bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Sonography of the normal ulnar nerve at Guyon's canal and of the common peroneal nerve dorsal to the fibular head
Authors: Peeters Els Y. , Nieboer Koenraad H. , Osteaux Michel M. 
Published: September 2004

AbstractPurposeThis study was conducted to evaluate the ability of sonography to visualize the ulnar nerve at Guyon's canal and the common peroneal nerve dorsal to the fibular head and to test for correlations between nerve measurements and subject characteristics.MethodsWe used a 5–12‐MHz linear‐array transducer in sonographic evaluation of 15 healthy adult volunteers. We evaluated the correlations between nerve diameters and surface areas and subject body mass index and height. We also tested for differences between nerve measurements in women and men and between nerve measurements from the left and right sides of the body.ResultsBoth nerves were visualized in all subjects. Subject height correlated significantly with the anteroposterior diameter of the right ulnar nerve. Body mass index correlated significantly with the surface area of both ulnar nerves, with the anteroposterior diameter of both ulnar nerves, with the transverse diameter of the left ulnar nerve, and with the transverse diameter of the right common peroneal nerve. There was a statistically significant difference in anteroposterior diameter of the left ulnar and left common peroneal nerves between women and men. There were no significant differences between left‐ and right‐side measurements for the combined data from the entire group of subjects.ConclusionsA 5–12‐MHz linear‐array transducer readily allows for visualization of the ulnar nerve at Guyon's canal and the common peroneal nerve dorsal to the fibular head. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Ultrasound 32:375–380, 2004
Wide‐range length metrology by dual‐imaging‐unit atomic force microscope based on porous alumina
Authors: Zhang Dongxian , Zhang Haijun , Lin Xiaofeng 
Published: September 2004

AbstractA new dual‐imaging‐unit atomic force microscope (DIU‐AFM) was developed for wide‐range length metrology. In the DIU‐AFM, two AFM units were combined, one as a reference unit, and the other a test one. Their probes with Z piezo elements and tips were horizontally set in parallel at the same height to reduce errors due to geometric asymmetry. An XY scanner was attached to an XY block that was able to move in the X direction with a step of about 500 nm. A standard porous alumina film was employed as the reference sample. Both reference sample and test sample were installed at the center of the XY scanner on the same surface and were simultaneously imaged. The two images had the same lateral size, and thus the length of the test sample image could be accurately measured by counting the number of periodic features of the reference one. The XY block together with the XY scanner were next moved in the X direction for about 1.5 μm and a second pair of reference and test images were obtained by activating the scanner. In this way, a series of pairs of images were acquired and could be spliced into two wide‐range reference and test images, respectively. Again, the two spliced images were of the same size and the length of test image was measured based on the reference one. This article presents a discussion about the structure and control of the DIU‐AFM system. Some experiments were carried out on the system to demonstrate the method of length calculation and measurement. Experiments show a satisfactory result of wide‐range length metrology based on the hexagonal features of the porous alumina with a periodic length of several tens of nanometers. Using this method the DIU‐AFM is capable of realizing nanometer‐order accuracy length metrology when covering a wide range from micron to several hundreds of microns, or even up to millimeter order. Microsc. Res. Tech. 64:223–227, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Multidimensional long‐term time‐lapse microscopy of in vitro peripheral nerve regeneration
Authors: Öztürk Gürkan , Erdoǧan Ender 
Published: September 2004

