bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Amino acid signaling through the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway: Role of glutamine and of cell shrinkage
Authors: Fumarola Claudia , Monica Silvia La , Guidotti Guido G. 
Published: December 2004

AbstractMammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) mediates a signaling pathway that couples amino acid availability to S6 kinase (S6K) activation, translational initiation and cell growth rate, participating to a versatile checkpoint that inspects the energy status of the cell. The pathway is activated by branched‐chain amino acids (BCAA), leucine being the most effective, whereas amino acid dearth and ATP shortage lead to its deactivation. Glutamine‐ or amino acid‐deprivation and hyperosmotic stress induce a fast cell shrinkage (with marked decrease of the intracellular water volume) associated to mTOR‐dependent S6K1 dephosphorylation. Using cultured Jurkat cells, we have measured the changes of cell content and intracellular concentration of ATP, of relevant amino acids (BCAA) and of ninhydrin‐positive substances (NPS, as measure of NH2‐bearing organic osmolytes) under conditions that deactivate (leucine‐deprivation, glutamine‐deprivation, amino acid withdrawal, sorbitol‐induced hyperosmotic stress) or reactivate a previously deactivated, mTOR‐S6K1 pathway. We have also assessed the mitochondrial function by measurements of mitochondrial transmembrane potential in cells subjected to hypertonic stress. Our results indicate that diverse control signals converge on the mTOR‐S6K1 signaling pathway. In the presence of adequate energy resources, the pathway senses the amino acid availability as inward transport of effective amino acids (as BCAA and especially leucine), but its activation occurs only in the presence of an extracellular amino acid complement, with glutamine as obligatory component, and does not tolerate decrements of cell water volume incapable of maintaining adequate intracellular physicochemical conditions. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Optimized synthesis of lipase‐catalyzed biodiesel by Novozym 435
Authors: Chang Hung‐Min , Liao Hui‐Fen , Lee Chin‐Chia , Shieh Chwen‐Jen 
Published: December 2004

AbstractThe ability of immobilized lipase from Candida antarctica (Novozym 435) to catalyze the alcoholysis of canola oil and methanol was investigated. Response surface methodology (RSM) and five–level–five–factor central composite rotatable design (CCRD) were employed to evaluate the effects of synthesis parameters, such as reaction time, temperature, enzyme concentration, substrate molar ratio of methanol to canola oil, and added water content on percentage weight conversion of canola oil methyl ester by alcoholysis. Reaction temperature and enzyme concentration were the most important variables. High temperature and superabundant methanol inhibited the ability of Novozym 435 to catalyze the synthesis of biodiesel. Based on the analysis of ridge max, the optimum synthesis conditions were as follows: reaction time 12.4 h, temperature 38.0 °C, enzyme concentration 42.3%, substrate molar ratio 3.5:1, and added water 7.2%. The predicted value was 99.4% weight conversion, and the actual experimental value was 97.9% weight conversion. Copyright © 2004 Society of Chemical Industry
Autofocusing in computer microscopy: Selecting the optimal focus algorithm
Authors: Sun Yu , Duthaler Stefan , Nelson Bradley J. 
Published: December 2004

AbstractAutofocusing is a fundamental technology for automated biological and biomedical analyses and is indispensable for routine use of microscopes on a large scale. This article presents a comprehensive comparison study of 18 focus algorithms in which a total of 139,000 microscope images were analyzed. Six samples were used with three observation methods (brightfield, phase contrast, and differential interference contrast (DIC)) under two magnifications (100× and 400×). A ranking methodology is proposed, based on which the 18 focus algorithms are ranked. Image preprocessing was also conducted to extensively reveal the performance and robustness of the focus algorithms. The presented guidelines allow for the selection of the optimal focus algorithm for different microscopy applications. Microsc. Res. Tech. 65:139–149, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
An interferon‐γ‐related cytokine storm in SARS patients
Authors: Huang Kao‐Jean , Su Ih‐Jen , Theron Michel , Wu Yi‐Chun , Lai Shu‐Kuan , Liu Ching‐Chuan , Lei Huan‐Yao 
Published: December 2004

