bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Phase II Study of Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy and Radiation Therapy in the Management of High-Risk, High-Grade, Soft Tissue Sarcomas of the Extremities and Body Wall: Radiation Therapy Oncology Group Trial 9514
Authors: Kraybill William G. , Harris Jonathon , Spiro Ira J. , Ettinger David S. , DeLaney Thomas F. , Blum Ronald H. , Lucas David R. , Harmon David C. , Letson G. Douglas , Eisenberg Burton
Published: January 2006

Purpose

On the basis of a positive reported single-institution pilot study, the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group initiated phase II trial 9514 to evaluate its neoadjuvant regimen in a multi-institutional Intergroup setting.

Patients and Methods

Eligibility included a high-grade soft tissue sarcoma ≥ 8 cm in diameter of the extremities and body wall. Patients received three cycles of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (CT; modified mesna, doxorubicin, ifosfamide, and dacarbazine [MAID]), interdigitated preoperative radiation therapy (RT; 44 Gy administered in split courses), and three cycles of postoperative CT (modified MAID).

Results

Sixty-six patients were enrolled, of whom 64 were analyzed. Seventy-nine percent of patients completed their preoperative CT and 59% completed all planned CT. Three patients (5%) experienced fatal grade 5 toxicities (myelodysplasias, two patients; infection, one patient). Another 53 patients (83%) experienced grade 4 toxicities; 78% experienced grade 4 hematologic toxicity and 19% experienced grade 4 nonhematologic toxicity. Sixty-one patients underwent surgery. Fifty-eight of these were R0 resections, of which five were amputations. There were three R1 resections. The estimated 3-year rate for local-regional failure is 17.6% if amputation is considered a failure and 10.1% if not. Estimated 3-year rates for disease-free, distant–disease-free, and overall survival are 56.6%, 64.5%, and 75.1%, respectively.

Conclusion

This combined-modality treatment can be delivered successfully in a multi-institutional setting. Efficacy results are consistent with previous single-institution results.
Phase III Trial of Intraperitoneal Therapy With Yttrium-90–Labeled HMFG1 Murine Monoclonal Antibody in Patients With Epithelial Ovarian Cancer After a Surgically Defined Complete Remission
Authors: Verheijen René H. , Massuger Leon F. , Benigno Benedict B. , Epenetos Agamemnon A. , Lopes Alberto , Soper John T. , Markowska Janica , Vyzula Rostislav , Jobling Tom , Stamp Gordon , Spiegel Gregory , Thurston Dennis , Falke Theo , Lambert Joanna , Seiden Michael V.
Published: January 2006

Purpose

This was a multinational, open-label, randomized phase III trial comparing yttrium-90–labeled murine HMFG1 (90Y-muHMFG1) plus standard treatment versus standard treatment alone in patients with epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) who had attained a complete clinical remission after cytoreductive surgery and platinum-based chemotherapy.

Patients and Methods

In total, 844 International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics stage Ic to IV patients were initially screened, of whom 447 patients with a negative second-look laparoscopy (SLL) were randomly assigned to receive either a single dose of 90Y-muHMFG1 plus standard treatment (224 patients) or standard treatment alone (223 patients). Patients in the active treatment arm received a single intraperitoneal dose of 25 mg of 90Y-muHMFG1 (target dose 666 MBq/m2). The primary end point was length of survival; secondary end points included time to relapse and safety. The study had an 80% power to detect a 15% change in survival.

Results

After a median follow-up of 3.5 years (range, 1 to 6 years), 70 patients had died in the active treatment arm compared with 61 patients in the control arm. Cox proportional hazards analysis of survival demonstrated no difference between treatment arms. In the study drug arm, 104 patients experienced relapse compared with 98 patients in the standard treatment arm. No difference in time to relapse was observed between the two study arms. Active therapy was associated with occasional grade 3 or 4 thrombocytopenia and neutropenia and grade 1 or 2 GI symptoms, abdominal discomfort, arthralgia, and myalgia.

Conclusion

A single IP administration of 90Y-muHMFG1 to patients with EOC who had a negative SLL after primary therapy did not extend survival or time to relapse.
Randomized Double-Blind Trial of Estrogen Replacement Therapy Versus Placebo in Stage I or II Endometrial Cancer: A Gynecologic Oncology Group Study
Authors: Barakat Richard R. , Bundy Brian N. , Spirtos Nick M. , Bell Jeffrey , Mannel Robert S.
Published: January 2006

Purpose

To determine the effect of estrogen replacement therapy (ERT) on recurrence rate and survival in women who have undergone surgery for stage I or II endometrial cancer.

Patients and Methods

After surgery, eligible patients were allocated to therapy with ERT or placebo after undergoing hysterectomy with or without pelvic and aortic nodal sampling. Planned duration of hormonal versus placebo treatment was 3 years, with an additional 2 years of follow-up.

Results

The median follow-up time for all 1,236 eligible and assessable patients was 35.7 months. Stage, grade, histologic subtype, and percentage of patients receiving adjuvant therapy were similarly distributed between the groups. The median age at diagnosis for the 618 patients randomly assigned to ERT was 57 years (range, 26 to 91 years). Two hundred fifty-one patients (41.1%) were compliant with ERT for the entire treatment period. Disease recurrence was experienced in 14 patients (2.3%). Eight patients (1.3%) developed a new malignancy. There were 26 deaths (4.2%), and five deaths (0.8%) were a result of endometrial cancer. The median age at diagnosis for the 618 patients in the placebo group was 57 years (range, 30 to 88 years). Twelve patients (1.9%) experienced disease recurrence. Ten patients (1.6%) developed a new malignancy. There were 9 deaths (3.1%) in the placebo group, and four deaths (0.6%) were a result of endometrial cancer.

