bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Depth-dependent target strengths of gadoids by the boundary-element method
Authors: Francis David T. I. , Foote Kenneth G.
Published: December 2003

The depth dependence of fish target strength has mostly eluded experimental investigation because of the need to distinguish it from depth-dependent behavioral effects, which may change the orientation distribution. The boundary-element method (BEM) offers an avenue of approach. Based on detailed morphometric data on 15 gadoid swimbladders, the BEM has been exercised to determine how the orientation dependence of target strength changes with pressure under the assumption that the fish swimbladder remains constant in shape and volume. The backscattering cross section has been computed at a nominal frequency of 38 kHz as a function of orientation for each of three pressures: 1, 11, and 51 atm. Increased variability in target strength and more abundant and stronger resonances are both observed with increasing depth. The respective backscattering cross sections have been averaged with respect to each of four normal distributions of tilt angle, and the corresponding target strengths have been regressed on the logarithm of fish length. The tilt-angle-averaged backscattering cross sections at the highest pressure have also been averaged with respect to frequency over a 2-kHz band for representative conditions of insonification. For all averaging methods, the mean target strength changes only slightly with depth.
Modulation spectra of natural sounds and ethological theories of auditory processing
Authors: Singh Nandini C. , Theunissen Frédéric E.
Published: December 2003

The modulation statistics of natural sound ensembles were analyzed by calculating the probability distributions of the amplitude envelope of the sounds and their time-frequency correlations given by the modulation spectra. These modulation spectra were obtained by calculating the two-dimensional Fourier transform of the autocorrelation matrix of the sound stimulus in its spectrographic representation. Since temporal bandwidth and spectral bandwidth are conjugate variables, it is shown that the joint modulation spectrum of sound occupies a restricted space: sounds cannot have rapid temporal and spectral modulations simultaneously. Within this restricted space, it is shown that natural sounds have a characteristic signature. Natural sounds, in general, are low-passed, showing most of their modulation energy for low temporal and spectral modulations. Animal vocalizations and human speech are further characterized by the fact that most of the spectral modulation power is found only for low temporal modulation. Similarly, the distribution of the amplitude envelopes also exhibits characteristic shapes for natural sounds, reflecting the high probability of epochs with no sound, systematic differences across frequencies, and a relatively uniform distribution for the log of the amplitudes for vocalizations. It is postulated that the auditory system as well as engineering applications may exploit these statistical properties to obtain an efficient representation of behaviorally relevant sounds. To test such a hypothesis we show how to create synthetic sounds with first and second order envelope statistics identical to those found in natural sounds.
A Wiener filter approach to the binaural reproduction of stereo sound
Authors: Kim Sang-Myeong , Wang Semyung
Published: December 2003

This paper considers authentic binaural reproduction with loudspeakers using cross-talk cancellation. A systematic time domain deconvolution method is presented using both stochastic and deterministic Wiener filters. This method has advantages in that the Wiener filter is inherently causal and stable so that no additional stabilization process, as generally required in the frequency domain methods, is needed. Errors involved in the authentic reproduction are classified into modeling, inverse, and repeatability errors. In addition, the reproduction error is used as the performance measure of a reproduction system. Finally, a series of monaural and binaural reproduction tests were conducted in an anechoic chamber using a PC based reproduction system with a soundcard by changing the length of the inverse filter used. Test results demonstrated that the performance was improved in proportion to the length of the filter used. The reproduction performance error and its test procedure presented here can be used for objectively assessing the performance of a subjective auditory perception test system.
Energy transmittance predicts conductive hearing loss in older children and adults
Authors: Keefe Douglas H. , Simmons Jeffrey L.
Published: December 2003

The test performance of a wideband acoustic transfer function (ATF) test and 226-Hz tympanometry was assessed in predicting the presence of conductive hearing loss, based on an air–bone gap of 20 dB or more. Two ATF tests were designed using an improved calibration method over a frequency range (0.25–8 kHz): an ambient-pressure test and a tympanometric test using an excess static pressure in the ear canal. Wideband responses were objectively classified using moment analyses of energy transmittance, which was a more appropriate test variable than energy reflectance. Subjects included adults and children of age 10 years and up, with 42 normal-functioning ears and 18 ears with a conductive hearing loss. Predictors were based on the magnitudes of the moment deviations from the 10th to 90th percentiles of the normal group. Comparing tests at a fixed specificity of 0.90, the sensitivities were 0.28 for peak-compensated static acoustic admittance at 226 Hz, 0.72 for ambient-pressure ATF, and 0.94 for pressurized ATF. Pressurized ATF was accurate at predicting conductive hearing loss with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.95. Ambient-pressure ATF may have sufficient accuracy to use in some hearing-screening applications, whereas pressurized ATF has additional accuracy that may be appropriate for hearing-diagnostic applications.
Influence of collision on the flow through in-vitro rigid models of the vocal folds
Authors: Deverge M. , Pelorson X. , Vilain C. , Lagrée P.-Y. , Chentouf F. , Willems J. , Hirschberg A.
Published: December 2003

