bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Expectations Test: Trauma Scales for Sexual Abuse, Physical Abuse, Exposure to Family Violence, and Posttraumatic Stress
Authors: Gully Kevin J.
Published: August 2003

Gully's 2000 Expectations Test was developed as a tool to use with children ages 4 through 17 to measure social information processing. Prior research suggested it could help identify abused and emotionally traumatized children. Results from regression analyses were used to develop four scales that could be calculated simply. Prior research demonstrated excellent interrater reliability for the variables from the Expectations Test used in the regression analyses. The minimum Cronbach's alpha for any scale is .75. The minimum test-retest reliability is .88. Classification results indicated each scale can provide data to help evaluate children: Sexual Abuse Scale (sensitivity = 81% and specificity = 78%), Physical Abuse Scale (84% and 78%), Exposure to Family Violence Scale (65% and 63%), and Posttraumatic Stress Scale (86% and 54%).However, careful attention needs to be given to the potential limitations of these scales to prevent their misuse.
Mental Health Services Utilization by Maltreated Children: Research Findings and Recommendations
Authors: Staudt Marlys M.
Published: August 2003

Many maltreated children have, or are at risk for, emotional and behavioral disorders. Some of these children need mental health services but do not receive them because of service delivery and use barriers. Knowledge about the factors related to service utilization is needed to increase access to and use of services. Studies on mental health services utilization by maltreated children in foster care or otherwise monitored by child protective services are reviewed to ascertain service use correlates. Children in foster care had higher use rates than comparison groups of Aid to Families With Dependent Children not in foster care. Need and nonneed variables predicted service use. Race was the most consistent nonneed predictor. Future research needs include the development of conceptual models to guide research on service access and use. More work is needed on the conceptualization and operationalization of mental health services, need for services, and service use.
Risk Factors for Sexual Victimization of Women
Authors: Siegel Jane A. , Williams Linda M.
Published: August 2003

Using data drawn from a prospective study of 206 urban, predominantly low-income, African American women, sexually victimized before they turned 13 in the early 1970s, and a matched comparison group, this article explores whether child sexual abuse was a risk factor for revictimization and examines the role of other factors in the risk of victimization. Child sexual abuse before the age of 13 was not by itself a risk factor for adult victimization, but those who were also victimized as adolescents were at much greater risk of adult sexual victimization than other women. Additional risk factors included measures of sexual behavior and alcohol problems.
Home Care and Family Health Care Programs: A Reality in the Brazilian Health Care System
Authors: Neves Eloita Pereira , Lopes Gertrudes Teixeira
Published: August 2003

The article provides an overview of the Brazilian health care system regarding home care and family health care programs. It poses an historical-critical reflection about those modalities of health care that have been offered to the Brazilian population according to public and private policies. It compares and contrasts the Brazilian home care and family health care programs in relation to their perspectives of increasing access and providing quality care to people.
Maintenance of Effects of the Eat Smart School Food Service Program: Results from the Catch-on Study
Authors: Osganian Stavroula K. , Hoelscher Deanna M. , Zive Michelle , Mitchell Paul D. , Snyder Patricia , Webber Larry S.
Published: August 2003

The Child and Adolescent Trial for Cardiovascular Health (CATCH) Eat Smart Program targeted the food service of the 56 CATCH intervention elementary schools to effect positive changes in the total fat and saturated fat content of school lunch. Maintenance of the food service intervention in former intervention ( n = 56) and control ( n = 20) schools was evaluated 5 years postintervention. After 5 years of follow-up and no further intervention, the former CATCH intervention schools not only maintained prior levels but also had further decreases in the mean percentage of calories from total and saturated fat to 31% and 10.4%, respectively. Significant decreases in these nutrients were also observed in the former CATCH control schools; however, the former intervention schools more closely approached the Eat Smart goal for total fat. Overall, sodium levels rose in both school conditions and did not differ significantly at follow-up.
Maintenance of Effects of the Catch Physical Education Program: Results from the Catch-on Study
Authors: McKenzie Thomas L. , Li Donglin , Derby Carol A. , Webber Larry S. , Luepker Russell V. , Cribb Peter
Published: August 2003

Long-term maintenance effects of physical education (PE) curriculum and staff development programs have not been studied. The authors assessed the sustainability of the Child and Adolescent Trial for Cardiovascular Health (CATCH) PE intervention using direct observations of 1,904 PE lessons in former intervention and control schools in four U.S. states 5-years postintervention. Student physical activity levels, lesson contexts, and level of CATCH PE training of teachers were analyzed. Student energy expenditure levels and proportion of PE time in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity in intervention schools were maintained 5 years later, but vigorous activity declined sharply. Meanwhile, postintervention gains in former control schools, influenced by delayed program implementation and secular trends, resulted in a convergence of activity levels in intervention and control schools. Use of CATCH PE curricula was associated with increased levels of teacher training and school support for PE in both former intervention and control schools.
School Climate and the Institutionalization of the Catch Program
Authors: Parcel Guy S. , Perry Cheryl L. , Kelder Steven H. , Elder John P. , Mitchell Paul D. , Lytle Leslie A. , Johnson Carolyn C. , Stone Elaine J.
Published: August 2003