Conclusion

Although this incomplete study cannot conclusively refute or support the safety of exogenous estrogen with regard to risk of endometrial recurrence, it is noteworthy that the absolute recurrence rate (2.1%) and the incidence of new malignancy were low.
Combined-Modality Therapy Versus Radiotherapy Alone for Treatment of Early-Stage Hodgkin's Disease: Cure Balanced Against Complications
Authors: Koontz Bridget F. , Kirkpatrick John P. , Clough Robert W. , Prosnitz Robert G. , Gockerman Jon P. , Moore Joseph O. , Prosnitz Leonard R.
Published: January 2006

Purpose

The treatment of early-stage Hodgkin's disease (HD) has evolved from radiotherapy alone (RT) to combined-modality therapy (CMT) because of concerns about late adverse effects from high-dose subtotal nodal irradiation (STNI). However, there is little information regarding the long-term results of CMT programs that substantially reduce the dose and extent of radiation. In addition, lowering the total radiation dose may reduce the complication rate without compromising cure. This retrospective study compares the long-term results of STNI with CMT using modestly reduced RT dose in the treatment of early-stage HD.

Patients and Methods

Between 1982 and 2002, 111 patients with stage IA and IIA HD were treated definitively with RT (mean dose, 37.9 Gy); 70 patients were treated with CMT with low-dose involved-field radiotherapy (LDIFRT; mean dose, 25.5 Gy). Median follow-up was 11.7 years for RT patients and 8.1 years for the CMT group.

Results

There was a trend toward improved 20-year overall survival with CMT (83% v 70%; P = .405). No second cancers were observed in the CMT group; in the RT group the actuarial frequency of a second cancer was 16% at 20 years. There was no difference in the frequency of cardiac complications (9% v 6%, RT v CMT).

Conclusion

In this retrospective review, CMT with LDIFRT was effective in curing early-stage HD and was not associated with an increase in second malignancies. For RT alone, a moderate dose seemed to reduce cardiac complications but did not lessen second malignancies compared with higher doses used historically.
Cefixime Allows Greater Dose Escalation of Oral Irinotecan: A Phase I Study in Pediatric Patients With Refractory Solid Tumors
Authors: Furman Wayne L. , Crews Kristine R. , Billups Catherine , Wu Jianrong , Gajjar Amar J. , Daw Najat C. , Patrick Christian C. , Rodriguez-Galindo Carlos , Stewart Clinton F. , Dome Jeffrey S. , Panetta John C. , Houghton Peter J. , Santana Victor M.
Published: January 2006

Purpose

Irinotecan is active against a variety of malignancies; however, severe diarrhea limits its usefulness. In our phase I study, the intravenous formulation of irinotecan was administered orally daily for 5 days for 2 consecutive weeks (repeated every 21 days) to children with refractory solid tumors. Our objectives were to determine the maximum-tolerated dose (MTD), dose-limiting toxicity, and pharmacokinetics of oral irinotecan and to evaluate whether coadministration of cefixime (8 mg/kg/d beginning 5 days before irinotecan and continuing throughout the course) ameliorates irinotecan-induced diarrhea.

Patients and Methods

In separate cohorts, irinotecan doses were escalated from 15 to 45 mg/m2/d without cefixime and then from 45 to 60 and 75 mg/m2/d with cefixime.

Results

Without cefixime, diarrhea was dose limiting at irinotecan 45 mg/m2/d. Myelotoxicity was not significant at any dose. The MTD was 40 mg/m2/d without cefixime but 60 mg/m2/d with cefixime. Systemic exposure to SN-38 at the MTD was significantly higher with cefixime than without cefixime (mean SN-38 area under the curve: 19.5 ng×h/mL; standard deviation [SD], 6.8 ng × h/mL v 10.4 ng × h/mL; SD, 4.3 ng × h/mL, respectively; P = .030).

Conclusion

Cefixime administered with oral irinotecan is well tolerated in children and allows greater dose escalation of irinotecan. Because diarrhea is a major adverse effect of both intravenous and oral irinotecan, further evaluation of the use of cefixime to ameliorate this adverse effect is warranted.
Short-Term Treatment-Related Symptoms and Quality of Life: Results From an International Randomized Phase III Study of Cisplatin With or Without Raltitrexed in Patients With Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma: An EORTC Lung-Cancer Group and National Cancer Institute, Canada, Intergroup Study
Authors: Bottomley Andrew , Gaafa Rabab , Manegold Christian , Burgers Sjaak , Coens Corneel , Legrand Catherine , Vincent Mark , Giaccone Giuseppe , Van Meerbeeck Jan
Published: January 2006

Purpose

For malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) patients with a poor prognosis, maintaining health-related quality of life (HRQOL) is important. This article compares the impact on HRQOL of first-line treatment with cisplatin versus raltitrexed and cisplatin.

Patients and Methods

Patients with histologically-proven unresectable MPM, not pretreated with chemotherapy were randomly assigned to receive cisplatin 80 mg/m2 intravenously on day 1, with or without preceding infusion of raltitrexed 3 mg/m2. HRQOL was assessed with the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Core Quality of Life Questionnaire C30 (EORTC QLQ-C30) and EORTC Lung Cancer Module (QLQ-LC13) tools. Assessments were conducted at baseline, immediately before every treatment cycle, at the end of treatment, and every six weeks for 12 months.

