bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Conformation of peptides constructed from achiral amino acid residues Aib and ΔZPhe: Computational study of the effect of L/D‐ Leu at terminal positions
Authors: Nandel Fateh Singh , Khare Baldeep 
Published: December 2004

AbstractConformational studies of the peptides constructed from achiral amino acid residues Aib and ΔZPhe (I) Ac‐Aib‐ΔZPhe‐NHMe (II), and Ac‐(Aib‐ΔZPhe)3‐NHMe; peptides III–VI having L‐Leu or D‐Leu at either the N‐ or the C‐terminal position and of peptides VII–X having Leu residues in different enantiomeric combinations at both the N‐ and the C‐terminal positions in peptide II have been studied to design the peptide with the required helical sense. Peptide II, as expected, adopts degenerate left‐ and right‐handed helical structures. It has been shown that the peptides IV and VI having D‐Leu at either the N or the C terminus can be realized in the right‐handed helical structure with the ϕ,ψ values of −20° and −60° for the Aib/ΔZPhe residues. L‐Leu and D‐ Leu at both the terminals in peptides VII and VIII, respectively, have hardly any effect as both the left‐ and the right‐handed structures are found to be degenerate. Peptides III and IX can be realized in right‐ and left‐handed helical structures, respectively, in solvents of low polarity whereas peptides V and X are predicted to be in the right‐handed helical structures stabilized by carbonyl–carbonyl interactions without the formation of hydrogen bonds. The conformational states with the ϕ,ψ values of 0° and −85° in peptide V are characterized by rise per residue of 2.03 Å, rotation per residue of 117.5°, and 3.06 residues per turn. In all peptides having Leu residue at the N terminus, the methyl moiety of the acetyl group is involved in the CH/π interactions with the CϵCδ edge of the aromatic ring of ΔZPhe (3) and the amino group NH of ΔZPhe is involved in the NH/π interactions with its own aromatic ring. The CH3 groups of the Aib residues are also involved in CH/π interactions with the i + 1th and i + 3th ΔZPhe's aromatic side chains. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Biopolymers, 2005
HLA‐B27 typing: Evaluation of an allele‐specific PCR melting assay and two flow cytometric antigen assays
Authors: Seipp Michael T. , Erali Maria , Wies Rae Lynn , Wittwer Carl 
Published: December 2004

AbstractBackgroundHuman leukocyte antigen B27 (HLA‐B27) is a major histocompatibility complex class 1 molecule that is strongly associated with the disease ankylosing spondylitis. Testing for HLA‐B27 is of diagnostic value because 90% of patients with ankylosing spondylitis have the B27 antigen. Two commonly used HLA‐B27 flow cytometric assays are commercially available.MethodsAn allele‐specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) melting assay for HLA‐B27 was compared with two available antigen assays on 371 clinical samples. The accuracy of the assays was measured by receiver operating characteristic analysis using the PCR method and sequencing as the reference standard.ResultsWhen PCR results were compared with those of the antigen assays, complete concordance was observed except for five discrepant results that were resolved by sequence analysis. Using DNA sequencing as the gold standard, the sensitivity and specificity of PCR were 99.6 and 100.0, those of the best single antigen assay were 98.2 and 97.6, and those of a reflex combination of both antigen assays were 98.8 and 97.6.ConclusionsThe allele‐specific PCR melting assay for HLA‐B27 genotyping is easy to perform and has better sensitivity and specificity than antigen assays. The performance of the two flow cytometric antigen assays depends on the antibody used and the positive cutoff values assigned. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Respiratory syncytial virus‐induced exaggeration of allergic airway disease is dependent upon CCR1‐associated immune responses
Authors: John Alison E. , Gerard Craig J. , Schaller Matthew , Miller Allison L. , Berlin Aaron A. , Humbles Allison A. , Lukacs Nicholas W. 
Published: December 2004

