bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Relationship Between Urinary Salt Excretion and Pulse Pressure and Central Aortic Hemodynamics Independent of Steady State Pressure in the General Population
Authors: Redelinghuys Michelle , Norton Gavin R. , Scott Leon , Maseko Muzi J. , Brooksbank Richard , Majane Olebogeng H.I. , Sareli Pinhas , Woodiwiss Angela J.
Published: August 2010

Although central pulse pressure (PPc) is strongly related to central mean arterial pressure (MAPc), PPc predicts cardiovascular outcomes beyond MAPc. Whether modifiable risk factors for hypertension contribute to PPc and its determinants, independent of MAPc, is uncertain. In 635 randomly recruited participants, we assessed the independent relationship between 24-hour urinary sodium (Na
+
) or potassium (K
+
) excretion and brachial artery PP (in office or 24-hour; n=487), PPc, the forward (P1) and augmented (Paug) pressure wave components of PPc, central augmentation index, and determinants of central pressure waves, including aortic pulse wave velocity, effective reflecting distance, and reflective wave transit time. Central dynamics were determined using applanation tonometry of the carotid, femoral, and radial arteries. With adjustments for potential confounders, urinary Na
+
/K
+
was independently associated with in-office, central, and 24-hour PP, as well as Paug, P1, and central augmentation index (
P
<0.05 to
P
<0.005). With further adjustments for MAPc (or diastolic BP), urinary Na
+
/K
+
was independently associated with PPc, 24-hour PP, Paug, P1, and central augmentation index (
P
<0.05 to
P
=0.005) but not with in-office PP, pulse wave velocity, effective reflecting distance, or reflective wave transit time. In conclusion, in a population of African ancestry, urinary salt excretion is independently related to central and 24-hour PP independent of MAPc or diastolic BP, effects that are attributed to increases in both P1 and Paug but not to pulse wave velocity. Hence, modifying salt intake could influence cardiovascular risk through effects on 24-hour and central PPs, as well as P1 and Paug, independent of steady-state pressure (MAP or diastolic BP) or pulse wave velocity.
Auditory Tactics: A Sound Installation in Public Space Using Beamforming Technology
Authors: Gauthier Philippe-Aubert , Pasquier Philippe
Published: August 2010

The term “auditory tactics” refers to the contextual listening attitudes and competencies adapted to various private and public auditory contexts, spheres and aural architectures. Auditory Tactics, created for the Pure-Data Convention 2007 in Montréal, is a spatial sound installation designed to interfere and play with the auditory tactics of passersby in a public space by projecting sounds from more private spheres. The novelty of the authors' work is the use of beamforming: a sound projection technology that allows the creation of directional sonic beams resulting in sonic illumination and shadow zones that dynamically interact with architectural surfaces. The authors report the results and lessons of this first artistic experiment with sound beams as a creative sound-projection method.
Sound and Silence in the Line: Re-Reading Turkish Islamic Calligraphy for Interactive Media Design
Authors: Ünlüer Adviye Ayça , Özcan Oğuzhan
Published: August 2010

The purpose of the research reported is to argue that “formal” design solutions of past cultures can generate innovative ideas in interactive media design. The authors ask how a traditional art in which body motion is used, namely Turkish Islamic calligraphy—Khatt—can help create innovative solutions for digital interaction design. Taking inspiration from Khatt, the authors have developed a project with the aim of allowing an audience with no prior calligraphy background to experience the performance process of calligraphy by reproducing it themselves. By creating a performance interface that provides predictability components, the authors have correlated the visual compositions with sound.
The eMobiLArt Project from a Curatorial Perspective
Authors: Bureaud Annick , Czegledy Nina , Galanopoulou Christiana
Published: August 2010

The three curators of the eMobiLArt project developed collaboration within the curatorial group and with other people involved including participating artists and organizers. This article is focused on how the various tasks evolved during the project process. A reflection on the outcomes (artworks and exhibitions) and the role of curators in such a collaborative experimental project is also included.
The e-MobiLArt Project: An Experiment in Collaboration at the Intersection of Art, Science and Technology
Authors: Charitos Dimitris , Korakidou Veroniki , Meimaris Michael
Published: August 2010

e-MobiLArt was a project tailored around the process of collaboratively creating interactive installations. This paper presents an introductory overview of the most important activities of the e-MobiLArt project from the perspective of its organizers and briefly discusses the collaborative process that took place among participants, curatorial advisors and organizers.
Oracle
Authors:   theggroup (Julia Carboneras Girgas, Etienne de France, Maria Lalou, Evi Malisianou, Fernando Velázquez)
Published: August 2010

Oracle is an interactive installation, created in the framework of the eMobiLArt Project, which uses tracking systems, generative algorithms, sound and video, forming a dynamic environment. Through the change between an audiovisual display, and the sudden stillness of an image, while one stays still for a longer time, Oracle reveals its answer to the viewers. Witnessing the emergence of original semantics through our daily relationship with images and vast visual information, Oracle stands as a sudden metaphor of our collective unconscious.
Ephemeron—Sculpting a Collective Consciousness and Mapping a Collaborative Process
Authors: Roshto Barry L. , Panouklia Eleni , Holder John , Pryor Sally
Published: August 2010

