bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Metabolic disturbances in liver 1H MR spectroscopy in HIV and HCV co-infected patients as a potential marker of hepatocyte activation
Authors: Tarasów E. , Wiercińska-Drapało A. , Jaroszewicz J. , Siergiejczyk L. , Orzechowska-Bobkiewicz A. , Prokopowicz D. , Walecki J. 
Published: November 2004

Purpose: To evaluate proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H MRS) features in order to assess hepatocellular activation in chronic hepatitis C and human immunodeficiency virus/hepatitis C (HIV/HCV) co-infected patients. Material and Methods: Liver in vivo 1H MR spectra were obtained in 14 patients with hepatitis C virus infection (HCV), 20 HIV/HCV co-infected individuals, and 24 healthy volunteers. Resonances of lipids, glutamine/glutamate (Glx), phosphomonoesters (PME), glycogen/glucose (Glc) were assessed and metabolite ratios to total lipids (TL) were calculated. Results: A significant increase in Glx/TL and PME/TL was observed in the HCV group as compared to healthy individuals. Patients with HIV and HCV co-infection had a further increase of all metabolite ratios. Changes in metabolite ratios were due to both the increase in particular metabolite contents and to the decrease in lipid levels. HIV/HCV-infected patients treated with highly active anti-retroviral therapy (HAART) showed elevated PME and Glx levels and significantly decreased TL compared to patients not undergoing anti-retroviral treatment. Conclusions: Our findings suggest clinical usefulness of liver 1H MR spectroscopy in detecting even slight disturbances in liver metabolism.
MLJ Reviews
Authors: Liskin‐Gasparro Judith E. 
Published: November 2004

Books reviewed in this article:Andrews, Larry. Linguistics for L2 Teachers.Ballman, Terry L., Judith E. Liskin– Gasparro, & Paul B. Mandell. The Communicative Classroom.Batchelor, R. E., & M. H. Offord. Using French: A Guide to Contemporary Usage.Bräuer, Gerd. (Ed.). Pedagogy of Language Learning in Higher Education. Vistas: Introducción a la lengua española.Breen, Michael P. (Ed.). Learner Contributions to Language Learning: New Directions in Research.Brown, James D. Using Surveys in Language Learning.Brumfit, Christopher. Individual Freedom in Language Teaching: Helping Learners to Develop a Dialect of Their Own.Chavez, Monika. Gender in the Language Classroom.Colombi, María Cecilia, Jill L. Pellettieri, & María Isabel Rodríguez. Palabra abierta.Coveney, Aidan. The Sounds of Contemporary French: Articulation and Diversity. Dörnyei, Zoltàn. Teaching and Researching Motivation. Gass, Susan, M., & Larry Selinker. Second Language Acquisition: An Introductory Course.Heilenman, L. Kathy, Isabelle Kaplan, & Claude Toussaint Tournier. Voilá! An Introduction to French.Heilenman, L. Kathy, Isabelle Kaplan, & Claude Toussaint Tournier. Cahier d'activités écrites.Heilenman, L. Kathy, Isabelle Kaplan, & Claude Toussaint Tournier. Cahier d'activités orales.Ibrahim, Zeinab, Nagwa Kassabgy, & Sabiha Aydelott. (Eds.) Diversity in Language: Contrastive Studies in English and Arabic Theoretical and Applied Linguistics.Jarvis, Ana C., Raquel Lebredo, & Francisco Mena–ayllón. Basic Spanish Grammar.Jarvis, Ana C., Raquel Lebredo, & Francisco Mena–ayllón. Getting Along in Spanish.Jarvis, Ana C., Raquel Lebredo, & Francisco Mena–ayllón. Spanish for Law Enforcement.Jarvis, Ana C., Raquel Lebredo, & Francisco Mena–ayllón. Spanish for Business and Finance.Jarvis, Ana C., Raquel Lebredo, & Francisco Mena–ayllón. Spanish for Medical Personnel.Jarvis, Ana C., Raquel Lebredo, & Francisco Mena–ayllón. Spanish for Social Services.Jarvis, Ana C., Raquel Lebredo, & Francisco Mena–ayllón. Spanish for Teachers.Johnson, Keith. An Introduction to Foreign Language Learning and Teaching. Kecskes, Istvan, & Tünde Papp. Foreign Language and Mother Tongue.Khalil, Esam N. Grounding in English and Arabic News Discourse.Mar–Molinero, Clare. The Politics of Language in the Spanish‐Speaking World: From Colonisation to Globalisation.Mey, Jacob L. Pragmatics: An Introduction.Mujica, Bárbara. Hispanomundo: Latinoamérica.Nicol, Janet L. (Ed.) One Mind, Two Languages: Bilingual Language Processing.Penny, Ralph. Variation and Change in Spanish.Rifkin, Benjamin. (Ed.). Mentoring Foreign Language Teaching Assistants, Lecturers, and Adjunct Faculty.Sharpley, G. D. A. Essential Latin. The Language and Life of Ancient Rome.Siskin, H. Jay, & Cheryl Krueger. Entretiens: Cours de conversation. 2nd ed.Tufts, Clare, & Jarausch, Hannelore. Cahier d'exercices et de laboratoire. 3rd ed.Tufts, Clare, & Jarausch, Hannelore. Sur le vif. 3rd ed.Tufts, Clare, & Jarausch, Hannelore. Audio CDs to accompany Sur le vif. 3rd ed.
Utility Models for Goal‐Directed, Decision‐Theoretic Planners
Authors: Haddawy Peter , Hanks Steve 
Published: November 2004

