bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Preferences for Mental Health Care: A Comparison of Older African Americans and Older Caucasians
Authors: Dupree Larry W. , Watson Mary Ann , Schneider Myra G.
Published: April 2005

Research on mental health service utilization patterns has shown that older adults underutilize outpatient services, particularly in minority populations. Greater reliance on inpatient services may result when a mental health problem can no longer be ignored. The goal of this study was to compare the attitudes and beliefs of African American and Caucasian older adults about mental health care and preferred providers. A 47-item survey was administered to a convenience sample of 1,598 primarily African Americans, recruited at 40 sites, including the study sample of 726 people older than age 50. Results showed that respondents of both races preferred advice from their family doctor, clergy, or a family member. African Americans preferred services in their doctor’s or clergy’s office, whereas Caucasians preferred a professional service provider’s office. Findings suggest that providers and policy makers consider the impact of age, culture, and ethnicity on mental health services provision.
The Revised Observed Tasks of Daily Living: A Performance-Based Assessment of Everyday Problem Solving in Older Adults
Authors: Diehl Manfred , Marsiske Michael , Horgas Ann L. , Rosenberg Adrienne , Saczynski Jane S. , Willis Sherry L.
Published: April 2005

The Revised Observed Tasks of Daily Living (OTDL-R), a performance-based test of everyday problem solving, was administered to a sample of community-dwelling older adults. The OTDLR included nine tasks, representing medication use, telephone use, and financial management. The OTDL-R had a desirable range of difficulty and satisfactory internal consistency and showed a relatively invariant pattern of relations between measured tasks and the underlying latent dimensions they represent across White and non-White subsamples. The OTDL-R also correlated significantly with age, education, self-rated health, a paper-and-pencil measure of everyday problem solving, and measures of basic cognitive functioning. Thus, the OTDL-R is a reliable and valid objective measure of everyday problem solving that has great practical utility for assessing performance in diverse populations.
University-Community Relationships in the Development of a Geriatric Interdisciplinary Team Training Certificate
Authors: Welleford E. Ayn , Parham Iris A. , Coogle Constance L. , Netting F. Ellen , Burke Leigh Peyton , Boling Peter A.
Published: April 2005

In this article, the authors take a systematic look at transaction costs and barriers to a university-community partnership during the design and implementation of a Geriatric Interdisciplinary Team Training Certificate. The development of the authors’ university-community partnership was fueled by a funding source that enabled the Virginia Geriatric Education Center to work with three large health care systems. The purpose of the grant was to develop a geriatric interdisciplinary team curriculum for community-based health care professionals. The interdisciplinary planning committee, consisting of both university-based educators and community-based practitioners, designed a 50-hour curriculum that covered diverse clinical topics with an interactive format. In the process, the authors identified within-site, across-site, and between-partner barriers that need to be addressed for successful implementation.
Decision Making at the End of Life in Dementia: How Family Caregivers Perceive Their Interactions With Health Care Providers in Long-Term-Care Settings
Authors: Caron Chantal D. , Griffith Jennifer , Arcand Marcel
Published: April 2005

Makingend-of-lifecare decisions in the context of dementiais complex. As people with advanced dementia are in capable of deciding about their own care, family caregivers often become involved with health care providers in the decision-making process to ensure the best care for their loved one. Using a grounded theory approach, the experience of family caregivers in making such end-of-life care decisions was explored. Twenty-four caregivers were interviewed. The results show that caregivers evoke five dimensions when considering these decisions. One dimension, the relationship with health care providers, emerged as vital to their experience. Four elements of this relationship are presented in this article: quality of the relationship, frequency of contact, congruence of their values and beliefs with those of health care providers, and the level of trust. In an era that promotes partnership with families in long-term-care settings, care standards are needed in order to guarantee family participation in achieving quality dementia care.
Endothelial expression of E-selectin is induced by the platelet-specific chemokine platelet factor 4 through LRP in an NF-κB–dependent manner
Authors: Yu Guangyao , Rux Ann H. , Ma Peihong , Bdeir Khalil , Sachais Bruce S.
Published: April 2005

The involvement of platelets in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis has recently gained much attention. Platelet factor 4 (PF4), a platelet-specific chemokine released on platelet activation, has been localized to atherosclerotic lesions, including macrophages and endothelium. In this report, we demonstrate that E-selectin, an adhesion molecule involved in atherogenesis, is up-regulated in human umbilical vein endothelial cells exposed to PF4. Induction of E-selectin RNA is time and dose dependent. Surface expression of E-selectin, as measured by flow cytometry, is also increased by PF4. PF4 induces E-selectin expression by activation of transcriptional activity. Activation of nuclear factor-κB is critical for PF4-induced E-selectin expression, as demonstrated by promoter activation studies and electrophoretic mobility shift assays. Further, we have identified the low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein as the cell surface receptor mediating this effect. These results demonstrate that PF4 is able to increase expression of E-selectin by endothelial cells and represents another potential mechanism by which platelets may participate in atherosclerotic lesion progression.
Characterization of the role of CaMKI-like kinase (CKLiK) in human granulocyte function
Authors: Verploegen Sandra , Ulfman Laurien , van Deutekom Hanneke W. M. , van Aalst Corneli , Honing Henk , Lammers Jan-Willem J. , Koenderman Leo , Coffer Paul J.
Published: April 2005

