bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Argatroban Dosing in Intensive Care Patients with Acute Renal Failure and Liver Dysfunction
Authors: Williamson David R. , Boulanger Isabelle , Tardif Mariline , Albert Martin , Grégoire Geneviève
Published: May 2004

Study Objective. To demonstrate dosing adjustment difficulties of argatroban encountered in critically ill patients with acute liver dysfunction who are receiving continuous renal replacement therapy.

Design. Case description.

Setting. Medical and surgical intensive care unit in a tertiary care, university‐affiliated hospital.

Patients. Four consecutive patients with proven heparin‐induced thrombocytopenia (HIT), acute renal failure requiring continuous renal replacement therapy, and various levels of transient hepatic impairment.

Intervention. Argatroban, a direct synthetic thrombin inhibitor, was given continuously and stabilized at 0.125–0.85 μg/kg/minute to attain an activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) 1.5–2.5 times the normal value for periods of 6–36 days.

Measurements and Results. Argatroban was started at the usual dosage of 2 μg/kg/minute, which resulted in significant overshooting of the aPTT and international normalized ratio (INR). No patient experienced bleeding or thrombotic complications. All patients were stabilized with reduced dosages such as those recommended for patients with chronic hepatic impairment.

Conclusion. We recommend argatroban therapy for intensive care patients with HIT, especially those with renal failure. However, in all patients with suspected liver dysfunction due to recent elevation of liver transaminase levels and combined renal failure, a decrease in the initial dosage and careful titration of the infusion are mandatory. Further studies are needed to fully elucidate argatroban elimination and dosage adjustments for intensive care patients.
Re‐evaluation of distillation and comparison with HNO3 leaching/solvent extraction for isolation of methylmercury compounds from sediment/soil samples
Authors: Liang Lian , Horvat Milena , Feng Xinbin , Shang Lihai , Li Hao , Pang Patrick
Published: May 2004

Distillation was re‐evaluated for the formation of artifacts arising from increasing naturally occurring mercury(II) concentrations, as opposed to previous identification of artifacts by spiking standard mercury(II) into samples. Naturally occurring mercury(II) concentrations lower than 2 µg g−1 were found not to affect methylmercury (MeHg) results. However, when the natural concentrations of mercury(II) were greater than 2 µg g−1, in contrast to standard mercury(II) spiked in samples, the MeHg concentrations measured were found to decrease (not increase) with increasing naturally occurring mercury(II) concentrations. This indicated that standard mercury(II) spiked in samples behaved differently from naturally occurring mercury(II) in the formation of MeHg artifacts during distillation. As a result, spiking standard mercury(II) into samples to identify the formation of MeHg artifacts is not adequate. It is difficult to explain why high naturally occurring mercury(II) suppresses MeHg measurements during distillation. In comparison with HNO3 leaching/solvent extraction (and other existing techniques), distillation was found to generate results comparable for samples containing less than 2 µg g−1 mercury(II). The HNO3 leaching/solvent extraction showed significant advantages over other procedures, as this technique generated the highest recoveries with good precision for all samples analyzed, and the results were found to be independent of mercury(II) concentrations for both naturally occurring and spiked standard mercury(II). Thus, except for samples from high mercury‐contaminated fields, distillation is still a good choice. Both the positive bias (possibly caused by artifact formation of MeHg) and the negative bias (due to incomplete leaching, back‐adsorption, and/or decomposition of MeHg) were investigated. Geologically, physically, and chemically different samples were used for the investigation. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Crystallographic report: The [bis(η5‐cyclopentadienyl)titanium(IV)‐bis(L‐methionine)] dichloride
Authors: Bína Radim , Císařová Ivana , Pavlišta Martin , Pavlík Ivan
Published: May 2004

The structure of ionic complex [Cp2Ti(L‐Met)2]2+[Cl−]2 (where Cp = η5‐C5H5) possessing C2 symmetry is presented. Discrete cationic units with distorted tetrahedral geometry around the central titanium atom are connected through intermolecular H···Cl bonds between ammonium group protons of α‐amino acid ligands and chloride anions. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Mechanism of the controlled radical polymerization of styrene and methyl methacrylate in the presence of dicyclopentadienyltitanium dichloride
Authors: Grishin Dmitry F. , Ignatov Stanislav K. , Shchepalov Alexander A. , Razuvaev Alexey G.
Published: May 2004

The mechanism of the controlled radical polymerization of styrene and methyl methacrylate in the presence of dicyclopentadienyltitanium dichloride (Cp2TiCl2) was studied using quantum chemical calculations and electron spin resonance spectroscopy. It was established that the reduction of Cp2TiCl2 to Cp2TiCl during the macromolecule synthesis occurs through the living polymerization mechanism, which adjusts the growth of a polymeric chain. The geometrical structures of the molecular complexes between a growing macroradical and Cp2TiCl2 and transition states of radical inhibition steps were optimized and the thermodynamic and kinetic parameters of the elementary reactions were estimated for several feasible directions of the process. On this basis, the observed kinetic features of vinylic monomer polymerization with participation of organic compounds of titanium are discussed. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Preparation, characterization and catalytic oxidation properties of tris[2‐(2‐pyridyl)benzimidazole]iron(II) complexes
Authors: Wang Mei , Sun Hongfei , Wang Yu , Wang Xiuna , Li Fei , Sun Licheng
Published: May 2004

