bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Origin of the chemical shift in X‐ray absorption near‐edge spectroscopy at the Mn K‐edge in manganese oxide compounds
Authors: de Vries A. H. , Hozoi L. , Broer R.
Published: November 2002

The absorption edge in Mn K‐edge X‐ray absorption spectra of manganese oxide compounds shows a shift of several electronvolts in going from MnO through LaMnO3 to CaMnO3. On the other hand, in X‐ray photoelectron spectra much smaller shifts are observed. To identify the mechanisms that cause the observed chemical shifts, 1s ionization as well as 1s → “4p” transition energies have been determined by electronic structure calculations on embedded Mn ions and embedded MnO6 clusters. Systematic variation of the cluster geometry and the cluster embedding showed that the chemical shifts are predominantly determined by two effects: the changes in the Mn 3d occupation and the changes in the Madelung potential. The large chemical shift in the 1s → 4p transition energies between different materials occurs because the two effects do not compensate each other. The chemical shifts obtained for the embedded MnO6 clusters agree reasonably with the experimental shifts. The small sensitivity to the material observed for the Mn 1s ionization energies is explained by the near cancellation of the effects of the Madelung potential and the 3d occupation of the Mn ion. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2003
An event routing service for distributed applications: computer telephony—a case study
Authors: Klimek Bartosz , Radziszowski Dominik , Zieliński Krzysztof
Published: November 2002

This paper presents an event routing service (ERS) that represents a pattern for the establishment and processing of lightweight sessions between a source and a destination of events. It is based on the CORBA notification service. To illustrate the features of the proposed service, its application in computer telephony is discussed in detail. Most of the positive features of the ERS are inherited from the CORBA notification service, but its implementation requires a novel protocol describing the lightweight session establishment mechanism. The implementation of ERS is described and its application to routing events in a computer telephony system is presented. The paper concludes with a performance measurement study. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Football fan power and the Internet: net gains?
Authors: Auty Caroline
Published: November 2002

This paper examines the importance of the Internet for supporters of football clubs. It looks at Web sites that allow fans to become involved in the running of their clubs or the decision‐making process at a lower level. Supporters’ Trusts, independent supporters associations (ISAs), fanzines and various government initiatives all receive attention. The use of the Internet by fans opposed to Wimbledon Football Club’s intended move to Milton Keynes is highlighted. It is argued that the Web is an ideal forum for fan power, providing a cheap and effective means of mobilising support for campaigns in conjunction with traditional lobbying techniques. This is one area where the Internet is sure to have a sustained impact.
Accessibility and usability of a digital TV health information database
Authors: Thompson Deborah , Williams Peter , Nicholas David , Huntington Paul
Published: November 2002

City University and the University of Sheffield have been commissioned by the Department of Health to evaluate the use of digital interactive television as a source of health information. The aim of this study was to evaluate access issues related to one of these pilot projects, the Living Health database. Nine older people and four deaf people tested the accessibility and usability of the database by attempting to find answers to their health questions. Their opinions were obtained using a combination of questionnaires, interviews and observations. Readability tests were also carried out to assess the reading level of the information content. The results gave an insight into the issues of accessibility and usability, and attempted to describe the individual experiences, difficulties, opinions and perceptions of the study participants. Recommendations were subsequently made for improving the accessibility and usability of the Living Health database to deaf and older people.
The influence of English on Slovenian library terminology
Authors: Vilar Polona
Published: November 2002

The article describes the experiment that attempted to find out the extent to which English language influences the terminology of Slovenian library and information science. The results of a stemming procedure of Slovenian texts from this area, published in 1998 and 1999, were inspected. Three corpora were inspected, of 15,000 words each. Instead of words appearing in articles, stems, which were a result of the stemming procedure, were inspected. The goal was to find the amount of stems of English origin and thus to estimate the influence of English. A limit of 3 per cent was set as a boundary between significant and non‐significant influence. The experiment found that English stems were strongly prevailing among all foreign origin stems. However, the amount of stems of English origin was 1.3 per cent, which was below the limit set as a significant influence.
The J‐shaped distribution of citedness
Authors: Nicolaisen Jeppe
Published: November 2002

A new approach for investigating the correlation between research quality and citation counts is presented and applied to a case study of the relationship between peer evaluations reflected in scholarly book reviews and the citation frequencies of reviewed books. Results of the study designate a J‐shaped distribution between the considered variables, presumably caused by a skewed allocation of negative citations. The paper concludes with suggestions for further research.
Social responsibility, profit maximisation and the small firm owner‐manager
Authors: Spence Laura J. , Rutherfoord Robert
Published: November 2002

In this paper, a new analysis is presented of the social and ethical orientation of small firm owner‐managers. Using exploratory qualitative empirical evidence, it is proposed that there are four “frames” of perceiving the social perspective of the small business. These are profit‐maximisation priority, subsistence priority, enlightened self‐interest and social priority. If policy makers wish to influence the ethics of small firms, they need to be aware of this diversity of viewpoints and move beyond the notion of the profit‐maximising, rational economic entrepreneur as the standard image of the small business owner‐manager.
Towards a model system specification for the procurement of library management systems: results of a feasibility study
Authors: Fisher Shelagh , Delbridge Rachel , Lambert Siân
Published: November 2002

