bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Distinguishing eustatic and epeirogenic controls on Lower–Middle Cambrian boundary successions in West Gondwana (Morocco and Iberia)
Authors: LANDING ED , GEYER GERD , HELDMAIER WOLFRAM
Published: April 2006

Major eustatic fall has been invoked to explain Lower–Middle Cambrian boundary sandstones and faunal replacements on a number of Cambrian palaeocontinents. This proposal has been tested on the Moroccan and Spanish margins of West Gondwana and found to be inadequate to explain stratigraphical developments. In these regions, sandstone intervals long presumed to be regressive and late Early Cambrian in age are now shown to be early Middle Cambrian, and composed of a lower regressive and an overlying transgressive sandstone separated by a regional unconformity. Only the lower tidalites (i.e. Tazlaft Formation in Morocco and lower Daroca sandstones in Spain) record the Hawke Bay eustatic regression in West Gondwana. The Tazlaft is overlain by a newly recognized, unconformably overlying sandstone (Talelt Formation) that onlapped southern Morocco with reactivation of a pull‐apart or transcurrent regime. Up to 150 m of erosion on uplifted blocks in the High Atlas range and foundering of the Souss Basin to the south preceded onlap and deposition of the volcanic‐rich Tatelt, the correlative and depositional analogue of the upper Daroca and lower Valdemides Formations in northern Spain. With folding and erosion, a type 1 depositional sequence boundary also caps the Tatelt at its contact with an overlying, lower Middle Cambrian mudstone‐dominated succession. This unconformity probably occurs in Spain within the Valdemiedes Formation and corresponds to a faunal discontinuity called the ‘Valdemiedes geoevent’. The Iberian ‘Daroca regression’ and Moroccan ‘Asrir regression’ are misnomers, as the sandstones on which they are based are composite units with a lower regressive interval that records eustatic fall and an upper transgressive unit that records epeirogenically driven onlap.
Urban malaria and anaemia in children: a cross‐sectional survey in two cities of Ghana
Authors: Klinkenberg Eveline , McCall P. J. , Wilson Michael D. , Akoto Alex O. , Amerasinghe Felix P. , Bates Imelda , Verhoeff Francine H. , Barnish Guy , Donnelly Martin J.
Published: April 2006

Objective  To describe the epidemiology of urban malaria, an emerging problem in sub‐Saharan Africa.

Method  Cross‐sectional surveys of communities in Accra and Kumasi, Ghana, determining risk factors for malaria infection and anaemia in children aged 6–60 months.

Results  Malaria prevalence rates ranged from 2% to 33% between urban communities. 47.1% of children were anaemic (Hb < 11.0 g/dl). Factors associated with malaria prevalence were low socio‐economic status, age and anaemia. The attributable risks of anaemia and severe anaemia (Hb < 8.0 g/dl) caused by malaria were 5% and 23% respectively.

Conclusions  Malaria in urban areas displayed a heterogeneity and complexity that differed from the rural environment, which has important implications for malaria control. Marked intra‐city variation indicates the importance of targeting specific areas or districts. The most vulnerable group, the urban poor, should be prioritized when designing control measures. This would require careful assessment of the malaria risk pattern in any city to guide an integrated control program.
Detection of trypanosome‐specific antibodies in saliva, towards non‐invasive serological diagnosis of sleeping sickness
Authors: Lejon V. , Jamonneau V. , Solano P. , Atchade P. , Mumba D. , Nkoy N. , Bébronne N. , Kibonja T. , Balharbi F. , Wierckx A. , Boelaert M. , Büscher P.
Published: April 2006

Objective  The detection of trypanosome‐specific antibodies in saliva is technically feasible, and, if clinically validated, could become an attractive option for non‐invasive diagnosis of sleeping sickness. We wanted to optimize the test format of an enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)‐based antibody detection system.

Methods  Different ELISA formats for antibody detection in serum and saliva were developed and standardized. Saliva and serum samples were collected from 78 patient and 128 endemic control samples, and sensitivity and specificity of saliva ELISAs, serum ELISAs and the card agglutination test for trypanosomiasis (CATT), were evaluated.

Results  All ELISA formats showed sensitivity and specificity above 90%. Saliva ELISAs showed a similar test performance as serum ELISAs and the CATT on whole blood or serum.

Conclusions  This study confirms the potential of trypanosome‐specific antibody detection in saliva.
Platonin attenuates LPS‐induced CAT‐2 and CAT‐2B induction in stimulated murine macrophages
Authors: Chen C.‐C. , Lee J.‐J. , Tsai P.‐S. , Lu Y.‐T. , Huang C.‐L. , Huang C.‐J.
Published: April 2006

Background:  Platonin, a cyanine photosensitizing dye, is a potent immunomodulator that suppresses acute inflammation. Platonin not only inhibits interleukin (IL)‐1β, IL‐6, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)‐α production but also improves circulatory failure in septic rats. In addition, platonin reduces plasma nitric oxide (NO) formation during sepsis. However, the effects of platonin on inducible NO synthase (iNOS) and cationic amino‐acid transporter (including CAT‐2, CAT‐2 A, and CAT‐2B) expressions during sepsis remain uninvestigated.

Methods:  Five groups of confluent murine macrophages (RAW264.7 cells) were randomly allocated to receive a 1‐h pretreatment of one of five doses of platonin (0.1 µM, 1 µM, 10 µM, 100 µM, or 1000 µM) followed by lipopolysaccharide (LPS; 100 ng ml−1). For negative, positive, and platonin control, three other groups of cell cultures were randomly allocated to receive phosphate‐buffered saline, LPS, or platonin (1000 µM). The cultures were harvested after exposing them to LPS for 18 h or a comparable duration in those groups without LPS. NO production, L‐arginine transport, and expression of the relevant enzymes were then evaluated.

