bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
AMS 14C Dates for Extinct Lemurs from Caves in the Ankarana Massif, Northern Madagascar
Authors: Simons Elwyn L. , Burney David A. , Chatrath Prithijit S. , Godfrey Laurie R. , Jungers William L. , Rakotosamimanana Berthe
Published: October 2002

An extensive late Quaternary fauna, including many extinct giant lemurs, has been collected recently in a 110+-km system of caves in the Ankarana Massif of northern Madagascar. AMS 14C dates for the acid-insoluble (collagen/gelatin) fraction of bones of the giant lemur Megaladapis (26,150 ± 400 and 12,760 ± 70 yr B.P.) confirm its presence in the area during the late Pleistocene and provide the first Pleistocene 14 C ages from bones of the extinct megafauna of the island. The first date from bones of the recently described extinct Babakotia radofilai (4400 ± 60 yr B.P.) shows that it was present in northern Madagascar in mid-Holocene times. A comparatively recent age of 1020 ± 50 yr B.P. for the extinct Archaeolemur indicates survival of this genus for at least a millennium after the first direct evidence for humans in Madagascar. This suggests that the island's "extinction window" may have represented a longer time span than would have been expected under the Blitzkrieg model of late Quaternary extinctions. A mid-Holocene age (4560 ± 70 yr B.P.) for a bone sample of the small extant lemur Hapalemur simus indicates that the disappearance of this now-restricted species from the Ankarana occurred after this date. New data from the Ankarana and other sites on the island add to the consensus that major biotic changes occurred on Madagascar in the late Holocene.
Grassland Vegetation in the Southern Great Plains during the Last Glacial Maximum
Authors: Hall Stephen A. , Valastro Salvatore
Published: October 2002

New pollen records from White Lake in the Southern High Plains and from Friesenhahn Cave on the southeastern Edwards Plateau of Texas indicate that the glacial-age vegetation of the southern Great Plains was a grassland. The High Plains was a treelessArtemisiagrassland and the Edwards Plateau, at the south edge of the Great Plains, was a grassland with pinyon pines and deciduous trees in canyons and riparian habitats. The glacial-age grasslands differ from modern shortgrass and tallgrass prairies and may have no modern analog. The dominance of prairie vegetation during the last glacial maximum is compatible with late Pleistocene mammalian faunas and late-glacial grassland pollen records from the region. Earlier interpretations of a pine-spruce forest on the High Plains were based on pollen assemblages that are here shown to have been altered by postdepositional deterioration, resulting in differential preservation of conifer pollen grains. Accordingly, the "Tahoka Pluvial" and other "climatic episodes" defined by High Plains pollen records are abandoned.
Sea Level Changes in the Last Several Thousand Years, Penghu Islands, Taiwan Strait
Authors: Chen Yue-Gau , Liu Tsung-Kwei
Published: October 2002

Holocene shore-face and beach-face deposits form plains <5 m above present sea level along Taiwan Strait. We measured the 14C ages of detrital mollusk shells and coral in such deposits at the Penghu Islands. Twelve carbonate samples—mainly from the largest island, Makung—were dated. Age measurements for two coral samples and one mollusk sample from the same outcrop imply that the 14C ages of mollusk shells give the best approximation of depositional age. The highest Holocene relative sea level in the Penghu Islands occurred about 4700 years ago with a height about 2.4 m above the present sea level. Thereafter, relative sea level appreciably fell without detectable fluctuations to its recent position. Our sea level data are consistent with other studies from the central and western Pacific, except for the timing of peak sea level position. This variation may reflect local crustal response to hydroisostatic effects on the continental shelf.
A Regional Stratigraphic Isochron (ca. 800014C yr B.P.) from Final Deglaciation of Hudson Strait
Authors: Kerwin Michael W.
Published: October 2002

Sedimentologic, rock-magnetic, and X-ray fluorescence data from two marine sediment cores in Hudson Strait suggest that a red, hematite-rich clay layer was deposited throughout the strait during the final collapse of the Laurentide Ice Sheet in the vicinity of northern Hudson Bay and western Hudson Strait. This layer, which can be recognized by its reddish-pink color (10YR6/2 to 5YR4/2) and relatively high-hematite proportions (low magnetic susceptibility and magnetite-to-hematite ratio), is dated from 8000 to 790014C yr B.P. at both ends of the strait. The Dubawnt Group, a Proterozoic bedrock unit in northern Hudson Bay, is the most likely source of this stratigraphic isochron. In eastern Hudson strait, the recognition of this red unit and other distal glaciomarine sediments from 8400 to 790014C yr B.P. indicates that little sediment from the nearby Labrador Dome reached eastern Hudson Strait during this 500-yr interval. This time interval immediately postdates the Noble Inlet advance, a northward flow of Labrador ice across eastern Hudson Strait onto southern Baffin Island from ca. 8900 to 840014C yr B.P. One explanation for the lack of Labrador sediments is that the northern margin of the Labrador dome was cold-based for up to 500 yr following the Noble Inlet advance.
Late Quaternary Temporal and Event Classifications, Great Lakes Region, North America
Authors: Johnson W. Hilton , Hansel Ardith K. , Bettis E. Arthur , Karrow Paul F. , Larson Grahame J. , Lowell Thomas V. , Schneider Allan F.
Published: October 2002

