bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Race, Political Empowerment, and Minority Perceptions of Judicial Fairness*
Authors: Overby L. Marvin , Brown Robert D. , Bruce John M. , Smith, Jr. Charles E. , Winkle, III John W. 
Published: April 2005

Objective. Recent studies of the impact of black elite electoral success on the system‐supporting attitudes of black citizens have yielded mixed, but generally unimpressive, empirical results. We extend this limited research by examining the effects of the presence of black judicial officials on public attitudes toward a state judicial system.Methods. We employ data from a telephone survey of citizens in Mississippi and develop multivariate models to test for the effects of black judges on citizens' evaluations of the fairness of judges, equity in sentences, and overall impartiality of the state judicial system.Results. We find no systematic evidence that the election of black judicial officials ameliorates the suspicions of the black public regarding the fairness of the state courts.Conclusions. Our findings are in line with other recent studies on the limited effects of black elite electoral success on the attitudes of the black public and generally support a “political reality” model of political trust rather than an “empowerment model.”
The Interaction of Country of Origin, Acculturation, and Gender Role Ideology on Wife Abuse*
Authors: Harris Richard J. , Firestone Juanita M. , Vega William A. 
Published: April 2005

Objective. Using data from the Mexican American Prevalence and Services Survey (Vega et al., 1998), this research tests whether the impact of acculturation and gender role ideology on wife abuse depends on country of origin.Methods. Two separate logistic regressions, one for U.S.‐born Latinas and one for Mexican‐born Latinas, are compared to test the impact of the interaction of place of origin with the other variables.Results. Our findings support earlier research indicating that power dynamics within a relationship impact the likelihood of a wife reporting she has experienced abuse. Significant differences in the influence of independent variables are found when comparing U.S.‐ and Mexican‐born respondents. In particular, variables related to family power dynamics operate differently. Gender role beliefs, however, have an independent influence for both groups after controlling for sociodemographic factors and power dynamics. Women with more traditional orientations are less likely to report abuse.Conclusions. Because the impact of gender role ideology is significant and in the same direction for both those born in the United States and those born in Mexico, it is unlikely that the traditional familism and gender role orientations reported among the Mexican born afford them greater protection against abuse.
The detection of small relative simulated field defects using multifocal VEPs
Authors: Chan H. L. , Chu H. W. , Ng Y. F. , Tam W. K. , Young S. M. , Lam C. H. , Cheung A. L. 
Published: April 2005

AbstractIntroduction:  The multifocal visual‐evoked potential (mfVEP) has been widely used in the study of diseases of the visual system. However, the sensitivity of the mfVEP in the objective detection of relative field defects has not been determined. This study investigates variations in mfVEP responses while simulating relative field defects by using different luminous transmission masks [neutral density (ND) filters] on the stimulus pattern.Methods:  Simulated relative field defects with four different luminous transmissions were obtained by using 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, and 0.8 ND filters, 5 degrees in size, at two different retinal eccentricities (10 and 16 degrees) on a standard mfVEP dartboard stimulus. Eleven normal subjects were recruited for mfVEP measurements. The response amplitudes and latencies of the N1 and P1 of the mfVEP, with and without small simulated relative field defects, were compared.Results:  The mfVEP amplitudes of N1 and P1 decreased substantially when 0.6 and 0.8 ND filters were introduced. The effects were similar at both the 10‐ and 16‐degree eccentricities but there was no change in latency with simulated field defects at either location.Conclusions:  The mfVEP can detect a simulated relative field defect 5 degrees in size starting with 0.6 log unit reduction in luminance at both 10‐degree and 16‐degree eccentricities. This illustrates that the sensitivity of the mfVEP measurement is nearly comparable with that of the Humphrey Visual Field Analyser.
Distance vergence adaptation is abnormal in subjects with convergence insufficiency
Authors: Brautaset R. L. , Jennings J. A. M. 
Published: April 2005

AbstractIt is well known that in convergence insufficiency (CI) prism adaptation is reduced in response to base‐out (BO) prisms at near. There have also been some suggestions in the literature that adaptation is reduced at other distances as well. The present data show that in CI adaptation is not only reduced in response to BO at near, but also in response to base‐in (BI) at near and for both BI and BO at distance. This raises the interesting question whether distance adaptation becomes reduced because of reduced near adaptation or whether these subjects have a generally reduced horizontal adaptation mechanism.
How precise do precision tints have to be and how many are necessary?
Authors: Wilkins Arnold , Sihra Nirmal , Smith Ian Nimmo 
Published: April 2005