School climate refers to various physical and psychosocial structures that shape schools' social and physical environments. The Child and Adolescent Trial for Cardiovascular Health (CATCH) study provided an opportunity to study how aspects of school climate are associatedwith continuedimplementation of the CATCH pro gram. Nutrient analysis of menus, observations of physical education (PE) classes, and teacher and staff self-reports were used to measure CATCH program components. Results of this study indicate that aspects of school climate were associated with continued implementation of the CATCH classroom component but not the CATCH foodservice or PE components. These findings have implications for how we plan for the progression of innovative school health promotion programs from the initial trial stage to institutionalization. Measures of school climate may be useful in determining a school's readiness to adopt and implement an innovative health promotion curriculum.
Maintenance of a Health Promotion Program in Elementary Schools: Results from the Catch-on Study Key Informant Interviews
Authors: Lytle Leslie A. , Ward Jerri , Nader Phillip R. , Pedersen Sheryl , Williston BJ
Published: August 2003

To better understand the institutionalization process in Child and Adolescent Trial for Cardiovascular Health (CATCH) intervention and control schools, 199 key informant interviews were conducted with school food service staff, physical education teachers, classroom teachers, and administrators at the four CATCH-ON field centers. School personnel were asked to talk about the degree of CATCH program implementation, who at the school or school district was instrumental in promoting CATCH, and the conditions that facilitated or impeded the institutionalization of CATCH activities and philosophies. The CATCH Physical Education (PE) component appeared to have the highest level of institutionalization, and the CATCH classroom curriculum and family components appeared to have the lowest levels of institutionalization. The primary barriers expressed included the low priority for health promotion activities and time constraints of schools; lack of mechanisms for training of school staff; and lack of sufficient funds for materials, equipment, and lower fat vendor products.
Critical Uncertainties Confronting Human Resource Development
Authors: J. Chermack Thomas , Lynham Susan A. , Ruona Wendy E. A.
Published: August 2003

The problem and the solution. Human resource development (HRD) is influenced by trends in other disciplines, demographics, politics, technology, and a number of other domains. To gain insight about the future, those trends can be assessed and sorted into categories. The intent of this article is to present the trends that are deemed the most uncertain and have the highest potential impact on the discipline of HRD. Furthermore, this article examines what we can learn from considering the implications of such trends, how our thinking might change from what we learn, and what decisions we might make differently as a result of having considered them.
Anterior and posterior waves of cyclicher1gene expression are differentially regulated in the presomitic mesoderm of zebrafish
Authors: Gajewski Martin , Sieger Dirk , Alt Burkhard , Leve Christian , Hans Stefan , Wolff Christian , Rohr Klaus B. , Tautz Diethard
Published: August 2003

Somite formation in vertebrates depends on a molecular oscillator in the presomitic mesoderm (PSM). In order to get a better insight into how oscillatory expression is achieved in the zebrafish Danio rerio, we have analysed the regulation of her1 and her7, two bHLH genes that are co-expressed in the PSM. Using specific morpholino oligonucleotide mediated inhibition and intron probe in situ hybridisation, we find that her7 is required for initiating the expression in the posterior PSM, while her1 is required to propagate the cyclic expression in the intermediate and anterior PSM. Reporter gene constructs with the her1 upstream sequence driving green fluorescent protein (GFP)expression show that separable regulatory regions can be identified that mediate expression in the posterior versus intermediate and anterior PSM. Our results indicate that the cyclic expression is generated at the transcriptional level and that the resulting mRNAs have a very short half-life. A specific degradation signal for her1 mRNA must be located in the 5′-UTR, as this region also destabilises the GFP mRNA such that it mimics the dynamic pattern of the endogenous her1 mRNA. In contrast to the mRNA, GFP protein is stable and we find that all somitic cells express the protein, proving that her1 mRNA is transiently expressed in all cells of the PSM.
Role of Islet1 in the patterning of murine dentition
Authors: Mitsiadis Thimios A. , Angeli Irene , James Chela , Lendahl Urban , Sharpe Paul T.
Published: August 2003

It is believed that mouse dentition is determined by a prepatterning of the oral epithelium into molar (proximal) and incisor (distal) regions. The LIM homeodomain protein Islet1 (ISL1) is involved in the regulation of differentiation of many cell types and organs. During odontogenesis, we find Islet1 to be exclusively expressed in epithelial cells of the developing incisors but not during molar development. Early expression of Islet1 in presumptive incisor epithelium is coincident with expression of Bmp4, which acts to induce Msx1 expression in the underlying mesenchyme.