A library management system is a significant investment for libraries, but the procurement of a system is an infrequent activity with little opportunity for librarians to build on their experience. The procurement process is also difficult for potential system suppliers who must respond to specifications which are variable in content, format and quality. The HARMONISE project aimed to determine the feasibility of developing a model system specification which could be used to assist libraries in the procurement of library management systems. Specifications collected from libraries which had recently acquired a library management system were analysed. The results demonstrate that the functional requirements specified for each of the core modules had strong similarities both within and across library sectors. A survey of UK system suppliers was also undertaken to determine their views on the specification as a procurement tool. Suppliers expressed frustration with the tendency for specifications to be dominated by lists of functional requirements which were present in all library management systems on the market today. In conclusion, a model specification incorporating basic functions, which can be expected in all library management systems, should be developed.
A feasibility study for the retrospective conversion of the Dutch Union Catalogue
Authors: Voorbij Henk
Published: November 2002

The union catalogue of monographs published before 1976 is maintained by the Dutch National Library in card form and contains five to six million records from 95 libraries. The extent to which these records need to be converted into machine‐readable form depends on several factors. Does the holding library still exist? Does the holding library participate in the Pica shared cataloguing system and has it converted its own card catalogue? Did the holding library convert its card catalogue using another library system? Are the cards in the union catalogue still reliable or did the holding library discard volumes from its collection without notifying the National Library? A feasibility study showed that the holding data of 59 libraries could be removed without any further processing; this amounts to 72.6 per cent of the cards. For the remaining 27.4 per cent of the cards from 36 libraries, priorities for the retrospective conversion of their data in the union catalogue were determined.
Accessing electronic information sources through computer games consoles
Authors: Kirriemuir John
Published: November 2002

This paper provides an overview of the games console market, a rapidly growing sector of the entertainment industry. An overview of the emergence of games consoles, and advances in games console technology, is given, as well as examples of the increasing incorporation of aspects of computer gaming into Higher Education student courses. Current and future games consoles are described in some detail, and their networking capabilities considered. The paper then focuses on the requirements of users of networked‐based services. The first games console to come equipped with network access facilities is used in order to access a number of electronic library resources and services, and to consider the viability of such a device for this purpose. Comments on issues surrounding data exchange between electronic devices such as games consoles are given, and future developments in the games console sector, especially in relation to the remote access of electronic information resources and services, are speculated.
Comment Change and the changing face of a regional newspaper library 1990‐2000
Authors: Chapman Peter
Published: November 2002

This paper arises from the work that the author has done during the past year in preparing for a series of lectures on the analysis of the factors that have influenced the development of the Library of an English regional morning newspaper over the last decade. He ha given these lectures to students at various Schools of Information Studies in the UK. It id all about the scale and speed of change in one particular sector of the library market, but there are lessons and surprises) here for everyone. The interpretation of the changes is purely the authors, and is not based on the rigorous analysis using management or information science theories. Rather, the commentary should be read as a reflection upon events and an attempt to look into the future for one relatively small corporate information unit.
Location, Location, Location
Authors: Rowbotham Julie
Published: November 2002

This article explores the belief held by one publishing company, UpMyStreet, that location‐based searching technology not only allows users to more easily access information about their local area but also, when manipulated intelligently, can help receive our lost senesce of community.
Comment The Guardian/Observer:information developments since 1998
Authors: Martin Helen
Published: November 2002

Provides an update of the British Library funded project ‘The changing information environment’, which featured an analysis of Internet use at The Guardian/Observer. Desktop access to the Web has made a difference, but searching skills have not improved significantly. Nor have attitudes to training or indeed library staff. In the light of the events at The Guardian/Observer considers the status and future of librarians in the media.
A theory of the task‐based information retrieval process: a summary and generalisation of a longitudinal study
Authors: Vakkari Pertti
Published: November 2002

The aim of this article is threefold: (1) to give a summary of empirical results reported earlier on relations between students‘ problem stages in the course of writing their research proposals for a master’s thesis and the information sought, choice of search terms and tactics and relevance assessments of the information found for that task; (2) to show how the findings of the study refine Kuhlthau‘s model of the information search process in the field of information retrieval (IR); and (3) to construe a tentative theory of a task‐based IR process based on the supported hypotheses. The results of the empirical studies show that there is a close connection between the students’ problem stages (mental model) in the task performance and the information sought, the search tactics used and the assessment of the relevance and utility of the information found. The corroborated hypotheses expand the ideas in Kuhlthau‘s model in the domain of IR. A theory of task‐based information searching based on the empirical findings of the study is presented.
Knowledge management issues for online organisations: ‘communities of practice’ as an exploratory framework
Authors: Davenport Elisabeth
Published: November 2002

