bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Women's Contribution to Nineteenth-Century American Theatre
Authors: Kippola Karl M.
Published: April 2006

Most scholars of American drama and theatre acknowledge that women's contributions to the field, especially those prior to the twentieth century, have been underrepresented. Over the past twenty-five years, scholars have begun to address a number of those glaring omissions. Women in American Theatre (New York: Crown, 1981; rev, and exp,, New York: TCG, 1987), edited by Helen Krich Chinoy and Linda Walsh Jenkins, fired the first resounding salvo, addressing an enormous range of material. Faye Dudden's outstanding Women in the American Theatre: Actresses & Audiences, 1790–1870 (New Haven: Yale University Press, 1994) provided a more focused study and insight into countless previously unknown figures. Amelia Howe Kritzer's Plays by Early American Women, 1775–1850 (Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press, 1995) brought to the surface many plays and dramatists never before anthologized.
The Most American Thing in America: Circuit Chautauqua as Performance
Authors: Wilmeth Don B.
Published: April 2006

Charlotte Canning's The Most American Thing in America: Circuit Chautauqua as Performance bemoans the confusion that still persists in distinguishing the Chautauqua Institution founded in upstate New York in 1874 from Circuit Chautauqua, which existed from 1904 into the Great Depression and toured rural America each summer under the readily identified brown tent (a deliberate contrast to the white top of the circus, which Chautauqua condemned). Canning states that “one is hard-pressed to find significant numbers of people who have ever heard of Circuit Chautauqua…. It does not seem to have entered into the American mythos” (2).
Local Acts: Community-Based Performance in the United States
Authors: McConachie Bruce
Published: April 2006

Theatre historians and practitioners in the academy have been slow to recognize the validity and significance of the community-based theatre movement in the United States. With the exception of a few books and articles, most of the scholarly literature on community-based theatre remains squirreled away in local reports, unpublished dissertations, and Web sites infrequently visited (at least by theatre academics). Perhaps this should not be surprising; compared to Australia, Latin America, and most of Europe, community-based theatre in the United States is scandalously underfunded and unknown. Among its many virtues, Jan Cohen-Cruz's Local Acts will raise the profile of community-based performance in the academy and perhaps spark more books in the field as well as courses and community-related projects in theatre and performance departments.
Defects and acoustic properties of LiAlO2
Authors: Chou Mitch M. C. , Huang Hul Chun , Chang Young Fo
Published: April 2006

A potential piezoelectric crystal LiAlO2 with (100) orientation is grown by means of the Czochralski pulling method. The as-grown crystal is identified as a single phase with good uniformity by x-ray diffraction pattern. (001) Transmission electron microscope image showed a unique cross-hatched pattern which reveals a superlattice structure. Several cubic LiAlO2 specimen, 10.0mm×10.0mm×10.0mm were manufactured to characterize its elastic properties. The time-based pulse-echo transmission technique was employed to measure the acoustic velocities of longitudinal and transverse modes. The elastic constants of LiAlO2 were extracted from the acoustic velocity measurements at different propagation directions. It was found that the acoustic velocities of LiAlO2 are much higher than the current piezoelectric crystals, including quartz, LiNbO3, and Langasite family materials.
Electrostatic field distribution at the sharp interface between high density matter and vacuum
Authors: Lontano Maurizio , Passoni Matteo
Published: April 2006

Ultrahigh intensity lasers are proven to be particularly suitable for ion acceleration to energies above hundreds of keV and even in the multi MeV range, due to their interaction with either planar thin solid foils, or spherically symmetric targets. With reference to these problems, a quasistationary model is developed, where the Poisson equation for the electrostatic potential distribution at the sharp solid target-vacuum interface is solved for a nonrelativistic Maxwellian distribution of trapped electrons. Analytical solutions are given and ion acceleration in the relevant electrostatic field configurations is discussed.
Fluid-phase behavior of binary mixtures in which one component can have two critical points
Authors: Chatterjee Swaroop , Debenedetti Pablo G.
Published: April 2006

We investigate theoretically the binary fluid-phase behavior of mixtures in which one water-like component can have two critical points. We consider three equal-sized nonpolar solutes that differ in the strength of their dispersive interactions (a1<a2<a3, where a denotes the van der Waals attractive parameter). In each case, we compare the phase behavior predicted using two sets of parameters for water: one giving rise to a pure component low-temperature liquid-liquid transition terminating at a critical point (two-critical-point parameter set), and one in which no such second critical point exists (singularity-free parameter set). Regardless of the parameter values used, we find five mixture critical lines. Using the two-critical-point parameter set, we find that a critical line originates at water’s second critical point for aqueous mixtures involving solutes 1, 2, or 3. For mixtures involving solutes 1 or 2, this line extends towards low pressures and high temperatures as the solute mole fraction increases, and is closely related to the critical line originating at water’s ordinary vapor-liquid critical point: these two critical lines are loci of upper and lower consolute points corresponding to the same liquid-liquid transition. In mixtures involving solute 2, the critical locus emanating from water’s second critical point is shifted to higher temperatures compared to mixtures involving solute 1, and extends up to T≈310K at moderate pressures (ca. 200bars). This suggests the possibility of an experimentally accessible manifestation of the existence of a second critical point in water. For binary mixtures involving solutes 1 or 2, changing the water parameters from the two critical points to the singularity-free case causes the disappearance of a lower consolute point at moderate pressures. For binary mixtures involving solute 3, the differences between two-critical-point and singularity-free behaviors occur only in the experimentally difficult-to-probe low-temperature and high-pressure region.
Improved acoustic excitation of atomic force microscope cantilevers in liquids
Authors: Maali Abdelhamid , Hurth Cedric , Cohen-Bouhacina Touria , Couturier Gérard , Aimé Jean-Pierre
Published: April 2006

