bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Quality development in perinatal care — the OBSQID project
Authors: Johansen K.S , Hod M 
Published: April 2003

AbstractThis special communication describes the objectives and strategies of the OBStetrical Quality Indicators and Data collection (OBSQID) project, a pan‐European network of researchers, healthcare providers, and professional institutions and associations using agreed key quality indicators and served by a common database. OBSQID is based on the general concept of continuous assessment, management and development of quality of care and is geared to perinatal medicine. It allows contributors to measure, on an on‐going basis, the outcomes of care they provide against those of other facilities within their own region or country as well as in Europe. It identifies ‘best practices’ and allows for the exchange and transfer of knowledge and expertise through ‘twinning’ or collaborative partnerships [1]. It also assists in setting general quality standards as well as specific guidelines aimed at ensuring all patients high quality, cost‐effective care.
STOP SQUARK SEARCH AT TEVATRON IN THE LIGHT SLEPTON SCENARIO
Authors: DATTA ASESHKRISHNA , GUCHAIT MONORANJAN , JEONG KYOUNG KEUN 
Published: April 2003

In minimal-supergravity-based supersymmetry models the charged sleptons as well as the sneutrinos may be lighter than the squarks. In such a light slepton scenario search for the lighter stop squark has been investigated in the dilepton + missing pT[Formula: see text](≥ 1) channel at Tevatron. In this scenario semileptonic decay of the lighter stop squark has been considered via off-shell and on-shell charginos. In the latter case the chargino undergoes pure leptonic two-body decay. We observe that for some favorable region of the MSSM parameter space one can probe the lighter stop squark mass up to 140 GeV with few events in the present data set for which the luminosity is 110 pb -1. At the MI upgrade one is likely to end up with more events.
THE STRING TENSION IN TWO-DIMENSIONAL GAUGE THEORIES
Authors: ARMONI A. , SONNENSCHEIN J. , FRISHMAN Y. 
Published: April 2003

We review and elaborate on properties of the string tension in two-dimensional gauge theories. The first model we consider is massive QED in the m≪e limit. We evaluate the leading string tension both in the fermionic and bosonized descriptions. We discuss the next-to-leading corrections in m/e. The next-to-leading terms in the long distance behavior of the quark–antiquark potential, are evaluated in a certain region of external versus dynamical charges. The finite temperature behavior is also determined. In QCD 2 we review the results for the string tension of quarks in cases with dynamical quarks in the fundamental, adjoint, symmetric and antisymmetric representations. The screening nature of SYM 2 is re-derived.
Endometriosis in the presacral nerve
Authors: Abrão M.S , Podgaec S , Carvalho F.M , Pinotti J.A 
Published: April 2003

AbstractObjective: The authors report a case of extremely aggressive endometriosis involving a 32‐year‐old woman. Methods: Different types of medication were used and various surgical procedures applied in order to reduce the clinical signs and symptoms. Among the surgical procedures employed was presacral neurectomy when endometriosis was identified in the presacral nerve. Results: Receptor determination in the surgical piece was negative. Conclusions: The etiopathogenic and therapeutic aspects of this process are discussed.
Impaired antioxidant activity in women with pre‐eclampsia
Authors: Sağol S , Özkinay E , Özşener S 
Published: April 2003

AbstractObjective: To investigate antioxidant activity of sera and the plasma blood levels of two potent antioxidant in women with pre‐eclampsia and normotensive pregnancies. Study design: The antioxidant activity of sera and the blood levels of ascorbic acid and α‐tocopherol were assayed in women with normal pregnancies (n=33), mild pre‐eclampsia (n=8), and severe pre‐eclampsia (n=16) between 20 and 40 weeks' gestation. Ascorbic acid and α‐tocopherol concentrations were analyzed by high‐performance liquid chromatography. Antioxidant activity of sera was measured as the percent inhibition of spontaneous autoxidation of a standard brain homogenate. Results: Plasma levels of ascorbic acid in women with mild and severe pre‐eclampsia were significantly lower than normal pregnancies (P<0.05). Sera α‐tocopherol levels were significantly decreased only in severe pre‐eclampsia (P<0.05). Sera antioxidant activity were significantly decreased in mild (73%) and severe (51%) pre‐eclampsia compared with normal (86%) pregnancies (P=0.02, P=0.000, respectively). Conclusions: In women with pre‐eclampsia, sera antioxidant activity and antioxidant level of plasma are decreased when compared with normotensive pregnancies. Impaired antioxidant activity and the reduction of antioxidant levels which increase the level of lipid peroxidation products may cause peroxidative damage of vascular endothelium and result in clinical symptoms of pre‐eclampsia.
Recurrence of gynecologic malignancy at the vaginal vault after hysterectomy
Authors: Heller D.S , Kambham N , Smith D , Cracchiolo B 
Published: April 2003