Results:  Platonin significantly attenuated LPS‐induced up‐regulation of iNOS expression and NO production in stimulated murine macrophages in a dose‐dependent manner. Platonin also significantly inhibited up‐regulation of CAT‐2 and CAT‐2B expression as well as L‐arginine transport in LPS‐stimulated murine macrophages in a dose‐dependent manner. In contrast, CAT‐2 A expression in murine macrophages was not affected by LPS and/or platonin.

Conclusions:  Platonin attenuates NO production and L‐arginine transport in LPS‐stimulated murine macrophages possibly through inhibiting iNOS, CAT‐2, and CAT‐2B expression.
Disassociation between weak sexual isolation and genetic divergence in a hermaphroditic land snail and implications about chirality
Authors: Giokas S. , Mylonas M. , Rolán-Alvarez E.
Published: April 2006

Examination of the association between reproductive isolation and genetic divergence in a variety of organisms is essential for elucidating the mechanisms causing speciation. However, such studies are lacking for hermaphrodites. We measured premating (sexual) isolation in species pairs of the hermaphroditic land snail Albinaria and we compared it with their genetic divergence. We did not find substantial sexual isolation barriers between the species studied. The absence of strong sexual isolation between species implies its minor effect in the evolution of this genus, because distributional, population and life-history characteristics of Albinaria make mate-choice possibly redundant. Furthermore, we found disassociation between genetic divergence and sexual isolation, suggesting that they do not form necessarily a cause–effect duet. However, Albinaria voithii, the only dextral Albinaria species, shows strong sexual isolation against the other sinistral species. We discuss whether change in coiling either has triggered instantaneous speciation, or is an example of character displacement.
Reproductive isolation in a threespine stickleback hybrid zone
Authors: Jones F. C. , Brown C. , Pemberton J. M. , Braithwaite V. A.
Published: April 2006

In many estuarine sites, morphological and genetic differences between anadromous and freshwater threespine sticklebacks are maintained despite breeding in sympatry. Here, we investigate the maintenance of this morphological divergence in a natural hybrid zone in the River Tyne, Scotland. We provide a morphological description of the hybrid zone, and using a Bayesian MCMC approach, identified distinct anadromous and freshwater genetic clusters. Anadromous and freshwater sticklebacks breed in spatial and temporal sympatry in the lower reaches of the River Tyne. The frequency of hybrids within these sites (33%) indicates prezygotic isolation is not complete, and suggests that assortative mating is not strong. However, significant heterozygote deficit and cytonuclear disequilibrium in juveniles collected from sympatric sites confirms that barriers to gene flow exist between the morphs in the wild. In addition, we found no evidence of a directional bias in hybridisation, although hybrids with anadromous mothers were more common because anadromous females outnumbered freshwater females within the hybrid zone. We discuss the potential contribution of temporal, spatial, and sexual prezygotic barriers to the observed reproductive isolation as well as postzygotic selection against hybrid zygotes or fry.
Testing the pluralist approach to sex: the influence of environment on synergistic interactions between mutation load and parasitism in Daphnia magna
Authors: Killick S. C. , Carlsson A. M. , West S. A. , Little T. J.
Published: April 2006

Both deleterious mutations and parasites have been acknowledged as potential selective forces responsible for the evolutionary maintenance of sexual reproduction. The pluralist approach to sex proposes that these two factors may have to interact synergistically in order to stabilize sex, and one of the simplest ways this could occur is if parasites are capable of causing synergistic epistasis between mutations in their hosts. However, the effects of both deleterious mutations and parasitism are known to be influenced by a range of environmental factors, so the nature of the interaction may depend upon the organisms’ environment. Using chemically mutated Daphnia magna lines, we examined the effects of mutation and parasitism under a range of temperature and food regimes. We found that although parasites were capable of causing synergistic epistasis between mutations in their hosts, these effects were dependent upon an interaction between parasite genotype and temperature.
Morphological integration and adaptation in the snake feeding system: a comparative phylogenetic study
Authors: Vincent S. E. , Dang P. D. , Herrel A. , Kley N. J.
Published: April 2006

A long-standing hypothesis for the adaptive radiation of macrostomatan snakes is that their enlarged gape – compared to both lizards and basal snakes-enables them to consume ‘large’ prey. At first glance, this hypothesis seems plausible, or even likely, given the wealth of studies showing a tight match between maximum consumed prey mass and head size in snakes. However, this hypothesis has never been tested within a comparative framework. We address this issue here by testing this hypothesis in 12 monophyletic clades of macrostomatan snakes using recently published phylogenies, published maximum consumed prey mass data and morphological measurements taken from a large sample of museum specimens. Our nonphylogenetically corrected analysis shows that head width – independent of body size – is significantly related to mean maximum consumed prey mass among these clades, and this relationship becomes even more significant when phylogeny is taken into account. Therefore, these data do support the hypothesis that head shape is adapted to prey size in snakes. Additionally, we calculated a phylogenetically corrected morphological variance–covariance matrix to examine the role of morphological integration during head shape evolution in snakes. This matrix shows that head width strongly covaries with both jaw length and out-lever length of the lower jaw. As a result, selection on head width will likely be associated with concomitant changes in jaw length and lower jaw out-lever length in snakes.
In vitroinvestigations on the mode of action of the hydroxypyridone antimycotics rilopirox and piroctone onCandida albicans
Authors: Sigle H. C. , Schäfer‐Korting M. , Korting H. C. , Hube B. , Niewerth M.
Published: April 2006

