bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Monoamine metabolism changes following the mouse forced swimming test but not the tail suspension test
Authors: Renard Caroline E. , Dailly Eric , David Denis J.P. , Hascoet Martine , Bourin Michel 
Published: July 2003

AbstractMicrodialysis, binding and behavioural studies have shown that the dopaminergic system plays a role in antidepressant treatment. It has been suggested that stress may provoke a modification in dopamine (DA) release in different brain areas and that the forced swimming test (FST), in its own accord as a stressor, may be responsible for this modification. Naive male Swiss mice, receiving saline solution, were used in two animal models of depression, the FST and the tail suspension test (TST). In order to understand the locomotor aspect of each test, groups of mice were studied for effects on locomotor activity. Following each test, mice were killed by cervical dislocation, brains were removed and concentrations of amines in the whole brain were analysed by high‐performance liquid chromatography. DA concentration increased from 5 min of the FST, dihydroxyphénylacetate (DOPAC), from 20 min of FST and serotonin, from 8 min of FST. No modification of noradrenaline was observed during the FST and no modification of the neurotransmitter concentrations was observed during the TST. Following an FST of 2‐min duration, a hypolocomotor effect was observed in the subsequent actimeter test. The same effect was observed after a TST of 8 min and onwards. This study confirms the fact that although these two tests are used to study depression, they involve different neuronal mechanisms.
How should therapeutic information be transferred to users?
Authors: Boissel Jean‐Pierre , Haugh Margaret , Fardeheb Malik , Nony Patrice , Gueyffier François , Strang Nigel 
Published: July 2003

AbstractWithout an efficient solution to the problems that prevent prescribers and consumers having easy access to published and unpublished evidence, Evidence‐Based Medicine will never become a reality. Among the problems, dissemination of the summarized evidence is a major one. It involves representing the summarized evidence in a format that corresponds to the users’ needs and knowledge, interpreting it within the context of other related evidence, putting it in perspective, and then delivering it physically to the users at the appropriate time. The current formats, vehicles and representation models, e.g. those for guidelines or textbooks, do not seem efficient enough to fill in the gap of knowledge. We suggest that a new approach is possible by reducing the transferred information to its core and integrating it through appropriate representation models into the doctor's decision‐making process.
MDR1 polymorphisms G2677T in exon 21 and C3435T in exon 26 fail to affect rhodamine 123 efflux in peripheral blood lymphocytes
Authors: Oselin Kersti , Gerloff Thomas , Mrozikiewicz Przemyslaw M. , Pähkla Rein , Roots Ivar 
Published: July 2003

AbstractP‐glycoprotein (Pgp) is a member of the ABC‐transporter family, and in humans, is encoded by the MDR1 gene. Recently, several single‐nucleotide polymorphisms in the MDR1 gene were identified. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of the MDR1 genetic polymorphisms G2677T and C3435T on Pgp activity in CD56+ and CD4+ peripheral blood cells. Using flow cytometry, rhodamine 123 (Rh123) efflux was determined in 46 male healthy volunteers. Median Rh123 fluorescence in control sample, after baseline dye uptake, was set as 100%. Rh123 fluorescence in efflux samples, exposed to different efflux periods, was used to calculate the percentage of Rh123 retained in the cells in comparison with control. There was no significant difference in Rh123 efflux in CD56+ cells after 5, 10, 15, and 30 min efflux between individuals with different MDR1 genotypes. Also, in CD4+ cells after 15, 30, 60, and 90 min, Rh123 efflux did not reveal statistically different results for the three genotypes at 2677 and 3435. Rh123 efflux was not enhanced by a 10‐day rifampin administration, as determined in 15 individuals before and after rifampin treatment. In conclusion, we found no impact of the MDR1 G2677T and C3435T polymorphisms on Pgp activity in CD56+ and CD4+ peripheral blood lymphocytes.
Lipid‐lowering drugs and serum liver enzymes: the effects of body weight and baseline enzyme levels
Authors: Kiortsis Dimitrios N. , Nikas Spyridon , Hatzidimou Katerina , Tsianos Epaminondas , Elisaf Moses S. 
Published: July 2003

