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Arm
Kinds of Arm Terms modified by Arm Selected AbstractsMagnetic quantification of urban pollution sources in atmospheric particulate matterGEOPHYSICAL JOURNAL INTERNATIONAL, Issue 2 2004S. Spassov SUMMARY A new method is presented for fast quantification of urban pollution sources in atmospheric particulate matter (PM). The remanent magnetization of PM samples collected in Switzerland at sites with different exposures to pollution sources is analysed. The coercivity distribution of each sample is calculated from detailed demagnetization curves of anhysteretic remanent magnetization (ARM) and is modelled using a linear combination of appropriate functions which represent the contribution of different sources of magnetic minerals to the total magnetization. Two magnetic components, C1 and C2, are identified in all samples. The low-coercivity component C1 predominates in less polluted sites, whereas the concentration of the higher-coercivity component C2 is large in urban areas. The same sites were monitored independently by Hüglin using detailed chemical analysis and a quantitative source attribution of the PM. His results are compared with the magnetic component analysis. The absolute and relative magnetic contributions of component C2 correlate very well with absolute and relative mass contributions of exhaust emissions, respectively. Traffic is the most important PM pollution source in Switzerland: it includes exhaust emissions and abrasion products released by vehicle brakes. Component C2 and traffic-related PM sources correlate well, which is encouraging for the implementation of non-destructive magnetic methods as an economic alternative to chemical analysis when mapping urban dust pollution. [source] Active resource management for the differentiated services environmentINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF NETWORK MANAGEMENT, Issue 3 2004Manish Mahajan This paper presents a mechanism for active resource management (ARM) in a differentiated services environment. While the differentiated services architecture and the bandwidth broker agent provide a mechanism for QoS management through resource reservation, this mechanism is based on a static provisioning of resources. As bandwidth requirement are typically dynamic, such a static reservation approach can either lead to wasted bandwidth or leave applications resource-starved. The active resource management approach presented in this paper addresses this problem by dynamically reallocating resources based on current network state and applications requirements. An implementation and evaluation of ARM using the NS-2 simulation toolkit is also presented.,Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Determination of particle heterogeneity and stability of recombinant adenovirus by analytical ultracentrifugation in CsCl gradientsJOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES, Issue 2 2008Xiaoyu Yang Abstract Recombinant adenoviruses (rAd), widely used as vectors for gene therapy, are generally purified by column chromatography and frequently contain empty capsids and other aberrant forms of virus particles. To determine particle heterogeneity we utilized analytical ultracentrifugation (AUC) in CsCl density gradients. Preparations of three different rAd vectors were assessed. AUC was able to resolve multiple density forms including two empty capsid types in various virus preparations. One unusual density form (form V), was noninfectious and lacked protein VI. AUC was able to quantify empty capsids and monitor their removal during process development. Their relative concentrations were reduced by either addition of an immobilized zinc affinity chromatography (IZAC) step or by extension of the infection time. The Adenovirus Reference Material (ARM), a wild-type Ad5, had 2.2% empty capsids and no other detectable minor particle forms. Finally, AUC was utilized to monitor the thermal instability of the three rAd vectors via the transformations of different density forms. The vector and empty capsids containing protein IX were more stable than those without IX. Together, these results exemplify AUC in CsCl density gradients as a valuable technique for evaluating product particle heterogeneity and stability. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc. and the American Pharmacists Association J Pharm Sci 97:746,763, 2008 [source] Phylogenetic autocorrelation and heritability of geographic range size, shape and position of fiddler crabs, genus Uca (Crustacea, Decapoda)JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGICAL SYSTEMATICS AND EVOLUTIONARY RESEARCH, Issue 2 2010J. C. Nabout Abstract The aim of this study was to evaluate the levels of phylogenetic heritability of the geographical range size, shape and position for 88 species of fiddler crabs of the world, using phylogenetic comparative methods and simulation procedures to evaluate their fit to the neutral model of Brownian motion. The geographical range maps were compiled from literature, and range size was based on the entire length of coastline occupied by each species, and the position of each range was calculated as its latitudinal and longitudinal midpoint. The range shape of each species was based in fractal dimension (box-counting technique). The evolutionary patterns in the geographical range metrics were explored by phylogenetic correlograms using Moran's I autocorrelation coefficients, autoregressive method (ARM) and phylogenetic eigenvector regression (PVR). The correlograms were compared with those obtained by simulations of Brownian motion processes across phylogenies. The distribution of geographical range size of fiddler crabs is right-skewed and weak phylogenetic autocorrelation was observed. On the other hand, there was a strong phylogenetic pattern in the position of the range (mainly along longitudinal axis). Indeed, the ARM and PVR evidenced, respectively, that ca. 86% and 91% of the longitudinal midpoint could be explained by phylogenetic relationships among the species. The strong longitudinal phylogenetic pattern may be due to vicariant allopatric speciation and geographically structured cladogenesis in the group. The traits analysed (geographical range size and