A simple modification of the existing setup used in the commercial atomic force microscopes (AFM) is presented with the aim of improving the piezoacoustic excitation in liquid used by the AFM community. The improvement removes the spurious peaks not corresponding to the resonance frequencies of the cantilever oscillation. To illustrate the benefits of such a clean excitation, very fine effects like the structuring of mesitylene confined between the oscillating AFM tip and a highly oriented pyrolitic graphite surface could be measured with subangstrom oscillation amplitudes and with very high accuracy.
Deformation microstructure of high-quality synthetic diamond crystal subjected to Knoop indentation
Authors: Sumiya H. , Yamaguchi K. , Ogata S.
Published: April 2006

The deformation microstructures of high-quality synthetic type IIa diamond crystal around a Knoop indentation formed at room temperature were investigated. The atomic force microscopy observation showed that there are smooth deformation areas without cracks or fractures around the indentation. In addition, many dislocation lines which lie on {111} planes and have Burgers vectors in ⟨110⟩ directions were observed beneath the Knoop indentation in transmission electron microscopy investigations. These results reveal that plastic deformation in diamond is possible beneath Knoop indentations even at room temperature, and that the deformation is mainly ascribed to {111}⟨110⟩ slip systems.
A Tale of Two Cities: Community Psychobehavioral Surveillance and Related Impact on Outbreak Control in Hong Kong and Singapore During the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Epidemic
Authors: Leung Gabriel M. , Quah Stella , Ho Lai-Ming , Ho Sai-Yin , Hedley Anthony J. , Lee Hin-Peng , Lam Tai-Hing
Published: April 2006

Objectives:

To compare the public's knowledge and perception of SARS and the extent to which various precautionary measures were adopted in Hong Kong and Singapore.

Design:

Cross-sectional telephone survey of 705 Hong Kong and 1,201 Singapore adults selected by random-digit dialing.

Results:

Hong Kong respondents had significantly higher anxiety than Singapore respondents (State Trait Anxiety Inventory [STAI] score, 2.06 vs 1.77; P < .001). The former group also reported more frequent headaches, difficulty breathing, dizziness, rhinorrhea, and sore throat. More than 90% in both cities were willing to be quarantined if they had close contact with a SARS case, and 70% or more would be compliant for social contacts. Most respondents (86.7% in Hong Kong vs 71.4% in Singapore; P < .001) knew that SARS could be transmitted via respiratory droplets, although fewer (75.8% in Hong Kong vs 62.1% in Singapore; P < .001) knew that fomites were also a possible transmission source. Twenty-three percent of Hong Kong and 11.9% of Singapore respondents believed that they were “very likely” or “somewhat likely” to contract SARS during the current outbreak (P < .001). There were large differences between Hong Kong and Singapore in the adoption of personal precautionary measures. Respondents with higher levels of anxiety, better knowledge about SARS, and greater risk perceptions were more likely to take comprehensive precautionary measures against the infection, as were older, female, and more educated individuals.

Conclusion:

Comparative psychobehavioral surveillance and analysis could yield important insights into generic versus population-specific issues that could be used to inform, design, and evaluate public health infection control policy measures.
Conjunctival Colonization of Infants Hospitalized in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit: A Longitudinal Analysis
Authors: Raskind Craig H. , Sabo Barbara E. , Callan Deborah A. , Farrel Patricia A. , Dembry Louise-Marie , Gallagher Patrick G.
Published: April 2006

Objectives:

To determine the frequency of conjunctival colonization, identify the colonizing flora, and correlate culture results with physical findings in infants in a NICU

Design:

Surveillance study.

Setting:

Level III NICU of a large university teaching hospital.

Patients:

All infants admitted for longer than 24 hours during a 26-week period.

Methods:

Weekly bacterial conjunctival cultures were performed for all infants. The conjunctival appearance at the time of culture was recorded. The frequency, identity, and correlation of culture results with physical findings were determined.

Results:

One thousand ninety-one cultures were performed for 319 infants: 133 (42%) had no positive cultures and 186 (58%) had at least one positive culture. Culture analysis revealed that 411 (38%) were positive and yielded 494 isolates comprising more than 18 bacterial species. Bacteria most commonly isolated included coagulase-negativeStaphylococcus(CoNS) (75%), viridans group streptococci (8.7%),Staphylococcus aureus(3.8%),Enterococcusspecies (2.6%), andSerratia marcescens(2.4%). The frequency of non-CoNS isolates increased significantly during the first 6 weeks of patient hospital stay (6% [1 to 3 weeks] to 12% [4 to 6 weeks];P= .01), with an increasing trend to 15 weeks (18%). Correlation of bacteriologic results with physical findings demonstrated that infants with non-CoNS isolates exhibited conjunctival edema, erythema, or exudates more frequently than did infants with CoNS alone (30% vs 13%;P= .0001).

Conclusions:

Conjunctival colonization was common among infants in a NICU. Prolonged hospitalization predisposes to colonization with potentially pathogenic organisms. Physical findings were more likely in patients with non-CoNS conjunctival isolates.
Estimate of the Annual Number of Percutaneous Injuries Among Hospital-Based Healthcare Workers in the United States, 1997–1998
Authors: Panlilio Adelisa L. , Orelien Jean G. , Srivastava Pamela U. , Jagger Janine , Cohn Richard D. , Cardo Denise M. ,   NaSH Surveillance Group,   the EPINet Data Sharing Network
Published: April 2006

Objective:

To construct a single estimate of the number of percutaneous injuries sustained annually by healthcare workers (HCWs) in the United States.

