bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Rapid down-regulation of mammalian
Period
genes during behavioral resetting of the circadian clock
Authors: Maywood E. S. , Mrosovsky N. , Field M. D. , Hastings M. H.
Published: July 2002

The pervasive role of circadian clocks in regulating physiology and behavior is widely recognized. Their adaptive value is their ability to be entrained by environmental cues such that the internal circadian phase is a reliable predictor of solar time. In mammals, both light and nonphotic behavioral cues can entrain the principal oscillator of the hypothalamic suprachiasmatic nuclei (SCN). However, although light can advance or delay the clock during circadian night, behavioral events trigger phase advances during the subjective day, when the clock is insensitive to light. The recent identification of
Period
(
Per
) genes in mammals, homologues of
dperiod,
which encodes a core element of the circadian clockwork in
Drosophila
, now provides the opportunity to explain circadian timing and entrainment at a molecular level. In mice, expression of
mPer1
and
mPer2
in the SCN is rhythmic and acutely up-regulated by light. Moreover, the temporal relations between mRNA and protein cycles are consistent with a clock based on a transcriptional/translational feedback loop. Here we describe circadian oscillations of
Per1
and
Per2
in the SCN of the Syrian hamster, showing that PER1 protein and mRNA cycles again behave in a manner consistent with a negative-feedback oscillator. Furthermore, we demonstrate that nonphotic resetting has the opposite effect to light: acutely down-regulating these genes. Their sensitivity to nonphotic resetting cues supports their proposed role as core elements of the circadian oscillator. Moreover, this study provides an explanation at the molecular level for the contrasting but convergent effects of photic and nonphotic cues on the clock.
Distinct dendritic cell subsets differentially regulate the class of immune responseinvivo
Authors: Pulendran B. , Smith J. L. , Caspary G. , Brasel K. , Pettit D. , Maraskovsky E. , Maliszewski C. R.
Published: July 2002

Dendritic cells (DCs) are unique in their ability to stimulate T cells and initiate adaptive immunity. Injection of mice with the cytokine Flt3-ligand (FL) dramatically expands mature lymphoid and myeloid-related DC subsets. In contrast, injection of a polyethylene glycol-modified form of granulocyte/macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) into mice only expands the myeloid-related DC subset. These DC subsets differ in the cytokine profiles they induce in T cellsin vivo. The lymphoid-related subset induces high levels of the Th1 cytokines interferon γ and interleukin (IL)-2 but little or no Th2 cytokines. In contrast, the myeloid-related subset induces large amounts of the Th2 cytokines IL-4 and IL-10, in addition to interferon γ and IL-2. FL- or GM-CSF-treated mice injected with soluble ovalbumin display dramatic increases in antigen-specific antibody titers, but the isotype profiles seem critically dependent on the cytokine used. Although FL treatment induces up to a 10,000-fold increase in ovalbumin-specific IgG2a and a more modest increase in IgG1 titers, GM-CSF treatment favors a predominantly IgG1 response with little increase in IgG2a levels. These data suggest that distinct DC subsets have strikingly different influences on the type of immune response generatedin vivoand may thus be targets for pharmacological intervention.
Mitochondrial disease in superoxide dismutase 2 mutant mice
Authors: Melov Simon , Coskun Pinar , Patel Manisha , Tuinstra Robbyn , Cottrell Barbara , Jun Albert S. , Zastawny Tomsz H. , Dizdaroglu Miral , Goodman Stephen I. , Huang Ting-Ting , Miziorko Henry , Epstein Charles J. , Wallace Douglas C.
Published: July 2002

Oxidative stress has been implicated in many diseases. The chief source of reactive oxygen species within the cell is the mitochondrion. We have characterized a variety of the biochemical and metabolic effects of inactivation of the mouse gene for the mitochondrial superoxide dismutase (CD1-
Sod2
tm1Cje
). The
Sod2
mutant mice exhibit a tissue-specific inhibition of the respiratory chain enzymes NADH-dehydrogenase (complex I) and succinate dehydrogenase (complex II), inactivation of the tricarboxylic acid cycle enzyme aconitase, development of a urine organic aciduria in conjunction with a partial defect in 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA lyase, and accumulation of oxidative DNA damage. These results indicate that the increase in mitochondrial reactive oxygen species can result in biochemical aberrations with features reminiscent of mitochondrial myopathy, Friedreich ataxia, and 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA lyase deficiency.
Triplet repeats form secondary structures that escape DNA repair in yeast
Authors: Moore Hutton , Greenwell Patricia W. , Liu Chin-Pin , Arnheim Norman , Petes Thomas D.
Published: July 2002

Several human neurodegenerative diseases result from expansion of
CTG/CAG or CGG/CCG triplet repeats. The finding that
single-stranded CNG repeats form hairpin-like structures
in
vitro
has led to the hypothesis that DNA secondary structure
formation is an important component of the expansion mechanism. We show
that single-stranded DNA loops containing 10 CTG/CAG or CGG/CCG
repeats are inefficiently repaired during meiotic recombination in
Saccharomyces cerevisiae
. Comparisons of the repair of DNA
loops with palindromic and nonpalindromic sequences suggest that this
inefficient repair reflects the ability of these sequences to form
hairpin structures
in vivo
.
Blockade of
N
-methyl-
d
-aspartate receptor activation suppresses learning-induced synaptic elimination
Authors: Bock Jörg , Braun Katharina
Published: July 2002

