bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
An outbreak of community-acquired Legionnaires' disease pneumonia.
Authors: Helms C M , Wintermeyer L A , Zeitler R R , Larew R E , Massanari R M , Hall N H , Hausler W J , Johnson W
Published: November 2008

In October 1981, an outbreak of 29 cases of community-acquired pneumonia occurred among adult residents of Johnson County, Iowa. Retrospective study revealed 12 cases (41 per cent) had laboratory evidence of Legionnaires' disease (LD). No significant differences in clinical or epidemiological features were found between LD cases and the other pneumonias in the outbreak. All LD cases received erythromycin; one case died for a case-fatality rate of 8 per cent. The outbreak's focus could not be identified.
Obesity prognosis: a longitudinal study of children from the age of 6 months to 9 years.
Authors: Shapiro L R , Crawford P B , Clark M J , Pearson D L , Raz J , Huenemann R L
Published: November 2008

The development of body fatness and leanness is examined in an ongoing prospective nutrition and growth study. Individual skinfold thicknesses, relative weights, weight gains, activity levels, and caloric intakes were examined at seven ages between 6 months and 9 years. Changes in body fatness in this group of children provide evidence that the obese infant usually does not become the obese child. Weight gain in infancy is also a poor predictor of 9-year old obesity. Changes from obese to non-obese or lean are often not linear. There is evidence that impending or actual obesity begins at ages 6 to 9 years with some predictability provided as early as age 2 years for girls, age 3 years for boys.
Interviewing physicians: the effect of improved response rate.
Authors: Berk M L
Published: November 2008

This analysis of data from the Physicians' Practice Survey indicates that estimates made from early responders closely approximate those obtained at the conclusion of a longer field period.
Rocky Mountain spotted fever acquired in Florida, 1973-83.
Authors: Sacks J J , Janowski H T
Published: November 2008

From 1973 to 1983, 49 Florida residents were reported with confirmed Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF), 25 of whom were considered to have had Florida-acquired disease. Although there was no history of tick exposure for six of these 25 persons, all had contact with dogs or outdoor activities during the incubation period. The tick vectors of RMSF are widely distributed throughout Florida. We conclude that RMSF, although rare in Florida, can be acquired in the state.
Credentialing of diagnostic x-ray technologists: a question of public health impact.
Authors: Audet M F , Johnson D W
Published: November 2008

This paper presents estimates of the number of diagnostic x-ray examinations performed in the United States, the population dose delivered, the percentage of that dose contributed by credentialed and noncredentialed operators, and one measure of performance: collimation of the x-ray beam. An estimated 82 per cent of medical x-ray examinations are performed by voluntarily certified (ARRT or ARCRT) operators. These procedures contribute 90 per cent of the radiation dose to the population. Data from the Nationwide Evaluation of X-Ray Trends (NEXT) program indicate that certified operators collimate the x-ray beam somewhat better than noncertified for chest examinations. They also indicate that differences in collimation practices may be attributed to the type of facility as well as to the credentials of the operators. One-third of the medical x-ray machines are in states presently requiring licensure of operators. It appears from these estimates that instituting operator licensure in the remaining states may reduce population dose by a maximum of one or two per cent.
The emerging relevance of antitrust laws to the delivery of health care.
Authors: Wing K R
Published: November 2008

Until relatively recently, antitrust enforcement in the delivery of health care was virtually non-existent. Not even 15 years ago, many legal observers might have concluded that the professional services of medical care providers were exempted from the federal antitrust laws altogether; or that many providers were engaged in local activities beyond the reach of federal interstate commerce jurisdiction. Even 10 years ago, many providers were arguing that collective agreements among potential competitors were not only sound public policy, but also that such concerted activities were actively encouraged by various federal laws. Today, however, the enforcement of the federal antitrust is an integral part of the complicated legal environment of American health care delivery.
Physicians and the teaching of breast self-examination: implications from a survey at a university teaching hospital.
Authors: O'Malley M S , Fletcher S W , Bunce L A
Published: November 2008

We surveyed 80 physicians from four specialties (Family Medicine, General Medicine, General Surgery, Ob-Gyn) to investigate how they taught breast self-examination (BSE). Only half reported personally teaching BSE. Few MDs reported routinely using techniques to assess BSE competency. Most (72 per cent) claimed no formal training in teaching BSE; 10 per cent claimed no training at all. Techniques used to teach BSE may vary, and physicians may lack the training to teach BSE.
The difference between date of suicidal act and recorded death certificate date in 204 consecutive suicides.
Authors: Rich C L , Young D , Fowler R C , Rosenfeld S K
Published: November 2008

The date of death recorded on death certificates (DCD) was compared to the date of the suicidal act (DA) in a consecutive series of 204 suicides. The DA was known to be the same as the DCD in only 46 per cent of the cases. The DA was different from the DCD in 22 per cent of the cases. The difference between the DA and DCD should be taken into consideration in the analysis of temporal trends.
Premarital rubella vaccination program.
Authors: Vogt R L , Clark S W
Published: November 2008

A two-year Vermont program identified 494 (7 per cent) of 6,982 premarital female serologies that were seronegative (less than 1:8) to rubella by hemagglutination inhibition (HI) titer. All 494 susceptible patients and their physicians were notified of their results by letter. The State Health Department received reports that a total of 194 (39 per cent) of the susceptible patients had received rubella vaccinations as a result of their notifications. Intensive follow-up of susceptibles appears to be important factor in the success of premarital rubella screening programs.
Oral rehydration in China.
Authors: Taylor C E , Yu X Z
Published: November 2008