Ephemeron is an interactive installation resulting from the collaboration of artists during the e-MobilArt project. Ephemeron, a responsive sculpture, attempts to express the eternal ephemeral human epic: the daily song of pain and struggle, love and loss, lived by beings full of “mud and dreams". The installation comprises an audio soundscape, projected video and a large fabric form under high tension and with a floor of sand. Visitors may enter the form, where the projected video and soundscape become sensitive to their presence.
Aureole
Authors: Schülke Bettina , Czegledy Nina , Korakidou Veroniki , Lawrence Dave
Published: August 2010

The Aureole installation created as part of the e-MobiLArt project combines physicality, technology, visual, sonic and textual components — and aims to evoke a poetic experience inspired by the Aurora Borealis.
The Importance of Ice Vertical Resolution for Snowball Climate and Deglaciation
Authors: Abbot Dorian S. , Eisenman Ian , Pierrehumbert Raymond T.
Published: August 2010

Sea ice schemes with a few vertical levels are typically used to simulate the thermodynamic evolution of sea ice in global climate models. Here it is shown that these schemes overestimate the magnitude of the diurnal surface temperature cycle by a factor of 2–3 when they are used to simulate tropical ice in a Snowball earth event. This could strongly influence our understanding of Snowball termination, which occurs in global climate models when the midday surface temperature in the tropics reaches the melting point. A hierarchy of models is used to show that accurate simulation of surface temperature variation on a given time scale requires that a sea ice model resolve the e-folding depth to which a periodic signal on that time scale penetrates. This is used to suggest modifications to the sea ice schemes used in global climate models that would allow more accurate simulation of Snowball deglaciation.
A Simple Method to Evolve Daily Ground Temperatures from Surface Air Temperatures in Snow-Dominated Regions
Authors: Cheng Yiwei , Stieglitz Marc , Pan Feifei
Published: August 2010

A simple model is developed to evolve daily ground temperatures from surface air temperatures (SATs) in snow-dominated areas. Ground surface temperatures (GSTs) are calculated by propagating the daily SAT through the snowpack, and attenuating the signal amplitude. Subsequent subsurface heat transfer is then modeled using the analytical solution of the one-dimensional heat conduction equation. The thermal impacts of nonconductive heat transfer processes and seasonal freeze thaw are implicitly represented by the time-dependent apparent thermal diffusivity of the subsurface. The model is tested in four snow-dominated regions: Barrow, Council, Ivotuk (all in Alaska) and Reynolds Creek Experimental Watershed (in Idaho). The model captures the seasonal evolution of the ground temperature at all sites. The model demonstrates the feasibility of simulating subsurface temperatures using only air temperature and snow depth.
Observations of Turbulence within a Natural Surf Zone
Authors: Ruessink B. G.
Published: August 2010

Here, the Reynolds stresses 〈u′w′〉 and 〈υ′w′〉, where u′, υ′, and w′ are the cross-shore, alongshore, and vertical turbulence velocities, respectively, and the angle brackets represent time averaging, are used to diagnose turbulence dynamics beneath natural breaking surf-zone waves. The data were collected at Truc Vert Beach, France, during a 12-day period in 1–3-m water depth with strong cross-shore and alongshore currents under high-energy wave conditions (offshore significant wave heights ranged between 2 and 8 m). The 〈u′w′〉 term is predominantly negative, increases with the ratio of wave height Hs to water depth h (∼degree of wave breaking), and decreases in magnitude toward the bed. This supports the view that the cross-shore shear stress is due to breaking-induced vortices that transport high-speed cross-shore flow downward and disintegrate close to the bed. The occasional positive sign of 〈u′w′〉 within the lower 15%–20% of the water column indicates that sometimes surface-generated turbulence is overwhelmed by bed-generated turbulence, but the conditions when this happens are not clear from the data. The term 〈υ′w′〉 is persistently of opposite sign to the alongshore mean current and decreases with height above the seabed, implying that 〈υ′w′〉 is due to bottom boundary layer processes rather than surface-generated turbulence. The bottom drag coefficient amounted to 1.6 × 10−3, similar to earlier observations. As in other high-Reynolds-number geophysical flows, time series of u′w′ and υ′w′ comprise intermittently large, short-duration (here, ∼1 s) stress events that in the data contribute considerably to the net stress in only 3%–15% of the time. The data further show that the turbulent kinetic energy is depth uniform and increases with Hs/h. The depth-averaged Froude-scaled turbulent kinetic energy beneath surf-zone bores is 0.025, a factor of 2 to 3 less than observed beneath regular laboratory waves.
Inertial-Convective Subrange Estimates of Thermal Variance Dissipation Rate from Moored Temperature Measurements
Authors: Zhang Yanwei , Moum James N.
Published: August 2010

