bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Measuring parent attributes and supervision behaviors relevant to child injury risk: examining the usefulness of questionnaire measures
Authors: Morrongiello B A , House K
Published: April 2004

Objective:This study aimed to identify self report questionnaire measures of parent attributes and behaviors that have relevance for understanding injury risk among children 2–5 years of age, and test a new Parent Supervision Attributes Profile Questionnaire (PSAPQ) that was developed to measure aspects of protectiveness and parent supervision.

Methods:Naturalistic observations were conducted of parents’ supervision of children on playgrounds, with questionnaires subsequently completed by the parent to measure parent education, family income, parent personality attributes, attributes relevant to parent supervision, and beliefs about parents’ control over the child’s health status. These measures were then related to children’s risk taking and injury history.

Results:Visual supervision, auditory supervision, and physical proximity were highly intercorrelated, indicating that parents employed all types of behaviors in service of supervision, rather than relying predominantly on one type of supervisory behavior. Physical proximity was the only aspect of supervision behavior that served a protective function and related to children’s risk taking behaviors: parents who remained close to their children had children who engaged in less risk taking. On questionnaires, parents who reported more conscientiousness, protectiveness, worry about safety, vigilance in supervision, confidence in their ability to keep their child safe, and belief in control over their child’s health had children who showed less risk taking and/or experienced fewer injuries. The new PSAPQ measure was associated with specific aspects of supervision as well as children’s risk taking and injury history.

Conclusions:This study reveals several parent attributes and behaviors with relevance for child injury risk that can be measured via self report questionnaires, including the new PSAPQ.
A quantification of preventable unintentional childhood injury mortality in the United States
Authors: Philippakis A , Hemenway D , Alexe D M , Dessypris N , Spyridopoulos T , Petridou E
Published: April 2004

Objective:To calculate the preventable fraction of unintentional childhood injury deaths in the United States.

Design:Ecological study of cause specific unintentional childhood injury mortality rates across the 50 states (and the District of Columbia) of the United States (US) over the 10 year period 1989–98.

Methods:The internet accessible database from the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control was used in order to estimate unintentional childhood (0–14 years) injury mortality rates by external cause and time trends over the study period for each of the US states and for the four major geographical regions of the country. In the principal analysis, a calculation was made of the fraction and absolute number of unintentional childhood injury deaths that could have been prevented annually if the mortality rate in the region with the lowest rate also existed in the remaining three. In another scenario, the lowest external cause specific unintentional childhood injury mortality rates from the 50 US states and the District of Columbia were summed to provide the “ideal” lowest conceivable unintentional childhood injury mortality rate from all causes. Ecological correlations between unintentional childhood injury mortality rates from specified external causes, median income, and percent of the population with a college degree were made.

Main outcome measures:Unintentional childhood injury mortality rates by cause.

Results:Unintentional childhood injury mortality rate declined by 3.5% per year in the country as a whole. If every region of the US had experienced the same injury rate as the Northeast, then one third of all unintentional childhood injuries would not have occurred.

More optimistic scenarios indicate that up to two thirds of all unintentional childhood injury deaths could be prevented. Across states, unintentional childhood injury mortality is strongly inversely related to median income.

Conclusions:About one third of all unintentional childhood injury deaths in the US are preventable with the means and resources available in the Northeastern states. Among the relevant characteristics in the Northeast region, in comparison with other US regions, are the higher education level of parents, the lower gun ownership, the higher population density that implies shorter distances traveled by cars, a better developed emergency medical system, and the existence of several injury prevention programs.
Incomplete and biased perpetrator coding among hospitalized assaults for women in the United States
Authors: Weiss H B , Ismailov R M , Lawrence B A , Miller T R
Published: April 2004

Background:Since 1997, hospital discharge data have included external cause of injury (E codes) for designating perpetrator relationship in assaults. For intentional injuries, guidelines require using two E codes; one for the injury mechanism and another (E967.n) identifying perpetrator relationship. Completeness and characteristics of the use of these codes have not been studied on a multistate level among states with complete E coding.

Methods:Hospital discharge data for 1997 were solicited from states with good E coding completeness. Data were received from 19 states (51.9% of women in the United States, ages 15–49). For assaulted women, a regression model was constructed to identify factors associated with perpetrator code assignment using age, payment source, pregnancy status, race, and severity as covariates.

Results:Among 137 887 injured hospitalized women age 15–49, there were 7402 assaults (5.4%). Among all assaults to women, perpetrator coding was poor (8.8%). Among those that were perpetrator coded, 83.7% were spouse/partner related. Age was positively associated with probability of having a perpetrator code (p<0.001). Those paid by a private source were 42.9% more likely to have a perpetrator code (p = 0.007). Pregnant women were seven times more likely to have a perpetrator code (p<0.001). Non-white women were 66.8% less likely to have a perpetrator code (p<0.001) than white women.

Conclusions:The poor use of perpetrator codes in hospital discharge data minimizes their usefulness for surveillance of serious injury from intimate partner violence. An implication of this research is the need to understand the gaps and strengthen the completeness of perpetrator documentation and coding. The findings suggest caution when interpreting the results from existing hospital discharge data based intimate partner violence surveillance systems.
Motor vehicle crash deaths related to police pursuits in the United States
Authors: Rivara F P , Mack C D
Published: April 2004

Objective:To determine the number and characteristics of motor vehicle crash deaths related to police pursuits in the United States.