Measurements of pressure in oscillating rigid replicas of vocal folds are presented. The pressure upstream of the replica is used as input to various theoretical approximations to predict the pressure within the glottis. As the vocal folds collide the classical quasisteady boundary layer theory fails. It appears however that for physiologically reasonable shapes of the replicas, viscous effects are more important than the influence of the flow unsteadiness due to the wall movement. A simple model based on a quasisteady Bernoulli equation corrected for viscous effect, combined with a simple boundary layer separation model does globally predict the observed pressure behavior.
Gas-phase generation of photoacoustic sound in an open environment
Authors: Yönak Serdar H. , Dowling David R.
Published: December 2003

The photoacoustic effect is commonly exploited for molecular spectroscopy, nondestructive evaluation, and trace gas detection. Photoacoustic sound is produced when a photoactive material absorbs electromagnetic radiation and converts it to acoustic waves. This article focuses on the generation of photoacoustic sound from thermal expansion of photoactive gases due to unsteady heating from a laser light source, and extends the work of prior studies on photoacoustic sound generation in an open environment. Starting with the forced free-space wave equation, a simple model is constructed for photoacoustic sounds produced by both acoustically distributed and compact gas clouds. The model accounts for laser absorption through the Lambert–Beer law and includes the effects of photoactive gas cloud characteristics (shape, size, and concentration distribution), but does not include molecular diffusion, thermal conduction, convection, or the effects of acoustic propagation through sound-absorbing inhomogeneous media. This model is compared to experimentally measured photoacoustic sounds generated by scanning a 10.6-μ carbon dioxide (CO2) laser beam through small clouds of a photoactive gas, sulfur hexafluoride (SF6). For the current investigation, the photoactive gas clouds are formed either by low flow-rate calibrated leak sources or by a laminar jet emerging from a 1.6-mm-diam tube. Model-measurement comparisons are presented over a 3- to 160-kHz bandwidth. Signal pulse shapes from simple gas cloud geometries are found to match calculated results when unmeasured gas cloud characteristics within the model are adjusted.
Time-domain simulation of a guitar: Model and method
Authors: Derveaux Grégoire , Chaigne Antoine , Joly Patrick , Bécache Eliane
Published: December 2003

This paper presents a three-dimensional time-domain numerical model of the vibration and acoustic radiation from a guitar. The model involves the transverse displacement of the string excited by a force pulse, the flexural motion of the soundboard, and the sound radiation. A specific spectral method is used for solving the Kirchhoff–Love’s dynamic top plate model for a damped, heterogeneous orthotropic material. The air–plate interaction is solved with a fictitious domain method, and a conservative scheme is used for the time discretization. Frequency analysis is performed on the simulated sound pressure and plate velocity waveforms in order to evaluate quantitatively the transfer of energy through the various components of the coupled system: from the string to the soundboard and from the soundboard to the air. The effects of some structural changes in soundboard thickness and cavity volume on the produced sounds are presented and discussed. Simulations of the same guitar in three different cases are also performed: “in vacuo,” in air with a perfectly rigid top plate, and in air with an elastic top plate. This allows comparisons between structural, acoustic, and structural–acoustic modes of the instrument. Finally, attention is paid to the evolution with time of the spatial pressure field. This shows, in particular, the complex evolution of the directivity pattern in the near field of the instrument, especially during the attack.
MicroRNAs Modulate Hematopoietic Lineage Differentiation
Authors: Chen Chang-Zheng , Li Ling , Lodish Harvey F. , Bartel David P.
Published: December 2003

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are an abundant class of ∼22-nucleotide regulatory RNAs found in plants and animals. Some miRNAs of plants,
Caenorhabditis elegans
, and
Drosophila
play important gene-regulatory roles during development by pairing to target mRNAs to specify posttranscriptional repression of these messages. We identify three miRNAs that are specifically expressed in hematopoietic cells and show that their expression is dynamically regulated during early hematopoiesis and lineage commitment. One of these miRNAs, miR-181, was preferentially expressed in the B-lymphoid cells of mouse bone marrow, and its ectopic expression in hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells led to an increased fraction of B-lineage cells in both tissue-culture differentiation assays and adult mice. Our results indicate that microRNAs are components of the molecular circuitry that controls mouse hematopoiesis and suggest that other microRNAs have similar regulatory roles during other facets of vertebrate development.
Kinesin Moves by an Asymmetric Hand-Over-Hand Mechanism
Authors: Asbury Charles L. , Fehr Adrian N. , Block Steven M.
Published: December 2003

Kinesin is a double-headed motor protein that moves along microtubules in 8-nanometer steps. Two broad classes of model have been invoked to explain kinesin movement: hand-over-hand and inchworm. In hand-over-hand models, the heads exchange leading and trailing roles with every step, whereas no such exchange is postulated for inchworm models, where one head always leads. By measuring the stepwise motion of individual enzymes, we find that some kinesin molecules exhibit a marked alternation in the dwell times between sequential steps, causing these motors to “limp” along the microtubule. Limping implies that kinesin molecules strictly alternate between two different conformations as they step, indicative of an asymmetric, hand-over-hand mechanism.
Recent Advances in Petroleum Microbiology
Authors: Van Hamme Jonathan D. , Singh Ajay , Ward Owen P.
Published: December 2003