position) did not follow a Brownian motion process, thus suggesting that both adaptive ecological and evolutionary processes must be invoked to explain their dynamics, not following a simple neutral inheritance in the fiddler-crab evolution. Resumen El objetivo de este trabajo fue estimar los niveles de herencia filogenética existentes en la posición geográfica, forma y el tamaño de rango geográfico en 88 especies de cangrejo violinista del mundo, mediante simulaciones y métodos comparativos filogenéticos para así evaluar su ajuste al modelo neutro de evolución browniana. Los mapas de rango geográfico se obtuvieron de la literatura. La forma de rango geográfico fue estimada en la dimensión fractal. Los patrones evolutivos en el tamaño y forma del rango geográfico y la posición geográfica fueron explorados mediante correlogramas filogenéticos utilizando el índice I de Moran, coeficientes autorregresivos (ARM) y regressión por autovetores filogenéticos (PVR). Estos correlogramas fueron comparados con aquellos obtenidos mediante la simulación de procesos de evolución browniana en las filogenias. El tamaño y forma de rango geográfico del cangrejo violinista mostró una distribución apuntada hacia la derecha aunque no se encontró autocorrelación filogenética. Por otra parte, se observó un marcado patrón filogenético para la posición geográfica del rango (principalmente a lo largo del eje longitudinal). De hecho, el ARM y PVR evidenció respectivamente que cerca del 86% y 91% de la localización del punto medio longitudinal del rango se puede explicar mediante las relaciones filogenéticas existentes entre las especies. El fuerte patrón filogenético en la longitud podría ser debido a especiación alopátrica y a una cladogénesis estructurada geográficamente para el grupo, tal y como se propuso en las hipótesis. Los rasgos analizados (rango geográfico y posición geográfica) no siguieron un proceso de evolución browniana, sugiriendo pues que tanto los procesos evolutivos como la adaptación ecológica deberían ser tenidos en cuenta para explicar sus dinámicas, ya que el transcurso de la evolución del cangrejo violinista no se explica mediante un simple modelo de herencia neutra. [source] Intercomparison of model simulations of mixed-phase clouds observed during the ARM Mixed-Phase Arctic Cloud Experiment.THE QUARTERLY JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL METEOROLOGICAL SOCIETY, Issue 641 2009II: Multilayer cloud Abstract Results are presented from an intercomparison of single-column and cloud-resolving model simulations of a deep, multilayered, mixed-phase cloud system observed during the Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) Mixed-Phase Arctic Cloud Experiment. This cloud system was associated with strong surface turbulent sensible and latent heat fluxes as cold air flowed over the open Arctic Ocean, combined with a low pressure system that supplied moisture at mid-levels. The simulations, performed by 13 single-column and 4 cloud-resolving models, generally overestimate liquid water path and strongly underestimate ice water path, although there is a large spread among models. This finding is in contrast with results for the single-layer, low-level mixed-phase stratocumulus case in Part I, as well as previous studies of shallow mixed-phase Arctic clouds, that showed an underprediction of liquid water path. These results suggest important differences in the ability of models to simulate deeper Arctic mixed-phase clouds versus the shallow, single-layered mixed-phase clouds in Part I. The observed liquid-ice mass ratios were much smaller than in Part I, despite the similarity of cloud temperatures. Thus, models employing microphysics schemes with temperature-based partitioning of cloud liquid and ice masses are not able to produce results consistent with observations for both cases. Models with more sophisticated, two-moment treatment of cloud microphysics produce a somewhat smaller liquid water path closer to observations. Cloud-resolving models tend to produce a larger cloud fraction than single-column models. The liquid water path and cloud fraction have a large impact on the cloud radiative forcing at the surface, which is dominated by long-wave flux. Copyright © 2009 Royal Meteorological Society [source] Defective development of sensory neurons innervating the levator ani muscle in fetal rats with anorectal malformationBIRTH DEFECTS RESEARCH, Issue 7 2009Kaoping Guan Abstract BACKGROUND: Defects of the pelvic nerve innervation of levator ani muscle are associated with poor postoperative anorectal function in patients with anorectal malformation (ARM). We have previously shown deficient development of motoneurons innervating the levator ani muscle in rats with ARM. In this study we investigate whether there is a deficiency in the development of sensory neurons that innervate the levator ani muscle in rats with ARM. METHODS: ARM was induced by ethylenethiourea (ETU) in fetal rats. Retrograde tracer fluorogold (FG) was injected into the levator ani muscle. Serial transverse sections encompassing the entire length of the lumbosacral spinal cord were examined. The number of FG-labeled sensory neurons was scored and compared between fetuses with ARM and normal fetuses. RESULTS: The number of FG-labeled sensory neurons innervating the levator ani muscle in normal control fetuses, ETU-fed fetuses with no malformation, low type of imperforate anus, high type of imperforate anus, and high type of imperforate anus combined with neural tube defects were determined to be (mean ± SEM) 11,804 ± 2362, 10,429 ± 1708, 2886 ± 705, 1026 ± 425, and 964 ± 445, respectively. FG-labeled sensory neurons in fetuses with imperforate anus with or without neural tube defects were significantly fewer than in control and ETU-fed fetuses without malformation (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Defective sensory neurons innervating the levator ani muscle is a primary anomaly that coexists with the alimentary tract anomaly in ARM during fetal development. Nerve innervation deficiency of the pelvic muscles contributes to the poor postoperative anorectal functions in ARM patients. Birth Defects Research (Part A), 2009. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Aneurysm-related mortality during late follow-up after endovascular aneurysm repair of infrarenal aortaBRITISH JOURNAL OF SURGERY (NOW INCLUDES EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF SURGERY), Issue 4 2001S. R. Vallabhaneni Background: Aneurysm-related mortality (ARM) accounts for around 1·5 per cent of all deaths following open aneurysm repair. The incidence of ARM following endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) is unknown. The aim was to examine all causes of death, including ARM, during late follow-up after EVAR. ARM was defined as death resulting directly from rupture of the repaired aneurysm or another complication of the aneurysm, more than 30 days after repair, or death within 30 days of a secondary intervention undertaken solely to rectify a complication of repair. Methods: Preoperative and follow-up data on 2194 patients from 88 European centres were collected prospectively on to a database. Survival up to 48 months after EVAR was analysed by means of Kaplan,Meier survival analysis. The causes of death during this period were noted. Results: There were 161 deaths between 1 and 48 months after EVAR. The cumulative rate of secondary intervention for this cohort at 4 years was 33 per cent. The causes of death were: cardiac 28·6 per cent, malignancy 18·6 per cent, cerebrovascular 6·8 per cent, respiratory 3·1 per cent, renal 1·8 per cent, other 22·3 per cent and ARM 11·8 per cent. There were 19 deaths from aneurysm-related causes. Nine patients died following proven rupture of the aneurysm, three died from presumed rupture of the aneurysm and a further seven died following late conversion (three patients), graft sepsis (two) and secondary intervention (two). Sudden death of uncertain cause occurred in ten patients in whom rupture of AAA was a possibility. Conclusion: Non-aneurysm-related causes of death were comparable to those in published reports of survival after open repair. However, the proportion of aneurysm-related deaths (11·8 per cent) was appreciably higher than that reported after open repair. These results may reflect the learning curve experience of the teams involved in the study, but continued caution is advisable regarding expectations of outcome following EVAR. © 2001 British Journal of Surgery Society Ltd [source] A phase I study to assess the feasibility and oncologic safety of axillary reverse mapping in breast cancer patientsCANCER, Issue 11 2010Isabelle Bedrosian MD Abstract BACKGROUND: Axillary reverse mapping (ARM) is a novel technique to preserve upper extremity lymphatics that may reduce the incidence of lymphedema after axillary lymph node dissection. Early reports have suggested that ARM lymph nodes do not contain metastatic disease from breast cancer; however, these studies were conducted in early stage patients with low likelihood of lymph node metastasis. This study reported a phase 1 trial conducted in patients with cytologically documented axillary metastasis undergoing axillary lymph node dissection to determine the feasibility and oncologic safety of ARM. METHODS: Thirty patients, 23 (77%) of whom received preoperative therapy (chemotherapy in 22 patients and hormonal therapy in 1 patient), were enrolled. Blue dye was injected in the upper inner ipsilateral arm. The presence of blue lymphatics was noted, and blue lymph nodes were sent separately for pathologic evaluation. RESULTS: The average time between blue dye injection and axillary exposure was 35 minutes (range, 15-60 minutes). Blue lymphatics were identified in 21 patients (70%) and blue lymph nodes in 15 patients (50%). The median number of ARM lymph nodes was 1 (range, 0-3 lymph nodes) and the median number of axillary lymph nodes was 26 (range, 6-47 lymph nodes). Axillary metastases were noted in 60% (18 of 30) of patients. Of 11 patients who had axillary metastasis and at least 1 ARM lymph node identified, 2 (18%) had metastasis to the ARM lymph node. CONCLUSIONS: ARM appears to be a feasible technique with which to identify upper arm lymphatics during axillary surgery. However, the high prevalence of disease involving ARM lymph nodes in this small cohort suggested that preservation of these lymphatics is not oncologically safe in women with documented axillary lymph node metastasis from breast cancer. Cancer 2010. © 2010 American Cancer Society. [source] Prevalence of major eye diseases and causes of visual impairment in the adult Finnish population: a nationwide population-based surveyACTA OPHTHALMOLOGICA, Issue 4 2010Arja Laitinen Abstract. Purpose:, To estimate the prevalence of cataract, glaucoma, age-related maculopathy (ARM) and diabetic retinopathy (DR) in the adult Finnish population. Methods:, A representative cross-sectional sample of the Finnish population aged 30 years and older. Of the 7979 eligible people, 7413 (93%) were interviewed and/or examined. The interview included self-reported doctor-made diagnoses of cataract, glaucoma, degenerative fundus changes (mainly ARM) or DR. Information on self-reported eye diseases was complemented with data from national registers, and case records were gathered for non-participants and persons with visual acuity (VA) < 0.5 or reporting difficulties in vision or eye diseases without assessed VA. Results:, Based on self-reported and/or register-based data the estimated total prevalences of cataract, glaucoma, ARM and DR in the study population were 10%, 5%, 4% and 1%, respectively. All these chronic eye diseases increased with age (p < 0.001). The corresponding prevalences for persons aged 65 and older were 34%, 13%, 12% and 2%, respectively. Cataract and glaucoma were more common in women than in men [odds ratio (OR) 1.55, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.26,1.91; OR 1.57, 95% CI 1.24,1.98, respectively]. The most prevalent eye diseases in people with visual impairment (VA , 0.25) were ARM (37%), unoperated cataract (27%), glaucoma (22%) and DR (7%). Conclusion:, The high prevalence of these mainly age-related eye diseases, together with increasing life expectancy, mean that continuous efforts are needed to identify and treat eye diseases in order to maintain patients' quality of life and to alleviate the social and economic burden of serious eye diseases. [source] The prevalence of age-related maculopathy (ARM) in an urban Norwegian population: the Oslo Macular StudyACTA OPHTHALMOLOGICA, Issue 5 2006Ólafur M. Björnsson Abstract. Purpose:, To examine the prevalence of early and late age-related maculopathy (ARM) in citizens aged 51 years and older in the city of Oslo and its surroundings. Methods: , We selected a random sample of 800 subjects, using a cross-sectional study design. A total of 459 of the 770 eligible subjects agreed to participate, giving an attendance rate of 59.6%. Stereoscopic colour digital photographs were obtained and graded at a certified reading centre using the International Classification Grading System for ARM. Results:, Early ARM in either eye was found in 43.1% (95% CI 38.5,47.7) of subjects aged 51 years and older. This was due to a much higher prevalence of pigmentary changes, predominantly hyperpigmentation in all age groups, than previously reported; 37.5% of people aged 51,60 years of age had pigmentary changes ,,63 µm, increasing to 66.0% in the oldest age group. In people aged 71 years and older, geographic atrophy (GA) was found in either eye in 3.6% (95% CI 0.4,6.8) and exudative macular degeneration (AMD) was found in either eye in 2.9% (95% CI 0.0,5.7) of subjects. Conclusion:, To our knowledge, this is the first published study to rely solely on digital photography for grading purposes in a population-based study. Early ARM was found to have a higher prevalence than previously reported in other populations. Exudative AMD and GA had similar prevalences to those described in the literature, although the prevalence of GA tended to be higher than previously reported in some surveys. [source] Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) and age-related maculopathy (ARM): cross-sectional findings from the Blue Mountains Eye StudyACTA OPHTHALMOLOGICA, Issue 3p1 2004Kathy H. C. Wu Abstract. Purpose:, To assess the relationship between the use of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) and prevalence of age-related maculopathy (ARM). Methods:, Eligible residents aged , 49 years were first examined in 1992,94 (Cross-section 1, n = 3654). Of these, 2335 were re-examined in 1997,99, together with an additional 1174 who became eligible after 1994 (Cross-section 2, n = 3509). Information regarding ACEI use was obtained and retinal photographs were graded using the Wisconsin ARM Grading System. Results:, In Cross-section 1, prevalence rates of late and early stage ARM were 1.3% and 4.3% among current ACEI users, and 2.0% and 4.8% among non-current users, respectively. In Cross-section 2, prevalence rates of late and early stage ARM were 2.3% and 11.3% among current ACEI users, and 1.3% and 9.3% among non-current users, respectively. After adjusting for age, sex and smoking, neither survey found any significant association between ACEI use and prevalence of either late or early ARM. Conclusions:, No significant cross-sectional associations were found between ACEI use and ARM prevalence in this population. [source] Ocular changes, risk markers for eye disorders and effects of cataract surgery in elderly people: a study of an urban Swedish population followed from 70 to 97 years of ageACTA OPHTHALMOLOGICA, Issue 2 2004Birgitta Bergman Abstract. Aims:, To investigate the prevalence of and potential risk factors for ocular disorders and the effects of timing of cataract surgery from age 70,97 years. Population:, A representative population sample taken from within the Gerontological and Geriatric Population Studies (H 70) in Gothenburg, Sweden (n = 958). All subjects underwent eye examinations at age 70 years in 1971 and subsequently at ages 82, 88, 95 and 97 years. All inhabitants of Gothenburg aged 95 and 97 years were invited to participate in the study. Results:, Decreased vision (visual acuity , 0.5) was found in 20% and 80% of subjects at ages 82 and 97 years, respectively. Blood folate and physical activity at age 70 years correlated positively and body mass index (BMI) negatively to visual acuity (VA) , 0.8 at ages 82 and 88 years. Smoking at age 70 years correlated to early age-related maculopathy (ARM). Cataract surgery had been performed in 40% of subjects at age 97 years. Surgery 2 years earlier led to a 15% increase in time spent with improved vision. Conclusions:, The deterioration of vision in elderly people is a major health problem, for which ,low' folate status, smoking, ,high' BMI and low physical activity are potential risk factors. Early cataract surgery is also beneficial in very old patients. [source] Methods for detecting age-related maculopathy: a comparison between photographic and clinical assessmentCLINICAL & EXPERIMENTAL OPHTHALMOLOGY, Issue 5 2000Gabriella Tikellis GradDip ABSTRACT Purpose: To examine the sensitivity, specificity and overall agreement between photographic and clinical assessment in detecting age-related maculopathy (ARM) features in the context of an epidemiological study, the Vitamin E, Cataract and Age-related Maculopathy Study (VECAT). Methods: A total of 1204 volunteers aged between 55 and 80 years of age, who were enrolled in the VECAT Study, had both slit-lamp biomicroscopy examination and fundus photos taken as part of the baseline ophthalmic examination. The Nidek 3-DX fundus camera (Nidek, Gamagori, Japan) was used to produce paired, one-framed, coloured, 15° stereoslides of the macular area at a fixed angle. An International Classification and Grading System for Age-related Maculopathy and Age-related Macular Degeneration was used to grade the stereoslides. Agreement in the detection of drusen, pigment abnormalities, and late stage ARM features was assessed using unweighted kappa statistic. Cases of disagreement were verified using clinical data records, grading documentation and the review of stereoslides. Results: Macula status was available for 2386 eyes. For drusen of size < 63 ,m, sensitivity was 47%, specificity was 68% with a kappa value of 0.20. For drusen , 125 ,m, sensitivity and specificity were , 81%. Kappa values ranged from 0.56 to 0.71. Levels of agreement for pigment abnormalities and late ARM were in the substantial range (i.e. kappa values from 0.70 to 1.00). Conclusions: Slit-lamp biomicroscopy was found to be comparable to photograding (using the Nidek 3-DX fundus camera) for