Methods:Analysis of the Fatality Analysis Reporting System and the Crashworthiness Data System of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration for the years 1994–2002.

Results:There were 2654 fatal crashes involving 3965 vehicles and 3146 fatalities during the nine year study period. Of these, 1088 were to people not in the fleeing vehicle. These crashes often occurred at high speed, in the night, on local roads. Most of the pursued drivers had prior motor vehicle related convictions.

Conclusions:Many deaths related to police pursuits are to innocent victims. Given that most of the pursued drivers had prior convictions, alternative means of detaining them should be explored.
Changes in blood testosterone and progesterone concentrations of the North Atlantic minke whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) during the feeding season
Authors: Kjeld Matthías , Alfredsson Árni , Ólafsson Örn , Tryland Morten , Christensen Ivar , Stuen Snorre , Árnason Alfred
Published: April 2004

An opportunity to study seasonal changes of sex hormones in the North Atlantic minke whale (common minke whale, Balaenoptera acutorostrata) arose when we obtained access to fresh postmortem blood samples from 104 females and 83 males. The whales were caught in the North Atlantic during MaySeptember 19921995. Serum progesterone (P) and testosterone (T) concentrations were measured and compared with anatomical data. The frequency distribution of female serum P values showed two clusters, one consisting mainly of immature animals and the second of pregnant ones, with mean serum values of about 0.49 ± 0.04 (SE) and 44.2 ± 2.84 nmol·L1, respectively. The frequency distribution of male serum T did not show any group-specific distribution during the hunting season. The mean serum T value for the males was 0.63 ± 0.13 nmol·L1. Contrary to earlier reports on the Antarctic minke whale (Balaenoptera bonaerensis), serum T values rose during the hunting season in mature males (p < 0.0001). Serum P values in immature females increased during the season (p = 0.015). This increase agrees with the predominantly annual reproduction cycle of minke whales. Blood sex hormone measurements seem to be useful for detecting cyclic changes and pregnancy of minke whales.
Variation in the population biology of protogynous coral reef fishes over tens of kilometres
Authors: Gust Nick
Published: April 2004

This study describes changes in the timing of maturation and sex reversal and shifts in the sexual composition of unfished local populations of protogynous reef fishes across the continental shelf of the Great Barrier Reef. On outer shelf reef crests, both Chlorurus sordidus and Scarus frenatus matured as females and underwent protogynous sex reversal at reduced sizes and ages relative to fish from equivalent midshelf habitats 20 km away. Earlier maturation at smaller body sizes on the outer shelf is likely to be an adaptive response to the higher mortality rates in these habitats compared with the middle shelf. Furthermore, reduced size and age at sex reversal on the outer shelf is consistent with the reduced growth and increased mortality regimes in these locations. The sexual composition of local populations changed markedly across the shelf for C. sordidus but not for S. frenatus. High densities of C. sordidus on the outer shelf were characterized by threefold higher proportions of both terminal-phase and primary males than on midshelf reefs. Differences between local populations separated by tens of kilometres highlight the danger of assuming homogeneous sexual compositions and life histories when managing exploited reef fishes over larger spatial scales.
Simulations of random fishing behaviour as an independent validation for the effect of active targeting of greenlip abalone (Haliotis laevigata) aggregations
Authors: Dowling Natalie A , Hall Stephen J , McGarvey Richard
Published: April 2004

Although active targeting of abalone aggregations is documented for various species, its impact on large aggregations is poorly understood. As large aggregations make the greatest contribution to reproductive success, yet are vulnerable to exploitation, it is important to understand how targeted fishing impacts aggregation structure. If observed postfishing patterns are equally likely to have occurred in response to more random, nontargeted fishing, then changes in aggregation patterns cannot be directly attributed to aggregation-based targeting behaviour. The effect of targeted fishing on greenlip abalone (Haliotis laevigata) aggregations was verified by simulating three different levels of "random" fishing behaviour to generate postfishing aggregation frequency distributions. Comparison of the output with postfishing survey distributions suggested that observed aggregation patterns could not have resulted from random search behaviour. The aggregation survey data can therefore be used as a valid basis on which to quantify both fishing behaviour in terms of aggregation-specific catch patterns and the response of aggregations to fishing.
Increase in growth rates of southern bluefin tuna (Thunnus maccoyii) over four decades: 1960 to 2000
Authors: Polacheck Tom , Eveson J Paige , Laslett Geoff M
Published: April 2004

Estimates of long-term temporal trends and variability in growth are often not available for many commercially exploited fish stocks. An integrated estimation framework that combines growth information from tagging studies, direct age estimates from hard parts, and modal progression estimates from lengthfrequency data is applied to data on southern bluefin tuna (Thunnus maccoyii, SBT) collected over four decades, from 1960 to 2000. By using an integrated approach, a comprehensive set of growth estimates can be obtained for each of these four decades even though substantive deficiencies exist in the coverage of the historical data from any single source. The results confirm previous findings that cohorts from the 1980s grew substantially faster at young ages than cohorts from the 1960s. The results also suggest that the 1970s was a period of transition and that growth of fish up to about age 4 was faster in the 1990s than in the 1980s. The changes in SBT growth over these four decades are consistent with density-dependent responses given the history of exploitation and stock assessment estimates of changes in population size.
Sea lice (Lepeophtheirus salmonis) infection rates on juvenile pink (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) and chum (Oncorhynchus keta) salmon in the nearshore marine environment of British Columbia, Canada
Authors: Morton Alexandra , Routledge Richard , Peet Corey , Ladwig Aleria
Published: April 2004