Activation of granulocyte effector functions, such as induction of the respiratory burst and migration, are regulated by a variety of relatively ill-defined signaling pathways. Recently, we identified a novel Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent kinase I-like kinase, CKLiK, which exhibits restricted mRNA expression to human granulocytes. Using a novel antibody generated against the C-terminus of CKLiK, CKLiK was detected in CD34+-derived neutrophils and eosinophils, as well as in mature peripheral blood granulocytes. Activation of human granulocytes by N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (fMLP) and platelet-activating factor (PAF), but not the phorbol ester PMA (phorbol 12-myristate-13-acetate), resulted in induction of CKLiK activity, in parallel with a rise of intracellular Ca2+ [Ca2+]i. To study the functionality of CKLiK in human granulocytes, a cell-permeable CKLiK peptide inhibitor (CKLiK297-321) was generated which was able to inhibit kinase activity in a dose-dependent manner. The effect of this peptide was studied on specific granulocyte effector functions such as phagocytosis, respiratory burst, migration, and adhesion. Phagocytosis of Aspergillus fumigatus particles was reduced in the presence of CKLiK297-321 and fMLP-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) production was potently inhibited by CKLiK297-321 in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, fMLP-induced neutrophil migration on albumin-coated surfaces was perturbed, as well as β2-integrin-mediated adhesion. These findings suggest a critical role for CKLiK in modulating chemoattractant-induced functional responses in human granulocytes.
Long-term outcome of treatment of anemia in MDS with erythropoietin and G-CSF
Authors: Jädersten Martin , Montgomery Scott M. , Dybedal Ingunn , Porwit-MacDonald Anna , Hellström-Lindberg Eva
Published: April 2005

We report long-term results of treatment of myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) with erythropoietin and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF). A total of 129 patients were followed up 45 months after last inclusion in the Nordic MDS Group studies. Erythroid response rate was 39% and median response duration 23 months (range, 3-116 months or more). Complete responders showed longer response duration than partial responders (29 versus 12 months, P = .006). The International Prognostic Scoring System (IPSS) groups Low/Intermediate-1 (Low/Int-1) had longer response duration than Int-2/High (25 versus 7 months, P = .002). The time until 25% developed acute myeloid leukemia (AML) was longer in the good and intermediate predictive groups for erythroid response compared with the poor predictive group (52 versus 13 months, P = .008). Only 1 of 20 long-term responders developed AML. We assessed the effect on long-term outcome by comparing treated patients with untreated patients selected from the IPSS database using multivariate Cox regression, adjusting for major prognostic variables. There was no difference in survival (odds ratio [OR], 0.9; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.7-1.2; P = .55) or risk of AML evolution (OR, 1.3; 95% CI, 0.7-2.2; P = .40) between treated and untreated patients. Patients with high/intermediate probability of response and with IPSS Low/Int-1 show frequent and durable responses without adverse effects on outcome, while other patients should not be considered candidates for this treatment.
C. elegans serine-threonine kinase KIN-29 modulates TGFβ signaling and regulates body size formation
Authors: Maduzia Lisa L , Roberts Andrew F , Wang Huang , Lin Xia , Chin Lena J , Zimmerman Cole M , Cohen Stephen , Feng Xin-Hua , Padgett Richard W
Published: April 2005

Background

In C. elegans there are two well-defined TGFβ-like signaling pathways. The Sma/Mab pathway affects body size morphogenesis, male tail development and spicule formation while the Daf pathway regulates entry into and exit out of the dauer state. To identify additional factors that modulate TGFβ signaling in the Sma/Mab pathway, we have undertaken a genetic screen for small animals and have identified kin-29.

Results

kin-29 encodes a protein with a cytoplasmic serine-threonine kinase and a novel C-terminal domain. The kinase domain is a distantly related member of the EMK (ELKL motif kinase) family, which interacts with microtubules. We show that the serine-threonine kinase domain has in vitro activity. kin-29 mutations result in small animals, but do not affect male tail morphology as do several of the Sma/Mab signal transducers. Adult worms are smaller than the wild-type, but also develop more slowly. Rescue by kin-29 is achieved by expression in neurons or in the hypodermis. Interaction with the dauer pathway is observed in double mutant combinations, which have been seen with Sma/Mab pathway mutants. We show that kin-29 is epistatic to the ligand dbl-1, and lies upstream of the Sma/Mab pathway target gene, lon-1.