Recent advances in molecular biology have extended our understanding of the metabolic processes related to microbial transformation of petroleum hydrocarbons. The physiological responses of microorganisms to the presence of hydrocarbons, including cell surface alterations and adaptive mechanisms for uptake and efflux of these substrates, have been characterized. New molecular techniques have enhanced our ability to investigate the dynamics of microbial communities in petroleum-impacted ecosystems. By establishing conditions which maximize rates and extents of microbial growth, hydrocarbon access, and transformation, highly accelerated and bioreactor-based petroleum waste degradation processes have been implemented. Biofilters capable of removing and biodegrading volatile petroleum contaminants in air streams with short substrate-microbe contact times (<60 s) are being used effectively. Microbes are being injected into partially spent petroleum reservoirs to enhance oil recovery. However, these microbial processes have not exhibited consistent and effective performance, primarily because of our inability to control conditions in the subsurface environment. Microbes may be exploited to break stable oilfield emulsions to produce pipeline quality oil. There is interest in replacing physical oil desulfurization processes with biodesulfurization methods through promotion of selective sulfur removal without degradation of associated carbon moieties. However, since microbes require an environment containing some water, a two-phase oil-water system must be established to optimize contact between the microbes and the hydrocarbon, and such an emulsion is not easily created with viscous crude oil. This challenge may be circumvented by application of the technology to more refined gasoline and diesel substrates, where aqueous-hydrocarbon emulsions are more easily generated. Molecular approaches are being used to broaden the substrate specificity and increase the rates and extents of desulfurization. Bacterial processes are being commercialized for removal of H2S and sulfoxides from petrochemical waste streams. Microbes also have potential for use in removal of nitrogen from crude oil leading to reduced nitric oxide emissions provided that technical problems similar to those experienced in biodesulfurization can be solved. Enzymes are being exploited to produce added-value products from petroleum substrates, and bacterial biosensors are being used to analyze petroleum-contaminated environments.
On the Evolution of Structure in Aminoacyl-tRNA Synthetases
Authors: O'Donoghue Patrick , Luthey-Schulten Zaida
Published: December 2003

The aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases are one of the major protein components in the translation machinery. These essential proteins are found in all forms of life and are responsible for charging their cognate tRNAs with the correct amino acid. The evolution of the tRNA synthetases is of fundamental importance with respect to the nature of the biological cell and the transition from an RNA world to the modern world dominated by protein-enzymes. We present a structure-based phylogeny of the aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases. By using structural alignments of all of the aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases of known structure in combination with a new measure of structural homology, we have reconstructed the evolutionary history of these proteins. In order to derive unbiased statistics from the structural alignments, we introduce a multidimensional QR factorization which produces a nonredundant set of structures. Since protein structure is more highly conserved than protein sequence, this study has allowed us to glimpse the evolution of protein structure that predates the root of the universal phylogenetic tree. The extensive sequence-based phylogenetic analysis of the tRNA synthetases (Woese et al., Microbiol. Mol. Biol. Rev.
64:
202-236, 2000) has further enabled us to reconstruct the complete evolutionary profile of these proteins and to make connections between major evolutionary events and the resulting changes in protein shape. We also discuss the effect of functional specificity on protein shape over the complex evolutionary course of the tRNA synthetases.
Quorum Sensing in Nitrogen-Fixing Rhizobia
Authors: González Juan E. , Marketon Melanie M.
Published: December 2003

Members of the rhizobia are distinguished for their ability to establish a nitrogen-fixing symbiosis with leguminous plants. While many details of this relationship remain a mystery, much effort has gone into elucidating the mechanisms governing bacterium-host recognition and the events leading to symbiosis. Several signal molecules, including plant-produced flavonoids and bacterially produced nodulation factors and exopolysaccharides, are known to function in the molecular conversation between the host and the symbiont. Work by several laboratories has shown that an additional mode of regulation, quorum sensing, intercedes in the signal exchange process and perhaps plays a major role in preparing and coordinating the nitrogen-fixing rhizobia during the establishment of the symbiosis.Rhizobium leguminosarum, for example, carries a multitiered quorum-sensing system that represents one of the most complex regulatory networks identified for this form of gene regulation. This review focuses on the recent stream of information regarding quorum sensing in the nitrogen-fixing rhizobia. Seminal work on the quorum-sensing systems ofR. leguminosarumbv.viciae,R. etli,Rhizobiumsp. strain NGR234,Sinorhizobium meliloti, andBradyrhizobium japonicumis presented and discussed. The latest work shows that quorum sensing can be linked to various symbiotic phenomena including nodulation efficiency, symbiosome development, exopolysaccharide production, and nitrogen fixation, all of which are important for the establishment of a successful symbiosis. Many questions remain to be answered, but the knowledge obtained so far provides a firm foundation for future studies on the role of quorum-sensing mediated gene regulation in host-bacterium interactions.
Relation between isokinetic muscle strength and functional capacity in recreational athletes with chondromalacia patellae
Authors: Yildiz Y , Aydin T , Sekir U , Cetin C , Ors F , Alp Kalyon T
Published: December 2003

Objectives:To investigate the effects of isokinetic exercise on pain and functional test scores of recreational athletes with chondromalacia patellae (CMP) and to examine the correlation between isokinetic parameters and functional tests or pain score.

