bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Erroneous Reporting of Coagulase-Negative Staphylococci as
Kocuria
spp. by the Vitek 2 System
Authors: Ben-Ami R. , Navon-Venezia S. , Schwartz D. , Schlezinger Y. , Mekuzas Y. , Carmeli Y.
Published: March 2005

Misidentification of coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) may delay appropriate treatment. We investigated 20 clinical isolates identified as
Kocuria
spp. by the Vitek 2 system. All were identified as CoNS by 16S rRNA gene sequencing (18
Staphylococcus epidermidis
, 1
Staphylococcus haemolyticus
). Four
Kocuria
isolates were shown to be identical to CoNS from the same patient by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. Isolates identified by Vitek 2 as
Kocuria
most likely represent misidentified CoNS, and if clinically indicated, should be investigated further by genomic methods.
Arthrobacter scleromaesp. nov. Isolated from Human Clinical Specimens
Authors: Huang Ying , Zhao Naixin , He Liang , Wang Liming , Liu Zhiheng , You Min , Guan Fulai
Published: March 2005

A gram-positive, coryneform bacterium was isolated from swollen scleromata of a dermatosis patient. An analysis of its phenotypic, chemotaxonomic, and genotypic characteristics showed that this bacterium is closely associated withArthrobacter oxydansandArthrobacter polychromogenesbut that it belongs to a distinct species, for which the nameArthrobacter scleromaesp. nov. is proposed.
Spondylitis Due to
Mycobacterium xenopi
in a Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1-Infected Patient: Case Report and Review of the Literature
Authors: Meybeck Agnès , Fortin Claude , Abgrall Sophie , Adle-Biassette Homa , Hayem Gilles , Ruimy Raymond , Yeni Patrick
Published: March 2005

Nontuberculous mycobacterial infections are well known to occur in patients with human immunodeficiency virus infection. However, spondylitis due to mycobacteria other than
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
is uncommon. We report a case of biopsy- and culture-proven
Mycobacterium xenopi
spondylitis in an AIDS patient and discuss approaches to diagnosis and therapy. This case serves to highlight the potential pathogenic role of this usually environmental commensal organism in severely immunosuppressed AIDS patients and uncertainties in their management, given the scarce data on appropriate therapy for this organism.
First Isolation of
Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron
from a Patient with a Cholesteatoma and Experiencing Meningitis
Authors: Feuillet Lionel , Carvajal Joseph , Sudre Isabelle , Pelletier Jean , Thomassin Jean Marc , Drancourt Michel , Cherif André Ali
Published: March 2005

A 45-year-old man with a cholesteatoma experienced purulent meningitis. Microbial analysis of cerebrospinal fluid yielded in pure culture a gram-negative bacillus. Phenotypic methods were suggestive of a
Bacteroides distasonis
or either a
Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron
or
Bacteroides ovatus
infection. The isolate was identified by 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis as
B. thetaiotaomicron
. This is the first case of
B. thetaiotaomicron
meningitis in pure culture.
Pulmonary
Mycobacterium intermedium
Disease in an Elderly Man with Healed Pulmonary Tuberculosis
Authors: Ito Akihide , Kishi Fujiya , Saito Nariyoshi , Kazumi Yuko , Mitarai Satoshi
Published: March 2005

A 76-year-old man with a history of pulmonary tuberculosis was found to be sputum smear positive for acid-fast bacilli. The 16S rRNA sequence identified the culture isolate as
Mycobacterium intermedium
, the pathogenicity of which has not been confirmed. Chemotherapy with isoniazid, rifampin, and ethambutol resulted in clinical improvement.
Mixed Bacterial Meningitis Due to
Streptococcus pneumoniae
and
Neisseria meningitidis
in an 18-Month-Old Child
Authors: Marchandin H. , Ventura V. , Alonso J.-M. , Van de Perre P.
Published: March 2005

We report an unusual case of culture-proven pneumococcal and meningococcal mixed meningitis in an 18-month-old girl. The patient responded well to antimicrobial therapy and recovered completely without sequelae. No underlying condition could be demonstrated except a rhinitis of unknown etiology 2 days before the onset of the symptoms suggesting meningitis.
Accidents don’t happen any more: junior doctors’ experience of fatal accident inquiries in Scotland
Authors: McCulloch J , Sykes M , Haut F
Published: March 2005

Objective

To determine the experience of junior doctors cited as witnesses at fatal accident inquiries (FAIs).

Design

Retrospective questionnaire study.

Setting and subjects

40 junior doctors who had been involved in FAIs from January 1998 to August 2002 were identified by the Medical Protection Society and Medical and Dental Defence Union of Scotland: 21 completed questionnaires were returned, a response rate of 52.5%.

Results

The process and objectives of FAIs were poorly understood. Few participants were proactive in contacting their defence union. There was a perceived lack of both formal and informal supports with respondents describing a “blame culture” within the medical profession. The experience of the FAI was generally considered stressful with respondents describing possible improvements relating to support, information, training, and the FAI procedure.

