bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Resonance Raman spectroscopic study of bis‐azo pigments
Authors: Dines Trevor J. , Onoh Henrietta 
Published: April 2004

AbstractThe IR, resonance Raman (RR) and electronic spectra of two bis‐azo pigments, Pigment Yellow 13 and Pigment Orange 34 were interpreted in terms of hydrogen‐bonded hydrazo structures. Assignments of the vibrational and electronic spectra were facilitated by ab initio calculations at the B3‐LYP/DZ level. A qualitative assessment of relative RR band intensities, in conjunction with band assignments, revealed the geometric changes which occur upon electronic excitation. These are in accordance with the nature of the electronic transitions predicted by time‐dependent B3‐LYP/DZ calculations. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Temperature‐dependent Raman and infrared spectra of nucleosides. IV—Deoxyadenosine
Authors: Lee S. A. , Schwenker M. , Anderson A. , Lettress L. 
Published: April 2004

AbstractRaman and infrared spectra from 20 to 4000 cm−1 were recorded for crystalline deoxyadenosine samples at 300, 200, 100 and 10 K. The wavenumbers of most vibrational modes were found to increase as the temperature was lowered. No clear indication was found of any structural phase transitions in this temperature range. These data were compared with those from a previous Raman and infrared study of adenosine. New marker bands sensitive to the conformational identity of the ribose sugar ring are reported. Plausible assignments of all main spectral bands are suggested by comparison with assignments reported in the literature. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Effect of low‐power He–Ne laser irradiation on rabbit articular chondrocytes in vitro
Authors: Jia Ya‐Li , Guo Zhou‐Yi 
Published: April 2004

AbstractBackground and ObjectivesIn the orthopaedic field, the repair of articular cartilage is still a difficult problem, because of the physiological characters of cartilaginous tissues and chondrocytes. To find an effective method of stimulating their regeneration, this in vitro study focuses on the biostimulation of rabbit articular chondrocytes by low‐power He–Ne laser.Study Design/Materials and MethodsThe articular chondrocytes isolated from the cartilage of the medial condyle of the femur of the rabbit were incubated in DMEM/HamF12 medium. The second passage culture were spread on 24 petri dishes and were irradiated with laser at power output of 2–12 mW for 6.5 minutes, corresponding to the energy density of 1–6 J/cm2. Laser treatment was performed three times at a 24‐hour interval. After lasering, incubation was continued for 24 hours. Non‐irradiated cells were kept under the same conditions as the irradiated ones. The cell proliferation activity was evaluated with a XTT colorimetric method and the cell secretion activity was analyzed by metachromasia and immunocytochemistry.ResultsIrradiation of 4–6 J/cm2 increased the cell numbers and revealed a considerably higher cell proliferation activity comparing to control cultures. Thereinto, the energy density of 4 and 5 J/cm2 remarkably increased cell growth, with positive effect on synthesis and secretion of extracellular matrix.ConclusionsThe present study showed that a particular laser irradiation stimulates articular chondrocytes proliferation and secretion. These findings might be clinically relevant, indicating that low‐power laser irradiation treatment is likely to achieve the repair of articular cartilage in clinic. Lasers Surg. Med. 34:323–328, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Quantitative and qualitative changes of the seminiferous epithelium induced by Ga. Al. As. (830 nm) laser radiation
Authors: Taha Masoumeh Fakhr , Valojerdi Mojtaba Rezazadeh 
Published: April 2004

