bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
DNA binding properties of the Escherichia coli nitric oxide sensor NorR: towards an understanding of the regulation of flavorubredoxin expression
Authors: Tucker N. , D'Autréaux B. , Spiro S. , Dixon R. 
Published: February 2005

Nitric oxide is an intermediate of denitrification, and is one of the radical species deployed by macrophages against invading pathogens, therefore bacterial responses to NO are of considerable importance. The Escherichia coli flavorubredoxin and its associated oxidoreductase reduce NO to nitrous oxide under anaerobic conditions, and are encoded by the norVW transcription unit. Expression of norVW requires the NO sensing regulatory protein NorR and is dependent on RNA polymerase containing the alternative sigma factor, σ54. We have purified NorR and shown that it binds to three sites in the norVW promoter region, located 75–140 bp upstream of the experimentally verified transcription start site. We have also identified two binding sites for the integration host factor, one between the NorR sites and the σ54-RNA polymerase binding site, and a second downstream of the norVW transcription start site. Comparison of the norVW promoters of enteric bacteria along with known and putative NorR-regulated promoters from Vibrio, Ralstonia and Pseudomonas species suggests that NorR binding sites contain an invariant GT(N7)AC motif flanking an AT-rich central region. The identification of a consensus for NorR binding sites will help to elucidate additional members of the NorR regulon.
Glucokinase and glucose homeostasis: proven concepts and new ideas
Authors: Zelent D. , Najafi H. , Odili S. , Buettger C. , Weik-Collins H. , Li C. , Doliba N. , Grimsby J. , Matschinsky F.M. 
Published: February 2005

The enzyme GK (glucokinase), which phosphorylates glucose to form glucose 6-phosphate, serves as the glucose sensor of insulin-producing β-cells. GK has thermodynamic, kinetic, regulatory and molecular genetic characteristics that are ideal for its glucose sensor function and allow it to control glycolytic flux of the β-cells as indicated by control-, elasticity- and response-coefficients close to or larger than 1.0. GK operates in tandem with the K+ and Ca2+ channels of the β-cell membrane, resulting in a threshold for glucose-stimulated insulin release of approx. 5 mM, which is the set point of glucose homoeostasis for most laboratory animals and humans. Point mutations of GK cause ‘glucokinase disease’ in humans, which includes hypo- and hyper-glycaemia syndromes resulting from activating or inactivating mutations respectively. GK is allosterically activated by pharmacological agents (called GK activators), which lower blood glucose in normal animals and animal models of T2DM. On the basis of crystallographic studies that identified a ligand-free ‘super-open’ and a liganded closed structure of GK [Grimsby, Sarabu, Corbett and others (2003) Science 301, 370–373; Kamata, Mitsuya, Nishimura, Eiki and Nagata (2004) Structure 12, 429–438], on thermostability studies using glucose or mannoheptulose as ligands and studies showing that mannoheptulose alone or combined with GK activators induces expression of GK in pancreatic islets and partially preserves insulin secretory competency, a new hypothesis was developed that GK may function as a metabolic switch per se without involvement of enhanced glucose metabolism. Current research has the goal to find molecular targets of this putative ‘GK-switch’. The case of GK research illustrates how basic science may culminate in therapeutic advances of human medicine.
Sustainability in single–species population models
Authors: Quinn Terrance J. , Collie Jeremy S. 
Published: February 2005

