bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Analysis of molecular inversion probe performance for allele copy number determination
Authors: Wang Yuker , Moorhead Martin , Karlin-Neumann George , Wang Nicholas J , Ireland James , Lin Steven , Chen Chunnuan , Heiser Laura M , Chin Koei , Esserman Laura , Gray Joe W , Spellman Paul T , Faham Malek
Published: November 2007

We have developed a new protocol for using molecular inversion probes to accurately and specifically measure allele copy number. The new protocol provides for significant improvements, including the reduction of input DNA (from 2 μg) by more than 25-fold (to 75 ng total genomic DNA), higher overall precision resulting in one order of magnitude lower false positive rate, and greater dynamic range with accurate absolute copy number up to 60 copies.
The methyltransferase YfgB/RlmN is responsible for modification of adenosine 2503 in 23S rRNA
Authors: Toh Seok-Ming , Xiong Liqun , Bae Taeok , Mankin Alexander S.
Published: November 2007

A2503 in 23S rRNA of the Gram-negative bacterium Escherichia coli is located in a functionally important region of the ribosome, at the entrance to the nascent peptide exit tunnel. In E. coli, and likely in other species, this adenosine residue is post-transcriptionally modified to m2A. The enzyme responsible for this modification was previously unknown. We identified E. coli protein YfgB, which belongs to the radical SAM enzyme superfamily, as the methyltransferase that modifies A2503 of 23S rRNA to m2A. Inactivation of the yfgB gene in E. coli led to the loss of modification at nucleotide A2503 of 23S rRNA as revealed by primer extension analysis and thin layer chromatography. The A2503 modification was restored when YfgB protein was expressed in the yfgB knockout strain. A similar protein was shown to catalyze post-transcriptional modification of A2503 in 23S rRNA in Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus. The yfgB knockout strain loses in competition with wild type in a co-growth experiment, indicating functional importance of A2503 modification. The location of A2503 in the exit tunnel suggests its possible involvement in interaction with the nascent peptide and raises the possibility that its post-transcriptional modification may influence such an interaction.
The Unemployment Industry
Authors: Moon Jeremy , Richardson J. J.
Published: November 2007

Virtually all political issues carry with them a constellation of groups, jockeying to influence policy-makers (and implementers) and trying to influence the definition of the issue to their own advantage. The number of groups coalescing around a given issue can vary enormously. In some instances policy-makers may feel the need to consult literally hundreds of groups before going ahead with significant policy change. Such consultation may be cosmetic and on other occasions may be, in effect, inner circle negotiation. On some occasions an easily recognizable and well defined policy community will exist. At other times a loose extended network, or ‘elastic net’, may be the more appropriate description. Whatever the group population involved in (or attempting to be involved in) a given issue there are likely to be at least some groups who are perceived to have ‘clout’ and who may manage to exercise a veto on occasions (eg the success of the TUC and the CBI members of the Manpower Services Commission (MSC), in dissuading Norman Tebbit from making the Youth Training Scheme compulsory).
Some Determinants of Variations in Expenditure on Secondary Education
Authors: Jesson David , Gray John , Ranson Stewart , Jones Ben
Published: November 2007

The claims of educational expenditure on the public purse are large and, until recently, have been growing. In a period of increased concern for accountability in the public sector it is not surprising to find attention increasingly directed to this rather neglected aspect of the education service.

Two recent publications by the Department of Education and Science, under the title ‘School Standards and Spending’ (DES, 1983, 1984), have addressed what has become the central issue in the current debate: ‘how do the examination results an LEA obtains relate to the spending it incurs on secondary education?’ Both bulletins analyse the examination results of the 96 LEAs in England, but find ‘no clear relationship between these and expenditure’. Other contributors to the debate have, however, been less cautious in their publications of findings which, while agreeing in general with the DES’s finding of ‘little or no relationship’ between examination results and spending, turn this into an attack on the very idea of variability in education expenditure unless it seen to be related to examination success. Thus in their book Standards in English schools Marks, Cox, et al. (1983) asserted that ‘more teachers and more money spent per pupil do not necessarily lead to better examination results’; whilst Lord (1984) claimed that ‘the more spending the worse were the results’.
The Languages of Role: Treasurers in UK Local Governments
Authors: Rosenberg D.
Published: November 2007

‘Local policy makers for the most part act as if their localities were self contained. They perceive their environment as bounded though not of course as impermeable. It is for them a field of vision, expectation and action.’ (Young and Kramer, 1978).

The ‘assumptive worlds’ of local government strategic actors have been noted and recognised but rarely studied. Young has argued that the roots of these tactics to manage the interorganisational environment and the complementary local policy nexus are located in the local policy makers’ understanding of their local worlds and multiple realities (Young, 1977). This paper is an attempt to investigate particular aspects of the ‘assumptive worlds’ of Treasurers and their organisational relationships with politicians and Chief Officers. Empirical data taken from relatively unstructured interviews with Treasurers in a variety of local authorities will be selectively used to illustrate the multi faceted realities of such officers and the relationship this has to the emerging policy process. The language or languages of Treasurers are both pragmatic and symbolic — both levels will be noted.

