bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effects of Screener Self-Monitoring on the Relationships Among Applicant Positive Self-Presentation, Objective Credentials, and Employability Ratings
Authors: Hazer John T. , Jacobson Julie R.
Published: June 2005

The purpose of this experimental study (N = 265) was to determine how screener self-monitoring (SM) would affect the relationships of applicant positive self-presentation (PSP) and objective credentials (OCs) with ratings of employability. Results indicated that screener SM moderated two relationships quite differently: The relationship between employability and self-presentation was more positive as screener SM “increased,”whereas the relationship between employability and credentials was more positive as screener SM “decreased.” If organizations are not attentive when hiring or assessing personnel within other human resource functions, evaluator SM may act as an undetected bug in scoring procedures and change the subsequent decisions made.
The Staffing Cycles Framework: Viewing Staffing as a System of Decision Events
Authors: Carlson Kevin D. , Connerley Mary L.
Published: June 2005

We propose an alternative staffing framework that adopts a systems view of staffing and articulates the internal structures and influence mechanisms that determine “how” staffing outcomes occur. The staffing cycles framework (SCF) portrays the interrelationships among the actors, contexts, and activities of staffing as staffing cycles composed of decision events. A staffing cycle is a sequence of seven decision events controlled alternately—not mutually—by individuals and organizational decision makers. Staffing cycles are the smallest unit of analysis that still retains all staffing components and frames how and when staffing outcomes are affected. Decision events capture the primary decision activities of staffing systems. All decision events share a common structure that depicts how actors, contexts, and activities are combined to influence staffing outcomes.
Effect Size Estimation: Factors to Consider and Mistakes to Avoid
Authors: Breaugh James A.
Published: June 2005

In recent years, there has been an increase in the reporting of effect size information. This paper (a) provides a review of commonly used effect size indices, (b) highlights some common misconceptions about effect size estimates, and (c) introduces a number of infrequently used effect size measures which depending upon the research context and the audience may better communicate the importance of the relationship between two variables.
The Role of Perceived Organizational Support and Supportive Human Resource Practices in the Turnover Process
Authors: Allen David G. , Shore Lynn M. , Griffeth Rodger W.
Published: June 2005

A model investigating antecedents of perceived organizational support (POS) and the role of POS in predicting voluntary turnover was developed and tested in two samples via structural equation modeling. Both samples of employees (N = 215 department store salespeople; N = 197 insurance agents) completed attitude surveys that were related to turnover data collected approximately 1 year later. Results suggest that perceptions of supportive human resources practices (participation in decision making, fairness of rewards, and growth opportunities) contribute to the development of POS, and POS mediates their relationships with organizational commitment and job satisfaction. Further, POS is negatively related to withdrawal, but the relationships are also mediated.
More Than One Way to Make an Impression: Exploring Profiles of Impression Management
Authors: Bolino Mark C. , Turnley William H.
Published: May 2005

This research explores the use of impression management tactics in combination. Two studies were conducted to identify three profiles of impression management use and to examine how three individual difference variables are related to these patterns. The results suggest that women are less aggressive than men in using impression management, that high self-monitors favor positive impression management strategies, and that high Machs use impression management tactics rather indiscriminately. The findings also suggest that individuals who either avoid using impression management or who use only positive tactics are seen more favorably than those who use relatively high levels of all types of impression management. Some implications and directions for future research are discussed as well.
System-dynamics-based modeling of business simulation algorithms
Authors: Gold Steven
Published: June 2005

Research on the internal algorithms used to model business simulations have focused on individual components of the business system. Yet the business environment is complex in nature, characterized by interdependencies and nonlinear relationships that require a systems approach if effective game design is to be achieved. In this article, a system-dynamics-basedd interactive model of a business enterprise simulation is developed consisting of 18 equations. The model draws heavily on the economic theory of the firm and the expansive body of prior research on the design of business simulations. The focus is on the linkages between the production, cost, revenues, profits, and stock market value of the firm. A working model of the recommended system is tested, and its empirical properties are discussed. It is found that to develop effective algorithms within each functional area of business, the dynamic impacts on the whole enterprise must be evaluated.
Ready-to-use-simulation: THE HIDDEN COSTS OF EMPLOYEE TURNOVER
Authors: Garman Andrew N. , Corbett Josie , Grady Jane , Benesh Julie
Published: June 2005

Although the costs of employee turnover to organizations are often substantial, the centralized nature of the recruiting function can make these costs difficult to recognize. THE HIDDEN COSTS OF EMPLOYEE TURNOVER helps participants understand these costs, including temporary labor, recruiting, training, and the “learning curve.” Participants form consulting teams whose job is to most accurately guess the organizational costs of turnover; the facilitator or facilitators are organizational representatives with prespecified information to provide, if asked. The exercise provides a strong platform for introducing a variety of human resource management topics.
The role of company reputation in business simulations
Authors: Cannon Hugh M. , Schwaiger Manfred
Published: June 2005

