bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Use of DNA Microarrays for Rapid Genotyping of TEM Beta-Lactamases That Confer Resistance
Authors: Grimm Verena , Ezaki Satoshi , Susa Milorad , Knabbe Cornelius , Schmid Rolf. D. , Bachmann Till T.
Published: August 2004

Standard clinical procedures for pathogen resistance identification are laborious and usually require 2 days of cultivation before the resistance can be determined unequivocally. In contrast, clinicians and patients face increasing threats from antibiotic-resistant pathogenic bacteria in terms of their frequencies and levels of resistance. A major class of microbial resistance stems from the occurrence of beta-lactamases, which, if mutated, can cause the severe extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) or inhibitor-resistant TEM (IRT) phenotype, which cause resistance to extended-spectrum cephalosporins, monobactams, and beta-lactamase inhibitors. We describe an oligonucleotide microarray for identification of the single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of 96% of the TEM beta-lactamase variants described to date which are related to the ESBL and/or IRT phenotype. The target DNA, originating fromEscherichia coli,Enterobacter cloacae, andKlebsiella pneumoniaecells isolated from clinical samples, was amplified and fluorescently labeled by PCR with consensus primers in the presence of cyanine 5-labeled nucleotides. The total assay, including PCR, hybridization, and image analysis, could be performed in 3.5 h. The microarray results were validated by standard clinical procedures. The microarray outperformed the standard procedures in terms of assay time and the depth of information provided. In conclusion, this array offers an attractive option for the identification and epidemiologic monitoring of TEM beta-lactamases in the routine clinical diagnostic laboratory.
High Prevalence of
Helicobacter
Species Detected in Laboratory Mouse Strains by Multiplex PCR-Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis and Pyrosequencing
Authors: Nilsson Hans-Olof , Ouis Ibn-Sina , Stenram Unne , Ljungh Åsa , Moran Anthony P. , Wadström Torkel , Al-Soud Waleed Abu
Published: August 2004

Rodent models have been developed to study the pathogenesis of diseases caused by
Helicobacter pylori
, as well as by other gastric and intestinal
Helicobacter
spp., but some murine enteric
Helicobacter
spp. cause hepatobiliary and intestinal tract diseases in specific inbred strains of laboratory mice. To identify these murine
Helicobacter
spp., we developed an assay based on PCR-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis and pyrosequencing. Nine strains of mice, maintained in four conventional laboratory animal houses, were assessed for
Helicobacter
sp. carriage. Tissue samples from the liver, stomach, and small intestine, as well as feces and blood, were collected; and all specimens (
n
= 210) were screened by a
Helicobacter
genus-specific PCR. Positive samples were identified to the species level by multiplex denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis, pyrosequencing, and a
H. ganmani
-specific PCR assay. Histologic examination of 30 tissue samples from 18 animals was performed. All mice of eight of the nine strains tested were
Helicobacter
genus positive;
H. bilis
,
H. hepaticus
,
H. typhlonius
,
H. ganmani
,
H. rodentium
, and a
Helicobacter
sp. flexispira-like organism were identified.
Helicobacter
DNA was common in fecal (86%) and gastric tissue (55%) specimens, whereas samples of liver tissue (21%), small intestine tissue (17%), and blood (14%) were less commonly positive. Several mouse strains were colonized with more than one
Helicobacter
spp. Most tissue specimens analyzed showed no signs of inflammation; however, in one strain of mice, hepatitis was diagnosed in livers positive for
H. hepaticus
, and in another strain, gastric colonization by
H. typhlonius
was associated with gastritis. The diagnostic setup developed was efficient at identifying most murine
Helicobacter
spp.
Scytalidium dimidiatum
Causing Recalcitrant Subcutaneous Lesions Produces Melanin
Authors: Morris-Jones R. , Youngchim S. , Hextall J. M. , Gomez B. L. , Morris-Jones S. D. , Hay R. J. , Casadevall A. , Nosanchuk J. D. , Hamilton A. J.
Published: August 2004

Scytalidium dimidiatum
is a pigmented dematiaceous coelomycete that typically causes chronic superficial skin diseases and onychomycosis, as well as deeper infections, such as subcutaneous abscesses, mycetoma, and even fungemia in immunocompromised patients. A second species,
Scytalidium hyalinum
, has hyaline hyphae and arthroconidia and is considered by some authors to be an albino mutant of
S. dimidiatum
. This study aimed to confirm the presence of melanin or melanin-like compounds (which have been previously implicated in the virulence of other fungal pathogens) in
S. dimidiatum
from a patient with multiple subcutaneous nodules. Treatment of the hyphae and arthroconidia with proteolytic enzymes, denaturant, and concentrated hot acid yielded dark particles, which were stable free radicals, consistent with their identification as melanins. Extracted melanin particles from
S. dimidiatum
cultures were labeled by melanin-binding monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) from
Sporothrix schenckii
,
Aspergillus fumigatus
, and
Cryptococcus neoformans
. Lesional skin from the patient infected with
S. dimidiatum
contained fungal cells that were labeled by melanin-binding MAbs, and digestion of the tissue yielded dark particles that were also reactive.
S. hyalinum
was also subjected to the melanin extraction protocol, but no dark particles were yielded.
Assessment of a New Selective Chromogenic
Bacillus cereus
Group Plating Medium and Use of Enterobacterial Autoinducer of Growth for Cultural Identification of
Bacillus
Species
Authors: Reissbrodt R. , Raβbach A. , Burghardt B. , Rienäcker I. , Mietke H. , Schleif J. , Tschäpe H. , Lyte M. , Williams P. H.
Published: August 2004

