bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Isolation of the Atlantic salmon tyrosinase gene family reveals heterogenous transcripts in a leukocyte cell line
Authors: Thorsen Jim , Høyheim Bjørn , Koppang Erling O.
Published: June 2006

In ectothermic vertebrates, visceral organs harbor melanin‐containing cells. Their ability as pigment producers is nevertheless disputed. To address expression of the key genes for melanogenesis in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar), a tyrosinase‐positive leukocyte cell line (SHK‐1) and skin were used to obtain full‐length tyrosinase (Tyr), tyrosinase‐like protein‐1 (Tyrp1), and dopachrome tautomerase (Dct) mRNA transcripts. In the SHK‐1 cells, two different Tyrp1 transcripts were identified, one lacking exon 1. However, only the full‐length version of Tyrp1 was identified in the skin. Sequencing of Tyrp1 genomic region revealed that the two Tyrp1 transcripts might originate from two different loci, possibly a result of pseudo‐tetraploidity of the Atlantic salmon genome. Expression of Tyr, Tyrp1 and Dct was investigated by quantitative real‐time reverse transcriptase polymerase cain reaction showing highest expression in the SHK‐1 cell line and skin, intermediate in pronephros, and negligible or absent in liver and muscle. Histological approaches were used to demonstrate melanin and revealed presence of melanized cells in skin, kidney and liver, and absence of such cells in muscle. In addition to verify melanin synthesis abilities of visceral‐located cells, our results indicate loci‐specific transcription differences between populations of melanin‐producing cells in Atlantic salmon.
Characterization of a β‐N‐acetylhexosaminidase and a β‐N‐acetylglucosaminidase/β‐glucosidase from Cellulomonas fimi
Authors: Mayer Christoph , Vocadlo David J. , Mah Melanie , Rupitz Karen , Stoll Dominik , Warren R. A. J. , Withers Stephen G.
Published: June 2006

The Gram‐positive soil bacterium Cellulomonas fimi is shown to produce at least two intracellular β‐N‐acetylglucosaminidases, a family 20 β‐N‐acetylhexosaminidase (Hex20), and a novel family 3‐β‐N‐acetylglucosaminidase/β‐glucosidase (Nag3), through screening of a genomic expression library, cloning of genes and analysis of their sequences. Nag3 exhibits broad substrate specificity for substituents at the C2 position of the glycone: kcat/Km values at 25 °C were 0.066 s−1·mm−1 and 0.076 s−1·mm−1 for 4′‐nitrophenyl β‐N‐acetyl‐d‐glucosaminide and 4′‐nitrophenyl β‐d‐glucoside, respectively. The first glycosidase with this broad specificity to be described, Nag3, suggests an interesting evolutionary link between β‐N‐acetylglucosaminidases and β‐glucosidases of family 3. Reaction by a double‐displacement mechanism was confirmed for Nag3 through the identification of a glycosyl–enzyme species trapped with the slow substrate 2′,4′‐dinitrophenyl 2‐deoxy‐2‐fluoro‐β‐d‐glucopyranoside. Hex20 requires the acetamido group at C2 of the substrate, being unable to cleave β‐glucosides, since its mechanism involves an oxazolinium ion intermediate. However, it is broad in its specificity for the d‐glucosyl/d‐galactosyl configuration of the glycone: Km and kcat values were 53 µm and 482.3 s−1 for 4′‐nitrophenyl β‐N‐acetyl‐d‐glucosaminide and 66 µm and 129.1 s−1 for 4′‐nitrophenyl β‐N‐acetyl‐d‐galactosaminide.
A New Farnesyl Diphosphate Synthase Gene fromTaxus mediaRehder: Cloning, Characterization and Functional Complementation
Authors: Liao Zhi‐Hua , Chen Min , Gong Yi‐Fu , Li Zhu‐Gang , Zuo Kai‐Jing , Wang Peng , Tan Feng , Sun Xiao‐Fen , Tang Ke‐Xuan
Published: June 2006

Farnesyl diphosphate synthase (FPS; EC 2.5.1.10) catalyzes the production of 15‐carbon farnesyl diphosphate which is a branch‐point intermediate for many terpenoids. This reaction is considered to be a rate‐limiting step in terpenoid biosynthesis. Here we report for the first time the cloning of a new full‐length cDNA encoding farnesyl diphosphate synthase from a gymnosperm plant species,Taxus mediaRehder, designated asTmFPS1.The full‐length cDNA ofTmFPS1(GenBank accession number: AY461811) was 1 464 bp with a 1 056‐bp open reading frame encoding a 351‐amino acid polypeptide with a calculated molecular weight of 40.3 kDa and a theoretical pI of 5.07. Bioinformatic analysis revealed that TmFPS1 contained all five conserved domains of prenyltransferases, and showed homology to other FPSs of plant origin. Phylogenetic analysis showed that farnesyl diphosphate synthases can be divided into two groups: one of prokaryotic origin and the other of eukaryotic origin. TmFPS1 was grouped with FPSs of plant origin. Homology‐based structural modeling showed that TmFPS1 had the typical spatial structure of FPS, whose most prominent structural feature is the arrangement of 13 core helices around a large central cavity in which the catalytic reaction takes place. Our bioinformatic analysis strongly suggests thatTmFPS1is a functional gene. Southern blot analysis revealed thatTmFPS1belongs to a smallFPSgene family inT. media.Northern blot analysis indicated thatTmFPS1is expressed in all tested tissues, including the needles, stems and roots ofT. media.Subsequently, functional complementation withTmFPS1in a FPS‐deficient mutant yeast demonstrated thatTmFPS1did encode farnesyl diphosphate synthase, which rescued the yeast mutant. This study will be helpful in future investigations aiming at understanding the detailed role of FPS in terpenoid biosynthesis flux control at the molecular genetic level.