A procedure for estimating thermal variance dissipation rate χT by scaling the inertial-convective subrange of temperature gradient spectra from thermistor measurements on a Tropical Atmosphere Ocean (TAO) equatorial mooring, maintained by NOAA’s National Data Buoy Center, is demonstrated. The inertial-convective subrange of wavenumbers/frequencies is contaminated by the vertical motion induced by the pumping of the surface float by surface gravity waves through the local vertical temperature gradient. The uncontaminated signal can be retrieved by removing the part of the measured signal that is coherent with the signal induced by surface gravity waves, which must be measured independently. An estimate of χT is then obtained by fitting corrected spectra to theoretical temperature gradient spectra over the inertial-convective subrange (0.05 < f < 0.5 Hz); this estimate is referred to as χTIC. Here χTIC was calculated over 120-min intervals and compared with estimates of χTo determined by scaling temperature gradient spectra at high wavenumbers (viscous-convective and viscous-diffusive subranges). Large differences up to a factor of 20 and of unknown origin occur infrequently, especially when both background currents and vertical temperature gradients are weak, but the results herein indicate that 75% of the data pairs are within a factor of 3 of each other. Tests on 15-, 30-, 60-, 120-min intervals demonstrate that differences between the two methods are nearly random, unbiased, and less than estimates of natural variability determined from unrelated experiments at the same location. Because the inertial-convective subrange occupies a lower-frequency range than is typically used for turbulence measurements, the potential for more routine measurements of χT exists. The evaluation of degraded signals (resampled from original measurements) indicates that a particularly important component of such a measurement is the independent resolution of the surface wave–induced signal.
Phase Space Volume Conservation under Space and Time Discretization Schemes for the Shallow-Water Equations
Authors: Sommer Matthias , Reich Sebastian
Published: August 2010

Applying concepts of analytical mechanics to numerical discretization techniques for geophysical flows has recently been proposed. So far, mostly the role of the conservation laws for energy- and vorticity-based quantities has been discussed, but recently the conservation of phase space volume has also been addressed. This topic relates directly to questions in statistical fluid mechanics and in ensemble weather and climate forecasting. Here, phase space volume behavior of different spatial and temporal discretization schemes for the shallow-water equations on the sphere are investigated. Combinations of spatially symmetric and common temporal discretizations are compared. Furthermore, the relation between time reversibility and long-time volume averages is addressed.
Prospects for the UK Economy
Authors: Kirby Simon , Barrell Ray , Foley-Fisher Nathan
Published: August 2010

The production of this forecast is supported by the Institute's Corporate Members: Abbey plc, Bank of England, Barclays Bank plc, HM Treasury, Nomura Research Institute Europe Ltd, and the Office for National Statistics.
Medium-Term Prospects for the Public Finances
Authors: Barrell Ray , Kirby Simon
Published: August 2010

The financial crisis and the recession it induced have wrought havoc with our understanding and decision-making on the medium-term fiscal position. The crisis will leave us with a higher debt stock and a lower level of sustainable output, and both of these will have implications for the optimal paths for spending and for taxes. If sustainable output has changed then spending plans need to be revised, even if there is no excessive accumulation of debt. If debt has been accumulated in excess of that seen as wise before the crisis, then a plan must be in place to raise taxes and reduce spending in order to return to (or towards) a desired level of debt, even if sustainable output has not been affected. In addition to adjustments in response to changes in trend output and in the debt stock, there may also be a need for an adjustment in response to any structural deficit that existed before the crisis broke.
Undocumented Migrants and Resistance in the Liberal State
Authors: Ellermann Antje
Published: August 2010

This article explores the possibility of resistance under conditions of extreme state power in liberal democracies. It examines the strategies of migrants without legal status who, when threatened with one of the most awesome powers of the liberal state—expulsion—shed their legal identity in order to escape the state’s reach. Remarkably, in doing so, they often succeed in preventing the state from exercising its sovereign powers. The article argues that liberal states are uniquely constrained in their dealing with undocumented migrants. Not only are they forced to operate within the constraints of the international legal order—making repatriation contingent on the possession of identity documents—but the liberal state is also constitutionally limited in its exercise of coercion against the individual. The article concludes that it is those individuals who have the weakest claims against the liberal state that are most able to constrain its exercise of sovereignty.
The effect of population heterogeneity on statistical power in the design and evaluation of interventions
Authors: Depeng Jiang  , Pepler Debra , Hongxing Yao
Published: August 2010

Do interventions work and for whom? For this article, we examined the influence of population heterogeneity on power in designing and evaluating interventions. On the basis of Monte Carlo simulations in Study 1, we demonstrated that the power to detect the overall intervention effect is lower for a mixture of two subpopulations than for a homogeneous population with the same average effect size. We also examined how obtaining covariate information for the outcome and risk status (i.e., latent subclass membership) affects power. For Study 2, we moved from the simulation to assess power in the design and evaluation of an intervention for antisocial children. We illustrated the importance of considering population heterogeneity because interventions have different impacts on different ‘‘classes’’ of participants. We also illustrated that power increases by including covariates that are correlated with risk status. The results provide guidelines for the design and evaluation of interventions.
Business Incentive Use Among U.S. Local Governments: A Story of Accountability and Policy Learning
Authors: Lingwen Zheng  , Warner Mildred
Published: August 2010