Auditory filial imprinting in the domestic chicken is accompanied by a dramatic loss of spine synapses in two higher associative forebrain areas, the mediorostral neostriatum/hyperstriatum ventrale (MNH) and the dorsocaudal neostriatum (Ndc). The cellular mechanisms that underlie this learning-induced synaptic reorganization are unclear. We found that local pharmacological blockade of
N
-methyl-
d
-aspartate (NMDA) receptors in the MNH, a manipulation that has been shown previously to impair auditory imprinting, suppresses the learning-induced spine reduction in this region. Chicks treated with the NMDA receptor antagonist 2-amino-5-phosphonovaleric acid (APV) during the behavioral training for imprinting (postnatal day 0–2) displayed similar spine frequencies at postnatal day 7 as naive control animals, which, in both groups, were significantly higher than in imprinted animals. Because the average dendritic length did not differ between the experimental groups, the reduced spine frequency can be interpreted as a reduction of the total number of spine synapses per neuron. In the Ndc, which is reciprocally connected with the MNH and not directly influenced by the injected drug, learning-induced spine elimination was partly suppressed. Spine frequencies of the APV-treated, behaviorally trained but nonimprinted animals were higher than in the imprinted animals but lower than in the naive animals. These results provide evidence that NMDA receptor activation is required for the learning-induced selective reduction of spine synapses, which may serve as a mechanism of information storage specific for juvenile emotional learning events.
Stimulated changes in localized cerebral energy consumption under anesthesia
Authors: Shulman Robert G. , Rothman Douglas L. , Hyder Fahmeed
Published: July 2002

Focal changes in the cerebral metabolic rate of glucose utilization (CMR
glc
) are small (10–40%) during sensory activation in awake humans, as well as in awake rodents and primates (20–50%). They are significantly larger (50–250%) in sensory activation studies of anesthetized rats and cats. Our data, in agreement with literature values, show that in the resting anesthetized state values of CMR
glc
are lower than in the resting nonanesthetized state whereas the final state values, reached upon activation, are similar for the anesthetized and nonanesthetized animals. The lower resting anesthetized state values of CMR
glc
explain why the increments upon activation from anesthesia are larger than when starting from the nonanesthetized conditions. Recent
13
C NMR measurements in our laboratory have established a quantitative relationship between the energetics of glucose oxidation, CMR
glc
(oxidative), and the flux of the glutamate/γ-aminobutyric acid/glutamine neurotransmitter cycle, V
cycle
. In both the resting awake value of CMR
glc
(oxidative), and its increment upon stimulation, a large majority (≈80%) of the brain energy consumption is devoted to V
cycle
. In the differencing methods of functional imaging, it is assumed that the incremental change in the measured signal represents the modular activity that supports the functional response. However, the same amount of activity must be present during the response to stimulation, irrespective of the initial basal state of the cortex. Thus, whereas the incremental signals of ΔCMR
glc
can localize neurotransmitter activity, the magnitude of such activity during the response is represented by the total localized CMR
glc
, not the increment.
Biochemical characterization of Wnt-Frizzled interactions using a soluble, biologically active vertebrate Wnt protein
Authors: Hsieh Jen-Chih , Rattner Amir , Smallwood Philip M. , Nathans Jeremy
Published: July 2002

Biochemical studies of Wnt signaling have been hampered by difficulties in obtaining large quantities of soluble, biologically active Wnt proteins. In this paper, we report the production in
Drosophila
S2 cells of biologically active
Xenopus
Wnt8 (XWnt8). Epitope- or alkaline phosphatase-tagged XWnt8 proteins are secreted by concentrated S2 cells in a form that is suitable for quantitative biochemical experiments with yields of 5 and 0.5 mg per liter, respectively. Conditions also are described for the production in 293 cells of an IgG fusion of the cysteine-rich domain (CRD) of mouse Frizzled 8 with a yield of 20 mg/liter. We demonstrate the use of these proteins for studying the interactions between soluble XWnt8 and various Frizzled proteins, membrane anchored or secreted CRDs, and a set of insertion mutants in the CRD of
Drosophila
Frizzled 2. In a solid phase binding assay, the affinity of the XWnt8-alkaline phosphatase fusion for the purified mouse Frizzled 8-CRD-IgG fusion is ≈9 nM.
Progress toward the evolution of an organism with an expanded genetic code
Authors: Liu David R. , Schultz Peter G.
Published: July 2002

