bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Investigation of spatial gusts with extreme rise time on the extreme loads of pitch‐regulated wind turbines
Authors: Bierbooms Wim 
Published: December 2004

AbstractIt is assumed that the extreme loading of pitch‐regulated turbines is caused by gusts with an extreme rise time rather than an extreme gust amplitude. A special kind of wind field simulation, so‐called constrained stochastic simulation, is dealt with in order to generate the desired gusts. Just as in wind field simulation for fatigue purposes, it is assumed that turbulence is Gaussian; a possibility is mentioned of how to deal with non‐Gaussian behaviour. On the basis of the presented theory it can be stated that the stochastic gusts produced in this way are, in a statistical sense, not distinguishable from gusts selected from a (very long) time series. An example of a spatial gust as well as the mean spatial gust shape is shown. For a reference turbine the maximum blade root flapping moment has been determined as a function of the gust centre in the rotor plane; the maximum response is obtained in the case where the gust hits one of the rotor blades at 75% of the radius. When the gust duration is large compared with the integral time constant of the controller, the controller can handle the gust as expected. However, even for small rise times it turns out that the maximum flap moment due to the gust is not significantly higher than that due to the background turbulence and 1P excitations. This may indicate that perhaps extreme rise time gusts do not lead to extreme loading of pitch‐regulated wind turbines. For a final judgement a proper probabilistic approach is necessary; an outline of such an approach has been sketched. Furthermore, it is recommended to do research on other gust types in order to find out the type which leads to the extreme wind turbine loading. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Fifth dimension of life and the 4/5 allometric scaling law for human brain
Authors: He Ji‐Huan , Zhang Juan 
Published: December 2004

AbstractBrain cells are not spherical. The basal metabolic rate (B) of a spherical cell scales as B ∼ r2, where r is the radius of the cell; that of a brain cell scales as B ∼ rd, where r is the characteristic radius of the cell and d is the fractal dimensionality of its contour. The fractal geometry of the cell leads to a 4/5 allometric scaling law for human brain, uniquely endowing humans with a 5th dimension and successfully explains why the scaling exponent varies during rest and exercise. A striking analogy between Kleiber's 3/4 law and Newton's second law is heuristically illustrated. A physical explanation is given for the 4th dimension of life for three‐dimensional organisms and the 5th dimension for human brain.
The application of image cytometry to viability assessment in dual fluorescence‐stained fish spermatozoa
Authors: Flajšhans Martin , Cosson Jacky , Rodina Marek , Linhart Otomar 
Published: December 2004

AbstractThe viability of spermatozoa has been assessed using SYBR 14 staining for DNA of living cells and propidium iodide staining for DNA of degenerate cells. This dual staining was performed on four fish species (Siberian sturgeon, Acipenser baerii; common carp, Cyprinus carpio; tench, Tinca tinca and wels, Silurus glanis) and the proportions of live and dead spermatozoa were assessed by epifluorescence microscopy and image cytometry. Ten phase contrast and epifluorescent images were recorded per sample, corresponding images were overlaid, and the blended images were evaluated for live and dead spermatozoa, represented by green and red fluorescence signals. Live/dead proportions were assessed, after dual threshholding, by imaging software that counted absolute numbers of objects and computed their frequencies. All sperm heads were found to be labelled, emitting either green or red light. Mean numbers of spermatozoa per image were in the ranges 32–113, 61–105, 48–104 and 29–91 for Siberian sturgeon, common carp, tench and wels, respectively. The corresponding proportions of live spermatozoa were in the ranges 83.56–94.59%, 93.92–97.02%, 76.14–97.76% and 79.45–83.76%. Standard deviations did not exceed 5% of the means. The image cytometric system using dual staining with SYBR 14 and propidium iodide was clearly suitable for assessing the viability of freshwater fish spermatozoa.
A direct comparison of the natriuretic peptides and their relationship to survival in chronic heart failure of a presumed non‐ischaemic origin
Authors: Stanton Eric , Hansen Mark , Wijeysundera Hairinda C. , Kupchak Peter , Hall Christian , Rouleau Jean L. ,   On behalf of the PRAISE‐2 study investigators
Published: December 2004