Conclusion

kin-29 is a new modulator of the Sma/Mab pathway. It functions in neurons and in the hypodermis to regulate body size, but does not affect all TGFβ outputs, such as tail morphogenesis.
Type 1 Diabetes in the Spanish Population: additional factors to Class II HLA-DR3 and -DR4
Authors: Urcelay Elena , Santiago José L , de la Calle Hermenegildo , Martínez Alfonso , Méndez Julián , Ibarra José M , Maluenda Carlos , Fernández-Arquero Miguel , de la Concha Emilio G
Published: April 2005

Background

The Major Histocompatibility Complex is the main genetic contributor to susceptibility to type 1 diabetes (T1D); genome-wide scans have consistently mapped increased predisposition to this region. The highest disease risk has been associated with HLA-DR3 and HLA-DR4. In particular, the DR3-positive ancestral haplotype 18.2 was reported as highly diabetogenic. We aimed to corroborate whether this haplotype increases the susceptibility conferred by the DQ2-DR3 alleles in a Mediterranean population. We also searched for additional susceptibility factors to the classic DQ2-DR3 and DQ8-DR4.

Results

Genetic MHC markers were analysed in a case-control study with 302 T1D patients and 529 ethnically matched controls. DR3-TNFa1b5 carrier rate was significantly higher in DR3-positive heterozygous T1D patients than in DR3-positive heterozygous controls (p = 0.0019; odds ratio OR [95% confidence interval CI] = 2.26 [1.3–3.93]). This data was confirmed analysing the allelic frequency, which includes the information corresponding to the DR3-homozygous individuals (p = 0.001; OR = 2.09) and by using the Arlequin software to check the DR3-positive haplotypes (p = 0.004;OR = 1.93). The present results provide strong evidence of a second susceptibility region in the ancestral haplotype 18.2 in the Spanish population.

Moreover, we searched for T1D susceptibility factors in addition to the MHC classical ones, within the DR2-DQ6/DR3-DQ2/DR4-DQ8 negative population. Several genetic markers in both MHC class II (DQA1*0101-DQB1*0501 [p = 0.007;OR = 2.81], DQA1*0201-DQB1*0202 [p = 0.03; OR = 2.35]) and III (TNFa2b1 [p = 0.01 OR = 2.74], BAT-2*2 [p = 0.004; OR = 3.19]) were found. These different alleles associated with T1D were not independent and we observed linkage disequilibrium among them leading us to describe two new risk haplotypes (DQA1*0101-DQB1*0501-TNFa2b1 and DQA1*0201-DQB1*0202- BAT-2*2). Finally, we studied a T1D susceptibility/protection marker located in extended class I, D6S2223; however, no association was observed in our population.

Conclusion

Our results suggest that other associated MHC haplotypes might present susceptibility factors in loci different from HLA-class II and that the class II molecules are not necessarily the universal etiologic factor in every MHC haplotype.
Ethnic and age-related fat free mass loss in older Americans: The Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III)
Authors: Obisesan Thomas O , Aliyu Muktar H , Bond Vernon , Adams Richard G , Akomolafe Abimbola , Rotimi Charles N
Published: April 2005

Background

Although age-related loss of fat free mass (FFM) is well known, there is paucity of data on national estimates, and on the differential influence of ethnicity on the decline in FFM with increasing age. We determined whether age-related loss in FFM and fat free mass index (FFMI) vary by gender and or ethnicity, using representative data from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III).

Methods

Analyses were limited to 5,803 non-institutionalized, non-Hispanic Whites and African Americans (Blacks) over the age of 40 years. Body density was calculated from the sum of 3-skinfolds, and percent body fat estimated from body density. FFM was estimated by subtracting body fat from body weight, while FFMI was defined as FFM (kilograms) divided by the square of body height (meter2).

Results

Overall FFM and FFMI were significantly higher in black women than white women (P = 0.001; P = 0.001 respectively), but similar in black men compared to white men. Age-related decline in FFM reached significance level earlier in black men (at age 65–69) than white men (at age 70–74), and in black women (at age 70–74) than white women (at age 75–79). Similar decline in FFMI was noted in men and in women. In multivariate analyses, FFM significantly associated with ethnicity (p = 0.012) and with age (p < 0.001) in women, but only with age (p < 0.001) in men. In men and in women, FFMI significantly associated with ethnicity (p < 0.001; p = 0.003 respectively) and with age (p < 0.001; p = 0.004 respectively).

Conclusion

Age-related loss and decline in FFM and FFMI in older Americans is higher for black men and women, than for white men and women. The development of focused population-based preventive strategies is likely to improve functional independence in the aged.
Routine measurement of outcomes in Australia's public sector mental health services
Authors: Pirkis Jane , Burgess Philip , Coombs Tim , Clarke Adam , Jones-Ellis David , Dickson Rosemary
Published: April 2005

Objective

This paper describes the Australian experience to date with a national 'roll out' of routine outcome measurement in public sector mental health services.

Methods

Consultations were held with 123 stakeholders representing a range of roles.

Results

Australia has made an impressive start to nationally implementing routine outcome measurement in mental health services, although it still has a long way to go. All States/Territories have established data collection systems, although some are more streamlined than others. Significant numbers of clinicians and managers have been trained in the use of routine outcome measures, and thought is now being given to ongoing training strategies. Outcome measurement is now occurring 'on the ground'; all States/Territories will be reporting data for 2003–04, and a number have been doing so for several years. Having said this, there is considerable variability regarding data coverage, completeness and compliance. Some States/Territories have gone to considerable lengths to 'embed' outcome measurement in day-to-day practice. To date, reporting of outcome data has largely been limited to reports profiling individual consumers and/or aggregate reports that focus on compliance and data quality issues, although a few States/Territories have begun to turn their attention to producing aggregate reports of consumers by clinician, team or service.