Results

Two hundred fifty patients were randomly assigned, 80% were male with a median age of 58 years, WHO performance status 0, 1, and 2, in 25%, 62%, and 13% of cases. The clinical results found raltitrexed and cisplatin to be superior to cisplatin with regard to overall survival (P = .048). The global HRQOL scale was comparable at baseline on both treatment arms (P = .848); at no point was any significant difference apparent on this end point. Both treatments led to an improvement, over time, in dyspnoea. This effect is an important clinically meaningful reduction from baseline in the cisplatin/raltitrexed arm. However, the majority of scales of the EORTC QLQ-C30 or LC13 showed stabilization of HRQOL with few clinically significant differences between the treatment arms.

Conclusion

This study provides important information about the HRQOL of chemotherapy-treated MPM patients.
Randomized Phase II Study of Neoadjuvant Combined-Modality Chemoradiation for Distal Rectal Cancer: Radiation Therapy Oncology Group Trial 0012
Authors: Mohiuddin Mohammed , Winter Kathryn , Mitchell Edith , Hanna Nader , Yuen Albert , Nichols Charles , Shane Robert , Hayostek Cherie , Willett Christopher
Published: January 2006

Purpose

To evaluate the rate of pathologic complete response and toxicity of neoadjuvant chemoradiation for advanced T3/T4 distal rectal cancers in a randomized phase II study

Patients and Methods

Patients with clinical T3/T4 distal rectal cancers were randomly assigned in a phase II study to receive combined neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy followed by surgical resection. Patients were randomly assigned to receive continuous venous infusion (CVI) fluorouracil (FU) 225 mg/m
2
per day, 7 days per week, plus pelvic hyperfractionated radiation 55.2 to 60 Gy at 1.2 Gy bid (arm 1) or CVI FU 225 mg/m
2
per day Monday to Friday, 120 hours per week plus irinotecan 50 mg/m
2
once weekly for 4 weeks plus pelvic radiation therapy 50.4 to 54 Gy at 1.8 Gy per day (arm 2). Surgery was performed 4 to 10 weeks after completion of neoadjuvant therapy. The primary end point of this study was pathologic complete response (pCR). Secondary end points included acute and late normal tissue morbidity.

Results

A total of 106 patients were entered onto the study, with 103 assessable for response. The overall resectability rate was 93%. The median time to surgery was 7 weeks. Tumor downstaging was observed in 78% of patients in both arms. The pCR rate for all assessable patients was 26% in each arm. For patients who had surgery, the pCR rate was also the same (28%) in both arms. Acute and late toxicity was also similar. Grade 3 and 4 acute hematologic and nonhematologic toxicity occurred in 13% and 38% in arm 1 and 12% and 45% in arm 2, respectively.

Conclusion

Although the overall complete response rate and toxicity seems similar in both arms, this is the first multi-institutional study to establish a relatively high (28%) pCR rate after neoadjuvant therapy.
Randomized Phase II Trial Comparing Nitroglycerin Plus Vinorelbine and Cisplatin With Vinorelbine and Cisplatin Alone in Previously Untreated Stage IIIB/IV Non–Small-Cell Lung Cancer
Authors: Yasuda Hiroyasu , Yamaya Mutsuo , Nakayama Katsutoshi , Sasaki Takahiko , Ebihara Satoru , Kanda Akio , Asada Masanori , Inoue Daisuke , Suzuki Tomoko , Okazaki Tatsuma , Takahashi Hidenori , Yoshida Motoki , Kaneta Tomohiro , Ishizawa Kota , Yamanda Shinsuke , Tomita Naoki , Yamasaki Miyako , Kikuchi Akiko , Kubo Hiroshi , Sasaki Hidetada
Published: January 2006

Purpose

To investigate the efficacy and safety of nitroglycerin plus vinorelbine and cisplatin in patients with previously untreated stage IIIB/IV non–small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) as the experimental arm for the next phase III trial.

Patients and Methods

One hundred twenty patients with stage IIIB/IV NSCLC were randomly assigned to vinorelbine 25 mg/m2 on days 1 and 8 and cisplatin 80 mg/m2 on day 1, with transdermally applied nitroglycerin (25 mg/patient daily for 5 days; arm A) or with placebo patch (arm B) every 3 weeks for a maximum of four cycles in a double-blind and controlled trial. Primary efficacy end points were the best confirmed response rate and time to disease progression (TTP).

Results

The response rate in arm A (72%; 43 of 60 patients) was significantly higher than that for patients in arm B (42%; 25 of 60 patients; P < .001). Median TTP in arm A was longer than that in arm B (327 v 185 days). No severe adverse effect was recognized for either arm. The rate of grade 1 to 2 headache in arm A (30%; 18 of 60 patients) was significantly higher than that in arm B (2%; one of 60 patients; P < .001, χ2 test).

Conclusion

Use of nitroglycerin combined with vinorelbine and cisplatin may improve overall response and TTP in patients with stage IIIB/IV NSCLC. The arm A regimen is being evaluated in a large phase III trial.
Anatomically diverse butterfly scales all produce structural colours by coherent scattering
Authors: Prum Richard O. , Quinn Tim , Torres Rodolfo H.
Published: January 2006