AbstractThe natriuretic peptides have been validated as sensitive and specific markers of left ventricular dysfunction; brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), N‐terminal atrial natriuretic peptide (NT‐proANP) and N‐terminal brain natriuretic peptide (NT‐proBNP) elevations have been associated with New York Heart Association (NYHA) Class I–IV heart failure. We directly compared the association of each of these markers with 1‐year survival in 173 patients with chronic heart failure of a presumed nonischaemic origin entering the PRAISE‐2 Trial, a clinical study which assessed the therapeutic effect of Amlodipine in patients with NYHA Class III and IV heart failure and a left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) <30%. BNP, NT‐proBNP, and NT‐proANP levels were all correlated with 1‐year mortality by univariate Cox proportional hazards analyses. With respect to multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression models containing variables deemed significant in univariate analyses, NT‐proANP alone was identified as an independent predictor of 1‐year mortality when log‐transformed continuous covariates were utilized in the analysis. When the analysis was repeated using dichotomous covariates, NT‐proANP remained the most significant predictor of 1‐year mortality, followed by NT‐proBNP, NYHA classification and BNP. We conclude that all three natriuretic peptides are significant predictors of short‐term mortality in subjects with chronic congestive heart failure (CHF) of a presumed nonischaemic origin. Larger prospective studies are required to validate the clinical utility of NT‐proANP as a discriminating marker of short‐term survival, and to validate proposed cutoffs of approximately 2300 pmol/l for NT‐proANP, 1500 pg/ml for NT‐proBNP, and 50 pmol/l for BNP as prognostic indicators of adverse short‐term outcome.
A case report of informal cognitive therapy of delusions by a carer: a novel treatment paradigm?
Authors: George Sanju , Bandopadhay Sumithra , Cowan Colin 
Published: December 2004

AbstractCognitive therapy has been effectively used in the treatment of psychotic symptoms like delusions and hallucinations. Most of the work in this area has focused only on the patient. We describe a patient with schizophrenia, whose delusions were well managed by his mother using informal cognitive therapy principles. Primary carers could be more involved as ‘co-therapists’ in the cognitive treatment of psychotic symptoms in some patients. Future work needs to explore the effectiveness and feasibility of more structured cognitive therapy input for carers (as co-therapists) of patients with psychosis.
New target-strength model indicates more krill in the Southern Ocean
Authors: Demer David A. , Conti Stéphane G. 
Published: December 2004

Abstract
Antarctic krill, Euphausia superba, comprises the foundation of the foodweb in the Southern Ocean and is the target of a large fishery. Recently, the total abundance of krill in the Scotia Sea was estimated from an international echosounder and net survey (CCAMLR 2000) to be 44.3 million metric tonnes (Mt; CV 11.4%) (Hewitt et al., 2002). The new biomass estimate prompted the Antarctic Treaty's Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) to revise the precautionary catch level for krill in the area from 1.5 to 4 Mt (SC-CAMLR, 2000). These survey results are based on the total echo energy attributed to krill, scaled by the Greene et al. (1991) model of krill acoustical reflectivity or target strength (TS). Presented here is a re-analysis of the CCAMLR 2000 data incorporating recent improvements in the characterization of krill TS. The results indicate that the estimated krill biomass in the Scotia Sea may be as high as 192.4 Mt (CV = 11.7%), or as low as 109.4 Mt (CV = 10.4%), depending solely on the expected distribution of krill orientations. The new Stochastic, Distorted-Wave, Born-Approximation (SDWBA) TS model solved with an empirically estimated distribution of in situ orientations leads to a krill-biomass estimate that is nearly 2.5 times the previous estimate. In consequence, revisions may be warranted of the standard krill TS model, the CCAMLR 2000 biomass estimate, and the associated precautionary catch level for krill in the Scotia Sea.
Gestational diabetes mellitus in Chinese women
Authors: Wu Q.K. , Luo L.M. , Li P. , Gu J.H. , Feng J. 
Published: December 2004