Communities of practice have been identified as sites where knowledge is created in organisations. The author reviews studies of situated learning and situated action and suggests that these two activities may characterise the learning process in communities of practice where they are supported by a distinctive ‘social’ infrastructure. She analyses recent fieldwork in three online communities (a digital library reference service, a virtual enterprise and an online shopping group) to discover to what extent they may be described as communities of practice, and to establish how they support participants’ learning.
Economic aspects of a resource discovery network
Authors: Halliday Leah , Oppenheim Charles
Published: November 2002

Economic aspects of a resource discovery network (RDN) consisting of a centre and eight subject‐based hubs were explored using Ithink Analyst, a modelling software package. A model was developed and simulations were used to monitor the effect of variations in the values of key model elements. The model was based on a recent report which suggested that a RDN could survive on a combination of grant funding and sponsorship. Model elements were manipulated to determine the level of sponsorship required for a RDN to be self sustaining within ten years if grant funding contributed 50% of required income. Additional simulations were used to explore the feasibility of subscription as an income source. The results suggest that with a combination of sponsorship and subscriptions income a RDN could succeed without grant funding within ten years of its launch.
Some critical remarks on the stop word lists of ISI publications
Authors: Tomov D.T.
Published: November 2002

A semantic analysis of the “Weekly Subject Index Stop Word List” of Current Contents of the Institute for Scientific Information (ISI) as well as of the full‐stop word and semi‐stop word lists of the Permuterm Subject Index of Science Citation Index was carried out. Selected terms from the first issues for 1997, 1999 and 2000 of the CCODAb/Life Sciences, of the first issues for 1997 and 2000 of CCOD Proceedings, as well as from the SCI CDE for 1997 and January‐June of 2000 were screened. True full‐stop and semi‐stop words commonly occur in the dictionaries of these databases which proves that there is an abundance of meaningless terms in titles and abstracts. On the other hand, many synonyms and antonyms are absent in these lists. Proper list enlarging could contribute to more effective preparation of both printed reference publications and large databases thus ensuring a more economic information retrieval by practical users and scientometricians. The necessity of an improved, semantically oriented policy in preparing the lists of fullstop words and semi‐stop words used in modern databases worldwide is emphasised. Journal editors should encourage authors to reduce stop‐word usage in article titles and keyword sets.
VERS implementation project at the Department of Infrastructure – Melbourne, Australia
Authors: Quenault Howard
Published: November 2002

This paper discusses related records of digital information. It covers the background of the Victorian Electronic Records Strategy (VERS) and highlights some of the areas and issues discovered in the implementation of VERS at the Department of Infrastructure, Victoria, and Australia.
The influence of socio‐economic factors on the perceived importance of buying a garment made in the USA
Authors: Sletten Daneshvary Rennae , Schwer R. Keith
Published: November 2002

Since the early 1980s, many studies have assessed consumers’ preferences for domestic versus imported apparel; a few have addressed the influence of socio‐economic factors on preference. This study provides a profile of the ethnocentric consumer, one who prefers their own goods over goods made in other cultures, by using an array of socio‐economic factors, including an eight‐category occupation variable and a “greatest generation” age variable, regressed on consumers’ perception of the importance of buying a garment made in the USA. Data were obtained from a convenience sample of rodeo attendees. Results from binary logistic regression reveal that younger, college‐educated respondents and those employed in service occupations are less likely to perceive buying US‐produced apparel as important than other groups.
Preliminary explorations of a pattern language for innovation management
Authors: Le Pechoux Beatrice , Little Trevor J.
Published: November 2002

The apparel design process involves gathering and analysing information on fashion trends, markets and past line sales and editing ideas for successful combinations of fabric, style and price. These ideas are the result of creativity. Creativity is most often modelled as a problem‐solving process involving complex chaotic systems. In the fields of architecture and software design, pattern languages have been developed to help understand the various fundamental components and dynamics of complex systems by using a series of related generic problem‐solving patterns empirically proven to be successful in a specified context of forces. Patterns record existing knowledge to make it rapidly and easily accessible and communicated between different users. A pattern language for the apparel design process could channel creative efforts and enhance communication between design team members by providing them with a common working language. Furthermore, pattern languages are increasingly used in the design of software and user‐interface programs (Booch 1996; Gamma et al. 1994). Preparing the ground by developing a pattern language for apparel products could save resources and time as well as improve the quality of future customised information.
Casualwear shopping behaviour of college men in Georgia, USA
Authors: Seo Jung‐Im , Hathcote Jan M. , Sweaney Anne L.
Published: November 2002