The literature on simulation and gaming has done very little to address emerging concepts such as relationship marketing, brand equity, and company reputation. This article is the first of a two-part series relating these to each other and business simulations. This article begins by casting company reputation in the context of an emerging business paradigm in which companies seek to harness the long-term value of reputation and relationships to lower transaction costs with key stakeholders. It presents a model for incorporating the concept of company reputation into a total enterprise simulation. It builds on an empirically derived model of company reputation in which various company characteristics are linked to two underlying dimensions of reputation: sympathy and competence. The article suggests how the various components of company reputation might be operationalized in a simulation game. It then discusses how they might be used to both help determine and evaluate student performance.
The Tobin q as a business game performance indicator
Authors: Wolfe Joseph , Sauaia Antonio Carlos Aidar
Published: June 2005

Various business game indicators of a company’s economic performance exist. The Tobin q was examined as an indicator of the firm’s effectiveness from an investment perspective across a variety of top management games. The Tobin q was also compared to the Altman Z as an alternative indicator of the firm’s financial viability. The q was inconsistently related to each game’s own performance indicator across game and may be a consequence of the unbalancedalgorithms created by game designers to calculate the firm’s stock price and the replacement value of its assets. This study’s results suggest game designers should pay greater attention to the theories of stock price valuations they create for their games and that game administrators should use caution when altering game weights in any performance evaluation scheme.
Validating business gaming: Business game conformity with PIMS findings
Authors: Faria A. J. , Wellington William J.
Published: June 2005

Business games have been in use in university classes in North American for 50 years. A concern over this time has been whether or not participation in such games is a meaningful experience. The merit of business games has been examined by looking at what is taught by games, comparing games to other teaching approaches, and assessing the external and internal validity of games. This article examines another approach to assessing business games. The performance outcomes of more than 2,000 students operating 717 simulation companies in 154 industries has been examined to determine if these outcomes conform to real-world business firm outcomes as reported in the ongoing PIMS (Profit Impact of Marketing Strategies) project. The findings from this research suggest once again that business simulation games are a valid teaching tool.
A double auction market: Teaching, experiment, and theory
Authors: Shubik Martin
Published: June 2005

A simultaneous double auction market with bid and offer cards was used in classes on the theory and history of money and financial institutions and occasionally in classes on the theory of games. The prime purpose in using this game was to teach the students how to construct process models of economic phenomena. The second purpose was to consider the properties of the double auction market. The third purpose was to interpret the experimental results and link them to theory.
Political Time Reconsidered
Authors: Cook Daniel M. , Polsky Andrew J.
Published: June 2005

This article addresses the claim that the thickening of institutions in American national politics has reduced the capacity of partisan governing coalitions or regimes to introduce fundamental changes. We seek here to clarify what partisan regimes can accomplish under contem porary conditions. We find that in certain respects, regimes have acquired increased capacity for change by making use of the tools of the administrative presidency. In the two cases we study, the Reagan administration disrupted enforcement of pollution laws and transformed the national education agenda. The record of lasting accomplishments by the Reagan Republican regime, although underappreciated in the political science literature, indicates that regime builders in the modern era do not face intractable obstacles in the form of a thickened institutional context. What emerges from this analysis is a portrait of partisan regimes operatingin the modernpolitical environment that depicts them as effective, flexible but not omnipotent governing instruments.
Group-Based Resources and Political Participation among Asian Americans
Authors: Wong Janelle S. , Lien Pei-Te , Conway M. Margaret
Published: June 2005

Scholars of minority political participation have shown significant interest in unraveling the complex but crucial role of group-basedresources. Although there is an emerging scholarship on Latinos, much of the work on group consciousness, group identity, and ethnic organizations is based on research on Black Americans. Increasing diversity in the United States brings necessary attention to expanding the model to the politics and participation of other non-White, multiethnic, and immigrant majority communities. Using a new and unique dataset designed to tap the political opinion and behavior of Asian Americans, the authors find that the usefulness of group-based resources for this rapidly expanding and heterogeneous population is contingent on the specific form of the resources and the mode of political participation.
Differences in Parenting Attributes, Experiences, and Behaviors of Delinquent Youth with and without a Parental History of Incarceration
Authors: Dannerbeck Anne M.
Published: June 2005

This study examined attributes of parenting that are associated with juvenile delinquency and the related differential life experiences of youth with and without a parental incarceration history. Among 1,112 juveniles, 31% had a parental history of incarceration. Bivariate analysis indicated support for three hypotheses: (a) parents who have experienced incarceration will exhibit lower levels of effective parenting and greater association with factors that can impede their parenting abilities, namely substance abuse and mental illness; (b) youth who have parents with an incarceration history will be more likely to have experienced negative effects of ineffective parenting, namely abuse and out of home placement; and (c) youth with a parental incarceration history will have longer and more serious delinquent histories of their own. Through binary logistic regression analysis, support was not found for the fourth hypothesis that history of parental incarceration predicts delinquent behavior.
The Effect of Legal and Extralegal Factors on Statutory Exclusion of Juvenile Offenders
Authors: Lemmon John H. , Austin Thomas L. , Verrecchia P. J. , Fetzer Matthew
Published: June 2005

