bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Limits of observational data in determining outcomes from cancer therapy
Authors: Giordano Sharon H. , Kuo Yong‐Fang , Duan Zhigang , Hortobagyi Gabriel N. , Freeman Jean , Goodwin James S.
Published: April 2008

BACKGROUND.

Observational data are used increasingly to assess the effectiveness of therapies. However, selection biases are likely to have an impact on results and threaten the validity of these studies.

METHODS.

The primary objective of the current study was to explore the effect of selection biases in observational studies of treatment effectiveness in cancer care. Patients were identified from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results‐Medicare linked database. The following groups of patients were included: 5245 men treated with and without androgen deprivation for locally advanced prostate cancer, 43,847 men with active treatment versus observation for low‐ and intermediate‐risk prostate cancer, and 4860 patients with lymph node‐positive colon cancer who were treated with and without fluorouracil chemotherapy. Patients were compared by therapy for the outcomes of cancer‐specific mortality, other‐cause mortality, and overall mortality.

RESULTS.

In all comparisons, the observational data produced improbable results. For example, when evaluating outcomes of men who were treated with and without androgen deprivation for locally advanced prostate cancer, men who underwent androgen deprivation had higher prostate cancer mortality (hazard ratio, 1.5; 95% confidence interval, 1.29–1.92) despite clinical trial evidence that this treatment improves cancer mortality. Controlling for comorbidity, extent of disease, and other characteristics by multivariate analyses or by propensity analyses had remarkably small impact on these improbable results.

CONCLUSIONS.

The current results suggested that the results from observational studies of treatment outcomes should be viewed with caution. Cancer 2008. © 2008 American Cancer Society.
C‐reactive protein as a prognostic marker for men with androgen‐independent prostate cancer
Authors: Beer Tomasz M. , Lalani Alshad S. , Lee Stella , Mori Motomi , Eilers Kristine M. , Curd John G. , Henner W. David , Ryan Christopher W. , Venner Peter , Ruether J. Dean , Chi Kim N.
Published: April 2008

BACKGROUND.

Studies of cancer risk and molecular carcinogenesis suggest a role for inflammation in cancer development and progression. The authors sought to determine whether specific blood proteins associated with inflammation predict for outcomes in men with metastatic androgen‐independent prostate cancer (AIPC) who are initiating docetaxel‐based chemotherapy.

METHODS.

Baseline plasma samples were stored (−80°C) from 160 of 250 patients enrolled in the AIPC Study of Calcitriol ENhancing Taxotere (ASCENT) trial, a randomized, placebo‐controlled trial comparing weekly docetaxel plus high‐dose calcitriol with weekly docetaxel. Multiplex immunoassays measured 16 cytokine, chemokine, cardiovascular, or inflammatory markers. The Cox proportional hazards model was used to assess associations between baseline biomarkers, clinical characteristics, and survival. Logistic regression was used for analyses of associations with prostate‐specific antigen (PSA) decline.

RESULTS.

C‐reactive protein (CRP) was found to be significantly predictive of a shorter overall survival (hazards ratio [HR] of 1.41 for each natural logarithm [ln] [CRP] increase; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 1.20–1.65 [P < .0001]). When CRP (continuous) was entered into a multivariate model using 13 baseline clinical variables, only elevated CRP remained a significant predictor (P < .0001) of shorter overall survival. When categorized as normal (≤8 mg/L) or abnormal (>8 mg/L), elevated CRP was found to be a significant predictor of shorter overall survival (HR of 2.96; 95% CI, 1.52–5.77 [P = .001]), as was hemoglobin (P = .007). Elevated CRP was also associated with a lower probability of PSA decline (odds ratio of 0.74 for each ln(CRP) increase; 95% CI, 0.60–0.92 [P = .007]).

CONCLUSIONS.

Elevated plasma CRP concentrations appear to be a strong predictor of poor survival and lower probability of PSA response to treatment in patients with AIPC who are receiving docetaxel‐based therapy. Cancer 2008. © 2008 American Cancer Society.
Efficacy of lamotrigine in the management of chemotherapy‐induced peripheral neuropathy
Authors: Rao Ravi D. , Flynn Patrick J. , Sloan Jeff A. , Wong Gilbert Y. , Novotny Paul , Johnson David B. , Gross Howard M. , Renno Samer I. , Nashawaty Mohammed , Loprinzi Charles L.
Published: April 2008

BACKGROUND.

Lamotrigine, an antiepileptic agent, has been reported as being effective in reducing symptoms of neuropathy associated with various etiologies. Based on such data, a multicenter double‐blind, placebo‐controlled, randomized trial was conducted to evaluate the effect of lamotrigine on pain and other neuropathic symptoms due to chemotherapy‐induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN).

METHODS.

Patients with symptomatic CIPN with symptom scores of either 1) >3 on a 0‐10 Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) or 2) >1 on the 0‐3 the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) neuropathy scale (ENS) were eligible (higher numbers corresponding to greater severity of symptoms in both scales). Patients were randomly assigned to receive lamotrigine (target dose of 300 mg/day) or placebo for 10 weeks. Endpoints were measured biweekly.

RESULTS.

In all, 131 patients were enrolled. Both groups were well matched at baseline. Over the 10‐week period of the trial, the average pain scores (NRS) for the lamotrigine and placebo arms declined in both arms, with no statistically significant difference noted between the changes in the 2 groups (0.3 and 0.5 unit reduction from baseline, respectively; P = .56). Similarly, decreases in the ENS with therapy were not statistically different (0.4 and 0.3, respectively; P = .3). Changes in other subjective symptom scales were also not found to be statistically different between the 2 groups. Toxicities were mild and similar in each group.

