%) were of paternal origin, 1 (∼3%) was of maternal origin, and 5 (∼13%) had an unclear lineage of origin. In 26 cases where the magnitude of the repeat change could be determined, 23 (88%) involved changes of a single repeat unit, whereas 3 (12%) involved changes of 2 or more repeats. The number of additions to the tandem array was roughly equal to the number of deletions from the tandem array. In 19 instances it was possible to identify the parental allele that underwent the mutation. Alleles 13 and 14 were prone to mutation, whereas Allele 11 was resistant. Thus, there is an unequal sensitivity to mutation among D5S818 alleles.CONCLUSIONS:  The use of the linked −13SNP marker has revealed several features of mutations at the D5S818 locus: 1) Single repeat changes are the most commonly observed. 2) Mutations are more likely in the paternal lineage. 3) Not all alleles undergo mutation with equal frequency.
Decreased responsiveness and development of activation markers of PLTs stored in plasma
Authors: Curvers Joyce , Van Pampus Elisabeth C.M. , Feijge Marion A.H. , Rombout‐Sestrienkova Eva , Giesen Peter L.A. , Heemskerk Johan W.M. 
Published: December 2004

BACKGROUND:  Circulating PLTs have a low activation state and high responsiveness, which ensures adequate hemostatic activity at sites of vessel wall damage. PLTs collected for transfusion purposes preferably have retained these properties to restore impaired hemostasis with thrombocytopenia.STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS:  We determined activation properties and coagulant activity of PLT‐plasma preparations that were pooled or collected from single donors via apheresis.RESULTS:  In comparison to freshly isolated PLTs, both apheresis and pooled PLTs exhibited slow exposure of CD62 upon storage, followed by surface appearance of procoagulant phosphatidylserine (PS) but not activated integrin αIIbβ3. During storage, thrombin‐ and ADP‐induced Ca2+ signal generation consistently decreased in apheresis and pooled PLTs, which was accompanied by lower agonist‐induced CD62 exposure and αIIbβ3 acti‐vation. In flowing whole blood, stored apheresis PLTs showed lower collagen‐induced Ca2+ responses and strikingly diminished participation in thrombus formation. Both apheresis and pooled PLT‐plasma concentrates exhibited high tissue factor‐triggered thrombin generation, which was insensitive to PLT inhibition and attributable to PS‐exposing microparticles.CONCLUSION:  PLTs stored in plasma develop surface activation markers but, simultaneously, show markedly decreased responsiveness toward physiologic agonists. The plasma contains high coagulant activity, which is no longer PLT (activation)‐dependent.
Evaluation of HTLV‐I removal by filtration of blood cell components in a routine setting
Authors: Césaire Raymond , Kérob‐Bauchet Brigitte , Bourdonné Olivier , Maier Hélène , Ould Amar Karim , Halbout Philippe , Dehée Axelle , Désiré Nathalie , Dantin Fabienne , Béra Odile , Lézin Agnès 
Published: December 2004

BACKGROUND:  WBC depletion by filtration may prevent the transmission of HTLV‐I, which requires cell‐to‐cell contact. The removal of HTLV‐I‐infected cells in routinely filtered blood cell components was measured.STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS:  The study was conducted in Martinique where systematic screening for HTLV‐I and ‐II and universal leukoreduction are mandatory. HTLV‐I was quantified by use of real‐time PCR in 8 RBC units and 4 PLT concentrates before and after filtration. HTLV‐I proviral load in PBMNCs was determined in five of the eight HTLV‐I‐infected blood donors.RESULTS:  The amount of MNC‐associated HTLV‐I DNA in RBC units before filtration was 21 × 106± 29 × 106 copies (mean ± SD). HTLV‐I was detected in 4 of 8 RBC units after filtration, with a number of copies in the MNC fraction ranging from 20 to 140, following a 4.9 to 5.8 log reduction. Flow cytometry analysis performed in 2 of the filtered RBC units containing detectable HTLV‐I showed suboptimal and out‐of‐range leukoreduction (0.56 × 106 and 1.22 × 106 residual WBCs). HTLV was not detected in filtered RBCs from the blood donor with the highest percentage of HTLV‐I‐infected PBMCs (9%).CONCLUSION:  This study confirms that HTLV‐I‐infected cells can be detected in filtered blood cell components and shows that optimal leukoreduction is critical for HTLV‐I removal.
Anatomy of ancient passive margin slope systems: Aptian gravity‐driven deposition on the Vocontian palaeomargin, western Alps, south‐east France
Authors: Friès Gérard , Parize Olivier 
Published: December 2004