The study describes implementation of legislation that excludes youth offenders from juvenile court jurisdiction and examines two elements of deterrence theory that underscored the legislation’s rationale. Between-court analyses comparing youths decertified to juvenile court with those remaining in criminal court report no between-court differences concerning the certainty of punishment. Although the criminal court was more likely to impose more severe sentences, controls on legal sentencing factors explained the between-group differences. Legal and extralegal factors predicted the likelihood of certainty and severity of punishment within the juvenile and adult systems respectively. Implications for the restorative justice model are discussed.
Using the Juvenile Offender Parent Questionnaire (JOPQ) as a Risk and Needs Assessment
Authors: Glaser Brian A. , Calhoun Georgia B. , Puder Rhett J.
Published: June 2005

This study is an investigation of the potential utility of a parent self-report instrument, the Juvenile Offender Parent Questionnaire (JOPQ). Based on the ecological model of child development, this instrument is designed to measure several parental constructs related to child behavior problems and delinquency. Findings suggest that specific parenting profiles are related to subsequent greater likelihood of recidivism and to specific offenses. Furthermore, the use of the JOPQ as an instrument to assess the needs of parents and the prevention of recidivism is supported.
C/EBPα functionally and physically interacts with GABP to activate the human myeloid IgA Fc receptor (FcαR, CD89) gene promoter
Authors: Shimokawa Toshibumi , Ra Chisei
Published: June 2005

Human Fcα receptor (FcαR; CD89), the receptor for the crystallizable fragment (Fc) of immunoglobulin A (IgA), is expressed exclusively in myeloid cells, including granulocytes and monocytes/macrophages, and is considered to define a crucial role of these cells in immune and inflammatory responses. A 259-base pair fragment of the FCAR promoter is sufficient to direct myeloid expression of a reporter gene and contains functionally important binding sites for CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein α (C/EBPα) (CE1, CE2, and CE3) and an unidentified Ets-like nuclear protein. Here, we show that the Ets-binding site is bound by a heterodimer composed of GA-binding protein α (GABPα), an Ets-related factor, and GABPβ, a Notch-related protein. Cotransfection of GABP increased FCAR promoter activity 3.7-fold through the Ets-binding site. GABP and C/EBPα synergistically activated the FCAR promoter 280-fold. Consistent with these observations, in vitro binding analyses revealed a physical interaction between the GABPα subunit and C/EBPα. This is the first report demonstrating both physical and functional interactions between GABP and C/EBPα and will provide new insights into the molecular basis of myeloid gene expression. (Blood. 2005;106:2534-2542)
Diphtheria toxin fused to variant human interleukin-3 induces cytotoxicity of blasts from patients with acute myeloid leukemia according to the level of interleukin-3 receptor expression
Authors: Testa Ugo , Riccioni Roberta , Biffoni Mauro , Diverio Daniela , Lo-Coco Francesco , Foà Robin , Peschle Cesare , Frankel Arthur E.
Published: June 2005

Leukemic blasts from patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) frequently express high levels of the interleukin-3 receptor α chain (IL-3Rα). In the present study, we have explored the sensitivity of primary leukemic blasts obtained from 34 patients with AML to a diphtheria toxin (DT) composed of the catalytic and translocation domains of DT (DT388) fused to IL-3 (DT388IL-3) and to DT388 fused to a variant IL-3 with increased binding affinity (DT388IL-3[K116W]). On a molar basis, DT388IL-3[K116W] was significantly more active than DT388IL-3 in mediating leukemic cell killing. The rate of cell killing induced by the 2 DT/IL-3 fusion proteins was significantly correlated with the level of IL-3Rα/IL-3Rβ expressed on leukemic blasts. These observations support a potential use of DT388IL-3[K116W] in the treatment of refractory AMLs and provide a simple biochemical parameter for the selection of eligible patients. (Blood. 2005;106:2527-2529)
Patterns of home mechanical ventilation use in Europe: results from the Eurovent survey
Authors: Lloyd-Owen S. J. , Donaldson G. C. , Ambrosino N. , Escarabill J. , Farre R. , Fauroux B. , Robert D. , Schoenhofer B. , Simonds A. K. , Wedzicha J. A.
Published: June 2005

The study was designed to assess the patterns of use of home mechanical ventilation (HMV) for patients with chronic respiratory failure across Europe.

A detailed questionnaire of centre details, HMV user characteristics and equipment choices was sent to carefully identified HMV centres in 16 European countries.

A total of 483 centres treating 27,118 HMV users were identified. Of these, 329 centres completed surveys between July 2001 and June 2002, representing up to 21,526 HMV users and a response rate of between 62% and 79%. The estimated prevalence of HMV in Europe was 6.6 per 100,000 people. The variation in prevalence between countries was only partially related to the median year of starting HMV services. In addition, there were marked differences between countries in the relative proportions of lung and neuromuscular patients using HMV, and the use of tracheostomies in lung and neuromuscular HMV users. Lung users were linked to a HMV duration of <1 yr, thoracic cage users with 6–10 yrs of ventilation and neuromuscular users with a duration of ≥6 yrs.

