bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Le ‘Monstre d'Or’ de Mallarmé
Authors: Monson Don A.
Published: December 2004

Interprété le plus souvent comme un ornement, le ‘monstre d'or’ évoqué au début de
Toast funèbre
de Mallarmé est en fait une image eucharistique intimement liée aux principaux thèmes de l'œuvre. Fondée sur une combinaison complexe de procédés syntaxiques et rhétoriques, cette image sert à nier la ‘présence réelle’ du Christ lors de la célébration de la messe. Par ce moyen, Mallarmé exprime son refus du christianisme et de l'espoir qu'offre cette croyance d'une survie de l'âme dans l'au‐delà.

Cette lecture de l'image est appuyée par de nombreux éléments thématiques et stylistiques semés à travers le poème. Dans la première partie de l'œuvre, diverses images chrétiennes traditionnelles sont subverties par inversion ironique pour devenir leur contraire, un peu comme le dieu dans la coupe est dépeint comme un monstre. Dans la seconde partie, cette même imagerie chrétienne est déployée à nouveau, mais cette fois‐ci à l'appui de la religion personnelle de Mallarmé, le culte de l'art. L'œuvre poétique se présente comme la seule chose capable de survivre au néant de la mort. Remplaçant l'eucharistie que refuse le poète, c'est aussi le rite qui célèbre cette survie. Théophile Gautier, à qui le poème est dédié, serait exemplaire pour avoir subordonné tout désir d'immortalité personnelle à son devoir de perpétuer la beauté de ce monde en la préservant à travers la poésie.
La musique et les lettres chez Barthes
Authors: Dayan Peter
Published: December 2004

Dans ses écrits sur la musique, dès l'époque des
Mythologies
et jusqu'à la fin de sa vie, Barthes répète le geste symboliste, mallarméen, qui consiste à définir la littérature (voire l'art en général) à travers les caractéristiques propres à la musique. La musique serait un phénomène sensible, inconcevable en dehors de son rapport au corps, et qui ne peut s'épuiser dans le mouvement de la signification; de même la littérature. L'analyse de ce geste aide à voir comment et pourquoi Barthes maintient sa foi en l'existence d'un art
haut
(par opposition à l'art bourgeois), en la littérature (par opposition au discours non littéraire), en une ‘essence’ du chant ou de la photographie. Mais si la littérature, chez Barthes, se définit à travers une analogie avec la musique, l'inverse est tout aussi vrai: la musique est dite lettre, texte, prosodie; Barthes affirme qu'il faut que le chant
écrive
. En effet, la critique barthésienne doit évaluer chaque art en fonction de ce qu'il n'est pas; car ‘s'il y a une signification des phénomènes sensibles, c'est toujours dans le déplacement, la substitution, bref, en fin de compte,
l'absence
, qu'elle se manifeste avec le plus d'éclat’ (‘Le Chant romantique’).
L'Économie du don et le mécénat: les formes de l'Échange dans une épître de clément Marot
Authors: Skenazi Cynthia
Published: December 2004

Dans l'épître de Clément Marot
Au Roy pour avoir esté desrobé
, un poète de cour exploite de façon ironique les conditions de production et de communication de son œuvre. Du don au vol et au prêt, diverses formes d'échanges gouvernés par l'argent, et qui paraissent à première vue distinctes, se révèlent étroitement liées à la pratique du mécénat. Les rapports du poète et de son protecteur renvoient ainsi à un ensemble complexe de valeurs sociales, morales, chrétiennes, économiques, qui prennent toute leur portée en fonction du contexte historique du règne de François I
er
. Le poète établit à cet égard des homologies ludiques entre la circulation du langage et de l'argent.
Tense, Orality and Narration: The Case of the
Néo‐Conte
Authors: Carruthers Janice
Published: December 2004

The relationship between tense and orality has been of major interest to linguists working on tense, aspect and discourse in a number of languages, and illuminating, if highly controversial, parallels have been drawn between the patterns found in various different types of oral narration. In the case of French, much research has been done on conversational narration, and connections have been made between contemporary temporal patterning (notably as regards tense switching) and that found in medieval data. Yet the term ‘oral narration’ is not synonymous here; the medieval narrations represent highly crafted performances, while the conversational data is spontaneous and informal. This paper proposes an analysis of tense switching in a contemporary performed variety of oral narration, the
néo‐conte
. While many of the functions of tense switching in discourse prove to be relatively familiar, the patterns found in the
néo‐conte
reveal complex — and at times apparently contradictory — influences from both spoken French and literary norms. Along with other types of discourse such as newspaper French, the patterns in oral story‐telling pose questions for contemporary models of the French tense system, especially those based on a fundamental binary divide, such as written versus spoken discourse,
monde raconté
versus
monde commenté
or
histoire
versus
discours
.
Field observations quantifying attraction of four tortricid moths to high‐dosage pheromone dispensers in untreated and pheromone‐treated orchards
Authors: Stelinski L.L. , Gut L.J. , Pierzchala A.V. , Miller J.R.
Published: December 2004