Conclusion

Routine outcome measurement is possible if it is supported by a co-ordinated, strategic approach and strong leadership, and there is commitment from clinicians and managers. The Australian experience can provide lessons for other countries.
A stable Model Predictive Control algorithm without terminal weighting
Authors: Chen Wen-Hua , Hu Xiao-Bing
Published: April 2005

The introduction of terminal penalty in the performance index and the usage of the concept of terminal regions has now become common practice in Model Predictive Control (MPC) for guaranteeing its stability. However, it is quite difficult and conservative to propagate the influence of disturbances and uncertainties from an initial state to the terminal state, particularly when the predictive horizon is long. This paper presents a new stable MPC algorithm where the additional weighting on the first state rather than on the terminal state in the horizon is imposed. Furthermore, a new tuning knob is introduced in the performance index, which can be used to trade off between disturbance attenuation/robustness and stability. It is shown that in the absence of disturbances and uncertainties, the new MPC algorithm achieves a similar performance to current terminal weighting-based MPC algorithms. However, it exhibits much better disturbance attenuation ability and robustness against uncertainties. The proposed method is favourably compared with terminal weighting-based MPC algorithms using a numerical example.
Control of a compliant two-axis robotic arm
Authors: Jones Richard , Wood Spencer J. , Kyberd Peter J.
Published: April 2005

It is common to make the links between actuators and robotic limbs as stiff as possible, in complete contrast to natural systems, where compliance is present. In the past, to create some compliance in a drive, springs have been added to the link between the actuator and load. Many of these springs have been in series with the drive, but recently a more ‘biological’ approach has been taken where two springs have been used in parallel to counteract each other. This paper describes the application of parallel extension springs in a robot arm in order to give it compliance. Advantages and disadvantages of this application are discussed, along with various control strategies.
Design and development of a dextrous manipulator
Authors: Harris Martin , Kyberd Peter J. , Harwin William S.
Published: April 2005

This paper describes a novel method of actuation for robotic hands. The solution employs a Bowden cable routed to each joint. The use of a Bowden cable is shown to be feasible for this purpose, even with the changing frictional forces associated with it. This method greatly simplifies the control of the hand by removing the coupling between joints, and provides for direct and accurate translation between the joints and the servo motors driving the cables. The design also allows for two degrees of freedom with the same centre of rotation to be realized in the largest knuckle of each finger; thus biological finger kinematics are more closely emulated.
Undergraduate Research in Small Psychology Departments: Two Decades Later
Authors: Kierniesky Nicholas C.
Published: April 2005

In a follow-up to Kierniesky (1984), surveys from 355 small psychology programs revealed changes in undergraduate research activity over the past 2 decades. A variety of research-related activities increased significantly despite continued limited resources and support at many small schools. School admissions selectivity continued to be a major variable associated with more student research activity. The development of graduate programs at small schools has had little impact on undergraduate research. I discuss the dual roles of undergraduate research as apprentice training and as liberal education.
The Pedagogical Value of Experimental Participation Paired with Course Content
Authors: Rosell Michelle Ceynar , Beck Danielle M. , Luther Katie E. , Goedert Kelly M. , Shore Wendelyn J. , Anderson Dana D.
Published: April 2005

This study investigated the educational value of research participation by assessing the accuracy of student perceptions regarding the scientific status and methodology of psychology at 3 times during a semester: during the first week, following introductory and methodology lectures, and at the end of the term. Students' understanding of contemporary psychology and research procedures improved across the term. Findings indicate that students' increased understanding of psychological research procedures may be due to their participation in research in addition to course content.
Seeing the Light: A Classroom-Sized Pinhole Camera Demonstration for Teaching Vision
Authors: Prull Matthew W. , Banks William P.
Published: April 2005

We describe a classroom-sized pinhole camera demonstration (camera obscura) designed to enhance students' learning of the visual system. The demonstration consists of a suspended rear-projection screen onto which the outside environment projects images through a small hole in a classroom window. Students can observe these images in a darkened classroom. Instructors can demonstrate the function of the lens and pupil and the structural basis for nearsightedness and farsightedness. Students who saw the demonstration as part of a lecture on the visual system learned more (i.e., showed greater performance gains from pretest to posttest) than a comparable group of students who received the lecture only. Students reacted favorably to the demonstration. These data suggest that incorporating the demonstration into class presentations on vision can improve student learning.
Applying Social Psychological Concepts outside the Classroom
Authors: Lakin Jessica L. , Wichman Aaron L.
Published: April 2005

This article evaluates a writing assignment in which social psychology students gathered examples from outside the classroom (e.g., cartoons, movies) and analyzed them with course material. Compared to a control group, students who completed the assignment learned that it was easier to apply social psychology to the real world. A follow-up survey 9 months later demonstrated that this effect persisted. Students who completed the assignment also valued social psychology more and believed they had learned more in their social psychology course.
53BP1 exchanges slowly at the sites of DNA damage and appears to require RNA for its association with chromatin
Authors: Pryde Fiona , Khalili Shirin , Robertson Kathryn , Selfridge Jim , Ritchie Ann-Marie , Melton David W. , Jullien Denis , Adachi Yasuhisa
Published: April 2005

