bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
E. T. A. HOFFMANN AND THE ETHEREAL TECHNOLOGIES OF ‘NATURE MUSIC’
Authors: DOLAN EMILY I. 
Published: April 2008

ABSTRACTIn 1814, E. T. A. Hoffmann published his short story, Die
Automate. The story concerns the dealings of two friends and a fortune-telling
automaton, the Turk, whose prophetic utterances seem to reveal a supernatural and psychic ability. Although the story first appeared in the Allegemeine musikalische Zeitung, it has been mostly overlooked by music scholars. In addition to the lengthy passages dealing with artificial intelligence, the story includes an extensive discussion of music performance and music instruments. The instruments they discuss – machines capable of bringing forth the voice of nature – perhaps appear as fantastical creations of Hoffmann’s imagination. However, he refers to real instruments that played an established role in late eighteenth- and early nineteenth-century musical culture. This period saw the frenzied production of many novel and bizarre instruments such as the euphon, aiuton, aenomochord, xänorphica and the harmonichord. Though these instruments are all but forgotten today, they testify to a widespread preoccupation with timbre and instrumental sonority. The consolidation of the orchestra as a concept, musical body and institution in the eighteenth century went hand in hand with the notion that individual instrumental sonorities had distinct expressive characters. By the early nineteenth century, this idea manifested itself in two distinct traditions: an orchestral one, in which composers increasingly took advantage of the ever-growing palette of instruments, giving rise to the modern concept of orchestration and the romantic symphony, and an instrument-oriented one, in which musicians, scientists and inventors attempted to capture ‘ideal sonorities’ (usually timbres resembling the human voice) in specially designed instruments. These creations offer a missing link between idealist aesthetics of the period and musical practice. Though ultimately ephemeral, they represent a kind of ‘absolute’ music that was founded purely in ethereal sonorities rather than in musical formalism.
Process Monitoring the Inactivation of Ricin and Model Proteins by Disinfectants Using Fluorescence and Biological Activity
Authors: Cole Kenneth D. , Gaigalas Adolfas , Almeida Jamie L. 
Published: April 2008

AbstractIt is important to develop rapid and reliable processes to monitor the decontamination of toxins released to the environment. The inactivation of the protein toxin ricin by the disinfectants bleach (sodium hypochlorite) and monochloramine was measured by the effect on mammalian cell cytotoxicity. The effect of the disinfectants on the native fluorescence (due mainly to tryptophan and to a lesser extent tyrosine) of ricin was also measured in parallel. Reactions of the disinfectants resulted in a decrease in the native fluorescence that was measured in real time in a noninvasive manner. We compared the inactivation of two well‐characterized model enzymes to the behavior of ricin. The model enzymes studied were lysozyme, a small basic enzyme stabilized with internal disulfide bonds, and heart‐muscle‐type lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), a large protein composed of four subunits. The biological activities of the model enzymes were measured in parallel with their fluorescence. Gel electrophoresis showed a large number of modifications of the proteins caused by the disinfectants reflected in changes in mobility and the formation of higher‐order aggregates. Size‐exclusion chromatography showed that the disinfectants did not break down the subunit structure of ricin but instead resulted in an increased size and heterogeneity of the protein. Size‐exclusion chromatography of LDH indicated that the subunits were dissociated and that higher‐order aggregates were also formed. Bleach caused a rapid inactivation of biological activity correlated with a rapid decrease in the fluorescence. Monochloramine required much higher concentrations for significant effects and the kinetics of the reactions were slow, with half‐life values of the decrease on the order of minutes. Each protein showed individual differences in responses to the disinfectants, but there was a consistent correlation between the loss of fluorescence and the decrease in biological activity. These results indicate that the monitoring the fluorescence is a useful process with limitations that can be used to monitor the inactivation of toxins using disinfectants.
The effect of inertial coupling on seismic reflection amplitudes
Authors: Arora Ashish , Tomar S.K. 
Published: April 2008