To define the role of ISL1 in the acquisition of incisor shape, we have analysed regulation of Islet1 expression in mandibular explants. Local application of bone morphogenetic protein 4 (BMP4) in the epithelium of molar territories either by bead implantation or by electroporation stimulated Islet1 expression. Inhibition of BMP signalling with Noggin resulted in a loss of Islet1 expression. Inhibition of Islet1 in distal epithelium resulted in a loss of Bmp4 expression and a corresponding loss of Msx1 expression, indicating that a positive regulatory loop exists between ISL1 and BMP4 in distal epithelium. Ectopic expression of Islet1 in proximal epithelium produces a loss of Barx1 expression in the mesenchyme and resulted in inhibition of molar tooth development. Using epithelial/mesenchymal recombinations we show that at E10.5 Islet1 expression is independent of the underlying mesenchyme whereas at E12.5 when tooth shape specification has passed to the mesenchyme, Islet1 expression requires distal (presumptive incisor)mesenchyme. Islet1 thus plays an important role in regulating distal gene expression during jaw and tooth development.
DrosophilaE-cadherin is essential for proper germ cell-soma interaction during gonad morphogenesis
Authors: Jenkins Allison B. , McCaffery J. Michael , Van Doren Mark
Published: August 2003

In most animal species, germ cells require intimate contact with specialized somatic cells in the gonad for their proper development. We have analyzed the establishment of germ cell-soma interaction during embryonic gonad formation in Drosophila melanogaster, and find that somatic cells undergo dramatic changes in cell shape and individually ensheath germ cells as the gonad coalesces. Germ cell ensheathment is independent of other aspects of gonad formation, indicating that separate morphogenic processes are at work during gonadogenesis. The cell-cell adhesion molecule Drosophila E-cadherin is essential both for germ cell ensheathment and gonad compaction, and is upregulated in the somatic gonad at the time of gonad formation. Our data indicate that differential cell adhesion contributes to cell sorting and the formation of proper gonad architecture. In addition,we find that Fear of Intimacy, a novel transmembrane protein, is also required for both germ cell ensheathment and gonad compaction. E-cadherin expression in the gonad is dramatically decreased in fear of intimacy mutants,indicating that Fear of Intimacy may be a regulator of E-cadherin expression or function.
Unique and combinatorial functions of Fgf3 and Fgf8 during zebrafish forebrain development
Authors: Walshe Jennifer , Mason Ivor
Published: August 2003

Complex spatiotemporal expression patterns of fgf3 and fgf8 within the developing zebrafish forebrain suggest their involvement in its regionalisation and early development. These factors have unique and combinatorial roles during development of more posterior brain regions, and here we report similar findings for the developing forebrain. We show that Fgf8 and Fgf3 regulate different aspects of telencephalic development, and that Fgf3 alone is required for the expression of several telencephalic markers. Within the diencephalon, Fgf3 and Fgf8 act synergistically to pattern the ventral thalamus, and are implicated in the regulation of optic stalk formation, whereas loss of Fgf3 alone results in defects in ZLI development. Forebrain commissure formation was abnormal in the absence of either Fgf3 or Fgf8; however, most severe defects were observed in the absence of both. Defects were observed in patterning of both the midline territory, within which the commissures normally form, and neuronal populations, whose axons comprise the commissures. Analysis of embryos treated with an FGFR inhibitor suggests that continuous FGF signalling is required from gastrulation stages for normal forebrain patterning, and identifies additional requirements for FGFR activity.
Laser heating including the phase change process and thermal stress generation in relation to drilling
Authors: Yilbas B S , Naqvi I Z
Published: August 2003

Laser heating including phase change processes finds wide application in industry such as in laser machining. The large temperature gradient in the solid region of the substrate material generates considerable stress levels in the region affected by a laser beam. Modelling of the laser heating process enhances understanding of physical processes involved and reduces experimental cost. Moreover, the commercially available lasers, used as a machine tool, have pulse lengths of several nanoseconds. Consequently, when modelling a laser pulse heating process, a heating period needs to be limited to the nanosecond range. In the present study, laser heating of steel is considered. The heating process is modelled employing the Fourier heating model and allowing the phase change processes. The governing equation of energy transport is solved numerically using a control volume approach. The thermal stresses generated in the solid region of the substrate material heated by a laser beam is modelled. The grid independence tests are carried out in order to ensure grid independent results. An experiment is carried out to validate the cavity profile predicted from the present simulations. It is found that the predicted cavity profile agrees well with the experimental findings. The temperature profile decays sharply in the liquid region close to the cavity wall. The equivalent stress reaches its maxima at two locations in the radial direction. As the heating progresses, the magnitude of the second peak of equivalent stress reduces.
Omnidirectional planar dipole‐array antenna for 2.4/5.2‐GHz WLAN access points
Authors: Wong Kin‐Lu , Lai Jeng‐Wen , Hsiao Fu‐Ren
Published: August 2003

An omnidirectional dual‐band planar dipole‐array antenna suitable for application in 2.4/5.2‐GHz WLAN access points is presented. The dipole‐array antenna is a linear array and comprises three back‐to‐back dipole elements with the first two elements operating in the 5.2‐GHz band and the third one operating in the 2.4‐GHz band. The proposed array antenna is narrow in width (12 mm in this design), and good omnidirectional radiation with gain variations less than 2 dBi for both the 2.4‐ and 5.2‐GHz bands is obtained. In addition, the antenna provides enhanced antenna gain (about 3.7–4.1 dBi) for frequencies across the 5.2‐GHz band, and good antenna gain (about 2.2–2.8 dBi) is also obtained across the 2.4‐GHz band. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 39: 33–36, 2003; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.11118
The Hilbert curve as a small self‐resonant monopole from a practical point of view
Authors: González‐Arbesú J. M. , Blanch S. , Romeu J.
Published: August 2003