Dunleavy is one of the very few political scientists to comment on the socialisation and role politics of Treasurers.
Measuring Performance: A New System for the National Health Service
Authors: Pollitt Christopher
Published: November 2007

On 22nd September 1983 the Department of Health and Social Security issued the first national package of ‘performance indicators’ to the 14 Regional Health Authorities (RHAs) and 192 District Health Authorities (DHAs) which make up the National Health Service in England. Introducing this central government initiative, the junior minister said that it gave ‘local managers, for the first time, the facility to compare local performance with what is happening elsewhere in the NHS’ (Department of Health and Social Security 1983). The DHSS also set up a DHSS/NHS Joint Working Party on Performance Indicators, which at the time of writing has still to produce its recommendations for developing the present indicator set.

After only one year’s experience of the new system, any judgements must of necessity be tentative. This paper is based on correspondence with more than 100 of the 207 Regional and District Health Authorities (hereafter RHAs and DHAs), supplemented by a literature search and a dozen lengthy interviews with District Administrators and other officials with significant roles in the 1983 initiative.
Problems in Administering Community Policing: Some Lessons from Implementation Analysis
Authors: Gill Martin , Thrasher Michael
Published: November 2007

Research focusing on policing is a relatively new phenomenon. Studies purporting to discuss the role of police in society (Alderson 1979; Banton 1973; Cain 1973; Holdaway 1979 and 1983; Whitaker 1979) have pursued that objective without adequately discussing what the term means. Even within the police force itself there remains dispute over the definition of policing (Jones 1980) and since the Police Act of 1829 there has been little examination of the concept. Studies of the community, however, are well documented but the problem here is that the numerous definitions (Hillary 1955) have caused Stacey (1969) to consider it ‘a non concept’ and Halsey to argue that community, ‘has so many meanings as to be meaningless’ (Halsey 1978, p. 149). Ironically, two such vague concepts as community and policing have been used as a descriptive term for one style of policing in modern British society.

This vagueness appears to have affected research on community policing. The literature has tended to analyse various community policing schemes (Brown 1982; Moore and Brown 1981; Schaffer 1980) without either starting with, or arriving at, a precise definition of the concept.
Implementation of Social Goals in Labour Market Policy: The Case of Black Youth, Equal Opportunities and the Youth Training Scheme
Authors: Means Robin , Burton Paul , Davies Tom , Fenton Steve
Published: November 2007

The research reported briefly in this article attempted to explore further the relationship between the implementation of social goals in employment policy, the operation of segmentation in the labour market, and the fate of members of so-called ‘ethnic minorities’ in the labour market.

Previous research had suggested that social goals in labour market policy were very difficult to defend against the power of economic efficiency criteria, which seemed to penetrate the implementation apparatus at all stages. These efficiency criteria appeared to express themselves in a set of values about people in the labour market, shared by employers, labour market agencies, and even workers themselves. The values, which could change as the structure of the labour market changed, justified workers’ relative position and chances in the labour market, and worked through a series of changing stereotypes, related to achievement, to gender, to age, to race and so on.

This process appeared to underpin the structure which have been identified in labour market literature as ‘segments', which are constantly changing as restructuring continues, but which can be crudely represented as dividing labour forces up into those who achieve relatively high rewards, and those who achieve relatively low rewards.
The State at one Remove: Examples of Agency Arrangements and Regulatory Powers in Social Policy
Authors: Bolderson Helen
Published: November 2007

A major boundary change took place in social policy when Statutory Sick Pay replaced Sickness Benefit. When proposed in 1980, it met with much resistance from interest groups but since its introduction in 1983, relatively little attention has been paid to it. This paper argues that there are implications which need to be examined when a shift takes place from welfare state provision to welfare society provision in which the emphasis is on an interlocking of public and private sector arrangements.

There are numerous ways in which the State and private sectors operate either separately or together in the provision of welfare. They range from those in which the State has a monopoly, as is the case for example in supplementary benefits, to those in which it is dominant but co-exists with a separate private sector, as in the case of the National Health Service or education, to those where there are partnership arrangements as for example, between State and occupational pensions, through to those where State provision is devolved to other agencies or where the role of the State is to regulate private provision.
Evaluating Select Committees and Proposals for an Alternative Perspective
Authors: Nixon Jaqi
Published: November 2007

A number of studies have attempted to evaluate the work of the reformed Parliamentary Select Committees, introduced in 1979. These studies have provided valuable profiles of Select Committee work but have focussed primarily on indicators of procedure and performance rather than on actual outcome or impact of Select Committee reports. Moreover, they have framed their analysis of effectiveness from within a centralist perspective of Select Committee work and have generally failed to take account of the viewpoints and interests of those at the periphery of government policy-making who may nevertheless be directly affected by a Select Committee report and subsequent government response. This article first examines different methods that have been adopted to evaluate the work of the reformed Select Committees and then proceeds to assess the possible impact of a Select Committee report as perceived by those operating at the local level.
Health Care as a Business?: The emergence of a commercial hospital sector in Britain
Authors: Rayner Geof
Published: November 2007

This paper examines the recent development of the private medical sector in Britain. It argues that while the present Government has acted to bolster the fortunes of private medicine, electoral considerations have formed an obstacle to the pursuit of more radical policies. Nevertheless, the private sector has grown considerably since 1979, which is in some measure due to the favourable climate induced by Government policy. The core features of the private sector are defined and the nature of its provision discussed. It is suggested that the private sector is undergoing a process of commercialisation similar in kind to that which has occurred in the health industry in the USA and partly in consequence organisational features of US health care are gaining currency among supporters of privatisation.
Government and Industry: The local dimension
Authors: Vielba Carol
Published: November 2007