53BP1 protein is re-localized to the sites of DNA damage after ionizing radiation (IR) and is involved in DNA-damage-checkpoint signal transduction. We examined the dynamics of GFP-53BP1 in living cells. The protein starts to accumulate at the sites of DNA damage 2-3 minutes after damage induction. Fluorescence recovery after photobleaching experiments showed that GFP-53BP1 is highly mobile in non-irradiated cells. Upon binding to the IR-induced nuclear foci, the mobility of 53BP1 reduces greatly. The minimum (M) domain of 53BP1 essential for targeting to IR induced foci consists of residues 1220-1703. GFP-M protein forms foci in mouse embryonic fibroblast cells lacking functional endogenous 53BP1. The M domain contains a tandem repeat of Tudor motifs and an arginine- and glycine-rich domain (RG stretch), which are often found in proteins involved in RNA metabolism, the former being essential for targeting. RNase A treatment dissociates 53BP1 from IR-induced foci. In HeLa cells, dissociation of the M domain without the RG stretch by RNase A treatment can be restored by re-addition of nuclear RNA in the early stages of post-irradiation. 53BP1 immunoprecipitates contain some RNA molecules. Our results suggest a possible involvement of RNA in the binding of 53BP1 to chromatin damaged by IR.
An observing system simulation experiment to evaluate the scientific merit of wind and ozone measurements from the future SWIFT instrument
Authors: Lahoz W. A. , Brugge R. , Jackson D. R. , Migliorini S. , Swinbank R. , Lary D. , Lee A.
Published: April 2005

An observing system simulation experiment was performed to assess the impact and scientific merit of SWIFT stratospheric wind and ozone observations. The SWIFT instrument is being considered for launch later this decade, and is expected to provide unprecedented global information on key aspects of the stratosphere, including tropical winds, ozone fluxes and wintertime variability. It was found that SWIFT wind observations will have a significant impact on analyses in the tropical stratosphere (except the lowermost levels), and could have a significant impact in the extratropics when the SWIFT observations are available and the flow regime is changing relatively fast. Results indicate that SWIFT ozone observations will have a significant impact when the vertical gradient of ozone is relatively high. The experiments indicate that SWIFT wind observations would improve the analysis of both tropical wind and wintertime variability. The results of this study strongly indicate a beneficial impact from the proposed SWIFT instrument. © Royal Meteorological Society, 2005. D. R. Jacksons's and R. Swinbank's contributions are Crown copyright.
Can the dynamical impact of the stratosphere on the troposphere be described by large‐scale adjustment to the stratospheric PV distribution?
Authors: Charlton A. J. , O'neill A. , Berrisford P. , Lahoz W. A.
Published: April 2005

Recent numerical experiments have demonstrated that the state of the stratosphere has a dynamical impact on the state of the troposphere. To account for such an effect, a number of mechanisms have been proposed in the literature, all of which amount to a large‐scale adjustment of the troposphere to potential vorticity (PV) anomalies in the stratosphere. This paper analyses whether a simple PV adjustment suffices to explain the actual dynamical response of the troposphere to the state of the stratosphere, the actual response being determined by ensembles of numerical experiments run with an atmospheric general‐circulation model. For this purpose, a new PV inverter is developed. It is shown that the simple PV adjustment hypothesis is inadequate. PV anomalies in the stratosphere induce, by inversion, flow anomalies in the troposphere that do not coincide spatially with the tropospheric changes determined by the numerical experiments. Moreover, the tropospheric anomalies induced by PV inversion are on a larger scale than the changes found in the numerical experiments, which are linked to the Atlantic and Pacific storm‐tracks. These findings imply that the impact of the stratospheric state on the troposphere is manifested through the impact on individual synoptic‐scale systems and their self‐organization in the storm‐tracks. Changes in these weather systems in the troposphere are not merely synoptic‐scale ‘noise’ on a larger scale tropospheric response, but an integral part of the mechanism by which the state of the stratosphere impacts that of the troposphere. Copyright © 2005 Royal Meteorological Society.
Microstructures and precipitation development in cumulus and small cumulonimbus clouds over the warm pool of the tropical Pacific Ocean
Authors: Rangno Arthur L. , Hobbs Peter V.
Published: April 2005

In situ airborne measurements obtained in convective clouds in the vicinity of the Marshall Islands on 15 days in July and August 1999 are used to determine the microphysical structures and precipitation‐producing mechanisms in these clouds. The liquid water contents of the clouds were generally well below adiabatic values, even in newly risen turrets. This is attributed to the entrainment of ambient air and to the very efficient removal of cloud water by the collision and coalescence of drops. The formation of raindrops began when the concentration of droplets with radii <15 µm exceeded ∼3 cm−3 or, equivalently, when the effective cloud drop radius reached ∼ 13 µm. Clouds rained when their depth exceeded ∼1.5 km. Due to rainout, the effective radius of cloud droplets began decreasing ∼2–4 km above cloud base.