The expanding nature of the men’s casual apparel market represents a considerable economic growth area in the apparel industry. Of particular interest is the demand for casual clothing by college‐age men. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the influences of casualwear involvement (high, medium, low) on the purchasing behaviour of male students in relation to their shopping dimensions, personal characteristics, buying behaviour, shopping attributes and information sources. Data were collected using a questionnaire delivered by e‐mail to a systematically selected sample, with 176 male college students responding from 18 colleges in Georgia, USA. The results revealed that there were unique shopping patterns which differ according to casualwear involvement, indicating a deep interest in casualwear and appearance. Most male students had a medium to high casualwear involvement sum score; however, as age increased this score decreased. Both the personal and the market information sources indicated that customers with high involvement were more experienced than either the low or medium involvement groups. The medium involvement casualwear group was composed of consumers who were likely to make purchases during the sale season. The low involvement cohort was moderate casualwear buyers in terms of volume and purchased expensive casualwear. This study shows that classifying male college students by involvement can be helpful in marketing to this group. Apparel marketers are well advised to focus on this neglected cohort of male casualwear consumers.
Assortment diversity in relation to financial productivity: contributions towards merchandising theory
Authors: Lee Seung‐Eun , Kunz Grace I.
Published: November 2002

The purpose of this study was to contribute to merchandising theory development by testing and refining Rupe and Kunz’s Volume per Stock‐keeping unit for an Assortment (VSA) and Assortment Diversity Index(ADI), using multiple merchandising performance measures. Behavioural Theory of the Apparel Firm with a Quick Response construct (BTAF/QR), was used as the theoretical framework for the study. The data were generated by a computer simulation of the merchandising process called Sourcing Simulator. Statistical analyses included Pearson correlation coefficients and regressions. The VSA had significant correlations with all 14 merchandising performance measures (p < 0:001), and the ADI was a consistent indicator of financial productivity considering all 14 merchandising performance measures. The results of the study supported the proposal of additional assumptions as well as propositions and hypotheses related to merchandising responsibility for BTAF/QR.
Identification of the
cis
-Acting Site Involved in Activation of Promoters Regulated by Activity of the Type III Secretion Apparatus in
Shigella flexneri
Authors: Mavris Maria , Sansonetti Philippe J. , Parsot Claude
Published: November 2002

Bacteria of
Shigella
spp. use a virulence plasmid-encoded type III secretion (TTS) system to invade the colonic epithelium in humans. The activity of the TTS apparatus is tightly regulated in the wild-type strain and is induced upon contact of bacteria with epithelial cells, whereas it is deregulated, i.e., constitutively active, in some mutants. Under conditions of deregulated secretion, approximately 20 proteins are secreted, including VirA, OspB to OspG, and at least three members of the IpaH family, all of which are encoded by the virulence plasmid. Conditions inducing or deregulating the activity of secretion also induce the transcription of
virA
and four
ipaH
genes. The transcription of
virA
and
ipaH9
.
8
requires both MxiE, a transcriptional activator of the AraC family, and IpgC, the chaperone of IpaB and IpaC, acting as a coactivator. Using reporter plasmids containing
lacZ
transcriptional fusions, we showed that the
ipaH7.8. ipa4
.
5. ospC1
, and
ospF
promoters are activated under conditions of deregulated secretion and that both MxiE and IpgC are necessary and sufficient for their activation in both
Shigella flexneri
and
Escherichia coli
. Promoter mapping and deletion analysis of the
ipaH9
.
8. virA
, and
ospC1
promoters identified a 17-bp motif, the MxiE box, which overlaps the −35 region and is essential for the activation of these promoters. The presence of eight MxiE boxes on the virulence plasmid suggests that 11 genes encoding secreted proteins may be regulated by the activity of secretion. We also present evidence that at least one
ipaH
gene that is carried by the chromosome is controlled by MxiE and IpgC.
Role for
radA/sms
in Recombination Intermediate Processing in
Escherichia coli
Authors: Beam Cynthia E. , Saveson Catherine J. , Lovett Susan T.
Published: November 2002

RadA/Sms is a highly conserved eubacterial protein that shares sequence similarity with both RecA strand transferase and Lon protease. We examined mutations in the
radA/sms
gene of
Escherichia coli
for effects on conjugational recombination and sensitivity to DNA-damaging agents, including UV irradiation, methyl methanesulfonate (MMS), mitomycin C, phleomycin, hydrogen peroxide, and hydroxyurea (HU). Null mutants of
radA
were modestly sensitive to the DNA-methylating agent MMS and to the DNA strand breakage agent phleomycin, with conjugational recombination decreased two- to threefold. We combined a
radA
mutation with other mutations in recombination genes, including
recA
,
recB
,
recG
,
recJ
,
recQ
,
ruvA
, and
ruvC
. A
radA
mutation was strongly synergistic with the
recG
Holliday junction helicase mutation, producing profound sensitivity to all DNA-damaging agents tested. Lesser synergy was noted between a mutation in
radA
and
recJ
,
recQ
,
ruvA
,
ruvC
, and
recA
for sensitivity to various genotoxins. For survival after peroxide and HU exposure, a
radA
mutation surprisingly suppressed the sensitivity of
recA
and
recB
mutants, suggesting that RadA may convert some forms of damage into lethal intermediates in the absence of these functions. Loss of
radA
enhanced the conjugational recombination deficiency conferred by mutations in Holliday junction-processing function genes,
recG
,
ruvA
, and
ruvC
. A
radA recG ruv
triple mutant had severe recombinational defects, to the low level exhibited by
recA
mutants. These results establish a role for RadA/Sms in recombination and recombinational repair, most likely involving the stabilization or processing of branched DNA molecules or blocked replication forks because of its genetic redundancy with RecG and RuvABC.
Signal Sequence Mutations as Tools for the Characterization of LamB Folding Intermediates
Authors: Duguay Amy Rizzitello , Silhavy Thomas J.
Published: November 2002

