bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Attitudes towards and barriers to writing advance directives amongst cancer patients, healthy controls, and medical staff
Authors: Sahm S , Will R , Hommel G 
Published: August 2005

Objectives:After years of public discussion too little is still known about willingness to accept the idea of writing an advance directive among various groups of people in EU countries. We investigated knowledge about and willingness to accept such a directive in cancer patients, healthy controls, physicians, and nursing staff in Germany.Methods:Cancer patients, healthy controls, nursing staff, and physicians (n =  100 in each group) were surveyed by means of a structured questionnaire.Results:Only 18% and 19% of the patients and healthy controls respectively, and 10% of the medical staff had written an advance directive. However, 50–81% of those surveyed indicated that they wished to write one. This intention was associated with deteriorating health (p < 0.001). Only 29% of the healthy controls and 43% of the patients knew about the possibility of appointing a health care proxy. A majority in all groups believed that advance directives may influence the course of treatment (79–85%), yet half of those surveyed in all groups fear that patients could be pressurised into writing an advance directive, and 38–65% thought that relatives could abuse such documents.Conclusions:Only a minority of the participants had written an advance directive and knew about the possibility of authorising a health care proxy. Deteriorating health was associated with increasing willingness to make a directive. Despite a majority belief that advance directives may influence treatment at the end of life, other factors limit their employment, such as fear of abuse.
Interviews with Seymour Papert
Authors: Papert Seymour 
Published: August 2005

The legendary Quincy Jones and Seymour Papert have graciously
appeared on camera for interviews and joined the ACM Computers in
Entertainment magazines editorial board. Quincy and Seymour are two
of the nicest people to talk to and work with. Quincy talks about
education as fun learning, the impact of music on children, how
technology affects the way music is created and produced, and
digital distribution of music over the Internet. Seymour speaks of
learning-rich entertainment, Logo and computer programming for
children, technology in schools and education, and the future of
home schooling and learning environments. The video clips of the
interviews are available at
http://www.acm.org/pubs/cie/mar2004/index.html
Quincy Jones, who composed more than 50 major motion picture and
television scores, has earned international acclaim as producer of
the best-selling single of all time and the best-selling album in
the history of the recording industry. The all-time most nominated
Grammy artist with a total of 76 nominations and 26 awards, Quincy
has also received an Emmy Award, seven Oscar nominations, and the
Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Jean Hersholt
Humanitarian Award. More information can be found at
http://www.quincyjonesmusic.com
Seymour Papert, a mathematician and an early pioneer of
Artificial Intelligence, is internationally recognized as the
seminal thinker on how computers can change learning. He is a
cofounder with Marvin Minsky of the AI Lab at MIT and a founding
faculty member of the MIT Media Lab, where he continues to work.
Seymour collaborated for many years with Jean Piaget at the
University of Geneva in Switzerland. He wrote many books including
Mindstorms: Children, Computers, and Powerful Ideas. More
information can be found at http://www.papert.org/
Intraseasonal Variability of the South China Sea Summer Monsoon
Authors: Mao Jiangyu , Chan Johnny C. L. 
Published: August 2005

