bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Guggenheimella bovis gen. nov., sp. nov., isolated from lesions of bovine dermatitis digitalis
Authors: Wyss C. , Dewhirst F. E. , Paster B. J. , Thurnheer T. , Luginbühl A.
Published: March 2005

Dermatitis digitalis is an economically important ulcerative disease of undetermined aetiology affecting the hooves of cattle. Material was examined from two independent cases of this disease in Switzerland. Cultures from the advancing front of both lesions yielded large numbers of closely related short, mesophilic, non-motile, non-spore-forming, anaerobic, proteolytic, Gram-positive rods. The 16S rRNA gene sequences of strains OMZ 913T and OMZ 915 were identical and indicate Tindallia magadiensis and Eubacterium saphenum as their closest relatives. Phenotypically, the novel isolates are clearly distinguished from related bacteria by protein and antigen patterns, by cellular fatty acids and by API ZYM activities. The diamino acid of the Gram-positive cell wall is ornithine and the G+C content of OMZ 913T DNA is 44·4 mol%. The phylogenetic distance from recognized taxa in the phylum Firmicutes is sufficient to place these bovine isolates into a novel genus and species, for which the name Guggenheimella bovis gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed, with OMZ 913T (=CIP 108087T=DSM 15657T) as the type strain.
Bacillus bogoriensis sp. nov., a novel alkaliphilic, halotolerant bacterium isolated from a Kenyan soda lake
Authors: Vargas Virginia A. , Delgado Osvaldo D. , Hatti-Kaul Rajni , Mattiasson Bo
Published: March 2005

Strain LBB3T isolated from Bogoria soda lake in Kenya is an alkaliphilic, Gram-positive, strictly aerobic, non-motile, spore-forming bacterium. It was identified as a member of the genus Bacillus on the basis of phenotypic and phylogenetic analyses. The organism grows optimally at 37 °C and pH 10. The G+C content of the genomic DNA is 37·5 mol%. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis showed 95 and 96 % sequence similarity with Bacillus pseudofirmus (DSM 8715T) and Bacillus alcalophilus (DSM 485T), respectively. Furthermore, DNA–DNA hybridization against these two Bacillus species showed 39·0 and 55·5 % similarity, respectively. Based on our observations, strain LBB3T is proposed to represent a novel species of the genus Bacillus, for which the name Bacillus bogoriensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of B. bogoriensis is LBB3T (=ATCC BAA-922T=LMG 22234T).
Actinomadura napierensis sp. nov., isolated from soil in South Africa
Authors: Cook Andrew E. , Roes Marilize le , Meyers Paul R.
Published: March 2005

An actinomycete, strain B60T, was isolated from a soil sample in Napier, Western Cape province of South Africa. Based on 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis and chemotaxonomy, strain B60T was identified as a member of the genus Actinomadura. Strain B60T produced an antibiotic with activity against Escherichia coli, Enterococcus faecium and Mycobacterium aurum, but not against Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Significant differences in morphological and physiological characteristics indicate that strain B60T represents a novel species of the genus Actinomadura. The name Actinomadura napierensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is B60T (=DSM 44846T=NRRL B-24319T).
A Putative Nucleoporin 96 Is Required for Both Basal Defense and Constitutive Resistance Responses Mediated bysuppressor of npr1-1,constitutive 1
Authors: Zhang Yuelin , Li Xin
Published: March 2005

The Arabidopsis  thaliana suppressor of npr1-1, constitutive 1 (snc1) mutant contains a gain-of-function mutation in a Toll Interleukin1 receptor-nucleotide binding-Leu-rich repeat–type resistance gene (R-gene), which leads to constitutive activation of disease resistance response against pathogens. In a screen for suppressors of snc1, a recessive mutation, designated mos3 (for modifier of snc1,3), was found to suppress the constitutive pathogenesis-related gene expression and resistance to virulent Pseudomonas syringae maculicola ES4326 and Peronospora parasitica Noco2 in snc1. In addition, mos3 is also compromised in resistance mediated by Resistance to Peronospora parasitica 4 (RPP4), Resistance to Pseudomonas syringae pv maculicola (RPM1), and Resistance to Pseudomonas syringae 4 (RPS4). Single mutant mos3 plants exhibited enhanced disease susceptibility to P. s. pv maculicola ES4326, suggesting that MOS3 is required for basal resistance to pathogens as well. mos3-1 was identified by map-based cloning, and it encodes a protein with high sequence similarity to human nucleoporin 96. Localization of the MOS3-green fluorescent protein fusion to the nuclear envelope further indicates that MOS3 may encode a nucleoporin, suggesting that nuclear and cytoplasmic trafficking plays an important role in both R-gene–mediated and basal disease resistance.
Single nucleotide polymorphisms in the corticotrophin‐releasing hormone and pro‐opiomelancortin genes are associated with growth and carcass yield in beef cattle
Authors: Buchanan F. C. , Thue T. D. , Yu P. , Winkelman‐Sim D. C.
Published: March 2005