Several significant steps have been completed toward a general method for the site-specific incorporation of unnatural amino acids into proteins
in vivo
. An “orthogonal” suppressor tRNA was derived from
Saccharomyces cerevisiae
tRNA
2
Gln
. This yeast orthogonal tRNA is not a substrate
in vitro
or
in vivo
for any
Escherichia coli
aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase, including
E. coli
glutaminyl-tRNA synthetase (GlnRS), yet functions with the
E. coli
translational machinery. Importantly,
S. cerevisiae
GlnRS aminoacylates the yeast orthogonal tRNA
in vitro
and in
E. coli
, but does not charge
E. coli
tRNA
Gln
. This yeast-derived suppressor tRNA together with yeast GlnRS thus represents a completely orthogonal tRNA/synthetase pair in
E. coli
suitable for the delivery of unnatural amino acids into proteins
in vivo
. A general method was developed to select for mutant aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases capable of charging any ribosomally accepted molecule onto an orthogonal suppressor tRNA. Finally, a rapid nonradioactive screen for unnatural amino acid uptake was developed and applied to a collection of 138 amino acids. The majority of glutamine and glutamic acid analogs under examination were found to be uptaken by
E. coli
. Implications of these results are discussed.
Targeted cytoplasmic irradiation with alpha particles induces mutations in mammalian cells
Authors: Wu Li-Jun , Randers-Pehrson Gerhard , Xu An , Waldren Charles A. , Geard Charles R. , Yu ZengLiang , Hei Tom K.
Published: July 2002

Ever since x-rays were shown to induce mutation in
Drosophila
more than 70 years ago, prevailing dogma considered the genotoxic effects of ionizing radiation, such as mutations and carcinogenesis, as being due mostly to direct damage to the nucleus. Although there was indication that alpha particle traversal through cellular cytoplasm was innocuous, the full impact remained unknown. The availability of the microbeam at the Radiological Research Accelerator Facility of Columbia University made it possible to target and irradiate the cytoplasm of individual cells in a highly localized spatial region. By using dual fluorochrome dyes (Hoechst and Nile Red) to locate nucleus and cellular cytoplasm, respectively, thereby avoiding inadvertent traversal of nuclei, we show here that cytoplasmic irradiation is mutagenic at the CD59 (S1) locus of human–hamster hybrid (A
L
) cells, while inflicting minimal cytotoxicity. The principal class of mutations induced are similar to those of spontaneous origin and are entirely different from those of nuclear irradiation. Furthermore, experiments with radical scavenger and inhibitor of intracellular glutathione indicated that the mutagenicity of cytoplasmic irradiation depends on generation of reactive oxygen species. These findings suggest that cytoplasm is an important target for genotoxic effects of ionizing radiation, particularly radon, the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States. In addition, cytoplasmic traversal by alpha particles may be more dangerous than nuclear traversal, because the mutagenicity is accomplished by little or no killing of the target cells.
Nucleotide binding and autophosphorylation of the clock protein KaiC as a circadian timing process of cyanobacteria
Authors: Nishiwaki Taeko , Iwasaki Hideo , Ishiura Masahiro , Kondo Takao
Published: July 2002

A negative feedback control of
kaiC
expression by KaiC protein has been proposed to generate a basic oscillation of the circadian clock in the cyanobacterium
Synechococcus
sp. PCC 7942. KaiC has two P loops or Walker's motif As, that are potential ATP-/GTP-binding motifs and DXXG motifs conserved in various GTP-binding proteins. Herein, we demonstrate that
in vitro
KaiC binds ATP and, with lower affinity, GTP. Point mutation by site-directed mutagenesis of P loop 1 completely nullified the circadian rhythm of
kaiBC
expression and markedly reduced ATP-binding activity. Moreover, KaiC can be autophosphorylated
in vitro
. These results suggest that the nucleotide-binding activity of KaiC plays important roles in the generation of circadian oscillation in cyanobacteria.
Auditory processing parallels reading abilities in adults
Authors: Ahissar Merav , Protopapas Athanassios , Reid Miriam , Merzenich Michael M.
Published: July 2002

A broad battery of psychoacoustic measures and standard measures of reading and spelling were applied to 102 adults. The test group included individuals with a childhood history of reading difficulties and controls with no reported reading difficulties. Reading scores were variable in both groups. Poor auditory processing abilities were recorded in poor readers; particular difficulties were posed by tasks requiring spectral distinctions, the simplest of which was pure tone frequency discrimination. In absolute terms, the greatest deficits were recorded in tasks in which stimuli were presented in brief forms and in rapid succession. Auditory processing abilities accounted for more than 50% of the reading score variance in the control group, but their correlation with reading scores was lower in the group with childhood histories of reading difficulties. The additional variability in the latter group resulted largely from the prevalence of reading-compensated poor psychoacoustic performers, whose short-term word memory was also typically poor. Taken together, these findings support a link between impaired auditory resolution and poor reading. Psychoacoustic difficulties are largely retained through adulthood and may be the source of the retained reading difficulties.
Spinophilin regulates the formation and function of dendritic spines
Authors: Feng Jian , Yan Zhen , Ferreira Adriana , Tomizawa Kazuhito , Liauw Jason A. , Zhuo Min , Allen Patrick B. , Ouimet Charles C. , Greengard Paul
Published: July 2002