The structural colours of butterflies and moths (Lepidoptera) have been attributed to a diversity of physical mechanisms, including multilayer interference, diffraction, Bragg scattering, Tyndall scattering and Rayleigh scattering. We used fibre optic spectrophotometry, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and 2D Fourier analysis to investigate the physical mechanisms of structural colour production in twelve lepidopteran species from four families, representing all of the previously proposed anatomical and optical classes of butterfly nanostructure. The 2D Fourier analyses of TEMs of colour producing butterfly scales document that all species are appropriately nanostructured to produce visible colours by coherent scattering, i.e. differential interference and reinforcement of scattered, visible wavelengths. Previously hypothesized to produce a blue colour by incoherent, Tyndall scattering, the scales of Papilio zalmoxis are not appropriately nanostructured for incoherent scattering. Rather, available data indicate that the blue of P. zalmoxis is a fluorescent pigmentary colour. Despite their nanoscale anatomical diversity, all structurally coloured butterfly scales share a single fundamental physical color production mechanism -coherent scattering. Recognition of this commonality provides a new perspective on how the nanostructure and optical properties of structurally coloured butterfly scales evolved and diversified among and within lepidopteran clades.
Local mechanical properties of the head articulation cuticle in the beetlePachnoda marginata(Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae)
Authors: Barbakadze N. , Enders S. , Gorb S. , Arzt E.
Published: January 2006

Insect exoskeleton (cuticle) has a broad range of mechanical properties depending on the function of a particular structure of the skeleton. Structure and mechanical properties of the specialised cuticle of insect joints remain largely unknown to date. We used scanning (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) to obtain information about the material structure of the gula plate, the head part of the head-to-neck articulation system in the beetle Pachnoda marginata. The surface of this cuticle appears rather smooth in SEM. The fibers of the exocuticle are partly oriented almost perpendicular to the surface, which is rather unusual for arthropod cuticle. Nanoindentation experiments were performed to determine the local mechanical properties (hardness and elastic modulus) of the gula material. To understand the effect of desiccation and the influence of an outer wax layer on the mechanical behavior of the material, the samples were tested in fresh, dry and chemically treated (lipid extraction in organic solvents) conditions. Nanoindentation results were found to be strongly influenced by desiccation but only slightly by lipid extraction. Decreasing water content (∼15-20%of the cuticle mass) led to an increase in hardness (from 0.1 to 0.49 GPa) and elastic modulus (from 1.5 to 7.5 GPa). The lipid extraction caused a slight further hardening (to 0.52 GPa) as well as stiffening (to 7.7 GPa) of the material. The results are discussed in relation to the mechanical function of the gula plate.
Recent Development of Multireference Density Functional Theory
Authors: Yamanaka Shusuke , Nakata Kazuto , Takada Toshikazu , Kusakabe Koichi , Ugalde Jesus M , Yamaguchi Kizashi
Published: January 2006

We review a recently developed ab initio multireference (MR)-density functional theory (DFT) approach based on the partially interacting reference systems. Instead of Kohn–Sham equations, we introduce the auxiliary CI equation with the effective DFT potential field. For practice, we classify electrons of the target system into valence electrons and other electrons. The former plays the quantum resonating feature of electronic structure of molecular species, while the latter affects the electronic properties via the effective correlation potential for the former electrons. The theoretical devices in our MR-DFT are introduced to avoid the double counting problem for any combination of a wavefunction and a correlation functional. Some numerical examples are presented.
Performance Evaluation and Subsequent Clinical Experience with the Abbott Automated Architect STAT Troponin-I Assay
Authors: Lam Que , Black Marion , Youdell Odette , Spilsbury Heather , Schneider Hans-Gerhard
Published: January 2006

Background: Cardiac troponins are specific biochemical markers of myocardial injury used in the diagnosis of acute myocardial disease and cardiac risk stratification. To avoid misclassification of patients, troponin assays must demonstrate precision at the low end of the measuring range. We report our evaluation of the Architect STAT Troponin-I assay (Abbott Diagnostics), comparison of low-positive results with 2 other assays, and occurrence of heterophile antibody interference in the assay.

Methods: We assessed analytical performance on the ci8200 according to CLSI protocols, using quality-control and patient samples. Our healthy reference population included 480 blood donors. For correlation studies against the AxSYM first-generation cTnI (Abbott Diagnostics) and Access second-generation AccuTnI (Beckman Coulter) assays, we used 339 samples from hospital patients.

Results: The CV of the Architect STAT Troponin-I assay was 10% near the 99th percentile for the reference population (0.03 μg/L). Comparison with the AxSYM first-generation cTnI assay showed good correlation at higher concentrations, but better sensitivity of the Architect cTnI assay at low concentrations, which were clinically relevant as shown by review of patient histories. Correlation was good at the low end of the measuring range with the Access second-generation AccuTnI. Over the last 12 months we have identified 6 patients with heterophile antibodies causing positive interference.

Conclusions: The Architect STAT Troponin-I assay provides highly sensitive measurement of cTnI with a CV of 10% near the upper limit of a reference population; however, heterophile antibodies can interfere with this assay.
Point-of-Care i-STAT Cardiac Troponin I for Assessment of Patients with Symptoms Suggestive of Acute Coronary Syndrome,
Authors: Apple Fred S , Ler Ranka , Chung Adrine Y , Berger Michael J , Murakami MaryAnn M
Published: January 2006

Background: Few studies have investigated the role of cardiac troponin point-of-care (POC) testing for predicting adverse outcomes in acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients. We investigated the use of a POC cTnI assay in ACS patients.

Methods: We studied consecutive patients (n = 367) presenting with symptoms suggestive of ACS who were admitted through the emergency department. We measured plasma cTnI with the i-STAT assay. Patients were risk-stratified based on cTnI concentrations defined by the predetermined 99th percentile reference limit for plasma (0.04 μg/L). Patients were followed for 60 days. We computed survival and event curves with the Kaplan–Meier method and compared risk stratification groups with the log-rank test.