AbstractObjective: Vaginal vault recurrences of genital tract malignancy are not uncommon, and may be the first sign of recurrent disease. This paper reviews the experience at Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center. Methods: The tumor lists from 1993 to 1996 of the Division of Ob/Gyn Pathology at Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center were reviewed, and correlated with retrospective chart review. Results: Of 36 cases, 13 were from uterine primaries, seven were cervical in origin, eight were ovarian primaries, and in eight cases, the exact primary was not known at the time of biopsy. For the cases where the primary diagnosis and disease free interval were known, the time interval from hysterectomy to vault recurrence ranged from 1.5 months to 84 months, with a mean of 25.6 months. Conclusion: Vaginal vault recurrences are often the site of recurrent female genital tract malignancies. Patients treated for gynecological cancer must have regular pelvic examinations including cytologic examination as part of their oncologic surveillance.
Fossil oribatid mites (Acari, Oribatida) from the Florisbad Quaternary deposits, South Africa
Authors: Coetzee Louise , Brink James S 
Published: April 2003

AbstractIn a pioneer application of acarology to Quaternary fossil-bearing sediments in southern Africa, the oribatid composition in the Florisbad Quaternary sediments was determined and compared to the currently known distribution of those species. Nine species of oribatid mites were recorded in the Holocene aeolian deposits of the third test pit, three species from the Middle Stone Age (MSA) horizon sediments of the third test pit, and thirteen species from the Holocene spring sediments. The Florisbad results indicate a better agreement between the oribatid fauna of the last interglacial MSA horizon of the third test pit and the organic-rich mid-Holocene deposits near the spring than between either of these and early- and late-Holocene aeolian sediments of the third test pit, suggesting some similarity in microsedimentary environments. The majority of the species recorded in the sediments are parthenogenetic and can be regarded as pioneer species.
THA loading arising from increased femoral anteversion and offset may lead to critical cement stresses
Authors: Kleemann Ralf U. , Heller Markus O. , Stoeckle Ulrich , Taylor William R. , Duda Georg N. 
Published: April 2003

AbstractAseptic loosening of artificial hip joints is believed to be influenced by the design and orientation of the implant. It is hypothesised that variations in implant anteversion and offset lead to changes in the loading of the proximal femur, causing critical conditions to both the bone and cement. The goal of this study was therefore to analyse the role of these parameters on loading, bone strains and cement stresses in total hip arthroplasty (THA). A validated musculo‐skeletal model was used for the analysis of muscle and joint contact forces during walking and stair climbing. Two different anteversion angles (4° vs. 24°) and prostheses offsets (standard vs. long) were analysed. The loads for each case were applied to a cemented THA finite element model. Generally, stair climbing caused higher bone strains and cement stresses (max. +25%) than walking. Variations in anteversion and offset caused changes in the loading environment, bone strain distribution and cement stresses. Compared to the standard THA configuration, cement stresses were raised by increasing anteversion (max. +52%), offset (max. +5%) and their combination (max. +67%). Femoral anteversion, offset and their combination may therefore lead to an increased risk of implant loosening. Analyses of implant survival should consider this as a limiting factor in THA longevity. In clinical practice, implant orientation, especially in regard to pre‐ and post‐operative anteversion, should be considered to be more critical. © 2003 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
Time, stress, and location dependent chondrocyte death and collagen damage in cyclically loaded articular cartilage
Authors: Chen Chih‐Tung , Bhargava Madhu , Lin Peggy M. , Torzilli Peter A. 
Published: April 2003