(Managing editor: Wei Wang)
Arguing for Rural Health in Medicare: A Progressive Rhetoric for Rural America
Authors: Ricketts Thomas C.
Published: June 2006

ABSTRACT: Rural health policy is the laws, regulations, rules, and interpretations that benefit or affect health and health care for rural populations. This paper examines how rural health policy is viewed in the broader field of public policy, discusses the role of advocacy in developing rural health policy, and suggests ways to make that advocacy more effective. This paper critically reviews policy statements and policy positions taken by key opinion leaders and the leading stakeholders in rural health policy to determine how advocacy for rural communities is expressed. It is not clear how the rural health advocacy coalition is viewed by the professional policy world or the public: as an issues network pressing for fair and equal treatment or as an interest group seeking special advantages. This paper also explores the types of claims that rural advocates make in the specific context of Medicare policy to determine to what extent those claims reflect a central theme of fairness and inclusiveness in national policies versus claims that benefit special interests. The paper suggests that the rhetoric of rural advocates can be better structured to advocate for policies on the basis of a progressive sense of fairness.
What Doesn't Kill You Makes You Stronger: Determinants of Stress Resiliency in Rural People of Saskatchewan, Canada
Authors: Gerrard Nikki , Kulig Judith , Nowatzki Nadine
Published: June 2006

ABSTRACT: Purpose: This article discusses a research study that explored how rural people in Saskatchewan, Canada, respond to stressful events and adversity, without outside interventions. Methods: In‐depth interviews were conducted with 17 individuals who were living or had lived on a farm in Saskatchewan. The participants' definitions of resiliency, their experiences with resiliency or lack of resiliency, and what they identified as the barriers to and enhancers of resiliency in their lives were discussed. Findings: Resiliency was defined as a process and interactive model that included “bouncing back” from adversity, coping, and acquiring skills, such as problem solving and learning. Resiliency was dynamic, temporal, and relational and was both proactive and reactive. There were both internal and external barriers to and enhancers of resiliency. Barriers to resiliency included fear, isolation, and depopulation, whereas enhancers included resources, support, and control. Conclusions: Traditional resiliency models are not sufficient for understanding resiliency. It is clear that social, political, and economic factors play an important role in the resiliency and health of people who live in rural areas. A conceptualization of resiliency must be embedded in a social context and include community factors. Recommendations for enhancing resiliency, such as sustaining rural life, supporting families, and providing services, are also discussed.
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services Among Rural Minorities
Authors: Gamm Larry D.
Published: June 2006

ABSTRACT: This paper provides a brief overview of current conditions and prospects for increased access to mental health and substance abuse services among rural minorities. First, it addresses challenges in ensuring rural minorities access to needed services. Second, it considers steps to increase rural minority participation in the mental health and substance abuse workforce. The dual emphasis is on (1) reaching now the isolated, rural, and frontier minority populations in need of these services and (2) building a rural health workforce that is reflective of rural minority cultures and offers continually higher quality and sustainable services to rural and minority populations.
Barriers to Cancer Screening by Rural Appalachian Primary Care Providers
Authors: Shell Renee , Tudiver Fred
Published: June 2006

ABSTRACT: Context: Rural Appalachia has significantly higher overall cancer mortality compared with national rates, and lack of cancer screening is believed to be one of the contributing factors. Reducing the cancer disparity in this region must include strategies to address suboptimal cancer screening practices by rural Appalachian primary care providers (PCPs). Purpose: To identify and investigate barriers to recommending and/or performing cancer screening among rural Appalachian PCPs. Methods: A semistructured focus group research design was used to elicit perceived barriers to recommending and/or performing cancer screening from 36 rural Appalachian PCPs (in 5 groups), including physicians, nurse practitioners, and a physician assistant. Findings: Findings indicate that rural Appalachian PCPs may not be performing recommended cancer screenings for a number of reasons. Time constraints, conflicting guidelines, and perceptions that patients do not value prevention were reported barriers to cancer screening. The PCPs in this study expressed frustration in attempting to encourage cancer screening and cited patient factors such as socioeconomic status, Appalachian culture, and cancer fatalism as barriers to cancer screening. Conclusions: Rural Appalachian PCPs encounter various barriers, such as lack of time and multiple cancer screening guidelines, to incorporating cancer screening into their practice routine. The findings underscore the negative impact of some cultural factors on preventive care delivered by PCPs. Increased provider education is needed on how best to encourage cancer screening within a cultural context and should include clarification and understanding of current cancer screening guidelines.
Intensive Care Unit Utilization and Interhospital Transfers As Potential Indicators of Rural Hospital Quality
Authors: Wakefield Douglas S. , Ward Marcia , Miller Thomas , Ohsfeldt Robert , Jaana Mirou , Lei Yang , Tracy Roger , Schneider John
Published: June 2006

