bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Global warming and drainage development: perspective and challenges
Authors: Wrachien Daniele De , Feddes Reinder 
Published: March 2004

AbstractIrrigated agriculture is expected to play a major role in reaching the broader development objectives of achieving food security and improvements in the quality of life, while conserving the environment, in both the developed and developing countries. Especially as we are faced with the prospect of global population growth from almost 6 billion today to at least 8 billion by 2025. In this context, the constraints posed by land and water scarcity and the associated need to increase the carrying capacity of the land in a sustainable manner will require significant enhancements in efficiency and flexibility of irrigation and drainage systems in the next few decades.In most of the world's irrigated and rainfed lands, drainage facilities were developed on a step‐by‐step basis over the centuries. In many facilities structures have aged or are deteriorating and, consequently, they need to be renewed or even replaced and thus, redesigned and rebuilt. In the past, drainage systems were designed for a long life, on the assumption that climatic conditions would not change in the future. This will not be so in the years to come, due to global warming and the greenhouse effect. Therefore, planners and designers need to systematically re‐examine planning principles, design criteria, operating rules and management policies for new infrastructures.In relation to these issues and based on available information, the report gives an overview of current and future (time horizon 2025) drainage developments around the world. Moreover, the paper analyses the results of four of the most advanced global circulation models for assessing the hydrological impact of global warming, due to the greenhouse effect, on the drainage planning and design process. Finally, a five‐step planning and design procedure is proposed, able to integrate, within the development process, the hydrological consequences of climate change. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Differential expression of transforming growth factor‐β in the interstitial tissue of testis during aging
Authors: Jung Jae‐Chang , Park Geun‐Tae , Kim Kook‐Hee , Hyung Woo Ju , An Jung‐Min , Kim Ki‐Chul , Young Chung Hae , Bae Young‐Seuk , Woo Park Jeen , Kang Shin‐Sung , Lee Young‐Sup 
Published: April 2004

AbstractTransforming growth factor‐βs (TGF‐βs) have significant effects on testis development. The pattern of TGF‐β expression in aging testis has not been established to date. We examined age‐related changes in the expression of TGF‐β and its receptors in the testis using Western blot analysis. TGF‐β1 expression increased continuously in aging rat testis, whereas no age‐associated changes were observed for TGF‐β3. Strong expression of TGF‐β2, as well as type I and II receptors was observed in 12‐month‐old testis, but following this time, expression decreased dramatically. Interestingly, TGF‐β2 and ‐β3 displayed strong and similar expression patterns in liver, regardless of age, suggesting that the down‐regulation of TGF‐β2 is testis‐specific. We observed significant induction of p53 and p21WAF1 in 18‐month‐old testis that appeared to correspond with aging. Moreover, caloric restriction (CR) prevented age‐related decrease in TGF‐β2 expression. Using immunohistochemistry, we showed that all TGF‐β1, ‐β2, and ‐β3 proteins are expressed primarily in interstitial cells, which are located in the space between adjoining seminiferous tubules. Our data collectively indicate that aging in the testis is regulated by differential expression of TGF‐β proteins, and decreased levels of TGF‐β2 contribute to the aging process. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
A theoretical study of structures and electron affinities of radical anions of guanine‐cytosine, adenine‐thymine, and hypoxanthine‐cytosine base pairs
Authors: Kumar Anil , Knapp–Mohammady Michaela , Mishra P. C. , Suhai Sándor 
Published: March 2004

