bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Graduated Driver Licensing Programs and Fatal Crashes of 16-Year-Old Drivers: A National Evaluation
Authors: Chen Li-Hui , Baker Susan P. , Li Guohua
Published: July 2006

CONTEXT. Implementation of graduated driver licensing programs is associated with reductions in crash rates of young drivers, but graduated driver licensing programs vary in their components. The impact of programs with different components is unknown.

OBJECTIVE. The purpose of this work was to determine which graduated driver licensing programs are associated with the greatest reductions in fatal motor vehicle crashes involving 16-year-old drivers.

METHODS. We conducted a retrospective study of all 16-year-old drivers involved in fatal crashes in the United States from 1994 through 2004 using data from the Fatality Analysis Reporting System and the US Census Bureau. We measured incidence rate ratios of fatal motor vehicle crashes involving 16-year-old drivers according to graduated driver licensing programs, adjusted for state and year.

RESULTS. Compared with state quarters with no graduated driver licensing program components, reductions of 16% to 21% in fatal crash involvement rates of 16-year-old drivers occurred with programs that included ≥3-month mandatory waiting period, nighttime driving restriction, and either ≥30 hours of supervised driving or passenger restriction. Reductions of 18% to 21% occurred in state quarters with programs that included ≥5 of the 7 components examined. Drivers aged 20 to 24 or 25 to 29 years did not experience significant reductions.

CONCLUSION. Comprehensive graduated driver licensing programs are associated with reductions of ∼20% in 16-year-old drivers’ fatal crash involvement rates. The greatest benefit seems to be associated with programs that include age requirements and ≥3 months of waiting before the intermediate stage, nighttime driving restriction, and either ≥30 hours of supervised driving or passenger restriction.
Brief Maternal Depression Screening at Well-Child Visits
Authors: Olson Ardis L. , Dietrich Allen J. , Prazar Greg , Hurley James
Published: July 2006

OBJECTIVES. The goals were (1) to determine the feasibility and yield of maternal depression screening during all well-child visits, (2) to understand how pediatricians and mothers respond to depression screening information, and (3) to assess the time required for discussion of screening results.

METHODS. Implementation of brief depression screening of mothers at well-child visits for children of all ages was studied in 3 rural pediatric practices. Two screening trials introduced screening (1 month) and then determined whether screening could be sustained (6 months). Screening used the 2-question Patient Health Questionnaire. Practices tracked the proportions of visits screened and provided data about the screening process.

RESULTS. Practices were able to screen in the majority of well-child visits (74% in trial 1 and 67% in trial 2). Of 1398 mothers screened, 17% had 1 of the depressive symptoms and 6% (n = 88) scored as being at risk for a major depressive disorder. During discussion, 5.7% of all mothers thought they might be depressed and 4.7% thought they were stressed but not depressed. Pediatric clinicians intervened with 62.4% of mothers who screened positive and 38.2% of mothers with lesser symptoms. Pediatrician actions included discussion of the impact on the child, a follow-up visit or call, and referral to an adult primary care provider, a mental health clinician, or community supports. Pediatrician time needed to discuss screening results decreased in the second trial. Prolonged discussion time was uncommon (5–10 minutes in 3% of all well-child visits and >10 minutes in 2%).

CONCLUSIONS. Routine, brief, maternal depression screening conducted during well-child visits was feasible and detected mothers who were willing to discuss depression and stress issues with their pediatrician. The discussion after screening revealed additional mothers who felt depressed among those with lesser symptoms. The additional discussion time was usually brief and resulted in specific pediatrician actions.
Prospective Evaluation of the Risk of Serious Bacterial Infection in Children Who Present to the Emergency Department With Hyperpyrexia (Temperature of 106°F or Higher)
Authors: Trautner Barbara W. , Caviness A. Chantal , Gerlacher Gary R. , Demmler Gail , Macias Charles G.
Published: July 2006

BACKGROUND. Previous studies of children with temperatures ≥106°F (hyperpyrexia) disagree as to whether hyperpyrexia confers a high risk of serious bacterial infection.

OBJECTIVES. The purpose of this study was to determine (1) the risk of serious bacterial infection in children with hyperpyrexia and (2) whether clinical presentation can identify hyperpyrexic patients at risk for serious bacterial infection.

METHODS. Data were collected prospectively on all children <18 years of age presenting to a pediatric emergency department during a 2-year period with rectal temperatures of ≥106°F. History, physical examination, complete blood cell counts, blood cultures, and nasopharyngeal viral cultures were obtained on all of the patients.

RESULTS. Of 130828 visits, 103 children had hyperpyrexia (1 per 1270 patient visits). Of the 103 subjects, 20 had serious bacterial infection, and 22 had laboratory-proven viral illness (including 1 subject with bacterial/viral coinfection). The presence of a chronic underlying illness was associated with an increased risk of serious bacterial infection. The presence of rhinorrhea or any viral symptom was associated with a decreased risk of serious bacterial infection, although diarrhea itself was associated with an increased risk of serious bacterial infection. Age, maximum temperature, and total white blood cell count were not predictive of either bacterial or viral illness.