AbstractWe investigated the effect of light (0.1 MPa), moderate (1 MPa) or heavy (5 MPa) cyclical stresses applied continuously or intermittently for 0 to 72 h on cell death and collagen damage in adult bovine cartilage explants. No increase in cell death was observed in the cartilage loaded with a continuous cyclic stress at 0.1 MPa for up to 72 h. Cell death occurred in the uppermost superficial tangential zone (STZ) of explants after loading for 1 h at 1 MPa, and reached a maximum depth of 61 ± 23 μm by 6 h (at the rate of 9 ± 6 μm/h). At 5 MPa, cell death occurred in the STZ after as little as 1 min (30 cycles) of loading, and reached a maximum depth of 70 ± 2 μm by 60 min (47 ± 8 μm/h). When an intermittent (with 2 s on, 2 s off) stress of 5 MPa was applied, cell death appeared in the STZ after 2 min (30 cycles) and increased to a depth of 63 ± 2 μm at 60 min (45 ± 11 μm/h). No significant differences were observed between the continuous and intermittent loading conditions. Both collagenase‐cleaved and denatured collagen fibers were found in the STZ of explants loaded at 1 and 5 MPa. We concluded that load‐induced cell death depends on load duration and magnitude, and that the chondrocytes in the STZ are more vulnerable to load‐induced injury than those in the middle and deep zones. © 2003 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
Platelets are mitogenic for periosteum‐derived cells
Authors: Gruber Reinhard , Karreth Florian , Frommlet Florian , Fischer Michael B. , Watzek Georg 
Published: April 2003

AbstractThe early stages of bone regeneration are associated with a high mitogenic activity of periosteal cells. Here we addressed the question of whether platelets that accumulate within the developing haematoma can account for this tissue response. Addition of platelets, platelet‐released supernatants, platelet membranes, and microparticles to bovine periosteum‐derived cells resulted in an increase in 3H‐thymidine incorporation; lipid extracts had no effect. Platelet‐released supernatants retained their activity after incubation at 56°C, but not at 100°C. Gel chromatographic analysis revealed the highest mitogenic activity at approximately 35 kD. Of the factors released from activated platelets, basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and platelet‐derived growth factor (PDGF) increased 3H‐thymidine incorporation. The mitogenic activity of platelet‐released supernatants was decreased by anti‐PDGF, and anti‐bFGF antibodies. Platelet‐released supernatants increased the number of proliferating periosteum‐derived cells as determined by the expression pattern of Ki67. Platelet‐released supernatants also resulted in a stimulation of cell proliferation in periosteal explants. These results suggest that platelets have the potential to stimulate the mitogenic response of the periosteum during bone repair. © 2003 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
Collagen‐induced resistance to glucocorticoid anti‐mitogenic actions: a potential explanation of smooth muscle hyperplasia in the asthmatic remodelled airway
Authors: Bonacci John V , Harris Trudi , Wilson John W , Stewart Alastair G 
Published: April 2003

Glucocorticoids (GCS) inhibit mitogenesis of airway smooth muscle (ASM) cells grown on plastic. We have now evaluated the effects of GCS on proliferation of ASM grown on extracellular matrix proteins (ECM) abundant in noninflamed airways (laminin) and in fibrotic asthmatic airways (collagen type I). Dexamethasone inhibited basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF)‐induced proliferation in cells maintained on laminin, but not collagen. Cells grown on collagen were resistant to the anti‐mitogenic actions of fluticasone propionate. In addition, dexamethasone did not inhibit thrombin‐induced proliferation. Thus, resistance induced by collagen is not dependent on the mitogen and appears to be a class effect on GCS. The inhibition of bFGF‐induced granulocyte–macrophage colony‐stimulating factor production was unaffected by the ECM type on which cells were grown. The impaired anti‐mitogenic activity of GCS in cells maintained on collagen may be due to a lack of efficacy against the collagen‐amplified mitogenesis, rather than any defect in responsiveness that is specific to glucocorticoid receptor mechanisms.British Journal of Pharmacology (2003) 138, 1203–1206. doi:10.1038/sj.bjp.0705135
Brain CYP2E1 is induced by nicotine and ethanol in rat and is higher in smokers and alcoholics
Authors: Howard Lisa A , Miksys Sharon , Hoffmann Ewa , Mash Deborah , Tyndale Rachel F 
Published: April 2003