Rilopirox and piroctone belong to the class of hydroxypyridone antimycotics. This class is not related to other antimycotics. In contrast to azole antimycotics and polyene antimycotics the mode of action of hydroxypyridone antimycotics is not fully understood. Inhibition of cellular uptake of essential compounds as well as loss of other compounds seems to be only a secondary effect of a primary not known action of these drugs. The antifungal effectin vitrodepends on the medium used. The hyphal induction ofCandida albicansis inhibited by hydroxypyridone antimycotics, but this effect is compensated by iron ions. A damage of the cell membrane and a direct influence on adenosine triphosphate synthesis, respectively, do not seem to be part of the mode of action. But there are clear hints that reactive oxygen species (ROS) and available metabolic activity are important parts of the mode of action of the hydroxypyridone antimycotics rilopirox and piroctone.
Interleukin‐8 gene polymorphism associated with susceptibility to non‐cardia gastric carcinoma with microsatellite instability
Authors: Shirai Kennosuke , Ohmiya Naoki , Taguchi Ayumu , Mabuchi Nobuyuki , Yatsuya Hiroshi , Itoh Akihiro , Hirooka Yoshiki , Niwa Yasumasa , Mori Naoyoshi , Goto Hidemi
Published: April 2006

Background and Aim:  Gastric carcinoma (GC) with microsatellite instability (MSI) exhibits clinicopathological characteristics distinct from microsatellite‐stable (MSS) GC. Both MSI and MSS carcinomas are mostly associated with chronic gastritis infected by Helicobacter pylori (Hp). The relationship between Hp‐induced inflammation and the mutator pathway of MSI remains unclear. Recently, cytokine polymorphisms have been reported to affect the development of non‐cardia GC. The objective of this study was to elucidate the relationship between cytokine polymorphisms and MSI phenotypes.

Methods:  In a case‐control study including 482 controls and 181 patients with GC, interleukin (IL)‐8 –251, IL‐1B−511, IL‐1RN, and tumor necrosis factor‐A (TNFA) −857 polymorphisms were genotyped. The presence of MSI and mutations in exons 5 to 8 of the p53 gene were examined in GC cases. All clinicopathological data were collected from individual records.

Results:  High and low frequency of MSI (MSI‐H and MSI‐L) and MSS were detected in 16 (8.8%), 14 (7.7%) and 151 (83.4%) GC cases, respectively. We found that IL‐8 –251 T/T genotype was significantly associated with increased risk of MSI‐H GC compared to MSI‐L/MSS GC and controls. We found no association between other cytokine polymorphisms and MSI‐H GC. The percentage of smokers and the frequency of p53 mutations were significantly lower in MSI‐H than MSI‐L/MSS GC. We found significant associations of MSI‐H with synchronous or metachronous multiple occurrence, antral location and intestinal type.

Conclusions:  Our study shows that MSI‐H GC is associated with IL‐8–251 T/T (low expression genotype) and is inversely correlated with cigarette smoking.
Molecular cloning, mRNA expression, and immunocytochemical localization of a putative blue‐light photoreceptor CRY4 in the chicken pineal gland
Authors: Kubo Yoko , Akiyama Masashi , Fukada Yoshitaka , Okano Toshiyuki
Published: April 2006

In non‐mammalian vertebrates, the pineal gland contains an endogenous circadian oscillator and serves as a photosensitive neuroendocrinal organ. To better understand the pineal phototransduction mechanism, we focused on the chicken putative blue‐light photoreceptive molecule, Cryptochrome4 (cCRY4). Here we report the molecular cloning of pineal cCry4 cDNA, the in vivo expression of cCry4 mRNA, and the detection of cCRY4 protein. cCry4 is transcribed in a wide variety of chick tissues out of which the pineal gland and retina contain high levels of cCry4 mRNA. In the pineal gland, under 12 h light : 12 h dark cycles, the levels of both cCry4 mRNA and cCRY4 protein showed diurnal changes, and in cultured chick pineal cells, the cCry4 mRNA level was not only up‐regulated by light but also controlled by circadian signals. Immunoblot analysis with a cCRY4‐specific antibody detected cCRY4 in a soluble fraction of the pineal lysate. Immunocytochemistry revealed that cCRY4 was expressed in many parenchymal cells and a limited number of stromal cells. These cCRY4 features strikingly contrast with those of the chick pineal photoreceptor pinopsin, suggesting a possible temporal and/or spatial duplicity of the pineal photoreceptive system, the opsin‐ and CRY‐based mechanisms.
Acute effects of caffeine on heart rate variability in habitual caffeine consumers
Authors: Rauh Robert , Burkert Michaela , Siepmann Martin , Mueck‐Weymann Michael
Published: April 2006

During the last years, heart rate variability (HRV) has become a promising risk factor for cardiovascular events. However, the effect of caffeine on HRV in habitual caffeine consumers has barely been investigated. Therefore, we treated 30 male habitual caffeine users in a randomized double‐blinded crossover study design with either placebo, 100 or 200 mg caffeine orally and determined parameters of HRV under resting conditions and metronomic breathing. As result, we could not detect significant differences in HRV parameters up to 90 min after drug ingestion. We conclude that modest amounts of caffeine do not reveal negative nor positive effects on HRV within the first 90 min after drug ingestion in young and healthy habitual caffeine consumers. However, further research is necessary to determine the effects of caffeine on HRV in habitual caffeine users, healthy as well as suffering from diabetes, hypertension and postmyocardial infarction.
Efficacy of Therapeutic Intervention in Headache Units in Patients With Frequent Headaches: The EFUNCE Study
Authors: Láinez Miguel J. A. , Pascual Julio , Mateos Valentin , Leira Rogelio
Published: April 2006