AI planning agents are goal‐directed: success is measured in terms of whether an input goal is satisfied. The goal gives structure to the planning problem, and planning representations and algorithms have been designed to exploit that structure. Strict goal satisfaction may be an unacceptably restrictive measure of good behavior, however.A general decision‐theoretic agent, on the other hand, has no explicit goals: success is measured in terms of an arbitrary preference model or utility function defined over plan outcomes. Although it is a very general and powerful model of problem solving, decision‐theoretic choice lacks structure, which can make it difficult to develop effective plan‐generation algorithms.This paper establishes a middle ground between the two models. We extend the traditional AI goal model in several directions: allowing goals with temporal extent, expressing preferences over partial satisfaction of goals, and balancing goal satisfaction against the cost of the resources consumed in service of the goals. In doing so we provide a utility model for a goal‐directed agent.An important quality of the proposed model is its tractability. We claim that our model, like classical goal models, makes problem structure explicit. This structure can then be exploited by a problem‐solving algorithm. We support this claim by reporting on two implemented planning systems that adopt and exploit our model.
A Bayesian Compartmental Model for the Evaluation of 1,3-Butadiene Metabolism
Authors: Mezzetti Maura , Ibrahim Joseph G. , Bois Frédéric Y. , Ryan Louise M. , Ngo Long , Smith Thomas J. 
Published: November 2004

SummaryWe propose a Bayesian model for physiologically based pharmacokinetics of 1,3-butadiene (BD). BD is classified as a suspected human carcinogen and exposure to it is common, especially through cigarette smoke as well as in urban settings. The main aim of the methodology and analysis that are presented here is to quantify variability in the rates of BD metabolism by human subjects. A three-compartmental model is described, together with informative prior distributions for the population parameters, all of which represent real physiological variables. The model is described in detail along with the meanings and interpretations of the associated parameters. A four-compartment model is also given for comparison. Markov chain Monte Carlo methods are described for fitting the model proposed. The model is fitted to toxicokinetic data obtained from 133 healthy subjects (males and females) from the four major racial groups in the USA, with ages ranging from 19 to 62 years. Subjects were exposed to 2 parts per million of BD for 20 min through a face mask by using a computer-controlled exposure and respiratory monitoring system. Stratification by ethnic group results in major changes in the physiological parameters. Sex and age were also tested but not found to have a significant effect.
A Hierarchical Modelling Approach to Combining Environmental Data at Different Scales
Authors: Hirst David , Storvik Geir , Syversveen Anne Randi 
Published: November 2004

SummaryLong-transported air pollution in Europe is monitored by a combination of a highly complex mathematical model and a limited number of measurement stations. The model predicts deposition on a 150 km × 150 km square grid covering the whole of the continent. These predictions can be regarded as spatial averages, with some spatially correlated model error. The measurement stations give a limited number of point estimates, regarded as error free. We combine these two sources of data by assuming that both are observations of an underlying true process. This true deposition is made up of a smooth deterministic trend, due to gradual changes in emissions over space and time, and two stochastic components. One is non-stationary and correlated over long distances; the other describes variation within a grid square. Our approach is through hierarchical modelling with predictions and measurements being independent conditioned on the underlying non-stationary true deposition. We assume Gaussian processes and calculate maximum likelihood estimates through numerical optimization. We find that the variation within a grid square is by far the largest component of the variation in the true deposition. We assume that the mathematical model produces estimates of the mean over an area that is approximately equal to a grid square, and we find that it has an error that is similar to the long-range stochastic component of the true deposition, in addition to a large bias.
The economics of the Nigerian liquefied natural gas project
Authors: Eghre‐Oghene M. , Omole O. 
Published: November 2004

