bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Enhanced radiation efficiency of electrically small microstrip antennas
Authors: Tseng Kuo‐Hua , Lee Choon Sae 
Published: August 2003

AbstractBy inserting width discontinuities in the middle of a rectangular microstrip patch, the length of a microstrip antenna can be significantly reduced at a given operating frequency. However, as the antenna size is reduced, the radiation efficiency becomes degraded. In this paper, it is shown that the radiation efficiency is improved substantially when the single junction at each width discontinuity is replaced by multiple junctions. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 39: 62–64, 2003; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.11127
Temperature compensation package for fiber Bragg gratings
Authors: Huang Yonglin , Li Jie , Kai Guiyun , Yuan Shuzhong , Dong Xiaoyi 
Published: August 2003

AbstractA new compact package for compensating the temperature dependence of fiber Bragg grating (FBG), based on the use of two materials with different thermal expansion coefficients, has been demonstrated. The dependence of the Bragg wavelength over a temperature range of −18°C to 50°C is only 0.028 nm, which is 1/23 of that of an uncompensated FBG. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 39: 70–72, 2003; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.11130
Improved protein–ligand docking using GOLD
Authors: Verdonk Marcel L. , Cole Jason C. , Hartshorn Michael J. , Murray Christopher W. , Taylor Richard D. 
Published: August 2003

AbstractThe Chemscore function was implemented as a scoring function for the protein–ligand docking program GOLD, and its performance compared to the original Goldscore function and two consensus docking protocols, “Goldscore‐CS” and “Chemscore‐GS,” in terms of docking accuracy, prediction of binding affinities, and speed. In the “Goldscore‐CS” protocol, dockings produced with the Goldscore function are scored and ranked with the Chemscore function; in the “Chemscore‐GS” protocol, dockings produced with the Chemscore function are scored and ranked with the Goldscore function. Comparisons were made for a “clean” set of 224 protein–ligand complexes, and for two subsets of this set, one for which the ligands are “drug‐like,” the other for which they are “fragment‐like.” For “drug‐like” and “fragment‐like” ligands, the docking accuracies obtained with Chemscore and Goldscore functions are similar. For larger ligands, Goldscore gives superior results. Docking with the Chemscore function is up to three times faster than docking with the Goldscore function. Both combined docking protocols give significant improvements in docking accuracy over the use of the Goldscore or Chemscore function alone. “Goldscore‐CS” gives success rates of up to 81% (top‐ranked GOLD solution within 2.0 Å of the experimental binding mode) for the “clean list,” but at the cost of long search times. For most virtual screening applications, “Chemscore‐GS” seems optimal; search settings that give docking speeds of around 0.25–1.3 min/compound have success rates of about 78% for “drug‐like” compounds and 85% for “fragment‐like” compounds. In terms of producing binding energy estimates, the Goldscore function appears to perform better than the Chemscore function and the two consensus protocols, particularly for faster search settings. Even at docking speeds of around 1–2 min/compound, the Goldscore function predicts binding energies with a standard deviation of ∼10.5 kJ/mol. Proteins 2003;52:609–623. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Isolation and characterization of a rice WUSCHEL‐type homeobox gene that is specifically expressed in the central cells of a quiescent center in the root apical meristem
Authors: Kamiya Noriko , Nagasaki Hiroshi , Morikami Atsushi , Sato Yutaka , Matsuoka Makoto 
Published: August 2003

SummaryThe Arabidopsis WUSCHEL (WUS) protein, which plays an important role in the specification of the stem cells in the shoot apical meristem (SAM), contains an ‘atypical’ homeodomain (HD) with extra residues in its loop and turn regions. We speculated that a WUS‐type atypical HD protein might also be involved in the specification and maintenance of the root apical meristem (RAM) stem cells of rice. To investigate this possibility, we isolated and characterized a rice WUS‐type homeobox gene designated quiescent‐center‐specific homeobox (QHB) gene. Using transformants carrying the QHB promoter‐GUS and in situ hybridization, we found that QHB was specifically expressed in the central cells of a quiescent center (QC) of the root. During embryogenesis and crown root formation, QHB expression was observed prior to the morphological differentiation of the root. However, we detected different QHB expression patterns in the process of the RAM development, specifically between radicle and crown root formation, suggesting that the cell‐fate determination of the QC may be controlled by different mechanisms. We also produced transformants that overexpress QHB or Arabidopsis WUS. These transformants did not form crown roots, but developed multiple shoots from ectopic SAMs with malformed leaves. On the basis of these observations, we propose that the WUS‐type homeobox gene is involved in the specification and maintenance of the stem cells (QC cells) in the RAM, by a mechanism similar to that for WUS in the SAM.
Typing of Nonencapsulated
Haemophilus
Strains by Repetitive-Element Sequence-Based PCR Using Intergenic Dyad Sequences
Authors: Bruant Guillaume , Watt Stephane , Quentin Roland , Rosenau Agnes 
Published: August 2003

