bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Perioperative factors determine outcome after surgery for severe acute pancreatitis
Authors: De Waele Jan J , Hoste Eric , Blot Stijn I , Hesse Uwe , Pattyn Piet , de Hemptinne Bernard , Decruyenaere Johan , Vogelaers Dirk , Colardyn Francis 
Published: November 2004

Abstract
Introduction
There is evidence that postponing surgery in critically ill patients with severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) leads to improved survival, but previous reports included patients with both sterile and infected pancreatic necrosis who were operated on for various indications and with different degrees of organ dysfunction at the moment of surgery, which might be an important bias. The objective of this study is to analyze the impact of timing of surgery and perioperative factors (severity of organ dysfunction and microbiological status of the necrosis) on mortality in intensive care unit (ICU) patients undergoing surgery for SAP.

Methods
We retrospectively (January 1994 to March 2003) analyzed patients admitted to the ICU with SAP. Of 124 patients, 56 were treated surgically; these are the subject of this analysis. We recorded demographic characteristics and predictors of mortality at admission, timing of and indications for surgery, and outcome. We also studied the microbiological status of the necrosis and organ dysfunction at the moment of surgery.

Results
Patients' characteristics were comparable in patients undergoing early and late surgery, and there was a trend toward a higher mortality in patients who underwent early surgery (55% versus 29%, P = 0.06). In univariate analysis, patients who died were older, had higher organ dysfunction scores at the day of surgery, and had sterile necrosis more often; there was a trend toward earlier surgery in these patients. Logistic regression analysis showed that only age, organ dysfunction at the moment of surgery, and the presence of sterile necrosis were independent predictors of mortality.

Conclusions
In this cohort of critically ill patients operated on for SAP, there was a trend toward higher mortality in patients operated on early in the course of the disease, but in multivariate analysis, only greater age, severity of organ dysfunction at the moment of surgery, and the presence of sterile necrosis, but not the timing of the surgical intervention, were independently associated with an increased risk for mortality.
New insights into the molecular mechanism of interleukin-10-mediated immunosuppression
Authors: Grütz Gerald 
Published: November 2004

AbstractInterleukin-10 (IL-10) is an important immunomodulatory cytokine, which has attracted much attention because of its anti-inflammatory properties. It reduces antigen presentation and inhibits T cell activation. IL-10-treated myeloid cells lose their ability to respond toward the endotoxin lipopolysaccharide (LPS) with the production of several proinflammatory mediators. Thereby, IL-10 limits excessive inflammatory reactions in response to endotoxin as it occurs in colitis or endotoxin shock. Mice can be tolerized toward endotoxin shock when pretreated with a sublethal dose of LPS. This can be mimicked in vitro as LPS desensitization, resulting in a similar LPS hyporesponsiveness as observed with IL-10 pretreatment. However, an early block in LPS signaling characterizes LPS desensitization, whereas IL-10 seems to target late events. Controversial reports have been published where IL-10 would interfere with the induction of proinflammatory mediators, and little is known about the molecular mechanisms behind the anti-inflammatory activities of IL-10. Some recent publications have tried to gain more insight into the molecular mechanism of IL-10 by gene-expression profiling and functional studies in myeloid-derived cells. These results are reviewed here and compared with the progress that has been made to understand the induction of endotoxin tolerance by LPS itself.
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy for Radionecrosis of the Jaw: A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Double-Blind Trial From the ORN96 Study Group
Authors: Annane Djillali , Depondt Joël , Aubert Philippe , Villart Maryvonne , Géhanno Pierre , Gajdos Philippe , Chevret Sylvie 
Published: November 2004

