bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Interobserver agreement in ultrasonography of the finger and toe joints in rheumatoid arthritis
Authors: Szkudlarek Marcin , Court‐Payen Michel , Jacobsen Søren , Klarlund Mette , Thomsen Henrik S. , Østergaard Mikkel 
Published: April 2003

AbstractObjectiveTo evaluate the interobserver agreement of ultrasonographic assessment of finger and toe joints in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) by 2 investigators with different medical backgrounds.MethodsUltrasonography and clinical examination were performed on 150 small joints of 30 patients with active RA. A General Electric LOGIQ 500 ultrasound unit with a 7–13‐MHz linear array transducer was used. In each patient, 5 preselected small joints (second and third metacarpophalangeal, second proximal interphalangeal, first and second metatarsophalangeal) were examined independently on the same day by 2 ultrasound investigators (an experienced musculoskeletal radiologist and a rheumatologist with limited ultrasound training). Joint effusion, synovial thickening, bone erosions, and power Doppler signal were evaluated in accordance with an introduced 4‐grade semiquantitative scoring system, on which the investigators had reached consensus prior to the study.ResultsExact agreement between the 2 observers was seen in 91% of the examinations with regard to bone erosions, in 86% with regard to synovitis, in 79% with regard to joint effusions, and in 87% with regard to power Doppler signal assessments. Corresponding intraclass correlation coefficient values were 0.78, 0.81, 0.61, and 0.72, respectively, while unweighted kappa values were 0.68, 0.63, 0.48, and 0.55, respectively. Ultrasonography showed signs of inflammation in 94 joints, while clinical assessment revealed tenderness and/or swelling in 64 joints.ConclusionAn experienced radiologist and a rheumatologist with limited ultrasound training achieved high interobserver agreement rates for the identification of synovitis and bone erosions, using an introduced semiquantitative scoring system for ultrasonography of finger and toe joints in RA. Signs of inflammation were more frequently detected with ultrasound than with clinical examination. Ultrasonography may improve the assessment of RA patients by radiologists and rheumatologists.
Efficacy of etanercept for the treatment of juvenile idiopathic arthritis according to the onset type
Authors: Quartier Pierre , Taupin Pierre , Bourdeaut Franck , Lemelle Irène , Pillet Pascal , Bost Michel , Sibilia Jean , Koné‐Paut Isabelle , Gandon‐Laloum Sylvie , LeBideau Marc , Bader‐Meunier Brigitte , Mouy Richard , Debré Marianne , Landais Paul , Prieur Anne‐Marie 
Published: April 2003

AbstractObjectiveTo assess the efficacy of etanercept in patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), and to assess the tolerance of these patients to etanercept.MethodsAll JIA patients with active chronic polyarthritis, who were first treated with etanercept between November 1999 and June 2001 in 18 French centers because of poor response or intolerance to methotrexate, were included in this open‐label, prospective, multicenter study. A standardized questionnaire was sent to the treating physicians. We assessed the validated international core‐set score for JIA activity every 3 months and performed an intent‐to‐treat analysis. We also compared the risk of treatment failure in patients defined as having systemic‐onset, oligoarticular‐onset, or polyarticular‐onset JIA.ResultsSixty‐one patients were enrolled and were followed up for a median of 13 months. Treatment had to be stopped in 1 patient who became pregnant and in 12 patients due to severe side effects, including neurologic or psychiatric disorders, retrobulbar optic neuropathy, major weight gain, severe infection, cutaneous vasculitis with systemic symptoms, hemorrhagic diarrhea, uveitis flare, and pancytopenia. All of these side effects disappeared after discontinuation of etanercept. Crohn's disease was subsequently diagnosed in 1 child. Scores improved by ≥30% in 73% of patients after 3 months, but this proportion decreased to 39% after 12 months. The response rate was significantly lower in patients with systemic‐onset JIA than in those with oligoarticular‐ or polyarticular‐onset JIA.ConclusionTreatment of JIA with etanercept may be associated with a wide spectrum of severe side effects. Although most patients initially respond to etanercept, this initial response is not always followed by sustained improvement over longer periods of time. In addition, the higher rate of treatment failure in the group with systemic‐onset JIA indicates that these patients in particular may require alternative treatments.
Declining use of orthopedic surgery in patients with rheumatoid arthritis? Results of a long‐term, population‐based assessment
Authors: Da Silva Eleonora , Doran Michele F. , Crowson Cynthia S. , O'Fallon W. Michael , Matteson Eric L. 
Published: April 2003