ABSTRACT: Context: Obtaining meaningful information from statistically valid and reliable measures of the quality of care for disease‐specific care provided in small rural hospitals is limited by small numbers of cases and different definitive care capacities. An alternative approach may be to aggregate and analyze patient services that reflect more generalized care processes. Purpose: To evaluate the applicability of intensive care unit (ICU) utilization and interhospital transfers as potential indicators of quality in rural hospitals. Methods: Secondary data analysis of ICU utilization and interhospital transfer practices in Iowa's Critical Access (CAH), rural, rural referral, and urban hospitals. Findings: Rural hospitals have fewer resources, provide a more limited range of definitive care services, and rely to a greater extent on transferring patients to other hospitals capable of providing the required definitive care. Examining ICU utilization and interhospital transfer patterns we found (1) that lower percentages of patients receive ICU care in smaller facilities; (2) higher transfer rates for both ICU and non‐ICU patients in CAH hospitals; (3) shorter average lengths of stay for ICU patients from smaller hospitals who were transferred; and (4) lower mortality rates for CAH and rural hospital ICU patients. Conclusions: Examining ICU utilization and interhospital transfer patterns offers potential insights into rural hospital quality measurement and comparisons.
Mortality: What Are the Roles of Risk Factor Prevalence, Screening, and Use of Recommended Treatment?
Authors: Yabroff K. Robin , Lawrence William F. , King Jason C. , Mangan Patricia , Washington Kathleen Shakira , Yi Bin , Mandelblatt Jeanne S.
Published: June 2006

ABSTRACT: Context: Despite advances in early detection and prevention of cervical cancer, women living in rural areas, and particularly in Appalachia, the rural South, the Texas/Mexico border, and the central valley of California, have had consistently higher rates of cervical cancer mortality than their counterparts in other areas during the past several decades. Methods: This paper reviews the published literature from 1966 to July 2002 to assess three potential pathways underlying this excess mortality—high human papilloma virus (HPV) prevalence, lack of or infrequent screening and advanced disease at diagnosis, and under‐use of recommended treatment and shorter survival. Findings: Living in rural areas may impose barriers to cervical cancer control, including lack of transportation and medical care infrastructures. Population characteristics that place women at greater risk for developing and dying from cervical cancer, such as low income, lack of health insurance, and physician availability, are concentrated in rural areas. Published data, however, are insufficient to identify the key reasons for the observed mortality patterns. Conclusions: At this time, given the lack of definitive evidence in the published literature, decisions about priorities in areas with high rates of cervical cancer mortality will depend on knowledge of current levels of screening, incidence, and stage distribution; and service delivery infrastructures, resources, and acceptability of interventions to the target population.
Perceived Barriers to Nurse Practitioner Practice in Rural Settings
Authors: Lindeke Linda , Jukkala Angela , Tanner Mary
Published: June 2006

ABSTRACT: Context: Rural residents experience the same incidence of acute illness as urban populations and have higher levels of chronic illness. Overall, access to adequate rural health care is limited. Nurse practitioners (NPs) have been identified as safe, cost‐effective providers in meeting these challenges in rural settings. Purpose: This replication study was conducted to examine NP perceptions of barriers to rural practice in Minnesota. Findings were compared to earlier studies to examine issues that have persisted over time. Methods: A Barriers to Practice checklist was mailed to NPs from the database of the Board of Nursing of a midwestern state. Rural NPs (n = 191) identified and described barriers to practice and rated the overall restrictiveness of their practice. Findings: Barriers to practice were perceived to be prevalent. Persisting barriers continued to stand in the way of full utilization of NP roles. Lack of understanding of NP roles on the part of the public and other health professionals has been particularly problematic over time. Key issues in 2001 were low salaries, lack of adequate office space, and a limited peer network. Perceived restrictiveness of the practice climate, gauged as somewhat restrictive, remained unchanged between 1996 and 2001. Conclusions: NPs have an excellent history of meeting rural primary health care needs. Enhancing the NP work environment could prove instrumental to retaining these professionals in the work force and thereby contribute to improved access and quality of care in underserved rural communities.
Type-Specific Antibodies to Pneumococcal Capsular Polysaccharide Acquired either Naturally or after Vaccination with Prevenar in Children with Underlying Chronic or Recurrent Lung Diseases
Authors: Navarro David , Escribano Amparo , Cebrián Laura , Gimeno Concepción , García-Maset Leonor , García-de-Lomas Juan ,   the Spanish Pneumococcal Infection Study Network
Published: June 2006