In conclusion, wide variations exist in the patterns of home mechanical ventilation provision throughout Europe. Further work is needed to monitor its use and ensure equality of provision and access.
Outcome of heart–lung and bilateral sequential lung transplantation for cystic fibrosis: a UK national study
Authors: Ganesh J. S. , Rogers C. A. , Bonser R. S. , Banner N. R.
Published: June 2005

Cystic fibrosis (CF) patients requiring transplantation for respiratory failure may undergo either heart–lung (HLT) or bilateral sequential lung (BSLT) transplantation. The choice of operation varies between surgeons, centres and countries.

The current authors investigated whether operation type influenced outcome in adult CF patients transplanted in the UK between July 1995 and June 2002. Propensity scores for receipt of BSLTversusHLT were derived using logistic regression. Cox regression was used to compare survival.

In total, 88 BSLTs and 93 HLTs were identified. Patient characteristics were similar overall, but HLT recipients were more likely to be on long-term oxygen therapy and to have had prior resuscitation. There were 72 deaths (29 BSLT and 43 HLT) within 4 yrs. There was a trend towards higher unadjusted survival following BSLT, but, after adjustment, no difference was found (hazard ratio = 0.77; 95% confidence interval 0.29–2.06). Time to the first rejection episode and infection rates were also similar. A total of 82% of hearts from HLT recipients were used as domino heart transplants.

In conclusion, after adjusting for comorbidity, donor factors and ischaemia time, it was found that heart–lung and bilateral sequential lung transplantation achieved a similar outcome. The use of domino heart transplantation ameliorated the impact of heart–lung transplantation on total organ availability.
Exacerbations in α1-antitrypsin deficiency
Authors: Needham M. , Stockley R. A.
Published: June 2005

This study aimed to investigate the nature and effect of exacerbations in patients with α1-antitrypsin deficiency and to assess the impact of exacerbations on health status. Furthermore, the relationship of exacerbations to changes in lung function and health status was investigated.

In total, 265 patients with severe deficiency (PiZ phenotype) were assessed over 12 months and a subgroup of 87 patients was studied for 3 yrs. Exacerbations were recorded and patients underwent full lung function testing and health status measurement.

Exacerbations occurred in 142 patients (54%) over 12 months, with a median duration of 14 days (interquartile range 7–21). Health status was significantly worse in patients with exacerbations, especially those with frequent exacerbations. Neither the presence nor the frequency of exacerbations showed a relationship to decline in forced expiratory volume in one second, but the number of exacerbations was weakly associated with decline in gas transfer of the lung for carbon monoxide. Despite lung function decline, health status did not change significantly over 3 yrs.

In conclusion, exacerbations occur commonly in patients with α1-antitrypsin deficiency and are associated with worse health status. Exacerbations were associated with a decline in the gas transfer of the lung for carbon monoxide over time, but show no relationship to changes in forced expiratory volume in one second. Despite lung function decline, patients do not show a progressive loss in health status.
Use of reactance to estimate transpulmonary resistance
Authors: Johnson M. K. , Birch M. , Carter R. , Kinsella J. , Stevenson R. D.
Published: June 2005

This study examines the relationship of respiratory system resistance (Rrs) and reactance (Xrs) measured by forced oscillometry with transpulmonary resistance (RL) measured by oesophageal manometry.

Simultaneous forced oscillometry using a single frequency of 5 Hz and oesophageal manometry were performed on five asthmatics during bronchoprovocation. The data obtained were used to derive prediction equations forRLfrom oscillometric parameters, which were tested on a further six asthmatics and 35 nonasthmatic subjects.

In the first five asthmatic subjects,RLcorrelated more strongly withXrsthan withRrs. In the second set of asthmatics,RLranged 0.0005–4.57 kPa·s·L−1, with a median of 0.21 kPa·s·L−1. TheRLvalues predicted fromXrsshowed a mean±sddifference of −0.067±0.25 kPa·s·L−1compared with the values measured in this set of patients.Xrsin subjects with other respiratory conditions appeared to follow the same relationship withRLas in asthmatics. Lumped element modelling suggested that the linear relationship betweenXrsandRLwas a consequence of the increasing contribution of central and upper airway wall shunts as peripheral airway resistance rose, and that this effect was much larger than that due to changes in static elastance.

In conclusion, the reactance of the respiratory system can predict transpulmonary resistance more accurately than can the resistance of the respiratory system.
Altered protein tyrosine phosphorylation in asthmatic bronchial epithelium
Authors: Hamilton L. M. , Puddicombe S. M. , Dearman R. J. , Kimber I. , Sandström T. , Wallin A. , Howarth P. H. , Holgate S. T. , Wilson S. J. , Davies D. E.
Published: June 2005

A disease-related, corticosteroid-insensitive increase in the expression of epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase in asthmatic bronchial epithelium has been shown previously by the current authors. To determine whether this is associated with enhanced intracellular signalling, the aim of this study was to evaluate epithelial tyrosine phosphorylation.