AbstractIn order to test the effectiveness of a new advanced time‐lapse microscopy imaging and image processing and analysis system, and to do quantitative and qualitative temporal analyses of in vitro peripheral nerve regeneration, long‐term time‐lapse imaging of cultures of mouse dorsal root ganglia (DRGs) was performed. DRGs were placed in a Petri dish, covered with collagen gel, their attached peripheral nerves were cut in the middle, creating a gap, and the dish was filled with culture medium. Six preparations were kept on the time‐lapse imaging system, which provides a suitable incubation environment and enables to capture images from multiple coordinates at x,y,z axes at desired time intervals for 13 days. In general, the time‐lapse imaging system proved quite stable and efficient, although some improvements are certainly required. Two main components of peripheral nerve regeneration, outgrowth of axons and activities of resident cells, were examined. Axons started to grow during the first hour of incubation with a 16.5 μm/h rate and showed the slowest rates (0.7 μm/h) on days 8 and 9, after which they resumed higher speeds again. The first cell came out of the proximal end of the cut nerve on the second day and it was a Schwann cell (SC), which was the prominent cell type in the preparations throughout the experiment. SCs were higher in number (83.15% of all cells) but slower in migration (3.4 vs. 7.3 μm/h, P < 0.001) than other cells. Other observed characteristics of axonal outgrowth and cellular activity and interactions between axons and the cells are discussed. Microsc. Res. Tech. 64:228–242, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Chiral recognition in solution and the gas phase. Experimental and theoretical studies of aromatic D‐ and L‐amino acid–Cu(II)–chiragen complexes
Authors: Seymour Jennifer L. , Tureček František , Malkov Andrei V. , Kočovský Pavel 
Published: September 2004

AbstractThis study was focused on distinguishing L‐ and D‐enantiomers of amino acids using electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI‐MS) of ternary complexes with Cu(II) and chiral derivatives of bipyridine. A pinene‐annulated derivative of 2,2′‐bipyridine, (5R,7S,8S)‐(−)‐5,6,7,8‐tetrahydro‐6,6,8‐trimethyl‐2‐(pyridin‐2‐yl)‐5,7‐methanoquinoline, called a chiragen, was used as the auxiliary ligand bound to Cu(II) to study the complexation of D‐ and L‐phenylalanine and D‐ and L‐tryptophan and their detection by MS. NMR studies showed that the D‐ and L‐amino acid complexes can be distinguished in solution by the difference in the amount of band broadening of the α‐carbon proton, with the D‐complex showing greater broadening from a more intense interaction with the paramagnetic copper center. In ESI‐MS studies, the ion abundances for the analyte complexes were compared with those of internal standards to investigate competition in binding to Cu(II)chiragen between the internal standard and D‐ and L‐amino acids. The D‐Phe complex showed stronger binding than the L‐Phe complex, although differences in response related to solvent effects were also apparent. In studies involving two separate internal standards, the Trp enantiomers were practically indistinguishable in all but one solvent environment. In 100% methanol, the L‐Phe and D‐Phe complexes were readily distinguished and the L‐Phe complex out‐competed the L‐Phe complex by a factor of two. Density functional theory calculations were performed on D‐ and L‐complexes of Phe and Trp to determine the optimized geometries and the most energetically favorable structures. Calculations agreed with experiments, where the D‐Phe complex was the most stable structure, while the L‐Trp and D‐Trp complexes were comparably stable in the gas phase. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Accuracy of enthalpy and entropy determination using the kinetic method: are we approaching a consensus?
Authors: Drahos László , Peltz Csaba , Vékey Károly 
Published: September 2004

AbstractThere is an emerging consensus regarding the applicability of the kinetic method. All parties acknowledge that it is an approximate quantitative technique, capable of yielding not only enthalpy, but also entropy values. Opinions differ mainly on the accuracy of the results but it is agreed that the energy (effective temperature) dependence of kinetic method plots needs to be checked in all but the simplest of cases. When the ‘apparent basicity’ is found to depend on collision energy (and hence effective temperature), the extended kinetic method must be used. We have performed a large‐scale modeling study, involving thousands of randomly selected molecular systems and a variety of experimental conditions, using exact calculations and realistic data sets. The results show that when the measured entropy difference between the two competing reaction channels is less than ∼35 J mol−1 K−1, overall errors (standard deviations) of ΔH298 determined by the kinetic method are ±5 kJ mol−1; those of ΔS298 are ±10 J mol−1 K−1. These include not only inherent errors of the kinetic method, but also errors in ion abundance measurement (5%) and inaccurate knowledge of reference compound thermochemistry (±2 kJ mol−1, on average). We recommend, in general, that these errors be reported in kinetic method studies. When the measured entropy difference between the two competing fragmentation channels is large (>35 J mol−1 K−1), it is likely to be significantly underestimated and errors of the kinetic method increase significantly. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Internalization of the dengue virus is cell cycle modulated in HepG2, but not vero cells
Authors: Phoolcharoen Waranyoo , Smith Duncan R. 
Published: September 2004