Spinophilin, a protein that interacts with actin and protein phosphatase-1, is highly enriched in dendritic spines. Here, through the use of spinophilin knockout mice, we provide evidence that spinophilin modulates both glutamatergic synaptic transmission and dendritic morphology. The ability of protein phosphatase-1 to regulate the activity of α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA) and
N
-methyl-
d
-aspartate (NMDA) receptors was reduced in spinophilin knockout mice. Consistent with altered glutamatergic transmission, spinophilin-deficient mice showed reduced long-term depression and exhibited resistance to kainate-induced seizures and neuronal apoptosis. In addition, deletion of the spinophilin gene caused a marked increase in spine density during development
in vivo
as well as altered filopodial formation in cultured neurons. In conclusion, spinophilin appears to be required for the regulation of the properties of dendritic spines.
Invasion
in vitro
of mosquito midgut cells by the malaria parasite proceeds by a conserved mechanism and results in death of the invaded midgut cells
Authors: Zieler Helge , Dvorak James A.
Published: July 2002

Using an
in vitro
culture system, we observed the
migration of malaria ookinetes on the surface of the mosquito midgut
and invasion of the midgut epithelium. Ookinetes display constrictions
during migration to the midgut surface and a gliding motion once on the
luminal midgut surface. Invasion of a midgut cell always occurs at its
lateral apical surface. Invasion is rapid and is often followed by
invasion of a neighboring midgut cell by the ookinete. The morphology
of the invaded cells changes dramatically after invasion, and invaded
cells die rapidly. Midgut cell death is accompanied by activation of a
caspase-3-like protease, suggesting cell death is apoptotic.
The events occurring during invasion were identical for two different
species of
Plasmodium
and two different genera of
mosquitoes; they probably represent a universal mechanism of mosquito
midgut penetration by the malaria parasite.
Nongenomic actions of estrogens and xenoestrogens by binding at a plasma membrane receptor unrelated to estrogen receptor α and estrogen receptor β
Authors: Nadal Angel , Ropero Ana B. , Laribi Ouahiba , Maillet Marjorie , Fuentes Esther , Soria Bernat
Published: July 2002

The molecular mechanism used by environmental chemicals to exert their hormone-like actions is still only partially resolved. Although it generally is accepted that xenoestrogens act at the genomic level by binding to intracellular estrogen receptors, we have shown here that they trigger nongenomic effects in pancreatic β cells. Both xenoestrogens and the circulating hormone, 17β-estradiol, bind with high affinity to a common membrane binding site unrelated to the intracellular estrogen receptors ERα and ERβ. This binding site is shared by dopamine, epinephrine, and norepinephrine and has the pharmacological profile of the γadrenergic receptor. This study provides an outline of the membrane receptor involved in rapid xenoestrogen actions.
Visualizing gene expression by whole-body fluorescence imaging
Authors: Yang Meng , Baranov Eugene , Moossa A. R. , Penman Sheldon , Hoffman Robert M.
Published: July 2002

Transgene expression in intact animals now can be visualized by
noninvasive techniques. However, the instruments and protocols
developed so far have been formidable and expensive. We describe here a
system for rapidly visualizing transgene expression in major organs of
intact live mice that is simple, rapid, and eminently affordable. Green
fluorescent protein (GFP) is expressed in the cells of brain, liver,
pancreas, prostate, and bone, and its fluorescence is encoded in
whole-body optical images. For low-magnification images, animals are
illuminated atop a fluorescence light box and directly viewed with a
thermoelectrically cooled color charge-coupled device camera.
Higher-magnification images are made with the camera focused through an
epi-fluorescence dissecting microscope. Both nude and normal mice were
labeled by directly injecting 8 × 10
10
plaque-forming
units/ml of adenoviral GFP in 20–100 μl PBS and 10% glycerol into
either the brain, liver, pancreas, prostate, or bone marrow. Within
5–8 h after adenoviral GFP injection, the fluorescence of the
expressed GFP in brain and liver became visible, and whole-body images
were recorded at video rates. The GFP fluorescence continued to
increase for at least 12 h and remained detectable in liver for up
to 4 months. The system's rapidity of image acquisition makes it
capable of real-time recording. It requires neither exogenous contrast
agents, radioactive substrates, nor long processing times. The method
requires only that the expressed gene or promoter be fused or
operatively linked to GFP. A comparatively modest investment allows the
study of the therapeutic and diagnostic potential of suitably tagged
genes in relatively opaque organisms.
Deletion of tyrosine hydroxylase gene reveals functional interdependence of adrenocortical and chromaffin cell system
in vivo
Authors: Bornstein S. R. , Tian H. , Haidan A. , Böttner A. , Hiroi N. , Eisenhofer G. , McCann S. M. , Chrousos G. P. , Roffler-Tarlov S.
Published: July 2002

