bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Rapid assessment and response: methods for developing public health responses to drug problems
Authors: Stimson Gerry V. , Fitch Chris , Rhodes Tim , Ball Andrew 
Published: July 2002

AbstractRapid assessments are used increasingly to assist in the development of public health interventions for drug problems. They have been used to assess drug use and its health consequences, alert governments to the need to intervene, build alliances between community groups and health organisations, identify appropriate interventions (at the individual, community and structural level), indicate obstacles to interventions, test their feasibility and help implement and assess them. Rapid assessment and response (RAR) methods have been developed because: conventional social science and routine drug surveillance information systems often fail to deliver relevant information; many drug problems change faster than social research projects can deliver; and because inappropriate interventions may be developed unless based on good evidence and analysis. Originating as a research method, and often used by international agencies and conducted by external consultants, RAR is a rapidly evolving approach to analysing situations in order to develop interventions. RAR is becoming a tool for developing responses and not merely for conducting rapid “assessments”.
Plasma cytokine response in mice with bacterial infection
Authors: Abram Maja , Vučković Darinka , Wraber Branka , Dorić Miljenko 
Published: July 2002

Background: Exposure to microorganisms elicts the production of cytokines. These soluble factors enhance several innate immune functions and regulate the ensuing specific immune response aimed at limiting the spread of infection.Aim: This study was undertaken to quantify the plasma levels of pro‐inflammatory cytokines during the course of primary Listeria monocytogenes and Campylobacter jejuni infection. Using an
in vivo infection the relationship between endogenous cytokines and the bacterial number in the liver of infected animals was examined.Methods: C57BL/6 mice were infected by the intraperitoneal route. At different time points we determined the number of colony‐forming units of bacteria in the liver of infected animals and paralled these with the plasma levels of interferon‐gamma (IFN‐γ), tumor necrosis factor‐alpha (TNF‐α) and interleukin‐6 (IL‐6) measured by enzyme
immunoassays.Results: L. monocytogenes infection lasted 10–11 days. IFN‐γ production occurred in the early phase but was more pronounced after day 4, following the appearance of specific immunity. The duration of experimental campylobacteriosis was 15 days. Early IFN‐γ production was not significant but a progressive rise of this cytokine in plasma was seen during the second week post infection. Mice produced measurable amounts of plasma TNF‐α immediately after being given viable L. monocytogenes, peaking on day 2–3 when the greatest number of bacteria was present in the examined organs. During C. jejuni infection plasma TNF‐α was produced in a similar manner, but the highest concentrations were found a few days later than in listeriosis, in correlation with the different course of campylobacteriosis. The quantity of IL‐6 increased and decreased in concordance with clearance of
L. monocytogenes and the clinical status of the animals. C. jejuni did not promote the induction of this cytokine. This is to some extent an unusual finding. With respect to the role of IL‐6 in Th2 responses and antibody production, the appearance of this cytokine in campylobacteriosis was more expected.Discussion: During systemic bacterial infection, a network of pro‐inflammatory cytokines is activated and blood levels of these cytokines are elevated, albeit inconsistently, with large individual variations and depending on microbial characteristics and structure.
The possible anti‐inflammatory role of circulating human leukocyte antigen levels in women with endometriosis after treatment with danazol and leuprorelin acetate depot
Authors: Matalliotakis Ioannis M. , Athanassakis Irene , Goumenou Anastasia G. , Neonaki Maria A. , Koumantakis Emmanuil E. , Vassiliadis Simon , Koumantakis Evgenios E. 
Published: July 2002

