bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
High neuroticism and depressive temperament are associated with dysfunctional regulation of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenocortical system in healthy volunteers
Authors: Zobel A. , Barkow K. , Schulze‐Rauschenbach S. , Von Widdern O. , Metten M. , Pfeiffer U. , Schnell S. , Wagner M. , Maier W. 
Published: December 2004

Objective:  Elevated neuroticism, depressive temperament and dysfunctional regulation of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenocortical (HPA) system are considered as risk factors for unipolar depression. An interaction of these vulnerability factors was suggested, but controversially discussed. In absence of other informative studies we set out for a replication test and for elucidation of the underlying mechanism.Method:  Ninety‐two subjects recruited in the community‐performed assessments of personality and temperament as well as measurement of HPA function with the dexamethasone/corticotropin‐releasing hormone (Dex/CRH) test.Results:  Cortisol levels subsequent to Dex/CRH challenge were associated with neuroticism; high‐neuroticism subjects revealed a higher HPA activation. This difference was mainly because of male subjects ≥25 years. A similar relationship was observed for depressive temperament.Conclusion:  This constellation may propose that HPA dysregulation is the endocrinological basis for neuroticism and depressive temperament; this result supports the view that distinct personality factors and HPA vulnerability interact in mediating depression.
Pleasurable auditory hallucinations
Authors: Sanjuan J. , Gonzalez J. C. , Aguilar E. J. , Leal C. , van Os J. 
Published: December 2004

Objective:  The focus in auditory hallucination (AH) research is usually on the negative impact of the experience itself. There are practically no studies on whether voices can be perceived as pleasurable. The aim of the present study was to assess the frequency of voices as a pleasurable experience in a psychotic patient population.Method:  A total of 160 patients with AHs (89 schizophrenia and 17 other psychoses) were assessed with the psychotic symptom rating scale (PSYRATS) for AHs, including an added item on whether the experience was pleasurable.Results:  Twenty‐eight patients (26%) reported the voices as a pleasurable experience and 10 of them did so frequently. Pleasurable hallucinations showed negative associations with amount and intensity of distress, degree of negative content and loudness. Positive associations were apparent with chronicity and perceived control over the voices.Conclusion:  Pleasurable hallucinations can be detected in a substantial proportion of patients, and cross validated with existing instruments.
Amisulpride augmentation of clozapine: an open non‐randomized study in patients with schizophrenia partially responsive to clozapine
Authors: Munro J. , Matthiasson P. , Osborne S. , Travis M. , Purcell S. , Cobb A. M. , Launer M. , Beer M. D. , Kerwin R. 
Published: December 2004

Objective:  Treatment options are very limited for individuals with schizophrenia resistant to clozapine. We tested the hypothesis that amisulpride augmentation would lead to an improvement in these patients.Method:  This was an open non‐randomized study. Thirty‐three patients with sub‐optimal response to clozapine were commenced on amisulpride in addition to clozapine. Clinical status was evaluated at baseline, 3 and 6 months using the Positive And Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), Scale for the Assessment of Negative Symptoms (SANS), Global Assessment Scale (GAS), Calgary Depression Scale, Calgary Anxiety Scale and various side effect rating scales.Results:  Twenty‐eight subjects completed 6 months treatment on clozapine and amisulpride. There was a statistically significant improvement in the mean scores for PANSS, SANS and GAS at follow‐up and no significant changes in side effect ratings.Conclusion:  Co‐administration of amisulpride, in a group of patients partially or non‐responsive to clozapine, may lead to a substantial improvement in positive and negative symptoms, without worsening the side effect burden.
Hypofrontality in schizophrenia: a meta‐analysis of functional imaging studies
Authors: Hill K. , Mann L. , Laws K. R. , Stephenson C. M. E. , Nimmo‐Smith I. , McKenna P. J. 
Published: December 2004