CONCLUSIONS. Children with hyperpyrexia are at equally high risk for serious bacterial infection and for viral illness. Bacterial and viral coinfection also occurs. No aspect of the clinical presentation reliably distinguishes between bacterial and viral illness. We recommend consideration of antibiotic treatment for all children presenting to the emergency department with hyperpyrexia without confirmed viral illness.
Are Children of Moderately Low Birth Weight at Increased Risk for Poor Health? A New Look at an Old Question
Authors: Stein Ruth E. K. , Siegel Michele J. , Bauman Laurie J.
Published: July 2006

OBJECTIVE. The goal was to examine whether moderately low birth weight children were at greater risk for health problems than normal birth weight children in a nationally representative sample of US children.

METHODS. Data were analyzed for 7817 children, 0 to 12 years of age, from the sample child file of the 2002 National Health Interview Survey. Logistic regressions were estimated to examine whether morbidity rates were higher among moderately low birth weight children than among normal birth weight children and to control for covariates. Health was measured as having a special health care need, having a chronic condition, being hospitalized in the past year, having a learning disability, attention-deficit disorder/attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, or other behavioral disorders, having minor health conditions, and having acute illnesses.

RESULTS. With control for other confounders, moderately low birth weight children were significantly more likely than normal birth weight children to be identified as having a special health care need, having a chronic condition, having a learning disability, and having attention-deficit disorder or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. They were not more likely to have a hospitalization in the past year, other behavioral disorders, or minor health conditions or acute illnesses.

CONCLUSIONS. This population-based study of rates of current morbidity shows that moderately low birth weight children born since 1990 are vulnerable to a wide range of health, learning, and behavioral problems, compared with normal birth weight children. This suggests the need for continued focus on ways to reduce morbidity rates for moderately low birth weight children.
Pediatric Fireworks-Related Injuries in the United States: 1990–2003
Authors: Witsaman Rachel J. , Comstock R. Dawn , Smith Gary A.
Published: July 2006

OBJECTIVE. Our goal was to describe the epidemiology of pediatric fireworks-related injuries among children aged 19 years and younger by using a nationally representative sample.

DESIGN. We performed a retrospective analysis of data from the US Consumer Product Safety Commission's National Electronic Injury Surveillance System from 1990–2003.

RESULTS. An estimated 85800 pediatric fireworks-related injuries were treated in US emergency departments during the 14-year study period. Injured children had a mean age of 10.8 years, and 77.9% were male. Fireworks users accounted for 49.5% of the injuries, whereas 22.2% of the injuries were to bystanders; however, user status could not be determined in 28.3% of cases. The overall fireworks-related injury rate decreased significantly during the study period, but subgroup analysis did not indicate consistent declines among all ages and types of fireworks. Injuries were most commonly caused by firecrackers (29.6%), sparklers/novelty devices (20.5%), and aerial devices (17.6%). The most commonly injured body sites were the eyeball (20.8%), face (20.0%), and hands (19.8%), and the most common injury type was burns (60.3%). Approximately 91.6% of all children with fireworks-related injuries were treated and released from hospital emergency departments, 5.3% were admitted, and 2.3% were transferred to another institution. Bystanders accounted for 13.3% of admitted cases and 20.6% of transferred cases.

CONCLUSIONS. Consumer fireworks cause serious preventable injuries among pediatric fireworks users and bystanders in the United States. Parents should be advised to take their children to safer public fireworks displays rather than allowing consumer fireworks to be used by or near their children. A national restriction of consumer fireworks, in accordance with the policy recommendations of the American Academy of Pediatrics, should be implemented to reduce the burden of fireworks-related injuries among children.
Civil engineering career management —the unwritten rules
Authors: Hipkiss Anna
Published: July 2006

Getting ahead in civil engineering today is, like most other professions, very much down to an individual's own efforts. Based on in-depth interviews with senior civil engineers and human resources managers at five major UK engineering organisations, this paper concludes that the traditional hierarchical, linear and predictable nature of civil engineering career development no longer exists. Promotion today depends very much on how individuals manage their own careers. Civil engineers need to make the best use of the support resources available to them and then follow their passions, be proactive and grasp opportunities. They should also build and share expertise, take considered risks, use positive politics, raise their visibility, promote their profiles, network and find role models and mentors.
Teaching of design—results of a survey
Authors: Burland John , Barr Ben
Published: July 2006

This paper presents the results of a questionnaire sent out to vice-chancellors at the end of 2004 regarding current trends in the teaching of design in UK universities. The main conclusion is that large, well-funded universities and teaching-led universities are not currently subject to potential conflict in staff appointments between the requirements of a research background and the need for teaching competence in professional areas of the curriculum. With regard to the teaching of design, the conflicts are more apparent due to the time-consuming nature of design teaching and the difficulty of attracting suitably experienced staff. Concern is expressed about the situation in about five years’ time when existing staff retire. A summary of the various initiatives taken by universities to cover the requirements of design teaching is provided.
Concentrations of 15F2t isoprostane in urine of dogs with intervertebral disk disease
Authors: McMichael Maureen A. , Ruaux Craig G. , Baltzer Wendy I. , Kerwin Sharon C. , Hosgood Giselle L. , Steiner Jörg M. , Williams David A.
Published: July 2006

Objective—To measure 15F2t isoprostane concentrations in the urine of dogs undergoing ovariohysterectomy (OHE) and dogs undergoing surgery because of intervertebral disk disease (IVDD) and to assess relationships between urinary concentrations of 15F2t isoprostanes and neurologic score in dogs with IVDD.

Animals—11 dogs undergoing OHE and 32 dogs with IVDD undergoing hemilaminectomy.