Use of business incentives is one of the most common local economic development strategies. The authors analyze national surveys of 700 to 1,000 local governments from 1994, 1999, and 2004 to track use of business incentives over time. They find a shift from primary reliance on business incentives to use of a broader set of strategies that includes business retention and small business support. The authors also find evidence of policy learning with increased attention to accountability among governments that use business incentives. The 2004 model results also suggest that governments that rely most heavily on incentives may face more intergovernmental competition, stagnating or declining economies, and lower tax bases. For such governments, business incentives may contribute to a cycle of destructive competition.
Can Embedding Prompts in the IFSP Form Improve the Quality of IFSPs Developed?
Authors: Jung Lee Ann
Published: August 2010

The purpose of this study was to determine in what ways the quality of plans developed by individualized family service plan (IFSP) teams changed following targeted revisions to the IFSP form and instruction manual. IFSPs were collected from 94 family service coordinators, one IFSP from each before and one from each after the form revision. The revision included adding written prompts to the IFSP form and manual targeting three areas: (a) recording family routines; (b) recording families’ priorities for emotional, material, and informational support; and (c) connecting routines and priorities to outcomes and procedures. Results of multivariate analyses of variance for repeated measures indicated that the quality of IFSPs improved after document revision. Follow-up univariate tests showed statistically significant improvement in 7 of 12 indicators of IFSP quality.
The Relationship Between Behavior Ratings and Concurrent and Subsequent Mental and Motor Performance in Toddlers Born at Extremely Low Birth Weight
Authors: Messinger Daniel , Lambert Brittany , Bauer Charles R. , Bann Carla M. , Hamlin-Smith Kasey , Das Abhik
Published: August 2010

When predicting child developmental outcomes, reliance on children’s scores on measures of developmental functioning alone might mask more subtle behavioral difficulties, especially in children with developmental risk factors. The current study examined predictors and stability of examiner behavior ratings and their association with concurrent and subsequent mental and motor performance in toddlers born at extremely low birth weight. Toddlers were evaluated using the Behavior Rating scale (BRS) and the Mental and Psychomotor indexes of the second edition of the Behavior Rating Scale at 18 and 30 months corrected age. BRS total and factor scores showed moderate stability between 18 and 30 months. These scores also predicted 30-month Mental scale and Psychomotor scale scores above and beyond prior mental and motor performance. Our findings suggest that early behavior ratings are associated with child mental and motor performance; therefore, behavior ratings might be useful in identifying toddlers at developmental risk and who might benefit from early intervention.
A Combined Input-state Feedback Linearization Scheme and Independent Component Analysis Filter for the Control of Chaotic Systems with Significant Measurement Noise
Authors: Fuh Chyun-Chau , Wang Mei-Chuan
Published: August 2010

Chaotic motion is an undesirable phenomenon in many engineering applications since it leads to a significant degradation of the system performance and restricts the feasible operational range. Therefore, the problem of controlling or suppressing chaos has attracted considerable attention in the literature. However, most chaos control schemes utilize a state feedback signal, and are therefore sensitive to measurement noise. Therefore, a requirement exists for filtering systems capable of separating the measurement noise from the chaotic signal in order to improve the performance of the controlled system. However, the chaotic signal and the measurement noise are both broadband signals, and thus the measurement noise can not be filtered using a low-pass filter since this causes a distortion of the chaotic signal. Accordingly, this paper presents a control scheme for chaotic dynamic systems with significant measurement noise featuring an input-state linearization scheme and a filter based upon an independent component analysis algorithm. The feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed approach are demonstrated by way of numerical simulations using a general Lorenz system for illustration purposes.
The Development of and First Experiences with a Behavioural Self-regulation Intervention for End-stage Renal Disease Patients and Their Partners
Authors: Jansen Daphne L. , Heijmans Monique , Rijken Mieke , Kaptein Ad A.
Published: August 2010

This article describes the development of an intervention programme for patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) and their partners. The programme is based on theories of self-regulation, social learning, and self-determination aimed at maintaining and increasing patients’ activities, including paid work, and sense of autonomy. The intervention was evaluated on its feasibility and first experiences among a group of 12 patients and partners. Results show that the intervention is feasible. The outcomes observed by the patients themselves are encouraging. The findings show that an approach in which cognitive, emotional, behavioural, and contextual aspects are integrated is promising. Areas of attention for developing and implementing interventions are discussed.
The Relationship Between Stress Positions and Pain Intensity in Triangular Fibrocartilage Lesions
Authors: Park M.J. , Lee J.S.
Published: August 2010

We investigated the relationship between stress applied in several positions of the wrist and pain intensity in triangular fibrocartilage lesions in sixty-one patients who were diagnosed as having triangular fibrocartilage lesions and had a wrist arthroscopy. Before arthroscopy, we stressed the wrist with an axial load applied in four different wrist positions, and the evoked pain was graded into four levels. The patients who had a triangular fibrocartilage lesion on arthroscopy were divided into those with a traumatic tear and those with degenerative changes. While hypersupination and extension of wrist position evoked the most severe pain in patients with a traumatic tear, the intensity of pain did not relate to wrist rotation in patients with degenerative changes.
Corrective osteotomy in forearm fracture malunion improves functional outcome in adults
Authors: Chia D. S. Y. , Lim Y. J. , Chew W. Y. C.
Published: August 2010