Complexes [Fe(Hpbi)3](ClO4)2 (1) and [Fe(Hpbi)3](SbF6)2 (2) (Hpbi = 2‐(2‐pyridyl)benzimidazole) were prepared by a modified method and characterized by IR, 1H and 13C NMR, mass spectrometry, electron paramagnetic resonance spectra and elemental analysis. The catalytic activities of 1 and 2 were evaluated for the oxidation of cyclohexene, cyclohexane, ethylbenzene and adamantane with tert‐butylhydroperoxide or H2O2 as oxidant, and the results were compared with the properties of their analogue [Fe(bpy)3](SbF6)2 (3). Complexes 1 and 2 both afforded the ketonization product for the oxidation of ethylbenzene and the hydroxylation product for adamantane. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Increase of myocardial salvage and left ventricular function recovery with intracoronary abciximab downstream of the coronary occlusion in patients with acute myocardial infarction treated with primary coronary intervention
Authors: Bellandi Francesco , Maioli Mauro , Gallopin Michela , Toso Anna , Dabizzi Roberto Piero
Published: May 2004

In this prospective randomized trial on patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), we hypothesized that abciximab administered intracoronarily, downstream of the coronary occlusion, leads to a greater degree of myocardial salvage and better left ventricular function recovery compared with the usual abciximab administration. Forty‐five consecutive patients with first AMI and infarct‐related artery TIMI flow 0–1 undergoing primary PCI were enrolled. Twenty‐two patients were randomly assigned to the intracoronary treatment and 23 to the usual treatment. The initial perfusion defect, final infarct size, myocardial salvage, salvage index, and left ventricular function recovery were assessed by serial scintigraphic scans performed at admission and 7 days and 1 month after PCI. Angiographic myocardial blush grade, corrected TIMI frame count, and electrocardiographic ST segment elevation reduction were also assessed as markers of myocardial reperfusion. Final infarct size was significantly smaller (P = 0.043) and salvage index significantly higher (P = 0.003) in the intracoronary treatment group as a result of a greater degree of myocardial salvage (P = 0.0001). The increase of left ventricular ejection fraction at 1 month was significantly higher in the intracoronary treatment patients (P = 0.013). The markers of myocardial reperfusion were also significantly better in the intracoronary treatment group. In patients with AMI and occluded infarct‐related artery treated with primary PCI, intracoronary abciximab given just before PCI downstream of the occlusion is associated to a greater degree of myocardial salvage than the usual abciximab protocol. This benefit is mainly related to a substantial reduction in final infarct size, which leads to an improvement in left ventricular ejection fraction. Catheter Cardiovasc Interv 2004;62:186–192. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Device closure of iatrogenic membranous ventricular septal defects after prosthetic aortic valve replacement using the Amplatzer membranous ventricular septal defect occluder
Authors: Holzer Ralf , Latson Larry , Hijazi Ziyad M.
Published: May 2004

Iatrogenic hemodynamically significant ventricular septal defects (VSDs) after aortic valve replacement are rare. The surgical risk to close such VSDs is substantial. Catheter closure has rarely been attempted because access to the left ventricle during cardiac catheterization in patients with a prosthetic aortic valve has been associated with a risk of catheter entrapment. We describe two cases of this rare entity after St. Jude and Medtronic valve replacement in which successful percutaneous closure of the iatrogenic VSDs was achieved using the Amplatzer membranous VSD occluder. Crossing the prosthetic valves with a delivery sheath and closure with the membranous VSD device was accomplished in both cases. Catheter Cardiovasc Interv 2004;62:276–280. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Bivalirudin‐associated intracoronary thrombosis during γ‐brachytherapy and its experimental validation in acute swine model
Authors: Kuchulakanti Pramod K. , Satler Lowell F. , Rha Seung‐Woon , Waksman Ron
Published: May 2004

Bivalirudin is indicated for use as an anticoagulant in patients with unstable angina undergoing percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty. Cases of intracoronary thrombosis have been reported with β‐radiation when bivalirudin is used as an anticoagulant. We report two cases of intracoronary thrombosis with γ‐radiation when bivalirudin is used. Catheter Cardiovasc Interv 2004;62:209–213. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Double‐wire technique for access into a protruding aorto‐ostial stent for treatment of in‐stent restenosis
Authors: Chetcuti Stanley J. , Moscucci Mauro
Published: May 2004