Procedures—Paired urine samples were obtained at induction of anesthesia and approximately 1 hour after OHE (controls) and were collected from dogs with IVDD at induction of anesthesia (28 samples) and approximately 1 hour after hemilaminectomy (31 samples); 26 paired urine samples were obtained from dogs with IVDD. Urinary isoprostane concentrations were measured by use of a commercial ELISA, and results were adjusted on the basis of urinary creatinine concentrations. Differences in the mean isoprostane-to-creatinine ratio were analyzed. Neurologic score was determined in dogs with IVDD by use of the modified Frankel scoring system.

Results—Urinary isoprostane-to-creatinine ratios were significantly higher in dogs with IVDD than in control dogs before and after surgery. There was no significant difference between values before and after surgery for either group. There was a significant correlation of neurologic score and urinary isoprostane-to-creatinine ratio because dogs that had higher neurologic scores (ie, less severely affected) generally had higher isoprostane-to-creatinine ratios.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Urinary isoprostane-to-creatinine ratios were higher in dogs with IVDD before and after surgery. Analysis of these data suggests that dogs with IVDD are in a state of oxidative stress and that preemptive treatment with antioxidants warrants further investigation.
Outdoor fecal deposition by free-roaming cats and attitudes of cat owners and nonowners toward stray pets, wildlife, and water pollution
Authors: Dabritz Haydee A. , Atwill E. Robert , Gardner Ian A. , Miller Melissa A. , Conrad Patricia A.
Published: July 2006

Objective—To estimate cat population size, management, and outside fecal deposition and evaluate attitudes of cat owners and nonowners to stray animal control, water pollution, and wildlife protection.

Design—Cross-sectional survey.

Sample Population—294 adult residents of Cayucos, Los Osos, and Morro Bay, Calif.

Procedures—Telephone survey.

Results—The region's cat population was estimated at 7,284 owned and 2,046 feral cats, and 38% of surveyed households owned a mean of 1.9 cats/household. Forty-four percent of cats defecated outside >75% of the time. Annual fecal deposition (wet weight) by owned cats in the 3 communities was estimated to be 77.6 tonnes (76.4 tons). Cat owners were more likely to oppose cat licensing and impounding stray cats and support trap-neuter-return for stray cats and less likely to be concerned about water pollution, than were noncat owners.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Feral cats represented a sizeable proportion (22%) of the free roaming cats in this area and could be contributing 30.0 tonnes (29.5 tons) of feces to the environment per year. However, feral cats are not the principal source of fecal loading because owned cats defecating outdoors contribute an estimated 77.6 tonnes (76.4 tons) or 72% of the annual outdoor fecal deposition.
Association study of CHRFAM7A copy number and 2bp deletion polymorphisms with schizophrenia and bipolar affective disorder
Authors: Flomen Rachel H. , Collier David A. , Osborne Sarah , Munro Janet , Breen Gerome , St Clair David , Makoff Andrew J.
Published: July 2006

Schizophrenia and bipolar disorder are major psychiatric diseases that have a strong genetic element. Markers in the vicinity of the CHRNA7 gene at 15q13‐q14 have been linked with an endophenotype of schizophrenia, P50 sensory gating disorder, with schizophrenia itself and with bipolar disorder. We have measured the copy number of the polymorphic partial duplication of CHRNA7 (CHRFAM7A) and genotyped a polymorphic 2bp deletion within exon 6 of CHRFAM7A. In this study, 208 probands with a primary diagnosis of schizophrenia, 217 with a diagnosis of bipolar affective disorder and 28 with schizoaffective or other psychotic disorders were examined together with 197 controls recruited from the same region in Scotland. No significant association was seen for schizophrenia and bipolar disorder by genotype or allele overall for either polymorphism, but a mildly significant association by genotype (P = 0.04) was observed for absence of CHRFAM7A when the sample was analyzed as a single psychosis phenotype. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Einelektronenreaktionen von Übergangsmetallkomplexen in der radikalischen Polymerisation
Authors: Poli Rinaldo
Published: July 2006

Kontrollierte radikalische Polymerisationen sind vor allem dank der Entwicklung effizienter Übergangsmetallkatalysatoren für die radikalische Atomtransferpolymerisation möglich geworden. Eine weitere Methode zur kontrollierten radikalischen Polymerisation ist die metallorganische Radikalpolymerisation, bei der es zur reversiblen Bildung von Metall‐Kohlenstoff‐Bindungen kommt. Übergangsmetallkomplexe können außerdem katalytische Kettentransfers bewirken, einen Prozess, der unter Abstraktion von Wasserstoffatomen verläuft. Dieser Kurzaufsatz diskutiert die Rolle von Einelektronenreaktionen von Übergangsmetallkomplexen bei metallvermittelten kontrollierten radikalischen Polymerisationen.
An Adaptive Test for a Subset of Coefficients in a Multivariate Regression Model
Authors: O'Gorman Thomas W.
Published: July 2006

An adaptive multivariate test is proposed for a subset of regression coefficients in a linear model. This adaptive method uses the studentized deleted residuals to calculate an appropriate weight for each observation. The weights are then used to compute Wilk's lambda for the weighted model. The adaptive test is performed by permuting the independent variables corresponding to those parameters that are assumed to equal zero in the null hypothesis. The permuted variables are then weighted to obtain a permutation test statistic that is used to estimate the p ‐value. An example is presented of a multivariate regression that uses systolic and diastolic blood pressure as dependent variables with age and body mass index as independent variables. The simulation results show that the adaptive test maintains its size for the three multivariate error distributions that were used in the study. For normal error models the power of the adaptive test nearly equaled that of the non‐adaptive test. For models that used non‐normal errors the adaptive test was considerably more powerful than the traditional non‐adaptive test. (© 2006 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Endovascular stent‐grafts treatment in acute aortic dissection (type B): Clinical outcomes during early, late, or chronic phases
Authors: Chen Shaoliang , Yei Fei , Zhou Ling , Luo Jun , Zhang Junjie , Shan Shoujie , Tian Nailiang , Kwan Tak W.
Published: July 2006