This review looks at new writings about local economic, employment and industrial policy. It reflects the growing interest in local policy initiatives at a time of central government disengagement. Description tends to outweigh evaluation leaving many questions about government-industry relations at the local level unanswered.
The Politics of Transportation and Disposal: hazardous and nuclear waste issues in Colorado, US.
Authors: Kirby Andrew , Jacob Gerald
Published: November 2007

In August 1985, a leakage of aldicarb oxime affected approximately 150 residents living within a ten mile radius of a Union Carbide plant located in Institute, West Virginia. The moderately hazardous chemical is used in the manufacture of methyl isocyanate, which leaked from another Union Carbide plant in Bhopal, India in December 1984, killing over 2,500 people. Subsequent studies have revealed that MIC also leaked from the West Virginia plant on 28 occasions between 1980 and 1984. The most recent leakage follows attempts to improve the factory’s safety record and emergency procedures; these notwithstanding, it is reported that there still exist five separate emergency preparedness plans covering the plant, to be administered by different local, state and federal authorities, and the plant itself (Makris, 1985).

The Bhopal disaster has indicated the full extent to which toxic products can destroy the health or lives of individuals who find themselves in proximity to a chemical accident. Although studies have indicated that many respondents are typically more concerned by nuclear issues (Macgill, 1983), there is little question that products like dioxins pose a serious threat to large number of workers, those who live in affected areas, and those who use the highways or live in proximity to routes being used by chemical manufacturers.
Particle Size Determination in Aluminum Hydroxide Suspensions Using Near-Infrared Transmittance Spectroscopy
Authors: Lai Xuxin , Zheng Yiwu , Ipsen Henrik , Jacobsen Susanne , Larsen Jørgen N. , Løwenstein Henning , Søndergaard Ib
Published: November 2007

A new method for particle size determination in polystyrene and aluminum hydroxide suspensions using near-infrared transmittance spectroscopy is described. Mono-dispersed polystyrene particle size standards were used to establish the calibration model. The particle sizes used in the study are similar to the wavelength range of 700–1300 nm, where light scattering is wavelength dependent. The wavelength dependency of near-infrared (NIR) absorbance is found to be linear with the particle size when the analysis is based on the same spectrum starting point (the same absorbance at 700 nm). Partial least squares regression (PLSR) is applied to model this linear relationship. Compared to laser diffraction (LD) the NIR method has similar accuracy and precision in the measurement of particles with a uniform size. For a sample containing multiple sizes of particles, the mean size measured by the NIR method is shown to be weighted by the particle mass. The application of the model to aluminum hydroxide suspension shows that the NIR method is suitable for the detection of particle size changes during the production process and storage. The advantages of the NIR method are that no knowledge of the refractive index and the concentration of a sample are necessary and that the method is fast and easy to operate.
Improving Signal-To-Interference Ratio in Rich Hydrocarbon—Air Flames Using Picosecond Coherent Anti-Stokes Raman Scattering
Authors: Meyer Terrence R. , Roy Sukesh , Gord James R.
Published: November 2007

There is growing interest in the use of short-pulse lasers for coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (CARS) to minimize non-resonant background (NRB) contributions in a variety of applications. Using time-coincident picosecond (ps) pump and Stokes beams and a time-delayed ps probe beam, we show that a three orders of magnitude reduction in NRB interference can be achieved in rich hydrocarbon–air flames while preserving 60% to 80% of the CARS signal. This represents a significant improvement in signal-to-interference ratio compared with previous measurements in room temperature air and is attributable to reduced rates of collisional dephasing and relaxation at flame temperatures. Measurements within the flame zone of a laminar flat-flame burner are used to investigate the characteristics of time-coincident and probe-delayed broadband ps N2-CARS spectra for C2H4–air equivalence ratios of 0.5 to 1.2. Up to three ro-vibrational bands of N2 are excited with each laser shot using 135 ps pump and 106 ps Stokes beams, and the CARS signal is generated using a 135 ps probe beam delayed by 165 ps. The enhanced signal-to-interference ratio achieved in the current work is one to two orders of magnitude higher than that previously achieved using polarization-selection techniques without sensitivity to the effects of birefringence caused by density gradients or test cell windows. Moreover, the use of a 135 ps laser source in this study enables frequency domain “broadband” CARS with sufficient resolution to extract ro-vibrational spectral features under various flame conditions. The effect of probe delay and NRB suppression on characteristics of these broadband CARS spectra are investigated, and evidence of preferential collisional dephasing and relaxation of different ro-vibrational transitions is not detected. This is a promising but preliminary result to be investigated further in future work.
Quenching of Luminescent Ruthenium(II) Complexes by Water and Polymer-Based Relative Humidity Sensors
Authors: Xu Wenying , Wittich Fran , Banks Neal , Zink James , Demas J. N. , DeGraff B. A.
Published: November 2007

