bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E confers multiallelic recessive Bymovirus resistance in Hordeum vulgare (L.)
Authors: Stein Nils , Perovic Dragan , Kumlehn Jochen , Pellio Bettina , Stracke Silke , Streng Stefan , Ordon Frank , Graner Andreas 
Published: June 2005

SummaryVirus diseases are widespread threats for crop production, which can, in many cases, be controlled efficiently by exploiting naturally occurring resistance. Barley, an important cereal species of the Triticeae, carries two genes, rym4 and rym5, which are located in the telomeric region of chromosome 3HL and confer recessive resistance to various strains of the Barley yellow mosaic virus complex. The barley ‘eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E’ (Hv‐eIF4E) was identified as a candidate for resistance gene function by physical mapping on a 650 kb contig. It is located in a chromosomal region characterized by suppressed recombination, in a position collinear to its homologue on rice chromosome 1L. Sequence diversity in the coding region of Hv‐eIF4E, as calculated from a collection of unrelated barley accessions, revealed non‐silent single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in four of its five exons. Stable transformation of a resistant barley genotype with a genomic fragment or a full‐length cDNA of Hv‐eIF4E derived from susceptible cultivars induced susceptibility to Barley mild mosaic virus. Moreover, the identification of SNPs diagnostic for rym4 and rym5 provides evidence that these are two alleles, which confer different resistance specificities. These findings demonstrate that variants of Hv‐eIF4E confer multiallelic recessive virus resistance in a monocot species. The identification of eIF4E as the causal host factor for bymovirus resistance illustrates that mutations in this basic component of the eukaryotic translation complex form a seminal mechanism for recessive virus resistance in both dicot and monocot plants.
The effect of encasings on quality of life in adult house dust mite allergic patients with rhinitis, asthma and/or atopic dermatitis
Authors: Terreehorst I. , Duivenvoorden H. J. , Tempels‐Pavlica Z. , Oosting A. J. , de Monchy J. G. R. , Bruijnzeel‐Koomen C. A. F. M. , van Wijk R. Gerth 
Published: June 2005

Background:  Environmental control has been put forward as an integral part of the management of house dust mite (HDM) allergy in sensitized patients. To validate this statement allergic disorders involved in HDM allergy – allergic asthma, rhinitis and atopic eczema/dermatitis syndrome (AEDS) – should be taken together and studied in terms of the efficacy of environmental control. Because a generic quality of life questionnaire exceeds the border of disease, this may be used as major outcome parameter.Research objective:  To study the effects of bedding encasings in HDM allergic patients with asthma, rhinitis and AEDS.Material and methods:  A total of 224 adult HDM allergic patients with rhinitis and/or asthma and/or dermatitis were randomly allocated impermeable or nonimpermeable encasings for mattress, pillow and duvet. Short form 36 (SF‐36) was filled in at baseline and after 12 months.Results:  Lower physical (P = 0.01) and emotional (P < 0.001) sumscores were seen in females. Also, the presence of asthma resulted in lower physical sumscore (P = 0.01). However, no effect was seen of encasings on either sumscore.Conclusion:  Bedding encasings do not improve quality of life in a mixed population of subjects with combinations with rhinitis, asthma and atopic dermatitis and sensitized to HDMs.
Association of interleukin 18 (IL18) polymorphisms with specific IgE levels to mite allergens among asthmatic patients
Authors: Shin H. D. , Kim L. H. , Park B. L. , Choi Y. H. , Park H.‐S. , Hong S.‐J. , Choi B. W. , Lee J. H. , Park C.‐S. 
Published: June 2005