A single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in the corticotrophin‐releasing hormone gene (CRH C22G) alters the fourth amino acid in the signal sequence from proline to arginine. Two other SNPs (CRH A145G and C240G) occur in the propeptide region at residue positions 45 and 77, respectively, that result in serine/asparagine and histidine/aspartic acid substitutions respectively. These SNPs, as well as SNPs in pro‐opiomelancortin (POMC), leptin (LEP) and melanocortin‐4 receptor (MC4R), were evaluated for associations with average daily gain, end‐of‐test rib‐eye area, shipping weight and hot carcass weight in a group of 256 steers using a general linear model. The CRH C22G SNP was associated with end‐of‐test rib‐eye area (P < 0.034) and hot carcass weight (P < 0.0015). The SNP in POMC was associated with shipping weight (P < 0.0078) and hot carcass weight (P = 0.006) while it approached significance for average daily gain (P < 0.07). The SNP in MC4R approached significance for hot carcass weight (P < 0.085) while no significance was observed between the leptin SNP and the above listed traits. Because both CRH and POMC regulate appetite, potential interaction effects between these two genes were assessed. The absence of an interaction effect between CRH and POMC with hot carcass weight suggests that these genes act independently to increase carcass yield. These gene effects used singularly or together could result in an economic benefit to the beef industry.
Trait‐associated sequence variation in the bovine growth hormone receptor 1A promoter does not affect promoter activity in vitro
Authors: Zhou Y. , Jiang H.
Published: March 2005

Growth hormone (GH) plays a central role in growth and metabolism in cattle by binding to growth hormone receptor (GHR) and stimulating production of insulin‐like growth factor 1 (IGF1). Two sequence variations in the promoter transcribing a major GHR mRNA variant, GHR 1A mRNA, have been reported to be associated with quantitative differences in growth rate or blood concentration of IGF1 in cattle. One such variation is in the length of a TG‐repeat, being 11 or 16–20; the other variation is in the nucleotide 155 bp upstream from the transcription start site, being G or A. In this study, we determined whether these sequence variations would affect the activity of GHR 1A promoter. We cloned GHR 1A promoters bearing different sequence variations and linked each of them to a reporter gene. Transient transfection analyses revealed that these promoter–reporter constructs did not differ in reporter gene expression. Cotransfection analyses demonstrated that they also did not differ in activation by hepatocyte nuclear factor 4α, hepatocyte nuclear factor 4γ and nuclear receptor subfamily 2 group F member 2, known transcription factors for bovine GHR 1A promoter. These in vitro results, together with a previous observation that neither the nucleotide 155 bp upstream from the transcription start site nor the TG‐repeat was part of the GHR 1A promoter region interacting with nuclear proteins from bovine liver, do not support a cause–effect relationship between the reported sequence variations and the associated changes in growth rate or blood IGF1 concentration in cattle.
Feasibility of electromyography (sEMG) in measuring muscular activity during spinal anaesthesia in patients undergoing knee arthroplasty
Authors: Niemi‐Murola L. , Paloheimo M.
Published: March 2005

Background:  Bromage scale (0–3) is used to measure the degree of motor block during spinal anaesthesia. However, an estimation of motor block is difficult during surgery. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of surface EMG describing spontaneous muscular activity in the lower extremities during spinal anaesthesia.

Methods:  In part I of the study, 13 patients undergoing day case surgery were studied. They received 10 mg hyperbaric bupivacaine at interspace L3–4. EMG, sensory and muscular block were measured at 5‐min intervals during the first 30 min and then every 15 min until the patient was able to flex the knee. In part II of the study, 16 patients undergoing knee arthroplasty received 10 mg bupivacaine through spinal catheter at interspace L3–4 (Group CSA). An additional bolus of 2.5 mg was administered using EMG‐guidance, if needed. Another group, 15 patients, received a single bolus of bupivacaine (15–20 mg) at L3–4 (Group Bolus). EMG, muscular and sensory block were monitored as described above. The epidural catheter was used as rescue.

Results:  Part I: EMG compared to modified Bromage scale showed a significant correlation (P < 0.01, Spearman rank correlation). Part II: The amount of bupivacaine was significantly reduced with EMG guidance when compared with the single bolus group (14.0 mg vs. 17.0 mg) (P < 0.05 Mann–Whitney U). Motor block started to recover before the sensory block in 7/15 CSA patients vs. 1/15 Bolus patient.

Conclusion:  Stable maximal sensory block does not necessarily correlate with adequate motor block in patients receiving spinal anaesthesia induced with small bolus doses. In spite of electrical noise, EMG‐guided administration of spinal anaesthesia significantly reduced the amount of bupivacaine compared to the hospital routine. Further studies are needed to develop the method.
Unilateral recurrent laryngeal nerve neuropraxia following placement of a ProSeal laryngeal mask airway in a patient with CREST syndrome
Authors: Kawauchi Y. , Nakazawa K. , Ishibashi S. , Kaneko Y. , Ishikawa S. , Makita K.
Published: March 2005

We report a severe unilateral recurrent laryngeal nerve neuropraxia following use of the ProSeal laryngeal mask airway (PLMA) in a 71‐year‐old female patient with CREST syndrome. She required amputation of the 5th phalanx of foot because of gangrene due to Raynaud's syndrome. Anesthesia was induced with propofol, and a size 3 PLMA was inserted. Anesthesia was maintained with sevoflurane and nitrous oxide for 2 h and the operation was performed uneventfully. On removal of PLMA, the cuff volume was measured to 40 ml. The patient did not complain of respiratory discomfort shortly after PLMA removal. However, the next day she developed dysphagia and hoarseness. Laryngoscopic examination revealed unilateral vocal cord paralysis. Cricothyrotomy was required because of suspected silent aspiration pneumonia. The pharyngolaryngeal complications improved with a mobile vocal cord but slight hoarseness after 2 months. We considered the patient's CREST syndrome with a potential of tissue ischemia, and the high intracuff pressure of the PLMA due to nitrous oxide influx, to be the cause of severe recurrent laryngeal nerve neuropraxia in this case.
Airway gene therapy and cystic fibrosis
Authors: Parsons DW
Published: March 2005