The antibody response to capsular polysaccharides of pneumococcal serotypes 4, 6B, 9V, 14, 18C, 19F, and 23F elicited either naturally or after vaccination with Prevenar was investigated in a cohort of children (
n
= 163) with underlying chronic or recurrent lung diseases at risk of developing pneumococcal pneumonia and ultimately invasive disease. Serum concentrations of serotype-specific antibodies, as measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, in unvaccinated children (
n
= 88) were higher in nasopharyngeal carriers (
n
= 10) than in noncarriers (
n
= 78) both at baseline and during follow-up. However, the antibody levels depended on the serotype and age of the children. During the study period, 35% of unvaccinated noncarriers and 60% of unvaccinated carriers displayed serum antibodies to all serotypes above the reported WHO working group putative protective serum concentration against invasive disease (0.2 μg/ml). Overall, children vaccinated with Prevenar before enrollment (
n
= 61), irrespective of their carrier status, displayed significantly higher serum levels of antibodies to all serotypes than unvaccinated children. More than 85% of the vaccinated children had protective serum antibody concentrations at baseline; although antibody titers tended to decrease over time, the above-mentioned figure remained without change at the end of follow-up. The vaccine Prevenar elicited a significant rise in serum antibody concentrations against all serotypes in 14 children vaccinated at entry. All of these children acquired and maintained serum antibody levels of >0.2 μg/ml throughout the study (a mean of 13 months of follow-up). These data support the systematic use of the vaccine Prevenar in children with underlying chronic or recurrent lung diseases and stress the fact that a percentage of vaccinated children may need to be revaccinated in order to achieve protection against pneumococcal disease.
Evaluation of the Interlaboratory Concordance in Quantification of Human Immunodeficiency Virus-Specific T Cells with a Gamma Interferon Enzyme-Linked Immunospot Assay
Authors: Samri A. , Durier C. , Urrutia A. , Sanchez I. , Gahery-Segard H. , Imbart S. , Sinet M. , Tartour E. , Aboulker J.-P. , Autran B. , Venet A. ,   the ANRS ELISpot Standardization Group
Published: June 2006

The gamma interferon (IFN-γ) enzyme-linked immunospot (ELISPOT) assay is a reference method for the ex vivo monitoring of antigen-specific T cells and a primary tool for assessing clinical trials of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or cancer vaccines. Four experienced laboratories in Paris compared their results with this method by exchanging frozen blood samples from eight HIV-seronegative and eight HIV-seropositive subjects. Each laboratory measured the IFN-γ-producing cells specific for HIV, Epstein-Barr virus, cytomegalovirus, and influenza using the same set of peptides and the same ELISPOT reader but its own ELISPOT technique. The cutoff values for positive responses (50 or 100 spot-forming cells/106peripheral blood mononuclear cells over background) were consistent with the binomial statistic criterion. The global qualitative concordance, as assessed by the kappa index, ranged from 0.38 to 0.92, that is, moderate to excellent, and was better for non-HIV 9-mer peptide pools than for HIV 15-mer peptide pools. The interlaboratory coefficient of variation for the frequency of virus-specific T cells was 18.7% (data are expressed on a log scale). Clustering analysis of HIV-positive subjects showed qualitative agreement for ELISPOT results from all four laboratories. Overall, the good interlaboratory qualitative concordance of IFN-γ ELISPOT assays with only the peptide source and ELISPOT reader in common suggests that a qualitative comparison of interlaboratory findings is feasible. Nonetheless, a single set of standard operating procedures should be used in multicenter trials to improve standardization.
Candidemia in Norway (1991 to 2003): Results from a Nationwide Study
Authors: Sandven Per , Bevanger Lars , Digranes Asbjørn , Haukland Hanne H. , Mannsåker Turid , Gaustad Peter ,   the Norwegian Yeast Study Group
Published: June 2006

A long-term, nationwide prospective candidemia study has been ongoing in Norway since 1991. All medical microbiological laboratories in the country have participated. During the period 1991 to 2003 a total of 1,393 episodes of candidemia occurred in 1,348 patients. The incidence of candidemia episodes per 100,000 inhabitants increased from approximately 2 episodes in the early 1990s to 3 episodes in 2001 to 2003. The average annual incidences varied markedly between the age groups. The incidence was high in patients aged <1 year and in patients aged ≥70 years. In patients ≥80 years of age, the incidence has increased during the last 3 years from an annual average of 6.5 to 15.6 cases/100,000 inhabitants in 2003. Four
Candida
species (
C. albicans
[70%],
C. glabrata
[13%],
C. tropicalis
[7%], and
C. parapsilosis
[6%]) accounted for 95.5% of the isolates. The species distribution has been constant during the 13-year study period. The distribution of the most important species varied with the age of the patient. In patients <1 year of age, the majority of episodes were caused by
C. albicans
(91%). The occurrence of
C. glabrata
increased with age. In patients ≥80 years of age, approximately 1/3 of all episodes were due to this species. All
C. albicans
strains were susceptible to fluconazole. The percentage of yeast isolates with decreased susceptibility to fluconazole (MICs ≥ 16 μg/ml) was 10.7% during the first period of this study (1991 to 1996) and 11.7% during the second period (1997 to 2003).
Unusual Naturally Occurring Humoral and Cellular Mutated Epitopes of Hepatitis B Virus in a Chronically Infected Argentine Patient with Anti-HBs Antibodies
Authors: Cuestas María L. , Mathet Verónica L. , Ruiz Vanesa , Minassian María L. , Rivero Cintia , Sala Andrea , Corach Daniel , Alessio Analía , Pozzati Marcia , Frider Bernardo , Oubiña José R.
Published: June 2006