Abstract
The objective of this study is to explore, based on the National Centers for Environmental Prediction–National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCEP–NCAR) reanalysis data, the intraseasonal variability of the South China Sea (SCS) summer monsoon (SM) in terms of its structure and propagation, as well as interannual variations. A possible mechanism that is responsible for the origin of the 10–20-day oscillation of the SCS SM is also proposed.
The 30–60-day (hereafter the 3/6 mode) and 10–20-day (hereafter the 1/2 mode) oscillations are found to be the two intraseasonal modes that control the behavior of the SCSSM activities for most of the years. Both the 3/6 and 1/2 modes are distinct, but may not always exist simultaneously in a particular year, and their contributions to the overall variations differ among different years. Thus, the interannual variability in the intraseasonal oscillation activity of the SCS SM may be categorized as follows: the 3/6 category, in which the 3/6 mode is more significant (in terms of the percentage of variance explained) than the 1/2 mode; the 1/2 category, in which the 1/2 mode is dominant; and the dual category, in which both the 3/6 and 1/2 modes are pronounced.
Composite analyses of the 3/6 category cases indicate that the 30–60-day oscillation of the SCS SM exhibits a trough–ridge seesaw in which the monsoon trough and subtropical ridge exist alternatively over the SCS, with anomalous cyclones (anticyclones), along with enhanced (suppressed) convection, migrating northward from the equator to the midlatitudes. The northward-migrating 3/6-mode monsoon trough–ridge in the lower troposphere is coupled with the eastward-propagating 3/6-mode divergence–convergence in the upper troposphere. It is also found that, for the years in the dual category, the SCS SM activities are basically controlled by the 3/6 mode, but modified by the 1/2 mode.
Composite results of the 1/2-mode category cases show that the 10–20-day oscillation is manifest as an anticyclone–cyclone system over the western tropical Pacific, propagating northwestward into the SCS. A close coupling also exists between the upper-level convergence (divergence) and the low-level anticyclone (cyclone). It is found that the 1/2 mode of the SCS SM mainly originates from the equatorial central Pacific, although a disturbance from the northeast of the SCS also contributes to this mode. The flow patterns from an inactive to an active period resemble those associated with a mixed Rossby–gravity wave observed in previous studies.
Sensitivity of the Ocean’s Climate to Diapycnal Diffusivity in an EMIC. Part I: Equilibrium State
Authors: Dalan Fabio , Stone Peter H. , Kamenkovich Igor V. , Scott Jeffery R. 
Published: August 2005

Abstract
The diapycnal diffusivity in the ocean is one of the least known parameters in current climate models. Measurements of this diffusivity are sparse and insufficient for compiling a global map. Inferences from inverse methods and energy budget calculations suggest as much as a factor of 5 difference in the global mean value of the diapycnal diffusivity. Yet, the climate is extremely sensitive to the diapycnal diffusivity. In this paper the sensitivity of the current climate to the diapycnal diffusivity is studied, focusing on the changes occurring in the ocean circulation. To this end, a coupled model with a three-dimensional ocean with idealized geometry is used.
The results show that, at equilibrium, the strength of the thermohaline circulation in the North Atlantic scales with the 0.44 power of the diapycnal diffusivity, in contrast to the theoretical value based on scaling arguments for uncoupled models of 2/3. On the other hand, the strength of the circulation in the South Pacific scales with the 0.63 power of the diapycnal diffusivity in closer accordance with the theoretical value.
The vertical heat balance in the global ocean is controlled by, in the downward direction, (i) advection and (ii) diapycnal diffusion; in the upward direction, (iii) isopycnal diffusion and (iv) parameterized mesoscale eddy [Gent–McWilliams (GM)] advection. The size of the latter three fluxes increases with diapycnal diffusivity, because the thickness of the thermocline also increases with diapycnal diffusivity leading to greater isopycnal slopes at high latitudes, and hence, enhanced isopycnal diffusion and GM advection. Thus larger diapycnal diffusion is compensated for by changes in isopycnal diffusion and GM advection. Little change is found for the advective flux because of compensation between downward and upward advection.
Sensitivity results are presented for the hysteresis curve of the thermohaline circulation. The stability of the climate system to slow freshwater perturbations is reduced as a consequence of a smaller diapycnal diffusivity. This result is consistent with the findings of two-dimensional climate models. However, contrary to the results of these studies, a common threshold for the shutdown of the thermohaline circulation is not found in this model.
Alveolar macrophage-epithelial cell interaction following exposure to atmospheric particles induces the release of mediators involved in monocyte mobilization and recruitment
Authors: Ishii Hiroshi , Hayashi Shizu , Hogg James C , Fujii Takeshi , Goto Yukinobu , Sakamoto Noriho , Mukae Hiroshi , Vincent Renaud , van Eeden Stephan F 
Published: August 2005