Malunions of forearm fractures in adults can present with limitation of forearm rotation, or as distal radioulnar joint instability with functional impairment. This contrasts with paediatric patients in whom malunions of similar severities are often better tolerated. We did a retrospective review of six adult patients after corrective forearm osteotomy for symptomatic malunited forearm shaft fractures. The corrective operations were done between 7 and 168 months after initial injury, using oblique or wedge osteotomies. Median follow-up was 22.5 months. The patients recovered well, with statistically significant improvement in forearm rotation and Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH) scores. No significant complications occurred.
Inducible Fli-1 gene deletion in adult mice modifies several myeloid lineage commitment decisions and accelerates proliferation arrest and terminal erythrocytic differentiation
Authors: Starck Joëlle , Weiss-Gayet Michèle , Gonnet Colette , Guyot Boris , Vicat Jean-Michel , Morlé François
Published: August 2010

This study investigated the role of the ETS transcription factor Fli-1 in adult myelopoiesis using new transgenic mice allowing inducible Fli-1 gene deletion. Fli-1 deletion in adult induced mild thrombocytopenia associated with a drastic decrease in large mature megakaryocytes number. Bone marrow bipotent megakaryocytic-erythrocytic progenitors (MEPs) increased by 50% without increase in erythrocytic and megakaryocytic common myeloid progenitor progeny, suggesting increased production from upstream stem cells. These MEPs were almost unable to generate pure colonies containing large mature megakaryocytes, but generated the same total number of colonies mainly identifiable as erythroid colonies containing a reduced number of more differentiated cells. Cytological and fluorescence-activated cell sorting analyses of MEP progeny in semisolid and liquid cultures confirmed the drastic decrease in large mature megakaryocytes but revealed a surprisingly modest (50%) reduction of CD41-positive cells indicating the persistence of a megakaryocytic commitment potential. Symmetrical increase and decrease of monocytic and granulocytic progenitors were also observed in the progeny of purified granulocytic-monocytic progenitors and common myeloid progenitors. In summary, this study indicates that Fli-1 controls several lineages commitment decisions at the stem cell, MEP, and granulocytic-monocytic progenitor levels, stimulates the proliferation of committed erythrocytic progenitors at the expense of their differentiation, and is a major regulator of late stages of megakaryocytic differentiation.
CD57 defines a functionally distinct population of mature NK cells in the human CD56dimCD16+ NK-cell subset
Authors: Lopez-Vergès Sandra , Milush Jeffrey M. , Pandey Suchitra , York Vanessa A. , Arakawa-Hoyt Janice , Pircher Hanspeter , Norris Philip J. , Nixon Douglas F. , Lanier Lewis L.
Published: August 2010

Natural killer (NK) cells are innate immune lymphocytes that express a heterogeneous repertoire of germline-encoded receptors and undergo a distinct pattern of maturation. CD57 is a marker of terminal differentiation on human CD8+ T cells. Very few newborn or fetal NK cells express CD57; however, the frequency of CD57-bearing NK cells increases with age. We assessed the transcriptional, phenotypic, and functional differences between CD57+ and CD57− NK cells within the CD56dim mature NK subset. CD57+ NK cells express a repertoire of NK-cell receptors, suggestive of a more mature phenotype, and proliferate less when stimulated with target cells and/or cytokines. By contrast, a higher frequency of CD57+ NK cells produced interferon-γ and demonstrated more potent lytic activity when these cells were stimulated through the activating receptor CD16; however, they are less responsive to stimulation by interleukin-12 and interleukin-18. Finally, CD57 expression is induced on CD57−CD56dim NK cells after activation by interleukin-2. A combination of a mature phenotype, a higher cytotoxic capacity, a higher sensitivity to stimulation via CD16, with a decreased responsiveness to cytokines, and a decreased capacity to proliferate suggest that CD57+ NK cells are highly mature and might be terminally differentiated.
Persistence survey of Toxic Shock Syndrome toxin-1 producing Staphylococcus aureusand serum antibodies to this superantigen in five groups of menstruating women
Authors: Parsonnet Jeffrey , Hansmann Melanie A , Seymour Jon L , Delaney Mary L , DuBois Andrea M , Modern Paul A , Jones Michaelle B , Wild John E , Onderdonk Andrew B
Published: August 2010

Background

Menstrual Toxic Shock Syndrome (mTSS) is thought to be associated with the vaginal colonization with specific strains ofStaphylococcus aureusTSST-1 in women who lack sufficient antibody titers to this toxin. There are no published studies that examine the seroconversion in women with various colonization patterns of this organism. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the persistence ofStaphylococcus aureuscolonization at three body sites (vagina, nares, and anus) and serum antibody to toxic shock syndrome toxin-producingStaphylococcus aureusamong a small group of healthy, menstruating women evaluated previously in a larger study.

Methods

One year after the completion of that study, 311 subjects were recalled into 5 groups. Four samples were obtained from each participant at several visits over an additional 6-11 month period: 1) an anterior nares swab; 2) an anal swab; 3) a vagina swab; and 4) a blood sample. Gram stain, a catalase test, and a rapidS. aureus-specific latex agglutination test were performed to phenotypically identifyS. aureusfrom sample swabs. A competitive ELISA was used to quantify TSST-1 production. Human TSST-1 IgG antibodies were determined from the blood samples using a sandwich ELISA method.

