bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Predominance of Porcine Rotavirus G9 in Japanese Piglets with Diarrhea: Close Relationship of Their VP7 Genes with Those of Recent Human G9 Strains
Authors: Teodoroff Tamara A. , Tsunemitsu Hiroshi , Okamoto Kiyotora , Katsuda Ken , Kohmoto Mariko , Kawashima Kenji , Nakagomi Toyoko , Nakagomi Osamu 
Published: March 2005

ABSTRACT
Type G9 of group A rotavirus (GAR) was shown to be predominant in a survey of VP7 (G) and VP4 (P) genotypes among porcine GARs associated with outbreaks of diarrhea in young pigs in Japan between 2000 and 2002. Comparison of the G9 VP7 gene sequences showed that the porcine G9 strains were more closely related to human G9 strains reemerging globally since the mid-1990s than to those from the mid-1980s. The VP7 gene sequences of porcine G9 strains from different farms were divergent (6.1 to 7.2% difference in nucleotides), suggesting that these G9 VP7 genes were not the result of recent introduction into the porcine population. Regarding the P genotype specificities of porcine G9 strains, while the majority of strains were close to unusual porcine P types (P[13] and P[23]), two strains were of the P[6] type, which has closer sequence identity with the human AU19 strain than with the porcine Gottfried strain. These unexpected results suggest that G9 GARs in the porcine population have spread more widely than previously thought and that the VP7 genes of porcine G9 strains and those of some human G9 strains detected recently may have a common progenitor.
Use of Microsatellite Markers and Gene Dosage To Quantify Gene Copy Numbers in
Candida albicans
Authors: Costa J.-M. , Eloy O. , Botterel F. , Janbon G. , Bretagne S. 
Published: March 2005

ABSTRACT

With microsatellite marker typing, the number of alleles must be known for calculation of allelic frequencies in the diploid
Candida albicans
for a given locus. We describe a gene dosage with a double real-time PCR. Such a dosage should also be useful in exploring the loss of heterozygosity in
C. albicans
.
Genetic Diversity of Multidrug-Resistant
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
Isolates and Identification of 11 Novel
rpoB
Alleles in Taiwan
Authors: Jou Ruwen , Chen Huang-Yau , Chiang Chen-Yuan , Yu Ming-Chih , Su Ih-Jen 
Published: March 2005

ABSTRACT

Of 162 multidrug-resistant
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
isolates from Taiwan, 60.5% were found to belong to the Beijing family on the basis of spoligotyping results. IS
6110
restriction fragment length polymorphism fingerprinting showed genetic diversity among the multidrug-resistant isolates. Furthermore, 90.1% of the multidrug-resistant isolates had mutations in the
rpoB
gene, and 11 novel alleles were recognized.
Diminished Replicative Fitness of Primary Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Isolates Harboring the K65R Mutation
Authors: Weber Jan , Chakraborty Bikram , Weberova Jitka , Miller Michael D. , Quiñones-Mateu Miguel E. 
Published: March 2005

ABSTRACTThe human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) reverse transcriptase (RT) resistance mutation K65R confers intermediate levels of resistance to several RT inhibitors, including a three- to fourfold reduction of tenofovir susceptibility. Here, we have used for the first time primary HIV-1 isolates from individuals who developed the K65R mutation while enrolled in a clinical trial of tenofovir to analyze the impact of this mutation on HIV-1 replicative fitness. A marked impairment in replicative fitness was observed in association with the selection of viruses carrying the K65R mutation in all patients. The mean replicative fitness among these viruses was 20% relative to the corresponding baseline wild-type virus, ranging from 10 to 32% depending on the accompanying RT mutations. These results support a reduction in in vivo replication for K65R mutant viruses.
Infective Endocarditis Caused by
Granulicatella elegans
Originating in the Oral Cavity
Authors: Ohara-Nemoto Yuko , Kishi Kayo , Satho Mamoru , Tajika Shihoko , Sasaki Minoru , Namioka Akiko , Kimura Shigenobu 
Published: March 2005