Objective: This is a prospective study to evaluate the clinical outcomes of endovascular repair in patients with different phases of type B aortic dissection. Background: Endovascular repairing with stent‐grafts is an innovative technique for type B acute aortic dissection. There is no previous study regarding outcomes in different time phases. Methods: Sixty‐two patients underwent endovascular stent‐grafts. There were 23 in the early phase (<24 hr), 20 in the late phase (≥24 hr to 2 weeks), and 19 in the chronic phase (>2 weeks). Results: The early phase group had the lowest ratio of stent‐grafts to patient and the shortest stent‐graft length. The chronic phase group had the largest diameter of false lumen. The technical success rate was 100%; no patient died within hospital. Three patients died within 30 days, with the same death rate in every group. Compared with acute patients, the chronic group had a higher volume of contrast, a higher creatinine post‐procedure, and a higher incidence of contrast‐induced nephropathy. Multiple regression analysis demonstrated that creatinine and endoleak were independent factors in predicting late death (95% CI, 3.4–26%, P < 0.01). The overall cardiovascular event‐free survival was 88.9% ± 2.1% at 30 days, 87.2% ± 4.1% at 1 year, and 81.4% ± 6.3% at 2 years. CT angiography identified the complete or partial thrombosis of the false lumen to be 95.7%. Conclusions: Endovascular repairing with stent‐graft is safe, feasible, and able to treat type B aortic dissection in all phases. However, chronic renal dysfunction was an independent factor which contributed to a lower survival rate of chronic phase patients. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Self‐assembly of multinuclear complexes with enantiomerically pure chiral binaphthoxy imine ligands: Effect of the alkyl spacer connecting two binaphthyl units on the metal binding
Authors: Maeda Takeshi , Furusho Yoshio , Shiro Motoo , Takata Toshikazu
Published: July 2006

Metal complexing behavior of enantiomerically pure α,ω‐diiminoalkanes possessing the two terminal binaphthyl units (L1 and L2) was studied. The ligands L1 and L2 were prepared by the reaction of optically pure 2′‐butoxy‐3‐formyl‐2‐hydroxy‐1,1′‐binaphthyl with propane and pentane diamines. Reactions of L1 and L2 with equimolar amount of Cu(OAc)2 afforded quantitatively multinuclear complexes 1. The structure of 1 was confirmed by MALDI–TOF MS spectroscopy, X‐ray single‐crystal‐structure analysis, and UV/vis and CD spectroscopic analyses. The reaction of L1 having a 1,3‐propanediyl spacer resulted in the formation of a self‐assembled product, which was assigned as enantiopure trinuclear circular helicate 1a, while the ligand having a 1,5‐pentanediyl spacer L2 gave a different self‐assembled product, dinuclear side‐by‐side complex 1b. The circular dichroism (CD) spectrum of 1a in solution showed intense Cotton effects in both the π–π* transition of the naphthalene units and the LMCT region of the N,O‐chelate moieties. The CD spectrum of 1b was completely different from that of 1a; in particular the Cotton effects in the LMCT region were very weak, contrary to those of 1a. These results suggest that 1a retains some chirality induced on the N,O‐chelating moieties even in solution, while the induced chirality on the N,O‐chelating moieties in 1b is not very significant, being consistent with the consequences of the X‐ray single‐crystal‐structure studies. Chirality, 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Synthesis and Mesomorphic Properties of Some ω ′‐Alkoxy‐ω‐benzoxypolyfluorotolane Compounds
Authors: Qing Chuan , Rong Guo‐Bin , Yu Hong‐Bin , Wen Jian‐Xun
Published: July 2006

Four homologue series of 4‐cyano‐ and 4‐nitro‐substituted benzoate‐tolanes were synthesized and characterized by IR, NMR, MS spectra and elemental analysis. Their phase transition behaviors were investigated by DSC and polarized optical microscope. The effects on the mesomorphic properties of different positions of the perfluorophenyl in the molecular core unit, the terminal cyano‐substituted systems and the terminal nitro‐substituted ones were discussed.
Imino Diels‐Alder Reaction Catalyzed by Iodine: Efficient Synthesis of Tetrahydroquinolines
Authors: Li Yun‐Cheng , Zhang Jun‐Min , Dong Li‐Ting , Yan Ming
Published: July 2006

Iodine was found to be an efficient catalyst for the imino Diels‐Alder reaction ofN‐arylimine with enol ethers to provide tetrahydroquinolines in good yields. The influence of the loading of iodine, reaction solvent, the structure of imine and enol ethers was studied. One pot synthesis of tetrahydroquinolines from aldehyde, aniline and enol ethers catalyzed by iodine was also applicable and provided tetrahydroquinolines in comparable yields. Mild reaction conditions, facile experimental procedure, low price of iodine and good yield of products render this new method attractive for practical synthesis of many tetrahydroquinoline derivatives.
Sonochemical Method for the Preparation of Hollow SnO2 Microspheres
Authors: Zhang Xia , Zhao Yan‐Bao , Tao Xiao‐Jun , Wu Zhi‐Shen , Zhang Ping‐Yu , Zhang Zhi‐Jun
Published: July 2006