Several temporal and event classifications are used for the Quaternary glacial and interglacial record in the Great Lakes region of North America. Although based on contrasting principles, the classifications, as practiced, are similar to one another in most respects and they differ little from the classification proposed by Chamberlin a century ago. All are based on stratigraphic units having time-transgressive boundaries; thus the associated time spans and events are diachronous. Where application of geochronologic classification based on isochronous boundaries is not practical or useful, we advocate the use of diachronic principles to establish local and regional temporal and event classifications. Diachronic and event classifications based on such principles are proposed herein for the Great Lakes region. Well-established names, including Wisconsin, Sangamon, and Illinois, are used at the episode (or glaciation/interglaciation) rank without significant redefinition. The Hudson Episode (Interglaciation) is introduced for postglacial time, the current interglacial interval. The Wisconsin Episode is divided into the Ontario, Elgin, and Michigan Subepisodes in the eastern and northern parts of the Great Lakes region and into the Athens and Michigan Subepisodes in the southern and western parts of the Great Lakes region.
Boulder Deposits from Large Waves during the Last Interglaciation on North Eleuthera Island, Bahamas
Authors: Hearty Paul J.
Published: October 2002

Seven boulders measuring 100 to 1000 m3are scattered along the coastal ridge of north Eleuthera. Some are situated on ridge crests up to 20 m above present sea level. The boulders were probably deposited during oxygen-isotope substage 5e or 5d, as shown by their stratigraphic setting and by amino acid racemization ratios. D-alloisoleucine/L-isoleucine ratios were determined for land snails, and oolite of both marine and eolian origin was associated with the boulders. Like the boulders, the probable source rocks exposed in the adjacent cliffs are composed of marine and eolian limestone of oolitic and peloidal composition. The source beds are correlated with stage 9 or 11. The largest boulder is about 10 times the size of the largest Holocene ones moved by waves in the area. Tsunamis are a reasonable possibility as a transporting mechanism of the Pleistocene boulders. However, if deposited instead by storms during the last interglaciation, the storms were of much greater intensity than those occurring in the region during the late Holocene.
Strontium Isotope Ages of the Marine Merced Formation, near San Francisco, California
Authors: Ingram B. Lynn , Ingle James C.
Published: October 2002

The strontium isotopic compositions of foraminifers (Elphidiella hannaiwere determined to refine the age of coastal sediments of the Merced Formation and to evaluate the relation between transgressive–regressive cycles and Pleistocene glacio-eustatic sea-level fluctuations. Relatively good age resolution (± 0.1 myr) is possible in the upper part of the section. The Sr isotope ages provide strong supporting evidence for the fission track ages of an ash layer at the top of the formation (0.45 myr), as well as recent age estimates for the mammoth fossil of ∼0.45 myr. Sr isotope ages in the upper part of the section also confirm that marine/nonmarine cyclic sedimentation in the Merced Formation is controlled by glacial–interglacial cycles. Good age resolution for the lower part of the section is not possible, due to little variation of the87Sr/86Sr ratio in global sea water between 2.4 and 4.3 myr. The age of the base of the formation is constrained only between 2.4 and 4.8 myr. Sediment accumulation rates in the upper portion of the Merced Formation (between 0 and 720 m) are significantly higher than those calculated for the basal portion (between 720 and 1670 m). The change in accumulation rate may be due to increased continental weathering rates and/or increased tectonic subsidence beginning about 0.8 myr ago.
Refinements of the European Mammal Biochronology from the Magnetic Polarity Record of the Plio–Pleistocene Zújar Section, Guadix-Baza Basin, SE Spain
Authors: Oms Oriol , Dinarès-Turell Jaume , Agustı́ Jordi , M. Parés Josep
Published: October 2002

The magnetobiostratigraphy study of the 130-m-thick Zújar section (Negratı́n clays unit, Guadix-Baza Basin, Spain) provides a remarkable opportunity to improve the correlation of European mammal biostratigraphy to the Geomagnetic Polarity Time Scale. The occurrence of 12 well-defined magnetozones and four paleontological sites with diagnostic faunas ranging from the MN 15 biozone (Ruscinian) to the MN 17 biozone (Villanyian), leads to an unambiguous correlation to chrons spanning from the Gilbert to the Matuyama epochs. This provides two new time constraints: (1) the boundary between MN 15 (Ruscinian) and MN 16 (Villanyian) biozones is recorded between chron C2An.3n and the base of chron C2An.2n and (2) the boundary between the upper and lower MN 16 subzones (Villanyian) is located between chron C2An.2n and the base of chron C2An.1n. The correlation between the Ruscinian–Villanyian boundary and the 3.3-myr-B.P. cooling event seems to be confirmed, while the early/late Villanyian boundary could be tentatively correlated to the glacial event at 2.6 myr B.P. Furthermore, MN 15 faunas are found in the lowermost part of chron C2Ar, which is in agreement with and reinforces the emplacement of the MN 14–MN 15 Ruscinian zones boundary at the reversal from chron 3n.1n to chron C2Ar.
Quaternary Stratigraphy and Paleogeography of the Galilee Coastal Plain, Israel
Authors: Sivan Dorit , Gvirtzman Gedaliahu , Sass Eytan
Published: October 2002