CONCLUSIONS.

The results suggest that lamotrigine is not effective for relieving neuropathic symptoms in patients because of CIPN. Cancer 2008. © 2008 American Cancer Society.
Prognostic factors for patients with stage IV epithelial ovarian cancer receiving intraperitoneal chemotherapy after second‐look assessment
Authors: Zivanovic Oliver , Barakat Richard R. , Sabbatini Paul J. , Brown Carol L. , Konner Jason A. , Aghajanian Carol A. , Abu‐Rustum Nadeem R. , Levine Douglas A.
Published: April 2008

BACKGROUND.

The aim was to determine the long‐term outcome for patients with FIGO stage IV epithelial ovarian carcinoma (EOC) treated with intraperitoneal (IP) chemotherapy after second‐look assessment.

METHODS.

By using data from a retrospective cohort of 433 patients who received IP therapy after second‐look assessment after primary surgery and initial systemic therapy for EOC between 1984 and 1998 at our institution, all FIGO stage IIIC and IV patients were identified. Standard statistical methods were used.

RESULTS.

Overall, 297 patients met study criteria (246 stage IIIC; 51 stage IV). The median survival for patients with stage IV disease was 34 months compared with 42 months for patients with stage IIIC disease (P = .02). The only significant predictor of overall survival in patients with stage IV disease was the presence of gross residual disease at initiation of IP therapy (P = .027). When comparing stage IV patients with and without pleural effusions to all stage IIIC patients, there was a significant trend toward improved survival in the patients with pleural effusions only compared with other stage IV patients (P = .01).

CONCLUSIONS.

Prolonged overall survival was observed in patients with no gross residual disease at the time of IP chemotherapy initiation. When compared with similarly treated stage IIIC patients, stage IV patients with malignant pleural effusions appear to have a better outcome than those with other sites of metastasis. Future prospective trials should evaluate the use of IP therapy for patients with stage IV EOC by virtue of malignant pleural effusions only who responded to initial systemic therapy. Cancer 2008. ©2008 American Cancer Society.
Disease control intervals in high‐risk neuroblastoma
Authors: Santana Victor M. , Furman Wayne L. , McGregor Lisa M. , Billups Catherine A.
Published: April 2008

BACKGROUND.

Current salvage therapy for recurrent high‐risk neuroblastoma is rarely curative. Assessment of the effectiveness of new, primarily cytostatic agents requires the redefinition of study endpoints to reflect disease stabilization rather than tumor response or regression. The intervals of disease control in the patients in the current study with recurrent neuroblastoma were characterized to provide comparison criteria for exploratory studies of new agents.

METHODS.

Disease control intervals, disease‐free survival, postrecurrence survival, and median time to treatment failure were estimated in 90 patients with high‐risk neuroblastoma treated between January 1991 and June 2002 on 3 St. Jude neuroblastoma protocols.

RESULTS.

The estimated median time to disease recurrence was 18.3 months (95% confidence interval [95% CI], 15.9–22.4 months) for the first recurrence, 8.7 months (95% CI, 5.0–12.2 months) for the second recurrence, and 3.8 months (95% CI, 2.5–5.4 months) for the third recurrence. The 5‐year estimate of survival after the first disease recurrence was 11% ± 4%. Patients with longer initial disease control had a postrecurrence survival advantage:the 5‐year estimated postrecurrence survival was 15.3% ± 6.3% for patients with initial disease control ≥16 months and 8.1% ± 5.5% for others (P = .006). The median disease control interval was approximately halved after each disease recurrence.

CONCLUSIONS.

The previous disease control interval should be considered in stratification schemes for future phase 2 testing of new agents for the treatment of neuroblastoma. For the optimal evaluation of new treatment strategies that incorporate cytostatic agents, study design and selection of endpoints must take into account the current patterns of recurrence or progression of neuroblastoma. Cancer 2008. © 2008 American Cancer Society.
REFINE: The reconfigurable packet filtering on network processor
Authors: Ficara Domenico , Giordano Stefano , Rossi Federico , Vitucci Fabio
Published: April 2008

Network processors (NPs) are emerging as very promising platforms for developing reconfigurable and high‐performance network devices, due to their capability to combine the flexibility of general‐purpose processors with the high‐performance features of hardware‐based systems. They represent the most suitable solutions for implementing complex and dynamic tasks, such as packet classification and scheduling, which are key operations, for example, in DS networks. Programmability and reconfigurability allow NP‐based devices to be continuously adapted to the new network requirements, obtaining a high time in market.

