bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Working Classes Map the City
Authors: Katznelson Ira
Published: March 2005

For Marxism, the main issues of social theory within the industrial phase of capitalism focus on the formation of working classes, and this subject is best treated, in significant measure, as an urban one. The spatial requirements of industrial capitalism shaped nineteenth‐century cities – their patterns of growth, interconnections, built environments, and social geographies – and, in turn, the experience of such cities, and attempts to make sense of their properties, were decisive elements in the early histories of Western working classes. The cost to Marxism of its neglect of cities is especially pronounced with regard to these issues, and the new urban Marxism of the 1970s and 1980s has been important precisely because of its attempts to put an end to the tradition's urban and spatial elisions – what Marxist social theory badly requires but has never secured is the systematic inculcation of an urban–geographical imagination into the analysis of working‐class formation. This chapter sketches an example of such an effort, which entails three related steps: a specification of the structural determinants of city growth and development; a presentation of the spatial configurations characteristic of these new spaces; and a systematic, contingent, and comparative account of how the new working classes made sense of these spaces in the different Western countries. It does so by comparing and contrasting the cases of working‐class formation in nineteenth‐century England and the United States, although most of the discussion of spatial reorganization focuses on English cities.
Feminism
Authors: True Jacqui
Published: March 2005

Starts by asking where women are in international society. While observing the absence of women from theories of international society, it argues that women are nonetheless present as actors in diplomatic encounters between and among states, and that gender relations have been an integral part of the evolution and expansion of international society. then proceeds to account for the conceptual exclusion of gender in the approaches of the English School of International Relations to international society. It reveals the gender bias behind two core assumptions of international society: i.e. that states are the major actors and that domestic politics are irrelevant in the workings of this interstate society. Ends by considering the future viability of the international society concept given its neglect of gender, arguing that, as a concept, international society risks irrelevance unless it can be revised to account fully for contemporary developments that significantly affect international norms and interstate behaviour.
Global Environmental Governance
Authors: Paterson Matthew
Published: March 2005

The environment has emerged as a key issue in global politics since the early 1970s, and the issues that comprise the ‘environmental crisis’ are widely regarded to have had significant impacts on international politics. At the same time, the international society or English School of International Relations tradition has rarely had much explicit to say regarding the implications of environmental degradation for International Relations, although at a first look, it is a surprise that English School authors have not looked to environmental politics for sources of support for their arguments. This chapter attempts to elaborate how such an engagement between international environmental politics and the English School might develop. It begins with an elaboration of Hedley Bull's (1977) passage on the environment in The Anarchical Society, and then proceeds through a discussion of contemporary accounts of ‘global environmental governance’, in terms of programmatic reform, international regimes, multilevel governance, deterritorialization, and corporate governance and governance from below. The conclusion reached is that despite a superficial attraction, discussions of global environmental governance undermine the image of international society in English School accounts in two principal ways: first, they show that thinking about international society (its norms, the tensions and conversation between the three traditions in English School, and so on) is limited by the lack of understanding of the specifically capitalist character of the states‐system; and second, they show that the image given in Bull – that any alternatives to the states‐system tend to founder on the claim that states will not voluntarily cede their authority – is misplaced, for practices of global governance are emerging in the environmental field that operate outside the states‐system but where states have never given permission in the manner envisaged by Bull and others to be necessary.
Paraworlds and Confirmation
Authors: Wilson Catherine
Published: March 2005

Addresses the question whether moral judgements can enjoy objectivity and whether posited moral rules can signify real obligations. It is argued that rules and judgements are interconvertible and, further, that a moral judgement reflects a hypothesis concerning a conduct rule of a fictional world. A brief examination of historical and contemporary examples of theoretical moral discourse reveals that moral theorists rely both on a reality constraint enforcing verisimilitude and an idealism characteristic in advancing prescriptive claims about how human beings ought to act. These observations provide the basis for a theory of confirmation for moral judgements that is independent of a commitment to moral realism and that is even consistent with some forms of relativism.
Some Problems with Infinity 6
Authors: Levi Isaac
Published: March 2005

Problems with infinity where inductive expansion or contraction are concerned are discussed. Three special cases when thinking about infinity is required, are considered: problems where the task is to estimate the value of a real valued parameter believed to take values in some finite interval; problems where it must be determined which of a countable set of alternative hypotheses is true; and problems where the value of a real valued parameter on the real line must be estimated. In relation to the first, a condition of finite discriminability is introduced and made use of. In relation to the second, a rejection rule is formulated which requires that conditional probabilities on finite subsets of the ultimate partition be well defined, even though the unconditional probabilities for the finite subset are equal to zero; this rule is defended. The techniques involved in formulating this rule are employed in solving problems of the third type.
Arcobacter cibarius sp. nov., isolated from broiler carcasses
Authors: Houf Kurt , On Stephen L. W. , Coenye Tom , Mast Jan , Van Hoof Jan , Vandamme Peter
Published: March 2005