A simple sonochemical route has been successfully developed to synthesize SnO2 hollow microspheres. The obtained sample is characterized by XRD, TEM, XPS and UV‐visible spectrophotometer. The TEM image of the sample at high magnification shows that the shell of the hollow sphere is composed of 3–5 nm SnO2 nanoparticles. A possible formation mechanism of the hollow spheres is briefly discussed.
Targeting epigenetic abnormalities with histone deacetylase inhibitors
Authors: Conley Barbara A. , Wright John J. , Kummar Shivaani
Published: July 2006

BACKGROUND.

Alterations in chromosome structure play critical roles in the control of gene transcription. These “epigenetic” alterations include modification of histones and other proteins by acetylation and/or phosphorylation. Normally, these modifications are balanced finely and are highly reversible in normal tissues, but they may be imbalanced and heritable in tumor cells. Histone deacetylase inhibitors increase histone acetylation, thereby modulating the expression of a subset of genes in a coordinated fashion. Several tumor suppressor genes associated with the malignant phenotype are repressed by epigenetic mechanisms in sporadic cancers. Thus, therapy with histone deacetylase inhibitors may alter tumor phenotype to inhibit growth in such tumors.

METHODS.

The authors reviewed the rationale for histone deacetylase inhibitors as potential anticancer agents and reviewed some preclinical and early clinical trial data with various classes of histone deacetylase inhibitors.

RESULTS.

Preclinical and clinical antitumor activity has been observed. Toxicities include fatigue, myelosuppression, and cardiac abnormalities.

CONCLUSIONS.

Histone deacetylase inhibitors have shown promising activity in some solid tumors and hematologic malignancies. Cancer 2006. Published 2006 by the American Cancer Society.
Prognostic role of p27Kip1 deregulation in colorectal cancer
Authors: Hershko Dan D. , Shapira Ma'anit
Published: July 2006

p27Kip1, an inhibitor of cyclin‐dependent kinases, is a negative cell cycle regulator that plays an important role in tumor suppression. Deregulation of p27 is commonly observed in many human cancers secondary to enhanced ubiquitin‐mediated degradation, mediated and rate‐limited by its specific ubiquitin ligase subunits Skp2 and Cks1. In the present study the prognostic implications of p27 and the mechanisms that down‐regulate its expression in colorectal cancer (CRC) are reviewed. A review and analysis of the English literature was conducted. Loss of p27 was strongly associated with aggressive tumor behavior and poor clinical outcome in CRC. Overexpression of Skp2 and Cks1 was observed in aggressive CRC and is responsible for down‐regulation of p27 levels. Both Skp2 and Cks1 were found to be independent prognostic markers for survival and provide predictive information additional to that provided by p27 alone. Deregulation of p27 has a profound effect on tumor progression in CRC and was found to be an accurate and independent prognostic marker. Thus, determination of levels of p27 and of its ubiquitin ligase subunits by readily available immunohistochemical studies may be a useful tool in the assessment of prognosis, especially in patients with intermediate disease, and may potentially assist in the planning of adjuvant therapy and development of novel interventional therapy. Cancer 2006. © 2006 American Cancer Society.
Multiple approaches to formation processes: The Pine Spring Site, southwest Wyoming
Authors: Kelly Robert L. , Byers David A. , Eckerle William , Goldberg Paul , Haynes C. Vance , Larsen R. Mark , Laughlin John , Mead Jim I. , Wall Sage
Published: July 2006

Excavations in 1964 at the Pine Spring site in southwest Wyoming concluded that the site contains three cultural occupation levels; the earliest allegedly dates to the terminal Pleistocene and is associated with megafauna. However, excavations in 1998 and 2000, and analysis of the stratigraphy, AMS dates, micromorphology, and artifact carbonate isotopes, along with debitage refitting, density, orientation, inclination, burning, and trample damage, could not replicate the 1964 findings. A hiatus in deposition accounts for the highest density of artifacts, and the three original occupations are palimpsests. There is no unequivocal association between evidence of human activity and megafaunal remains. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Identification and functional analysis of a human homologue of the monkey replication origin ors8
Authors: Callejo Mario , Sibani Sahar , Di Paola Domenic , Price Gerald G. , Zannis‐Hadjopoulos Maria
Published: July 2006

We previously isolated from African green monkey (CV‐1) cells a replication origin, ors8, that is active at the onset of S‐phase. Here, its homologous sequence (hors8, accession number: DQ230978) was amplified from human cells, using the monkey‐ors8‐specific primers. Sequence alignment between the monkey and the human fragment revealed a 92% identity. Nascent DNA abundance analysis, involving quantification by real‐time PCR, indicated that hors8 is an active replication origin, as the abundance of nascent DNA from a genomic region containing it was 97‐fold higher relative to a non‐origin region in the same locus. Furthermore, the data showed that the hors8 fragment is capable of supporting the episomal replication of its plasmid, when cloned into pBlueScript (pBS), as assayed by the DpnI resistance assay after transfection of HeLa cells. A quantitative chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assay, using antibodies against Ku, Orc2, and Cdc6, showed that these DNA replication initiator proteins were associated in vivo with the human ors8 (hors8). Finally, nascent DNA abundance experiments from human cells synchronized at different phases of the cell cycle revealed that hors8 is a late‐firing origin of DNA replication, having the highest activity 8 h after release from late G1. J. Cell. Biochem. 99: 1606–1615, 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
PKC and cAMP positively modulate alkaline‐induced exocytosis in the human mast cell line HMC‐1
Authors: Pernas‐Sueiras Octavio , Alfonso Amapro , Vieytes Mercedes R. , Botana Luis M.
Published: July 2006