AbstractThe Aptian succession on the Vocontian palaeomargin (south‐east France) consists of marl and marly calcareous pelagic slope facies together with a range of gravity‐driven deposits (slumps, debris‐flow deposits, turbidite packages and massive sandstones). The massive sandstones were emplaced by high‐density turbidity currents and are associated with extensive clastic sills and dykes. The sedimentology is constrained by a high‐resolution bio‐ and lithostratigraphic framework and permits a detailed analysis of the slope succession including: (1) a sequence stratigraphical analysis of the slope deposits; and (2) lateral tracing of individual sedimentary packages downslope. The resulting model for the Vocontian slope represents an alternative to the ‘classic’ Exxon delta‐fed, mud‐rich model. Key elements of the Vocontian model are: (1) an emphasis on lowstand slope erosion and complex slope morphology controlled by contemporary tectonism and salt diapirism; (2) slope deposition in confined erosional and structurally controlled conduits rather than the buildout of slope fans/channel‐levee complexes; (3) a dominance of large‐volume muddy slump and transitional debris‐flow deposits, with subordinate sandy turbidites, including significant massive sandstone facies; (4) common sand injections (sills and dykes) associated with the massive sandstone facies; and (5) minimal downslope evolution of the flows, with the nature of the source sediment being the over‐riding factor determining flow behaviour and deposit character. The Vocontian system is a rare instance in which large sections of a ‘fossil’ passive margin slope are preserved in the geological record. The slope deposits differ from the classic models of turbidite systems that have mainly been built from peripheral foreland basins, and the new insight makes it possible to compare ancient and present‐day passive margin slope systems.
Famennian microbial reef facies, Napier and Oscar Ranges, Canning Basin, western Australia
Authors: Stephens Nat P. , Sumner Dawn Y. 
Published: December 2004

AbstractFollowing the Frasnian–Famennian mass extinction, which eliminated most skeletal reef‐building fauna, the early Famennian reefs of the Canning Basin were constructed primarily by reef‐framework microbial communities. In the Napier and Oscar Ranges, the Famennian reef complexes had high‐energy, reef‐flat depositional environments on a reef‐rimmed platform that transitioned into low‐energy, deep‐water reefs growing in excess of 50 m below sea level. High‐energy, reef‐flat depositional environments contain doming fenestral stromatolites that grade into porous thrombolites and are associated with coarse‐grained sandstones and grainstones. The reef‐margin subfacies contains mounds of microdigitate thrombolites, which are more delicate than the reef‐flat thrombolites and locally contain abundant red algae, Girvanella, renalcids and sediment‐filled tubes. Within the thrombolites, the red algae are in upright growth positions, suggesting that the thrombolites are largely composed of carbonate that precipitated in situ. Reefal‐slope environments are dominated by Wetheredella and Rothpletzella with locally abundant Girvanella, renalcids and Uralinella. In reefal‐slope strata, delicate fans and microdigitate stromatolites of Wetheredella and Rothpletzella are often oriented horizontal or diagonal to bedding and are interpreted as syndepositionally toppled over. Most mesoscale microbial community structures contain several species of microbial fossils, and no single microbial species appears to have controlled the morphology of the community structure. Therefore, the depositional environment must have determined the distribution and morphology of the stromatolites, thrombolites and other microbial community structures. The adaptability of microbial communities to various reef environments allowed them to fill ecological niches opportunistically after the Frasnian–Famennian mass extinction.
A simple model for the prediction of the deflation threshold shear velocity of dry loose particles
Authors: Cornelis W. M. , Gabriels D. 
Published: December 2004