Twenty Gram-negative, rod-shaped, slightly curved, non-spore-forming bacteria that gave a negative result in Arcobacter species-specific PCR tests but that yielded an amplicon in an Arcobacter genus-specific PCR test were isolated from 13 unrelated broiler carcasses. Numerical analysis of the profiles obtained by SDS-PAGE of whole-cell proteins clustered all isolates in a single group distinct from the other Arcobacter species. DNA–DNA hybridization among four representative strains exhibited DNA binding values above 91 %. DNA–DNA hybridization with reference strains of the current four Arcobacter species revealed binding levels below 47 %. The G+C contents ranged between 26·8 and 27·3 mol%. Pairwise comparison of 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed the mean values for similarity to the type strain of Arcobacter cryaerophilus (97·5 %), Arcobacter butzleri (96·5 %), Arcobacter skirrowii (96·0 %) and Arcobacter nitrofigilis (95·0 %). The levels of similarity to Campylobacter and Helicobacter species were below 88 and 87 %, respectively. The isolates could be distinguished from other Arcobacter species by the following biochemical tests: catalase, oxidase and urease activities; reduction of nitrate; growth at 25 and 37 °C under aerobic conditions; growth on 2–4 % (w/v) NaCl media; and susceptibility to cephalothin. These data demonstrate that the 20 isolates represent a single novel Arcobacter species, for which the name Arcobacter cibarius sp. nov. is proposed, with LMG 21996T (=CCUG 48482T) as the type strain.
Pseudoxanthomonas koreensis sp. nov. and Pseudoxanthomonas daejeonensis sp. nov.
Authors: Yang Deok-Chun , Im Wan-Taek , Kim Myung Kyum , Lee Sung-Taik
Published: March 2005

Gram-negative, non-spore-forming, rod-shaped bacteria, T7-09Tand TR6-08T, were isolated from soil from a ginseng field in South Korea and characterized to determine their taxonomic position. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis showed that the two isolates shared 99·5 % sequence similarity. Strains T7-09Tand TR6-08Twere shown to belong to theProteobacteriaand showed the highest levels of sequence similarity toPseudoxanthomonas broegbernensisDSM 12573T(98·1 %),Pseudoxanthomonas mexicanaAMX 26BT(97·4–97·5 %),Pseudoxanthomonas japonensis12-3T(96·5–96·6 %),Pseudoxanthomonas taiwanensisATCC BAA-404T(95·7 %) andXanthomonas campestrisATCC 33913T(96·3–96·5 %). The sequence similarity values with respect to any species with validly published names in related genera were less than 96·5 %. The detection of a quinone system with Q-8 as the predominant compound and a fatty acid profile with C15 : 0iso as the predominant acid supported the assignment of the novel isolates to the order ‘Xanthomonadales’. The two isolates could be distinguished from the established species of the genusPseudoxanthomonasby the presence of quantitative unsaturated fatty acid C17 : 1isoω9cand by their unique biochemical profiles. The results of DNA–DNA hybridization clearly demonstrated that T7-09Tand TR6-08Trepresent separate species. On the basis of these data, it is proposed that T7-09T(=KCTC 12208T=IAM 15116T) and TR6-08T(=KCTC 12207T=IAM 15115T) be classified as the type strains of two novelPseudoxanthomonasspecies, for which the namesPseudoxanthomonas koreensissp. nov. andPseudoxanthomonas daejeonensissp. nov., respectively, are proposed.
Yersinia aleksiciae sp. nov.
Authors: Sprague Lisa D. , Neubauer Heinrich
Published: March 2005

Yersinia kristenseniiconsists of phenotypically heterogeneous strains. This is reflected by the existence of strains with various multilocus enzyme electrophoresis and 16S rRNA gene sequence types. Strains originally phenotyped as members ofY. kristenseniiwere studied using 16S rRNA gene sequencing, DNA–DNA hybridization, determination of the DNA base composition and various phenotypic tests. The results were compared to those ofYersiniatype strains. Based on levels of DNA–DNA relatedness, a specific 16S rRNA gene sequence type and the presence of lysine decarboxylase activity, a novel species, Yersinia aleksiciaesp. nov., is proposed. The type strain is Y159T(=WA758T=DSM 14987T=LMG 22254T).
Benthic cyanobacteria of the genus Nodularia are non-toxic, without gas vacuoles, able to glide and genetically more diverse than planktonic Nodularia
Authors: Lyra Christina , Laamanen Maria , Lehtimäki Jaana M. , Surakka Anu , Sivonen Kaarina
Published: March 2005

Diversity and ecological features of cyanobacteria of the genusNodulariafrom benthic, periphytic and soil habitats are less well known than those ofNodulariafrom planktonic habitats. Novel benthicNodulariastrains were isolated from the Baltic Sea and their morphology, the presence of gas vacuoles, nodularin production, gliding, 16S rRNA gene sequences,rpoB,rbcLXandndaFgenes, andgvpA-IGS regions were examined, as well as short tandemly repeated repetitive sequence fingerprints. Strains were identified asNodularia spumigena,Nodularia sphaerocarpaorNodularia harveyanaon the basis of the size and shape of the different types of cells and the presence or absence of gas vacuoles. The planktonic strains ofN. spumigenamostly had gas vacuoles and produced nodularin, whereas the benthic strains ofN. sphaerocarpaandN. harveyanalacked gas vacuoles and did not produce nodularin (except for strain PCC 7804). The benthic strains were also able to glide on surfaces. In the genetic analyses, the planktonicN. spumigenaand benthicN. sphaerocarpaformed monophyletic clusters, but the clusters were very closely related. Benthic strains determined asN. harveyanaformed the most diverse and distant group of strains. In addition to phylogenetic analyses, the lack of thegvpA-IGS region andndaFinN. sphaerocarpaandN. harveyanadistinguished these species from the planktonicN. spumigena. Therefore,ndaFcan be considered as a potential diagnostic tool for detecting and quantifying Baltic Sea bloom-forming, nodularin-producingN. spumigenastrains. The data confirm that only one morphologically and genetically distinct planktonic species ofNodularia,N. spumigena, and at least two benthic species,N. sphaerocarpaandN. harveyana, exist in the Baltic Sea.
Microbacterium oleivorans sp. nov. and Microbacterium hydrocarbonoxydans sp. nov., novel crude-oil-degrading Gram-positive bacteria
Authors: Schippers Axel , Bosecker Klaus , Spröer Cathrin , Schumann Peter
Published: March 2005