AbstractWhile many studies have investigated the relationship between cell type and dengue virus infection, no study to date has examined the effect of cell physiology on permissiveness to infection. Unsynchronized and artificially synchronized cell populations at different stages of the cell cycle of two cell types (Vero and HepG2) were examined for permissiveness to infection by two dengue virus serotypes (serotypes 2 and 3) by determining both the levels of virus produced as well as the percentage of cells infected. Vero cells showed no significant differences between either viral production or percentage of cells infected as compared to unsynchronized cells for any of the phases investigated, although production of virus (for both serotypes 2 and 3) was somewhat lower for cells infected during S phase. In contrast, HepG2 cells were significantly more permissive for both infection and virus production in the G2 phase as compared to other phases examined and serotype differences in permissiveness to infection were noted with cells in the M phase of the cell cycle. These results suggest that the cell cycle may be a mediator of cell permissiveness in some cell types. J. Med. Virol. 74:434–441, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Dominant expression of interleukin‐10 and transforming growth factor‐β genes in activated T‐cells of chronic active epstein–barr virus infection
Authors: Ohga Shouichi , Nomura Akihiko , Takada Hidetoshi , Tanaka Tamami , Furuno Kenji , Takahata Yasushi , Kinukawa Naoko , Fukushima Noriyasu , Imai Shosuke , Hara Toshiro 
Published: September 2004

AbstractChronic active Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) infection is a chronic mononucleosis syndrome associated with clonal proliferation of EBV‐carrying T‐/natural killer (NK)‐cells. High levels of circulating EBV and activated T‐cells are sustained during the prolonged disease course, whereas it is not clear how ectopic EBV infection in T‐/NK‐cells has been established and maintained. To assess the biological role of activated T‐cells in chronic active EBV infection (CAEBV), EBV DNA and cellular gene expressions in peripheral T‐cells were quantified in CAEBV and infectious mononucleosis (IM) patients. In CAEBV, HLA‐DR+ T‐cells had higher viral load and larger amounts of IFNγ, IL‐10, transforming growth factor‐beta (TGFβ), and cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen‐4 (CTLA4) mRNA than HLA‐DR−T‐cells. HLA‐DR+ T cells of IM patients transcribed more IFNγ and IL‐10 than their HLA‐DR−T cells. Expression levels of IFNγ and forkhead box p3 (Foxp3) in CAEBV HLA‐DR+ T‐cells were higher than in IM HLA‐DR+ T‐cells. The effective variables to discriminate the positivity of HLA‐DR were IL‐10, IFNγ, CTLA4, TGFβ, and IL‐2 in the order of statistical weight. EBV load in CAEBV T‐cells correlated with the expression levels of only IL‐10 and TGFβ. These results suggest that CAEBV T‐cells are activated to transcribe IFNγ, IL‐10, and TGFβ excessively, and the latter two genes are expressed preferentially in the EBV‐infected subsets. The dominant expression of regulatory cytokines in T‐cells may imply a viral evasion mechanism in the disease. J. Med. Virol. 74:449–458, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Correlates of human herpes virus‐8 and herpes simplex virus type 2 infections in Northern Cameroon
Authors: Volpi A. , Sarmati L. , Suligoi B. , Montano M. , Rezza G. , Andreoni M. 
Published: September 2004

AbstractThe association between sexual activity and human herpes virus‐8 (HHV‐8) infection has been established, but the mode of acquisition is still unclear. Blood samples from 238 individuals from Northern Cameroon were tested to evaluate the incidence of herpes simplex virus‐2 (HSV‐2), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), Treponema pallidum, and HHV‐8 infections and to identify their possible association. The presence of HSV‐2 antibodies was associated significantly with gender, age, and HIV, HHV‐8 antilatent, and T. pallidum antibodies, but not with HHV‐8 antilytic antibodies. In a multivariate model older age, female gender, seropositivity for HIV, for HHV‐8 latent antigens and for T. pallidum were associated independently with seropositivity for HSV‐2. HSV‐2‐seropositive individuals had significantly higher titers of antibodies to both lytic (P = 0.019) and latent (P = 0.021) HHV‐8 antigens. These results suggest that HSV‐2 infection can contribute to sexual transmission of HHV‐8 infection. J. Med. Virol. 74:467–472, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Hydrophobic dipeptide Leu‐Ile protects against neuronal death by inducing brain‐derived neurotrophic factor and glial cell line‐derived neurotrophic factor synthesis
Authors: Nitta Atsumi , Nishioka Hirofumi , Fukumitsu Hidefumi , Furukawa Yoshiko , Sugiura Haruo , Shen Liya , Furukawa Shoei 
Published: September 2004