AbstractBackground and ObjectivesLow level laser radiation stimulates both nucleic acid synthesis and cellular proliferation in E. coli, Hela tumor cells, fibroblasts, lymphocytes, and thyroid cells. It has been introduced as a therapeutic modality; nevertheless few studies have been carried out to determine the effects of laser radiation on the testes or spermatogenesis. The aim of this study was to determine the quantitative and qualitative changes of the seminiferous epithelium after Ga. Al. As. (830 nm) laser radiation.Study Design/Materials and MethodsThe left testes of Sprague–Dawley rats were daily exposed to laser light for 15 days; so the cumulative doses used 28.05 and 46.80 J/cm2 in two experimental groups. Sampling carried out 24 hours after the last treatment and samples were processed for LM and TEM study.ResultsThe number of germ cells specially the pachytene spermatocytes and elongated spermatids increased after 28.05 J/cm2 laser radiation. Ultrasturctural features of germ and Sertoli cells in this group were similar to that of control; while laser irradiation at 46.80 J/cm2 had a destructive effect on the seminiferous epithelium such as dissociation of immature spermatids and evident ultrastructural changes in them.ConclusionsThe findings confirmed the existence of a biostimulatory threshold of applied laser energy and the importance of determining it for clinical applications. Moreover, it was revealed that low doses of laser light have a biostimulatory effect on the spermatogenesis and may provide benefits to the patients with oligospermia and azoospermia. Lasers Surg. Med. 34:352–359, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
A new mathematical approach to the diffusion approximation theory for selective photothermolysis modeling and its implication in laser treatment of port‐wine stains
Authors: Shafirstein Gal , Bäumler Wolfgang , Lapidoth Moshe , Ferguson Scott , North Paula E. , Waner Milton 
Published: April 2004

AbstractBackground and ObjectivesMonte Carlo (MC) simulations of light–tissue interactions and analytical solutions for the diffusion approximation theory have been used to determine the optimal laser wavelength and radiant exposure to treat port‐wine stains (PWS). Both approaches suggest that optimal parameters are a wavelength of 585 or 595‐nm with pulse times of 0.45–20 milliseconds. However, which parameters are optimal is still unclear. As differences in vessel size and in temperature distribution within vessels appeared to be the main reasons for the varied responses to the same laser treatments, we sought to develop a solution to the diffusion approximation in order to calculate temperature distribution and the resulting coagulation pattern within specific blood vessels.Study Design/Materials and MethodsThe light and heat diffusion equations were simultaneously solved with the finite element method (FEM). The latent heat of evaporation was included in the thermal analysis. The temperature and coagulation patterns across specific blood vessels, within a heterogeneous medium, were calculated for laser wavelengths of 585 and 595‐nm with clinical parameters.ResultsAt 1.2 mm deep, the calculations predicted that vessels ranging from 50 to 100 μm in diameter would be coagulated from top to bottom, small vessels (10 μm) would be spared, and vessels larger than 150 μm would be partially coagulated. Coagulation across vessels was more uniform for the 595‐nm than for the 585‐nm wavelength. Maximal temperatures did not exceed 100°C because of the inclusion of latent heat in the thermal calculations.ConclusionsTo study laser treatments of PWS with the diffusion approximation, FEM is an effective method to calculate the coagulation patterns within specific blood vessels. To improve coagulation efficacy at 585 and 595‐nm wavelengths, the radiant exposure should be increased without increasing the irradiance. Lasers Surg. Med. 34:335–347, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Crack Patterns in Thin Polymer Layers
Authors: Weh Lothar , Venthur Astrid 
Published: April 2004

AbstractSummary: During the solidification of thin polymer layers different crack patterns can occur. There are several mechanisms of the development of regular crack defects and layer fractures. In case of self‐organization caused by Marangoni instability at the fluid layer surface the substrate can be periodically uncovered by spreading motions when dewetting hinders a back flow from the higher spots of the layer. Another type of crack patterns is generated from shrinkage processes and stress differences in the drying layer. Mostly these patterns are characterized by intersecting straight cracks. In this paper some examples of unusual shrinkage‐crack patterns in polymer layers are presented. Their propagation is independent on surface flow and surface deformations caused by the Marangoni effect, although the strength of polymer layers is impaired by the interfacial instability. Especially at layer edges or spots with thickness differences one can observe periodic wavy or circularly bend shrinkage‐crack structures. As a third type ramified surface defects are studied in thin layers. Often they only propagate at the layer surface.Wavy shrinkage‐cracks in a PMMA layer with longish surface elevations.imageWavy shrinkage‐cracks in a PMMA layer with longish surface elevations.
Proteins as biomarkers of oxidative/nitrosative stress in diseases: The contribution of redox proteomics
Authors: Dalle‐Donne Isabella , Scaloni Andrea , Giustarini Daniela , Cavarra Eleonora , Tell Gianluca , Lungarella Giuseppe , Colombo Roberto , Rossi Ranieri , Milzani Aldo 
Published: April 2004