Prefractal Hilbert curves are analyzed in terms of radiation efficiency, quality factor, and electrical size for their use as small self‐resonant monopole antennas. The structures show better performance as loads of monopoles than as radiating structures. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 39: 45–49, 2003; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.11122
Photo‐induced cross‐linking mechanism in azide–novolac negative photoresists: molecular level investigation using NMR spectroscopy
Authors: Roy Debmalya , Basu P. K. , Raghunathan P. , Eswaran S. V.
Published: August 2003

Negative photoresists are composed of a photoactive component (aromatic azides/bisazides) and cyclized rubber or novolac resin dissolved in an organic solvent. Hydrogen abstraction and/or insertion reaction of the reactive nitrene intermediate formed during photoirradiation of the azide result in a cross‐linked network of the novolac resin. The molecular weight of novolac resin in the exposed part of the photoresist film thus increases compared with that of the unexposed part. This makes the exposed part insoluble in the alkaline developer. Exploiting this change in physical property, a pattern can be transferred to a substrate from a mask. A better understanding of the exact mechanism of cross‐linking reactions is very important to the design of a high‐performing negative photoresist. A quinone–imine‐type complex has been proposed earlier involving the aromatic moiety of novolac resin as the reaction site. A more recent study focuses the attack of nitrene on the methylenic bridge and hydroxyl group of novolac resins, which were found to be responsible for the cross‐linking reaction along with the aromatic moiety of novolac resin. However, in our study no evidence was found for the involvement of a methylenic hydrogen or aromatic moiety of novolac resin in the cross‐linking reaction. The 1H NMR, 13C NMR and DEPT‐135 spectra before and after photolysis indicate that the cross‐linking site is predominantly the hydroxyl group of novolac resin. Multiple reaction sites of attack for the nitrene intermediate have been demonstrated in cashew nut shell liquid (CNSL)‐based novolac resin by 1H NMR spectroscopy, which in turn further increases the cross‐linked network in the exposed part of a negative photoresist. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Relaxation compensation in chemical exchange measurements for the quantitation of amide hydrogen exchange in larger proteins
Authors: Hernández Griselda , LeMaster David M.
Published: August 2003

The increasingly rapid transverse relaxation of larger macromolecules serves to limit the practical length of various types of mixing periods. When chemical exchange dynamics are used to determine the rates of amide hydrogen exchange with the bulk solvent, the foreshortened mixing period results in lowered sensitivity. Three approaches are examined for increasing the practical length of the mixing period. The transverse relaxation rate of the amide resonances is decreased by perdeuteration of the carbon‐bound hydrogen positions and also by introduction of a TROSY‐based 15N‐separated pulse sequence. Reference experiments are proposed which provide accurate compensation for relaxation effects so that exchange rate data can be obtained over the entire mixing period profile. As a result, more than a 100‐fold range of amide exchange rates can be accurately determined for a moderate‐sized protein. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Structure elucidation and total assignment of 1H and 13C NMR data for a new bisdesmoside saponin from Cordia piauhiensis
Authors: Santos Renata P. , Viana Francisco A. , Lemos Telma Leda G. , Silveira Edilberto R. , Braz‐Filho Raimundo , Pessoa Otília Deusdênia L.
Published: August 2003

Extensive 1D (1H NMR, HBBD‐13C NMR, DEPT‐13C NMR) and 2D (COSY, TOCSY, NOESY, HMQC and HMBC) NMR analysis was used to characterize the structure of a new bisdesmoside saponin isolated from the methanol extract of stems of Cordia piauhiensis Fresen as 3β‐O‐[α‐L‐rhamnopyranosyl‐(1 → 2)‐β‐D‐glucopyranosyl]ursolic acid 28‐O‐[β‐D‐glucopyranosyl‐(1 → 6)‐β‐D‐glucopyranosyl] ester. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Contact order dependent protein folding rates: Kinetic consequences of a cooperative interplay between favorable nonlocal interactions and local conformational preferences
Authors: Kaya Hüseyin , Chan Hue Sun
Published: August 2003

Physical mechanisms underlying the empirical correlation between relative contact order (CO) and folding rate among naturally occurring small single‐domain proteins are investigated by evaluating postulated interaction schemes for a set of three‐dimensional 27mer lattice protein models with 97 different CO values. Many‐body interactions are constructed such that contact energies become more favorable when short chain segments sequentially adjacent to the contacting residues adopt native‐like conformations. At a given interaction strength, this scheme leads to folding rates that are logarithmically well correlated with CO (correlation coefficient r = 0.914) and span more than 2.5 orders of magnitude, whereas folding rates of the corresponding Gō models with additive contact energies have much less logarithmic correlation with CO and span only approximately one order of magnitude. The present protein chain models also exhibit calorimetric cooperativity and linear chevron plots similar to that observed experimentally for proteins with apparent simple two‐state folding/unfolding kinetics. Thus, our findings suggest that CO‐dependent folding rates of real proteins may arise partly from a significant positive coupling between nonlocal contact favorabilities and local conformational preferences. Proteins 2003;52:524–533. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Metabolic control of the tetrapyrrole biosynthetic pathway for porphyrin distribution in the barley mutant albostrians
Authors: Yaronskaya Elena , Ziemann Valeria , Walter Gaby , Averina Natalia , Börner Thomas , Grimm Bernhard
Published: August 2003