This study compared sea lice (Lepeophtheirus salmonis) infestation rates on juvenile pink (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) and chum (Oncorhynchus keta) salmon in five nearshore areas of the British Columbia coast selected on the basis of proximity to salmon farms. A 10-week study in the Broughton Archipelago found sea lice were 8.8 times more abundant on wild fish near farms holding adult salmon and 5.0 times more abundant on wild fish near farms holding smolts than in areas distant from salmon farms. We found that 90% of juvenile pink and chum salmon sampled near salmon farms in the Broughton Archipelago were infected with more than 1.6 lice·(g host mass)1, a proposed lethal limit when the lice reach mobile stages. Sea lice abundance was near zero in all areas without salmon farms. Salinity and temperature differences could not account for the higher infestation rates near the fish farms. The most immature life stages dominated the lice population throughout the study, suggesting the source of lice was a stationary, local salmonid population. No such wild population could be identified. The evidence from this controlimpact study points to a relationship between salmon farms and sea lice on adjacent, wild, juvenile salmon.
AN IMPROVED ELEMENTARY PROCESSING UNIT FOR HIGH-DENSITY CNN-BASED MIXED-SIGNAL MICROPROCESSORS FOR VISION
Authors: LIÑÁN-CEMBRANO G. , ESPEJO S. , DOMÍNGUEZ-CASTRO R. , RODRÍGUEZ-VÁZQUEZ A.
Published: April 2004

This paper presents the architecture of the Elementary Processing Unit — EPU — which has been employed to design a CNN-Based 128×128 Focal Plane Mixed-Signal Microprocessor for vision. The EPU contains the required building blocks to implement, on chip, vision algorithms based on the execution of linear 3×3 convolution masks,1 or information propagative CNN templates.2 Using this EPU, we have designed a prototype, called ACE16k, which contains an array of 128×128 EPUs and a completely digital interface, in a standard fully-digital 0.35 μm CMOS technology. The estimation results forecast 300 GOPS, 3.23 GOPS/mm2 and 100 GOP/J.
THE NEW FRAMEWORK OF APPLICATIONS: THE ALADDIN SYSTEM
Authors: ZARÁNDY ÁKOS , REKECZKY CSABA , FÖLDESY PÉTER , SZATMÁRI ISTVÁN
Published: April 2004

The first CNN technology-based, high performance industrial visual computer called Aladdin is reported. The revolutionary device is the world premier of the ACE4k Cellular Visual Microprocessor (CVM) chip powering an industrial visual computer. One of the most important features of the Aladdin system is the image processing library. The library reduces algorithm development time, provides efficient codes, error free operation in binary, and accurate operation in grayscale nodes. Moreover the library provides an easy way to use the Aladdin system for those who are not familiar with the CNN technology.
ANALOGIC PREPROCESSING AND SEGMENTATION ALGORITHMS FOR OFFLINE HANDWRITING RECOGNITION
Authors: TÍMÁR GERGELY , KARACS KRISTÓF , REKECZKY CSABA
Published: April 2004

This report describes analogic algorithms used in the preprocessing and segmentation phase of offline handwriting recognition tasks. A segmentation-based handwriting recognition approach is discussed, i.e., the system attempts to segment the words into their constituent letters. In order to improve their speed, the utilized CNN algorithms, whenever possible, use dynamic, wave front propagation-based methods instead of relying on morphologic operators were embedded into iterative algorithms. The system first locates the handwritten lines in the page image, then corrects their skew as necessary. It then searches for the words within the lines and corrects the skew at the word level as well. A novel trigger wave-based word segmentation algorithm is presented, which operates on the skeletons of words. Sample results of experiments conducted on a database of 25 handwritten pages along with suggestions for future development are presented.
Cumulative Returns from the Korean IPO Market
Authors: Kim Byung-Ju , Kish Richard J. , Vasconcellos Geraldo M.
Published: April 2004

Korean and US IPO markets show significant initial underpricing, accounting for dramatic initial price increases. However, unlike its US counterpart, the Korean IPO market shows considerable market adjusted long-run returns. Hypotheses influenced by Korean institutional and regulatory factors, tested to explain the IPO cumulative returns, suggest that some of the theoretical arguments and empirical regularities observed in the US IPO market also apply to the Korean IPO market. However, this is a function of the regulatory environment in the four periods investigated in this study.
Another Look at the Tuesday Effect in Australia
Authors: Lin Chien-Ting , Lim Lee-Kian
Published: April 2004

Weekend effects have been well known in many financial markets. Australia however displays its effect on Tuesdays rather than on Mondays. In this study, we investigate on the possible linkage between the US Monday and Australian Tuesday returns. We document that the Tuesday effect in Australia is one-way Granger caused by the weekend effect in the US conditional on the weekend effects in the UK and Japanese markets. Furthermore, in the post-1987 period where the US Monday returns are positively significant, the Australian Tuesday return also turns out to be positive. This latter finding provides further evidence that the anomaly in Australia is induced by the weekend effect in the US.
The Risk-Relevant Information Content of Changes in the Basel Capital Regulations in Taiwan
Authors: Huang Der-Fen , Ko Chenen , Liu Chi-Chun
Published: April 2004