Water quenching of luminescent [Ru(phen)2dppz]Cl2, [Ru(phen)2 dppn]Cl2, and [Ru(4,7-Ph2phen)2dppz]Cl2 (phen = 1,10-phenanthroline; 4,7-Ph2phen = 4,7-diphenyl-1,10-phenanthroline; dppz = dipyrido[3, 2-a:2′3′-c]phenazine; dppn = benzodipyrido(a:3,2-h:2′,3′-j)phenazine) complexes was studied in acetonitrile and in polymers. The polymers contained hydrophobic and hydrophilic components to control mechanical properties and were designed to absorb water with changing humidity and, thus, affect the emission intensity and lifetime. Quenching by water in mixed solvents and in polymers was shown to arise from a combination of diffusional and static ground-state associational quenching. The factors controlling polymer properties are discussed. The systems can be tailored to give a wide range of responses or function as a binary sensor at a fixed humidity level.
Polymerization of Aniline in the Solutions of Strong and Weak Acids: The Evolution of Infrared Spectra and Their Interpretation Using Factor Analysis
Authors: Sedenková I. , Trchová M. , Stejskal J. , Bok J.
Published: November 2007

The progress of the oxidative polymerization of aniline with ammonium peroxydisulfate in an aqueous medium has been monitored in situ by attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The growth of polyaniline film at the crystal surface, as well as the changes proceeding in the surrounding aqueous medium, are reflected in the spectra. The evolution of the spectra during aniline polymerization in the presence of acetic or sulfuric acid was studied with the aim of understanding the influence of acidity on the observed morphology of the final polyaniline films, granular or nanotubes. The changes occurring during polymerization are discussed with the help of differential spectra. Several processes connected with the various stages of aniline oxidation, the evolution of film morphology, or protonation, were distinguished by using factor analysis applied to a large number of spectra obtained in the course of aniline polymerizations on the crystal.
Ultraviolet—Visible Spectroelectrochemistry of Chemisorbed Molecular Layers on Optically Transparent Carbon Electrodes
Authors: Tian Hong , Bergren Adam Johan , McCreery Richard L.
Published: November 2007

Pyrolysis of diluted commercial photoresist spun onto quartz slides yields optically transparent graphitic films. Transparent carbon electrodes ∼6 nm thick can be reproducibly prepared, with a maximum absorbance in the ultraviolet–visible (UV-vis) range of 0.25 at 270 nm. These electrodes are sufficiently conductive for electrochemistry, enabling modification of the surface via diazonium ion reduction and spectroelectrochemistry. Good quality ultraviolet–visible absorption spectra of covalently bonded molecular layers of nitroazobenzene, nitrobiphenyl, and azobenzene, with thicknesses of 1.4–4 nm, were obtained after subtracting the spectrum of the unmodified substrate. The spectra of all three molecules immobilized on the carbon surface showed red shifts of the absorption maxima relative to a solution of free molecules, indicating substantial electronic interactions between chemisorbed molecules and the π system of the substrate and/or intermolecular coupling. Spectroelectrochemical measurements show that reduction of free and chemisorbed molecules produce new absorption features in the 500–800 nm range; these spectral changes are partially reversible upon repeated potential cycling. Finally, density functional calculations correlate the new bands to the formation of anion radical or “methide” species that have more extensive electron delocalization than the parent molecules. The results from this work are useful for linking structural transformations in molecular layers “buried” under conductive top contacts in a type of molecular junction to changes in the electronic properties of the junction.
Comparative Study of Wine Tannin Classification Using Fourier Transform Mid-Infrared Spectrometry and Sensory Analysis
Authors: Fernández Katherina , Labarca Ximena , Bordeu Edmundo , Guesalaga Andrés , Agosin Eduardo
Published: November 2007

Wine tannins are fundamental to the determination of wine quality. However, the chemical and sensorial analysis of these compounds is not straightforward and a simple and rapid technique is necessary. We analyzed the mid-infrared spectra of white, red, and model wines spiked with known amounts of skin or seed tannins, collected using Fourier transform mid-infrared (FT-MIR) transmission spectroscopy (400–4000 cm−1). The spectral data were classified according to their tannin source, skin or seed, and tannin concentration by means of discriminant analysis (DA) and soft independent modeling of class analogy (SIMCA) to obtain a probabilistic classification. Wines were also classified sensorially by a trained panel and compared with FT-MIR. SIMCA models gave the most accurate classification (over 97%) and prediction (over 60%) among the wine samples. The prediction was increased (over 73%) using the leave-one-out cross-validation technique. Sensory classification of the wines was less accurate than that obtained with FT-MIR and SIMCA. Overall, these results show the potential of FT-MIR spectroscopy, in combination with adequate statistical tools, to discriminate wines with different tannin levels.
Adrenomedullin Blood Concentrations in Infants Subjected to Cardiopulmonary Bypass: Correlation with Monitoring Parameters and Prediction of Poor Neurological Outcome
Authors: Florio Pasquale , Abella Raul , Marinoni Emanuela , Di Iorio Romolo , Letizia Claudio , Meli Marco , de la Torre Teresa , Petraglia Felice , Cazzaniga Alessandro , Giamberti Alessandro , Frigiola Alessandro , Gazzolo Diego
Published: November 2007

Background: Brain injury is a major adverse event after cardiac surgery, especially when extracorporeal circuits are used. We evaluated whether cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) affects cerebrovascular resistance and plasma concentrations of adrenomedullin (AM), a vasoactive peptide regulating cerebral blood flow.

Methods: We evaluated 50 infants (age <1 year) with congenital heart defects, matched according to a 2-year follow-up; 40 infants had no overt neurological injury, and 10 had brain damage. Blood samples were taken before surgery, during surgery before CPB, at the end of CPB, at the end of surgery, and at 12 h after surgery. Neurological outcome was evaluated before surgery, on postoperative day 7, and 2 years after surgery. We measured AM concentrations and used Doppler velocimetry to measure middle cerebral artery (MCA) pulsatility index (PI).