Abstract:  Airway disease in cystic fibrosis (CF) is the major cause of death and is presently inadequately treatable, but genetic therapies offer the hope that such life‐long disease will be curable, or at least satisfactorily treated. Normal pathogen defences that have evolved on airway surfaces also prevent the various gene vectors now available from producing effective gene transfer. Nevertheless, findings from basic research and human clinical trials are revealing how these barriers might be overcome or circumvented, with benefits to therapeutic efficacy and patient safety. Though progress is slower than expected or desired, the therapeutic rewards will be great when safe and effective gene therapy for CF airway disease becomes a clinical reality.
Management of the difficult pediatric airway with Shikani Optical StyletTM
Authors: SHUKRY MOHANAD , HANSON RYAN D. , KOVELESKIE JOSEPH R. , RAMADHYANI USHA
Published: March 2005

The airways of children with many craniofacial and mandibulofacial malformations often present unique challenges to the anesthesiologists. We report the application of Shikani Optical StyletTM (SOS) in facilitating the tracheal intubation of four children with history of difficult airway management. The SOS combines the benefits of the lightwand and fiberoptic bronchoscope.
Thalamic infarct presenting with thalamic astasia
Authors: Lee P. H. , Lee J. H. , Joo U. S.
Published: March 2005

Astasia, inability to stand unsupported despite good strength, resembles the marked balance impairment of patients with vestibulocerebellar disease. We describe a patient with unilateral thalamic infarct that presented with astasia. A 76‐year‐old hypertensive woman was admitted to our hospital because of marked unsteadiness. On neurological examination, she could not stand unsupported and the woman's body swayed back and forth markedly. The swaying was not compensated for by her taking a step forward or backward, and she frequently collapsed when support was withdrawn. Diffusion‐weighted magnetic resonance image revealed a discrete infarct within the right posterolateral thalamus. Brain single photon emission computerized tomography revealed markedly decreased regional cerebral blood flow within in the right thalamus with concomitant left superior cerebellar region. We discuss the possible pathomechanisms of thalamic astasia.
Impact of occult hepatitis B virus infection on efficacy and prognosis of interferon‐α therapy for patients with chronic hepatitis C
Authors: Hasegawa Izumi , Orito Etsuro , Tanaka Yasuhito , Hirashima Noboru , Sakakibara Kenji , Sakurai Mayumi , Suzuki Seiji , Sugauchi Fuminaka , Ohno Tomoyoshi , Ueda Ryuzo , Mizokami Masashi
Published: March 2005

Background/Aims: It is reported that some patients with undetectable hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) have serum hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA in patients with chronic hepatitis C (HCV). The aim of this study was to elucidate the impact of occult HBV infection on the efficacy and prognosis of interferon‐α (IFN) therapy in HCV patients.

Methods: One hundred and forty HCV patients without HBsAg who received IFN therapy were studied. Serum HBV DNA was quantified by real‐time detection polymerase chain reaction.

Results: Of 140 patients, 11 (7.9%) were HBV DNA‐positive before IFN therapy. The serum HBV DNA levels ranged from 106 to 884 copies/ml. Four of these 11 patients showed a sustained virologic response by IFN, compared with 39 of 129 without HBV DNA (P=NS). Interestingly, two of the 11 patients developed hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after therapy, compared with 16 of 129 without HBV DNA (P=NS). In the serial study, serum HBV DNA was transiently undetectable during and after IFN; however, most became positive during follow‐up.

Conclusions: Occult HBV infection may not have a significant impact on response to IFN therapy for chronic HCV and development of HCC after therapy. Occult HBV may be sensitive to IFN although HBV is not completely eradicated.
Patients' satisfaction following implant therapy
Authors: Pjetursson Bjarni E. , Karoussis Ioannis , Bürgin Walter , Brägger Urs , Lang Niklaus P.
Published: March 2005

Aim: To analyse the patients' perception of implant therapy, 10 years following installation of titanium oral implants.

Material and methods: As a part of a prospective cohort study of patients with ITI® dental implants, 104 patients were recruited to answer a questionnaire with 13 statements on the subjective perception of implant treatment, 5–15 years after implant installation (mean: 10.2 years). In addition, the patients were asked to mark a visual analogue scale (VAS) in which 0 indicated ‘total discontent’ and 100 ‘total satisfaction’ with the statements mentioned in the questionnaire. Results from the qualified questions answered were then compared with those obtained from VAS analysis.

Results: One hundred and four patients, with 214 installed oral implants participated. Forty‐eight percent of the implants were reconstructed with single crowns and 52% with fixed partial dentures (FPD). The cumulative survival rate of the implants at 10 years was 93%. Two of the statements addressing function and chewing comfort yielded very high patient satisfaction (97% highly satisfied or satisfied, mean VAS: 94±13). Comparing chewing comfort for teeth or implants, respectively, 72.1% perceived no difference between the two, 17.3% felt more secure when masticating on teeth and 7.7% when masticating on implants (mean VAS: 54±24). The vast majority (96%, mean VAS: 96±10) was highly satisfied or satisfied with phonetic function and with aesthetics (97%, mean VAS: 93±13). A great majority of the patients (93%, mean VAS: 89±19) had no problems with cleansing the implant reconstruction. Indeed, one‐third (37%, mean VAS: 55±27) indicated more ease to clean implants than to clean teeth. About half of the patients (47%) had noticed bleeding of the mucosa or the gingiva following brushing. In addition, half (47%) of those noticing bleeding felt that bleeding was less marked around implants than around teeth. Again, the vast majority of patients (92%, mean VAS: 92±14) indicated complete fulfilment of the treatment, i.e. the outcome satisfied their expectations. The same majority (94%, mean VAS: 93±17) would be willing to undergo the same treatment again, and (89%, mean VAS: 93±16) would even recommend such treatment to friends and relatives, if indicated. The cost for implant therapy was deemed to be reasonable to a large extent (87%, mean VAS: 85±20).