Purpose To determine the efficacy and safety of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBO) for overt mandibular osteoradionecrosis. Patients and Methods This prospective, multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was conducted at 12 university hospitals. Ambulatory adults with overt osteoradionecrosis of the mandible were assigned to receive 30 HBO exposures preoperatively at 2.4 absolute atmosphere for 90 minutes or a placebo, and 10 additional HBO dives postoperatively or a placebo. The main outcome measure was 1-year recovery rate from osteoradionecrosis. Secondary end points included time to treatment failure, time to pain relief, 1-year mortality rate, and treatment safety. Results At the time of the second interim analysis, based on the triangular test, the study was stopped for potentially worse outcomes in the HBO arm. A total of 68 patients were enrolled and analyzed. At 1 year, six (19%) of 31 patients had recovered in the HBO arm and 12 (32%) of 37 in the placebo arm (relative risk = 0.60; 95% CI, 0.25 to 1.41; P = .23). Time to treatment failure (hazard ratio = 1.33; 95% CI, 0.68 to 2.60; P = .41) and time to pain relief (hazard ratio = 1.00; 95% CI, 0.52 to 1.89; P = .99) were similar between the two treatment arms. Conclusion Patients with overt mandibular osteoradionecrosis did not benefit from hyperbaric oxygenation.
Relationship between orthographic‐motor integration and computer use for the production of creative and well‐structured written text
Authors: Christensen Carol A. 
Published: November 2004

Background: Orthographic‐motor integration refers to the way in which orthographic knowledge is integrated with fine‐motor demands of handwriting. A strong relationship has shown to exist between orthographic‐motor integration and students' ability to produce creative and well‐structured written text (De La Paz & Graham, 1995). This relationship is thought to be due to the cognitive load resulting from lack of automaticity in orthographic‐motor integration so that writers do not have sufficient resources to accomplish the more demanding aspects of writing. Interventions to improve children's orthographic‐motor integration result in improved written text (Jones & Christensen, 1999).Aim: This study first extended findings related to handwritten text to the relationship between typing and the length and quality of computer‐based written text. Second, it examined the efficacy of an intervention to develop proficiency in typing skills on the length and quality of students' written language.Sample: Participants in the first study were 276 Grade 8 and 9 students. In the second study 35 students in Grades 8 and 9 who exhibited very low levels of proficiency in typing were the participants.Methods: In Study 1, orthographic‐motor integration related to typing as well as handwriting was assessed for all students. They were asked to complete a piece of handwritten and computer‐based text. Students in the intervention study completed the same measures as Study 1, at pre‐ and post‐test. During the intervention half the students completed a daily typed journal and half completed a program designed to facilitate their typing skills.Results: There was a significant relationship between orthographic‐motor integration — handwriting and the length and quality of handwritten text, and a stronger relationship between orthographic‐motor integration — typing and length and quality of computer‐based text. Both intervention groups in the second study showed significant differences in writing skills from pre‐ to post‐test. However, the typing skills group showed significantly better scores on typing and quality of typewritten text than the journal group at post‐test. The impact of the intervention was specific to typewritten text. There was no difference in length or quality of handwritten text.Conclusion: It is suggested that developing proficiency in orthographic‐motor integration related to typing allows writers to employ their cognitive resources more flexibly when working on a computer, so that they can devote attention to higher‐order processes involved in ideation, syntactic and semantic monitoring and pragmatic awareness.
On the Effect of Fluctuating Recombination Rates on the Decorrelation of Gene Histories in the Human Genome
Authors: Eriksson A , Mehlig B 
Published: November 2004

Abstract
We show how to incorporate fluctuations of the recombination rate along the chromosome into standard gene-genealogical models for the decorrelation of gene histories. This enables us to determine how small-scale fluctuations (Poissonian hot-spot model) and large-scale variations (Konget al. 2002) of the recombination rate influence this decorrelation. We find that the empirically determined large-scale variations of the recombination rate give rise to a significantly slower decay of correlations compared to the standard, unstructured gene-genealogical model assuming constant recombination rate. A model with long-range recombination-rate variations and with demographic structure (divergent population) is found to be consistent with the empirically observed slow decorrelation of gene histories. Conversely, we show that small-scale recombination-rate fluctuations do not alter the large-scale decorrelation of gene histories.
Distribution of Activator (Ac) Throughout the Maize Genome for Use in Regional MutagenesisSequence data from this article have been deposited with the EMBL/GenBank Data Libraries under accession nos. AY559172, AY559173, AY559174, AY559175, AY559176, AY559177, AY559178, AY559179, AY559180, AY559181, AY559182, AY559183, AY559184, AY559185, AY559186, AY559187, AY559188, AY559189, AY559190, AY559191, AY559192, AY559193, AY559194, AY559195, AY559196, AY559197, AY559198, AY559199, AY559200, AY559201, AY559202, AY559203, AY559204, AY559205, AY559206, AY559207, AY559208, AY559209, AY559210, AY559211, AY559212, AY559213, AY559214, AY559215, AY559216, AY559217, AY559218, AY559219, AY559220, AY559221, AY559223, AY559224, AY559225, AY559226, AY559227, AY559228, AY559229, AY559230, AY559231, AY559232, AY559233, AY559234, and AY618471, AY618472, AY618473, AY618474, AY618475, AY618476, AY618477, AY618478, AY618479.
Authors: Kolkman Judith M , Conrad Liza J , Farmer Phyllis R , Hardeman Kristine , Ahern Kevin R , Lewis Paul E , Sawers Ruairidh J H , Lebejko Sara , Chomet Paul , Brutnell Thomas P 
Published: November 2004