Results: The highest MCA PI values and lowest AM concentrations occurred at the end of CPB and of the surgical procedure. Infants who developed abnormal neurologic sequelae had significantly (P <0.001 for both) higher MCA PI values and lower AM concentrations than patients with normal neurologic outcome at the end of CPB and after surgery. As single markers for predicting neurological abnormalities, AM (cutoff: 17.4 ng/L) achieved a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 73.0% and MCA PI (cutoff value: 1.8) a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 56.8%.

Conclusions: AM concentrations and MCA PI patterns change during CPB, mainly in infants with brain damage, and may be useful for early identification of infants at risk for brain damage.
SELDI-TOF MS Whole Serum Proteomic Profiling with IMAC Surface Does Not Reliably Detect Prostate Cancer
Authors: McLerran Dale , Grizzle William E , Feng Ziding , Thompson Ian M , Bigbee William L , Cazares Lisa H , Chan Daniel W , Dahlgren Jackie , Diaz Jose , Kagan Jacob , Lin Daniel W , Malik Gunjan , Oelschlager Denise , Partin Alan , Randolph Timothy W , Sokoll Lori , Srivastava Shiv , Srivastava Sudhir , Thornquist Mark , Troyer Dean , Wright George L , Zhang Zhen , Zhu Liu , Semmes O John
Published: November 2007

Background: The analysis of bodily fluids using SELDI-TOF MS has been reported to identify signatures of spectral peaks that can be used to differentiate patients with a specific disease from normal or control patients. This report is the 2nd of 2 companion articles describing a validation study of a SELDI-TOF MS approach with IMAC surface sample processing to identify prostatic adenocarcinoma.

Methods: We sought to derive a decision algorithm for classification of prostate cancer from SELDI-TOF MS spectral data from a new retrospective sample cohort of 400 specimens. This new cohort was selected to minimize possible confounders identified in the previous study described in the companion paper.

Results: The resulting new classifier failed to separate patients with prostate cancer from biopsy-negative controls; nor did it separate patients with prostate cancer with Gleason scores <7 from those with Gleason scores ≥7.

Conclusions: In this, the 2nd stage of our planned validation process, the SELDI-TOF MS–based protein expression profiling approach did not perform well enough to advance to the 3rd (prospective study) stage. We conclude that the results from our previous studies—in which differentiation between prostate cancer and noncancer was demonstrated—are not generalizable. Earlier study samples likely had biases in sample selection that upon removal, as in the present study, resulted in inability of the technique to discriminate cancer from noncancer cases.
Variability of Serial Lipoprotein-Associated Phospholipase A2 Measurements in Post–Myocardial Infarction Patients: Results from the AIRGENE Study Center Augsburg
Authors: Khuseyinova Natalie , Greven Sonja , Rückerl Regina , Trischler Gerlinde , Loewel Hannelore , Peters Annette , Koenig Wolfgang
Published: November 2007

Background: Of the numerous emerging biomarkers for coronary heart disease (CHD), lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2), an enzyme involved in lipid metabolism and inflammatory pathways, seems to be a promising candidate. Implementation of Lp-PLA2 measurement into clinical practice, however, requires data on the reliability of such measurements.

Methods: We measured Lp-PLA2 concentrations by ELISA in blood samples drawn from 200 post–myocardial infarction patients (39–76 years) at 6 monthly intervals between May 2003 and February 2004, for a total of 1143 samples. We estimated analytical, within-individual, and between-individual variation, the critical difference, and the intraclass correlation coefficient of reliability (ICC) to assess the reliability of serial Lp-PLA2 measurements.

Results: The mean (SD) plasma Lp-PLA2 concentration for the study participants was 188.7 (41.8) μg/L, with no significant difference between men and women. The analytical CV for Lp-PLA2 was 4.4%, the within-individual biological CV was 15%, and the between-individual CV was 22%. The ICC was 0.66. An important part of the total variation in plasma Lp-PLA2 concentration was explained by the between-individual variation (as a percentage of the total variance, 66.1%), whereas the within-individual variance was 31.3%. The analytical variance was as low as 2.6%.

Conclusions: Between-individual variation in Lp-PLA2 concentration was substantially greater than within-individual variation. In general, our data demonstrate considerable stability and good reproducibility of serial Lp-PLA2 measurements, results that compared favorably with those for the more commonly measured lipid markers.
Statistical Evaluation of Prognostic versus Diagnostic Models: Beyond the ROC Curve
Authors: Cook Nancy R
Published: November 2007

Background: Diagnostic and prognostic or predictive models serve different purposes. Whereas diagnostic models are usually used for classification, prognostic models incorporate the dimension of time, adding a stochastic element.

Content: The ROC curve is typically used to evaluate clinical utility for both diagnostic and prognostic models. This curve assesses how well a test or model discriminates, or separates individuals into two classes, such as diseased and nondiseased. A strong risk predictor, such as lipids for cardiovascular disease, may have limited impact on the area under the curve, called the AUC or c-statistic, even if it alters predicted values. Calibration, measuring whether predicted probabilities agree with observed proportions, is another component of model accuracy important to assess. Reclassification can directly compare the clinical impact of two models by determining how many individuals would be reclassified into clinically relevant risk strata. For example, adding high-sensitivity C-reactive protein and family history to prediction models for cardiovascular disease using traditional risk factors moves approximately 30% of those at intermediate risk levels, such as 5%–10% or 10%–20% 10-year risk, into higher or lower risk categories, despite little change in the c-statistic. A calibration statistic can asses how well the new predicted values agree with those observed in the cross-classified data.