AbstractSevere respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection has a significant impact on airway function, and may alter subsequent development of asthma. CCR1 mRNA was significantly up‐regulated during primary RSV infection in BALB/c mice, and was also up‐regulated during allergen exposure in sensitized mice. Although CCR1–/– mice exhibited similar levels of airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) as wild‐type mice in response to cockroach allergen alone, in animals treated with RSV prior to cockroach antigen (CRA) sensitization and challenge, a significant decrease in exacerbated AHR was observed in the CCR1–/– mice. The reduction in AHR after RSV and allergen challenge in CCR1–/– mice was not associated with changes in peribronchial eosinophilia, but was accompanied by significantly decreased IL‐13 levels in the lungs, as well as an absence of mucus cell staining within the airways. When T lymphocyte numbers were compared in animals receiving CRA to animals receiving a combination of RSV and allergen an increase in both CD4 and CD8 T lymphocytes could be detected in wild‐type but not CCR1–/– animals. Thus, these data suggest that CCR1‐mediated responses have a primary role for inducing severe disease during RSV infection, and may be responsible for altering the lung pathophysiological responses to subsequent allergen challenges via IL‐13‐mediated mechanisms.
High responsiveness of HLA‐B57‐restricted Gag‐specific CD8+ T cells in vitro may contribute to the protective effect of HLA‐B57 in HIV‐infection
Authors: Jansen Christine A. , Kostense Stefan , Vandenberghe Kristin , Nanlohy Nening M. , Cuyper Iris M. De , Piriou Erwan , Manting Erik H. , Miedema Frank , van Baarle Debbie 
Published: December 2004

AbstractHLA‐B57 has been shown to be associated with long‐term asymptomatic HIV‐1 infection. To investigate the biological mechanism by which the HLA‐B57 allele could protect from HIV‐1 disease, we studied both the number of CD8+ T cells as well as CD8+ T cell responsiveness directed to different HIV‐1 Gag peptides presented by HLA‐A2, ‐B8 or ‐B57. T cells specific for the HLA‐B57 peptide KAFSPEVIPMF responded more readily and to a higher extend to antigenic stimulation in vitro than T cells specific for the HLA‐A2 peptide SLYNTVATL or the HLA‐B8 peptide EIYKRWII. This phenomenon was reproducible with T cells from individuals expressing HLA‐B57 in combination with one or both of the other alleles and was persistent during long‐term follow‐up. Lower reactivity of A2‐ and B8‐restricted T cells was not explained by mutations in the B8‐ or A2‐restricted Gag‐peptides. Moreover, no correlation between peptide mutation frequency and IFN‐γ production by the corresponding Gag‐specific T cells was observed. In conclusion, functional differences were observed between T cells specific for HIV epitopes derived from the same protein presented by different HLA molecules. B57‐restricted KAFSPEVIPMF‐specific CD8+ T cells have relatively high responsiveness, which could contribute to the protective effect of HLA‐B57 in HIV infection.
Cover Picture: Bis(trimethylsilyl)acetylene Complexes of Titanocenes and Zirconocenes: Their Recent Chemistry and Reactions with Lewis Acids (Eur. J. Inorg. Chem. 24/2004)
Authors: Rosenthal Uwe , Burlakov Vladimir V. , Arndt Perdita , Baumann Wolfgang , Spannenberg Anke , Shur Vladimir B. 
Published: December 2004

AbstractThe cover picture shows the stable and well‐defined metallocene bis(trimethylsilyl)acetylene complexes Cp2M(L)(η2‐Me3SiC2SiMe3) (M = Ti, without L; M = Zr, L = THF, pyridine), of the pentamethylcyclopentadienyl complexes Cp*2M(η2‐Me3SiC2SiMe3) (M = Ti, Zr) and the ethylenebis(tetrahydroindenyl) complexes rac‐(ebthi)M(η2‐Me3SiC2SiMe3) (M = Ti, Zr). These form an essential basis for recent applications in chemistry. By using different Cp ligands (Cp, Cp*, ebthi), additional ligands (THF, pyridine), and metals (Ti, Zr), a fine‐tuning of several stoichiometric and catalytic reactions was feasible. The latter complexes offer a number of compelling advantages over the widely used other similar metallocene reagents. As a metaphor, this piece of basic research stands “solid as a rock in heavy seas” (in the photo the Baltic Sea nearby Rostock‐Warnemünde), alluding to the fact that fundamental preparative organometallic chemistry provides a solid foundation for attractive applications. Details of this chemistry are described in the Microreview by U. Rosenthal et al. on p. 4739ff.
Hierarchical thermodynamic metrics for evaluating the environmental sustainability of industrial processes
Authors: Yi Heui‐seok , Hau Jorge L. , Ukidwe Nandan U. , Bakshi Bhavik R. 
Published: December 2004