The Quaternary deposits in the Galilee coastal plain comprise alternating calcareous sandstone, red loam, dark clay, and uncemented sand. The calcareous sandstone in the lower part of the sequence represents a Pliocene to early Pleistocene marine transgression, and is covered unconformably by the late Quaternary sequence. The base of this sequence has an estimated age of ∼500,000 yr. It is covered unconformably by marine calcareous sandstone in the west, which represents the global high sea-level stand of isotope stage 7.1, and is known as one of the “Tyrrhenian” events in the Mediterranean area. The overlying members represent the low sea-level stand of stage 6, the first a red paleosol indicating a relatively wet phase and the second an eolianite unit representing a drier phase. The eolianite forms longitudinal, subparallel ridges that formed contemporaneously. The overlying marine sandstone, which contains one of the diagnostic fossils of the “Tyrrhenian” events, the gastropodStrombus buboniusLMK, accumulated during the global high stand of stage 5.5. The last glacial period left no sedimentary record. The Holocene is represented by a marine clay unit that is covered by sand. The present study establishes a complete and detailed chronostratigraphic sequence for an eastern Mediterranean beach, which contains the gastropodS. buboniusLMK.S. buboniuson the Galilee coast is attributed to stage 5.5 and therefore, establishes an east–west Mediterranean correlation, which can be used for linking Mediterranean events to paleo-sea levels and global climate changes.
Paleoenvironmental and Human Behavioral Implications of the Boegoeberg 1 Late Pleistocene Hyena Den, Northern Cape Province, South Africa
Authors: Klein Richard G. , Cruz-Uribe Kathryn , Halkett David , Hart Tim , Parkington John E.
Published: October 2002

Boegoeberg 1 (BOG1) is located on the Atlantic coast of South Africa, 850 km north of Cape Town. The site is a shallow rock shelter in the side of a sand-choked gully that was emptied by diamond miners. Abundant coprolites, chewed bones, and partially digested bones implicate hyenas as the bone accumulators. The location of the site, quantity of bones, and composition of the fauna imply it was a brown hyena nursery den. The abundance of Cape fur seal bones shows that the hyenas had ready access to the coast. Radiocarbon dates place the site before 37,00014C yr ago, while the large average size of the black-backed jackals and the presence of extralimital ungulates imply cool, moist conditions, probably during the early part of the last glaciation (isotope stage 4 or stage 3 before 37,00014C yr ago) or perhaps during one of the cooler phases (isotope substages 5d or 5b) within the last interglaciation. Comparisons of the BOG1 seal bones to those from regional Middle Stone Age (MSA) and Later Stone Age (LSA) archeological sites suggest (1) that hyena and human seal accumulations can be distinguished by a tendency for vertebrae to be much more common in a hyena accumulation and (2) that hyena and LSA accumulations can be distinguished by a tendency for hyena-accumulated seals to represent a much wider range of individual seal ages. Differences in the way hyenas and people dismember, transport, and consume seal carcasses probably explain the contrast in skeletal part representation, while differences in season of occupation explain the contrast in seal age representation. Like modern brown hyenas, the BOG1 hyenas probably occupied the coast year-round, while the LSA people focused their coastal visits on the August–October interval when nine-to-eleven-month-old seals were abundant. The MSA sample from Klasies River Mouth Cave 1 resembles BOG1 in seal age composition, suggesting that unlike LSA people, MSA people obtained seals more or less throughout the year.
Three‐dimensional reconstruction of biliary tract using spiral computed tomography for laparoscopic cholecystectomy
Authors: Ichii Hirohito , Takada Moriatsu , Kashiwagi Ryoichi , Sakane Masayoshi , Tabata Fumihira , Ku Yonson , Fujimori Takahiro , Kuroda Yoshikazu
Published: October 2002

To increase the safety of laparoscopic cholecystectomy, we have analyzed the biliary tract in a three‐dimensional fashion. The union of the biliary ducts was studied in 50 patients using spiral computed tomography (CT) after intravenous infusion cholangiography. Depending on the union and course of the cystic duct to the common bile duct, cystic duct anatomy was classified into six categories: ipsilateral gallbladder side (type I) and contralateral side with anterior course (type II); contralateral side with posterior course (type III); intrahepatic side (type IV); intrapancreatic side (type V); and unclassified (type VI). The length of the cystic duct was also determined. The cystic duct was identified in 42 cases (84%); 30 cases (60%) were type I, 9 cases (18%) type III, and a single case (2%) of types II, IV and V, respectively. The length of the cystic duct was ≥2 cm in 30 cases that had a shorter operating time compared to 12 cases with a cystic duct <2 cm (p<0.01). In conclusion, three‐dimensional reconstruction of the cystic duct anatomy using spiral CT provides simple classification of bile duct anatomy, and this preoperative information may increase the safety of laparoscopic cholecystectomy.
Normocalcemia and persistent elevated serum concentrations of 1–84 parathyroid hormone after operation for sporadic parathyroid adenoma: evidence of increased morbidity from cardiovascular disease
Authors: Vestergaard Henrik , Kristensen Lars Østergaard
Published: October 2002

Elevated serum concentrations of 1–84 parathyroid hormone (PTH) after operation for sporadic parathyroid adenoma have been re‐ported in previous studies, years after operation for primary hyperparathyroidism (pHPT). The cause and significance of this finding have not been elucidated. Primary hyperparathyroidism was diagnosed in 195 patients from January 1987 to December 1998. Operation for pHPT was performed in 124 patients. To evaluate long‐term effects of elevated serum 1–84 PTH, biochemical variables and pre‐ and postoperative diseases were investigated from hospital case records. Of the 124 patients operated on, 103 had a solitary adenoma. Among these patients, 60 had normal serum concentrations of 1–84 PTH and calcium postoperatively, 38 patients had follow‐up for more than 12 months (range 12–207 months—group A). Persistent elevated serum concentrations of 1–84 PTH and normocalcemia were found in 23 patients. Fourteen patients had follow‐up for more than 12 months (range 15–76 months—group B). Two patients had persistent pHPT, and 18 were normocalcemic, but in this retrospective study data on serum 1–84 PTH were not available. No significant differences were found between groups A and B at the time of diagnosis concerning clinical characteristics. More that 12 months after operation for pHPT, the patients in group B, with persistent elevated serum concentrations of 1–84 PTH, had a significantly (χ2=11, p=0.005, and power of test 0.66) higher frequency of cardiovascular diseases from ischémie heart disease and hypertension. Persistent elevated serum concentrations of 1–84 PTH after operation for sporadic parathyroid adenoma may be associated with development of cardiovascular disease. This group of patients therefore needs lifelong control and, possibly, medical intervention.
Surgical results in patients with hepatitis virus‐related hepatocellular carcinoma in Taiwan
Authors: Chen Miin‐Fu , Jeng Long‐Bin , Lee Wei‐Chen
Published: October 2002