AbstractBackgroundStudies from our laboratory have shown that human alveolar macrophages (AM) and bronchial epithelial cells (HBEC) exposed to ambient particles (PM10)in vitroincrease their production of inflammatory mediators and that supernatants from PM10-exposed cells shorten the transit time of monocytes through the bone marrow and promote their release into the circulation.MethodsThe present study concerns co-culture of AM and HBEC exposed to PM10(EHC-93) and the production of mediators involved in monocyte kinetics measured at both the mRNA and protein levels. The experiments were also designed to determine the role of the adhesive interaction between these cells via the intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM)-1 in the production of these mediators.ResultsAM/HBEC co-cultures exposed to 100 μg/ml of PM10for 2 or 24 h increased their levels of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), M-CSF, macrophage inflammatory protein (MIP)-1β, monocyte chemotactic protein (MCP)-1, interleukin (IL)-6 and ICAM-1 mRNA, compared to exposed AM or HBEC mono-cultures, or control non-exposed co-cultures. The levels of GM-CSF, M-CSF, MIP-1β and IL-6 increased in co-cultured supernatants collected after 24 h exposure compared to control cells (p < 0.05). There was synergy between AM and HBEC in the production of GM-CSF, MIP-1β and IL-6. But neither pretreatment of HBEC with blocking antibodies against ICAM-1 nor cross-linking of ICAM-1 on HBEC blocked the PM10-induced increase in co-culture mRNA expression.ConclusionWe conclude that an ICAM-1 independent interaction between AM and HBEC, lung cells that process inhaled particles, increases the production and release of mediators that enhance bone marrow turnover of monocytes and their recruitment into tissues. We speculate that this interaction amplifies PM10-induced lung inflammation and contributes to both the pulmonary and systemic morbidity associated with exposure to air pollution.
Combined prime-boost vaccination against tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) using a recombinant vaccinia virus and a bacterial plasmid both expressing TBE virus non-structural NS1 protein
Authors: Aleshin SE , Timofeev AV , Khoretonenko MV , Zakharova LG , Pashvykina GV , Stephenson JR , Shneider AM , Altstein AD 
Published: August 2005

AbstractBackgroundHeterologous prime-boost immunization protocols using different gene expression systems have proven to be successful tools in protecting against various diseases in experimental animal models. The main reason for using this approach is to exploit the ability of expression cassettes to prime or boost the immune system in different ways during vaccination procedures. The purpose of the project was to study the ability of recombinant vaccinia virus (VV) and bacterial plasmid, both carrying the NS1 gene from tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) virus under the control of different promoters, to protect mice against lethal challenge using a heterologous prime-boost vaccination protocol.ResultsThe heterologous prime-boost vaccination protocol, using a VV recombinant and bacterial plasmid, both containing the NS1 TBE virus protein gene under the control of different promoters, achieved a high level of protection in mice against lethal challenge with a highly pathogenic TBE virus strain. No signs of pronounced TBE infection were detected in the surviving animals.ConclusionHeterologous prime-boost vaccination protocols using recombinant VV and bacterial plasmids could be used for the development of flavivirus vaccines.
Echolocation calls and communication calls are controlled differentially in the brainstem of the bat Phyllostomus discolor
Authors: Fenzl Thomas , Schuller Gerd 
Published: August 2005

Abstract

Background

Echolocating bats emit vocalizations that can be classified either as echolocation calls or communication calls. Neural control of both types of calls must govern the same pool of motoneurons responsible for vocalizations. Electrical microstimulation in the periaqueductal gray matter (PAG) elicits both communication and echolocation calls, whereas stimulation of the paralemniscal area (PLA) induces only echolocation calls. In both the PAG and the PLA, the current thresholds for triggering natural vocalizations do not habituate to stimuli and remain low even for long stimulation periods, indicating that these structures have relative direct access to the final common pathway for vocalization. This study intended to clarify whether echolocation calls and communication calls are controlled differentially below the level of the PAG via separate vocal pathways before converging on the motoneurons used in vocalization.

Results

Both structures were probed simultaneously in a single experimental approach. Two stimulation electrodes were chronically implanted within the PAG in order to elicit either echolocation or communication calls. Blockade of the ipsilateral PLA site with iontophoretically application of the glutamate antagonist kynurenic acid did not impede either echolocation or communication calls elicited from the PAG. However, blockade of the contralateral PLA suppresses PAG-elicited echolocation calls but not communication calls. In both cases the blockade was reversible.