This paper illustrates the compound process that leads to the implementation of a reconfigurable multidimensional packet filtering on the Intel® IXP2400 NP. The multidimensional multibit trie is chosen as the best algorithm to be implemented and it is modified to exploit the specific features of NP. The different tasks are mapped on the NP computational resources and an optimized implementation is performed, with subsequent experimental validation. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Investigating pricing solutions to combat spam: Postage stamp and bonded senders
Authors: Joseph Kissan , Thevaranjan Alex
Published: April 2008

E-mail is a powerful communication tool for marketers. Unfortunately, the efficacy of this tool is rapidly being eroded by spam. In response, one option now in play for legitimate marketers is to subscribe to services that charge postage for delivery of e-mail. This solution is consistent with economic theory and essentially amounts to a tax to reduce the supply of unwanted communications. However, it fails to harness the unique nature of the e-mail communication medium— namely, its “interactivity.” A solution that utilizes the interactivity of the e-mail medium, but less commonly known, is bonded senders. It involves the posting of a bond with an intermediary that is forfeited if the recipient identifies the e-mail as an unwanted communication. Given the emergence of these two distinct pricing solutions, we ask: (1) What are the essential characteristics of each pricing solution? (2) Which pricing solution is superior? and (3) Is it sustainable without regulation? Our analytical findings reveal that the bonded senders solution dominates the postage stamp solution. Specifically, it allows marketers in more categories to participate and yields greater profit to each marketer. Surprisingly, despite offering these benefits to marketers, it also results in a lower amount of unwanted communications. Finally, incorporating the notion of rational expectations, we also find that only bonded senders emerge as a solution that is self-enforcing. Our analytical findings thus give pause to pure postage-type mechanisms but encourage investments in the bonded senders mechanism.
Investigating cross-buying and customer loyalty
Authors: Reinartz Werner , Thomas Jacquelyn S. , Bascoul Ganaël
Published: April 2008

Cross-buying (i.e., the purchase of products from multiple categories) has been associated with higher levels of customer retention, revenue generation, and loyalty. Despite these claims, debate remains as to whether cross-buying is an antecedent to such behaviors or if loyalty behaviors represent the antecedent, with cross-buying as a consequence. This research investigates the direction, strength, and nature of the relationship between customers’ cross-buying behavior and associated behavioral outcomes by using a Granger-type causality modeling and two data sets. The authors determine that cross-buying is a consequence and not an antecedent of behavioral loyalty. Specifically, behavioral loyalty drives both the number of categories from which a person buys and the level of spending dispersion across those categories. These findings have significant implications for cross-selling strategies.
People are experience goods: Improving online dating with virtual dates
Authors: Frost Jeana H. , Chance Zoë , Norton Michael I. , Ariely Dan
Published: April 2008

We suggest that online dating frequently fails to meet user expectations because people, unlike many commodities available for purchase online, are experience goods: Daters wish to screen potential romantic partners by experiential attributes (such as sense of humor or rapport), but online dating Web sites force them to screen by searchable attributes (such as income or religion). We demonstrate that people spend too much time searching for options online for too little payoff in offline dates (Study 1), in part because users desire information about experiential attributes, but online dating Web sites contain primarily searchable attributes (Study 2). Finally, we introduce and beta test the Virtual Date, offering potential dating partners the opportunity to acquire experiential information by exploring a virtual environment in interactions analogous to real first dates (such as going to a museum), an online intervention that led to greater liking after offline meetings (Study 3).
Dinuclear Copper(II) Complexes with Bis‐thiocarbohydrazone Ligands
Authors: Dragancea Diana , Addison Anthony W. , Zeller Matthias , Thompson Laurence K. , Hoole Dushyanthi , Revenco Mihail D. , Hunter Allen D.
Published: April 2008

Copper(II) complexes with substituted bis(salicylaldehyde) thiocarbohydrazones (3‐methoxy = H4LMe, 3‐ethoxy = H4LEt), have been synthesized. These ditopic ligands form dinuclear copper(II) complexes containing the ligands in their triplydeprotonated forms. The ligands entail two nonequivalent donor atom sites (ONN and ONS) for copper(II) coordination. Magnetic measurements of the complexes in the temperature range 2–290 K showed significant antiferromagnetic interactions between the two copper(II) ions, with –2J around 180 cm–1. The dinuclear molecules in turn also form face‐to‐face H‐bonded dimers involving four coppers in total.(© Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2008)
N‐Phosphanylformamidines (phosfam) R2′N–C(H)=N–PR2: One‐Pot Synthesis and Versatile Protonation Reaction
Authors: Le Thanh Dung , Weyland Marie‐Christine , El‐Harouch Yamna , Arquier Damien , Vendier Laure , Miqueu Karinne , Sotiropoulos Jean‐Marc , Bastin Stéphanie , Igau Alain
Published: April 2008

A straightforward synthesis of unprecedented N‐phosphanylformamidines (phosfam), 3a,b has been developed. The single‐crystal X‐ray study of 3a revealed an E‐formamidine stereoisomer. The structural parameters show a strong localization of the C1–N1 double bond in the formamidine pattern. Versatile protonation reactions with HCl on 3a and 3b are reported, leading to P–N cleavage vs. prototropy. Experimental studies and DFT calculations have evidenced that the imino nitrogen atom is the basic center of phosfams 3a and 3b. DFT calculations show that the isomers and rotamers of the N‐ and P‐protonated forms of 8a/9a and 8b/9b are energetically close, which prevents conclusions being drawn on the existence of thermodynamic and/or kinetic products. The accessibility of the anti bonding PN orbital (σ*P1N1) is partly responsible for the cleavage of the PN bond in 8a; 8b possesses a less energetically accessible σ*P1N1 orbital which is consistent with the preservation of the PN bond and the quantitative formation of the corresponding phosphonium compound 9b·Cl.(© Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2008)
Analysis of multiple SNPs in a candidate gene or region
Authors: Chapman Juliet , Whittaker John
Published: April 2008