Design:

Statistical analysis.

Methods:

We combined data collected in 1997 and 1998 at 15 National Surveillance System for Health Care Workers (NaSH) hospitals and 45 Exposure Prevention Information Network (EPINet) hospitals. The combined data, taken as a sample of all U.S. hospitals, were adjusted for underreporting. The estimate of the number of percutaneous injuries nationwide was obtained by weighting the number of percutaneous injuries at each hospital by the number of admissions in all U.S. hospitals relative to the number of admissions at that hospital.

Results:

The estimated number of percutaneous injuries sustained annually by hospital-based HCWs was 384,325 (95% confidence interval, 311,091 to 463,922). The number of percutaneous injuries sustained by HCWs outside of the hospital setting was not estimated.

Conclusions:

Although our estimate is smaller than some previously published estimates of percutaneous injuries among HCWs, its magnitude remains a concern and emphasizes the urgent need to implement prevention strategies. In addition, improved surveillance could be used to monitor injury trends in all healthcare settings and evaluate the impact of prevention interventions.
In Vitro Assessment of Chlorhexidine Gluconate–Impregnated Polyurethane Foam Antimicrobial Dressing Using Zone of Inhibition Assays
Authors: Bhende Shubhangi , Spangler Daniel
Published: April 2006

Objective:

To evaluate an antimicrobial dressing consisting of hydrophilic polyurethane foam with chlorhexidine gluconate for activity against several antibiotic-resistant clinical isolates as well as American Type Culture Collection reference strains using zone of inhibition assays.

Methods:

Sterile foam samples with chlorhexidine gluconate and untreated controls were transferred onto inoculated agar plates. Plates were incubated at 35°C to 37° C for 24 hours and examined for zones of inhibition around the foam samples.

Results:

Polyurethane foam with chlorhexidine gluconate showed antimicrobial activity in vitro against all of the challenge organisms including antibiotic-resistant clinical isolates.

Conclusion:

The data from this in vitro study support the hypothesis that polyurethane foam with chlorhexidine gluconate has an antimicrobial effect against antibiotic-resistant Staphylococcus and Enterococcus species, as well as Candida species.
Inapparent Outbreaks of Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia An Ecologic Analysis of Prevention and Cohort Studies
Authors: Hurley James C.
Published: April 2006

Objective:

To compare ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) rates and patterns of isolates across studies of antibiotic and non-antibiotic methods for preventing VAP.

Design:

With the use of 42 cohort study groups as the reference standard, the prevalence of VAP was modeled in two linear regressions: one with the control groups and the other with the intervention groups of 96 VAP prevention studies. The proportion of patients admitted with trauma and the VAP diagnostic criteria were used as ecologic correlates. Also, the patterns of pathogenic isolates were available for 117 groups.

Results:

In the first regression model, the VAP rates for the control groups of antibiotic-based prevention studies were at least 18 (CI95, 12 to 24) per 100 patients higher than those in the cohort study groups (P< .001). By contrast, comparisons of cohort study groups with all other control and intervention groups in the first and second regression models yielded differences that were less than 6 per 100 and not significant (P> .05). For control groups with VAP rates greater than 35%, the patterns of VAP isolates, such as the proportion ofStaphylococcus aureus,more closely resembled those in the corresponding intervention groups than in the cohort groups.

Conclusions:

The rates of VAP in the control groups of the antibiotic prevention studies were significantly higher than expected and the patterns of pathogenic isolates were unusual. These observations suggest that inapparent outbreaks of VAP occurred in these studies. The possibility remains that antibiotic-based VAP prevention presents a major cross-infection hazard.
Endotoxin-Like Reactions With Intravenous Gentamicin Results From Pharmacovigilance Tools Under Investigation
Authors: Hauben Manfred , Reich Lester
Published: April 2006

Objective:

To apply two data mining algorithms (DMAs) to Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Adverse Event Reporting System (AERS) reports that involved endotoxin-like reactions with intravenous gentamicin to determine whether a signal of disproportionate reporting of these events would have been generated concurrently with surveillance based on clinical observation.

Design:

Multi-item gamma-Poisson shrinker (MGPS) and proportional reporting ratios (PRRs) were used. Data used for data mining consisted of an extract of the FDA AERS database. Previously published details of clusters of endotoxin-like reactions to intravenous gentamicin were used to select adverse events for data mining.

Results:

The first signal of disproportionate reporting with any relevant event occurred in 1998, the year in which the outbreak was identified and evaluated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the FDA. In 1997, there were only 6 reports of rigors in the AERS; this jumped to 68 in 1998. In 1998, a signal was generated for endotoxic shock with PRRs but not with MGPS, based on one case.

Conclusions:

The two DMAs generated signals concurrently with the influx of reports. It would have been difficult for safety reviewers to ignore an increase in rigors by traditional methods of safety surveillance; therefore, DMAs might not have had a great deal to offer in this instance. If data mining were considered as a second-line defense to diligent clinical observations under similar circumstances, simple disproportionality methods such as PRRs might be more useful than DMAs such as MGPS when commonly cited thresholds are used.
Eradication of Methicillin-ResistantStaphylococcus AureusFrom a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit by Active Surveillance and Aggressive Infection Control Measures
Authors: Khoury Jad , Jones Marilyn , Grim Autumn , Dunne Wm. Michael , Fraser Vicky
Published: April 2006

Objectives:

To describe an outbreak of hospital-acquired MRSA in a NICU and to identify the risk factors for, outcomes of, and interventions that eliminated it.