A taxonomic study of two crude-oil-degrading, Gram-positive bacterial strains, designated BAS69Tand BNP48T, revealed that they represent two novelMicrobacteriumspecies. 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity to their closest phylogenetic neighbours was 98·5 % for BAS69T(Microbacterium paraoxydansDSM 15019TandMicrobacterium saperdaeDSM 20169T) and 99 % for BNP48T(Microbacterium luteolumDSM 20143T). Levels of DNA–DNA relatedness to the closest phylogenetic neighbours of both strains were between 11 and 38 %. According to phylogenetic analysis, the two strains are distinguishable from all recognized species ofMicrobacterium. Morphological and physiological characteristics of strains BAS69Tand BNP48Twere different from those of phylogenetically closely relatedMicrobacteriumspecies. The diamino acid in the cell-wall peptidoglycan of BAS69Tis lysine and of BNP48Tis ornithine. The major menaquinones are MK-11 and MK-12 for both strains. Based on their ability to degrade crude oil, the nameMicrobacterium oleivoranssp. nov. is proposed for strain BAS69T(=DSM 16091T=NCIMB 14003T) andMicrobacterium hydrocarbonoxydansis proposed for strain BNP48T(=DSM 16089T=NCIMB 14002T).
Uruburuella suis gen. nov., sp. nov., isolated from clinical specimens of pigs
Authors: Vela A. I. , Collins M. D. , Lawson P. A. , García N. , Domínguez L. , Fernández-Garayzábal J. F.
Published: March 2005

Five strains of an unusual Gram-negative, catalase-positive, oxidase-positive, coccobacillus-shaped bacterium isolated from the lungs and heart of pigs with pneumonia and pericarditis were characterized by phenotypic and molecular genetic methods. On the basis of cellular morphology and biochemical criteria, the isolates were tentatively assigned to the family Neisseriaceae, although they did not appear to correspond to any recognized genus or species. Comparative 16S rRNA gene sequencing showed that the five unidentified strains were phylogenetically highly related to each other and represent a hitherto unknown subline within the family Neisseriaceae. On the basis of both phenotypic and phylogenetic evidence, it is proposed that the unknown isolates from pigs be classified as a novel genus and species within the family Neisseriaceae, for which the name Uruburuella suis gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of U. suis is 1258/02T (=CCUG 47806T=CECT 5685T).
Psychrobacter cibarius sp. nov., isolated from jeotgal, a traditional Korean fermented seafood
Authors: Jung Seo-Youn , Lee Mi-Hwa , Oh Tae-Kwang , Park Yong-Ha , Yoon Jung-Hoon
Published: March 2005

Two novelPsychrobacter-like bacterial strains, JG-219Tand JG-220, were isolated from jeotgal, a traditional Korean fermented seafood. Cells of strains JG-219Tand JG-220 were Gram-negative, non-motile coccobacilli. Growth of the two strains was observed at 4–32 °C. They grew optimally in the presence of 2–5 % (w/v) NaCl. Strains JG-219Tand JG-220 contained C18 : 1ω9cand C17 : 1ω8cas the major fatty acids and Q-8 as the predominant ubiquinone. The DNA G+C contents of strains JG-219Tand JG-220 were 43·5 and 43·0 mol%, respectively. The two strains showed no difference in their 16S rRNA gene sequences but exhibited minor differences in their phenotypic properties. Strains JG-219Tand JG-220 exhibited levels of 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity of 95·2–98·7 % to the type strains of recognizedPsychrobacterspecies. The mean level of DNA–DNA relatedness between strains JG-219Tand JG-220 was 84·4 %. The two strains exhibited levels of DNA–DNA relatedness of 1·5–32·9 % to the type strains of eight phylogenetically relatedPsychrobacterspecies. On the basis of phenotypic data and phylogenetic and genetic distinctiveness, the two strains were classified as representing a novel species within the genusPsychrobacter,Psychrobacter cibariussp. nov. The type strain is JG-219T(=KCTC 12256T=DSM 16327T).
Gordonia nitida Yoon et al. 2000 is a later synonym of Gordonia alkanivorans Kummer et al. 1999
Authors: Arenskötter Matthias , Linos Alexandros , Schumann Peter , Kroppenstedt Reiner M. , Steinbüchel Alexander
Published: March 2005

The name of the speciesGordonia nitidais validly published but its type strain DSM 44499Tshares high similarity based on 16S rRNA gene sequences withGordonia alkanivoransDSM 44369TandGordonia westfalicaDSM 44215T. These three species obviously build up a distinct cluster within the genusGordonia. In the present paper, data from the literature concerning the threeGordoniaspecies were reviewed and the genetic similarity ofG. nitidaDSM 44499TandG. alkanivoransDSM 44369Twas further investigated by DNA–DNA-hybridization experiments, revealing approximately 80 % DNA–DNA relatedness. Even though the two type strains could be differentiated by automated ribotyping, it is proposed that, according to the rules of priority,G. nitidais a later synonym ofG. alkanivorans.
Caminibacter mediatlanticus sp. nov., a thermophilic, chemolithoautotrophic, nitrate-ammonifying bacterium isolated from a deep-sea hydrothermal vent on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge
Authors: Voordeckers James W. , Starovoytov Valentin , Vetriani Costantino
Published: March 2005