We consider the analysis of multiple single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within a gene or region. The simplest analysis of such data is based on a series of single SNP hypothesis tests, followed by correction for multiple testing, but it is intuitively plausible that a joint analysis of the SNPs will have higher power, particularly when the causal locus may not have been observed. However, standard tests, such as a likelihood ratio test based on an unrestricted alternative hypothesis, tend to have large numbers of degrees of freedom and hence low power. This has motivated a number of alternative test statistics. Here we compare several of the competing methods, including the multivariate score test (Hotelling's test) of Chapman et al. ([2003] Hum. Hered. 56:18–31), Fisher's method for combining P‐values, the minimum P‐value approach, a Fourier‐transform‐based approach recently suggested by Wang and Elston ([2007] Am. J. Human Genet. 80:353–360) and a Bayesian score statistic proposed for microarray data by Goeman et al. ([2005] J. R. Stat. Soc. B 68:477–493). Some relationships between these methods are pointed out, and simulation results given to show that the minimum P‐value and the Goeman et al. ([2005] J. R. Stat. Soc. B 68:477–493) approaches work well over a range of scenarios. The Wang and Elston approach often performs poorly; we explain why, and show how its performance can be substantially improved. Genet. Epidemiol. 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Environmental change during the Late Famennian and Early Tournaisian (Late Devonian–Early Carboniferous): implications from stable isotopes and conodont biofacies in southern Europe
Authors: Kaiser Sandra I. , Steuber Thomas , Becker R. Thomas
Published: April 2008

A biostratigraphic correlation of the Devonian/Carboniferous (D/C) boundary sections from the Carnic Alps, the Graz Palaeozoic, the Montagne Noire and the Pyrenees resulted in a high‐resolution record of the carbon isotopic composition of micrites (δ13Ccarb), of sedimentary organic matter (δ13Corg) and of oxygen isotope ratios of conodont apatite (δ18Ophosph). The studies focused on the interval between the Upper postera Zone (Late Famennian) and the sandbergi Zone (Lower Tournaisian). For the first time, weak but significant positive carbon isotope excursions in micrites and in the sedimentary organic matter is reported from the Middle and Upper expansa zones of the Carnic Alps. They coincide with a decrease in the oxygen isotope values of conodont apatite. The excursions indicate changes in the global carbon cycle during an episode of high seawater temperatures, and correlate with sedimentary change and a stepwise eustatic rise in the Rhenish Massif. High carbon isotope values were also measured in limestones from the Graz Palaeozoic in the Upper praesulcata Zone, which were previously reported from the Rhenish Massif, Carnic Alps, Montagne Noire and the North America continent. The change from a palmatolepid–polygnathid conodont biofacies to a palmatolepid–bispathodid–branmehlid biofacies in the expansa Zone in the Carnic Alps is obviously influenced by anoxic conditions and repeated transgressive phases. The protognathodids and the polygnathids start to radiate in the Upper praesulcata Zone, after the main end‐Famennian extinction episode. This is connected with the disappearance of the palmatolepids, and environmental stress created by worldwide anoxic conditions, climate change and sea‐level changes, stimulated the radiation of both protognathodids and the polygnathids. The regional correlation of the geochemical records as well as interpretations of these records on a global scale indicate that changes in conodont biofacies of Late Famennian–Early Tournaisian limestones were caused by a complex pattern of environmental changes. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Reasons for psychiatric consultation referrals in Dutch nursing home patients with dementia: a comparison with normative data on prevalence of neuropsychiatric symptoms
Authors: Kat Martin G. , Zuidema Sytse U. , van der Ploeg Tjeerd , Kalisvaart Kees J. , van Gool Willem A. , Eikelenboom Piet , de Jonghe Jos F. M.
Published: April 2008

Objective

To study psychiatric consultation referrals of nursing home patients with dementia and to compare referral reasons with normative data on prevalence of neuropsychiatric symptoms.

Methods

This is part of a cross‐sectional study of 787 patients residing in 14 nursing homes in the Netherlands. Nursing home physicians (NHP) noted the primary reasons for psychiatric consultation according to the Neuropsychiatric Inventory items and two extra domains. Patients were subsequently assessed by an old‐age psychiatrist. Eligible patients were those that had dementia. Reasons for referral were compared with independent data on prevalence of neuropsychiatric symptoms in nursing home patients with dementia.

Results

A total of 325/787 (41.3%) patients had dementia. Agitation, disinhibition and aberrant motor behaviour were frequent reasons for referral (>25%). Psychotic symptoms, apathy and eating behaviour changes were infrequent reasons (<10%) for seeking consultation. Agitation and disinhibition were more often primary reasons for consultation than would have been expected based on normative prevalence estimates of these symptoms. In contrast, delusions, euphoria, apathy, irritability and eating behaviour changes were less often reasons for referral compared with prevalence estimates.

Conclusions

This study is the first to examine psychiatric consultation for dementia patients in Dutch nursing home. Large differences exist between referral reasons and normative data on symptom prevalence. Specialized mental health service was provided for the agitated and disinhibited patient in particular. Chances are that this is at the expense of the apathetic, retarded and quietly ‘not causing any trouble’ patient. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Normative study of the Stroop Color and Word Test in an educationally diverse elderly population
Authors: Seo Eun Hyun , Lee Dong Young , Choo ll Han , Kim Shin Gyeom , Kim Ki Woong , Youn Jong Choul , Jhoo Jin Hyeong , Woo Jong Inn
Published: April 2008

Objective

The purpose of this study was to explore the effects of demographic variables on Stroop Color and Word Test (SCWT) performance in an educationally diverse elderly population and to provide normative information.