Setting:

An 18-bed, level III-IV NICU in a community hospital.

Methods:

Interventions to control MRSA included active surveillance, aggressive contact isolation, and cohorting and decolonization of infants and HCWs with MRSA. A case–control study was performed to compare infants with and without MRSA.

Results:

A cluster of 6 cases of MRSA infection between September and October 2001 represented an increased attack rate of 21.2% compared with 5.3% in the previous months. Active surveillance identified unsuspected MRSA colonization in 6 (21.4%) of 28 patients and 6 (5.5%) of 110 HCWs screened. They were all successfully decolonized. There was an increased risk of MRSA colonization and infection among infants with low birth weight or younger gestational age. Multiple gestation was associated with an increased risk of colonization (OR, 37.5; CI95, 3.9–363.1) and infection (OR, 5.36; CI95, 1.37–20.96). Gavage feeding (OR, 10.33; CI95, 1.28–83.37) and intubation (OR, 5.97; CI95, 1.22–29.31) were associated with increased risk of infection. Infants with MRSA infection had a significantly longer hospital stay than infants without MRSA (51.83 vs 21.46 days;P= .003). Rep-PCR withmectyping and PVL analysis confirmed the presence of a single common strain of hospital-acquired MRSA.

Conclusion:

Active surveillance, aggressive implementation of contact isolation, cohorting, and decolonization effectively eradicated MRSA from the NICU for 2½ years following the outbreak. (Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2005;26:616-621)
Spatial and Temporal Analysis ofClostridium difficileInfection in Patients at a Pediatric Hospital in California
Authors: Rexach Carmen E. , Tang-Feldman Yajarayma J. , Cohen Stuart H.
Published: April 2006

Objective:

To examine the usefulness of temporal and spatial analysis in identifying nosocomial transmission ofClostridium difficileamong pediatric patients hospitalized on four wards at The Children's Hospital of Central California from September 8,1998, to January 16,1999.

Design:

Stool specimens obtained from the clinical microbiology laboratory during the study period were tested by culture and latex agglutination forC. difficile.Polymerase chain reaction was used to identify toxin genes. Isolates obtained were mapped to a grid for each ward and were analyzed using the Knox test. Results were compared with DNA fingerprints generated by arbitrarily primed polymerase chain reaction.

Results:

Total occupancy of these 4 wards was 438 during the study period. Stool specimens were available for 256 (58%) of these patients, yielding 67C. difficileisolates and generating 2,211 case pairs for analysis by the Knox test. After stratification by toxin status, 5 clustered pairs of toxigenic isolates were identified on 1 of the wards by this method. Fingerprint analysis identified 4 clusters with indistinguishable banding patterns on 2 of the 4 wards. Two of the identified clusters were toxigenic and 2 were nontoxigenic. None of these clusters corresponded to clusters identified by the Knox test.

Conclusions:

The Knox test is an ineffective method for identifying cases resulting from nosocomial transmission ofC. difficilein a pediatric setting due to the persistence ofC. difficilespores and the unique environment of a pediatric hospital. Molecular analysis remains the most effective method.
A Cluster of Hepatitis C Virus Infections Associated With Ozone-Enriched Transfusion of Autologous Blood in Rome, Italy
Authors: Faustini Annunziata , Capobianchi Maria R. , Martinelli Mauro , Abbate Isabella , Cappiello Giuseppina , Perucci Carlo A
Published: April 2006

Objective:

To describe an outbreak of hepatitis C virus (HCV).

Design:

Retrospective cohort study.

Setting:

Outpatient department of a hospital in Rome, Italy.

Patients:

All 42 patients exposed to ozone therapy by autohemotherapy or intramuscular injection from January to June 2001.

Methods:

Epidemiologic investigation, serologic analysis, and virus genotyping.

Results:

Thirty-one (74%) of the patients agreed to participate in the study. Three (9.7%) had symptoms of HCV infection. This incidence rate was higher than the rate of 1.4 per 100,000 per year in the regional population. Six patients were positive for HCV antibodies and HCV RNA for a prevalence rate of 19.4%, which was much higher than the estimate of 0.9% in the population. Virus genotype lb was found in two case-patients (one symptomatic) and 2c in four case-patients (two symptomatic), one of whom was known to have an HCV infection since 1986 and could have been the source of infection. The infected patients were all being exposed to ozone-enriched transfusions of autologous blood. Although the specific mode of transmission between patients was not detected, transmission probably occurred during one of the three busiest therapeutic sessions in the 6-month period.

Conclusions:

Transmission of HCV infection may occur during medical procedures with limited bleeding. Standard precautions must be applied in any healthcare setting; restricting the number of individuals treated during each therapeutic session could be an effective way of avoiding accidental transmission of infection.
StrAl: progressive alignment of non-coding RNA using base pairing probability vectors in quadratic time
Authors: Dalli Deniz , Wilm Andreas , Mainz Indra , Steger Gerhard
Published: April 2006

Motivation: Alignment of RNA has a wide range of applications, for example in phylogeny inference, consensus structure prediction and homology searches. Yet aligning structural or non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) correctly is notoriously difficult as these RNA sequences may evolve by compensatory mutations, which maintain base pairing but destroy sequence homology. Ideally, alignment programs would take RNA structure into account. The Sankoff algorithm for the simultaneous solution of RNA structure prediction and RNA sequence alignment was proposed 20 years ago but suffers from its exponential complexity. A number of programs implement lightweight versions of the Sankoff algorithm by restricting its application to a limited type of structure and/or only pairwise alignment. Thus, despite recent advances, the proper alignment of multiple structural RNA sequences remains a problem.