A thermophilic, anaerobic, chemolithoautotrophic bacterium, designated strain TB-2T, was isolated from the walls of an active deep-sea hydrothermal vent chimney on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge at 36° 14′ N 33° 54′ W. The cells were Gram-negative rods approximately 1·5 μm in length and 0·75 μm in width. Strain TB-2Tgrew between 45 and 70 °C (optimum 55 °C), 10 and 40 g NaCl l−1(optimum 30 g l−1) and pH 4·5 and 7·5 (optimum pH 5·5). Generation time under optimal conditions was 50 min. Growth occurred under chemolithoautotrophic conditions with H2as the energy source and CO2as the carbon source. Nitrate or sulfur was used as the electron acceptor, with resulting production of ammonium and hydrogen sulfide, respectively. Oxygen, thiosulfate, sulfite, selenate and arsenate were not used as electron acceptors. Growth was inhibited by the presence of acetate, lactate, formate and peptone. The G+C content of the genomic DNA was 25·6 mol%. Phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequence indicated that this organism is closely related toCaminibacter hydrogeniphilusandCaminibacter profundus(95·9 and 96·3 % similarity, respectively). On the basis of phylogenetic, physiological and genetic considerations, it is proposed that the organism represents a novel species within the genusCaminibacter,Caminibacter mediatlanticussp. nov. The type strain is TB-2T(=DSM 16658T=JCM 12641T).
3D reconstruction of the Mu transposase and the Type 1 transpososome: a structural framework for Mu DNA transposition
Authors: Yuan Joy F. , Beniac Daniel R. , Chaconas George , Ottensmeyer F. Peter
Published: March 2005

Mu DNA transposition proceeds through a series of higher-order nucleoprotein complexes called transpososomes. The structural core of the transpososome is a tetramer of the transposase, Mu A, bound to the two transposon ends. High-resolution structural analysis of the intact transposase and the transpososome has not been successful to date. Here we report the structure of Mu A at 16-Å and the Type 1 transpososome at 34-Å resolution, by 3D reconstruction of images obtained by scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) at cryo-temperatures. Electron spectroscopic imaging (ESI) of the DNA-phosphorus was performed in conjunction with the structural investigation to derive the path of the DNA through the transpososome and to define the DNA-binding surface in the transposase. Our model of the transpososome fits well with the accumulated biochemical literature for this intricate transposition system, and lays a structural foundation for biochemical function, including catalysis in trans and the complex circuit of macromolecular interactions underlying Mu DNA transposition.
High‐grade dysplasia in Barrett's oesophagus: natural history and review of clinical practice
Authors: Thomas T. , Richards C. J. , De Caestecker J. S. , Robinson R. J.
Published: March 2005

Background:  Management of high‐grade dysplasia in Barrett's oesophagus is controversial: surgery carries an appreciable morbidity/mortality, high‐grade dysplasia may not progress to cancer and endoscopic ablation is an emerging option.

Aim:  To review Barrett's oesophagus‐related high‐grade dysplasia management and outcome over a 10‐year period.

Methods:  This was a retrospective case note review of 36 patients identified from a pathology database.

Results:  There were 31 men of mean age 67 years. Endoscopic surveillance identified nine. Median follow‐up was 21 months. Seven patients had no further intervention because of age/comorbidity. The other 29 had repeat endoscopic biopsies, nine showing cancer (six oesophagectomized). Of the 20 remaining patients with persisting high‐grade dysplasia, eight had surgery (histology showed cancer in six), seven continued endoscopic surveillance (high‐grade dysplasia regressed in four) and five had ‘curative’ argon ablation. An intensive biopsy protocol was not followed in 55% of endoscopies. Prevalent cancers occurred in 44% with an annual incidence of 5% over 5 years. All cause mortality was 39% (14 of 36, eight of 14 from cancer).

Conclusions:  Management of high‐grade dysplasia was not uniform. Unsuspected cancer was common in high‐grade dysplasia patients undergoing surgery but 13% regressed under surveillance. High‐grade dysplasia patients have a high mortality but 43% did not die from cancer.
Characterization and RH mapping of bovine microsatellites generated from a microdissected BTA20‐specific DNA library
Authors: Li G.‐H. , Liu W.‐S. , Takasuga A. , Watanabe T. , Carpio C. M. , Rink A. , Sugimoto Y. , Ponce de León F. A. , Beattie C. W.
Published: March 2005

Bovine chromosome 20 (BTA20) is associated with several quantitative trait loci (QTL) for meat tenderness, birth weight, milk yield and composition. Fine mapping of these QTL requires the development of additional informative markers to increase the resolution of the BTA20 genetic and physical maps. A BTA20‐specific library was constructed by means of microdissection and microcloning, and screened for dinucleotide repeats with (CA)16 and (GT)16 oligos. A total of 60 new microsatellites (MS) were developed and characterized for polymorphism using the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)/Meat Animal Research Center (MARC) bovine reference family, of which 53 markers were informative in this family. The number of alleles for these loci varied from 1 to 14, with an average of 6.5. Thirty‐three of these MSs, together with 105 markers previously mapped to BTA20, were scored on a 7000‐rad cattle‐hamster whole‐genome radiation hybrid panel (SUNbRH), resulting in a high‐resolution RH7000 rad map for BTA20.
Generation of an antibody specific to Xenopus fertilized eggs by subtractive immunization
Authors: Sakakibara Keiichi , Sato Ken‐ichi , Iwasaki Tetsushi , Kitamura Kazuyuki , Fukami Yasuo
Published: March 2005