We report a case of restenosis following ostial stenting of the right coronary artery with protrusion of the stent into the aorta. Treatment was only possible after a guidewire advanced through a lower strut was used to lever the guide, and a second guidewire was advanced through the true lumen. Catheter Cardiovasc Interv 2004;62:214–217. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Hydrothermal synthesis and structure of a novel terbium coordination polymer with packing cavities, {[Tb(TCB)1/2(H2TCB)1/2(H2O)](H2O)2}n (H2TCB = 1, 2, 4, 5‐benzenetetracarboxylic acid)
Authors: Hu Mao‐Lin , Zhu Nan‐Wen , Li Xin‐Hua , Chen Fan
Published: May 2004

A novel terbium coordination polymer {[Tb(TCB)1/2(H2TCB)1/2(H2O)](H2O)2}n (H2TCB = 1, 2, 4, 5‐benzenetetracarboxylic acid) (1) has been hydrothermally synthesized and determined by single crystal X‐ray diffraction method, which features a very interesting three‐dimensional framework with large packing cavities. It crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P21/n with a = 1.0723(4) nm, b = 0.7168(3) nm, c = 1.7155(6) nm, β = 97.079(4)°, V = 1.3086(8) nm3, Z = 4, and final R1 = 0.0203, wR2 = 0.0404. In 1, the protonated carboxylate groups are free, the other carboxylate groups are bonded to Tb3+ ion in three modes: the chelating bidentate, the bridging bidentate and bridging tridentate. Moreover each Tb3+ ion is coordinated by nine oxygen atoms from six carboxylate groups and one water molecule respectively to complete a deformed tricapped trigonal prismatic geometry. (© 2004 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Dewetted growth of CdTe in microgravity (STS‐95)
Authors: Fiederle M. , Duffar T. , Babentsov V. , Benz K. W. , Dusserre P. , Corregidor V. , Dieguez E. , Delaye P. , Roosen G. , Chevrier V. , Launay J. C.
Published: May 2004

Two CdTe crystals had been grown in microgravity during the STS‐95 mission. The growth configuration was dedicated to obtain dewetting of the crystals and to achieve high quality material. Background for the performed experiments was based on the theory of the dewetting and previous experience. The after flight characterization of the crystals has demonstrated existance of the dewetting areas of the crystals and their improved quality regarding the earth grown reference sample. The samples had been characterized by EDAX, Synchrotron X‐ray topography, Photoluminescence and Optical and IR microscopy. (© 2004 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
The possibility of using forward models for multi‐limb coordination: Examination of models for grip–load force coupling in humans
Authors: Ugata Masaomi , Kuroda Tomoe , Imamizu Hiroshi , Yoshioka Toshinori , Wada Yasuhiro , Kawato Mitsuo
Published: May 2004

According to recent findings in computation theory, the forward model is expected to play an important role in collaboration among effectors. However, no experimental evidence has been presented for the conjecture. The purpose of this study is to examine the possibility of using the forward model in collaboration among effectors, and to investigate grip–load force coupling, which is considered to be one of the collaborations among the effectors. First, the model for human grip–load force coupling, including the internal model for the effector, is considered. A hypothesis is composed for the cases in which the forward model is used or not used for control of the grip force. In order to examine the validity of the hypothesis by experiment, two‐point transport motion is tested in a situation in which an object with novel dynamics, modified by the manipulandum, is carried by being gripped in the hand. Based on the recovery of grip–load coupling for the novel dynamics of the object and the learning process of the arm movement trajectory, it is concluded that the hypothesis of the use of the forward model in the control of the grip force is adequate. Thus, the possibility of use of the forward model in collaboration among effectors is indicated. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electron Comm Jpn Pt 3, 87(11): 44–56, 2004; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/ecjc.20119
An automatic timing detection method using word spotting and dynamic programming for superimposing captions in television programs
Authors: Maruyama Ichiro , Abe Yoshiharu , Ehara Terumasa , Shirai Katsuhiko
Published: May 2004

This paper considers a technique for prerecorded TV programs in which captions for the hearing‐impaired are automatically superimposed on the basis of the program VTR and the advance electronic script. A method of detecting the caption presentation timing by detecting the synchronization timing for the speech and captions is described. For broadcast speech on which background sound is superimposed, it is difficult to achieve high detection accuracy by timing detection based only on a phoneme HMM word spotter. Consequently, this paper proposes the following method. For each sentence in the program script, multiple timing candidates are detected by word spotting. The optimal timing for the whole program is selected by using dynamic programming based on three scores (the time‐order in the manuscript, the ratio of the utterance times estimated from the manuscript, and the likelihood of being speech) in addition to the acoustic likelihood. An evaluation experiment was performed on 10 sessions of a documentary program. Assuming tolerable detection errors of 1 and 3 seconds, detection rates of 99.0 and 99.7% were obtained, respectively, indicating that the method is of practical value. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electron Comm Jpn Pt 3, 87(11): 73–82, 2004; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/ecjc.20121
Structural fiber reinforcement of keel blubber in harbor porpoise (Phocoena phocoena)
Authors: Hamilton Jonna L. , Dillaman Richard M. , McLellan William A. , Pabst D. Ann
Published: May 2004

