bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Synthesis and properties of novel sulfonated polyimides containing 1,5‐naphthylene moieties
Authors: Miyatake Kenji , Asano Naoki , Watanabe Masahiro 
Published: November 2003

AbstractA series of novel sulfonated polyimides (equivalent weight per sulfonic acid = 310–744 g/equiv) containing 10–70 mol % 1,5‐naphthylene moieties were synthesized as potential electrolyte materials for high‐temperature polymer electrolyte fuel cells. The polycondensation of 1,4,5,8‐naphthalene tetracarboxylic dianhydride, 4,4′‐diamino‐2,2′‐biphenyldisulfonic acid, and 1,5‐diaminonaphthalene gave the title polymer electrolytes. The polyimide electrolytes were high‐molecular‐weight (number‐average molecular weight = 36.0–350.7 × 103 and weight‐average molecular weight = 70.4–598.5 × 103) and formed flexible and tough films. The thermal properties (decomposition temperature > 260 °C, no glass‐transition temperature), stability to oxidation, and water absorption were analyzed and compared with those of perfluorosulfonic acid polymers. The polyimide containing 20 mol % 1,5‐naphthylene moieties showed higher proton conductivity (0.3 S cm−1) at 120 °C and 100% relative humidity than perfluorosulfonic acid polymers. The temperature and humidity dependence of the proton conductivity was examined. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 41: 3901–3907, 2003
Global burden of acute respiratory infections in children: Implications for interventions
Authors: Mulholland Kim 
Published: November 2003

AbstractDespite dramatic advances in human health that have occurred during the 20th century, the end of the century still sees many places in the world with high child mortality rates. This is made worse by increasing inequity, such that there are still many communities in the world in which over 30% of children die before their fifth birthday. Estimates of the global burden of childhood pneumonia are based on the assumption that there is a predictable relationship between the childhood mortality rate and the proportion of that mortality that is attributable to pneumonia. As most child deaths occur at home and can only be investigated by verbal autopsy techniques, these estimates are very crude and provide only a guide to the overall burden of pneumonia. Recent estimates from the World Health Organization suggest that 1.9 million children die as a result of acute respiratory infection (ARI), mainly pneumonia, each year. For a number of reasons, this is likely to be an underestimate. Estimates of the morbidity burden attributable to pneumonia are also very approximate, as studies have used different and nonstandardized definitions of pneumonia. These estimates were originally used to assist with planning of ARI intervention activities and for advocacy to draw attention to the problem of ARI. Recently, the introduction of new vaccines against Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) and Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus) raised the prospect of prevention of pneumonia by vaccination. For reasons outlined in this paper, great caution must be exercised before using existing pneumonia burden estimates to predict mortality savings that may accompany the introduction of these vaccines into developing countries. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2003; 36:469–474. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Influence of data filtering on reliability of respiratory impedance and derived parameters in children
Authors: Schweitzer Cyril , Chone Claude , Marchal François 
Published: November 2003

AbstractForced oscillation impedance (Zrs) measurements are frequently corrupted by noisy data in children. Our aim was to improve the reliability of respiratory resistance (Rrs) and routine identification of its flow (V′) and volume (V) dependence during tidal breathing, according to ${\rm Rrs} = {\rm K}1 + {\rm K}2 \cdot \left| {{\rm V'}} \right| + {\rm K}3 \cdot {\rm V}$ Zrs was measured at 12 Hz, using a head generator in 23 children aged 4–13 years undergoing methacholine (Mch) challenge. Rrs, K1, K2, K3, and residual mean square error (RMSD), as well as reproducibility of the parameters, were obtained. Calculations were performed separately in inspiration and expiration on the raw data, and after eliminating values lying outside confidence intervals ranging from 99% (F3SD) to 95% (F2SD) of the mean Zrs. Filtering decreased RMSD and Rrs, F3SD improved reproducibility of Rrs in expiration compared to raw data. F2SD increased K1 and decreased the amplitude of K2 and K3 before and after Mch compared to F3SD. Rrs and K2 were significantly larger and K3 significantly more negative in expiration than in inspiration at all levels of filtering, probably because of the upper airways. F3SD appeared efficient in eliminating aberrant data, while allowing the identification of physiological variations of Rrs. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2003; 36:502–508. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Symptoms of asthma: Comparison of a parent‐completed retrospective questionnaire with a prospective daily symptom diary
Authors: Hensley M.J. , Chalmers A. , Clover K. , Gibson P.G. , Toneguzzi R. , Lewis P.R. 
Published: November 2003