To investigate the surgical results of hepatectomy for hepatocellular carcinoma in relation to hepatitis virus status in Taiwan, 252 patients (196 men and 56 women; March 1992 to August 1998) were reviewed. The patients were divided into four groups: 30 patients (11.9%) seronegative for both hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and antihepatitis C antibody (HCVAb) (N‐HCC group); 133 patients (52.8%) seropositive for HBsAg and seronegative for HCVAb (B‐HCC group); 66 patients (26.2%) seronegative for HBsAg and seropositive for HCVAb (C‐HCC group); and 23 patients (9.1%) seropositive for both HBsAg and HCVAb (BC‐HCC group). Patients in group C‐HCC were older (p=0.001) and had a higher incidence of diabetes mellitus (p=0.004). Also, they had a higher indocyanine green retention rate at 15 minutes (p=0.021), longer international normalization ratio for the prothrombin time (p=0.049), and smaller tumor (p=0.006). Postoperative complications and hospital mortality were significantly higher in patients in the C‐HCC and BC‐HCC groups (p=0.046, 0.021). All patients were followed 12 to 76 months after hepatectomy (mean 23.5±16.3 months). The 1‐, 3‐, and 5‐year overall cumulative survival rates of the 252 patients in this series were 80%, 54.3%, and 34.2%, respectively. The cumulative intrahepatic recurrence rates were 46.5%, 64.9%, and 72.9% at 1, 3, and 5 years, respectively. The mean disease‐free survival time was longest in group C‐HCC and shortest in group BC‐HCC (p=0.020). The overall survival time and cumulative survival rates in the four groups were not significantly different (p=0.146).
Metallothionein: Early marker in the carcinogenesis of ulcerative colitis‐associated colorectal carcinoma
Authors: Bruewer Matthias , Schmid Kurt W. , Krieglstein Christian F. , Senninger Norbert , Schuermann Guido
Published: October 2002

Metallothioneins (MTs) are zinc‐binding proteins whose over‐expression may lead to sequestration of zinc ions and consequently to functional inactivation of the p53 tumor suppressor gene. The aim of the study was to investigate the potential role of MTs in the carcinogenesis of ulcerative colitis (UC) as well as possible effects on p53 function. The monoclonal antibodies E9 (anti‐MT), DO‐7, and 1801 (anti‐p53) and the polyclonal antibody CM‐1 (anti‐p53) were used to stain formalin‐fixed, paraffin‐embedded colon specimens obtained from 14 patients with UC‐associated colorectal carcinoma (CAC), 13 with high‐grade dysplasia (HGD), 10 with low‐grade dysplasia (LGD), and 30 with UC without dysplasia or carcinoma. Statistical significance (p<0.05) was assessed using Fisher’s exact test. Positive MT staining (>20% of tumor, dysplastic, or epithelial cells) was found in most UC and LGD but in only a small percentage of HGD and CAC (p<0.01 for CAC vs. UC and LGD vs. HGD). Positive p53 immunoreactivity was observed predominantly in HGD and CAC but not in LGD and UC (p<0.01 for CAC vs. UC and HGD vs. LGD). In histologically normal tissue neighboring CAC, significant MT expression was found in six of seven specimens with simultaneous lack of p53 expression. MT overexpression may represent an important early step in the development of CAC independent of p53 expression and should be investigated in the long term as an independent cancer risk factor in UC.
Learning community history
Authors: Hugo Jane M.
Published: October 2002

There are deeply rooted connections between learning and community in adult education. The historical examples and issues discussed here shed light on the interactions between individual learning, community, and modern society.
Negotiating power and politics in practitioner inquiry communities
Authors: Drennon Cassandra
Published: October 2002

The extent to which practitioner inquiry groups function as democratic learning communities depends largely on how a facilitator negotiates the group’s power relationships and politics.
Pedestrian conspicuity at night: failure to observe a biological motion advantage in a high‐clutter environment
Authors: Moberly Nicholas James , Langham Martin Paul
Published: October 2002

Using recent accident data to simulate a common collision environment, a 10‐minute car journey was filmed in which a moving or stationary pedestrian wearing one of two types of retroreflective clothing appeared in an environment with high visual clutter. It was hypothesized that moving pedestrians would be detected at greater distances when wearing retroreflective aids in biological motion configuration (‘biomotion’ clothing), but not when wearing a standard retroreflective vest. Participants viewed films of the journey, pressed a button when they detected the pedestrian and rated the difficulty of the task. Biomotion clothing did not significantly increase detection distance for either moving or stationary pedestrians compared to the vest. However, moving pedestrians were detected significantly further away than stationary pedestrians with both clothings. The results do not support the hypothesis that biological motion clothing affords recognition at greater distances than standard conspicuity aids in environments with high visual clutter. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Mixed‐data multi‐modelling for fault detection and isolation
Authors: Kárný Miroslav , Nagy Ivan , Novovičová Jana
Published: October 2002

Early recognition/isolation of a faulty behaviour of a dynamic system is the main task of a fault detection and isolation (FDI). FDI methods based on adaptive probabilistic models with multiple modes represent a theoretically well justified way of solution. Their use is severely restricted by an inherent computational complexity.