Results

We found only 41% of toxigenicS. aureusand 35.5% of non-toxigenic nasal carriage could be classified as persistent. None of the toxigenicS. aureusvaginal or anal carriage could be classified as persistent. Despite the low persistence ofS. aureuscolonization, subjects colonized with a toxigenic strain were found to display distributions of antibody titers skewed toward higher titers than other subjects. Seven percent (5/75) of subjects became seropositive during recall, but none experienced toxic shock syndrome-like symptoms.

Conclusions

Nasal carriage ofS. aureusappears to be persistent and the best predicator of subsequent colonization, whereas vaginal and anal carriage appear to be more transient. From these findings, it appears that antibody titers in women found to be colonized with toxigenicS. aureusremained skewed toward higher titers whether or not the colonies were found to be persistent or transient in nature. This suggests that colonization at some point in time is sufficient to elevate antibody titer levels and those levels appear to be persistent. Results also indicate that women can become seropositive without experiencing signs or symptoms of toxic shock syndrome.
Identification of the risk for liver fibrosis on CHB patients using an artificial neural network based on routine and serum markers
Authors: Wang Danan , Wang Qinghui , Shan Fengping , Liu Beixing , Lu Changlong
Published: August 2010

Background

Liver fibrosis progression is commonly found in patients with CHB. Liver biopsy is a gold standard for identifying the extent of liver fibrosis, but has many draw-backs. It is essential to construct a noninvasive model to predict the levels of risk for liver fibrosis. It would provide very useful information to help reduce the number of liver biopsies of CHB patients.

Methods

339 chronic hepatitis B patients with HBsAg-positive were investigated retrospectively, and divided at random into 2 subsets with twice as many patients in the training set as in the validation set; 116 additional patients were consequently enrolled in the study as the testing set. A three-layer artificial neural network was developed using a Bayesian learning algorithm. Sensitivity and ROC analysis were performed to explain the importance of input variables and the performance of the neural network.

Results

There were 329 patients without significant fibrosis and 126 with significant fibrosis in the study. All markers except gender, HB, ALP and TP were found to be statistically significant factors associated with significant fibrosis. The sensitivity analysis showed that the most important factors in the predictive model were age, AST, platelet, and GGT, and the influence on the output variable among coal miners were 22.3-24.6%. The AUROC in 3 sets was 0.883, 0.884, and 0.920. In the testing set, for a decision threshold of 0.33, sensitivity and negative predictive values were 100% and all CHB patients with significant fibrosis would be identified.

Conclusions

The artificial neural network model based on routine and serum markers would predict the risk for liver fibrosis with a high accuracy. 47.4% of CHB patients at a decision threshold of 0.33 would be free of liver biopsy and wouldn't be missed.
Multiplex PCR technique could be an alternative approach for early detection of leprosy among close contacts - a pilot study from India
Authors: Banerjee Surajita , Sarkar Kamalesh , Gupta Soma , Mahapatra Prasanta Sinha , Gupta Siddhartha , Guha Samudra , Bandhopadhayay Debasis , Ghosal Chaitry , Paine Suman Kalyan , Dutta Rathindra Nath , Biswas Nibir , Bhattacharya Basudev
Published: August 2010

Background

Implementation of Multi drug Therapy (MDT) regimen has resulted in the decline of the total number of leprosy cases in the world. Though the prevalence rate has been declining, the incidence rate remains more or less constant and high in South East Asian countries particularly in India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Srilanka. Leprosy, particularly that of multibacillary type spreads silently before it is clinically detected. An early detection and treatment would help to prevent transmission in the community. Multiplex PCR (M-PCR) technique appears to be promising towards early detection among contacts of leprosy cases.

Methods

A total of 234 paucibacillary (PB) and 205 multibacillary (MB) leprosy cases were studied in a community of an endemic area of Bankura district of West Bengal (Eastern India). They were assessed by smear examination for acid-fast bacilli (AFB) and M-PCR technique. These patients were treated with Multidrug Therapy (MDT) as prescribed by WHO following detection. A total of 110 MB and 72 PB contacts were studied by performing M-PCR in their nasal swab samples.

Results

83.4% of MB patients were observed to be positive by smear examination for AFB and 89.2% by M-PCR. While 22.2% of PB patients were found to be positive by smear examination for AFB, 80.3% of these patients were positive by M-PCR. Among leprosy contacts (using M-PCR), 10.9% were found to be positive among MB contacts and 1.3% among PB contacts. Interestingly, two contacts of M-PCR positive MB cases developed leprosy during the period of two years follow up.

Conclusion

The M-PCR technique appears to be an efficient tool for early detection of leprosy cases in community based contact tracing amongst close associates of PB and MB cases. Early contact tracing using a molecular biology tool can be of great help in curbing the incidence of leprosy further.
Biological characteristics and treatment outcomes of metastatic or recurrent neuroendocrine tumors: tumor grade and metastatic site are important for treatment strategy
Authors: Kim Su-Jung , Kim Jin Won , Han Sae-Won , Oh Do-Youn , Lee Se-Hoon , Kim Dong-Wan , Im Seock-Ah , Kim Tae-You , Seog Heo Dae , Bang Yung-Jue
Published: August 2010

Background

Studies about the biology, treatment pattern, and treatment outcome of metastatic/recurrent neuroendocrine tumor (NET) have been few.