Conclusion: Using oral implants, more than 90% of the patients were completely satisfied with implant therapy, both from a functional and aesthetic point of view. The costs associated with implant therapy were considered to be justified. This was determined by both qualified questions and the use of VAS after 10 years of function.
Studies on immunological, biochemical, hematological and growth regulation by Scomber scombrus fish protein extract supplementation in young pigs
Authors: LOMBARDI Valter R. M. , FERNANDEZ‐NOVOA Lucía , ETCHEVERRIA Ignacio , SEOANE Silvia , CACABELOS Ramón
Published: March 2005

Several trials with young pigs were conducted during an experimental period of 6 weeks to evaluate the effects on growth and immune responses of dietary supplementation with 10, 25 and 50 g/kg of E‐CAB‐94011, a fish extract rich in proteins, unsaturated fatty acids and endogenous anti‐oxidants. This extract was obtained using a lyophilization process consisting of three phases: freezing, primary drying and secondary drying. Conditions in the dryer were varied through the cycle to ensure that the resulting product had the desired physical and chemical properties, and that the required stability was achieved. A total of 360 pigs were randomly allocated according to initial bodyweight and divided into four groups of 90 pigs. The control diet contained hard red spring wheat, spray‐dried whey and soybean meal. The treatment diets were the control plus 10 g/kg, 25 g/kg and 50 g/kg of E‐CAB‐94011. Growth performance, plasma biochemical values, hematological values and humoral and cellular immune responses were measured. Results indicated that supplementation with E‐CAB‐94011 affects both growth and immune response. When the growth parameters of pigs were compared, the largest percentage improvement in growth was observed from weaning to 8–10 weeks of age. These experiments confirm that the use of E‐CAB‐94011 results in significant improvements, even when the herd of origin has a relatively high health status.
Interaction Network amongEscherichia coliMembrane Proteins Involved in Cell Division as Revealed by Bacterial Two-Hybrid Analysis
Authors: Karimova Gouzel , Dautin Nathalie , Ladant Daniel
Published: March 2005

Formation of theEscherichia colidivision septum is catalyzed by a number of essential proteins (named Fts) that assemble into a ring-like structure at the future division site. Several of these Fts proteins are intrinsic transmembrane proteins whose functions are largely unknown. Although these proteins appear to be recruited to the division site in a hierarchical order, the molecular interactions underlying the assembly of the cell division machinery remain mostly unspecified. In the present study, we used a bacterial two-hybrid system based on interaction-mediated reconstitution of a cyclic AMP (cAMP) signaling cascade to unravel the molecular basis of septum assembly by analyzing the protein interaction network amongE. colicell division proteins. Our results indicate that the Fts proteins are connected to one another through multiple interactions. A deletion mapping analysis carried out with two of these proteins, FtsQ and FtsI, revealed that different regions of the polypeptides are involved in their associations with their partners. Furthermore, we showed that the association between two Fts hybrid proteins could be modulated by the coexpression of a third Fts partner. Altogether, these data suggest that the cell division machinery assembly is driven by the cooperative association among the different Fts proteins to form a dynamic multiprotein structure at the septum site. In addition, our study shows that the cAMP-based two-hybrid system is particularly appropriate for analyzing molecular interactions between membrane proteins.
EXPLORING CONDITIONS FOR THE OPTIMALITY OF NAÏVE BAYES
Authors: ZHANG HARRY
Published: March 2005

Naïve Bayes is one of the most efficient and effective inductive learning algorithms for machine learning and data mining. Its competitive performance in classification is surprising, because the conditional independence assumption on which it is based is rarely true in real-world applications. An open question is: what is the true reason for the surprisingly good performance of Naïve Bayes in classification?

In this paper, we propose a novel explanation for the good classification performance of Naïve Bayes. We show that, essentially, dependence distribution plays a crucial role. Here dependence distribution means how the local dependence of an attribute distributes in each class, evenly or unevenly, and how the local dependences of all attributes work together, consistently (supporting a certain classification) or inconsistently (canceling each other out). Specifically, we show that no matter how strong the dependences among attributes are, Naïve Bayes can still be optimal if the dependences distribute evenly in classes, or if the dependences cancel each other out. We propose and prove a sufficient and necessary condition for the optimality of Naïve Bayes. Further, we investigate the optimality of Naïve Bayes under the Gaussian distribution. We present and prove a sufficient condition for the optimality of Naïve Bayes, in which the dependences among attributes exist. This provides evidence that dependences may cancel each other out.