Bronchial biopsies were analysed for the presence of phosphotyrosine by immunohistochemistry. Bronchial epithelial cells were exposed to EGF, hydrogen peroxide or tumour necrosis factor-αin vitrofor measurement of tyrosine phosphorylated signalling intermediates and interleukin (IL)-8 release.

Phosphotyrosine was increased significantly in the epithelium of severe asthmatics when compared with controls or mild asthmatics; however, in mild asthma, phosphotyrosine levels were significantly decreased when compared with controls. There was no significant difference between phosphotyrosine levels before or after 8 weeks of treatment with budesonide. Stimulation of bronchial epithelial cells resulted in tyrosine phosphorylation of several proteins, including EGFR, Shc and p42/p44 mitogen-activated protein kinase. In the presence of salbutamol, a transient partial suppression of EGFR phosphorylation occurred, whereas dexamethasone was without effect. Neither salbutamol nor dexamethasone inhibited EGF-stimulated IL-8 release.

These data indicate that regulation of protein tyrosine kinase activity is abnormal in severe asthma. The epidermal growth factor receptor and/or other tyrosine kinase pathways may contribute to persistent, corticosteroid-unresponsive inflammation in severe asthma.
Acoustic analysis of snoring before and after palatal surgery
Authors: Jones T. M. , Swift A. C. , Calverley P. M. A. , Ho M. S. , Earis J. E.
Published: June 2005

To investigate the effectiveness of palatal surgery for nonapnoeic snoring, 35 patients were block randomised to undergo one of two different palatoplasty procedures. Patients were admitted pre-operatively for audio recording of snoring sound and video recording of sleeping position, and between 1.0 and 4.1 months (mean 2.5) and between 5.9 and 17.5 months (mean 9.7) post-operatively. Sound files, comprising the inspiratory sound of the first 100 snores whilst sleeping in a supine position, were analysed using specifically designed software.

Snore duration (s), loudness (dBA), periodicity (%) and energy ratios for the frequency bands 0–200 Hz, 0–250 Hz and 0–400 Hz were calculated. Subjective outcomes were noted. Operation type, body mass index, age, peak nasal inspiratory flow rate, Epworth sleep score and alcohol intake were considered as confounding variables.

No patient was cured from snoring. Paired t-test analysis demonstrated statistically significant changes between pre- and early post-operative recordings for snore periodicity and energy ratios in the frequency ranges 0–200 Hz, 0–250 Hz and 0–400 Hz.

In conclusion, only the 0–250-Hz energy ratio measurements maintained a statistically significant improvement at the time of the late post-operative recording, despite an obvious drift back to pre-operative levels. No confounding variables were identified. The subjective and objective results correlated poorly. Post-operative changes in the acoustic parameters of snoring sound, following palatal surgery, are demonstrable but short-lived.
Involvement of retinoic acid-inducible gene-I in the IFN-γ/STAT1 signalling pathway in BEAS-2B cells
Authors: Imaizumi T. , Kumagai M. , Taima K. , Fujita T. , Yoshida H. , Satoh K.
Published: June 2005

Bronchial epithelial cells play an important role in airway host defence, and interferon (IFN)-γ controls immune reactions by regulating the expression of various genes in bronchial epithelial cells. Signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 (STAT1) is the key transcriptional factor in IFN-γ signalling. Retinoic acid-inducible gene-I (RIG-I) is a member of the DExH box family of proteins and designated a putative RNA helicase. RNA helicases play diverse roles in regulation of gene expression and cellular functions, and RIG-I is implicated in antiviral responses.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of IFN-γ on RIG-I expression in a cell line derived from human bronchial epithelial cells, BEAS-2B.

Induction of RIG-I in response to IFN-γ was found in BEAS-2B cells. Induction of RIG-I by IFN-γ was also demonstrated in another pulmonary epithelial cell line, NCI-H292. Transfection of BEAS-2B cells with RIG-I complementary DNA resulted in the upregulation of STAT1. Induction of IFN-γ-inducible protein 10 by IFN-γ was enhanced in the cells overexpressing RIG-I.

It is concluded that retinoic acid-inducible gene-I may play an important role in the regulation of immunological reactions in bronchial epithelial cells elicited by interferon-γ.
Patient stratification in the management of acute bacterial exacerbation of chronic bronchitis: the role of levofloxacin 750 mg
Authors: Martinez F. J. , Grossman R. F. , Zadeikis N. , Fisher A. C. , Walker K. , Ambruzs M. E. , Tennenberg A. M.
Published: June 2005

This is the first prospective clinical trial in which patients with acute bacterial exacerbation of chronic bronchitis have been stratified by degree of underlying illness.

Uncomplicated patients were randomised to levofloxacin 750 mg once daily (q.d.) for 3 days or azithromycinq.d.for 5 days. Complicated patients were randomised to levofloxacin 750 mgq.d.for 5 days or amoxicillin 875 mg/clavulanate 125 mg twice daily for 10 days.