AbstractAdiabatic electron affinities (AEA) and structural perturbations due to addition of an excess electron to each of the neutral guanine‐cytosine (G‐C), adenine‐thymine (A‐T), and hypoxanthine‐cytosine (HX‐C) base pairs were studied using the self‐consistent charge, density functional tight‐binding (SCC‐DFTB‐D) method, augmented by the empirical London dispersion energy term. Performance of the SCC‐DFTB‐D method was examined by comparing the calculated results using it with those obtained from experiment as well as ab initio and other different density functional theoretical studies. An excellent agreement between the SCC‐DFTB‐D results and those obtained by the other calculations regarding the structural modifications, hydrogen bonding, and dissociation energies of the neutral and radical anion base pairs was found. It is shown that adiabatic electron affinity can be better predicted by considering reaction enthalpies of formation of the respective neutral and anionic base pairs from their respective molecular components instead of taking the difference between their total energies. The calculated AEAs of the base pairs were compared with those obtained by the bracketing method from Schaefer and coworkers, where a satisfactory agreement was found. It shows applicability of the SCC‐DFTB‐D method to study charged DNA models at a highly economical computational cost. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Comput Chem 25: 1047–1059, 2004
Separation of adult chains of abnormal haemoglobin: Identification by reversed‐phase high‐performance liquid chromatography
Authors: Yapo Paul Angoué , Datté Jacques Y. , Yapo Ayekoé , Wachman Henri 
Published: March 2004

AbstractRare abnormal haemoglobin (Hb) often poses a problem in the diagnosis of relative electrophoresis mobility. The rare neutral Hbs interact with the Hb S and thus can increase the severity of sickle cell anaemia. In the present study, we investigated the use of reversed‐phase high‐performance liquid chromatography (RP‐HPLC) as a method for the identification of neutral or unstable Hb, and compared it with the well‐known techniques urea‐triton electrophoresis (UT) and isoelectrofocusing (IEF). The results of our experiments showed that Bucuresti Hb was separated without ambiguity by RP‐HPLC. To date, no other electrophoresis techniques have been able to isolate this Hb. We also examined the Hb Nouakchott, which was the most hydrophobic Hb. Moreover, the adult and foetal chains of globins (especially the Aγt and Aγi chains) were quantified on the same chromatogram. J. Clin. Lab. Anal. 18:65–69, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
A pathologist's perspective on bone marrow aspiration and biopsy: I. performing a bone marrow examination
Authors: Riley Roger S. , Hogan Thomas F. , Pavot Dawn R. , Forysthe Robert , Massey Davis , Smith Eileen , Wright Lou , Ben‐Ezra Jonathan M. 
Published: March 2004

AbstractThe bone marrow aspirate and biopsy is an important medical procedure for the diagnosis of hematologic malignancies and other diseases, and for the follow‐up evaluation of patients undergoing chemotherapy, bone marrow transplantation, and other forms of medical therapy. During the procedure, liquid bone marrow is aspirated from the posterior iliac crest or sternum with a special needle, smeared on glass microscope slides by one of several techniques, and stained by the Wright‐Giemsa or other techniques for micro‐scopic examination. The bone marrow core biopsy is obtained from the posterior iliac crest with a Jamshidi or similar needle and processed in the same manner as other surgical specimens. Flow cytometric examination, cytochemical stains, cytogenetic and molecular analysis, and other diagnostic procedures can be performed on bone marrow aspirate material, while sections prepared from the bone marrow biopsy can be stained by the immunoperoxidase or other techniques. The bone marrow procedure can be performed with a minimum of discomfort to the patient if adequate local anesthesia is utilized. Pain, bleeding, and infection are rare complications of the bone marrow procedure performed at the posterior iliac crest, while death from cardiac tamponade has rarely occurred from the sternal bone marrow aspiration. The recent development of bone marrow biopsy needles with specially sharpened cutting edges and core‐securing devices has reduced the discomfort of the procedure and improved the quality of the specimens obtained. J. Clin. Lab. Anal. 18:70‐90, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Novel point mutation in exon 12 of the glucose‐6‐ Phosphate Dehydrogenase Gene: G6PD Flores
Authors: Rodrigues Maria‐Odete , Pereira Júlia Dias , Gaspar Gisela , Olim Gabriel , Martins Maria‐do‐Carmo , Monteiro Carolino 
Published: March 2004