We study in HMC‐1 the activation process, measured as histamine release. We know that ammonium chloride (NH4Cl) and ionomycin release histamine, and the modulatory role of drugs targeting protein kinase C (PKC), adenosine 3′,5′‐cyclic monophosphate (cAMP), tyrosine kinase (TyrK) and phosphatidylinositol 3‐kinase (PI3K) on this effect. We used Gö6976 (100 nM) and low concentration of GF 109203X (GF) (50 nM) to inhibit Ca2+‐dependent PKC isozymes. For Ca2+‐independent isozymes, we used 500 nM GF and 10 µM rottlerin (specifically inhibits PKCδ). Phorbol 12‐myristate 13‐acetate (PMA) (100 ng/ml) was used to stimulate PKC, and genistein (10 µM) and lavendustin A (1 µM) as unspecific TyrK inhibitors. STI571 10 µM was used to specifically inhibit the activity of Kit, the receptor for stem cell factor, and 10 nM wortmannin as a PI3K inhibitor. Activation of PKC with PMA enhances histamine release in response to NH4Cl and ionomycin. PMA increases NH4Cl‐induced alkalinization and ionomycin‐induced Ca2+ entry. Inhibition of PKCδ strongly inhibits Ca2+ entry elicited by ionomycin, but failed to modify histamine release. The effect of cAMP‐active drugs was explored with the adenylate cyclase activator forskolin (30 µM), the inhibitor SQ22,536 (1 µM), the cAMP analog dibutyryl cAMP (200 µM), and the PKA blocker H89 (1 µM). Forskolin and dibutyryl cAMP do increase NH4Cl‐induced alkalinization, and potentiate histamine release elicited by this compound. Our data indicates that alkaline‐induced exocytosis is modulated by PKC and cAMP, suggesting that pH could be a modulatory signal itself. J. Cell. Biochem. 99: 1651–1663, 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Prevalence of Vibrio parahaemolyticus in seafoods and their processing environments as detected by duplex PCR
Authors: Vongxay Khamphouth , He Xiaolong , Cheng Suyun , Zhou Xiangyang , Shen Biao , Zhang Guizhi , Zhang Junyan , Fang Weihuan
Published: July 2006

A duplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) procedure targeting the genes gyrB and tl was established for specific identification of Vibrio parahaemolyticus from seafoods and processing environments. It could detect as few as 2.5 × 102 colony‐forming units mL−1 in pure cultures. Direct detection of V. parahaemolyticus was also possible from artificially contaminated shrimp samples if combined with proteinase treatment. The homogeneous colonies on thiosulfate/citrate/bile salts/sucrose agar suspected to be V. parahaemolyticus or closely related species (n = 37) out of 259 samples of seafoods and processing environments were identified using the conventional method and duplex PCR. Both methods identified 17 isolates as V. parahaemolyticus from among the suspected isolates. Only one of the 17 V. parahaemolyticus isolates possessed the thermostable direct haemolysin gene (tdh) fragment as detected by different primer pairs in single PCR. Copyright © 2006 Society of Chemical Industry
Use of tert‐butylbenzoylated tartardiamide chiral stationary phase for the enantiomeric resolution of acidic compounds by nano‐liquid chromatography
Authors: Fanali Salvatore , D'Orazio Giovanni , Rocco Anna
Published: July 2006

Several racemic acidic compounds of pharmaceutical and environmental interest have been separated into their enantiomers by nano‐liquid chromatography (nano‐LC) employing a tert‐butylbenzoylated tartardiamide chiral stationary phase (CHI‐TBB). CHI‐TBB was packed into a fused silica capillary of 100 μm id and retained by two frits made with a heated wire; detection was on‐column at a window (about 0.5 cm) prepared by removing the polyimide layer. The normal phase mode was selected for eluting the studied acidic compounds and therefore n‐hexane/2‐propanol/acetic acid (89/10/1, v/v/v) was used as mobile phase. Working at a flow rate of 220 nL/min a good resolution was obtained for mecoprop, dichlorprop, diclofop, fenoxaprop (herbicides) and for DF 1738Y, DF 1770Y, DF 2008Y (drugs under evaluation). In order to optimize the chiral resolution we modified the polarity of the mobile phase by adding several polar additives such as ethyl acetate, dichloromethane, tert‐butyl methyl ether. Better results were obtained for some herbicides on working with 2‐propanol/CH2Cl2/n‐hexane/acetic acid (8/4/87/1, v/v/v/v). The influence of the capillary temperature on chiral resolution was studied for two herbicides with different chemical structures, namely mecoprop and haloxyfop in the temperature range between 10 and 40°C and with n‐hexane/2‐propanol/1% acetic acid (89/10/1, v/v/v) as the mobile phase. Linear correlation of ln k vs 1/T and ln α vs 1/T was observed; ΔH° values were negative, demonstrating that retention of analytes was an exothermic process. A decrease in resolution was observed with rising temperature, showing that enantioresolution was mainly influenced by selectivity factors.
Vegetation regrowth after a differential intensity forest fire in a Mediterranean environment, northeast Spain
Authors: Úbeda X. , Outeiro L. R. , Sala M.
Published: July 2006

