bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Self‐scaling properties of the reflection coefficient of Cantor prefactal multilayers
Authors: Chiadini F. , Fiumara V. , Pinto I. M. , Scaglione A. 
Published: April 2003

AbstractWe highlight the self‐similar features of the frequency‐dependent (absolute) reflection coefficient of a dielectric Cantor prefractal obtained by applying the well‐known Cantor‐set construction to the optical (rather than physical) layer lengths. The referred properties are first obtained using an exact characteristic matrix representation of the reflection coefficient and then resorting to an (accurate) small‐reflection approximation. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 37: 339–343, 2003; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.10912
Analytical signal formalism in the description of optical pulse photodetection
Authors: Fraile‐Peláez F. Javier 
Published: April 2003

AbstractIn this paper, we unveil and discuss a theoretical misconception in a classical formalism of Gaussian pulse envelope propagation. With simple analytical arguments, we explain the mistake and develop a universal result, valid for short and ultra‐short optical pulses of arbitrary shape. This general result sheds light on the mathematical separation of a pulse into its envelope (energy) and its coherent characteristics (frequency chirp). With it, a theoretical ground is provided for the use of blind numerical computations to calculate complex photodetected pulse shapes. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 37: 347–352, 2003; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.10914
Experimental studies of the dual‐band planar inverted‐F antenna with a U‐shaped slot
Authors: Row Jeen‐Sheen 
Published: April 2003

AbstractThis paper presents experimental demonstrations of a dual‐band planar inverted‐F antenna loaded with a U‐shaped slot. The physical parameters of the antenna, including shorted‐strip widths and ground‐plane dimensions, are studied in detail and their effects on the center frequencies and bandwidths of two operating bands are shown. The purpose of this paper is to achieve a compact dual‐band antenna for wireless local network applications. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 37: 359–361, 2003; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.10917
Interference‐free optical power delivery for electronics modules
Authors: Lazarus M. J. , Holt S. , Giltrow M. , Campbell D. , Ingles D. , Cheung K. Y. 
Published: April 2003

AbstractThe elimination of electromagnetic pickup and interference for microcircuits is demonstrated by replacing the wired power connection with a plastic optical fibre and a photo‐voltaic converter. The coupling of light from an inexpensive source to the fibre is facilitated easily with a plastic bulb‐lens antenna. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 37: 361–364, 2003; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.10918
Measuring arterial stiffness in diabetic patients
Authors: Woodman RJ , Watts GF 
Published: April 2003

AbstractThe excess risk of cardiovascular disease in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus remains largely unexplained. Arterial stiffness, an early feature of diabetic vasculopathy involving several mechanisms, results in impaired arterial compliance, which has recently been proposed as a powerful independent predictor of cardiovascular disease. Decreased arterial compliance can contribute to the development and progression of hypertension, left ventricular hypertrophy and dysfunction, and decreased myocardial perfusion, all of which are highly prevalent in type 2 diabetes mellitus. Arterial compliance has been demonstrated to be impaired in type 2 diabetes using several different technically demanding methods. An increase in the demand by clinical researchers for measurement of arterial compliance has led to the development and commercial availability of highly practicable techniques. These each utilise different aspects of the pulse pressure waveform, are simple and reliable and reflect both large and small vessel compliance, both of which are impaired in type 2 diabetes. They offer new tools for identifying patients at increased risk of developing cardiovascular complications, including those with established diabetes. In this article we introduce the reader to the concept of arterial stiffness, the significance of arterial stiffness for diabetes and the new techniques that may potentially be useful in a research or clinical setting. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Effect on respiratory function of pressure support ventilation versus synchronised intermittent mandatory ventilation in preterm infants
Authors: Migliori Claudio , Cavazza Alessandra , Motta Mario , Chirico Gaetano 
Published: April 2003