Oral rehydration with salt and sugar solution for diarrhea seems to have been widely used in China for more than 20 years. Surveys in five rural counties in widely distributed provinces have revealed that over 90 per cent of barefoot doctors and county doctors have been using a simple salt and sugar solution. Thirty-four per cent of mothers also said they used the oral solution. By contrast, most urban hospitals, especially teaching hospitals, continued to rely on intravenous (I-V) fluids. It had been previously observed that China has had high morbidity but low mortality from diarrheal diseases. Part of the explanation undoubtedly is the relatively good nutritional status of children and the widespread use of liquid traditional medicines. The finding that barefoot doctors have been using oral rehydration also may help explain the low mortality.
Trends in ischemic heart disease mortality in Italy, 1968-78.
Authors: La Vecchia C , Decarli A
Published: November 2008

In Italy during the period 1968-78, female heart disease mortality decreased in all age groups up to age 79, with an average annual rate of decline in the 35-74 age-standardized rate of over 0.7 per cent. In males, age-specific death rates in some age groups were stable or increased moderately, but in middle-aged (50 to 59) males there was a consistent increase so that the rise in the 35-74 age standardized male death rate was approximately 1 per cent per year.
Tuberculosis in employees at a Vermont furniture plant.
Authors: Spitalny K C , O'Grady R V , Vogt R L , Witherell L E , Hoshino D
Published: November 2008

In a case-contact investigation of a patient (A) with smear- and culture-positive pulmonary tuberculosis, we found that co-workers in one room of a furniture factory had a higher prevalence of significant reactions to 5 Tu PPD tuberculin than other furniture factory workers. One co-worker also had active pulmonary tuberculosis. It was concluded that Patient A probably transmitted mycobacteria in a well-ventilated, spacious work setting; and that Patient A's disease and the subsequent outbreak could have been prevented.
IUD use and subsequent tubal ectopic pregnancy.
Authors: Chow W H , Daling J R , Weiss N S , Moore D E , Soderstrom R M , Metch B J
Published: November 2008

As part of a case-control study of tubal ectopic pregnancy (TEP), we sought to evaluate the possible etiologic role of use of an intrauterine device (IUD) prior to conception. We interviewed 155 women who had a tubal ectopic pregnancy treated at one of five Seattle, Washington hospitals between 1975-79 regarding their reproductive, contraceptive, and medical histories; 456 women who delivered a baby in King County during the same period were identified from vital records and interviewed as controls. An elevated risk of TEP was detected among former users of the Dalkon Shield (adjusted OR = 2.5; 95% CI = 1.3-4.7). Women who had used other IUDs did not have an excess risk of TEP.
Prevalence of antibody to LAV/HTLV-III among homosexual men in Seattle.
Authors: Collier A C , Barnes R C , Handsfield H H
Published: November 2008

The prevalence of antibody to LAV/HTLV-III among homosexual men attending a community clinic and a sexually transmitted disease clinic in Seattle, Washington in early 1985 was 42 per cent and 32 per cent, respectively. Seropositivity was apparently not related to age or number of sexual partners. The high prevalence of LAV/HTLV-III seropositivity in an area where overt AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome) is still relatively uncommon suggests that public health measures to prevent acquisition and transmission of LAV/HTLV-III should be a high priority even in areas with low incidences of AIDS.
Increasing incidence of toxic shock syndrome in the 1970s.
Authors: Linnemann C C , Knarr D
Published: November 2008

To determine if there was a true increase in the incidence of toxic shock syndrome (TSS) or just increasing recognition of an old problem, we reviewed 2,145 charts of patients between the ages of 10 and 30 years with discharge diagnoses compatible with signs and symptoms of TSS. No cases were identified in 1970 and 1975, but eight cases were found in 1979 and 1980. The data suggest that an increase of TSS in this age group occurred in the late 1970s.
Distributional change in physician manpower, United States, 1963-80.
Authors: McConnel C E , Tobias L A
Published: November 2008

Using data from the American Medical Association's Physician Masterfiles (1963-80) and the GINI index of resource concentration as a global measure of changes in the pattern of locational choice, the expectation of a more uniform distribution of physicians is shown to have been met for all major categories of physicians except General Practitioners. Increases in the supply of Surgical Specialists, Medical Specialists, and Other Specialists were accompanied by increases in the index of dispersion across counties of 23.1 per cent, 17.9 per cent and 21 per cent, respectively. By 1980, Surgical Specialists were the most uniformly distributed of all physician groups. The distributional implications of location theory for physicians are addressed and evidence relevant to evaluating this economic theory of locational choice is presented.
The 75% Isopropanol-Soluble Polysaccharides from the Endosperm of the Legume Seed of Gleditsia Triacanthos
Authors: Navarro Diego A. , Cerezo Alberto S. , Stortz Carlos A.
Published: November 2008

The 75% isopropanol-soluble material from the endosperm of the legume-seed of Gleditsia triacanthos was isolated. The material extracted with boiling water was fractionated by ion-exchange chromatography and characterized. Besides minor amounts of galactomannans, major proportions of arabinans and/or arabinogalactans appear.
Analysis of exhaled breath from smokers, passive smokers and non‐smokers by solid‐phase microextraction gas chromatography/mass spectrometry
Authors: Buszewski Bogusław , Ulanowska Agnieszka , Ligor Tomasz , Denderz Natalia , Amann Anton
Published: November 2008