Objective:  Hypofrontality is not a well‐replicated finding in schizophrenia either at rest or under conditions of task activation.Method:  Studies comparing whole brain and frontal blood flow/metabolism in schizophrenic patients and normal controls were pooled. Voxel‐based studies were also combined to examine the pattern of prefrontal activation in schizophrenia.Results:  Whole brain flow/metabolism was reduced in schizophrenia to only a small extent. Resting and activation frontal flow/metabolism were both reduced with a medium effect size. Duration of illness significantly moderated resting hypofrontality, but the moderating effects of neuroleptic treatment were consistent with an influence on global flow/metabolism only. Pooling of voxel‐based studies did not suggest an abnormal pattern of activation in schizophrenia.Conclusion:  Meta‐analysis supports resting hypofrontality in schizophrenia. Task‐activated hypofrontality is also supported, but there is little from voxel‐based studies to suggest that this is associated with an altered pattern of regional functional architecture.
Does duration of untreated psychosis bias study samples of first‐episode psychosis?
Authors: Friis S. , Melle I. , Larsen T. K. , Haahr U. , Johannessen J. O. , Simonsen E. , Opjordsmoen S. , Vaglum P. , McGlashan T. H. 
Published: December 2004

Objective:  While findings are contradictory, many studies report that long Duration of Untreated Psychosis (DUP) correlates with poorer outcome in first episode psychosis. In an outcome study of first‐episode psychosis, we compared the patients who refused to participate in a follow‐along with those who consented to estimate the importance of this factor in sample recruitment bias. Our questions were: (i) What is the percentage of refusers? (ii) Are there systematic differences between refusers and consenters on DUP and/or other admission variables? (iii) What is the risk of refusal for different values of DUP?Method:  In an unselected group of consecutively admitted patients we compared follow‐along refusers and consenters on the following admission variables: sex, age, diagnostic group, substance abuse, being in‐patient, coming from an early detection site and DUP. We conducted a logistic regression analysis with refusal as the outcome variable.Results:  Ninety‐three of 397 patients (23%) were refusers. In univariate analyses the only significant difference was found for DUP. The median DUP for consenters was 10 weeks and for refusers 32 weeks. DUP remained significant when all independent variables were controlled for.Conclusion:  DUP was significantly related to risk for refusal. For tests of the impact of DUP on outcome, this may introduce a type II error bias.
Studies with Synthetic Peptides of 80 kDa Human Sperm Antigen (80 kDa HSA)
Authors: Vernekar Vandana J. , Bandivdekar A. H. , Raghavan Vijaya P. , Kamada M. , Koide S. S. 
Published: December 2004

Problem:  The 80 kDa human sperm antigen (HSA) is a sperm‐specific and conserved antigen, capable of inducing immunological infertility. Partial N‐terminal amino acid sequences of 80 kDa HSA (Peptide NT) and its peptides obtained by digestion with endoproteinase Lys‐C (peptides 1–4) and endoproteinase Glu‐C (peptides 5–6) did not show any sequence homology with reported known proteins deposited in the Gen‐Bank. These sequenced peptides were synthesized and conjugated to key hole limpet haemocyanin (KLH) and evaluated for its antifertility effects. The present communication describes the characterization of these peptides and their antibodies.Method of study:  Peptides NT, 1, 2, 3 and 4 were synthesized and conjugated to KLH. Antibodies to KLH conjugated peptides were raised in rabbits by active immunization and the antibody titer was determined by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using sperm extract coated wells. The binding specificity of the synthetic peptides or purified 80 kDa HSA to their antibodies was assessed in the presence of various doses of respective synthetic peptides or 80 kDa HSA. The binding specificity was further confirmed by Western blot analysis. Antipeptide antibodies were also checked for sperm agglutinating activity, in‐vitro.Results:  Active immunization of rabbits elicited significant antibody titers against the synthetic peptides, except for peptide 3. Antipeptide antibodies specifically recognized the native protein in an ELISA and induced in‐vitro agglutination of human, rat and monkey sperm. In addition, Western blot analysis showed that these antipeptide antibodies specifically bind to the 80 kDa HSA band of the sperm extract.Conclusion:  Synthetic peptides of 80 kDa HSA are immunogenic and antibodies raised against these peptides recognize the native protein detected by ELISA, Western blot analysis. In addition, they possess sperm agglutinating activity. These findings suggest that they are promising candidates in the development of immunocontraceptives.
THE GROUPS OF RICHARD THOMPSON AND COMPLEXITY
Authors: BIRGET JEAN-CAMILLE 
Published: December 2004