Catecholamines are produced in the medulla of the adrenal
gland and may participate in the intraglandular regulation of its
cortex. We analyzed the adrenal structure and function of albino
tyrosine hydroxylase-null (TH-null) mice that are deficient in adrenal
catecholamine production. Adrenal catecholamines were markedly reduced,
and catecholamine histofluorescence was abrogated in 15-day-old TH-null
mice. Chromaffin cell structure was strikingly altered at the
ultrastructural level with a depletion of chromaffin vesicles and an
increase in rough endoplasmic reticulum compared with wild-type mice.
Remaining chromaffin vesicles lined up proximally to the cell membrane
in preparation for exocytosis providing a “string-of-pearls”
appearance. There was a 5-fold increase in the expression of
proenkephalin mRNA (502.8 ± 142% vs. 100 ± 17.5%,
P
= 0.016) and a 2-fold increase in the expression
of neuropeptide Y (213.4 ± 41.2% vs. 100 ± 59.9%,
P
= 0.014) in the TH-null animals as determined by
quantitative TaqMan (Perkin–Elmer) PCR. Accordingly,
immunofluorescence for met-enkephalin and neuropeptide tyrosine in
these animals was strongly enhanced. The expression of
phenylethanolamine
N-
methyl transferase and chromogranin
B mRNA was similar in TH-null and wild-type mice. In TH-null mice,
adrenocortical cells were characterized by an increase in liposomes and
by tubular mitochondria with reduced internal membranes, suggesting a
hypofunctional state of these steroid-producing cells. In accordance
with these findings, plasma corticosterone levels were decreased.
Plasma ACTH levels were not significantly different in TH-null mice. In
conclusion, both the adrenomedullary and adrenocortical systems
demonstrate structural and functional changes in
catecholamine-deficient TH-null mice, underscoring the great importance
of the functional interdependence of these systems
in
vivo
.
An Epstein–Barr-related herpesvirus from marmoset lymphomas
Authors: Cho Young-Gyu , Ramer Jan , Rivailler Pierre , Quink Carol , Garber Richard L. , Beier David R. , Wang Fred
Published: July 2002

Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) is implicated in the development of human
B cell lymphomas and carcinomas. Although related oncogenic
herpesviruses were believed to be endemic only in Old World primate
species, we now find these viruses to be endemic in New World primates.
We have isolated a transforming, EBV-related virus from spontaneous B
cell lymphomas of common marmosets (
Callithrix jacchus
).
Sequencing of two-thirds of the genome reveals considerable divergence
from the genomes of EBV and Old World primate EBV-related viruses,
including differences in genes important for virus-induced cell growth
transformation and pathogenesis. DNA related to the
C.
jacchus
herpesvirus is frequently detected in squirrel monkey
peripheral blood lymphocytes, indicating that persistent infection with
EBV-related viruses is prevalent in both New World primate families.
Understanding how these more divergent EBV-related viruses achieve
similar biologic outcomes in their natural host is likely to provide
important insights into EBV infection, B cell growth transformation,
and oncogenesis.
Testing the modernization hypothesis and the socialist ideology hypothesis: a comparative sibling analysis of educational attainment and occupational status
Authors: Sieben Inge , de Graaf Paul M.
Published: July 2002

In this study, we present a comparative sibling analysis. This enables us to test two major social mobility hypotheses, i.e. the modernization hypothesis and the socialist ideology hypothesis. We employ survey data on brothers in England, Hungary, the Netherlands, Scotland, Spain, and the USA, covering a historical period from 1916 till 1990. Results show that the effects of parental social class on educational attainment are smaller in technologically advanced societies, and that the effects of parental social class on occupational status are smaller in social‐democratic and communist societies. In addition, the total family impact on occupational status declines with modernization. But overall, we observe that the family of origin has not lost its importance for its sons' educational attainment and occupational status yet.
Childhood poverty, early motherhood and adult social exclusion
Authors: Hobcraft John , Kiernan Kathleen
Published: July 2002

Childhood poverty and early parenthood are both high on the current political agenda. The key new issue that this research addresses is the relative importance of childhood poverty and of early motherhood as correlates of outcomes later in life. How far are the ‘effects’ of early motherhood on later outcomes due to childhood precursors, especially experience of childhood poverty? Subsidiary questions relate to the magnitude of these associations, the particular levels of childhood poverty that prove most critical, and whether, as often assumed, only teenage mothers are subsequently disadvantaged, or are those who have their first birth in their early twenties similarly disadvantaged? The source of data for this study is the National Child Development Study.

We examine outcomes at age 33 for several domains of adult social exclusion: welfare, socio‐economic, physical health, emotional well‐being and demographic behaviour. We control for a wide range of childhood factors: poverty; social class of origin and of father; mother's and father's school leaving age; family structure; housing tenure; mother's and father's interest in education; personality attributes; performance on educational tests; and contact with the police by age 16. There are clear associations for the adult outcomes with age at first birth, even after controlling for childhood poverty and the other childhood background factors. Moreover, we demonstrate that the widest gulf in adult outcomes occurs for those who enter motherhood early (before age 23), though further rein‐forced by teenage motherhood for most adult outcomes. We also show that any experience of childhood poverty is clearly associated with adverse outcomes in adulthood, with reinforcement for higher levels of childhood poverty for a few outcomes.
Concepts of deviance and disturbance in children and adolescents: A comparison between the United States and Japan
Authors: Crystal David S.
Published: July 2002