In this study, 38 samples of expired air were collected and analyzed from 20 non‐smoking volunteers, four passive smokers and 14 smokers (21 women and 17 men). Measurements were carried out using solid‐phase microextraction (SPME) as an isolation and preconcentration technique. The determination and identification were accomplished by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Our data showed that ca 32% of all identified compounds in the breath of healthy non‐smokers were saturated hydrocarbons. In the breath of smoking and passive smoking volunteers hydrocarbons were predominant, but also present were more exogenous analytes such as furan, acetonitrile and benzene than in the breath of non‐smokers. Acetonitrile, furan, 3‐methylfuran, 2,5‐dimethylfuran, 2‐butanone, octane and decane were identified in breath of smoking and passive smoking persons. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Anion Recognition by Neutral Macrocyclic Azole Amides
Authors: Schnopp Markus , Ernst Silvia , Haberhauer Gebhard
Published: November 2008

A straightforward synthesis of C2‐symmetric azole‐containing macrocyclic peptides is presented. This type of macrocycle possesses four amide groups directed into the interior of the scaffold that act as hydrogen‐bond donors and two nitrogen atoms from the azole unit that act as hydrogen‐bond acceptors. This arrangement makes them sensitive receptors for Y‐shaped anions like AcO– and H2PO4– with a selectivity for dihydrogen phosphate versus acetate, as was shown with 1H NMR titration techniques in [D6]DMSO/5 % CDCl3.(© Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2009)
Catalytic and Stoichiometric Synthesis of Novel 3‐Aminocarbonyl‐, 3‐Alkoxycarbonyl‐, and 3‐Amino‐4‐indolylmaleimides
Authors: Brennführer Anne , Neumann Helfried , Pews‐Davtyan Anahit , Beller Matthias
Published: November 2008

Novel nonsymmetrically substituted 4‐indolylmaleimides have been synthesized via palladium‐catalyzed alkoxy‐ and aminocarbonylation of 3‐bromo‐1‐methyl‐4‐(2‐methyl‐3‐indolyl)maleimide (1) with alcohols and amines in the presence of carbon monoxide. The resulting carboxamide derivatives represent a new class of potentially bioactive compounds. In addition, the direct amination reaction of 1 proceeded smoothly in the absence of catalyst and gave the desired 3‐amino‐4‐indolylmaleimides in good yields.(© Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2009)
In situ Preparation of Polyimide Composites Based on Functionalized Carbon Nanotubes
Authors: Srivastava Rohit , Banerjee Susanta , Jehnichen Dieter , Voit Brigitte , Böhme Frank
Published: November 2008

Three series of composite films based on polyimide and MWNTs were prepared by conversion of pyromellitic dianhydride and 4,4′‐oxydianiline in the presence of the nanotubes, followed by thermal imidization. Carboxy‐ and amino‐functionalized as well as unmodified nanotubes were used. It was demonstrated that just 0.5 wt.‐% of nanotubes increased the tensile properties of the composite films distinctly. Surprisingly, a significant influence of the functional groups on the mechanical performance of the composite films could not be demonstrated. However, it was shown that functional groups may reduce the conductivity of the films. Furthermore, the influence of ultrasonication is discussed.

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Integrated layout design of multi‐component system
Authors: Zhu Jihong , Zhang Weihong , Beckers Pierre
Published: November 2008

A new integrated layout optimization method is proposed here for the design of multi‐component systems. By introducing movable components into the design domain, the components layout and the supporting structural topology are optimized simultaneously. The developed design procedure mainly consists of three parts: (i) Introduction of non‐overlap constraints between components. The finite circle method (FCM) is used to avoid the components overlaps and also overlaps between components and the design domain boundaries. (ii) Layout optimization of the components and supporting structure. Locations and orientations of the components are assumed as geometrical design variables for the optimal placement while topology design variables of the supporting structure are defined by the density points. Meanwhile, embedded meshing techniques are developed to take into account the finite element mesh change caused by the component movements. (iii) Consistent material interpolation scheme between element stiffness and inertial load. The commonly used solid isotropic material with penalization model is improved to avoid the singularity of localized deformation in the presence of design dependent loading when the element stiffness and the involved inertial load are weakened by the element material removal.

Finally, to validate the proposed design procedure, a variety of multi‐component system layout design problems are tested and solved on account of inertia loads and gravity center position constraint. Solutions are compared with traditional topology designs without component. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Prevalence, prenatal diagnosis and survival of gastroschisis
Authors: Fillingham Anna , Rankin Judith
Published: November 2008

Objective

To describe the prevalence, associated anomalies, prenatal diagnosis and survival of cases of gastroschisis.

Method

Data were extracted from the Northern Congenital Abnormality Survey (NorCAS) for cases delivered during 1997 to 2006.