Regardless of therapy, complicated patients demonstrated lower clinical and microbiological success than uncomplicated patients. Clinical success for clinically evaluable patients was similar for levofloxacin and azithromycin (93.0versus90.1%, respectively), and levofloxacin and amoxicillin/clavulanate (79.2versus81.7%, respectively). For microbiologically evaluable patients, clinical response to levofloxacin for 3 days was superior to azithromycin for 5 days (96.3versus87.4%, respectively), and levofloxacin for 5 days was similar to amoxicillin/clavulanate for 10 days (81.4versus80.9%, respectively). Microbiological eradication was superior for levofloxacin for 3 days compared with azithromycin for 5 days (93.8versus82.8%, respectively), and similar for levofloxacin and amoxicillin/clavulanate for 10 days (81.4versus79.8%, respectively).

In conclusion, levofloxacin 750 mg for 3 days was comparable to azithromycin for 5 days for uncomplicated patients with acute bacterial exacerbation of chronic bronchitis, while 5 days of 750 mg levofloxacin was comparable to 10 days of amoxicillin/clavulanate for complicated acute bacterial exacerbation of chronic bronchitis.
Randomised trial of ambulatory oxygen in oxygen-dependent COPD
Authors: Lacasse Y. , Lecours R. , Pelletier C. , Bégin R. , Maltais F.
Published: June 2005

Long-term oxygen therapy may limit a patient's ability to remain active and may be detrimental to the rehabilitation process. This study aimed to determine the effect of ambulatory oxygen on quality of life and exercise capacity in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease fulfilling the usual criteria of long-term oxygen therapy.

In a 1-yr, randomised, three-period, crossover trial, 24 patients (mean age 68 yrs; mean arterial partial pressure of oxygen at rest 7.1 kPa (53 mmHg)) were allocated to one of the six possible sequences generated by three interventions: 1) standard therapy (home oxygen therapy with an oxygen concentrator only); 2) standard therapy plus as-needed ambulatory oxygen; and 3) standard therapy plus ambulatory compressed air. The comparison of ambulatory oxygenversusambulatory compressed air was double blind. The main outcomes were quality of life (Chronic Respiratory Questionnaire), exercise tolerance (6-min walk test) and daily duration of exposure to oxygen therapy.

The trial was stopped prematurely after an interim analysis. On average, the patients used few ambulatory cylinders (7.5 oxygen cylindersversus7.4 compressed air cylinders over a 3-month study period). Ambulatory oxygen had no effect on any of the outcomes.

In conclusion, the current results do not support the widespread provision of ambulatory oxygen to patients with oxygen-dependent chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Predictive value of image cytometry for diagnosis of lung cancer in heavy smokers
Authors: Xing S. , Khanavkar B. , Nakhosteen J. A. , Atay Z. , Jöckel K-H. , Marek W.
Published: June 2005

The Research Institute for Diagnosis and Treatment of Early Lung Cancer (RIDTELC) Lung Study was initiated to determine whether lung cancer screening by automated sputum cytometry combined with conventional sputum cytology and auto-fluorescence in addition to white light bronchoscopy could enhance the detection rate of early lung cancer. The present study analyses the initial findings to evaluate the efficiency of automated sputum cytology in predicting the diagnosis of lung cancer.

In this study, malignancy grade was used as a predictive parameter for lung cancer. In total, 2,480 heavy smokers (>30 pack-yrs), aged 50–74 yrs, with no previous cancer in the last 5 yrs, received chest radiology, conventional sputum cytology and sputum cytometry screening.

In total, twenty-seven lung cancers were diagnosed, representing a prevalence of 1.1%, 25 of which provided sputum samples. Positive automated sputum cytology results were seen in 176 smokers (7.2%), 10 (0.4%) of whom had severe dysplasia or higher lesions (positive results) by conventional sputum cytology examination. Out of 25 tumour cases, 20 had suspicious results using automated sputum cytology, representing 80% sensitivity. One patient out of 24 with tumours had positive results on conventional sputum cytology, representing a sensitivity of 4.2%. For all stages of squamous cell lung cancer and later stage adenocarcinoma the sensitivity of automated sputum cytology was 100%. For adenocarcinoma stage I sensitivity was 25%.

In conclusion, DNA analysis of sputum slides by automated sputum cytology may be a suitable tool for the detection of early lung cancer and the characterisation of a high-risk group with pre-invasive lesions for follow-up.
Endobronchial pseudo-tumour caused by herpes simplex
Authors: Upadya A. , Tilluckdharry L. , Nagy C. D. , Ravichandran P. , Manthous C.
Published: June 2005

Herpes simplex virus (HSV) causes tracheobronchitis and pneumonitis; however, to date, there has only been one report of an endobronchial mass caused by HSV type II.

This case study describes a 68-yr-old female with severe kyphoscoliosis who was intubated for acute on chronic hypercapnic respiratory failure and developed blood-tinged endotracheal secretions.

Fibreoptic bronchoscopy demonstrated an endobronchial mass in the right middle lobe. Cultures grew HSV type I and biopsy specimens demonstrated cytopathological changes consistent with HSV infection.