ABSTRACT

We studied the pheno- and genotypes of an oral
Granulicatella elegans
strain in comparison with those of a blood-derived isolate which caused infective endocarditis. The two isolates exhibited identical biochemical characteristics and had the same drug MICs. Their genotypes were indistinguishable, indicating that these were from the same clone. The transmission of
G. elegans
from the oral cavity thus should be noted as a possible cause of infective endocarditis.
Detection of Human Metapneumovirus RNA Sequences in Nasopharyngeal Aspirates of Young French Children with Acute Bronchiolitis by Real-Time Reverse Transcriptase PCR and Phylogenetic Analysis
Authors: Bouscambert-Duchamp Maude , Lina Bruno , Trompette Aurélien , Moret Hélène , Motte Jacques , Andréoletti Laurent 
Published: March 2005

ABSTRACT
Human metapneumovirus (HMPV) was the unique viral pathogen detected by a real-time reverse transcriptase PCR (RT-PCR) assay in 6 (6.4%) of 94 consecutive French children hospitalized for acute bronchiolitis from September 2001 to June 2002. This virus was identified as the third etiological cause of bronchiolitis, after respiratory syncytial virus and rhinovirus (35 [37%] and 21 [22%] of 94 cases, respectively). Phylogenetic analysis of F-gene sequences demonstrated the cocirculation of distinct HMPV genotypes during this study. These findings highlight the need to implement a rapid HMPV RT-PCR detection assay for the clinical diagnosis of respiratory infections in pediatric patients with bronchiolitis.
Survey of
emm
-Like Gene Sequences from Pharyngeal Isolates of Group C and Group G Streptococci Collected in Spain
Authors: Albertí Sebastián , García-Rey Cesar , García-Laorden María Isabel , Dal-Ré Rafael , García-de-Lomas Juan 
Published: March 2005

ABSTRACT

We conducted a nationwide surveillance of the variable 5′
emm
-like (M-like protein gene) sequences from 214 pharyngeal group C and group G streptococci. Almost 75% of the isolates exhibited
emm
or
emm
-like sequences previously described. We identified six new 5′
emm
-like regions, and almost 23% of the isolates were nontypeable. Five
emm
-like sequences accounted for more than 50% of the isolates in group C and group G, suggesting horizontal gene transfer between strains of different species.
False-Positive
Histoplasma capsulatum
Gen-Probe Chemiluminescent Test Result Caused by a
Chrysosporium
Species
Authors: Brandt Mary E. , Gaunt Dennis , Iqbal Naureen , McClinton Shirley , Hambleton Sarah , Sigler Lynne 
Published: March 2005

ABSTRACT

We describe a case in which the
Histoplasma capsulatum
AccuProbe test displayed cross-reactivity with a respiratory isolate thought to be
Histoplasma
but not morphologically consistent with
H. capsulatum
. The isolate was later identified as the
Chrysosporium
anamorph of
Nannizziopsis vriesii
by sequence analysis and phenotypic data.
Osteomyelitis Caused by
Enterobacter cancerogenus
Infection following a Traumatic Injury: Case Report and Review of the Literature
Authors: Garazzino S. , Aprato A. , Maiello A. , Massé A. , Biasibetti A. , De Rosa F. G. , Di Perri G. 
Published: March 2005

ABSTRACT

We report a case of osteomyelitis caused by
Enterobacter cancerogenus
resistant to aminopenicillins in a 56-year-old male who had a motorcycle accident and suffered from multiple bone fractures with abundant environmental exposure.
E. cancerogenus
has rarely been associated with human infections, and its clinical significance remains unclear.
Typhoid Fever Associated with Acute Appendicitis Caused by an H1-j Strain of
Salmonella enteric
a Serotype Typhi
Authors: Lau Susanna K. P. , Woo Patrick C. Y. , Chan Clair Y. F. , Woo Wai-Lan , Woo Gibson K. S. , Yuen Kwok-Yung 
Published: March 2005