AbstractAmong those individuals who habitually wear precision tints, reading speed can vary as a function of the chromaticity of the illuminating light. The reading speed decreases as the chromaticity departs from optimum, whether in saturation or in hue. When the distance in the CIE 1976 UCS diagram between the chromaticity of the illuminating light and that optimal for reading exceeds about 0.08, the colour has little residual benefit. We attempt to answer two questions numerically: (1) how is reading speed affected by the variation in the colour provided by the tint under different lighting conditions? (2) how many different tints does an ophthalmic tinting system need to be able to provide? Analysis of 1000 recent prescriptions suggests that, for most, the variation in colour with illumination is sufficient to reduce, but not eliminate, the beneficial effects of the tints. The number of trial tints required by an ophthalmic tinting system is a power function of the degree of efficacy desired, and for an average efficacy >95% of optimum, the number of trial tints needs to exceed 1000. In practice this requirement can readily be achieved by combining trial lenses and by appropriate dyeing techniques.
The pupillary light reflex in migraine
Authors: Harle Deacon E. , Wolffsohn James S. , Evans Bruce J. W. 
Published: April 2005

AbstractThe literature suggests that there may be pupil size and response abnormalities in migraine headache sufferers. We used an infra‐red pupillometer to measure dynamic pupil responses to light in 20 migraine sufferers (during non‐headache periods) and 16 non‐migraine age and gender matched controls. There was a significant increase in the absolute inter‐ocular difference of the latency of the pupil light response in the migraine group compared with the controls (0.062 s vs 0.025 s, p = 0.014). There was also a significant correlation between anisocoria and lateralisation of headache such that migraine sufferers with a habitual head pain side have more anisocoria (r = 0.59, p < 0.01), but this was not related to headache laterality. The pupil changes were not correlated with the interval since the last migraine headache, the severity of migraine headache or the number of migraine headaches per annum. We conclude that subtle sympathetic and parasympathetic pupil abnormalities persist in the inter‐ictal phase of migraine.
Possible contraindications and adverse reactions associated with the use of ocular nutritional supplements
Authors: Bartlett Hannah , Eperjesi Frank 
Published: April 2005

AbstractThe role of oxidation in the development of age‐related eye disease has prompted interest in the use of nutritional supplementation for prevention of onset and progression. Our aim is to highlight possible contraindications and adverse reactions of isolated or high dose ocular nutritional supplements. Web of Science and PubMed database searches were carried out, followed by a manual search of the bibliographies of retrieved articles. Vitamin A should be avoided in women who may become pregnant, in those with liver disease, and in people who drink heavily. Relationships have been found between vitamin A and reduced bone mineral density, and beta‐carotene and increased risk of lung cancer in smoking males. Vitamin E and Ginkgo biloba have anticoagulant and anti‐platelet effects respectively, and high doses are contraindicated in those being treated for vascular disorders. Those patients with contraindications or who are considered at risk of adverse reactions should be advised to seek specialist dietary advice via their medical practitioner.
INTERRELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE TRANSIENT FUNCTIONS OF BOLOGNA USING FRIEDRICH AND HEYMANN THEORY
Authors: BRUNO MARIA , MORESI MAURO 
Published: April 2005

ABSTRACT The rheological behavior of a commercial high‐quality bologna in the time and frequency domain was assessed by quasi‐static (uniaxial compression and compressive stress relaxation) and oscillatory dynamic tests. Both tests gave almost the same range (4–9%) of apparent linear viscoelasticity. The use of the Friedrich and Heymann model allowed the transient responses of the protein network of bologna to be characterized by relaxation functions having the same structural form and empiric parameters independent of the experimental test provided that the applied strains were kept within the elastic and proportional limit. Their linear interrelation was also checked using an independent estimate of the Poisson's ratio via the NOL test.
PHYSICAL AND SENSORY EVALUATION OF CORNFLAKES CRISPNESS
Authors: CHAUNIER LAURENT , COURCOUX PHILIPPE , DELLA VALLE GUY , LOURDIN DENIS 
Published: April 2005