A new chromogenic
Bacillus cereus
group plating medium permits differentiation of pathogenic
Bacillus
species by colony morphology and color. Probiotic
B. cereus
mutants were distinguished from wild-type strains by their susceptibilities to penicillin G or cefazolin. The enterobacterial autoinducer increased the sensitivity and the speed of enrichment of
B. cereus
and
B. anthracis
spores in serum-supplemented minimal salts medium (based on the standard American Petroleum Institute medium) and buffered peptone water.
Comparison of Sequence Analysis and a Novel Discriminatory Real-Time PCR Assay for Detection and Quantification of Lamivudine-Resistant Hepatitis B Virus Strains
Authors: Wightman Fiona , Walters Tomos , Ayres Anna , Bowden Scott , Bartholomeusz Angeline , Lau Daryl , Locarnini Stephen , Lewin Sharon R.
Published: August 2004

We report a rapid and accurate real-time PCR-based method to quantify wild-type and lamivudine-resistant hepatitis B virus by using a common forward primer paired with different reverse primers. Excellent concordance was demonstrated between sequencing and the discriminatory real-time assay; however, a mixture of quasispecies was more frequently detected by discriminatory real-time PCR.
Differentiation of the Major
Listeria monocytogenes
Serovars by Multiplex PCR
Authors: Doumith Michel , Buchrieser Carmen , Glaser Philippe , Jacquet Christine , Martin Paul
Published: August 2004

A new multiplex PCR assay was developed to separate the four major
Listeria monocytogenes
serovars isolated from food and patients (1/2a, 1/2b, 1/2c, and 4b) into distinct groups. The PCR test, which constitutes a rapid and practical alternative to laborious classical serotyping, was successfully evaluated with 222
Listeria
strains.
Multicenter Evaluation of a New Screening Test That Detects
Clostridium difficile
in Fecal Specimens
Authors: Zheng L. , Keller S. F. , Lyerly D. M. , Carman R. J. , Genheimer C. W. , Gleaves C. A. , Kohlhepp S. J. , Young S. , Perez S. , Ye K.
Published: August 2004

Clostridium difficile
causes approximately 25% of nosocomial antibiotic-associated diarrheas and most cases of pseudomembranous colitis. We evaluated
C. DIFF CHEK
, a new screening test that detects glutamate dehydrogenase of
C. difficile
. Our results showed that this test was comparable to PCR in sensitivity and specificity and outperformed bacterial culture.
Rapid and Specific Detection of the O15:K52:H1 Clonal Group of
Escherichia coli
by Gene-Specific PCR
Authors: Johnson James R. , Owens Krista , Sabate Montse , Prats Guillem
Published: August 2004

Primers specific for
Escherichia coli
O15:K52:H1 were devised based on a novel single-nucleotide polymorphism identified within the housekeeping gene
fumC
, i.e., G594A. In experiments comparing various reference typing methods, the new primers provided 100% sensitivity and specificity for the O15:K52:H1 clonal group, including 162 diverse clinical and reference
E. coli
isolates.
Use of Rapid and Conventional Testing Technologies for Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Serologic Screening in a Rural Kenyan Reference Laboratory
Authors: Foglia Ginamarie , Royster G. Donald , Wasunna K. Monique , Kibaya Rukia , Malia Jennifer A. , Calero Eva K. , Sateren Warren , Renzullo Philip O. , Robb Merlin L. , Birx Deborah L. , Michael Nelson L.
Published: August 2004

We report a prospective comparison of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 testing by enzyme immunoassay and Western blot with four rapid tests of 486 subjects performed in rural Kenya. Rapid test sensitivity was 100%. Specificity ranged from 99.1 to 100%. Combined use of two Food and Drug Administration-approved rapid tests yielded a single false-positive result.
Evaluation of Xenostrip-Tv, a Rapid Diagnostic Test for
Trichomonas vaginalis
Infection
Authors: Pillay A. , Lewis J. , Ballard R. C.
Published: August 2004

An immunochromatographic strip test, Xenostrip-Tv, was compared to wet mount and PCR for the diagnosis of
Trichomonas vaginalis
infection in women. Of 428 specimens tested, 54 (12.6%) were positive by an “expanded gold standard,” defined as either a positive wet mount and PCR test with primers TVK3 and TVK7 and/or a positive PCR test confirmed by a second PCR assay with primers TVA5-1 and TVA6; 26 (6%) were positive by wet mount, and 36 (8.4%) were positive by Xenostrip-Tv test. Since the Xenostrip-Tv test is rapid and easy to perform and proved to be more sensitive than wet mount, it should be considered as an alternative to wet mount for point-of-care diagnosis of trichomoniasis, especially in settings where microscopy is impractical.
Tree-ring evidence for a combined influence of defoliators and extreme climatic events in the dynamics of a high-altitude balsam fir forest, Mount Mégantic, southern Quebec
Authors: Lemieux Chantal , Filion Louise
Published: August 2004