AbstractOur objective was to compare the effects of pressure support ventilation and synchronized intermittent mandatory ventilation on respiratory function in preterm babies. Twenty preterm infants (mean gestational age, 29 weeks; mean weight at study, 1,354 g) were evaluated. Patients received two repeated cycles of synchronized intermittent mandatory ventilation, alternated with pressure support ventilation, for a total of four alternated phases, each phase lasting 4 hr. Spontaneous respiratory rate, tidal volume, minute volume, and mean airway pressure were recorded hourly. The tidal volume released by the ventilator was limited to 6 ml/kg. During the two pressure support ventilation phases, a statistically significant reduction of respiratory rate and a significant increase of tidal and minute volume were noted, as compared to the two synchronized intermittent mandatory ventilation periods. Mean airway pressure significantly increased only after the first shift from synchronized intermittent mandatory ventilation to pressure support ventilation. The changes of minute volume and respiratory rate observed during pressure support ventilation did not persist after the return to synchronized intermittent mandatory ventilation. In conclusion, pressure support ventilation, as compared to synchronized intermittent mandatory ventilation, seemed to improve respiratory function in preterm infants. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2003; 35:364–367. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Blocking leukocyte influx and function to prevent chronic lung disease of prematurity
Authors: Auten Richard L. , Ekekezie Ikechukwu I. 
Published: April 2003

AbstractInflammation is strongly linked to the pathogenesis of chronic lung disease of prematurity (CLD). Premature gas‐breathing of ambient or supplemental oxygen in a host with relatively deficient and poorly inducible antioxidant defenses may itself be injurious, and further amplified by mechanical stretch injury in the surfactant‐insufficient lung.1 Cellular injury provokes an inflammatory response.Since inflammation is often detected at birth in the lungs of newborns who later develop CLD,2 it has been an attractive strategy to abrogate inflammation, but the arsenal is limited. Glucocorticoids have been widely used but are acknowledged to be potentially harmful to neurologic and somatic development, and are not recommended outside controlled trials.3 The number that benefit is comparable to the number harmed, according to meta‐analysis.4 More specific blockade of harmful inflammation could overcome this obstacle. Examination of the inflammatory pathways that initiate and propagate lung injury and subsequent abnormal development points to promising new strategies that may one day be tailored to individual patients. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2003; 35:335–341. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Quantum chemical study on enantioselective reduction of keto oxime ether with borane catalyzed by oxazaborolidine. Part 3. Properties of intermediates during hydride transfer
Authors: Li Ming , Zheng Wenxu , Tian Anmin 
Published: April 2003

AbstractIn the current article, the structures and properties of intermediates during the hydride transfer for the prior coordination of the carbonyl oxygen of keto oxime ether at B(2) of oxazaborolidine are discussed. All the structures are optimized completely by means of the Hartree–Fock (HF) and the density functional methods at the HF/6‐31G(d) and Becke's three‐parameter exchange functional and the gradient‐corrected functional of Lee, Yang, and Paar (B3LYP)/6‐31G(d) levels. The hydride transfer from BH3 to the carbonyl carbon in oxazaborolidine‐borane‐keto oxime ether adduct results in the formation of the adduct 4a* with a seven‐membered ring. This adduct has four stable structures. Another hydride of BH2 transfers to the oxime carbon in 4a*, leading to the adduct 5a*, which has also four stable structures. Among all the structures of 5a*, the most stable structure can generate (1S, 2R)‐cis amino alcohol, which is in agreement with that obtained in the experiment. This enantioselective reduction may go through the process in which oxazaborolidine‐borane‐keto oxime ether adduct is directly transformed into the adduct 4a* with a seven‐membered ring. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem 93: 307–316, 2003
Spin preference in twenty‐valence electron systems of form XCCY
Authors: Trindle Carl 
Published: April 2003

AbstractLinear molecules with degenerate and partially occupied orbitals may seek a ground state of high symmetry and spin multiplicity, or may break symmetry and favor a low‐spin state. From studies of OCCO and SCCS it is clear that thermodynamic stability is affected by (valence shell) isolelectronic substitution. Here is described the structure, preference of spin state, and stability of a family of compounds derived by isolobal and isoelectronic analogy from OCCO. The Complete Active Space Self Consistent (CASSCF) methods are used to assure a qualitatively correct description of the multiconfigurational states of the highest symmetry species and balanced description of states of differing spin multiplicity. The results suggest three rules of design and identify several small molecules worthy of experimental investigation. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem 93: 286–293, 2003
Differential gene expression in the rat caudate putamen after “binge” cocaine administration: Advantage of triplicate microarray analysis
Authors: Yuferov Vadim , Kroslak Thomas , Laforge K. Steven , Zhou Yan , Ho Ann , Kreek Mary Jeanne 
Published: April 2003