AbstractIn a study of the effects of indoor air pollution on the respiratory health of children in Newcastle, Australia, parental reports of symptoms experienced by children over the previous 12 months were compared with a prospective record of symptoms of cough and wheeze. Parents of 390 children aged 8–11 years completed a questionnaire about child and family respiratory health, which was used to assign children to one of four symptom groups: Wheeze (two or more attacks of wheezing in the last 12 months), Chest‐Colds (two or more chest‐colds in the last 12 months without wheezing), Cough Alone (a dry cough at night, without a cold or chest infection, that lasted for more than 2 weeks), or Control (none). A balanced sample of children (n = 139) was invited to participate further by completing lung function tests, atopy testing, and keeping a daily diary of peak expiratory flow (PEF) and symptoms of cough and wheeze over a 7‐week period. Valid data for the daily diary were provided by 66/85 (77.6%) of participants who commenced this stage (47.5% of the 139 invited to participate). The Wheeze group reported significantly more subsequent wheeze (median 16.8% of days) than the other three groups (median 0% of days). Parent reports of asthma‐like symptoms over the previous 12 months were consistent with the subsequent experience of symptoms recorded in a daily diary. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2003; 36:509–513. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Immune response to hepatitis B vaccine in asthmatic children
Authors: Masten Barbara , McWilliams Bennie , Lipscomb Mary , Archibeque Teressa , Qualls Clifford , Kelly H. William , Schuyler Mark 
Published: November 2003

AbstractAsthma is a disease that demonstrates chronic Th2 lymphocyte‐mediated pulmonary inflammation. We hypothesized that cytokines produced by asthmatic lung inflammation bias the immune response to antigens administered systemically toward a Th2 response, as assessed by serum IgE antibody and lymphocyte‐secreted IL‐4 and IL‐5. We also hypothesized that treatment of asthmatic children with local anti‐inflammatory agents reduces this cytokine‐mediated Th2 influence. We systemically immunized groups of asthmatic children (n = 29) who were participating in a long‐term, randomized, placebo‐controlled clinical trial of inhaled anti‐inflammatory therapy (Childhood Asthma Management Program) and nonasthmatic children (n = 12) with hepatitis B (Hep B) antigen, and examined their antigen‐specific antibody and lymphocyte cytokine secretion profiles. The asthmatic population demonstrated an increased amount of Th2‐mediated serum IgE anti‐Hep B antibody, as compared to nonasthmatic children; but comparable amounts of IgG1, IgG2, IgG3, IgA, and IgM anti‐Hep B antibody and lymphocyte IFNγ, IL4, and IL5. There was no significant difference of antibody isotype or cytokine production between asthmatic subjects receiving treatment with budesonide or nedocromil, as compared to placebo. In conclusion, there is a subtle bias in responses to systemic immunization in children with asthma, but anti‐inflammatory therapy does not affect this bias. The findings support the concept that the Th2 bias may be largely genetic. Importantly, we confirmed that children with asthma, including even those on inhaled corticosteroids, responded to Hep B immunization as well as did nonasthmatic children with the major isotypes of anti‐Hep B antibody, suggesting that vaccine protection against hepatitis B is not influenced by inhaled steroid therapy. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2003; 36:522–528. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Production of TNF‐α by polymorphonuclear leukocytes during mechanical ventilation in the surfactant‐depleted rabbit lung
Authors: Noda Eri , Hoshina Hiroaki , Watanabe Hiroshi , Kawano Toshio 
Published: November 2003