Conclusions

Junior medical staff are poorly informed in this medicolegal area. There is a need for the development of mechanisms both to support junior doctors and to ensure that adverse incidents are dealt with using modern risk management techniques to minimise the risk of recurrence.
Systemic lactose intolerance: a new perspective on an old problem
Authors: Matthews S B , Waud J P , Roberts A G , Campbell A K
Published: March 2005

Intolerance to certain foods can cause a range of gut and systemic symptoms. The possibility that these can be caused by lactose has been missed because of “hidden” lactose added to many foods and drinks inadequately labelled, confusing diagnosis based on dietary removal of dairy foods. Two polymorphisms, C/T13910 and G/A22018, linked to hypolactasia, correlate with breath hydrogen and symptoms after lactose. This, with a 48 hour record of gut and systemic symptoms and a six hour breath hydrogen test, provides a new approach to the clinical management of lactose intolerance. The key is the prolonged effect of dietary removal of lactose. Patients diagnosed as lactose intolerant must be advised of “risk” foods, inadequately labelled, including processed meats, bread, cake mixes, soft drinks, and lagers. This review highlights the wide range of systemic symptoms caused by lactose intolerance. This has important implications for the management of irritable bowel syndrome, and for doctors of many specialties.
SOFTWARE RELIABILITY ISSUES UNDER OPERATIONAL AND TESTING CONSTRAINTS
Authors: JAIN MADHU , PRIYA KRITI
Published: March 2005

Software reliability plays an important role in assuring the quality of a software. To ensure software reliability, the software is tested thoroughly during the testing phase. The time invested in the testing phase or the optimal software release time depends on the level of reliability to be achieved. There are two different concepts related to software reliability, viz., testing reliability and operational reliability. In this paper, we compare both types of software reliabilities to determine the optimal testing time of the software so as to minimize the total expected software maintenance cost. We consider a software has a number of clusters of modules, each having a different number of errors and a different failure rate. A hyperexponential model is employed for analyzing software reliability growth. Parameter estimation using the maximum likelihood estimation technique is also discussed. Numerical illustrations are taken to explore the effect of various parameters on reliability and maintenance cost. It is noticed that the operational reliability concept should be adopted for the software testing time problem.
A COMPARISON AMONG VARIOUS INVENTORY SHORTAGE MODELS FOR DETERIORATING ITEMS ON THE BASIS OF MAXIMIZING PROFIT
Authors: CHERN MAW-SHENG , CHAN YA-LAN , TENG JINN-TSAIR
Published: March 2005

For a finite planning horizon, there has been a considerable body of research papers in the area of operations management that dealt with four different inventory shortage models in the last two decades. In this paper, we establish the models to reflect the fact that the longer the waiting time, the smaller the backlogging rate. We then use maximizing profit as the objective to make an appropriate comparison among those four alternatives. The theoretical results reveal that Model 4 provides the highest profit only if the profit margin is sufficiently low. Otherwise, in general, Model 3 has the highest profit among them.
PATHWISE IDENTIFICATION OF THE MEMORY FUNCTION OF MULTIFRACTIONAL BROWNIAN MOTION WITH APPLICATION TO FINANCE
Authors: BIANCHI SERGIO
Published: March 2005

We extend and adapt a class of estimators of the parameter H of the fractional Brownian motion in order to estimate the (time-dependent) memory function of a multifractional process. We provide: (a) the estimator's distribution when H ∈ (0,3/4); (b) the confidence interval under the null hypothesis H = 1/2; (c) a scaling law, independent on the value of H, discriminating between fractional and multifractional processes. Furthermore, assuming as a model for the price process the multifractional Brownian motion, empirical evidence is offered which is able to conciliate the inconsistent results achieved in estimating the intensity of dependence in financial time series.
AFFINE PROCESSES, ARBITRAGE-FREE TERM STRUCTURES OF LEGENDRE POLYNOMIALS, AND OPTION PRICING
Authors: DE ALMEIDA CAIO IBSEN RODRIGUES
Published: March 2005

Multivariate Affine term structure models have been increasingly used for pricing derivatives in fixed income markets. In these models, uncertainty of the term structure is driven by a state vector, while the short rate is an affine function of this vector. The model is characterized by a specific form for the stochastic differential equation (SDE) for the evolution of the state vector. This SDE presents restrictions on its drift term which rule out arbitrages in the market. In this paper we solve the following inverse problem: Suppose the term structure of interest rates is modelled by a linear combination of Legendre polynomials with random coefficients. Is there any SDE for these coefficients which rules out arbitrages? This problem is of particular empirical interest because the Legendre model is an example of factor model with clear interpretation for each factor, in which regards movements of the term structure. Moreover, the Affine structure of the Legendre model implies knowledge of its conditional characteristic function. From the econometric perspective, we propose arbitrage-free Legendre models to describe the evolution of the term structure. From the pricing perspective, we follow Duffie et al. [22] in exploring their conditional characteristic functions to obtain a computational tractable method to price fixed income derivatives.
THE FORWARD PDE FOR EUROPEAN OPTIONS ON STOCKS WITH FIXED FRACTIONAL JUMPS
Authors: CARR PETER , JAVAHERI ALIREZA
Published: March 2005