Results: Acute myocardial infarction (MI) was diagnosed in 8.1% of patients. Odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals for all-cause death (ACD), MI or ACD, MI or cardiac death, and cardiac death at 60 days were all statistically significant after adjustment for age, diabetes, hypertension, and history of renal failure as follows: 2.54 (1.24–5.20), P = 0.009; 2.76 (1.37–5.58), P = 0.003; 5.98 (1.65–21.7), P = 0.008; and 2.54 (1.24–5.20), P = 0.009. Kaplan–Meier curves showed early separation between patients with increased vs. reference concentrations before 30 days for ACD, MI or ACD, and MI or cardiac death.

Conclusion: The i-STAT POC cTnI assay can be added to the list of assays for risk stratification.
Real-Time PCR Detection of Parapoxvirus DNA,
Authors: Nitsche Andreas , Büttner Mathias , Wilhelm Sonja , Pauli Georg , Meyer Hermann
Published: January 2006

Background: Detection of parapoxviruses is important in various animals as well as in humans as zoonotic infections. Reliable detection of parapoxviruses is fundamental for the exclusion of other rash-causing illnesses, for both veterinarians and medical practitioners. To date, however, no real-time PCR assay for the detection of parapoxviruses has been reported.

Methods: A minor groove binder–based quantitative real-time PCR assay targeting the B2L gene of parapoxviruses was developed on the ABI Prism and the LightCycler platforms.

Results: The real-time PCR assay successfully amplified DNA fragments from a total of 41 parapoxvirus strains and isolates representing the species orf virus, bovine papular stomatitis virus, pseudocowpoxvirus, and sealpoxvirus. Probit analysis gave a limit of detection of 4.7 copies per assay (95% confidence interval, 3.7–6.8 copies per reaction). Scabs contain a sufficient amount of parapoxvirus DNA and can therefore be used for PCR without any DNA preparation step. No cross-reactivity to human, bovine, or sheep genomic DNA or other DNA viruses, including orthopoxviruses, molluscum contagiosum viruses, and yaba-like disease viruses, was observed.

Conclusion: The presented assay is suitable for the detection of parapoxvirus infections in clinical material of human and animal origin.
Trends in China's Transition toward a Knowledge Economy
Authors: Wilson Ernest J. , Segal Adam
Published: January 2006

This essay identifies critical trends in the evolution of information technology sectors in China. Chinese policymakers will have to make decisions in four areas that will shape the knowledge economy and may help transform China from being a technology market taker to a market maker.
Why Has China's Agriculture Survived WTO Accession?
Authors: Donglin Han
Published: January 2006

To explain why Chinese agriculture has survived following WTO accession, this article examines both domestic and international factors. These include the high world market price, strong domestic demand and limited supplies, trade protectionism, and domestic policies such as government investment and taxation. The article summarizes how China's agriculture has been affected by accession to the WTO.
Environmental Inequality and the Urbanization of West Coast Watersheds
Authors: Elkind Sarah S.
Published: January 2006

In the San Francisco Bay Area, Seattle, and Los Angeles, urban development decreased the poor's access to water and marine resources. Modernization in these cities either reduced services to the poor and to ethnic minorities, be they Native Americans,Asian Americans, or Hispanic Americans, or diminished these groups' ability to supplement their incomes by fishing or foraging. Industrial development, shipping channels, and sewers all contributed to a larger pattern of environmental racism and environmental inequity in the United States. This forum contributes to the study of environmental justice by exploring how marginalized peoples adapted to urban growth and the reallocation of resources in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.
City of the Changers
Authors: THRUSH COLL
Published: January 2006

Between the 1880s and the 1930s indigenous people continued to eke out traditional livings along the waterways and shorelines of Seattle's urbanizing and industrializing landscape. During those same years, however, the city's civic leaders and urban planners oversaw massive transformations of that landscape, including the creation of a ship canal linking Puget Sound with Lake Washington and the straightening of the Duwamish River. These transformations typified the modernizing ethos that sought to improve nature to ameliorate or even end social conflict. The struggle of the Duwamish and other local indigenous people to survive urban change, as well as the efforts by residents of nearby Indian reservations to maintain connections to places within the city, illustrate the complex, ironic legacies of Seattle's environmental history. They also show the ways in which urban and Native history are linked through both material and discursive practices.
Numerikus feladatok mögött meghúzódó elemi funkciók mérése a szelektív terhelés módszerével
Authors: Krajcsi Attila
Published: January 2006

Számos esetben van szükség arra, hogy egy elemi mentális funkció teljesítményét egy adott személynél megmérjük. Többféle eljárás (tesztek, reakcióidő, pszichofizikai mérés stb.) áll a rendelkezésünkre. Mégis, bizonyos esetekben egyik ma használatos eljárás sem tűnik megfelelőnek. Így például nehéz olyan módszert találni, amely a számolási zavarokkal rendelkező fejlődési diszkalkuliás személyeknél érvényes módon mutatja ki az ún. mentális számegyenes esetleges sérülését. Az itt bemutatott alternatíva, a szelektív terhelés módszere egy speciális elrendezésre épülő reakcióidő-mérés. A módszer érvényességéta számokkal kapcsolatos feladatok példáján ellenőrizzük. Numerikus feladatok végrehajtásakor több mentális funkció aktiválódik a feladattól függően: például mennyiségek szemantikus reprezentációja, verbális előhívás, műveletek szervezése. Az eredmények szerint a szelektív terhelés módszerével a feladatok megoldását elvégző funkciók jól elkülöníthetőek. A szelektív terhelés módszere a korábbiakhoz képest egy érvényesebb eszközt kínál a rendszerek szelektív mérésére, amely új lehetőséget kínál nemcsak az alapkutatásban, hanem a fejlődési és a szerzett zavarok egyszerű diagnosztikájához is.
Beérkezett könyvek
Authors: Pléh Csaba
Published: January 2006