AbstractThe most important side effects of fibrate and 3‐hydroxy‐3‐methylglutaryl‐coenzyme A (HMG‐CoA) reductase inhibitor (statin) treatment are hepatic toxicity and myopathy. Obese individuals may have higher levels of serum transaminases than their lean counterparts. The main purpose of this study was to examine the effects of statins and fibrates on liver enzymes in obese patients and to compare them with their effects on patients with various body mass indexes (BMI). Two hundred and sixty‐three hyperlipidemic patients of both sexes aged 31–74 years were studied for 24 weeks. One hundred and three patients received fluvastatin (40 mg/day), 62 atorvastatin (10–20 mg/day), 45 micronized fenofibrate (200 mg/day), 44 ciprofibrate (100 mg/day) and nine patients received gemfibrozil (900 mg/day). Laboratory determinations were performed at baseline, after 8 weeks of treatment and at the end of the follow‐up period. At baseline, obese patients tended to exhibit elevated liver enzymes more frequently than their lean counterparts (12 of 105 vs. 5 of 67). At the end of the study period, 11 obese, seven overweight and six lean subjects exhibited elevated liver enzymes. Twelve patients who experienced a moderate elevation of serum liver enzymes at baseline had their liver enzyme profile normalized at the end of the study. Furthermore, in 12 patients who had normal serum liver enzyme levels at baseline, abnormal levels of at least one enzyme were observed after 24 weeks of treatment. Fibrates and statins are safe drugs for the treatment of hyperlipidemia in obese patients as well as in those with moderately increased liver enzymes.
Effects of glucose–insulin–potassium on baroreflex sensitivity, left ventricular function and ventricular arrhythmia in the subacute phase of myocardial infarction in rats
Authors: Liu Jian‐Guo , Shu He , Shen Fu‐Ming , Miao Chao‐Yu , Su Ding‐Feng 
Published: July 2003

AbstractGlucose–insulin–potassium (GIK) is clinically used for reducing mortality in acute myocardial infarction (MI). It is known that ventricular arrhythmia, left ventricular dysfunction and impaired baroreflex sensitivity (BRS) are the three major determinants for predicting the mortality after acute MI. The present work was designed to study the effects of GIK on BRS, ventricular arrhythmia, and left ventricular function in rats with coronary artery ligature. Sprague–Dawley rats were used and the myocardial infarction was produced by ligature of the left anterior descending artery. Five weeks after coronary artery ligation, BRS was measured in conscious state with a computerized blood pressure monitoring system and left ventricular function and electrocardiogram were determined in the anaesthetized state in the subacute phase of myocardial infarction. It was found that GIK did not affect the blood pressure and heart period in both conscious and anaesthetized rats. GIK did not enhance BRS, but reduced ventricular arrhythmia and improved left ventricular function by reducing left ventricular end diastolic pressure in anaesthetized rats with MI. It is proposed that reducing ventricular arrhythmia and improving left ventricular function contribute to the effect of GIK on reducing the mortality after MI.
Molecular characterization of the high‐affinity [3H]neuropeptide Y‐binding component from the venom of Conus anemone
Authors: Le Minh Tam , Vanderheyden Patrick M. L. , Fierens Frederik L. P. , Vauquelin George 
Published: July 2003

AbstractThe venom of the marine snail Conus anemone contains the ‘ANPY toxin’ which binds neuropeptide Y (NPY) and related insect peptides with nanomolar affinity. This toxin has initially been proposed to be a major 18.5 kDa component of the venom. Here we demonstrate that the 18.5 kDa proteins of venom produce at least five different bands in native electrophoresis and that none of them binds [3H]NPY. Instead, the ANPY toxin migrates as a distinct band on native electrophoresis and is only present as a minor component in the venom. Its approximate molecular weight is 17.5 kDa and its [3H]NPY binding activity is extremely stable below 37 °C, even in the absence of protease inhibitors.
Extracting numerical data from published reports of pharmacokinetics investigations: method description and validation
Authors: de Oliveira Irismar Reis , Santos‐Jesus Rogério , Po Alain Li Wan , Poolsup Nalinee 
Published: July 2003