Data confirming that therapeutic intervention in headache units is superior to care received by patients in other levels of the health system are scant. This is a pilot study that includes patients seen in 4 headache units for at least 1 year, who had a headache frequency of more than 15 days per month. The results of the first 30 patients showed a significant improvement in different headache parameters and a high degree of satisfaction with the treatment received.
LAPAROSCOPIC ULTRASONOGRAPHY IN SIX DOGS
Authors: SPINELLA GIUSEPPE , VALENTINI SIMONA , SPADARI ALESSANDRO , FEDRIGO MARIO
Published: April 2006

The aim of this study was to describe the technique of laparoscopic ultrasonography in six dogs with intraabdominal disease. Investigation of the abdominal cavity was undertaken initially in each dog by laparoscopy alone. After exploration and visualization of a diseased organ, a 7.5 MHz microconvex ultrasound probe was introduced into the abdomen through a laparoscopic cannula for videoguided ultrasound examination. Laparoscopic ultrasonography allows core biopsy or needle aspiration to be performed by guiding the needle into nonsuperficial lesions, where videoendoscopic guidance alone is not enough. In addition, color Doppler ultrasonography is useful to examine the vascular pattern to minimize or eliminate complications when a biopsy is performed.
Biochemical characterization of the major sorghum grain peroxidase
Authors: Dicko Mamoudou H. , Gruppen Harry , Hilhorst Riet , Voragen Alphons G. J. , van Berkel Willem J. H.
Published: April 2006

The major cationic peroxidase in sorghum grain (SPC4) , which is ubiquitously present in all sorghum varieties was purified to apparent homogeneity, and found to be a highly basic protein (pI∼ 11). MS analysis showed that SPC4 consists of two glycoforms with molecular masses of 34227 and 35629 Da and it contains a type‐b heme. Chemical deglycosylation allowed to estimate sugar contents of 3.0% and 6.7% (w/w) in glycoform I and II, respectively, and a mass of the apoprotein of 33 246 Da. High performance anion exchange chromatography allowed to determine the carbohydrate constituents of the polysaccharide chains. The N‐terminal sequence of SPC4 is not blocked by pyroglutamate. MS analysis showed that six peptides, including the N‐terminal sequence of SPC4 matched with the predicted tryptic peptides of gene indice TC102191 of sorghum chromosome 1, indicating that TC102191 codes for the N‐terminal part of the sequence of SPC4, including a signal peptide of 31 amino acids. The N‐terminal fragment of SPC4 (213 amino acids) has a high sequence identity with barley BP1 (85%), rice Prx23 (90%), wheat WSP1 (82%) and maize peroxidase (58%), indicative for a common ancestor. SPC4 is activated by calcium ions. Ca2+ binding increased the protein conformational stability by raising the melting temperature (Tm) from 67 to 82 °C. SPC4 catalyzed the oxidation of a wide range of aromatic substrates, being catalytically more efficient with hydroxycinnamates than with tyrosine derivatives. In spite of the conserved active sites, SPC4 differs from BP1 in being active with aromatic compounds above pH 5.
Assessing the Contribution of Genetic Enhancements and Fertilizer Application Regimes on Canola Yield and Production Risk in Manitoba
Authors: Carew Richard , Smith Elwin G.
Published: April 2006

The number of canola varieties released, since the enactment of Plant Breeders' Rights (PBR) legislation in Canada in 1990, has increased substantively. The effect of genetic enhancements, including PBR, on canola yield and its variance is estimated for canola production regions of Manitoba using the Just‐Pope production function. Diagnostic tests reveal the presence of heteroscedasticity in the data. The percentage of varieties seeded with PBR has a negligible effect on canola yield. Hybrid and herbicide tolerant varieties (HY/HT) seeded on over 90% of canola production area increases average yield by about 6.8%. Increased spatial diversity (more varieties planted on fewer acres) has reduced canola yield by up to 1.7%. Temporal diversity (turnover of varieties) has no significant impact on yield. Nitrogen and sulphur fertilizers are yield increasing. The variance of yield is not impacted by PBR, HY/HT, other technology measures, or by fertilizer other than potassium. Canola breeding programs have not compromised canola yield stability.

Depuis l'adoption de la Loi sur la protection des obtentions végétales (LPOV) au Canada en 1990, le nombre de variétés de canola mises au point a augmenté considérablement. L'effet des améliorations génétiques, y compris l'effet de la LPOV, sur le rendement du canola et sa variance a été estimé dans les régions du Manitoba productrices de canola à l'aide de la fonction de production Just‐Pope. Des tests de diagnostic ont révélé la présence d'hétéroscédasticité dans les données. Le pourcentage de variétés ensemencées depuis la LPOV a un effet négligeable sur le rendement de canola. Les variétés hybrides et les variétés tolérantes aux herbicides (HY‐HT) ensemencées sur plus de 90% des superficies cultivées en canola ont augmenté le rendement moyen d'environ 6.8%. L'accroissement de la diversité spatiale (plus de variétés sur moins de superficies) a diminué le rendement du canola jusqu'à 1.7%. La diversité temporelle (rotation des variétés) n'a aucun impact significatif sur le rendement. Les engrais azotés et soufrés augmentent les rendements. La variance du rendement n'est pas influencée par la LPOV, ni les HY‐HT, ni les autres mesures technologiques ni les engrais autres que le potassium. Les programmes de sélection du canola n'ont pas compromis la stabilité du rendement du canola.
Genetically Modified Food Market Participation and Consumer Risk Perceptions: A Cross‐Country Comparison
Authors: Curtis Kynda R. , Moeltner Klaus
Published: April 2006

