bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Age-related changes in Serum Growth Hormone, Insulin-like Growth Factor-1 and Somatostatin in System Lupus Erythematosus
Authors: Denko Charles W , Malemud Charles J 
Published: October 2004

Abstract
Background
Systemic lupus erythematosus is an age- and gender-associated autoimmune disorder. Previous studies suggested that defects in the hypothalamic/pituitary axis contributed to systemic lupus erythematosus disease progression which could also involve growth hormone, insulin-like growth factor-1 and somatostatin function. This study was designed to compare basal serum growth hormone, insulin-like growth factor-1 and somatostatin levels in female systemic lupus erythematosus patients to a group of normal female subjects.

Methods
Basal serum growth hormone, insulin-like growth factor-1 and somatostatin levels were measured by standard radioimmunoassay.

Results
Serum growth hormone levels failed to correlate with age (r2 = 3.03) in the entire group of normal subjects (i.e. 20 – 80 years). In contrast, serum insulin-like growth factor-1 levels were inversely correlated with age (adjusted r2 = 0.092). Of note, serum growth hormone was positively correlated with age (adjusted r2 = 0.269) in the 20 – 46 year range which overlapped with the age range of patients in the systemic lupus erythematosus group. In that regard, serum growth hormone levels were not significantly higher compared to either the entire group of normal subjects (20 – 80 yrs) or to normal subjects age-matched to the systemic lupus erythematosus patients. Serum insulin-like growth factor-1 levels were significantly elevated (p < 0.001) in systemic lupus erythematosus patients, but only when compared to the entire group of normal subjects. Serum somatostatin levels differed from normal subjects only in older (i.e. >55 yrs) systemic lupus erythematosus patients.

Conclusions
These results indicated that systemic lupus erythematosus was not characterized by a modulation of the growth hormone/insulin-like growth factor-1 paracrine axis when serum samples from systemic lupus erythematosus patients were compared to age- matched normal female subjects. These results in systemic lupus erythematosus differ from those previously reported in other musculoskeletal disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, fibromyalgia, diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis and hypermobility syndrome where significantly higher serum growth hormone levels were found. Somatostatin levels in elderly systemic lupus erythematosus patients may provide a clinical marker of disease activity in these patients.
Risk factors for acute chemical releases with public health consequences: Hazardous Substances Emergency Events Surveillance in the U.S., 1996–2001
Authors: Ruckart Perri Z , Wattigney Wendy A , Kaye Wendy E 
Published: October 2004

Abstract
Background
Releases of hazardous materials can cause substantial morbidity and mortality. To reduce and prevent the public health consequences (victims or evacuations) from uncontrolled or illegally released hazardous substances, a more comprehensive analysis is needed to determine risk factors for hazardous materials incidents.

Methods
Hazardous Substances Emergency Events Surveillance (HSEES) data from 1996 through 2001 were analyzed using bivariate and multiple logistic regression. Fixed-facility and transportation-related events were analyzed separately.

Results
For fixed-facility events, 2,327 (8%) resulted in at least one victim and 2,844 (10%) involved ordered evacuations. For transportation-related events, 759 (8%) resulted in at least one victim, and 405 (4%) caused evacuation orders. Fire and/or explosion were the strongest risk factors for events involving either victims or evacuations. Stratified analysis of fixed-facility events involving victims showed a strong association for acid releases in the agriculture, forestry, and fisheries industry. Chlorine releases in fixed-facility events resulted in victims and evacuations in more industry categories than any other substance.

Conclusions
Outreach efforts should focus on preventing and preparing for fires and explosions, acid releases in the agricultural industry, and chlorine releases in fixed facilities.
Disease-Free Survival Advantage of Weekly Epirubicin Plus Tamoxifen Versus Tamoxifen Alone As Adjuvant Treatment of Operable, Node-Positive, Elderly Breast Cancer Patients: 6-Year Follow-Up Results of the French Adjuvant Study Group 08 Trial
Authors: Fargeot Pierre , Bonneterre Jacques , Roché Henri , Lortholary Alain , Campone Mario , Van Praagh Isabelle , Monnier Alain , Namer Moïse , Schraub Simon , Barats Jean-Claude , Guastalla Jean-Paul , Goudier Marie-Josèphe , Chapelle-Marcillac Isabelle 
Published: October 2004