Results

A total of 143 cases of gastroschisis were notified from 310 410 registered births. Ten (7%) gastroschisis cases were associated with other structural anomalies. The male to female ratio among isolated gastroschisis cases was 1:1.1 and 4:1 among non‐isolated cases. The total prevalence for isolated cases was 4.28 per 10 000 births (95% CI 3.56–5.01), and the overall live birth prevalence was 4.21 per 10 000 live births (95% CI 3.49–4.93). There was an increase in total prevalence during the ten years, although this increase did not reach statistical significance (χ2 test for trend = 0.996, p = 0.318). The maternal age‐specific prevalence was highest in the less than 20 years age group (18.6 per 10 000 births (95% CI 14.0–23.3)). 130 (97.7%) isolated cases resulted in a live birth; 122 (91.7%) infants were alive at age one year. The accuracy of prenatal diagnosis was high, with gastroschisis being detected in 130 (97.7%) isolated cases.

Conclusion

This population‐based study demonstrates a continued increase in gastroschisis, especially in young mothers. The accuracy of prenatal diagnosis was very high. Just over 90% of children born with gastroschisis survived. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Intensification of workplace regimes in British horticulture: the role of migrant workers
Authors: Rogaly Ben
Published: November 2008

In Britain, international migrants have very recently become the major workforce in labour‐intensive horticulture. This paper explores the causes of the dramatic increase since the 1990s in the employment of migrant workers in this subsector. It locates this major change in a general pattern of intensification of horticultural production driven by an ongoing process of concentration in retailer power, and in the greater availability of migrant workers, shaped in part by state initiatives to manage immigration.

The paper draws on concepts developed in the US literature on agrarian capitalism. It then uses case histories from British horticulture to illustrate how growers have directly linked innovations involving intensification through labour control to their relationships with retailers. Under pressure on ‘quality’, volume and price, growers are found to have ratcheted up the effort required from workers to achieve the minimum wage through reducing the rates paid for piecework, and in some cases to have changed the type of labour contractor they use to larger, more anonymous businesses. The paper calls for further, commodity‐specific and spatially‐aware research with a strong ethnographic component. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Genotype–Phenotype Associations: Modulation by Diet and Obesity
Authors: Ordovas Jose M.
Published: November 2008

Changes in diet are likely to reduce chronic disorders, but after decades of active research and heated discussion, the question still remains: what is the optimal diet to achieve this elusive goal? Is it a low‐fat diet, as traditionally recommended by multiple medical societies? Or a high monounsaturated fat (MUFA) diet as predicated by the Mediterranean diet? Perhaps a high polyunsaturated fat (PUFA) diet based on the cholesterol‐lowering effects? The right answer may be all of the above but not for everybody. A well‐known phenomenon in nutrition research and practice is the dramatic variability in interindividual response to any type of dietary intervention. There are many other factors influencing response, and they include, among many others, age, sex, physical activity, alcohol, and smoking as well as genetic factors that will help to identify vulnerable populations/individuals that will benefit from a variety of more personalized and mechanistic‐based dietary recommendations. This potential could and needs to be developed within the context of nutritional genomics that in conjunction with systems biology may provide the tools to achieve the holy grail of dietary prevention and therapy of chronic diseases and cancer. This approach will break with the traditional public health approach of “one size fits all.” The current evidence based on nutrigenetics has begun to identify subgroups of individuals who benefit more from a low‐fat diet, whereas others appear to benefit more from high MUFA or PUFA diets. The continuous progress in nutrigenomics will allow some time in the future to provide targeted gene‐based dietary advice.
Abundance, site fidelity and range patterns of Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops aduncus) in two Australian subtropical estuaries
Authors: Fury Christine A. , Harrison Peter L.
Published: November 2008

Bottlenose dolphins are widely studied in marine habitats, but information on estuarine populations is very limited. The present study provides the first published data on bottlenose dolphins in Australian estuaries. Abundance estimates, site fidelity and individual ranging patterns were examined over a 3-year period for Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops aduncus) inhabiting the Clarence River (CR) and Richmond River (RR) estuaries in northern New South Wales, Australia. Mark–recapture analyses estimated 71 (62–81 95% CI) dolphins utilised the CR whereas 34 (19–49 95% CI) used the RR. Differences in site fidelity were observed between the estuaries, with 60% and 37% of identified dolphins determined as residents, 26% and 21% as occasional visitors and 14% and 42% as transients for the CR and RR respectively. Resource partitioning was apparent in both estuaries with the mean distance resident dolphins were found upstream from the river mouth being greater than occasional visitors and transients. The Clarence River sustains a larger, predominantly resident dolphin community compared with the Richmond River, which supports a relatively small dolphin community with lower site fidelity. Management of future increased anthropogenic disturbances is needed to ensure the long-term survival of these dolphin populations.
MSB: A mean-shift-based approach for the analysis of structural variation in the genome
Authors: Wang Lu-yong , Abyzov Alexej , Korbel Jan O. , Snyder Michael , Gerstein Mark
Published: November 2008