As developing nations look to become more competitive in world agricultural markets, genetically modified (GM) crops are one avenue of pursuit. However, fears of primary export market loss, negative media attention, and adverse government regulations often hinder GM crop implementation and increase GM food risk perceptions among domestic consumers. In this study we analyze consumer surveys of GM food purchase propensity conducted in the developing countries of Romania and China. Through the examination of marginal effects and the drivers of purchase propensity, we find that in spite of demographic and psychographic similarities, consumer willingness to purchase GM foods is quite different between the two samples. Consumer preferences are largely dependent on risk perceptions, which are high in the Romanian sample, but low in the Chinese sample. Additionally, the effect of regressors on GM purchase propensity is invariant across foods in Romania, but distinctly different across foods in China, possibly due to the stated nutritional enhancement (vitamin A) in GM rice.

Comme les pays en développement cherchent à devenir plus concurrentiels sur les marchés agricoles mondiaux, les cultures génétiquement modifiées (CGM) constituent une avenue. Cependant, la crainte de perdre les principaux marchés d'exportation, l'attention médiatique négative et les règlements gouvernementaux défavorables retardent souvent l'ensemencement de CGM et augmentent la perception des risques liés aux aliments génétiquement modifiés (AGM) chez les consommateurs nationaux. Dans la présente étude, nous avons analysé des enquêtes auprès des consommateurs sur la propension à acheter des AGM dans les pays en développement, notamment la Roumanie et la Chine. En examinant les effets marginaux et les facteurs de propension à acheter, nous avons trouvé que, malgré des similarités démographiques et psychographiques, la volonté des consommateurs à acheter des AGM variait considérablement dans les deux échantillons. Les préférences des consommateurs dépendent grandement de la perception des risques, qui était élevée dans l'échantillon de la Roumanie et faible dans l'échantillon de la Chine. De plus, l'effet des variables indépendantes sur la propension à acheter des AGM était invariant pour tous les aliments en Roumanie, mais distinctement différent entre les aliments en Chine, probablement en raison de l'enrichissement nutritionnel déclaré (vitamine A) du riz génétiquement modifié.
Double-Walled Reactor Tube with Molten Salt Thermal Storage for Solar Tubular Reformers
Authors: Hatamachi Tsuyoshi , Kodama Tatsuya , Isobe Yuki , Nakano Daisuke , Gokon Nobuyuki
Published: April 2006

This paper proposes a novel-type of “double-walled” reactor tube with molten-salt thermal storage at high temperatures for use in solar tubular reformers. The prototype reactor tube is demonstrated on the heat-discharge and chemical reaction performances during cooling mode of the reactor tube at laboratory scale. The Na2CO3 composite material with MgO ceramics was filled into the outer annulus of the double-walled reactor tube while the Ru-based catalyst particles were filled into the inner tube. The heat discharge form the molten Na2CO3 circumvented the rapid temperature change of the catalyst bed, which resulted in the alleviation of decrease in chemical conversion during cooling mode of the reactor tube. The application of the new reactor tubes to solar tubular reformers is expected to help realize stable operation of the solar reforming process under fluctuating insolation during a cloud passage.
Interactions between Building Integrated Photovoltaics and Microclimate in Urban Environments
Authors: Wang Yiping , Tian Wei , Zhu Li , Ren Jianbo , Liu Yonghui , Zhang Jinli , Yuan Bing
Published: April 2006

BIPV (building integrated photovoltaics) has progressed in the past years and become an element to be considered in city planning. BIPV has significant influence on microclimate in urban environments and the performance of BIPV is also affected by urban climate. The thermal model and electrical performance model of ventilated BIPV are combined to predict PV temperature and PV power output in Tianjin, China. Then, by using dynamic building energy model, the building cooling load for installing BIPV is calculated. A multi-layer model AUSSSM of urban canopy layer is used to assess the effect of BIPV on the Urban Heat Island (UHI). The simulation results show that in comparison with the conventional roof, the total building cooling load with ventilation PV roof may be decreased by 10%. The UHI effect after using BIPV relies on the surface absorptivity of original building. In this case, the daily total PV electricity output in urban areas may be reduced by 13% compared with the suburban areas due to UHI and solar radiation attenuation because of urban air pollution. The calculation results reveal that it is necessary to pay attention to and further analyze interactions between BIPV and microclimate in urban environments to decrease urban pollution, improve BIPV performance and reduce cooling load.
PLANETARY MICROLENSING: FROM PREDICTION TO DISCOVERY
Authors: RATTENBURY NICHOLAS JAMES
Published: April 2006

Four planets have recently been discovered by gravitational microlensing. The most recent of these discoveries is the lowest-mass planet known to exist around a normal star. The detection of planets in gravitational microlensing events was predicted over a decade ago. Microlensing is now a mature field of astrophysical research and the recent planet detections herald a new chapter in the hunt for low mass extra-solar planets. This paper reviews the basic theory of planetary microlensing, describes the experiments currently in operation for the detection and observation of microlensing events and compares the characteristics of the planetary systems found to date by microlensing. Some proposed schemes for improving the detection rate of planets via microlensing are also discussed.
HEAT, SPEED AND ERROR LIMITS OF MOORE'S LAW AT THE NANO SCALES
Authors: LI YINGFENG , KISH LASZLO B.
Published: April 2006