AbstractA method has been proposed for extracting numerical data when only graphical results are presented. Reports with both graphical and tabular data were identified and the graphs were electronically scanned. The coordinates of each point were read using the cross‐hair facility of Adobe Photoshop 7.0. To improve the precision of these coordinates, each point was read at 1600% magnification. The agreement between the observers was almost perfect (R > 0.99). The proposed method makes possible use of data in meta‐analyses that, would otherwise be discarded.
Filling the gaps: identifying nursing research priorities through the analysis of completed systematic reviews
Authors: Averis Andrea , Pearson Alan 
Published: July 2003

Executive summaryBackground  This report describes the results of a study designed to identify research priorities in nursing arising out of the analysis of 22 systematic review reports published by the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) from 1998 to 2002. A feature of the systematic review of evidence is the noticeable lack of high‐quality evidence to support a large proportion of nursing interventions and activities. Systematic review topics are selected as areas of concern about practice by nurses comprising the individual and corporate membership of JBI at Professional Advisory Forums and meetings held annually throughout Australia and internationally in conjunction with JBI's collaborating centres. Such selection prioritises nurses’ views about what ‘matters in their daily practice’.Objective and Methods  The study comprised a content analysis of the 22 systematic review reports and set out to:

• identify any striking gaps in evidence for frequently used practices;
• generate research questions to address the gaps; and
• suggest research approaches appropriate to the research questions generated.

Results  The results of the analysis identified in excess of 200 important gaps in the evidence base available for nursing practice in relation to the 22 discrete areas of practice examined. Recommendations included the wide dissemination of this report to promote the results of systematic reviews as an important resource in setting research priorities. Policy makers, the Commonwealth Government, State and Territory Governments, research funding bodies, organisations and individuals involved in decision‐making and the funding of research in health care have received little substantive direction in setting priorities for nursing research. This lack of well founded advice is evidenced by the incredibly low level of support for nursing research in Australia and the large number of gaps in evidence for nursing practice.Conclusions  Knowledge transfer – of evidence into practice – has the potential to improve health outcomes, but the delivery of ‘best practice’ care based on sound evidence is dependant upon the generation of evidence to fill systematically identified gaps.
Molecular cloning and sequence analysis of an ascidian egg β‐N‐acetylhexosaminidase with a potential role in fertilization
Authors: Koyanagi Ryo , Honegger Thomas G. 
Published: July 2003

β‐N‐Acetylhexosaminidase, which is found almost ubiquitously in sperm of invertebrates and vertebrates, supposedly mediates a carbohydrate‐based transient sperm–egg coat binding. In ascidians and mammals, β‐hexosaminidase released at fertilization from eggs has been proposed to modify sperm receptor glycoproteins of the egg envelope, thus setting up a block to polyspermy. Previously, it was shown that in potential sperm receptor glycoproteins of the ascidian Phallusia mammillata, N‐acetylglucosamine is the prevailing glycoside residue and that the egg harbors three active molecular forms of β‐hexosaminidase. In the present study, P. mammillataβ‐hexosaminidase cDNA was isolated from an ovarian cDNA library and characterized. The deduced amino acid sequence showed a high similarity with other known β‐hexosaminidases; however, P. mammillataβ‐hexosaminidase had a unique potential N‐glycosylation site. A phylogenetic analysis suggested that P. mammillataβ‐hexosaminidase developed independently after having branched off from the common ancestor gene of the chordate enzyme before two isoforms of the mammalian enzyme appeared. In situ hybridization revealed stage‐specific expression of β‐hexosaminidase mRNA during oogenesis in the oocyte and in the accessory test and follicle cells. This suggests that the three egg β‐hexosaminidase forms are specific for the oocyte, test cells and follicle cells.
Morphological asymmetry in dividing retinal progenitor cells
Authors: Saito Kanako , Kawaguchi Ayano , Kashiwagi Saori , Yasugi Sadao , Ogawa Masaharu , Miyata Takaki 
Published: July 2003