AbstractObjectiveTo describe the use of orthopedic surgery, including joint replacement surgery, in a well‐defined, population‐based cohort of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and to identify characteristics that predict such use.MethodsA retrospective medical record review was performed of cases of RA incident in Rochester, Minnesota, during the years 1955–1995. All joint surgeries were recorded.ResultsOf the total 609 RA incident cases, 242 patients underwent 1 or more (maximum of 20/patient) surgical procedures involving joints during their followup. Overall, this RA cohort had 7.4 surgeries per 100 person‐years of followup; the cumulative incidence for joint surgery for RA‐related joint disease at 30 years was 33.7% ± SEM 3.8%. The risk of having a disease‐related joint surgery for RA is increased in patients who are women, younger, positive for rheumatoid factor, and have rheumatoid nodules. When adjusted for duration of followup, patients with RA diagnosed after 1985 were significantly less likely to have undergone joint surgery for RA (P< 0.001). Survival of patients who underwent total joint arthroplasty was similar to those who did not.ConclusionReconstructive surgeries are common in RA, although patients diagnosed after 1985 are less likely to require joint surgery. These findings may reflect trends in medical disease management and have importance for health care resource utilization planning.
A rapid and sensitive 384‐well microtitre format chemiluminescent enzyme immunoassay for 19‐nortestosterone
Authors: Roda Aldo , Manetta Anna Chiara , Portanti Ottavio , Mirasoli Mara , Guardigli Massimo , Pasini Patrizia , Lelli Rossella 
Published: April 2003

AbstractWe developed a competitive chemiluminescent (CL) enzyme immunoassay for rapid, sensitive analysis of 19‐nortestosterone (19‐NT) in bovine urine. Anti‐19‐NT polyclonal antibodies were raised in rabbits using a 19‐NT‐hemisuccinate derivative conjugated with ovalbumin; the derivative was also conjugated with horseradish peroxidase (HRP) as a label. Antibodies were immobilized on 384‐well black polystyrene microtitre plates and HRP‐labelled 19‐NT activity was measured using an efficient chemiluminescent substrate (SuperSignal® ELISA Femto) after 3 min incubation. Emitted light was recorded using a conventional, photomultiplier‐tube‐based microtitre plate reader or a sensitive back‐illuminated, cooled CCD camera. The developed method fulfils all the requirements of precision (intra‐ and inter‐assay CV < 10%) and accuracy (mean recovery 94–112%), with a detection limit of 0.03 ppb (1.1 × 10−9 mol/L) in a urine matrix. Chemiluminescence enhances detectability of the HRP‐labelled tracer (thus lowering the limit of detection with respect to colorimetry) and reduces analysis time. The 384‐well microtitre plate cuts the sample/reagent volume (20 µL), a five‐fold reduction with respect to the conventional 96‐well microtitre plate. The developed method is suitable for high‐throughput screening of 19‐NT in urine samples, with reduced costs as compared with conventional colorimetric enzyme immunoassays. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Afferent and efferent connections of the cerebellum of the chondrostean Acipenser baeri: A carbocyanine dye (DiI) tracing study
Authors: Huesa Gema , Anadón Ramón , Yáñez Julián 
Published: April 2003