AbstractIn Portugal there are a wide variety of G6PD deficiency associated mutations. In an individual from the island of Flores of the Azorean archipelago, we report a new mutation in the G6PD gene that gives rise to a “moderate rate of G6PD deficiency” (12.6% of the normal activity) according to WHO criteria. Direct sequencing revealed a C→A point mutation at position 1387 with the consequent substitution of an Argine by Serine. We designated this new mutation as G6PD FLORES. The mutation is associated with haplotype I ( – – + + – – ), using six intragenic RFLPs. This information may also be seen as contributing to the clarification of the genetic makeup of the Azorean population, founder mutations, and/or gene flow. J. Clin. Lab. Anal. 18:129–131, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Reference distributions for α2‐macroglobulin: A comparison of a large cohort to the world's literature
Authors: Ritchie Robert F. , Palomaki Glenn E. , Neveux Louis M. , Navolotskaia Olga 
Published: March 2004

AbstractThe lack of satisfactory methods for quantifying serum levels and a credible reference material has limited bedside use of serum alpha2‐macroglobulin (α2M) measurements. Great strides have been made in the last few years. The remaining barrier to more relevant and cost effective use of serum protein data for diagnosis and prognosis is the availability of reliable reference intervals from birth to old age for both males and females. A total of 40 publications reporting reference intervals have been identified that meet the criteria used in our prior five studies, and these have been analyzed statistically. On average, previous small studies of these individual proteins agree with our life‐long reference ranges over their constrained age ranges. This meta‐analysis provides support for our reference ranges and places them in the perspective of previous publications. J. Clin. Lab. Anal. 18:148–152, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Clinical value of serum cystatin C by ELISA for estimation of glomerular filtration rate
Authors: Xu Xunhui , Zou Jianzhou , Ding Xiaoqiang , Xin Dingguang , Ren Yushen 
Published: March 2004

AbstractThe search for whether endogenous markers of changes in glomerular filtration rate (GFR) by serum cystatin C assay and serum cystatin C compare with creatinine clearance by the Cockeroft‐Gault formula and the evaluation of its clinical significance as a marker of GFR is important in clinical practice at present. Serum cystatin C was determined by sandwich enzyme immunoassay using a kit. Control blood samples were collected from 70 healthy subjects and 168 patients with various kidney diseases. Creatinine clearance (Cockeroft‐Gault formula) as a measure of GFR, in 168 patients with various kidney diseases, depends on the creatinine clearance; GFR parameters were used to divide patients into two groups. The GFR was >80 mL/min in 38 patients (group A) and <80 mL/min in 130 patients (group B). The two groups were analyzed by correlation coefficient and diagnostic sensitivity and specificity were assessed by the receiver‐operating characteristic (ROC) plots (area under the curve). Of the 70 healthy control individuals, the serum level of cystatin C was measured as normal value range and a reference interval of 1.05±0.18 µg/mL (mean±1.96 SD, 95% confidence limits for the upper references limit is 1.4 μg/mL). In group A, serum cystatin C had no correlation to the creatinine clearance (r=0.171, P>0.05) and in group B, serum cystatin C was closely correlated to the creatinine clearance (r=−0.771, P<0.001). Diagnostic sensitivity and specificity were assessed by the ROC plots for serum cystatin C (area under the curve=0.8461, SE=0.057) and creatinine clearance (area under the curve=0.7642, SE=0.068). These data suggest that combined measurement of serum cystatin C is useful to estimate GFR, especially to detect the reduction of GFR. Further studies are required to evaluate the whether serum cystatin C as a more sensitive marker of early renal injury might be extremely useful, particularly in nonproteinuric or unapparent renal disease. J. Clin. Lab. Anal. 18:61–64, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Does television influence adolescents' perceptions of and attitudes toward people with mental illness?
Authors: Minnebo Jurgen , Van Acker An 
Published: April 2004

AbstractThis study investigates whether and how (1) cumulative overall exposure to television and (2) cumulative selective exposure to specific television content are related to both estimates of and opinions about people who have mental illnesses. Two hundred fifty‐two Belgian high school students completed self‐report questionnaires. Measures included time spent watching television, exposure to specific content, perceived realism of television images, direct experience with a person who had mental illness, and estimates of and judgements about the dangerousness of people suffering from a mental illness and their ability to lead a socially integrated and “normal” life. Results suggest exposure to television itself makes but a small contribution to explaining these estimates and attitudes; related concepts such as perceived realism appear to be more important. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Comm Psychol 32: 257–275, 2004.
Urban adolescents' perceptions of their neighborhoods: An examination of spatial dependence
Authors: Bass Judith K. , Lambert Sharon F. 
Published: April 2004