Genome structural variation includes segmental duplications, deletions, and other rearrangements, and array-based comparative genomic hybridization (array-CGH) is a popular technology for determining this. Drawing relevant conclusions from array-CGH requires computational methods for partitioning the chromosome into segments of elevated, reduced, or unchanged copy number. Several approaches have been described, most of which attempt to explicitly model the underlying distribution of data based on particular assumptions. Often, they optimize likelihood functions for estimating model parameters, by expectation maximization or related approaches; however, this requires good parameter initialization through prespecifying the number of segments. Moreover, convergence is difficult to achieve, since many parameters are required to characterize an experiment. To overcome these limitations, we propose a nonparametric method without a global criterion to be optimized. Our method involves mean-shift-based (MSB) procedures; it considers the observed array-CGH signal as sampling from a probabilitydensity function, uses a kernel-based approach to estimate local gradients for this function, and iteratively follows them to determine local modes of the signal. Overall, our method achieves robust discontinuity-preserving smoothing, thus accurately segmenting chromosomes into regions of duplication and deletion. It does not require the number of segments as input, nor does its convergence depend on this. We successfully applied our method to both simulated data and array-CGH experiments on glioblastoma and adenocarcinoma. We show that it performs at least as well as, and often better than, 10 previously published algorithms. Finally, we show that our approach can be extended to segmenting the signal resulting from the depth-of-coverage of mapped reads from next-generation sequencing.
Computer-controlled high-temperature single-crystal X-ray diffraction experiments and temperature calibration
Authors: Krüger Hannes , Breil Ludger
Published: November 2008

This work provides a simple way to operate and calibrate single-crystal gas flow heaters that use heating currents up to 10 A. Devices used for this task are an I-7019R data acquisition interface (ICP DAS Co. Ltd, Hsinchu, Taiwan) and an SDP-2210 power unit (Manson Engineering Industrial Ltd, Hong Kong;Imax= 10 A,Vmax= 20 V), which are both connected to one computer. The presented open source softwarehtcontrol(http://htcontrol.sourceforge.net) is able to control the heating current and to monitor the temperature, which allows automated calibrations. In particular, this work targets Stoe IPDS II diffractometer systems with a Heatstream high-temperature (HT) device. The extra hard- and software enables computer-controlled HT data collection series, which are performed utilizing theWinXposesoftware (Stoe & Cie GmbH, Darmstadt, Germany). New developments inWinXposeallow non-interactive data collections, which are controlled by means of an XML file specifying the measurement conditions.
RAF may induce cell proliferation through hypermethylation of tumor suppressor gene promoter in gastric epithelial cells
Authors: Wang Xia , Sun Dan‐Feng , Lu Rong , Chen Zhao‐Fei , Chen Ying‐Xuan , Fang Jing‐Yuan
Published: November 2008

The extracellular signal‐regulated kinase/mitogen‐activated protein kinase (ERK‐MAPK) is critical in human malignancies. It remained to be established whether DNA methyltransferases (Dnmt) and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) involved in DNA methylation during RAF‐transformed cell proliferation. The plasmid of constitutively active RAF was used to transfect gastric cell GES‐1 and cancer cell AGS. RAF promoted cell proliferation, growth in soft agar and induced cell cycle progress faster than empty plasmid by accelerating G1/S transition in both cell lines, a massive induction of cyclin D1 and PCNA expression was observed, along with reduced expression of p16INK4A, p21WAF1 and p27KIP1. Methylation‐specific polymerase chain reaction and bisulfite sequencing showed that the promoter of p16INK4A was methylated in RAF‐transformed cells, treatment with 5‐aza‐dC or PD98059 restored the expression of p16INK4A, increased p21WAF1 and p27KIP1 partially, associated with upregulation of the activity of Dnmt in RAF‐transformed cell GES‐1, and also decreased the hypermethylation status of p16INK4A, but not all CpG islands of p21WAF1 and p27KIP1. These data suggest that RAF may induce cell proliferation through hypermethylation of tumor suppressor gene p16INK4A, while the epigenetic inactivation of p21WAF1 and p27KIP1 may be not a key factor in RAF‐transformed cells. (Cancer Sci 2009; 100: 117–125)
A proteomic analysis of powdery mildew (Blumeria graminis f.sp. hordei) conidiospores
Authors: NOIR SANDRA , COLBY THOMAS , HARZEN ANNE , SCHMIDT JÜRGEN , PANSTRUGA RALPH
Published: November 2008

Conidiospores are the asexual propagation units of many plant‐pathogenic fungi. In this article, we report an annotated proteome map of ungerminated conidiospores of the ascomycete barley powdery mildew pathogen, Blumeria graminis f.sp. hordei. Using a combination of two‐dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and matrix‐assisted laser desorption ionization‐time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry, we have identified the proteins in 180 spots, which probably represent at least 123 distinct fungal gene products. Most of the identified proteins have a predicted function in carbohydrate, lipid or protein metabolism, indicating that the spore is equipped for the catabolism of storage compounds as well as for protein biosynthesis and folding on germination.
Comparison of sedimentary processes on adjacent passive and active continental margins offshore of SW Taiwan based on echo character studies
Authors: Chiu J.‐K. , Liu C.‐S.
Published: November 2008

Echo character recorded on Chirp sub‐bottom sonar data from offshore of SW Taiwan was analysed to examine and compare the sedimentary processes of adjacent passive and active continental margin settings. Seafloor echoes in the study area are classified into four types: (1) distinct echoes, (2) indistinct echoes, (3) hyperbolic echoes and (4) irregular echoes. Based on the mapped distribution of the echo types, the sedimentary processes offshore of SW Taiwan are different in the two tectonic settings. On the passive South China Sea (SCS) margin, slope failure is the main process on the upper continental slope, whereas turbidite deposits accumulate in the lower continental slope. In contrast, the submarine Taiwan orogenic wedge is characterized by fill‐and‐spill processes in intraslope basins on the upper slope, and mass‐transport deposits are observed in the canyons and on the lower Kaoping slope. This difference is largely caused by the huge influx of terrigenous sediments into the submarine Taiwan orogenic wedge compared with the passive SCS continental margin. In the latter, loading and movement of the Taiwan orogenic wedge has had a significant effect on the seafloor morphology and has triggered retrogressive failures. Gas hydrate dissociation may have enhanced the slope failure processes at some locations.
Enhanced complement resistance in drug-selected P-glycoprotein expressing multi-drug-resistant ovarian carcinoma cells
Authors: Odening K E , Li W , Rutz R , Laufs S , Fruehauf S , Fishelson Z , Kirschfink M
Published: November 2008