Serum hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA was extracted from a chronically infected patient with cocirculation of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and anti-HBs antibodies. Direct PCR and clone-derived sequences of the S and overlapped P genes were obtained. DNA sequences and phylogenetic analysis ascribed this isolate to genotype A (serotype
adw2
). Five of six HBV DNA clones exhibited point mutations inside and outside the major hydrophilic region, while the sixth clone exhibited a genotype A “wild-type” amino acid sequence. Observed replacements included both humoral and/or cellular (major histocompatibility complex class I [MHC-I] and MHC-II) HBV mutated epitopes, such as S45A, P46H, L49H, C107R, T125A, M133K, I152F, P153T, T161S, G185E, A194T, G202R, and I213L. None of these mutants were individually present within a given clone. The I213L replacement was the only one observed in the five clones carrying nonsynonymous mutations in the S gene. Some of the amino acid substitutions are reportedly known to be responsible for the emergence of immune escape mutants. C107R replacement prevents disulfide bonding, thus disrupting the first loop of the HBsAg. Circulation of some of these mutants may represent a potential risk for the community, since neither current hepatitis B vaccines nor hyperimmune hepatitis B immune globulin are effectively prevent the liver disease thereto associated. Moreover, some of the recorded HBsAg variants may influence the accuracy of the results obtained with currently used diagnostic tests.
Phaeoacremonium parasiticum
Infections Confirmed by β-Tubulin Sequence Analysis of Case Isolates
Authors: Baddley John W. , Mostert Lizel , Summerbell Richard C. , Moser Stephen A.
Published: June 2006

Phaeoacremonium parasiticum
is an agent of opportunistic phaeohyphomycosis belonging to a genus encompassing numerous recently described and soon-to-be-described, difficult-to-identify human pathogens. It appears in the literature to be an uncommon etiologic agent, yet we encountered several cases in a single year. Each presented problems in laboratory identification and case management. We present two cases of invasive disease with definite identification and susceptibility results. These cases are analyzed in relation to a brief review of previous cases known to have been caused by this species. Our first case involved a 40-year-old male cardiac transplant recipient with multiple localized skin lesions. The second featured a 31-year-old female with aplastic anemia and prolonged neutropenia who developed disseminated disease, with multiple positive blood cultures and skin lesions. Both patients died despite aggressive surgical and antifungal therapy. Fungal susceptibility testing showed that our isolates appeared to be susceptible to amphotericin B, itraconazole, voriconazole, ravuconazole, and posaconazole. Because phenotypic identification of
Phaeoacremonium
is notably problematic, sequence-based confirmation was performed using a recently proposed standard based on use of a segment of the 5′ end of the β-tubulin gene. Sequences from both isolates involved in the cases were over 99% similar to the corresponding sequence of the ex-type isolate of
P. parasiticum.
The close DNA similarity, corroborated by relevant morphological similarities (e.g., long, thin phialides and tuberculate hyphae bearing warts up to 3 μm high), confirms these two isolates as
P. parasiticum
.
Immune Suppression as the Etiology of Failure To Detect Anti-HBc Antibodies in Patients with Chronic Hepatitis B Virus Infection
Authors: Avettand-Fenoel V. , Thabut D. , Katlama C. , Poynard T. , Thibault V.
Published: June 2006

A lack of anti-HBc antibodies during chronic hepatitis B virus infection is a serological pattern that is rarely observed. In our series of 39 patients with such a confirmed profile, mutations within the precore/core gene were rarely found and the lack of antibody detection was mostly explained by concurrent immunosuppression and the low sensitivities of the serological assays.
Distribution and Invasiveness of
Streptococcus pneumoniae
Serotypes in Switzerland, a Country with Low Antibiotic Selection Pressure, from 2001 to 2004
Authors: Kronenberg Andreas , Zucs Phillip , Droz Sara , Mühlemann Kathrin
Published: June 2006

To describe the serotype-specific epidemiology of colonizing and invasive
Streptococcus pneumoniae
isolates, which is important for vaccination strategies, we analyzed a total of 2,388 invasive and 1,540 colonizing
S. pneumoniae
isolates collected between January 2001 and December 2004 within two nationwide surveillance programs. We found that the relative rank orders of the most frequent serotypes (serotypes 1, 3, 4, 6B, 7F, 14, 19F, and 23F) differed among invasive and colonizing isolates. Serotypes 1, 4, 5, 7F, 8, 9V, and 14 had increased invasive potential, and serotypes/serogroups 3, 6A, 7, 10, 11, 19F, and 23F were associated with colonization. The proportion of pediatric serotypes was higher among children <5 years old (48.5%) and persons >64 years old (34.1%) than among other age groups (29.1%); it was also higher in West Switzerland (40.2%) than in other geographic regions (34.7%). Likewise, serotype-specific proportions of penicillin-resistant isolates for types 6B, 9V, 14, and 19F were significantly higher in West Switzerland. The relative frequency of pediatric serotypes corresponded with antibiotic consumption patterns. We conclude that the epidemiology of invasive and colonizing
S. pneumoniae
isolates is influenced by the serotype-specific potential for invasiveness, and therefore, surveillance programs should include colonizing and invasive
S. pneumoniae
isolates. Antibiotic selection pressure determines the serotype distribution in different age groups and geographic regions and therefore the expected direct and indirect effects of the 7-valent conjugate vaccine.
Multilocus Sequence Typing for Analyses of Clonality of
Candida albicans
Strains in Taiwan
Authors: Chen Kuo-Wei , Chen Yee-Chun , Lo Hsiu-Jung , Odds Frank C. , Wang Tzu-Hui , Lin Chi-Yang , Li Shu-Ying
Published: June 2006