Background:  Allergy is regarded as a multifactorial condition. Its onset and severity are influenced by both genetic and environmental factors. Identification of genetic factors involved in asthma development and related phenotypes is a major task in understanding the genetic background of asthma. The possible involvement of IL18 polymorphisms in asthma was examined in a Korean asthma cohort.Methods:  Direct sequencing was performed to discover single‐nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the IL18 gene. Single‐base extension (SBE) method was employed for genotyping. Genotypic influence of IL18 was analysed using logistic and multiple‐regression models.Results:  Although no polymorphisms in the IL18 gene showed significant association with the risk of asthma development, analyses of the association with specific serum IgE levels to Dermatophagoides farinae (D.f.) and D. pteronyssinus (D.p.) among asthmatic patients revealed significant associations with two completely linked SNPs, i.e. −148G>C and +13925A>C(Ser35Ser) (P = 0.01–0.11 for D.f. and P = 0.005–0.11 for D.p.). Both C allele of −148G>C and C allele of +13925A>C showed gene dose‐dependent effects on the levels of specific IgE. The lowest IgE levels in homozygotes of minor alleles (1.13 and 1.22 of D.f.; 1.38 and 1.33 of D.p., respectively), intermediate IgE levels in heterozygotes (1.60 and 1.70 of D.f.; 1.84 and 1.92 of D.p., respectively), and the highest levels in homozygotes for major allele (1.93 and 1.93 of D.f.; 2.24 and 2.24 of D.p., respectively), were found.Conclusion:  The genetic relevance of IL18 to specific IgE might offer an important step in understanding the genetic background of allergic diseases.
Relationships between allergic inflammation and nasal airflow in children with persistent allergic rhinitis due to mite sensitization
Authors: Ciprandi G. , Marseglia G. L. , Klersy C. , Tosca M. A. 
Published: June 2005

Background:  Allergic rhinitis is associated with Th2‐dependent inflammation. Nasal obstruction is the most typical symptom in children with mite allergy.Objectives:  The aim of this study was to evaluate the possible relationships among nasal symptoms, allergic inflammation, including inflammatory cells and cytokine pattern, and nasal airflow in children with persistent allergic rhinitis because of mite sensitization.Methods:  Twenty children (13 males and seven females, mean age 13.4 ± 1.6 years) with persistent rhinitis because of mite allergy were evaluated. All of them had moderate–severe grade of nasal obstruction. Total symptom score (TSS), rhinomanometry, nasal lavage, and nasal scraping were obtained in all subjects. Inflammatory cells were counted by conventional staining; interleukin (IL)‐5, and IL‐8 were measured by immunoassay on fluids recovered from nasal lavage.Results:  Eosinophils were significantly associated with TSS (R = 74.4%, P = 0.0002), with IL‐5 (R = 90.6%, P < 0.0001) and with nasal flow (R = −69%, P = 0.0007), but not with IL‐8 (R = 0.1%, P = 0.995). Eosinophil levels were shown to independently predict nasal flow (P < 0.001), with flow decreasing linearly for increasing eosinophils, together with a significant effect of neutrophils (P = 0.016, linear increase in flow) and a borderline effect of IL‐8 (P = 0.063, linear increase in flow).Conclusions:  This study demonstrates the close association between IL‐5 concentration and eosinophil infiltration. In addition, there is clear evidence concerning the relationship between eosinophil infiltration and nasal airflow. Thus, nasal eosinophils can be regarded as the most important predictor of upper airway function. These findings constitute first evidence of the relationship between nasal airflow impairment and Th2‐related eosinophilic inflammation in children with persistent allergic rhinitis because of mite sensitization.
Dose dependence of immunological response to sublingual immunotherapy
Authors: Marcucci F. , Sensi L. , Di Cara G. , Incorvaia C. , Frati F. 
Published: June 2005

Background:  Sublingual‐swallow immunotherapy (SLIT) is an accepted treatment for allergic rhinitis but its optimal dosage is scantly investigated. We studied the dose dependence of clinical efficacy and immunological response to SLIT by administering two different dosages of the same allergen in rhinitic children monosensitized to grass pollen.Methods:  Seventy‐one patients with comparable age and symptoms were randomized to receive SLIT by the same grass pollen extract from Stallergénes (Antony, France), 40 of them with the 100 IR and 31 with the 300 IR extract. All patients recorded diary cards for symptoms, medications and side‐effects of the treatment, and had measurements of specific IgE and IgG4 in serum by the CAP System FEIA (Pharmacia, Uppsala, Sweden) and in nasal secretion by an in situ incubation method with the same reagents of CAP System FEIA.Results:  Symptom/medication scores during the pollen season were significantly higher in patients treated with the lower dosage compared with those treated with the 300 IR dosage. Side‐effects occurred with a comparable rate (25.8%vs 27.5%) in the two groups. Serum‐specific IgE and IgG4 had no significant changes after 3 months of SLIT in both groups, while a significant seasonal increase of nasal IgE (P = 0.015) and IgG4 (P = 0.019) was found only in patients treated with the lower dosage.Conclusions:  A rise of specific IgG4 and a blunting of seasonal increase of specific IgE in serum was repeatedly reported during subcutaneous immunotherapy (SCIT) with pollen extracts. Our findings show such blunting of specific nasal IgE along with a low symptom/medication score in patients treated with SLIT with the higher dosage, but not a concomitant rise of specific nasal IgG4. This suggests a local immunological effect of SLIT, different from systemic mechanisms of SCIT.
Diverging prevalence trends of atopic disorders in Norwegian children. Results from three cross‐sectional studies
Authors: Selnes A. , Nystad W. , Bolle R. , Lund E. 
Published: June 2005