Consideration for the environment is one of the major reasons for the ongoing global shift to gas as an energy source. Natural gas is a clean‐burning fuel and poses less problems for the environment, when compared with current commercial sources of energy. This shift is gradually evolving a growing world demand for natural gas to be supplied either as pipeline gas or liquefied natural gas (LNG). Nigeria, with its relatively huge gas resources, is poised to supply a substantial part of this growing world demand with its LNG, which is expected to come on‐stream by the final quarter of 1999.This paper examines the economics of Nigeria's LNG project. Nigeria is currently concentrating on the United States of America (USA) and Western European markets, because its LNG can be sold at competitive prices there. The study covers the demand and supply scenario in the world LNG trade. The activities of buyers and sellers in the world LNG trade are examined, with a view to identifying new markets for Nigeria's LNG. A payout time for the project is estimated and strategies for breaking into new markets are suggested. Finally, useful recommendations are made to ensure the sustainability of the LNG project.
Women and War in Comparative Perspective
Authors: Gullace Nicoletta F. 
Published: November 2004

Books reviewed in this article:Harriet Hyman Alonso, The Women's Peace Union and the Outlawry of War 1921–1942Joy Damousi, The Labour of Loss: Mourning: Memory and Wartime Bereavement in AustraliaBelinda J. Davis, Home Fires Burning: Food, Politics, and Everyday Life in World War I BerlinJean Gallagher, The World Wars Through the Female GazeSusan R. Grayzel, Women's Identities at War: Gender, Motherhood, and Politics in Britain and France During the First World War
One Size Must Fit All: National Divergences in a Monetary Union
Authors: Gros Daniel , Hefeker Carsten 
Published: November 2004

Abstract
Should a common central bank in a heterogeneous monetary union base its decisions on EU-wide averages of economic variables or on national welfare losses? A central bank that minimizes the sum of national welfare losses reacts less to common shocks. Under certain parameter constellations this leads to higher average union-wide expected welfare and it might thus be preferable that decision-making is dominated by national representatives. Countries with a transmission mechanism far from the average benefit from an orientation on national welfare losses. For countries with a transmission mechanism close to the average, welfare can be lower in this case.
European Integration and Manufactures Import Demand: An Empirical Investigation of Ten European Countries
Authors: Barrell Ray , Willem te Velde Dirk 
Published: November 2004

Abstract
This paper studies import demand in ten European countries over the period 1970±95, and our objective is to investigate whether the process of European integration has affected imports. We provide evidence for parametric change in traditional import demand equations, suggesting that important variables or structural factors are missing from the long-run equations. We present equations based on new trade theory, where effects of technology and foreign direct investment are present. Once we include these there is little evidence that the creation of the Single Market has directly increased aggregated imports in European countries.
Natural antibody response to Plasmodium falciparum Exp‐1, MSP‐3 and GLURP long synthetic peptides and association with protection
Authors: Meraldi V. , Nebié I. , Tiono A. B. , Diallo D. , Sanogo E. , Theisen M. , Druilhe P. , Corradin G. , Moret R. , Sirima B. S. 
Published: November 2004

SUMMARY A longitudinal study was undertaken in Burkina Faso among 293 children aged 6 months to 9 years in order to determine the correlation between an antibody response to several individual malarial antigens and malarial infection. It was found that the presence of a positive antibody response at the beginning of the rainy season to three long synthetic peptides corresponding to Plasmodium falciparum Exp‐1 101–162, MSP‐3 154–249 and GLURP 801–920 but not to CSP 274–375 correlated with a statistically significant decrease in malarial infection during the ongoing transmission season. The simultaneous presence of an antibody response to more than one antigen is indicative of a lower frequency of malarial infection. This gives scientific credibility to the notion that a successful malaria vaccine should contain multiple antigens.
Evaluation of the Allergenicity and Antigenicity of Bovine‐Milk αs1‐Casein Using Extensively Purified Synthetic Peptides
Authors: Elsayed S. , Hill D. J. , Do T. V. 
Published: November 2004