Methods

SCWT was administered to 564 community‐dwelling volunteers aged 60–90 years with an educational history of from zero to 25 years of full‐time education. People with serious neurological, medical and psychiatric disorders (including dementia) were excluded.

Results

Age, education and gender were found to be significantly associated with performance on all three pages of the SCWT. Based on the results obtained, SCWT norms were stratified by age (four overlapping tables), education (three strata), and gender.

Conclusions

In the present study, normative information on SCWT was obtained from an educationally diverse elderly population. SCWT would appear to be more useful in poorly educated elderly, and could be used in future cross‐cultural comparisons of geriatric populations. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Quetiapine decreases alcohol consumption, craving, and psychiatric symptoms in dually diagnosed alcoholics
Authors: Martinotti G. , Andreoli S. , Di Nicola M. , Di Giannantonio M. , Sarchiapone M. , Janiri L.
Published: April 2008

Aims

Patients with dual diagnosis are often excluded from clinical trials although more than half of all individuals with Bipolar Disorder have a substance abuse problem at some point in their lifetime, representing a high‐risk clinical population. The purpose of this study was to investigate the safety and efficacy of quetiapine in the treatment of alcohol dependence comorbid with disorders characterized by high levels of mood and behavioral instability.

Methods

Twenty‐eight subjects, after a detoxification period, were orally treated with flexible doses of quetiapine for 16 weeks. At each assessment patients were evaluated through the Obsessive Compulsive Drinking Scale (OCDS), the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) for craving, the Clinical Institute Withdrawal Assessment for Alcohol (CIWA‐Ar), the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS), the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS), the Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS), and the Clinical Global Impression (CGI) scale.

Results

Forty‐three percent of patients remained totally alcohol free, 32% patients relapsed, with an average of 15.4 drinking days in the period of the study (112 days) and 25% dropped‐out. Significant reductions from baseline to exit were observed in the OCDS, VAS, BPRS, HDRS, and number of drinking days per week. Changes in alcohol craving correlated with psychiatric symptoms as to BPRS and HDRS, with the highest level of correlation evidenced for the HDRS items of insomnia.

Discussion

In this open‐label study, quetiapine decreased alcohol consumption, craving for alcohol, and psychiatric symptoms intensity, maintaining a good level of tolerance. A strength of this study is that the use of quetiapine was not adjunctive with other pharmacological and non‐pharmacological treatment. Double‐blind placebo‐controlled studies are required with a larger study population to confirm these data. In the meantime, for a select group of psychiatric patients, quetiapine may offer some advantages in preventing relapse. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Estimation of peak flows from small watersheds on the Loess Plateau of China
Authors: Fu Suhua , Wei Xin , Zhang Guanghui
Published: April 2008

Peak flow rate from watersheds is an important criterion used to develop soil conservation plans and to design engineering projects. A peak flow rate equation used in the CREAMS model, with four parameters, can be employed to predict peak flow rate. The purpose of this study was to test and improve this equation of peak flow rate in CREAMS for use on the Loess Plateau of China. Data from 331 storms in 20 small watersheds were used to verify the the peak flow rate equation in CREAMS. The calculated flow rates using the CREAMS equation greatly underestimated the measured peak flows. The model efficiency was only 0·15. Nonlinear regression analysis was then performed to develop a new equation:

which gave a model efficiency of 0·94. A second set of data, including 68 storms from four completely different watersheds, was used to test the new equation, with a resultant model efficiency of 0·90. The result has significant implications for improving the design of soil and water supporting practices, for assessing the soil and water resources, and for implementing conservation programmes. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The influence of resolution and topographic uncertainty on melt modelling using hypsometric sub‐grid parameterization
Authors: Hebeler Felix , Purves Ross S.
Published: April 2008

Modelling of physical processes such as ablation or runoff at continental or global scales provides a key challenge: a high degree of abstraction is required in order to minimize computational demands, while spatial and temporal variability of key processes, often at the sub‐scale level, need to be adequately captured and reproduced within a lower resolution model. For some approaches, such as temperature index models, downscaling to lower resolutions is straightforward. However a key issue when using these downscaled models is to assess the impact of scaling on model behaviour and results, including the associated uncertainties. We assess the impact of scaling on both a simple and an enhanced temperature index melt model from 100 m to 1, 5 and 10 km resolutions. Different sub‐grid parameterization approaches are applied to both models across all resolutions and tested for their suitability against high‐resolution reference data, with the aim of developing a robust, scalable and computationally undemanding parameterization. Results show patterns of over‐ and underestimation of potential melt rates for both models, with clear dependencies on scale, terrain roughness and variations of temperature thresholds, among other quantities. The sub‐grid parameterizations tested in this article are found to effectively compensate these effects at little additional computational cost. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Effects of vegetation on snow accumulation and ablation in a mid‐latitude sub‐alpine forest
Authors: Musselman K. N. , Molotch N. P. , Brooks P. D.
Published: April 2008

