bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
B‐cell commitment, development and selection
Authors: Hardy Richard R. , Li Yue‐Sheng , Allman David , Asano Masanao , Gui Ming , Hayakawa Kyoko 
Published: December 2003

Summary: Here we review three areas in B‐cell development in the mouse, with a focus on relevance to B‐1/CD5+ B cells. Multiparameter flow cytometry has allowed the dissection of intermediate stages of developing B cells, both in fetal liver and bone marrow. In the first area, we present recent work that has delineated a fraction of pre‐pro‐B cells, committed to the B lineage, but lacking any immunoglobulin rearrangements. Next, the role of the pre‐B‐cell receptor in B‐cell repertoire selection has become clear in the past few years, but we present work suggesting that the action of this process during fetal life is different, resulting in selection of a very distinct repertoire compared with adult. Finally, we describe a new VH3609 antithymocyte Ig transgenic mouse model system that has provided the first definitive evidence for the role of self‐antigen in development and maintenance of natural autoreactive B cells.
Nitrogen Control of Atrazine Utilization in
Pseudomonas
sp. StrainADP
Authors: García-González Vicente , Govantes Fernando , Shaw Liz J. , Burns Richard G. , Santero Eduardo 
Published: December 2003

ABSTRACT

Pseudomonas
sp. strain ADP uses the herbicide atrazine as the sole nitrogen source.
We have devised a simple atrazine degradation assay to determine the
effect of other nitrogen sources on the atrazine degradation pathway.
The atrazine degradation rate was greatly decreased in cells grown on
nitrogen sources that support rapid growth of
Pseudomonas
sp.
strain ADP compared to cells cultivated on growth-limiting nitrogen
sources. The presence of atrazine in addition to the nitrogen sources
did not stimulate degradation. High degradation rates obtained in the
presence of ammonium plus the glutamine synthetase inhibitor MSX and
also with an Nas
−
mutant derivative grown on nitrate
suggest that nitrogen regulation operates by sensing intracellular
levels of some key nitrogen-containing metabolite. Nitrate amendment in
soil microcosms resulted in decreased atrazine mineralization by the
wild-type strain but not by the Nas
−
mutant. This
suggests that, although nitrogen repression of the atrazine catabolic
pathway may have a strong impact on atrazine biodegradation in
nitrogen-fertilized soils, the use of selected mutant variants may
contribute to overcoming this
limitation.
Useof Borate To Control the 5′-Position-Selective MicrobialGlucosylation ofPyridoxine
Authors: Wada Koichi , Asano Yasuhisa 
Published: December 2003

ABSTRACT

Nearly
100% 5′-position selectivity of transglucosylation from
maltodextrin to pyridoxine (PN) by cells of
Verticillium
dahliae
TPU 4900 was observed when the reaction was carried out
with borate. The same effect of borate was observed not only during
synthesis of pyridoxine 5′-α-
d
-glucoside by
partially purified enzyme of this strain but also during synthesis of
this compound by other microorganisms and with other enzymes
(α-glucosidase and cyclomaltodextrin glucanotransferase). The
effect was thought to be caused by the formation of a borate complex
with 3- and 4′-position hydroxyl groups of PN. A decrease in
the formation of pyridoxine 5′-α-
d
-glucoside
was observed in the reaction with borate, but this decrease was
overcome by optimizing the pH and increasing the amount of cells in the
reaction
mixture.
Diversity of Bacteria Associated with Natural AphidPopulations
Authors: Haynes S. , Darby A. C. , Daniell T. J. , Webster G. , van Veen F. J. F. , Godfray H.C.J. , Prosser J. I. , Douglas A. E. 
Published: December 2003

ABSTRACTThe bacterial communities of aphids were investigated by terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis analysis of 16S rRNA gene fragments generated by PCR with general eubacterial primers. By both methods, theγ -proteobacteriumBuchnerawas detected in laboratory cultures of six parthenogenetic lines of the pea aphidAcyrthosiphon pisumand one line of the black bean aphidAphis fabae, and one or more of four previously described bacterial taxa were also detected in all aphid lines except one ofA. pisum. These latter bacteria, collectively known as secondary symbionts or accessory bacteria, comprised three taxa of γ-proteobacteria (R-type [PASS], T-type [PABS], and U-type [PAUS]) and a rickettsia (S-type [PAR]). Complementary analysis of aphids from natural populations of four aphid species (A. pisum[n= 74],Amphorophora rubi[n= 109],Aphis sarothamni[n= 42], andMicrolophium carnosum[n= 101]) from a single geographical location revealedBuchneraand up to three taxa of accessory bacteria, but no other bacterial taxa, in each aphid. The prevalence of accessory bacterial taxa varied significantly among aphid species but not with the sampling month (between June and August 2000). These results indicate that the accessory bacterial taxa are distributed across multiple aphid species, although with variable prevalence, and that laboratory culture does not generally result in a shift in the bacterial community in aphids. Both the transmission patterns of the accessory bacteria between individual aphids and their impact on aphid fitness are suggested to influence the prevalence of accessory bacterial taxa in natural aphid populations.
Specific and Sensitive Detection of
Ralstoniasolanacearum
in Soil on the Basis of PCR Amplification of
fliC
Fragments
Authors: Schönfeld J. , Heuer H. , van Elsas J. D. , Smalla K. 
Published: December 2003