Orientational responses of four species of feral tortricid moths (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) to polyethylene tube dispensers of pheromone were observed in a 0.8 ha apple orchard treated with such pheromone dispensers and in an untreated 0.8 ha orchard. Male oblique‐banded leafrollers, Choristoneura rosaceana (Walker) (mean 7.2 ± 0.4 moths/night during 21 nights), Oriental fruit moths, Grapholita molesta (Busck) (mean 10.5 ± 2.1 during 20 evenings), and the redbanded leafrollers, Argyrotaenia velutinana (Walker) (mean 2.0 ± 1.1 during 14 nights) were observed approaching within 100 cm of their respective polyethylene‐tube pheromone dispensers in the untreated orchard. Furthermore, C. rosaceana (mean 2.0 ± 0.7 during 17 nights) and G. molesta (mean 1.5 ± 0.4 over 20 evenings) came within 100 cm of their respective polyethylene‐tube pheromone dispensers in the pheromone‐treated orchard. Most visits lasted less than 10 s, after which the majority of moths departed by flying upwind. In the untreated orchard, the number of C. rosaceana observed orienting to polyethylene tube dispensers was greater than the number captured in optimized monitoring traps (1.9 ± 0.4) per night of observation. The numbers of A. velutinana (2.0 ± 1.1) or G. molesta (10.5 ± 2.1) attracted to polyethylene‐tube dispensers in the untreated orchard did not differ statistically from the numbers captured in optimized monitoring traps per night of observation. In the pheromone‐treated orchard, the number of C. rosaceana (2.0 ± 0.4) or G. molesta (1.2 ± 0.2) observed orienting to polyethylene‐tube dispensers did not differ statistically from the numbers of male moths of these species captured in optimized monitoring traps per night of observation. No codling moths, Cydia pomonella L. were observed orienting to, or landing near, their respective polyethylene‐tube dispensers in either the untreated or pheromone‐treated orchards, although substantial numbers were captured in monitoring traps per night of observation (6.0 ± 1.7) in the untreated orchard. The attraction of male moths to polyethylene tube dispensers thus occurred in three of the four species observed. These results provide support for the idea that false‐plume‐following is an important component of the mechanisms mediating communicational disruption in moths by polyethylene‐tube dispensers.
Decreased preference and reproduction, and increased mortality of Frankliniella occidentalis on thrips‐resistant pepper plants
Authors: Maris P.C. , Joosten N.N. , Goldbach R.W. , Peters D.
Published: December 2004

The effect of thrips resistance in pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) – previously shown to result in impeded thrips population development (Maris PC, Joosten NN, Goldbach RW & Peters D (2003a) Restricted spread of Tomato spotted wilt virus in thrips‐resistant pepper. Phytopathology 93: 1223–1227. Maris PC, Joosten NN, Goldbach RW & Peters D (2003b) Spread of Tomato spotted wilt virus and population development of Frankliniella occidentalis in pepper resistant to thrips. Proceedings of the Section Experimental and Applied Entomology Netherlands Entomological Society (NEV) Amsterdam 14: 95–101.) – on thrips’[Frankliniella occidentalis Pergande (Thysanoptera: Thripidae)] reproduction, mortality, host preference, and behaviour was investigated. Reproduction, studied by oviposition and larval survival, was negatively affected by the thrips‐resistant (TR) phenotype, whereas the offspring's developmental rate did not differ on TR and the thrips‐susceptible (TS) phenotype. While thrips’ behaviour was hardly affected by thrips resistance, a significant preference for TS plants over the TR plants was found in different tests. When released on either a TR or a TS plant, thrips dispersed at significantly higher rates from the TR plants, demonstrating that not only an impeded reproduction, but also a reduced residence time adds to the reported lower thrips numbers on TR plants.
Host crop influence on the susceptibility of the American bollworm, Helicoverpa armigera, to Bacillus thuringiensis ssp. kurstaki HD‐73
Authors: Gujar G.T. , Mittal A. , Kumari Archana , Kalia V.
Published: December 2004

Studies on the susceptibility of F1 neonates of Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) collected from chickpea in Delhi and cotton in Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan in northern India, to Bacillus thuringiensis ssp. kurstaki HD‐73, and the impact of host crop diets on insect susceptibility, were carried out by diet incorporation bioassays. The susceptibility of F1 neonates of H. armigera to Bacillus thuringiensis ssp. kurstaki HD‐73 ranged from twofold (LC50 96 h, 84.5–164.2 µg (ai) l−1) for chickpea to about fivefold (LC50 96 h, 51.1–247.7 µg (ai) l−1) for cotton. The F1 neonates of insects collected from pearl millet were twice as tolerant as those collected from cotton and sunflower at Sirsa to B. thuringiensis ssp. kurstaki HD‐73, suggesting that there was an influence of host crops on insect susceptibility. Insects originally collected from cotton fields at Bhatinda and reared for four generations on a chickpea‐based meridic diet were used to initiate host‐specific colonies of H. armigera. These host‐specific colonies were allowed to complete one generation on meridic diets prepared with different hosts, viz., cabbage, cauliflower, chickpea, green pea, pearl millet, and pigeon pea. Larvae of H. armigera were heaviest on the 15th day, and had a higher growth rate on a pigeon pea‐based diet than all other host diets. The larval period was shorter on chickpea and pigeon pea, with higher percentage pupation than all other host‐diets. The pupal weight of H. armigera was greater on chickpea and pigeon pea diets than on other host diets. The growth and development of larvae was significantly poorer on pearl millet diet than on other host diets. The F1 neonates of H. armigera belonging to cabbage, cauliflower, and pearl millet host‐specific colonies were more susceptible than those belonging to chickpea, green pea, and pigeon pea host‐specific colonies to B. thuringiensis ssp. kurstaki HD‐73, suggesting the importance of proteinaceous nutrients in tolerance. The F1 neonates of the pearl millet colony of H. armigera grown on a chickpea‐diet for 4 days were significantly more tolerant to B. thuringiensis ssp. kurstaki HD‐73 than those reared on the pearl millet‐based diet. These studies show the impact of the host diet of H. armigera on tolerance to B. thuringiensis.
Temporal and developmental aspects of diet‐induced food preferences in larvae of the tobacco hornworm, Manduca sexta
Authors: De Boer Gerrit
Published: December 2004