This study investigated the functional morphology of the blubber that forms the caudal keels of the harbor porpoise (Phocoena phocoena). Blubber is a pliant biocomposite formed by adipocytes and structural fibers composed of collagen and elastic fibers. Caudal keels are dorsally and ventrally placed triangular wedges of blubber that define the hydrodynamic profile of the porpoise tailstock. Mechanical tests on carcasses demonstrate that when keels are bent, they strain nonuniformly along their lengths, with highest strains just caudal to the dorsal fin and lowest at the insertion of the flukes. Therefore, caudal keels undergo nonuniform longitudinal deformation while maintaining a stable, triangular cross‐sectional shape. Polarizing and transmitted light microscopy techniques were used to investigate blubber's 3D fiber architecture along the length of the dorsal keel. The triangular cross‐sectional shape of the keel appears to be maintained by structural fibers oriented to act as tensile stays. The construction of the blubber composite is regionally specific :structural fiber densities and diameters are higher in the relatively stiff caudal region of the keel than in the more deformable cranial keel region. The orientations of structural fibers also change along the length of the keel. Cranially, no fibers are oriented along the long axis, whereas a novel population of longitudinally oriented fibers reinforces the keel at the insertion of the flukes. Thus, differences in the distribution and orientation of structural fibers contribute to the regionally specific mechanical properties of the dorsal keel. J. Morphol. 261:105–117, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Major outer membrane proteins in moderately halophilic eubacteria of genera Chromohalobacter and Halomonas
Authors: Tokunaga Hiroko , Mitsuo Kenjiro , Kamekura Masahiro , Tokunaga Masao
Published: May 2004

Outer and inner membrane fractions of Chromohalobacter marismortui and Halomonas elongata were isolated by differential detergent solubilization, and profiles of membrane proteins, especially major outer membrane proteins, were analyzed. These type strains possessed one extremely abundant outer membrane protein which showed similarity in amino‐terminal amino acid sequence with the outer membrane porin proteins in other Gram‐negative bacteria. Three halophilic eubacterial strains isolated from saline environments were also characterized. Strains 160 and 43 were found to be Chromohalobacter spp. and strain 40 to be a Halomonas sp. by sequence analysis of their 16 S ribosomal RNA genes. Extremely abundant porin proteins with an apparent molecular mass of 49 kDa were found in Chromohalobacter sp.160 and Halomonas sp. 40, but no major outer membrane protein was detected in Chromohalobacter sp. 43, suggesting strain 43 was most likely a naturally defective porin mutant. Porin proteins from Chromohalobacter spp. and Halomonas spp. showed the same migration on SDS‐polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis with or without heat‐treatment, indicating that these porin proteins did not form a SDS‐resistant trimeric structure, which was detected in most of the Gram‐negative bacterial porin proteins. (© 2004 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Spatial distribution of a daily precipitation concentration index in peninsular Spain
Authors: Martin‐Vide Javier
Published: May 2004

Given its concentration in a few days and its modest total volume, knowledge about precipitation with daily resolution in Spain is highly important. In this article, a concentration index (CI) that evaluates the varying weight of daily precipitation, i.e. the contribution of the days of greatest rainfall to the total amount, is presented. The index is applied to exponential curves such as Y = aXexp(bX), which adjust the accumulated percentages of precipitation Y contributed by the accumulated percentage of days X on which it took place. The index was applied to 32 meteorological stations across peninsular Spain with quality data for the period 1951 to 1990, which enables the spatial patterns of daily pluviometric concentration in the territory to be determined. Copyright © 2004 Royal Meteorological Society
Electrical rectification by monolayers of three molecules
Authors: Metzger Robert M.
Published: May 2004

Rectification, i.e. asymmetrical electrical conduction by a Langmuir‐Blodgett monolayer of dicyano{4‐[1‐cyano‐2‐(1‐hexadecylquinolin‐1‐ium‐4‐yl)vinyl]phenyl} methanide (1), occurs between both Al and Au electrodes: this rectification arises from the asymmetry of the molecule, and the interplay between the zwitterionic ground state D+‐π‐A− and the less dissociated first electronic excited state D0‐π‐A0. Two more monolayer rectifiers have been found: 1‐butyl‐2,6‐bis{2‐[4‐(dibutylamino)phenyl] vinyl}pyridin‐1‐ium iodide (2) is an interionic rectifier with back charge transfer between the iodide ion and the pyridinium ring. 1a‐[4‐(dimethylamino)phenyl]‐1aH‐1a‐aza‐1(2)a‐homo(C60‐Ih)[5,6]fullerene (3) is a moderate rectifier, with a rectification ratio of 2.
W‐band receiver module using indium phosphide and gallium arsenide MMICs
Authors: Archer John W. , Shen Mei Gan
Published: May 2004