Summary: Although it is useful for classification, evaluation of prognostic models should not rely solely on the ROC curve, but should assess both discrimination and calibration. Risk reclassification can aid in comparing the clinical impact of two models on risk for the individual, as well as the population.
Ácido valpróico, cabelos cacheados e ganho de peso
Authors: Bittencourt Paulo R. M.
Published: November 2007

A literatura registra a ocorrência de ganho de peso em menos de 20% dos pacientes que recebem ácido valpróico e alterações na textura de fâneros em até 9%. O autor relata o caso de uma paciente de 19 anos que desenvolveu ganho de 13 kg, perda parcial de cabelos seguida de transformação deles de lisos e claros em cacheados e mais escuros, durante tratamento com 1000 mg de ácido valpróico ao dia, com nível sérico de 138,9 mg/ml. Após diminuição da dose para 500 mg ao dia, com nível sérico de 80,5 mg/ml, ela perdeu 7 kg, porém não recuperou a antiga textura dos cabelos. Devido ao completo controle de suas crises de ausência, mioclônicas e tônico-clônicas, jamais obtido com outra medicação, a paciente escolheu manter tratamento com ácido valpróico.
Influência do grau de insuficiência hepática e do índice de congestão portal na recidiva hemorrágica de cirróticos submetidos a cirurgia de Teixeira-Warren
Authors: Ferreira Fabio Gonçalves , Duda João Ricardo , Olandoski Márcia , Capua Jr. Armando De
Published: November 2007

RACIONAL: A hipertensão portal com sua principal complicação, a hemorragia digestiva alta varicosa, são importantes causas de morbimortalidade em cirróticos. A cirurgia de Teixeira-Warren é uma derivação portal seletiva, adotada em doentes Child-Pugh A e B para tratamento da hemorragia varicosa por hipertensão portal não responsiva à terapêutica clínico-endoscópica após o quadro agudo. O índice de congestão portal baseia-se em valores obtidos pela ultra-sonografia Doppler abdominal e encontra-se elevado em pacientes com hipertensão portal. OBJETIVO: Verificar se o índice de congestão portal e o grau de insuficiência hepática (Child-Pugh) são fatores preditivos de recidiva hemorrágica após a cirurgia de Teixeira-Warren. MÉTODO: Em estudo longitudinal retrospectivo analisaram-se 62 prontuários de cirróticos operados pela técnica de Teixeira-Warren na Santa Casa de São Paulo. Foram submetidos a avaliação quanto ao índice de congestão portal pré-operatório 36 doentes, e 58 quanto à classe Child-Pugh. Os doentes foram divididos em grupos - com recidiva e ausência de recidiva hemorrágica - sendo analisada a diferença estatística quanto aos valores do índice e Child-Pugh pré-operatórios, relacionando-os à recidiva hemorrágica pós-operatória. RESULTADOS: Dos doentes que apresentaram recidiva hemorrágica, 69% eram Child B e possuíam índice de congestão portal médio de 0,09. Já entre aqueles que não ressangraram, 62% eram Child A e o índice de congestão portal médio foi de 0,076. A diferença foi estatisticamente significante para a classe Child-Pugh, porém, o mesmo não ocorreu para o índice de congestão portal. CONCLUSÃO: O índice de congestão portal no pré-operatório não foi fator preditivo de recidiva hemorrágica em cirróticos submetidos a cirurgia de Teixeira-Warren. Doentes classificados como Child-Pugh B possuem maior chance de recidiva hemorrágica pós-derivação esplenorrenal distal em relação aos Child-Pugh A.
An experimental study of the electrical activity of the bypassed stomach in the Roux-en-Y gastric bypass
Authors: Ferraz Álvaro Antônio Bandeira , Leão Cristiano Souza , Campos Josemberg Marins , Coelho Antônio Roberto Barros , Zilbestein Bruno , Ferraz Edmundo Machado
Published: November 2007

BACKGROUND: Surgical options for morbid obesity are diverse, and the Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, initially described by Fobi has gained popularity. Knowledge about the physiology of the bypassed stomach is limited because this newly produced segment of the stomach is inaccessible to endoscopic or contrast radiological studies. AIM: To evaluate the myoelectric activity of the bypassed stomach and its reply to the feeding. METHODS: An experimental protocol was conducted to evaluate postoperative gastric bypassed motility in dogs submitted to the Roux-en-Y gastric bypass procedure. Two groups of five animals were studied on postoperative fasting and after a standard meal, recording electrical response and control activity. Both control and Roux-en-Y gastric bypass operated study group had a pair of electrodes placed on three points of the remaining stomach: fundus, body and antrum. Data registration was performed after complete ileus resolution, and analysed with DATA Q Inst. series 200. RESULTS: The results achieved on the conditions of this study suggest that: 1. the remaining stomach maintain the same pattern of motility; 2. there is a reduced fasting electromyography activity following the Roux-en-Y gastric bypass procedure; 3. significantly reduced fasting electric control activity when compared both groups, and a markedly reduced fasting response electric activity and; 4. the electric response to the feeding kept the same standard of the stomach, however in a statistically reduced way. CONCLUSION: The electrical activity of the bypassed stomach of Roux-en-Y gastric bypass procedure kept the same pattern but in a statistically reduced number of contraction.
Conservação e germinação do pólen, polinização e frutificação efetiva em pessegueiros e nectarineiras subtropicais
Authors: Barbosa Wilson , Campo-Dall'Orto Fernando Antonio , Ojima Mário , Martins Fernando Picarelli , Boaventura Yone Mangilu Seluto
Published: November 2007