Methods:The functional ability of 30 recreational athletes with unilateral CMP was evaluated using six different tests. Pain scores were assessed during daily activities before and after the treatment protocol. Isokinetic exercise sessions were carried out at angular velocities of 60°/s (25–90° range of flexion) and 180°/s (full range). These sessions were repeated three times a week for six weeks.

Results:Quadriceps and hamstring peak torque, total work, and endurance ratios had improved significantly after the treatment, as did the functional parameters and pain scores. There was a poor correlation between the extensor endurance ratio and one leg standing test. A moderate correlation between the visual analogue scale and the extensor endurance ratio or flexion endurance ratio was also found.

Conclusions:The isokinetic exercise programme used in this study had a positive effect on muscle strength, pain score, and functional ability of knees with CMP. The improvement in the functional capacity did not correlate with the isokinetic parameters.
Elastic stable intramedullary nailing of midclavicular fractures in athletes
Authors: Jubel A , Andemahr J , Bergmann H , Prokop A , Rehm K E
Published: December 2003

Background:Intramedullary fixation of midclavicular fractures may be a better option than non-operative treatment for high performance/professional athletes because of the potential reduction in recovery time.

Objectives:To evaluate the effectiveness of intramedullary fixation in high performance athletes and the time required to return to sporting activity.

Methods:Data were taken from a prospective study on intramedullary fixation techniques using the elastic stable Ti nail (TEN, Synthes) for the treatment of displaced midclavicular fractures, initiated in 1996. The patients in 12 cases were classified as high performance/professional athletes. These cases were used to evaluate the technique specifically in this population. Fractures were classified according to the Orthopaedic Trauma Association (OTA) system. Patients were evaluated before and after surgery for shoulder function and subjective pain. After the operation, radiological assessments documented fracture healing, and clinical outcomes scores were obtained. Time required to return to training and competition was documented.

Results:All fractures were transverse or oblique. Mean (SD) shoulder abduction increased from 36.3 (8)° before surgery to 154.2 (17)° afterwards (p<0.001). Mean subjective pain score using a visual analogue scale (0–100) decreased from 71.7 (18) points before surgery to 19.2 (6) points (p<0.001) three days after. There were no complications. Hospital stay averaged 2.9 (1) days. Mean delay to resumption of training was 5.9 (1) days, and to resumption of competition it was 16.8 (5) days. The mean Constant clinical outcomes score one year after hardware removal was 98.3 (2) points.

Conclusions:Intramedullary fixation of displaced midclavicular fracture was successful in terms of clinical outcome and rapid resumption of sporting activities. This treatment should be offered to athletes as an alternative to non-operative treatment.
Onset of puberty, menstrual frequency, and body fat in elite rhythmic gymnasts compared with normal controls
Authors: Klentrou P , Plyley M
Published: December 2003

Objectives:To assess the prevalence of delayed menarche and abnormal menstrual patterns, as well as the association of menstrual status with physical training in elite rhythmic gymnasts from Greece and Canada.

Methods:Fifteen Greek (mean (SEM) age 14.5 (0.2) years) and 30 Canadian (mean (SEM) age 14.7 (0.4) years) rhythmic gymnasts were surveyed for age at menarche, menstrual frequency, and training profile, and measured for height, weight, and percentage body fat (%BF). Seventy eight healthy adolescents served as country specific non-active controls: 38 Greek non-athletes (mean (SEM) age 14.5 (0.1) years) and 40 Canadian non-athletes (mean (SEM) 14.2 (0.1) years).

Results:Of the Greek gymnasts, 79% had not yet menstruated compared with 34% of the Canadian gymnasts. Menarche was significantly (p<0.01) delayed in the rhythmic gymnasts (composite mean 13.8 (0.3) years, n  =  45) compared with the controls (composite mean 12.5 (0.1) years, n  =  78). There was no significant difference between Greek and Canadian gymnasts for the age at menarche (14.2 (0.3)v13.6 (1.2) years respectively). Menstrual irregularities were reported in 78% (61% oligomenorrhoeic and 17% amenorrhoeic) of the menarcheal athletes. Menarcheal gymnasts were found to be significantly (p<0.05) taller and heavier, with a higher %BF and a lower training frequency and training duration (p<0.05) than the premenarcheal gymnasts. Overall, the mean %BF of the gymnasts was significantly lower (p<0.05) than that of the control subjects. The Canadian controls exhibited a significantly (p<0.05) greater %BF than the Greek controls of the same age.

Conclusion:Delayed menarche, menstrual irregularities, and low body fat are common in elite rhythmic gymnasts. Premenarcheal gymnasts train more often and for longer, and have a lower body mass index and less body fat, than menarcheal gymnasts. Prospective studies are needed to explore further these and other factors associated with delayed menarche and menstrual irregularities in female athletes.
Severe soccer injuries in amateurs
Authors: Goga I E , Gongal P
Published: December 2003

Objectives:To ascertain the number and type of severe soccer injuries admitted to King Edward Hospital in South Africa over 42 months.

Methods:This was a retrospective study of all patients admitted for treatment or observation to the orthopaedic unit only. Patients treated as outpatients, irrespective of severity, are also presented for comparison.