AbstractFourteen cytokines or chemokines were analyzed on 88 RT‐PCR‐confirmed severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) patients. IFN‐γ, IL‐18, TGF‐β, IL‐6, IP‐10, MCP‐1, MIG, and IL‐8, but not of TNF‐α, IL‐2, IL‐4, IL‐10, IL‐13, or TNFRI, were highly elevated in the acute phase sera of Taiwan SARS patients. IFN‐γ was significantly higher in the Ab(+) group than in the Ab(−) group. IFN‐γ, IL‐18, MCP‐1, MIG, and IP‐10 were already elevated at early days post fever onset. Furthermore, levels of IL‐18, IP‐10, MIG, and MCP‐1 were significantly higher in the death group than in the survival group. For the survival group, IFN‐γ and MCP‐1 were inversely associated with circulating lymphocytes count and monocytes count, but positively associated with circulating neutrophils count. It is concluded that an interferon‐γ‐related cytokine storm was induced post SARS coronavirus infection, and this cytokine storm might be involved in the immunopathological damage in SARS patients. J. Med. Virol. 75:185–194, 2005. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Clinical and virological characteristics of untreated patients with chronic hepatitis C who develop serum alanine aminotransferase flare‐up
Authors: Hiraga Nobuhiko , Suzuki Fumitaka , Akuta Norio , Suzuki Yoshiyuki , Sezaki Hitomi , Hosaka Tetsuya , Someya Takashi , Kobayashi Masahiro , Saitoh Satoshi , Arase Yasuji , Ikeda Kenji , Kobayashi Mariko , Matsuda Marie , Watabiki Sachiko , Satoh Junko , Kumada Hiromitsu 
Published: December 2004

AbstractAmong patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) rarely increases above 500 IU/L. We examined the clinical and virological features of untreated patients with serum ALT ≥ 500 IU/L. One thousand seven hundred and sixty adult patients with chronic HCV infection were followed‐up. Among these patients, 22 developed ALT flare‐up (M:F = 13:9, median age, 50.5 years). We evaluated liver function tests, genotype, and viral titer in these patients and 44 randomly selected age‐ and sex‐matched control without ALT flare‐up. In four patients with ALT flare‐up, we examined changes in viral loads and sequential changes in amino acid sequences of the core region, hypervariable region 1 (HVR1), and interferon sensitivity determining region (ISDR) before and after ALT flare‐up. Multivariate analysis identified genotype 2 as the only significant determinant of ALT flare‐up. ALT flare‐up occurred in three of four patients without increase in viral load. Several alterations in amino acids were noted in HVR1 before and within 6 months of ALT flare‐up. One or two alterations in the core region and many alterations in HVR1 were noted after ALT flare‐up in some patients. Genotype 2 is an important factor for ALT flare‐up. However, we could not directly relate ALT flare‐up to these alterations in amino acids of the core region, HVR1, and ISDR. J. Med. Virol. 75:240–248, 2005. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Type 1 interferon augments DNA‐based vaccination against hepatitis C virus core protein
Authors: Gehring Stephan , Gregory Stephen H. , Kuzushita Noriyoshi , Wands Jack R. 
Published: December 2004

AbstractEradication of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection depends upon a broad‐based cellular immune response. Genetic immunization stimulates such a response, but the resultant activity is generally weak. Type 1 interferons (IFNs), which are known for their direct anti‐viral and anti‐proliferative properties, possess vigorous immunomodulatory properties. The aim of this study was to assess the capacity of IFN‐α to augment the cellular immune response to DNA vaccination against HCV core protein. Three types of IFN‐α were investigated: the non‐species‐specific hybrid IFN A/D, human pegylated IFN‐α, and a plasmid that expressed murine IFN‐α. Low doses of hIFN‐A/D and hPegIFN‐α augmented three to fourfold the cellular immune response to DNA‐based vaccination, determined in conventional CTL assays, as well as in an in vivo tumor challenge model. Importantly, augmentation occurred within a narrow concentration range; a further increase in IFN dosage suppressed the CTL response significantly. Humoral immunity showed a very similar pattern of augmentation. These findings demonstrate that the immunomodulatory properties of IFN‐α can be exploited to augment DNA based immunization, but it is important to consider the effects of dose on both cellular and humoral immune response for optimal augmentation. J. Med. Virol. 75:249–257, 2005. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Andes virus stimulates interferon‐inducible MxA protein expression in endothelial cells
Authors: Khaiboullina Svetlana F. , Rizvanov Albert A. , Deyde Varough M. , St. Jeor Stephen C. 
Published: December 2004