ABSTRACT Three compression systems were used to study the mechanical behavior of cereal flakes of 13 commercial cornflakes brands that were also evaluated by sensory analysis. A Kramer cell, on an Instron testing machine, allowed to simultaneously record force in the range 0–5 kN and sound in the frequency domain 0–22 kHz during the crushing of 20 mm thick beds of cereal flakes tested in bulk. It was shown to be the most reliable and efficient method for discrimination. Acoustic emission has been shown to correlate with crispness perception. Uncrispy‐perceived products emitted signals with lower average amplitude and higher peaks, at low frequencies – less than 3 kHz – and opposed a high mechanical resistance to compression. On the opposite, the crispiest flakes emitted sounds with larger average amplitude, fewer high peaks and uniformly distributed in the frequency domain with a moderated mechanical resistance. Links between texture perception and structure were improved and results validated the developed system, which may be used for quality evaluation of particle solid foam foods.
Antileishmanial Activity of the Terpene Nerolidol
Authors: Arruda Denise C. , D'Alexandri Fabio Luiz , Katzin Alejandro M. , Uliana Silvia R. B. 
Published: April 2005

ABSTRACTThe activity of nerolidol, a sesquiterpene used as a food-flavoring agent and currently under testing as a skin penetration enhancer for the transdermal delivery of therapeutic drugs, was evaluated againstLeishmaniaspecies. Nerolidol inhibited the growth ofLeishmania amazonensis,L. braziliensis, andL. chagasipromastigotes andL. amazonensisamastigotes with in vitro 50% inhibitory concentrations of 85, 74, 75, and 67 μM, respectively. The treatment ofL. amazonensis-infected macrophages with 100 μM nerolidol resulted in 95% reduction in infection rates. Inhibition of isoprenoid biosynthesis, as shown by reduced incorporation of [2-14C]mevalonic acid (MVA) or [1-14C]acetic acid precursors into dolichol, ergosterol, and ubiquinone, was observed in nerolidol-treated promastigotes. This drug effect can be attributed to the blockage of an early step in the mevalonate pathway, since incorporation of the precursor [1(n)-3H]farnesyl pyrophosphate in polyisoprenoids is not inhibited by nerolidol.L. amazonensis-infected BALB/c mice were treated with intraperitoneal doses of 100 mg/kg/day for 12 days or topically with 5 or 10% ointments for 4 weeks. Significant reduction of lesion sizes in nerolidol treated mice was observed for both treatment routes. However, long-term follow up indicated that the disease was not cured in this highly susceptible animal model. Nonetheless, the in vitro activity of nerolidol against these parasites may prove a useful tool for the development of new drugs for the treatment of leishmaniasis. In addition, biosynthesis of dolichols with 11 and 12 isoprene units was identified inLeishmania, as described for other trypanosomatids and Apicomplexa.
Molecular Characterization of
vanB
Elements in Naturally Occurring Gut Anaerobes
Authors: Ballard S. A. , Pertile K. K. , Lim M. , Johnson P. D. R. , Grayson M. L. 
Published: April 2005

ABSTRACT

Previously, we reported the isolation of 10 vancomycin-resistant gram-positive anaerobic bacilli carrying the
vanB
ligase gene from nine hemodialysis patients (S. A. Ballard et al., Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. 49:77-81, 2005; T. P. Stinear et al., Lancet 357:855-856, 2001). In the present study, the molecular and evolutionary relationship of the
vanB
resistance element within these 10 anaerobes and two vancomycin-resistant
Enterococcus faecium
strains were examined. PCR analysis and nucleotide sequencing demonstrated that all 12 isolates carried the
vanB
operon associated with an element identical to Tn
1549
and Tn
5382
of
Enterococcus
. Restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis of the
vanB
operon in these isolates revealed two distinct patterns, and sequencing showed that minor base differences existed. PCR amplification of the joint region of a circular intermediate was demonstrated in nine of these organisms, a finding indicative of an ability to excise and circularize, an intermediate step in transposition and conjugative transfer. Southern hybridization with a
vanB
-
vanX
B
probe suggests that there is one insert of the transposon in all isolates. Sequence analysis of the integration site revealed distinct sequences: the Tn
1549/5382
element within
E. faecium
was inserted within the host chromosome, whereas nucleotide sequences surrounding the Tn
1549/5382
element in the 10 anaerobes showed no significant homology to sequences in the GenBank database. We demonstrate considerable similarity between the Tn
1549
/
5382
element identified in 10 anaerobe isolates with that found in enterococci. The homology and potential to transpose suggest a recent horizontal transfer event may have occurred. However, the original direction of transposition and the mechanism involved remains unknown.
Mixed-Lipid Storage Disorder Induced in Macrophages and Fibroblasts by Oritavancin (LY333328), a New Glycopeptide Antibiotic with Exceptional Cellular Accumulation
Authors: Van Bambeke Françoise , Saffran Jennifer , Mingeot-Leclercq Marie-Paule , Tulkens Paul M. 
Published: April 2005