AbstractIndustrial progress toward sustainability requires meaningful, practical, and scientifically sound metrics. Most existing metrics rely on information about material and energy inputs and emissions from the main process and selected processes in its life cycle. Such metrics often result in multiple conflicting variables, making it difficult to use them for decision making. Furthermore, sustainability metrics need to be scientifically rigorous and capable of evaluating the broader economy and ecosystem scale impacts of selected processes and products. This paper proposes a framework for evaluating the environmental sustainability of industrial processes that satisfies these needs. This framework uses exergy analysis to combine different types of material and energy streams in a thermodynamically sound manner. Exergy analysis is also combined with end‐point life‐cycle impact assessment methods for evaluating the impact of emissions. This results in metrics for a selected system with different levels of aggregation ranging from multiple to single dimensions. The challenge of analyzing a process at life cycle and coarser spatial scales is met by combining exergy analysis, life cycle assessment, input–output analysis, and both economic and ecological aspects. The result is a doubly nested hierarchy, which analyzes processes at multiple spatial scales of process, life cycle, economy, and ecosystem. Each scale contains another hierarchy based on the degree of aggregation of the metrics. A case study of the ammonia process illustrates the characteristics of the proposed approach. © 2004 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Environ Prog, 2004
Future‐search conferences at Cornell University
Authors: Warzynski Chester C. 
Published: December 2004

AbstractA future‐search conference is a participatory planning and decision‐making process in which a group of individuals with diverse perspectives come together; engage in a process of data collection, discussion, and learning; and decide on an appropriate course of action. The competencies, skills, and intellectual capital developed as part of this search conference had a significant impact on the faculty.
Comparison of plastic films with different optical properties for soil covering in horticulture: test under simulated environmental conditions
Authors: Heißner Adolf , Schmidt Stefanie , von Elsner Burkhardt 
Published: December 2004

AbstractCovering the soil with plastic film is an important method to modify soil temperature and improve the conditions for plant growth. For the optimal use of films in horticulture, it is necessary to quantify this effect, which depends particularly on the optical properties of the film. Five films, used mainly for soil covering in asparagus cultivation, were tested by measuring the soil temperature as well as the transmittance and reflectance in the short‐ and long‐wavelength bands: ‘Taschenfolie schwarz/weiß’, a film with black and white surfaces and pockets for fastening; ‘Antitaufolie’, a film with anti‐condensation coating, ‘Solartherm plus Folie’, a film with black top and transparent sides; ‘MaterBi Folie’, a biodegradable film; and ‘Thermoplus Folie’, a black polyethylene with transparent sides. All films were produced in Germany. The temperature measurements were carried out under controlled irradiation (short‐wavelength band) and ambient temperature conditions in the laboratory: first, 182 W m−2 and 11 °C at a depth of 0.4 m, and second, 340 W m−2 at 20 °C. A significant relationship between the temperature increase or decrease by covering the soil with the film and the calculated apparent quantities of the reflectance in the short and long‐wavelength band was derived (r2 = 0.85, n = 12). Furthermore, first tests with a physical model were carried out to obtain basic information, which should be used in the development of strategies for film management in the field. Copyright © 2004 Society of Chemical Industry
Genetic analysis of developmental behavior for amylose content in filling process of rice
Authors: Shi Chunhai , Wu Jianguo , Wu Ping 
Published: December 2004

AbstractDynamic genetic effects for amylose content (AC) of indica rice were analyzed at four different filling times/stages using the genetic models for quantitative traits. The expression of triploid endosperm, cytoplasmic and diploid maternal plant genes were important for AC at different developmental stages of rice, especially at the early and middle filling stages. AC of rice was mainly controlled by the cumulative or net endosperm effects and their genotype × environment interaction effects, except at late filling stage which the net maternal effects were larger. The expression of genes at day 7, 14 or 21 after flowering was more easily influenced by the environmental conditions, while the genes' expression at mature stage of rice was stable. Breeding improvement could be achieved by selection for a better variety with a suitable AC because of the larger additive and cytoplasmic effects. The total narrow‐sense heritabilities for AC on days 7, 14, 21 and 28 after flowering were 78.9, 85.6, 80.1 and 70.2%, respectively. The interaction heritability was more important than the general heritability, except at the maturing time of rice. Significant genotypic correlations for AC were observed among developmental times of rice. Copyright © 2004 Society of Chemical Industry
BMP‐7 (OP‐1) in human orthopaedic surgery: Local and systemic effects of application
Authors: Benke G. , Górecki A. 
Published: December 2004