In this paper, we review the concept of sustainability with regard to a single–species, age–structured fish population with density dependence at some stage of its life history. We trace the development of the view of sustainability through four periods.Theclassicalview of sustainability, prevalent in the 1970s and earlier, developed from deterministic production models, in which equilibrium abundance or biomass is derived as a function of fishing mortality. When there is no fishing mortality, the population equilibrates about its carrying capacity. We show that carrying capacity is the result of reproductive and mortality processes and is not a fixed constant unless these processes are constant. There is usually a fishing mortality,FMSY, which results in MSY, and a higher value,Fext, for which the population is eventually driven to extinction. For eachFbetween 0 andFext, there is a corresponding sustainable population. From this viewpoint, the primary tool for achieving sustainability is the control of fishing mortality.Theneoclassicalview of sustainability, developed in the 1980s, involved population models with depensation and stochasticity. This view point is in accord with the perception that a population at a low level is susceptible to collapse or to a lack of rebuilding regardless of fishing. Sustainability occurs in a more restricted range from that in the classical view and includes an abundance th reshold. A variety of studies has suggested that fishing mortality should not let a population drop below a threshold at 10–20% of carrying capacity.Themodernview of sustainability in the 1990s moves further in the direction of precaution. The fishing mortality limit is the former target ofFMSY(or some proxy), and the target fishing mortality is set lower. This viewpoint further reduces the range of permissible fishing mortalities and resultant desired population sizes. The objective has shifted from optimizing long–term catch to preserving spawning biomass and egg production for the future. The use of discount rates in objective functions involving catch is not a suitable alternative to protecting reproductive value.As we move into thepost–moderntime period, new definitions of sustainability will attempt to incorporate he economic and social aspects of fisheries and/or ecosystem and habitat requirements. These definitions now involve ‘warm and fuzzy’ notions (healthy ecosystems and fishing communities, the needs of future generations, diverse fish communities) and value judgements of desired outcomes. Additional work is needed to make these definitions operational and to specify quantitative objectives to be achieved. In addition, multiple objectives may be incompatible, so trade–offs in what constitutes sustainability must be made. The advances made under the single–species approach should not be abandoned in the post–modern era, but rather enhanced and combined with new approaches in the multi–species and economic realms.
Does Social Capital Make You Generous?*
Authors: Brooks Arthur C. 
Published: February 2005

Objectives. This article tests the hypothesis that social capital—measured in terms of civic group involvement, social and racial trust, and political engagement—leads to charitable behavior by individuals.Methods. I introduce measures of the “social capital elasticity of giving,” which facilitate comparisons between the effects on charity of different social capital types. Using data from the 2000 Social Capital Community Benchmark Survey, I estimate these elasticities with tobit regression models.Results. I find strong links between changes in social capital stocks and changes in giving levels. Furthermore, I find that different social capital types have differing levels of impact on giving.Conclusions. Charitable giving appears to be a beneficial consequence of some types of social capital.
Causes of Civil War in Asia and Sub‐Saharan Africa: A Comparison*
Authors: Krause Volker , Suzuki Susumu 
Published: February 2005

Objectives.This article explores the extent to which economic development, ethnic and religious fractionalization, domestic governance, and international trade openness affect civil war in postcolonial Asia and Sub‐Saharan Africa (SSA) from 1950 through 1992.Methods.We estimate a set of multivariate logit models with the generalized estimating equation (GEE) method for time‐series cross‐sectional (TSCS) data.Results.Both in Asia and in SSA, civil war is less likely with increased economic development and trade openness, while mixed autocratic‐democratic regimes raise the likelihood that states will experience civil war. Although neither ethnic nor religious fractionalization has any statistically significant effect on civil war in SSA, civil war in Asia is more likely with greater ethnic fractionalization.Conclusions.Despite cross‐regional variation in causes of civil war, economic development and trade openness seem to play a consistent role in reducing civil war.
Grass, Sweat, and Sun: An Exploratory Study of the Labor Market for Gardeners in South Texas*
Authors: Pisani Michael J. , Yoskowitz David W. 
Published: February 2005

Objective. This article takes a first exploratory step in understanding the market for home gardeners in the southwest borderlands (Laredo, Texas).Methods. A questionnaire was administered by a household member familiar with the present study who employed at least one gardener utilizing the snowball method of sample selection. Usable data (surveys) were collected from 244 individuals: 122 gardeners and 122 employers.Results. Gardeners in Laredo are almost exclusively male, Hispanic, Spanish speaking, and heads of household. Gardeners tend to be Mexican by birth and nationality, work full time as a gardener, be middle aged, and possess a middle school education. Distinctions between full‐time and part‐time gardeners (employment status) as well as formal and informal gardeners (employment process) are discussed. Cross‐tabulation analyses suggest a strong relationship between employment status and process (relationship) with health insurance coverage, enrollment in Social Security, and year‐around work. Logistic regression results also indicate previous work experience as a gardener, medical insurance, and year‐around work as a gardener are the significant variables in determining full‐time employment as a gardener. For informality, logistic regression results suggest Mexican citizenship, Mexican birthplace, and lack of Social Security are the significant explanatory variables.Conclusion. Gardening enables a mostly informal workforce from Mexico to work in south Texas in pursuit of the American dream—the ability to make a living in a way of one's own choosing.
Gender and the Internet: Causes of Variation in Access, Level, and Scope of Use*
Authors: Wasserman Ira M. , Richmond‐Abbott Marie 
Published: February 2005