Abstractαs1‐Casein (CAS1_BOVIN), the major allergen of cow's milk (CM), is widely used as hydrolysates in infant diet formulae and additive to other processed food items. To date, most of the reported B‐cell epitope mapping were performed on polyethylene pins or cellulose‐derivative membrane. We sought to locate the motifs critical for human‐specific IgE and rabbit polyclonal IgG binding using extensively purified CAS1_BOVIN, synthetic peptides and derivatives. Thirteen overlapping peptides covering the whole CAS1_BOVIN encompassing 17 : 20 amino acid (AA) were synthesized by f‐moc AA solid‐phase polyamide peptide synthesis. In addition, six cyanogen bromide (CNBr) cleavage fragments were prepared. Limited hydrolysis, oxidized and reduced/alkylated derivatives were also produced. The preparations were purified by ion exchange, gel filtration chromatography, reversed phase and high‐performance liquid chromatography. The homogeneity was visualized by sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and poly acryl amide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) followed by IgE and IgG immunoblotting. IgE binding was measured by Biotin Streptavidin (Bio/strep) fluoro enzyme immuno assay (FEIA) or ELISA‐inhibition. Eighteen CM allergy (CMA) sera from 45 clinically examined children (Melbourne) and five adults (Bergen) were selected. Individual sera and pools were used for mapping IgE‐binding epitopes. Rabbit IgG sera and pools were used for locating the antigenic sites of the molecule. Results indicated that all the individual CMA sera and pools recognized the intact molecule and three of the CNBr fragments as major antibody‐binding allergens. The N‐ and C‐terminal peptides (CAS 16‐35; CAS 136‐155) showed high IgE‐binding affinity. CAS 1‐18 and CAS 181‐199 showed high IgG bindings. Considering the diversity of the antibody specificities, a reasonable agreement between IgE and IgG epitopes were found at the N‐ and C‐terminals of CAS1_BOVIN. Mapping IgE B‐cell epitopes by direct Bio/strep FEIA allowed the development of a sensitive modified technique for detecting unlabelled, casein immune dominant peptides in food products.
Expression of Interleukin‐22 in Murine Carcinoma Cells did not Influence Tumour Growth In Vivo but did Improve Survival of the Inoculated Hosts
Authors: Nagakawa H. , Shimozato O. , Yu L. , Takiguchi Y. , Tatsumi K. , Kuriyama T. , Tagawa M. 
Published: November 2004

AbstractInterleukin (IL)‐22, a novel cytokine belonging to the IL‐10 family, is secreted from activated T and natural killer cells and is possibly involved in inflammatory responses. We examined whether expression of the IL‐22 gene in murine colon carcinoma Colon 26 cells (Colon 26/IL‐22) could produce any antitumour effects in the inoculated mice. Although growth of Colon 26/IL‐22 tumours in syngeneic mice was not different from that of parent tumours, survival of the mice that were subcutaneously or intraperitoneally inoculated with Colon 26/IL‐22 tumours was significantly prolonged compared with the mice inoculated with parent tumours. Metastasis was not influenced by IL‐22 expressed in tumours. Expression of the IL‐22 receptor‐specific gene, IL‐22R, was not induced in spleen cells stimulated with concanavalin A, anti‐CD3 or anti‐CD40 antibody, despite constitutive expression of the IL‐10R2 gene, which encodes another component of the heterodimeric IL‐22 receptor complex. IL‐22 thereby does not directly act on immunocompetent cells, and IL‐22 expressed in tumours can favour apothanasia of inoculated hosts.
Assessment of signal transducer and activator of transcription 6 as a target of glucocorticoid action in human airway epithelial cells
Authors: Heller N. M. , Matsukura S. , Georas S. N. , Boothby M. R. , Stellato C. , Schleimer R. P. 
Published: November 2004

SummaryBackgroundActivation of signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT)6 by IL‐4 and IL‐13 is essential in many key epithelial responses in the asthmatic airway including expression of numerous chemokines, goblet cell differentiation and mucus production and expression of other allergic inflammatory genes. While these responses are all inhibited by glucocorticoids (GC) administered systemically or by inhalation, the inhibitory mechanisms are unknown.ObjectiveTo test the hypothesis that GC suppress allergic responses by blocking IL‐4‐induced STAT6 signalling in airway epithelial cells.MethodsWestern blotting and reporter gene assays were used to determine whether GC could inhibit STAT6 production, phosphorylation or nuclear translocation, or whether GC could affect STAT6 transcriptional activity in the BEAS‐2B airway epithelial cell line.ResultsOur results showed that GC had no inhibitory effect on the total cellular or nuclear levels of STAT6 or phospho‐STAT6. GC did not inhibit transcription from three different STAT6‐driven reporter constructs, indicating that GC also did not inhibit STAT6 function.ConclusionWe conclude that airway epithelial STAT6 is not the central target of GC in allergic inflammation and that the inhibitory effect of GC on STAT6‐mediated IL‐4‐ and IL‐13‐induced responses is exerted by targeting pathways distinct from STAT6.
Prophylactic management of children at risk for recurrent upper respiratory infections: the Preventia I Study
Authors: Grimfeld A. , Holgate S. T. , Canonica G. W. , Bonini S. , Borres M. P. , Adam D. , Canseco Gonzalez C. , Lobaton P. , Patel P. , Szczeklik A. , Danzig M. R. , Roman I. , Bismut H. , Czarlewski W. 
Published: November 2004