AbstractPrevious studies showed that the production of tumor necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α) and the number of recovered cells were much higher in the conventional mechanical ventilation (CMV) group than in the high‐frequency oscillation (HFO) group at the end of mechanical ventilation in this model. But the type of cells that generated TNF‐α in the lungs remained unclear. It was shown that the alveolar macrophage was the source of TNF‐α in the early stage, but that in the later stage, the cells in the lung lavage fluid contained almost no macrophages. Thus we hypothesized that in the surfactant‐depleted lung model, one of the sources of TNF‐α after 4 hr of CMV is polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN), a type of cell which was numerous at that time. We performed the experiment in the same lung lavage model. The results were as follows. All Pa02 values for the HFO group were significantly greater than the corresponding values for the CMV group throughout the experiment (P < 0.05). More than 96% of the recovered cells of the lung lavage fluid at the end of ventilation were PMN. Cell counts after ventilation of HFO and CMV groups were 183.0 ± 40.8 (mean ± SD, n = 6)/μl and 1,106.0 ± 310.0/μl, respectively (P < 0.05). Levels of rabbit TNF‐α in the lavage fluid before and after 4 hr ventilation were 43.3 ± 103.7 pg/ml and 2,406.0 ± 1,525.1 pg/ml, respectively, in the CMV group. In the HFO group, these levels were 26.6 ± 52.0 pg/ml and 613.3 ± 362.2 pg/ml, respectively. The level of TNF‐α was significantly greater in the CMV group after ventilation (P < 0.05). We performed RT‐PCR analysis, in which we showed the presence of TNF‐α mRNA in the intraalveolar cells (PMN) after 4 hr of CMV, and then demonstrated a positive immunofluorescence reaction to anti‐TNF‐α antibody in PMN separated from the lavage fluid. Our conclusion is that in this surfactant‐depleted lung model, PMN is one of the sources of TNF‐α in the lavage fluid after 4 hr of CMV. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2003; 36:475–481. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Phosphodiesterase inhibitors for persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn: A review
Authors: Travadi J.N. , Patole S.K. 
Published: November 2003

AbstractPersistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN) is a complex syndrome with multiple causes, with an incidence of 0.43–6.8/1,000 live births and a mortality of 10–20%. Survivors have high morbidity in the forms of neurodevelopmental and audiological impairment, cognitive delays, hearing loss, and a high rate of rehospitalization. The optimal approach to the management of PPHN remains controversial. Inhaled nitric oxide (iNO) is currently regarded as the gold standard therapy, but with as many as 30% of cases failing to respond, has not proven to be the single magic bullet. Given the complex pathophysiology of the disease, any such magic bullet is unlikely. A number of recent studies have suggested a role for specific phosphodiesterase (PDE) inhibitors in the management of PPHN. Sildenafil, a specific PDE5 inhibitor, appears the most promising of such agents. We aim to review the current status and limitations of iNO and the potential of PDE inhibitors in the management of PPHN. The reasons why caution is warranted before specific PDE5 inhibitors like sildenafil are labelled as potential magic bullets for PPHN will be discussed. The need for randomized‐controlled trials to determine the safety, efficacy, and long‐term outcome following treatment with sildenafil in PPHN is emphasized. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2003; 36:529–535. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The ability of indigenous micro‐organisms to degrade isoproturon, atrazine and mecoprop within aerobic UK aquifer systems
Authors: Johnson Andrew C , White Craig , Lal Bhardwaj C , Dixon Andy 
Published: November 2003

AbstractThe potential for the herbicides isoproturon, atrazine and mecoprop to degrade in the major UK aquifers of chalk, sandstone and limestone was studied using laboratory microcosms spiked at 100 µg litre−1. Significant mecoprop degradation was only observed in sandstone groundwater samples. Atrazine transformation, based on the formation of metabolites, did occur in most groundwater samples, but only at a rate of 1–3% per year. A potential to degrade isoproturon was observed in groundwater samples from each of the aquifer types, with the most rapid and consistent degradation occurring at the sandstone field site. Biodegradation was confirmed by the formation of monodesmethyl‐ and didesmethyl‐isoproturon. Isoproturon degradation potential rates obtained from the groundwater microcosms could not be correlated with either dissolved organic carbon or numbers of bacteria in the groundwater. It was noted that the ability of the groundwater at a field site to degrade a pesticide was not related to performance of the soil above. Crown copyright 2003. Reproduced with the permission of Her Majesty's Stationery Office. Published for SCI by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Effect of plate separation on restrained burst test
Authors: Feliú‐Báez, Rosamari , Lockhart Hugh E. 
Published: November 2003