The evolution of microprocessor miniaturization and performance, often described by Moore's law [1, 2], is close to the saturation limit. This paper discusses the limitation of the evolution of performance and minimization process for high performance microprocessors related to noise and power dissipation. In particular, the predictions provided in a previous paper [3] are refined in order to take into account the increasing effect of leakage currents on power dissipation.
A QUALITATIVE DESCRIPTION OF BOUNDARY LAYER WIND SPEED RECORDS
Authors: KAVASSERI RAJESH G. , NAGARAJAN RADHAKRISHNAN
Published: April 2006

The complexity of the atmosphere endows it with the property of turbulence by virtue of which, wind speed variations in the atmospheric boundary layer (ABL) exhibit highly irregular fluctuations that persist over a wide range of temporal and spatial scales. Despite the large and significant body of work on microscale turbulence, understanding the statistics of atmospheric wind speed variations has proved to be elusive and challenging. Knowledge about the nature of wind speed at ABL has far reaching impact on several fields of research such as meteorology, hydrology, agriculture, pollutant dispersion, and more importantly wind energy generation. In the present study, temporal wind speed records from twenty eight stations distributed through out the state of North Dakota (ND, USA), (~ 70,000 square-miles) and spanning a period of nearly eight years are analyzed. We show that these records exhibit a characteristic broad multifractal spectrum irrespective of the geographical location and topography. The rapid progression of air masses with distinct qualitative characteristics originating from Polar regions, Gulf of Mexico and Northern Pacific account for irregular changes in the local weather system in ND. We hypothesize that one of the primary reasons for the observed multifractal structure could be the irregular recurrence and confluence of these three air masses.
DIRECT FABRY-PÉROT EFFECT REMOVAL
Authors: WITHAYACHUMNANKUL WITHAWAT , FERGUSON BRADLEY , RAINSFORD TAMATH , MICKAN SAMUEL , ABBOTT DEREK
Published: April 2006

This study indicates that the removal of reflections from T-ray signals can be carried out in the frequency domain without prior knowledge of material parameters or sample thickness. By fitting polynomials to the logarithm and the argument of the sample's transfer function, the Fabry-Pérot reflection term is canceled out, leading to disappearance of the reflections in spatial domain. The method successfully removes the reflections for optically thick samples under the condition of noise or amplitude fluctuations. The application to optically thin samples is possible when the samples are subjected to broadband terahertz measurements. The Fabry-Pérot free signal, when used as input to the parameter estimation method, results in correct material parameters with low variance.
Evaluation of Prime/Boost Regimens Using Recombinant Poxvirus/Tyrosinase Vaccines for the Treatment of Patients with Metastatic Melanoma
Authors: Lindsey Kimberly R. , Gritz Linda , Sherry Richard , Abati Andrea , Fetsch Patricia A. , Goldfeder Lisa C. , Gonzales Monica I. , Zinnack Kimberly A. , Rogers-Freezer Linda , Haworth Leah , Mavroukakis Sharon A. , White Donald E. , Steinberg Seth M. , Restifo Nicholas P. , Panicali Dennis L. , Rosenberg Steven A. , Topalian Suzanne L.
Published: April 2006

Purpose: Two clinical trials were conducted to evaluate the clinical efficacy and immunologic impact of vaccination against the tyrosinase protein plus systemic interleukin 2 (IL-2) administration in patients with advanced metastatic melanoma.

Experimental Design: Full-length tyrosinase was employed as an immunogen to induce diverse immunologic responses against a commonly expressed melanoma antigen. Heterologous prime/boost vaccination with recombinant vaccinia and fowlpox vectors encoding tyrosinase was first explored in a randomized three-arm phase II trial, in which vaccines were administered alone or concurrently with low-dose or high-dose IL-2. In a subsequent single cohort phase II trial, all patients received the same vaccines and high-dose IL-2 sequentially rather than concurrently.

Results: Among a total of 64 patients treated on these trials, 8 objective partial responses (12.5%) were observed, all in patients receiving high-dose IL-2. Additional patients showed evidence of lesional regression (mixed tumor response) or overall regression that did not achieve partial response status (minor response). In vitro evidence of enhanced immunity against tyrosinase following protocol treatments was documented in 3 of 49 (6%) patients tested serologically, 3 of 23 (13%) patients tested for T-cell recognition of individual tyrosinase peptides, and 4 of 16 (25%) patients tested for T-cell recognition of full-length tyrosinase protein with real-time reverse transcription-PCR techniques.

Conclusions: Whereas prime/boost immunization with recombinant vaccinia and fowlpox viruses enhanced antityrosinase immunity in some patients with metastatic melanoma, it was ineffective alone in mediating clinical benefit, and in combination with IL-2 did not mediate clinical benefit significantly different from that expected from treatment with IL-2 alone.
Do Allelic Variants in α
2A
and α
2C
Adrenergic Receptors Predispose to Hypertension in Blacks?
Authors: Li Jia-Ling , Canham Russell M. , Vongpatanasin Wanpen , Leonard David , Auchus Richard J. , Victor Ronald G.
Published: April 2006