Most mature balsam fir trees (Abies balsamea (L.) Mill.) growing at the top of Mount Mégantic (Quebec) exhibit multiple leaders in the upper crown section, an indication of stressful conditions for tree development in this high-altitude stand. We report here on a detailed dendroecological analysis of windthrown trees showing that multiple stem development was linked to spruce budworm activity during the 1970s. In spite of severe defoliation, damaged trees temporarily restored their vegetative structure by forming reiterated axes. About 9% of all leaders sampled died during a 3-year period (1996-1998), which represents 60% of dead leaders sampled, with tree morbidity and mortality also peaking in 1996. Tree-ring dating of growth anomalies indicated the impact of major snow and (or) ice storms during the 1996 and 1998 winters, two events validated by field observations from the Mount Mégantic conservation area authorities. Biotic (defoliators) and extreme climatic events have a combined influence in the dynamics of high-altitude balsam fir forests.
The time course of diameter increment responses to selection harvests in Acer saccharum
Authors: Jones Trevor A , Thomas Sean C
Published: August 2004

We used dendroecological techniques to analyze the temporal pattern in diameter growth following selection harvests in stands dominated by Acer saccharum Marsh. in central Ontario and examined differences in growth responses related to tree size, damage, and orientation relative to canopy gaps. While dendroecological studies have commonly assumed that trees show immediate growth responses to gap creation (i.e., within 12 years), we found that the growth enhancement in A. saccharum was gradual and did not reach a peak until 35 years following gap creation. Trees of intermediate size showed the largest proportional growth increases after gap creation, with the largest responses observed in trees on the north side of gaps. Trees with visible damage to the crown or bole had significantly lower preharvest basal area increments than trees with little or no damage, but showed greater proportional growth responses to gap creation. Both the long observed time delay in tree growth response to canopy opening and the variability in response relative to tree size and damage have important implications for attempts to reconstruct disturbance history using dendroecological methods and to sustainable forest management under selection system silviculture.
The effects of harvest intensity and seedbed type on germination and cumulative survivorship of white spruce and balsam fir in northwestern Quebec
Authors: Calogeropoulos C , Greene D F , Messier C , Brais S
Published: August 2004

The effects of different harvest intensities, including uncut, 1/3 and 2/3 partial cuts, clearcuts with and without slash, were investigated on the germination and cumulative survivorship of white spruce and balsam fir over 2 consecutive years. We also investigated the regenerative capacity of both species on three different seedbeds across all harvest intensities. The seedbeds included were mineral, humus, and organic soil. At the germination stage, both species were strongly affected by seedbed type (p < 0.032). The germination rates of fir seeds in partial cuts were significantly greater than clearcut treatments, but spruce remained unaffected at this stage by harvest intensity. The addition of slash improved the germination rates of fir relative to the clear-cut plots without slash. The germination rates the following year were reduced on mineral soil for spruce. The cumulative survivorship at the end of the third summer still showed a significant seedbed response for both species (p < 0.007) and a significant harvest response for fir (p < 0.005). The cumulative survivorship of the second fir cohort was no longer affected by either harvest or seedbed type. Spruce, however, was still affected by seedbed type (p = 0.006). The data from this study provide us with a more detailed description of the fate of cohorts recruited following a harvest operation. Still, what remains to be studied is the fate of these cohorts over the next 510 years.
Applying voting theory in participatory decision support for sustainable timber harvesting
Authors: Laukkanen Sanna , Palander Teijo , Kangas Jyrki
Published: August 2004

Several multi-criteria decision support methods have been introduced to sustainable management of natural resources, but different methods suit different planning situations. One way to support decision-making is to apply voting theory. In this study, a multi-criteria decision-support method based on voting theory, called multicriteria approval (MA), is applied to wood supply chain management in a forest area owned by the state of Finland. The area is called Leikko and is located in the rural municipality of Pieksämäki. MA seems to have some promising features in relation to participatory decision support. The most essential advantages are its ease and comprehensibility. MA is also able to deal with ordinal and imprecise information. Since the method does not demand much preference information from interest groups, the inquiries may be conducted using the Internet. In the case study, nine timber-harvesting alternatives were devised for the forest area. The study involved seven interest groups, whose representatives defined seven criteria by which the alternatives were compared. The purpose was to find a consensus or compromise solution for a practical harvesting schedule. Two different versions of MA were tested and compared from the participatory decision-support aspect. Usability and ease of method, the comprehensibility of the inquiries, and the congruence of the results were examined.
GENERATING SMALL NUMBERS BY TUNNELING IN MULTI-THROAT COMPACTIFICATIONS
Authors: DIMOPOULOS SAVAS , KACHRU SHAMIT , KALOPER NEMANJA , LAWRENCE ALBION , SILVERSTEIN EVA
Published: August 2004