Conclusion

The neural control of echolocation and communication calls seems to be differentially organized below the level of the PAG. The PLA is an essential functional unit for echolocation call control before the descending pathways share again the final common pathway for vocalization.
Fractional Langevin model of gait variability
Authors: West Bruce J , Latka Miroslaw 
Published: August 2005

Abstract
The stride interval in healthy human gait fluctuates from step to step in a random manner and scaling of the interstride interval time series motivated previous investigators to conclude that this time series is fractal. Early studies suggested that gait is a monofractal process, but more recent work indicates the time series is weakly multifractal. Herein we present additional evidence for the weakly multifractal nature of gait. We use the stride interval time series obtained from ten healthy adults walking at a normal relaxed pace for approximately fifteen minutes each as our data set. A fractional Langevin equation is constructed to model the underlying motor control system in which the order of the fractional derivative is itself a stochastic quantity. Using this model we find the fractal dimension for each of the ten data sets to be in agreement with earlier analyses. However, with the present model we are able to draw additional conclusions regarding the nature of the control system guiding walking. The analysis presented herein suggests that the observed scaling in interstride interval data may not be due to long-term memory alone, but may, in fact, be due partly to the statistics.
Phase I Trial of Recombinant Immunotoxin RFB4(dsFv)-PE38 (BL22) in Patients With B-Cell Malignancies
Authors: Kreitman Robert J. , Squires David R. , Stetler-Stevenson Maryalice , Noel Pierre , FitzGerald David J.P. , Wilson Wyndham H. , Pastan Ira 
Published: August 2005

PurposeTo conduct a phase I trial of recombinant immunotoxin BL22, an anti-CD22 Fv fragment fused to truncated Pseudomonas exotoxin.Patients and MethodsForty-six pretreated patients with CD22+ non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL; n = 4), chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL; n = 11), and hairy cell leukemia (HCL; n = 31) received 265 cycles at 3 to 50 μg/Kg every other day × 3 doses.ResultsBL22 was active in HCL, with 19 complete remissions (CRs; 61%) and six partial responses (PRs; 19%) in 31 patients. Of 19 CRs, 11 were achieved after one cycle and eight after two to 14 cycles. All 25 responders benefited clinically with one cycle. The CR rate was 86% in patients enrolled at ≥ 40 μg/Kg every other day × 3, and 41% at lower doses (P = .011). The median duration for CR was 36 months (range, 5 to 66 months), and eight patients remain in CR at 45 months (range, 29 to 66 months). Lower but significant activity occurred in CLL. Neutralizing antibodies occurred in 11 (24%) of 46 patients (all HCL). A reversible hemolytic uremic syndrome requiring plasmapheresis was observed in one patient with NHL during cycle 1 and in four patients with HCL during cycle 2 or 3. The maximum-tolerated dose (MTD) evaluated at cycle 1 was 40 μg/Kg IV. QOD × 3. The most common toxicities at 30 to 50 μg/Kg every other day × 3 included hypoalbuminemia, transaminase elevations, fatigue, and edema.ConclusionBL22 was well tolerated and highly effective in HCL, even after one cycle. Phase II testing is underway to define the efficacy with one cycle and to study safety when additional cycles are needed for optimal response.
Montelukast, Compared With Fluticasone, for Control of Asthma Among 6- to 14-Year-Old Patients With Mild Asthma: The MOSAIC Study
Authors: Garcia Garcia M. Luz , Wahn Ulrich , Gilles Leen , Swern Arlene , Tozzi Carol A. , Polos Peter 
Published: August 2005