AbstractSpatial dependence exists when the variation between observations is dependent on spatial location. In the present study, geostatistical methods were used to examine spatial dependence in adolescents' perceptions of their neighborhoods: whether adolescents living in close proximity perceived their neighborhoods more similarly than adolescents living further apart. Participants included 343 adolescents (53% male; 91% African American) enrolled in sixth grade, residing in Baltimore City, with geocoded home addresses. These addresses were used in combination with a measure of perceived neighborhood disorder and disadvantage to compute variogram plots, a geostatistical technique used to evaluate spatial dependence. Results indicated that perceptions of youth residing in close geographic proximity were more similar than perceptions of youth residing further apart. Adjusting for census‐level characteristics, but not individual and family characteristics, resulted in decreased variation among participants but did not eliminate the spatial dependence. Findings highlight the utility of geostatistical methods for social science research. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Comm Psychol 32: 277–293, 2004.
RNA‐containing adenovirus/polyethylenimine transfer complexes effectively transduce dendritic cells and induce antigen‐specific T cell responses
Authors: Gust Tatjana C. , Diebold Sandra S. , Cotten Matt , Zenke Martin 
Published: March 2004

AbstractBackgroundDendritic cells (DCs) are the most potent antigen‐presenting cells in initiating primary immune responses. Given the unique properties of DCs, gene‐modified DCs represent a particularly attractive approach for immunotherapy of diseases such as cancer.MethodsGene‐modified DCs were obtained by a receptor‐mediated gene delivery system using adenovirus (Ad) particles as ligand and RNA or DNA condensed by polyethylenimine (PEI). In vitro transcribed polyadenylated or non‐polyadenylated RNA was used. RNA‐transduced DCs were generated expressing chicken ovalbumin (OVA) or chimeric constructs thereof, and compared with DNA‐transduced DCs.ResultsAd/PEI transfection complexes efficiently delivered RNA into DCs. Such RNA‐transduced DCs induced OVA‐specific T cell responses more effectively than DNA‐transduced DCs. Furthermore, DCs transduced with polyadenylated RNA were more potent in stimulating CD4+ and CD8+ T cell responses than DCs transduced with non‐polyadenylated RNA and this was particularly important for CD4+ T cell responses.ConclusionsAd/PEI/RNA transfection is an efficient means for generating RNA‐transduced DCs and for stimulating antigen‐specific T cell responses. Polyadenylation of RNA enhances CD8+ T cell responses and is essential for CD4+ T cell responses. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
In vivo gene marking of rhesus macaque long‐term repopulating hematopoietic cells using a VSV‐G pseudotyped versus amphotropic oncoretroviral vector
Authors: Shi Patricia A. , Angioletti Maria De , Donahue Robert E. , Notaro Rosario , Luzzatto Lucio , Dunbar Cynthia E. 
Published: March 2004

AbstractBackgroundGene transfer efficiency into primitive hematopoietic cells may be limited by their expression of surface receptors allowing vector entry. Vectors pseudotyped with the vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV‐G) envelope do not need receptors to enter cells, and therefore may provide superior transduction efficiency.MethodsUsing a competitive repopulation model in the rhesus macaque, we examined in vivo gene marking levels of blood cells transduced with two vectors: (i) a VSV‐G pseudotyped retrovirus and (ii) a conventional amphotropic retrovirus. The VSV‐G vector, containing the human glucose‐6‐phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) gene, was constructed for treatment of severe hemolytic anemia caused by G6PD deficiency. Three myeloablated animals were transplanted with peripheral blood CD34+ cells, half of which were transduced with the VSV‐G vector and the other half with the amphotropic vector.ResultsIn all animals post‐transplantation, levels of in vivo marking in circulating granulocytes and mononuclear cells were similar: 1% or less with both vectors. In one animal, the human G6PD enzyme transferred by the VSV‐G vector was expressed in erythrocytes, early after transplantation, at a level of 45% of the endogenous rhesus G6PD protein.ConclusionsIn a clinically relevant animal model, we found similar in vivo marking with a VSV‐G pseudotyped and a standard amphotropic oncoretroviral vector. Amphotropic receptor expression may not be a limiting factor in transduction efficiency, but VSV‐G pseudotypes possess other practical advantages that may make them advantageous for clinical use. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Improvement of retroviral vectors by coating with poly(ethylene glycol)‐poly(L‐lysine) block copolymer (PEG‐PLL)
Authors: Katakura Hiromichi , Harada Atsushi , Kataoka Kazunori , Furusho Miki , Tanaka Fumihiro , Wada Hiromi , Ikenaka Kazuhiro 
Published: March 2004