AbstractThe afferent and efferent connections of the cerebellum of the primitive bony fish Acipenser baeri were studied in fixed brains with a fluorescent lipophylic carbocyanine (DiI). The three regions of the cerebellum (the auricles, valvula, and corpus) showed similar afferents, mostly originated from extensive precerebellar populations of the midbrain tegmentum and from the inferior olive. A pretectal nucleus was also labeled after DiI application to the three regions of the cerebellum. However, DiI application to the pretectal region revealed that the pretectocerebellar projection mainly targeted to the caudal region of the corpus cerebelli. Some precerebellar cells were observed in the torus semicircularis, isthmic central gray, and rhombencephalic reticular formation. Primary fibers of the anterior lateral line nerve and neurons of the octavolateral area also project to the auricle. After DiI application to the auricles, most ascending efferents coursed to the region of the nucleus of the medial longitudinal fascicle and thalamus, mostly contralaterally. Ipsilateral descending fibers were also labeled in the medullary octavolateral area. Application of DiI to the nucleus of the medial longitudinal fascicle revealed three clusters of cerebellar projection neurons located in the granular layers of the auricles, valvula, and corpus cerebelli, mostly contralateral to the application site. These cerebellar projection neurons did not exhibit a number of characteristics of teleost eurydendroid cells (i.e., the cerebellar efferent cells of teleosts), such as the presence of spiny dendrites ascending to the molecular layer. Comparison of the afferent and efferent projections of the sturgeon cerebellum with those reported in teleosts supports the hypothesis that some traits observed in the teleost cerebellar system represent recent evolutionary developments. J. Comp. Neurol. 460:327–344, 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
A note on incorporation of domain decomposition into the differential quadrature method
Authors: Zhong Hongzhi , He Yuhong 
Published: April 2003

AbstractThe incorporation of domain decomposition into the differential quadrature method (DQM) to deal with two‐dimensional problems is examined. Several issues involving necessity, implementation procedures and the resultant accuracy of solution are outlined and discussed through a typical plane elasticity example. It is observed that the differential quadrature in conjunction with domain decomposition is able to treat problems with curvilinear boundaries. High‐order serendipity elements yield better results in terms of efficiency and accuracy. In addition, it is also found that differential quadrature solution is sensitive to the aspect ratio of domains in the case of stress concentration. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The generation and linewidth control of terahertz waves by parametric processes
Authors: Shikata Junichi , Kawase Kodo , Ito Hiromasa 
Published: April 2003

AbstractIn this article, we discuss broadband‐tunable terahertz‐wave parametric generation (TPG) via stimulated polariton scattering and techniques for narrowing the output spectrum of sources based on this phenomenon. The TPG effect, which is observed when a LiNbO3 crystal is excited with nanosecond pulses from a Nd:YAG laser, has a gain bandwidth of over 500 GHz. After carrying out experiments aimed at converting the TPG effect into a high‐power source of terahertz waves, we used our TPG light source for Fourier spectroscopy in the terahertz band. In addition, we were able to narrow the spectral bandwidth of the terahertz emission down to the Fourier limit (spectral purity Δν/ν∼10−4) by applying the method of optical injection seeding to the TPG using light from a wavelength‐tunable semiconductor laser. When we used the light from this injection‐seeded TPG source for the spectroscopy of water vapor in the terahertz region, we confirmed a resolution below 100 MHz (0.003 cm−1). Our final version of an injection‐seeded TPG light source exhibited peak powers of over 300 mW (dynamic range > 106), and a frequency tunability of 0.7 to 2.4 THz. We anticipate that this compact nonlinear‐optics‐based terahertz wave light source, which can operate at ordinary temperatures and is structurally simple, can become an effective tool for scientific and technological research in the terahertz region. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electron Comm Jpn Pt 2, 86(5): 52–65, 2003; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/ecjb.10047
Single‐photon detector for long‐distance quantum cryptography
Authors: Namekata Naoto , Makino Yuuki , Inoue Shuichiro 
Published: April 2003

AbstractIn order to realize long‐distance quantum cryptography based on standard optical fiber network, we have developed a single‐photon detector at 1550 nm using InGaAs/InP avalanche photodiodes (APDs). To reduce the dark count probability, APDs were cooled and operated with a Gated Passive Quenching Circuit. A quantum efficiency of 13.7% was obtained at −55 °C while keeping the dark count probability per gate (2 ns) as low as 2.4 × 10−5. In this paper we will discuss the performance of the developed single‐photon detector in view of application to quantum cryptography. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electron Comm Jpn Pt 2, 86(5): 10–15, 2003; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/ecjb.10115
Adjusting for population heterogeneity: A framework for characterizing statistical information and developing efficient test statistics
Authors: Rabinowitz Daniel 
Published: April 2003