Sequence variations in the human α
2
adrenergic receptor genes (
ADRA2A
and
ADRA2C
) have been implicated as a cause of hypertension in blacks. Although certain alleles are selectively enriched in blacks, their association with hypertension is based on small convenience samples and has not been evaluated in larger populations. From a stratified random population sample of 3398 individuals (52% blacks), we obtained DNA samples together with an in-home health interview, 10 in-home measurements of blood pressure, and cardiac MRI. We tested for associations among hypertension, untreated blood pressure, and parameters of hypertensive heart disease with 2 alleles, a
Dra
I restriction fragment length polymorphism in the
ADRA2A
gene and a deletion of residues 322 to 325 in the
ADRA2C
gene. Although both alleles were selectively enriched in this black population, we found no association of either allele with hypertension, untreated blood pressure, or any of the cardiac function parameters. In a logistic model that controlled for age, body mass index, diabetes, and smoking, the adjusted odds ratio (OR) for hypertension was 1.0 (95% CI, 0.8 to 1.2), and 1.0 (95% CI, 0.9 to 1.2) for
ADRA2A
and
ADRA2C
variant alleles. In subjects not receiving prescription blood pressure medication, neither of these alleles, alone or in combination, was predictive of blood pressure, heart rate, left ventricular mass, cardiac output, systemic vascular resistance, or aortic compliance. Both the
Dra
I restriction fragment length polymorphism in
ADRA2A
and the
ADRA2C
(Del 322 to 325) can be excluded as major candidate alleles for hypertension in blacks.
Comparison of Hindcasts Anticipating the 2004 Florida Hurricane Season
Authors: Elsner James B. , Jagger Thomas H.
Published: April 2006

Advances in hurricane climate science allow forecasts of seasonal landfall activity to be made. The authors begin with a review of the forecast methods available in the literature. They then reformulate the methods using a Bayesian probabilistic approach. This allows a direct comparison to be made while focusing on a single hindcast of the 2004 season over Florida. The models, including climatology, are estimated using Gibbs sampling. Diagnostic checks verify convergence and efficient mixing of the samples from each of the models. A below average sea level pressure gradient over the eastern North Atlantic Ocean during May and June in combination with an above average tropospheric-averaged wind index associated, in part, with a strengthening of the Bermuda high pressure during July resulted in an above average probability of at least one Florida hurricane. The relatively high hindcast probabilities for 2004 were in marked contrast to the most recent 50-yr empirical probabilities for Florida, but fell short in anticipating the unprecedented level of activity that ensued. Similar results are obtained from hindcasts of total U.S. hurricane activity for 2004.
Ritonavir Has Minimal Impact on the Pharmacokinetic Disposition of a Single Dose of Bupropion Administered to Human Volunteers
Authors: Hesse Leah M. , Greenblatt David J. , von Moltke Lisa L. , Court Michael H.
Published: April 2006

A drug‐drug interaction study was conducted to determine whether ritonavir (200 mg; 4 doses over 2 days) alters the pharmacokinetic disposition of bupropion (75 mg; once) coadministered to 7 healthy volunteers in a placebo‐controlled 2‐way crossover study. Serum samples collected from 0 to 24 hours after bupropion administration were assayed for concentrations of bupropion and metabolites (hydroxybupropion, threohydrobupropion, and erythrohydrobupropion). Derived pharmacokinetic parameters were compared between placebo/bupropion and ritonavir/ bupropion trials by pairedttest. The effect of ritonavir on most pharmacokinetic parameters was minimal (<20% mean change). The only parameters that showed a statistically significant effect were threohydrobupropion area under the blood concentration curve (14%±5% decrease, mean±SE; P =.04) and erythrohydrobupropion time‐to‐maximal serum concentration (161%±92% increase, P =.03), suggesting that ritonavir may inhibit the carbonyl reductase enzyme responsible for formation of these metabolites. These findings indicate that short‐term ritonavir dosing has only minimal impact on the pharmacokinetic disposition of a single dose of bupropion in healthy volunteers.
CYP2D6Genotype and Phenotype in Amerindians of Tepehuano Origin and Mestizos of Durango, Mexico
Authors: Sosa‐Macías Martha , Elizondo Guillermo , Flores‐Pérez Carmen , Flores‐Pérez Janet , Bradley‐Alvarez Francisco , Alanis‐Bañuelos Ruth E. , Lares‐Asseff Ismael
Published: April 2006

Although the drug‐metabolizing enzyme CYP2D6 has been studied extensively in subjects of differing ethnicities, limited CYP2D6 pharmacogenetic data are available for the Amerindian population and Mestizos of Mexico. Dextromethorphan hydroxylation phenotype was studied in Tepehuano Amerindian (n=58) and Mestizo (n=88) subjects, and 195 individuals (85 Tepehuano Amerindians and 110 Mestizos) were genotyped by polymerase chain reaction‐restriction fragment length polymorphism methods to identify the frequencies of theCYP2D6*3, *4, *6,and*10alleles. Tepehuano Amerindian subjects lacked the poor metabolizer (PM) phenotype, whereas in Mestizos the PM phenotype frequency was 6.8%. TheCYP2D6*3, *6,and*10alleles were not found in Tepehuano Amerindians. TheCYP2D6*4allele had a low frequency (0.006) in this Amerindian group. In the Mestizo group, theCYP2D6*3, *4,and*10alleles had frequencies of 0.009, 0.131, and 0.023, respectively. TheCYP2D6*6allele was not found in Mestizos. The genotype‐phenotype association was strongly statistically significant (r2=.45;P =.005) in Mestizos. The Tepehuano population was found to have a low phenotypic and genotypic CYP2D6 diversity and differed from other Amerindian groups. On the other hand, the frequencies of theCYP2D6variant alleles in Mestizos were similar to those reported for whites.
Exercise-Related Leg Pain in Female Collegiate Athletes
Authors: Reinking Mark F.
Published: April 2006

Background

Exercise-related leg pain is a common complaint among athletes, but there is little evidence regarding risk factors for this condition in female collegiate athletes.