Diet‐induced changes in food preferences in an oligophagous caterpillar were studied in order to characterize the conditions under which this induction occurs. The time course of acquisition and extinction of induced food preferences by larvae of the tobacco hornworm, Manduca sexta (Johan.) (Lepidoptera, Sphingidae), was examined by varying the food and duration of larval food experience. Larvae were given feeding experience with the host plant tomato, Lycopersicon esculentum (Mill.) (Solanaceae), or the acceptable non‐host plant cowpea, Vigna unguiculata (Walp.) (Fabaceae), or switched from one to the other during different instars. Food preferences for V. unguiculata by the fourth or fifth instar larvae were measured individually in two‐choice tests with discs of V. unguiculata and moist filter paper. The acquisition or extinction of an induced food preference for V. unguiculata was indicated by larvae preferring V. unguiculata to filter paper or the reverse, respectively. Results showed that: (1) the period required for the acquisition of induced preference for V. unguiculata can be short (36 h), (2) food experience in either the third or fourth instar period is sufficient, and (3) the most recent feeding experience appears to be important. In contrast, the period required for extinction of induced preference for V. unguiculata appeared to be longer (1–3 instars), and both the most recent feeding experience and total duration of larval experience with the inducing food seem to play a role. Experience is not restricted to a particular instar period to acquire or extinguish such an induced food preference. The induced food preference for V. unguiculata was not very rigid and could be reversed by having one instar of feeding experience on L. esculentum. The findings indicate that diet‐induced food preferences in M. sexta contains elements of habituation and associative learning, but do not support food imprinting and induction of oligophagy.
Impact of alcohol consumption upon medical care utilization and costs in men: 4‐year observation of National Health Insurance beneficiaries in Japan
Authors: Anzai Yukiko , Kuriyama Shinichi , Nishino Yoshikazu , Takahashi Kohko , Ohkubo Takayoshi , Ohmori Kaori , Tsubono Yoshitaka , Tsuji Ichiro
Published: December 2004

Aims  The purpose of the present study was to examine the association between alcohol consumption and in‐patient and out‐patient care utilization and its costs, respectively.

Design and participants  The present data were derived from a 4‐year prospective observation of National Health Insurance beneficiaries in rural Japan. A total of 17 497 men aged 40–79 years were analysed, after excluding subjects who at the baseline reported having had at least one of four chronic diseases: stroke, myocardial infarction, liver disease and cancer. Alcohol intake was classified into five groups, not including ex‐drinkers: life‐long abstainers and ethanol intakes of 1–149 g/week, 150–299 g/week, 300–449 g/week, and ≥450 g/week.

Findings  The hospital days and in‐patient care cost showed a U‐shaped relationship with alcohol consumption. In‐patient cost was highest for those consuming more than 450 g/week [£74.96, 95% confidence interval (CI): 54.39, 95.52] and for life‐long abstainers (£69.16, 95% CI: 62.08, 77.83), and lowest for those consuming 150–299 g/week (£51.69, 95% CI: 45.33, 58.04). In‐patient use by age specific analysis also showed a U‐shape at all ages, and was lowest for those consuming 1–149 g/week in youngest age group. In contrast, the number of physician visits and out‐patient cost showed an inverse linear relationships with alcohol consumption.

Conclusions  This study suggests that in‐patient use shows a U‐shaped curve and out‐patient use shows an inverse linear relationship to alcohol consumption.
Heroin and diplopia
Authors: Firth Alison Y.
Published: December 2004

Aims  To describe the eye misalignments that occur during heroin use and heroin detoxification and to give an overview of the management of persisting diplopia (double vision) which results from eye misalignment.

Methods  A literature review using Medline and the search terms strabismus, heroin and substance withdrawal syndrome is presented. General management of cases presenting to the ophthalmologist and orthoptist with acute acquired concomitant esotropia is described.

Findings  A tendency towards a divergence of the visual axes appears to be present in heroin users, although when present it may not always lead to diplopia. Following detoxification intermittent esotropia or constant esotropia (convergence of the visual axes) can occur; if intermittent the angle tends to be small and diplopia present when viewing distance objects. Occlusion of one eye to eliminate the second image could encourage the development of a constant deviation. The deviation is not caused by a cranial nerve palsy. Constant deviations of this type are classified as ‘acute acquired concomitant esotropia’. Relief from the diplopia may be gained by prismatic correction, and the deviation may then resolve spontaneously. Botulinum toxin or surgical intervention may be necessary in cases that do not resolve.

Conclusions  Heroin use may lead to intermittent or constant exotropia and withdrawal may result in intermittent or constant esotropia. Awareness of the mechanism causing this may avoid referral to other specialties (e.g. neurology) and awareness of treatment modalities could encourage patients to seek appropriate help for relief of symptoms.
Primary medical care and reductions in addiction severity: a prospective cohort study
Authors: Saitz Richard , Horton Nicholas J. , Larson Mary Jo , Winter Michael , Samet Jeffrey H.
Published: December 2004

Aims  To assess whether receipt of primary medical care can lead to improved outcomes for adults with addictions.

Design  We studied a prospective cohort of adults enrolled in a randomized trial to improve linkage with primary medical care.

Methods  Subjects at a residential detoxification unit with alcohol, heroin or cocaine as a substance of choice, and no primary medical care were enrolled. Receipt of primary medical care was assessed over 2 years. Outcomes included (1) alcohol severity, (2) drug severity and (3) any substance use.