Abstract
A collection of Activator (Ac)-containing, near-isogenic W22 inbred lines has been generated for use in regional mutagenesis experiments. Each line is homozygous for a single, precisely positioned Ac element and the Ds reporter, r1-sc:m3. Through classical and molecular genetic techniques, 158 transposed Ac elements (tr-Acs) were distributed throughout the maize genome and 41 were precisely placed on the linkage map utilizing multiple recombinant inbred populations. Several PCR techniques were utilized to amplify DNA fragments flanking tr-Ac insertions up to 8 kb in length. Sequencing and database searches of flanking DNA revealed that the majority of insertions are in hypomethylated, low- or single-copy sequences, indicating an insertion site preference for genic sequences in the genome. However, a number of Ac transposition events were to highly repetitive sequences in the genome. We present evidence that suggests Ac expression is regulated by genomic context resulting in subtle variations in Ac-mediated excision patterns. These tr-Ac lines can be utilized to isolate genes with unknown function, to conduct fine-scale genetic mapping experiments, and to generate novel allelic diversity in applied breeding programs.
Drosophila Su(Hw) Insulator Can Stimulate Transcription of a Weakened yellow Promoter Over a Distance
Authors: Golovnin Anton , Melnick Elena , Mazur Alexander , Georgiev Pavel 
Published: November 2004

Abstract
The insulator element from the gypsy transposon is a DNA sequence that blocks activation of a promoter by a transcriptional enhancer when placed between them. The insulator contains reiterated binding sites for the Suppressor of Hairy-wing [Su(Hw)] zinc-finger protein. A protein encoded by another gene, modifier of mdg4 [mod(mdg4)], is also required for the enhancer-blocking activity of the Su(Hw) insulator. Here we present evidence that the Su(Hw) insulator activates a weakened yellow promoter at a distance. Deletion of the upstream promoter region (UPR), located close by the TATA box, significantly reduces yellow expression. The Su(Hw) insulator placed at different positions relative to the yellow promoter partially compensates for loss of the UPR. Su(Hw) is able to stimulate yellow expression even if it is located at a 5-kb distance from the promoter. The stimulatory activity depends on the number of Su(Hw)-binding sites. Mutational analysis demonstrates that only the DNA-binding domain and adjacent regions of the Su(Hw) protein are required for stimulation of yellow transcription.
The Relative Roles in Vivo of Saccharomyces cerevisiae Pol η, Pol ζ, Rev1 Protein and Pol32 in the Bypass and Mutation Induction of an Abasic Site, T-T (6-4) Photoadduct and T-T cis-syn Cyclobutane Dimer
Authors: Gibbs Peter E M , McDonald John , Woodgate Roger , Lawrence Christopher W 
Published: November 2004

AbstractWe have investigated the relative roles in vivo of Saccharomyces cerevisiae DNA polymerase η, DNA polymerase ζ, Rev1 protein, and the DNA polymerase δ subunit, Pol32, in the bypass of an abasic site, T-T (6-4) photoadduct and T-T cis-syn cyclobutane dimer, by transforming strains deleted for RAD30, REV3, REV1, or POL32 with duplex plasmids carrying one of these DNA lesions located within a 28-nucleotide single-stranded region. DNA polymerase η was found to be involved only rarely in the bypass of the T-T (6-4) photoadduct or the abasic sites in the sequence context used, although, as expected, it was solely responsible for the bypass of the T-T dimer. We argue that DNA polymerase ζ, rather than DNA polymerase δ as previously suggested, is responsible for insertion in bypass events other than those in which polymerase η performs this function. However, DNA polymerase δ is involved indirectly in mutagenesis, since the strain lacking its Pol32 subunit, known to be deficient in mutagenesis, shows as little bypass of the T-T (6-4) photoadduct or the abasic sites as those deficient in Pol ζ or Rev1. In contrast, bypass of the T-T dimer in the pol32Δ strain occurs at the wild-type frequency.
Catalytic Promiscuity in Biocatalysis: Using Old Enzymes to Form New Bonds and Follow New Pathways
Authors: Bornscheuer Uwe T. , Kazlauskas Romas J. 
Published: November 2004