This paper describes a low‐noise, high‐gain, single‐sideband, downconverting receiver module developed for point‐to‐point telecommunications in the 82–104‐GHz range. Two indium phosphide (InP) and two gallium arsenide (GaAs) monolithic microwave integrated circuits (MMICs) are used in the multi‐chip module. For RF frequencies in the 82–104‐GHz range and within a 1–3‐GHz IF band, the receiver exhibits a typical single‐sideband down‐conversion gain between 15 and 20 dB and a typical noise figure of between 4 and 5 dB. In the same frequency range, the suppression of the unwanted sideband is typically −15 dB or more. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 42: 92–95, 2004; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.20218
An ultra compact 1 × 2 wavelength demultiplexer based on multimode interference with an index‐modulation region
Authors: Sam Y. L. , Won Y. H.
Published: May 2004

In this paper, we propose a novel structure for an ultra‐compact wavelength demultiplexer with an index‐modulation (IM) region incorporated into a multimode interference coupler. The device length can be reduced by using asymmetric output ports and the performance of this device has been enhanced by changing the phase within the region. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 42: 108–111, 2004; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.20222
Integrated‐circuit‐pressed ceramic‐package antenna
Authors: Zhang Y. P.
Published: May 2004

A novel integrated‐circuit‐pressed ceramic‐package antenna is proposed for the first time. The antenna is intended for use in the single‐chip solutions of wireless transceivers using deep submicron complementary metal‐oxide semiconductor (CMOS) technology. The prototype antenna printed on a dual‐in‐line integrated‐circuit‐pressed ceramic package is comparatively studied at 2.4 GHz with and without CMOS chip loading. The results show that CMOS chip loading greatly increases the impedance bandwidth, but slightly decreases the radiation efficiency of the antenna. The loaded antenna achieves an impedance bandwidth of 15.7% and a radiation efficiency of 64 ± 4%, which are sufficient for most applications. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 42: 143–147, 2004; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.20233
Hyperphosphorylation of pRb: a mechanism for RB tumour suppressor pathway inactivation in bladder cancer
Authors: Chatterjee Sunanda J , George Ben , Goebell Peter J , Alavi‐Tafreshi Mohammad , Shi Shan‐Rong , Fung Yuen Kai , Jones Peter A , Cordon‐Cardo Carlos , Datar Ram H , Cote Richard J
Published: May 2004

Loss of heterozygosity, mutations or deletions of the RB1 gene usually result in loss of pRb expression, which has been regarded as an indicator of loss of pRb function in human tumours. It has previously been shown that in addition to loss of pRb expression, aberrantly high (pRb2+) pRb expression also indicates loss of pRb function in bladder tumours compared with moderate (normal, pRb1+) pRb expression. The aim of this study was to elucidate the mechanism by which pRb is functionally inactivated in bladder tumours expressing aberrantly high levels of pRb. Constitutive phosphorylation was therefore investigated as a mechanism of pRb inactivation in bladder tumours. Of 28 bladder tumours examined, western blotting demonstrated pRb hyperphosphorylation in 5/7 (71%) pRb2+ bladder tumours compared with only 4/11 (36%) pRb1+ tumours (p = 0.002). All cases with undetectable pRb showed moderate to high p16 expression and none showed cyclin D1 expression by immunohistochemistry. All pRb1+ tumours with underphosphorylated pRb showed p16 but not cyclin D1 expression. All pRb2+ tumours with hyperphosphorylated pRb showed loss of p16 expression and/or cyclin D1 overexpression. Thus, elevated pRb expression was associated with pRb hyperphosphorylation, which, in turn, was associated with loss of p16 expression and/or increased cyclin D1 expression. In order to analyse this association in vitro, T24 cells, which express high levels of pRb, were transfected with p16 cDNA. Transfection with p16 cDNA resulted in a marked decrease in pRb phosphorylation, decreased cell proliferation, and a change in expression of pRb from high to moderate phenotype as assessed by immunohistochemistry. This paper gives the biological basis for constitutive alteration of pRb function in human tumours in the presence of an intact, expressed pRb protein; the mechanism of pRb inactivation is through hyperphosphorylation, which results from loss of p16 expression and/or cyclin D1 overexpression. Immunohistochemical expression of pRb appears to be a reliable indicator of pRb function. Copyright © 2004 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
In situ demonstration of CD40‐ and CD154‐positive cells in psoriatic lesions and keratinocyte production of chemokines by CD40 ligation in vitro
Authors: Pasch Marcel C , Timár Krisztina K , van Meurs Marjan , Heydendael Vera MR , Bos Jan D , Laman Jon D , Asghar Syed S
Published: May 2004