ABSTRACT

While most strains of
Salmonella enterica
serotype Typhi, the etiologic agent of typhoid fever, have only a phase 1 flagellar antigen, H1-d, variations of the flagellar antigen have been observed. Although H1-j strains (one of the flagellar antigen variants) account for 10 to 50% of
S. enterica
serotype Typhi strains found in Indonesia, there have been no published data to suggest its existence in other parts of the world. We describe a case of typhoid fever associated with acute appendicitis caused by an
S. enterica
serotype Typhi H1-j strain in a Chinese woman in Hong Kong. A gram-negative, motile rod was recovered from her blood and stool cultures. Conventional biochemical tests and the Vitek system (GNI+) showed that the bacterium was
S. enterica
serotype Typhi. The isolate agglutinated with poly(O), 9O, Vi and H1-j
Salmonella
antisera but not with poly(H) antisera. The patient developed antibodies against only
S. enterica
serotype Typhi O antigens but not against H1-d antigen by the Widal test. Flagellin C gene (
fliC
) sequencing showed a 261-bp deletion in the
fliC
gene of the isolate, confirming that the isolate possessed the H1-j antigen. The patient had no past history of travel to Indonesia or personal contact with any Indonesian. She recovered with appendectomy and antibiotic treatment. Further studies should be performed to determine the prevalence of this unusual
S. enterica
serotype Typhi strain in our locality.
Drunken patients in the general hospital: their care and management
Authors: Malone D , Friedman T 
Published: March 2005

Abstract
In Britain alcohol consumption is increasing, 1 in 4 men and 1 in 10 women drink hazardously, 1 in 3 young men, and 1 in 4 young women regularly binge drink. Mortality rates attributable to alcohol have doubled; with 1 in 5 male inpatients having an alcohol related problem. The increasing problem of managing drunken behaviour in accident and emergency departments is discussed. Although an alcohol history is recommended for all admissions, because of various reasons, hazardous drinkers continue to miss the opportunity of effective interventions. In addition to the more formal treatments for alcohol problems, there is a wealth of evidence reporting the effectiveness of brief interventions carried out by a range of health professionals can lead to long term reductions in alcohol consumption. This review discusses practical and legal issues of the assessment, screening tools, and management of intoxicated patients.
Informed consent in renal transplantation
Authors: Edwards A G , Weale A R , Morgan J D 
Published: March 2005

Abstract

Purpose
This study was performed to assess how well completed the new consent forms are for patients undergoing renal transplantation.

Methodology
100 patients were randomly selected from the 160 who had a renal transplantation, at a single centre in the UK, over an 18 month period. The notes were located and the consent forms scrutinised.

Findings
Seven sets of notes could not be traced and 10 did not contain a relevant consent form. Forty eight per cent of completed forms mentioned the source of organ while 8% mentioned on which side the operation was to be performed. Twelve risks and complications were identified as being relevant to this procedure but no single form mentioned all 12. In most cases a senior member of the surgical team obtained consent.

Implications
The demonstrated variability in the amount of detail on consent forms lends weight to the call for the use of procedure specific forms. While such variability does not necessarily equate with not gaining valid, informed consent, this form, at present, serves as the only record of what has been discussed with the patient. These findings should encourage all surgeons to complete the forms themselves, be as detailed as possible, and ensure that the form is filed in the patients’ notes.
Access to health care for ethnic minority populations
Authors: Szczepura A 
Published: March 2005

Abstract
This paper reviews the research evidence on access to health care by ethnic minority populations, and discusses what might need to be done to improve access to services. Research on the process of care, and the quality of care received, is considered as well as studies examining uptake of services. Changes in legal context are increasing the pressure on healthcare organisations to examine and adapt their services to ensure equitable access. Examples presented include a new UK population cancer screening programme. The main challenges for clinicians, managers, and policy makers in ensuring equitable access are discussed.
VASSILIEV INVARIANTS FOR VIRTUAL LINKS, CURVES ON SURFACES AND THE JONES–KAUFFMAN POLYNOMIAL
Authors: MANTUROV VASSILY O. 
Published: March 2005

We discuss the strong invariant of virtual links proposed in [23]. This invariant is obtained as a generalization of the Jones–Kauffman polynomial (generalized Kauffman's bracket) by adding to the sum some equivalence classes of curves in two-dimensional surfaces. Thus, the invariant is valued in the infinite-dimensional free module over Z[q,q-1]. We prove that this invariant can be decomposed into finite type Vassiliev invariant of virtual links (in Kauffman's sense); thus we present new infinite series of Vassiliev invariants. It is also proved that this invariant is strictly stronger than the Jones–Kauffman polynomial for virtual knots proposed by Kauffman. Some examples when the invariant can recognize virtual knots that can not be recognized by other invariants are given.
BEFORE EIA: DEFINING THE SCOPE OF INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS IN THE NETHERLANDS
Authors: ARTS JOS , VAN LAMOEN FRANK 
Published: March 2005