This paper examines the risk-relevance of the Basel capital regulations in Taiwan. We investigate (1) whether the regulatory information can explain bank risk, (2) whether the new 1998 version provides incremental information to assess bank risk, given the old 1992 version, and (3) which regulatory version is more useful in assessing bank risk. This paper employs an option pricing methodology to calculate implied asset risk as a proxy for total risk. We find that the Basel capital ratio and its components help explain risk and that the components under the new version have incremental explanatory power over those under the old. Additionally, the new version has greater information regarding risk than the old. Finally, two risk dimensions categorized by supervisors, credit risk and market risk have different explanatory power. Regulatory information about credit risk has explanatory power, but market risk does not. It implies that the Basel accord, contrary to expectation, does not fully capture all risk. Overall, this study contributes to capturing the risk-relevance of the ongoing evolution of the Basel capital regulations in an emerging market economy.
MODULAR FEATURE SELECTION USING RELATIVE IMPORTANCE FACTORS
Authors: GUAN SHENG-UEI , ZHU FANGMING , LI PENG
Published: April 2004

Feature selection plays an important role in finding relevant or irrelevant features in classification. Genetic algorithms (GAs) have been used as conventional methods for classifiers to adaptively evolve solutions for classification problems. In this paper, we explore the use of feature selection in modular GA-based classification. We propose a new feature selection technique, Relative Importance Factor (RIF), to find irrelevant features in the feature space of each module. By removing these features, we aim to improve classification accuracy and reduce the dimensionality of classification problems. Benchmark classification data sets are used to evaluate the proposed approaches. The experiment results show that RIF can be used to determine irrelevant features and help achieve higher classification accuracy with the feature space dimension reduced. The complexity of the resulting rule sets is also reduced which means the modular classifiers with irrelevant features removed will be able to classify data with a higher throughput.
NEURAL NETWORKS AND GENETIC ALGORITHMS FOR DOMAIN INDEPENDENT MULTICLASS OBJECT DETECTION
Authors: ZHANG MENGJIE , CIESIELSKI VICTOR
Published: April 2004

This paper describes a domain independent approach to multiple class rotation invariant 2D object detection problems. The approach avoids preprocessing, segmentation and specific feature extraction. Instead, raw image pixel values are used as inputs to the learning systems. Five object detection methods have been developed and tested, the basic method and four variations which are expected to improve the accuracy of the basic method. In the basic method cutouts of the objects of interest are used to train multilayer feed forward networks using back propagation. The trained network is then used as a template to sweep the full image and find the objects of interest. The variations are (1) Use of a centred weight initialization method in network training, (2) Use of a genetic algorithm to train the network, (3) Use of a genetic algorithm, with fitness based on detection rate and false alarm rate, to refine the weights found in basic approach, and (4) Use of the same genetic algorithm to refine the weights found by method 2. These methods have been tested on three detection problems of increasing difficulty: an easy database of circles and squares, a medium difficulty database of coins and a very difficult database of retinal pathologies. For detecting the objects in all classes of interest in the easy and the medium difficulty problems, a 100% detection rate with no false alarms was achieved. However the results on the retinal pathologies were unsatisfactory. The centred weight initialization algorithm improved the detection performance over the basic approach on all three databases. In addition, refinement of weights with a genetic algorithm significantly improved detection performance on the three databases.

The goal of domain independent object recognition was achieved for the detection of relatively small regular objects in larger images with relatively uncluttered backgrounds. Detection performance on irregular objects in complex, highly cluttered backgrounds such as the retina pictures, however, has not been achieved to an acceptable level.
FEATURES EXTRACTION FOR PROTEIN HOMOLOGY DETECTION USING HIDDEN MARKOV MODELS COMBINING SCORES
Authors: ZAKI NAZAR M. , DERIS SAFAAI , ILLIAS ROSLI M.
Published: April 2004

Few years back, Jaakkola and Haussler published a method of combining generative and discriminative approaches for detecting protein homologies. The method was a variant of support vector machines using a new kernel function called Fisher Kernel. They begin by training a generative hidden Markov model for a protein family. Then, using the model, they derive a vector of features called Fisher scores that are assigned to the sequence and then use support vector machine in conjunction with the fisher scores for protein homologies detection. In this paper, we revisit the idea of using a discriminative approach, and in particular support vector machines for protein homologies detection. However, in place of the Fisher scoring method, we present a new Hidden Markov Model Combining Scores approach. Six scoring algorithms are combined as a way of extracting features from a protein sequence. Experiments show that our method, improves on previous methods for homologies detection of protein domains.
INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION PLANNING USING INTERACTIVE FUZZY LINEAR PROGRAMMING
Authors: VASANT PANDIAN
Published: April 2004

Any modern industrial manufacturing unit inevitably faces problems of vagueness in various aspects such as raw material availability, human resource availability, processing capability and constraints and limitations imposed by marketing department. Such a complex problem of vagueness and uncertainty can be handled by the theory of fuzzy linear programming. In this paper, a new fuzzy linear programming based methodology using a modified S-curve membership function is used to solve fuzzy mix product selection problem in Industrial Engineering. Profits and satisfactory level have been computed using fuzzy linear programming approach. Since there are several decisions to be taken, a performance measure has been defined to identify the decision for high level of profit with high degree of satisfaction.
Chronic alcohol consumption accelerates liver injury in T cell-mediated hepatitis: alcohol disregulation of NF-κB and STAT3 signaling pathways
Authors: Jaruga Barbara , Hong Feng , Kim Won-Ho , Sun Rui , Fan Saijun , Gao Bin
Published: April 2004