Purpose To assess whether an epirubicin (EPI) -based chemotherapy plus hormonal regimen improves disease-free (DFS) in women older than 65 years, with node-positive, operable breast cancer (BC), relative to tamoxifen (TAM) alone. Patients and Methods A total of 338 patients were randomly assigned after surgery to receive TAM 30 mg/d for 3 years (TAM, n = 164), or EPI 30 mg on days 1, 8, and 15 every 28 days for six cycles plus TAM 30 mg/d for 3 years (EPI-TAM, n = 174). In both arms, patients received radiotherapy, delivered after chemotherapy (CT) in the EPI-TAM group. Results The 6-year DFS rates were 69.3% with TAM and 72.6% with EPI-TAM (P = .14). The multivariate analysis shows a relative risk of relapse of 1.93 (95% CI, 1.70 to 2.17) with TAM compared with EPI-TAM (P = .005). The 6-year OS, related to disease progression, was 79.1% and 79.8%, respectively (P = .41). Compliance with CT was good: 96.9% of patients received six cycles. The acute toxicity per patient was mild: grade 2 neutropenia in 5.9%, grade 2 anemia in 2.0%, grade 3 nausea or vomiting in 4.6%, and grade 3 alopecia in 7.2%. Five cases (in five patients) of decreased left ventricular ejection fraction occurred after CT: three after adjuvant CT, and two after anthracycline-based CT for relapse. One patient died as a result of dysrhythmia related to carcinomatous lymphangitis. No secondary leukemia occurred. Conclusion This study conducted in node-positive elderly patients demonstrates a significant contribution of a weekly EPI regimen in terms of DFS. Moreover, this regimen is safe for hematologic, nonhematologic, and cardiac toxicities.
Gene Expression Signature With Independent Prognostic Significance in Epithelial Ovarian Cancer
Authors: Spentzos Dimitrios , Levine Douglas A. , Ramoni Marco F. , Joseph Marie , Gu Xuesong , Boyd Jeff , Libermann Towia. A. , Cannistra Stephen A. 
Published: October 2004

Purpose Currently available clinical and molecular prognostic factors provide an imperfect assessment of prognosis for patients with epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC). In this study, we investigated whether tumor transcription profiling could be used as a prognostic tool in this disease. Methods Tumor tissue from 68 patients was profiled with oligonucleotide microarrays. Samples were randomly split into training and validation sets. A three-step training procedure was used to discover a statistically significant Kaplan-Meier split in the training set. The resultant prognostic signature was then tested on an independent validation set for confirmation. Results In the training set, a 115-gene signature referred to as the Ovarian Cancer Prognostic Profile (OCPP) was identified. When applied to the validation set, the OCPP distinguished between patients with unfavorable and favorable overall survival (median, 30 months v not yet reached, respectively; log-rank P = .004). The signature maintained independent prognostic value in multivariate analysis, controlling for other known prognostic factors such as age, stage, grade, and debulking status. The hazard ratio for death in the unfavorable OCPP group was 4.8 (P = .021 by Cox proportional hazards analysis). Conclusion The OCPP is an independent prognostic determinant of outcome in EOC. The use of gene profiling may ultimately permit identification of EOC patients appropriate for investigational treatment approaches, based on a low likelihood of achieving prolonged survival with standard first-line platinum-based therapy.
Measuring transient wall heat flux under diesel engine conditions
Authors: Meingast U , Reichelt L , Renz U 
Published: October 2004

Droplet break-up and evaporation processes in small-bore direct injection combustion engines may be influenced by the contact between the liquid spray and the engine wall surfaces. In this work, experimental data are presented that may be used to validate spray models and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) codes commonly employed in internal combustion engine design processes. For the investigation, a high-pressure high-temperature injection chamber equipped with a common-rail injection system is used in combination with a heated wall aligned normal to the spray. The test conditions represent moderate diesel engine conditions. The temperature data of three surface thermocouples, which resolve the transient temperature of the wall, are numerically processed to evaluate the surface wall heat flux from an analytical solution of the transient energy equation. The spray impinging on the surface causes a fast temperature change of up to 10 K in the stagnation region. The calculated surface heat flux exceeds 106 W/m2. The maximum flux, which is detected at the centre, increases as the distance between the wall and the injector is decreased or the wall temperature is increased. At larger wall distances and low wall temperatures no significant heat flux can be detected. The data of phase Doppler anemometry measurements conducted under identical conditions correlates well with the heat flux measurements.
Confidential Reproductive Health Services for Minors: The Potential Impact of Mandated Parental Involvement for Contraception
Authors: Jones Rachel K. , Boonstra Heather 
Published: October 2004