detecting features pertaining to ARM. However, given the objectivity and permanency of stereoslides, photograding is still the more reliable and the preferred system of assessing ARM in the context of an epidemiological study. [source] Neural correlates of movement generation in the ,at-risk mental state'ACTA PSYCHIATRICA SCANDINAVICA, Issue 4 2010M. R. Broome Broome MR, Matthiasson P, Fusar-Poli P, Woolley JB, Johns LC, Tabraham P, Bramon E, Valmaggia L, Williams SCR, Brammer MJ, Chitnis X, McGuire PK. Neural correlates of movement generation in the ,at-risk mental state'. Objective:, People with ,prodromal' symptoms have a very high risk of developing psychosis. We examined the neurocognitive basis of this vulnerability by using functional MRI to study subjects with an at-risk mental state (ARMS) while they performed a random movement generation task. Method:, Cross-sectional comparison of individuals with an ARMS (n = 17), patients with first episode schizophreniform psychosis (n = 10) and healthy volunteers (n = 15). Subjects were studied using functional MRI while they performed a random movement generation paradigm. Results:, During random movement generation, the ARMS group showed less activation in the left inferior parietal cortex than controls, but greater activation than in the first episode group. Conclusion:, The ARMS is associated with abnormalities of regional brain function that are qualitatively similar to those in patients who have recently presented with psychosis but less severe. [source] At-risk mental state (ARMS) detection in a community service center for early attention to psychosis in BarcelonaEARLY INTERVENTION IN PSYCHIATRY, Issue 3 2010Yanet Quijada Abstract Aim: To describe the strategy and some results in at-risk mental state (ARMS) patient detection as well as some of the ARMS clinical and socio-demographical characteristics. The subjects were selected among the patients visited by an Early Care Equipment for patients at high risk of psychoses, in Barcelona (Spain) during its first year in operation. Methods: Descriptive study of the community,team relations, selection criteria and intervention procedure. Description of patient's socio-demographic and symptomatic characteristics according to the different instruments used in detection and diagnoses, taking account of four principal origins of referrals: mental health services, primary care services, education services and social services. Results: Twenty of 55 referred people fulfilled the at-risk mental state criteria, showing an incidence of 2.4 cases per 10 000 inhabitants. They were mainly adolescent males referred from health, education and social services. Overall, negative symptoms were predominant symptoms and the more frequent specific symptoms were decrease of motivation and poor work and school performance, decreased ability to maintain or initiate social relationships, depressed mood and withdrawal. Conclusions: It is possible to detect and to provide early treatment to patients with prodromal symptoms if the whole matrix of the community , including the social services , contributes to the process. The utilization of a screening instrument and a two-phase strategy , the second carried out by the specialized team , seems to be an appropriate approach for early psychosis and ARMS detection. [source] Distribution and frequency of , -thalassemia mutations in northwestern and central GreeceEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF HAEMATOLOGY, Issue 2 2003I. Georgiou Abstract: Objectives : , -Thalassemia is a common autosomal recessive disorder resulting from over 200 different mutations of the , -globin genes. The spectrum of , -thalassemia mutations in Greece has been previously described in the population of the capital city of Athens, or in , -thalassemia patients having transfusion therapy. The aim of the present study was to identify the distribution of the most common , -thalassemia mutations in the population of northwestern and central Greece. Methods : The data for this study were derived from a total of 1130 unrelated subjects including 46 , -thalassemia major, three , -thalassemia intermedia and 1081 carriers identified in our antenatal screening program. , -Thalassemia mutations were identified by ARMS, DGGE and Reverse Dot Blot. Results : The most common mutation, IVS-I-110, is followed, in order of frequency, by the mutations Cd-39, IVS-I-1, IVS-II-1, Cd-6, IVS-I-6, IVS-I-5, IVS-II-745, Cd-5 and 44 bp del. IVS-I-110 and Cd-39 frequencies are similar with those found in other Balkan countries. Significant differences in regional distribution were observed. The results showed a clear drift of the distribution of the most frequent IVS-I-110 mutation in the south,north (29.4, 40.0, 44.6 and 61.7%) and the east,west axis (31.8 and 44.6%). Conclusions : Population screening and prenatal diagnosis are significantly facilitated by these data. Furthermore, the detailed distribution tables of , -thalassemia mutations are essential for counseling and extraction of genetic diversity estimates for population genetic studies in other inherited disorders. [source] Genomic and clinical analyses of 2p24 and 12q13-q14 amplification in alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma: A report from the Children's Oncology GroupGENES, CHROMOSOMES AND CANCER, Issue 8 2009Frederic G. Barr Alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma (ARMS) is an aggressive pediatric cancer that is related to the skeletal muscle lineage and characterized by recurrent chromosomal translocations. Within the ARMS category, there is clinical and genetic heterogeneity, consistent with the premise that "primary" genetic events collaborate with "secondary" events to give rise to subsets with varying clinical features. Previous studies demonstrated that genomic amplification occurs frequently in ARMS. In the current study, we used oligonucleotide arrays to localize two common amplicons to the 2p24 and 12q13-q14 chromosomal regions. Based on the copy number array data, we sublocalized the minimum common regions of 2p24 and 12q13-q14 amplification to a 0.83 Mb region containing the DDX1 and MYCN genes, and a 0.55 Mb region containing 27 genes, respectively. Using fluorescent in situ hybridization assays to measure copy number of the 2p24 and 12q13-q14 regions in over 100 cases, we detected these amplicons in 13% and 12% of cases, respectively. Comparison with fusion status revealed that 2p24 amplification occurred preferentially in cases positive for PAX3-FOXO1 or PAX7-FOXO1 while 12q13-q14 amplification occurred preferentially in PAX3-FOXO1 -positive cases. Expression studies demonstrated that MYCN was usually overexpressed in cases with 2p24 amplification while multiple genes were overexpressed in cases with 12q13-q14 amplification. Finally, although 2p24 amplification did not have a significant association with clinical outcome, 12q13-q14 amplification was associated with significantly worse failure-free and overall survival that was independent of gene fusion status. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Immunohistochemical detection of EGFR, fibrillin-2, P-cadherin and AP2, as biomarkers for rhabdomyosarcoma diagnosticsHISTOPATHOLOGY, Issue 7 2009Beate Grass Aims:, Subclassification of rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) has clinical relevance, as the two major subclasses embryonal (ERMS) and alveolar (ARMS) rhabdomyosarcoma differ greatly in terms of aggressiveness and prognosis. However, histological analysis is not always sufficient for an unequivocal subclassification of RMS. Furthermore, clinical presentation of ARMS has been reported to mimic other tumour types, specifically lymphoma. The aim was to determine the role of four biomarkers in the diagnosis of rhabdomyosarcoma. Methods and results:, Recently, we identified four potential biomarkers to subclassify RMS with high sensitivity and specificity. These included epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and fibrillin-2 as markers for ERMS, and AP2, and P-cadherin as markers for translocation-positive ARMS. Here, we further validate the potential of these four markers in a second, independent patient cohort by immunohistochemistry on 80 sections of RMS biopsy specimens as well as a tissue microarray representing 18 different additional tumour types, including seven lymphomas. The combination of EGFR and fibrillin-2 was able to detect ERMS with a specificity of 76% and sensitivity of 90%. The combination of AP2, and P-cadherin detected ARMS with a specificity of 97% and sensitivity of 90%, data very similar to our previous study. Furthermore, all lymphomas were clearly negative for AP2, and P-cadherin. Conclusions:, These four biomarkers are suitable for clinical implementation in the future diagnosis of RMS. [source] Superior temporal lobe dysfunction and frontotemporal dysconnectivity in subjects at risk of psychosis and in first-episode psychosisHUMAN BRAIN MAPPING, Issue 12 2009Nicolas A. Crossley Abstract Background: Superior temporal lobe dysfunction is a robust finding in functional neuroimaging studies of schizophrenia and is thought to be related to a disruption of fronto-temporal functional connectivity. However, the stage of the disorder at which these functional alterations occur is unclear. We addressed this issue by using functional MRI (fMRI) to study subjects in the prodromal and first episode phases of schizophrenia. Methods: Subjects with an at risk mental state (ARMS) for psychosis, a first psychotic episode (FEP), and controls were studied using fMRI while performing a working memory task. Activation in the superior temporal gyrus (STG) was assessed using statistical parametric mapping, and its relationship to frontal activation was examined using dynamic causal modeling. Results: The STG was differentially engaged across the three groups. There was deactivation of this region during the task in controls, whereas subjects with FEP showed activation and the response in subjects with ARMS was intermediately relative to the two other groups. There were corresponding differences in the effective connectivity between the STG and the middle frontal gyrus across the three groups, with a negative coupling between these areas in controls, a positive coupling in the FEP group, and an intermediate value in the ARMS group. Conclusions: A failure to deactivate the superior temporal lobe during tasks that engage prefrontal cortex is evident at the onset of schizophrenia and may reflect a disruption of fronto-temporal connectivity. Qualitatively similar alterations are evident in people with prodromal symptoms of the disorder. Hum Brain Mapp, 2009. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] BLOOD PRESSURE MEASUREMENT IN OBESE PATIENTS WITH CONE-SHAPED ARMSJOURNAL OF CLINICAL HYPERTENSION, Issue 2 2007Article first published online: 2 FEB 200 No abstract is available for this article. [source] Determinants of economic well-being among U.S. farm operator householdsAGRICULTURAL ECONOMICS, Issue 3 2007Hisham S. El-Osta Farm households; Composite measure of economic well-being; ARMS data Abstract Participation in government programs has a mild impact on the economic well-being of U.S. farm households. Major factors that determine farm household prosperity are the primary operator's education level and ethnicity, education level of the spouse, and other characteristics such as forward purchasing of inputs, use of contract shipping of products, having a succession plan, farm ownership, and location in a metro area. This article uses the 2001 Agricultural Resource Management Survey (ARMS) as well as relative and an absolute measure to assess U.S. farm households' economic well-being. The relative measure compares the income and wealth position of farm households relative to median income and median wealth of the general population. The absolute measure adds annualized wealth to a farm household's income. [source] ARMS: an algebraic recursive multilevel solver for general sparse linear systemsNUMERICAL LINEAR ALGEBRA WITH APPLICATIONS, Issue 5 2002Y. Saad Abstract This paper presents a general preconditioning method based on a multilevel partial elimination approach. The basic step in constructing the preconditioner is to separate the initial points into two parts. The first part consists of ,block' independent sets, or ,aggregates'. Unknowns of two different aggregates have no coupling between them, but those in the same aggregate may be coupled. The nodes not in the first part constitute what might be called the ,coarse' set. It is natural to call the nodes in the first part ,fine' nodes. The idea of the methods is to form the Schur complement related to the coarse set. This leads to a natural block LU factorization which can be used as a preconditioner for the system. This system is then solved recursively using as preconditioner the factorization that could be obtained from the next level. Iterations between levels are allowed. One interesting aspect of the method is that it provides a common framework for many other techniques. Numerical experiments are reported which indicate that the method can be fairly robust. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Proliferative and apoptotic differences between alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma subtypes: A comparative study of tumors containing PAX3-FKHR or PAX7-FKHR gene fusionsPEDIATRIC BLOOD & CANCER, Issue 2 2001Margaret H. Collins MD Abstract Background Most alveolar rhabdomyosarcomas (ARMS) have chromosome translocations and resultant gene fusion products. The more common translocation fuses the PAX3 and FKHR genes; patients who have PAX3-FKHR-positive ARMS have reduced event-free survival compared to patients with ARMS containing the less common translocation that fuses the PAX7 and FKHR genes. Procedure We examined histology, immunohistochemical markers of differentiation, and cell cycle characteristics of a panel of ARMS containing either PAX3-FKHR or PAX7-FKHR transcript to determine if these features differ between the ARMS subsets. Results Cell cycle parameters varied significantly: the number of nuclei that stained with either an immunohistochemical marker of proliferation (MIB1), or a TUNEL-based assay for apoptosis was significantly greater in tumors that expressed PAX3-FKHR compared to tumors that expressed PAX7-FKHR transcript. Conclusions We conclude that compared to PAX7-FKHR-containing tumors, ARMS that contain PAX3-FKHR transcript have (1) increased cell proliferation, consistent with greater loss of cell cycle regulation, and (2) apoptosis that is increased but insufficient to prevent tumor formation. More marked cell cycle dysregulation may contribute to poorer prognosis for patients with ARMS that have PAX3-FKHR fusion. Med Pediatr Oncol 2001;37:83,89. © 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Rhabdomyosarcoma: Value of myogenin expression analysis and molecular testing in diagnosing the alveolar subtypeCANCER, Issue 12 2004An analysis of 109 paraffin-embedded specimens Abstract BACKGROUND Identification of the alveolar subtype of rhabdomyosarcoma (ARMS) is important, because the poor prognosis associated with this subtype necessitates a modified therapeutic regimen. At present, ARMS diagnoses are made on the basis of histologic findings and the extent of myogenin immunopositivity. Nonetheless, the absence of an alveolar pattern in the solid variant, the low degree of differentiation in certain embryonal rhabdomyosarcomas (ERMS), and the increasing use of microbiopsy samples make the diagnosis of ARMS somewhat difficult. Two specific translocations have been found in ARMS, and fusion transcripts can be detected by reverse transcriptase,polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis of paraffin-embedded tissue (PET). METHODS To assess the value of myogenin staining and molecular testing in the diagnosis of rhabdomyosarcoma, the authors examined 109 rhabdomyosarcoma samples (45 ARMS samples and 64 ERMS samples). Real-time RT-PCR analysis of PET was performed in all 109 rhabdomyosarcomas, and RT-PCR analysis of frozen material was performed in 24 cases. RESULTS PAX fusion transcripts were present in 44 cases (39 ARMS and 5 ERMS) and absent in 52 cases (2 ARMS and 50 ERMS). In 13 cases (4 ARMS and 9 ERMS), the results were not interpretable. Results were concordant between paired frozen and fixed tumor samples. All 35 interpretable ERMS samples that contained < 50% myogenin-positive cells failed to yield detectable PAX fusion transcripts. Of the 61 interpretable tumor samples (41 ARMS and 20 ERMS) that contained > 50% myogenin-positive cells, 44 (39 ARMS and 5 ERMS) yielded detectable PAX fusion transcripts. CONCLUSIONS The current study demonstrates that molecular detection of PAX fusion transcripts via real-time RT-PCR analysis of PET is a sensitive and specific method for the diagnosis of ARMS and that immunohistochemical analysis of myogenin expression can be used to select cases for such molecular testing. Although RT-PCR analysis appears not to possess diagnostic value in tumors with < 50% tumor cell immunopositivity, it is strongly recommended for the diagnosis of tumors containing > 50% myogenin-positive cells. Cancer 2004. © 2004 American Cancer Society. [source] Distribution of HLA-A, B alleles and polymorphisms of TAP and LMP genes in Korean patients with atopic dermatitisCLINICAL & EXPERIMENTAL ALLERGY, Issue 12 2001H. J. Lee Background Atopic dermatitis has been seen to result from multifactorial inheritance, with interaction between genetic and environmental factors. The genetic association may differ according to the ethnic backgrounds. Objective The purpose of this study was to investigate the genetic factors in Korean atopic dermatitis patients by studying the human leucocyte antigen (HLA) class I association and polymorphisms of transporters associated with antigen presentation (TAP) and low-molecular-weight polypeptide (LMP) genes. Methods HLA-A and B genotyping was performed in 53 atopic dermatitis patients and 184 healthy controls using the standard microlymphocytotoxicity technique. TAP1, TAP2, LMP2, and LMP7 gene polymorphisms were anaylzed using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-single strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP), PCR-amplification refractory mutation system (ARMS), and PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP). Results Allele frequency of HLA-A24 was significantly increased in patients with atopic dermatitis compared to controls (P < 0.05). HLA-B alleles showed no differences in distribution between patients and controls. Genotype, phenotype, and allele frequencies of TAP1 gene also revealed no differences in distribution between patients and