We derive a partial integro differential equation (PIDE) which relates the price of a calendar spread to the prices of butterfly spreads and the functions describing the evolution of the process. These evolution functions are the forward local variance rate and a new concept called the forward local default arrival rate. We then specialize to the case where the only jump which can occur reduces the underlying stock price by a fixed fraction of its pre-jump value. This is a standard assumption when valuing an option written on a stock which can default. We discuss novel strategies for calibrating to a term and strike structure of European options prices. In particular using a few calendar dates, we derive closed form expressions for both the local variance and the local default arrival rate.
REQUIREMENTS FOR STRATEGIC ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT IN CHINA
Authors: ZHU TAN , WU JING , CHANG I-SHIN
Published: March 2005

The Environmental Impact Assessment Law (EIA Law) of the People's Republic of China was adopted on 28 October 2002. It is the most progressive legislation addressing environmental issues in China to be developed over the past decade. The new EIA Law explicitly states that environmental impact assessment (EIA) is required for both new construction projects and plans. The types of plans covered by the new EIA Law include: (1) integrated plans for land use and regional development, development of drainage areas and marine areas; (2) specific plans for industry, agriculture, animal husbandry, forestry, energy, water management, transportation, urban construction, tourism and the development of natural resources. EIA for construction projects has been implemented in China for more than 20 years. Through this new EIA Law, the legal status of EIA for construction projects has been elevated from administrative legislation to State Law. EIA for plans is a type of strategic environmental assessment (SEA) where the concept of SEA is for the first time being advocated by the State at this level. This paper emphasises the legal requirements of SEA set forth by this new EIA Law, such as major purposes, key elements and procedures of EIA for plans.
IMPEDIMENTS IN IMPLEMENTING LOCAL AGENDA 21 IN ROMANIA: A CASE STUDY OF RAMNICU VALCEA STRATEGY FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
Authors: SOFRONICIU OANA PUSA
Published: March 2005

This article identifies and discusses the difficulties the main actors involved in the process of Local Agenda 21 implementation are confronted with in countries in transition as Romania. These are mainly the lack of financial resources, a weak connection of the academic world with the policy-making process, difficulties in adopting a "multistakeholders" strategy and sometimes a weak legal framework. However, specific problems characteristic for a country in transition and reminiscences of the communist regime imprint a special profile to the process of implementation of Local Agenda 21 in Romania. The solution to these problems may reside in the opening of the Romanian society to an external flux of funds and information, as well as in surpassing the weak communist thinking, which has unfortunately been maintained over years. To reach its purpose, the paper analyses the instrument for Local Agenda 21 implementation in a Romanian municipality, Ramnicu Valcea.
THE GLOBALIZATION RORSCHACH TEST: International Economic Integration, Inequality, and the Role of Government
Authors: Brune Nancy , Garrett Geoffrey
Published: March 2005

▪ Abstract  In this review, we address three principal questions that have dominated the debate over the distributive effects of globalization. First, how has globalization affected inequality among countries? Second, how has globalization affected inequality within countries? Third, how has globalization affected the ability of national governments to redistribute wealth and risk within countries? We conclude that despite the proliferation of research on the consequences of globalization, there is no solid consensus in the relevant literature on any of these questions, largely because scholars disagree about how to measure globalization and about how to draw causal inferences about its effects. We also suggest possible foci for future research.

We've seen the result [of globalization]. The spread of sweatshops. The resurgence of child labor, prison and forced labor. Three hundred million more in extreme poverty than 10 years ago. Countries that have lost ground. A boom in busts in which a generation of progress is erased in a month of speculation. Workers everywhere trapped in a competitive race to the bottom.

AFL-CIO President John J. Sweeney at the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions Convention, April 4, 2000 (see http://www.aflcio.org/mediacenter/ prsptm/sp04042000.cfm for text of this speech)

[T]hose who protest free trade are no friends of the poor. Those who protest free trade seek to deny them their best hope for escaping poverty.

President George W. Bush (Los Angeles Times, 2001)
CONSTRUCTING JUDICIAL REVIEW
Authors: Graber Mark A.
Published: March 2005

▪ Abstract  New works by five young political scientists are establishing a new paradigm for studying judicial review. In different ways, Terri Peretti, Ran Hirschl, George Lovell, Kevin McMahon, and Thomas Keck point out that judicial review is established and maintained by elected officials. Adjudication is one of many means that politicians and political movements employ when seeking to make their constitutional visions the law of the land. Elected officials provide vital political foundations for judicial power by creating constitutional courts, vesting those courts with jurisdiction over constitutional questions, staffing those courts with judges prone to exercising judicial power, assisting or initiating litigation aimed at having those courts declare laws unconstitutional, and passing legislation that encourages justices to make public policy in the guise of statutory or constitutional interpretation. Judicial review does not serve to thwart or legitimate popular majorities; rather, it is a practice that alters the balance of power between the numerous political movements that struggle for power in a pluralist democracy.
Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase-dependent signaling modulates taurochenodeoxycholic acid-induced liver injury and cholestasis in perfused rat livers
Authors: Rust Christian , Bauchmuller Kris , Fickert Peter , Fuchsbichler Andrea , Beuers Ulrich
Published: March 2005