Results:Thirty two patients were admitted with severe injuries. The injuries included 18 fractures of the tibial and femoral shaft. Two tibial shaft fractures were compound. Four tibial plateau fractures and five epiphyseal injuries were identified. One patient had a fracture-dislocation of the hip. One patient with a popliteal artery injury presented 48 hours after the injury had occurred. He had an above knee amputation. In the same period 122 patients were treated as outpatients. The types of injury in this group were similar to soccer injuries reported in other countries.

Conclusions:Very serious injuries are sustained by casual soccer players in South Africa. Urgent measures need to be taken to prevent such injuries.
Comprehensive isokinetic knee measurements and quadriceps tendon evaluations in footballers for assessing functional performance
Authors: Özçakar L , Kunduracyoolu B , Cetin A , Ülkar B , Guner R , Hascelik Z
Published: December 2003

Objectives:To ascertain whether detailed isokinetic knee muscle testing reflects the results of other functional measurements in footballers and to look for any correlations between quadriceps tendon thickness and knee strength.

Methods:Ultrasonographic evaluation of the quadriceps tendon (Hitachi EUB-405), isokinetic knee testing (Biodex System 3), and sprint measurements using telemetric photoelectric cells (Chronometre Prosport ESC TX02) were carried out on 29 elite footballers. Jumping capacity was evaluated using Bosco’s jumping mat (Ergojump). Anaerobic fitness was assessed by auricular capillary blood lactate measurements (YSI Model 1500 Sport Lactate Analyzer).

Results:Quadriceps tendon thickness correlated positively with jumping and sprint measurements and negatively with extensor and flexor strength. However, these correlations did not reach statistical significance. There were significant correlations between knee extensor strength at 60 °/s and jumping or sprint measurements and between the extension acceleration values of both knees during isokinetic tests at 240 °/s and the sprint measurements. No significant correlation was found between the fatigue ratio values of both knees at 240 °/s and the calculated fatigue ratios from the sprint measurements.

Conclusions:Apart from a few variables which correlated with the performance tests, the isokinetic studies did not fully predict the various functional measurements. Neither was there any relation between the quadriceps tendon measurements and the knee strength values nor with the functional performance.
Effect of hyperbaric oxygen on oxygen uptake and measurements in the blood and tissues in a normobaric environment
Authors: Hodges A N H , Delaney J S , Lecomte J M , Lacroix V J , Montgomery D L
Published: December 2003

Objective:To examine venous partial pressure of oxygen (Pvo2), transcutaneous oxygen tension (tcPo2), and Vo2maxin a normobaric environment after a single hyperbaric oxygen (HBo2) treatment.

Methods:This was a prospective study of conditions after the intervention compared with baseline. The participants were 10 moderately trained (Vo2max =  57.6 ml/kg/min) men. Two HBo2treatments consisting of breathing 95% oxygen at 2.5 atmospheres absolute (ATA) for 90 minutes were administered on non-consecutive days. Baseline testing included measures of Vo2max, tcPo2, and anthropometry. At 6.0 (1.0) minutes after the first HBo2treatment, a Vo2maxtest was performed. After the second HBo2treatment, leg and chest tcPo2and Pvo2were monitored for 60 minutes.

Results:Vo2max, running time, and peak blood lactate were not altered after the HBo2treatment. Leg tcPo2was lower (p  =  0.003) and chest tcPo2was unchanged after the HBo2treatment compared with baseline values. Pvo2was significantly (p<0.001) lower in the first three minutes after treatment than subsequent values, but no other differences were found.

Conclusions:A single HBo2treatment at 2.5 ATA for 90 minutes does not raise Pvo2, tcPo2, or Vo2maxin a normobaric, normoxic environment.
Short term effect of feedback on fitness and health measurements on self reported appraisal of the stage of change
Authors: Proper K I , van der Beek A J , Hildebrandt V H , Twisk J W R , van Mechelen W
Published: December 2003

Background:An individual’s current status of physical activity and nutrition and readiness to change can be determined using PACE assessment forms. Practitioners have suggested that feedback on the fitness and health components can produce a change in a subject’s awareness of their behaviour and thereby lead to a beneficial change in stage of behaviour change.

Objective:To evaluate the short term effect of personalised feedback on fitness and health status on self reported appraisal of the stage of change.

Methods:A total of 299 civil servants were randomised to an intervention or a reference group. After having been tested for fitness and health, the intervention group received immediate feedback on their test results, whereas the reference group did not. PACE assessment forms were completed twice: before testing and after testing (reference group), or after testing and feedback (intervention group). The time interval between was one hour. The influence of feedback was determined using a x2test and analysis of variance.

Results:On the basis of the x2test, no significant effect of feedback was found on the stage of change of physical activity, nor on the stage of change with regard to nutrition. Analysis of variance results showed no significant effect on the raw PACE score as to physical activity, intake of fruit and vegetables and dietary fat. However, a significant effect was observed on the PACE score of “calorie intake and weight management”. Subjects in the intervention group significantly more often regressed on their PACE score on this topic than the reference subjects.