Multi-drug resistance (MDR) is a major obstacle in cancer chemotherapy. There are contrasting data on a possible correlation between the level of expression of the drug transporter P-glycoprotein (P-gp) and susceptibility to complement-dependent cytotoxicity (CDC). We therefore investigated the sensitivity of human ovarian carcinoma cells and their P-gp expressing MDR variants to complement. Chemoselected P-gp expressing MDR cells showed increased resistance to CDC associated with overexpression of membrane-bound complement regulatory proteins (mCRP) and increased release of the soluble inhibitors C1 inhibitor and factor I. MDR1 gene transfection alone did not alter the susceptibility of P-gp expressing A2780-MDR and SKOV3-MDR cells to CDC. However, subsequent vincristine treatment conferred an even higher resistance to complement to these cells, again associated with increased expression of mCRP. Blocking the function of P-gp with verapamil, cyclosporine A or the anti-P-gp-antibody MRK16 had no impact on their complement resistance, whereas blocking of mCRP enhanced their susceptibility to complement. These results suggest that enhanced resistance of chemoselected MDR ovarian carcinoma cells to CDC is not conferred by P-gp, but is due at least partly to overexpression of mCRP, probably induced by treatment with the chemotherapeutic agents.
Altered monocyte cyclo-oxygenase response in non-obese diabetic mice
Authors: Beyan H , Buckley L R , Bustin S A , Yousaf N , Pozzilli P , Leslie R D
Published: November 2008

Monocytes infiltrate islets in non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice. Activated monocyte/macrophages express cyclo-oxygenase-2 (COX-2) promoting prostaglandin-E2 (PGE2) secretion, while COX-1 expression is constitutive. We investigated in female NOD mice: (i) natural history of monocyte COX expression basally and following lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation; (ii) impact of COX-2 specific inhibitor (Vioxx) on PGE2, insulitis and diabetes. CD11b+ monocytes were analysed for COX mRNA expression from NOD (n = 48) and C57BL/6 control (n = 18) mice. NOD mice were treated with either Vioxx (total dose 80mg/kg) (n = 29) or methylcellulose as control (n = 29) administered by gavage at 4 weeks until diabetes developed or age 30 weeks. In all groups, basal monocyte COX mRNA and PGE2 secretion were normal, while following LPS, after 5 weeks of age monocyte/macrophage COX-1 mRNA decreased (P < 0·01) and COX-2 mRNA increased (P < 0·01). However, diabetic NOD mice had reduced COX mRNA response (P = 0·03). Vioxx administration influenced neither PGE2, insulitis nor diabetes. We demonstrate an isoform switch in monocyte/macrophage COX mRNA expression following LPS, which is altered in diabetic NOD mice as in human diabetes. However, Vioxx failed to affect insulitis or diabetes. We conclude that monocyte responses are altered in diabetic NOD mice but COX-2 expression is unlikely to be critical to disease risk.
Establishment of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay system for determining soluble CD96 and its application in the measurement of sCD96 in patients with viral hepatitis B and hepatic cirrhosis
Authors: Gong J , Zhu C , Zhuang R , Song C , Li Q , Xu Z , Wei Y , Yang K , Yang A , Chen L , Jin B
Published: November 2008

CD96, previously named T cell activation increased late expression (Tactile), is a transmembrane molecule that functions as an activated receptor on natural killer cells. It is well known that many transmembrane molecules have soluble forms, which were either shed from the cell surface or spliced at mRNA level. In many cases, the levels of soluble forms in the circulation could be used as biomarkers of lymphocyte activation in bacterial or virus infection, tumour, transplantation and autoimmue disease. To investigate whether CD96 could be released into the sera and the possible biological fuction of soluble hCD96 (sCD96), we generated and characterized five clones of anti-hCD96 mouse monoclonal antibodies (mAb) and developed a sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) system based on two anti-hCD96 mAbs with different epitope specificities. Using this ELISA system, sCD96 in serum samples from 99 healthy individuals could be detected. Furthermore, we found that the level of sCD96 in serum samples from patients with chronic viral hepatitis B or classes B and C of hepatic cirrhosis classified using the Child–Pugh score was much higher (P < 0·001 versus healthy individuals; P = 0·006 versus healthy individuals respectively) than that from healthy individuals (0·98 ng/ml). Our study demonstrates for the first time that sCD96 existed in sera, and suggestes that sCD96 may be used as a serous marker for some diseases such as chronic viral hepatitis B infection or hepatic cirrhosis in classes B and C. The level of sCD96 in patients' serum may have some relationship with a chronic inflammatory reaction.
Analysis of T cell receptor Vβ diversity in peripheral CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes in patients with autoimmune thyroid diseases
Authors: Okajima M , Wada T , Nishida M , Yokoyama T , Nakayama Y , Hashida Y , Shibata F , Tone Y , Ishizaki A , Shimizu M , Saito T , Ohta K , Toma T , Yachie A
Published: November 2008