Extremely high concentrations of ice particles (often >500 litre−1) formed very rapidly at temperatures between −4 and −10 °C. High‐resolution imagery of these particles, which were primarily sheaths, needles, frozen drops and irregular ice fragments, indicates that the high concentrations of ice were initiated by the freezing of individual drops, some of which fragmented upon freezing, accompanied by ice splinter production during riming. However, for ice particles < 100 µm in maximum dimension, frozen drops and ice fragments were much more numerous than columnar ice crystals, the latter being indicative of ice splinter production. Narrow (10–50 m wide) streamers of precipitation containing large (<3 mm diameter) solid and liquid particles were often encountered in growing clouds. It is proposed that the particles in these streamers grew rapidly by riming in water‐rich zones and, under appropriate conditions, the ice particles produced by both drop fragmentation and riming resulted in exceptionally high localized concentrations of ice. Convective clouds consisting entirely of liquid water produced rain rates that were similar to those from deep convective clouds containing ice.

Since the concentration of drizzle and raindrops within a few kilometres of cloud base was highly correlated with cloud depth, and therefore cloud top temperature, the concentration of raindrops in cumulus and cumulo‐nimbus clouds over the warm pool of the tropical Pacific Ocean can be inferred from satellite measurements of cloud top temperatures. Copyright © 2005 Royal Meteorological Society.
A convection scheme for data assimilation: Description and initial tests
Authors: Lopez Philippe , Moreau Emmanuel
Published: April 2005

A new simplified parametrization of subgrid‐scale convective processes has been developed and tested in the framework of the ECMWF Integrated Forecasting System for the purpose of variational data assimilation, singular vector calculations and adjoint sensitivity experiments. Its formulation is based on the full nonlinear convection scheme used in ECMWF forecasts, but a set of simplifications has been applied to substantially improve its linear behaviour. These include the specification of a single closure assumption based on convective available potential energy, the uncoupling of the equations for the convective mass flux and updraught characteristics and a unified formulation of the entrainment and detrainment rates. Simplified representations of downdraughts and momentum transport are also included in the new scheme.

Despite these simplifications, the forecasting ability of the new convective parametrization is shown to remain satisfactory even in seasonal integrations. A detailed study of its Jacobians and the validity of the linear hypothesis is presented. The new scheme is also tested in combination with the new simplified parametrization of large‐scale clouds and precipitation recently developed at ECMWF.

In contrast with the simplified convective parametrization currently used in ECMWF's operational 4D‐Var, its tangent‐linear and adjoint versions account for perturbations of all convective quantities including convective mass flux, updraught characteristics and precipitation fluxes. Therefore the new scheme is expected to be beneficial when combined with radiative calculations that are directly affected by condensation and precipitation.

Examples are presented of applications of the new moist physics in 1D‐Var retrievals using microwave brightness temperature measurements and in adjoint sensitivity experiments. Copyright © 2005 Royal Meteorological Society.
Assimilation of GOME ozone profiles and a global chemistry–transport model using a Kalman filter with anisotropic covariance
Authors: Segers A. J. , Eskes H. J. , Van Der A R. J. , Van Oss R. F. , Van Velthoven P. F. J.
Published: April 2005

Nadir ozone profiles retrieved from the Global Ozone Monitoring Experiment (GOME) instrument are assimilated with a global three‐dimensional (3D) atmospheric ozone model. The assimilation procedure is based on the Kalman filter equations, and is an extension of an existing assimilation procedure for total ozone columns. As a novelty, a 3D covariance model is developed using a single parametrization for correlations in all directions, instead of the usually applied separation in horizontal and vertical directions. The parametrization is anisotropic in all directions, accounting for the different correlation lengths of ozone with respect to altitude, latitude, and longitude. The assimilation procedure includes full use of the averaging kernel information provided with the GOME retrieval product. The averaging kernels account for the smaller sensitivity of the GOME instrument below the ozone maximum and the limited vertical resolution. A singular‐value decomposition of the kernels is used to reduce the large data volume. A one‐year dataset of GOME ozone profiles is assimilated for the year 2000. Independent data from ozonesondes are used to validate the results. A case‐study shows that the assimilation of GOME profiles is able to improve the simulation of the vertical ozone distribution even in the case of strong vertical gradients. Copyright © 2005 Royal Meteorological Society.
Fluphenazine-Induced Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome in a Schizophrenic Patient
Authors: Aruna Augustine S , Murungi James H
Published: April 2005

OBJECTIVE:

To report a case of neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS) associated with fluphenazine in a schizophrenic patient and review the literature related to this condition.

CASE SUMMARY:

A 21-year-old African American male with schizophrenia came to our medical intensive care unit from the crisis intervention unit (CIU). He was hyperthermic (oral temperature 40.6 °C), diaphoretic, tachycardic (heart rate 140 beats/min), and tachypneic (respiratory rate 22 breaths/min), with severe muscle rigidity and shaking tremors. He had an extensive psychiatric history significant for schizophrenia and multiple past hospital admissions, starting at age 14 years. Two days prior to admission to the CIU, he had been given 25 mg of fluphenazine decanoate injection intramuscularly in addition to his regular psychotropic regimen of thioridazine and haloperidol after reportedly making several verbal threats and displaying aggressive behavior toward the personnel at the group home where he resided. Laboratory studies showed elevated creatine kinase, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, and lactate dehydrogenase levels, as well as azotemia, hyperphosphatemia, hypocalcemia, and leukocytosis.