Conclusions:Feedback at baseline on measurements of an intervention study can influence PACE scores and can be considered as a small but relevant start of the intervention itself.
Surfer wipe out by predator fish
Authors: Kerkhoffs G M M J , op den Akker J W , Hammacher E R
Published: December 2003

Needlefish injuries, commonly reported in the Indo-Pacific region, have not been previously reported along the European coastlines. This case report describes a penetrating injury to the heel of a professional surfer during competition off the Portuguese coast. Diagnostic as well as therapeutic recommendations are made.
Two cases of suprascapular neuropathy in a family
Authors: Ravindran M
Published: December 2003

Suprascapular entrapment neuropathy is well known in certain athletes, especially volleyball players. A brother and sister presented with right shoulder pain and wasting of the scapular muscles, particularly the infraspinatus. They had played volleyball for over six years and were forced to retire because of disability. Investigations showed involvement of the rhomboid muscles also, suggesting a probable extension of this syndrome to other nerves in the region such as the dorsal scapular nerve.
Whole body muscle hypertrophy from resistance training: distribution and total mass
Authors: Abe T , Kojima K , Kearns C F , Yohena H , Fukuda J
Published: December 2003

Objective:To examine the absolute and relative changes in skeletal muscle (SM) size using whole body magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in response to heavy resistance training (RT).

Method:Three young men trained three days a week for 16 weeks.

Results:MRI measured total SM mass and fat free mass (FFM) had increased by 4.2 kg and 2.6 kg respectively after resistance training.

Conclusions:RT induces larger increases in SM mass than in FFM. RT induced muscle hypertrophy does not occur uniformly throughout each individual muscle or region of the body. Therefore the distribution of muscle hypertrophy and total SM mass are important for evaluating the effects of total body RT on muscle size.
Reliability of heart rate variability measures at rest and during light exercise in children
Authors: Winsley R J , Armstrong N , Bywater K , Fawkner S G
Published: December 2003

Objectives:To investigate the reliability of heart rate variability (HRV) measures at rest and during light exercise in children.

Methods:Short term (five minute) HRV was assessed in 12 children (11–12 years of age). HRV measures were collected at rest with the children supine, breathing at 12 breaths/min, and during exercise on a cycle ergometer while exercising at 25% of peak oxygen uptake. Both resting and exercise data were collected twice from each child.

Results:Intraclass correlation coefficients were low to moderate for most measures with wide confidence intervals for each variable in both resting and exercise conditions. Random variation (typical error) within repeated measurements ranged from 31% to 187%.

Conclusions:These preliminary findings suggest that HRV measures are unreliable at rest and during light exercise in children aged 11–12 years. Tighter control of extraneous influences is recommended.
East African running dominance revisited: a role for stereotype threat?: Figure 1
Authors: Baker J , Horton S
Published: December 2003

Regardless of the possible existence of physiological advantages in East African runners, belief that such differences exist creates a psychological atmosphere that can have significant consequences on performance. This is known as stereotype threat and can feature in many sports.
Psychometric issues associated with computerised neuropsychological assessment of concussed athletes: Table 1
Authors: Collie A , Maruff P , McStephen M , Darby D G
Published: December 2003

Psychometric issues associated with computerised neuropsychological assessment in sports concussion are put forward. Issues critical to ensuring test reliability and sensitivity are discussed, with particular reference to how inappropriate test design can affect clinical decision making.
Synthesis and X-ray characterization of Li(1−2x)NixTiO(PO4) (0≤x≤0.50)
Authors: Manoun B. , El Jazouli A. , Gravereau P. , Chaminade J. P.
Published: December 2003

Li(1−2x)NixTiO(PO4) oxyphosphate powders were prepared from dilute solutions of NiCl2⋅6H2O, Li2CO3, (NH4)2HPO4, and TiCl4 in ethanol. The final temperature was 850 °C. Li(1−2x)NixTiO(PO4) oxyphosphates with 0≤x≤0.10 crystallize in the orthorhombic system with space group Pnma, while those with 0.10<x≤0.25 crystallize in the monoclinic system with space group P21/c.
Rietveld refinement of the gadolinium strontium oxide SrGd2O4
Authors: Chaker H. , Kabadou A. , Toumi M. , Ben Hassen R.
Published: December 2003

Powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) data were collected for a new phase of SrGd2O4. Analysis using the Rietveld method was carried out and it was found that the sample crystallizes in the orthorhombic symmetry with CaFe2O4 related structure. The lattice parameters are found to be a=12.0521(2) Å, b=10.1327(2) Å, c=3.4757(4) Å and Z=4. For X-ray data RF=4.9%, RB=7.6%, RP=8.1% and χ2=1.51. The structure can be described as an assembly of bioctahedron [Gd2O10] which are linked together by O2− anions and of dodecahedron of SrO8.
The roots of the third Jackson q‐Bessel function
Authors: Abreu L. D. , Bustoz J. , Cardoso J. L.
Published: December 2003

We derive analytic bounds for the zeros of the third Jackson
q‐Bessel function .
Kernel convergence and biholomorphic mappings in several complexvariables
Authors: Kohr Gabriela
Published: December 2003

We deal with kernel convergence of domains in ℂn which
are biholomorphically equivalent to the unit ball B. We also
prove that there is an equivalence between the convergence
on compact sets of biholomorphic mappings on B, which satisfy a growth theorem, and the kernel convergence. Moreover, we obtain certain consequences of this equivalence in the study of
Loewner chains and of starlike and convex mappings on B.
On the difference of values of the kernel function at consecutiveintegers
Authors: De Koninck Jean-Marie , Luca Florian
Published: December 2003