Findings  For the 391 subjects, receipt of primary care (≥2 visits) was associated with a lower odds of drug use or alcohol intoxication (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 0.45, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.29–0.69, 2 d.f. χ2P = 0.002). For 248 subjects with alcohol as a substance of choice, alcohol severity was lower in those who received primary care [predicted mean Addiction Severity Index (ASI) alcohol scores for those reporting ≥ 2, 1 and 0 visits, respectively, 0.30, 0.26 and 0.34, P = 0.04]. For 300 subjects with heroin or cocaine as a substance of choice, drug severity was lower in those who received primary care (predicted mean ASI drug scores for those reporting ≥ 2, 1 and 0 visits, respectively, 0.13, 0.15 and 0.16, P = 0.01).

Conclusions  Receipt of primary medical care is associated with improved addiction severity. These results support efforts to link patients with addictions to primary medical care services.
How have smoking risk factors changed with recent declines in California adolescent smoking?
Authors: Gilpin Elizabeth A. , Lee Lora , Pierce John P.
Published: December 2004

Aim  To compare predictors of smoking initiation in two longitudinal studies in California conducted during periods when adolescent smoking prevalence was increasing (1993–96) and decreasing (1996–99).

Design, setting and participants  Cohorts of 12–15‐year‐old never smokers were identified from the cross‐sectional 1993 and 1996 California Tobacco Surveys (large population‐based telephone surveys) and followed‐up 3 years later (1993–96, n = 1764; 1996–99, n = 2119).

Measures  We compared cohort transition rates to any smoking by follow‐up in risk groups defined by known predictors of smoking initiation at baseline. Besides examining predictors individually, risk groups were defined using a multivariate analysis.

Findings  Overall, transition to any smoking by follow‐up occurred in 38.3 ± 4.0% (% ± 95% confidence interval) of never smokers in the 1993–96 cohort and 31.1 ± 2.6% in the 1996–99 cohort. For most predictors, the transition rate for adolescents with the characteristic was the same or only slightly lower in the 1996–99 cohort compared to the 1993–96 cohort, but the transition rate in those without the characteristic was generally much lower, thus increasing the power of the predictor. The multivariate analysis confirmed that compared to the 1993–96 cohort, transition occurred much less often in the 1996–99 cohort for adolescents at low rather than at medium or high risk of future smoking.

Conclusions  The turnaround in California adolescent smoking in the mid‐1990s, when smoking began to decline, appears to come primarily from adolescents already at low risk of future smoking (as defined by a variety of predictors), who transitioned to smoking at much lower rates than previously.
Review article: nucleoside analogues for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B
Authors: Younger H. M. , Bathgate A. J. , Hayes P. C.
Published: December 2004

Current accepted treatment for chronic hepatitis B uses either the immunomodulator interferon alpha or nucleoside analogues lamivudine or adefovir. Interferon has side effects which mean it is often poorly tolerated. Long‐term use of lamivudine is associated with increasing viral resistance for each year it is taken and the rebound viraemia that can occur when the drug is stopped is also of concern to many. Adefovir appears to have less of the resistance issues of lamivudine but is still a relatively new drug and at present its use is principally limited to patients with lamivudine‐resistant disease.

A number of other nucleoside analogues are currently being developed with some now at the stage of early clinical trials. A proportion share the significant resistance problems of lamivudine but many appear to have more potent anti‐viral effect than the drugs currently available. If some of these newer anti‐viral agents are approved for use in chronic hepatitis B, the potential for prolonged suppression of hepatitis B virus replication with resultant stabilization or improvement in liver disease may be achieved.
Clinical and endosonographic effect of ciprofloxacin on the treatment of perianal fistulae in Crohn's disease with infliximab: a double‐blind placebo‐controlled study
Authors: West R. L. , van der Woude C. J. , Hansen B. E. , Felt‐Bersma R. J. F. , van Tilburg A. J. P. , Drapers J. A. G. , Kuipers E. J.
Published: December 2004

Background : Ciprofloxacin is effective in perianal Crohn's disease but after treatment discontinuation symptoms reoccur. Infliximab is effective but requires maintenance therapy.

Aim : To evaluate the effect of combined ciprofloxacin and infliximab in perianal Crohn's disease.

Methods : A double‐blind placebo‐controlled study was conducted. Patients were randomly assigned to receive 500‐mg ciprofloxacin twice daily or a placebo for 12 weeks. All patients received 5‐mg/kg infliximab in week 6, 8 and 12 and were followed for 18 weeks. Primary end‐point was clinical response, defined as a 50% or greater reduction from baseline in the number of draining fistulae. Secondary end‐points were the change in Perianal Disease Activity Index and hydrogen peroxide enhanced three‐dimensional endoanal ultrasonography findings. Analysis was by intention‐to‐treat.

Results : Twenty‐four patients were included but two discontinued treatment. At week 18, response was 73% (eight of 11) in the ciprofloxacin group and 39% (five of 13) in the placebo group (P = 0.12). Using logistic regression analysis patients treated with ciprofloxacin tended to respond better (OR = 2.37, CI: 0.94–5.98, P = 0.07). The Perianal Disease Activity Index score only improved (P = 0.008) in the ciprofloxacin group. Three‐dimensional endoanal ultrasonography improved in three patients with a clinical response.