Taurochenodeoxycholic acid (TCDCA), but not glycochenodeoxycholic acid (GCDCA), activates a phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3-K)-mediated survival pathway in vitro. Here, the effects of PI3-K inhibition on TCDCA- and GCDCA-induced hepatocellular injury, apoptosis, and bile secretion were examined in the intact liver. In isolated perfused rat livers, bile flow was determined gravimetrically. Hepatovenous lactate dehydrogenase and alanine aminotransferase efflux as markers of liver integrity and biliary secretion of 2,4-dinitrophenyl- S-glutathione (DNP-GS) were determined photometrically. Apoptosis was assessed by immunohistochemistry of active caspase-3 and cytokeratin 18 in liver tissue. Phosphorylation of protein kinase B (PKB/Akt) as a readout of PI3-K activity was determined by immunoblot analysis. Bile acid concentrations were determined by gas chromatography. TCDCA (25 μM) induced moderate liver injury by hepatocellular apoptosis and distinctly reduced bile flow and DNP-GS secretion. In contrast, GCDCA (25 μM) induced severe liver injury by extensive hepatocyte apoptosis. TCDCA strongly activated PI3-K, whereas GCDCA did not markedly affect PI3-K activity. Inhibition of PI3-K by 100 nM wortmannin enhanced TCDCA-induced liver injury and apoptosis and tended to aggravate the cholestatic effect of TCDCA. In contrast, wortmannin reduced GCDCA-induced liver injury and apoptosis. Bile acid uptake tended to be reduced by wortmannin. The cholestatic effect of GCDCA was aggravated by wortmannin. Inhibition of PI3-K markedly aggravated TCDCA-induced but not GCDCA-induced liver damage and hepatocyte apoptosis. Thus TCDCA appears to block its inherent toxicity by a PI3-K-dependent survival pathway in the intact liver.
Inhibition of NF-κB induces regression of cardiac hypertrophy, independent of blood pressure control, in spontaneously hypertensive rats
Authors: Gupta Sudhiranjan , Young David , Sen Subha
Published: March 2005

The transcription factor nuclear factor (NF)-κB plays a leading role in cardiac hypertrophy associated with heart failure, but whether it is involved in cardiac mass reduction is not known. We evaluated whether inhibiting the NF-κB cascade with pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC) in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) and age-matched Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKYs) affected hypertrophy. We measured NF-κB signaling components [NF-κB translocation, IκBα, p65, mRNA and protein levels, and IκB kinase-β (IKKβ) activity] at 12 and 36 wk in WKYs and SHRs and at 10 wk in PDTC-treated rats ( n = 9). NF-κB activation was also evaluated in rats treated for 10 wk with captopril or hydralazine alone or with either drug plus PDTC. All components were increased in SHRs compared with WKYs. After PDTC treatment, NF-κB activity was inhibited, and heart weight-to-body weight ratio in SHRs was significantly attenuated (3.52 ± 0.04 to 3.32 ± 0.05 mg/kg). Captopril treatment significantly reduced cardiac mass (3.5 vs. 3.05 mg/kg; n = 9) and inhibited NF-κB activity (169.71 ± 5.70 to 106.7 ± 12.44). Hydralazine had no effect on cardiac mass (3.5 vs. 3.42 mg/kg) or NF-κB activity (169.71 ± 5.70 to 155.52 ± 6.11). Hydralazine plus PDTC reduced blood pressure (191.16 ± 1.7 to 158.5 ± 2.36 mmHg) and inhibited NF-κB activity (169.71 ± 5.70 to 97.29 ± 3.65). Our data suggest that 1) cardiac hypertrophy in SHRs is partly due to NF-κB activation, 2) inhibition of NF-κB activity by PDTC parallels regression of hypertrophy, and 3) regression of hypertrophy is partly due to inhibition of NF-κB activity, independent of hypertension. The relationship between NF-κB activity and cardiac remodeling is causal, not coincidental.
Nonlinearities and asymmetries of the human cardiovagal baroreflex
Authors: Hunt Brian E. , Farquhar William B.
Published: March 2005

To determine whether an approach such as the modified Oxford technique can consistently produce data that reveal the nonlinear nature of the cardiovagal baroreflex and to ascertain whether the model parameters provide unique insight into baroreflex function, we retrospectively examined 91 baroreflex trials (38 subjects, 27 men and 11 women, ages 22–72 yr). The modified Oxford technique (bolus sodium nitroprusside followed by bolus phenylephrine) was used to perturb blood pressure, and the resulting systolic blood pressure-R-R interval responses were plotted and modeled using a linear, a four-parameter symmetric, and a five-parameter asymmetric model. Several issues, such as the effect of data averaging, various approaches to gain estimation, and the predictive value of model parameters, were examined during reflex modeling. Sigmoid models accounted for a greater amount of the variance than did the linear model: linear r2= 0.81 ± 0.01, four-parameter r2= 0.90 ± 0.08, and five-parameter r2= 0.90 ± 0.08 ( P < 0.05, linear vs. sigmoid models). Data averaging did not affect model fits. Although the four gain estimates (linear remodel, 1st derivative, peak, and set point) were statistically related, the set point gain was significantly lower than other estimates ( P < 0.05). Subgroup comparisons between young and older healthy subjects revealed differences in all indexes of cardiovagal baroreflex gain, as well as R-R interval operating range and curvature parameters. In conclusion, the modified Oxford technique consistently reveals the nonlinear nature of the human cardiovagal baroreflex. Moreover, of the parameters produced by the symmetric sigmoid model, only the response range provides unique information beyond that of reflex gain.
Changes in myosin heavy chain mRNA and protein expression in human skeletal muscle with age and endurance exercise training
Authors: Short Kevin R. , Vittone Janet L. , Bigelow Maureen L. , Proctor David N. , Coenen-Schimke Jill M. , Rys Paul , Nair K. Sreekumaran
Published: March 2005