AbstractMxA is a cellular protein activated in cells treated with type I interferons. MxA protein is a member of the dynamin superfamily of large guanosine triphosphatases. A unique property of Mx1 GTPases is their antiviral activity against a wide range of RNA viruses. Replication of several hantavirus strains is inhibited in cells constitutively expressing MxA protein. We have found that Andes virus (ANDV) infection up regulates transcription of MxA RNA and expression of MxA protein in human endothelial cells in vitro. Activation of MxA gene expression requires virus replication. Up‐regulation of MxA gene expression in hantavirus infected cells varies depending on the cell type. The degree of activation of MxA gene expression is inversely correlated with the efficiency of hantavirus replication. Additionally, MxA protein is co‐localized with hantavirus nucleocapsid protein in infected cell. Our data suggest that MxA by interacting with the virus nucleocapsid protein inhibits production of new infectious virus particles. J. Med. Virol. 75:267–275, 2005. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
A comparison of epidemiologic and immunologic features of bronchiolitis caused by influenza virus and respiratory syncytial virus
Authors: Garofalo Roberto P. , Hintz Karen H. , Hill Vanessa , Patti John , Ogra Pearay L. , Welliver Robert C. 
Published: December 2004

AbstractWe studied epidemiologic and immunologic factors in infants with bronchiolitis caused by influenza virus. The proportion of these infants who were male and who had an immediate family member with a history of asthma was similar to that of a control group of infants with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) bronchiolitis. In subjects with influenza virus infection, concentrations of the beta chemokine macrophage inflammatory protein‐1alpha (MIP‐1α), but not other beta chemokines, in nasopharyngeal secretions (NPS) were greater among infants with more severe, hypoxic bronchiolitis than in subjects with mild, nonhypoxic bronchiolitis, or upper respiratory tract infection alone. Quantities of MIP‐1α were also correlated with lower values of oxygen saturation. These findings point out epidemiologic and immunologic similarities between bronchiolitis caused by influenza and RSV, and suggest that host factors are more important than the nature of the infecting virus in the development of severe forms of bronchiolitis caused by influenza and RSV. J. Med. Virol. 75:282–289, 2005. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Isoconversional kinetic study of alachlor and metolachlor vaporization by thermal analysis
Authors: Sbirrazzuoli Nicolas , Vecchio Stefano , Catalani Alessia 
Published: December 2004

AbstractThe vaporization kinetics of two acetamide pesticides, namely alachlor and metolachlor, was studied by thermogravimetric analysis under nonisothermal conditions (using heating rates between 1.0 and 10 K min−1). A model‐free isoconversional method of kinetic analysis was proposed, and activation energy dependences on the extent of conversion α for nonisothermal experiments were given. An increase in activation energy is shown for alachlor from 50 to 60 kJ mol−1, while E values do not significantly vary in the range α > 0.1: 63 kJ mol−1 for metolachlor while 60 kJ mol−1 for alachlor. At the end of vaporization (0.9 < α < 1.0), the activation energies are in close agreement with the enthalpies of vaporization calculated from DSC measurements. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 37: 74–80, 2005
Novel microstrip bandpass filter using one equilateral triangular‐patch resonator
Authors: Jianxin Chen , Quan Xue 
Published: December 2004