AbstractObjective: To determine whether foreign diagnostic criteria for the diagnosis of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) are suitable for Chinese pregnant women. Methods: The study participants were 340 pregnant women receiving obstetric care at the Shanghai Jiaotong University–Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital in Shanghai, China. The normal‐pregnancy group comprised 190 women with no risk factor for GDM and the high‐risk pregnancy group comprised 150 women who had at least one high‐risk factor for GDM. All women took the diagnostic 100‐g, 3‐h oral glucose tolerance test (100‐g 3‐h OGTT) between 24 and 28 weeks of pregnancy. The results of the 100‐g 3‐h OGTT were classified according to three different sets of diagnostic criteria: (1) new, “Chinese” diagnostic criteria based on the results from the 100‐g 3‐h OGTT performed in the 190 healthy participating women; (2) the Carpenter and Coustan criteria; and (3) the National Diabetes Data Group (NDDG) criteria. Venous plasma glucose (VPG) was measured by the glucose oxidase method. A consistency check was used for analysis. Obstetric and neonatal outcomes were recorded. Results: With 97.5% as the statistical cutoff value for the 100‐g 3‐h OGTT, the new diagnostic criteria for this study, based on data obtained from the 100‐g 3‐h OGTT performed on the 190 participating healthy pregnant women, were 5.2, 10.3, 8.9, and 7.7 mmol/L at 0, 60, 120, and 180 min. The ê value was 0.83 for the new criteria vs. the Carpenter and Coustan criteria (P<0.001) and 0.70 for the new criteria vs. the NDDG criteria (P<0.001). In women with GDM and gestational‐impaired glucose tolerance (GIGT), the incidence rates of macrosomia by the new criteria and the Carpenter and Coustan criteria were similar, but higher than the rates calculated with the NDDG criteria (P<0.05). Conclusion: With venous plasma glucose level measured by the glucose oxidase method, the Carpenter and Coustan criteria are applicable to Chinese pregnant women for diagnosis of GDM.
Quantitative Trait Loci Mapping for Ethanol Sensitivity and Neurotensin Receptor Density in an F2 Intercross Derived From Inbred High and Low Alcohol Sensitivity Selectively Bred Rat Lines
Authors: Radcliffe Richard A. , Erwin V Gene , Draski Laura , Hoffmann Sarah , Edwards Joel , Deng Xin‐Sheng , Bludeau Pequita , Fay Tina , Lundquist Kristy , Asperi William , Deitrich Richard A. 
Published: December 2004

Background: Genetic variance in initial sensitivity to ethanol has been implicated as a risk factor for the development of alcoholism. Identification of the genes that confer differential initial sensitivity is an important goal for the development of new treatment strategies and for a comprehensive understanding of the mechanism of ethanol's action. Quantitative trait loci (QTL) mapping for initial sensitivity and other ethanol‐related behavioral traits in model organisms has become an important first step for the ultimate identification of genes that contribute to variation in ethanol responses.Methods: An F2 intercross was made from the Inbred High and Low Alcohol Sensitivity rat lines (IHAS and ILAS). The F2 rats were tested for duration of the loss of righting reflex test (LORR); blood ethanol concentration at regain of righting reflex (BECrrr); BEC at the first time to reach criterion on the rotarod after 1.6 g/kg of ethanol (BEC1); acute functional tolerance on the rotarod (AFT); and high‐affinity neurotensin receptor (NTR1) density in the nucleus accumbens (NAc), caudate putamen (CP), and ventral midbrain (VMB). A full genome scan with an average marker spacing of 16.8 cM for interval QTL mapping was conducted on the F2 rats (N= 363).Results: Seven significant or suggestive QTL were detected for LORR, one for BECrrr, three for BEC1, two for NTR1 binding in the CP, and one for binding in the NAc, but none were mapped for AFT or NTR1 binding density in the VMB. Effect size of the seven LORR QTL, the trait for which the parental strains were selected, ranged from 3 to 4%, with all accounting for ∼22% of the total phenotypic variation. One of the LORR QTL on chromosome 2 (∼87 cM) was significant, and a second QTL on chromosome 5 (∼37 cM) was suggestive for both LORR and BECrrr.Conclusions: The results indicate that segregating populations derived from the IHAS and ILAS strains can be used for mapping ethanol sensitivity QTL. The chromosome 2 LORR QTL may confer variation in ethanol metabolism, whereas the chromosome 5 LORR/BECrrr QTL likely mediates central nervous system ethanol sensitivity. The small number or absence of QTL for BEC1, AFT, and NTR1 receptor density suggests that genetic variation for these traits is minimal in the IHAS/ILAS strains and/or the effect size of QTL for these traits is too small to be mapped efficiently in this sample of F2 rats. The ultimate identification of genes underlying these alcohol sensitivity QTL will contribute to our understanding of the actions of alcohol in the central nervous system if not to a deeper understanding of the genetic risk factors for alcoholism.
Preserved Vasopressin Response to Osmostimulation Despite Decreased Basal Vasopressin Levels in Long‐Term Abstinent Alcoholics
Authors: Jahn Henriette , Döring Wolf K.H. , Krampe Henning , Sieg Sonja , Werner Carola , Poser Wolfgang , Brunner Edgar , Ehrenreich Hannelore 
Published: December 2004