AbstractBiocatalysis has expanded rapidly in the last decades with the discoveries of highly stereoselective enzymes with broad substrate specificity. A new frontier for biocatalysis is broad reaction specificity, where enzymes catalyze alternate reactions. Although often underappreciated, catalytic promiscuity has a natural role in evolution and occasionally in the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites. Examples of catalytic promiscuity with current or potential applications in synthesis are reviewed here. Combined with protein engineering, the catalytic promiscuity of enzymes may broadly extend their usefulness in organic synthesis.
On optimal regularity of free boundary problems and a conjecture of De Giorgi
Authors: Koch Herbert , Leoni Giovanni , Morini Massimiliano 
Published: November 2004

AbstractWe present a general theory to study optimal regularity for a large class of nonlinear elliptic systems satisfying general boundary conditions and in the presence of a geometric transmission condition on the free boundary. As an application we give a full positive answer to a conjecture of De Giorgi on the analyticity of local minimizers of the Mumford‐Shah functional. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
ATP‐induced structural change of dephosphocoenzyme A kinase from Thermus thermophilus HB8
Authors: Seto Azusa , Murayama Kazutaka , Toyama Mitsutoshi , Ebihara Akio , Nakagawa Noriko , Kuramitsu Seiki , Shirouzu Mikako , Yokoyama Shigeyuki 
Published: November 2004

AbstractDephosphocoenzyme A kinase (DCK) catalyzes phosphorylation in the final step of coenzyme A (CoA) biosynthesis. In this phosphorylation process, domain movements play a very important role. To reveal the structural changes induced by ligand binding, we determined the crystal structure of DCK from Thermus thermophilus HB8 by the multiwavelength anomalous dispersion method at 2.8 Å. The crystal structure includes three independent protein molecules in the asymmetric unit: One is a liganded form and the others are unliganded. The topology shows a canonical nucleotide‐binding protein possessing the P‐loop motif. A structure homology search by DALI revealed the similarity of the DCKs from T. thermophilus HB8, Haemophilus influenzae, and Escherichia coli. Structural comparisons between the liganded and unliganded forms of DCK from T. thermophilus HB8 indicated domain movements induced by adenosine triphosphate (ATP) binding. For the domain movements, proline residues confer flexibility at the domain linkages. In particular, Pro91 plays an important role in moving the CoA domain. Proteins 2005. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Anchor profiles of HLA‐specific peptides: Analysis by a novel affinity scoring method and experimental validation
Authors: Desmet Johan , Meersseman Geert , Boutonnet Nathalie , Pletinckx Jurgen , De Clercq Krista , Debulpaep Maja , Braeckman Tessa , Lasters Ignace 
Published: November 2004

AbstractThe study of intermolecular interactions is a fundamental research subject in biology. Here we report on the development of a quantitative structure‐based affinity scoring method for peptide–protein complexes, named PepScope. The method operates on the basis of a highly specific force field function (CHARMM) that is applied to all‐atom structural representations of peptide–receptor complexes. Peptide side‐chain contributions to total affinity are scored after detailed rotameric sampling followed by controlled energy refinement. A de novo approach to estimate dehydration energies was developed, based on the simulation of individual amino acids in a solvent box filled with explicit water molecules. Transferability of the method was demonstrated by its application to the hydrophobic HLA‐A2 and ‐A24 receptors, the polar HLA‐A1, and the sterically ruled HLA‐B7 receptor. A combined theoretical and experimental study on 39 anchor substitutions in FxSKQYMTx/HLA‐A2 and ‐A24 complexes indicated a prediction accuracy of about two thirds of a log‐unit in Kd. Analysis of free energy contributions identified a great role of desolvation and conformational strain effects in establishing a given specificity profile. Interestingly, the method rightly predicted that most anchor profiles are less specific than so far assumed. This suggests that many potential T‐cell epitopes could be missed with current prediction methods. The results presented in this work may therefore significantly affect T‐cell epitope discovery programs applied in the field of peptide vaccine development. Proteins 2005. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Silicon‐based light emitting diode material studied under high pressure
Authors: Prins A. D. , Ishibashi Y. , Sasahara S. , Nakahara J. , Lourenco M. A. , Gwilliam R. M. , Kobayashi T. , Nagata A. , Homewood K. P. 
Published: November 2004