AbstractA novel compact microstrip bandpass filter using one equilateral triangular‐patch resonator with a small cut is proposed. This filter has the advantages of compact size, low insertion loss in the passband, and sharp rejection in the stopband. Moreover, without coupling gaps, this novel bandpass filter can reduce uncertainty in fabrication. One transmission zero is realized in the low stopband. The theoretical and measured results are presented. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 44: 222–223, 2005; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.20594
Two‐dimensional transverse‐magnetic time‐domain scattering using a predictor/corrector‐based Nyström method
Authors: Wildman Raymond A. , Weile Daniel S. 
Published: December 2004

AbstractThe Nyström method is used to numerically solve the time‐domain integral equations of two‐dimensional transverse‐magnetic electromagnetic scattering. The kernels of the equations are temporally filtered to control aliasing and weaken the singularity. This filtering results in a noncausal kernel, so a simple predictor/corrector approach is used to recover the time‐marching capability. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 44: 231–236, 2005; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.20596
Stopband improvement of a dual‐mode ring bandpass filter using DGS
Authors: Weng Min Hung , Wu Hung Wei 
Published: December 2004

AbstractThis paper presents the improved stopband of a novel dual‐mode bandpass filter (BPF) using an etched H‐shaped defected ground structure (DGS) at 2 GHz. The wide‐stopband characteristic results from the rejection‐band resonant characteristic of the DGS in the harmonic frequency of the dual‐mode BPF. The proposed BPF is designed and fabricated with the following frequency characteristics: central frequency f0 = 2 GHz, 3‐dB bandwidth of 3%, and wide stopband from 2.5 to 5 GHz at −40 dB. The measured results of the fabricated filter show good agreement with the simulation results. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 44: 247–249, 2005; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.20600
On a polarization‐independent frequency‐selective surface (FSS)
Authors: Ditti Sandip Kumar , Das Santanu 
Published: December 2004

AbstractThe frequency‐selective property of an array of rectangular microstrip elements that are resonant at a single frequency and show polarization independency is investigated both theoretically and experimentally. Investigation of the conventional frequency‐selective surface (FSS) of an array of rectangular microstrip patches resonant at a single frequency shows that if the source polarization is changed, the response of the FSS changes very distinctly. But in our modified structure, the frequency response of the FSS remains independent of the source polarization. The measured data indicate a prominent band separation between the transmission and reflection bands of the FSS in the transmission coefficient versus frequency plot. The simulation of the above polarization‐independent FSS has also been carried out in the transmission coefficient versus frequency plot by using a new algorithm of the finite‐difference time‐domain (FDTD) method. It is observed that the simulated result comes very close to the experimental result. This FSS may find applications in satellite communication, especially in the field of radio astronomy where polarization from the source is completely unpredictable or need not be known. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 44: 249–251, 2005; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.20601
A GaAs monolithic linear‐in‐dB wide‐dynamic‐range variable‐gain amplifier with matching compensation for 1.95‐GHz applications
Authors: Detratti M. , Pascual J. P. , de la Fuente M. L. , Cabo J. , García J. L. 
Published: December 2004

AbstractThis paper describes a method to design a compact linear‐in‐dB variable‐gain amplifier (VGA) with good input/output matching in a wide gain‐control range. The method is theoretically supported and has been validated with the design of a 1.95‐GHz GaAs fully monolithic VGA. Measured maximum gain is 18.8 dB with associated noise figure of 6.3 dB and 40‐dB dynamic range with lower than ±1.5‐dB deviation from linearity, under a low control voltage from −0.4 V to −1.5 V. Good linearity with an output 1‐dB compression of 12 dBm at maximum gain and associated 3rd‐order intercept point better than 22 dBm are also shown. The adjacent channel power ratio (ACPR) was measured at the 1.95‐GHz WCDMA band, showing values better than −48 dBc at 885‐KHz offset and −70 dBc at 1.98‐Mhz offset over the whole control range. The chip size is 2 × 1.0 mm2 and consumes only 34 mA from a supply voltage of 3.5 V. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 44: 251–257, 2005; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.20602
A novel variable optical attenuator and temperature sensor based on high‐birefringence fiber‐loop mirror
Authors: Yan Y. , Zhao Q. , Chen S. , Liu L. , Zhang H. , Dong X. 
Published: December 2004