Fifth and eleventh graders in the United States (N = 169) and Japan (N = 166) were interviewed about their reactions to stories describing various forms of psychological deviance in hypothetical peers. For each story, students were asked if any of the protagonist's behaviours seemed strange or unusual; why these behaviours were strange or unusual; and why the protagonist acted the way he or she did. More Japanese than American students mentioned the psychological reasoning of the individual, and more American than Japanese students mentioned external influences and violation of social norms in explaining and conceptualizing deviant conduct, respectively. Few developmental or gender differences emerged. Results are discussed in terms of the individualism‐collectivism paradigm and cultural differences in attributions for success and failure.
Language, Nationalism, and Populism in Belarus
Authors: Goujon Alexandra
Published: July 2002

Political leaders often use language as an instrument to establish their legitimacy. From the end of the 1980s, the Belarusian language became the symbol of Belarusian independence; however, it has never been the language of power. The language law of Belarus, which was adopted in 1990 and made Belarusian the official language of the state, appears to have been more a symbolic action for a new appropriation of power than the expression of a real political will. During perestroika political elites, mostly Russophones, preferred to rely on the language situation inherited from the Soviet system, in which the majority spoke Russian, rather than question a policy that could guarantee their popularity. When Alyaksander Lukashenka came to power in 1994, the gradual process of Belarusian language development was slowly reversed in order to integrate language policy into the continuity of Soviet practice. The promotion of the Russian language and the increase of discrimination against Belarusian have taken place along with the establishment of an authoritarian regime, which is based on press censorship, arrests of political opponents, and the monopolization of social, political, economic, and cultural activities. Faced with a direct threat to its existence, the Belarusian language became, as was the case during the Soviet period, a language of opposition and of counter-power. Belarusian leaders have tried to keep the Belarusian language and the discourses related to it out of power. The opposition, however, uses Belarusian as a political weapon against the regime, seeking to transform Belarusian into a future language of power. Considering the language as a crucial political issue, language policy is a way to manage and control not only the use of language, but also the discourse and the persons who are using it. In that context, language implies a speech, and the French distinction between langue and language is interesting in this respect. Language politics implies social and political representations of language and speech, which can be studied, analyzing the influence of political actors on these representations and the way in which they deal with the language problem.
New Labour and School‐based Education in England: Changing the system of funding?
Authors: West Anne , Pennell Hazel , West Robert
Published: July 2002

ABSTRACT This article focuses on the financing of school‐based education and the ways in which this has changed since the Labour Government was elected into office in May 1997. It also analyses fundamental problems associated with the current system and how these might be rectified. The main conclusions are that although the Labour Government has made clear efforts to target money on areas with high levels of poverty, the system by which most funds for education are allocated, via local authorities, is fundamentally flawed. In order to make informed, evidence‐based judgements about how much money is needed for education, high quality research needs to be carried out. This should establish the resources needed to enable children with different levels of prior attainment to meet specified educational goals in the context of different levels of disadvantage in schools. Only then can the Government be sure that adequate funds are being targeted where they are most needed.
Department Improvement and School Improvement: A missing link?
Authors: Harris Alma
Published: July 2002

Abstract This article focuses on secondary school departments and argues that the current approaches to school improvement do not adequately reflect or incorporate the department level. Drawing upon empirical evidence from two evaluative studies, the article highlights the processes that contribute to improved departmental performance and subsequently, to school and classroom improvement. The article concludes by suggesting that the department is an important ‘missing link’ in school improvement theory and practice.
The role of individuals in the history of a free-ranging group of Japanese macaques: Some thoughts on the relevance for human behavioural research
Authors: Itoigawa N.
Published: July 2002

Taking the stance that the study of nonhuman primates can be useful in understanding the mechanism of long-term changes in social organisation, this short paper seeks to shed light on the role the individual might play in changes in future human society. This is done by examining the causes of social order change in a group of free-ranging macaque monkeys. The paper suggests that it may be useful to examine the role of genetically transmitted characteristics in human “success” stories, particularly concerning adaptability in times of change, and that the examination of individual life-history data across generations, will be essential for clarifying the mechanism of changes in human social organisation.
Concurring patterns of women’s identity status, attachment styles, and understanding of children’s development
Authors: MacKinnon Joanne L. , Marcia James E.
Published: July 2002

A total of 96 mothers of preschool children participated in a study examining the relationships among identity status and the variables of family attachment style and understanding of children’s development. Results indicated that women in the committed identity statuses of identity achievement and, contrary to expectation, foreclosure, were highest in secure attachment. Fearful attachment predominated among the uncommitted identity statuses of moratorium and identity diffusion. Achievement women were the highest and diffusion women lowest in their understanding of children’s development. Examination of attachment styles as categorical variables, for achievements and foreclosures, revealed two different patterns within each status: secure and insecure. When achievements and foreclosures were grouped according to their attachment classifications and their perspectivistic scores analysed, achieved-insecure women had relatively high perspectivistic scores (in fact, the highest among the statuses) and foreclosed-insecure women had relatively low ones (almost as low as diffuse women). These results suggest that there may be two distinct patterns of both foreclosure and achievement for adult women.
Relationships between adolescent prosocial problem-solving strategies, prosocial behaviour, and social acceptance
Authors: Pakaslahti Laura , Karjalainen Anu , Keltikangas-Järvinen Liisa
Published: July 2002