Here we report the generation and characterization of a monoclonal antibody, mAb 5H7‐G1, which recognizes egg antigens in the animal cortex of fertilized, but not unfertilized, Xenopus eggs. The mAb 5H7‐G1 was generated by subtractive immunization of mice: primary immunization with unfertilized egg extract followed by immunosuppression treatment with cyclophosphamide and repeated immunization with fertilized egg extract. In immunoblotting analysis, mAb 5H7‐G1 recognizes multiple protein bands of fertilized (but not unfertilized or the ionophore‐activated) Xenopus eggs. N‐linked polysaccharide is most likely the target of mAb 5H7‐G1 because immunoreactivity of mAb 5H7‐G1 is effectively diminished when protein samples are treated with N‐glycosidase F. Moreover, mAb 5H7‐G1 recognizes some, but not all, tyrosine‐phosphorylated proteins in eggs treated with H2O2, an artificial activator of the egg tyrosine kinase Src, suggesting that these proteins also contain N‐linked sugars. When microinjected into fertilized Xenopus embryos, mAb 5H7‐G1 causes a retardation or complete inhibition of first cell cleavage, suggesting that the mAb 5H7‐G1‐reactive antigens play an important role in this event. These results demonstrate that mAb 5H7‐G1 is useful to analyze differential proteome display during fertilization and early development. More generally, subtractive immunization may work as a strategy to uncover cellular events that operate during different cellular conditions of interest.
Caring for a child with cancer: a longitudinal perspective
Authors: Svavarsdottir Erla Kolbrun
Published: March 2005

Aims.  This paper reports a study to evaluate caregiving demands among mothers and fathers of children with cancer, parents’ well‐being, and how the parents perceive the health status of their child over a period of 18 months.

Background.  Cancer among children has psychological impact on all family members. Most previous research has focused on distress, coping patterns and social support, and less is known about how parents are dealing with the illness experience over time. No study was found that evaluated caregiving on a daily basis, or the impact of the cancer on wellbeing and perceptions of health within families.

Methods.  Data were collected between 1999 and 2001. Parents of 26 Icelandic children under 18 years with cancer completed questionnaires about caregiving activities, general wellbeing and health perceptions. Descriptive statistics and Repeated Analyses of Variance were conducted at baseline, 12 and 18 months.

Results.  The most time‐consuming and difficult caregiving activities for both mothers and fathers were giving emotional support to the child with cancer, and to other children in the family. Mothers also found it difficult and time‐consuming to manage behavioural problems and to structure and plan activities for the family. Fathers found it difficult to manage work and organize care for the child at the same time, and to give their partner emotional support. When evaluated over time, mothers’ caregiving demands differed statistically significantly from fathers’, and fathers’ caregiving demands and health perceptions changed statistically significantly over the 18 months of the study.

Conclusion.  These findings underline the long‐term impact of children's cancer on their families. Interventions focusing on emotional support, parents’ wellbeing, and how families perceive the health of their child with cancer might benefit the family as a whole.
Cardiopulmonary bypass in humans – jejunal mucosal perfusion increases in parallel with well‐maintained microvascular hematocrit
Authors: Thorén A. , Nygren A. , Houltz E. , Ricksten S‐E.
Published: March 2005

Background:  An imbalance between splanchnic oxygen supply and demand occurs during cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) in man, which might disrupt the intestinal mucosal barrier function. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of mild hypothermic CPB on intestinal mucosal perfusion in man undergoing cardiac surgery. Additionally we aimed to identify variables, which independently could predict changes of intestinal mucosal microcirculatory variables during CPB.

Methods:  Jejunal mucosal perfusion (JMP), jejunal mucosal hematocrit (JMHt), red blood cell (RBC) velocity and arteriolar vasomotion using endoluminal jejunal laser Doppler flow metry were studied in eight cardiac surgical patients before and during CPB at a temperature of 34°C.

Results:  Cardiopulmonary bypass and the accompanied hemodilution (25–30%) induced a 44% increase in JMP (P < 0.05) and a 42% increase in RBC velocity (P < 0.01), with no change in JMHt. The oscillation amplitude of JMP, at a fundamental frequency of 2.8 cycles min−1, increased with 175% (P < 0.05) during CPB. Splanchnic oxygen extraction increased by 64% during CPB (P < 0.05). Stepwise multiple regression analysis identified systemic hematocrit, arterial O2 and CO2 tension and splanchnic oxygen extraction as independent predictors of RBC velocity during CPB (R2 = 0.63, P < 0.001). The oscillation amplitude of JMP was predicted by RBC velocity and splanchnic oxygen extraction (R2 = 0.68, P < 0.0001).