ABSTRACTA problem of reflection and transmission of elastic waves at a plane interface between a uniform elastic solid half‐space and a porous elastic half‐space containing two immiscible fluids is investigated. The theory developed by Lo, Sposito and Majer for porous media containing two immiscible fluids is employed to find out the reflection and transmission coefficients. The incident wave is assumed to propagate through the uniform elastic half‐space and two cases are considered. In the first case, a beam of plane longitudinal wave is assumed to be incident and in the second case, a beam of transverse wave is assumed to be incident at the interface. By taking granite as impervious elastic medium and columbia fine sandy loam containing air‐water mixture as porous medium, reflection and transmission coefficients are obtained. By neglecting the inertial coupling coefficients, these coefficients are reduced to those obtained by Tomar and Arora using the theory of Tuncay and Corapcioglu. It is found that the inertial coupling parameters significantly affect the phase speeds and the amplitude ratios of the transmitted waves.
T helper cell type 1 (Th1), Th2 and Th17 responses to myelin basic protein and disease activity in multiple sclerosis
Authors: Hedegaard Chris J. , Krakauer Martin , Bendtzen Klaus , Lund Henrik , Sellebjerg Finn , Nielsen Claus H. 
Published: April 2008

SummaryAutoreactive T cells are thought to play an essential role in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis (MS). We examined the stimulatory effect of human myelin basic protein (MBP) on mononuclear cell (MNC) cultures from 22 patients with MS and 22 sex‐matched and age‐matched healthy individuals, and related the patient responses to disease activity, as indicated by magnetic resonance imaging. The MBP induced a dose‐dependent release of interferon‐γ (IFN‐γ), tumour necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α) and interleukin‐10 (IL‐10) by patient‐derived MNCs. The patients’ cells produced higher amounts of IFN‐γ and TNF‐α, and lower amounts of IL‐10, than cells from healthy controls (P < 0·03 to P < 0·04). Five patients with MS and no controls, displayed MBP‐induced CD4+ T‐cell proliferation. These high‐responders exhibited enhanced production of IL‐17, IFN‐γ, IL‐5 and IL‐4 upon challenge with MBP, as compared with the remaining patients and the healthy controls (P < 0·002 to P < 0·01). A strong correlation was found between the MBP‐induced CD4+ T‐cell proliferation and production of IL‐17, IFN‐γ, IL‐5 and IL‐4 (P < 0·0001 to P < 0·01) within the patient group, and the production of IL‐17 and IL‐5 correlated with the number of active plaques on magnetic resonance images (P = 0·04 and P = 0·007). These data suggest that autoantigen‐driven CD4+ T‐cell proliferation and release of IL‐17 and IL‐5 may be associated with disease activity. Larger studies are needed to confirm this.
The psychometric properties of the hospital anxiety and depressions scale adapted for use with people with intellectual disabilities
Authors: Dagnan D. , Jahoda A. , McDowell K. , Masson J. , Banks P. , Hare D. 
Published: April 2008

AbstractBackground  There is increasing recognition of depression in people with intellectual disabilities (ID). There is a need to develop well‐standardised self‐report measures for both clinical and research purposes. This paper presents some psychometric properties of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) adapted for use with people with ID. The anhedonic emphasis in the depression scale of the HADS may be particularly useful for people with ID who present with high rates of physical co‐morbidity.Method  A total of 197 people with ID completed an adapted HADS; 32 participants also completed the Zung Depression Scale and 42 also completed the Glasgow Depression Scale.Results  The obtained factor structure is similar to the original form of the scale used with people without ID. However, the underlying question wording of the HADS, where most depression items are phrased positively and most anxiety items are phrased negatively, makes clear interpretation of the factor structure difficult. The HADS has an adequate internal reliability and correlates well with other self‐report measures of depression.Conclusions  The HADS may need further adaptation; however, the measurement of anhedonia is a useful addition to the self‐report measures of depression available for people with ID.
Psychosocial profile in men and women with unexplained chest pain
Authors: Jerlock M. , Kjellgren K. I. , Gaston‐Johansson F. , Lissner L. , Manhem K. , Rosengren A. , Welin C. 
Published: April 2008