AbstractA very important parameter in aeolian equations is the deflation threshold shear velocity, which quantifies the instant of particle motion. In this paper, a simple model is presented for the prediction of the threshold shear velocity of dry loose particles. It has the same functional form as the widely used models of Bagnold (1941) and Greeley & Iversen (1985), but differs in its treatment of the so‐called threshold parameter. As the new expression was based on the moment balance equation used by Greeley & Iversen, it includes a function for the aerodynamic forces, including the drag force, the lift force and the aerodynamic moment force, and a function for the interparticle forces. The effect of gravitation is incorporated in both functions. However, rather than using an implicit function for the effect of the aerodynamic forces as in the Greeley & Iversen model, a constant aerodynamic coefficient was introduced. From consideration of the van der Waals' force between two particles, it was also shown that the function for the interparticle cohesion force is inversely proportional to the particle diameter squared. The model was calibrated on data reported by Iversen & White (1982). The new expression compared, at least for terrestrial conditions, very well with the Greeley & Iversen model, although it is much simpler. It was finally validated with data from wind‐tunnel experiments on different fractions of dune sand and sandy loam soil aggregates. The soil aggregates were treated as individual particles with a density equal to their bulk density. The good agreement between observations and predictions means that, when predicting mass transport of particles above a given soil, minimally dispersed particle‐size distributions should be considered rather than the granulometric composition of the soil.
Reflux stratabound dolostone and hydrothermal volcanism‐associated dolostone: a two‐stage dolomitization model (Jurassic, Lebanon)
Authors: Nader Fadi H. , Swennen Rudy , Ellam Rob 
Published: December 2004

AbstractThe Kesrouane Formation, which is characterized by pervasive dolomitization, has a stratigraphic thickness that exceeds 1000 m. It is part of a broad carbonate platform deposited in the Levant region and represents 60% of the Lebanese Jurassic rocks. Two genetically distinct dolostones are recognized within this unit: (1) fine‐to‐medium crystalline non‐planar grey dolostone; and (2) coarse‐crystalline planar beige dolostone. The former is stratabound and of Early Jurassic age (87Sr/86Sr = 0·707455). This dolostone locally exhi‐bits pseudomorphs of evaporite nodules, pointing towards seepage‐reflux dolomitization by hypersaline‐ to marine‐related fluids. Exposures of the coarse‐crystalline dolostone are associated with regional pre‐Cretaceous faults, along which Late Jurassic volcanics also occur. Sedimentological and diagenetic considerations coupled with microthermometry support a hydrothermal origin for this dolostone, with TH values of primary inclusions between 50 and 80 °C. The related dolomitizing fluids are mesosaline (3·5–12·0 eq. wt% NaCl), and are believed to result from the mixing of evaporative brines and sea water. Dolomitization is thus believed to have occurred in two stages, whereby fluids invaded the host rocks first by seepage‐reflux, explaining the resulting Early Jurassic stratabound dolostone, and later through fracture flow along the faults associated with the Late Jurassic volcanism, explaining the coarse‐crystalline hydrothemal dolostone.
Systematics and phylogeny of Parapholidoptera (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae: Tettigoniinae)
Authors: Ç ıplak Battal 
Published: December 2004

SummaryGenus Parapholidoptera is revised and three species, P. yoruka sp.n., P. bolkarensis sp.n. and P. salmani sp.n., are described. Parapholidoptera delineata Stolyarov is placed in synonymy with P. ziganensis Karabağ. Parapholidoptera bodenheimeri Karabağ and P. distincta bodenheimeri Karabağ are placed in synonymy with P. distincta (Uvarov). Parapholidoptera flexuosa Karabağ, previously a subspecies of P. castaneoviridis (Brunner von Wattenwyl), is recognized as a separate species. A key to world species is provided. Cladistic analysis revealed the monophyly of the genus with two major clades. A short account of distribution is presented.