Conclusions:  The increase in RBC velocity and enhanced arteriolar vasomotion, as well as maintained jejunal mucosal hematocrit, are microcirculatory, compensatory mechanisms for the splanchic oxygen supply/demand mismatch seen during cardiopulmonary bypass in humans.
A survey of Ophiostoma species vectored by Hylastes ater to pine seedlings in New Zealand
Authors: Reay S. D. , Thwaites J. M. , Farrell R. L.
Published: March 2005

Ecological studies in New Zealand require consideration of the impact of exotic (introduced) organisms from disparate environments. A survey of Ophiostoma species isolated and identified from Pinus radiata stumps, the bark beetle Hylastes ater collected from these stumps and from P. radiata seedlings following sublethal damage by H. ater, was undertaken in 10 reforestation sites in New Zealand. Nine Ophiostoma species were isolated and identified in this survey. Ophiostoma galeiformis and Ophiostoma huntii were isolated most frequently from all the substrates sampled. Ophiostoma floccosum, Ophiostoma setosum, Leptographium procerum and Leptographium truncatum were also isolated from stumps, damaged seedlings and beetles. Ophiostoma quercus was only isolated from stumps and beetles and Ophiostoma ips only from beetles. A strong relationship between the severity of H. ater feeding damage, and the presence and number of species of Ophiostoma was found. Eight Ophiostoma species were transmitted by H. ater to P. radiata seedlings in laboratory transmission experiments. From the results of this field survey and the laboratory experiments we confirm that H. ater is a vector of Ophiostoma species to P. radiata seedlings in New Zealand.
Factors that influence special care nursery admissions to a district hospital in South‐western Sydney
Authors: Phung H , Bauman A , Tran M , Young L , McDonald J , Michell L , Hillman K
Published: March 2005

Objectives: To explore the socio‐demographic factors and maternal characteristics that influence special care nursery (SCN) admission for infants of more than 34 weeks' gestation. Particularly, this paper aims (i) to estimate the incidence of SCN admission by various mothers' socio‐demographic factors; and (ii) to investigate the relationship between SCN admission and mothers' socio‐demographic and obstetric and gynaecological factors.

Methods: This was a cohort study of 10 148 pregnant women who accessed the birthing unit within a public district hospital in south‐western Sydney in New South Wales, between 1998 and 2001. The main outcome measure was risk factors for SCN admission.

Results: The incidence of SCN admission was 11.7%. Multivariate analysis revealed that the risk factors for SCN admission were diabetes, gestational diabetes, high parity, pregnancy induced hypertension, living in suburbs with low education and occupation index, and no private health insurance status.

Conclusions: The results from this large population‐based study suggest that, apart from clinical/medical factors, admission to a special care nursery at a District Hospital was significantly affected by maternal insurance status and level of education and occupation.
Haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis in Malaysian children
Authors: Ariffin H , Lum SH , Cheok SA , Shekhar K , Ariffin WA , Chan LL , Lin HP
Published: March 2005

Objectives:  To study the clinical presentation, therapy and outcome of children diagnosed with both primary and secondary haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) at the University of Malaya Medical Centre.

Methods:  All patients diagnosed with HLH between 1998 and 2004 were studied. Clinico‐pathological data of these patients were prospectively collected and analysed.

Results:  Thirteen consecutive patients (eight boys) with a median age of 28 months were seen. All patients presented with high‐grade unremitting fever and almost all, with hepatosplenomegaly and cytopenias. Neurological manifestations, which ranged from irritability to seizures and coma, were seen in 10 (77%) patients. Other common presenting features include liver dysfunction (46%) and skin rash (38%). All patients were treated using the HLH‐94 protocol chemotherapy which consisted of a combination of etoposide, dexamethasone and cyclosporine. Complete response was seen in seven patients while two required bone marrow transplantation and one developed secondary acute myeloid leukaemia. Two patients died before treatment could be commenced. Overall mortality rate in our series was 46%.

Conclusions:  Haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis is an uncommon disease with a high fatality rate. Due to its protean clinical manifestations, it may be underdiagnosed. Early detection and prompt institution of appropriate therapy is necessary to improve the outcome in affected patients.
Effective strategy to guide pathology test ordering in surgical patients
Authors: MacPherson Ross D , Reeve Simon A. , Stewart Tanya V. , Cunningham Anna E. S. , Craven Mary L. , Fox Greg , Schnitzler Margaret
Published: March 2005

Background:  Ordering of pathology testing by junior medical staff is often a haphazard process with little regard to the appropriateness of test ordering. The aim of the present study was to reduce ordering of inappropriate pathology tests in surgical patients attending the pre‐admission clinic (PAC) through the introduction of a protocol‐based test ordering system and to create an environment where such improvement can be sustained.

Methods:  This is a prospective study with a retrospective control group. Three cohorts of patients attending the PAC were included. Group I (n = 700) attended prior to the introduction of the test protocols (April−June 2002) and acted as a control group. Group II (n = 720) attended after the protocol introduction (April−June 2003), and group III (n = 763) attended during the subsequent 3‐month period from July to August 2003. The study examined the numbers of patients in each group who were ordered any of eight standard pathology tests. The average number of tests per patient, and cost of tests per patient were also ascertained.

Results:  Following the introduction of pathology test protocols, the ordering of all but one of the eight tests was statistically significantly reduced. In particular, ordering of coagulation studies was reduced from 22.5% to 13.8% and electrolytes, urea and creatinine from 65.2% to 48.25% of patients (both P < 0.0001). Average number of tests performed per patient declined from 2.48 to 1.88, representing a savings of $10.33 per patient (a decrease from $42.22 to $31.89) and a projected annualized cost saving in excess of $26 000.