ABSTRACT

Intergenic dyad sequences (IDS) are short repeated elements that have been described for several
Haemophilus
genomes and for only two other bacterial genera. We developed a repetitive-element sequence-based PCR using an IDS-specific primer as a typing method (IDS-PCR) for nonencapsulated
Haemophilus
strains and compared this technique with pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) of DNA restricted with
Sma
I. IDS-PCR was rapid, easy to perform, and reproducible, with a high discriminatory capacity for nontypeable
Haemophilus influenzae
(NTHI) strains. The 69 NTHI strains tested generated 65 different banding patterns. Epidemiologically related strains gave similar or identical fingerprints, and all of the unrelated strains except two showed different patterns. These results were in agreement with those obtained by PFGE. For 20 genital strains usually identified as being biotype IV NTHI and belonging to a cryptic genospecies of
Haemophilus
with remarkable genetic homogeneity, four bands were significantly present and six bands were significantly absent from the fingerprints. The 20 strains were gathered in 11 closely related profiles, whereas PFGE provided no band when DNA was treated with
Sma
I. IDS-PCR improved the differentiation previously obtained within this species by ribotyping and multilocus enzyme electrophoresis. Our findings suggest that IDS-PCR is a rapid, reliable, and discriminatory method for typing NTHI strains and is currently the most efficient method for distinguishing strains within the cryptic genospecies of
Haemophilus
.
Outbreak of Extended-Spectrum β-Lactamase VEB-1-Producing Isolates of
Acinetobacter baumannii
in a French Hospital
Authors: Poirel Laurent , Menuteau Olivier , Agoli Nathalie , Cattoen Christian , Nordmann Patrice 
Published: August 2003

ABSTRACT

Twelve clonally related and multidrug-resistant
Acinetobacter baumannii
isolates were recovered during a 4-month period from 12 patients hospitalized at the Valenciennes Hospital in France. Antibiograms determined by the double-disk diffusion technique on cloxacillin-containing plates detected a clavulanic acid-inhibited extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL). PCR and sequencing identified the gene encoding the Ambler class A ESBL VEB-1. This gene was located on the chromosome and was part of a class 1 integron identical to that previously identified in
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
isolates from Thailand. Additionally, seven clonally related
bla
VEB-1
-positive
A. baumannii
strains were identified in the immediate environment of the hospitalized patients. This is the first report of the ESBL VEB-1 in
Acinetobacter
spp. and the first description of VEB-1-producing strains as a source of an outbreak occurring outside Southeast Asia. This report underlines the difficulty of the identification of ESBLs in
A. baumannii.
Virus Detection Protocols for West Nile Virus in Vertebrate and Mosquito Specimens
Authors: Kauffman Elizabeth B. , Jones Susan A. , Dupuis Alan P. , Ngo Kiet A. , Bernard Kristen A. , Kramer Laura D. 
Published: August 2003

ABSTRACT
The recent outbreaks of West Nile virus (WNV) infection in the northeastern United States and other regions of the world have made it essential to develop efficient, sensitive, and rapid protocols for virus surveillance. Laboratory testing is the backbone of any surveillance program. Protocols to detect the presence of WNV have been refined since 1999 for sensitivity, speed, efficiency, and specificity. This paper presents the protocols currently used by the New York State Department of Health to handle vertebrate and mosquito specimens that have been submitted for WNV testing to the Arbovirus Laboratories of the Wadsworth Center.
Evaluation of the Osiris Expert System for Identification of β-Lactam Phenotypes in Isolates of
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Authors: Bert Frédéric , Ould-Hocine Zahia , Juvin Manette , Dubois Véronique , Loncle-Provot Véronique , Lefranc Valérie , Quentin Claudine , Lambert Nicole , Arlet Guillaume 
Published: August 2003