The barley line albostrians exhibits a severe block in chloroplast development as a result of a mutationally induced lack of plastid ribosomes. White leaves of this mutant contain undifferentiated plastids, possess only traces of chlorophyll (Chl), and are photosynthetically inactive. Chl deficiency, combined with a continuous heme requirement, should lead to drastic changes in the tetrapyrrole metabolism in white versus green leaves. We analyzed the extent to which the synthesis rate of the pathway and the porphyrin distribution toward the Chl‐ and heme‐synthesizing bifurcation is altered in the white tissue of albostrians. Expression and activity of several distinctively regulated enzymes, such as glutamyl‐tRNAglu reductase, glutamate 1‐semialdehyde aminotransferase, Mg‐ and Fe‐chelatase, and Chl synthetase, were altered in white mutant leaves in comparison to control leaves. A drastic loss in the rate‐limiting formation of 5‐aminolevulinate and in the Mg‐chelatase and Mg‐protoporphyrin IX methyltransferase activity, as well as an increase in Fe‐chelatase activity, accounts for a decrease in the metabolic flux and the re‐direction of metabolites. It is proposed that the tightly balanced control of activities in the pathway functions by different metabolic feedback loops and in response to developmental state and physiological requirements. This data supports the idea that the initial steps of Mg‐porphyrin synthesis contribute to plastid‐derived signaling toward the nucleus. The barley mutant albostrians proved to be a valuable system for studying regulation of tetrapyrrole biosynthesis and their involvement in the bi‐directional communication between plastids and nucleus.
Optimization of signal peptide SP310 for heterologous protein production in Lactococcus lactis
Authors: Ravn Peter , Arnau José , Madsen Søren M. , Vrang Astrid , Israelsen Hans
Published: August 2003

The authors have previously reported the identification of novel signal peptides (SPs) fromLactococcus lactisusing transposon insertion. Of these, SP310 caused the highest level of secretion. However, the levels were lower than those obtained using the signal peptide from Usp45 (SPUSP), the major secreted lactococcal protein. In this study, site-directed mutagenesis of signal peptide SP310 was used to investigate the effect of amino acid alterations on lactococcal secretion and to improve secretion efficiency. Several mutated SPs caused higher secretion. This increase in secretion was due to modifications in the cleavage region. In fermenter experiments, the signal peptide SP310mut2 resulted in an extracellularStaphylococcus aureusnuclease (Nuc) yield which was 45 % higher than that with the natural SP310. Surprisingly, increasing the hydrophobicity of the hydrophobic core or increasing the number of positively charged amino acids in the N-terminal region of SP310 decreased secretion. High extracellular yields of Nuc resulted from more efficient secretion, as strains with less efficient SPs accumulated more intracellular SP-Nuc precursor.
CloN2, a novel acyltransferase involved in the attachment of the pyrrole-2-carboxyl moiety to the deoxysugar of clorobiocin
Authors: Xu Hui , Kahlich Rainer , Kammerer Bernd , Heide Lutz , Li Shu-Ming
Published: August 2003

The aminocoumarin antibiotic clorobiocin contains a 5-methylpyrrole-2-carboxylic acid unit, attached via an ester bond to the 3-OH group of the deoxysugar moiety. To investigate candidate genes responsible for the formation of this ester bond, a gene inactivation experiment was carried out in the clorobiocin producer Streptomyces roseochromogenes var. oscitans DS 12.976. An in-frame deletion was created in the coding sequence of the gene cloN2. The production of secondary metabolites in the wild-type and in the cloN2 mutant was analysed. The wild-type showed clorobiocin as the main product, whereas the cloN2 mutant accumulated a new aminocoumarin derivative, novclobiocin 104, lacking the pyrrole moiety at the 3-OH of the deoxysugar. In addition, free pyrrole-2-carboxylic acid accumulated in the culture extract of the cloN2 mutant. The structures of the metabolites were confirmed by NMR and LC-MS analysis. Clorobiocin production was successfully restored in the cloN2 mutant by introducing a replicative plasmid containing the cloN2 sequence. These results prove an involvement of cloN2 in the formation of the ester bond between the pyrrole moiety and the deoxysugar in clorobiocin biosynthesis. Furthermore, they indicate that the C-methylation at position 5 of the pyrrole moiety occurs after the attachment of pyrrole-2-carboxylic acid unit to the deoxysugar moiety.
Does benchmarking help?
Authors: Ansell J. , Moles P. , Smart A.
Published: August 2003

In this paper we examine benchmarking as it is used in fund management and especially asset allocation. We explore the concept of benchmarking in fund management, and selection of the appropriate benchmark. Some of the major problems associated with benchmarking are dealt with, including the risks involved and measures taken to deal with the inherent risk, such as risk adjustment. Finally we advocate that trustees need to interact with fund managers more closely if the fund is to develop in the desired direction. This should include an understanding of the organisational aspects of the fund manager's role.
Immigrant Environmental Behaviors in New York City
Authors: Pfeffer Max J. , Stycos J. Mayone
Published: August 2003