We prove new results about the remarkable infinite simple groups introduced by Richard Thompson in the 1960s. We give a faithful representation in the Cuntz C⋆-algebra. For the finitely presented simple group V we show that the word-length and the table size satisfy an n log n relation. We show that the word problem of V belongs to the parallel complexity class AC1 (a subclass of P), whereas the generalized word problem of V is undecidable. We study the distortion functions of V and show that V contains all finite direct products of finitely generated free groups as subgroups with linear distortion. As a consequence, up to polynomial equivalence of functions, the following three sets are the same: the set of distortions of V, the set of Dehn functions of finitely presented groups, and the set of time complexity functions of nondeterministic Turing machines.
In the Ventral Tegmental Area, G-Proteins and cAMP Mediate the Neurosteroid 3α,5α-THP’s Actions at Dopamine Type 1 Receptors for Lordosis of Rats
Authors: Petralia Sandra M. , Frye Cheryl A. 
Published: December 2004

Progestins have multiple mechanisms of action in the central nervous system that are important for modulating lordosis of female rats. In the ventral tegmental area (VTA), progestins, such as the progesterone metabolite and neurosteroid 5α-pregnan-3α-ol-20-one (3α,5α-THP), regulate lordosis via actions independent of intracellular progestin receptors. We hypothesized that if, in the VTA, dopamine type 1 receptors (D<sub>1</sub>), G-proteins, and adenosine 3′,5′-monophosphate (cAMP) are downstream effectors of 3α,5α-THP’s actions for lordosis, then pharmacological manipulations of these signaling molecules will produce changes in 3α,5α-THP-facilitated lordosis of estradiol (E<sub>2</sub>)-primed rats. VTA infusions of 3α,5α-THP (50 ng) or 3α,5α-THP and the D<sub>1</sub> agonist SKF38393 (100 ng) increased lordosis of ovariectomized, E<sub>2</sub> (10 µg)- primed rats, compared to vehicle. Both 3α,5α-THP- and 3α,5α-THP plus SKF38393-facilitated lordosis was reduced by VTA infusions of the G-protein inhibitor guanosine 5′-O-(2-thiodiphosphate) (GDP-β-S; 50 µ<i>M</i>), but not vehicle. Also, in the VTA, blocking D<sub>1</sub> with SCH23390 (100 ng) decreased, or increasing cAMP with 8-bromo-cAMP (200 ng) enhanced, 3α,5α-THP-facilitated lordosis of E<sub>2</sub>-primed rats. Notably, SCH23390’s inhibitory effects on 3α,5α-THP-facilitated lordosis were reversed by 8-bromo-cAMP. Thus, in the VTA, 3α,5α-THP’s actions for lordosis may involve activation of D<sub>1</sub> and initiation of the G-protein-mediated second messenger cAMP.
TRMM Common Microphysics Products: A Tool for Evaluating Spaceborne Precipitation Retrieval Algorithms
Authors: Kingsmill David E. , Yuter Sandra E. , Heymsfield Andrew J. , Hobbs Peter V. , Korolev Alexei V. , Jeffrey L Stith , Bansemer Aaron , Haggerty Julie A. , Rangno Arthur L. 
Published: December 2004

Abstract
A customized product for analysis of microphysics data collected from aircraft during field campaigns in support of the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) program is described. These “common microphysics products” (CMPs) are designed to aid in evaluation of TRMM spaceborne precipitation retrieval algorithms. Information needed for this purpose (e.g., particle size spectra and habit, liquid and ice water content) was derived by using a common processing strategy on the wide variety of microphysical instruments and raw native data formats employed in the field campaigns. The CMPs are organized into an American Standard Code for Information Interchange (ASCII) structure to allow easy access to the data for those less familiar with microphysical data processing and without the tools to accomplish it. Detailed examples of the CMP show its potential and some of its limitations. This approach may be a first step toward developing a generalized microphysics format and an associated community-oriented, nonproprietary software package for microphysics data processing—initiatives that would likely broaden community access to, and use of, microphysics datasets.
Diurnal Evolution of Three-Dimensional Wind and Temperature Structure in California's Central Valley
Authors: Zhong Shiyuan , Whiteman C. David , Bian Xindi 
Published: December 2004