For each positive integer n, set γ(n) = Πp|np.
Given a fixed integer k ≠ ±1, we establish that if the
ABC‐conjecture holds, then the equation
γ(n + 1) − γ(n) = k has only finitely many solutions. In
the particular cases k = ±1
, we provide a large family of
solutions for each of the corresponding equations.
Constant mean curvature hypersurfaces with constant δ‐invariant
Authors: Chen Bang-Yen , Garay Oscar J.
Published: December 2003

We completely classify constant mean curvature hypersurfaces (CMC)
with constant δ‐invariant in the unit 4‐sphere S4 and
in the Euclidean 4‐space
𝔼4.
Uniqueness of semilinear elliptic inverse problem
Authors: Qu Chaochun , Wang Ping
Published: December 2003

We consider the uniqueness of the inverse problem for a
semilinear elliptic differential equation with Dirichlet
condition. The necessary and sufficient condition of unique
solution is obtained. We improved the results obtained by Isakov
and Sylvester (1994) for the same problem.
Protein and Chemical Microarrays—Powerful Tools for Proteomics
Authors: Xu Qingchai , Lam Kit S.
Published: December 2003

In the last few years, protein and chemical microarrays have
emerged as two important tools in the field of proteomics.
Specific proteins, antibodies, small molecule compounds,
peptides, and carbohydrates can now be immobilized on solid
surfaces to form high‐density microarrays. Depending on their
chemical nature, immobilization of these molecules on solid
support is accomplished by in situ synthesis, nonspecific
adsorption, specific binding, nonspecific chemical ligation, or
chemoselective ligation. These arrays of molecules can then be
probed with complex
analytes such as serum, total cell extracts,
and whole blood. Interactions between the analytes and the
immobilized array of molecules are evaluated with a number of
different detection systems. In this paper, various
components, methods, and applications of the protein and chemical
microarray systems are reviewed.
Proteomics in Vaccinology and Immunobiology:An Informatics Perspective of the Immunone
Authors: Doytchinova Irini A. , Taylor Paul , Flower Darren R.
Published: December 2003

The postgenomic era, as manifest, inter alia, by proteomics,
offers unparalleled opportunities for the efficient discovery of
safe, efficacious, and novel subunit vaccines targeting a tranche
of modern major diseases. A negative corollary of this opportunity
is the risk of becoming overwhelmed by this embarrassment of
riches. Informatics techniques, working to address issues of both
data management and through prediction to shortcut the
experimental process, can be of enormous benefit in leveraging
the proteomic revolution. In this disquisition, we evaluate
proteomic approaches to the discovery of subunit vaccines,
focussing on viral, bacterial, fungal, and parasite systems. We
also adumbrate the impact that proteomic analysis of
host‐pathogen interactions can have. Finally, we review relevant
methods to the prediction of immunome, with special emphasis on
quantitative methods, and the subcellular localization of
proteins within bacteria.
Use of Immunomatrix Methods to Improve Protein‐Protein Interaction Detection
Authors: Qoronfleh M. Walid , Ren Ling , Emery Daryl , Perr Maria , Kaboord Barbara
Published: December 2003

Immunoprecipitation (IP) and coimmunoprecipitation (co‐IP) are key
techniques for studying protein‐protein interactions. These
methods utilize immobilized protein A or protein G to isolate
antibody‐bound target antigens. The main disadvantage of
traditional immunoprecipitation and coimmunoprecipitation is that
the conditions used to elute the precipitated antigen also
release the antibody, contaminating the antigen and destroying
the antibody support. To overcome these problems, we describe two
methods to generate a reusable antibody support by cross‐linking
the antibody to immobilized protein A or protein G, or by
coupling it directly to the resin. Our
studies have demonstrated that the immobilization efficiency for
the antibody coupling method was similar for several species of
antibody. Furthermore, we illustrate that using both methods of
antibody immobilization yields IP and co‐IP results similar to
traditional protocols but eliminate the antibody heavy and light
chains contamination.
Optimization of Rolling‐Circle Amplified Protein Microarrays for Multiplexed Protein Profiling
Authors: Shao Weiping , Zhou Zhimin , Laroche Isabelle , Lu Hong , Zong Qiuling , Patel Dhavalkumar D. , Kingsmore Stephen , Piccoli Steven P.
Published: December 2003

Protein microarray‐based approaches are increasingly being used in
research and clinical applications to either profile the
expression of proteins or screen molecular interactions. The
development of high‐throughput, sensitive, convenient, and
cost‐effective formats for detecting proteins is a necessity for
the effective advancement of understanding disease processes. In
this paper, we describe the generation of highly multiplexed,
antibody‐based, specific, and sensitive protein microarrays
coupled with rolling‐circle signal amplification (RCA)
technology. A total of 150 cytokines were simultaneously detected
in an RCA sandwich immunoassay format. Greater than half of these
proteins have detection sensitivities in the pg/ml range. The
validation of antibody microarray with human serum indicated that
RCA‐based protein microarrays are a powerful tool for
high‐throughput analysis of protein expression and molecular
diagnostics.
Diagnosis of Ovarian Cancer Using Decision Tree Classificationof Mass Spectral Data
Authors: Vlahou Antonia , Schorge John O. , Gregory Betsy W. , Coleman Robert L.
Published: December 2003