Objective. This article compares environmental behaviors of immigrants and the native‐born to answer questions about potential impacts of immigration on the U.S. environment. Methods. We consider immigrant/native‐born differences in the likelihood of engaging in environmentally friendly behavior. With data from a survey of New York City residents, we test two hypotheses regarding environmental behavior: (1) controlling for environmental orientation, environmental knowledge, acculturation, community attachment, and economic status will reduce immigrant/native‐born differences, and (2) controlling for race will increase immigrant/native‐born differences. Results. Our analysis provided no support for the second hypothesis, but there were varied results for the first hypothesis depending on the type of environmental behavior considered. Conclusions. Our findings for New York City show that fears of immigrants being less likely to engage in environmentally friendly behaviors are unfounded. Of greater significance to environmental organizations is the lower level of immigrant involvement in environmentally oriented political behaviors, suggesting that continued immigration will present challenges both in making the environmental movement more ethnically diverse and in maintaining its vitality.
Evaluation of a Novel Medium for Screening Specimens from Hospitalized Patients To Detect Methicillin-Resistant
Staphylococcus aureus
Authors: Blanc D. S. , Wenger A. , Bille J.
Published: August 2003

A novel medium, Oxacillin Resistant Screening Agar (ORSA) medium, was evaluated for the screening of specimens for methicillin-resistant
Staphylococcus aureus
(MRSA) in the hospital setting. Screening swabs (swabs of the nose, throat, perineum, and infected sites) were inoculated onto the new ORSA medium and into an enrichment broth (Muller-Hinton broth supplemented with NaCl and oxacillin). After 24 h of incubation, the enrichment broth was subcultured onto one ORSA plate and one lipovitellin Chapman salt agar plate. The sensitivities for the detection of MRSA were calculated for each medium alone and for the media in combination. A low sensitivity (74%) was obtained when ORSA medium was used alone as a primary culture, whereas the sensitivity was 88% when a single selective enrichment broth was used. Among the 414 blue colonies observed on ORSA plates, only 47% were found to be MRSA, 40% were coagulase-negative staphylococci, 7% were
Enterococcus
species, and 2% were methicillin-sensitive
S. aureus
. The optimal incubation time for the ORSA plates was evaluated. On primary culture, 38% of the blue MRSA colonies were visible only after 48 h of incubation (no blue colonies were not seen after 24 h of incubation), whereas 94% of the colonies were already visible at 24 h when ORSA plates were used for subcultures. In conclusion, the advantage of the novel ORSA medium is the ease of recognition of mannitol-fermenting bacteria, but further identification tests are needed to confirm the identification of
S. aureus
. An enrichment broth is still needed to ensure a good sensitivity for the recovery of MRSA, and an incubation time of 48 h is required for primary culture on ORSA medium.
Penicillin Susceptibility and Epidemiological Typing of Invasive Pneumococcal Isolates in the Republic of Ireland
Authors: Bennett D. , Lennon B. , Humphreys H. , Cafferkey M.
Published: August 2003

A national study was undertaken to investigate the incidence of invasive pneumococcal disease in the Republic of Ireland and to examine the associated isolates. In 1999, 144
S. pneumoniae
isolates, all recovered from cases of invasive disease, were received from 12 microbiology laboratories. The incidence of invasive pneumococcal disease was estimated to be 6.6/100,000 population. All isolates were analyzed for serotype, penicillin susceptibility, chromosomal relatedness (by using pulsed-field gel electrophoresis [PFGE]), and penicillin-binding protein (
pbp
) fingerprinting. Several findings of note were observed regarding the pneumococcal population in Ireland. First, isolates of 25 different serotypes were represented, with serotypes 14, 9V, 8, 5, 4, and 3 being the most common. This finding, together with the
pbp
fingerprinting and PFGE typing results, indicated the clonal spread of strains of these serotypes in Ireland. Second, 27 (18.7%) isolates had reduced susceptibility to penicillin, and 74% of these were serotype 9V. Of these, 80% appeared to belong to the same clone. This could suggest the spread of the international Spanish/French 9V penicillin-resistant clone into Ireland. Third, nine different
pbp
genotypes were identified, four of which were new. Two
pbp
genotypes accounted for the majority of isolates dividing them according to their penicillin susceptibility status but irrespective of serotype and PFGE type. This is strong evidence for the occurrence of horizontal transfer of
pbp
genes between strains, observed with both penicillin-susceptible and penicillin-nonsusceptible isolates. Fourth, there was evidence of serotype transformation since isolates, indistinguishable by
pbp
fingerprinting and PFGE typing, expressed different capsular types.
Genetic and Antigenic Characterization of Rotavirus Serotype G9 Strains Isolated in Australia between 1997 and 2001
Authors: Kirkwood Carl , Bogdanovic-Sakran Nada , Palombo Enzo , Masendycz Paul , Bugg Helen , Barnes Graeme , Bishop Ruth
Published: August 2003