lamBA23DA25Y
and
lamBA23YA25Y
tether LamB to the inner membrane by blocking signal sequence processing. We isolated suppressors of
lamBA23DA25Y
and
lamBA23YA25Y
, all of which mapped within the LamB signal sequence. Most interesting were mutations that changed an amino acid with a strong positive charge to an amino acid with no charge. Further characterization of two such suppressors revealed that they produce functional LamB that is localized to the outer membrane with its entire signal sequence still attached. Biochemical analysis shows that mutant LamB monomer chases into an oligomeric species with properties different from those of wild-type LamB trimer. Because assembly of mutant LamB is slowed, these mutations provide useful tools for the characterization of LamB folding intermediates.
Differential Regulation of the
Bordetella bipA
Gene: Distinct Roles for Different BvgA Binding Sites
Authors: Deora Rajendar
Published: November 2002

The BvgAS signal transduction system of
Bordetella
controls an entire spectrum of gene expression states in response to differences in environmental conditions. In particular, the
Bordetella
Bvg-intermediate-phase gene
bipA
displays a complex regulatory pattern in response to various concentrations of modulators. Expression of
bipA
is low in the absence of modulating signals, maximal at intermediate concentrations of modulators, and near background levels at high concentrations of modulators.
bipA
is regulated at the transcriptional level, and the
bipA
promoter contains multiple BvgA binding sites present both upstream and downstream of the transcriptional initiation site. In vivo transcriptional analyses, utilizing several mutant promoter fusions to the reporter enzyme β-galactosidase, suggest that the upstream binding site IR1 is essential for expression and that the downstream binding sites IR2 and IR3 are involved in transcriptional repression. Mutations of IR2 or IR3 convert the expression profile of
bipA
from that of a Bvg-intermediate-specific-phase gene to that of a Bvg
+
-phase gene. To gain insight into the mechanism responsible for differential
bipA
regulation, DNase I protection studies were conducted with various mutant promoters. These analyses suggest that IR1 and IR2 function as core binding sites and are the primary determinants for the phosphorylation-induced oligomerization of BvgA to the adjacent regions.
The Protein Encoded at the 3′ End of the Serine Protease Gene of
Aeromonas sobria
Functions as a Chaperone in the Production of the Protease
Authors: Nomura Tomohiko , Fujii Yoshio , Yamanaka Hiroyasu , Kobayashi Hidetomo , Okamoto Keinosuke
Published: November 2002

For the successful production of
Aeromonas sobria
serine protease (ASP), open reading frame 2 (ORF2) protein, encoded at the 3′ end of the protease operon, is required. In this study, we examined the action of ORF2 protein. The results showed that the protein associated with ASP in the periplasm and helped ASP to form an active structure.
Cross-Regulation between a Novel Two-Component Signal Transduction System for Catabolism of Toluene in
Pseudomonas mendocina
and the TodST System from
Pseudomonas putida
Authors: Ramos-González María-Isabel , Olson Monica , Gatenby Anthony A. , Mosqueda Gilberto , Manzanera Maximino , Campos María J. , Víchez Susana , Ramos Juan L.
Published: November 2002

The
tmoABCDEF
genes encode the toluene-4-monooxygenase from
Pseudomonas mendocina
KR1. Upstream from the
tmoA
gene an open reading frame,
tmoX
, encoding a protein 83% identical to TodX (
todX
being the initial gene in the
todXFC1C2BADEGIH
operon from
Pseudomonas putida
DOT-T1E) was found. The
tmoX
gene is also the initial gene in the
tmoXABCDEF
gene cluster. The transcription initiation point from the
tmoX
promoter was mapped, and the sequence upstream revealed striking identity with the promoter of the
tod
operon of
P. putida
. The
tod
operon is regulated by a two-component signal transduction system encoded by the
todST
genes. Two novel genes from
P. mendocina
KR1,
tmoST
, were rescued by complementation of a
P. putida
DOT-T1E
todST
knockout mutant, whose gene products shared about 85% identity with TodS-TodT. We show that transcription from P

tmoX

and P

todX

can be mediated by TmoS-TmoT or TodS-TodT, in the presence of toluene, revealing cross-regulation between these two catabolic pathways.
Transmission of tuberculosis in the metropolitan area of Zurich: a 3 year survey based on DNA fingerprinting
Authors: Pfyffer GE , Strassle A , Rose N , Wirth R , Brandli O , Shang H
Published: November 2002