Abstract.Objective.  The aim of this study was to compare men and women with unexplained chest pain (UCP) to a randomly selected population sample free of clinical heart disease with regard to sleep problems, mental strain at work, stress at home, negative life events and health‐related quality of life (HRQOL).Design and subjects.  The study was conducted at a university hospital in Sweden including 231 patients aged 25–69 without any organic cause for chest pain. As a reference group, 1069 participants, were recruited from the INTERGENE population‐based study.Results.  Patients with UCP had more sleep problems (OR = 1.8, P < 0.0001), were almost three times more worried about stress at work (OR = 2.9, P < 0.0001), or had more stress at home (OR = 2.8, P < 0.0001), and were twice as likely to have negative life events (OR = 2.1, P < 0.0001). Women, but not men, with UCP, had a higher prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors (obesity, smoking, diabetes and hypertension) compared with references. With regard to HRQOL, UCP patients scored significantly lower than references in all dimensions of the SF‐36.Conclusions.  In comparison with a healthy reference group, patients with UCP reported more sleep problems, mental strain at work, stress at home and negative life events and had lower health‐related quality of life. Aside from immigration the strongest independent psychosocial factors were mental strain at work and negative life events last year in men and stress at home in women.
Physician gender is associated with the quality of type 2 diabetes care
Authors: Berthold H. K. , Gouni‐Berthold I. , Bestehorn K. P. , Böhm M. , Krone W. 
Published: April 2008

Abstract.Objectives.  Patient gender influences the quality of medical care whilst the role of physician gender is not well established. To investigate the influence of physician gender on quality of care in patients with type 2 diabetes.Design and methods.  Cross‐sectional study in 51 053 outpatients (48.6% male), treated by 3096 office‐based physicians (66.3% male; 74.0% general practitioners, 21.8% internists and 4.2% diabetologists). Outcome measures included processes of care, intermediate outcomes and medical management. Quality of care measures were based on current ADA guidelines. Hierarchical regression models were used to avoid case‐mix bias and to correct for physician‐level clustering. Adjusted odds ratios were calculated controlling for age, gender, disease duration and presence of atherosclerotic disease.Results.  The patients of female physicians were more often women, more obese, older and had more often atherosclerotic disease (34% in the total cohort). The patients of female physicians more often reached target values in glycaemic control (HbA1c < 6.5%; OR 1.14; 1.05–1.24, P = 0.002), blood lipoproteins (LDL‐C < 100 mg dL−1; OR 1.16; 1.06–1.27, P = 0.002), and blood pressure (systolic values < 130 mmHg; OR 1.11; 1.02–1.22, P = 0.018). They were more likely to receive antihypertensive drug therapy in general (OR 1.35; 1.24–1.46, P < 0.0001) and angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors in particular (OR 1.17; 1.09–1.25, P < 0.0001). The patients of female physicians less often performed glucose self‐monitoring (OR 0.83; 0.76–0.91, P < 0.0001) and less often received oral hypoglycaemic agents (OR 0.88; 0.82–0.95, P = 0.001).Conclusions.  Physician gender influences quality of care in patients with type 2 diabetes. Female physicians provide an overall better quality of care, especially in prognostically important risk management.
A tomato HD‐Zip homeobox protein, LeHB‐1, plays an important role in floral organogenesis and ripening
Authors: Lin Zhefeng , Hong Yiguo , Yin Mingan , Li Chunyang , Zhang Ke , Grierson Don 
Published: April 2008

SummaryEthylene is required for climacteric fruit ripening. Inhibition of ethylene biosynthesis genes, 1‐aminocyclopropane‐1‐carboxylate (ACC) synthase and ACC oxidase, prevents or delays ripening, but it is not known how these genes are modulated during normal development. LeHB‐1, a previously uncharacterized tomato homeobox protein, was shown by gel retardation assay to interact with the promoter of LeACO1, an ACC oxidase gene expressed during ripening. Inhibition of LeHB‐1 mRNA accumulation in tomato fruit, using virus‐induced gene silencing, greatly reduced LeACO1 mRNA levels, and inhibited ripening. Conversely, ectopic overexpression of LeHB‐1 by viral delivery to developing flowers elsewhere on injected plants triggered altered floral organ morphology, including production of multiple flowers within one sepal whorl, fusion of sepals and petals, and conversion of sepals into carpel‐like structures that grew into fruits and ripened. Our findings suggest that LeHB‐1 is not only involved in the control of ripening but also plays a critical role in floral organogenesis.
Optimal Factor Taxation under Wage Bargaining: A Dynamic Perspective
Authors: Koskela Erkki , Thadden Leopold von 
Published: April 2008