AbstractSix patients with nonunion of long bones, one with delayed bone formation during distraction osteogenesis, and one with nonunion of the neck of the femur were enrolled in a clinical trial. Duration of nonunion was from 8 to 94 months (mean 29,4 months). Recombinant human OP‐1 (BMP‐7) was purchased from the manufacturer. One unit (3,5 mg of active substance mixed with 1 gram of type I bovine bone‐derived collagen) was used in each patient. In four patients OP‐1 implant was delivered by standard open operative procedure, in 3 percutaneously. In one patient with femoral neck nonunion OP‐1 implant was placed intramedullary. No patient had serious adverse reactions related to the implant. At 5 to 8 weeks following the operative procedure five out of 6 patients with nonunion of long bones and one patient with delayed bone formation in distraction osteogenesis were judged by clinical and radiological criteria to have been treated successfully. In one patient with femoral neck nonunion bone union was achieved after 22 weeks. To determine whether the local stimulation with OP‐1 might induce prolonged changes in systemic levels of growth and angiogenic factors, the serum levels of the angiogenin (ANG), interleukin‐8 (IL‐8), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and insulin‐like growth factor‐1 (IGF‐1) were assessed prior, and 1, 2, 6 and 12 weeks after operative treatment with OP‐1 device. There is no evidence for a potentially harmful systemic rise in growth and angiogenesis factors after local administration of the amount of BMP‐7 used in our study.
Force control and disease severity in Parkinson's disease
Authors: Robichaud Julie A. , Pfann Kerstin D. , Vaillancourt David E. , Comella Cynthia L. , Corcos Daniel M. 
Published: December 2004

AbstractSeveral measures of isometric contractions reflect motor impairments in subjects with Parkinson's disease (PD), including long relaxation times and greater power in the 5 to 15 Hz electromyographic (EMG) bandwidth during the holding phase of contractions compared to those measures in healthy subjects. We sought to determine whether the impairments observed in subjects with PD in the performance of isometric contractions reflect disease severity. Twenty‐eight subjects with PD performed isometric contractions at a torque level equal to 50% of the torque generated during a maximum voluntary contraction while off medication. Subjects were instructed to reach the target torque as fast as possible upon hearing the auditory “go” signal and to relax their muscles when a second auditory cue signaled the end of the hold phase. There was a significant positive correlation between torque relaxation time and Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS)‐Motor score. A significant positive correlation was also observed between the proportion of power in the 5 to 15 Hz frequency bin of the agonist EMG signal and UPDRS‐Motor score, and a significant negative correlation between the proportion of power in the 15 to 30 Hz frequency bin and UPDRS‐Motor score. These measures provide objective quantification of the severity of motor impairment that can be used to investigate the efficacy of different interventions in individuals with PD. © 2004 Movement Disorder Society
Crystallization regime characteristics of exfoliated polyethylene/vermiculite nanocomposites
Authors: Tjong S. C. , Bao S. P. 
Published: December 2004

AbstractPolyethylene (PE)–vermiculite (VMT) nanocomposites containing 0.5, 2, 4, 6, and 8 wt % clay loadings were fabricated via direct melt compounding in a twin‐screw extruder. Crystallization kinetics was investigated by means of polarized optical microscopy and differential scanning calorimetry. Moreover, the kinetics of the spherulitic growth of PE–VMT nanocomposites was evaluated with the Lauritzen–Hoffman (LH) secondary nucleation theory. The results showed that the PE–VMT nanocomposite exhibits crystallization regime characteristics. The nucleation constants for regimes I and II were determined from the slope of the LH plots. The fold surface energies (σe) of the PE–VMT nanocomposites were estimated from these slopes. The σe values were found to decrease with an increasing VMT content, up to 2%, in regime I. Further increasing the VMT content resulted in a slight increase of the σe values. In regime II, the σe values of the nanocomposites were generally lower than that of pure PE. These results demonstrated that the exfoliated silicate layers acted as effective nucleation sites for the secondary nucleus of the nanocomposites. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 43: 253–263, 2005
Cytoreduction and sequential resection for surgically verified unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma: Evaluation with analysis of 72 patients
Authors: Tang Zhao‐You , Yu Ye‐Qin , Zhou Xin‐Da , MA Zeng‐Chen , Lu Ji‐Zheu , Lin Zhi‐Ying , Liu Kang‐Da , Ye Sheng‐Long , Yang Bing‐Hui , Wang Hong‐Wei , Sun Hui‐Chuan 
Published: December 2004