BorosJános(szerk.): Igazság és kommunikáció. Tanulmányok Donald Davidson filozófiájáról. Brambauer, Pécs, 2004 Faragó-SzabóIstván: Az újkori szkepticizmus története. Áron Kiadó, Budapest, 2005 NyíriKristófés PallóGábor(szerk.): Túl az iskolafilozófián. A 21. század bölcseleti élménye. Áron Kiadó, Budapest, 2005 LudassyMária: Szavak és kardok. Nyelvfilozófia és hatalomelmélet. Atlantisz, Budapest, 2004 ImmanuelKant: Antropológiai írások. Osiris Kiadó, Budapest, 2005 KieferFerenc: Lehetőség és szükségszerűség. Tanulmányok a nyelvi modalitás köréből. Tinta Könyvkiadó, Budapest, 2005 BárdosJenő: Nyelvpedagógiai kalandozások. Iskolakultúra, Pécs, 2004 BárdosJenő: Élő nyelvtanítás-történet. Nemzeti Tankönyvkiadó, Budapest, 2005 Minden filozófia „nyelvkritika”. I-II. NeumerKatalin(szerk.): Nyelvfilozófia Locke-tól Kierkegaard-ig. Gondolat Kiadó, Budapest, 2004; NeumerKatalinés LakiJános(szerk.): Analitikus filozófia és fenomenológia. Gondolat Kiadó, Budapest, 2004 BorosJánosés AndrásFerenc(szerk.): Képszemantika, hagyomány, mobilkommunikáció. Tanulmányok Nyíri Kristóf filozófiájáról. Brambauer, Pécs, 2005 WolfgangIser: Az értelmezés hatalma.Gondolat Kiadó, Budapest, 2004 HankissElemér: Az ezerarcú én. Osiris Kiadó, Budapest, 2005 JeromeBruner: Valóságos elmék, lehetséges világok. Új Mandátum Könyvkiadó, Budapest, 2005 TimKasser: Az anyagiasság súlyos ára. Ursus Libris, Budapest, 2005 LászlóJános: A történetek tudománya. Bevezetés a narratív pszichológiába.Új Mandátum Könyvkiadó, Budapest, 2005 LányiGusztáv: Politikai pszichológia.Jószöveg Kiadó, Budapest, 2005 CsermelyPéter: A rejtett hálózatok ereje. Vince Könyvkiadó, Budapest, 2005 NémediDénes: Klasszikus szociológia. 1890-1945. Napvilág Kiadó, Budapest, 2005ZemplénA. Gábor: The history of vision, colour, and light theories. Bern Studies in the History and Philosophy of Science, Bern, 2005
Historical research: a guide for civil engineers
Authors: Chrimes Mike
Published: January 2006

Around half the work undertaken by civil engineers in today's developed world involves working with existing structures or brownfield sites, a proportion that will inevitably increase. Coupled with a growing emphasis on managing project risks—particularly the risk of unforeseen conditions—it is vital the profession becomes more skilled at unravelling the history of such structures and sites before work starts. This paper provides guidance on how to dig out whatever historical information is available, ranging from the published material in libraries and archives to more unpublished documents and private records.
Spatio‐temporal scanning backlight mode for field‐sequential‐color optically‐compensated‐bend liquid‐crystal display
Authors: Käläntär Kälil , Kishimoto Tadashi , Sekiya Kazuo , Miyashita Tetsuya , Uchida Tatsuo
Published: January 2006

Abstract— A spatially and temporally scanning backlight consisting of ten isolated micro‐structured light guides has been developed to be combined with a fast‐response optically‐compensated‐bend‐mode field‐sequential‐color LCD in which the liquid‐crystal cell does not contain color filters. The sequential fields of three primary colors are generated by illumination of the red‐, green‐, and blue‐light‐emitting diodes, each illuminating for one‐half of the field, resulting in a luminance of 200 cd/m2 for the LCD. The effect of light leakage between the blocks in the scanning backlight in field‐sequential‐color applications was measured and will be described.
Evaluation of risk factors for Cryptococcus gattii infection in dogs and cats
Authors: Duncan Colleen G. , Stephen Craig , Campbell John
Published: January 2006

Objective—To determine risk factors associated with Cryptococcus gattii infection in dogs and cats residing on Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada.

Design—Matched case-control study.

Animals—20 dogs and 29 cats with C gattii infection and matched controls.

Procedure—Dogs and cats with a confirmed or probable diagnosis of cryptococcosis resulting from infection with C gattii were enrolled by veterinarians, and owners completed a questionnaire designed to obtain information pertaining to potential risk factors for the disease. Owners of matched control animals were also interviewed. Odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals or paired t tests were calculated to determine significant associations.

Results—Animals were enrolled during 2 noncontiguous periods in August 2001 to February 2002 (8 dogs and 9 cats enrolled) and May to December 2003 (12 dogs and 20 cats enrolled). Risk factors significantly associated with development of cryptococcosis included residing within 10 km of a logging site or other area of commercial soil disturbance, above-average level of activity of the animal, travelling of the animal on Vancouver Island, hunting by the animal, and owners hiking or visiting a botanic garden.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Results indicated that dogs and cats that were active or that lived near a site of commercial environmental disturbance had a significantly increased risk of developing C gattii infection. Veterinarians should communicate these risks to owners in context because cryptococcosis was an uncommon disease in this population.
Sedative effects of midazolam and xylazine with or without ketamine and detomidine alone following intranasal administration in Ring-necked Parakeets
Authors: Vesal Nasser , Eskandari Mohammad H.
Published: January 2006

Objective—To evaluate the effects of intranasal administration of midazolam and xylazine (with or without ketamine) and detomidine and their specific antagonists in parakeets.