Abstract
The diurnal evolution of the three-dimensional summer-season mean wind and temperature structure in California's Sacramento and San Joaquin Valleys (collectively called the Central Valley) is investigated using data from 22 radar wind profiler/radio acoustic sounding systems (RASS) operated as part of the Central California Ozone Study in 2000. The profiler network revealed, for the first time, that the persistent summer-season flow pattern documented by surface observations extends 800–1000 m above the surface. At most locations, up-valley winds persist during both day and night except at the upper ends of the valleys and close to the valley sidewalls where diurnal wind reversals occur. Wind speeds exhibit pronounced diurnal oscillations, with amplitudes decreasing with height. A low-level wind maximum occurs in the lowest 300 m, with a sharp decrease in speed above the maximum. Especially well defined nocturnal low-level jets occur at sites in the southern San Joaquin Valley, where maximum speeds of 10 m s−1 or more occur 1–2 h before midnight at heights near 300 m. The afternoon mixed layer, generally deeper than 1000 m, increases in depth with up-valley distance in both valleys. At night, temperature inversions develop in the lowest several hundred meters with near-isothermal layers above. Mean temperatures in the lowest 500 m of the valleys are always warmer than at the same altitude over the coast, and temperature increases from the lower to upper valleys. The diurnal oscillations of the coast– valley and along-valley temperature and pressure difference reach a maximum in late afternoon and a minimum in early morning. These oscillations are in phase with the diurnal variation of westerly onshore flows. The along-valley wind maxima, however, occur 1–2 h before midnight, whereas the along-valley pressure gradient maxima are usually found just before sunset.
Improved Quality Assurance for Historical Hourly Temperature and Humidity: Development and Application to Environmental Analysis
Authors: Graybeal Daniel Y. , DeGaetano Arthur T. , Eggleston Keith L. 
Published: December 2004

AbstractHistorical hourly surface synoptic (airways) meteorological reports from around the United States have been digitized as part of the NOAA Climate Database Modernization Program. An important component is improvement of quality assurance procedures for hourly meteorological data. This paper presents the development and testing of two components of a new complex framework, as well as their application toward construction, for the first time, of a 75-yr time series of apparent temperature. A pilot study indicated that a majority of flags thrown from an existing algorithm represent single-hour blips, rather than steps, and that frontal passages were being flagged incorrectly. Therefore, a model focused on flagging blips is developed; two blip-magnitude measures are compared that define a blip as a departure from temporally neighboring observations. Switches of dewpoint with dewpoint depression have also been noted among observer/digitizer errors, and so an additional check was developed to screen for these cases. This check is based on a relationship between dewpoint depression and diurnal temperature range. Tests using artificial replication of common errors indicate that the new blip model outperforms traditional step models considerably, and the new model flags an order-of-magnitude fewer frontal passages. Operational use of this check suggests type-I and type-II error rates are similar in magnitude and are approximately 5%. More than two-fifths of known dewpoint depression switch errors are caught. However, poor performance with systematic errors suggests that using the depression-range check at a coarser temporal scale than hour to hour may be more fruitful.
Synergistic Use of MODIS and AIRS in a Variational Retrieval of Cloud Parameters
Authors: Li Jun , Menzel W. Paul , Zhang Wenjian , Sun Fengying , Schmit Timothy J. , Gurka James J. , Weisz Elisabeth 
Published: December 2004

Abstract
The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) and the Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS) measurements from the Earth Observing System's (EOS's) Aqua satellite enable global monitoring of the distribution of clouds. MODIS is able to provide a cloud mask, surface and cloud types, cloud phase, cloud-top pressure (CTP), effective cloud amount (ECA), cloud particle size, and cloud optical thickness at high spatial resolution (1–5 km). The combined MODIS–AIRS system offers the opportunity for improved cloud products, better than from either system alone; this improvement is demonstrated in this paper with both simulated and real radiances. A one-dimensional variational (1DVAR) methodology is used to retrieve the CTP and ECA from AIRS longwave (650–790 cm−1 or 15.38–12.65 μm) cloudy radiance measurements (hereinafter referred to as MODIS–AIRS 1DVAR). The MODIS–AIRS 1DVAR cloud properties show significant improvement over the MODIS-alone cloud properties and slight improvement over AIRS-alone cloud properties in a simulation study, while MODIS–AIRS 1DVAR is much more computationally efficient than the AIRS-alone 1DVAR; comparisons with radiosonde observations show that CTPs improve by 10–40 hPa for MODIS–AIRS CTPs over those from MODIS alone. The 1DVAR approach is applied to process the AIRS longwave cloudy radiance measurements; results are compared with MODIS and Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite sounder cloud products. Data from ground-based instrumentation at the Atmospheric Radiation Measurement Program Cloud and Radiation Test Bed in Oklahoma are used for validation; results show that MODIS–AIRS improves the MODIS CTP, especially in low-level clouds. The operational use of a high-spatial-resolution imager, along with information from a high-spectral-resolution sounder will be possible with instruments planned for the next-generation geostationary operational instruments.
VE-cadherin is not required for the formation of nascent blood vessels but acts to prevent their disassembly
Authors: Crosby Christopher V. , Fleming Paul A. , Argraves W. Scott , Corada Monica , Zanetta Lucia , Dejana Elisabetta , Drake Christopher J. 
Published: December 2004