Objective.The article examines differences in the use of the Internet by gender, with a consideration of access to the web, use of communication facilities related to email and chat rooms, frequency of use, and types of websites used. The study considers the impact of socioeconomic status and social, geographic, racial, and ethnic variables for explaining variations in the use of the web by men and women, and how these factors are mediated by knowledge of how to use the web.Methods.The study employs data collected by the General Social Survey (GSS) in 2000, and relates access, communication levels, frequency of use, and types of sites used to gender and other relevant variables. The relevant variables are analyzed by multivariate analysis.Results.Access to the web was independent of gender, but was related to education, race, income, age, and marital status. Women were less likely than men to chat on the web, but were slightly more likely to use email, and they utilized different types of sites than men.Conclusions.Women access the web as frequently as men, but they communicate on the Internet differently than men, are online less than men, and utilize different types of websites than men. Knowledge related to web use is an important independent variable that influences Internet use by men and women.
Evaluation of anticoagulant system in Turkish children with Perthes disease
Authors: Yilmaz Deniz , Karapinar Levent , Karapinar Bulent , Ozturk Hasan , Kavakli Kaan 
Published: February 2005

Abstract
Background
: Perthes Disease (PD) is generally a self‐limiting disease of childhood but it causes severe pain and may lead to deformity of the femoral head. Intravascular thrombosis seems to form the main mechanism in the pathogenesis of the disease. The aim of this study was to determine hereditary thrombotic risk factors in Turkish children with PD.
Methods
: In 46 Perthes patients (35 male, 11 female), family history of thrombotic events was investigated, Protein C (PC), free‐Protein S (f‐PS), antithrombin (AT) activities, fibrinogen level, and resistance to activated Protein C (APC) were measured. The results were compared with a healthy control group of 79 children matched by age and sex. The relationship between the severity of disease and coagulation system abnormalities was evaluated.
Results
: While the mean PC and AT activities were significantly lower in the patients than those of the controls, the proprotions of patients with low AT activity, resistance to APC, and a history of hereditary thrombophilia were significantly higher than those of the controls. No difference was observed in coagulation system disorders relative to severity of the disease and bilateral or unilateral disease involvement.
Conclusions
: This study shows that a possible association between PD and inherited hypercoagulability. Determination of thrombotic risk factors in these patients may bring a new approach to the treatment. Most importantly, this may be a stimulant to take precautions for other thrombotic events, which patients may face later in life.
Clinical characteristics of chronic lung disease without preceding respiratory distress syndrome in preterm infants
Authors: Choi Chang Won , Kim Beyong Il , Koh Young Yull , Choi Jung‐Hwan , Choi Jung Yun 
Published: February 2005