Methods

We enrolled patients with metastatic/recurrent NET diagnosed between January 1996 and July 2007 and retrospectively analyzed.

Results

A total of 103 patients were evaluated. Twenty-six patients (25.2%) had pancreatic NET, 27 (26.2%) had gastrointestinal NET, 2 (1.9%) had lung NET, 28 (27.2%) had NET from other sites, and 20 (19.4%) had NET from unknown origin. The liver was the most common metastatic site (68.9%). Thirty-four patients had grade 1 disease, 1 (1.0%) had grade 2 disease, 15 (14.6%) had grade 3 disease, 9 (8.7%) had large cell disease, and 7 (6.8%) had small cell disease.

Sixty-six patients received systemic treatment (interferon, somatostatin analogues or chemotherapy), 64 patients received local treatment (TACE, radiofrequency ablation, metastasectomy, etc.). Thirty-six patients received both systemic and local treatments.

Median overall survival (OS) was 29.0 months (95% confidence interval, 25.0-33.0) in the103 patients. OS was significantly influenced by grade (p = .001). OS was 43.0, 23.0, and 29.0 months in patients who received local treatment only, systemic treatment only, and both treatments, respectively (p = .245). The median time-to-progression (TTP) was 6.0 months. Overall response rate was 34.0% and disease-control rate was 64.2%. TTP was influenced by the presence of liver metastasis (p = .011).

Conclusions

OS of metastatic/recurrent NET was different according to tumor grade. TTP was different according to metastasis site. Therefore, development of optimal treatment strategy based on the characteristics of NET is warranted.
Factors associated with cancer-related fatigue in breast cancer patients undergoing endocrine therapy in an urban setting: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Huang Xu , Zhang Qingyuan , Kang Xinmei , Song Ying , Zhao Wenhui
Published: August 2010

Background

Fatigue is prevalent in breast cancer survivors and has profound effects on daily life. The interference of fatigue with endocrine therapy may be difficult to separate. This study investigates the prevalence and severity of fatigue and identifies the demographic, clinical, and lifestyle factors associated with cancer-related fatigue (CRF) in breast cancer patients undergoing endocrine therapy in an urban area.

Methods

Women with stage I-IIIA breast cancer were recruited and asked to participate (n = 371) in the study. The 315 women who responded to the questionnaire (84.9%), 54 (17.1%) had completed endocrine therapy and 261 (82.9%) were still undergoing endocrine therapy. The patients had been diagnosed at an average of 31 months prior to recruitment (range, 7 to 60 months); the average age was 48 (range, 33 to 72) years. The 11-point scale and Visual Analog Scale (VAS) were employed to quantify the level of fatigue experienced by the patients. Logistic regression analyses and a trend test method were performed to evaluate factors associated with CRF.

Results

Among the 315 patients, 189 (60%) had experienced or were experiencing CRF during endocrine therapy. Logistic regression analysis was performed to identify factors associated with CRF, including BMI (body mass index), clinical stage, menopausal status, duration of endocrine therapy, physical activity, and diet. Factors unrelated to CRF were age, marital status, treatment, endocrine therapy drugs, alcohol intake, and smoking. The trend test method revealed an association between physical activity and dietary level and the intensity of CRF.

Conclusions

The present findings suggest that fatigue is an important problem in the majority of breast cancer patients during endocrine therapy. We found that BMI, clinical stage, menopausal status, duration of endocrine therapy, physical activity, and diet are associated with fatigue. Future research should focus on the impact factors of CRF and lifestyle in the management of breast cancer patients.
Stimulation of osteogenic differentiation in human osteoprogenitor cells by pulsed electromagnetic fields: an in vitro study
Authors: Jansen Justus HW , van der Jagt Olav P , Punt Bas J , Verhaar Jan AN , van Leeuwen Johannes PTM , Weinans Harrie , Jahr Holger
Published: August 2010

Background

Although pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) stimulation may be clinically beneficial during fracture healing and for a wide range of bone disorders, there is still debate on its working mechanism. Mesenchymal stem cells are likely mediators facilitating the observed clinical effects of PEMF. Here, we performed in vitro experiments to investigate the effect of PEMF stimulation on human bone marrow-derived stromal cell (BMSC) metabolism and, specifically, whether PEMF can stimulate their osteogenic differentiation.

Methods

BMSCs derived from four different donors were cultured in osteogenic medium, with the PEMF treated group being continuously exposed to a 15 Hz, 1 Gauss EM field, consisting of 5-millisecond bursts with 5-microsecond pulses. On culture day 1, 5, 9, and 14, cells were collected for biochemical analysis (DNA amount, alkaline phosphatase activity, calcium deposition), expression of various osteoblast-relevant genes and activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) signaling. Differences between treated and control groups were analyzed using the Wilcoxon signed rank test, and considered significant when p < 0.05.