AbstractRat genome U34A (Affymetrix®) oligonucleotide microarrays were used to analyze changes in gene expression in the caudate putamen (CPu) of Fischer rats induced by 1 and 3 days of “binge” cocaine (or saline) administration. A triplicate array assay of pooled RNA of each treatment group was used to evaluate the technical variability and sensitivity of microarrays. Cocaine‐regulated genes were identified using the Affymetrix MAS 5.0 and Data Mining Tool v. 3. Eighty‐nine upregulated and eight downregulated genes/ESTs were found after 1 day of “binge” cocaine. Following 3 days of cocaine treatment we identified 21 upregulated and 17 downregulated genes/ESTs. RNase protection assays of selected genes confirmed reliability of changes identified by the microarrays at the level of ≥1.40‐fold increase. Many genes upregulated in the CPu by cocaine were immediate early genes for transcription factors and for “effector” proteins (e.g., vesl/Homer1a, Arc, synaptotagmin IV). Acute “binge” cocaine also increased mRNA levels for glutamate receptor GluR2, dopamine receptor D1, and a number of phosphatases. Genes downregulated by cocaine include several genes associated with energy metabolism in mitochondria, as well as the phosphatydylinositol‐4 kinase and the regulator of G‐protein signaling protein 4 (RGS4). A differential expression of somatostatin receptor SSTR2, not known to be a cocaine‐responsive gene, as well as the clock gene Per2, were found by microarrays and confirmed by RNase protection assay. These results demonstrate the potential of microarrays in profiling gene expression with ≥40% increase or ≥14% decrease in mRNA levels for discovery of novel cocaine‐responsive genes. Synapse 48:157–169, 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Effect of dynamic hydrostatic pressure on rabbit intervertebral disc cells
Authors: Kasra Mehran , Goel Vijay , Martin James , Wang Shea‐Tien , Choi Woosung , Buckwalter Joseph 
Published: April 2003

AbstractThe pathogenesis of vibration‐induced disorders of intervertebral disc at the cellular level is largely unknown. The objective of this study was to establish a method to investigate the ranges of constructive and destructive hydrostatic loading frequencies and amplitudes in preventing or inducing extracellular disc matrix degradation. Using a hydraulic chamber, normal rabbit intervertebral disc cells were tested under dynamic hydrostatic loading. Monolayer cultures of disc outer annulus cells and 3‐dimensional (3‐D) alginate cultures of disc nucleus pulposus cells were tested. Effects of different loading amplitudes (3‐D culture, 0–3 MPa; monolayer, 0–1.7 MPa) and frequencies (1–20 Hz) on disc collagen and protein metabolism were investigated by measuring 3H‐proline‐labeled proteins associated with the cells in the extracellular matrix and release of 3H‐proline‐labeled molecules into culture medium. High frequency and high amplitude hydrostatic stress stimulated collagen synthesis in cultures of outer annulus cells whereas the lower amplitude and frequency hydrostatic stress had little effect. For the same loading duration and repetition, neither treatment significantly affected the relative amount of protein released from the cell layers, indicating that protein degradation and stability were unaffected. In the 3‐D nucleus culture, higher amplitude and frequency increased synthesis rate and lowered degradation. In this case, loading amplitude had a stronger influence on cell response than that of loading frequency. Considering the ranges of loading amplitude and frequency used in this study, short‐term application of high loading amplitudes and frequencies was beneficial in stimulation of protein synthesis and reduction of protein degradation. © 2003 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
Regulation of placental nutrient transport and implications for fetal growth
Authors: Bell Alan W , Ehrhardt Richard A 
Published: April 2003