AbstractWe investigated whether certain hydrophobic dipeptides, Leu‐Ile, Leu‐Pro, and Pro‐Ile, which partially resemble the site on FK506 that binds to immunophilin, could stimulate glial cell line‐derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) and brain‐derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) synthesis in cultured neurons and found only Leu‐Ile to be an active dipeptide. Leu‐Ile protected against the death of mesencephalic neurons from wild‐type mice but not from mice lacking the BDNF or GDNF gene. Next, we examined the effects of i.p. or i.c.v. administration of Leu‐Ile on BDNF and GDNF contents. Both types of administration increased the contents of BDNF and GDNF in the striatum of mice. Also, peripheral administration of Leu‐Ile inhibited dopaminergic (DA) denervation caused by unilateral injection of 6‐hydroxydopamine (6‐OHDA) into the striatum of mice. The number of rotations following a methamphetamine challenge was lower in the Leu‐Ile‐treated group than in the nontreated group. Next, we compared the calcineurin activity and immunosuppressant activity of Leu‐Ile with those of FK506. Leu‐Ile was not inhibitory toward calcineurin cellular activity in cultured neuronal cells. Furthermore, Leu‐Ile did not suppress concanavalin A (ConA)‐induced synthesis/secretion of interleukin‐2 by cultured spleen cells, suggesting that the immunosuppressant activity of Leu‐Ile may be negligible when used as a therapeutic tool for neurodegenerative diseases. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Maternal hypoxia during pregnancy induces fetal neurodevelopmental brain damage: Partial protection by magnesium sulfate
Authors: Golan H. , Kashtuzki I. , Hallak M. , Sorokin Y. , Huleihel M. 
Published: September 2004

AbstractFetal low brain oxygenation may be an outcome of maternal complications during pregnancy and is associated with increased risk of cerebral palsy and periventricular leukomalacia in newborns. One treatment used for prevention of fetal brain damage is maternal treatment with MgSO4. Although this treatment is indicated to reduce the risk of cerebral palsy in newborns, its use remains controversial. We have shown previously that pretreatment with MgSO4 in a mouse model of maternal hypoxia prevented a delay in the development of motor reflexes induced by hypoxia. We demonstrate here that pretreatment with MgSO4 reduces hypoxia‐induced motor disabilities in adult offspring. This effect is associated with histologic protection of the Purkinje cells in the cerebellum and stabilization of brain‐derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels in the cerebellum. MgSO4 did not prevent the reduction in cerebral cortex cell density and cell size induced by maternal hypoxia, however, nor did it interfere with the modulation of BDNF and nerve growth factor (NGF) expression in the cerebral cortex. MgSO4 pretreatment also prevented the impairment of short‐term memory (30 min, P < 0.05) but not long‐term memory (7 days). Nevertheless, maternal pretreatment with MgSO4 reduced CA1 cell layer width and induced alterations in both NGF and BDNF in the hippocampus. These results support the prophylactic effect of MgSO4 against motor disabilities; however, they may also indicate possible harmful effects on the cerebral cortex and hippocampus. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Re‐examination of the adsorption and reduction processes of thiosemicarbazide at a silver electrode: SERS, UV–visible and capillary electrophoresis studies
Authors: Andrade Gustavo F. S. , Micke Gustavo A. , Tavares Marina F. M. , Temperini Marcia L. A. 
Published: September 2004

AbstractThe faradaic reduction process of thiosemicarbazide (TSC) on a silver electrode in acidic solution was investigated using surface‐enhanced Raman scattering (SERS), UV–visible and capillary electrophoresis. No faradaic reduction product was detected, in disagreement with a previous SERS report. The TSC adsorption process on a silver electrode with different electrolyte anions in neutral solution was also studied by SERS and the change in the relative intensities of the TSC bands with the applied potential is explained based on variations in the TSC adsorbed conformations. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Differences in microbial activity of digesta from three sections of the porcine large intestine according to in vitro fermentation of carbohydrate‐rich substrates
Authors: Bauer Eva , Williams Barbara A , Bosch Marlou W , Voigt Christina , Mosenthin Rainer , Verstegen Martin WA 
Published: September 2004