Conclusions:  Provided that certain preliminary guidelines are followed, these protocols can reduce pathology test ordering in any pre‐admission Service.
RENEWABLE RESOURCE AND CAPITAL ACCUMULATION UNDER UNCERTAINTY
Authors: Ohta Hiroshi
Published: March 2005

An economy endowed with a renewable natural resource and physical capital is considered in order to examine the characteristics of possible transformation from natural to man‐made capital, as a potential means of surviving over long periods of time if the natural resource may be depleted or fall short of certain sustainable levels. Natural resource together with physical capital is utilized to produce a commodity that is either to be sold in a market to earn sales revenue or invested to accumulate physical capital. The reserve size of resource and the production technology are both subject to uncertainties that are modeled by Wiener processes. The Wiener process is used to express the intrinsic nature of uncertainty for a long planning horizon such as on natural resources, in which distant futures are more difficult to foresee than the near future. It is shown that there exists a steady‐state equilibrium in this economy under certainty and that, under some plausible conditions, the expected rate of change in resource harvest over time under uncertainty is less than the rate under certainty, while that of product sales is not affected by uncertainty.
Anti‐tRNP(ser)sec/SLA/LP autoantibodies. Comparative study using in‐house ELISA with a recombinant 48.8 kDa protein, immunoblot, and analysis of immunoprecipitated RNAs
Authors: Torres‐Collado Antoni Xavier , Czaja Albert J. , Gelpí Carmen
Published: March 2005

Background: Antibodies against tRNP(ser)sec (ribonucleoproteins, RNP) have been described in our laboratory as markers of poor outcome in type 1 autoimmune hepatitis (AIH). The antigenic protein has been sequenced and cloned as a 48.8 kDa protein and identified with soluble liver antigen (SLA) and liver–pancreas (LP) antigen. The aim of this paper was to determine the best assay by which to detect these antibodies in type 1 AIH.

Methods: A simple and reliable enzyme linked immunoassay based on prokaryotically expressed protein was compared with an immunoblot assay using prokaryotically‐ and eukaryotically‐expressed proteins and an assay based on immunoprecipitated RNAs from HeLa cell extracts. Eighty‐one sera from 58 patients with type 1 AIH, 168 sera from patients with autoimmune diseases or chronic hepatitis C, and 60 sera from healthy subjects were similarly tested.

Results: The specificity of the assays was 100%, but the frequency of seropositivity was higher in the assay based on immunoprecipitated RNAs (44.4%) than in the enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) (16%) and the immunoblot assay with prokaryotically (12.34%) and eukaryotically (14.8%)‐expressed protein. There were no clinical differences between the patients positive by ELISA, immunoblot assay, or immunoprecipitated RNAs.

Conclusions: These results suggest that the analysis of the immunoprecipitated RNAs is the most useful, sensitive and specific method to detect anti‐tRNP(ser)sec/SLA/LP autoantibodies.
Radiotherapy for painful bone metastases from hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Seong Jinsil , Koom Woong Sup , Park Hee Chul
Published: March 2005

Abstract: Background:Painful bone metastases are one of the distressing clinical situations in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The purpose of the study was to evaluate the palliative effect of radiotherapy for painful bone metastases from HCC.

Patients and Methods:A retrospective analysis was performed upon 51 patients, who were treated with radiotherapy for painful bone metastases from HCC at 77 sites, from January 1991 to June 2000. Twenty patients (39%) presented synchronous metastases, and the remaining 31 patients (61%) showed metachronous metastases. In addition to bone pain, neurologic symptoms and a palpable mass were presented in 13 (25%) and seven (13%) patients, respectively. Twenty‐one patients (41%) had a solitary metastasis and the most frequent site was the vertebra. The total dose of radiotherapy ranged from 12.5 to 50 Gy (median 30 Gy).

Results:On the Wisconsin Brief Pain Questionnaire, relief of pain was achieved at 56 sites (73%). The overall survival rate at 2 years was 4% and the median survival time was 5 months. Univariate analysis showed that tumor stage within the liver and the presence of metastases to organs, other than bones, were significant prognostic factors for survival (P<0.05).

Conclusion:In conclusion, radiotherapy provides effective palliation for patients with painful bone metastases from HCC during the substantial median survival time.
Evaluation of platelet‐rich plasma in combination with freeze‐dried bone in the rabbit cranium
Authors: Aghaloo Tara L. , Moy Peter K. , Freymiller Earl G.
Published: March 2005

Abstract: Platelet‐rich plasma (PRP) offers a new and potentially useful adjunct to allograft materials in oral and maxillofacial bone and implant reconstructive surgery. This study compares bone healing in four cranial defects in the rabbit grafted with freeze‐dried mineralized bone (FMB) alone, FMB+PRP, freeze‐dried demineralized bone (FDDB) alone, and FDDB+PRP. Fifteen New Zealand white rabbits were included in this randomized, blind, prospective pilot study. Four equal 8 mm diameter defects were created in each rabbit cranium and immediately grafted with the above materials. Five rabbits were evaluated at 1, 2, and 4 months. Radiographically, FMB+PRP showed a tendency toward increased bone density over FMB alone, but was not statistically significant (P>0.05), and FDDB+PRP showed a tendency toward increased bone density over FDDB alone, but was not statistically significant (P>0.05). Histomorphometrically, FMB+PRP showed a tendency toward increased bone area over FMB alone at 1 and 4 months, but was not statistically significant (P>0.05), and FDDB+PRP showed a tendency toward increased bone area over FDDB alone, at 1 and 2 months, but was not statistically significant (P>0.05). This study failed to show a radiographic or histomorphometric increase in bone formation with the addition of PRP to either FMB or FDDB in non‐critical‐sized defects in the rabbit cranium.
Bone formation by enamel matrix proteins and xenografts: an experimental study in the rat ramus
Authors: Donos Nikolaos , Bosshardt Dieter , Lang Niklaus , Graziani Filippo , Tonetti Maurizio , Karring Thorkild , Kostopoulos Lambros
Published: March 2005