CONTEXT: Recent legislative efforts to implement mandated parental involvement for minor adolescents seeking family planning services threaten the rights of adolescents younger than 18 to access reproductive health care.METHODS: State and federal laws and policies pertaining to minor adolescents' rights to access services for contraception and sexually transmitted diseases are reviewed, and research examining issues of parental involvement among adolescents using clinic‐based reproductive health services is synthesized.RESULTS: Attempts to mandate parental involvement for reproductive health care often focus on contraceptive services and are typically linked to federal or state funding. Studies of teenagers using clinic‐based family planning services suggest that slightly more than one‐half would obtain contraceptives at family planning clinics even if parental notification were required. Mandated parental involvement for contraception would discourage few teenagers from having sex, but would likely result in more teenagers' using the least effective methods, such as withdrawal, or no method at all. Family planning clinics encourage teenagers to voluntarily talk to their parents, but relatively little information is available about the extent to which activities to promote parent‐child communication have been adopted.CONCLUSIONS: Mandated parental involvement for teenagers seeking contraceptive care would likely contribute to increases in rates of teenage pregnancy. Research that will help clinics implement and improve efforts to encourage voluntary parental involvement is urgently needed.
Nutrient Consumption and Pigmentation of Deep and Surface Colonizing Sapstaining Fungi in Pinus contorta
Authors: Fleet Carl , Breuil Colette , Uzunovic Adnan 
Published: October 2004

Summary
In this paper, we examined the ability of deep and surface staining fungi to utilize wood tissue nutrients. Fungal isolates were inoculated onto fresh billets and γ-sterilised sawnwood, both from Pinus contorta, and also onto defined nutrient media. The wood samples were assessed for host viability, fungal growth and nutrient status. The results indicated that the most aggressive sapstain species on fresh logs was Ceratocystis coerulescens, followed consecutively by Leptographium spp., Ophiostoma minus, O. piliferum, O. piceae, O. setosum, O. pluriannulatum and Aureobasidium pullulans. HPLC analysis of soluble sugars in fungal-infected wood indicated that mannose was the most depleted sugar, followed by glucose. Lipid analysis of infected wood indicated that Leptographium spp. and C. coerulescens greatly reduced the triglyceride fraction and that there was a wide spectrum of consumption of triglyceridederived fatty acids between the fungi. On defined media, the carbon source mannose led to the darkest pigmentation for all tested fungi. For C. coerulescens, the order of pigmentation intensity for the remaining tested carbon sources was reversed when compared to the other fungal species.
Reddening by UV Irradiation after Smoke-Heating in Sugi (Cryptomeria japonica D. Don) Black Heartwood
Authors: Maruyama Saori , Ishiguri Futoshi , Andoh Minoru , Abe Zensaku , Yokota Shinso , Takahashi Koetsu , Yoshizawa Nobuo 
Published: October 2004

Summary
Sugi (Japanese cedar, Cryptomeria japonica D. Don) green logs with black heartwood were smoked, heated, and smoke-heated separately to improve the heartwood color. After each treatment, changes in heartwood color, pH, and extract amounts were examined. In addition, changes in heartwood color caused by UV irradiation were observed. Heating and smoke-heating of logs prevented the heartwood from discoloring to black, and the resulting color of thermally-treated heartwoods was yellow-white, whereas smoking alone allowed discoloration to black. The pH value decreased from the original 7.6 to 6.8 by smoking and to 6.5 by thermal treatment. The results obtained here suggest that a pH drop in heartwood by thermal treatment is involved in color changes of black heartwood.
When thermally-treated black heartwood was exposed to UV light, redness and yellowness increased and brightness decreased. The resulting color tone was reddish brown. The color of non-thermally-treated woods, however, showed little change. Furthermore, acetone, ethanol, and methanol extracts of thermally-treated black heartwood showed an increase in redness by UV irradiation, but the residues showed little color change. The coloring substances relating to the reddening of heartwood could be extracted with these solvents, particularly with methanol. Reddening in black heartwood by a combination of smoke-heating and UV irradiation is considered to be due to a decrease in brightness and an increase in both redness and yellowness.
Wood Preservation Based on In situ Polymerization of Bioactive Monomers. Part 1. Synthesis of Bioactive Monomers, Wood Treatments and Microscopic Analysis
Authors: Ibach Rebecca E. , Rowell Roger M. 
Published: October 2004