AbstractThe influence of pressure up to around 30 kbar on the photoluminescence (PL) of material from a silicon light‐emitting diode (LED) that operates efficiently at room temperature is reported for the first time. The observed PL peak at 1140 nm shifts to lower energy at a rate of –1.4 ± 0.1 meV/kbar. The value of this shift agrees with earlier absorption measurements on the indirect band‐gap of silicon, confirming that the emission is closely related to this transition. This peak shows an increase in intensity from low to room temperature and peak position temperature results are compared to other sources. (© 2004 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Dual apoptotic effect of Xrel3 c‐Rel/NF‐κB homolog in human cervical cancer cells
Authors: Shehata Marlene , Shehata Marian , Shehata Fady , Pater Alan 
Published: November 2004

AbstractCervical cancer is one of the most common cancers affecting a woman's reproductive organs. Despite its frequency and recurrence, the death rate has been declining over the past 40 years, due to early detection and treatment. In a previous report [Shehata Marlene, Shehata Marian, Shehata Fady, Pater Alan. Apoptosis effects of Xrel3 c‐Rel/Nuclear factor‐kappa B homolog in human cervical cancer cells. Cell Biology International, in press], we studied the role of the NF‐κB gene family in HeLa human cervical cancer cells, using the Xrel3 c‐Rel homologue of Xenopus laevis. These results showed that the expression of Xrel3/c‐Rel slowed cell growth, consistent with an upregulated expression of the cell cycle inhibitor p21 and the activated poly(ADP‐ribose) polymerase (PARP) apoptosis effector. However, in this report, we examined more apoptotic and anti‐apoptotic factors acting upstream and downstream in apoptosis pathways after cisplatin treatment of HeLa cervical cancer cells. After 1 μM cisplatin treatment, Xrel3 had an anti‐apoptotic effect, based on significantly lower levels of apoptotic proteins, including caspase‐8, caspase‐3 and p21. Anti‐apoptotic BAG‐1 isoforms were upregulated. After 5 μM cisplatin treatment, expression of HeLa Xrel3 had an apoptotic effect, based on significantly increased expression of the cell cycle inhibitor p21 and apoptotic proteins, including cleaved PARP, caspase‐8, and caspase‐3. However, anti‐apoptotic Bcl‐2 and Bcl‐XL were elevated and the cell cycle regulator cyclin D1 was slightly upregulated with both 1 and 5 μM cisplatin treatment. The HPV E6 oncoprotein showed no significant changes. These results support previous conclusions on the potential anti‐apoptotic effects of c‐Rel/NF‐κB in mild stress environments, as opposed to the apoptotic effects associated with high stress conditions [Lake BB, Ford R, Kao KR. Xrel3 is required for head development in Xenopus laevis. Development 2001; 128(2), 263–73.]. Thus, c‐Rel/NF‐κB may potentially be of clinical significance in chemotherapy.
Efficient service location design in government services
Authors: Narasimhan Ram , Talluri Srinivas , Sarkis Joseph , Ross Anthony 
Published: November 2004

AbstractThis paper presents a decision support system for efficient service location design for an agency in the State of Michigan. We consider a total of 169 branch offices of the agency located in 79 counties that process a variety of transactions and provide services including automobile registrations, issuance of driver licenses, recreational vehicle registration, and personal identification registry. The proposed methodology and decision support system incorporate a number of factors such as branch office efficiencies based on multiple measures, budget restrictions, capacity limitations for processing transactions, and demand requirements in designing an efficient service system. Our approach employs data envelopment analysis (DEA) and mixed‐integer programming (MIP) models. A series of experiments are conducted with the proposed model by varying the levels of system‐wide efficiency, resource reallocation, and budget in generating a set of decisions that executive management of the agency can implement. In addition, we investigate service channel management issues that the agency is currently facing in providing the services by web, phone, facsimile, and mail in addition to branch offices. We discuss how the branch closures influence channel management decisions.