SummaryBackground
Given the morbidity and mortality of asthma and the recent dramatic increase in its prevalence, pharmacologic prophylaxis of this disease in children at risk would represent a major medical advance.Objectives
The Preventia I Study was designed to evaluate the efficacy and long‐term safety of loratadine in reducing the number of respiratory infections in children at 24 months. A secondary objective was to investigate the benefit of loratadine treatment in preventing the onset of respiratory exacerbations.Methods
Preventia I was a randomized placebo‐controlled study involving 22 countries worldwide. The children were 12–30 months of age at enrolment and had experienced at least five episodes of ENT infections, and no more than two episodes of wheezing during the previous 12 months. Phase I was a 12‐month double‐blind period during which the children were treated with loratadine 5 mg/day (2.5 mg/day for children24 months of age) or placebo. Phase II was a double‐blind follow‐up period without study medication.Results
Of the 412 children enrolled, 342 and 310 completed Phase I and Phase II, respectively. The results showed a significant decrease in the number of infections in the whole population of children. However, no difference was observed between the loratadine and placebo group. When considering secondary end‐points, loratadine was shown to reduce the number of respiratory exacerbations during the treatment phase. None of the 204 children who received loratadine discontinued the study because of drug‐related events. Loratadine treatment was not more sedative than placebo and was not associated with cardiovascular events.Conclusion
The strong decrease in the rate of infections in the children at risk of recurrent infections, while not being influenced by loratadine treatment, should encourage future reflection in terms of prophylactic management. This study also confirms the long‐term safety of loratadine and its metabolites in young children.
Detection of tryptase−, chymase+ cells in human CD34+ bone marrow progenitors
Authors: Shimizu Y. , Suga T. , Maeno T. , Tsukagoshi H. , Kawata T. , Narita T. , Takahashi T. , Ishikawa S. , Morishita Y. , Nakajima T. , Hara F. , Miura T. , Kurabayashi M. 
Published: November 2004

SummaryBackground
Mast cells (MCs) arise from haematopoietic stem cells. We have recently reported that CD34+ progenitors derived from human bone marrow (BM) develop into tryptase+, chymase+ MCs when cultured in the presence of recombinant human stem cell factor (rhSCF) and recombinant human IL‐6 (rhIL‐6). In an experiment for the expression of chymase during differentiation, chymase+ cells were detected in human BM, but tryptase+ cells were not found.Objective
The purpose of this study was to show the appearance of chymase+ cells in CD34+ cells with an origin different from MC differentiation.Methods
CD34+ cells from human BM were sorted with anti‐CD117 monoclonal antibody (mAb), and cytospins of CD34+, CD34+CD117+, or CD34+CD117− were prepared. These cells were cultured with rhSCF+rhIL‐6 for 12 weeks. Some of the cells were subjected to either histological stain with Wright–Giemsa or immunocytochemistry with anti‐chymase mAb. Real‐time RT‐PCR was also performed to compare the transcriptional level of chymase from each cell preparation.Results
Chymase was expressed in CD34+ cells as well as human MCs by immunocytochemistry. Substantial CD34+CD117− cells, but not CD34+CD117+ cells, were stained immunocytochemically with anti‐chymase mAb. For 1 week culture with rhSCF+rhIL‐6, no cells expressed chymase in any preparation. Real‐time RT‐PCR revealed positivity for chymase mRNA in CD34+ cells, but it reduced at 1 week of culture, and increased as cells developed into MCs. Chymase mRNA in CD34+CD117+ cells was negligible compared with that in CD34+CD117−. Tryptase mRNA was below the detectable level in CD34+ cells, and increased along with MC differentiation. After 12 weeks of culture, CD34+CD117+ developed predominantly into MCs, whereas CD34+CD117− developed into monocytes/macrophages.Conclusion
Our findings suggested that chymase is present not only in MCs but also in CD34+CD117− BM progenitors, but that its origin is different from the MC lineage.