ABSTRACT

Osiris is a video zone size reader for disk diffusion tests featuring a built-in extended expert system (EES). The efficacy of the EES for the identification of the β-lactam susceptibility phenotypes of
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
isolates was evaluated. Thirteen β-lactams were tested in four laboratories by the disk diffusion test with 53 strains with well-characterized resistance mechanisms, including the production of 12 extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBLs). The plates were read with the Osiris system and the results were interpreted with the ESS, and then the phenotype identified by the EES was compared to the resistance mechanism. The strains were also screened for the presence of ESBL production by a double-disk synergy test by placing the strains between an extended-spectrum cephalosporin-containing disk and a clavulanic acid-containing disk at distances of 30, 20, 15, and 10 mm from each other. Overall, the EES accurately identified the phenotypes of 88.2% of the strains and indicated an association with several mechanisms for 3.8% of the strains. No phenotype was identified in four strains with low levels of penicillinase production. Misidentifications were observed for two penicillinase-producing strains: one strain with partially derepressed cephalosporinase production and one strain overexpressing the MexA-MexB-OprM efflux system. The production of only four ESBLs was detected by the standard synergy test with a 30-mm distance between the disks. The production of five further ESBLs was identified by reducing the distance to 20 mm, and the production of the last three ESBLs was detected only at a distance of 15 or 10 mm. Our results indicate that the Osiris EES is an effective tool for the identification of
P. aeruginosa
β-lactam phenotypes. A specific double-disk synergy test with reduced disk distances is necessary for the detection of ESBL production by this organism.
Reproducibility of Positive Test Results in the BDProbeTec ET System for Detection of
Chlamydia trachomatis
and
Neisseria gonorrhoeae
Authors: Culler Elizabeth E. , Caliendo Angela M. , Nolte Frederick S. 
Published: August 2003

ABSTRACT

Nucleic acid amplification tests such as the BDProbeTec ET (BDPT) system are more prone to reproducibility problems than are antigen detection tests and culture. A repeat testing algorithm for all samples with method other than acceleration (MOTA) scores greater than or equal to the cutoff value (2,000) was developed for the BDPT system and applied in a clinical laboratory setting. All positive samples were retested, and if the result of the second test was below the cutoff value, a third test was performed to resolve the discrepancy. Overall, 11 (5.3%) of 207 samples initially positive for
Chlamydia trachomatis
and 11 (10.7%) of 103 samples initially positive for
Neisseria gonorrhoeae
were not confirmed by repeat testing of the original sample. Poor reproducibility was associated with low-positive MOTA scores (2,000 to 9,999) for both analytes. Only 21 (80.8%) of 26 low-positive samples in the
C. trachomatis
test and 4 (33.3%) of 12 low-positive samples in the
N. gonorrhoeae
test retested as positive. The reproducibility of both tests with samples with initial MOTA scores of ≥10,000 increased to 96.7%. The data suggest that retesting of low-positive samples is warranted and could reduce the number of potentially false-positive test results.
Dengue Disease Spectrum among Infants in the 2001 Dengue Epidemic in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
Authors: Kabilan L. , Balasubramanian S. , Keshava S. M. , Thenmozhi V. , Sekar G. , Tewari S. C. , Arunachalam N. , Rajendran R. , Satyanarayana K. 
Published: August 2003

ABSTRACT
An investigation in a referral pediatric hospital has indicated that during a recent dengue outbreak in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India, dengue in infancy constituted 20% of total dengue virus infections with low mortality rates in this hospital. In developing countries, strengthening of dengue management capabilities at hospitals can prevent dengue-related deaths in infants.
Molecular Typing of
Campylobacter jejuni
Isolates Involved in a Neonatal Outbreak Indicates Nosocomial Transmission
Authors: Llovo José , Mateo Estíbaliz , Muñoz Angeles , Urquijo María , On Stephen L. W. , Fernández-Astorga Aurora 
Published: August 2003

ABSTRACT

Genotypic typing by restriction fragment length polymorphism and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis showed that two neonates in a neonatal ward were infected with the same
Campylobacter jejuni
strain. Isolates from the mother and brother of the index patient were identical to each other but distinct from the neonatal type. Genotyping results therefore suggested that the neonatal
C
.
jejuni
infection was nosocomial in origin.
Clinical Impact of a PCR Assay for Identification of
Staphylococcus aureus
and Determination of Methicillin Resistance Directly from Blood Cultures
Authors: Hallin M. , Maes N. , Byl B. , Jacobs F. , De Gheldre Y. , Struelens M. J. 
Published: August 2003