Rotavirus serotype G9 is recognized as the most widespread of the emerging serotypes, emerging since 1996 as a frequent cause of severe acute gastroenteritis in children from many countries covering all continents of the world. This study characterized serotype G9 strains collected in three widely separated Australian centers from 1997 to 2001. All G9 strains possessed the VP4 P[8] and VP6 subgroup II genes. The overall prevalence of the G9 strains increased in Australia, from 0.6% of the strains found in 1997 to 29% of the strains found in 2001. The prevalence of G9 relative to all other serotypes varied from year to year and with geographic location. In Melbourne (representing east coast urban centers), G9 made up 11 to 26% of all of the strains found from 1999 to 2001. In Perth (representing west coast urban centers), G9 made up less than 2% of the strains found in 1997 to 2000 but increased to 18.6% of the strains found in 2001. In Alice Springs (representing widely dispersed settlements in northern arid regions), G9 made up 0 to 5% of the strains found from 1997 to 2000 and was the dominant strain in 2001, making up 68.9% of all of the strains found. Three distinct antigenic groups based on reaction with neutralizing monoclonal antibodies (N-MAbs) were identified, including a dominant group (63%) that cross-reacted with the serotype G4 N-MAb. Phylogenetic analysis of the VP7-encoding gene from Australian strains, compared with a worldwide collection of G9 strains, showed that the Australian G9 strains made up a genetic group distinct from other serotype G9 strains identified in the United States and Africa. Future epidemiological studies of the occurrence of G9 strains should combine reverse transcription-PCR and typing with G1 to G4 and G9 N-MAbs to determine the extent of G9 and G4 cross-reactions among rotavirus strains, in order to assess the need to incorporate G9 strains into new candidate vaccines.
Identification of the Hypervirulent Lineages of
Neisseria meningitidis
, the ST-8 and ST-11 Complexes, by Using Monoclonal Antibodies Specific to
Nme
DI
Authors: Claus Heike , Weinand Hanne , Frosch Matthias , Vogel Ulrich
Published: August 2003

Most cases of serogroup C meningococcal disease are caused by the clonal lineages ST-8 and ST-11. The gene encoding the putative restriction-modification system
Nme
DI is specific to these lineages. We report here a monoclonal antibody directed against the
Nme
DI endonuclease as a tool for their rapid and spe-cific identification.
Genetic Relationship between
Streptococcus pneumoniae
Isolates from Nasopharyngeal and Cerebrospinal Fluid of Two Infants with Pneumococcal Meningitis
Authors: de Andrade Ana Lucia Sampaio Sgambatti , Pimenta Fabiana Cristina , Brandileone Maria Cristina C. , Laval Cristina Aparecida , Guerra Maria Luiza , de Andrade João Guimarães , Di Fabio Jose Luis
Published: August 2003

The molecular epidemiology of
Streptococcus pneumoniae
isolates from carriage and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) concurrently recovered from the same individual has not yet been reported. By using pulsed-field gel electrophoresis, we demonstrated the genetic linkage among strains from CSF and nasopharynges of two children with pneumococcal meningitis.
An expression cDNA library for suppression cloning in yeast mutants, complementation of a yeast his4 mutant, and EST analysis from the symbiotic basidiomycete Hebeloma cylindrosporum
Authors: Wipf Daniel , Benjdia Mariam , Rikirsch Enno , Zimmermann Sabine , Tegeder Mechthild , Frommer Wolf B
Published: August 2003

An oriented expression library was constructed from the mycelia of the symbiotic model fungus Hebeloma cylindrosporum in the high-level yeast expression vector pDR196. DNA sequencing of ~500 expressed sequence tags (ESTs) showed that 15% correspond to known genes, two thirds contain sequences with unknown function, and the remaining 20% showed no significant similarity to any known genes. The ESTs had a GC content between 44 and 56%, with most of them having a GC content of 5254%, which could be correlated with GC contents of fungal genes. The library was successfully used to identify the Hebeloma HIS4 gene by functional complementation of a yeast his4 mutant. Thus, the library may serve as a powerful tool for identification and characterization of mycorrhizal genes by EST analysis and for the identification of ectomycorrhizal genes by means of suppression cloning.Key words: ectomycorrhiza, functional cDNA library, Hebeloma cylindrosporum, yeast complementation.
Fine mapping of quantitative trait loci for improved fruit characteristics fromLycopersicon chmielewskiichromosome 1
Authors: Frary A , Doganlar S , Frampton A , Fulton T , Uhlig J , Yates H , Tanksley S
Published: August 2003

The near-isogenic line (NIL) TA1150 contains a 56-cM introgression from Lycopersicon chmielewskii chromosome 1 and has several interesting phenotypic characteristics including fruit with orange color, high levels of soluble solids, thick pericarp, small stem scars, and good firmness. A set of overlapping recombinant lines (subNILs) was developed and field tested to fine map the quantitative trait loci (QTL) controlling these traits. The results indicated that the solids, pericarp thickness, and firmness QTL are distinct from the color locus. Several of the QTL mapped in this study, including the soluble-solids QTL, probably correspond to QTL mapped in other wild species of tomato. However, analysis of a set of TA523 subNILs containing complementary introgressions from Lycopesicon hirsutum chromosome 1 suggests that this wild species may contain a different locus for improved soluble solids. Thus, it might be possible to combine the L. chmielewskii and L. hirsutum alleles for these loci in a single line with the potential for extremely highly soluble solids. The TA1150 subNIL TA1688 contains the smallest introgression of the solids locus (approximately 19 cM), as well as the pericarp thickness and firmness QTL, with a yield that was equivalent to two of the three control lines. Isolation of recombinant subNILs from TA1688 should break the linkage between orange color and high solids and provide a small introgressed segment for marker-assisted breeding and genetic improvement of processing tomato.Key words: tomato, QTL, soluble solids, Brix, colour.
QTL mapping of partial resistance in winter wheat toStagonospora nodorumblotch
Authors: Czembor Pawel C , Arseniuk Edward , Czaplicki Andrzej , Song Qijiang , Cregan Perry B , Ueng Peter P
Published: August 2003