Background: Endometriosis is defined as an inflammatory condition of the female reproductive tract, a state often associated with infertility and miscarriage. Many exogenously administered factors (treatments) control the disease via as yet unknown pathways. Possible candidate molecules involved in these mechanisms could be the serum‐soluble human leukocyte antigens (sHLA) that have been detected in a variety of human body fluids and that are associated with several diseases.Aims: We here examine how danazol and leuprorelin acetate depot treatments exert their anti‐inflammatory action. It is plausible that subtle alterations mediated by these treatments and in relation to sHLA may explain the pathophysiology of endometriosis and provide insights towards new therapeutic protocols.Methods: Indirect enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), using specific monoclonal antibodies, determined serum‐soluble class‐I and class‐II HLA levels. ELISA readings from treated women were compared with normal healthy subjects.Results: Serum‐soluble class‐I and class‐II HLA levels are statistically significantly lower
(P < 0.001) in women with endometriosis than in the control groups. However, danazol but not leuprorelin acetate depot administration augments soluble HLA class I and class II (P < 0.01
and P < 0.001, respectively) to normal levels during the treatment period, an increase that may account for the anti‐inflammatory effect and the remission observed.Conlusions: It is shown that one of the underlying causes of endometriosis may be the lack of both circulating class‐I and class‐II antigen levels. Danazol administration acts via an induced release of these antigens, whose presence correlates with the degree of the inflammatory alleviation obtained. We thus provide evidence that the inflammatory state of the disease appears to be associated with soluble HLA levels because, 3 months after ceasing therapy, the circulating antigens in the serum return to the same levels that correspond to the pathological condition.
Predictors of relapse to heavy drinking in alcohol dependent subjects following alcohol detoxification—the role of quality of life measures, ethnicity, social class, cigarette and drug use
Authors: FOSTER J. H. , MARSHALL E. J. , PETERS T. J. 
Published: July 2002

AbstractSixty DSM‐IV alcohol dependent adults (39 males, 21 females) admitted to a voluntary sector alcohol detoxification unit in South London were studied. Socio‐demographic data and information on level of alcohol dependence, quality of life, family history, cigarette smoking and the use of prescription/illicit drugs were collected. The subjects were followed‐up at 12 weeks and subdivided into two groups, relapse and non‐relapse. A relapse was defined as drinking 21 units or more per week for males and 14 units or more per week for females. Data were analysed for baseline and 12‐week follow‐up comparisons. At 12 weeks, 58 (97%) subjects (38 males, 20 females) were successfully followed‐up and 36/58 (62%) had relapsed. After controlling for a Type I error there were significant differences between the relapse and non‐relapse subgroups at 12‐week followup on the following outcome measures; depression, life situation, withdrawal symptoms, energy, emotional reactions and social isolation. There were no significant differences at baseline between the relapse and nonrelapse subgroups for most of the socio‐demographic variables, but Irish nationality and membership of lower social classes (IV and V) were associated with relapse. Major predictors of relapse at baseline after a forward stepwise logistic regression were (in order of increasing statistical significance) Irish nationality, lower social class, greater number of cigarettes smoked and disturbed sleep. The findings are discussed with reference to their consistency with existing research and potential clinical implications.
Symptoms and their Relationship to Disability Following Treatment for Lower Extremity Tumours
Authors: Davis Aileen M. , Punniyamoorthy Sajeevan , Griffin Anthony M. , Wunder Jay S. , Bell Robert S. 
Published: July 2002

Purpose. The aims of this study were to describe the symptoms
experienced by patients in the first year following treatment for lower extremity sarcoma
by limb conservation and to describe the relationship between symptoms and physical
disability.Subjects. Eighty consecutive patients treated for primary bone or
soft tissue sarcoma (STS) of the lower limb who were treated with limb preservation
surgery.Methods. Subjects were evaluated by questionnaire at 6 weeks,
and 3, 6, and 12 months post surgery. They identified
whether they experienced any of the following symptoms: pain, stiffness, fatigue,
weakness, limited range of motion, or swelling.The Toronto Extremity Salvage Score (TESS),
a measure of physical disability, was also completed. Frequency of symptoms over time
was calculated and change was evaluated using the Cochrane test. The relationship of symptoms to
disability was analyzed with regression methods.Results. The mean age was 43.0, SD=20.4 with a gender ratio of 1:1.
There were 38 bone tumours and 42 STS.The most frequently reported symptoms were:
stiffness 48 (60%), weakness 41 (51%), fatigue 26 (33%), and pain 25 (31%) at 6 weeks.
Stiffness and fatigue decreased and plateaued by 3 months. Complaints of weakness and
pain continued to decrease over time. At 6 weeks, pain, stiffness, weakness and limited motion
predicted disability in both univariate and multivariate analyses. At 12 months, pain, stiffness,
fatigue, weakness and limited motion were significant predictors of the TESS in univariate
analysis with only pain, stiffness and limited motion significant predictors in the
multivariate model.Discussion. Pain, stiffness, fatigue, weakness and limited motion are
common symptoms with stiffness and weakness decreasing significantly over time.
The symptoms predictive of disability differ between the acute and late phases of recovery.
X-ray scattering by phonons in sodium fluoride
Authors: J D Pirie  , T Smith  
Published: July 2002