Autoimmune thyroid diseases are characterized by intrathyroidal infiltration of CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes reactive to self-thyroid antigens. Early studies analysing T cell receptor (TCR) Vα gene usage have shown oligoclonal expansion of intrathyroidal T lymphocytes but not peripheral blood T cells. However, TCR Vβ diversity of the isolated CD4+ and CD8+ T cell compartments in the peripheral blood has not been characterized fully in these patients. We performed complementarity-determining region 3 (CDR3) spectratyping as well as flow cytometric analysis for the TCR Vβ repertoire in peripheral CD4+ and CD8+ T cells from 13 patients with Graves' disease and 17 patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis. Polyclonal TCR Vβ repertoire was demonstrated by flow cytometry in both diseases. In contrast, CDR3 spectratyping showed significantly higher skewing of TCR Vβ in peripheral CD8+ T cells but not CD4+ T cells among patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis compared with healthy adults. We found trends towards a more skewed CDR3 size distribution in those patients having disease longer than 5 years and requiring thyroid hormone replacement. Patients with Graves' disease exhibited no skewing both in CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. These findings indicate that clonal expansion of CD8+ T cells in Hashimoto's thyroiditis can be detected in peripheral blood and may support the role of CD8+ T cells in cell-mediated autoimmune attacks on the thyroid gland in Hashimoto's thyroiditis.
Toll-like receptor-induced granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor secretion is impaired in Crohn's disease by nucleotide oligomerization domain 2-dependent and -independent pathways
Authors: Brosbøl-Ravnborg A , Hvas C L , Agnholt J , Dahlerup J F , Vind I , Till A , Rosenstiel P , Höllsberg P
Published: November 2008

Pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) are an integral part of the innate immune system and govern the early control of foreign microorganisms. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the intracellular pattern recognition receptor nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-containing protein (NOD2, nucleotide oligomerization domain 2) are associated with Crohn's disease (CD). We investigated the impact of NOD2 polymorphisms on cytokine secretion and proliferation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) in response to Toll-like receptor (TLR) and NOD2 ligands. Based on NOD2 SNP analyses, 41 CD patients and 12 healthy controls were studied. PBMCs were stimulated with NOD2 and TLR ligands. After 18 h culture supernatants were measured using multiplex assays for the presence of human cytokines granulocyte–macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), interleukin (IL)-1β and tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α. In CD patients, TLR-induced GM-CSF secretion was impaired by both NOD2-dependent and -independent mechanisms. Moreover, TNF-α production was induced by a TLR-2 ligand, but a down-regulatory function by the NOD2 ligand, muramyl dipeptide, was impaired significantly in CD patients. Intracellular TLR ligands had minimal effect on GM-CSF, TNF-α and IL-1β secretion. CD patients with NOD2 mutations were able to secrete TNF-α, but not GM-CSF, upon stimulation with NOD2 and TLR-7 ligands. CD patients have impaired GM-CSF secretion via NOD2-dependent and -independent pathways and display an impaired NOD2-dependent down-regulation of TNF-α secretion. The defect in GM-CSF secretion suggests a hitherto unknown role of NOD2 in the pathogenesis of CD and is consistent with the hypothesis that impaired GM-CSF secretion in part constitutes a NOD2-dependent disease risk factor.
Assessing ecosystem functioning in streams affected by forest management: increased leaf decomposition occurs without changes to the composition of benthic assemblages
Authors: MCKIE BRENDAN G. , MALMQVIST BJÖRN
Published: November 2008

1. Landscape management practices that alter energetic linkages between aquatic and terrestrial habitats can affect associated ecosystem processes, and ultimately the provision of ecosystem services of importance to humanity. Such effects cannot always be inferred from current biomonitoring schemes, which are typically based on assessment of community structural parameters rather than functional attributes related to important ecosystem‐level processes.

2. We investigated effects of forest clearcutting, a major landscape‐level disturbance known to alter the energetic basis of aquatic food webs, on headwater streams in northern Sweden. The key ecosystem process of leaf decomposition was measured as an index of ecosystem functioning. The biomass of detritivorous shredders was also quantified, along with various community structural parameters associated with the diversity, composition and functional guild organisation of benthic macroinvertebrate assemblages.

3. No differences in macroinvertebrate abundance, diversity or assemblage composition were detected between forested and clearcut streams, and most functional guilds were similarly unaffected, though species density of scrapers was higher in forested than clearcut channels.

4. In contrast, mass loss of two leaf species was elevated in all clearcut streams, with evidence for increases in the efficiency per degree‐day of both the microbial and detritivore mediated fractions of decomposition.

5. Increased rates of leaf mass loss in the clearcut streams were associated with greater phosphate concentrations and shredder biomass, and with an increased relative abundance of broadleaves in standing stocks of benthic litter. Together, these findings indicate a more rapid transfer of energy and nutrients through the detrital pathways of our clearcut streams.