Purpose

To examine prospectively the effect of selected extrinsic and intrinsic factors on the development of exercise-related leg pain in female collegiate athletes.

Study Design

Cohort study; Level of evidence, 2.

Methods

Subjects were 76 female collegiate athletes participating in fall season sports, including cross-country running, field hockey, soccer, and volleyball. Athletes were seen for a preseason examination that included measures of height, weight, foot pronation, and calf muscle length as well as a questionnaire for disordered eating behaviors. Body mass index was calculated from height and weight (kg/m2). Those athletes who developed exercise-related leg pain during the season were seen for followup. All athletes who developed the condition and a matched group without such leg pain underwent bone mineral density and body composition testing. Statistical analyses of differences and relationships were conducted.

Results

Of the 76 athletes, 58 (76%) reported a history of exercise-related leg pain, and 20 (26%) reported occurrence of exercise-related leg pain during the season. A history of this condition was strongly associated with its occurrence during the season (odds ratio, 13.2). Exercise-related leg pain was most common among field hockey and cross-country athletes and least common among soccer players. There were no differences between athletes with and without such leg pain regarding age, muscle length, self-reported eating behaviors, body mass index, menstrual function, or bone mineral density. Athletes with exerciserelated leg pain had significantly (P < .05) greater navicular drop compared with those without.

Conclusion

Exercise-related leg pain was common among this group of female athletes. The results suggest that there are certain factors, including foot pronation, sport, and a history of this condition, that are associated with an increased risk of exerciserelated leg pain.
The 6 Degrees of Freedom Kinematics of the Knee after Anterior Cruciate Ligament Deficiency
Authors: DeFrate Louis E. , Papannagari Ramprasad , Gill Thomas J. , Moses Jeremy M. , Pathare Neil P. , Li Guoan
Published: April 2006

Background

Previous studies of knee joint function after anterior cruciate ligament deficiency have focused on measuring anterior-posterior translation and internal-external rotation. Few studies have measured the effects of anterior cruciate ligament deficiency on 6 degrees of freedom knee kinematics in vivo.

Objective

To measure the 6 degrees of freedom knee kinematics of patients with anterior cruciate ligament deficiency.

Study Design

Controlled laboratory study.

Methods

The knee joint kinematics of 8 patients with unilateral anterior cruciate ligament rupture was measured during a quasi-static lunge. Kinematics was measured from full extension to 90° of flexion using imaging and 3-dimensional modeling techniques. The healthy, contralateral knee of each patient served as a control.

Results

Anterior cruciate ligament deficiency caused a statistically significant anterior shift (approximately 3 mm) and internal rotation of the tibia (approximately 2°) at low flexion angles. However, ligament deficiency also caused a medial translation of the tibia (approximately 1 mm) between 15° and 90° of flexion.

Conclusion

The medial shift of the tibia after anterior cruciate ligament deficiency might alter contact stress distributions in the tibiofemoral cartilage near the medial tibial spine. These findings correlate with the observation that osteoarthritis in patients with anterior cruciate ligament injuries is likely to occur in this region.

Clinical Relevance

The data from this study suggest that future anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction techniques should reproduce not only anterior stability but also medial-lateral stability.
An alternative flow cytometry strategy for peripheral blood dendritic cell enumeration in the setting of repetitive GM-CSF dosing
Authors: Wang Kehui , Nishimoto Kevin P , Mehta Rita S , Nelson Edward L
Published: April 2006

Background

Enumeration of circulating peripheral blood dendritic cells (DCs) is complicated by the absence of a unique cell surface marker expressed on all DC subsets and by the use of various biological adjuvants to modulate the DC compartment, including granulocyte macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF). Common methods employ a cocktail of antibodies, typically including anti-CD14, to define a lineage negative, MHC class II positive, putative DC population. Reported flow cytometry protocols include highly variable gating strategies and DC identification criteria. Increasing appreciation of DC pleiomorphism, GM-CSF biology, and recognition of CD14 expression in some DC subsets led us to consider an alternative lineage cocktail to improve identification of the circulating DC pool.

Methods

Standard whole blood staining with appropriate fluorochrome conjugated antibodies to MHC class II and either standard CD14 containing, or an alternate CD66acde containing, lineage cocktail was performed on samples obtained from normal donors and breast cancer patients before and after administration of dose-dense, cytotoxic chemotherapy with daily GM-CSF hematopoetic growth factor support. Putative DCs were enumerated by standard flow cytometry. Data set differences were evaluated using two tailed Mann-Whitney or Wilcoxon signed rank tests. Cellular morphology was examined in cell-sorted populations from post GM-CSF samples.

Results

Use of either antibody cocktail defined comparably sized lineage negative, MHC class II positive populations in normal donors and at baseline in cancer patients. However, selection of lineage negative subsets with increasing MHC class II expression levels yielded larger putative DC populations identified with the alternate cocktail. Both cocktails yielded highly reproducible data. Use of the alternate cocktail: 1) yielded a putative DC population, post GM-CSF that was more homogenous and consistent with DCs, 2) resulted in less data variation across gating strategies, and 3) resulted in more uniform and concordant longitudinal data, consistent with established GM-CSF biological activity.

Conclusion

An alternative lineage negative cocktail substituting anti-CD66 antibody for anti-CD14 is a viable option for enumerating the circulating DC population, potentially more accurately defining the circulating DC pool by including CD14 positive immature DCs, and thus, may give more reliable data, particularly in the setting of sustained GM-CSF administration.