Measurements of the absolute intensity of the x-ray thermal scattering from sodium fluoride crystals have been made at a representative set of positions in reciprocal space. The distribution of scattered intensity can be interpreted to give the ionic form factor dependence on neighbouring ionic positions during thermal motion. The simplest interpretation is a fractional change of the form factor of a negative ion with relative displacement of a nearest-neighbour positive ion, increasing with the magnitude of the scattering vectorK.The measurements also give transverse and longitudinal phonon dispersion curves for the [1,0,0], [1,1,0] and [1,1,1] directions. The errors in the frequencies are small except for a few higher-frequency phonons. The slopes of the dispersion curves at low wave vectors suggest that the differences between the first- and zero-sound velocities are less than 3%.
Thermoluminescence of pure and impurity-doped KBr and NaCl crystals
Authors: P C Mehendru  , S Radhakrishna  
Published: July 2002

Two thermoluminescence peaks are observed at 90 and 150 °C in highly pure KBr crystals (background divalent cation impurity not greater than 1 p.p.m.). From the growth of F centres with the time of x-irradiation these two peaks have been interpreted in terms of the two types of F centres postulated previously. The presence of Cd impurity in KBr suppresses the formation of both the types of F centres while the presence of Zn impurity enhances the first-stage F centres but suppresses the second-stage F centres. Optical absorption studies of the KBr crystals doped with Cd and Zn are correlated with the thermoluminescence data. Plastic deformation of highly pure KBr crystals considerably increases the area under both the thermoluminescence peaks. No additional glow peak is observed either in plastically deformed or Cd- and Zn-doped KBr crystals.
Thermoluminesence experiments performed with highly pure NaCl crystals (background divalent cation impurity not greater than 1 p.p.m.) also show two peaks at 170 and 210 °C. However, in analar purity NaCl crystals (background divalent cation impurity about 20 p.p.m.) or in NaCl crystals containing Ca and Cd, an additional thermoluminescence peak at 80 °C is also observed.
The activation energies of both the types of F centres in KBr and NaCl and of the impurity centres in NaCl are evaluated from the thermoluminescence results using the `initial rise method'.
The language of RNA: a formal grammar that includes pseudoknots
Authors: Rivas Elena , Eddy Sean R. 
Published: July 2002

Abstract
Motivation: In a previous paper, we presented a polynomial time dynamic programming algorithm for predicting optimal RNA secondary structure including pseudoknots. However, a formal grammatical representation for RNA secondary structure with pseudoknots was still lacking.
Results: Here we show a one-to-one correspondence between that algorithm and a formal transformational grammar. This grammar class encompasses the context-free grammars and goes beyond to generate pseudoknotted structures. The pseudoknot grammar avoids the use of general context-sensitive rules by introducing a small number of auxiliary symbols used to reorder the strings generated by an otherwise context-free grammar. This formal representation of the residue correlations in RNA structure is important because it means we can build full probabilistic models of RNA secondary structure, including pseudoknots, and use them to optimally parse sequences in polynomial time.
Contact: eddy@genetics.wustl.edu
Extending traditional query-based integration approaches for
functional characterization of post-genomic data
Authors: Eckman Barbara A. , Kosky Anthony S. , Laroco, Jr Leonardo A. 
Published: July 2002