AbstractA novel variable optical attenuator (VOA) based on high‐birefringence (HiBi) fiber‐loop mirror is proposed. The HiBi fiber‐loop mirror is put into the temperature‐controlling box. As the temperature increases, the transmission spectrum shifts with nearly unaltered shape. The attenuation at 1558 nm is more than 30 dB with about 2.5‐dB insertion loss. Meanwhile, the wavelength shift with the temperature is vigorously linear. In this scheme, we propose a temperature sensor with fairly good linearity of 0.9997. Moreover, using theoretical analysis and numerical simulation, we explicitly explain our experimental results. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 44: 259–261, 2005; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.20604
Narrowband ASE feedback gain‐clamped EDFA characterization
Authors: Haoken H. , Poopalan P. , Ahmad H. 
Published: December 2004

AbstractA new and novel type of gain‐clamped erbium‐doped fiber amplifier (EDFA) is characterized the using conventional amplified spontaneous emission interpolation (ASE‐I) method and the relatively new time‐domain extinction (TDE) technique. The performance difference resulting from the measurement technique gives a gain deviation of 1.3 and 1.8 dB and noise‐figure deviation of 0.8 and 1.3 dB for 1550.9‐nm and 1553.3‐nm input‐signal wavelengths, respectively. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 44: 261–264, 2005; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.20605
Compact hybrid defected ground plane
Authors: Mollah Md. Nurunnabi , Karmakar Nemai Chandra 
Published: December 2004

AbstractA novel hybrid defected ground structure (DGS), which interleaves a photonic bandgap structure (PBGS), is investigated theoretically as well as experimentally. It yields distinct multiple passbands and stopbands. The novel structure can be used either a compact diplexer or a dual stopband filter. With Chebyshev distributions on the interleaved PBGS, the passband and stopband performances improve significantly. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 44: 266–270, 2005; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.20607
A new reflectarray cell using microstrip patches loaded with slots
Authors: Cadoret D. , Laisné A. , Gillard R. , Legay H. 
Published: December 2004

AbstractIn this paper, a new reflectarray cell consisting of a variable‐length slot etched in a microstrip patch is presented. The phase shift is achieved by controlling the length of the slot. Two different structures are proposed: the first one uses a single patch with a single slot while the second involves three coupled patches sharing two slots. Good agreement between the simulations and measurements is obtained for passive structures designed at 5.7 GHz in a waveguide. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 44: 270–272, 2005; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.20608
Familial gigantiform cementoma with brittle bone disease, pathologic fractures, and osteosarcoma: A possible explanation of an ancient mystery
Authors: Rossbach Hans‐Christoph , Letson Douglas , Lacson Atilano , Ruas Ernesto , Salazar Peter 
Published: December 2004

AbstractWe describe four individuals of an African‐American family with a predominantly diaphyseal bone disease associated with familial gigantiform cementoma (FGC), a disorder typically seen in Caucasians. The mother and her children presented with deformities of the jaws, abnormalities of the long bones, and pre‐pubertal pathologic fractures. The index patient carried the diagnosis of osteosarcoma (OS). In addition, we provide a possible explanation for the jaw abnormalities of King Tutankhamen's father in the 18th dynasty in Egypt around 1350 BC. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Mucoepidermoid carcinoma of the parotid gland as a second malignant neoplasm
Authors: Savelli Stephanie L. , Klopfenstein Kathryn J. , Termuhlen Amanda M. 
Published: December 2004

AbstractWe report two second malignant neoplasms (SMNs) of the parotid gland. Patient 1 was initially diagnosed with precursor B‐cell lymphoblastic lymphoma of the scalp. Eight years after her initial diagnosis she presented with a small, painless mass in the region of her parotid gland. Patient 2 was diagnosed with pre‐B‐cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Thirteen years after her initial diagnosis she presented with a painless mass in her right cheek. Both patients underwent superficial parotidectomies following excisional biopsies. Pathology revealed low‐grade mucoepidermoid carcinoma (MEC) in both cases. Both patients are currently tumor free. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.