AbstractWe investigated the role of vascular endothelial (VE)–cadherin in blood vessel morphogenesis and established a temporal correlation linking the failure in vessel morphogenesis in VE-cadherin null embryos to a specific step in vasculogenesis. We showed that the sequence in which blood vessels failed followed the order in which they had formed (ie, those forming first—yolk sac, allantoic and endocardial vessels—were the first to display morphologic abnormalities). We next showed that in place of normal reticulated networks of blood vessels, clusters of platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule–positive (PECAM+) cells formed within cultured allantois explants from VE-cadherin null embryos. Similarly, a function-blocking VE-cadherin antibody, BV13, caused PECAM+ cell clusters to form in cultured allantois explants from normal mice. Finally, we demonstrated that formation of PECAM+ cell clusters in response to BV13 was not due to a disruption in the formation of nascent vessels but was due to the actual disassembly of nascent vessels. Based on these findings, we conclude that the events of de novo blood vessel formation up to the point at which a vascular epithelium forms (ie, nascent vessels with lumens) are not dependent on VE-cadherin and that VE-cadherin, whose expression is up-regulated following vascular epithelialization, is required to prevent the disassembly of nascent blood vessels.
Tricks of the trade for the appropriate management of newly diagnosed acute promyelocytic leukemia
Authors: Sanz Miguel A. , Tallman Martin S. , Lo-Coco Francesco 
Published: December 2004

AbstractMost reviews on the state-of-the-art treatment in acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) have focused mainly on the comparison of therapeutic approaches, including all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) and chemotherapy. However, outcome of individual patients also depends on appropriate knowledge of several aspects related to APL management that are less appreciated and/or are underestimated in the literature. These aspects include appropriate diagnostic strategy, use of supportive care, early recognition and treatment of life-threatening complications typically associated with APL and its specific treatment, tools and timing for adequate evaluation of response, and, finally, management of the disease in special conditions such as older patients and pregnant women. Besides reviewing current consensus and controversies on the use of ATRA and chemotherapy in the distinct treatment phases (eg, induction, consolidation, maintenance), this article addresses the aforementioned issues on APL management (“tricks of the trade”) with special emphasis on several peculiar aspects that distinguish APL from other acute myeloid leukemias.
Dendritic cells and natural killer cells interact via multiple TNF family molecules
Authors: Makarenkova Valeria , Chakrabarti Ayan K , Liberatore Jennifer A , Popovic Petar , Lu Ganwei , Watkins Simon , Vujanovic Nikola L 
Published: December 2004

AbstractDendritic cells (DC) and natural killer (NK) cells are essential components of the innate immune system, which rapidly sense and eliminate invading pathogens and transformed cells, mediate inflammation, and initiate adaptive immune responses. During the early immune events, DC and NK cells interact and regulate each other. The cellular “cross talk” and its molecular mediators are believed to be critical to the quality and magnitude of innate and adaptive immune responses. The goal of the present manuscript is to identify and initially assess major molecular mediators of DC-NK cell interaction. We have previously shown that DC and NK cells constitutively express several tumor necrosis factor family ligands (TNFfLs) and corresponding TNF family receptors (TNFfRs). Therefore, DC and NK cells might be able to interact via cognate interplays of TNFfLs and TNFfRs. Here, we provide initial experimental evidence supporting this possibility. We found that combined but not individual ligation of several TNFfRs induced substantial increases in secretion of interleukin-12 and inteferon-γ by DC and NK cells, respectively. In contrast, specific, individual disruptions of the engagements of the corresponding TNfL-TNFfR pairs greatly impaired DC and NK cell abilities to reciprocally mediate the increases in cytokine secretion. These findings indicate that multiple TNFfLs mediate DC-NK cell interaction.