Between 1991 and 1993, 444 inhabitants of the metropolitan area of Zurich were reported as confirmed or suspected cases of tuberculosis (TB). Overall, isolates of Mycobacterium tuberculosis of 361 patients (90% of the bacteriologically confirmed cases) were available to study the frequency of transmission of the strains on a molecular level. Restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis was performed by using IS6110 and the polymorphic GC-rich sequence (PGRS) as genetic markers. Ninety nine isolates shared by 77 patients (21.3%) were associated with 28 IS6110-defined clusters. However, secondary typing of low copy number isolates decreased the number of clusters to 25, encompassing 81 isolates from 63 (17.5%) patients. By deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) fingerprinting plus conventional contact tracing, definite transmission of TB was proven in only five patients (1.4%) and assumed in 20 patients (5.6%). In all other cluster-associated isolates, no epidemiological connections between the patients could be found using the clinical and sociodemographic data available. The present study demonstrates that in the time period studied only minor transmission occurred.
Increased exhaled nitric oxide in active pulmonary tuberculosis due to inducible NO synthase upregulation in alveolar macrophages
Authors: Wang CH , Liu CY , Lin HC , Yu CT , Chung KF , Kuo HP
Published: November 2002

Nitric oxide (NO) plays an important role in resistance to Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection. Our aim was to determine whether inducible NO synthase (iNOS) expression and generation of reactive nitrogen intermediates (RNI) by alveolar macrophages (AM) are increased in patients infected with M. tuberculosis. NO levels in the exhaled air of 19 active pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) and 14 control subjects were measured using a chemiluminescence NO analyser. The expression of iNOS on AM was studied by labelling AM with anti-mac iNOS polyclonal antibody analysed with a flow cytometer. The spontaneous generation of RNI by cultured AM was also measured. Data are presented as mean+/-SEM. The level of NO in exhaled air was higher in patients with active TB (16.2+/-1.2 parts per billion (ppb)) compared to control subjects (6.5+/-0.9 ppb), p<0.0001. Exhaled NO decreased with anti-TB treatment. Compared to control subjects (29.0+/-4.5 fluorescence intensity (FI)), iNOS expression on AM was upregulated in TB patients (86.3+/-12.5 FI) p<0.001 and the capacity for spontaneous generation of nitrite was enhanced. Nitrite production was inhibited by N(G)-monomethyl-L-arginine (L-NMMA), a competitive inhibitor of iNOS. The expression of iNOS on AM was related to the concentration of exhaled NO (r=0.66, p<0.001) and the nitrite generation capacity of AM (r(s)=0.77, p<0.001). We conclude that the increase in exhaled nitric oxide observed in patients with active pulmonary tuberculosis is due to an upregulation of inhaled NO synthase expression in alveolar macrophages which have an enhanced capacity for nitric oxide production.
Alpha1-antitrypsin deficiency alleles and the Taq-I G-->A allele in cystic fibrosis lung disease
Authors: Mahadeva R , Westerbeek RC , Perry DJ , Lovegrove JU , Whitehouse DB , Carroll NR , Ross-Russell RI , Webb AK , Bilton D , Lomas DA
Published: November 2002

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is characterized by progressive and ultimately fatal pulmonary disease although there are notable variations in clinical features. This heterogeneity is thought to lie outside the cystic fibrosis transmembrane regulator (CFTR) gene locus and may stem from deficiencies in the antiproteinase screen that protects the lung from proteolytic attack. One hundred and fifty seven patients were recruited from two UK CF centres. The serum concentrations of alpha1-antitrypsin, alpha1-antichymotrypsin and C-reactive protein (CRP) were determined and patients were screened for the common S and Z deficiency alleles of alpha1-antitrypsin and the G-->A mutation in the 3' noncoding region of the alpha1-antitrypsin gene (Taq-I G-->A allele). Alpha1-antitrypsin deficiency phenotypes were detected in 20 (16 MS, 1 S and 3 MZ) out of 147 unrelated tested CF patients and were, surprisingly, associated with significantly better lung function (adjusted mean forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) 62.5% of predicted for deficient group and 51.1% pred for normal alleles; p=0.043). The Taq-I G-->A allele was found in 21 out of 150 unrelated patients and had no significant effect on CF lung disease or on levels of alpha1-antitrypsin during the inflammatory response. We show here that, contrary to current thinking, common mutations of alpha1-antitrypsin that are associated with mild to moderate deficiency of the protein predict a subgroup of cystic fibrosis patients with less severe pulmonary disease. Moreover, the Taq-I G-->A allele has no effect on serum levels of alpha1-antitrypsin in the inflammatory response, which suggests that the previously reported association of the Taq-I G-->A allele with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is not mediated by its effect on the serum level of alpha1-antitrypsin.
Reproducibility of spirometrically controlled CT lung densitometry in a clinical setting
Authors: Lamers RJ , Kemerink GJ , Drent M , van Engelshoven JM
Published: November 2002