Multilocus sequence typing (MLST) was used to characterize the genetic profiles of 51
Candida albicans
isolates collected from 12 hospitals in Taiwan. Among the 51 isolates, 16 were epidemiologically unrelated, 28 were isolates from 11 critically ill, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-negative patients, and 7 were long-term serial isolates from 3 HIV-positive patients. Internal regions of seven housekeeping genes were sequenced. A total of 83 polymorphic nucleotide sites were identified. Ten to 20 different genotypes were observed at the different loci, resulting, when combined, in 45 unique genotype combinations or diploid sequence types (DSTs). Thirty (36.1%) of the 83 individual changes were synonymous and 53 (63.9%) were nonsynonymous. Due to the diploid nature of
C. albicans
, MLST was more discriminatory than the pulsed-field gel electrophoresis-BssHII-restricted fragment method in discriminating epidemiologically related strains. MLST is able to trace the microevolution over time of
C. albicans
isolates in the same patient. All but one of the DSTs of our Taiwanese strain collections were novel to the internet
C. albicans
DST database (
http://test1.mlst.net/
). The DSTs of
C. albicans
in Taiwan were analyzed together with those of the reference strains and of the strains from the United Kingdom and United States by unweighted-pair group method using average linkages and minimum spanning tree. Our result showed that the DNA type of each isolate was patient specific and associated with ABC type and decade of isolation but not associated with mating type, anatomical source of isolation, hospital origin, or fluconazole resistance patterns.
Prospects for Clinical Application of Electronic-Nose Technology to Early Detection ofMycobacterium tuberculosisin Culture and Sputum
Authors: Fend Reinhard , Kolk Arend H. J. , Bessant Conrad , Buijtels Patricia , Klatser Paul R. , Woodman Anthony C.
Published: June 2006

Ziehl-Neelsen (ZN) staining for the diagnosis of tuberculosis (TB) is time-consuming and operator dependent and lacks sensitivity. A new method is urgently needed. We investigated the potential of an electronic nose (EN) (gas sensor array) comprising 14 conducting polymers to detect differentMycobacteriumspp. andPseudomonas aeruginosain the headspaces of cultures, spiked sputa, and sputum samples from 330 culture-proven and human immunodeficiency virus-tested TB and non-TB patients. The data were analyzed using principal-component analysis, discriminant function analysis, and artificial neural networks. The EN differentiated between differentMycobacteriumspp. and between mycobacteria and other lung pathogens both in culture and in spiked sputum samples. The detection limit in culture and spiked sputa was found to be 1 × 104mycobacteria ml−1. After training of the neural network with 196 sputum samples, 134 samples (55M. tuberculosisculture-positive samples and 79 culture-negative samples) were used to challenge the model. The EN correctly predicted 89% of culture-positive patients; the six false negatives were the four ZN-negative and two ZN-positive patients. The specificity and sensitivity of the described method were 91% and 89%, respectively, compared to culture. At present, the reasons for the false negatives and false positives are unknown, but they could well be due to the nonoptimized system used here. This study has shown the ability of an electronic nose to detectM. tuberculosisin clinical specimens and opens the way to making this method a rapid and automated system for the early diagnosis of respiratory infections.
Detection of Carcinogenic Human Papillomavirus in Specimens Collected with a Novel Self-Sampling Device
Authors: Castle Philip E. , Aftab Asma , Saint-Jean Gilbert , Mendez Luis
Published: June 2006

We compared the detection of carcinogenic human papillomavirus DNA in cervicovaginal specimens self-collected using a novel device to the detection in physician-collected cervical specimens from 137 women. The kappa value was 0.66 (95% confidence interval, 0.53 to 0.78), with an 83% overall test agreement and a 68% positive test agreement.
Molecular Mimicry Revisited: Gut Bacteria and Multiple Sclerosis
Authors: Westall Fred C.
Published: June 2006

Molecular mimicry is a possible explanation for autoimmune side effects of microorganism infections. Protein sequences from a particular microorganism are compared to known autoimmune immunogens. For diseases such as multiple sclerosis (MS), where the infectious agent is unknown, guesses to its identity are made. Mimics are assumed to be rare. This study takes a radically different approach. Reported sequences from all known human bacterial and viral agents were searched for autoimmune immunogen mimics. Three encephalitogenic peptides, whose autoimmune requirements have been studied extensively, were selected for comparison. Mimics were seen in a wide variety of organisms. For each immunogen, the mimics were found predominantly in nonpathogenic gut bacteria. Since the three immunogens used in this study are related to MS, it is suggested that a microorganism responsible for autoimmune activity in MS could be a normally occurring gut bacterium. This would explain many of the peculiar MS epidemiological data and why no infective agent has been identified for MS and supports recently found MS gut metabolism abnormalities.
Incidence and Pathogenic Effect of
Streptococcus pseudopneumoniae
Authors: Harf-Monteil Colette , Granello Carole , Le Brun Cécile , Monteil Henri , Riegel Philippe
Published: June 2006