A generic F-theory compactification containing many D3 branes develops multiple brane throats. The interaction of observers residing inside different throats involves tunneling suppression and as a result, is very weak. This suggests a new mechanism for generating small numbers in Nature. One application is to the hierarchy problem: large supersymmetry breaking near the unification scale inside a shallow throat causes TeV-scale SUSY-breaking inside the standard-model throat. Another application, inspired by nuclear-decay, is in designing naturally long-lived particles: a cold dark matter particle residing near the standard model brane decays to an approximate CFT-state of a longer throat within a Hubble time. This suggests that most of the mass of the universe today could consist of CFT-matter and may soften structure formation at sub-galactic scales. The tunneling calculation demonstrates that the coupling between two throats is dominated by higher dimensional modes and consequently is much larger than a naive application of holography might suggest.
WIGNER'S LITTLE GROUP AND BRST COHOMOLOGY FOR ONE-FORM ABELIAN GAUGE THEORY
Authors: MALIK R. P.
Published: August 2004

We discuss the (dual-)gauge transformations for the gauge-fixed Lagrangian density and establish their intimate connection with the translation subgroup T(2) of Wigner's little group for the free one-form Abelian gauge theory in four (3+1)-dimensions (4D) of space–time. Though the relationship between the usual gauge transformation for the Abelian massless gauge field and T(2) subgroup of the little group is quite well known, such a connection between the dual-gauge transformation and the little group is a new observation. The above connections are further elaborated and demonstrated in the framework of Becchi–Rouet–Stora–Tyutin (BRST) cohomology defined in the quantum Hilbert space of states where the Hodge decomposition theorem (HDT) plays a very decisive role.
HYBRID STATES IN A STRONG PARTICLE-FIELD INTERACTION
Authors: BILLIONNET CLAUDE
Published: August 2004

Considering the strong coupling to a field of two particles bound by a quark–quark-like potential, we calculate the energy and width of a hybrid state in a simplified model.
ESTIMATION OF THE LINEAR TRANSIENT GROWTH OF PERTURBATIONS OF CELLULAR FLAMES
Authors: KARLIN V.
Published: August 2004

In this work the rates of the linear transient growth of the perturbations of cellular flames governed by the Sivashinsky equation are estimated. The possibility and significance of such a growth was indicated earlier in both computational and analytical investigations. A numerical investigation of the 2-norm of the resolvent of the linear operator associated with the Sivashinsky equation linearized in a neighborhood of the steady coalescent pole solution was undertaken. The results are presented in the form of the pseudospectra and the lower bound of possible transient amplification. This amplification is strong enough to make the round-off errors visible in the numerical simulations in the form of small cusps appearing on the flame surface randomly in time. The performance of available numerical approaches was compared to each other and the results are checked versus directly calculated norms of the evolution operator.
HOMOGENIZATION IN COARSENING SYSTEMS I: DETERMINISTIC CASE
Authors: NIETHAMMER B. , VELÁZQUEZ J. J. L.
Published: August 2004

We study the homogenization limit of the Mullins–Sekerka problem which serves as a model for late-stage coarsening in a phase transformation. We consider the case that the screening length which describes the effective range of particle interactions is much smaller than the system size, which leads to homogenization problems in unbounded domains.

The present paper deals with deterministic initial particle distributions which are in an average sense homogeneously distributed. Stochastic particle distributions will be considered in a second paper (Part II).
PKC-ε is upstream and PKC-α is downstream of mitoKATP channels in the signal transduction pathway of ischemic preconditioning of human myocardium
Authors: Hassouna Ashraf , Matata Bashir M. , Galiñanes Manuel
Published: August 2004

Protein kinase C (PKC) is involved in the process of ischemic preconditioning (IPC), although the precise mechanism is still a subject of debate. Using specific PKC inhibitors, we investigated which PKC isoforms were involved in IPC of the human atrial myocardium sections and to determine their temporal relationship to the opening of mitochondrial potassium-sensitive ATP (mitoKATP) channels. Right atrial muscles obtained from patients undergoing elective cardiac surgery were equilibrated and then randomized to receive any of the following protocols: aerobic control, 90-min simulated ischemia/120-min reoxygenation, IPC using 5-min simulated ischemia/5-min reoxygenation followed by 90-min simulated ischemia/120-min reoxygenation and finally, PKC inhibitors were added 10 min before and 10 min during IPC followed by 90-min simulated ischemia/120-min reoxygenation. The PKC isoforms inhibitors investigated were V1–2 peptide, GO-6976, rottlerin, and LY-333531 for PKC-ε, -α, -δ and -β, respectively. To investigate the relation of PKC isoforms to mitoKATP channels, PKC inhibitors found to be involved in IPC were added 10 min before and 10 min during preconditioning by diazoxide followed by 90-min simulated ischemia/120-min reoxygenation in a second experiment. Creatine kinase leakage and methylthiazoletetrazolium cell viability were measured. Phosphorylation of PKC isoforms after activation of the sample by either diazoxide or IPC was detected by using Western blot analysis and then analyzed by using Scion image software. PKC-α and -ε inhibitors blocked IPC, whereas PKC-δ and -β inhibitors did not. The protection elicited by diazoxide, believed to be via mitoKATP channels opening, was blocked by the inhibition of PKC-α but not -ε isoforms. In addition, diazoxide caused increased phosphorylation of PKC-α to the same extent as IPC but did not affect the phosphorylation of PKC-ε, a process believed to be critical in PKC activation. The results demonstrate that PKC-α and -ε are involved in IPC of the human myocardium with PKC-ε being upstream and PKC-α being downstream of mitoKATP channels.
Lysophospholipids increase ICAM-1 expression in HUVEC through a Gi- and NF-κB-dependent mechanism
Authors: Lee Hsinyu , Lin Chi Iou , Liao Jia-Jun , Lee Yu-Wei , Yang Hsi Yuan , Lee Chung-Ying , Hsu Hsien-Yeh , Wu Hua Lin
Published: August 2004

Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) and sphingosine 1-phosphate (S-1- P) are both low molecular weight lysophospholipid (LPL) ligands that are recognized by the Edg family of G protein-coupled receptors. In endothelial cells, these two ligands activate Edg receptors, resulting in cell proliferation and cell migration. The intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1, CD54) is one of many cell adhesion molecules belonging to the immunoglobulin superfamily. This study showed that LPA and S-1- P enhance ICAM-1 expression at both the mRNA and protein levels in human umbilical cord vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). This enhanced ICAM-1 expression in HUVECs was first observed at 2 h postligand treatment. Maximal expression appeared at 8 h postligand treatment, as detected by flow cytometry and Western blotting. Furthermore, the effects of S-1- P on ICAM-1 expression were shown to be concentration dependent. Prior treatment of HUVECs with pertussis toxin, a specific inhibitor of Gi, ammonium pyrrolidinedithiocarbamate and BAY 11–7082, inhibitors of the nuclear factor (NF)-κB pathway, or Clostridium difficile toxin B, an inhibitor of Rac, prevented the enhanced effect of LPL-induced ICAM-1 expression. However, pretreatment of HUVECs with exoC3, an inhibitor of Rho, had no effect on S-1- P-enhanced ICAM-1 expression. In a static cell-cell adhesion assay system, pretreatment of LPL enhanced the adhesion between HUVECs and U-937 cells, a human mononucleated cell line. The enhanced adhesion effect could be prevented by preincubation with a functional blocking antibody against human ICAM-1. These results suggest that LPLs released by activated platelets might enhance interactions of leukocytes with the endothelium through a Gi-, NF-κB-, and possibly Rac-dependent mechanism, thus facilitating wound healing and inflammation processes.
Neuronal Activity in Macaque SEF and ACC During Performance of Tasks Involving Conflict
Authors: Nakamura Kae , Roesch Matthew R. , Olson Carl R.
Published: August 2004

It has been suggested on the basis of previous studies involving functional MRI (fMRI) and single-neuron recording that neurons of the supplementary eye field (SEF) and anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) monitor conflict. To test this idea, we carried out microelectrode recording in monkeys performing a color-conditional eye movement task in which red and green cues instructed leftward and rightward saccades, respectively. In a variant inducing conflict by spatial incompatibility, the cue was presented either at the location of the target (no conflict) or opposite the location of the target (conflict). In a variant inducing conflict by reversal, the foveal cue either remained one color (no conflict) or reversed color after 100 ms (conflict), with the monkey required to follow the instruction conveyed by the second color. In both tasks, conflict was evident in behavioral measures (reduced percent correct and slowed reaction time) and in physiological measures (reduced strength of directional activity among direction-selective neurons). In the SEF, there was a tendency for neurons to fire more strongly on trials involving conflict, but this effect took the form of modulation of task-related activity among direction-selective neurons, not of a pure conflict-monitoring signal. In the ACC, there was no conflict-related enhancement. These results are incompatible with the idea that the SEF and ACC contain populations of neurons specialized for monitoring conflict.
Influence of Postural Anxiety on Postural Reactions to Multi-Directional Surface Rotations
Authors: Carpenter M. G. , Frank J. S. , Adkin A. L. , Paton A. , Allum J.H.J.
Published: August 2004

Previous studies have shown significant effects of increased postural anxiety in healthy young individuals when standing quietly or performing voluntary postural tasks. However, little is known about the influence of anxiety on reactive postural control. The present study examined how increased postural anxiety influenced postural reactions to unexpected surface rotations in multiple directions. Ten healthy young adults (mean age: 25.5 yr, range: 22–27 yr) were required to recover from unexpected rotations of the support surface (7.5° amplitude, 50°/s velocity) delivered in six different directions while standing in a low postural threat (surface height: 60 cm above ground) or high postural threat (surface height: 160 cm above ground) condition. Electromyographic data from 12 different postural leg, hip, and trunk muscles was collected simultaneously. Full body kinematic data were also used to determine total body center of mass (COM) and segment displacements. Four distinct changes were observed with increased postural anxiety: increased amplitude in balance-correcting responses (120–220 ms) in all leg, trunk, and arm muscles; decreased onset latency of deltoid responses; reduced magnitude of COM displacement; and reduced angular displacement of leg, pelvis, and trunk. These observations suggest that changes in dynamic postural responses with increased anxiety are mediated by alterations in neuro-muscular control mechanisms and thus may contribute significantly to the pathophysiology of balance deficits associated with aging or neurological disease.
Method of semidiscretization in time to nonlinear retarded differential equations with nonlocal history conditions
Authors: Agarwal S. , Bahuguna D.
Published: August 2004

This paper deals with the applications of the method of semidiscretization in time to a nonlinear retarded differential equation with a nonlocal history condition. We establish the existence and uniqueness of a strong solution. Finally, we consider some applications of the abstract results.
Implications of Recent Clinical Trials for the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III Guidelines
Authors: Grundy Scott M. , Cleeman James I. , Merz C. Noel Bairey , Brewer H. Bryan , Clark Luther T. , Hunninghake Donald B. , Pasternak Richard C. , Smith Sidney C. , Stone Neil J.
Published: August 2004