DISCUSSION:

NMS is a rare but potentially fatal reaction associated with neuroleptic drugs. It occurs in approximately 0.07–2.2% of patients treated with neuroleptics. Risk factors include previous episodes, dehydration, agitation, polypharmacy, and the rate and route of neuroleptic administration.

CONCLUSIONS:

An objective causality assessment revealed that fluphenazine was the probable cause of NMS in this patient. There was no reaction associated with thioridazine and/or haloperidol. Clinicians need to be aware of this drug-induced condition and the potential increased risk associated with concurrent use of multiple psychotropics.
Nociceptor and Hair Cell Transducer Properties of TRPA1, a Channel for Pain and Hearing
Authors: Nagata Keiichi , Duggan Anne , Kumar Gagan , García-Añoveros Jaime
Published: April 2005

Mechanosensory channels of sensory cells mediate the sensations of hearing, touch, and some forms of pain. The TRPA1 (a member of the TRP family of ion channel proteins) channel is activated by pain-producing chemicals, and its inhibition impairs hair cell mechanotransduction. As shown here and previously, TRPA1 is expressed by hair cells as well as by most nociceptors (small neurons of dorsal root, trigeminal, and nodose ganglia) and localizes to their sensory terminals (mechanosensory stereocilia and peripheral free nerves, respectively). Thus, TRPA1 channels are proposed to mediate transduction in both hair cells and nociceptors. Accordingly, we find that heterologously expressed TRPA1 display channel behaviors expected for both auditory and nociceptive transducers. First, TRPA1 and the hair cell transducer share a unique set of pore properties not described for any other channel (block by gadolinium, amiloride, gentamicin, and ruthenium red, a ranging conductance of ∼100 pS that is reduced to 54% by calcium, permeating calcium-induced potentiation followed by closure, and reopening by depolarization), supporting a direct role of TRPA1 as a pore-forming subunit of the hair cell transducer. Second, TRPA1 channels inactivate in hyperpolarized cells but remain open in depolarized cells. This property provides a mechanism for the lack of desensitization, coincidence detection, and allodynia that characterize pain by allowing a sensory neuron to respond constantly to sustained stimulation that is suprathreshold (i.e., noxious) and yet permitting the same cell to ignore sustained stimulation that is subthreshold (i.e., innocuous). Our results support a TRPA1 role in both nociceptor and hair cell transduction.
Neurotoxic Calcium Transfer from Endoplasmic Reticulum to Mitochondria Is Regulated by Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 5-Dependent Phosphorylation of Tau
Authors: Darios Frédéric , Muriel Marie-Paule , Khondiker Myriam Escobar , Brice Alexis , Ruberg Merle
Published: April 2005

Increased levels of mitochondrial-free calcium have been associated with several cell-death paradigms, such as excitotoxicity and ceramide-mediated neuronal death. In the latter, calcium is transferred from the endoplasmic reticulum to mitochondria by a mechanism that is only partly understood. We show here that CDK5 (cyclin-dependent kinase 5) plays a role. Free calcium levels in the endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria were measured with fluorescent markers in C2-ceramide-treated primary cultures of mesencephalic neurons and differentiated pheochromocytoma PC12 cells. Calcium levels decreased in the endoplasmic reticulum as they increased in mitochondria. Both changes were blocked by the pharmacological and molecular CDK5 inhibitors roscovitine and a dominant-negative form of CDK5. Although the kinase did not mediate the transfer of calcium per se, which required the proapoptotic Bcl-2 family protein t-Bid (the truncated form of Bid), it facilitated the transfer by inducing the clustering of endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria around the centrosome where they formed close contacts, as shown by immunocytochemistry and electron microscopy. Organelle clustering resulted from CDK5-dependent phosphorylation of the microtubule-associated protein tau on threonine 231. This caused its release from microtubules into the soluble fraction of cellular proteins, which appears to favor retrograde transport of the organelles. Mutation of threonine 231 to alanine, so that tau could not be phosphorylated at this site, prevented the ceramide-induced release of tau from microtubules, organelle clustering, the increase in mitochondrial-free calcium levels, and neuronal death, demonstrating the importance of the CDK5-dependent signaling cascade in this calcium-dependent cell-death mechanism.
Potassium Channel Blockers Inhibit the Triggers of Attacks in the Calcium Channel Mouse Mutanttottering
Authors: Weisz Catherine J. C. , Raike Robert S. , Soria-Jasso Luis E. , Hess Ellen J.
Published: April 2005