ABSTRACT

We evaluated the clinical usefulness of a PCR assay that discriminates
Staphylococcus aureus
from coagulase-negative staphylococci and detects methicillin resistance on blood cultures by measuring the adaptation of antimicrobial therapy based on the PCR results. Only 7 of 28 patients (25%) benefited from a modification of antibiotic therapy based on the PCR results, since empirical therapy was appropriate in a majority of cases.
Hymenolepis diminuta
Infection in a Child Living in the Urban Area of Rome, Italy
Authors: Marangi Massimo , Zechini Barbara , Fileti Angelica , Quaranta Giorgio , Aceti Antonio 
Published: August 2003

ABSTRACT

We report a case of
Hymenolepis diminuta
infection in an Italian child affected by tuberous sclerosis. Praziquantel is the drug of choice for the treatment of
H. diminuta
infection. However, considering the patient's neurological disease, we decided to use not praziquantel but niclosamide, which proved equally effective.
Computed Tomographic Parameters Predicting Fatal Outcome in Large Middle Cerebral Artery Infarction
Authors: Barber Philip A. , Demchuk Andrew M. , Zhang Jinjin , Kasner Scott E. , Hill Michael D. , Berrouschot Jorg , Schmutzhard Erich , Harms Lutz , Verro Piero , Krieger Derk 
Published: August 2003

<i>Background:</i> Large middle cerebral artery (MCA) ischaemic stroke when associated with extensive mass effect can result in brain herniation and neurological death. As yet there are few guidelines to aid the selection of patients for aggressive interventional therapies, such as decompression hemicraniectomy and/or hypothermia. <i>Methods:</i> We studied a cohort of patients from seven centres with large MCA infarction requiring neurocritical care. The purpose of this analysis was to assess the use of early radiological signs on follow-up computed tomographic (CT) signs performed within 48 h of stroke onset for predicting mortality at 30 days. The CT parameters assessed included horizontal displacement of the septum pellucidum, pineal shift, complete or partial infarction of the temporal lobe, involvement of additional vascular territories, and the presence of hydrocephalus. The primary outcome measure was in-hospital death within 30 days. <i>Results:</i> One hundred and thirty-five patients who had follow-up CT scans within 48 h were identified from a total of 201 patients with large MCA infarction that received conventional medical therapy alone. The median age was 68 (range 29–99), 56% were female, and the median NIHSS category was 26–30 at 48 h. Among CT variables in univariable analysis, anteroseptal shift ≧5 mm, pineal shift ≧2 mm, complete temporal lobe infarction, involvement beyond the MCA territory, and moderate or severe hydrocephalus were equally predictive of death. Multivariable analysis adjusting for time to CT scan revealed the following predictors of fatal outcome: anteroseptal shift ≧5 mm (OR 10.9; 95% CI 3.2–37.6), NIHSS within 48 h >20 (OR 6.6; 95% CI 2.3–19.3), and infarction beyond the MCA territory (OR 4.9; 95% CI 1.6–15.0). <i>Conclusions:</i> We identified the role of early CT signs in predicting death following massive MCA infarction. The CT parameters anteroseptal shift (>5 versus ≤5 mm), pineal shift ≧2 mm, hydrocephalus, temporal lobe infarction, and other vascular territory infarction if present were predictive of fatal outcome. These CT parameters require prospective validation before they should be considered reliable markers for decision-making.
Vessel- and Vasoconstrictor-Dependent Role of Rho/Rho-Kinase in Renal Microvascular Tone
Authors: Nakamura Akira , Hayashi Koichi , Ozawa Yuri , Fujiwara Keiji , Okubo Ken , Kanda Takeshi , Wakino Shu , Saruta Takao 
Published: August 2003