Abstract
Background
: Recently, the incidence of atypical presentation of chronic lung disease (CLD) that develops in infants without a history of preceding respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) is increasing. Therefore, the clinical characteristics of CLD without RDS in comparison with CLD with RDS were assessed.
Methods:
Prospective cohort analysis was done from 117 very low‐birthweight infants who were born in Seoul National University Hospital and survived more than 36 weeks postmenstrual age (PMA).
Results
: Of the 117 infants analyzed, CLD developed in 44 infants (38%). Among these 44 infants, CLD with RDS developed in 27 infants (23%) and CLD without RDS developed in 17 infants (15%). Each type of CLD was subgrouped according to the presence of chorioamnionitis (CA): RDS+CA+ CLD (n = 8) and RDS+CA– CLD (n = 19); and RDS–CA+ CLD (n = 12) and RDS–CA– CLD (n = 5). There were no significant differences in the demographic characteristics between CLD with RDS and CLD without RDS. Chorioamnionitis was significantly more common in CLD without RDS, while patent ductus arteriosus was more common in CLD with RDS. Although the severity of initial respiratory failure was not greater than that of CLD with RDS, CLD without RDS showed a gradually increasing chronic oxygen requirement pattern. Chronic oxygen requirement pattern showed that infants with RDS+CA+CLD required the highest concentrations of oxygen not only initially but also thereafter until the 28th day of life and 36 weeks PMA.
Conclusions
: Although CLD without RDS was still less common than CLD with RDS, it comprised over a third of all cases of CLD in our study. Clinical characteristics and chronic oxygen requirement pattern of CLD without RDS seems to be less severe than those of CLD with RDS. Our data suggest that CLD without RDS may be developed by causes other than initial acute lung injury. Chorioamnionitis may be one of antecedents of CLD without RDS.
Simplified PRISM III score and outcome in the pediatric intensive care unit
Authors: De León Ana Lilia Ponce‐Ponce , Romero‐Gutiérrez Gustavo , Valenzuela Carlos Aldana , González‐Bravo Francisco Ernesto 
Published: February 2005

Abstract
Background
: To evaluate the association of the PRISM III (pediatric risk of mortality) score with the infant outcome in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU), and to determine if this score could be simplified.
Methods
: A prospective cohort study was carried out with 170 infants who were consecutively admitted to the PICU. The PRISM III score with 17 physiologic variables was performed during the first 8 h of admission to the unit. Statistical analysis was done with logistic regression, odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CI), and receiver operating curve. The Alfa value was set at 0.05.
Results
: There were 42 deaths (24.7%). The two main causes of death were septic shock (28.6%) and head trauma (16.7%). The PRISM III score had a sensitivity of 0.71, and a specificity of 0.64 as a mortality predictor. Out of the 17 physiologic variables only four of them were significant: abnormal pupillary reflexes OR 9.9 (95% CI, 3.5–28.4), acidosis OR 3.1 (95% CI, 2.0–4.9), blood urea nitrogen concentration OR 1.03 (95% CI, 1.01–1.04), and white blood cell count OR 1.02 (95% CI, 1.01–1.03). The whole logistic regression model had a coefficient of determination R2 = 0.219, P < 0.001.
Conclusions
: In this setting, the PRISM III score had good sensitivity and specificity to predict mortality. This score could be simplified using only the four variables that were significant in this study. This modified PRISM III score could reduce the cost of patient care especially in developing countries PICU.
Effects of rapid rewarming on cerebral nitric oxide production and cerebral hemodynamics after hypothermia therapy for kainic acid‐induced seizures in immature rabbits
Authors: Takei Yukito , Sunohara Daisuke , Nishikawa Yasushi , Nagashima Chikako , Tachibana Maki , Takami Takeshi , Miyajima Tasuku , Hoshika Akinori 
Published: February 2005