Ethanol and nicotine are commonly coabused drugs. Cytochrome P450 2E1 (CYP2E1) metabolizes ethanol and bioactivates tobacco‐derived procarcinogens. Ethanol and nicotine can induce hepatic CYP2E1 and we hypothesized that both centrally active drugs could also induce CYP2E1 within the brain.
Male rats were treated with saline, ethanol (3.0 g kg−1 by gavage) or nicotine (1.0 mg kg−1 s.c.) for 7 days. Ethanol treatment significantly increased CYP2E1 in olfactory bulbs (1.7‐fold), frontal cortex (2.0‐fold), hippocampus (1.9‐fold) and cerebellum (1.8‐fold), while nicotine induced CYP2E1 in olfactory bulbs (2.3‐fold), frontal cortex (3.0‐fold), olfactory tubercle (3.1‐fold), cerebellum (2.5‐fold) and brainstem (2.0‐fold). Immunocytochemical analysis revealed that the induction was cell‐type specific.
Consistent with the increased CYP2E1 found in rat brain following drug treatments, brains from alcoholics and alcoholic smokers showed greater staining of granular cells of the dentate gyrus and the pyramidal cells of CA2 and CA3 hippocampal regions as well as of cerebellar Purkinje cells compared to nonalcoholic nonsmokers. Moreover, greater CYP2E1 immunoreactivity was observed in the frontal cortices in the alcoholic smokers in comparison to nonalcoholic nonsmokers and alcoholic nonsmokers.
To investigate if nicotine could contribute to the increased CYP2E1 observed in alcoholic smokers, we treated human neuroblastoma IMR‐32 cells in culture and found significantly higher CYP2E1 immunostaining in nicotine‐treated cells (0.1–10 nM).
CYP2E1 induction in the brain, by ethanol or nicotine, may influence the central effects of ethanol and the development of nervous tissue pathologies observed in alcoholics and smokers.

British Journal of Pharmacology (2003) 138, 1376–1386. doi:10.1038/sj.bjp.0705146
A2A and A3 receptors mediate the adenosine‐induced relaxation in spontaneously active possum duodenum in vitro
Authors: Woods C M , Toouli J , Saccone G T P 
Published: April 2003

The aim of this study was to define the P1 purinergic receptors that regulate spontaneous or adenosine‐induced duodenal motor activity.
Spontaneous contractile activity was recorded isometrically from possum longitudinal duodenal muscle strips. Adenosine (0.5 μM–1 mM) was administered noncumulatively and repeated after pretreatment with a P1 antagonist or tetrodotoxin (TTX, 1 μM), (n=4–7). Antagonists used were: A1, 8‐cyclopentyl‐1,3‐dipropylxanthine (DPCPX, 10 nM); A2A, 8‐(3‐chlorostyryl)caffeine (CSC, 10 μM); A2B, 3‐isobutyl‐8‐pyrrolidinoxanthine (IPDX, 10 μM); A3, 9‐chloro‐2‐(2‐furanyl)‐5‐[(phenylacetyl) amino][1,2,4]‐triazolo(1,5‐c)quinazoline (MRS1220, 10 μM). Changes in activity are expressed as percentage of baseline. Statistical analysis utilised nonparametric tests.
Adenosine (n=34) induced a long‐lasting, concentration‐dependent decrease in activity by 55.6±3.2% area under curve (AUC), 47.3±4.0% contraction amplitude, 31.6±3.6% basal tension and 10.4±1.7% contraction frequency (all P<0.001). The adenosine‐induced decrease in contraction amplitude was blocked by CSC (P<0.01) or inhibited by MRS1220 (P<0.03) pretreatment, but not modified by TTX, DPCPX or IPDX pretreatment.
Adenosine antagonists modified spontaneous contractile activity. Pretreatment with DPCPX or CSC increased basal tension, whereas IPDX or MRS1220 pretreatment decreased contractile activity.
In conclusion, exogenous adenosine reduced duodenal longitudinal motor activity via A2A and A3 receptors. Our findings suggest that endogenous purines may modulate spontaneous duodenal motor activity.

British Journal of Pharmacology (2003) 138, 1333–1339. doi:10.1038/sj.bjp.0705165
MULTIFRACTALITY AND INTERMITTENCY STUDY OF ULTRARELATIVISTIC 32S–AgBr AND 16O–AgBr INTERACTIONS: FURTHER EVIDENCE OF A NONTHERMAL PHASE TRANSITION
Authors: GHOSH DIPAK , DEB ARGHA , CHATTOPADHYAY RINI , JAFRY ABDUL KAYUM , LAHIRI MADHUMITA , BISWAS BISWANATH , PURKAIT KRISHNADAS , DAS SUSOBHAN , ROYCHOUDHURY JAYANTA , DAS SUNIL , (SARKAR) SHARMILA ROY 
Published: April 2003

This paper presents an analysis of medium energy target protons emitted in 32 S–AgBr interactions at 200 AGeV and 16 O–AgBr interactions at 60 AGeV in terms of scaled factorial moments up to the fifth order. The study gives evidence of a nonthermal phase transition in the 32 S–AgBr data. The multifractal nature of the particle spectra has also been observed using a new method proposed by F. Takagi.
THE BOUND STATE EQUATION FOR TWO GLUONS AND ITS SOLUTION
Authors: CUI J. Y. , WU J. M. 
Published: April 2003