This study examined the relationship between adolescents’ prosocial problem-solving strategies and prosocial behaviour, and their associations with social acceptance among their peers. Age- and gender-related variance was also examined. The subjects were 777 14-year-old adolescents (381 girls and 396 boys) and 877 17-year-olds (464 girls and 413 boys). Prosocial problem-solving strategies were measured by means of a self-rating questionnaire, while prosocial behaviour and social acceptance were evaluated in terms of the dimensions of social popularity and rejection as well as the classification of adolescents into popular, rejected, neglected, controversial, and average status groups, on the basis of peer nominations. The results showed that prosocial problem-solving strategies and prosocial behaviour were only minimally related, but both predicted social acceptance among peers. The rejected adolescents had low levels and the controversial adolescents high levels of both prosocial strategies and behaviour, while the popular and neglected adolescents did not differ from the average ones in terms of strategies, but they did in their behaviour. The popular adolescents had a high level, and the neglected adolescents a low level of prosocial behaviour. As a dimension, social popularity correlated positively and rejection negatively with prosocial behaviour but not with strategies. Analysis of gender and age differences revealed that the girls and the 14-year-olds achieved higher scores on both prosocial strategies and behaviour than the boys or the 17-year-olds. The results extend our knowledge of adolescent social functioning.
Assessing social relationships in adolescents and adults: Constructing and validating the Affective Relationships Scale
Authors: Takahashi Keiko , Sakamoto Akira
Published: July 2002

We propose an Affective Relationships Scale (ARS), specifically constructed to describe core and relatively stable social relationships among people of both genders and of a wide range of ages, from adolescents to adults. The ARS assesses the personal frameworks within which individuals organise their multiple social relationships, by assigning psychological functions to significant others. In Study 1, the ARS among 279 female college students was examined for its factorial validity, to confirm that it reflected normative trends of social relationships that had been documented by previous research(e.g. affective needs toward friends would be stronger than towards parents; “Giving nurture” would be sought more strongly than “Seeking proximity”); and to classify individual patterns of personal frameworks. Study 2 examined the ARS’s convergent and discriminant validity by correlating its scores with those of other psychological measures for 142 female college students. In Study 3, the examination of ARS among a total of 1399 participants of both genders from adolescence to middle-age showed its applicability to males and over a wide age range. Two salient characteristics of the ARS, the delineation of individual patterns of social relationships, and the applicability to different cultures, are discussed.
A Developmental Perspective on Children’s Understanding of Causal Attributions in Achievement-related Situations
Authors: Normandeau Sylvie , Gobeil Andrée
Published: July 2002

The development of children’s understanding of causal attributions for academic situations was investigated. Causal attributions are part of the metacognitive knowledge children have about themselves as problem-solvers. Children (7, 9, 11 years old) were asked to explain the failure or success outcomes of familiar academic situations that they could experience. They rated these causes along the dimensions of locus of causality, controllability, stability, and globality. Results show that children formulated spontaneously a diversity of attributions to explain academic performance. Some age differences were observed in the use of causal attributions: 11-year-old children were more likely to explain their performance by their familiarity with the task, but less likely to mention external factors. Age differences were also observed in children’s perception of causal dimensions for attributions to effort and strategy but not to familiarity. With increasing age children perceived these causal attributions to be more internal, more controllable, and less stable. Finally, children perceived attributions to be more controllable, internal, and stable in success than in failure situations. Theoretical and methodological aspects for studying the development of attributions and causal dimensions are discussed.
False Belief Understanding in Young Children: Explanations do not Develop Before Predictions
Authors: Wimmer Heinz , Mayringer Heinz
Published: July 2002

Two studies contrasted children’s ability to predict a wrong action with their ability to explain such an action in a standard unexpected transfer task. It was found that the majority of 31/2- to 41/2-year-old children was unable to explain in an appropriate way why the protagonist looked for the critical object in the wrong place and, therefore, exhibited at least as much difficulty with explanation as with prediction. This finding speaks against Fodor’s (1992) critical account of the standard false belief tasks. According to Fodor, these tasks induce children to rely on too simple action prediction heuristics (“Predict that the agent will act in a way that will satisfy his desire”) although they possess an understanding of belief and desire as joint causes of action. Analysis of children’s inadequate explanatory attempts showed that in the majority of these answers they referred to the protagonist’s desire to get the object or to the actual location of the object. These desire and reality orientations in explanation are similar to response tendencies in prediction and suggest a lacking in understanding of the causal links between misleading informational conditions, epistemic states, and resulting actions in younger children.
Through a Looking Glass or a Hall of Mirrors? Self-ratings and Teacher-ratings of Academic Competence over Development
Authors: Xie Hongling , Mahoney Joseph L. , Cairns Robert B.
Published: July 2002