We evaluated the incidence of
Streptococcus pseudopneumoniae
in clinical isolates by phenotypic methods and DNA-DNA hybridization. The pathogenic role of this organism was investigated with the mouse peritonitis/sepsis model. Our results show a low incidence (1/120 pneumococcal isolates) and a potential pathogenic effect for
S. pseudopneumoniae
.
BASIC OPERATIONS AMONG ENTANGLED STATES AND THEIR APPLICATIONS TO QUANTUM PROTOCOLS
Authors: MIHARA TAKASHI
Published: June 2006

It is thought that the techniques operating entangled states are some of the principal ones in quantum information processing. Therefore, procedures constructing other types of entangled states from some entangled states are useful. In this paper, we first show methods that dynamically change the number of entangled qubits during communication. Next, we propose a sharing protocol called the anonymous entangled state sharing protocol. By using this protocol, a party's message can be split among unknown parties because the parties can share entangled states without knowing each other. Finally, we show protocols that can recover an original message and split it to other parties without revealing its shared messages.
Undernutrition does not alter the activation of β-cell neogenesis and replication in adult rats after partial pancreatectomy
Authors: Fernández E. , Martín M. A. , Fajardo S. , Bailbé D. , Gangnerau M. N. , Portha B. , Escrivá F. , Serradas P. , Álvarez C.
Published: June 2006

In previous work, we demonstrated that a 65% protein calorie food restriction started during the third trimester of gestation in rats caused a reduced β-cell mass at 4 days of life that persisted until adult age. In this study with adult undernourished (U) rats, we investigated 1) whether undernutrition affects the β-cell growth potential and both β-cell proliferation and differentiation and 2) the implication of the IGFs, highly responsive to nutritional status, in these processes. To this end, we used the 90% pancreatectomy (Px) procedure in U and control (C) adult rats. The results show that, on day 2 after Px, β-cell replication was significantly higher in C rats, whereas the β-cell neogenesis was markedly increased in U/Px rats. Both the serum levels of IGF-I and the liver IGF-I mRNA expression were reduced in adult U rats before and after Px compared with C rats. Pancreatic IGF-I mRNA expression was reduced in U animals on day 0. However, on day 2 after Px, the increase of pancreatic IGF-I mRNA expression was significantly higher in U rats than in C rats. These data suggest that β-cells still have the capacity to regenerate in the adult U rats, with a higher efficiency than C rats on day 2, and that both β-cell neogenesis and β-cell replication are stimulated. The increased pancreatic IGF-I mRNA may be instrumental in these processes.
Digital Inequality in East Asia: Evidence from Japan, South Korea, and Singapore
Authors: Ono Hiroshi
Published: June 2006

This paper examines the extent and causes of digital inequality in three countries of East Asia: Japan, South Korea, and Singapore. Using individual-level microdata collected in the three countries between 1997 and 2000, the study highlights differences in the socioeconomic and demographic patterns of technology adoption, usage, and skills across countries and over time. Despite the high overall diffusion rates of information communication technology (ICT) in all three countries, there remain clear divides in access and use among various demographic groups. Household income, education, and gender are the key determinants of digital inequality in all three countries, but there is sizable variation in their magnitudes. In general, inequality in ICT access, use, and skills reflects pre-existing inequality in other socioeconomic areas.
The Conundrum of Sustainable Energy: Clean Coal as One Possible Answer
Authors: Lackner Klaus S.
Published: June 2006

Access to clean, cheap, and copious energy would allow the entire world to enjoy a standard of living taken for granted in developed countries. This paper identifies technologies for sustainable energy infrastructures, emphasizing that fossil fuels are amply sufficient for the next 100–200 years. However, today's fossil fuel technology will be inadequate to sustain a future world population of 10 billion. Pollution and greenhouse gases from unfettered fossil fuel use far exceed the environment's capacity to cope. Alternative forms of energy are presently either expensive or unsuitable for largescale energy production. Reliance on coal, in combination with carbon capture, carbon storage, and zero-emission technology, could break the world's dependence on petroleum and natural gas while providing environmentally acceptable energy for centuries. By also developing nuclear energy and renewable energy sources, it is possible to pursue a path characterized by plentiful and sustainable energy.
Attribution and Impacts of Upper-Ocean Biases in CCSM3
Authors: Large W. G. , Danabasoglu G.
Published: June 2006