Alcohol consumption is a major risk factor accelerating the progression of liver disease in patients with chronic hepatitis virus infection. However, the mechanism underlying the enhanced susceptibility of alcoholics to liver injury is not fully understood. Here, we demonstrate that chronic ethanol consumption increases the susceptibility of C57BL/6 mice to concanavalin A (Con A)-induced T cell-mediated hepatitis. Injection of a low dose of Con A (5 μg/g) causes severe liver damage in ethanol-fed mice as evidenced by a significant elevation of serum alanine aminotransaminase levels, massive necrosis, and infiltration of leukocytes but only slightly induces liver injury in control pair-fed mice. In ethanol-fed mice, the activation and cytotoxicity of natural killer T cells, cells that play key roles in Con A-induced T cell hepatitis, are not significantly enhanced relative to pair-fed mice. Moreover, Con A-induced activation of hepatic NF-κB is increased, whereas activation of STAT1 and STAT3 is attenuated in ethanol-fed mice. Consistent with this result, the expression of chemokines and adhesion molecules [such as ICAM-1, macrophage inflammatory protein (MIP)-1, MIP-2, and MCP-1] controlled by NF-κB is upregulated, whereas STAT1-controlled expression of chemokines (such as MIG and IP-10) is downregulated in ethanol-fed mice compared with pair-fed mice. In conclusion, chronic alcohol consumption accelerates T cell-mediated hepatitis via upregulation of the NF-κB signaling pathway and subsequently enhances expression of chemokines/adhesive molecules and recruitment of leukocytes into the liver. Downregulation of the antiapoptotic STAT3 signal may also contribute to alcohol potentiation of T cell hepatitis.
Prolonged retention of the anorectic cobalt protoporphyrin in the hypothalamus and the resulting expression of Fos
Authors: Galbraith Richard A. , Hodgdon Ilean , Grimm Michele S. , Vizzard Margaret A.
Published: April 2004

The anorectic cobalt protoporphyrin (CoPP) is known to elicit short-term hypophagia and long-term weight loss through unknown mechanisms in the brains of experimental animals. The goal of this work was to determine 1) if the prolonged duration of action of CoPP is related to its prolonged retention within the brain; and 2) with the use of immunohistochemical detection of Fos, the product of the early-immediate gene c-fos, which cells are activated after exposure to CoPP. These studies were carried out in male rats after intracerebroventricular administration of CoPP, 0.4 μmol/kg body wt, given under light halothane anesthesia. Residence of CoPP in the brain was determined by residual counts in dissected brains of 57CoPP-injected rats. Fos immunoreactivity was mapped in coronal sections of rat brains 4–6 h after injection with CoPP. The results showed that 57CoPP was retained in the hypothalamus preferentially compared with the cortex of the brain and could be detected in the hypothalamus for in excess of 5 wk. Fos activation was increased by CoPP, detected predominantly in neuronal rather than glial cells, and was markedly more robust in the hypothalamus than in other brain areas. Thus CoPP remains in the hypothalamus for prolonged periods and activates Fos expression in the hypothalamus.
Airway basement membrane perimeter in human airways is not a constant; potential implications for airway remodeling in asthma
Authors: McParland Brent E. , Paré Peter D. , Johnson Peter R. A. , Armour Carol L. , Black Judith L.
Published: April 2004

Many studies that demonstrate an increase in airway smooth muscle in asthmatic patients rely on the assumption that bronchial internal perimeter ( Pi) or basement membrane perimeter ( Pbm) is a constant, i.e., not affected by fixation pressure or the degree of smooth muscle shortening. Because it is the basement membrane that has been purported to be the indistensible structure, this study examines the assumption that Pbm is not affected by fixation pressure. Pbm was determined for the same human airway segment ( n = 12) fixed at distending pressures of 0 cmH2O and 21 cmH2O in the absence of smooth muscle tone. Pbm for the segment fixed at 0 cmH2O was determined morphometrically, and the Pbm for the same segment, had the segment been fixed at 21 cmH2O, was predicted from knowing the luminal volume and length of the airway when distended to 21 cmH2O (organ bath-derived Pi). To ensure an accurate transformation of the organ bath-derived Pi value to a morphometry-derived Pbm value, had the segment been fixed at 21 cmH2O, the relationship between organ bath-derived Pi and morphometry-derived Pbm was determined for five different bronchial segments distended to 21 cmH2O and fixed at 21 cmH2O ( r2 = 0.99, P < 0.0001). Mean Pbm for bronchial segments fixed at 0 cmH2O was 9.4 ± 0.4 mm, whereas mean predicted Pbm, had the segments been fixed at 21 cmH2O, was 14.1 ± 0.5 mm ( P < 0.0001). This indicates that Pbm is not a constant when isolated airway segments without smooth muscle tone are fixed distended to 21 cmH2O. The implication of these results is that the increase in smooth muscle mass in asthma may have been overestimated in some previous studies. Therefore, further studies are required to examine the potential artifact using whole lungs with and without abolition of airway smooth muscle tone and/or inflation.
BOLD Repetition Decreases in Object-Responsive Ventral Visual Areas Depend on Spatial Attention
Authors: Eger E. , Henson R.N.A. , Driver J. , Dolan R. J.
Published: April 2004