Pesquisaram-se ambientes, períodos de conservação e meios de cultura para germinação do pólen, além de frutificação afetiva sob autopolinízação e polinização aberta em 25 cultivares e seleções de pessegueiros e nectarineiras do Banco de Germoplasma do Instituto Agronômico (IAC). Os pólens conservados em dessecador a 0 ± 1 °C mantiveram por 60 dias ates taxas de germinação (acima de 70%). Em ambiente de laboratório (25 +1 2ªC), o pólen perdeu rapidamente sua viabilidade; após o 3° dia de armazenamento, o vigor germinativo diminuiu progressivamente. A melhor germinação do pólen in vitro (89%) ocorreu em meio contendo solução salina de Murashige & Skoog, sacarose 5% e ágar 0,7%. Os cultivates a seleções analisados mostraram-se autoférteis, excetuando-se a nectarina IACN1574-25, que apresentou a característica genética da androesterilidade. As altas frutificações efetivas, tanto sob autopolinização quanto polinização livre (> 50%), foram obtidas pelos cultivares Jóia-1, Ouromel-3, Aurora-1 , Aurora-2 e Flordaprince e híbridos IAC 680-13 e IAC 680-178.
Distribuição da assimilação de nitrato e de matéria seca em plantas jovens de café cultivadas em diferentes níveis de nitrogênio
Authors: Carelli Maria Luiza Carvalho , Fahl Joel Irineu
Published: November 2007

Foi estudado o efeito de níveis de nitrogênio na distribuição do processo de redução de nitrato e de matéria seca entre as raízes e a parte aérea, em plantas de café de nove meses de idade, cultivadas em areia em casa de vegetação e irrigadas com soluções nutritivas contendo 3,75, 7,5 e 15mM de nitrato. A área foliar e a matéria seca das folhas aumentaram com o nível de nitrato das soluções, enquanto a matéria seca das raízes e o número de pares de folhas no ramo ortotrópico não foram alterados. A atividade in vivo da redutase de nitrato nas raízes mais jovens foi bem maior do que a das folhas recém-expandidas e aumentou com a concentração de nitrato no meio de crescimento. Os valores da atividade enzimática, quando determinada com a adição de nitrato no meio de reação, foram superiores às análises sem nitrato, sugerindo que a atividade da redutase de nitrato nas raízes e, principalmente, nas folhas, foi limitada pela quantidade de substrato. O aumento na disponibilidade de nitrogênio para as plantas proporcionou maior crescimento da parte aérea, em relação às raízes.
Fontes de resistência ao bicho-mineiro, Perileucoptera coffeella, em Coffea spp.
Authors: Guerreiro Filho Oliveiro , Medina Filho Herculano Penna , Carvalho Alcides
Published: November 2007

Procurou-se determinar, em nível de laboratório, por meio de infestações artificiais uniformes, fontes de resistência ao bicho-mineiro Perileucoptera coffeella (Guérin-Mèneville, 1842), entre as espécies Coffea stenophyila, C. salvatríx, C. racemosa, C. liberíca, C. eugenioides, C. kapakata, C. dewevrei, C. brevípes, C. congensis e C, canephora e os cultivares Catuaí Vermelho e Mundo Novo de C. arábica. Utilizaram-se testes de livre escolha e de confinamento, sendo avaliados os seguintes parâmetros: oviposição, número de discos lesionados por parcela, nota visual, área foliar danificada por parcela e área foliar danificada por lagarta. De acordo com os parâmetros analisados, pode-se, com relação ao número de pontos atribuídos na avaliação visual e quanto à porcentagem de discos lesionados, agrupar as espécies C. stenophyila, C. brevipes, C. liberíca e C. salvatrix, como altamente resistentes; C. racemosa, C. kapakata, C. dewevrei e C. eugenioides, como moderadamente resistentes, e C. congensis, C. canephora e C. arabica, como suscetíveis. Considerando os parâmetros área foliar danificada por parcela e área foliar danificada por lagarta, C. arabica pode ser classificada como altamente suscetível, mantendo-se C. congensis e C. canephora como suscetíveis.
Isoenzimas na identificação precoce de híbridos e clones nucelares no melhoramento de citros
Authors: Ballve Rosa Maria Lizana , Bordignon Rita , Medina Filho Herculano Penna , Siqueira Walter Jose , Teófilo Sobrinho Joaquim , Rompeu Júnior Jorgino
Published: November 2007