Summary

In situ polymerization of bioactive monomers was investigated as an alternative to conventional preservative treatments. The results are presented in a series of two papers. In Part 1 of the study, six acrylate monomers with covalently bonded, potentially bioactive moieties were synthesized: (1) pentachlorophenolyl acrylate (PCPA), (2) tributyltin acrylate (TBTA), (3) 8-hydroxyquinolyl acrylate (HQA), (4) 5,7-dibromo-8-hydroxyquinolyl acrylate (DBHQA), (5) diethyl-N1N-bis(acryloxyethyl) aminomethyl phosphonate (Fyrol 6 acrylate, F6A), and (6) tetrabromobisphenol A acrylate (TBBPAA). All of these acrylates, except F6A, were purified. Southern pine sapwood samples were treated with acrylate solutions (except TBBPAA) at different retention levels and various amounts of crosslinker (trimethylolpropane trimethacrylate, TMPTM), polymerized in situ, and then acetone leached. The relative amount and location of the polymer in earlywood and latewood of selected samples were determined by scanning electron microscopy and x-ray analysis. Distribution of the compounds varied with treatment. Biological and thermal properties of the treated wood are discussed in Part 2 of this series.
The S2 Layer in the Tracheid Walls of Picea abies Wood: Inhomogeneity in Lignin Distribution and Cell Wall Microstructure
Authors: Singh Adya P. , Daniel Geoffrey 
Published: October 2004

Summary
Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) of the walls of Picea abies axial tracheids showed the distribution of lignin in the S2 layer to be inhomogenous. At relatively low magnifications, some parts of the outer and inner S2 layer appeared more electron dense than the mid region in the tracheids which were in contact with or in proximity to a ray. At similar magnifications, the presence of radial and tangential features was observed in the S2 layer of the tracheids which were in contact with or close to rays as well as in those which occurred elsewhere. Higher magnification views showed the S2 layer to be differentiated into electron lucent and dense regions in both radial and tangential directions. A comparison of the counts made of lignin particles in these regions suggested that the differentiation of the S2 wall into lucent and dense regions resulted from inhomogenous distribution of lignin observable at a nano level.
Lignin Distribution in Coppice Poplar, Linseed and Wheat Straw
Authors: Donaldson Lloyd , Hague Jamie , Snell Rebecca 
Published: October 2004

Summary
Lignin distribution was determined by interference microscopy, and by confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) for a range of agricultural residues including coppice poplar, linseed, and wheat straw. Interference microscopy was used to determine the lignin concentration in the middle lamella at the cell corner, and for the secondary wall of libriform fibres in the secondary xylem of poplar and linseed. Wheat was examined in the same way for cortical fibres. In addition the secondary wall of vessel elements was examined for poplar. Confocal microscopy was used to confirm the results from interference microscopy by providing semiquantitative information based on lignin autofluorescence, and by staining with acriflavine. Wheat had the lowest level of lignification, with 31 % lignin in the middle lamella of cortical fibres and 9% lignin in the secondary wall. Poplar had a lignin concentration of 63% in the middle lamella and 6% in the secondary wall of libriform fibres, while linseed had corresponding values of 69 % and 13 %. The secondary wall of poplar vessel elements had a lignin concentration of 25 %. In all three species most of the stem tissue was lignified except for phloem and bark, where present. In linseed the pith was unlignified. In wheat, most of the parenchyma cells were lignified except for a few cells lining the stem cavity. Libriform fibres in poplar and linseed sometimes had an unlignified gelatinous layer in samples containing tension wood. In linseed, lignification was greater in xylem fibres compared to bast fibres. Ray parenchyma cells of poplar and linseed appeared to be lignified to the same extent as xylem fibres.
Selectivity and Efficiency of Biomimetic Catalysts in a Model System for Pulp Bleaching
Authors: Walker C. C. , McDonough T. J. , Dinus R. J. , Eriksson K.-E. L. 
Published: October 2004