Abstract
We consider the issue of steady-state optimal factor taxation in a Ramsey-type dynamic general equilibrium setting with two distinct distortions: (i) taxes on capital and labour are the only available tax instruments for raising revenues and (ii) labour markets are subject to an inefficiency resulting from wage bargaining. If considered in isolation, the two distortions create conflicting demands on the wage tax, while calling for a zero capital tax. By combining the two distortions, we arrive at the conclusion that both instruments should be used, implying that the zero capital tax result in general is no longer valid under imperfectly competitive labour markets.
Prolonged neurophysiologic effects of levetiracetam after oral administration in humans
Authors: Epstein Charles M. , Girard‐Siqueira Lhys , Ehrenberg Joshua Andrew 
Published: April 2008

Summary
Purpose: To determine whether neurophysiological effects of levetiracetam (LEV) outlast its serum half‐life of approximately 7 h. Demonstration of prolonged effects would help to explain the efficacy of LEV at conventional dosing intervals that are longer than the serum half‐life.
Methods: Following an oral dose of LEV 3 g in 12 normal volunteers, we compared transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) measures of motor threshold (MT) and recruitment with LEV serum levels and subjective ratings of toxicity over 48 h. Subjects used a two‐dimensional visual‐analog scale to estimate the time course of any side effects.
Results: LEV serum levels and subjective toxicity both peaked around 1 h after oral administration. MT elevation was delayed in comparison to peak serum levels and subjective toxicity. MT was maximally elevated at 6–9 h, and recruitment maximally reduced at 0.6–9 h. Changes in both measures had recovered by approximately 50% at 24 h. Despite the time difference between toxicity and TMS changes, toxicity estimates correlated with the maximum increase in MT.
Conclusion: There is a substantial time lag between LEV serum levels and TMS measures of neuronal effects, and a similar temporal dissociation between subjective toxicity and maximum TMS change. The time course of neurophysiological effects, as measured by TMS, may help to explain the sustained clinical efficacy of LEV despite a short peripheral half‐life.
Glucose in the dialysate: Historical perspective and possible implications?
Authors: SHARMA Rajiv , ROSNER Mitchell H. 
Published: April 2008

AbstractHemodialysate solutions often contain high concentrations of glucose (up to 200 mg/dL). The historical reasons for the addition of glucose to the dialysate included: (1) aid in performance of ultrafiltration and (2) minimization of nutritional (caloric) losses during dialysis. However, recent experimental evidence supports the fact that exposure to high levels of glucose may be pro‐inflammatory. Given the high morbidity and mortality associated with dialysis and its linkage to chronic inflammation, the routine use of glucose in the dialysate may warrant reexamination. This review examines the utility of glucose in the dialysate and discusses the potential implications on chronic inflammation in patients with end‐stage renal disease. While there is currently no evidence for a casual relationship between dialysate glucose concentration and the chronic inflammation seen in ESRD, this possibility is explored.
Endophthalmitis: A rare complication of arteriovenous fistula infection
Authors: DESAI Madhav , RAPOOR Ram , GUDITHI Swarna Latha , KUMAR Ravi , PRASAD Neela , DAKSHINAMURTY Kaligotla Venkata 
Published: April 2008

AbstractVascular access infection is a frequent problem in patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis. Infection of arteriovenous fistula (AVF) is less common than dialysis catheter‐associated infection. Previous case reports described endophthalmitis secondary to hemodialysis catheter‐related infection, but not secondary to native AVF infection. We report a rare patient of endophthalmitis as a metastatic infection of AVF cannulation site abscess. A 19‐year‐old girl on maintenance hemodialysis for the past 2 years has presented with a history of fever, chills, and rigor of 3‐days duration and painful dimness of vision in the left eye of 1‐night duration. It was followed by redness of the eye, photophobia, and ocular discharge. On examination, the patient was febrile with an abscess near cannulation site of AVF. There was no perception of light in the left eye, conjunctiva was congested, cornea was clear, hypopyon present, and pupil was mid‐dilated, not reacting to light. Lens was clear. Vitreitis and exudative retinal detachment was present. Methicillin sensitive Staphylococcus aureus was isolated from blood, pus from AVF abscess and vitreous fluid. Diagnosis of endophthalmitis was confirmed by B‐scan ultrasound. She was treated with both intravenous and intraocular antibiotics and drainage of pus from AVF abscess and therapeutic vitrectomy. Though arteriovenous abscess responded to sensitive antibiotics and drainage, vision has not improved much. Strict aseptic precautions during regular AVF cannulation are required. Lapses may lead to loss of vision apart from described complications like access closure, endocarditis, and osteomyelitis.
Impact of intradialytic exercise on arterial compliance and B‐type natriuretic peptide levels in hemodialysis patients
Authors: TOUSSAINT Nigel D. , POLKINGHORNE Kevan R. , KERR Peter G. 
Published: April 2008