AbstractFetal macronutrient requirements for oxidative metabolism and growth are met by placental transport of glucose, amino acids, and, to a lesser extent that varies with species, fatty acids. It is becoming possible to relate the maternal–fetal transport kinetics of these molecules in vivo to the expression and distribution of specific transporters among placental cell types and subcellular membrane fractions. This is most true for glucose transport, although apparent inconsistencies among data on the roles and relative importance of the predominant placenta glucose transporters, GLUT-1 and GLUT-3, remain to be resolved. The quantity of macronutrients transferred to the fetus from the maternal bloodstream is greatly influenced by placental metabolism, which results in net consumption of large amounts of glucose and, to a lesser extent, amino acids. The pattern of fetal nutrient supply is also altered considerably by placental conversion of glucose to lactate and, in some species, fructose, and extensive transamination of amino acids. Placental capacity for transport of glucose and amino acids increases with fetal demand as gestation advances through expansion of the exchange surface area and increased expression of specific transport molecules. In late pregnancy, transport capacity is closely related to placental size and can be modified by maternal nutrition. Preliminary evidence suggests that placental expression and function of specific transport proteins are influenced by extracellular concentrations of nutrients and endocrine factors, but, in general, the humoral regulation of placental capacity for nutrient transport is poorly understood. Consequences of normal and abnormal development of placental transport functions for fetal growth, especially during late gestation, and, possibly, for fetal programming of postnatal disorders, are discussed.
Prevalence of Cytolethal Distending Toxin Production in Periodontopathogenic Bacteria
Authors: Yamano Ryousuke , Ohara Masaru , Nishikubo Shuichi , Fujiwara Tamaki , Kawamoto Toru , Ueno Yoko , Komatsuzawa Hitoshi , Okuda Katsuji , Kurihara Hidemi , Suginaka Hidekazu , Oswald Eric , Tanne Kazuo , Sugai Motoyuki 
Published: April 2003

ABSTRACTCytolethal distending toxin (CDT) is a newly identified virulence factor produced by several pathogenic bacteria implicated in chronic infection. Seventy three strains of periodontopathogenic bacteria were examined for the production of CDT by a HeLa cell bioassay and for the presence of thecdtgene by PCR with degenerative oligonucleotide primers, which were designed based on various regions of theEscherichia coliandCampylobacter cdtBgenes, which have been successfully used for the identification and cloning ofcdtABCgenes fromActinobacillus actinomycetemcomitansY4 (M. Sugai et al., Infect. Immun.66:5008-5019, 1998). CDT activity was found in culture supernatants of 40 of 45 testedA. actinomycetemcomintansstrains, but the titer of the toxin varied considerably among these strains. PCR experiments indicated the presence of Y4-typecdtsequences in these strains, but the rest ofA. actinomycetemcomitanswere negative by PCR amplification and also by Southern blot analysis for thecdtABCgene. In the 40 CDT-positive strains, Southern hybridization withHindIII-digested genomic DNA revealed that there are at least 6 restriction fragment length polymorphism types. This suggests that thecdtABCflanking region is highly polymorphic, which may partly explain the variability of the CDT activity in the culture supernatants. The rest of tested strains of periodontopathogenic bacteria did not have detectable CDT production by the HeLa cell assay and forcdtBsequences by PCR analysis under our experimental conditions. These results strongly suggested that CDT is a unique toxin predominantly produced byA. actinomycetemcomitansamong periodontopathogenic bacteria.
Detection of
Sporothrix schenckii
in Clinical Samples by a Nested PCR Assay
Authors: Hu Sindy , Chung Wen-Hung , Hung Shuen-Iu , Ho Hsin-Chun , Wang Zen-Whe , Chen Chien-Hsun , Lu Shu-Chuan , Kuo Tseng-tong , Hong Hong-Shang 
Published: April 2003