6. These results demonstrate the utility of litter decomposition assays for monitoring effects of forest management on stream ecosystem functioning, and have implications for nutrient cycles in landscapes extensively influenced by forest management. The markedly different responses of our functional and structural measures to clearcutting highlight the value of incorporating methods for the functional assessment of ecosystems into biomonitoring schemes.
Virtual histology by means of high‐resolution X‐ray CT
Authors: CNUDDE V. , MASSCHAELE B. , DE COCK H.E.V. , OLSTAD K. , VLAMINCK L. , VLASSENBROECK J. , DIERICK M. , WITTE Y.D. , VAN HOOREBEKE L. , JACOBS P.
Published: November 2008

Micro‐CT is a non‐destructive technique for 3D tomographic investigation of an object. A 3D representation of the internal structure is calculated based on a series of X‐ray radiographs taken from different angles. The spatial resolution of current laboratory‐used micro‐CT systems has come down over the last years from a few tens of microns to a few microns. This opens the possibility to perform histological investigations in 3D on a virtual representation of a sample, referred to as virtual 3D histology. The advantage of micro‐CT based virtual histology is the immediate and automated 3D visualization of the sample without prior slicing, sample preparation like decalcification, photographing and aligning. This not only permits a drastic reduction in preparation time but also offers the possibility to easily investigate objects that are difficult to slice. This article presents results that were obtained on punch biopsies of horse skin, (dental) alveolus of ponies and chondro‐osseous samples from the tarsus of foals studied with the new high resolution micro‐CT set‐up (HRXCT) at the Ghent University (Belgium) (http://www.ugct.ugent.be). This state‐of‐the‐art set‐up provides a 1 micron resolution and is therefore ideally suited for a direct comparison with standard light microscopy–based histology.
Effect of passive smoking on growth and infection rates of breast‐fed and non‐breast‐fed infants
Authors: Yılmaz Gonca , Hızlı Şamil , Karacan Candemir , Yurdakök Kadriye , Coşkun Turgay , Dilmen Uğur
Published: November 2008

Background:  The aim of the present study was to determine the effect of passive tobacco smoking on growth and infection rate of infants, and to evaluate whether breast‐feeding might be protective against harmful effects of cigarette smoke.

Methods:  A cross‐sectional study on 254 6–7‐month‐old infants was carried out. A questionnaire was given to mothers; and infants’ head circumference, bodyweight, height, and urinary cotinine levels were measured.

Results:  Multivariate analysis of factors influencing lower respiratory tract infections showed that smoking mothers increased the rate by 9.1‐fold; breast‐feeding decreased it by 3.3‐fold; formula feeding at birth increased it by a factor of 15.2; another smoker at home increased it by a factor of 40.1. Multivariate analysis of factors influencing upper respiratory tract infections showed that smoking mothers increased the rate by a factor of 23; early formula feeding increased it by a factor of 62; breast‐feeding decreased it by a factor of 5; smoking fathers increased it by a factor of 15. Multivariate analysis of factors influencing otitis media found that smoking mothers and fathers increased it by a factor of 9.4 and 6.15, respectively, and breast‐feeding decreased it by a factor of 5.4.

Conclusion:  Tobacco smoke exposure of infants has negative consequences on growth, otitis media, and upper and lower respiratory tract infections. Breast‐feeding promoted the growth of infants who were passively exposed to tobacco smoke and protected them against infections. Smoking should not be permitted in households with infants. When this is impossible, breast‐feeding should be promoted to protect the infants against the health hazards of passive smoking.
On the mechanisms of fatigue facet nucleation in titanium alloys
Authors: DUNNE F. P. E. , RUGG D.
Published: November 2008

A crystal plasticity model for near‐alpha hcp titanium alloys embodying a quasi‐cleavage failure mechanism is presented and employed to investigate the conditions necessary in order for facet nucleation to occur in cold‐dwell fatigue. A model polycrystal is used to investigate the effects of combinations of crystallographic orientations (and in particular, a rogue grain combination), the essential role of (cold) creep during hold periods in the loading cycle and the more damaging effect of a load hold rather than a strain hold in facet nucleation. Direct comparisons of model predictions are made with dwell fatigue test results. More generally, the crystal model for faceting is found to be consistent with a range of experimental observations.
Fatigue crack growth in hybrid boron/glass/aluminium fibre metal laminates
Authors: CHANG P.‐Y. , YEH P.‐C. , YANG J.‐M.
Published: November 2008

The crack growth behaviour of hybrid boron/glass/aluminium fibre metal laminates (FMLs) under constant‐amplitude fatigue loading was investigated. The hybrid FMLs consist of Al 2024‐T3 alloy as the metal layers and a mixture of boron fibres and glass fibres as the fibre layers. Two types of boron/glass/aluminium laminates were fabricated and tested. In the first type, the glass fibre/prepreg and the boron fibre/prepreg were used separately in the fibre layers, and in the second type, the boron fibres and the glass fibres were uniformly mingled together to form a hybrid boron fibre/glass fibre prepreg.

An analytical model was also proposed to predict the fatigue crack growth behaviour of hybrid boron/glass/aluminium FMLs. The effective stress intensity factor at a crack tip was formulated as a function of the remote stress intensity factor, crack opening stress intensity factor, and the bridging stress intensity factor. The bridging stress acting on the delamination boundary along the crack length was also calculated based on the crack opening relations. Then, the empirical Paris‐type fatigue crack growth law was used for predicting the crack growth rates. A good correlation between the predicted and experimental crack growth rates has been obtained.