Functional imaging studies of priming-related repetition phenomena have become widely used to study neural object representation. Although blood oxygenation level–dependent (BOLD) repetition decreases can sometimes be observed without awareness of repetition, any role for spatial attention in BOLD repetition effects remains largely unknown. We used fMRI in 13 healthy subjects to test whether BOLD repetition decreases for repeated objects in ventral visual cortices depend on allocation of spatial attention to the prime. Subjects performed a size-judgment task on a probe object that had been attended or ignored in a preceding prime display of 2 lateralized objects. Reaction times showed faster responses when the probe was the same object as the attended prime, independent of the view tested (identical vs. mirror image). No behavioral effect was evident from unattended primes. BOLD repetition decreases for attended primes were found in lateral occipital and fusiform regions bilaterally, which generalized across identical and mirror-image repeats. No repetition decreases were observed for ignored primes. Our results suggest a critical role for attention in achieving visual representations of objects that lead to both BOLD signal decreases and behavioral priming on repeated presentation.
The genomic response of the mouse kidney to low-phosphate diet is altered in X-linked hypophosphatemia
Authors: Meyer Martha H. , Dulde Emily , Meyer Ralph A.
Published: April 2004

The mechanism for the renal adaptation to low-phosphate diets is not well understood. Whether the Hyp mutation of the Phex gene blocks this adaptation is also not clear. To gain further insight into this, 5-wk-old normal and Hyp mice were fed a control (1.0% P) or low-phosphate diet (0.03% P) for 3–5 days. Renal RNA was hybridized to Affymetrix U74Av2 microarrays (5 arrays/group). Of the 5,719 detectable genes on each array, 290 responded significantly ( P < 0.01) to low-phosphate diet in normal mice. This was reduced significantly ( P < 0.001) to 7 in the Hyp mice. This suggested that the adaptations of the normal kidney to a low-phosphate environment were blocked by the Hyp mutation. The Npt2 phosphate transporter, vitamin D 1α- and 24-hydroxylases, and calbindins D9K and D28K responded in the expected fashion. Genes with significant ( P < 0.05) diet-by-genotype interaction were analyzed by GenMAPP and MAPPFinder. This revealed a cluster of differentially expressed genes associated with microtubule-based processes. Most α- and β-tubulins and most kinesins had responses to low-phosphate diet in normal mice which were abolished or reversed in Hyp mice. In summary, renal adaptation to low-phosphate diet involved changes in the mRNA expression of specific genes. Disruption of these responses in Hyp mice may contribute to their abnormal phosphate homeostasis.
Enhancement of neovascularization with cord blood CD133+ cell-derived endothelial progenitor cell transplantation
Authors: Yang Chen , Zhang Zhi , Li Zong , Yang Ren , Qian Guan , Han Zhong
Published: April 2004

The endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) are responsible for postnatal vasculogenesis in physiological and pathological neovascularization and have been used for attenuating ischemic diseases. However, EPCs from umbilical cord blood (CB) were not well understood and the homing mechanisms of EPCs remain unclear. To determine the potential application of CB-derived EPCs, we established a culture system to induce the differentiation of CB cells into EPCs. Purified CB CD133+ cells proliferated and, after further vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR-2) antibody purification, differentiated into EPCs expressing endothelial markers, such as VE-cadherin, VEGFR-2, CD31, von Willebrand factor (vWF) and WeibelPalade bodies. These cells could also take up acetylated lower density lipoprotein (Ac-LDL) and bind Ulex europaeus agglutinin-1 (UEA-1).When expanded EPCs were transplanted via tail vein into nude mice, they incorporated into capillary networks in ischemic hindlimb, augmented neovascularization, and improved ischemic limb salvage. In addition, in ischemic tissue, there were elevated expressions of VEGF and stromal derived factor 1α???????????(SDF-1α), both of which had chemotactic effect on EPCs. Moreover, P-/E-selectins was found on mouse ischemic endothelium and P-selectin glycoprotein ligand-1 (PSGL-1) on CB-derived EPCs. Neutralizing antibody against PSGL-1 blocked the homing of EPCs to ischemic area by 61%. These results demonstrate that CB CD133+ cell-derived EPCs can be applied for therapeutic neovascularization in ischemic diseases, and reveal important roles of chemoattractants and adhesive molecules in the homing of EPCs.
INR calibration of Owren-type prothrombin time based on the relationship between PT% and INR utilizing normal plasma samples
Authors: Egberg Nils , Hillarp Andreas , Ødegaard Ole , Edlund Bror , Svensson Jan , Sandset Per , Rånby Mats , Lindahl Tomas
Published: April 2004