ABSTRACT

Oritavancin, a semisynthetic derivative of vancomycin endowed with a cationic amphiphilic character, accumulates to large extent in the lysosomes of eukaryotic cells (F. Van Bambeke, S. Carryn, C. Seral, H. Chanteux, D. Tyteca, M. P. Mingeot-Leclercq, and P. M. Tulkens, Antimicrob. Agents Chemother.
48:
2853-2860, 2004). In the present study, we examined whether this accumulation could cause cell alterations in phagocytic (J774 mouse macrophages) and nonphagocytic (rat embryo fibroblasts) cells exposed to clinically meaningful (0- to 40-mg/liter) concentrations of oritavancin. Optical and electronic microscopy evidenced conspicuous alterations of the vacuolar apparatus in both cell types, characterized by the deposition of concentric lamellar structures, finely granular material, or other less-defined osmiophilic material, often deposed in giant vesicles. Biochemical studies showed an accumulation of phospholipids (1.5× control values) and free and esterified cholesterol (3 to 4× control values for total cholesterol). Accumulation of these lipids was in close relation to that of oritavancin (excess phospholipid/oritavancin and excess cholesterol/oritavancin molar ratios of 2 to 3 and 3 to 5, respectively). Cholesterol accumulation was rapid and reversible, and that of phospholipids was slower and poorly reversible. Vancomycin and teicoplanin, used as controls (50 and 100 mg/liter, respectively), did not cause any significant change in the lipid content of fibroblasts. The data therefore suggest that oritavancin has the potential to cause a mixed-lipid storage disorder in eukaryotic cells.
Antifungal Therapy of Experimental Cerebral Phaeohyphomycosis Due to
Cladophialophora bantiana
Authors: Al-Abdely Hail M. , Najvar Laura K. , Bocanegra Rosie , Graybill John R. 
Published: April 2005

ABSTRACT

Cladophialophora bantiana
is associated with central nervous system infection and a poor outcome.
C. bantiana
tends to be resistant to amphotericin B. Accordingly, we evaluated amphotericin B and three triazoles—posaconazole, itraconazole, and fluconazole—for treatment of
C. bantiana
infection in mice. In immunosuppressed ICR mice infected intravenously, posaconazole, itraconazole, and amphotericin B prolonged survival. This improvement in survival corresponded with a reduction in brain fungal concentrations for mice which were given itraconazole and posaconazole, but not amphotericin B. In nonimmunosuppressed BALB/c mice infected intracerebrally, posaconazole showed dose-dependent responses in survival and reduction of brain tissue counts. These responses were observed for short, delayed, and prolonged therapy. Although posaconazole prolonged the survival of mice with reductions in brain fungal counts, it did not sterilize brain tissue with continuous therapy for 8 weeks. We concluded that posaconazole shows promise for the treatment of
C. bantiana
brain infections.
Intracellular Substrates for the Primer-Unblocking Reaction by Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Reverse Transcriptase: Detection and Quantitation in Extracts from Quiescent- and Activated-Lymphocyte Subpopulations
Authors: Smith Anthony J. , Meyer Peter R. , Asthana Deshratn , Ashman Margarita R. , Scott Walter A. 
Published: April 2005