AbstractThe deformation experienced by a package during an unrestrained burst test is not the same in every case. This deformation will direct the forces resulting from the internal pressure to specific areas depending on the package geometry, the material and the type of seal. It may influence the resulting burst values and the interpretation of the results in general. In recent years, the use of restraining fixtures in the burst test has been suggested by both industry and academic researchers. It is thought that restraining plates can limit the extent and variation of deformation of the package during the burst test.
Restrained burst tests, using different plate separations, were performed for pouches and trays. It was found that for both types of packages; the burst pressure is inversely proportional to plate separation. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
On large intersecting subfamilies of uniform setfamilies
Authors: Duke Richard A. , Erdős Paul , Rödl Vojtěch 
Published: November 2003

AbstractIn an earlier work R. A. Duke and V. Rödl, The Erdős–Ko–Rado theorem for small families, J Combin Theory Ser A 65(2) (1994), 246–251 it was shown that for t a fixed positive integer and κ a real constant, 0 < κ < 1/2, if n is sufficiently large each family 𝒜 of ⌊κn⌋‐element subsets of [n] of size N (linear in n) contains a t‐intersecting subfamily of size at least (1 − o(1))κN. Here we consider the case when t, the intersection size, is no longer bounded, specifically t = ⌊τn⌋ for 0 < τ < κ. We show that for sufficiently large n and N each family of this type contains an r‐wise t‐intersecting subfamily of size at least N1−δ, and that, apart for the size of δ, this result is the best possible. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Random Struct. Alg., 2003
One line and n points
Authors: Gärtner Bernd , Tschirschnitz Falk , Welzl Emo , Solymosi József , Valtr Pavel 
Published: November 2003

AbstractWe analyze a randomized pivoting process involving one line and n points in the plane. The process models the behavior of the RANDOM‐EDGE simplex algorithm on simple polytopes with n facets in dimension n − 2. We obtain a tight O(log2 n) bound for the expected number of pivot steps. This is the first nontrivial bound for RANDOM‐EDGE, which goes beyond bounds for specific polytopes. The process itself can be interpreted as a simple algorithm for certain 2‐variable linear programming problems, and we prove a tight Θ(n) bound for its expected runtime. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Random Struct. Alg., 2003
On restricted min‐wise independence of permutations
Authors: Matoušek Jiří , Stojaković Miloš 
Published: November 2003

AbstractA family of permutations ℱ ⊆ Sn with a probability distribution on it is called k‐restricted min‐wise independent if we have Pr[min π(X) = π(x)] = 1/|X| for every subset X ⊆ [n] with |X| ≤ k, every x ∈ X, and π ∈ ℱ chosen at random. We present a simple proof of a result of Norin: every such family has size at least

Some features of our method might be of independent interest. The best available upper bound for the size of such family is 1 + ∑ (j − 1)(). We show that this bound is tight if the goal is to imitate not the uniform distribution on Sn, but a distribution given by assigning suitable priorities to the elements of [n] (the stationary distribution of the Tsetlin library, or self‐organizing lists). This is analogous to a result of Karloff and Mansour for k‐wise independent random variables. We also investigate the cases where the min‐wise independence condition is required only for sets X of size exactly k (where we have only an Ω(log log n + k) lower bound), or for sets of size k and k − 1 (where we already obtain a lower bound of n − k + 2). © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Random Struct. Alg., 2003
Random suffix search trees
Authors: Devroye Luc , Neininger Ralph 
Published: November 2003

AbstractA random suffix search tree is a binary search tree constructed for the suffixes Xi = 0 · BiBi+1Bi+2… of a sequence B1, B2, B3, … of independent identically distributed random b‐ary digits Bj. Let Dn denote the depth of the node for Xn in this tree when B1 is uniform on ℤb. We show that for any value of b > 1, 𝔼Dn = 2 log n + O(log2log n), just as for the random binary search tree. We also show that Dn/𝔼Dn → 1 in probability. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Random Struct. Alg., 2003
5‐HT6 receptor antagonist SB‐271046 enhances extracellular levels of monoamines in the rat medial prefrontal cortex
Authors: Lacroix Laurent P. , Dawson Lee A. , Hagan Jim J. , Heidbreder Christian A. 
Published: November 2003