The aim of this study was to assess the reproducibility of quantitative, spirometrically gated computed tomographic (CT) lung densitometry at defined levels of inspiration in hospitalized patients. On two consecutive days, spirometrically gated CT sections were obtained from 20 hospitalized patients at 5 cm above and 5 cm below the carina, and at 90 and 10% of the vital capacity (VC). The mean, modal and median lung densities were calculated, the cut-off points of the frequency distribution of Hounsfield units (HU) defining the lowest and the highest 10th percentile, as well as the histogram full width at half maximum. The lung density parameters of corresponding CT sections of both studies were compared. Reproducibility was expressed as the standard deviation of the signed difference between the results of Day 1 and Day 2 divided by the square root of 2. Reproducibility data were correlated with results of airflow limitation. At 90% VC, reproducibility was of the order of 3-14 HU in both lung zones. At 10% VC, reproducibility was worse by approximately a factor of three. No relationship was found between reproducibility and results of airflow limitation. In conclusion, objective measurement of lung density at spirometrically controlled levels of inspiration is a reproducible method in assessing pulmonary density. Reproducibility of lung density measurements is not influenced by severe respiratory insufficiency. The most reproducible computed tomographic lung density measurements can be obtained at 90% vital capacity.
Plasma-derived proteins in airway defence, disease and repair of epithelial injury
Authors: Persson CG , Erjefalt JS , Greiff L , Andersson M , Erjefalt I , Godfrey RW , Korsgren M , Linden M , Sundler F , Svensson C
Published: November 2002

One significant characteristic of the airway mucosa in vivo, that cannot easily be mimicked in vitro, is its microcirculation, which generates a highly dynamic, biologically active milieu of plasma-derived molecules that may pass to the airway lumen in vivo. New data on the mechanisms of airway mucosal exudation indicate that the protein systems of circulating plasma may contribute significantly to the biology and immunology of the lamina propria, its surface epithelium and the luminal surface, not only in injured airways, but also in airways that are activated but display no sign of oedema, epithelial disruption, or increased absorption capacity. We suggest that present knowledge of the mechanisms of plasma exudation, together with rapidly emerging information (not detailed herein) on receptors, target cells and cellular responses to the plasma-derived molecules, must be considered in any realistic model that investigates "immuno-inflammatory" mechanisms of the airway mucosa.
Eosinophil chemotactic activity in bronchoalveolar lavage from idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is dependent on cytokine priming of eosinophils
Authors: Boomars KA , Schweizer RC , Zanen P , van den Bosch JM , Lammers JW , Koenderman L
Published: November 2002

Increased numbers of eosinophils have been found in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid obtained from patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). This suggests the presence of one or more cytokines in the lung tissue of patients with IPF, which are involved in the induction of migration of eosinophils towards the pulmonary compartment. To evaluate this hypothesis, we studied migratory responses of blood eosinophils towards BAL fluid. Migratory responses were tested by means of a modified Boyden chamber assay in 21 patients with IPF and 14 healthy controls. Experiments were performed with unprimed eosinophils and in vitro primed eosinophils (preincubated with 10(-11) M granulocyte macrophage-colony-stimulating factor). Changes in intracellular free Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i) in eosinophils in response to BAL fluid were also investigated, to characterize putative chemotaxins further. Chemotactic responses of eosinophils were observed towards BAL fluid from both patients with IPF and controls, provided that the eosinophils were primed. No changes in [Ca2+]i in eosinophils were detected in response to BAL fluid. Furthermore, neither a blocking antibody against interleukin-8 nor one against regulated on activation, normal T-cell, expressed and secreted (RANTES) influenced the response. Since a chemotactic response of in vitro primed eosinophils was also observed towards bronchoalveolar lavage fluid from normals, it was concluded, that in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, apart from the presence of a chemotactic factor in the lung tissue, other mechanisms such as priming of eosinophils in the peripheral blood are responsible for the extravasation of eosinophils into the pulmonary compartment. As no changes in [Ca2+]i were observed in the eosinophils after incubation with bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, the chemotaxin responsible for the migratory responses is probably not one of the known eosinophil-activating chemokines.
Orientation and presence of epithelium are key to endotoxin-induced neutrophil migration
Authors: Peralta FM , Casale TB
Published: November 2002

The mechanisms by which endotoxins mediate neutrophil transepithelial migration and lung inflammation are unclear. It was hypothesized that both the presence and orientation of epithelial cells are critical to endotoxin-induced neutrophil migration. Neutrophil migration was compared through naked filters and filters with A549 lung epithelial monolayers grown on the upper and lower surface of permeable filters to simulate the apical and basal directional movement of neutrophils, respectively. The endotoxin, Pseudomonas aeruginosa lipopolysaccharide, was placed below the filter, acting as either a basal or an apical stimulus. Endotoxin without serum failed to stimulate neutrophil migration. In the presence of 1% human serum, endotoxin-induced neutrophil migration through naked filters was dose dependent. Endotoxin-induced neutrophil migration across A549 monolayers was minimal when the monolayers were cultured on the upper surface of the filters (basal stimulus). In contrast, neutrophil transepithelial migration was much greater and dependent on both dose and time when the monolayer was cultured on the lower surface of the filter (basal to apical neutrophil directional movement). Furthermore, enhanced neutrophil transepithelial migration was greater with an apical than with a basal stimulus. Endotoxin-induced neutrophil transepithelial migration was markedly inhibited (>95%) by actinomycin D pretreatment of the monolayers, suggesting the necessity for intact protein synthesis capacity of the A549 cells. Thus, both the presence and orientation of airway epithelium are key in supporting endotoxin-mediated lung neutrophilic responses.
Eosinophilic inflammation in cough variant asthma
Authors: Niimi A , Amitani R , Suzuki K , Tanaka E , Murayama T , Kuze F
Published: November 2002