ABSTRACTTreatment of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1)-infected patients with 3′-azido-3′-deoxythymidine (AZT) selects for mutant forms of viral reverse transcriptase (RT) with increased ability to remove chain-terminating nucleotides from blocked DNA chains. We tested various cell extracts for the presence of endogenous acceptor substrates for this reaction. Cell extracts incubated with HIV-1 RT and [32P]ddAMP-terminated DNA primer/template gave rise to32P-labeled adenosine 2′,3′-dideoxyadenosine 5′,5′′′−P1,P4-tetraphosphate (Ap4ddA), ddATP, Gp4ddA, and Ap3ddA, corresponding to the transfer of [32P]ddAMP to ATP, PPi, GTP, and ADP, respectively. Incubation with [32P]AZT monophosphate (AZTMP)-terminated primer/template gave rise to the analogous32P-labeled AZT derivatives. Based on the rates of formation of the specific excision products, ATP and PPilevels were determined: ATP was present at 1.3 to 2.2 mM in H9 cells, macrophages, and unstimulated CD4+or CD8+T cells, while PPiwas present at 7 to 15 μM. Under these conditions, the ATP-dependent reaction predominated, and excision by the AZT-resistant mutant RT was more efficient than wild type RT. Activated CD4+or CD8+T cells contained 1.4 to 2.7 mM ATP and 55 to 79 μM PPi. These cellular PPiconcentrations are lower than previously reported; nonetheless, the PPi-dependent reaction predominated in extracts from activated T cells, and excision by mutant and wild-type RT occurred with similar efficiency. While PPi-dependent excision may contribute to AZT resistance in vivo, it is likely that selection of AZT-resistant mutants occurs primarily in an environment where the ATP-dependent reaction predominates.
Mutations in PA3574 (
nalD
) Lead to Increased MexAB-OprM Expression and Multidrug Resistance in Laboratory and Clinical Isolates of
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Authors: Sobel Mara L. , Hocquet Didier , Cao Lily , Plesiat Patrick , Poole Keith 
Published: April 2005

ABSTRACT

Mutations in genes
mexR
and
nalC
have previously been shown to drive overexpression of the MexAB-OprM multidrug efflux system in
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
. A transposon insertion multidrug-resistant mutant of
P. aeruginosa
overproducing MexAB-OprM was disrupted in yet a third gene, PA3574, encoding a probable repressor of the TetR/AcrR family that we have dubbed NalD. Clinical strains overexpressing MexAB-OprM but lacking mutations in
mexR
or
nalC
were also shown to carry mutations in
nalD
. Moreover, the cloned
nalD
gene reduced the multidrug resistance and MexAB-OprM expression of the transposon mutant and clinical isolates, highlighting the significance of the
nalD
mutations vis-à-vis MexAB-OprM overexpression in these isolates.
Integron Content of Extended-Spectrum-β-Lactamase-Producing
Escherichia coli
Strains over 12 Years in a Single Hospital in Madrid, Spain
Authors: Machado Elisabete , Cantón Rafael , Baquero Fernando , Galán Juan-Carlos , Rollán Azucena , Peixe Luísa , Coque Teresa M. 
Published: April 2005

ABSTRACT

The contribution of integrons to the dissemination of extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBL) was analyzed on all ESBL-producing
Escherichia coli
isolates from 1988 to 2000 at Ramón y Cajal Hospital. We studied 133
E. coli
pulsed-field gel electrophoresis types: (i) 52 ESBL-producing clinical strains (C-ESBL) (16 TEM, 9 SHV, 21 CTX-M-9, 1 CTX-M-14, and 5 CTX-M-10); (ii) 43 non-ESBL blood clinical strains (C-nESBL); and (iii) 38 non-ESBL fecal isolates from healthy volunteers (V-nESBL). Class 1 integrons were more common among C-ESBL (67%) than among C-nESBL (40%) or V-nESBL (26%) (
P
< 0.001) due to the high number of strains with
bla

CTX
-
M
-
9

, which is linked to an In6-like class 1 integron. Without this bias, class 1 integron occurrence would be similar in C-ESBL and C-nESBL groups (47% versus 40%). Occurrence of class 2 integrons was similar among clinical and community isolates (13 to 18%). No isolates contained class 3 integrons. The relatively low rate of class 1 integrons within transferable elements carrying

bla
TEM

(23%) or

bla
SHV

(33%) and the absence of class 2 integrons in all ESBL transconjugants mirror the assembly of translocative pieces containing

bla
TEM

or

bla
SHV

on local available transferable elements lacking integrons. The low diversity of class 1 integrons (seven types recovered in all groups) might indicate a wide dissemination of specific genetic elements in which they are located. In our environment, the spread of genetic elements encoding ESBL has no major impact on the dispersion of integrons, nor do integrons have a major impact on the spread of ESBL, except when

bla
ESBL

genes are within an integron platform such as
bla

CTX
-
M
-
9

.