To determine the properties, functions, and developmental validities of self-ratings and teacher-ratings, evaluations of academic competence (i.e. ratings of spelling and math) were obtained in two longitudinal cohorts [i.e. 4th-12th grade ( N = 220) across 9 annual test waves; 7th-12th grade ( N = 475) across 6 annual test waves]. Logistic regressions and path analyses indicated that teacher-ratings consistently yielded more robust predictions of subsequent academic attainment than self-ratings. Moreover, there was an apparent self-enhancement, with mean self-ratings significantly higher than mean teacher-ratings at most age levels. Correlations between teacher-ratings of spelling and math were robust, whereas the correlations between self-ratings in these domains were small and unreliable. These findings—replicated across cohorts, gender, academic domains, and grades—were interpreted in terms of the functions served by self- and teacher-ratings.
The Effects of Methyl Methacrylate on Nasal Cavity, Lung, and Antioxidant System (An Experimental Inhalation Study)
Authors: Aydin Ozlem , Attila Gulen , Dogan Arife , Aydin Mehmet Volkan , Canacankatan Necmiye , Kanik Arzu
Published: July 2002

Methyl methacrylate (MMA) is a monomer, commonly used in neurosurgery, orthopedic surgery, and in dental clinics. The adverse effects of this monomer are well described in the literature. This study was designed to evaluate the effects of MMA on nasal cavity, lung, and antioxidant status. For this purpose, two experimental groups of rats were exposed to MMA (at 1000 ppm, 6 h/day, 5 days/week for 4 weeks) by inhalation under poor (group A, n = 12) and normal ventilation (group B, n = 11) conditions. A control group (group C, n = 10) received normal air. Degeneration of olfactory epithelium, bronchopneumonia , interstitial pneumonia, hemorrhage, atelectasis, edema, emphysema, and bronchial epithelial hyperplasia were observed in groups A and B. Emphysema was the most common lesion. Bronchopneumoni a with abscesses was only observed in group A. Glutathione levels were signifi cantly decreased and malondialdehyde levels were signifi cantly increased in group A. No signifi cant difference was observed in superoxide dismutase levels between the groups. The data presented indicate that before using MMA, adequate protection systems should be in place to prevent occupationally related MMA respiratory-tract injuries.
From Innovation Systems to Knowledge Systems
Authors: Howells Jeremy , Roberts Joanne
Published: July 2002

This paper seeks to provide an understanding of knowledge creation and dissemination through an exploration and analysis of knowledge systems. It begins with a brief review of the systems of innovation approach. This is followed by a discussion of knowledge systems in which the nature of knowledge is considered and a definition of knowledge systems is outlined. A conceptual analysis of knowledge systems is provided in which they are compared and contrasted with systems of innovation. The conceptual framework presented is then examined more fully within the context of the computer services sector. Finally, conclusions are drawn and directions for further research are outlined.
Silicone Breast Implants and Human Rheumatic Disease is there a Connection?
Authors: Brent Jeffrey
Published: July 2002

Silicone has been used with apparent safety in implanted medical devices since 1952. Despite the long history of clinical use of this material, concern has been expressed in some quarters about systemic disease etiologically related to silicone implantation. The first report concerning this phenomenon was in 1964 when Miyoshi et al. published 2 cases in the Japanese literature of patients with vague clinical syndromes occurring after the injection of probably adulterated silicone material into breasts for purposes of augmentation. Since that time there have been numerous case reports and series (<400 patients) reporting a variety of rheumatic diseases occurring after the implantation of silicone gel prosthesis. Approximately 20 epidemiological studies have been published investigating the possible relationship between silicone breast implants and rheumatic disease. Several studies have found very weak, but statistically significant, effects showing either a negative or positive association with connective disease syndrome. However, in the aggregate the existing epidemiology strongly supports the lack of association between the presence of silicone gel breast implants and any detectable risk of or protection from systemic disease. This presentation will review the existing clinical and epidemiologic data relating to the use of silicone breast implants.
Induction of Hepatic Cytochromes P450 by Dietary 1,4-Bis[2–(3,5–dichloropyridyloxy)] benzene (TCPOBOP) in the B6C3F1 Mouse: Dose-Dependence and Pharmacodynamics
Authors: Nims R. W. , Beebe L. E. , Utermahlen W. E. , Thomas P. E. , Lubet R. A.
Published: July 2002

The dose-response relationships for hepatic cytochrome P450 (CYP) induction by 1,4-bis(2-[3,5-dichloropyridyloxy])benzene (TCPOBOP) were examined in the male B6C3F1 mouse. TCPOBOP, administered for 14 days at 0.393–96.2 ppm in the diet, caused concentration-dependent induction of hepatic CYP subfamily 2B (C YP2B) protein and of benzyloxy resorufin O-dealkylation. The ED50 values for CYP2B induction, calculated on the basis of immunoreactiveCYP2B protein and benzyloxyresorufln O-dealkylation, were 1.2 ppm and 2.2 ppm dietary TCPOBOP, respectively. The maximal catalytic activities observed were 74–95–fold higher than control values. These induction levels were 2.3–2.6–fold greater than those resulting from exposure of the mice to 500 ppm dietary phenobarbital (a prototypic CYP2B inducer). The EC50 values of TCPOBOP for hepatic CYP2B induction were < 0.3 μmol/1 (serum) and <3.3 μmol/kg (liver). Increases in immunoreactive CYP subfamily 1A and subfamily 3A proteins were also detected, although the maximal induction levels for these subfamilies were relatively low (< threefold, compared to control values). These results indicate that TCPOBOP is an effective CYP2B inducer in the mouse when administered at dietary concentrations well below the no-effect level (12.3 ppm) for the rat.