Background:  During the last decades there has been extensive epidemiological research to explore the increasing prevalence of asthma and allergy in childhood. The worldwide variations in prevalence of these diseases necessitate regional rapports. Furthermore, time‐trend analyses with comparable methods are important in order to monitor the rapidly changing prevalence of these diseases.Methods:  Three cross‐sectional questionnaire‐based studies of asthma and allergy in schoolchildren were conducted in the counties of Troms and Finnmark, in northern Norway in 1985, 1995 and 2000. The two former studies included children from randomly selected primary schools (n = 1794/1985, n = 1432/1995). The latter study was a part of ISAAC‐II Europe study (n = 3853). Identical items of asthma and allergy were employed. The analyses comprised only children 9–11 years of age.Results:  The prevalence of asthma was 9.3, 13.2 and 13.8% in 1985, 1995 and 2000, respectively. However, great gender differences were detected; the prevalence of asthma increased in males from 1995 to 2000, from 14.1 to 17.0%, RR = 1.2 (95% CI 1.0–1.5), but decreased in females 1995 to 2000, from 12.3 to 10.5%, RR = 0.9 (95% CI 0.7–1.1). Furthermore, in children with asthma, a changing trend was found in the external factors that perceived symptoms, from typical allergens towards other, unspecific agents. The prevalence of self‐reported atopic eczema/dermatitis syndrome (AEDS) was 13.4, 21.1 and 20.8% in 1985, 1995 and 2000, respectively. The prevalence of self‐reported allergic rhinoconjunctivitis was in 16.5, 24.7 and 29.6% 1985, 1995 and 2000, respectively, RR (2000/1995) = 1.2 (95% CI 1.1–1.3).Conclusion:  The prevalence of asthma in girls has reached a plateau and even decreased from 1995 to 2000 which is in contrast to the asthma prevalence in boys that tends to continuously increase. The prevalence of AEDS which increased substantially between 1985 and 1995 did not change from 1995 to 2000. However, the prevalence of allergic rhinoconjunctivitis increased steadily from 1985, 1995 to 2000.
Inflammatory cell numbers and cytokine expression in atopic dermatitis after topical pimecrolimus treatment
Authors: Simon D. , Vassina E. , Yousefi S. , Braathen L. R. , Simon H.‐U. 
Published: June 2005

Background:  In several clinical trials the topical application of pimecrolimus was shown to be effective in the treatment of atopic dermatitis (AD). By targeting calcineurin‐dependent signaling pathways, pimecrolimus controls cytokine gene expression. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of pimecrolimus on the inflammatory infiltrate and cytokine expression pattern in AD upon topical therapy.Methods:  From 10 patients with acute AD, skin biopsies as well as immunophenotype and cytokine production of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were examined before and 3 weeks after therapy.Results:  The clinical improvement was associated with a marked regression of histopathological features. In particular, the density of the inflammatory infiltrate mostly containing lymphocytes and eosinophils declined. By double immunofluorescent staining, a reduced expression of the T helper (Th) 2 cytokines interleukin (IL)‐5, IL‐10, and IL‐13 in both CD4+ and CD8+ T cells was demonstrated after therapy. Pimecrolimus therapy was also associated with a reduced expression of the Th1 cytokine interferon (IFN)‐γ. Interestingly, the numbers of epidermal CD1a+ dendritic cells increased following treatment. In the peripheral blood, a decrease of lymphocytes and eosinophils was noticed, but the distribution of lymphocyte subpopulations and their capacity of cytokine production did not change.Conclusions:  Topical pimecrolimus exhibits anti‐inflammatory effects in AD by reducing the inflammatory cell infiltrate and cytokine expression in the dermis.
Sub‐lethal exposure of cockroaches to boric acid pesticide contributes to increased Bla g 2 excretion
Authors: Zhang Y. C. , Perzanowski M. S. , Chew G. L. 
Published: June 2005