Abstract  I.Introduction00 II.Reactive Oxygen and Nitrogen Species00 III.Biological Markers of Oxidative/Nitrosative Stress00 IV.Oxidative/Nitrosative Stress and Protein Modifications00A.  Oxidative/Nitrosative Modification of Protein Thiols00B.  Oxidative/Nitrosative Modification of Tyrosine00C.  Oxidative Modification of Methionine00D.  Protein Carbonylation00E.  Oxidative Modification of Histidine and Tryptophan00  V.MS Approaches for the Molecular Characterization of Oxidatively/Nitrosatively Modified Proteins00A.  Analysis of Oxidized/Nitrosated Products of Protein Thiols00B.  Analysis of Oxidized/Nitrated Products of Tyrosine Residues00C.  Analysis of Oxidized Products of Methionine Residues00D.  Analysis of Protein Carbonylation Products00E.  Analysis of Oxidized Products of Tryptophan Residues00F.  Analysis of Oxidized Products of Histidine Residues00  VI.Proteomic Strategies for the Identification of ROS/RNS Targets in Complex Protein Mixtures00 VII.Selected Human Diseases Associated with Oxidative/Nitrosative Stress00A.  Acute (Adult) Respiratory Distress Syndrome00B.  Alzheimer's Disease00C.  Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis00D.  Asthma00E.  Atherosclerosis00F.  Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Diseases00G.  Diabetes Mellitus00H.  HIV Infection00I.  Preeclampsia00J.  Rheumatoid Arthritis00K.  Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies00 VIII.Oxidatively Modified Proteins in Human Diseases00  IX.Concluding Remarks and Future Perspectives00Acknowledgments00Abbreviations00References00Reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS) contribute to the pathogenesis and/or progression of several human diseases. Proteins are important molecular signposts of oxidative/nitrosative damage. However, it is generally unresolved whether the presence of oxidatively/nitrosatively modified proteins has a causal role or simply reflects secondary epiphenomena. Only direct identification and characterization of the modified protein(s) in a given pathophysiological condition can decipher the potential roles played by ROS/RNS‐induced protein modifications. During the last few years, mass spectrometry (MS)‐based technologies have contributed in a significant way to foster a better understanding of disease processes. The study of oxidative/nitrosative modifications, investigated by redox proteomics, is contributing to establish a relationship between pathological hallmarks of disease and protein structural and functional abnormalities. MS‐based technologies promise a contribution in a new era of molecular medicine, especially in the discovery of diagnostic biomarkers of oxidative/nitrosative stress, enabling early detection of diseases. Indeed, identification and characterization of oxidatively/nitrosatively modified proteins in human diseases has just begun. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc., Mass Spec Rev
Intelligent decision system for self‐assessment
Authors: Xu Dong‐Ling , Yang Jian‐Bo 
Published: April 2004

AbstractMany small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the UK use the beta (Business Excellence Through Action) approach to the EFQM Excellence Model to conduct business excellence self‐assessment, which is in essence a multiple criteria decision analysis (MCDA) problem. This paper introduces a decision support software package called Intelligent Decision System (IDS) to implement the beta approach. It is demonstrated in the paper that the IDS‐beta package can provide not only average scores but also the following numerical results and graphical displays on:

Distributed assessment results to demonstrate the diversity of company performances

The performance range to cater for incomplete assessment information

Comparisons

between current performances and past performances,

among different companies

among different action plans.

Strengths and weaknesses

The IDS‐beta package also provides a structured knowledge base to help assessors to make judgements more objectively. The knowledge base contains guidelines provided by the developers of the beta approach, best practices gathered from research on award winning organizations, evidence collected from companies being assessed and comments provided by assessors to record the reasons why a specific criterion is assessed to a certain grade for a company. Four small UK companies, the industry partners of the research project, have carried out the preliminary self‐assessment using the package. The results and experience of the application are discussed at the end of the paper. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Multicriteria approval and SMAA‐O in natural resources decision analysis with both ordinal and cardinal criteria
Authors: Kangas Jyrki , Kangas Annika 
Published: April 2004