AbstractThe poor prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) was partly a result of the majority of unresectable HCCs in clinical patients. Fortunately, with the progress of regional cancer therapies and multimodality treatment, some of the localized unresectable HCCs were converted to resectable ones. During the period 1960–1994, 72 of the 663 patients with surgically verified unresectable HCCs have been converted to resectable. Successful cytoreduction with median diameter reduced from 10 cm to 5 cm was mainly a result of the triple or double combination treatment with hepatic artery ligation, hepatic artery cannulation with infusion, radioimmunotherapy, and fractionated regional radiotherapy. The interval between the first operation and the sequential resection was 5 months. The operative mortality was 1.4% for sequential resection, and the 5‐year survival was 62.1%. Analysis of factors influencing sequential rescction rate revealed HCCs that were single nodule, well encapsulated, situated at right lobe or hepatic hilum, associated with micronodular cirrhosis, and treated with triple or double combination modalities had higher sequential resection rate as compared to their counterparts. Analysis of factors influencing survival after sequential resection revealed that HCCs with a solitary tumor confined in one lobe, without tumor embolus, and without residual cancer in specimen of sequential resection, had longer survival. It is suggested that localized unresectable, solitary, well encapsulated, right lobe or hilar HCC, associated with micronodular cirrhosis, will be good candidates for cytoreduction and sequential resection; and HCCs with unilateral involvement, without tumor embolus, and with complete necrosis of tumor after multimodality treatment favored better prognosis.
Transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) in the treatment of unresectable liver cancer
Authors: Yamada Ryusaku , Kishi Kazushi , Sato Morio , Sonomura Tesuo , Nishida Norifumi , Tanaka Kayo , Shioyama Yasukazu , Terada Masaki , Kimura Masashi 
Published: December 2004

AbstractBasis, techniques, and recent strategies and results of interventional treatments for hepatoma were reviewed. The basic experimental researches indispensable to justify clinical technique and dosage have been accomplished. A total of 1310 unresectable cases underwent transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) and/or related therapies. The related therapies are several modified or strengthened TACE such as Lipiodol‐TACE and subsegmental TACE. The therapies for unembolizable cases are balloon occluded arterial infusion, Lipiodol‐SMANCS infusion and percutaneous direct injection chemotherapy, that reinforces the effect of TACE. As for the resectable cases, postoperative TACE was proved to be beneficial because it increased survival rates; however, preoperative TACE was not beneficial. The TACE and related interventional radiologic therapies for the hepatoma can be an equal or superior therapy by virtue of targeting chemotherapy.
Intralesional ethanol in the treatment of unresectable liver cancer
Authors: Livraghi Tito , Lazzaroni Sergio , Meloni Franca , Torzilli Guido , Vettori Claudio 
Published: December 2004

AbstractPercutaneous ethanol injection (PEI) under ultrasonography guidance has been widely tried in not advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Ten years after the introduction of PEI, some conclusions of its indications can be drawn. In our series, 210 cirrhotic patients were treated; 141 with multisession PEI in an outpatient clinic, 57 with “single session” PEI under general anesthesia, and 12 with both. The 1‐, 3‐, and 5‐year survival rates (by Kaplan‐Meier method) were 93%, 65%, and 41% for Child class A patients with single HCC ≤ 5 cm, and 88%, 47%, and 33% for patients with multiple HCC up to five lesions ≤ 5 cm. In these patients the local recurrence rate was 15% and the new lesion rate at the 5‐year follow‐up was 74%. One death due to hemorrhage from esophageal varices in a Child class C patient treated by single session PEI occurred. The large number of cirrhotic patients enrolled in ultrasonography screening programs has created a large demand for effective, safe, repeatable, low‐cost treatment that can be offered at many centers. PEI meets all these requirements. PEI is proposed as the treatment of choice for the mentioned patients, excluding candidates for liver transplantation and surgical resection according to the predictive adverse factors currently in use. “Single session” technique widened the indications of traditional PEI to larger lesions.