Conclusions : A combination of ciprofloxacin and infliximab tended to be more effective than infliximab alone.
Review article: the eosinophil as a therapeutic target in gastrointestinal disease
Authors: Hogan S. P. , Rothenberg M. E.
Published: December 2004

Elevated levels of eosinophils in the gastrointestinal tract is a common feature of numerous gastrointestinal disorders including food allergy, parasitic infections, gastro‐oesophageal reflux, eosinophilic oesophagitis, eosinophilic gastroenteritis, allergic colitis and inflammatory bowel diseases. Recently, clinical and experimental studies have provided evidence that eosinophils have a critical role in the pathophysiology of eosinophil‐associated gastrointestinal disease. Collectively, these studies have provided relevant insight into identifying key targets for therapeutic intervention. The present review describes recent experimental investigations on the role of eosinophils in the clinical manifestations of eosinophil‐associated gastrointestinal disease and discusses future therapeutic approaches for the treatment of disease.
Oesophageal pH has a power‐law distribution in control and gastro‐oesophageal reflux disease subjects
Authors: Gardner J. D. , Sloan S. , Robinson M. , Miner P. B.
Published: December 2004

Background : We are unaware of any solid theoretical or pathophysiological basis for selecting pH 4 or any other pH value to assess oesophageal acid exposure or to define oesophageal reflux episodes.

Aim : To examine the frequency of different oesophageal pH values in control and GERD subjects.

Methods : Oesophageal pH was measured for 24 h in 57 gastro‐oesophageal reflux disease subjects and 26 control subjects. Histograms were constructed using the 21 600 values from each recording and bins of 0.25 pH units.

Results : Compared with controls, gastro‐oesophageal reflux disease subjects had significantly more low pH values and significantly fewer high pH values. In both gastro‐oesophageal reflux disease and control subjects, the frequency of oesophageal pH values was characterized by a power‐law distribution indicating that the same relationship that describes low pH values also describes high pH values, as well as all values in between.

Conclusions : The distribution of oesophageal pH values indicates that a variety of different pH values can be used to assess oesophageal acid exposure, but raises important questions regarding how oesophageal reflux episodes are defined.
Dermatophytes in the rural area of Duzce, Turkey
Authors: Sahin Idris , Oksuz Sukru , Kaya Demet , Sencan Irfan , Çetinkaya Reyhan
Published: December 2004

A total of 227 subjects (112 were male and 115 female), who were residents of the rural region of Duzce, were examined for dermatomycosis. A total of 120 samples (47 nail fragments, 73 skin scales) were collected from 81 patients for mycological analysis on the basis of the results of clinical evaluation. All specimens collected were analysed by direct microscopy and culture. Positive results were detected in the cultures of 53 (44.1%) of the 120 samples. About 46 (86.7%) samples also presented positive results in direct microscopy. In the cases of seven samples positive results were found in culture and negative results with direct microscopy. Both culture and direct microscopy presented negative results in 67 (55.8%) samples. The most frequently isolated aetiological agents were 33 Trichophyton rubrum (62.2%), and nine T. mentagrophytes (16.9%). In conclusion, traditional and religious habits such as cohabitation and performing ritual ablutions may affect the prevalence of dermatophyte infections. The performance of ritual ablutions is not in itself a risk factor for acquiring dermatophyte infection; rather it is not drying the extremities after ablutions, that is the main risk factor for this group. Tinea capitis was not found in any of the subjects in spite of the fact that it is one of the most common infectious conditions in children. This is the first paper to report the prevalence of fungal infections in Duzce, a western Black Sea region of Turkey.
Case reports: tinea corporis in a 13‐year‐old German girl due to Trichophyton schoenleinii
Authors: Roos T. C. , Bordeaux A. , Gentzen‐Luebbs U. , Tietz H. J.
Published: December 2004

We report the first case of a tinea corporis with partly profound lesions in a 13‐year‐old girl on her arms, legs and trunk due to Trichophyton schoenleinii but without any lesion on scalp and hair. Moreover, this is the first case of an infection with Trichophyton schoenleinii in Germany since more than 40 years. The diagnosis was confirmed by microscopy of mycological specimens. Other causes of the skin symptoms could be excluded (atopic dermatitis, bacterial or other fungal infection). Clinical and epidemiological aspects of this anthropophile dermatophyte are briefly reviewed.
Isolation and characterization of an immunogenic fragment of heat shock protein 60 from Trichophyton mentagrophytes
Authors: Raska M. , Zemanova E. , Kafkova L. , Belakova J. , Vudattu N. K. , Kopecek P. , Weigl E.
Published: December 2004

Heat shock protein 60 (hsp60) were isolated from several fungal, protozoal and many bacterial pathogens and successfully used for protective vaccination in some infection models. This work focuses on the isolation of recombinant hsp60 from the dermatophyte, Trichophyton mentagrophytes as a potentially protective antigen in trichophytosis. With the help of a previously tested set of degenerated primers, it was used reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR) for isolation of partial cDNA of the hsp60 T. mentagrophytes (labelled hsp60‐TM814), which was cloned into cloning vector. The sequencing of hsp60‐TM814 cDNA and global alignment confirmed homology of the hsp60‐TM814 with other members of the hsp60 family. Hsp60‐TM814 cDNA corresponds to the region encoding the immunoprotective fragment of the hsp60 from Histoplasma capsulatum, used successfully in mouse model of histoplasmosis. A recombinant fragment (r‐hsp60‐TM664), 220 amino acids in length, was prepared in a prokaryote expression system, and its identity confirmed by mass spectroscopy. High immunogenicity of r‐hsp60‐TM664 was proven after subcutaneous immunization of mice. Immunized mouse sera recognized r‐hsp60‐TM664 on Western blots as well as hsp60 from mouse liver lysate and lysate of Candida albicans.
Genotype of Candida species associated with different conditions of vulvovaginal candidosis
Authors: Lian C. , Zhao J. , Zhang Z. , Liu W.
Published: December 2004