Aging is associated with reduced muscle strength and atrophy of type II muscle fibers. Muscle fiber type and contractile function are primarily determined by myosin heavy chain (MHC) isoforms. There are few data available on the effects of aging on MHC isoform expression in humans. In the present study, we tested the hypothesis that MHC isoform protein composition and mRNA abundance would favor a fast-to-slow isoform shift with aging and in response to endurance exercise training. Muscle biopsies were obtained from previously sedentary, healthy men and women, aged 21–87 yr before ( n = 77) and after ( n = 65) 16 wk of bicycle training (up to 45 min at 80% peak heart rate, 3–4 days/wk). At baseline, MHC I mRNA was unchanged with age, whereas IIa and IIx declined by 14 and 10% per decade, respectively ( P < 0.001). MHC IIa and IIx protein declined by 3 and 1% per decade with a reciprocal increase in MHC I ( P < 0.05). After training, MHC I and IIa mRNA increased by 61 and 99%, respectively, and IIx decreased by 50% (all P < 0.001). The increase in MHC I mRNA was positively associated with age, whereas the changes in MHC IIa and IIx mRNA were similar across age. MHC I protein increased by 6% and was positively related to age, whereas IIx decreased by 5% and was inversely related to age. These results suggest that the altered expression of MHC isoforms with aging is transcriptionally regulated. In response to endurance exercise, regulation of MHC isoform transcripts remains robust in older muscle, but this did not result in corresponding changes in MHC protein expression.
Partial Off-Loading of Longitudinal Tension Induces Arterial Tortuosity
Authors: Jackson Zane S. , Dajnowiec Dorota , Gotlieb Avrum I. , Langille B. Lowell
Published: March 2005

Objectives—

Arterial tortuosity is a frequent manifestation of vascular disease and collateral vessel growth, but its causes are poorly understood. This study was designed to assess the relationship between the development of tortuosity and the mechanical forces that are imposed on arterial tissue.

Methods and Results—

Axial strain in rabbit carotid arteries was reduced from 62±2% to 33±2% by implanting an interposition graft, prepared from the contralateral carotid, at the downstream end of the artery. Axial strain remained unchanged for 12 weeks; however, all vessels became tortuous because of tissue growth and remodeling. After 7 days, there was a marked elevation in proliferation rates of endothelial and smooth muscle cells; however, increased apoptosis was also detected, and no net accumulation of DNA was observed. Significant accumulations of elastin (24%) and total collagen (26%) occurred by 5 weeks. Gelatin zymography detected upregulation and activation of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2), and confocal microscopy revealed enlargement of fenestrae in the internal elastic lamina. MMP inhibition by treatment with doxycycline prevented enlargement of fenestrae and development of tortuosity, and it enabled normalization of axial strain by 5 weeks.

Conclusions—

These findings indicate that substantial axial strain is necessary to sustain the morphological stability of arteries, and that a reduction in strain results in arterial tortuosity attributable to aberrant MMP activity.
Common Variants in Myocardial Ion Channel Genes Modify the QT Interval in the General Population
Authors: Pfeufer Arne , Jalilzadeh Shapour , Perz Siegfried , Mueller Jakob C. , Hinterseer Martin , Illig Thomas , Akyol Mahmut , Huth Cornelia , Schöpfer-Wendels Andreas , Kuch Bernhard , Steinbeck Gerhard , Holle Rolf , Näbauer Michael , Wichmann H. -Erich , Meitinger Thomas , Kääb Stefan
Published: March 2005

Altered myocardial repolarization is one of the important substrates of ventricular tachycardia and fibrillation. The influence of rare gene variants on repolarization is evident in familial long QT syndrome. To investigate the influence of common gene variants on the QT interval we performed a linkage disequilibrium based SNP association study of four candidate genes. Using a two-step design we analyzed 174 SNPs from the KCNQ1, KCNH2, KCNE1, and KCNE2 genes in 689 individuals from the population-based KORA study and 14 SNPs with results suggestive of association in a confirmatory sample of 3277 individuals from the same survey. We detected association to a gene variant in intron 1 of the KCNQ1 gene (rs757092, +1.7 ms/allele,
P
=0.0002) and observed weaker association to a variant upstream of the KCNE1 gene (rs727957, +1.2 ms/allele,
P
=0.0051). In addition we detected association to two SNPs in the KCNH2 gene, the previously described K897T variant (rs1805123, −1.9 ms/allele,
P
=0.0006) and a gene variant that tags a different haplotype in the same block (rs3815459, +1.7 ms/allele,
P
=0.0004). The analysis of additive effects by an allelic score explained a 10.5 ms difference in corrected QT interval length between extreme score groups and 0.95% of trait variance (
P
<0.00005). These results confirm previous heritability studies indicating that repolarization is a complex trait with a significant heritable component and demonstrate that high-resolution SNP-mapping in large population samples can detect and fine map quantitative trait loci even if locus specific heritabilities are small.
Adrenomedullin Enhances Therapeutic Potency of Mesenchymal Stem Cells After Experimental Stroke in Rats
Authors: Hanabusa Kenichiro , Nagaya Noritoshi , Iwase Takashi , Itoh Takefumi , Murakami Shinsuke , Shimizu Yoshito , Taki Waro , Miyatake Kunio , Kangawa Kenji
Published: March 2005

Background and Purpose—

Adrenomedullin (AM) induces angiogenesis and inhibits cell apoptosis through the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/Akt pathway. Transplantation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) has been shown to improve neurological deficits after stroke in rats. We investigated whether AM enhances the therapeutic potency of MSC transplantation.