Background: Basal arginine vasopressin (AVP) plasma levels in alcoholic patients are persistently decreased over months of controlled alcohol abstinence. As a potential explanation of this phenomenon, a reduction of AVP immunoreactive neurons was described in the hypothalamus of alcohol‐dependent humans and rodents. This study was therefore designed to examine whether long‐term abstinent alcoholics have a compromised response of AVP to osmostimulation.Methods: Fifteen male alcoholics, aged 42 ± 2 years, were examined (1) over 12 months of strictly controlled abstinence (longitudinal study) and (2) during an osmostimulation test (5% NaCl infusion at 0.06 ml/kg/min over 2 hr) and were compared with 15 healthy male subjects, aged 41 ± 2 years. AVP and routine laboratory parameters, including electrolytes and osmolality, were measured.Results: Starting from lower basal concentrations, alcoholics showed increases similar to those of controls in AVP and plasma osmolality after osmostimulation. The first sensation of thirst was announced significantly later by alcoholics than by controls. Twenty‐hour‐posttest urine volume and sodium excretion were reduced in alcoholics compared with controls.Conclusions: Despite their persistently decreased basal AVP plasma levels, long‐term abstinent alcoholics have a well preserved AVP response to osmostimulation. This finding indicates a peripheral suppression of AVP levels that is most likely due to a regulatory set‐point shift toward hypotonic hyperhydration, rather than to a reduced central capacity of AVP secretion.
Testing the Level of Response to Alcohol: Social Information Processing Model of Alcoholism Risk—A 20‐Year Prospective Study
Authors: Schuckit Marc A. , Smith Tom L. , Anderson Kristen G. , Brown Sandra A. 
Published: December 2004

Background: The low level of response (LR) to alcohol is a genetically influenced characteristic associated with an enhanced risk for alcohol use disorders (AUDs). An optimal understanding of how this intermediate phenotype relates to the AUD risk requires evaluation of the milieu in which LR operates, and this study tested an LR/social information processing model in adult men.Methods: Almost 300 Caucasian males (97% of those eligible, to date) from the San Diego Prospective Study participated in an alcohol challenge at approximately age 20 and were evaluated with a structural equation model regarding their expectations of the effects of alcohol, drinking among peers, use of alcohol to cope with stress, and alcohol‐related problems during follow‐up.Results: The direct paths in the structural equation model in these 40‐year‐old men explained 58% of the variance of the alcoholic outcome at age 40 and 35% at age 35 while demonstrating good fitness characteristics. The LR to alcohol was related to the family history of AUDs and to the alcoholic outcome; the latter primarily operated through the use of alcohol to cope with stress. Although drinking in peers and expectations of the effects of alcohol both contributed to the model in these 40‐year‐old men, they were not directly related to LR.Conclusions: The results continue to support the importance of the low LR to alcohol as a predictor of AUDs, even when evaluated in the context of additional relevant characteristics. Future evaluations of adolescent and young adult subjects will also explore the potential importance of expectations of the effects of alcohol and drinking among peers as mediators or moderators of alcoholism risk among subjects with a low LR.
Cigarette Smoking Exacerbates Chronic Alcohol‐Induced Brain Damage: A Preliminary Metabolite Imaging Study
Authors: Durazzo Timothy C. , Gazdzinski Stefan , Banys Peter , Meyerhoff Dieter J. 
Published: December 2004