The complexity problem is addressed here by employing an efficient quasi‐Bayes estimation algorithm. It is directly applicable to the mixture of components created as products of factors belonging to the exponential family. It opens a novel way to deal adaptively with mixed continuous–discrete, dynamically related data. The presented theory and algorithmization are illustrated by a simple simulation example. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Adaptive control of continuous time stochastic systems
Authors: Duncan T.E. , Pasik‐Duncan B.
Published: October 2002

Some problems and solutions of adaptive control problems for continuous time stochastic systems are described. A solution is given to the adaptive linear quadratic Gaussian control problem under the natural assumptions of controllability and observability. The effects of sampling and numerical differentiation on a least‐squares estimation algorithm are described. Adaptive control problems for non‐linear stochastic systems and linear stochastic distributed parameter systems are briefly described. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Vertical price leadership: A cointegration analysis
Authors: Kuiper W. Erno , Meulenberg Matthew T.G.
Published: October 2002

Here we detail a method to test whether or not retailers allow suppliers to set the wholesale price not only on the basis of the costs faced by the suppliers but also on the basis of consumer demand. Using standard theory, long‐run price relationships between the stages in the channel are derived. Next, these static price relationships are imposed on a dynamic model to be tested for cointegration and long‐run noncausality, embedding the hypotheses on vertical price leadership. To derive the testable implications of these hypotheses, we show that the common stochastic trend and long‐run equilibrium error must explicitly be assigned to variables in the channel model. The model is particularly relevant for industries characterized by a low degree of product differentiation. An empirical application to two Dutch marketing channels for food products gives comprehensible results. [EconLit citations: C32, L12, Q11] © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Hyperhomocysteinemia and cobalamin deficiency in young Asian Indians in the United States
Authors: Carmel Ralph , Mallidi Padmaja V. , Vinarskiy Simon , Brar Shabneet , Frouhar Zohreh
Published: October 2002

Hyperhomocysteinemia, a risk factor for vascular disease, may be a particular problem in Asian Indians, but information is limited, especially in the U.S., despite its growing Asian population. Moreover, suggestions have been made that folate deficiency is responsible for the hyperhomocysteinemia in Indians. Therefore, we studied homocysteine status in healthy Asian Indians in the U.S. prospectively, determined the frequency of cobalamin and folate deficiency as contributors to it, and examined whether food—cobalamin absorption contributed to cobalamin deficiency. Homocysteine levels were higher in Asian Indian men than in 4 other ethnic groups (P < 0.0001); 10/39 Indian men (25.6%) were hyperhomocysteinemic. Cobalamin levels were lower in Indian men (P = 0.000005) and women (P = 0.03) than in non‐Indians; low levels were found more frequently in both Indian men (23/39; 59.0%) and women (5/21; 23.8%) than in others. Measuring methylmalonic acid in 10 selected subjects showed that the low cobalamin levels reflected cobalamin deficiency, and high methylmalonic acid levels were found in some subjects without hyperhomocysteinemia. Evidence of folate deficiency was not found in any subjects. Food–cobalamin absorption was normal in all 13 Indian subjects tested, including those with Helicobacter pylori infection. The results show that hyperhomocysteinemia is strikingly common in apparently healthy, young Asian Indian men. The cause appears to be cobalamin deficiency, which affected more than half of the Indian men, may be largely subclinical, is underestimated by homocysteine levels alone which were not always abnormal, and is probably largely dietary in origin. Folate deficiency is rare. This public health problem is amenable to prevention and treatment in this growing segment of the U.S. population. It was, parenthetically, noteworthy that many of the affected subjects were young physician trainees. Am. J. Hematol. 70:107–114, 2002. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Acquired pulmonary alveolar proteinosis after umbilical cord blood transplantation for acute myeloid leukemia
Authors: Tomonari Akira , Shirafuji Naoki , Iseki Tohru , Ooi Jun , Nagayama Hitomi , Masunaga Atsuko , Tojo Arinobu , Tani Kenzaburo , Asano Shigetaka
Published: October 2002

Pulmonary alveolar proteinosis (PAP) is a heterogeneous disease that occasionally develops with hematological malignancy. However, PAP in association with hematopoietic stem cell transplantation is quite rare. Here we present the first report of a patient who developed PAP after cord blood transplantation (CBT). A 45‐year‐old female with AML underwent unrelated CBT. On day +2 after CBT she developed congestive heart failure with diffuse alveolar infiltrates in the bilateral lungs. Despite treatment, the alveolar infiltrates further increased with progression of multiple organ failure (MOF). She died from MOF before hematopoietic recovery on day +27. Post‐mortem study revealed that massive amorphous materials positive for periodic acid‐Schiff stain filled in the pulmonary alveoli. These findings led to a diagnosis of PAP. The bone marrow was hypocellular without the leukemic cells. The impaired immunity during the period of leukopenia as well as the impaired clearance of surfactant proteins might contribute to the development of PAP. Am. J. Hematol. 70:154–157, 2002.© 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Estimation of the incidence of pleural mesothelioma according to death certificates in France
Authors: Iwatsubo Y. , Matrat M. , Michel E. , Boutin C. , Galateau‐Salle F. , Jougla E. , Bignon J. , Pairon J.C. , Brochard P.
Published: October 2002

Background

The number of cases of pleural mesothelioma in France has varied substantially according to methods of assessment.