Results: Here we present StrAl, a heuristic method for alignment of ncRNA that reduces sequence–structure alignment to a two-dimensional problem similar to standard multiple sequence alignment. The scoring function takes into account sequence similarity as well as up- and downstream pairing probability. To test the robustness of the algorithm and the performance of the program, we scored alignments produced by StrAl against a large set of published reference alignments. The quality of alignments predicted by StrAl is far better than that obtained by standard sequence alignment programs, especially when sequence homologies drop below ∼65%; nevertheless StrAl’s runtime is comparable to that of ClustalW.

Availability: StrAl is implemented in C. Source code (under GNU public license) as well as a precompiled Debian package can be downloaded at

Contact:  stral@biophys.uni-duesseldorf.de

Supplementary information: Supplementary data available at Bioinformatics online.
Contributions of principal neocortical neurons to magnetoencephalography and electroencephalography signals
Authors: Murakami Shingo , Okada Yoshio
Published: April 2006

A realistically shaped three‐dimensional single‐neuron model was constructed for each of four principal cell types in the neocortex in order to infer their contributions to magnetoencephalography (MEG) and electroencephalography (EEG) signals. For each cell, the soma was stimulated and the resulting intracellular current was used to compute the current dipole Q for the whole cell or separately for the apical and basal dendrites. The magnitude of Q is proportional to the magnetic field and electrical potential far from the neuron. A train of spikes and depolarization shift in an intracellular burst discharge were seen as spikes and an envelope in Q for the layer V and layer II/III pyramidal cells. The stellate cells lacked the envelope. As expected, the pyramidal cells produced a stronger Q than the stellate cells. The spikes produced by the layer V pyramidal cells (n= 4) varied between −0.78 and 2.97 pA m with the majority of the cells showing a current toward the pia (defined as positive). The basal dendrites, however, produced considerable spike currents. The magnitude and direction of dipole moment are in agreement with the distribution of the dendrites. The spikes in Q for the layer V pyramidal cells were produced by the transient sodium conductance and potassium conductance of delayed rectifier type; the conductances distributed along the dendrites were capable of generating spike propagation, which was seen in Q as the tail of a triphasic wave lasting several milliseconds. The envelope was similar in magnitude (−0.41 to −0.90 pA m) across the four layer V pyramidal cells. The spike and envelope for the layer II/III pyramidal cell were 0.47 and −0.29 pA m, respectively; these values agreed well with empirical and theoretical estimates for guinea pig CA3 pyramidal cells. Spikes were stronger for the layer IV spiny stellate (0.27 pA m) than the layer III aspiny stellate cell (0.06 pA m) along their best orientations. The spikes may thus be stronger than has been previously thought. The Q for a population of stellate cells may be weaker than a linear sum of their individual Q values due to their variable dendritic geometry. The burst discharge by pyramidal cells may be detectable with MEG and EEG when 10 000–50 000 cells are synchronously active.
CANCELLATION LAW AND UNIQUE FACTORIZATION THEOREM FOR STRING OPERATIONS
Authors: TONIEN DONGVU
Published: April 2006

Recently, Hoit introduced arithmetic on blocks, which extends the binary string operation by Jacobs and Keane. A string of elements from the Abelian additive group of residues modulo m, (Zm, ⊕), is called an m-block. The set of m-blocks together with Hoit's new product operation form an interesting algebraic structure where associative law and cancellation law hold. A weaker form of unique factorization and criteria for two indecomposable blocks to commute are also proved.

In this paper, we extend Hoit's results by replacing the Abelian group (Zm, ⊕) by an arbitrary monoid (A, ◦). The set of strings built up from the alphabet A is denoted by String(A). We extend the operation ◦ on the alphabet set A to the string set String(A). We show that (String(A), ◦) is a monoid if and only if (A, ◦) is a monoid. When (A, ◦) is a group, we prove that stronger versions of a cancellation law and unique factorization hold for (String(A), ◦). A general criterion for two irreducible strings to commute is also presented.
Cloning and functional characterization of a second urea transporter from the kidney of the Atlantic stingray,Dasyatis sabina
Authors: Janech Michael G. , Fitzgibbon Wayne R. , Nowak Mark W. , Miller Donald H. , Paul Richard V. , Ploth David W.
Published: April 2006