In psoriatic lesions, T cells and keratinocytes are in an activated state. Ligation of CD40 expressed on activated keratinocytes with CD154 expressed on activated T cells is thought to be involved in the pathogenesis of psoriasis. However, the presence of CD40+ and CD154+ cells in psoriatic skin has not been thoroughly studied. The present study has therefore examined their presence by immunohistochemistry in the lesional and non‐lesional skin of ten patients. The influence of CD154–CD40 ligation on the release of chemokines (IL‐8, RANTES, and MCP‐1) and complement components (C3 and factor B) from keratinocytes was also investigated in vitro. Studies using single and double staining showed that clusters of CD40+ keratinocytes were present in both lesional and non‐lesional skin; CD40+CD1a+ Langerhans cells in lesional, non‐lesional, and normal skin; and numerous CD40+CD83+ cells in lesional skin. CD1a+ and CD83+ cells always expressed CD40 strongly. Numerous T cells were seen in lesional skin. A small number of T cells expressed CD154. CD154+ T cells were seen in the lesional epidermis of seven of ten patients—in six, in juxtaposition to CD40+ cells including keratinocytes. In non‐lesional epidermis, CD154+ T cells were seen in two patients—in one, in juxtaposition to CD40+ keratinocytes. In vitro studies showed that IFN‐γ‐treated keratinocytes released small amounts of IL‐8, RANTES, and MCP‐1; ligation of these cells with CD154‐transfected J558 cells or soluble CD154 greatly enhanced the release. This ligation did not enhance the release of C3 and factor B. These results warrant further studies on the role of CD40 ligation in the pathogenesis of psoriasis. Copyright © 2004 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Another case of autosomal dominant exstrophy of the bladder
Authors: Froster U. G. , Heinritz W. , Bennek J. , Horn L. C. , Faber R.
Published: May 2004

Objective

Exstrophy of the bladder is a rare malformation due to an anterior midline defect. Most cases of this condition with variable expression occur sporadically, but there are some cases indicative of a strong genetic component apart from environmental factors. This is a report about another rare mother–child pair with bladder exstrophy.

Methods

We present the clinical data of a familial case of bladder exstrophy with an affected mother and her equally affected male fetus.

Results

Prenatal diagnosis of bladder exstrophy in the fetus was assessed by ultrasound at the 19th gestational week and was confirmed after termination of pregnancy at the 21st gestational week.

Conclusion

The present case may be additional evidence for an autosomal dominant inherited variant of this malformation complex with implication for counselling of affected patients. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Solution and latex properties of model alkali‐soluble rheology modifiers, synthesized via the reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer process, and the effects of the ethylene oxide chain length on the rheological properties
Authors: Sprong Ewan , De Wet‐Roos Deon , Tonge Matthew , Sanderson Ron
Published: May 2004

Model alkali‐soluble rheology modifiers were synthesized through the reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer polymerization of methyl methacrylate, methacrylic acid, and three different associative macromonomers containing 20, 50, and 100 ethylene oxide spacer units, respectively. The synthesized polymers showed well‐controlled molar masses and narrow molar mass distributions. The rheological properties of the model alkali‐soluble rheology modifiers were measured in alkali solutions and in the presence of a well‐characterized core–shell emulsion. The steady‐shear viscosity data for the emulsion solutions, thickened with the associative rheology modifiers, were described by the Carreau model. The rheology modifiers containing the macromonomers with the longest ethylene oxide spacer units produced the highest viscosity in the latex systems but the lowest viscosity in alkali solutions. The highest viscosities in alkali solutions were obtained for the rheology modifiers containing macromonomers with 50 ethylene oxide spacer units. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 42: 2502–2512, 2004
Setting reliability requirements based on minimum failure‐free operating periods
Authors: Todinov M. T.
Published: May 2004

A new reliability methodology and tools have been created for setting reliability requirements. At the heart of the new methodology are reliability requirements based on specified minimum failure‐free operating (MFFOP) intervals and a maximum acceptable level of the probability of premature failure. These types of requirements are suitable to industries where the consequences of failure and the cost of intervention for maintenance are very high (e.g. deepwater offshore oil and gas industries).

The methodology proposed includes models and tools for: (i) setting reliability requirements to limit the risk of premature failure below an acceptable level; (ii) setting reliability requirements to minimize the total losses; and (iii) setting reliability requirements to guarantee a set of MFFOP intervals. An advantage of the MFFOP approach is that it directly links the reliability requirements with health, safety, environmental and business risks. Another advantage is that the MFFOP requirements are suitable for non‐constant hazard rates where the mean time to failure (MTTF) reliability measure is often misleading. A solution to the important problem of determining the maximum hazard rate that guarantees with a required probability the existence of a specified set of MFFOP intervals has also been found.

The reliability tools proposed also permit the extraction of useful information from data sets containing a given number of random failures, in cases where the failure times are unknown. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Unexpected observation of ion suppression in a liquid chromatography/atmospheric pressure chemical ionization mass spectrometric bioanalytical method
Authors: Sangster Tim , Spence Mike , Sinclair Peta , Payne Richard , Smith Christopher
Published: May 2004

Ion suppression is a well‐known phenomenon in electrospray ionization (ESI) mass spectrometry. These suppression effects have been shown to adversely affect the accuracy and precision of quantitative bioanalytical methods using ion spray. Such suppression effects have not been as well defined in atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI) and there is some debate whether these effects actually occur in the ionization process using APCI. Here an example is described where clear ion suppression was observed during studies on a model compound and three metabolites using APCI liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS). Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The shape of large Galton‐Watson trees with possibly infinite variance
Authors: Geiger Jochen , Kauffmann Lars
Published: May 2004