Results

Biochemical analysis revealed significant, differentiation stage-dependent, PEMF-induced differences: PEMF increased mineralization at day 9 and 14, without altering alkaline phosphatase activity. Cell proliferation, as measured by DNA amounts, was not affected by PEMF until day 14. Here, DNA content stagnated in PEMF treated group, resulting in less DNA compared to control.

Quantitative RT-PCR revealed that during early culture, up to day 9, PEMF treatment increased mRNA levels of bone morphogenetic protein 2, transforming growth factor-beta 1, osteoprotegerin, matrix metalloproteinase-1 and -3, osteocalcin, and bone sialoprotein. In contrast, receptor activator of NF-κB ligand expression was primarily stimulated on day 14. ERK1/2 phosphorylation was not affected by PEMF stimulation.

Conclusions

PEMF exposure of differentiating human BMSCs enhanced mineralization and seemed to induce differentiation at the expense of proliferation. The osteogenic stimulus of PEMF was confirmed by the up-regulation of several osteogenic marker genes in the PEMF treated group, which preceded the deposition of mineral itself. These findings indicate that PEMF can directly stimulate osteoprogenitor cells towards osteogenic differentiation. This supports the theory that PEMF treatment may recruit these cells to facilitate an osteogenic response in vivo.
Stabilizing mutations increase secretion of functional soluble TCR-Ig fusion proteins
Authors: Lunde Elin , Løset Geir Åge , Bogen Bjarne , Sandlie Inger
Published: August 2010

Background

Whereas T cell receptors (TCRs) detect peptide/major histocompatibility complexes (pMHCs) with exquisite specificity, there are challenges regarding their expression and use as soluble detection molecules due to molecular instability. We have investigated strategies for the production of TCR-immunoglobulin (Ig) fusion proteins. Two different TCRs that are characteristic of a mouse model for idiotype (Id) dependent immune regulation were engineered. They are structurally unrelated with different variable (V), diversity (D) and joining (J) segments, but each share one V gene segment, either Vαor Vβ, with the well characterized murine TCR, 2C.

Results

Several TCR-Ig formats were assessed. In one, the TCR V domains were fused to Ig constant (C) regions. In others, the complete extracellular part of the TCR was fused either to a complete Ig or an Ig Fc region. All molecules were initially poorly secreted from eukaryotic cells, but replacement of unfavourable amino acids in the V regions improved secretion, as did the introduction of a disulfide bridge between the TCR C domains and the removal of an unpaired cysteine. A screening strategy for selection of mutations that stabilize the actual fusion molecules was developed and used successfully. Molecules that included the complete heterodimeric TCR, with a stabilizing disulfide bridge, were correctly folded as they bound TCR-specific antibodies (Abs) and detected pMHC on cells after specific peptide loading.

Conclusions

We show that fully functional TCR-Ig fusion proteins can be made in good yields following stabilizing engineering of TCR V and C region genes. This is important since TCR-Ig fusions will be important probes for the presence of specific pMHCsin vitroandin vivo. In the absence of further affinity maturation, the reagents will be very useful for the detection of kinetic stability of complexes of peptide and MHC.
The effective fraction isolated from Radix Astragali alleviates glucose intolerance, insulin resistance and hypertriglyceridemia in db/db diabetic mice through its anti-inflammatory activity
Authors: Hoo Ruby LC , Wong Janice YL , Qiao CF , Xu A , Xu HX , Lam Karen SL
Published: August 2010

Background

Macrophage infiltration in adipose tissue together with the aberrant production of pro-inflammatory cytokines has been identified as the key link between obesity and its related metabolic disorders. This study aims to isolate bioactive ingredients from the traditional Chinese herb Radix Astragali (Huangqi) that alleviate obesity-induced metabolic damage through inhibiting inflammation.

Methods

Active fraction (Rx) that inhibits pro-inflammatory cytokine production was identified from Radix Astragali by repeated bioactivity-guided high-throughput screening. Major constituents in Rx were identified by column chromatography followed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and mass-spectrometry. Anti-diabetic activity of Rx was evaluated in db/db mice.

Results

Treatment with Rx, which included calycosin-7-β-D-glucoside (0.9%), ononin (1.2%), calycosin (4.53%) and formononetin (1.1%), significantly reduced the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6 and MCP-1) in human THP-1 macrophages and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced activation of NF-κB in mouse RAW-Blue macrophages in a dose-dependent manner. Chronic administration of Rx in db/db obese mice markedly decreased the levels of both fed and fasting glucose, reduced serum triglyceride, and also alleviated insulin resistance and glucose intolerance when compared to vehicle-treated controls. The mRNA expression levels of inflammatory cell markers CD68 and F4/80, and cytokines MCP-1, TNF-α and IL-6 were significantly reduced in epididymal adipose tissue while the alternatively activated macrophage marker arginase I was markedly increased in the Rx-treated mice.

Conclusion

These findings suggest that suppression of the inflammation pathways in macrophages represents a valid strategy for high-throughput screening of lead compounds with anti-diabetic and insulin sensitizing properties, and further support the etiological role of inflammation in the pathogenesis of obesity-related metabolic disorders.