Abstract
Motivation: To identify and characterize regions of functional interest in genomic sequence requires full, flexible query access to an integrated, up-to-date view of all related information, irrespective of where it is stored (within an organization or across the Internet) and its format (traditional database, flat file, web site, results of runtime analysis). Wide-ranging multi-source queries often return unmanageably large result sets, requiring non-traditional approaches to exclude extraneous data.
Results: Target Informatics Net (TINet) is a readily extensible data integration system developed at GlaxoSmith- Kline (GSK), based on the Object-Protocol Model (OPM) multidatabase middleware system of Gene Logic Inc. Data sources currently integrated include: the Mouse Genome Database (MGD) and Gene Expression Database (GXD), GenBank, SwissProt, PubMed, GeneCards, the results of runtime BLAST and PROSITE searches, and GSK proprietary relational databases. Special-purpose class methods used to filter and augment query results include regular expression pattern-matching over BLAST HSP alignments and retrieving partial sequences derived from primary structure annotations. All data sources and methods are accessible through an SQL-like query language or a GUI, so that when new investigations arise no additional programming beyond query specification is required. The power and flexibility of this approach are illustrated in such integrated queries as: (1) ‘find homologs in genomic sequence to all novel genes cloned and reported in the scientific literature within the past three months that are linked to the MeSH term ‘neoplasms”; (2) ‘using a neuropeptide precursor query sequence, return only HSPs where the target genomic sequences conserve the G[KR][KR] motif at the appropriate points in the HSP alignment’; and (3) ‘of the human genomic sequences annotated with exon boundaries in GenBank, return only those with valid putative donor/acceptor sites and start/stop codons’.
Availability: Freely available to non-profit educational and research institutions. Usage by commercial entities requires a license agreement.
Contact: barbara_eckman@sbphrd.com
* To whom correspondence should be addressed.
Rubber Compounding
Authors: Tallury Syamal S. , Rodgers Brendan , Klingensmith William 
Published: May 2022

Abstract
Rubber compounding is the complex, multidisciplinary science of selecting and blending the appropriate combination of elastomers and other ingredients to meet the performance, manufacturing, environmental, and cost requirements of rubber goods made and used in commerce. There is a wide variety of elastomers and ingredients that are available in making rubber goods, which include all of the following types of products: tires, innertubes, retreaded tires, footwear, conveyor belts, rubber rolls, hoses, belts, weatherstripping, O‐rings, seals, diaphragms, tubing, rubber and latex gloves, ball bladders, medical devices, bumpers, and numerous other products. This is a review of the basic materials used in designing many common types of rubber products. The development of the combination of materials contained in a usable rubber compound involves many disciplines that include chemistry, physics, mathematics, and polymer science. In many cases, classical scientific methods can predict the interaction effects and estimate the properties expected from rubber compounds. However, discovery and development of new materials that modify the rubber compound to produce new, useful, and beneficial properties are appearing regularly. Also, environmental concerns are creating an interest in utilizing recycled rubber products into new rubber compounds, creating uses for postindustrial and ‐consumer materials.
Shaping transient response of nonlinear systems to satisfy a class of integral constraints
Authors: Aalipour Farzad , Das Tuhin 
Published: May 2022

AbstractWe consider the problem of shaping the transient step response of nonlinear systems to satisfy a class of integral constraints. Such constraints are inherent in hybrid energy systems consisting of energy sources and storage elements. While typical transient specifications aim to minimize overshoot, this problem is unique in that it requires the presence of an appreciable overshoot to satisfy the foregoing constraints. The problem was previously studied in the context of linear systems and this article extends that work to nonlinear systems. A combined integral and feedforward control, that requires minimal knowledge of the plant model, is shown to make the system amenable to meeting such constraints. Broadly, the compensation is effective for nonlinear plants with stable open‐loop step response and a positive DC gain. However, stability of the resulting closed‐loop system mandates bounds on the integral gain. In this regard, we state and prove generalized stability theorems for first and higher‐order nonlinear plants.
The Non‐Classical Crystallization Mechanism of a Composite Biogenic Guanine Crystal
Authors: Wagner Avital , Ezersky Vladimir , Maria Raquel , Upcher Alexander , Lemcoff Tali , Aflalo Eliahu D. , Lubin Yael , Palmer Benjamin A. 
Published: May 2022