We quantified the effects of forest vegetation on snow accumulation and ablation in a mid‐latitude montane environment in Northern New Mexico. Detailed observations of snow depth along transects extending radially from trees showed that snow depth was 25% greater on the northern versus southern side of trees. At maximum accumulation, canopy interception resulted in a 47% reduction of snow water equivalent (SWE) under canopy. An array of ultrasonic snow depth sensors showed that snow ablation rates were 54% greater in open locations compared to locations under canopy. Maximum accumulation of SWE occurred 21 days later on the north versus south side of the trees. Binary regression tree models indicated strong correlation (R2= 0·68) between micro‐scale (i.e. 10‐cm resolution) canopy structure indices and snow depth. The regression tree model adequately resolved general tree‐well structure, suggesting that future remotely sensed vegetation data may improve snow distribution models. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Fabrication and evaluation of a biodegradable proanthocyanidin‐crosslinked gelatin conduit in peripheral nerve repair
Authors: Liu Bai‐Shuan
Published: April 2008

This study proposed a novel and biodegradable nerve guide conduit in its applicability to peripheral nerve regeneration. A naturally occurring proanthocyanidin (PA) was selected as a cross‐linking reagent in preparing the PA‐crosslinked gelatin (PCG) conduit. Experimental results indicate that 5 wt % of PA was optimal in the complete cross‐linking reaction in the PCG conduit. The PCG conduit was brownish and round with a rough outer surface whereas its inner lumen was smooth. The cross‐linked networks of the PCG conduit resisted enzymatic hydrolysis under in vitro degradation studies. PA and gelatin were released from the soaked PCG conduit. During the release phase, the concentrations of PA, gelatin, and PCG‐soaking solutions were not only nontoxic but also promoted the viability and growth of Schwann cells. The PCG conduit more effectively supported cell attachment and growth. The effectiveness of the PCG conduit as a guidance channel was studied when it was used to repair a 10 mm gap in the rat sciatic nerve. Throughout the 8‐week experimental period, the peak amplitude and area under the muscle action potential curve both increased with the recovery period. Histological observations revealed that various regenerated nerve fibers crossed through and beyond the gap region. These results suggest that the PCG conduit can be a candidate for peripheral nerve repair. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res, 2008
A system of equations for describing cocyclic Hadamard matrices
Authors: Álvarez V. , Armario J. A. , Frau M. D. , Real P.
Published: April 2008

Given a basis ${\cal B} = \{f_1,\ldots, f_k\}$ for 2‐cocycles $f:G \times G \rightarrow \{\pm 1\}$ over a group G of order $\vert G\vert=4t$, we describe a nonlinear system of 4t‐1 equations and k indeterminates $x_i$ over ${\cal Z}_2, 1\leq i \leq k$, whose solutions determine the whole set of cocyclic Hadamard matrices over G, in the sense that ($x_1,\ldots ,x_k$) is a solution of the system if and only if the 2‐cocycle $f=f_1^{x_1}\cdots f_k^{x_k}$ gives rise to a cocyclic Hadamard matrix $M_f=(f(g_i,g_j))$. Furthermore, the study of any isolated equation of the system provides upper and lower bounds on the number of coboundary generators in ${\cal B}$ which have to be combined to form a cocyclic Hadamard matrix coming from a special class of cocycles. We include some results on the families of groups ${\cal Z}_2^2 \times {\cal Z}_t$ and $D_{4t}$. A deeper study of the system provides some more nice properties. For instance, in the case of dihedral groups $D_{4t}$, we have found that it suffices to check t instead of the 4t rows of $M_f$, to decide the Hadamard character of the matrix (for a special class of cocycles f). © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Combin Designs 16: 276–290, 2008
Self‐reported early trauma as a predictor of adult personality: a study in a military sample
Authors: Rademaker Arthur R. , Vermetten Eric , Geuze Elbert , Muilwijk Anne , Kleber Rolf J.
Published: April 2008

Exposure to early trauma has frequently been linked to adult psychopathology, including personality disorders. This cross‐sectional study explored the relationship between personality and retrospectively rated levels of early trauma in 242 soldiers. Multiple regression analyses showed a significant relationship between early trauma and adult personality as exposure to emotional trauma predicted levels of self‐directedness and cooperativeness on the Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI; C. R. Cloninger, T. R. Przybeck, D. M. Svrakic, & R. D. Wetzel, 1994). Overall, these results suggest that early emotional trauma may be related to personality dimensions associated with poor impulse control and interpersonal behavior. These results are noteworthy considering that they were obtained in a healthy sample. They show that early trauma may become ingrained in personality and hamper the potential to effectively engage in social interactions, increasing the risk of emotional and cognitive problems. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Psychol: In Session 64: 1–13, 2008.
Physical characterization and in vivo evaluation of poloxamer‐based DNA vaccine formulations
Authors: Hartikka Jukka , Geall Andrew , Bozoukova Vesselina , Kurniadi David , Rusalov Denis , Enas Joel , Yi Ji‐Hyun , Nanci Antonio , Rolland Alain
Published: April 2008

Background

Plasmid DNA (pDNA) vaccines have generated significant interest for the prevention or treatment of infectious diseases. Broader applications may benefit from the identification of safe and potent vaccine adjuvants. This report describes the development of a novel polymer‐based formulation to enhance the immunogenicity of pDNA‐based vaccines.

Methods

Plasmid DNA was formulated with a nonionic block copolymer, poloxamer CRL1005, and the cationic surfactant benzalkonium chloride (BAK) to produce a thermodynamically stable, self‐assembling system. The influence of parameters such as polymer concentration and BAK composition on the immune responses was evaluated in mice vaccinated with pDNA encoding influenza nucleoprotein.