This article discusses recent developments in integrated planning for the national road infrastructure in the Netherlands. It lays emphasis on project definition as a "missing link" between strategic planning and operational planning.Road development projects may have considerable negative impacts. Projects, however, are often too narrowly focused on road (re)construction alternatives and pay too less attention to the relationships with other spatial developments. As a consequence, the scope of project Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) is too narrow and opportunities are missed to enhance the spatial and environmental quality of the regions concerned. These problems are best tackled early in the planning process when the "degrees of freedom" in shaping the project are relatively large.Using the case of the A27 motorway a new guideline for explorative studies is introduced. The instrument described (called "reconnaissance study") aims to connect the planning arenas of Strategic Environmental Assessment and EIA, thus achieving more sustainable planning. It focuses on the early stage of project development in which the scope of projects is defined by "zooming in" from the national to a regional setting and translation of abstract policy goals to a "real world" situation. Key elements are a transparent process in which problem analysis and development of solutions are seperated, involvement of external parties and a broad study scope.
Association Between Serum Uric Acid, Metabolic Syndrome, and Carotid Atherosclerosis in Japanese Individuals
Authors: Ishizaka Nobukazu , Ishizaka Yuko , Toda Ei-Ichi , Nagai Ryozo , Yamakado Minoru 
Published: March 2005

Objective—There are few data available on possible independent association between uric acid and carotid atherosclerosis. Here we first sought to investigate association between uric acid levels and metabolic syndrome in Japanese; second, we assessed whether there is an independent association of uric acid with prevalence of carotid atherosclerosis in individuals subdivided according to gender and metabolic syndrome status.Methods and Results—Cross-sectional data from 8144 individuals who underwent general health screening were analyzed. After adjusting for age, total cholesterol, and smoking status, the odds ratios (95% CI) of sex-specific quartiles of serum uric acid for metabolic syndrome were 1.0, 1.06 (0.60 to 1.87), 2.18 (1.30 to 3.64), and 4.17 (2.56 to 6.79) in women, and 1.0, 0.92 (0.74 to 1.14), 1.52 (1.25 to 1.65), and 1.97 (1.61 to 2.40) in men. After adjusting for age, serum levels, total cholesterol, and smoking status, prevalence of carotid plaque was higher in subjects in the second, third, and fourth quartiles of uric acid level with odds ratios (95% CI) of 1.24 (1.01 to 1.52), 1.37 (1.11 to 1.68), and 1.31 (1.05 to 1.63), respectively, in men without metabolic syndrome but not in men with metabolic syndrome or in women with or without metabolic syndrome.Conclusion—The prevalence of metabolic syndrome showed a graded increase according to serum uric acid values in both genders. In men who did not have metabolic syndrome, uric acid was found to be an independent risk factor for incidence of carotid plaque.
Pseudovertical Temperature Profiles and the Urban Heat Island Measured by a Temperature Datalogger Network in Phoenix, Arizona
Authors: Fast Jerome D. , Torcolini Joel C. , Redman Randy 
Published: March 2005

Abstract
As part of an air-quality field campaign conducted in Phoenix, Arizona, during the summer of 2001, a network of temperature dataloggers and surface meteorological stations was deployed across the metropolitan area for a 61-day period. The majority of the dataloggers were deployed along two intersecting lines across the city to quantify characteristics of the urban heat island (UHI). To obtain pseudovertical temperature profiles, some of the instrumentation was also deployed along a mountain slope that rose to 480 m above the valley floor. The instrumentation along the mountain slope provided a reasonable approximation of the vertical temperature profile of the free atmosphere over the valley center during the night and a few hours after sunrise. Mean differences of 0.63 and 0.92 K and standard deviations of 1.33 and 1.45 K were obtained when compared with the in situ radiosonde and remote radio acoustic sounding system measurements, respectively. The vertical temperature gradients associated with temperature inversions within 200 m of the surface during the morning were also close to those obtained from the radiosondes. The average UHI during the measurement period was between 2.5° and 3.5°C; however, there was significant day-to-day variability, and it was as large as 10°C during one evening. The peak UHI usually occurred around midnight; however, a strong UHI was frequently observed 2–3 h after sunrise that coincided with the persistence of strong temperature inversions obtained from the radiosonde and the pseudovertical temperature profiles. The nocturnal horizontal temperature gradient was somewhat different than that reported for other large cities, and the UHI did not decrease with increasing wind speeds until the wind speeds exceeded 7 m s−1.
Evening Transition Observations in Phoenix, Arizona
Authors: Brazel A. J. , Fernando H. J. S. , Hunt J. C. R. , Selover N. , Hedquist B. C. , Pardyjak E. 
Published: March 2005