AbstractMulticriteria approval (MA) and stochastic multicriteria acceptability analysis with ordinal criteria (SMAA‐O) methods have been specially developed for making use of low‐quality information in multicriteria decision support. In this study, MA and SMAA‐O are applied to forestry decision support with both ordinal and cardinal criteria. On grounds of experiences gained, conclusions are given on the practical applicability of the methods.MA favoured an alternative that obtained mediocre rankings in SMAA‐O analysis. On the other hand, the probability of this alternative having the worst ranks was negligible. Therefore, MA suits for managing situations with severely conflicting criteria or preferences. An additional benefit of MA is that it is intuitively easy to understand. SMAA‐O, in turn, favoured several distinctive alternatives each promoting some but usually not the same criterion or a group of criteria. SMAA‐O provides many‐sided analyses on the choice problem, but it is more complicated and harder to understand. Its characteristics are best utilized in analyses involving uncertainty and both cardinal and ordinal data. In cases of very‐low‐quality information involved, as is typical in participatory processes, for instance, MA may be a good approach.In the case planning problem, different forest plan alternatives proved to be ‘the best ones’ according to MA and SMAA‐O analyses, and the final choice was neither of them. However, after comprehensive interpretation of the results given by both methods the final choice was clear. Both methods gave valuable results and insights in the case problem, and they were complementary to each other. A conclusion is that applying them both together in the case planning process would have been recommendable. MA can serve as a tool to approach the problem in the first stage and to learn the very nature of the decision problem. After MA analyses, a sound basis is gained in the sense of both behavioural and technical aspects for more detailed and in‐depth analyses by SMAA‐O. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Increased risk of head tremor in women with essential tremor: Longitudinal data from the Rochester Epidemiology Project
Authors: Hardesty David E. , Maraganore Demetrius M. , Matsumoto Joseph Y. , Louis Elan D. 
Published: April 2004

AbstractIn one cross‐sectional study of a community in northern Manhattan, women with essential tremor (ET) were more likely to have head tremor than were men. In that study, patients were seen at one point in time, rather than followed longitudinally. Head tremor often develops after arm tremor, and its appearance in patients with ET may therefore be a function of duration of follow‐up. In a second epidemiological study utilizing the Rochester Epidemiology Project, in which ET subjects were followed from disease diagnosis to death, we determined whether there was an association between female gender and head tremor. We utilized the records‐linkage system of the Rochester Epidemiology Project to identify ET cases. Records were reviewed and clinical data abstracted by a neurologist specializing in movement disorders. A second neurologist reviewed a subsample of records. There were 107 ET cases (69 women, 38 men) followed for 10.1 ± 9.1 years from ET diagnosis to death. Head tremor was present in 37 (53.6%) women and 5 (13.2%) men (odds ratio [OR] = 7.6, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 2.7–21.9, P < 0.001). In a multivariate linear regression analysis, women remained at high risk for head tremor (OR = 6.5, 95% CI = 2.2–19.0, P = 0.001) independent of disease duration. We found in this longitudinal epidemiological study that women with ET were six times more likely to develop head tremor over the course of their illness than were men. The reason for the association between gender and head tremor, which has now been demonstrated in several studies, is not known, but it could reflect gender differences in the distribution of disease pathology within the brain. © 2004 Movement Disorder Society
Nitric oxide modulates presynaptic afferent depolarization of mechanosensory neurons
Authors: Schuppe Hansjürgen , Newland Philip L. 
Published: April 2004

AbstractIn crayfish, movement of the tailfan causes stimulation of exteroceptive sensory hairs located on its surface. Movement is monitored by a proprioceptor, the protopodite‐endopodite chordotonal organ within the tailfan. Proprioceptive afferents provide indirect presynaptic inhibitory inputs to sensory hair afferents in the form of primary afferent depolarizations (PADs). Bath application of nitric oxide (NO) substrates, donors and scavengers, and nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitors had no effect on the responses of proprioceptive afferents during imposed movements of the chordotonal organ. In contrast, the amplitude of PADs in exteroceptive hair afferents was dependent on NO levels. NO levels were altered by bath‐application of the NO‐precursor L‐arginine, the NO donor SNAP, the NOS‐inhibitor L‐NAME, and the NO scavenger PTIO, while changes in PAD amplitude were measured. Application of L‐arginine or SNAP resulted in consistent decreases in PAD amplitude, whereas L‐NAME and PTIO induced increases in PAD amplitude. These results suggest that endogenous NO decreases inhibitory inputs to exteroceptive neurons, thus enhancing transmitter release at their output synapses. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Neurobiol 59: 331–342, 2004
Seasonal plasticity in the copulatory neuromuscular system of green anole lizards: A role for testosterone in muscle but not motoneuron morphology
Authors: Holmes Melissa M. , Wade Juli 
Published: April 2004