Materials and Methods

We collected information from certifying physicians about 316 subjects who died between 1 July 1992 and 30 June 1993 in three regions of France with a cause of death coded as ICD‐9 category 163. The ICD codes selected as the cause of death for 178 deaths between 1 January 1987 and 31 December 1992 histologically confirmed and diagnosed as pleural mesothelioma by an expert committee were examined. Finally, we used this information to estimate the number of deaths from pleural mesothelioma in France in 1992.

Results

In Part I, 45% (men: 54%; women: 28%) of the cases coded as ICD‐9 section 163 were definitely or probably mesothelioma; 18% (men: 16%; women: 21%) possibly mesothelioma; and 37% (men: 30%; women: 51%) other tumors, primarily adenocarcinoma metastases. In Part II, 74% of the confirmed pleural mesotheliomas were coded in category 163 (men: 75%; women: 70%). Extrapolation nationwide indicated that 902 deaths were coded as ICD‐9 163 in 1992: 521 cases involved definite or probable mesothelioma and 724 definite, probable, and possible cases.

Conclusions

The analysis of this sample suggests that estimating the number of mesothelioma cases from the cause‐of‐death statistics may overestimate their incidence, but that death certificates appeared to report the diagnosis of histologically confirmed mesothelioma accurately. Am. J. Ind. Med. 42:188–199, 2002. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Association analysis of a polymorphism in the G‐protein stimulatory α subunit in patients with major depression*
Authors: Zill Peter , Baghai Thomas C. , Zwanzger Peter , Schüle Cornelius , Minov Christo , Behrens Stefanie , Rupprecht Rainer , Möller Hans‐Jürgen , Engel Rolf , Bondy Brigitta
Published: October 2002

Growing evidence suggests that G‐proteins may be involved in pathogenesis and treatment of affective disorders. Several studies have reported altered levels and/or activities of stimulatory G‐proteins in depression. The aim of this study was to investigate whether a polymorphism in the stimulatory α subunit of G‐proteins (T/C point mutation in exon 5; ATT → ATC at codon 131) is associated with major depression or response to antidepressant treatment. Therefore, we performed a case‐control association study with 212 depressive patients and 137 healthy, unrelated controls. There was no evidence for an association between the investigated polymorphism in the Gαs gene and major depression, as well as to treatment response. The results of our study are in concordance with recently published findings which do not support the hypothesis that the gene for the stimulatory α subunit of G‐proteins is a major susceptibility factor in the pathophysiology of major depression. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Ring chromosome 21 in a boy and a derivative chromosome 21 in the mother: Implication for ring chromosome formation
Authors: Muroya Koji , Yamamoto Keiichi , Fukushima Yoshimitsu , Ogata Tsutomu
Published: October 2002

We report on r(21) chromosome in a boy and a der(21) chromosome in his mother. Cytogenetic studies revealed a mosaic 45,XY[4]/46,XY,r(21)[96] karyotype in the boy and a 46,XX,der(21)[100] karyotype in the mother. Fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis for D21Z1 at the centromere, AML1 at 21q22.1, LSI21 at 21q22.2, and 21qtel at the telomere region showed that the r(21) chromosome retained single copies of D21Z1, AML1, and LSI21 and lacked the 21qtel, whereas the der(21) chromosome had two copies of the 21qtel on both of its ends and single copies of D21Z1, AML1, and LSI21, with a paracentric inversion of AML1 and LSI21 (21qtel–D21Z1–LSI21–AML1–21qtel). Microsatellite analysis for nine loci on 21q22.3 indicated that the r(21) chromosome was missing a distal 21q22.3 region involving D21S1890, D21S1411, and D21S1903 with no maternally derived alleles, and that the der(21) chromosome was associated with duplication of a distal 21q22.3 region encompassing D21S1890 and D21S1446. The results suggest that a U‐type exchange occurred between the homologous distal 21q regions duplicated on the der(21) chromosome, leading to the r(21) formation. This is a novel mechanism put forward for the formation of a monocentric ring chromosome. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Kabuki syndrome: Report of six Thai children and further phenotypic and genetic delineation
Authors: Shotelersuk Vorasuk , Punyashthiti Rachaneekorn , Srivuthana Sumarlee , Wacharasindhu Suttipong
Published: October 2002

We describe six Thai children with the Kabuki syndrome. Monozygotic twin boys discordant for the syndrome were encountered in a family. The affected twin had all five cardinal features of the syndrome, whereas the unaffected twin had none of them. The presence of monozygotic twins discordant for the syndrome argues against a single gene origin of the disorder, but by no means excludes it. In another family, a mother had a facial appearance similar to her affected son. Lower lip pits with or without symmetrical lower lip nodules were present in three of the six children, and pilonidal sinus was seen in five children. These clinical manifestations were much more common than previously described. Other inconsistent findings included early eruption of the lower central incisors, a skin defect of the head, and transient hyperthyrotropinemia in infancy. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Mosaic trisomy 9 and lobar holoprosencephaly
Authors: Gérard‐Blanluet Marion , Danan Claude , Sinico Martine , Lelong Françoise , Borghi Elsa , Dassieu Gilles , Janaud Jean‐Claude , Odent Sylvie , Encha‐Razavi Férechté
Published: October 2002