AbstractPast research has suggested that the evening transition in complex topography typically has several main features, such as (a) continued weak upslope flows persisting 3–5 h after sunset (if the sidewalls of the valley prevent Coriolis-induced turning of winds), thus signifying delayed transition; (b) unsteady local stagnation and vertical mixing within tens of meters above the surface; and (c) transition of stagnation fronts to downslope/downvalley gravity currents during the evening hours, especially at higher-elevation (steeper) slopes, and their arrival at adjoining low-elevation gentle slopes as “slope breezes.” This transition process typically occurs in locales such as Phoenix, Arizona, which has expansive exposure to plains in one direction (to the west and south) and is adjacent to abrupt change in the terrain in other directions (primarily to the north and east). An analysis of wind records from several automated weather stations and a radar wind profiler for selected characteristic periods representing all four seasons and data from a previous major field campaign in the greater Phoenix valley illustrate (i) the shallow nature of transition flows that develop on a year-round basis during frequent clear, calm nights in the desert Southwest and their seasonal sensitivity; (ii) a spatial variation of transition times relative to the only first-order National Weather Service station in the region (Sky Harbor International Airport); (iii) the dependence of transition time (and hence the delay of transition) on the exposure, the elevation, and the magnitude of slope; and (iv) a possible heat-island influence. These observations are quantified using theoretical estimates, and the results are placed in the context of multiscale flows in urban basins.
NWCSAF AVHRR Cloud Detection and Analysis Using Dynamic Thresholds and Radiative Transfer Modeling. Part II: Tuning and Validation
Authors: Dybbroe Adam , Karlsson Karl-Göran , Thoss Anke 
Published: March 2005

Abstract
Algorithms for cloud detection (cloud mask) and classification (cloud type) at high and midlatitudes using data from the Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) on board the current NOAA satellites and future polar Meteorological and Operational Weather Satellites (METOP) of the European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites have been extensively validated over northern Europe and the adjacent seas. The algorithms have been described in detail in Part I and are based on a multispectral grouped threshold approach, making use of cloud-free radiative transfer model simulations. The thresholds applied in the algorithms have been validated and tuned using a database interactively built up over more than 1 yr of data from NOAA-12, -14, and -15 by experienced nephanalysts. The database contains almost 4000 rectangular (in the image data)-sized targets (typically with sides around 10 pixels), with satellite data collocated in time and space with atmospheric data from a short-range NWP forecast model, land cover characterization, elevation data, and a label identifying the given cloud or surface type as interpreted by the nephanalyst. For independent and objective validation, a large dataset of nearly 3 yr of collocated surface synoptic observation (Synop) reports, AVHRR data, and NWP model output over northern and central Europe have been collected. Furthermore, weather radar data were used to check the consistency of the cloud type. The cloud mask performs best over daytime sea and worst at twilight and night over land. As compared with Synop, the cloud cover is overestimated during night (except for completely overcast situations) and is underestimated at twilight. The algorithms have been compared with the more empirically based Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute (SMHI) Cloud Analysis Model Using Digital AVHRR Data (SCANDIA), operationally run at SMHI since 1989, and results show that performance has improved significantly.
An Empirical Model for Predicting the Decay of Tropical Cyclone Wind Speed after Landfall over the Indian Region
Authors: Bhowmik S. K. Roy , Kotal S. D. , Kalsi S. R. 
Published: March 2005

AbstractAn empirical model for predicting the maximum surface wind speed associated with a tropical cyclone after crossing the east coast of India is described. The model parameters are determined from the database of 19 recent cyclones. The model is based upon the assumption that tropical cyclone winds decay exponentially after landfall. A method for correcting the forecast during subsequent observation hours is also presented. Results show that without the correction factor the absolute mean error ranges from 6.1 to 4.9 kt (1 kt = 0.5144 m s−1) and the root-mean-square error ranges from 7.9 to 5.6 kt, with both decreasing over time. With the incorporation of the correction procedure, a significant improvement in the forecast skill is noticed for the case in which it is tested using the dependent sample. The model is expected to be very useful to operational forecasters.