Abstract
Background
: The aim of the present study was to investigate whether rapid rewarming after hypothermia therapy during seizures alters the endogenous nitric oxide (NO) production in and around hippocampus, cortical cerebral blood flow (cCBF), and mean arterial blood pressure (MABP) in immature rabbits.
Methods
: The hypothermic rabbits (rectal temperatures, 33°C) were given kainic acid (KA; 12 mg/kg, i.v; at 0 min), followed by cooling (33°C) for 60 min (at 60 min), then either rewarming (RW; 33–37°C) was started (KA[+]RW[+] group, n = 7) or cooling was continued (KA[+]RW[–] group, n = 7) for another 60 min (at the end 120 min). In the KA(–)RW(+) group (n = 5), 0.5 mL normal saline was given (at time 0 min), followed by cooling (33°C) for 60 min (at 60 min), then rewarming to 37°C was started with observation for another 60 min (at the end 120 min). NO production in and around hippocampus was continuously measured by an NO‐selective electrode, cCBF by laser Doppler flowmetry, cortical electroencephalogram (EEG), rectal and cerebral temperatures, and MABP during the experiment. Comparisons were made of these parameters between the values at 60 min and 120 min after the KA administrations.
Results
: KA administration induced abnormal discharges in both KA(+)RW(+) and KA(+)RW(–) groups at the same degree. The KA(+)RW(+) group had a significant increase in %NO, and significant decreases in %cCBF and MABP after rapid rewarming, compared with before rewarming. In the KA(+)RW(–) group, there were no significant changes in %NO, %cCBF, and MABP between values at 60 and 120 min. These changes after rapid rewarming in the KA(+)RW(+) group were different from those with only elevation in brain temperature from 33 to 37°C without seizures (KA[–]RW[+] group).
Conclusions
: These results suggest that rapid rewarming after hypothermia therapy induces an increase in the NO production in and around hippocampus and the decreases in cCBF and MABP during seizures in immature rabbits.
The colonization incidence of group B streptococcus in pregnant women and their newborns in Istanbul
Authors: Barbaros Ilikkan , Murat Carikci , Mehmet Vural , Ismet Tekirdag Ali , Can Keven , Sukufe Diren , Ismail Çepni , Yildiz Perk 
Published: February 2005

Abstracts
Background
: This study was designed to determine the incidence of group B Streptococcus (GBS) colonization in pregnant women and newborns, and to evaluate the antimicrobial resistance during delivery.
Methods
: A total of 300 pregnant women and their newborns were enrolled in this prospective study performed in the maternity ward of Cerrahpasa Medical Faculty and Bakirkoy SSK Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey. Samples were collected from pregnant women and their newborns in the delivery room.
Results
: GBS was isolated from 24 women and the colonization rate was found to be 8%. Two newborns were colonized with GBS. None of the isolates were resistant to penicillin, whereas 20% showed resistance to erythromycin and clindamycin.
Conclusion
: Screening and antimicrobial susceptibility testing of GBS during pregnancy show similiar results with other studies performed in different regions of our country.
Expansion of activated eosinophils in infants with severe atopic dermatitis
Authors: Toma Tomoko , Mizuno Kazunori , Okamoto Hiroyuki , Kanegane Chiharu , Ohta Kazuhide , Ikawa Yasuhiro , Miura Masayoshi , Kuroda Mondo , Niida Yo , Koizumi Shoichi , Yachie Akihiro 
Published: February 2005

Abstract
Background
: There is increasing concern in Japan over infants with atopic dermatitis (AD) who present with severe systemic complications, such as hypoproteinemia, electrolyte disturbances, and delayed growth and development. They are often associated with extremely increased numbers of circulating eosinophils. However, the clinical significance of eosinophil expansion has not been thoroughly investigated.
Methods
: This study attempted to determine the significance of eosinophilia and eosinophil activation in infant cases of AD by comparing multiple clinical parameters, indexes of eosinophil activation, and levels of serum cytokines. CD69 expression was determined by flow cytometry. The clinical severity of AD was graded by the severity SCORing of atopic dermatitis (SCORAD) method. Patients were classified into two groups, with and without CD69 on eosinophils. Nuclear lobes were evaluated under a microscopy. Serum levels of eosinophil‐derived neurotoxin (EDN), interleukin (IL)‐12, IL‐18, IL‐4, IL‐5 and interferon (IFN)‐γ were determined by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay.
Results
: Patients with CD69‐positive eosinophils had significantly higher numbers of eosinophils and platelets, total IgE, and eosinophil nuclear lobes. They also showed growth failure, developmental delay, low serum albumin, and electrolyte disturbances. EDN and IL‐18 levels were significantly increased in this group, but the levels of IL‐4, IL‐5 and IL‐12 were not significantly different between the two groups. IFN‐γ was not detectable in all patients with AD. Surface expression of CD69 indicates intense systemic allergic inflammation induced in severe cases of AD.
Conclusions
: Evaluation of eosinophil activation and early therapeutic intervention is mandatory for the treatment of severe AD during infancy.