Our theoretic analysis can be used in designing learning algorithms. In fact, a major class of learning algorithms for Bayesian networks are conditional independence-based (or CI-based), which are essentially based on dependence. We design a dependence distribution-based algorithm by extending the ChowLiu algorithm, a widely used CI based algorithm. Our experiments show that the new algorithm outperforms the ChowLiu algorithm, which also provides empirical evidence to support our new explanation.
CHUA'S CIRCUIT STABILIZATION: A DAMPING INJECTION APPROACH
Authors: ALVAREZ-RAMIREZ JOSE , CERVANTES ILSE , SANCHEZ JUAN-CARLOS , PEREZ SERGIO
Published: March 2005

The problem of stabilizing the Chua circuit about equilibrium points is addressed in this paper. Singular perturbation methods are used to prove that semiglobal stabilization of the circuit trajectories about equilibrium points can be achieved by means of current damping injection in a single circuit node. It is shown that such damping injection can be implemented with a standard high-pass filter. In this way, the resulting feedback control strategy has interesting robustness features since an a priori knowledge of the circuit equilibrium points is not required. Experimental work is used to illustrate the control performance.
DrosophilaMushroom Body Kenyon Cells Generate Spontaneous Calcium Transients Mediated by PLTX-Sensitive Calcium Channels
Authors: Jiang Shaojuan Amy , Campusano Jorge M. , Su Hailing , O'Dowd Diane K.
Published: March 2005

Spontaneous calcium oscillations in mushroom bodies of late stage pupal and adult Drosophila brains have been implicated in memory consolidation during olfactory associative learning. This study explores the cellular mechanisms regulating calcium dynamics in Kenyon cells, principal neurons in mushroom bodies. Fura-2 imaging shows that Kenyon cells cultured from late stage Drosophila pupae generate spontaneous calcium transients in a cell autonomous fashion, at a frequency similar to calcium oscillations in vivo (10–20/h). The expression of calcium transients is up regulated during pupal development. Although the ability to generate transients is a property intrinsic to Kenyon cells, transients can be modulated by bath application of nicotine and GABA. Calcium transients are blocked, and baseline calcium levels reduced, by removal of external calcium, addition of cobalt, or addition of Plectreurys toxin (PLTX), an insect-specific calcium channel antagonist. Transients do not require calcium release from intracellular stores. Whole cell recordings reveal that the majority of voltage-gated calcium channels in Kenyon cells are PLTX-sensitive. Together these data show that influx of calcium through PLTX-sensitive voltage-gated calcium channels mediates spontaneous calcium transients and regulates basal calcium levels in cultured Kenyon cells. The data also suggest that these calcium transients represent cellular events underlying calcium oscillations in the intact mushroom bodies. However, spontaneous calcium transients are not unique to Kenyon cells as they are present in approximately 60% of all cultured central brain neurons. This suggests the calcium transients play a more general role in maturation or function of adult brain neurons.
The effects of cholesterol lowering with simvastatin on cause-specific mortality and on cancer incidence in 20,536 high-risk people: a randomised placebo-controlled trial [ISRCTN48489393]
Authors:   Heart Protection Study Collaborative Group
Published: March 2005

Background

There have been concerns that low blood cholesterol concentrations may cause non-vascular mortality and morbidity. Randomisation of large numbers of people to receive a large, and prolonged, reduction in cholesterol concentrations provides an opportunity to address such concerns reliably.

Methods

20,536 UK adults (aged 40–80 years) with vascular disease or diabetes were randomly allocated to receive 40 mg simvastatin daily or matching placebo. Prespecified safety analyses were of cause-specific mortality, and of total and site-specific cancer incidence. Comparisons between all simvastatin-allocated versus all placebo-allocated participants (ie, "intention-to-treat") involved an average difference in blood total cholesterol concentration of 1.2 mmol/L (46 mg/dL) during the scheduled 5-year treatment period.

Results

There was a highly significant 17% (95% CI 9–25) proportional reduction in vascular deaths, along with a non-significant reduction in all non-vascular deaths, which translated into a significant reduction in all-cause mortality (p = 0.0003). The proportional reduction in the vascular mortality rate was about one-sixth in each subcategory of participant studied, including: men and women; under and over 70 years at entry; and total cholesterol below 5.0 mmol/L or LDL cholesterol below 3.0 mmol/L. No significant excess of non-vascular mortality was observed in any subcategory of participant (including the elderly and those with pretreatment total cholesterol below 5.0 mmol/L), and there was no significant excess in any particular cause of non-vascular mortality.

Cancer incidence rates were similar in the two groups, both overall and in particular subcategories of participant, as well as at particular primary sites. There was no suggestion that any adverse trends in non-vascular mortality or morbidity were beginning to emerge with more prolonged treatment.

Conclusion

These findings, which are based on large numbers of deaths and non-fatal cancers, provide considerable reassurance that lowering total cholesterol concentrations by more than 1 mmol/L for an average of 5 years does not produce adverse effects on non-vascular mortality or cancer incidence. Moreover, among the many different types of high-risk individual studied, simvastatin 40 mg daily consistently produced substantial reductions in vascular (and, hence, all-cause) mortality, as well as in the rates of non-fatal heart attacks, strokes and revascularisation procedures.
A Specific Gas-Phase Substitution Reaction between Enol Radical Cations and t-Butyl Nitrite
Authors: Gerbaux Pascal , Wantier Pascale , Cam Pham Nam , Nguyen Minh Tho , Bouchoux Guy , Flammang Robert
Published: March 2005

Ion–molecule reactions between ionized carbonyl compounds or ionized enols with t-butyl nitrite allow a clear-cut distinction to be made between both these isomeric structures. The most relevant difference between the observed reactions is the formal substitution of a hydrogen atom by nitric oxide in the enol ions. Collisional activation experiments on the product ions are interpreted in terms of α-nitroso carbonyl structures. However, a quantum chemical investigation at the B3LYP/6-311++G(d,p) level of theory shows that ionized α-nitroso carbonyl and vinyl nitrite structures may isomerize provided they contain ca 60 kJ mol−1 of internal energy. It is, therefore, possible that both structures are generated in the substitution reaction.
Gas-Phase Halide Affinity of Aliphatic Alcohols Estimated by the Kinetic Method
Authors: Augusti Rodinei , Augusti Daniella V. , Chen Hao , Cooks R. Graham
Published: March 2005