Abstract: The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the use of enamel matrix proteins with or without the use of deproteinized bovine bone influences bone formation when used as an adjunct to guided bone regeneration (GBR). Twenty rats, divided into four groups of five animals each, were used in this study. Group A1: A hemispherical PTFE capsule was placed empty on the lateral aspect of the mandibular ramus (GBR). At the contralateral side of the jaw, the capsule was filled with an enamel matrix derivative (EMD) before its placement. The healing period was 60 days. Group A2: The animals were treated in the same manner as in Group A1 but with a healing period of 120 days. Group B1: The animals were treated in the same manner as in Group A1 with the difference that deproteinized bovine bone mineral (DBBM) particles were packed in the capsule. At the contralateral side of the jaw, the capsule was filled with a mixture of EMD and DBBM. The healing period was 60 days. Group B2: The same treatment as in B1 but with a healing period of 120 days. The histological analysis revealed that in Groups A1 and A2 newly formed bone was covering a significant part of the empty capsules (GBR). The use of EMD in the capsule did not offer any added benefit to the use of the capsule alone in terms of new bone formation. At Groups B1 and B2, the presence of DBBM and/or EMD did not positively affect the amount of new bone formation. It can be suggested that neither the application of EMD nor the use of DBBM or the combination of EMD and DBBM results in enhanced amounts of bone formation in comparison with the GBR procedure alone.
A weight gain chart for pregnant women designed in Chile
Authors: Mardones Francisco , Rosso Pedro
Published: March 2005

The weight gain chart for pregnant women, developed by Rosso and Mardones (RM chart, 1997), is analysed and compared with other charts in terms of its usefulness for targeting nutritional interventions aimed at preventing low or high birth weights. The RM chart defines categories of maternal nutritional status in early gestation based on weight/height, expressed either as percentage of standard weight (PSW) or body mass index (BMI), and desirable gestational weight gains for each of these categories. Weight gain recommendations of the RM chart are proportional to maternal height. For underweight women the weight recommendation was derived from actual data, while for overweight and obese women it is based on data extrapolations. Since 1987 the Chilean National Health Service has used the RM chart as a standard in prenatal care in all its clinics, covering approximately 70% of the country's population, mostly middle and low income women. During the 1987–2001 period the proportion of underweight pregnant women and infants with birth weight <3000 g decreased significantly and proportionally. Nevertheless, the proportion of obese pregnant women and infants with birth weight ≥4000 g increased during this period. Multifactorial social changes including a decade of substantial economic growth in the country with improved family income, precludes the possibility of determining the efficacy of the RM chart in this group. However, the widespread use of the RM chart indicates that it is a helpful and easy‐to‐use instrument in the field. Further, by its clear graphical presentation of maternal nutritional status it helps draw the attention of health personnel to women who need special nutritional advice and support.
Regulation of the
Vibrio anguillarum
Metalloprotease EmpA by Posttranslational Modification
Authors: Staroscik Andrew M. , Denkin Steven M. , Nelson David R.
Published: March 2005

The zinc metalloprotease EmpA is a virulence factor in the fish pathogen
Vibrio anguillarum
. Previous studies have shown that two strains of
V. anguillarum
regulate
empA
differently. Strain M93Sm exhibits protease activity only in the presence of fish gastrointestinal mucus, while protease activity is detected in NB10 culture supernatant under all stationary-phase conditions. In this study, we use real-time reverse transcription-PCR to show that even in conditions where no protease activity is detected,
empA
transcription occurs. Western blot analysis revealed that EmpA is secreted as a ∼48-kDa proenzyme and that activation occurs extracellularly by the removal of a ∼10-kDa peptide. The presence of stable extracellular pro-EmpA in M93Sm culture supernatants suggests that activation of EmpA is not autolytic.
Novel Dephosphotetrahydromethanopterin Biosynthesis Genes Discovered via Mutagenesis in
Methylobacterium extorquens
AM1
Authors: Chistoserdova Ludmila , Rasche Madeline E. , Lidstrom Mary E.
Published: March 2005

Methylobacterium extorquens
AM1 was used to explore the genetics of dephosphotetrahydromethanopterin (dH
4
MPT) biosynthesis. Strains with mutations in eight “archaeal-type” genes linked on the chromosome of
M. extorquens
AM1 were analyzed for the ability to synthesize dH
4
MPT, and six were found to be dH
4
MPT negative. Putative functions of these genes in dH
4
MPT biosynthesis are discussed.
MULTIMODE HONG–OU–MANDEL INTERFEROMETRY
Authors: WALBORN S. P. , NOGUEIRA W. A. T. , de OLIVEIRA A. N. , PÁDUA S. , MONKEN C. H.
Published: March 2005

We review some recent experiments based upon multimode two-photon interference of photon pairs created by spontaneous parametric down-conversion. The new element provided by these experiments is the inclusion of the transverse spatial profiles of the pump, signal and idler fields. We discuss multimode Hong–Ou–Mandel interference, and show that the transverse profile of the pump beam can be manipulated in order to control two-photon interference. We present the basic theory and experimental results as well as several applications to the field of quantum information.