The cloning of cDNAs encoding facilitated urea transporters (UTs) from the kidneys of the elasmobranchs indicates that in these fish renal urea reabsorption occurs, at least in part, by passive processes. The previously described elasmobranch urea transporter clones from shark (shUT) and stingray (strUT-1) differ from each other primarily because of the COOH-terminus of the predicted strUT-1 translation product being extended by 51-amino acid residues compared with shUT. Previously, we noted multiple UT transcripts were present in stingray kidney. We hypothesized that a COOH terminally abbreviated UT isoform, homologous to shUT, would also be present in stingray kidney. Therefore, we used 5′/3′ rapid amplification of cDNA ends to identify a 3′UTR-variant (strUT-1a) of the cDNA that encodes (strUT-1), as well as three, 3′UTR-variant cDNAs (strUT-2a,b,c) that encode a second phloretin-sensitive, urea transporter (strUT-2). The 5′UTR and the first 1,132 nucleotides of the predicted coding region of the strUT-2 cDNAs are identical to the strUT-1 cDNAs. The remainder of the coding region contains only five novel nucleotides. The strUT-2 cDNAs putatively encode a 379-amino acid protein, the first 377 amino acids identical to strUT-1 plus 2 additional amino acids. We conclude that 1) a second UT isoform is expressed in the Atlantic stingray and that this isoform is similar in size to the UT previously cloned from the kidney of the dogfish shark, and 2) at least five transcripts encoding the 2 stingray UTs are derived from a single gene product through alternative splicing and polyadenylation.
Transformation of Late Passage Insulin-Like Growth Factor-I Receptor Null Mouse Embryo Fibroblasts by SV40 T Antigen
Authors: Spence Susan L. , Shaffer Arthur L. , Staudt Louis M. , Amde Sewit , Manney Sutana , Terry Cheryl , Weisz Keith , Nissley Peter
Published: April 2006

There is evidence that the insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) receptor is required for transformation by a variety of viral and cellular oncogenes in a mouse embryo fibroblast model. To further investigate the IGF-I receptor signaling pathways that are required for the permissive effect of the receptor on transformation by SV40 T antigen, we established three independent fibroblast cell lines each from wild-type and IGF-I receptor null embryos (R−). We transfected the wild-type and R− cell lines with an SV40 T antigen plasmid and selected three clones from each cell line that expressed T antigen. As in previous reports, none of the cloned R− cell lines expressing T antigen were transformed as measured by the ability to form large colonies in soft agar. However, with further passage, all three T antigen–expressing clones from one of the R− cell lines (R−3) formed large colonies in soft agar and the transformation of these T antigen–expressing clones was confirmed by tumorigenesis experiments in immunodeficient mice. DNA microarray analysis comparing gene expression between early passage and late passage R−3/T antigen clones showed, among other changes, an increase in the expression of ErbB-3 mRNA in the late passage clones. Also, the expression of ErbB-3 protein was dramatically increased in the late passage R−3/T antigen clones. We conclude that late passage IGF-I receptor null mouse embryo fibroblasts can be transformed by SV40 T antigen, and that ErbB-3 may play a role in permitting transformation by T antigen. (Cancer Res 2006; 66(8): 4233-9)
Methylation of theIL-12Rβ2Gene as Novel Tumor Escape Mechanism for Pediatric B-Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Cells
Authors: Airoldi Irma , Cocco Claudia , Di Carlo Emma , Disarò Silvia , Ognio Emanuela , Basso Giuseppe , Pistoia Vito
Published: April 2006

Previous studies have shown that the interleukin-12 receptor β2 (IL-12Rβ2) gene is expressed in normal naive, germinal center and memory B cells but not in their malignant counterparts. The aim of this study was to investigate (i) whether the IL-12Rβ2 gene is silenced in B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) cells, and (ii) what the functional implications of such silencing for tumor growth are. Here, we show that although mature B cells expressed both chains of the IL-12R, normal pro-B and pre-B cells failed to express the IL-12Rβ2 chain. Similarly, primary tumor cells from pediatric pro-B, early pre-B, and pre-B ALL (30 cases) did not express the IL-12Rβ2 chain. IL-12Rβ2 gene silencing in B-ALL was found to depend on methylation of a CpG island in exon 1. Such methylation was not detected in normal early B cells that when differentiated into mature B cells expressed the IL-12Rβ2 gene. Detection of IL-12Rβ2 mRNA and protein in the tumorigenic 697 pre-B-ALL cell line allowed to perform functional experiments in severe combined immunodeficient/nonobese diabetic mice receiving 697 cells with or without human recombinant IL-12 (hrIL-12). hrIL-12 administration reduced tumor growth and metastasis through antiproliferative and proapoptotic rather than antiangiogenic, activities.

In conclusion, epigenetic silencing of the IL-12Rβ2 gene represents a novel mechanism of tumor escape for B-ALL cells. (Cancer Res 2006; 66(8): 3978-80)
Bone Morphogenetic Protein 7 Protects Prostate Cancer Cells from Stress-Induced Apoptosis via Both Smad and c-Jun NH2-Terminal Kinase Pathways
Authors: Yang Shangxin , Lim Minyoung , Pham Linda K. , Kendall Stephen E. , Reddi A. Hari , Altieri Dario C. , Roy-Burman Pradip
Published: April 2006

We reported earlier that exposure to exogenous bone morphogenetic protein 7 (BMP7) could strongly inhibit serum starvation–induced apoptosis to C4-2B cell line, a variant of the LNCaP human prostate cancer cell line with propensity for bone metastasis. Whereas serum starvation suppressed the expression of survivin, a member of the inhibitor of apoptosis protein family, its expression was sustained in the presence of BMP7. In this study, we present evidence that BMP7 exposure up-regulated survivin promoter activity, an effect that was associated with activation of Smad, and could be repressed by dominant-negative Smad5. Additionally, serum starvation–induced suppression of c-jun NH2-terminal kinase (JNK) activity in C4-2B cells could be mostly restored by BMP7, and a JNK inhibitor could counteract the antiapoptotic effect of BMP7, without a significant effect on the level of survivin expression. Thus, we identified JNK pathway as another signaling mode for the antiapoptotic function of BMP7. To test the effect of endogenous up-regulation of BMP7, we genetically modulated the C4-2B cell line to overexpress BMP7 protein. Not only was this altered cell line resistant to serum starvation–induced apoptosis but it also exhibited patterns of Smad activation, survivin up-regulation, and JNK activation similar to those of the parental C4-2B cells exposed to exogenous BMP7. Consistent with these in vitro findings of BMP7 action, we acquired correlative results of Smad activation, survivin expression, and JNK activation in the progression of prostate cancer in the conditional Pten deletion mouse model, in which we first obtained the evidence of BMP7 overexpression. (Cancer Res 2006; 66(8): 4285-90)
Chiral Recognition of α-Amino Acid Derivatives by a Steroidal Crown Ether at the Air-Water Interface
Authors: Kawabata Hirosuke , Shinkai Seiji
Published: April 2006