ABSTRACT

Ralstonia
solanacearum
is the causative agent of bacterial wilt in many
important crops. A specific and sensitive PCR detection method that
uses primers targeting the gene coding for the flagella subunit,
fliC
, was established. Based on the first
fliC
gene
sequence of
R. solanacearum
strain K60 available at GenBank,
the Ral_
fliC
PCR primer system was designed; this
system yielded a single 724-bp product with the DNAs of all of the
R. solanacearum
strains tested. However,
R. pickettii
and four environmental
Ralstonia
isolates also yielded
amplicons. The Ral_
fliC
PCR products obtained with 12
strains (
R. solanacearum
,
R. pickettii
, and
environmental isolates) were sequenced. By sequence alignment,
Rsol_
fliC
primers specific for
R.
solanacearum
were designed. With this primer system, a specific
400-bp PCR product was obtained from all 82 strains of
R.
solanacearum
tested. Six strains of
R. pickettii
and
several closely related environmental isolates yielded no PCR product;
however, a product was obtained with one
Pseudomonas syzygii
strain. A GC-clamped 400-bp
fliC
product could be
separated in denaturing gradient gels and allowed us to distinguish
P. syzygii
from
R. solanacearum
. The
Rsol_
fliC
PCR system was applied to detect
R.
solanacearum
in soil. PCR amplification, followed by Southern blot
hybridization, allowed us to detect about one target DNA molecule per
PCR, which is equivalent to 10
3
CFU g of bulk
soil
−1
. The system was applied to survey soils from
different geographic origins for the presence of
R.
solanacearum
.
Variation in Biofilm Formation among Strains of
Listeriamonocytogenes
Authors: Borucki Monica K. , Peppin Jason D. , White David , Loge Frank , Call Douglas R. 
Published: December 2003

ABSTRACT

Contamination
of food by
Listeria monocytogenes
is thought to occur most
frequently in food-processing environments where cells persist due to
their ability to attach to stainless steel and other surfaces. Once
attached these cells may produce multicellular biofilms that are
resistant to disinfection and from which cells can become detached and
contaminate food products. Because there is a correlation between
virulence and serotype (and thus phylogenetic division) of
L.
monocytogenes
, it is important to determine if there is a link
between biofilm formation and disease incidence for
L.
monocytogenes
. Eighty
L. monocytogenes
isolates were
screened for biofilm formation to determine if there is a robust
relationship between biofilm formation, phylogenic division, and
persistence in the environment. Statistically significant differences
were detected between phylogenetic divisions. Increased biofilm
formation was observed in Division II strains (serotypes 1/2a and
1/2c), which are not normally associated with food-borne outbreaks.
Differences in biofilm formation were also detected between persistent
and nonpersistent strains isolated from bulk milk samples, with
persistent strains showing increased biofilm formation relative to
nonpersistent strains. There were no significant differences detected
among serotypes. Exopolysaccharide production correlated with cell
adherence for high-biofilm-producing strains. Scanning electron
microscopy showed that a high-biofilm-forming strain produced a dense,
three-dimensional structure, whereas a low-biofilm-forming strain
produced a thin, patchy biofilm. These data are consistent with data on
persistent strains forming biofilms but do not support a consistent
relationship between enhanced biofilm formation and disease
incidence.
Comparative Sequence Analysis of the
tuf
and
recA
Genes and Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism of the Internal Transcribed Spacer Region Sequences Supply Additional Tools for Discriminating
Bifidobacterium lactis
from
Bifidobacterium animalis
Authors: Ventura Marco , Zink Ralf 
Published: December 2003

ABSTRACT

The
relationship between
Bifidobacterium lactis
and
Bifidobacterium animalis
was examined by comparative analysis
of
tuf
and
recA
gene sequences and by restriction
fragment length polymorphism analysis of their internal 16S-23S
transcribed spacer region sequences. The bifidobacterial strains
investigated could be divided into two distinct groups within a single
species based on the
tuf
,
recA
, and 16S-23S spacer
region sequence analysis. Therefore, all strains of
B. lactis
and
B. animalis
could be unified as the species
B.
animalis
and divided into two subspecies,
Bifidobacterium
animalis
subsp.
lactis
and
Bifidobacterium
animalis
subsp.
animalis
.
Effect of smokeless tobacco (snus) on smoking and public health in Sweden
Authors: Foulds J , Ramstrom L , Burke M , Fagerström K 
Published: December 2003