controls. Analysis of TAP2 gene polymorphisms showed increased frequencies of the TAP2*C allele and TAP2*A/TAP2*C genotype in atopic dermatitis patients compared to controls (P < 0.05). Distribution of LMP2 and LMP7 gene polymorphisms was similar for patients and controls. Conclusion This study demonstrates an association of atopic dermatitis with HLA-A24 and TAP2*C alleles in Korean patients. Discrepancy with the previous reports might be related to different patient characteristics and ethnic variations. [source] An Arabidopsis thaliana ABC transporter that confers kanamycin resistance in transgenic plants does not endow resistance to Escherichia coliMICROBIAL BIOTECHNOLOGY, Issue 2 2008Kellie Burris Summary Concerns have been raised about potential horizontal gene transfer (HGT) of antibiotic resistance markers (ARMs) from transgenic plants to bacteria of medical and environmental importance. All ARMs used in transgenic plants have been bacterial in origin, but it has been recently shown that an Arabidopsis thaliana ABC transporter, Atwbc19, confers kanamycin resistance when overexpressed in transgenic plants. Atwbc19 was evaluated for its ability to transfer kanamycin resistance to Escherichia coli, a kanamycin-sensitive model bacterium, under simulated HGT, staged by subcloning Atwbc19 under the control of a bacterial promoter, genetically transforming to kanamycin-sensitive bacteria, and assessing if resistance was conferred as compared with bacteria harbouring nptII, the standard kanamycin resistance gene used to produce transgenic plants. NptII provided much greater resistance than Atwbc19 and was significantly different from the no-plasmid control at low concentrations. Atwbc19 was not significantly different from the no-plasmid control at higher concentrations. Even though HGT risks are considered low with nptII, Atwbc19 should have even lower risks, as its encoded protein is possibly mistargeted in bacteria. [source] Deployable Truss Operation by ETS-VII Robot Arm Using Force Accommodation ControlCOMPUTER-AIDED CIVIL AND INFRASTRUCTURE ENGINEERING, Issue 3 2001Masahiro Nohmi An experiment for teleoperating a truss structure has been performed as part of a space robotics mission on Engineering Test Satellite No. 7 (ETS-VII). This article reports the results from truss experiments conducted by means of the ETS-VII robot arm using force accommodation control, which is a specific control law developed for the ETS-VII robot arm. With this control function, the robot arm moves toward the point where the external force becomes the command value, which is sent from the ground. This control technique is useful especially in the case of teleoperation with time delay, since excessive force and torque can be avoided, and in addition, no a priori trajectory information is required. However, the robot arm cannot attain the desired configuration for itself. These characteristics can be used for deployable and assembly truss operation, making full use of merits and avoiding demerits. The effectiveness is confirmed through an ETS-VII onboard experiment. [source] Clinicopathological Conference: Case Report,A Case of Anorexia and Weak ArmACADEMIC EMERGENCY MEDICINE, Issue 1 2007Jennifer L. Wiler MD Abstract The authors present the case of a 49-year-old female who presented to the emergency department with a chief complaint of "not eating well." She was found to have a heart murmur, a focal neurological deficit, and large mitral valve vegetation. The patient was later diagnosed with acute Pseudomonal endocarditis with septic emboli to the brain, liver, spleen, and kidneys. A discussion of the patient presentation, diagnostic evaluation, and outcome are reviewed. [source] Arm and leg substrate utilization and muscle adaptation after prolonged low-intensity trainingACTA PHYSIOLOGICA, Issue 4 2010J. W. Helge Abstract This review will focus on current data where substrate metabolism in arm and leg muscle is investigated and discuss the presence of higher carbohydrate oxidation and lactate release observed during arm compared with leg exercise. Furthermore, a basis for a possible difference in substrate partitioning between endogenous and exogenous substrate during arm and leg exercise will be debated. Moreover the review will probe if differences between arm and leg muscle are merely a result of different training status rather than a qualitative difference in limb substrate regulation. Along this line the review will address the available studies on low-intensity training performed separately with arm or legs or as whole-body training to evaluate if this leads to different adaptations in arm and leg muscle resulting in different substrate utilization patterns during separate arm or leg exercise at comparable workloads. Finally, the influence and capacity of low-intensity training to influence metabolic fitness in the face of a limited effect on aerobic fitness will be challenged. [source] Prognosis and Mechanism of Death in Treated Heart Failure: Data From the Placebo Arm of Val-HeFTCONGESTIVE HEART FAILURE, Issue 3 2006Jay N. Cohn MD The magnitude of benefit on mortality of combined angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI) and ,-blocker (BB) therapy for heart failure cannot be reliably assessed from prospective randomized trials of individual drugs with intent-to-treat analysis. The placebo arm of the Valsartan Heart Failure Trial (Val-HeFT) included patients who remained on background therapy with ACEIs, BBs, neither, or both. The outcomes in these four subgroups should provide a better guide to mortality benefit. Overall mortality (mean follow-up, 23 months) was 31.6% in those receiving neither neurohormonal blocker, 29% and 39% lower in those on ACEIs or BBs, respectively, and 62% lower (11.9% mortality) in those receiving both drugs. In the neither neurohormonal inhibitor group, 48% of the heart failure-related deaths were adjudicated as sudden, whereas in the group receiving ACEIs and BBs, 79% of the deaths were sudden, and pump failure mortality was only 1% per year. The combination of ACEIs and BBs exerts a greater mortality reduction than suggested from clinical trials and reduces pump failure mortality to 1% per year. [source] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||