4′-(Cholesteryloxycarbonyl)benzo-18-crown-6 forms a stable monolayer at the air-water interface and the π-A isotherms respond to α-amino acid derivatives in an asymmetric manner. This is a novel amino acid sensing system using a monolayer assembly.
Methyl Methacrylate Homopolymerization and Copolymerization with Styrene by Rare Earth Catalyst in Ionic Liquids
Authors: Xiong Yubing , Ni Xufeng , Fan Lin , Shen Zhiquan
Published: April 2006

Methyl methacrylate homopolymerization and copolymerization with styrene catalyzed by rare earth coordination catalysts were carried out in ionic liquids for the first time. It was found that the polymerization rate of MMA and molecular weight of PMMA were higher in ionic liquids than in toluene or in bulk under the same conditions. Both random and block copolymers of MMA with St could be prepared in ionic liquids. The copolymers were characterized by GPC, NMR, and IR measurements. Ionic liquids can be recycled and reused.
Influence of a Single Amide Group on the Redox Function of Pseudomonas aeruginosa Cytochrome c551
Authors: Takahashi Yo-ta , Takayama Shin-ichi J , Mikami Shin-ichi , Mita Hajime , Sambongi Yoshihiro , Yamamoto Yasuhiko
Published: April 2006

The influence of a single amide group located in the heme active site of Pseudomonas aeruginosa cytochrome c551 on its redox potential (E°′) has been characterized through amino acid substitution of Asn64 with Gln or Ala. The E°′ variation of ca. 60 mV among the proteins is attributed mainly to the alteration of the thermodynamic stability of the oxidized protein by the dipole and hydrogen-bonding ability of the amide group.
Monomeric Dispersion of Covalently Attached Pyrene Chromophores in Silylated Graphite Oxide
Authors: Matsuo Yoshiaki , Fukutsuka Tomokazu , Sugie Yosohiro
Published: April 2006

Pyrenecarboxaldehyde was covalently attached to the layer of silylated graphite oxide. Pyrene chromophore was almost monomerically dispersed in the resulting material with lower pyrene contents, because the aggregation of them was prevented by alkyl chains of silylated graphite oxide.
The University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management Uses Management Science to Create MBA Study Groups
Authors: Krass Dmitry , Ovchinnikov Anton
Published: April 2006

Business schools look for ways to teach MBA graduates effective group work skills, generally through group-based assignments and projects. However, if not monitored carefully, group work can undermine the learning process; group composition is important. The Rotman School has developed a multiple-well-balanced-study-groups strategy to ensure that students are assigned to several balanced and nonoverlapping groups, which are used in different courses. We formulated the group-creation problem as a mathematical optimization model and implemented it in a user-friendly software package that Rotman MBA office administrators use to create student groups. Switching to computer-generated groups produced better balanced groups, saved much manual effort, and increased levels of satisfaction among students, faculty, and the MBA office personnel.
Practice Abstracts
Authors: Denton Brian T.
Published: April 2006

The goal of “Practice Abstracts” is to present interesting, topical, and novel applications of operations research methodology to a wide range of industrial applications. “Practice Abstracts” are intended to provide Interfaces readers with short (2–4 page) descriptions of the most relevant aspects of operations research-based projects, in a form that is accessible to academics and practitioners in other organizations. Contributions should be sent for evaluation to the editor of “Practice Abstracts,” Brian T. Denton, Division of Health Care Policy and Research, Pavilion 3, Mayo Clinic, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, Minnesota 55905, denton.brian@mayo.edu.
The First Eco-Disaster Film?
Authors: MURRAY ROBIN L. , HEUMANN JOSEPH K.
Published: April 2006

ABSTRACT When Bertrand Tavernier claims that the Lumière Brothers' “Oil Wells of Baku: Close View” “may be the first ecological film ever made,” he seems to be reading the spectacular footage of burning oil wells from an eco-critical perspective. This article examines oil well fire films from 1896 to the present, asking how and why environmental disaster becomes spectacle.
Effects of 42 months of GH treatment on bone mineral density and bone turnover in GH-deficient adults
Authors: Valimaki MJ , Salmela PI , Salmi J , Viikari J , Kataja M , Turunen H , Soppi E
Published: April 2006