Methods—

Male Lewis rats (n=100) were subjected to 2-hour middle cerebral artery occlusion. Immediately after reperfusion, rats were assigned randomly to receive intravenous transplantation of MSCs plus subcutaneous infusion of AM for 7 days (MSC+AM group), AM infusion alone (AM group), MSC transplantation alone (MSC group), or vehicle infusion (control group). Neurological and immunohistological assessments were performed to examine the effects of these treatments.

Results—

Some engrafted MSCs were positive for neuronal and endothelial cell markers, although the number of differentiated MSCs did not differ significantly between the MSC and MSC+AM groups. The neurological score significantly improved in the MSC, AM, and MSC+AM groups compared with the control group. Importantly, improvement in the MSC+AM group was significantly greater than that in the MSC and AM groups. There was marked induction of angiogenesis in the ischemic penumbra in the MSC+AM group, followed by the AM, MSC, and control groups. AM infusion significantly inhibited apoptosis of transplanted MSCs. As a result, the number of engrafted MSCs in the MSC+AM group was significantly higher than that in the MSC group.

Conclusions—

AM enhanced the therapeutic potency of MSCs, including neurological improvement, possibly through inhibition of MSC apoptosis and induction of angiogenesis.
Cilostazol Prevents the Progression of the Symptomatic Intracranial Arterial Stenosis
Authors: Kwon Sun U. , Cho Yong-Jin , Koo Ja-Seong , Bae Hee-Joon , Lee Yong-Seok , Hong Keun-Sik , Lee Jun Hong , Kim Jong S.
Published: March 2005

Background and Purpose—

Cilostazol, a phosphodiesterase inhibitor, has been reported to reduce restenosis rate after coronary angioplasty and stenting. This study was performed to investigate the effect of cilostazol on the progression of intracranial arterial stenosis (IAS).

Methods—

We randomized 135 patients with acute symptomatic stenosis in the M1 segment of middle cerebral artery or the basilar artery to either cilostazol 200 mg per day or placebo for 6 months. Aspirin 100 mg per day was also given to all patients. Patients with potential embolic sources in the heart or extracranial arteries were excluded. IAS was assessed by magnetic resonance angiogram (MRA) and transcranial Doppler (TCD) at the time of recruitment and 6 months later. The primary outcome was the progression of symptomatic IAS on MRA and secondary outcomes were clinical events and progression on TCD.

Results—

Thirty-eight patients were prematurely terminated. Dropout rates and reasons for dropouts were similar between the cilostazol and placebo groups. There was no stroke recurrence in either cilostazol or placebo group, but there was 1 death and 2 coronary events in each group. In cilostazol group, 3 (6.7%) of 45 symptomatic IAS progressed and 11 (24.4%) regressed. In placebo group, 15 (28.8%) of symptomatic IAS progressed and 8 (15.4%) regressed. Progression of symptomatic IAS in cilostazol group was significantly lower than that in placebo group (
P
=0.008)

Conclusion—

Our study suggests that symptomatic IAS is a dynamic lesion and cilostazol may prevent its progression.
Psychosocial Impact of Screening for Intracranial Aneurysms in Relatives With Familial Subarachnoid Hemorrhage
Authors: Wermer M.J.H. , van der Schaaf I.C. , Van Nunen P. , Bossuyt P.M.M. , Anderson C.S. , Rinkel G.J.E.
Published: March 2005

Background and Purpose—

In families with ≥2 relatives with intracranial aneurysms (IAs), screening for IAs in asymptomatic first-degree relatives is often recommended. We assessed the long-term psychosocial impact of such screening.

Methods—

We identified all persons with IA (screen-positives) and matched them for age and sex with 2 controls without IA (screen-negatives) from hospital-based registers of familial IA. Persons underwent telephone interviews using questionnaires that covered the areas of psychosocial impact of screening, health-related quality of life (HRQoL), and mood. Data were compared between screen-positives and screen-negatives, and with reference populations.

Results—

Overall, 105 persons from 33 families with IA were included, of whom 35 were screen-positive and 70 were screen-negative. Of the screen-positives, 12 (44%) had reduced their work and 23 (66%) had experienced changes in ≥1 area of independence, self-esteem, future outlook, or personal relationships. In contrast, only 1 (2%) screen-negative person had stopped working and 12 (17%) others had experienced changes in their self-esteem, future outlook, or relationships. Screen-positives had lower HRQoL compared with screen-negatives and the reference population, whereas both screen groups had higher mean depression scores than the reference population. Despite these effects, only 3 persons regretted participating in screening.