The main features of trisomy 9 syndrome in mosaic and non‐mosaic forms have been thoroughly described. Characteristic traits are low‐set malformed ears, micrognathia, broad nose with bulbous tip, abnormal brain, congenital heart defects, abnormal hands and feet, genital abnormalities, and early death. We report a case of mosaic trisomy 9 with holoprosencephaly (HPE). The propositi was born at 37 weeks, with intra‐uterine growth retardation, hypotelorism and single nostril, ventricular septal defect, anterior placement of anus, clenched hands with thumb adduction and ulnar deviation. Facial anomalies characteristic of trisomy 9 included deeply set eyes and short palpebral fissures, flat face with maxillary hypoplasia, small mouth, and low‐set posteriorly angulated ears. Cytogenetic analysis showed mosaic trisomy 9 with 17% trisomic cells. Pathology confirmed lobar HPE. In literature, isolated arrhinia, related to the HPE spectrum, was reported in one case of mosaic trisomy 9. Our case raises the question of the causative role of trisomy 9 in full blown HPE. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Familial Axenfeld‐Rieger anomaly, cardiac malformations, and sensorineural hearing loss: A provisionally unique genetic syndrome?
Authors: Grosso S. , Farnetani M.A. , Berardi R. , Vivarelli R. , Vanni M. , Morgese G. , Balestri P.
Published: October 2002

Axenfeld‐Rieger anomaly (ARA) is an autosomal dominant disorder of the anterior chamber of the eye that includes a prominent and anteriorly displaced Schwalbe line and an iridocorneal synechiae, and is associated with iris hypoplasia, corectopia, and hole formation. Extraocular developmental abnormalities, especially of the teeth, facial bones, and periumbilical skin, have also been reported with ARA, in the context of the so‐called Axenfeld‐Rieger syndrome (ARS). Genetic heterogeneity exists, as ARA maps to chromosome 6p25, whereas ARS can be linked to both chromosome 4q25 and chromosome 13q14. Here we describe a new family in which ARA is associated with cardiac malformations and sensorineural hearing loss. No abnormalities of the teeth, facial bone, or periumbilical skin, which are considered of paramount importance in the diagnosis of ARS, were observed in our patients. Genetic studies will clarify if these patients represent a unique phenotypic expression of ARS or constitute the clinical presentation of a new genetic syndrome. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Association analysis of an (AC)n repeat polymorphism in the GABAB receptor gene and schizophrenia
Authors: Imai Koubun , Harada Shoji , Kawanishi Yoichi , Tachikawa Hirokazu , Okubo Takehito , Asada Takashi
Published: October 2002

The human γ‐aminobutyric acid type B (GABAB) receptor gene is a candidate gene for schizophrenia due to its chromosomal location and neurobiologic roles. In the present study, association analyses of genetic polymorphisms of the GABAB receptor gene with schizophrenia were carried out in 102 unrelated schizophrenic patients and 100 healthy controls, using a polymerase chain reaction‐based, single‐strand conformational polymorphism analysis. Although the Ala20Val and Gly489Ser mutations were not found in our samples, we found a novel polymorphism of (AC)n dinucleotide repeats located approximately 1.6 kb upstream from the translational start site. No significant difference in allele frequencies was found between controls and patients with schizophrenia (P = 0.0587) using the Monte Carlo method. Significant differences were found between controls and patients with continuous‐course schizophrenia (P = 0.0019), and between controls and patients with a positive family history of psychoses (P = 0.0015). These differences, however, were not significant after Bonferroni correction. These data did not support our hypothesis that polymorphisms of the GABAB receptor gene may confer vulnerability for schizophrenia. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Evidence for parent of origin effect in late‐onset Alzheimer disease
Authors: Bassett Susan Spear , Avramopoulos Dimitrios , Fallin Daniele
Published: October 2002

Evidence for a parent of origin effect in Alzheimer disease was obtained from a sample of 148 sibships on which affection status of the parents was sought using family history interviews. The parent study recruited families with two or more affected sibs for late onset AD utilizing rigorous diagnostic criteria. In 74 families, there was evidence of an affected parent, 49 maternal and 25 paternal. Genome scan data were analyzed for the sample as a whole and for the maternal and paternal families separately, using Genehunter‐ASM. Seven regions with Zlr scores ≥2 were identified, four in maternal families (chr. 10,12,19,20) and three in paternal families (chr. 1,7,13). With the exception of the chromosome 10 finding, analysis by parent of origin greatly increased evidence of linkage in areas showing no linkage in the overall analyses. For example, a chr. 12 region reached a LOD = 2.29 among maternal families whereas the same region showed a LOD = 0.3 when all families were analyzed together. The strongest findings among maternal families (chr. 10 and 12) were followed up with fine mapping that resulted in an increase in maximum LOD scores from 2.7–3.2 on chr. 10, and 2.29–2.42 on chr. 12. These analyses highlight the importance of parent of origin effects in late‐onset AD families and identify several genomic regions that may include genes linked to late‐onset AD specific to disease transmission from the mother and require further investigation. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Rearrangements of chromosome 15 in epilepsy
Authors: Torrisi Loredana , Sangiorgi Eugenio , Russo Lisa , Gurrieri Fiorella
Published: October 2002