The largest and potentially most important ocean near-surface biases are examined in the Community Climate System Model coupled simulation of present-day conditions. They are attributed to problems in the component models of the ocean or atmosphere, or both. Tropical biases in sea surface salinity (SSS) are associated with precipitation errors, with the most striking being a band of excess rainfall across the South Pacific at about 8°S. Cooler-than-observed equatorial Pacific sea surface temperature (SST) is necessary to control a potentially catastrophic positive feedback, involving precipitation along the equator. The strength of the wind-driven gyres and interbasin exchange is in reasonable agreement with observations, despite the generally too strong near-surface winds. However, the winds drive far too much transport through Drake Passage [>190 Sv (1 Sv ≡ 106 m3 s−1)], but with little effect on SST and SSS. Problems with the width, separation, and location of western boundary currents and their extensions create large correlated SST and SSS biases in midlatitudes. Ocean model deficiencies are suspected because similar signals are seen in uncoupled ocean solutions, but there is no evidence of serious remote impacts. The seasonal cycles of SST and winds in the equatorial Pacific are not well represented, and numerical experiments suggest that these problems are initiated by the coupling of either or both wind components. The largest mean SST biases develop along the eastern boundaries of subtropical gyres, and the overall coupled model response is found to be linear. In the South Atlantic, surface currents advect these biases across much of the tropical basin. Significant precipitation responses are found both in the northwest Indian Ocean, and locally where the net result is the loss of an identifiable Atlantic intertropical convergence zone, which can be regained by controlling the coastal temperatures and salinities. Biases off South America and Baja California are shown to significantly degrade precipitation across the Pacific, subsurface ocean properties on both sides of the equator, and the seasonal cycle of equatorial SST in the eastern Pacific. These signals extend beyond the reach of surface currents, so connections via the atmosphere and subsurface ocean are implicated. Other experimental results indicate that the local atmospheric forcing is only part of the problem along eastern boundaries, with the representation of ocean upwelling another likely contributor.
Climate Change Projections for the Twenty-First Century and Climate Change Commitment in the CCSM3
Authors: Meehl Gerald A. , Washington Warren M. , Santer Benjamin D. , Collins William D. , Arblaster Julie M. , Hu Aixue , Lawrence David M. , Teng Haiyan , Buja Lawrence E. , Strand Warren G.
Published: June 2006

Climate change scenario simulations with the Community Climate System Model version 3 (CCSM3), a global coupled climate model, show that if concentrations of all greenhouse gases (GHGs) could have been stabilized at the year 2000, the climate system would already be committed to 0.4°C more warming by the end of the twenty-first century. Committed sea level rise by 2100 is about an order of magnitude more, percentage-wise, compared to sea level rise simulated in the twentieth century. This increase in the model is produced only by thermal expansion of seawater, and does not take into account melt from ice sheets and glaciers, which could at least double that number. Several tenths of a degree of additional warming occurs in the model for the next 200 yr in the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Special Report on Emissions Scenarios (SRES) B1 and A1B scenarios after stabilization in the year 2100, but with twice as much sea level rise after 100 yr, and doubling yet again in the next 100 yr to 2300. At the end of the twenty-first century, the warming in the tropical Pacific for the A2, A1B, and B1 scenarios resembles an El Niño–like response, likely due to cloud feedbacks in the model as shown in an earlier version. Greatest warming occurs at high northern latitudes and over continents. The monsoon regimes intensify somewhat in the future warmer climate, with decreases of sea level pressure at high latitudes and increases in the subtropics and parts of the midlatitudes. There is a weak summer midlatitude soil moisture drying in this model as documented in previous models. Sea ice distributions in both hemispheres are somewhat overextensive, but with about the right ice thickness at the end of the twentieth century. Future decreases in sea ice with global warming are proportional to the temperature response from the forcing scenarios, with the high forcing scenario, A2, producing an ice-free Arctic in summer by the year 2100.
The Formulation and Atmospheric Simulation of the Community Atmosphere Model Version 3 (CAM3)
Authors: Collins William D. , Rasch Philip J. , Boville Byron A. , Hack James J. , McCaa James R. , Williamson David L. , Briegleb Bruce P. , Bitz Cecilia M. , Lin Shian-Jiann , Zhang Minghua
Published: June 2006

A new version of the Community Atmosphere Model (CAM) has been developed and released to the climate community. CAM Version 3 (CAM3) is an atmospheric general circulation model that includes the Community Land Model (CLM3), an optional slab ocean model, and a thermodynamic sea ice model. The dynamics and physics in CAM3 have been changed substantially compared to implementations in previous versions. CAM3 includes options for Eulerian spectral, semi-Lagrangian, and finite-volume formulations of the dynamical equations. It supports coupled simulations using either finite-volume or Eulerian dynamics through an explicit set of adjustable parameters governing the model time step, cloud parameterizations, and condensation processes. The model includes major modifications to the parameterizations of moist processes, radiation processes, and aerosols. These changes have improved several aspects of the simulated climate, including more realistic tropical tropopause temperatures, boreal winter land surface temperatures, surface insolation, and clear-sky surface radiation in polar regions. The variation of cloud radiative forcing during ENSO events exhibits much better agreement with satellite observations. Despite these improvements, several systematic biases reduce the fidelity of the simulations. These biases include underestimation of tropical variability, errors in tropical oceanic surface fluxes, underestimation of implied ocean heat transport in the Southern Hemisphere, excessive surface stress in the storm tracks, and offsets in the 500-mb height field and the Aleutian low.
Constructing Scientific Careers: Change, Continuity and Context
Authors: Duberley Joanne , Cohen Laurie , Mallon Mary
Published: June 2006

This paper examines the ways in which public sector research scientists make sense of and seek to develop their careers within their current organizational, policy, social and cultural contexts. It argues that to access such understandings, both structure and agency and the relationship between them need to be considered. Using empirical evidence from research in the United Kingdom and New Zealand, this paper further develops Barley's (1989) structuration model of career. It highlights the diverse (and frequently intersecting) institutional contexts in which research scientists seek to develop their careers, and their characteristic modes of engagement with such contexts, and utilizes the concept of career scripts to illustrate the dynamic interaction between these dimensions.