The Adult Treatment Panel III (ATP III) of the National Cholesterol Education Program issued an evidence-based set of guidelines on cholesterol management in 2001. Since the publication of ATP III, 5 major clinical trials of statin therapy with clinical end points have been published. These trials addressed issues that were not examined in previous clinical trials of cholesterol-lowering therapy. The present document reviews the results of these recent trials and assesses their implications for cholesterol management. Therapeutic lifestyle changes (TLC) remain an essential modality in clinical management. The trials confirm the benefit of cholesterol-lowering therapy in high-risk patients and support the ATP III treatment goal of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) <100 mg/dL. They support the inclusion of patients with diabetes in the high-risk category and confirm the benefits of LDL-lowering therapy in these patients. They further confirm that older persons benefit from therapeutic lowering of LDL-C. The major recommendations for modifications to footnote the ATP III treatment algorithm are the following. In high-risk persons, the recommended LDL-C goal is <100 mg/dL, but when risk is very high, an LDL-C goal of <70 mg/dL is a therapeutic option, ie, a reasonable clinical strategy, on the basis of available clinical trial evidence. This therapeutic option extends also to patients at very high risk who have a baseline LDL-C <100 mg/dL. Moreover, when a high-risk patient has high triglycerides or low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), consideration can be given to combining a fibrate or nicotinic acid with an LDL-lowering drug. For moderately high-risk persons (2+ risk factors and 10-year risk 10% to 20%), the recommended LDL-C goal is <130 mg/dL, but an LDL-C goal <100 mg/dL is a therapeutic option on the basis of recent trial evidence. The latter option extends also to moderately high-risk persons with a baseline LDL-C of 100 to 129 mg/dL. When LDL-lowering drug therapy is employed in high-risk or moderately high-risk persons, it is advised that intensity of therapy be sufficient to achieve at least a 30% to 40% reduction in LDL-C levels. Moreover, any person at high risk or moderately high risk who has lifestyle-related risk factors (eg, obesity, physical inactivity, elevated triglycerides, low HDL-C, or metabolic syndrome) is a candidate for TLC to modify these risk factors regardless of LDL-C level. Finally, for people in lower-risk categories, recent clinical trials do not modify the goals and cutpoints of therapy.
Decision Analysis Utilizing Data from Multiple Life‐Cycle Impact Assessment Methods Part I: A Theoretical Basis
Authors: Rahimi Mansour , Weidner Merrill
Published: August 2004

Numerous methodologies for the life‐cycle impact assessment (LCIA) step of life‐cycle assessment (LCA) are currently in popular use. These methods, which are based on a single method or level of analysis, are limited to the environmental fates, impact categories, damage functions, and stressors included in the method or model. Because of this, it has been suggested within the LCA community that LCIA data from multiple methods and/or levels of analysis, that is, end‐point and midpoint indicators, be used in LCA‐based decision analysis to facilitate better or, at least more informed, decision making. In this (two‐part) series of articles, we develop and present a series of LCA‐based decision analysis models, based on multiattribute value theory (MAVT), which utilize data from multiple LCIA methods and/or levels of analysis. The key to accomplishing this is the recognition of what LCIA damage indicators represent with respect to decision analysis, namely, decision attributes and, in most cases, proxy attributes. The use of proxy attributes in a decision model, however, poses certain challenges, such as the assessment of decision‐maker preferences for actual consequences that are only known imprecisely because of inherent limits of both LCA and scientific knowledge. In this article (part I), we provide a brief overview of MAVT and examine some of the decision‐theoretic issues and implications of current LCIA methods. We illustrate the application of MAVT to develop a decision model utilizing damage indicators from a single LCIA methodology; and, we identify the decision‐theoretic issues that arise when attempting to combine LCIA indicators from multiple methods and/or levels of analysis in a single decision model. Finally, we introduce the use in our methodology of constructed attributes to combine related end‐point damage indicators into single decision attributes and the concept and evaluation of proxy attributes.
Evaluating Land‐Use Impacts: Selection of Surface Area Metrics for Life‐Cycle Assessment of Mining
Authors: Spitzley David V. , Tolle Duane A.
Published: August 2004

Land use is an increasingly important component of sustainability evaluations, and numerous performance metrics have evolved to meet this need. The selection of appropriate land‐use metrics for decision makers, however, remains an ongoing challenge. Additionally, life‐cycle practitioners often struggle to provide meaningful impact assessment because of challenges associated with traditional land‐use impact metrics. This article is intended to assist decision makers and life‐cycle practitioners who wish to more effectively measure and evaluate one aspect of land use: surface area occupation. Existing performance metrics are discussed, and the specific circumstances under which each is appropriate are identified. Building on leading‐edge research and analysis in the field of life‐cycle impact assessment, a modified methodology for evaluating surface area occupation is proposed. This approach is demonstrated for a series of mining practices including three individual gold mines, a bauxite mine, and a copper mine. The specific data requirements and resulting equivalency factors for each mine are discussed. Results indicate that equivalency factors for gold (average of 700 acre‐yr/ton) are expected to be several orders of magnitude higher than for either bauxite (0.004 acre‐yr/ ton) or copper (0.03 acre‐yr/ton). These dramatic differences in results demonstrate that equivalency factors are appropriate and necessary for including land‐use impact potential as part of a life‐cycle assessment that includes several different minerals or material requirements.
The Qurʿanic Law of Inheritance
Authors: Kimber Richard
Published: August 2004