AbstractCardiovascular (CV) disease is the most common cause of mortality in end‐stage kidney disease (ESKD), and arterial stiffness, measured by pulse wave velocity (PWV), is an independent predictor of all‐cause and CV mortality. B‐type natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels are high in patients with CV disease and ESKD, and increases in BNP may also be a marker of CV risk. Regular exercise has many benefits on quality of life and physical strength and may also improve CV risk, but few studies have addressed the impact of exercise on CV risk in ESKD. We performed a prospective cross‐over trial in 19 hemodialysis (HD) patients to assess the impact of regular exercise on surrogate markers of CV risk‐arterial compliance and BNP levels. Exercise involved the use of a bicycle ergometer for minimum 30 min at each HD session for 3 months, with a 1‐month washout period. Group A (n=9) exercised for the first 3 months only, while group B (n=10) performed no intradialytic exercise initially and exercised for 3 months at cross‐over (month 4). Pulse wave velocity was performed using a SphygmoCor device, with concurrent measurements of BNP and other serum markers, at the commencement of the study, at 3 months, and on completion. The mean PWV (A: 10.4±3.1 m/s, B: 9.8±3.8 at baseline) showed a trend toward improvement with exercise (A: 8.7±2.7, p=0.07), and no significant change without (B: 10.5±3.6, p=0.31). After cross‐over, there was an increase in PWV in group A with cessation of exercise (9.75±2.4, p=0.01 vs. 3 months) and an improvement in group B with exercise (9.33±2.3, p=0.11 vs. 3 months). When comparing PWV after 3 months of exercise vs. 3 months of no exercise (paired t test), there was a significant difference in favor of exercise (9.04±0.59 vs. 10.16±0.74, p=0.008). The mean BNP levels following 3 months of exercise were also lower than those after 3 months of no exercise (504.4±101.2 vs. 809.4±196.1[N<100], p=0.047). There was an overall improvement in PWV, and to a lesser extent BNP levels, with 3 months of intradialytic exercise compared with no exercise, suggesting that regular exercise in ESKD may be associated with improvements in arterial compliance and a reduction in CV risk.
Physical Activity, Metabolic Syndrome, and Overweight in Rural Youth
Authors: Moore Justin B. , Davis Catherine L. , Baxter Suzanne Domel , Lewis Richard D. , Yin Zenong 
Published: April 2008

ABSTRACT:
Background:

Research suggests significant health differences between rural dwelling youth and their urban counterparts with relation to cardiovascular risk factors. This study was conducted to (1) determine relationships between physical activity and markers of metabolic syndrome, and (2) to explore factors relating to physical activity in a diverse sample of rural youth. Methods: Data were collected from 4th, 6th, 8th, and 11th grade public school students in the rural Southeastern United States in the spring of 2002. Physiological data included anthropometrics, fasting glucose, lipids, hemodynamics, and skinfold measurements. Psychosocial data included parental support for physical activity, accessibility of physical activity facilities, and safety concerns for physical activity. Behavioral data included self‐reported physical activity and sedentary behaviors. Results: After adjusting for sex, race, and age, subjects with low level of physical activity were 3 times more likely to be positive for metabolic syndrome compared to those reporting a high level of physical activity. Subjects reporting a low level of physical activity were 2.4 times more likely to be overweight compared to subjects reporting a high level of physical activity. Students with high levels of physical activity were more likely to have parents who provided money for physical activity lessons and sports teams. Conclusions: Rural youth with low levels of physical activity participation were at increased risks for metabolic syndrome and overweight. Effective physical activity promotions addressing supports for physical activity are urgently needed in rural America.