Background:  Several epidemiology studies have found an increase in the major cockroach allergen Bla g 2 with reported pesticide use.Aims of the study:  Our aim was to investigate the effect on the excretion of Bla g 1 and Bla g 2 allergens by cockroaches exposed to sub‐lethal doses of the pesticides, boric acid and hydramethylnon gel.Methods:  German cockroaches in separate colonies were fed either boric acid or hydramethylnon gel at concentrations of 0.2, 0.1 and 0.01% in their water supply over a 2 week period. Ten colonies were exposed to each treatment concentration. Bla g 1 and Bla g 2 in fecal pellets were measured by ELISA.Results:  Cockroaches exposed to boric acid excreted fecal pellets with significantly higher concentrations of Bla g 2 (35 400 U/g) than did controls (12 700 U/g) (P = 0.001). Bla g 1 concentrations were not significantly different. There was no difference in either Bla g 1 or Bla g 2 concentrations between cockroaches that ingested hydramethylnon gel and those in the controls colonies.Conclusions:  The application of boric acid, a common pesticide, appears to paradoxically increase the production of Bla g 2, a major allergen, by the surviving cockroaches. This may have important implications in avoidance strategies.
The effect of interference‐fit fasteners on the fatigue life of central hole specimens
Authors: LANCIOTTI A. , POLESE C. 
Published: June 2005

ABSTRACTFatigue tests were carried out on 2024‐T351, thickness 1.6 mm, central hole specimens containing pins installed with five different interference‐fit levels. Tests clearly demonstrated the beneficial effect of interference fit on fatigue resistance, up to the maximum value examined, 2.5%. A three‐dimensional (3D) finite‐element model was used in order to characterize the stress field around the hole. A large specimen, with a 40‐mm‐diameter hole filled with interference‐fit pin, was instrumented by strain gauges and statically tested in order to check FEM results. A very good correlation existed between measured and numerically evaluated strains. FEM results demonstrated the well‐known effect of interference‐fit fasteners on reducing stress ranges. By increasing the interference level, the stress range was practically unchanged, while the mean stress decreased. Interference‐fit produces a biaxial stress state, which must be taken into account for fatigue evaluation. In the present case, a simple criterion, based on hoop strain, predicted the fatigue results quite well with the exception of open hole fatigue test results, which were overestimated.
Standing contact fatigue with a cylindrical indenter
Authors: DAHLBERG J. , ALFREDSSON B. 
Published: June 2005

ABSTRACTA hardened steel cylinder was repeatedly pressed against a flat case‐hardened steel specimen that was equally wide as the cylinder was long. Some contact end effects were noted as a result of limited plastic deformation. A strain gauge on the contact surface, just outside the contact and oriented perpendicular to the cylinder detected a surface strain when the cylinder was loaded. The non‐zero surface strain was the result of boundary effects of the finite specimen. Four different types of contact fatigue cracks developed in and below the specimen contact surface. The cracks were named lateral, median, contact end and edge cracks. Changes in the measured surface strain values could be used to determine when the lateral and edge cracks developed. The order in which all four crack types typically developed was determined from optical crack observation at test termination, strain measurements and stress computations. Numerical computations using finite‐element (FE) analyses were used to verify the surface strain behaviour due to loading and cracking; to verify contact end effects; crack locations and crack orientation by aid of the Findley multi‐axial fatigue criterion.
Fatigue resistance of CrN thin films deposited by arc evaporation process on H11 tool steel and 2205 duplex stainless steel
Authors: BARAGETTI S. , GELFI M. , LA VECCHIA G.M. , LECIS N. 
Published: June 2005

ABSTRACTNotwithstanding the wide use of PVD coated components, not only in fields where tribological behaviour is important and well assessed, fatigue behaviour is still an object of research in applications where enhanced fatigue resistance is required. The aim of this paper is to analyse fatigue crack growth mechanisms and to relate their nucleation sites to the microstructure and to residual stress data. Two structural steels were used as the substrate (H11 tool steel grade and 2205 duplex stainless steel grade), while a monolayer of CrN, 5 μm deep, was deposed as a coating. Four‐point bending fatigue tests were carried out in order to obtain the bending fatigue limit. Experimental results obtained by scanning electron microscopy analyses, residual stresses measurements and hardness evaluations carried out using a nanoindenter device were considered to explain the fatigue mechanisms involving a PVD coated part in terms both of nucleation site and crack growth process.
Avoiding knife‐edge countersinks in GLARE through dimpling
Authors: RANS C. , STRAZNICKY P. V. 
Published: June 2005