Prothrombin time (PT) is clinically important and is used to monitor oral anticoagulant therapy. To obtain PT results in international normalized ratio (INR), the current standardization procedure is complex and involves reference reagents.The PT of diluted plasma samples can be determined with a combined thromboplastin (the Owren-type procedure), but not necessarily with a plain thromboplastin (the Quick-type procedure). Owren-type PT procedures can therefore, as an alternative to the INR calibration, be calibrated with diluted normal plasma to give PT results in percent of normal PT activity (PT%).The present study explored if a plasma-based calibration of an Owren-type PT procedure can be used to obtain results in INR. The approach was to establish a relationship between PT% and INR by multi-center analysis of 365 samples from healthy individuals and patients on warfarin treatment. INR values were obtained by manual Quick-type reference procedure and PT% values by various automated Owren-type procedures. A relationship INR = (1/PT% + 0.018)/0.028 was found. A calibration procedure, based on the relationship, was investigated. Calibrators were the median PT of 21 normal plasma at dilutions representing 100%, 50%, 25%, 12.5% and 6.25% of normal PT activity. These were assigned INR values of 1.00, 1.36, 2.07, 3.05 and 6.36. Calibration of various Owren-type assays was repeatedly performed by 5 expert laboratories during 3 consecutive years. The INR values of certain lyophilised or frozen control plasmas were determined. The frozen control plasmas had externally assigned INR values according to WHO guidelines. Within the laboratory, CV was typically below 3%. No appreciable difference among the results of the different laboratories or the three assay occasions was found. Externally assigned and INR values were essentially identical to those found. These and other results indicated that the calibration procedure was reproducible, precise and accurate. Thus, an Owren-type PT assay can be calibrated with normal plasma samples to give results in INR and the investigated calibration procedure can be proposed for this purpose.
AGEs, macrophage colony stimulating factor and vascular adhesion molecule blood levels are increased in patients with diabetic microangiopathy
Authors: Wautier Marie-Paule , Boulanger Eric , Guillausseau Pierre-Jean , Massin Pascale , Wautier Jean-Luc
Published: April 2004

In vitro experiments and animal models indicate that advanced glycation end products (AGEs) may play a crucial role in the vascular dysfunctions observed in patients with diabetes mellitus. These results prompted us to study subrogate markers of inflammation or vascular dysfunction in type II diabetic patients. Monocyte count and activation are dependent upon macrophage colony stimulating factors (M-CSF). Soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule (sVCAM-1) blood levels have been proposed as a marker for endothelium activation. To explore a possible relationship between these factors in diabetic patients, we measured a chemically defined AGE, N(carboxymethyl)lysineprotein (CML-protein) in a group of normal subjects (n = 55) and of diabetic patients (n = 40) using ELISA. Simultaneously, we determined M-CSF and sVCAM-1 blood levels. We found that CML-protein blood levels were significantly higher in patients with diabetes compared to non-diabetic subjects (40.2 ± 4.7 and 7.9 ± 0.7 pmol/mg protein respectively, p < 0.0001). M-CSF was increased while sVCAM-1 blood levels were normal in the group of diabetics. M-CSF blood level was correlated to CML-protein blood level (p < 0.05). In addition CML-protein, M-CSF and sVCAM-1 were increased in patients with microangiopathy. These results suggest that AGE may contribute to vascular dysfunction including microangiopathy.
Antibody cross-linking of human platelet P-selectin induces calcium entry by a mechanism dependent upon Fcγ receptor IIA
Authors: Falati Shahrokh , Croce Kevin , Furie Barbara , Furie Bruce , Sathish Jean , Crump Colin , Poole Alastair
Published: April 2004

It is established that antibody-induced cross-linking of platelet surface receptors is able to activate platelets in a manner dependent upon FcγRIIA. This has not, however, previously been shown for the adhesion receptor P-selectin, and since there is evidence that P-selectin may couple to activation events, it was important to address whether antibody cross-linking of this receptor induced signalling events, and whether this was dependent on FcγRIIA. Here we show that although addition of soluble P-selectin ligand rPSGL-Ig alone is not able to induce calcium signalling, further addition of a full-length rabbit antihuman IgG leads to a sustained rise in [Ca2+]i.This was due to an increase in the frequency and amplitude of transient calcium spiking in single platelets. The response was dependent upon engagement of both P-selectin and FcγRIIA since blocking antibodies to either receptor inhibited the response. The calcium rise is mediated primarily by induction of a calcium entry mechanism involving the Na+-Ca2+ exchanger operating in reverse mode, since it was blocked by inhibitors of Na+-Ca2+ exchange, bepridil and 5 mM NiCl2.
GPIb is involved in platelet aggregation induced by mucetin, a snake C-type lectin protein from Chinese habu (Trimeresurus mucrosquamatus) venom
Authors: Lu Qiumin , Navdaev Alexei , Clemetson Jeannine , Clemetson Kenneth
Published: April 2004

Mucetin (Trimeresurus mucrosquamatus venom activator, TMVA) is a potent platelet activator purified from Chinese habu (Trimeresurus mucrosquamatus) venom. It belongs to the snake venom heterodimeric C-type lectin family and exists in several multimeric forms. We now show that binding to platelet glycoprotein (GP) Ib is involved in mucetin-induced platelet aggregation. Antibodies against GPIb as well as the GPIb-blocking C-type lectin echicetin inhibited mucetin-induced platelet aggregation. Binding of GPIb was confirmed by affinity chromatography and Western blotting. Antibodies against GPVI inhibited convulxin- but not mucetin-induced aggregation. Signalling by mucetin involved rapid tyrosine phosphorylation of a number of proteins including Syk, Src, LAT and PLCγ2. Mucetininduced phosphorylation of the Fcγ chain of platelet was greatly promoted by inhibition of αIIbβ3 by the peptidomimetic EMD 132338, suggesting that phosphatases downstream of αIIbβ3 activation are involved in dephosphorylation of Fcγ. Unlike other multimeric snake C-type lectins that act via GPIb and only agglutinate platelets, mucetin activates αIIbβ3. Inhibition of αIIbβ3 strongly reduced the aggregation response to mucetin, indicating that activation of αIIbβ3 and binding of fibrinogen are involved in mucetin-induced platelet aggregation. Apyrase and aspirin also inhibit platelet aggregation induced by mucetin, suggesting that ADP and thromboxane A2 are involved in autocrine feedback. Sequence and structural comparison with closely related members of this protein family point to features that may be responsible for the functional differences.
A novel anti-ischemic nitric oxide donor inhibits thrombosis without modifying haemodynamic parameters
Authors: Vilahur Gemma , Segalés Estefania , Casaní Laura , Badimon Lina
Published: April 2004