Humans with the disorder episodic ataxia type 2 (EA2) and thetotteringmouse mutant exhibit episodic attacks induced by emotional and chemical stress. Both the human and mouse disorders result from mutations inCACNA1A, the gene encoding the α12.1 subunit of Cav2.1 voltage-gated calcium channels. These mutations predict reduced calcium currents, particularly in cerebellar Purkinje cells, where these channels are most abundant. 4-Aminopyridine (4-AP), a nonselective blocker of Kvvoltage-gated potassium channels, alleviates attacks of ataxia in EA2 patients. To test the specificity of the effect for Kvchannels, aminopyridine analogs were assessed for their ability to ameliorate attacks of dyskinesia intotteringmice. 4-AP and 3,4-diaminopyridine (3,4-DiAP), which have relatively high affinities for Kvchannels, reduced the frequency of restraint- and caffeine-induced attacks. Furthermore, microinjection of 3,4-DiAP into the cerebellum completely blocked attacks intotteringmice. Other aminopyridine analogs reduced attack frequency but, consistent with their lower affinities for Kvchannels, required comparatively higher doses. These results suggest that aminopyridines blocktotteringmouse attacks via cerebellar Kvchannels. That both stress- and caffeine-induced attacks were blocked by aminopyridines suggests that these triggers act via similar mechanisms. Although 4-AP and 3,4-DiAP were effective in preventing attacks intotteringmice, these compounds did not affect the severity of “breakthrough” attacks that occurred in the presence of a drug. These results suggest that the aminopyridines increase the threshold for attack initiation without mitigating the character of the attack, indicating that attack initiation is mediated by mechanisms that are independent of the neurological phenotype.
Developmental Transformation of the Release Modality at the Calyx of Held Synapse
Authors: Fedchyshyn Michael J. , Wang Lu-Yang
Published: April 2005

Ca2+influx through voltage-gated Ca2+channels (VGCCs) into nerve terminals triggers vesicular fusion and neurotransmitter release. However, it is unknown whether the coupling between VGCCs and synaptic vesicles (SVs) is developmentally regulated. By paired patch-clamp recordings from the mouse calyx of Held synapse, we show here that injection of a Ca2+buffer with slow binding kinetics (EGTA; 10 mm) potently attenuated transmitter release in young terminals [postnatal day 8 (P8)-P12] but produced little effect in older ones (P16-P18), suggesting that SVs in young synapses are loosely coupled to VGCCs, but the coupling tightens spatially during maturation. Using voltage paradigms that specifically recruit different numbers of VGCCs without changing the driving force for Ca2+, we found that the Ca2+cooperativity (m), estimated from graded presynaptic Ca2+currents and transmitter release, was much higher in P8-P12 synapses (m= 4.8-5.5) than that in P16-P18 synapses (m= 2.8-3.0; 1 mm[Ca2+]o), implying that the number of VGCCs or Ca2+domains required for release of single SVs decreases with maturation. Themvalue remained significantly different between two age groups at 35°C or in 2 mm[Ca2+]oand was independent of postsynaptic receptor desensitization. We demonstrated that release from P8-P12 terminals involved both N- and P/Q-type VGCCs, but P/Q-type-associated release sites specifically displayed lowmvalues. These results suggest a developmental transformation of the release modality from “microdomain,” involving cooperative action of many loosely coupled N- and P/Q-type VGCCs, to “nanodomain,” in which opening of fewer tightly coupled P/Q-type VGCCs effectively induce a fusion event. Spatial tightening improves the release efficiency and is likely a critical step for the development of high-fidelity neurotransmission in this and other central synapses.
Calcium-Stimulated Adenylyl Cyclases Are Critical Modulators of Neuronal Ethanol Sensitivity
Authors: Maas James W. , Vogt Sherri K. , Chan Guy C. K. , Pineda Victor V. , Storm Daniel R. , Muglia Louis J.
Published: April 2005

The importance of the cAMP signaling pathway in the modulation of ethanol sensitivity has been suggested by studies in organisms fromDrosophila melanogasterto man. However, the involvement of specific isoforms of adenylyl cyclase (AC), the molecule that converts ATP to cAMP, has not been systemically determinedin vivo. Because AC1 and AC8 are the only AC isoforms stimulated by calcium, and ethanol modulates calcium flux by the NMDA receptor, we hypothesized that these ACs would be important in the neural response to ethanol. AC1 knock-out (KO) mice and double knock-out (DKO) mice with genetic deletion of both AC1 and AC8 display substantially increased sensitivity to ethanol-induced sedation compared with wild-type (WT) mice, whereas AC8 KO mice are only minimally more sensitive. In contrast, AC8 KO and DKO mice, but not AC1 KO mice, demonstrate decreased voluntary ethanol consumption compared with WT mice. DKO mice do not display increased sleep time compared with WT mice after administration of ketamine or pentobarbital, indicating that the mechanism of enhanced ethanol sensitivity in these mice is likely distinct from the antagonism of ethanol of the NMDA receptor and potentiation of the GABAAreceptor. Ethanol does not enhance calcium-stimulated AC activity, but the ethanol-induced phosphorylation of a discrete subset of protein kinase A (PKA) substrates is compromised in the brains of DKO mice. These results indicate that the unique activation of PKA signaling mediated by the calcium-stimulated ACs is an important component of the neuronal response to ethanol.