Design—Prospective study.

Animals—17 healthy adult Ring-necked Parakeets (Psittacula krameri) of both sexes (mean weight, 128.83 ± 10.46 g [0.28 ± 0.02 lb]).

Procedure—The dose of each drug or ketamine-drug combination administered intranasally that resulted in adequate sedation (ie, unrestrained dorsal recumbency maintained for ≥ 5 minutes) was determined; the onset of action, duration of dorsal recumbency, and duration of sedation associated with these treatments were evaluated. The efficacy of the reversal agents flumazenil, yohimbine, and atipamezole was also evaluated.

Results—In parakeets, intranasal administration of midazolam (7.3 mg/kg [3.32 mg/lb]) or detomidine (12 mg/kg [5.45 mg/lb]) caused adequate sedation within 2.7 and 3.5 minutes, respectively. Combinations of midazolam (3.65 mg/kg [1.66 mg/lb]) and xylazine (10 mg/kg [4.55 mg/lb]) with ketamine (40 to 50 mg/kg [18.2 to 22.7 mg/lb]) also achieved adequate sedation. Compared with detomidine, duration of dorsal recumbency was significantly longer with midazolam. Intranasal administration of flumazenil (0.13 mg/kg [0.06 mg/lb]) significantly decreased midazolam-associated recumbency time. Compared with the xylazineketamine combination, duration of dorsal recumbency was longer after midazolam-ketamine administration. Intranasal administration of flumazenil, yohimbine, or atipamezole significantly decreased the duration of sedation induced by midazolam, xylazine, or detomidine, respectively.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Intranasal administration of sedative drugs appears to be an acceptable method of drug delivery in Ring-necked Parakeets. Reversal agents are also effective when administered via this route.
Treatment for pancreatic abscesses via omentalization with abdominal closure versus open peritoneal drainage in dogs: 15 cases (1994–2004)
Authors: Johnson Matthew D. , Mann F. A.
Published: January 2006

Objective—To compare survival rate, duration of hospitalization, and complications in dogs with pancreatic abscesses treated with omentalization with abdominal closure versus open peritoneal drainage and evaluate a pancreatitis severity score for potential prognostic value.

Design—Retrospective case series.

Animals—15 dogs with pancreatic abscesses.

Procedure—Data regarding species, breed, age, initial clinical signs, CBC, serum biochemical abnormalities, pancreatitis severity score, anatomic location of the abscess, intraoperative bacteriologic culture results, treatment modality, postoperative complications, outcome (dismissed alive from the hospital, died in the postoperative period, or euthanized at surgery), and duration of hospitalization were evaluated.

Results—6 dogs survived, 6 dogs died or were euthanized after surgery, and 3 were euthanized during surgery. Five of 8 dogs treated with omentalization and abdominal closure survived, and 1 of 4 dogs treated with open peritoneal drainage survived. In several dogs, treatment required additional surgical procedures, which did not appear to affect outcome. Postoperative complications were similar among survivors and nonsurvivors. Mean duration of hospitalization for dogs treated with omentalization and abdominal closure was less than that of dogs treated with open peritoneal drainage. Neither pancreatitis severity score nor any individual components of the score were associated with outcome.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Omentalization is a viable treatment option for pancreatic abscess in dogs. Furthermore, shorter hospitalization and better survival outcomes may make omentalization preferred over open peritoneal drainage.
Evaluation of factors associated with positive IgM capture ELISA results in equids with clinical signs compatible with West Nile virus infection: 1,017 cases (2003)
Authors: Tanner Jennifer M. , Traub-Dargatz Josie L. , Hill Ashley E. , Van Campen Hana , Knight Anthony P. , Cunningham Wayne E. , Salman M. D.
Published: January 2006

Objective—To describe the prevalence of West Nile virus (WNV) infection and evaluate factors associated with positive IgM capture ELISA results in equids with clinical signs compatible with WNV infection.

Design—Retrospective case series.

Sample Population—Laboratory submission forms from 1,104 equids tested for WNV in Colorado in 2003.

Procedures—Submission forms accompanying samples submitted for detection of WNV via IgM capture ELISA were obtained from the Colorado state veterinarian and diagnostic laboratories performing the tests. Data on signalment, clinical signs, history of vaccination against WNV, and assay results were collected from laboratory submission forms. Equids with clinical signs compatible with WNV infection in which IgM capture ELISA results were positive were considered as case equids.