ABSTRACTTraditional machine countersinking practices create a knife‐edge condition in one or more of the outer aluminium layers in riveted GLARE joints. Press countersinking (dimpling) provides an alternative method of countersinking that prevents the formation of a knife‐edge; however, its application and potential benefits to fatigue performance in GLARE are not known. This paper investigates the dimple‐forming process and its application to GLARE, and the resulting benefits in fatigue crack‐initiation life in unfilled rivet holes. Initial results showed that the limited formability of GLARE complicates the dimpling process, but that dimpling shows promise as a method for increasing the crack‐initiation life of riveted GLARE joints.
Time‐dependent fracture of type 316L(N) steel at ambient temperature
Authors: BUDDEN P. J. , WARDLE G. , BIRKETT R. P. 
Published: June 2005

ABSTRACTExperimental data on tensile and compact geometry (CT) specimens of austenitic Type 316L(N) steel were obtained under sustained load conditions at room temperature. Time‐dependent crack growth, in some cases leading to failure, occurred in many of the CT specimens, dependent on the load level. However, rupture of the uniaxial specimens occurred only at stresses very close to the material's ultimate strength. The data validate the approach to assessing sustained loading effects in the R6 defect assessment procedure. In particular, sustained load effects in austenitic steel may be neglected for values of the R6Lrparameter less than unity. Uniaxial sustained load tests were also performed at 100 °C and 200 °C. The measured strain rates decreased with increasing temperature, becoming negligible at 200 °C. This is consistent with the advice in R6 that sustained load effects in austenitic steel can be neglected at temperatures between 200 °C and the high‐temperature creep range.
The Glass Cliff: Evidence that Women are Over‐Represented in Precarious Leadership Positions
Authors: Ryan Michelle K. , Haslam S. Alexander 
Published: June 2005

AbstractThere has been much research and conjecture concerning the barriers women face in trying to climb the corporate ladder, with evidence suggesting that they typically confront a ‘glass ceiling’ while men are more likely to benefit from a ‘glass escalator’. But what happens when women do achieve leadership roles? And what sorts of positions are they given? This paper argues that while women are now achieving more high profile positions, they are more likely than men to find themselves on a ‘glass cliff’, such that their positions are risky or precarious. This hypothesis was investigated in an archival study examining the performance of FTSE 100 companies before and after the appointment of a male or female board member. The study revealed that during a period of overall stock‐market decline those companies who appointed women to their boards were more likely to have experienced consistently bad performance in the preceding five months than those who appointed men. These results expose an additional, largely invisible, hurdle that women need to overcome in the workplace. Implications for the evaluation of women leaders are discussed and directions for future research are outlined.
Impact of French ‘Comités de Protection des Personnes’ on the readability of informed consent documents (ICD) in biomedical research: more information, but not better information
Authors: Paris Adeline , Cracowski Jean‐Luc , Maison Patrick , Radauceanu Anca , Cornu Catherine , Hommel Marc 
Published: June 2005

AbstractInformation is the keystone to the participation of subjects in biomedical research. Clear comprehension of the informed consent documents (ICDs) is primordial and a necessary requirement is that they are readable. While submission of a protocol to a French ‘Comités de Protection des Personnes’ (CPP) is a mandatory step with regard to the French legislation on biomedical research, no published data are available concerning its influence on ICDs readability. The aim of our study was to determine the impact of French CPP on the readability of ICDs, using lexico‐syntactic readability indexes and ICDs from four clinical research centres and one clinical research unit. Twenty‐five ICDs were analysed. The Flesch score was not modified after CPP review, while the Cordial score was significantly lower [from 4 (1–14) to 1 (1–13), P = 0.014]. The information was longer and more complex following CPP review. No protocol characteristics had any impact on the variation before and after review for either the Flesch or the Cordial® indexes, nor on the number of syllables per word. Changes in the total number of words before and after review varied considerably between study centre, supporting heterogeneity of CPP review. Since August 2004, French CPP have to study the intelligibility of ICDs in addition to the scientific and ethic aspects of a research. We show that their current reviews do not increase the readability, while increasing the length of ICDs.