Results

At concentrations of 7.5 mg/ml CRL1005, 0.3 mM BAK and 5 mg/ml pDNA, CRL1005/BAK/pDNA particles had a mean diameter of 261 ± 0.2 nm and a surface charge of − 11.6 ± 0.9 mV. The negative surface charge and atomic force microscopy images suggested that pDNA binds to BAK adsorbed to the surface of poloxamer particles. The CRL1005/BAK/pDNA formulation significantly enhanced antigen‐specific cellular and humoral immune responses, and increased transgene levels in muscle and serum. The complexity of the formulation was reduced by replacing the commercial BAK, which is a mixture of four alkyl chains, with a C14 BAK homolog. The substitution yielded an analytically preferable formulation with equivalent physical characteristics and immunogenicity.

Conclusions

The results suggest that the CRL1005/BAK/pDNA formulation may enhance immunogenicity by improving the delivery of pDNA‐based vaccines. This formulation is currently being evaluated for the prevention of CMV‐associated disease in a phase 2 clinical trial. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Unexpected dramatic increase in CD4+ cell count in a patient with AIDS after enfuvirtide treatment despite persistent viremia and resistance mutations
Authors: Soria Alessandro , Cavarelli Mariangela , Sala Stefania , Alessandrini Anna Ida , Scarlatti Gabriella , Lazzarin Adriano , Castagna Antonella
Published: April 2008

An unexpected dramatic immune recovery was observed in a patient with full‐blown AIDS receiving enfuvirtide‐based antiretroviral therapy after multiple treatment failures. A complex interplay of viral and host factors, including the control of X4 viruses and proviral burden, may favor immune restoration with HIV neutralizing activity, despite persistent viremia. J. Med. Virol. 80:937–941, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Human herpesvirus‐6 infection: A prospective study evaluating HHV‐6 DNA levels in liver from children with acute liver failure
Authors: Chevret Laurent , Boutolleau David , Halimi‐Idri Nadia , Branchereau Sophie , Baujard Catherine , Fabre Monique , Gautheret‐Dejean Agnès , Debray Dominique
Published: April 2008

The aim of this prospective study was to investigate the role of HHV‐6 infection in children with acute onset of liver failure using real‐time quantitative PCR. Twenty‐three children (median age, 24 months) were included: 6 cases of fulminant hepatic failure of undetermined cause (group 1); 4 cases of fulminant hepatic failure of recognized cause (group 2); 3 cases of acute decompensation of chronic liver disease (group 3); and 10 cases of chronic liver disease (group 4). HHV‐6 genomic DNA was detected and quantified using real‐time PCR in plasma and livers obtained at the time of transplantation. HHV6‐DNA detection rate was significantly higher among groups 1, 2, and 3 compared to group 4 (76.9% vs. 20% P = 0.02). Viral loads ranged from 6 to 32,500 copies/106 cells. Significantly higher viral loads were found in 4 of 9 children with acute onset of liver failure of unknown origin (group 1, n = 3; group 3, n = 1) and 1 child with fulminant autoimmune hepatitis (group 2) (P = 0.03). These results strongly support the hypothesis that HHV‐6 may cause fulminant hepatic failure and acute decompensation of chronic liver disease in children. Nevertheless, a threshold viral load value still remains to be determined. J. Med. Virol. 80:1051–1057, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
High prevalence of hepatitis B virus infection in patients with B‐cell non‐Hodgkin's lymphoma in Korea
Authors: Park Su Cheol , Jeong Sook‐Hyang , Kim Jin , Han Chul Ju , Kim You Cheoul , Choi Kui Sung , Cho Jang Hyun , Lee Myoungjin , Jung Ha Hyun , Ki Seung Seog , Chang Yoon Hwan , Lee Seung Sook , Park Yeon Hee , Lee Kee Ho
Published: April 2008

This study assessed the association of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection with non‐Hodgkin's lymphoma in a highly HBV‐endemic area. The prevalence of either HBV or HCV infection in 235 patients with non‐Hodgkin's lymphoma was compared with that of an age‐ and sex‐matched hospital control group of 235 patients. The prevalence of HBV infection was higher in B‐cell non‐Hodgkin's lymphoma (15.5%) than control (8.1%), but the prevalence of HCV infection in the non‐Hodgkin's lymphoma patients (2.1%) and control group (3%) was similar. HBV prevalence increased significantly with age in the B‐cell non‐Hodgkin's lymphoma patients. The presence of HBV proteins and DNA in lymphoma tissues and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from HBV‐infected non‐Hodgkin's lymphoma patients was also investigated using immunohistochemistry and PCR. HBV DNA was frequently detected in PBMCs from HBV‐infected non‐Hodgkin's lymphoma patients, but HBV antigens were not. Therefore, HBV infection, but not HCV infection, was associated with B‐cell non‐Hodgkin's lymphoma in Korea, suggesting a possible role for HBV in the development of non‐Hodgkin's lymphoma. J. Med. Virol. 80:960–966, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Asymptomatic reactivation and shed of infectious varicella zoster virus in astronauts
Authors: Cohrs Randall J. , Mehta Satish K. , Schmid D. Scott , Gilden Donald H. , Pierson Duane L.
Published: April 2008