A number of observations point to chromosome 15 as a good candidate to harbor genes involved in epilepsy. This hypothesis is supported by at least two lines of evidence: one is the finding that haploinsufficiency of the 15q11‐q13 region, of maternal origin, is responsible for Angelman syndrome, one of the cardinal manifestations of which is epilepsy; the second is the observation that extra copies of this same genomic region, in the form of inv‐dup(15) or intrachromosomal duplications, again of maternal origin, are usually associated with a severe neurological phenotype characterized by developmental delay and untreatable seizures. Therefore, both reduced and increased dosage of genes from the 15q11‐q13 region, possibly subjected to maternal imprinting, appear to be causally involved in severe forms of epilepsy. We tested the hypothesis that submicroscopic rearrangements of this genomic region might be responsible for nonsyndromic epilepsy in both familial and sporadic forms. To this purpose, we genotyped 118 epileptic patients and their parents with closely spaced microsatellite markers mapped within the 15q11‐q13 region. We report on the results of these studies and review the relevant literature. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Genes and mutations in idiopathic epilepsy
Authors: Steinlein Ortrud K.
Published: October 2002

Partial or generalized idiopathic epilepsies, which account for up to 40% of all epilepsies, are characterized by a mostly benign course and no apparent etiology other than a genetic predisposition. So far, the genetic defects underlying three different idiopathic epilepsy syndromes have been identified: mutations in the CHRNA4‐ or CHRNB subunits of the neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptor are found in familial nocturnal frontal lobe epilepsy, while defects in the voltage‐gated potassium channels KCNQ2 and KCNQ3 have recently been identified in benign familial neonatal convulsions. The syndrome of “generalized epilepsy with febrile seizures plus” can be caused by mutations affecting the voltage‐gated sodium channel subunits SCN1B and SCN1A or the γ2‐subunit of the GABAA receptor. The results of recent molecular studies contributed largely to our understanding of the etiology and pathophysiology of idiopathic epilepsies. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Genetic assessment of a white‐collared×red‐fronted lemur hybrid zone at Andringitra, Madagascar
Authors: Wyner Yael M. , Johnson Steig E. , Stumpf Rebecca M. , Desalle Rob
Published: October 2002

We examined a purported lemur (Eulemur fulvus rufus×E. albocollaris) hybrid zone at Andringitra, Madagascar, using sequences from five genes (one mitochondrial gene (d‐loop) and four nuclear introns (hemopexin, malic enzyme, ceruloplasmin, and microsatellite 26 flanking region)), from 60 individuals (E. albocollaris (n = 16), E.f. rufus (n = 14), E. collaris (n = 9), and purported hybrids from Andringitra (n = 21)). Diagnostic (d‐loop and microsatellite 26) and private sites (all other genes) were found in all gene regions for E. albocollaris and E.f. rufus. Also, private sites were found for the purported hybrid population in two gene regions (d‐loop and ceruloplasmin). When the putative hybrids were examined for diagnostic and private markers, 18 of 21 were found to contain markers from both E. albocollaris and E.f. rufus populations. The remaining three individuals were found to contain only markers for E. albocollaris. These results indicate that the population at Andringitra is a hybrid population between E. albocollaris and E.f. rufus. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
A physiological change in the homotopic cortex following left posterior temporal lobe infarction
Authors: Leff Alexander , Crinion Jennifer , Scott Sophie , Turkheimer Federico , Howard David , Wise Richard
Published: October 2002

We investigated the relationship between cerebral activity (measured with positron emission tomography) and word rate in normal subjects and aphasic patients listening to monosyllabic words at rates up to those encountered in normal speech. By measuring the slope of the regression of the individual activity–word rate responses in the temporal cortex in normal subjects, we identified a functional asymmetry in the posterior superior temporal sulcus. The response was greater (steeper) on the left. Using the same study design, we identified a steeper activity–word rate response in the right posterior superior temporal sulcus of patients who had recovered single‐word auditory comprehension after infarction of the left posterior temporal cortex. This response was significantly different from that observed in both normal subjects and a group of patients with left hemisphere infarcts that spared the posterior temporal cortex. The results demonstrated a change in physiological responsiveness in the contralateral homotopic cortex after posterior temporal infarction.
Mapping of autosomal recessive chronic distal spinal muscular atrophy to chromosome 11q13
Authors: Viollet Louis , Barois Annie , Rebeiz Jean G. , Rifai Ziad , Burlet Philippe , Zarhrate Mohammed , Vial Elodie , Dessainte Michel , Estournet Brigitte , Kleinknecht Bernard , Pearn John , Adams Raymond D. , Urtizberea Jon A. , Cros Didier P. , Bushby Kate , Munnich Arnold , Lefebvre Suzie
Published: October 2002

Distal spinal muscular atrophy is a heterogeneous group of neuromuscular disorders caused by progressive anterior horn cell degeneration and characterized by progressive motor weakness and muscular atrophy, predominantly in the distal parts of the limbs. Here we report on chronic autosomal recessive distal spinal muscular atrophy in a large, inbred family with onset at various ages. Because this condition had some of the same clinical features as spinal muscular atrophy with respiratory distress, we tested the disease gene for linkage to chromosome 11q and mapped the disease locus to chromosome 11q13 in the genetic interval that included the spinal muscular atrophy with respiratory distress gene (D11S1889‐D11S1321, Zmax = 4.59 at θ = 0 at locus D11S4136). The sequencing of IGHMBP2, the human homologue of the mouse neuromuscular degeneration gene (nmd) that accounts for spinal muscular atrophy with respiratory distress, failed to detect any mutation in our chronic distal spinal muscular atrophy patients, suggesting that spinal muscular atrophy with respiratory distress and chronic distal spinal muscular atrophy are caused by distinct genes located in the same chromosomal region. In addition, the high intrafamilial variability in age at onset raises the question of whether nonallelic modifying genes could be involved in chronic distal spinal muscular atrophy.