AbstractThe present study investigated the neurochemical effects of the selective 5‐HT6 receptor antagonist SB‐271046 in the rat medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC). The effect of SB‐271046 on extracellular levels of dopamine (DA), norepinephrine (NE), and serotonin (5‐HT) in the mPFC was examined using in vivo microdialysis in the freely moving rat. SB‐271046 (10 mg/kg, p.o.) produced a significant increase in extracellular levels of both DA and NE without altering 5‐HT neurotransmission. These results further support the rationale for the use of 5‐HT6 receptor antagonists in the treatment of cognitive dysfunction associated with psychiatric diseases. Synapse 51:158–164, 2004. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Bilateral subthalamic nucleus lesion reverses L‐dopa‐induced motor fluctuations and facilitates dyskinetic movements in hemiparkinsonian rats
Authors: Marin Concepció , Jiménez Anna , Tolosa Eduardo , Bonastre Mercè , Bové Jordi 
Published: November 2003

AbstractGlutamatergic overactivity might be involved in L‐dopa‐induced motor complications since glutamate antagonists reverse and prevent L‐dopa‐induced shortening in motor response duration in 6‐hydroxydopamine‐lesioned (6‐OHDA) rats and improve L‐dopa‐induced dyskinesias in parkinsonian monkeys and in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). An increase in the subthalamic nucleus (STN) glutamatergic activity is believed to contribute to the pathophysiology of PD. However, the role of STN activity in L‐dopa‐induced motor complications is not so clear. In this study, the effect of STN lesions on L‐dopa‐induced motor response complications was investigated in rats with a nigrostriatal pathway lesion induced by 6‐OHDA. Animals were injected with 6‐OHDA in the medial forebrain bundle and treated with L‐dopa or saline for 22 days. On day 16, animals were randomly distributed in groups that underwent surgery in the STN ipsilateral or contralateral to 6‐OHDA lesion, or bilateral. Rotational behavior was measured on days 1, 15, and 22. Attenuation of STN activity by contralateral and bilateral, but not ipsilateral, STN lesion reversed the shortening in motor response duration induced by L‐dopa. L‐dopa administration, but not saline, induced prominent dyskinesias in 6‐OHDA‐lesioned rats with additional bilateral STN lesions. The results indicate that bilateral lesions of STN potentiate the duration of L‐dopa‐induced motor response and facilitate chronic L‐dopa‐induced abnormal involuntary movements in 6‐OHDA‐lesioned rats. The characteristics of the abnormal involuntary movements observed in these animals are similar to L‐dopa‐induced dyskinesias in parkinsonian patients and might be useful as an experimental model for the study of L‐dopa‐induced dyskinesia. Synapse 51:140–150, 2004. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
PET quantification of muscarinic cholinergic receptors with [N‐11C‐methyl]‐benztropine and application to studies of propofol‐induced unconsciousness in healthy human volunteers
Authors: Xie Guoming , Gunn Roger N. , Dagher Alain , Daloze Thierry , Plourde Gilles , Backman Steven B. , Diksic Mirko , Fiset Pierre 
Published: November 2003

AbstractThis work evaluated kinetic analysis methods for estimation of the receptor availability of the muscarinic receptor using dynamic positron emission tomography (PET) studies with [N‐11C‐methyl]‐benztropine. The study also investigated the effect of propofol on central muscarinic receptor availability during general anesthesia. Six volunteers were scanned three times, once for baseline while awake, once during unconsciousness, and once after recovery to conscious level. An irreversible two‐tissue compartment model was used to estimate the [N‐11C‐methyl]‐benztropine specific binding rate constant k3, a measure of muscarinic receptor availability. Two different estimation methods were used: 1) optimization with positivity constraints on all the parameters; 2) optimization with additional constraints determined from a one‐tissue compartment fit to the cerebellum. In regions with low to middle muscarinic receptor density, the k3 values from method (2) had lower standard errors than that for method (1) and gave a higher correlation with the density of muscarinic receptors measured in human tissue by in vitro studies (r2 of 0.98 for Method 2 and r2 of 0.72 for Method 1). But the k3 values determined by Method 2 had higher errors for regions with high muscarinic receptor density compared to Method 1. For both methods the mean k3 values during unconsciousness were generally lower than those during awake for most regions evaluated. Therefore, the method with additional constraints derived from the cerebellum (Method 2) was deemed superior for regions with low to middle muscarinic receptor density, while the method with positivity constraint is the better choice in the regions with high muscarinic receptor density. Our results also suggest the existence of propofol‐related reductions in muscarinic receptor availability. Synapse 51:91–101, 2004. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.