Um dos problemas relacionados ao melhoramento de citros é a poliembrionia e a conseqüente dificuldade, após cruzamentos controlados, de distinguir clones nucelares dos híbridos. Estudou-se um método para eletroforese de isoenzimas em gel de amido para doze sistemas isoenzímicos, desenvolvendo-se procedimento apropriado para a resolução simultânea dos sistemas fosfatase ácida, peroxidase anódica e catódica, glutamato oxaloacético transaminase, fosfoglucoisomerase, fosfoglucomutase e enzima málica. Caracterizaram-se por esses sistemas 31 clones de citros com possível interesse para o programa de melhoramento do IAC. Estão envolvidos 7 locos e 25 alelos, permitindo uma identificação precoce de híbridos antes do plantio no campo para avaliações agronômicas. Implicações desses estudos básicos no melhoramento e na determinação da taxa de seedlings nucelares de porta-enxertos comerciais são discutidas.
Melhoramento do trigo: XXVI. Avaliação de linhagens com tolerância à toxicidade de alumínio, manganês e ferro em soluções nutritivas
Authors: Camargo Carlos Eduardo de Oliveira , Rocha Júnior Laércio Soares , Ferreira Filho Antonio Wilson Penteado
Published: November 2007

Efetuaram-se cruzamentos entre o cultivar BH-1146, de porte alto, tolerante à toxicidade de alumínio e sensível à toxicidade de ferro e manganês, e o cultivar Siete Cerros, de porte semi-anão, sensível à toxicidade de alumínio, porém com tolerância à toxicidade de ferro e manganês. Selecionaram-se plântulas desse cruzamento, em geração F2, quanto à tolerância ao alumínio (10mg/litro), empregando-se soluções nutritivas, e plantaram-nas em vasos no telado contra o ataque de pássaros. A partir da geração F3 até F6, selecionaram-se plântulas em soluções nutritivas distintas contendo 6mg/litro de Al3+, 600mg/litro de Mn2+ e 10mg/litro de Fe2+. Avaliaram-se as vinte e três linhagens obtidas - doze de porte semi-anão e onze de porte alto juntamente com os cultivares BH-1146 e Siete Cerros em três experimentos, empregando-se soluções nutritivas. No primeiro, utilizaram-se os níveis de 0, 2, 4, 6, 8 e 10mg/litro de Al3+; no segundo, 0,11; 300; 600 e 1.200mg/litro de Mn2+ e no terceiro, 0,56; 5; 10 e 20mg/litro de Fe2+. Os resultados obtidos permitiram confirmar que as vinte e três linhagens selecionadas apresentaram, ao mesmo tempo, tolerância à toxicidade de Al3+, Mn2+ e Fe2+.
Tentativa de infestação artificial do solo com Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. vasinfectum em condições de campo
Authors: Cia Edivaldo , Fuzatto Milton Geraldo , Chiavegato Ederaldo José , Dudienas Christina , Gridi-Papp Imre Lajos , Camargo Antonio Pereira de , Paradela Filho Osvaldo , Soave Jaciro
Published: November 2007

Com o objetivo de estabelecer um campo experimental para trabalhos de melhoramento genético do algodoeiro para resistência à murcha de Fusarium, uma gleba de aproximadamente 8.000m² foi plantada com cultivar suscetível e inoculada artificialmente, durante sete anos seguidos. Avaliada mediante sintomas externos e internos típicos, a incidência da doença, mesmo após as 14 inoculações, mostrou-se fraca e insatisfatória para os fins visados. Entre as possíveis causas do insucesso são discutidas as condições climáticas, a textura do solo, os métodos de inoculação, a eventual supressividade do solo para Fusarium e a ausência de interação fungo + nematóides.
Estudo regional da adubaçáo boratada do algodoeiro no Estado de São Paulo
Authors: Silva Nelson Machado da , Carvalho Luiz Henrique , Chiavegato Ederaldo José , Kondo  , Bataglia Ondino Cleante , Hiroce Ruter , Bortoletto Nelson , Sabino José Carlos
Published: November 2007

Quinze experimentos de adubação boratada foram realizados em condições de campo com o algodoeiro, em diferentes regiões produtoras paulistas, no período de 1979-86.O micronutriente foi aplicado na adubação do plantio, nas doses de 0,0; 0,2; 0,4; 0,8; 1,6 e 3,2kg/ha de B, como bórax, em esquema estatístico de quadrado latino. Utilizaram-se sementes dos cultivares IAC 17, nos quatro primeiros anos, e IAC 20, nos demais. Na maioria dos experimentos, houve resposta favorável à adubação, em termos de produção, embora se tenham obtido em apenas três deles (20% dos casos) diferenças estatisticamente significativas. Quanto à concentração de boro no limbo (quinta folha), ocorreu aumento significativo em seis dos onze ensaios amostrados (55%). Reunindo os experimentos em função do histórico das glebas estudadas e da ocorrência de sintomas de deficiência ou de toxicidade de boro, discriminou-se muito bem o efeito geral da adubação. As mais altas produtividades foram alcançadas nos solos tradicionalmente cultivados e adubados e com a acidez corrigida. No entanto, a ação do micronutriente foi maior nos solos corrigidos e adubados com NPK, diminuindo para as glebas em fase de correção ou que já haviam recebido adubação boratada, sendo praticamente nula nos solos pouco cultivados, de pastagens. Observou-se uma relação significativa entre a produção e a concentração de B no solo, extraído pela solução de Mehlich ou, em especial, pela água quente, assim como entre a produção e a concentração de boro no limbo foliar. Como primeira aproximação, sugerem-se as faixas de 0,20 a 0,40ppm de B no solo (água quente), e de 25 a 40ppm de B no limbo da quinta folha, como indicadoras da necessidade de uso do boro na adubação do algodoeiro.