Background. Guidelines recommend daily controller therapy for mild persistent asthma. Montelukast has demonstrated consistent benefit in controlling symptoms of asthma and may be an alternative, orally administered, nonsteroidal agent for treating mild asthma.
Methods. The Montelukast Study of Asthma in Children (MOSAIC study) was a 12-month, multicenter, randomized, double-blind, noninferiority trial to determine the effect of once-daily, orally administered montelukast (5 mg) (n = 495), compared with twice-daily, inhaled fluticasone (100 μg) (n = 499), on the percentage of asthma rescue-free days (RFDs) (any day without asthma rescue medication and with no asthma-related resource use). Patients 6 to 14 years of age had mild persistent asthma (average percentage of predicted forced expiratory volume in 1 second: 87.2%; RFDs at baseline: 64%). Montelukast would be considered not inferior to fluticasone if the upper limit of the 95% confidence interval for the difference in mean percentages of RFDs (fluticasone minus montelukast) was above −7% (a difference of ∼2 days/month).
Results. The mean percentage of RFDs was 84.0% in the montelukast group and 86.7% in the fluticasone group. The least-squares mean difference was −2.8% (95% confidence interval: −4.7% to −0.9%), within the noninferiority limit of −7%. The proportion of patients requiring systemic corticosteroids and the number of patients with an asthma attack were greater in the montelukast group. Both montelukast and fluticasone were well tolerated.
Conclusions. Montelukast was demonstrated to be not inferior to fluticasone in increasing the percentage of RFDs among 6- to 14-year-old patients with mild asthma. Secondary end points, including percentage of predicted forced expiratory volume in 1 second value, days with β-receptor agonist use, and quality of life, improved in both groups but were significantly better in the fluticasone treatment group.
Deaths From Residential Injuries in US Children and Adolescents, 1985–1997
Authors: Nagaraja Jyothi , Menkedick John , Phelan Kieran J. , Ashley Peter , Zhang Xiaoling , Lanphear Bruce P. 
Published: August 2005

Objective. The majority of deaths from unintentional injuries in children occur in the home environment, but there has not been a comprehensive analysis of residential deaths in the United States since 1985. The objective of this study was to determine the incidence and trends of deaths from injuries that occurred in the residential setting.
Methods. Injury-related death rates of all deaths among US children and adolescents who were younger than 20 years from 1985 to 1997 were calculated using National Vital Statistics System Mortality Data from 1985 to 1997 by age group, gender, region, and race. Poisson regression or negative binomial regression was used to test for trends over time in mortality rates.
Results. From 1985 to 1997, an average of 2822 (55%) of 5103 annual unintentional deaths in US children with a known location of injury took place in the home environment. The annual number and incidence of fatal residential injuries decreased by &gt;22%, from 2973 (4.2 per 100000) in 1985 to 2310 (3.0 per 100000) in 1997. The death rate as a result of residential injury was highest in children who were younger than 1 year (12.6 per 100000) and 1 to 4 years (7.9 per 100000) compared with older children, boys compared with girls (4.9 vs 2.8 per 100000), and black children compared with white children (7.0 vs 3.3 per 100000). The highest death rates were attributable to fires (1.5 per 100000), submersion or suffocation (1.3 per 100000), poisoning (0.2 per 100000), and falls (0.1 per 100000).
Conclusions. Despite a 22% decline since 1985, residential injuries remain a leading cause of death in US children and adolescents. Black children were 2 times more likely to die from residential injuries than white children.
Effect of Obesity and High Blood Pressure on Plasma Lipid Levels in Children and Adolescents
Authors: Boyd Gillian S. , Koenigsberg Joanna , Falkner Bonita , Gidding Samuel , Hassink Sandra 
Published: August 2005

Objective. To examine the extent of blood lipid abnormalities in overweight children and to determine whether the prevalence of dyslipidemia is different in overweight children with elevated blood pressure (BP) compared with overweight children with normal BP (NBP).Methods. A retrospective, case-control study on 497 patients 2 to 18 years of age at the Nemours Weight Management Clinic of duPont Hospital for Children was conducted to compare the prevalence of abnormal plasma lipid levels in overweight children with high BP with overweight children with NBP.Results. Elevated BP was detected in 34.7% of the sample; 27.9% had prehypertension (pre-HTN), and 6.8% had HTN. The rates of abnormal plasma lipid levels were high among overweight children with both NBP and HTN. Significantly more boys with high BP had low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol compared with boys with NBP (49.4% vs 27.6%). Significantly more severely obese boys had low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol compared with moderately obese boys (40.3% vs 29.3%). The prevalence of elevated BP was much greater in severely obese boys and girls (46.5% and 39%) than moderately obese boys and girls (28.1% and 23.1%).Conclusions. The high prevalence of dyslipidemia found in this overweight sample supports recent recommendations to collect plasma lipid levels in not only overweight children with BP ≥90th percentile but also in all overweight children.