AbstractThe focus of this work is the TDT‐type and family‐based test statistics used for adjusting for potential confounding due to population heterogeneity or misspecified allele frequencies. A variety of heuristics have been used to motivate and derive these statistics, and the statistics have been developed for a variety of analytic goals. There appears to be no general theoretical framework, however, that may be used to evaluate competing approaches. Furthermore, there is no framework to guide the development of efficient TDT‐type and family‐based methods for analytic goals for which methods have not yet been proposed. The purpose of this paper is to present a theoretical framework that serves both to identify the information which is available to methods that are immune to confounding due to population heterogeneity or misspecified allele frequencies, and to inform the construction of efficient unbiased tests in novel settings. The development relies on the existence of a characterization of the null hypothesis in terms of a completely specified conditional distribution of transmitted genotypes. An important observation is that, with such a characterization, when the conditioning event is unobserved or incomplete, there is statistical information that cannot be exploited by any exact conditional test. The main technical result of this work is an approach to computing test statistics for local alternatives that exploit all of the available statistical information. Genet Epidemiol 24:284–290, 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Australia and New Zealand satellite coverage using a microstrip patch reflectarray
Authors: Zornoza J. A. , Bialkowski M. E. 
Published: April 2003

AbstractThis paper presents the design of Ku‐band (12.25–12.75 GHz) dual‐polarized reflectarrays for Optus B1 satellites to obtain a contoured beam for Australia and New Zealand. The specified radiation pattern is synthesized using a phase‐only synthesis method based on the concept of intersection approach. Having determined the phasing data, single‐ and double‐layer reflectarrays are designed using variable‐size rectangular patches. The performances of the two reflectarrays are assessed by comparing their radiation patterns with the assumed pattern. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 37: 321–325, 2003; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.10907
Full‐wave analysis of microstrip lines on a highly lossy substrate
Authors: Prakash V. V. S. , Kuzuoglu Mustafa , Mittra Raj 
Published: April 2003

AbstractThe finite‐element method has been used for analyzing open microstrip line structures on highly lossy substrates. The geometry descritization has been carried out by using quadrilateral elements, and the spurious solutions are avoided by employing tangential vector formulation. The difficulties associated with finding the propagation constant of a highly lossy structure by solving a generalized eigenvalue problem are discussed. A methodology is presented for a fast and efficient computation of the attenuation and propagation constants of the lossy transmission lines. Numerical results are presented to illustrate the application of the proposed approach for the case of an open microstrip line. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 37: 325–329, 2003; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.10908
A stacked suspended plate antenna
Authors: Chen Zhi Ning , Chia M. Y. W. , Lim Cheng Liang 
Published: April 2003

AbstractThis paper describes a stacked suspended probe‐fed plate antenna for broadband applications. The effects of changing the size of the upper plate and the distance between the upper and the lower plates on the impedance and radiation characteristics of the antenna are discussed numerically and experimentally. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 37: 337–339, 2003; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.10911
An improved intrinsic small‐signal equivalent circuit model of delta‐doped AlGaAs/InGaAs/GaAs HEMT for microwave frequency applications
Authors: Guru Vandana , Jogi Jyotika , Gupta Mridula , Vyas H. P. , Gupta R. S. 
Published: April 2003

AbstractAn improved model of a modified intrinsic equivalent circuit of delta‐doped AlGaAs/InGaAs/GaAs HEMT, which incorporates the additional capacitive effect physically present due to delta doping and a feedback resistor between gate and drain, is proposed. Admittance parameters of the device are extracted from circuit analysis and intrinsic circuit elements are presented in terms of real and imaginary parts of the admittance parameters. S parameters are also evaluated over the frequency range 1–26 GHz and show good agreement with experimental data. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 37: 376–379, 2003; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.10923
A new design technique for optical multipass cells modelled with arbitrary surfaces
Authors: Conde Olga M. , Cortés Pedro M. , López‐Higuera José M. 
Published: April 2003