Objective:To review the evidence on the effects of moist smokeless tobacco (snus) on smoking and ill health in Sweden.Method:Narrative review of published papers and other data sources (for example, conference abstracts and internet based information) on snus use, use of other tobacco products, and changes in health status in Sweden.Results:Snus is manufactured and stored in a manner that causes it to deliver lower concentrations of some harmful chemicals than other tobacco products, although it can deliver high doses of nicotine. It is dependence forming, but does not appear to cause cancer or respiratory diseases. It may cause a slight increase in cardiovascular risks and is likely to be harmful to the unborn fetus, although these risks are lower than those caused by smoking. There has been a larger drop in male daily smoking (from 40% in 1976 to 15% in 2002) than female daily smoking (34% in 1976 to 20% in 2002) in Sweden, with a substantial proportion (around 30%) of male ex-smokers using snus when quitting smoking. Over the same time period, rates of lung cancer and myocardial infarction have dropped significantly faster among Swedish men than women and remain at low levels as compared with other developed countries with a long history of tobacco use.Conclusions:Snus availability in Sweden appears to have contributed to the unusually low rates of smoking among Swedish men by helping them transfer to a notably less harmful form of nicotine dependence.
No association of smoke-free ordinances with profits from bingo and charitable games in Massachusetts
Authors: Glantz S A , Wilson-Loots R 
Published: December 2003

Background:Because it is widely played, claims that smoking restrictions will adversely affect bingo games is used as an argument against these policies. We used publicly available data from Massachusetts to assess the impact of 100% smoke-free ordinances on profits from bingo and other gambling sponsored by charitable organisations between 1985 and 2001.Methods:We conducted two analyses: (1) a general linear model implementation of a time series analysis with net profits (adjusted to 2001 dollars) as the dependent variable, and community (as a fixed effect), year, lagged net profits, and the length of time the ordinance had been in force as the independent variables; (2) multiple linear regression of total state profits against time, lagged profits, and the percentage of the entire state population in communities that allow charitable gaming but prohibit smoking.Results:The general linear model analysis of data from individual communities showed that, while adjusted profits fell over time, this effect was not related to the presence of an ordinance. The analysis in terms of the fraction of the population living in communities with ordinances yielded the same result.Conclusion:Policymakers can implement smoke-free policies without concern that these policies will affect charitable gaming.
Tobacco use in India: prevalence and predictors of smoking and chewing in a national cross sectional household survey
Authors: Rani M , Bonu S , Jha P , Nguyen S N , Jamjoum L 
Published: December 2003

Objective:To estimate the prevalence and the socioeconomic and demographic correlates of tobacco consumption in India.Design:Cross sectional, nationally representative population based household survey.Subjects:315 598 individuals 15 years or older from 91 196 households were sampled in National Family Health Survey-2 (1998–99). Data on tobacco consumption were elicited from household informants.Measures and methods:Prevalence of current smoking and current chewing of tobacco were used as outcome measures. Simple and two way cross tabulations and multivariate logistic regression analysis were the main analytical methods.Results:Thirty per cent of the population 15 years or older—47% men and 14% of women—either smoked or chewed tobacco, which translates to almost 195 million people—154 million men and 41million women in India. However, the prevalence may be underestimated by almost 11% and 1.5% for chewing tobacco among men and women, respectively, and by 5% and 0.5% for smoking among men and women, respectively, because of use of household informants. Tobacco consumption was significantly higher in poor, less educated, scheduled castes and scheduled tribe populations. The prevalence of tobacco consumption increased up to the age of 50 years and then levelled or declined. The prevalence of smoking and chewing also varied widely between different states and had a strong association with individual’s sociocultural characteristics.Conclusion:The findings of the study highlight that an agenda to improve health outcomes among the poor in India must include effective interventions to control tobacco use. Failure to do so would most likely result in doubling the burden of diseases—both communicable and non-communicable—among India’s teeming poor. There is a need for periodical surveys using more consistent definitions of tobacco use and eliciting information on different types of tobacco consumed. The study also suggests a need to adjust the prevalence estimates based on household informants
SURFACE STRUCTURES AND SURFACE CONDUCTANCE DURING METAL ADSORPTION ON SEMICONDUCTORS
Authors: INO S. 
Published: December 2003