Stagonospora nodorum blotch is an important foliar and glume disease in cereals. Inheritance of resistance in wheat appears to be quantitative. To date, breeding of partially resistant cultivars has been the only effective way to combat this pathogen. The partial resistance components, namely length of incubation period, disease severity, and length of latent period, were evaluated on a population of doubled haploids derived from a cross between the partially resistant Triticum aestivum 'Liwilla' and susceptible Triticum aestivum 'Begra'. Experiments were conducted in a controlled environment and the fifth leaf was examined. Molecular analyses were based on bulked segregant analyses using 240 microsatellite markers. Four QTLs were significantly associated with partial resistance components and were located on chromosomes 2B, 3B, 5B, and 5D. The percentage of phenotypic variance explained by a single QTL ranged from 14 to 21% for incubation period, from 16 to 37% for disease severity, and from 13 to 28% for latent period.Key words: bulked segregant analysis, microsatellites, Stagonospora nodorum.
Weighted Fuzzy Averages in Fuzzy Environment: Part II. Generalized Weighted Fuzzy Expected Values in Fuzzy Environment
Authors: Sirbiladze G. , Sikharulidze A.
Published: August 2003

The weighted fuzzy expected value (WFEV) of the population for a sampling distribution was introduced in 1. In 2 the notion of WFEV is generalized for any fuzzy measure on a finite set (WFEVg). The latter paper also describes the notions of weighted fuzzy expected intervals WFEI and WFEIg which are an interval extension of WFEV and WFEVg, respectively, when due to ''scarce'' data the fuzzy expected value (FEV) 3 does not exist, but the fuzzy expected interval (FEI) 3 does. In this paper, The generalizations GWFEVg and GWFEIg of WFEVg and WFEIg, respectively, are introduced for any fuzzy measure space. Furthermore, the generalized weighted fuzzy expected value is expressed in terms of two monotone expectation (ME)4 values with respect to the Lebesgue measure on [0,1]. The convergence of iteration processes is provided by an appropriate choice of a ''weight'' function. In the interval extension (GWFEIg) the so-called combinatorial interval extension of a function 5 is successfully used, which is clearly illustrated by examples. Several examples of the use of the new weighted averages are discussed. In many cases these averages give better estimations than classical estimators of central tendencies such as mean, median or the fuzzy ''classical'' estimators FEV, FEI and ME.
Hardware-Related Complications after Placement of Thalamic Deep Brain Stimulator Systems
Authors: Kondziolka Douglas , Whiting Donald , Germanwala Anand , Oh Michael
Published: August 2003

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) has become a common therapeutic approach to patients with movement disorders. We evaluated results from two centers in a large metropolitan area where DBS systems are implanted into the thalamus for patients with tremor. Although all implanted systems led to an improvement in tremor, morbidity related to the hardware system occurred. A total of 23 hardware problems were noted in 66 patients undergoing implantation of 66 DBS systems (27% of patients). The most common problem included breakage of the electrode lead in its extracranial location, system infection, battery or connector problems, lead migration, and hemorrhage. Management was tailored to the specific hardware-related problem. Modifications in both surgical technique and hardware design should reduce the incidence of complications. Surgeons who place DBS systems should be aware of the spectrum of problems that can be associated with the device and its placement.
The Prognostic Impact of Clinical and CT Parameters in Patients with Pontine Hemorrhage
Authors: Dziewas Rainer , Kremer Marion , Lüdemann Peter , Nabavi Darius G. , Dräger Bianca , Ringelstein E. Bernd
Published: August 2003

Background: In patients with pontine hemorrhage (PH), an accurate prognostic assessment is critical for establishing a reasonable therapeutic approach. Methods: The initial clinical symptoms and computed tomography (CT) features were analyzed with multivariate regression analysis in 39 consecutive patients with PH. PHs were classified into three types: (1) large paramedian, (2) basal or basotegmental and (3) lateral tegmental, and the hematomas’ diameters were measured. The patients’ outcome was evaluated. Results: Twenty-seven patients (69%) died and 12 (31%) survived for more than 1 year after PH. The symptom most predictive of death was coma on admission. The large paramedian type of PH predicted a poor prognosis, whereas the lateral tegmental type was associated with a favorable outcome. The transverse hematoma diameter was also related to outcome, with the threshold value found to be 20 mm. Conclusions: We conclude that PH outcome can be estimated best by combining the CT parameters ‘large paramedian PH’ and ‘transverse diameter ≧20 mm’ with the clinical variable ‘coma on admission’. Survival is unlikely if all 3 features are present, whereas survival may be expected if only 1 or none of these features is found.