The Sunnī law of inheritance relies on a particular interpretation of the Qurʿanic inheritance verses. Even though Shīʾī inheritance law is strikingly different from Sunnī law, the Sunnī interpretation of the Qurʿanic texts has rarely been questioned. In this essay I propose a new interpretation of the relevant texts and examine the system of inheritance that this interpretation seems to imply. The system proposed is closer to Shīʾī than to Sunnī law, but even Shīʾī law shows the influence of characteristically Sunnī interpretations of the Qur'ān.
Activity of telithromycin and comparators against bacterial pathogens isolated from 1,336 patients with clinically diagnosed acute sinusitis
Authors: Dohar Joseph , Cantón Rafael , Cohen Robert , Farrell David John , Felmingham David
Published: August 2004

Background

Increasing antimicrobial resistance among the key pathogens responsible for community-acquired respiratory tract infections has the potential to limit the effectiveness of antibiotics available to treat these infections. Since there are regional differences in the susceptibility patterns observed and treatment is frequently empirical, the selection of antibiotic therapy may be challenging. PROTEKT, a global, longitudinal multicentre surveillance study, tracks the activity of telithromycin and comparator antibacterial agents against key respiratory tract pathogens.

Methods

In this analysis, we examine the prevalence of antibacterial resistance in 1,336 bacterial pathogens, isolated from adult and paediatric patients clinically diagnosed with acute bacterial sinusitis (ABS).

Results and discussion

In total, 58.0%, 66.1%, and 55.8% of S. pneumoniae isolates were susceptible to penicillin, cefuroxime, and clarithromycin respectively. Combined macrolide resistance and reduced susceptibility to penicillin was present in 200/640 (31.3 %) of S. pneumoniae isolates (128 isolates were resistant to penicillin [MIC >= 2 mg/L], 72 intermediate [MIC 0.12–1 mg/L]) while 99.5% and 95.5% of isolates were susceptible to telithromycin and amoxicillin-clavulanate, respectively. In total, 88.2%, 87.5%, 99.4%, 100%, and 100% of H. influenzae isolates were susceptible to ampicillin, clarithromycin, cefuroxime, telithromycin, and amoxicillin-clavulanate, respectively. In vitro, telithromycin demonstrated the highest activity against M. catarrhalis (MIC50 = 0.06 mg/L, MIC90 = 0.12 mg/L).

Conclusion

The high in vitro activity of against pathogens commonly isolated in ABS, together with a once daily dosing regimen and clinical efficacy with 5-day course of therapy, suggest that telithromycin may play a role in the empiric treatment of ABS.
Who will lose weight? A reexamination of predictors of weight loss in women
Authors: Teixeira Pedro J , Palmeira António L , Branco Teresa L , Martins Sandra S , Minderico Cláudia S , Barata José T , Silva Analiza M , Sardinha Luís B
Published: August 2004

Background

The purpose of this study was to analyze pretreatment predictors of short-term weight loss in Portuguese overweight and obese women involved in a weight management program. Behavioral and psychosocial predictors were selected a priori from previous results reported in American women who participated in a similar program.

Methods

Subjects were 140 healthy overweight/obese women (age, 38.3 ± 5.9 y; BMI, 30.3 ± 3.7 kg/m2) who participated in a 4-month lifestyle weight loss program consisting of group-based behavior therapy to improve diet and increase physical activity. At baseline, all women completed a comprehensive behavioral and psychosocial battery, in standardized conditions.

Results

Of all starting participants, 3.5% (5 subjects) did not finish the program. By treatment's end, more than half of all women had met the recomended weight loss goals, despite a large variability in individual results (range for weight loss = 19 kg). In bivariate and multivariate correlation/regression analysis fewer previous diets and weight outcome evaluations, and to a lesser extent self-motivation and body image were significant and independent predictors of weight reduction, before and after adjustment for baseline weight. A negative and slightly curvilinear relationship best described the association between outcome evaluations and weight change, revealing that persons with very accepting evaluations (that would accept or be happy with minimal weight change) lost the least amount of weight while positive but moderate evaluations of outcomes (i.e., neither low nor extremely demanding) were more predictive of success. Among those subjects who reported having initiated more than 3–4 diets in the year before the study, very few were found to be in the most successful group after treatment. Quality of life, self-esteem, and exercise variables did not predict outcomes.