Epitaxial growth modes for "two-step deposition" processes of metals on a Si(111) surface were investigated. Depth distributions of composition during the growth were analyzed by using RHEED-TRAXS (total reflection angle X-ray spectroscopy). We first made [Formula: see text]-(Ag, Au, Ga), [Formula: see text]-Sn and (4×1)-In structures, and then second metals (Ag, Au, Sn, Ga and In) were deposited on these surfaces at room temperature. Growth processes observed are classified into five growth modes: ordinary growth (O), alloying growth (A), substitution atom growth (S), particle formation growth mode (P) and floating atom growth (F). During the growth processes, we measured also surface conductivities which showed interesting behaviors. These results can be partly understood considering the growth modes, atomic arrangement, surface composition, Fermi level pinning and band bending, etc.
The Immunity of Heads of States in US Courts after the Decision of the International Court of Justice
Authors: de Smet Simon 
Published: December 2003

AbstractThis article investigates the law of Head of State immunity in the United States in light of the recent decision by the International Court of Justice in the Arrest Warrant Case (DRC v. Belgium). It does so by analyzing the U.S. law and comparing it with the customary international law on Head of State immunity as laid out by the world court. The article demonstrates that there are two competing strands in the recent jurisprudence of U.S. courts, neither of which is in conformity with international law. The reasons for this discrepancy are examined and explained in light of the underlying debate about the role of customary international law in the U.S. constitutional system. In conclusion, the author suggests that the best solution to the current dilemma is for the U.S. courts to apply the rules on Head of State immunity as explained by the world court and avoid as much as possible interference by the executive.
The Revision of the Rome Convention of 1980 on the Law Applicable to Contractual Obligations–A Crucial Role within the European Contract Law Project?
Authors: López-Rodríguez Ana 
Published: December 2003

AbstractThis article deals with some of the issues addressed in the Action Plan on a more coherent European contract law, COM (2003) 68 final, in connection with the Green Paper of the European Commission of 14 January 2003, COM (2003) 654 final, on the conversion of the Rome Convention of 1980 on the law applicable to contractual obligations into a Community instrument and its modernization. It argues ways in which both initiatives may complement each other towards a smoother functioning of the internal market.
The Contest for Labels in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Land Issue
Authors: Chigara Ben 
Published: December 2003

AbstractThis article applies victimology and human rights theories to examine the moral and legal basis of the contest for 'labels' that accompanies land disputes. It seeks to discover and evaluate the significance of the dynamics of this contest and their probable impact on the resolution of land disputes. More importantly, it seeks to determine the value of this contest to any strategy that consciously may be preferred to resolve land disputes. It argues that conceptions of victimology that do not incorporate in their analyses the mischief sought to be cured in land disputes are not particularly helpful in the effort to discover efficient models for the resolution of land disputes. It dispels the view that monopolisation of disputes that are inherently human rights in their nature is imperative for resolution of apparently 'local problems' and recommends protection of the inherent dignity of all stakeholders in land disputes as the primary basis for resolution of land disputes.
A Permanent Court of International Justice
Authors: Spiermann Ole 
Published: December 2003

AbstractThe Permanent Court of International Justice was the first significant court of justice at the international level. Its active life spanned over two decades and yielded an international judiciary while exploring the merits of international adjudication and international law when put into practice. It was partly due to the legacy of the Permanent Court that the second half of the twentieth century witnessed several other successful projects of international justice. At the same time, the decisions of the Permanent Court indicated some of the pertinent problems of international adjudication, notably the omnipresent risk of judges being influenced by national tendencies and traditions with parochial views of international law in result.
Direct Thrombin Inhibitors for Anticoagulation
Authors: Nutescu Edith A , Wittkowsky Ann K 
Published: December 2003

OBJECTIVE: To review the progress in developing direct thrombin inhibitors (DTIs) for anticoagulation within the context of existing anticoagulation therapies. DATA SOURCES: Searches of MEDLINE (1993–June 2003) were conducted. STUDY SELECTION AND DATA EXTRACTION: We examined English-language articles, human studies, and relevant animal studies, and obtained additional citations from the references of these articles. DATA SYNTHESIS: Because of its pivotal role in hemostasis, thrombin is a key therapeutic target in the treatment and prevention of thromboembolic disorders. Conventional anticoagulant therapies, such as warfarin, unfractionated heparin, and low-molecular-weight heparin, exert their pharmacologic action by indirect thrombin inhibition. Although these agents are effective, each has limitations, prompting a search for more effective, specific, better-tolerated, and convenient anticoagulants. The efficacy and safety of factor Xa inhibitors are being investigated. Furthermore, the development of DTIs such as recombinant hirudin (lepirudin), bivalirudin, and argatroban continues. Challenges in the development of DTIs include establishing a binding affinity for thrombin that is not associated with excessive bleeding, attaining high thrombin specificity, achieving inhibition of both unbound and clot-bound thrombin, and producing an effective, fixed-dose oral anticoagulant to improve the practicality of anticoagulation therapy. Ximelagatran, an oral DTI designed to meet these standards, is currently in Phase III clinical trials. CONCLUSIONS: Significant progress has been made in developing DTIs. The recent emergence of orally administered DTIs may simplify the prevention and treatment of thrombosis.