OBJECTIVE: To study the effects of GH treatment for up to 42 months on bone mineral density (BMD) and bone turnover. DESIGN AND METHODS: BMD with dual energy X-ray absorptiometry, serum type I procollagen carboxy-terminal propeptide (PICP), serum type I collagen carboxy-terminal telopeptide (ICTP) and serum IGF-I were assessed in 71 adults with GH deficiency. There were 44 men and 27 women, aged 20 to 59 (median 43) years. Thirty-two patients completed 36 months and 20 patients 42 months of treatment. RESULTS: The BMD increased for up to 30-36 months and plateaued thereafter. In the whole study group, the maximum increase of BMD was 5.0% in the lumbar spine (P<0. 001), 5.9% (P<0.01) in the femoral neck, 4.9% (NS, P>0.05) in the Ward's triangle and 8.2% (P<0.001) in the trochanter area. The serum concentrations of PICP (202.6+/-11.5 vs 116.3+/-5.4 microg/l; mean+/-s.e.m.) and ICTP (10.5+/-0.6 vs 4.4+/-0.3 microg/l) doubled (P<0.001) during the first 6 months of GH treatment but returned to baseline by the end of the study (130.0+/-10.4 and 5.6+/-0.7 microg/l respectively), despite constantly elevated serum IGF-I levels (39. 6+/-4.1 nmol/l at 42 months vs 11.9+/-0.9 nmol/l at baseline; P<0.001). The responses to GH treatment of serum IGF-I, PICP, ICTP (P<0.001 for all; ANOVA) and of the BMD in the lumbar spine (P<0.05), in the femoral neck and the trochanter (P<0.001 for both) were more marked in men than in women. At the end of the study the BMD had increased at the four measurement sites by 5.7-10.6% (P<0.01-0.001) in patients with at least osteopenia at baseline and by 0.1-5.3% (NS P<0.05) in those with normal bone status (P<0.001 for differences between groups; ANOVA). Among patients who completed 36-42 months of treatment, the number of those with at least osteopenia was reduced to more than a half. The response of BMD to GH treatment was more marked in young than in old patients at three measurement sites (P<0. 05-<0.001; ANOVA). In the multiple regression analysis the gender and the pretreatment bone mass appeared to be independent predictors of three measurement sites, whereas the age independently determined only the vertebral BMD. CONCLUSIONS: GH treatment in GH-deficient adults increased BMD for up to 30-36 months, with a plateau thereafter. Concurrently with the plateau in BMD the bone turnover rate normalized. From the skeletal point of view GH-deficient patients exhibiting osteopenia or osteoporosis should be considered as candidates for GH supplementation of at least 3-4 years.
Influence of the cerebrospinal fluid laboratory parameters in the ELISA test for neurocysticercosis using a total cysticerci antigen
Authors: Casanova Cristiane S. , Ribeiro Maria José S.P. , Gonçalves Reizer R. , Faria Luiz Cláudio , Peralta José Mauro , Puccioni-Sohler Marzia
Published: April 2006

To evaluate if the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) parameters may influence the cysticercosis immunoreactivity response in the CSF. CSF samples of 109 patients were analyzed and classified in three groups, according to the neurological manifestations and the reactivity in antibody-enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (Ab-ELISA) testing in CSF for neurocysticercosis (NC): group A, 18 patients with neurological disorders compatible with NC and reactive Ab-ELISA in CSF for NC; group B, 50 patients with neurological disorders non-compatible with NC and reactive Ab-ELISA for NC; group C, 41 patients with neurological disorders non-compatible with NC and non-reactive Ab-ELISA in CSF for NC. The CSF analysis in group A was compatible with NC. The group B in comparison to the groups A and C presents higher frequency and intensity of hypercytosis, presence of red blood cells in CSF, protein concentration and immunological reactive test for other etiological agents (p<0.05). Based on the present data, we suggest that the inflammatory process and high protein concentration may determine false positive reactions in the Ab-ELISA test for NC in the CSF.
Aspectos morfométricos do nervo hipoglosso humano em adultos e idosos
Authors: Tiago Romualdo Suzano Louzeiro , Faria Flávio Paulo de , Pontes Paulo Augusto de Lima , Camponês do Brasil Osíris de Oliveira
Published: April 2006

OBJETIVO: Realizar análise morfométrica das fibras mielínicas do nervo hipoglosso direito, em dois grupos etários, com a finalidade de verificar modificações quantitativas decorrentes do processo de envelhecimento. FORMA DE ESTUDO: anatômico. MATERIAL E MÉTODO: Foi coletado fragmento de 1cm do nervo hipoglosso direito de 12 cadáveres do sexo masculino, sem antecedentes para doenças como diabetes, alcoolismo e neoplasia maligna. A amostra foi dividida em dois grupos: grupo adulto (idade inferior a 60 anos), composto por seis cadáveres; grupo idoso (idade igual ou superior a 60 anos), composto por seis cadáveres. O material foi fixado em solução contendo 2,5% de glutaraldeído e 2% de paraformaldeído; pós-fixado em tetróxido de ósmio 2%; desidratado em concentrações crescentes de etanol e incluído em resina epóxi. Cortes semifinos de 0,3¼m de espessura foram obtidos, corados com azul de toluidina a 1% e avaliados em microscópio de luz acoplado a sistema analisador de imagens. Os seguintes dados morfométricos foram quantificados: área de secção transversal intraperineural, número e o diâmetro das fibras mielínicas. RESULTADOS: A área intraperineural do nervo hipoglosso foi semelhante nos dois grupos etários (p=0,8691). A média da área no grupo adulto foi de 1,697 mm2, e no grupo idoso foi de 1,649 mm2. O número total de fibras mielínicas do nervo hipoglosso foi semelhante nos dois grupos etários (p=0,9018). O grupo adulto apresentou média de 10.286 ± 2308 fibras mielínicas e o grupo idoso apresentou média de 10.141 ± 1590 fibras mielínicas. Foi observada distribuição bimodal das fibras mielínicas, com pico acentuado nas fibras de 9¼m e outro menor nas fibras de 2¼m. CONCLUSÃO: A área intraperineural e o número total de fibras mielínicas do nervo hipoglosso direito é semelhante nos dois grupos etários.