Recent reports from our laboratory and others support the SELDI
ProteinChip technology as a potential clinical diagnostic tool
when combined with n‐dimensional analyses algorithms. The
objective of this study was to determine if the commercially
available classification algorithm biomarker patterns software
(BPS), which is based on a classification and regression tree
(CART), would be effective in discriminating ovarian cancer from
benign diseases and healthy controls. Serum protein mass
spectrum profiles from 139 patients with either ovarian cancer,
benign pelvic diseases, or healthy women were analyzed using
the BPS software. A decision tree, using five protein peaks
resulted in an accuracy of 81.5% in the cross‐validation
analysis and 80%in a blinded set of samples in
differentiating the ovarian cancer from the control groups. The
potential, advantages, and drawbacks of the BPS system as a
bioinformatic tool for the analysis of the SELDI high‐dimensional
proteomic data are discussed.
Glargine and Regular Human Insulin Similarly Acutely Enhance Endothelium-Dependent Vasodilatation in Normal Subjects
Authors: Westerbacka Jukka , Bergholm Robert , Tiikkainen Mirja , Yki-Järvinen Hannele
Published: December 2003

Objective—

Human insulin enhances the vasodilatory effect of acetylcholine (ACh), an endothelium-dependent vasodilator, in normal subjects. Structural changes in a long-acting insulin analog, insulin glargine, may change its binding properties to insulin receptor and structurally homologous receptors, such as the insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor, and thereby alter its vascular effects. In the present study, we compared effects of glargine and regular human insulin on blood flow responses to endothelium-dependent and endothelium-independent vasoactive agents in vivo in normal subjects.

Methods and Results—

Ten healthy men (age: 33±9 years [mean±SD]; BMI: 23±2 kg/m
2
) were studied on two separate occasions in a double-blind, randomized, crossover fashion. In each study, blood flow responses to intrabrachial artery infusions of ACh and SNP were determined during infusion of saline and intravenously maintained normoglycemic hyperinsulinemia. Hyperinsulinemia (120 minutes; infusion rate: 1 mU/kg per minute) was created by infusing either insulin glargine or human regular insulin. Glargine and human regular insulin similarly stimulated whole-body glucose metabolism and suppressed serum free-fatty acid (FFA) concentrations. Endothelium-independent blood flow responses to low (3 μg/min) and high (10 μg/min) doses of SNP were unaffected by insulin glargine (12.2±2.6 versus 13.4±4.6 and 19.1±4.2 versus 19.6±5.1 mL/dL per minute, saline versus insulin, low- and high-dose) and regular human insulin (11.2±3.4 versus 12.0±5.2 and 16.8±5.7 versus 18.4±7.7 mL/dL per minute, respectively). In contrast, endothelium-dependent blood flow responses to low (7.5 μg/min) and high (15 μg/min) doses of ACh increased significantly and similarly by insulin glargine, 13.9±4.8 versus 19.3±6.5 mL/dL per minute (saline versus insulin, +39%,
P
<0.01) for low-dose ACh and 17.3±6.3 versus 23.2±9.2 mL/dL per minute (+34%;
P
<0.02) for high-dose ACh, and regular human insulin, 11.5±6.0 versus 15.8±8.0 mL/dL per minute (+38%;
P
<0.05) and 14.0±7.5 versus 21.1±10.4 mL/dL per minute (+51%;
P
<0.01).

Conclusion—

Insulin glargine and regular human insulin have similar acute stimulatory effects on endothelium-dependent vasodilation in humans.
Alcohol Consumption in Relation to Aortic Stiffness and Aortic Wave Reflections: A Cross-Sectional Study in Healthy Postmenopausal Women
Authors: Sierksma Aafje , Lebrun Corinne E.I. , van der Schouw Yvonne T. , Grobbee Diederick E. , Lamberts Steven W.J. , Hendriks Henk F.J. , Bots Michiel L.
Published: December 2003

Objective—

Moderate alcohol consumption has been postulated to be cardioprotective. Such an effect might be reflected in large-artery properties, such as arterial stiffness and wave reflections.

Methods and Results—

Three hundred seventy-one healthy postmenopausal women aged 50 to 74 years were sampled from a population-based study. Alcohol intake was calculated from a standardized questionnaire. Applanation tonometry was applied to assess the augmentation index and aortic pulse-wave velocity. Those drinking 1 to 3, 4 to 9, 10 to 14, and 15 to 35 glasses of alcoholic beverages per week had a 0.044 (95% CI −0.47 to 0.56), −0.085 (95% CI −0.59 to 0.43), −0.869 (95% CI −1.44 to −0.29), and −0.225 (95% CI −0.98 to 0.53) m/s difference in mean pulse-wave velocity compared with nondrinkers, respectively, which indicates a J-shaped relationship. Adjustment for potential confounders of pulse-wave velocity or alcohol intake did not materially change the strength of the association. Adjustment for HDL further attenuated the relationship. The augmentation index was not related to alcohol consumption when adjustments were made for physiological determinants such as age, height, and ejection duration.

Conclusions—

Among postmenopausal women, alcohol consumption is inversely associated with pulse-wave velocity. This supports the presence of a decreased risk of cardiovascular disease with moderate alcohol consumption, which may be mediated in part by HDL cholesterol.