ABSTRACT

Cutaneous sporotrichosis is a chronic granulomatous fungal infection caused by
Sporothrix schenckii
with worldwide distribution. Its traditional diagnosis is time-consuming and difficult to differentiate from that of a clinical sporotrichoid lesion caused by various pathogens. In this study, a nested PCR assay for the detection of
S. schenckii
was evaluated by using a sequence of 18S rRNA gene as a target. For the examination of specificity and sensitivity, five clinical isolates with 1 ATCC 10213 strain of
S. schenckii
, 10 strains of clinical common fungi, 3 strains of
Mycobacterium
spp.,
Staphylococcus aureus
, and normal human skin tissue were used. The expected fragment was amplified from six
S. schenckii
isolates in the first round and nested PCR but not from other microorganisms and human DNA. Their sequences were 100% identical to the
S. schenckii
18S rRNA gene sequence deposited in GenBank. A detection limit of 40 fg of
S. schenckii
DNA extract was determined with ethidium bromide staining. Serial dilution studies demonstrated that the nested PCR could detect a DNA amount of 1 CFU of
S. schenckii
in tissue samples. We further investigated the nested PCR assay for the detection of
S. schenckii
from the tail tissues of 5 experimentally infected mice and from the clinical biopsy specimens of 12 patients with sporotrichosis confirmed by culture or histochemical staining. The nested PCR assay was positive in all 5 infected mice and in 11 of the 12 clinical specimens. The high sensitivity and specificity of this nested PCR indicate that the assay can provide rapid diagnosis with sufficient accuracy to be clinically useful for patients with sporotrichosis.
Prospective Value of PCR Amplification and Sequencing for Diagnosis and Typing of Old World
Leishmania
Infections in an Area of Nonendemicity
Authors: Gangneux Jean-Pierre , Menotti Jean , Lorenzo Frédéric , Sarfati Claudine , Blanche Hélène , Bui Hung , Pratlong Francine , Garin Yves-Jean-François , Derouin Francis 
Published: April 2003

ABSTRACT

We assessed the prospective value of PCR amplification of a repetitive sequence from
Leishmania
nuclear DNA and sequencing for the diagnosis and typing of Old World
Leishmania
infection in an area of nonendemicity. During this 42-month study, 29 of 168 consecutive samples were examined and classified as positive for
Leishmania
by direct examination and/or in vitro culture. This molecular approach showed excellent sensitivity (97%) and specificity (100%) compared to direct examination (86 and 100%, respectively) and in vitro culture (72 and 100%, respectively). Isoenzymatic and molecular typing allowed similar identification for 12 samples. Besides, PCR and subsequent sequencing of DNA products permitted the species identification of 14 samples for which parasite culture remained negative or did not allow isoenzymatic characterization, indicating the complementarity of parasitological and molecular tools.
Distribution of
Chlamydia pneumoniae
DNA in Atherosclerotic Carotid Arteries: Significance for Sampling Procedures
Authors: Cochrane Melanie , Pospischil Andreas , Walker Philip , Gibbs Harry , Timms Peter 
Published: April 2003

ABSTRACT

Despite extensive efforts to confirm a direct association between
Chlamydia pneumoniae
and atherosclerosis, different laboratories continue to report a large variability in detection rates. In this study, we analyzed multiple sections from atherosclerotic carotid arteries from 10 endartectomy patients to determine the location of
C. pneumoniae
DNA and the number of sections of the plaque required for analysis to obtain a 95% confidence of detecting the bacterium. A sensitive nested PCR assay detected
C. pneumoniae
DNA in all patients at one or more locations within the plaque. On average, 42% (ranging from 5 to 91%) of the sections from any single patient had
C. pneumoniae
DNA present. A patchy distribution of
C. pneumoniae
in the atherosclerotic lesions was observed, with no area of the carotid having significantly more
C. pneumoniae
DNA present. If a single random 30-μm-thick section was tested, there was only a 35.6 to 41.6% (95% confidence interval) chance of detecting
C. pneumoniae
DNA in a patient with carotid artery disease. A minimum of 15 sections would therefore be required to obtain a 95% chance of detecting all true positives. The low concentration and patchy distribution of
C. pneumoniae
DNA in atherosclerotic plaque appear to be among the reasons for inconsistency between laboratories in the results reported.