The chloride affinity of ethanol was determined by the kinetic method by examining the dissociation of the [EtOH—Cl—HOR]− dimers (ROH=methanol, 1-propanol, 2-propanol and tert-butanol), generated in the ion source of a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer using chloroform as the chemical ionization reagent. Dimer mass selection and collision-induced dissociation using argon furnished, as products, the two individual alcohol–chloride anionic complexes, i.e. [EtOH+Cl]− and [ROH+Cl]−. The natural logarithm of the ratio of their abundances, i.e. ln ([ROH+Cl]–/[EtOH+Cl]−), correlated linearly with the experimental ROH chloride affinity. Using this linear relationship, the chloride affinity of ethanol is determined to be 43±3 kJ mol−1, which is consistent with the literature value of 43.5±8.4 kJ mol−1. From the slope of the kinetic method plot, an effective temperature of 643 ± 25 K was calculated, suggesting the weakly-bound nature of the cluster ions. The validity of the results was confirmed using the extended version of the kinetic method which showed that there is a negligible difference (–0.06 J mol K−1) in the entropy requirements of the two fragmentation channels. It is also demonstrated that this methodology can be applied to estimate the analogous bromide and fluoride affinities of aliphatic alcohols and to estimate halide affinities not previously known. Thus, these cases constitute additional examples of the advantageous application of the kinetic method in the determination of unknown thermochemical properties. Furthermore, in the dissociation of [EtOH—Cl—HO–CH2–CH2–Y]− cluster ions (Y=F, Cl, OMe and Me), a remarkable linear relationship was observed between the natural logarithm of abundance of product ratios, i.e. ln ([Y–CH2–CH2OH+Cl]−/[EtOH+Cl]−) and the electronegativity of the Y substituent. This is ascribed to the inductive effect in stabilizing the charge on chloride in the cluster ion.
Ring Complexes of S-Nitrosothiols with Cu+: A Density Functional Theory Study
Authors: Baciu Cristina , Cho Kyung-Bin , Gauld James W.
Published: March 2005

The density functional theory (DFT) method B3P86/6-311+G(2df,p) has been employed to investigate the complexes formed upon interaction of Cu+ with nitrosylated cysteine (CysNO) and its decarboxylated (H2NCH2CH2SNO) and deaminated (HOOCCH2CH2SNO) derivatives. Optimized structures, relative enthalpies and relative free energies have been calculated and compared. In addition, the effects of binding an H2O molecule to the Cu+ centre in the resulting complexes have also been considered. It is found that the most stable complexes are formed when Cu+ coordinates to the S-nitrosothiol via S of the –SNO group. This results in dramatic lengthenings of the S–N bond with concomitant shortening of the N–O bond. In contrast, when Cu+ coordinates via the nitrogen of the –SNO group, a shortening of the S–N bond with lengthening of the N–O bond is observed. These effects are tempered by the electron donating ability of other functional groups also coordinated with the Cu+ centre in the complexes and on the coordination state of the Cu+ ion.
Li+ vs Cu+ Association to Toluene, Phenylsilane and Phenylgermane. Conventional vs Non-Conventional π-Complexes
Authors: Corral Inés , Mó Otilia , Yáñez Manuel
Published: March 2005

The complexes between Li+ and Cu+ with toluene, phenylsilane and phenylgermane were investigated through the use of high-level density functional theory (DFT) methods. Both harmonic vibrational frequencies and optimized geometries were obtained at the B3LYP/6-311G(d,p) and B3LYP/6-311+G(2df,2p) levels of theory. Cu+ interactions have a non-negligible covalent character, which clearly differentiate them from Li+ interactions. As a consequence, the topology of the potential energy surfaces (PES) is richer for Cu+ than for Li+ complexes and Cu+ binding energies are 1.4 times higher than Li+ binding energies. For Li+, only conventional π-complexes should be expected in the gas-phase, while for Cu+, other complexes, in which the metal cation interacts specifically with only one pair of carbon atoms of the aromatic ring, are found to be as stable as the conventional π-complexes. Furthermore, for the particular cases of phenylsilane and phenylgermane, the global minima of the PES correspond to a non-conventional complex in which the metal ion interacts with the ortho carbon of the aromatic ring and with one of the hydrogen atoms of the XH3 (X=Si, Ge) substituent group, through a typical agostic-type interaction. This specific interaction is followed by a large activation of the corresponding X–H bond, whose stretching frequency is significantly shifted to the red. Accordingly, the predicted infrared spectra for these non-conventional complexes markedly differ from those of the conventional π-complexes. Toluene is more basic than phenylsilane and phenylgermane when the reference acid is Li+, whereas the basicity of phenylgermane towards Cu+ metal cations is slightly higher than those of phenylsilane and toluene.
Gas-Phase Protonation of Benzocycloalkenes
Authors: Chiavarino Barbara , Crestoni Maria Elisa , Fornarini Simonetta
Published: March 2005

The gas-phase basicity ( GB) of four benzocycloalkenes (benzocyclobutene, indan, tetralin and benzocycloheptene) has been determined by Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance (FT-ICR) mass spectrometry, allowing proton transfer equilibria to be established with reference bases of known GB. The values obtained are all very similar, 776.8–778.8 kJ mol−1 at 300 K, practically equal within experimental error and close to the GB of o-xylene. In this respect, any specific behavior which might be ascribed to the size of the fused ring is not manifested. H/D exchange reactions with CH3OD have been used to probe the structure of the protonated benzocycloalkenes. The positive-ion chemistry of protonated benzocyclobutene is characterized by its kinetic instability towards rearrangement into a more stable isomer(s). The isomerization is prompted either by an exothermic protonation process, for example using i-C3H7+ as proton donor, or within an ion neutral complex with a polar molecule.
Effects of C3A and Mineral Admixtures on the Sulfate Attack Using ASTM C 1012
Authors: Ahn N
Published: March 2005