Let T be a critical or subcritical Galton‐Watson family tree with possibly infinite variance. We are interested in the shape of T conditioned to have a large total number of vertices. For this purpose we study random trees whose conditional distribution given their size is the same as the respective conditional distribution of T. These random family trees have a simple probabilistic structure if decomposed along the lines of descent of a number of distinguished vertices chosen uniformly at random. The shape of the subtrees spanned by the selected vertices and the root depends essentially on the tail of the offspring distribution: While in the finite variance case the subtrees are asymptotically binary, other shapes do persist in the limit if the variance is infinite. In fact, we show that these subtrees are Galton‐Watson trees conditioned on their total number of leaves. The rescaled total size of the trees is shown to have a gamma limit law. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Random Struct. Alg., 2004
Scene‐adaptive switching of segmentation methods for object‐based video encoding
Authors: Misu Toshihiko , Sonehara Hajime , Zheng Wentao , Naemura Masahide , Kanatsugu Yasuaki , Izumi Yoshinori , Tanaka Yutaka
Published: May 2004

In order to create efficient object‐based video encoding, the authors have proposed a scene‐adaptive region segmentation method that can work with a variety of different types of scenes. In their method, encoding efficiency is improved by adaptively selecting for each frame the optimal method from among several different region segmentation methods determined using Bayesian decision‐making based on the video features of a scene. In this paper, the authors describe the Bayesian decision and training methods, and then formalize the image features and the different region segmentation methods. Finally, the authors demonstrate the validity of the proposed approach through experiments. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Syst Comp Jpn, 35(8): 31–44, 2004; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/scj.10593
A method of knowledge modeling and its application to gene function analysis
Authors: Matsunaga Tsutomu
Published: May 2004

This paper proposes a knowledge model for large‐scale knowledge structurization of documents. When an elementary concept such as input for information retrieval is handled as an object, generally a structure composed of the relations in the set of objects is observed. The proposed model generates objects by statistical machine learning of the occurrence patterns of words in the word set and quantifies the relations among the objects by matching to the occurrence patterns. The idea is to approach knowledge structurization in order to achieve systematic understanding by relating pieces of existing knowledge by quantifying the relations among objects as elementary concepts. In this paper, the proposed model is applied to problems in the life science field, where there is a strong requirement for new knowledge with a comprehensive overview, and its application to gene function analysis is discussed. Experimental results on the extraction of disease‐related genes as relations between genes and a disease, and on the estimation of gene functions combined with knowledge about organs, are presented and the effectiveness of the approach is demonstrated. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Syst Comp Jpn, 35(8): 21–30, 2004; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/scj.10670
Camera parameter estimation from a long image sequence by tracking markers and natural features
Authors: Sato Tomokazu , Kanbara Masayuki , Yokoya Naokazu , Takemura Haruo
Published: May 2004

Camera parameter recovery from an image sequence is very important in many applications such as 3D model reconstruction, object recognition, robot navigation, and mixed reality. However, there is a problem concerning the precision in camera parameter estimation from the image sequence, because feature tracking errors and estimation errors are accumulated. In this paper, we propose a camera parameter estimation method which is based on using a number of markers with known 3D position, color, and shape, as well as natural features. Initially, the camera parameters and 3D positions of natural features are estimated efficiently in every frame by tracking both these markers and natural features. The accumulation of estimated errors is then minimized by specifying additional markers in some frames of input and optimizing parameters globally through the whole input. In the experiments, some results of 3D reconstruction show the validity of the proposed method. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Syst Comp Jpn, 35(8): 12–20, 2004; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/scj.10702
Modeling network growth with directional attachment and communities
Authors: Kimura Masahiro , Saito Kazumi , Ueda Naonori
Published: May 2004

Aiming to construct a more precise probabilistic model for the short‐term growth process of real‐world growing networks such as the Web, we propose a new network growth model and its learning algorithm. Unlike the conventional network growth models, we incorporate directional attachment and community structure for this purpose. We first show that the proposed model also exhibits a degree distribution with a power‐law tail. In experiments using real Web data, we demonstrate that prediction of the dynamics of a given growing network can be improved by incorporating directional attachment and community structure. In experiments using synthetic data, we also demonstrate that prediction performance can definitely be improved by incorporating community structure. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Syst Comp Jpn, 35(8): 1–11, 2004; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/scj.10706
Interaction between peripheral optical flow and foveal depth perception
Authors: Watanabe Hiroshi , Umemura Hiroyuki , Yoshida Chisato , Matsuoka Katsunori
Published: May 2004