We examined the role of Rho/Rho-kinase in renal afferent and efferent arteriolar tone induced by angiotensin (Ang) II, KCl and elevated renal arterial pressure (from 80 to 180 mm Hg), using isolated perfused rat hydronephrotic kidney. In the condition with no vasoconstrictor stimuli, Y-27632, a Rho-kinase inhibitor, dilated only afferent (from 11.6 ± 0.4 to 14.1 ± 0.5 µm) but not efferent arterioles (from 11.6 ± 0.2 to 12.6 ± 0.7 µm) at 10<sup>–5</sup> mol/l. During renal vasoconstriction by Ang II, Y-27632 restored the afferent arteriolar constriction (141 ± 10% reversal at 10<sup>–5</sup> mol/l), whereas the ability of Y-27632 to inhibit the Ang II-induced efferent arteriolar constriction was diminished (73 ± 7% reversal). A similar action was observed with fasudil, another Rho-kinase inhibitor. Furthermore, Y-27632 impaired myogenic afferent arteriolar constriction, with 117 ± 17% inhibition at 10<sup>–5</sup> mol/l. The inhibition by Y-27632 of the myogenic vasoconstriction was almost the same as that of the Ang II-induced tone of this vessel type. However, Y-27632 had a modest effect on KCl-induced vasoconstriction of afferent arterioles. In conclusion, the present study demonstrates a predominant role of Rho/Rho-kinase in mediating the basal and Ang II-induced tone of afferent, but not efferent, arterioles. Furthermore, the role of Rho/Rho-kinase in afferent arteriolar constriction differs, with a substantial contribution to Ang II-induced and myogenic constriction but a minimal role in depolarization-induced constriction. Since Ang II-induced, KCl-induced and myogenic constriction of afferent arterioles require calcium entry through voltage-dependent calcium channels, the interaction between Rho/Rho-kinase and the calcium entry pathway may determine the afferent arteriolar tone induced by these stimuli.
Simplified modeling of fed‐batch alcoholic fermentation of sugarcane blackstrap molasses
Authors: Converti Attilio , Arni Saleh , Sato Sunao , de Carvalho João Carlos Monteiro , Aquarone Eugênio 
Published: August 2003

AbstractSimplified modeling based on material balances for biomass, ethanol and substrate was used to describe the kinetics of fed‐batch alcohol fermentation of sugarcane blackstrap molasses. Maintenance requirements were previously shown to be of particular significance in this system, owing to the use of massive inoculum to minimize inhibitions; therefore, they were taken into consideration for kinetic modeling. Average values of biomass and ethanol yields, productivities, and substrate consumption rates, calculated at the end of runs performed either at constant or exponentially varying flow rates, demonstrated that all of these parameters were influenced by the initial sugar‐feeding rate, FoSo. Under conditions of substrate shortage (FoSo ≤ 300 gS h−1), the amount of carbon dioxide produced was higher than that corresponding to the stoichiometry of sucrose fermentation to ethanol, indicating that an appreciable fraction of the carbon source was likely consumed by respiration. Besides, the biomass yields either on substrate, YX/S, or ethanol, YX/E, as well as the product yield on substrate, YE/S, notably decreased. These results are in agreement with the relatively high specific rate of anaerobic substrate consumption for maintenance estimated for this system (mas = 0.789 gS gX−1 h−1), which was responsible for the consumption of more than 70% of the fed carbon source. The proposed equations derived from the Monod model proved to be a useful tool to easily predict the performance of this process. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Biotechnol Bioeng 84:88–95, 2003
Predicting daily flows in ungauged catchments: model regionalization from catchment descriptors at the Coweeta Hydrologic Laboratory, North Carolina
Authors: Kokkonen Teemu S. , Jakeman Anthony J. , Young Peter C. , Koivusalo Harri J. 
Published: August 2003

AbstractRegionalization approaches to daily streamflow prediction are investigated for 13 catchments in the Coweeta Hydrologic Laboratory using a conceptual rainfall‐runoff model of low complexity (six parameters). Model parameters are considered to represent the dynamic response characteristics (DRCs) of a catchment. It is demonstrated that all catchments within the region cannot be assumed to have a similar hydrological behaviour, and thence a regionalization approach considering differences in physical catchment descriptors (PCDs) is required. Such a regionalization approach can be regarded as a top‐down method, in the sense that factors controlling parameter variability are identified first within the entire region under study, and then such information is exploited to predict runoff in a smaller sub‐region. Regionalization results reveal that consideration of interrelations between dependent variables, which here are the parameters of the rainfall‐runoff model, can improve performance of regression as a regionalization method. Breaking the parameter correlation structure inherent in the model, and exploiting merely relationships between model parameters and PCDs (no matter how weakly related they are), can result in a significant decrease in regionalization performance. Also, high significance of regression between values of PCDs and DRCs does not guarantee a set of parameters with a good predictive power. When there is a reason to believe that, in the sense of hydrological behaviour, a gauged catchment resembles the ungauged catchment, then it may be worthwhile to adopt the entire set of calibrated parameters from the gauged catchment instead of deriving quantitative relationships between catchment descriptors and model parameters. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.