AbstractSpectacular colors and visual phenomena in animals are produced by light interference from highly reflective guanine crystals. Little is known about how organisms regulate crystal morphology to tune the optics of these systems. By following guanine crystal formation in developing spiders, a crystallization mechanism is elucidated. Guanine crystallization is a “non‐classical,” multistep process involving a progressive ordering of states. Crystallization begins with nucleation of partially ordered nanogranules from a disordered precursor phase. Growth proceeds by orientated attachment of the nanogranules into platelets which coalesce into single crystals, via progressive relaxation of structural defects. Despite their prismatic morphology, the platelet texture is retained in the final crystals, which are composites of crystal lamellae and interlamellar sheets. Interactions between the macromolecular sheets and the planar face of guanine appear to direct nucleation, favoring platelet formation. These findings provide insights on how organisms control the morphology and optical properties of molecular crystals.
Lewis Acid‐catalyzed Tandem Synthesis of Quinazoline‐2,4‐diones by Reaction of Isatins with Aryl/Alkyl Amines using TBHP as Oxidant
Authors: Soda Anil Kumar , Bontha Indrasena Reddy , Chilaka Sai Krishna , Chellu Ramesh Kumar , Madabhushi Sridhar 
Published: May 2022

AbstractA new and efficient method for preparation of quinazoline‐2,4‐diones by tandem reaction of isatins with aryl/alkyl amines via oxidative rearrangement in the presence of Lewis acid/TBHP is described. This method offers a new approach with wide substrate scope for preparation of quinazoline‐2,4‐diones, in highyields under mild conditions.
Pattern and implications of neurological examination findings in autosomal dominant Alzheimer disease
Authors: Vöglein Jonathan , Franzmeier Nicolai , Morris John C. , Dieterich Marianne , McDade Eric , Simons Mikael , Preische Oliver , Hofmann Anna , Hassenstab Jason , Benzinger Tammie L. , Fagan Anne , Noble James M. , Berman Sarah B. , Graff‐Radford Neill R. , Ghetti Bernardino , Farlow Martin R. , Chhatwal Jasmeer P. , Salloway Stephen , Xiong Chengjie , Karch Celeste M , Cairns Nigel , Perrin Richard J. , Day Gregory , Martins Ralph , Sanchez‐Valle Raquel , Mori Hiroshi , Shimada Hiroyuki , Ikeuchi Takeshi , Suzuki Kazushi , Schofield Peter R. , Masters Colin L , Goate Alison , Buckles Virginia , Fox Nick C. , Chrem Patricio , Allegri Ricardo , Ringman John M. , Yakushev Igor , Laske Christoph , Jucker Mathias , Höglinger Günter , Bateman Randall J. , Danek Adrian , Levin Johannes ,   for the Dominantly Inherited Alzheimer Network
Published: May 2022

AbstractIntroductionAs knowledge about neurological examination findings in autosomal dominant Alzheimer disease (ADAD) is incomplete, we aimed to determine the frequency and significance of neurological examination findings in ADAD.MethodsFrequencies of neurological examination findings were compared between symptomatic mutation carriers and non mutation carriers from the Dominantly Inherited Alzheimer Network (DIAN) to define AD neurological examination findings. AD neurological examination findings were analyzed regarding frequency, association with and predictive value regarding cognitive decline, and association with brain atrophy in symptomatic mutation carriers.ResultsAD neurological examination findings included abnormal deep tendon reflexes, gait disturbance, pathological cranial nerve examination findings, tremor, abnormal finger to nose and heel to shin testing, and compromised motor strength. The frequency of AD neurological examination findings was 65.1%. Cross‐sectionally, mutation carriers with AD neurological examination findings showed a more than two‐fold faster cognitive decline and had greater parieto‐temporal atrophy, including hippocampal atrophy. Longitudinally, AD neurological examination findings predicted a significantly greater decline over time.DiscussionADAD features a distinct pattern of neurological examination findings that is useful to estimate prognosis and may inform clinical care and therapeutic trial designs.