Results—1,104 equids were tested for WNV; 1,017 (92.1%) had clinical signs compatible with WNV infection. Among equids with clinical signs compatible with WNV infection, the odds of testing positive for WNV via IgM capture ELISA were lower in males and in vaccinated equids and higher in equids with moderate and severe illness, compared with females, unvaccinated equids, and equids with mild illness.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Among equids with clinical signs compatible with WNV infection, vaccination against WNV, severity of clinical signs, duration of illness, and region in Colorado were associated with increased risk of having a positive IgM capture ELISA result.
Biosafety: Guidelines for Working with Pathogenic and Infectious Microorganisms
Authors: Coico Richard , Lunn George
Published: January 2006

This unit, in conjunction with local and national guidelines and regulations, provides the basic biosafety information needed to perform the procedures detailed in this manual. Topics discussed include routine precautions when working with biohazards, disinfectants, disposal of biohazards, biosafety levels (as established by the U.S. National Institutes of Health, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), animal facilities, and clinical laboratories. In addition, resources for more information are provided in the Literature Cited and Key References sections and in URLs given text and within the Internet Resources section.
Proteomic Approaches to Antibiotic Drug Discovery
Authors: Bandow Julia E.
Published: January 2006

The global analysis of changes in the protein composition of bacterial cells in response to treatment with antibiotic agents grants insight into the physiological response of cells to inhibition of vital cellular functions. This unit gives an overview of how these global proteomic studies can impact antibacterial drug discovery by identifying or validating compound mechanism of action and by increasing the confidence in the value of genes with unknown function as potential new targets. It describes the design and function of a reference compendium of proteomic responses to inhibition of vital cellular functions through antibacterial agents or genetic down‐regulation of potential target genes. An overview of the workflow for two‐dimensional gel electrophoresis‐based experiments is also presented.
Isolation and Classification of Bdellovibrio and Like Organisms
Authors: Jurkevitch Edouard
Published: January 2006

Bdellovibrio and like organisms (BALOs) are obligate predators of Gram‐negative bacteria. BALOs are isolated as plaques growing at the expense of their prey and are cultivated as two‐member cultures. The growth cycle is composed of an extracellular attack phase, and an intraperiplasmic elongation and replication phase. However, there are methods for obtaining host‐independent (HI) mutants that grow without prey on rich media. BALOs are commonly found in the environment but generally constitute small populations; therefore, their isolation may require enrichment steps. Contamination by other bacteria during isolation necessitates efficient separation between the smaller BALO cells from the majority of larger bacteria. Synchronous cultures of both wild‐type and HI derivatives can be obtained to study the different growth phases. These can be further separated by centrifugation. Classification is based on 16S rDNA analysis. Protocols relevant to these aspects of BALO isolation, growth, and classification are presented in this unit.
Laboratory Maintenance of Helicobacter Species
Authors: Blanchard Thomas G. , Nedrud John G.
Published: January 2006

Helicobacter species are Gram‐negative bacteria that colonize the gastric or intestinal mucosa of many mammalian and avian hosts and induce histologic inflammation. The association of H. pylori with gastritis, peptic ulcer disease, and gastric cancers makes it a significant human pathogen. Animal models for these diseases are being used to explore the pathogenesis of H. pylori infection and in vaccine development (UNIT ). Both bacterial and host factors contribute to Helicobacter pathogenesis, and therefore the microbiology is very important. This unit describes how to culture the most commonly used gastric Helicobacter species, H. pylori, H. mustelae, and H. felis.
Laboratory Maintenance of Fusobacteria
Authors: Han Yiping W.
Published: January 2006

This unit describes routine laboratory handling of fusobacteria. Different media that can be used to grow or enrich Fusobacterium nucleatum and other species of this genus are described. The growth and stock conditions as well as the susceptibility of F. nucleatum to oxygen in a pure culture are also discussed.
Inoculation of Plants Using Bombardment
Authors: Gaba Victor , Gal‐On Amit
Published: January 2006

This unit describes methods for the construction and use of handheld particle bombardment devices for high‐efficiency inoculation of intact plants with nucleic acids and viruses. The devices accelerate heavy metal particles coated with nucleic acids or viruses into plant tissues and are driven by pressurized gas. They are inexpensive to construct and use, and can be assembled in any laboratory. The equipment enables inoculation with full‐length infectious cDNA, PCR products, virus from sap or a virus preparation, and in vitro viral transcripts. The inoculation of some phloem‐limited RNA viruses is also possible. Additionally, this technology allows for inoculation of large numbers of plants (mass bombardment), inoculation of soft plants that do not survive bombardment inoculation by other means, inoculation in the greenhouse, study of viral recombination in plants, rapid promoter analysis, and monitoring of virus movement using an infectious clone bearing a reporter gene.
Diagnosis and Treatment of Mycoplasma‐Contaminated Cell Cultures
Authors: Harlin Helena , Gajewski Thomas F.
Published: January 2006

Mycoplasma contamination is a serious and frequent problem in the culture laboratory. Although mycoplasma contamination may be suspected by the failure of cells to thrive, the formal diagnosis rests on the detection of adenosine phosphorylase secretion by infected cell lines. This appendix describes how to test for mycoplasma contamination, and also presents methods for antibiotic treatment of infected cultures.
Online control of molar mass and particle‐size distributions in emulsion polymerization
Authors: Zeaiter J. , Romagnoli J. A. , Gomes V. G.
Published: January 2006

Product quality control is a complex issue in polymerization than in conventional chemical processes. The key polymer properties are related to the polymer particle‐size distribution (PSD), and molecular‐weight distribution (MWD), which are in turn sensitive to the thermo‐kinetic and operating history of the process. Disturbances in operating conditions may cause irreversible changes in the quality of the polymer formed. Therefore, adjustments must be made during the reaction through effective online control schemes. For this purpose, model predictive control (MPC) algorithm for on‐line control of polymer PSD and MWD was developed and implemented. An intelligent control hierarchy was formulated for the distributed parameter system at three levels: off‐line optimization, on‐line MPC and regulatory control successively. The novelty of our approach includes the incorporation of a validated high‐order dynamic model as a soft‐sensor for on‐line feedback of PSD and MWD. The MPC was implemented successfully on a reactor facility, where off‐line sample analysis, using CHDF and GPC instruments, were used to update the on‐line model predictions. © 2006 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2006