Conclusions

Several variables were confirmed as predictors of success in short-term weight loss and can be used in future hypothesis-testing studies and as a part of more evolved prediction models. Previous dieting, and pretreatment self-motivation and body image are associated with subsequent weight loss, in agreement with earlier findings in previous samples. Weight outcome evaluations appear to display a more complex relationship with treatment results and culture-specific factors may be useful in explaining this pattern of association.
Rb family proteins differentially regulate distinct cell lineages during epithelial development
Authors: Wikenheiser-Brokamp Kathryn A.
Published: August 2004

pRb, p107 and p130 are important regulators of cell cycle and have extensive overlapping functions; however, only Rb has been shown to be a bone fide tumor suppressor. Defining the overlapping versus distinct pocket protein functions is therefore an important step to understanding the unique role of Rb. Using lung as a model, the present studies demonstrate that pocket proteins are important not only in regulating cell cycle and survival but also in cell lineage specification. An inducible lung-specific Rb knockout strategy was used to demonstrate that Rb is specifically required for restricting neuroendocrine cell fate despite functional compensation for Rb deficiency in other cell types. Ablation of total Rb family function resulted in opposing effects in specification along distinct cell lineages, providing evidence that pocket proteins inhibit neuroendocrine cell fate while being required for differentiation in other cell types. These findings identify a novel role for pocket proteins in cell fate determination, and establish a unique cell lineage-specific function for Rb that explains, at least in part, why Rb and p16 are inactivated in phenotypically distinct carcinomas.
The Fgf8 signal causes cerebellar differentiation by activating the Ras-ERK signaling pathway
Authors: Sato Tatsuya , Nakamura Harukazu
Published: August 2004

The mes/metencephalic boundary (isthmus) is an organizing center for the optic tectum and cerebellum. Fgf8 is accepted as a crucial organizing signal. Previously, we reported that Fgf8b could induce cerebellum in the mesencephalon, while Fgf8a transformed the presumptive diencephalon into mesencephalon. Since lower doses of Fgf8b exerted similar effects to those of Fgf8a, the type difference could be attributed to the difference in the strength of the signal. It is of great interest to uncover mechanisms of signal transduction pathways downstream of the Fgf8 signal in tectal and cerebellar development, and in this report we have concentrated on the Ras-ERK pathway. In normal embryos,extracellular-signal-regulated kinase (ERK) is activated at the site where Fgf8 mRNA is expressed. Fgf8b activated ERK while Fgf8a or a lower dose of Fgf8b did not activate ERK in the mes/metencephalon. Disruption of the Ras-ERK signaling pathway by a dominant negative form of Ras (RasS17N) changed the fate of the metencephalic alar plate from cerebellum to tectum. RasS17N canceled the effects of Fgf8b, while co-transfection of Fgf8a and RasS17N exerted additive effects. Disruption of Fgf8b, not Fgf8a, by siRNA resulted in posterior extension of the Otx2 expression domain. Our results indicate that the presumptive metencephalon receives a strong Fgf8 signal that activates the Ras-ERK pathway and differentiates into the cerebellum.
Evidence for overlapping, but not identical, protein machineries operating in vegetal RNA localization along early and late pathways inXenopusoocytes
Authors: Claußen Maike , Horvay Katja , Pieler Tomas
Published: August 2004

RNAs that localize to the vegetal cortex of Xenopus oocytes are involved in early embryonic patterning and cell fate specification. Two mechanistically distinct pathways lead to RNA enrichment at the vegetal cortex: the early and the late. While several candidate proteins that seem to operate in the late localization pathway have been identified, proteins involved in the early pathway remain to be identified. In this study, we report on the isolation of a novel vegetally localized RNA in Xenopusoocytes that makes use of the early pathway and encodes a protein with a conserved but functionally uncharacterized NIF-motif. The localization signal of XNIF was mapped to a 300-nucleotide region in the 5′-UTR, which is able to mediate both accumulation to the mitochondrial cloud in stage I oocytes, as well as vegetal transport in later stage oocytes. The XNIF-LE contains 16 copies of the previously defined CAC-containing signal motifs for RNA localization. A critical number of such repeats seems to be required for accumulation in the mitochondrial cloud along the early pathway, but additional repeats seem to be required for localization along the late pathway. Cross-linking experiments identify two novel proteins of 62 and 64 kDa that interact with the XNIF-LE but not with the Vg1-LE that operates in the late pathway. Conversely, at least two of the previously identified VgRBPs, Vg1RBP1 and Prrp, also bind to the XNIF-LE. Thus, overlapping, but not identical, protein machineries mediate vegetal RNA localization along early and late pathways in Xenopus oocytes.
Hedgehog signaling is essential for endothelial tube formation during vasculogenesis
Authors: Vokes Steven A. , Yatskievych Tatiana A. , Heimark Ronald L. , McMahon Jill , McMahon Andrew P. , Antin Parker B. , Krieg Paul A.
Published: August 2004

During embryonic development, the first blood vessels are formed through the aggregation and subsequent assembly of angioblasts (endothelial precursors) into a network of endothelial tubes, a process known as vasculogenesis. These first vessels generally form in mesoderm that is adjacent to endodermal tissue. Although specification of the angioblast lineage is independent of endoderm interactions, a signal from the endoderm is necessary for angioblasts to assemble into a vascular network and to undergo vascular tube formation. In this study, we show that endodermally derived sonic hedgehog is both necessary and sufficient for vascular tube formation in avian embryos. We also show that Hedgehog signaling is required for vascular tube formation in mouse embryos, and for vascular cord formation in cultured mouse endothelial cells. These results demonstrate a previously uncharacterized role for Hedgehog signaling in vascular development, and identify Hedgehog signaling as an important component of the molecular pathway leading to vascular tube formation.