It is unknown whether strains isolated from recurrent vulvovaginal candidosis (RVVC), vulvovaginal candidosis (VVC) and asymptomatic carriers are varying or not in genotyping. Candida isolates were genotyped to determine whether specific types were associated with RVVC and VVC. A total of 97 Candida isolates from RVVC patients (n = 43), from VVC patients (n = 47) and asymptomatic carriers (n = 7) were identified by germ tube test, chlamydospore test, CHROMagar Candida and API20 system and were genotyped by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) fingerprinting employing random amplification of polymorphic DNA (RAPD) assay with nine random primers screened. The RAPD identified distinct genotypes that were shared among isolates from most different individuals. Most of the 85 C. albicans strains failed to corroborate any obvious differences in the genotypic variability in the VVC, RVVC patient groups and carriers by clustering analysis. Only a few individuals were found to harbor a distinct genotype of C. albicans isolates associated with a specific disease condition.
A case of oral erosive candidosis in a kidney transplant patient
Authors: Romano C. , Ghilardi A. , Carcagnì M. R. , De Aloe G. B.
Published: December 2004

A case of oral erosive candidosis due to Candida albicans in a 64‐year‐old female patient, who had undergone kidney transplant 20 days earlier, is reported. Concomitant herpes infection was excluded. The patient achieved clinical and mycological recovery after treatment with topical and systemic antimycotics (200 mg fluconazole per day) for 50 days. The case is reported because of the erosive ulcerating aspect and extent of the lesions, usually only reported in immunodepressed subjects, especially those with neutropenia or AIDS.
Follow‐up of epidemiological data of cryptococcosis in Austria, Germany and Switzerland with special focus on the characterization of clinical isolates
Authors: Tintelnot K. , Lemmer K. , Losert H. , Schär G. , Polak A.
Published: December 2004

The present survey in Austria, Germany and Switzerland continued the survey of cryptococcosis set up by the European Confederation of Medical Mycology (ECMM) in 1997. From 2000 to 2003 77 cases have been reported. An HIV infection is still the most important risk factor (68%). Young HIV+ women from ASIA contributed to the increase of cryptococcosis in females. A total of 129 clinical isolates of both surveys were genotyped by PCR fingerprinting to study the prevalence of different genotypes. The prevalence of Cryptococcus neoformans var. grubii (serotype A) with the genotypes VNA1 and VNA2 was higher in Germany and Austria (74.5%) than in Switzerland (52%), while in Switzerland the Cr. neoformans hybrids AD (26%) and Cr. neoformans var. neoformans (serotype D) (22%) were more prevalent compared with Germany and Austria (8 and 17.5% respectively). Cryptococcus gattii isolates were studied by FT‐IR spectroscopy. DNA in the ITS region was sequenced to get further information about Cr. neoformans serotype AD strains and about the geographical origin of the Cr. gattii isolates. The ITS sequence of the serotype AD isolates of the genotypes VNAD1, VNAD2 and VNAD4 is usually identical to serotype A or serotype D respectively. In the three isolates of the genotype VNAD3 a genotype‐specific sequence pattern was detected. Two autochthonous infections due to Cr. gattii could indicate that the genotype VGIV with the ITS type ‘Asia 2’ might be endemic in Europe.
Sustained MAPK activation is dependent on continual NGF receptor regeneration
Authors: Qiu Dongru , Mao Likai , Kikuchi Shinichi , Tomita Masaru
Published: December 2004

It still remains intriguing how signal specificity is achieved when different signals are relayed by the common intracellular signal transduction pathways. A well documented example for signal specificity determination is found in rat phaeochromocytoma PC12 cells where epidermal growth factor (EGF) stimulation produces a transient mitogen‐activated protein kinase (MAPK) activation and leads to cell proliferation while nerve growth factor (NGF) initiates a sustained MAPK activation and induces cell differentiation. In this simulation, we demonstrated that NGF‐induced sustained MAPK activation may mainly depend on continual regeneration of NGF receptors and that the presence of a small pool of surface receptors is enough to maintain a sustained MAPK activation. On the other hand, MAPK activation is not significantly sensitive to the half‐life of internalized receptors and the levels of NGF‐specific MAPK phosphatase MAP kinase phosphatase‐3 (MKP‐3), though cytoplasmic persistence of internalized NGF‐bound receptors and the MKP‐3 dependent feedback control also contribute to the sustaining of MAPK activation. These results are consistent with the recent experimental evidence that persistent tyrosine receptor kinase A (TrkA) activity is necessary to maintain transcription in the differentiating PC12 cells (Chang et al. 2003) and a sustained Src kinase activity is detected in response to NGF stimulation (Gatti 2003). It is suggested that sustained or transient MAPK activation induced by different growth factor and neurotrophins, which is crucial to their signaling specificity, could be satisfactorily accounted for by their specific receptor turnover kinetics rather than by the activation of specific downstream signaling cascades.
PIGMENT SUITES AND TAXONOMIC GROUPS IN PRASINOPHYCEAE1
Authors: Latasa Mikel , Scharek Renate , Gall Florence Le , Guillou Laure
Published: December 2004