AbstractThe copulatory system of green anoles is highly sexually dimorphic. Males possess bilateral copulatory organs called hemipenes, each independently controlled by two muscles: the transversus penis (TPN) and retractor penis magnus (RPM). The TPN everts the hemipene through the cloaca and the RPM retracts it. Adult females do not possess hemipenes or either of these two muscles. The spinal nucleus projecting to the TPN and RPM contains more and larger motoneurons in males than females. Because anoles breed seasonally, two experiments were designed to test whether adult copulatory morphology varies with environmental condition, and if so, whether the effect is mediated by testicular androgens. Three groups of adult males were used in each experiment: males from breeding environmental conditions with reproductive testes (BS); males in breeding conditions with regressed testes (BS‐X); and males in nonbreeding conditions with regressed testes (NBS). Experiment 1 compared gonadally intact males and Experiment 2 compared castrated males treated with either testosterone (T) or an empty implant. In both experiments, copulatory and control motoneurons appeared smaller in NBS males, but T did not affect their size. In contrast, while hemipene and RPM muscle fiber size were not plastic across season in gonadally intact males, T in castrated males significantly increased both measures under BS and BS‐X, but not NBS, conditions. These results demonstrate that neuron soma size might change on a general level and environmental cues can mediate T‐induced changes in peripheral structures, suggesting that plasticity across copulatory system components is regulated by different mechanisms. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Neurobiol 60: 1–11, 2004
Markers of activity patterns in some populations of the Iberian Peninsula
Authors: al‐Oumaoui I. , Jiménez‐Brobeil S. , du Souich P. 
Published: April 2004

AbstractA study was undertaken of musculoskeletal stress markers in the human remains of several ancient populations of the Iberian Peninsula. Frequencies by age group, sex, and side were recorded and compared among the different populations. Results of the study coincide with the available historical and archeological data. The differences observed among these populations are probably due to ecological and socio‐cultural factors. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinase expression in human breast cancer: TIMP‐3 is associated with adjuvant endocrine therapy success
Authors: Span Paul N , Lindberg Raija LP , Manders Peggy , Tjan‐Heijnen Vivianne CG , Heuvel Joop JTM , Beex Louk VAM , Sweep CGJ (Fred) 
Published: April 2004

AbstractTissue inhibitors of matrix metalloproteinase (TIMPs) may be involved in tumour growth, apoptosis, angiogenesis, invasion, and the development of metastases. This study has evaluated the association of the expression levels of the TIMP forms 1, 2, 3, and 4, measured by quantitative real‐time RT‐PCR, with classical clinicopathological characteristics, ie age, menopausal status, tumour size, histological grade, number of involved lymph nodes, and steroid hormone receptor status, and with disease progression and treatment sensitivity in 273 breast cancer patients. The mRNA levels of TIMP‐1 and TIMP‐2 were not associated with any known clinicopathological tumour feature. TIMP‐3 and TIMP‐4 levels were significantly higher in steroid hormone receptor‐positive samples, although the levels of TIMP‐4 were much lower than those of the other TIMPs. Only TIMP‐3 predicted relapse‐free survival (RFS) time differently depending on post‐surgical treatment as, in particular, the interaction of TIMP‐3 with endocrine therapy (p= 0.008, HR = 0.24, 95% CI = 0.09–0.69) contributed significantly to RFS in multivariate Cox regression analysis. In subgroup analyses, the 107 patients treated with tamoxifen differed greatly in prognosis after dichotomization by the median TIMP‐3 level (p= 0.0003). Thus, high tumour levels of the matrix metalloproteinases inhibitor and pro‐apoptotic factor TIMP‐3 are associated with successful tamoxifen treatment of patients with breast cancer. Copyright © 2004 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.