Inventories of vegetation were collected in a burnt area located in Cadiretes massif, Catalan Coastal Ranges, northeast Spain. The burnt forest primarily consisted of pine plantation (Pinus pinaster) with a large number of cork trees (Quercus suber). The burnt area was divided into three zones based on fire intensity. Data from three different periods after the fire (six, ten and twenty‐four months) showed differences between the recovering vegetation and that in a control forest area. Numbers and types of resurgent vegetation species following the fire were different in each area. Regeneration of vegetation is important not only in terms of plant regrowth but also for protecting the soil surface from rainfall impact. During the research period the burnt area was managed homogeneously by the forestry authorities. Management operations, among others, involved tree felling, construction of terraces, with dead trees to control erosion, and reforestation of some species. Some of these operations, such as tree felling and the creation of terraces which were carried out one year after the fire, were implemented too late, since the most serious erosion had already taken place. Some operations, such as reforestation in some low intensity burnt areas, are unnecessary due to the profuse recovery of Pinus and Quercus suber. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Analysis of track rope damage in serious incident on Schilthorn aerial ropeway
Authors: Zgraggen M. , Piskoty G. , Faller M. , Kovacs G. , Rössler G. , Michel S. , Oplatka G. , v. Trzebiatowski O.
Published: July 2006

Damage analysis of the serious incident that took place on 29 December 2004 on the Mürren‐Birg section of the Schilthorn aerial ropeway identified the cause of failure as hydrogen‐induced stress corrosion cracking. The necessary preconditions for this damage mechanism, which was previously unknown in the aerial ropeway industry, were established by the complex interaction of various ancillary conditions. During periodic rope relocation in 1977, galling occurred between the track rope and a deflection saddle as a result of inadequate lubrication. The friction or galling processes resulted in changes in the grain structure (friction‐induced martensite) as well as scale‐like smearing on the wire surfaces. The formation of friction‐induced martensite results in local stress changes (peak tensile stresses on the surface). Over time, corrosion processes took place in the area of the surface defects under dissociating conditions (absence of air), producing diffusible hydrogen. The hydrogen diffuses preferentially to points of peak stresses and gives rise to embrittlement of the material and intergranular cracks. The results of the investigation were immediately distributed to the licensing authorities and aerial ropeway operators in the form of specially designed training materials to enable appropriate inspections of systems of similar design. Detailed evaluation of this preventive measure is still in progress.
Resistance monitoring of aluminum plates to microbiologically influenced corrosion using FFT impedance spectroscopy methods
Authors: Norouzi P. , Hamedi J. , Ganjali M. R. , Ahmadi A.
Published: July 2006

It is well know that formation of a passive oxide film on aluminum can enhance its corrosion resistance. However, microbiologically species are able to damage this film. Microbial adhesion is widely accepted as important stage prior to the induction or initiation of biocorrosion. Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Cladosprioum sp. have been commonly associated with the microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC) of aluminum and its alloys. In this study, the effect of an organic dye (Quinizarin), on the resistance of aluminum plates to MIC has been investigated by some corrosion monitoring methods such as FFT impedance spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry and SEM (scanning electron microscopy). In this work, the surface of aluminum plates were changed after exposing them (five types: only polished, anodized, anodized and colored, anodized and colored and sealed) to Pseudomonas aeuroginosa in ASW (artificial sea water) as a microbial culture. The results showed that, the mentioned color caused a decrease in the growth of bacteria, because the color acts a protected layer on the surface of aluminum. This characteristic can reduce intensity of biocorrosion on aluminum plates, so the anodized and colored and sealed plates have the most resistance to MIC, and it can be shown and proven by these techniques which are mentioned above.
Low‐Temperature Restructuring Processes in Polyhydrosilanes
Authors: Sacarescu Liviu , Siokou Angeliki , Ardeleanu Rodinel , Sacarescu Gabriela , Simionescu Mihaela
Published: July 2006

Summary: This paper presents the structural influence of the SiH functionality on the physicochemical properties of polysilanes. New low‐temperature restructuring processes were discovered using thermal analysis (TGA, DSC). Photoluminescent (FL) and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) measurements revealed the optoelectronic properties‐chemical structure relationship of the synthesized polymers.

Highly reactive SiH groups lead to restructuring of the main polysilane chain.

magnified image

Highly reactive SiH groups lead to restructuring of the main polysilane chain.
WebAIM: an online aspiration‐level interactive method
Authors: Wang Jingguo , Zionts Stanley
Published: July 2006

The aspiration‐level interactive method (AIM) is a useful decision tool that takes advantage of the idea of satisficing as well as other concepts of multiple criteria decision making (MCDM). In this paper we describe a web version of AIM: WebAIM. It is a logical extension of earlier versions of AIM and was developed using Visual Studio.NET. WebAIM enables accessing our method easily and efficiently on the Internet. It promotes the use and applications of our method. By exploring the relationship with Simon's satisficing, we provide further insight into AIM. We introduce the features of WebAIM, and demonstrate the usage of the program through a house selection problem. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Structure elucidation of an unexpected product from dehydration of a β‐hydroxyketone
Authors: Minter David E. , Winslow Christopher D. , Watson William H. , Bodige Satish
Published: July 2006