This is the first reported case of HSV type I presenting as an endobronchial tumour.
Alveolar nitric oxide in adults with asthma: evidence of distal lung inflammation in refractory asthma
Authors: Berry M. , Hargadon B. , Morgan A. , Shelley M. , Richter J. , Shaw D. , Green R. H. , Brightling C. , Wardlaw A. J. , Pavord I. D.
Published: June 2005

Recent studies have suggested that alveolar nitric oxide (NO) concentration is a noninvasive test of distal lung inflammation.

The current study determined whether alveolar NO concentration can be measured in patients with asthma of varying severity, tested the hypothesis that there is an association between alveolar NO and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) eosinophil count and determined whether refractory asthma is characterised by a raised alveolar NO concentration. Finally, the present authors assessed the effect of 2 weeks of prednisolone (30 mgq.d.) on alveolar NO concentration.

Alveolar NO concentration was both measurable and repeatable in patients with refractory asthma. A positive correlation was found between alveolar NO concentration and BAL eosinophil count but not with bronchial wash or sputum eosinophil count. Alveolar NO concentration was increased in patients with refractory asthma (7.1 ppb) compared with mild-to-moderate asthma (3.4 ppb) and normal controls (3.4 ppb) and reduced by treatment with prednisolone.

In conclusion, these findings support the hypothesis that alveolar nitric oxide is a measure of distal airway inflammation and suggest that distal lung inflammation is present in refractory asthma.
The six-minute walk test in healthy children: reliability and validity
Authors: Li A. M. , Yin J. , Yu C. C. W. , Tsang T. , So H. K. , Wong E. , Chan D. , Hon E. K. L. , Sung R.
Published: June 2005

The aim of this study was to assess the reliability and validity of the 6-min walk test (6MWT) in healthy children.

Chinese secondary school students were randomly recruited. They attended the current authors' unit on two occasions, separated by 2 weeks. Physical examination and standardised maximum incremental exercise testing on a treadmill were performed on the first visit. Spirometry and 6MWT were carried out on the second visit. A randomly selected subgroup was invited to return for repeat 6MWT at an interval of 2–4 weeks.

Seventy-eight subjects were recruited; however, four failed to achieve maximal effort on exercise test. The final group included 43 young females and the mean±sdage of the subjects was 14.2±1.2 yrs. Physical examination was unremarkable in all cases. The mean±sdper cent predicted forced expiratory volume in one second was 91.4±10.2%. Concurrent validity was demonstrated by good correlation between the 6-min walking distance and maximum oxygen uptake determined on the exercise treadmill. Test–retest reliability was undertaken in 52 subjects, and the intraclass correlation coefficient (95% confidence interval) was calculated as 0.94 (0.89–0.96). In addition, Bland and Altman plots demonstrated a high degree of repeatability.

In healthy children, the 6-min walk test is a reliable and valid functional test for assessing exercise tolerance and endurance.
Bacterial activity in cystic fibrosis lung infections
Authors: Rogers Geraint B , Carroll Mary P , Serisier David J , Hockey Peter M , Kehagia Valia , Jones Graeme R , Bruce Kenneth D
Published: June 2005

Background

Chronic lung infections are the primary cause of morbidity and mortality in Cystic Fibrosis (CF) patients. Recent molecular biological based studies have identified a surprisingly wide range of hitherto unreported bacterial species in the lungs of CF patients. The aim of this study was to determine whether the species present were active and, as such, worthy of further investigation as potential pathogens.

Methods

Terminal Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (T-RFLP) profiles were generated from PCR products amplified from 16S rDNA and Reverse Transcription Terminal Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (RT-T-RFLP) profiles, a marker of metabolic activity, were generated from PCR products amplified from 16S rRNA, both extracted from the same CF sputum sample. To test the level of activity of these bacteria, T-RFLP profiles were compared to RT-T-RFLP profiles.

Results

Samples from 17 individuals were studied. Parallel analyses identified a total of 706 individual T-RF and RT-T-RF bands in this sample set. 323 bands were detected by T-RFLP and 383 bands were detected by RT-T-RFLP (statistically significant; P ≤ 0.001). For the group as a whole, 145 bands were detected in a T-RFLP profile alone, suggesting metabolically inactive bacteria. 205 bands were detected in an RT-T-RFLP profile alone and 178 bands were detected in both, suggesting a significant degree of metabolic activity. Although Pseudomonas aeruginosa was present and active in many patients, a low occurrence of other species traditionally considered to be key CF pathogens was detected. T-RFLP profiles obtained for induced sputum samples provided by healthy individuals without CF formed a separate cluster indicating a low level of similarity to those from CF patients.