Using an immersive VR system (the “CAVE”), we investigated the sensitivity and threshold of depth order judgment in the central visual field by subjects placed in a visual environment that simulated optical flow, producing vection in a wide‐area visual field (front, floor, and both sides) associated with forward movement inside an endless toroidal tunnel. Experiments showed that when an optical flow is produced in the wide‐area visual field, the sensitivity and threshold of depth judgment exhibit a systematic change that depends on the direction of rotation. Possible explanations of this result are the use of an implicit reference plane by the subject, and change of body sensation in response to the peripheral visual field information. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Syst Comp Jpn, 35(8): 107–116, 2004; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/scj.20021
Statistical analysis of MMR vaccine adverse events on aseptic meningitis using the case cross‐over design
Authors: Park Taesung , Ki Moran , Yi Sung‐Gon
Published: May 2004

Vaccination is quite effective in reducing the incidence of disease. However, it may cause some adverse events. For example, one of the adverse events of measles‐mumps‐rubella(MMR) vaccination is the occurrence of aseptic meningitis. Since the vaccination rate is usually quite high, it is not plausible to use popular study designs such as cohort or case‐control studies. We considered a case cross‐over design to investigate the association between MMR vaccination and aseptic meningitis in Korean children. We used the Cochran–Mantel–Haenszel(CMH) approach, and obtained a Mantel–Haenszel odds ratio estimator as a measure of association. However, the validity of case cross‐over design or the CMH approach in vaccine adverse studies has not been fully investigated. In this paper, through Monte Carlo simulation studies, we show the appropriateness of the case cross‐over design and the CMH approach. We also discuss alternative approaches such as Poisson regression using offset and a simple uniformity test. In conclusion, the case cross‐over design seems useful to investigate the association between vaccination and occurrence of acute adverse events. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Bayesian analysis of risk factors for anovulation
Authors: Liu Yan , Johnson Wesley O. , Gold Ellen B. , Lasley Bill L.
Published: May 2004

Two algorithms for assessing ovulatory status using daily urinary levels of oestrogen and progesterone metabolites have been applied to non‐clinic‐based, free‐living populations of women. These relatively new methods for assessing ovarian function have been used to assess the potential adverse effects of occupational and environmental exposures, such as smoking, on the reproductive health of women. One algorithm has been validated against serum hormone measurements and gives good sensitivity and specificity for anovulation. However, a gold standard is generally not available in epidemiologic field studies in which these daily urine samples are collected. In this paper, we used Bayesian methods to estimate: (i) the probability of occurrence of anovulation, (ii) the sensitivity and specificity of the two algorithms, and (iii) the association between anovulation and smoking and other risk factors in the absence of a perfect test. We evaluated the two published algorithms for assessing ovulatory status, based on their cross‐classified results applied to one randomly selected cycle from each woman in a sample of 338 employed women. We first assumed that the algorithms were independent, conditional on ovulatory status. Then, we used a dependence model to allow for correlation between the results of the two algorithms. We implemented a Bayesian logistic regression analysis that allowed the outcome measurement to be partially imperfect. We incorporated the posterior distributions for algorithm accuracy obtained from the dependence model as prior distributions for this logistic regression model. Then, we compared the results with those obtained from a standard multiple logistic approach using the algorithm determination of ovulatory status as if it were perfect. Our results indicated that increasing physical activity was associated with a significantly increased risk of anovulation; and smokers had a potentially, but not statistically significant, increased occurrence of anovulation. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Non‐parametric estimation of gap time survival functions for ordered multivariate failure time data
Authors: Schaubel Douglas E. , Cai Jianwen
Published: May 2004

Times between sequentially ordered events (gap times) are often of interest in biomedical studies. For example, in a cancer study, the gap times from incidence‐to‐remission and remission‐to‐recurrence may be examined. Such data are usually subject to right censoring, and within‐subject failure times are generally not independent. Statistical challenges in the analysis of the second and subsequent gap times include induced dependent censoring and non‐identifiability of the marginal distributions. We propose a non‐parametric method for constructing one‐sample estimators of conditional gap‐time specific survival functions. The estimators are uniformly consistent and, upon standardization, converge weakly to a zero‐mean Gaussian process, with a covariance function which can be consistently estimated. Simulation studies reveal that the asymptotic approximations are appropriate for finite samples. Methods for confidence bands are provided. The proposed methods are illustrated on a renal failure data set, where the probabilities of transplant wait‐listing and kidney transplantation are of interest. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Engineering information integration using object‐oriented mediator technology
Authors: Nyström Mattias , Risch Tore
Published: May 2004

The mechanical product development process uses many different software systems to virtually simulate the behaviour of a design. The present work deals with flexible and efficient integration using object‐oriented mediator technology that provides transparent access to distributed engineering systems. The use of mediator technology is investigated for semi‐automatically integrating engineering information resident in computer aided design systems with a Common Object Request Broker Architecture based application programming interface. The purpose is to provide engineering analysis applications access to computer aided design system information and computational methods through a declarative query language. We conclude that the use of a declarative query language for developing engineering applications shows great potential in terms of flexibility, development productivity, performance, and ease of use, compared with using a procedural programming language. The work also shows new use of mediator technology, declarative queries, and active rules within engineering information integration that traditionally is accomplished using procedural programming. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.