AbstractBackgroundAlthough some cationic reagents, such as polybrene, improve gene transduction in vitro, their use in vivo is prohibited due to their toxicity to the exposed cells. This paper demonstrates that a new cationic reagent, poly(ethylene glycol)‐poly(L‐lysine) block copolymer (PEG‐PLL), improves gene transduction with retroviral vectors without increasing cell toxicity.MethodsA retroviral vector derived from the Moloney leukemia virus, containing the lacZ gene, was modified with PEG‐PLL prior to transduction into NIH3T3, Lewis lung carcinoma, and primary cultured mouse brain cells. LacZ transduction efficacy was evaluated by counting the number of X‐Gal‐positive cells.ResultsWe have demonstrated that PEG‐PLL is able to stably modify the viral particle surface due to the affinity of the PEG moiety to the biomembrane, and neutralizes negative charges by the cationic nature of the poly‐lysine residue. Thus, PEG‐PLL increased the gene transduction efficiency and minimized cell toxicity because free PEG‐PLL was removable by centrifugation. We have shown that PEG‐PLL increased the viral gene transduction efficiency 3‐ to 7‐fold with NIH3T3 or Lewis lung carcinoma cell lines without increasing cytotoxicity. It improved retroviral gene transduction efficacy even against labile cells, such as primary cultured brain cells.ConclusionsPEG‐PLL is a novel reagent that improves retroviral gene transduction efficacy without increasing cytotoxicity. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Cell‐surface glycosaminoglycans inhibit cation‐mediated gene transfer
Authors: Ruponen Marika , Honkakoski Paavo , Tammi Markku , Urtti Arto 
Published: March 2004

AbstractBackgroundCationic polymers and liposomes are used to wrap DNA into complexes that promote its cellular uptake. The mechanisms of the uptake and the intracellular fate of these complexes are obscure, as are reasons for an unpredictable and sometimes poor efficiency of the transgene expression. Polyanionic glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) on the cell surface interact with the cationic DNA complexes and influence transfection.MethodsThe quantities of heparan sulfate (HS), chondroitin sulfate (CS) and hyaluronan (HA) on the cell surface of mutated Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells and manipulated (chlorate, xyloside, chondroitinase ABC or Streptomyces hyaluronidase) smooth muscle cells were correlated with the uptake of four different DNA complexes, and the expression of the transgene.ResultsTwo CHO mutants, without cell‐surface HS and CS, showed a 1.5–6‐fold increase in cellular association of DNA, and 3–25‐fold increase of transgene expression, as compared with the wild type. A CHO mutant with a 5.7‐fold increase of cell‐surface CS, but devoid of HS, showed enhanced DNA association, but 20–40% reduction in its expression. The removal of HS, CS, or HA from the cell surface of smooth muscle cells had a minor or insignificant effect on the cell association and transfection of the carriers and only polyethyleneimine showed increased association and expression of the transgene.ConclusionsThe uptake of DNA complexes varies depending on carrier, cell type and amounts of cell‐surface HS, CS, and HA, whereas all GAGs inhibit the transgene expression. This implies that cell‐surface GAGs probably direct complexes into intracellular compartments that do not support transcription. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.