Conclusion—

Although screening for IA is an important preventative strategy in high-risk individuals, it is associated with considerable psychosocial effects, both positive and negative. Greater awareness of such outcomes, and appropriate intervention where necessary, would appear to be a necessary component of IA screening programs.
Safety and Efficacy of Endovascular Treatment of Carotid Artery Stenosis Compared With Carotid Endarterectomy
Authors: Coward Lucy J. , Featherstone Roland L. , Brown Martin M.
Published: March 2005

Background and Purpose—

Endovascular treatment of atherosclerotic carotid artery stenosis may be an alternative to surgical endarterectomy. To evaluate the safety and efficacy of endovascular techniques, we conducted a systematic review of randomized studies that compared endovascular treatment with surgery for carotid stenosis.

Methods—

We searched the Cochrane Stroke Group trials register, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Science Citation Index for randomized trials of carotid angioplasty and/or stenting compared with surgery. We also contacted researchers in the field and balloon catheter and stent manufacturers.

Results—

Five trials involving 1269 patients were included. Analysis of 30-day safety data found no significant difference in the odds of treatment-related death or any stroke (odds ratio [OR], endovascular surgery, 1.33; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.86 to 2.04), death or disabling stroke (OR, 1.22; CI, 0.61 to 2.41), or death, any stroke, or myocardial infarction (OR, 1.04; CI, 0.69 to 1.57). At 1 year after randomization, there was no significant difference between the 2 treatments in the rate of any stroke or death (OR, 1.01; CI, 0.71 to 1.44). Endovascular treatment significantly reduced the risk of cranial nerve injury (OR, 0.13; CI, 0.06 to 0.25). There was substantial heterogeneity between the trials for 4 of the 5 outcomes.

Conclusions—

No significant difference in the major risks of treatment was found but the wide confidence intervals indicate that it is not possible to exclude a difference in favor of one treatment. Minor complication rates favor endovascular treatment. There is currently insufficient evidence to support a widespread change in clinical practice away from recommending carotid endarterectomy as the treatment of choice for suitable carotid artery stenosis. Patients suitable for carotid endarterectomy should only be offered stenting within the ongoing randomized trials of stenting versus surgery.
An Application of the Variational Method to Computation of Sensible Heat Flux over a Deciduous Forest
Authors: Cao Zuohao , Ma Jianmin
Published: March 2005

A variational method is employed to compute surface sensible heat fluxes over a deciduous forest using observed temperature, temperature variance, and wind. Because the variational approach is able to take into account comprehensive observational meteorological conditions over a heterogeneous surface, it is applicable to the computations of sensible heat flux over a forest canopy in which the conventional flux-variance method is difficult to use. Verifications using the direct eddy-correlation measurements over a deciduous forest during the fully leafed summer of 1988 and the leafless winter of 1990 show that the variational method yields very good agreements between the computed and the measured sensible heat fluxes. It is also shown that the variational method is much more accurate than the flux-variance method in computations of sensible heat flux over a forest canopy.
NWCSAF AVHRR Cloud Detection and Analysis Using Dynamic Thresholds and Radiative Transfer Modeling. Part I: Algorithm Description
Authors: Dybbroe Adam , Karlsson Karl-Göran , Thoss Anke
Published: March 2005

New methods and software for cloud detection and classification at high and midlatitudes using Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) data are developed for use in a wide range of meteorological, climatological, land surface, and oceanic applications within the Satellite Application Facilities (SAFs) of the European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites (EUMETSAT), including the SAF for Nowcasting and Very Short Range Forecasting Applications (NWCSAF) project. The cloud mask employs smoothly varying (dynamic) thresholds that separate fully cloudy or cloud-contaminated fields of view from cloud-free conditions. Thresholds are adapted to the actual state of the atmosphere and surface and the sun–satellite viewing geometry using cloud-free radiative transfer model simulations. Both the cloud masking and the cloud-type classification are done using sequences of grouped threshold tests that employ both spectral and textural features. The cloud-type classification divides the cloudy pixels into 10 different categories: 5 opaque cloud types, 4 semitransparent clouds, and 1 subpixel cloud category. The threshold method is fuzzy in the sense that the distances in feature space to the thresholds are stored and are used to determine whether to stop or to continue testing. They are also used as a quality indicator of the final output. The atmospheric state should preferably be taken from a short-range NWP model, but the algorithms can also run with climatological fields as input.
Validation and Sensitivities of Dynamic Precipitation Simulation for Winter Events over the Folsom Lake Watershed: 1964–99
Authors: Wang Jianzhong , Georgakakos Konstantine P.
Published: March 2005