AbstractA novel parametric model for optical mirrors is proposed based on an advanced solids modelling technique to design and analyze optical systems. This new technique implements two ray‐tracing methods on the arbitrary parametric nature of optical mirror surfaces in order to provide a high degree of flexibility and avoid the typical restrictions of traditional canonical structures. The proposed technique is employed to design and optimize multipass cells used on gas‐sensing applications. Results are discussed and show that the technique can also be successfully used for analysis of optical resonators. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 37: 383–387, 2003; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.10925
Flow cytometric cell‐cycle analysis of cultured fibroblasts from the giant panda, Ailuropoda melanoleuca L.
Authors: Han Zhi‐Ming , Chen Da‐Yuan , Li Jin‐Song , Sun Qing‐Yuan , Wang Peng‐Yan , Du Jun , Zhang He‐Min 
Published: April 2003

AbstractIn animal cloning, it is generally believed that the inactive diploid G0or G1stage of the cell cycle is beneficial to initiate cell‐cycle coordination and reprogramming following transfer of the donor nucleus. Previous experiments have demonstrated that serum starvation results in quiescent cell stage. Some experiments show that the majority of cells in a fully confluent cell culture are also in an inactive G1stage.In order to provide more G0/G1stage cells for giant panda cloning, we carried out a flow cytometric analysis of the cell cycle of fibroblasts from the abdominal muscle of a giant panda at different passage numbers under different growth conditions, and after different periods of serum starvation. The percentage of G0+G1stage cells differed significantly under different growth conditions. Serum starvation effectively increased the percentage of G0+G1stage cells, and the cell cycle characteristics following serum starvation for varying periods of time differed with this and the initial confluency of the cultures. The data should help in choosing the optimal stage for preparing donor cells as well as increasing the potential cloning efficiency in our study of giant panda cloning.
Reproducibility of the measurement of the muscle ergoreflex activity in chronic heart failure
Authors: Scott Adam C. , Francis Darrel P. , Coats Andrew J.S. , Piepoli Massimo F. 
Published: April 2003

AbstractBackground:A causative role for symptom generation in heart failure has been attributed to overactive muscle afferents, metaboreflex and mechanoreflex. We examined the reproducibility of the methods commonly used to assess these reflexes.Material and methods:Twelve stable heart failure patients (62.8±2.4 years) and 18 normals were studied. The metaboreflex was evaluated on both leg and arm exercises, by performing two runs of 5‐min submaximal handgrip and leg exercises. On one run the subjects recovered normally (control recovery), while on the other a post‐exercise regional circulatory occlusion (PE‐RCO) was induced in the exercising limb, to isolate the stimulation of the metaboreceptor after exercise. The metaboreflex was quantified as the difference in ventilation between the PE‐RCO and the control recovery periods with respect to rest. The existence of a mechanoreflex was sought by comparing the ventilatory increment per unit of active work (dVE/dVO2 ratio) between leg passive movement and active low level exercise. The coefficients of variation (CV) were computed to express the reproducibility of these reflexes in heart failure. Results: The metaboreflex was overactive in patients vs. normals during both arm (7.2±2.8 l/min vs. 0.06±0.3 l/min) and leg (5.6±1.2 l/min vs. 0.5±0.2 l/min) tests. The mechanoreflex was not different between patients and normals: dVE/dVO2 during passive movement 48.9±18.3 and 22.4±26.5; active exercise 42.3±18.4 and 31.9±18.7 (P=NS). In patients, the CV for the metaboreflex was 23.4% in the arm and 35.3% in the leg, while for the mechanoreflex test CV was 38.1% during passive movement and 21.1% during active exercise.Conclusion:The described method of measuring the muscle reflex activity shows an adequate reproducibility in heart failure patients.
Embodied Knowledge and Making Sense of Prenatal Diagnosis
Authors: Lippman Abby 
Published: April 2003

AbstractOpen‐ended, qualitative interviews with women to whom amniocentesis was offered were analyzed to understand how women made sense of these tests. We found that women, whether tested or not, negotiated with biomedical information. They transformed it through identifiable processes, then wove it with their own instincts and beliefs and with their personal experiences, thereby creating “embodied” knowledge on which their decisions were based. Women who were and were not tested may have differed from each other when categorized on the basis of a final, binary choice, but they were more alike than unalike in reaching this point. The apparent importance of embodied knowledge suggests the critical role of the listening activities of the genetic counselor and of awareness of the validity and importance of women's complementary ways of knowing and doing in understanding the uses and meanings of prenatal genetic testing.