Background: Cigarette smoking is common among alcohol‐dependent individuals. Nevertheless, previous research has typically not accounted for the potential independent or compounding effects of cigarette smoking on alcohol‐induced brain injury and neurocognition.Methods: Twenty‐four 1‐week‐abstinent recovering alcoholics (RAs; 14 smokers and 10 nonsmokers) in treatment and 26 light‐drinking controls (7 smokers and 19 nonsmokers) were compared on measures of common brain metabolites in gray matter and white matter of the major lobes, basal ganglia, midbrain, and cerebellar vermis, obtained via multislice short–echo time proton magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging. Smoking and nonsmoking RAs were also contrasted on measures of neurocognitive functioning, as well as laboratory markers of drinking severity and nutritional status.Results: Chronic alcohol dependence, independent of smoking, was associated with lower concentrations of frontal N‐acetylaspartate (NAA) and frontal choline‐containing compounds, as well as lower parietal and thalamic choline. Smoking RAs had lower NAA concentrations in frontal white matter and midbrain and lower midbrain choline than nonsmoking RAs. A four‐group analysis of covariance also demonstrated that chronic cigarette smoking was associated with lower midbrain NAA and choline and with lower vermian choline. In smoking RAs, heavier drinking was associated with heavier smoking, which correlated with numerous subcortical metabolite abnormalities. The 1‐week‐abstinent smoking and nonsmoking RAs did not differ significantly on a brief neurocognitive battery. In smoking RAs, lower cerebellar vermis NAA was associated with poorer visuomotor scanning speed and incidental learning, and in nonsmoking RAs lower vermis NAA was related to poorer visuospatial learning and memory.Conclusions: These human in vivo proton magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging findings indicate that chronic cigarette smoking exacerbates chronic alcohol‐induced neuronal injury and cell membrane damage in the frontal lobes of RAs and has independent adverse effects on neuronal viability and cell membranes in the midbrain and on cell membranes of the cerebellar vermis. Higher smoking levels are associated with metabolite concentrations in select subcortical structures. Greater consideration of the potential effects of comorbid cigarette smoking on alcohol‐induced brain damage and other diseases affecting the central nervous system is warranted.
Maternal serum and umbilical cord tumor marker levels at term pregnancy
Authors: Kiran Gurkan , Kiran Hakan , Guler Fatma Inanc , Ekerbicer Hasan Cetin , Kilinc Metin 
Published: December 2004

Background.  The aim of the study was to compare the levels in fetal and maternal compartments of cancer antigen (CA) 125, CA 15‐3, carbohydrate antigen (CA) 19‐9, and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and to determine the effects of fetal sex, parity, and fetal weight on umbilical cord (UC) and maternal serum (MS) levels of these markers.Methods.  MS and UC levels of these markers were determined in blood samples taken simultaneously during cesarean delivery for 53 cases. All statistical analyses were performed using nonparametric tests (Wilcoxon's signed rank test, Mann–Whitney U‐test, Kruskal–Wallis anova). Correlations were evaluated with Spearman's rank correlation coefficients.Results.  All marker levels of MS were significantly different to those of UC. There was no association between MS and UC levels of four markers and fetal sex. No significant difference could be demonstrated between fetal weight and marker levels in MS and UC. No significant difference could be demonstrated between parity and marker levels except CEA in MS that was elevated in multigravida group.Conclusions.  Our results support that all markers except CA 15‐3 have oncofetal origin. We concluded that further studies are required to reveal the effects of fetal sex on MS CA 19‐9 and effects of parity on MS CEA levels.
Episiotomy and perineal tears presumed to be imminent: the influence on the urethral pressure profile, analmanometric and other pelvic floor findings – follow‐up study of a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Dannecker Christian , Hillemanns Peter , Strauss Alexander , Hasbargen Uwe , Hepp Hermann , Anthuber Christoph 
Published: December 2004

Background.  The influence of the restrictive use of episiotomy at perineal tears judged to be imminent on the urethral pressure profile, analmanometric, and other pelvic floor findings is unknown.Methods.  Follow‐up study of a randomized controlled trial with two perineal management policies includes the use of episiotomy: (a) only for fetal indications and (b) in addition at a tear presumed to be imminent. Participants were 146 primiparous women with an uncomplicated singleton pregnancy >34 weeks of gestation. For the intention‐to‐treat analysis, 68 women after vaginal delivery were included who delivered a live full‐term baby between January 1999 and September 2000.Outcome measures.  Maximum urethral closure pressure (MUCP, cmH2O), functional urethral length (mm), maximum anal pressure (MAP, mmHg), functional anal sphincter length (ASL, mmHg) at rest and during contraction, and pelvic floor muscle strength (5‐grade Oxford score) are the outcome measures. The rate of dyspareunia, urinary incontinence, and anorectal incontinence was documented.Results.  At a mean follow up of 7.3 months, there were no statistically significant differences between the two groups (a versus b): mean MUCP at rest (98 versus 101 cmH2O), during contraction (95 versus 103 cmH2O), mean MAP at rest (113 versus 121 mmHg), during contraction (143 versus 166 mmHg), mean ASL at rest (50 versus 50 mmHg), during contraction (42 versus 45 mmHg), mean pelvic floor muscle strength (2.2 versus 2.6), no pain during sexual intercourse (79 versus 67%), prevalence of urinary incontinence (48 versus 27%), and anorectal incontinence (19 versus 24%).Conclusions.  Episiotomy at a perineal tear presumed to be imminent does not have any advantage with regard to pelvic floor function and should be avoided.