We derive the bound state equation for two gluons in relativistic quantum field theory, i.e. the Bethe–Salpeter (BS) equation for two gluons. To solve it, we choose the kernel as the sum of a one-gluon exchange potential, a contact interaction and a linear confining potential. Under instantaneous approximation, this BS equation is solved numerically. The spectrum and the BS wave function of the glueballs are obtained in this framework. The numerical results are in agreement with that of recent lattice calculation.
COLLECTIVE AND RELATIVE VARIABLES FOR A CLASSICAL KLEIN–GORDON FIELD
Authors: LONGHI G. , MATERASSI M. 
Published: April 2003

In this paper a set of canonical collective variables is defined for a classical Klein–Gordon field and the problem of the definition of a set of canonical relative variables is discussed. This last point is approached by means of a harmonic analysis in momentum space. This analysis shows that the relative variables can be defined if certain conditions are fulfilled by the field configurations. These conditions are expressed by the vanishing of a set of conserved quantities, referred to as supertranslations since as canonical observables they generate a set of canonical transformations whose algebra is the same as that which arises in the study of the asymptotic behavior of the metric of an isolated system in General Relativity.9
3D–4D INTERLINKAGE OF qqq WAVE FUNCTIONS UNDER 3D SUPPORT FOR PAIRWISE BETHE–SALPETER KERNELS
Authors: MITRA A. N. 
Published: April 2003

Using the method of Green functions within the framework of a Bethe–Salpeter formalism characterized by a pairwise qq interaction under the Markov–Yukawa transversality principle (MYTP) which gives Lorentz-covariant 3D support to the BS kernel, the 4D BS amplitude for three identical spinless quarks is reconstructed from the corresponding 3D quantities which satisfy a fully connected 3D BSE. This result is a three-body generalization of a similar 3D–4D interlinkage for the corresponding two-body wave functions found earlier under identical conditions of a Lorentz-covariant 3D support to the corresponding BS kernel, ("CIA" for short), for the [Formula: see text] interaction. (The generalization from spinless to fermion quarks is straightforward). To set "CIA" for 3D kernel support in the context of contemporary approaches to the qqq baryon problem, a model scalar 4D qqq BSE with pairwise contact interactions simulating the NJL–Faddeev equations, is worked out fully and compared with the "CIA" vertex function which reduces exactly to the 4D NJL–Faddeev form in the limit of zero spatial range. This consistency check is part of a detailed accounting of the CIA vertex structure whose physical motivation stems from the role of spectroscopy when considered as an integral part of any QCD-motivated dynamical investigation.
p-BRANES, POISSON-SIGMA MODELS AND EMBEDDING APPROACH TO (p+1)-DIMENSIONAL GRAVITY
Authors: BANDOS IGOR A. , KUMMER WOLFGANG 
Published: April 2003

A generalization of the embedding approach for d-dimensional gravity based upon p-brane theories is proposed. We prove that the D-dimensional p-brane coupled to an antisymmetric tensor field of rank (p+1) provides the dynamical basis for the description of d=(p+1)-dimensional gravity in the isometric embedding formalism. By that we mean that the equations of motion following from this action describe any (p+1)-dimensional space–time (at least locally) once the antisymmetric tensor field is chosen appropriately. "Physical" matter appears in such an approach as a manifestation of a D-dimensional antisymmetric tensor (generalized Kalb–Ramond) background. For the simplest case, the Lorentz harmonic formulation of the bosonic string in a Kalb–Ramond background and its relation to a first order Einstein–Cartan approach for (d=2)-dimensional gravity is analyzed in some detail. We show that a general Poisson-sigma model structure emerges in this case. For the minimal choice of a free D=3 string an interesting "dual" formulation is found which has the structure of a Jackiw–Teitelboim theory, coupled minimally to a massive scalar field. Our approach is intended to serve as a preparation for the study of d-dimensional supergravity theory, either starting from the generalized action of free supersymmetric (d-1)-branes or D(d-1)-branes, or from the corresponding geometric equations ("rheotropic" conditions).
Amelioration of global warming by controlled enhancement of the albedo and longevity of low‐level maritime clouds
Authors: Latham John 
Published: April 2003

AbstractA technique is proposed for controlled enhancement of droplet concentrations in low‐level maritime clouds, with corresponding increase in their albedo and longevity, thereby producing a cooling effect. It involves dissemination at the ocean surface of small seawater droplets which act as cloud condensation nuclei (CCN). It has low ecological impact. Copyright © 2002 Royal Meteorological Society.