For the understanding of histogenetic events in the 3‐D retinal neuroepithelium, direct observation of the progenitor cells and their morphological changes is required. A slice culture method has been developed by which the behavior of single progenitor cells can be monitored. Although it has been believed that each retinal progenitor cell loses its basal process while it is in M phase, it is reported here that the process is retained throughout M phase and is inherited by one daughter cell, which can be a neuron or a progenitor cell. Daughter neurons used an inherited process for neuronal translocation and positioning. In divisions that produced two mitotic daughters, both of which subsequently divided to form four granddaughter cells, only one daughter cell inherited the original basal process while the other extended a new process. Interestingly, behavioral differences were often noted between such mitotic sisters in the trajectory of interkinetic nuclear movement, cell cycle length, and the composition of the granddaughter pair. Therefore, ‘symmetric’ (progenitor → progenitor + progenitor) divisions are in fact morphologically asymmetric, and the behavior of the mitotic daughters can often be asymmetric, indicating the necessity for studying possible associations between the process inheritance and the cell fate choice.
Mr 25 000 protein, a substrate for protein serine/threonine kinases, is identified as a part of Xenopus laevis vitellogenin B1
Authors: Yoshitome Satoshi , Nakamura Hiroyasu , Nakajo Nobushige , Okamoto Kengo , Sugimoto Isamu , Kohara Hiromi , Kitayama Kaori , Igarashi Kazuaki , Ito Susumu , Sagata Noriyuki , Hashimoto Eikichi 
Published: July 2003

A phosphorylated protein with a molecular mass of 25 000 (pp25) previously purified from the cytosolic fraction of Xenopus laevis oocytes is an effective phosphate acceptor for casein kinases and protein kinase C. In this study, based on the partial amino acid sequence of pp25, a cDNA was isolated that encodes a new yolk precursor protein, Xenopus vitellogenin B1, which contained the sequence encoding pp25. Both mRNA and protein of vitellogenin B1 were expressed in all of the female organs examined. In agreement with a previous report, the amount of vitellogenin B1 protein in the liver increased after stimulation with estrogen. These results suggest that pp25 is a cytosolic non‐crystallized yolk protein nutrient source, but it might also play a role in rapid development.
Systemic family therapy can be manualized: research process and findings
Authors: Pote H. , Stratton P. , Cottrell D. , Shapiro D. , Boston P. 
Published: July 2003

Determining the efficacy of therapeutic interventions is becoming an increasing political and ethical necessity. Comparative therapeutic outcome trials are most powerful when there is a precise specification, or manualization, of the forms that therapies took. Manuals have begun to be developed for structural/behavioural family therapy and couple therapy. The development of these manuals is often reliant on experts' self‐report, rather than a systematic analysis of the therapeutic process as it happens. This can limit their validity and applicability to standard clinical practice. In addition, no manuals exist which reflect less structured forms of family therapy aimed at incorporating systemic, postmodern and narrative frameworks. The feasibility of producing a workable manual that reflects the fluidity of such practices has been questioned.A research project to systematically create and test such a manual is reported. Multiple data sources and research methods, primarily qualitative, were applied to generate a rich specification of the therapy. In reporting these results the contents of various aspects of the final manual are indicated. Procedures to ensure that the prescribed practice is consistent with a widely used approach to systemic family therapy are also described.The manual will be an important tool for outcome research and therapeutic practice. The account of the research process should be helpful to researchers engaged in constructing a manual for other models of family therapy based on a rigorous analysis of actual practice. The manual itself is available for use by outcome researchers who wish to evaluate this widely used form of systemic family therapy.
Progressive Hulls for Intersection Applications
Authors: Platis Nikos , Theoharis Theoharis 
Published: July 2003