There are three major properties that influence concrete sulfate resistance: the chemistry of the Portland cement, the permeability of the concrete, and the chemistry and replacement level of mineral admixtures. In order to investigate the effect of those on the sulfate attack, the testing program involved testing several different mortar mixes using the standardized test, ASTM C 1012. Four different cements were evaluated including one Type I cement, two Type I–II cements, and one Type V cement. Mortar mixes were also made with mineral admixtures as each cement was combined with three different types of mineral admixtures. One Class F fly ash, one Class C fly ash, and one ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBFS) was added in various % volumetric replacement levels. Expansion measurements were taken and investigated with expansion criteria recommended from past experience.
Sliding Wear Characteristics of Materials in Artificial Seawater
Authors: Kawazoe T , Okumura T , Morohoshi S , Sada H
Published: March 2005

The corrosive wear resistance and the damage behavior of metals used for sliding parts in seawater were investigated by changing normal load and sliding speed using a ball on disk tribometer. Sliding wear tests of Fe base and Cu base materials rubbed against Al2O3 were carried out in artificial seawater. The obtained results indicate that Cu base materials show higher corrosive wear resistance and lower coefficient of friction than Fe base materials. Especially, bronze casting alloy shows an excellent corrosive wear resistance, while the corrosive wear of stainless steel is predominantly affected by normal load and sliding speed; that is, higher normal load and sliding speed result in stronger adhesion, leading to higher wear rate.
Preto velho: resistance, redemption, and engendered representations of slavery in a Brazilian possession‐trance religion
Authors: Hale Lindsay Lauren
Published: March 2005

The old‐slave spirits (pretos velhos) of the Brazilian Umbanda religion have historically been dismissed as stereotypes supporting racist ideologies. While this appears to be true in many cases, old‐slave spirits also offer searing indictments of racism and penetrating, critical explorations of the articulations of race, gender, morality, and power in Brazilian society. I argue that, through these spirits, Umbanda mediums embody conflicting representations of the moral dimensions of Brazilian history that relate to their contemporary concerns with self and national identity.
The National Question: Nationalism, Ethnic Conflict and Self‐Determination In the 20th Century
Authors: Hayden Robert M.
Published: March 2005

The National Question: Nationalism, Ethnic Conflict and Self‐Determination In the 20th Century. BERCH BERBEROGLU, ed. Philadelphia: Temple University Press, 1995. ix + 329 pp., contributors, notes, select bibliography, Index.
Rifles, Blankets, and Beads: Identity, History, and the Northern Athapaskan Potlatch
Authors: Fast Phyllis A.
Published: March 2005

Rifles, Blankets, and Beads: Identity, History, and the Northern Athapaskan Potlatch. WILLIAM E. SIMEONE. Norman and London: University of Oklahoma Press, 1995. xxil + 191 pp., illustrations, maps.
Marriage and Divorce In Islamic South‐East Asia
Authors: Banks David J.
Published: March 2005

Marriage and Divorce In Islamic South‐East Asia. GAVIN W. JONES. New York: Oxford University Press, 1994. xvii + 348 pp., figures, maps, plates, tables, appendixes, bibliography, index.
The Meanings of Macho: Being a Man in Mexico City
Authors: Parker Richard
Published: March 2005

The Meanings of Macho: Being. Man in Mexico City. MATTHEW C. GUTMANN. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1996. xiv. 330 pp., maps, notes, glossary, bibliography, index.
Forging Identities: Gender, Communities and the State In India
Authors: Mahmood Saba
Published: March 2005

Forging Identities: Gender, Communities and the State In India. ZOYA HASAN. ed. Boulder: Westview Press, 1994. xxiv. 264 pp., notes, index.
When We Began, There Were Witchmen: An Oral History from Mount Kenya
Authors: Galaty John G.
Published: March 2005

When We Began, There Were Witchmen: An Oral History from Mount Kenya. JEFFREY A. FADIMAN. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1993. ix. 395 pp., maps, figures, tables.
Playing on the Mother‐Ground: Cultural Routines for Children's Development
Authors: Korbin Jill E.
Published: March 2005

Playing on the Mother‐Ground: Cultural Routines for Children's Development. DAVID F. LANCY. New York: The Guilford Press, 1996. xii. 240 pp., references, index.
Permitted and Prohibited Desires: Mothers, Comics, and Censorship in Japan
Authors: Bastian Misty L.
Published: March 2005

Permitted and Prohibited Desires: Mothers, Comics, and Censorship in Japan. ANNE ALLISON. Boulder, CO: Westview Press, 1996. xxvi. 225 pp., figures, notes, references, index.
Exotics at Home: Anthropologies, Others, American Modernity
Authors: Varenne Hervé
Published: March 2005

Exotics at Home: Anthropologies, Others, American Modernity. MICHAELA DI LEONARDO. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1998. xvi. 445 pp., illustrations, notes, index.
Two Towns In Germany: Commerce and the Urban Transformation
Authors: De Soto Hermine G.
Published: March 2005

Two Towns In Germany: Commerce and the Urban Transformation. NORBERT DANN HAEUSER. Westport, CT: Bergin and Garvey, 1966. xxiv. 311 pp., notes, references, glossary, illustrations, case histories, index.
The Object of Labor: Commodification in Socialist Hungary
Authors: Hollos Marida
Published: March 2005