Conclusion

These results indicate that a high proportion of the bacterial species detected in the sputum from all of the CF patients in the study are active. The widespread activity of bacterial species in these samples emphasizes the potential importance of these previously unrecognized species within the CF lung.
Empirical codon substitution matrix
Authors: Schneider Adrian , Cannarozzi Gina M , Gonnet Gaston H
Published: June 2005

Background

Codon substitution probabilities are used in many types of molecular evolution studies such as determining Ka/Ks ratios, creating ancestral DNA sequences or aligning coding DNA. Until the recent dramatic increase in genomic data enabled construction of empirical matrices, researchers relied on parameterized models of codon evolution. Here we present the first empirical codon substitution matrix entirely built from alignments of coding sequences from vertebrate DNA and thus provide an alternative to parameterized models of codon evolution.

Results

A set of 17,502 alignments of orthologous sequences from five vertebrate genomes yielded 8.3 million aligned codons from which the number of substitutions between codons were counted. From this data, both a probability matrix and a matrix of similarity scores were computed. They are 64 × 64 matrices describing the substitutions between all codons. Substitutions from sense codons to stop codons are not considered, resulting in block diagonal matrices consisting of 61 × 61 entries for the sense codons and 3 × 3 entries for the stop codons.

Conclusion

The amount of genomic data currently available allowed for the construction of an empirical codon substitution matrix. However, more sequence data is still needed to construct matrices from different subsets of DNA, specific to kingdoms, evolutionary distance or different amount of synonymous change. Codon mutation matrices have advantages for alignments up to medium evolutionary distances and for usages that require DNA such as ancestral reconstruction of DNA sequences and the calculation of Ka/Ks ratios.
YANA – a software tool for analyzing flux modes, gene-expression and enzyme activities
Authors: Schwarz Roland , Musch Patrick , von Kamp Axel , Engels Bernd , Schirmer Heiner , Schuster Stefan , Dandekar Thomas
Published: June 2005

Background

A number of algorithms for steady state analysis of metabolic networks have been developed over the years. Of these, Elementary Mode Analysis (EMA) has proven especially useful. Despite its low user-friendliness, METATOOL as a reliable high-performance implementation of the algorithm has been the instrument of choice up to now. As reported here, the analysis of metabolic networks has been improved by an editor and analyzer of metabolic flux modes. Analysis routines for expression levels and the most central, well connected metabolites and their metabolic connections are of particular interest.

Results

YANA features a platform-independent, dedicated toolbox for metabolic networks with a graphical user interface to calculate (integrating METATOOL), edit (including support for the SBML format), visualize, centralize, and compare elementary flux modes. Further, YANA calculates expected flux distributions for a given Elementary Mode (EM) activity pattern and vice versa. Moreover, a dissection algorithm, a centralization algorithm, and an average diameter routine can be used to simplify and analyze complex networks. Proteomics or gene expression data give a rough indication of some individual enzyme activities, whereas the complete flux distribution in the network is often not known. As such data are noisy, YANA features a fast evolutionary algorithm (EA) for the prediction of EM activities with minimum error, including alerts for inconsistent experimental data. We offer the possibility to include further known constraints (e.g. growth constraints) in the EA calculation process. The redox metabolism around glutathione reductase serves as an illustration example. All software and documentation are available for download at http://yana.bioapps.biozentrum.uni-wuerzburg.de.

Conclusion

A graphical toolbox and an editor for METATOOL as well as a series of additional routines for metabolic network analyses constitute a new user-friendly software for such efforts.
AVID: An integrative framework for discovering functional relationships among proteins
Authors: Jiang Taijiao , Keating Amy E
Published: June 2005

Background

Determining the functions of uncharacterized proteins is one of the most pressing problems in the post-genomic era. Large scale protein-protein interaction assays, global mRNA expression analyses and systematic protein localization studies provide experimental information that can be used for this purpose. The data from such experiments contain many false positives and false negatives, but can be processed using computational methods to provide reliable information about protein-protein relationships and protein function. An outstanding and important goal is to predict detailed functional annotation for all uncharacterized proteins that is reliable enough to effectively guide experiments.

Results

We present AVID, a computational method that uses a multi-stage learning framework to integrate experimental results with sequence information, generating networks reflecting functional similarities among proteins. We illustrate use of the networks by making predictions of detailed Gene Ontology (GO) annotations in three categories: molecular function, biological process, and cellular component. Applied to the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, AVID provides 37,451 pair-wise functional linkages between 4,191 proteins. These relationships are ~65–78% accurate, as assessed by cross-validation testing. Assignments of highly detailed functional descriptors to proteins, based on the networks, are estimated to be ~67% accurate for GO categories describing molecular function and cellular component and ~52% accurate for terms describing biological process. The predictions cover 1,490 proteins with no previous annotation in GO and also assign more detailed functions to many proteins annotated only with less descriptive terms. Predictions made by AVID are largely distinct from those made by other methods. Out of 37,451 predicted pair-wise relationships, the greatest number shared in common with another method is 3,413.

Conclusion

AVID provides three networks reflecting functional associations among proteins. We use these networks to generate new, highly detailed functional predictions for roughly half of the yeast proteome that are reliable enough to drive targeted experimental investigations. The predictions suggest many specific, testable hypotheses. All of the data are available as downloadable files as well as through an interactive website at http://web.mit.edu/biology/keating/AVID. Thus, AVID will be a valuable resource for experimental biologists.