Platelets are involved in the clinical presentations of ischemic heart disease. Our objective was to study the antithrombotic effects of a new nitric oxide donor (LA419), a neutral sugar organic nitrate with a protected thiol group in its molecular structure. Animals were randomly distributed in three groups: I) oral administration of LA419 (0.9-1.8-3.6-5 mg/kg/d, 10 days); II) oral administration of standard IS-5-MN (0.9-1.8 mg/kg/d, 10 days); III) non-treated group (control). In catheterized pigs, thrombosis was studied under controlled rheological condi- tions by radioisotopic evaluation of deposited platelets on damaged vessel wall, placed in an extracorporeal perfusion chamber. Changes in blood pressure, heart rate, and platelet aggregation were evaluated. Results have shown that LA419 significantly decreased thrombus formation according to the degree of vascular damage, and shear rate conditions in a dose- dependent manner (p<0.005), without significant modifications on blood pressure and/or elevation of liver enzymes. In contrast, IS-5-MN only showed a significant reduction on plate- let deposition at the high dose, that was associated to hypoten- sion and elevation of liver enzymes. Therefore, we conclude that this new anti-ischemic NO-donor (NOd) LA419 that inhibits platelet function without modifying blood pressure may be a highly efficacious strategy to passivate platelet activation induced by a damaged vessel wall.
Hypertrophy of the Heart
Authors: Frey Norbert , Katus Hugo A. , Olson Eric N. , Hill Joseph A.
Published: April 2004

Recent studies call into question the necessity of hypertrophic growth of the heart as a “compensatory” response to hemodynamic stress. These findings, coupled with recent progress in dissecting the molecular bases of hypertrophy, raise the prospect of suppressing hypertrophy without provoking circulatory insufficiency. In this article, we focus on signaling pathways that hold promise as potential targets for therapeutic intervention. We also summarize observations from animal models and clinical trials that suggest benefit from an antihypertrophic strategy.
The First Synthesis and X-ray Structure of [1.1]Silaferrocenophane Containing Pentacoordinate Silicon Moieties
Authors: Bao Ming , Hatanaka Yasuo , Shimada Shigeru
Published: April 2004

[1.1]Silaferrocenophane 4, which contains pentacoordinate silicon moieties, was synthesized by the dimerization of 3 for the first time. The identity of 4 was established by multinuclear NMR spectroscopy, elemental analysis, and X-ray crystallography.
Functional Room-temperature Ionic Liquids as Lubricants for an Aluminum-on-Steel System
Authors: Mu Zonggang , Liu Weimin , Zhang Shuxiang , Zhou Feng
Published: April 2004

A new series of imidazolium cation based room-temperature ionic liquids (RTILs), with O,O-diethylphosphonyl groups on the alkyl side-chain has been prepared; the tribological properties of the ionic liquids were evaluated and possible mechanisms were discussed.
Silylium Ions Stabilized by an Si–X–Si Three-center Bond (X = Halogen or Hydrogen)
Authors: Sekiguchi Akira , Murakami Yasuyuki , Fukaya Norihisa , Kabe Yoshio
Published: April 2004

Silylium ions stabilized by Si–X–Si three-center bonds (X = halogen or hydrogen) (2a–d) have been synthesized by the reaction of the corresponding 1-tris(trimethylsilyl)methyl-2,3-bis(trimethylsilyl)-1-silacyclopropene derivatives (1a–d) with triethylsilyl benzenium tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate. Structural and theoretical studies of 2a–d showed Si–X–Si three-center bonding with halonium ion character for 2a–c, and 3c–2e Si–H–Si bonding for 2d.
Synthesis of Carbon Hollow Spheres by a Reaction of Hexachlorobutadiene with Sodium Azide
Authors: Shi Liang , Gu Yunle , Chen Luyang , Yang Zeheng , Ma Jianhua , Qian Yitai
Published: April 2004

Carbon hollow spheres with an average size of about 250 nm in diameter were successfully synthesized by a reaction of hexachlorobutadiene (C4Cl6) with NaN3 at 400 °C. The X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) and Raman results reveal the graphite structure of the as-prepared sample. The thermal stability of the as-prepared sample was also investigated. The possible mechanism has been proposed.
Selective Catalytic Reduction of NO by CO over Supported Iridium and Rhodium Catalysts
Authors: Shimokawabe Masahide , Umeda Noriyoshi
Published: April 2004

The catalytic reduction of NO with CO was investigated in the presence of oxygen over 16 supported metallic catalysts. Ir/WO3, Ir/ZnO, and Rh/Al2O3 showed the pronounced activity even in excess amount of oxygen. The effect of preparation conditions on the activity of Ir catalysts was further studied and it was found that Ir/WO3 prepared by loading of H2IrCl6 at 0.5 wt % Ir is the most active for the NO reduction with CO.