AbstractTo determine whether faecal microorganisms can represent the entire large intestinal population, samples from caecum, mid‐colon and rectum of three adult pigs were used for the in vitro fermentation of fructo‐oligosaccharide (FOS), potato starch, wheat bran and oat hulls. The cumulative gas production technique measured fermentation kinetics and end‐products such as total gas, NH3 and volatile fatty acids (VFA). There were significant differences in the fermentability of substrates, in terms of both kinetics and end‐products. More relevant to this study, there were also differences between pigs in respect of total gas production, the rate of gas production (RM) and VFA production. For large intestine sections, there were more VFA from mid‐colon and rectal inocula compared with that from the caecum (p < 0.0001). Total gas, RM and NH3 were highest for rectal, intermediate for mid‐colon and lowest for caecal inocula (p < 0.0001). It was concluded that, while faecal sampling might overestimate caecal fermentation, its use is valid for in vitro assessment of large intestinal fermentation. However, differences between pigs indicate that a mix of samples from several animals remains important. Copyright © 2004 Society of Chemical Industry
Influence of enzymes on rheological, microstructure and quality characteristics of parotta—an unleavened Indian flat bread
Authors: Prabhasankar P , Indrani D , Jyotsna R , Venkateswara Rao G 
Published: September 2004

AbstractEnzymes are used in the baking and milling industries to control dough properties and improve the quality of finished products. The role of enzymes in the baking process of an unleavened Indian flat bread, namely South Indian parotta, was studied. In this connection, comparisons have been made on the effects of different enzymes such as fungal α‐amylase (FA), glucose oxidase (GO), proteinase and xylanase on rheological characteristics and microstructure of parotta dough and its relation to the overall quality characteristics of baked parotta. Addition of GO increased, while FA, xylanase and proteinase decreased farinograph stability. Extensograph resistance to extension increased with GO or xylanase and decreased with FA or proteinase. The extensibility increased with FA, xylanase or proteinase and decreased with GO. The microstructure of parotta dough with different enzymes revealed that the use of proteinase improved the continuous gluten formation compared with the control and the other three enzymes, FA, xylanase and GO. This could be due to the proteinase enzyme breaking larger protein fibrils into smaller fibrils and thus enhancing the continuous gluten film formation. A similar observation was also noted in the microstructure of baked parotta layers. The microstructure of parotta with proteinase enzyme showed a continuous network of protein films compared with a cluster of protein films in parotta with GO. In the case of xylanase‐treated parotta, the starch granules were deformed completely and these deformed starch granules were found sticking to the protein films. In parottas prepared with GO and FA, only a few starch granules with faint outlines were visible. Generally speaking, the overall quality score of parotta decreased to 68 and 64 with the use of FA and, GO respectively, as against the control parotta score of 74. The score increased to 92 and 82 with the addition of proteinase and xylanase, respectively. Copyright © 2004 Society of Chemical Industry
The wet corrosion of molybdenum thin film – Part II: Behavior at 85°C
Authors: Tomachuk C. R. , De Rosa L. , Springer J. , Mitton D. B. , Saiello S. , Bellucci F. 
Published: September 2004

AbstractIn the past few years there has been increased interest in molybdenum thin films, which are commonly prepared by magnetron sputtering. There is a variety of novel applications of molybdenum such as, for example, components for soft X‐ray optics based on Mo/Si multi‐layers, the back contact in thin film solar cells, NO gas detection, and microelectronics. Molybdenum is, also, widely used as an alloying addition in stainless steels to facilitate the formation of the passive film and to improve resistance to pitting attack. Its corrosion behaviour is complex and many aspects still need to be clarified. During this study, the corrosion behaviour of the PVD‐Mo thin film immersed in aerated sulfate and chloride solutions at 85°C was investigated with both polarization and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) measurements. It is apparent that the Mo thin film exhibits increased susceptibility to corrosion in more alkaline environments.