Pigment analysis performed on 30 Prasinophyceae strains revealed two main groups: the prasinoxanthin‐containing and prasinoxanthin‐less Prasinophyceae. Prasinoxanthin‐containing Prasinophyceae comprised the orders Mamiellales, Pseudoscourfieldiales (Pycnococcaceae), and Prasinococcales. For this group, classification with pigment composition showed a good agreement with molecular phylogeny. Mamiellales, except Crustomastix stigmatica, accumulated uriolide, micromonal, dihydrolutein, and the pigment Unidentified M1 as characteristic pigments. Prasinococcales and Pseudoscourfieldiales (Pycnococcaceae) lacked micromonal and Unidentified M1. In addition, Pseudoscourfieldiales (Pycnococcaceae) lacked uriolide. A chl c3‐like pigment was present in prasinoxanthin‐containing strains isolated from the deep sea. Common green algae pigments, a loroxanthin derivative, and siphonaxanthin plus derivatives were found in the prasinoxanthin‐less Prasinophyceae, which included strains from Pyramimonadales, Pseudoscourfieldiales (Nephroselmidiaceae), Chlorodendrales, and a new order. Although some associations could be observed, the correspondence between pigments and molecular taxonomy was less clear for this group.
ULTRASTRUCTURE OF UNICELLULAR N2 FIXING CYANOBACTERIA FROM THE TROPICAL NORTH ATLANTIC AND SUBTROPICAL NORTH PACIFIC OCEANS1
Authors: Falcón Luisa I. , Lindvall Susanne , Bauer Karolina , Bergman Birgitta , Carpenter Edward J.
Published: December 2004

Nitrogen fixing unicellular marine cyanobacteria may have a major role in the global biogeochemistry of N; nevertheless, little is known about their phylogeny and morphology. We isolated N2 fixing unicellular cyanobacteria from the tropical North Atlantic and subtropical North Pacific Oceans and examined ultrastructural dynamics during dark:light cycles when grown in incubators. The isolate from the subtropical North Pacific was larger and showed a size variation from 3 to 7 μm but had similar morphology and cell division‐plane characteristics as the isolate from the North Atlantic (2.5 μm). Nitrogen fixation only occurred during the dark phase, and ultrastructural analysis demonstrated changes in the appearance and quantity of large carbohydrate‐like granules present in the cells. To verify the composition of these carbohydrate‐like granules, staining with periodic acid, thioacetic acid, and silver was carried out, and a positive reaction was obvious in all cells. The cells from the Atlantic seemed to empty their polysaccharide granules during the night, whereas those from the Pacific showed a decrease in the number of their granules. Our work suggests that phylogenetically related strains of unicellular N2 fixing cyanobacteria from different oceans showed similar carbohydrate‐like granules that could be used to fuel N2 fixation during darkness.
BENTHIC MICROALGAL COLONIZATION IN STREAMS OF DIFFERING RIPARIAN COVER AND LIGHT AVAILABILITY1
Authors: Roberts Simon , Sabater Sergi , Beardall John
Published: December 2004

Benthic microalgal colonization, light climate, and algal photosynthesis–irradiance relationships were analyzed in two vegetated creeks in southeast Australia, differing in their degree of riparian cover and hence light availability. Diatoms were the main component of the benthic microalgal communities in both creeks. The light received was three times higher in the partly shaded than in the completely shaded creek throughout the 45‐day study period. The algal community in the most shaded stream (Dandenong Creek [DG]) was almost permanently under subsaturating light, with a range of 0.06–0.25 light h a day above saturation irradiance (Ik), whereas in the partly shaded stream (Deep Creek [DC]) a higher period of saturating light, 1.2 light h a day above Ik, was seen. The initial slopes (α) of photosynthesis versus irradiance relationships were similar in the two creeks during the initial stages of colonization, indicating that early algal colonizers could behave as generalists with respect to light. In later stages of colonization, however, α and Ik diverged in the two streams. In DG the α values remained high, up to the end of the colonization, whereas in DC α substantially decreased. In DG there was a higher chl concentration per surface area, and algae had a higher content of chl per cell than in the partly shaded creek. In DC the algal community became adapted to increasing light availability during the course of the colonization, but changes in the photosynthesis–irradiance parameters were accompanied by a shift in the composition of the diatom community. We concluded that the algal community is highly influenced by adaptation of the algal species to governing light conditions throughout colonization.
A NEW RECORD AND ERADICATION OF THE NORTHERN ATLANTIC ALGA ASCOPHYLLUM NODOSUM (PHAEOPHYCEAE) FROM SAN FRANCISCO BAY, CALIFORNIA, USA1
Authors: Whitman Miller A. , Chang Andrew L. , Cosentino‐Manning Natalie , Ruiz Gregory M.
Published: December 2004

A new record of the Northern Atlantic fucoid Ascophyllum nodosum (L.) Le Jolis (Knotted wrack) was discovered on a shoreline in San Francisco Bay, California during a survey of intertidal habitats in 2001–2002. The alga showed no signs of deterioration 2.5 months after its initial detection. The healthy condition, presence of receptacles with developing oogonia, potential for asexual reproduction, and ability to withstand environmental conditions, both inside the Bay and on the outer Pacific coast, prompted a multiagency eradication effort. Given the relatively small area of shoreline inhabited by the alga, in combination with its absence in 125 other surveyed locations, we decided that manual removal of the seaweed would be the most environmentally sensitive yet effective eradication approach. No A. nodosum has been detected at the site since December 2002, and the species is thought to have been locally eradicated. The site continues to be monitored to assess the success of the eradication efforts.
Hypertensive Stress Increases Dispersion of Repolarization
Authors: VAN HUYSDUYNEN BART HOOFT , SWENNE CEES A. , VAN ECK HENK J. RITSEMA , KORS JAN A. , SCHONEVELD ANNA L. , VAN DE VOOREN HEDDE , SCHIERECK PIET , SCHALIJ MARTIN J. , VAN DER WALL ERNST E.
Published: December 2004