The Object of Labor: Commodification in Socialist Hungary. MARTHA LAMPLAND. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1995. xiv. 394 pp., tables, figures, notes, photo gallery, bibliography, index.
Ethanol production from glucose and dilute‐acid hydrolyzates by encapsulated S. cerevisiae
Authors: Talebnia Farid , Niklasson Claes , Taherzadeh Mohammad J.
Published: March 2005

The performance of encapsulated Saccharomyces cerevisiae CBS 8066 in anaerobic cultivation of glucose, in the presence and absence of furfural as well as in dilute‐acid hydrolyzates, was investigated. The cultivation of encapsulated cells in 10 sequential batches in synthetic media resulted in linear increase of biomass up to 106 g/L of capsule volume, while the ethanol productivity remained constant at 5.15 (±0.17) g/L·h (for batches 6–10). The cells had average ethanol and glycerol yields of 0.464 and 0.056 g/g in these 10 batches. Addition of 5 g/L furfural decreased the ethanol productivity to a value of 1.31 (±0.10) g/L·h with the encapsulated cells, but it was stable in this range for five consecutive batches. On the other hand, the furfural decreased the ethanol yield to 0.41–0.42 g/g and increased the yield of acetic acid drastically up to 0.068 g/g. No significant lag phase was observed in any of these experiments. The encapsulated cells were also used to cultivate two different types of dilute‐acid hydrolyzates. While the free cells were not able to ferment the hydrolyzates within at least 24 h, the encapsulated yeast successfully converted glucose and mannose in both of the hydrolyzates in less than 10 h with no significant lag phase. However, since the hydrolyzates were too toxic, the encapsulated cells lost their activity gradually in sequential batches. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Synthesis of Sphingosine‐1‐phosphonate and Homosphingosine‐1‐phosphonate
Authors: Tarnowski Andrej , Retz Oliver , Bär Thomas , Schmidt Richard R.
Published: March 2005

In the first approach to homosphingosine‐1‐phosphonate, D‐glucofuranose was selectively deoxygenated at C‐5. Bond cleavage between C‐1 and C‐2 afforded a 5‐deoxy‐D‐threo‐pentose intermediate. (E)‐Selective Wittig reaction with a C14‐chain gave a C19‐intermediate, which was readily transformed into homosphingosine. Formation of a cyclic urethane containing the 3‐amino and the 4‐hydroxy group of the C19‐intermediate permitted regioselective introduction of the phosphonate group at C‐1, thus affording the target molecule after deprotection. In a second and shorter route, C18‐sphingosine was converted to a cyclic urethane containing the 2‐amino and the 3‐hydroxy group of the C18‐chain. C1‐Chain extension by a hydroxymethyl group by introduction of cyanide led to the same C19 cyclic urethane as obtained in the first route. Similarly, the C18 cyclic urethane led to the other target molecule, namely sphingosine‐1‐phosphonate. The third and shortest route to homosphingosine‐1‐phosphonate could be based on regioselective 1‐O‐tosylation of 1,2,3‐(trihydroxy)octadec‐4‐ene. Transformation into a 1,2‐epoxide, then combination of C1‐chain extension and introduction of a phosphonate group with methylphosphonate as reagent, and finally azide introduction, led after functional group liberation to the target molecule. As shown, also truncated derivatives are readily accessible by this route. (© Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2005)
Novel Alkylidenating Agents via the α Lithiation of Monoalkyl Group 4 Metal Derivatives: Methylidene‐Metal Complexes and Their Active Lithiated Precursors
Authors: Eisch John J. , Adeosun Adetenu A.
Published: March 2005

The interaction of the Group 4 metal chlorides, MCl4, where M = Ti, Zr, Hf, with two equiv. of methyllithium at –78 °C in toluene has led to the corresponding methylidene‐metal complex, H2C=MCl2, possibly complexed with LiCl. That this complex was stable to at least –40 °C was demonstrated by adding chemical trapping agents at this temperature: 1) benzophenone was quantitatively converted into 1,1‐diphenylethylene when M = Ti or Zr; with the Hf analogue, a 1:3 mixture of 1,1‐diphenylethylene and 1,1‐diphenylethanol was produced; 2) propiophenone reacted with the methylidene complex to yield 2‐phenyl‐1‐butene, 38 % (M = Ti) or 25 % (M = Zr), with the majority of the propiophenone being recovered (the unreacted ketone is attributed to enolate salt formation competing with the methylidenation); 3) diphenylacetylene reacted with H2C=TiCl2 by cycloaddition in 50 % yield, ultimately to give a 1:1 mixture of α‐methyl‐cis‐stilbene and α‐methyl‐trans‐stilbene; and finally 4) norbornene was polymerized in a ROMP process by either the methylidene‐titanium or methylidene‐zirconium complex, but the titanium catalyst exhibited higher activity. The stability of such methylidene complexes proved to be highly temperature‐ and solvent‐dependent: 1) the methylidene complex in toluene was no longer detectable by chemical trapping when the reaction mixture was warmed to 0 °C or above; 2) the generation of the methylidene complex in THF was uniformly unsuccessful even at –78 °C or above. From these observations this study concludes that in toluene the free methylidene complex, H2C=MCl2, is not present but rather the agent is still bonded to LiCl. At higher temperatures in toluene or even at –78 °C in THF, the LiCl dissociates from such complexation and the free methylidene dimerizes to [Cl2M–CH2]2, as is known in the case of Cp2Ti=CH2. (© Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2005)