SummaryThree biomimetic systems were evaluated for their selectivity in a model system for pulp. FeSO4, Fe-EDTA and hemoglobin, in the presence of H2O2, constituted the biomimetic systems. Sodium lignosulfonate and hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC) were used as a model system to represent lignin and carbohydrate fractions in pulp. A simple kinetic model was used to determine kinetic parameters for depolymerization of each substrate. Point selectivities at two different H2O2concentrations were evaluated on the basis of the resulting expressions. Hemoglobin demonstrated superior selectivity for lignosulfonate degradation at a high H2O2level. The production of hydroxyl radicals from each of the biomimetic systems was measured using a chemiluminescence assay. For the FeSO4and Fe-EDTA systems, depolymerization was related to the amount of radicals generated. The fate of reacted H2O2was evaluated using a specially designed reactor to measure H2O2consumed by reaction and that decomposed. To achieve a given number of chain scission in lignosulfonate, the hemoglobin system consumed the least amount of H2O2.
Oxidative Ammonolysis of Technical Lignins. Part 1. Kinetics of the Reaction under Isothermal Condition at 130°C
Authors: Capanema Ewellyn A. , Balakshin Mikhail Yu. , Chen Chen-Loung , Gratzl Josef S. , Kirkman Adrianna G. 
Published: October 2004

Summary
Investigations were conducted on the oxidative ammonolysis of REPAP organosolv lignin at 130 °C in 0.8M NH4OH solution under oxygen pressure of 12 bar. The lignin was completely solubilized at the reaction time of 165 min. The kinetics of the nitrogen incorporation consists of two phases. The first phase is up to the reaction time of approximately 35 min including 15 min heating up period. The rate of nitrogen incorporation in the first phase is 2.3 times higher than that in the second phase: κ1 = 4.58 × 10−4 s−1
versus κ2 = 1.90 × 10−4 s−1. The oxygen uptake and CO2 formation in the reaction is rather high. When the nitrogen incorporation was ceased after reaction for 255 minutes, more than 4 moles of oxygen/C9-unit of lignin were consumed and approximately 1.5 moles of carbon dioxide/C9-unit of lignin were released. In addition, extensive O-demethylation of methoxyl groups occurred. The molar ratio of the nitrogen incorporation to the methoxyl group eliminated is approximately 1.4 and 0.7 for the soluble and insoluble N-modified lignins, respectively. Structural analyses of the soluble N-modified lignins by FTIR and 1H NMR spectroscopic techniques showed only quantitative differences in the spectra obtained at different reaction times. This indicates that the reaction pathways do not change in the course of the oxidative ammonolysis. Possible reaction mechanisms of the oxidative ammonolysis are discussed on the basis of the experimental data.
Oxidative Ammonolysis of Technical Lignins. Part 2. Effect of Oxygen Pressure
Authors: Capanema Ewellyn A. , Balakshin Mikhail Yu. , Chen Chen-Loung , Gratzl Josef S. , Kirkman Adrianna G. 
Published: October 2004

Summary
Investigations were conducted on the effects of oxygen pressure on the oxidative ammonolysis of REPAP organosolv lignin at 130 °C under oxygen pressure of 5, 8 and 12 bar. The rates of reactions monitored, such as nitrogen incorporation, lignin solubilization, oxygen uptake and CO2 formation, increase with increasing oxygen pressure. Kinetics of nitrogen incorporation under different oxygen pressure consists of two phases and follows a first order law in each phase. Linear correlation between the rate of nitrogen incorporation and oxygen pressure implies that the reaction is first order with respect to oxygen concentration. This indicates that oxygen participates directly in the rate-determining step of nitrogen incorporation. The rate of lignin solubilization also linearly increases with increasing oxygen pressure, implying that the rate of lignin degradation directly depends on oxygen pressure. The nitrogen incorporation is linearly correlated with the oxygen uptake, CO2 formation, oxygen incorporation into lignin, loss of carbon and methoxyl group content under all values of oxygen pressure and during the entire reaction period. This suggests that the reactions in the oxidative ammonolysis of lignin proceed via the same pathways in the different kinetic phases. In addition, the changes in the oxygen pressure were found to have only minor effect upon the coefficients of these linear correlations. This is in good agreement with the structures of N-modified lignin elucidated from FTIR and indicates that oxygen pressure affects only the reaction rate, but not the reaction mechanism.