Eosinophils are considered to play a central pathogenetic role in asthma. We previously reported that sputum eosinophilia was observed in patients with cough variant asthma (CVA), as well as in "classic" asthma with wheezing. This study was undertaken to further investigate the involvement of eosinophils in CVA. The serum eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) level, the percentage of eosinophils in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid, and the number of eosinophils in bronchial biopsy specimen were examined in 14 patients with CVA, 21 with classic asthma, and in seven healthy controls. For the two asthmatic groups, the clinical severity was classified with scores of 1-3. Pulmonary function and bronchial responsiveness were not significantly different between the patients with classic asthma and those with CVA. BAL, tissue eosinophil and serum ECP were all significantly increased in both classic asthma and CVA when compared with the controls but were not different between classic asthma and CVA. In both groups of asthmatics, the clinical severity significantly correlated with serum ECP and tissue eosinophils. In conclusion, eosinophilic inflammation is involved in cough variant asthma as well as in classic asthma. Anti-inflammatory treatment may be essential in patients with CVA, as in those with classic asthma.
No effects of high-dose omeprazole in patients with severe airway hyperresponsiveness and (a)symptomatic gastro-oesophageal reflux
Authors: Boeree MJ , Peters FT , Postma DS , Kleibeuker JH
Published: November 2002

Acid gastro-oesophageal reflux may aggravate respiratory symptoms in patients with asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) by increasing airway hyperresponsiveness through vagally-mediated pathways. We wanted to determine whether elimination of acid reflux could improve symptoms in such patients. In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, 36 allergic and nonallergic subjects (17 males and 19 females, mean age 52 yrs), with airway obstruction and severe airway hyperresponsiveness despite maintenance treatment with an inhaled corticosteroid and with increased acid gastro-oesophageal reflux, were treated either with omeprazole, 40 mg b.i.d., or placebo for 3 months. Primary endpoints were: airway hyperresponsiveness, as determined by the provocative concentration of methacholine producing a 20% fall in forced expiratory volume in one second (PC20); and airway obstruction. Secondary endpoints were: peak expiratory flow variability; reversibility to inhaled ipratropium bromide as a parameter of vagal activity; asthma symptoms scores; and medication used. Reflux was measured by 24 h ambulatory intraoesophageal pH measurement. Omeprazole, 40 mg b.i.d., for 3 months had no beneficial effect on any of the pulmonary parameters, despite its profound effect on acid reflux and improvement of reflux symptoms scores, compared to placebo. The results of this study do not support a role for intensive antireflux therapy to improve pulmonary symptoms and function in patients with asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, who have severe airway hyperresponsiveness despite maintenance treatment with inhaled corticosteroids.
Influence of correction of flow limitation on continuous positive airway pressure efficiency in sleep apnoea/hypopnoea syndrome
Authors: Meurice JC , Paquereau J , Denjean A , Patte F , Series F
Published: November 2002

We evaluated the efficiency of two different treatment procedures with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) on sleep, nocturnal breathing characteristics and daytime vigilance in 18 newly diagnosed patients with untreated sleep apnoea/hypopnoea syndrome (SAHS) randomly allocated to two different groups. In group I, the positive pressure (PP) level was set to suppress flow limitation (PFL), while in group II the PP was set at a level that eliminated only apnoea/hypopnoea and snoring (PAHS). At the end of a 3 week period of home CPAP therapy, a follow-up sleep study, vigilance and cognitive tests were made. Overall, PFL was significantly higher than PAHS values (PFL: 10.42.6 cmH2O; PAHS: 8.9+/-2.6 cmH2O; p<0.01, mean+/-SD). We found no difference in sleep quality, nocturnal saturation and apnoea/hypopnoea index, or in daytime vigilance tests between the two groups at the end of the treatment period. However, there was a significantly greater scattering in the changes of sleep latency in group II than in group I. This was associated with a significant difference in the daily duration of nasal CPAP use between the two groups (group I: 7.29+/-0.95 h x day(-1); group II: 6.01+/-0.94 h x day(-1); p=0.01) and with a positive correlation between final maintenance of wakefulness test values and the duration of CPAP use (p<0.05; r=0.55). These results tend to show that correcting flow limitation is associated with a higher observance and a more important efficiency in normalizing daytime vigilance than with conventional nasal continuous positive airway pressure.