The structure of an unexpected compound from the dehydration of an aldol addition product has been determined using 1‐D and 2‐D NMR techniques. This reaction is the last step in a new synthetic approach to the galanthan ring system. Complete 1H and 13C NMR assignments for two synthetic precursors are also reported. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Direct parallel image reconstructions for spiral trajectories using GRAPPA
Authors: Heidemann Robin M. , Griswold Mark A. , Seiberlich Nicole , Krüger Gunnar , Kannengiesser Stephan A.R. , Kiefer Berthold , Wiggins Graham , Wald Lawrence L. , Jakob Peter M.
Published: July 2006

The use of spiral trajectories is an efficient way to cover a desired k‐space partition in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Compared to conventional Cartesian k‐space sampling, it allows faster acquisitions and results in a slight reduction of the high gradient demand in fast dynamic scans, such as in functional MRI (fMRI). However, spiral images are more susceptible to off‐resonance effects that cause blurring artifacts and distortions of the point‐spread function (PSF), and thereby degrade the image quality. Since off‐resonance effects scale with the readout duration, the respective artifacts can be reduced by shortening the readout trajectory. Multishot experiments represent one approach to reduce these artifacts in spiral imaging, but result in longer scan times and potentially increased flow and motion artifacts. Parallel imaging methods are another promising approach to improve image quality through an increase in the acquisition speed. However, non‐Cartesian parallel image reconstructions are known to be computationally time‐consuming, which is prohibitive for clinical applications. In this study a new and fast approach for parallel image reconstructions for spiral imaging based on the generalized autocalibrating partially parallel acquisitions (GRAPPA) methodology is presented. With this approach the computational burden is reduced such that it becomes comparable to that needed in accelerated Cartesian procedures. The respective spiral images with two‐ to eightfold acceleration clearly benefit from the advantages of parallel imaging, such as enabling parallel MRI single‐shot spiral imaging with the off‐resonance behavior of multishot acquisitions. Magn Reson Med, 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
An absolute procedure to test the growth potential of medium and the influence of decreased oxygen tension in primary amniotic fluid cell cultures
Authors: Sikkema‐Raddatz Birgit , Suijkerbuijk Ron , van der Vlag Jakob , Stoepker Marian , Buys Charles H. C. M. , te Meerman Gerard J.
Published: July 2006

Objective

For prenatal cytogenetic diagnosis, cell cultures should be maximally successful. When introducing a change in conditions, e.g. a new batch of medium, the growth potential of a culture is usually compared under both the new condition and the one already in use. Such a relative test is in principle subject to drift and may over time increasingly lead to rejection of new adequate conditions, c.q. good batches of medium. We therefore wanted to design an absolute test to assess the quality of a new condition for amniotic fluid (AF) in situ cell culturing.

Methods

We tested batches of medium under sub‐optimal (stress) conditions, expecting that differences in growth potential would thereby be more readily observed. In our stress test, we diluted the culture medium to the extent of achieving a 50% growth reduction. Thresholds for rejecting a new condition were empirically determined, based on the acceptance of a less than 1% probability of false rejection of a good condition.

Results

Testing three cultures per patient for ten patients, i.e. 30 cultures in total, in a medium diluted to 30% of the original concentration, showed that a minimal number of 23 successful cultures and an average number of three or more colonies per culture appeared as thresholds meeting our rejection criteria. Testing five different media resulted in the rejection of one. Using the same stress test to evaluate the effect of culturing under decreased oxygen tension showed that 2.5 and 5% oxygen tension caused a larger colony size.

Conclusion

We designed a sensitive absolute test to assess the quality of culturing conditions for cells to be used in prenatal diagnosis in general and in particular to test the growth potential of different batches of culture medium. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Effectiveness of risk management plans: a case study of pemoline using pharmacy claims data
Authors: Morrato Elaine H. , Staffa Judy A.
Published: July 2006

Purpose

To assess the effectiveness of a pharmaceutical risk management plan using pemoline as a case study and pharmacy claims as the data source.

Methods

Prescription claims from a continuously enrolled US population (September 1, 2000–September 30, 2002) from Caremark, a pharmacy benefit manager, were evaluated for patients with one or more pemoline claims. Patients were categorized using pemoline as second‐line or first‐line therapy depending on presence or absence of other central nervous system (CNS) stimulants prescriptions 90 days prior to the first pemoline claim. Logistic regression was performed to compare second‐line and first‐line usage with regard to patient age, gender and prescribing physician specialty and region of practice.

Results

Of 1 279 296 prescription claims for CNS stimulants, 17 256 (1.3%) were for pemoline. Nine hundred thirteen patients received pemoline and had 90 days or more prior enrollment. Overall, 10% of patients receiving pemoline received it as second‐line therapy (95%CI: 8–12%). After adjusting for age, gender, specialty, and region, the odds of receiving pemoline as second‐line therapy were significantly greater in pediatrics relative to adults (OR = 2.82, 95%CI: 1.58–5.03), and among those whose prescribers were psychiatrists versus primary care physicians (OR = 2.48, 95%CI: 1.37–4.50). Children treated by a psychiatrist had the greatest likelihood for use as second‐line therapy (36%, 95%CI: 19–56%).

Conclusions

Among patients who received pemoline, concordance with second‐line therapy recommendations was low, even among the primary target audience of children. These results in a large geographically diverse patient population are consistent with an earlier regional study. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.