Varicella zoster virus (VZV) causes varicella (chickenpox), after which virus becomes latent in ganglia along the entire neuraxis. Virus reactivation produces zoster (shingles). Infectious VZV is found in vesicles of patients with zoster and varicella, but virus shed in the absence of disease has not been documented. VZV DNA was previously detected in saliva of astronauts during and after spaceflight, a uniquely stressful environment in which cell mediated immunity (CMI) is temporally dampened. The decline in CMI to VZV associated with zoster led to the hypothesis that infectious VZV would also be present in the saliva of astronauts subjected to stress of spaceflight. Herein, not only was the detection of salivary VZV DNA associated with spaceflight validated, but also infectious virus was detected in saliva from 2 of 3 astronauts. This is the first demonstration of shed of infectious VZV in the absence of disease. J. Med. Virol. 80:1116–1122, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Investigation of the environment and of mothers in transmission of rotavirus infections in the neonatal nursery
Authors: Ramani Sasirekha , Arumugam Rajesh , Gopalarathinam Nithya , Mohanty Ipsita , Mathew Sudhin , Gladstone Beryl Primrose , Jana Atanu Kumar , Kuruvilla Kurien Anil , Kang Gagandeep
Published: April 2008

A distinct feature of neonatal rotavirus infection is the association of unusual strains that appear to be prevalent only in neonatal units and persist for long periods of time. The main aims of this study were to determine if rotavirus can be detected on environmental surfaces in the neonatal nursery and whether the infection occurs in mothers of infected and uninfected neonates. Thirty rotavirus positive neonates and an equal number of negative neonates were enrolled in this study. Stool samples from 15 mothers in each group and environmental swabs collected from the bed and surfaces around neonates were tested for rotavirus using single round and nested PCR for the VP6 gene. Rotavirus could be detected in environmental swabs using single round PCR for VP6 gene in 40% of neonates positive for rotavirus antigen by enzyme immunoassay (EIA) and 33.3% of EIA negative neonates. The detection rate was almost 100% using the nested VP6 PCR. Rotavirus was detected in maternal samples only if the nested VP6 PCR was used, with no significant difference between rates of rotavirus detection in maternal fecal samples of infected and uninfected neonates (p‐0.4). Sequence analysis of nested VP6 amplicons from two environmental swabs revealed them to be closest in identity to G10P[11], the most common genotype causing infections in neonates in this setting. Interestingly, sequences of amplicons from maternal stool samples did not cluster with G10P[11] or other VP6 subgroup I strains but showed clustering with human strains of VP6 subgroup II. J. Med. Virol. 80:1099–1105, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Genotypes of varicella‐zoster virus wild‐type strains in Germany
Authors: Sauerbrei A. , Zell R. , Philipps A. , Wutzler P.
Published: April 2008

Surveillance of varicella‐zoster virus (VZV) genotypes is indicated in Germany after implementation of universal varicella vaccination. This article reports genotyping data of 77 VZV strains obtained from 54 patients with varicella, 1 newborn with congenital varicella syndrome, 2 fetuses with intrauterine VZV infection and 20 cases with zoster. Fragments of the open reading frames (ORF) 1, 21, 22, 37, 50, 54, and 60 were analyzed by sequencing. In addition, the PstI polymorphism of the ORF 38 was characterized. Thirty strains, 22 from varicella and 8 from zoster, had the genetic markers of genotype E2, 2 of them carried new single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP). Twenty‐nine VZV isolates, 17 from varicella, and 12 from zoster, could be analyzed as E1 strains, 6 of them as E1 variants containing individual SNPs. Finally, 17 strains taken from primary VZV infection were classified as genotype M1, 13 of which belonged to the M1 subtype 1, 3 to the M1 subtype 2, and 1 to the M1 subtype 3. One strain was regarded as potential E2/J recombinant. In conclusion, VZV genotypes E2, E1, and M1 can be found in nearly equal incidence in varicella in Germany. The most frequent group is attributed to the genotype E2. Genotype M1 strains can only be detected after primary VZV infection and not in zoster cases. The possible recombinant could not be classified definitely by the scattered SNP method used and, therefore, has to be confirmed by full‐genome sequencing studies. J. Med. Virol. 80:1123–1130, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Prevalence of VP4 and VP7 genotypes of human rotavirus in Ecuadorian children with acute diarrhea
Authors: Naranjo Alfredo , Cedeño Cecilia , Teran Enrique , Castello Alejandro ,   and the CASERO Research Team
Published: April 2008

The objective of the present study was to determine rotavirus etiology and prevalence of the different rotavirus serotypes in Ecuadorian children younger than 5 years of age with gastroenteritis. Children (729) less than 5 years of age with acute diarrhea from either public or private primary health care centers in 10 different provinces of Ecuador, between March 2006 and August 2006 were included in the study. Rotavirus infection was diagnosed using a commercial immunoenzymatic test. Rotavirus isolated from stool samples was genotyped. Rotavirus was detected in the feces of 269 of the 729 children (37%) with diarrhea. The most prevalent G genotypes were G9 (46.1%) and G2 (27.2%), while the predominant P genotypes were P[8] (57%) and P[4] (29.5%). Among the single infections, the predominant P/G combinations were: P[8]G9 (56.9%) and P[4]G2 (32.6%). The present countrywide survey is one of the major studies for one single season in Latin America and the first in its class in Ecuador. The value of expanding laboratory capability throughout Latin America in order to monitor rotavirus strains over time, with special attention directed at those strains obtained from children who experience vaccine failure, is critical. Only continuous monitoring of rotavirus disease burden and genotype surveillance will provide this information. J. Med. Virol. 80:1106–1111, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.