A total of 62 winter-storm events in the period 1964–99 over the Folsom Lake watershed located at the windward slope of the Sierra Nevada were simulated with a 9-km resolution using the fifth-generation Pennsylvania State University–NCAR Mesoscale Model (MM5). Mean areal precipitation (MAP) over the entire watershed and each of four subbasins was estimated based on gridded simulated precipitation. The simulated MAP was verified with MAP estimated (a) by the California Nevada River Forecast Center (CNRFC) for the four subbasins based on eight operational precipitation stations, and (b) for the period from 1980 to 1986, on the basis of a denser precipitation observing network deployed by the Sierra Cooperative Pilot Project (SCPP). A number of sensitivity runs were performed to understand the dependence of model precipitation on boundary and initial fields, cold versus warm start, and microphysical parameterization. The principal findings of the validation analysis are that (a) MM5 achieves a good percentage bias score of 103% in simulating Folsom basin MAP when compared to MAP derived from dense precipitation gauge networks; (b) spatial grid resolution higher than 9 km is necessary to reproduce the spatial MAP pattern among subbasins of the Folsom basin; and (c) the model performs better for heavy than for light and moderate precipitation. The analysis also showed significant simulation dependence on the spatial resolution of the boundary and initial fields and on the microphysical scheme used.
Spectral (Bin) Microphysics Coupled with a Mesoscale Model (MM5). Part I: Model Description and First Results
Authors: Lynn Barry H. , Khain Alexander P. , Dudhia Jimy , Rosenfeld Daniel , Pokrovsky Andrei , Seifert Axel
Published: March 2005

Considerable research investments have been made to improve the accuracy of forecasting precipitation systems in cloud-resolving, mesoscale atmospheric models. Yet, despite a significant improvement in model grid resolution and a decrease in initial condition uncertainty, the accurate prediction of precipitation amount and distribution still remains a difficult problem. Now, the development of a fast version of spectral (bin) microphysics (SBM Fast) offers significant potential for improving the description of precipitation-forming processes in mesoscale atmospheric models.

The SBM Fast is based on solving a system of equations for size distribution functions for water drops and three types of ice crystals (plates, columns, and dendrites), as well as snowflakes, graupel, and hail/frozen drops. Ice processes are represented by three size distributions, instead of six in the original SBM code. The SBM uses first principles to simulate microphysical processes such as diffusional growth and collision. A budget for aerosols is used to obtain the spectrum of condensation nuclei, which is used to obtain the initial drop spectrum. Hence, SBM allows one to take into account aerosol effects on precipitation, and corresponding cloud effects on the atmospheric aerosol concentration and distribution. SBM Fast has been coupled with the three-dimensional fifth-generation Pennsylvania State University–NCAR Mesoscale Model (MM5), which allows SBM Fast to simulate microphysics within a realistic, time-varying mesoscale environment.

This paper describes the first three-dimensional SBM mesoscale model and presents results using 1-km resolution to simulate initial development of a cloud system over Florida on 27 July 1991. The focus is on initial cloud development along the west coast, just prior to sea-breeze formation. The results indicate that the aerosol concentration had a very important impact on cloud dynamics, microphysics, and rainfall.

Vertical cross sections of clouds obtained using SBM Fast are compared to those from a version of the “Reisner2” bulk-parameterization scheme that uses the Kessler autoconversion formula. The results show that this version of “Reisner2” produced vertically upright clouds that progressed very quickly from initial cloud formation to raindrop formation. In contrast, clouds obtained using SBM were relatively long lasting with greater production of stratiform clouds.
Organization of Oceanic Convection during the Onset of the 1998 East Asian Summer Monsoon
Authors: Johnson Richard H. , Aves Steven L. , Ciesielski Paul E. , Keenan Thomas D.
Published: March 2005

The organizational modes of convection over the northern South China Sea (SCS) during the onset of the summer monsoon are documented using radar and sounding data from the May–June 1998 South China Sea Monsoon Experiment (SCSMEX). The onset occurred in mid-May with a rapid increase in deep convection over a 10-day period, accompanied by a major shift in the circulation over the east Asian region.

Analysis of Bureau of Meteorology Research Centre (BMRC) radar data from Dongsha Island reveals a wide range of organizational modes of convection over the northern SCS. Proximity sounding data indicate that lower- and middle-level vertical wind shears exerted a dominant control over the orientation of convective lines within mesoscale convective systems in this region, as has been found in the Australian monsoon region and the equatorial western Pacific. The results are consistent with the conceptual model of LeMone et al. based on the Tropical Ocean Global Atmosphere Coupled Ocean–Atmosphere Response Experiment (TOGA COARE), except two new organizational modes have been identified: shear-parallel bands for strong low-level shear and weak midlevel shear when there is weak instability and the air is dry aloft, and shear-parallel bands for strong shears in both layers when the shear vectors are in the same direction. Midlatitude influences, namely, the passage of troughs over southern China, likely contributed to these two additional modes.

The stratiform rain fraction from the convective systems during the monsoon onset period was relatively small (26%) compared to the estimated average of about 40% for the entire Tropics. This small fraction is attributed to the weak instability during the onset period and relatively dry air in the upper troposphere.
Ozone Measurements from Eyewall Transects of Two Atlantic Tropical Cyclones
Authors: Carsey Thomas P. , Willoughby Hugh E.
Published: March 2005

Measurements of ozone (O3) concentrations obtained during aircraft eyewall crossings of Tropical Cyclones Floyd (September 1999) and Georges (September 1998) by NOAA P-3 hurricane research aircraft showed marked changes between the intensifying and weakening stages of the storms’ life cycles. Renewed deepening appeared to be underway near landfall of both storms. During intensification, ozone levels indicated that air either descended from an altitude <1 km above flight level or was strongly diluted with low-O3 eyewall air. During weakening, ozone concentrations were low throughout the eye and eyewall, consistent with the eye’s being filled with boundary layer air.