Abstract Progressive meshes are an established tool for triangle mesh simplification. By suitably adapting the simplification process, progressive hulls can be generated which enclose the original mesh in gradually simpler, nested meshes. We couple progressive hulls with a selective refinement framework and use them in applications involving intersection queries on the mesh. We demonstrate that selectively refinable progressive hulls considerably speed up intersection queries by efficiently locating intersection points on the mesh. Concerning the progressive hull construction, we propose a new formula for assigning edge collapse priorities that significantly accelerates the simplification process, and enhance the existing algorithm with several conditions aimed at producing higher quality hulls. Using progressive hulls has the added advantage that they can be used instead of the enclosed object when a lower resolution of display can be tolerated, thus speeding up the rendering process. ACM CSS: I.3.3 Computer Graphics—Picture/Image Generation, I.3.5 Computer Graphics—Computational Geometry and Object Modeling, I.3.7 Computer Graphics—Three‐Dimensional Graphics and Realism
Recent Developments and Applications of Haptic Devices
Authors: Laycock S. D. , Day A. M. 
Published: July 2003

Abstract Over recent years a variety of haptic feedback devices have been developed and are being used in a number of important applications. They range from joysticks used in the entertainment industry to specialised devices used in medical applications. This paper will describe the recent developments of these devices and show how they have been applied. It also examines how haptic feedback has been combined with visual display devices, such as virtual reality walls and workbenches, in order to improve the immersive experience. ACM CSS: H.5.2 Information Interfaces and Presentation—Haptic I/O; I.3.8 Computer Graphics—Applications; I.6 Simulation and Modelling—Applications
Local Exact Particle Tracing on Unstructured Grids
Authors: Kipfer Peter , Reck Frank , Greiner Günther 
Published: July 2003

Abstract For analyzing and interpreting results of flow simulations, particle tracing is a well established visualization method. In addition, it is a preliminary step for more advanced techniques such as line integral convolution. For interactive exploration of large data sets, a very efficient and reliable particle tracing method is needed. For wind channel experiments or flight simulations, large unstructured computational grids have become common practice. Traditional approachs, based on numerical integration methods of ordinary differential equations however fail to deliver sufficiently accurate path calculation at the speed required for interactive use. In this paper we extend the local exact approach of Nielson and Jung in such a way that it can be used for interactive particle tracing in large data sets of steady flow simulation experiments. This will be achieved by sophisticated preprocessing using additional memory. For further visual enhancement of the streamline we construct an implicitly defined smooth Bézier curve that is used for ray tracing. This allows us to visualize additional scalar values of the simulation as attributes to the trajectory and enables the display of high‐quality smooth curves without creating any visualization geometry and providing a good impression of the spatial situation at the same time. ACM CSS: I.3.3 Computer Graphics—Line and curve generation; I .3.7 Computer Graphics—Raytracing; G.1.2 Numerical Analysis—Spline and piecewise polynomial approximation
The Scale Method for Blending Operations in Functionally‐Based Constructive Geometry
Authors: Hsu P.‐C. , Lee C. 
Published: July 2003

Abstract This paper presents a scale method for developing high dimensional scale functions to blend implicitly defined objects. Scale functions are differentiable on the entire domain except the origin, provide blending range control, and behave like Min/Max operators everywhere, so even a successive composition of blending operations containing overlapped blending regions can be generated smoothly. Because the scale method is a generalized method, implicit or parametric curves, such as cubic Bezier curves, rational conic curves, and implicit conics and hyper‐ellipsoids, can be used to develop scale functions. As a result, it can enhance the flexibility of generating the implicitly blending surfaces in Ricci's constructive geometry, soft objects modeling, and implicit sweep objects. ACM CSS: I.3.5 Computer Graphics—Computational Geometry and Object Modeling ‐ Curve, surface, solid and object representations
Approximating Parametric Curves With Strip Trees Using Affine Arithmetic
Authors: Henrique de Figueiredo Luiz , Stolfi Jorge , Velho Luiz 
Published: July 2003

Abstract We show how to use affine arithmetic to represent a parametric curve with a strip tree. The required bounding rectangles for pieces of the curve are computed by exploiting the linear correlation information given by affine arithmetic. As an application, we show how to compute approximate distance fields for parametric curves. ACM CSS: I.3.3 Computer Graphics—Curve, surface, solid, and object representations, G.1.2 Numerical Analysis—Approximation of surfaces and contours, G.1.0 Numerical Analysis—Interval arithmetic