Several electrocardiographic indices for repolarization heterogeneity have been proposed previously. The behavior of these indices under two different stressors at the same heart rate (i.e., normotensive gravitational stress, and hypertensive isometric stress) was studied. ECG and blood pressure were recorded in 56 healthy men during rest (sitting with horizontal legs), hypertensive stress (performing handgrip), and normotensive stress (sitting with lowered legs). During both stressors, heart rates differed <10% in 41 subjects, who constituted the final study group. Heart rate increased from 63 ± 9 beats/min at rest to 71 ± 11 beats/min during normotensive, and to 71 ± 10 beats/min during hypertensive stress (P < 0.001). Systolic blood pressure was 122 ± 15 mmHg at rest and 121 ± 15 mmHg during normotensive stress, and increased to 151 ± 17 mmHg during hypertensive stress (P < 0.001). The QT interval was larger during hypertensive (405 ± 27) than during normotensive stress (389 ± 26, P < 0.001). QT dispersion did not differ significantly between the two stressors. The mean interval between the apex and the end of the T wave (Tapex‐Tend) of the mid‐precordial leads was larger during hypertensive (121 ± 17 ms) than during normotensive stress (116 ± 15 ms, P < 0.001). The singular value decomposition T wave index was larger during hypertensive (0.144 ± 0.071) than during normotensive stress (0.089 ± 0.053, P < 0.001). Most indices of repolarization heterogeneity were larger during hypertensive stress than during normotensive stress. Hypertensive stressors are associated with arrhythmogeneity in vulnerable hearts. This may in part be explained by the induction of repolarization heterogeneity by hypertensive stress.
Two‐Year Performance of a Preshaped Lead for Left Ventricular Stimulation
Authors: SCHUCHERT ANDREAS , SEIDL KARLHEINZ , PFEIFFER DIETRICH , OLTMANNS GERHARD , DÄNSCHEL WILFRIED , AYDIN MOHAMMED ALI , PAUL VINCE
Published: December 2004

Important goals, when implanting a cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) system, are to reach a stable LV lead position in a suitable coronary sinus (CS) tributary associated with a low capture threshold and no extracardiac stimulation. The aim of this study was to assess the 2‐year performance of a new preshaped lead designed for LV stimulation. The study enrolled 102 patients with heart failure and bundle branch block who underwent implantation of a CRT system, including a sheath‐guided, unipolar, S‐shaped LV lead placed in a CS tributary. At each follow‐up the electrical parameters and CRT system related adverse events were recorded. Eight patients who underwent LV stimulation alone, versus 88 patients who received biventricular CRT systems, were analyzed separately. Access to the CS was reached in 98 patients, and the lead was permanently implanted in 96 (94%) patients. The overall procedural time was 98 ± 28 minutes. During follow‐up, three patients underwent reinterventions for phrenic nerve stimulation (n = 2) and hematoma (n = 1). The capture threshold at implantation was 1.4 ± 0.9 V with LV versus 1.7 ± 0.5 V with biventricular stimulation, and after a transient increase, remained between 1.6 and 1.9 V in both configurations. The device measured impedance was significantly higher with LV than with biventricular stimulation at the time of CRT system implantation (698 ± 296 Ω vs 380 ± 67 Ω, P < 0.05) and during follow‐up. The initial R wave amplitude was 14.3 ± 5.9 mV in LV versus 8.9 ± 3.2 V in the biventricular configuration (NS) and 13.8 ± 7 mV in LV versus 12.8 ± 4.8 mV in the biventricular configuration at 24 months (NS). Implantation of the S‐shaped LV lead for CRT was safe, expeditious, and associated with a high success rate and reliable long‐term performance.
Characterization of Fetal Arrhythmias by Means of Fetal Magnetocardiography in Three Cases of Difficult Ultrasonographic Imaging
Authors: COMANI SILVIA , LIBERATI MARCO , MANTINI DANTE , GABRIELE ELISABETTA , BRISINDA DONATELLA , DI LUZIO SILVANO , FENICI RICCARDO , LUCA ROMANI GIAN
Published: December 2004

Characterization of ultrasound detected fetal arrhythmias is generally performed by means of M‐mode and pulsed Doppler echocardiography (fECHO), sonographic techniques that allow only indirect and approximate reconstruction of the true electrophysiological events that occur in the fetal heart. Several studies demonstrated the ability of fetal magnetocardiography (fMCG) to identify fetal arrhythmias. We report on three women, studied after the 32nd gestational week, who were referred for fMCG because of unsatisfying fetal cardiac visualization with fECHO due to maternal obesity, fetus in constant dorsal position hiding the fetal heart, intrauterine growth retardation, and oligohydramnios. Minor pericardial effusion was present in the third patient and digoxin therapy was given. FMCG were recorded with a 77‐channel MCG system working in a shielded room. Independent Component Analysis (FastICA algorithm) was used to reconstruct fetal signals. The good quality of the retrieved fetal signals allowed real‐time detection of arrhythmias and their classification as supraventricular extrasystoles (SVE), with/without aberrant ventricular conduction and/or atrioventricular block. The time course of the fetal cardiac rhythm was reconstructed for the entire recording duration; hence, fetal heart rate variability could be studied in time and frequency. Since isolated extrasystoles may progress to more hazardous supraventricular tachycardias, the noninvasive antenatal characterization of, even transient, fetal arrhythmias and their monitoring during pregnancy can be of great clinical impact.