bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Santa Cruz Eddy. Part II: Mechanisms of Formation
Authors: Archer Cristina L. , Jacobson Mark Z.
Published: August 2005

The formation mechanism of the Santa Cruz eddy (SCE) is investigated using the fifth-generation Pennsylvania State University–National Center for Atmospheric Research Mesoscale Model (MM5). Simulations of 25–26 August 2000 showed that two eddy instances formed on that night, a finding supported by observations. The two eddies had similar behavior: they both formed in the sheltered Santa Cruz, California, area and then moved southeastward, to finally dissipate after 7–11 h. However, the first eddy had greater vorticity, wind speed, horizontal and vertical extents, and lifetime than the second eddy. Numerical simulations showed that the SCEs are formed by the interaction of the main northwesterly flow with the topographic barrier represented by the Santa Cruz Mountains to the north of Monterey Bay. Additional numerical experiments were undertaken with no diurnal heating cycle, no (molecular or eddy) viscosity, and no horizontal thermal gradients at ground level. In all cases, vertical vorticity was still created by the tilting of horizontal vorticity generated by the solenoidal term in the vorticity equation. This baroclinic process appeared to be the fundamental formation mechanism for both SCEs, but more favorable conditions in the late afternoon (including a south-to-north pressure gradient, flow turning due to the sea breeze, and an expansion fan) coincided to intensify the first eddy.
Applicability of Large-Scale Convection and Condensation Parameterization to Meso-γ-Scale HIRLAM: A Case Study of a Convective Event
Authors: Niemelä Sami , Fortelius Carl
Published: August 2005

This paper presents a case study of a single cold air outbreak event with widespread convective precipitation over southern Finland on 25 May 2001. The purpose of the study is to investigate the applicability of the convection and condensation scheme of the High-Resolution Limited Area Model (HIRLAM) on meso-γ-scales. The study concentrates on the issue of grid-size-dependent convection parameterization. An explicit approach without the convection scheme is also examined. At the same time, the performance of an experimental nonhydrostatic version of HIRLAM is evaluated. Model simulations are conducted with three different horizontal grid spacings: 11, 5.6, and 2.8 km. Model results are compared to observed radar reflectivity data utilizing a radar simulation model, which calculates radar reflectivities from three-dimensional model output.

The best results are obtained using nonhydrostatic dynamics and a grid-size-dependent convection scheme with a 5.6-km grid interval. However, even the best configuration still overestimates the area of strong reflectivity (intense precipitation). All the other combinations produce even stronger reflectivity. The grid-size-dependent convection parameterization is evidently beneficial at smaller grid spacings than 5.6 km. The nonhydrostatic model clearly outperforms its hydrostatic counterpart at the 5.6- and 2.8-km grid spacings, whereas with an 11-km grid interval, both models perform equally well.
Analysis of Discrete Shallow-Water Models on Geodesic Delaunay Grids with C-Type Staggering
Authors: Bonaventura Luca , Ringler Todd
Published: August 2005

The properties of C-grid staggered spatial discretizations of the shallow-water equations on regular Delaunay triangulations on the sphere are analyzed. Mass-conserving schemes that also conserve either energy or potential enstrophy are derived, and their features are analogous to those of the C-grid staggered schemes on quadrilateral grids. Results of numerical tests carried out with explicit and semi-implicit time discretizations show that the potential-enstrophy-conserving scheme is able to reproduce correctly the main features of large-scale atmospheric motion and that power spectra for energy and potential enstrophy obtained in long model integrations display a qualitative behavior similar to that predicted by the decaying turbulence theory for the continuous system.
Boris Anrep
Authors: Kaznina Ol'Ga
Published: August 2005

British awareness of Russia and of its cultural heritage was greatly increased in the last decades of the nineteenth century and the first decades of the next. Many of the leading lights in English literary and artistic circles register in their correspondence and diaries and, indeed, at times also in their creative work their encounters with Russian culture and with many of its contemporary exponents who visited England during these years. This article is devoted to the impact made by the artist Boris Anrep, famed above all for his mosaics in the National Gallery. The first part of the study charts Anrep’s biography in some detail and the impact he made on the Bloomsbury and Garsington sets in particular. The second part examines the relationship between Anrep and the great Russian poet Anna Akhmatova and the corpus of poems inspired by Anrep. In the extensive final section, the real-life encounters between Anrep and Aldous Huxley at Garsington form a prelude to a detailed analysis of Huxley’s first novel Crome Yellow, in which Anrep provided the prototype for the painter Gombauld.
Exclusive Versus Predominant Breastfeeding in Italian Maternity Wards and Feeding Practices Through the First Year of Life
Authors: Giovannini Marcello , Riva Enrica , Banderali Giuseppe , Salvioni Michela , Radaelli Giovanni , Agostoni Carlo
Published: August 2005

Determinants of exclusive versus predominant breastfeeding in the maternity ward and the relationship with later feeding practices were investigated in 1656 mothers who breastfed exclusively or predominantly in the maternity ward. Mothers were interviewed through 12 months postdelivery about feeding practices. Information about the World Heath Organization’s (WHO’s) 10 steps was collected. At hospital stay, breastfeeding was predominant in 43% of infants. Cesarean section (odds ratio [OR] = 1.75), mother’s overweight (OR = 1.74), and non-compliance with the WHO’s steps 6 (OR = 1.58), 7 (OR = 1.43), and 8 (OR = 1.76) were determinants of predominant, as opposed to exclusive, breastfeeding. Mothers exclusively, rather than predominantly, breastfeeding in the hospital showed a longer duration of full breastfeeding (mean = 3.6 vs 3.1 months), later introduction of formula (3.8 vs 3.3 months), and lower rate of introduction of formula within 1 month (23% vs 30%). Hospitals need to be compliant with the WHO’s steps, and Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiatives should be promoted.
Healing in the Atonement: A Johannine Perspective
Authors: Thomas John
Published: August 2005

This study advances a fresh approach to the doctrine that physical healing is provided in the atonement of Jesus—a belief common among Pentecostals around the world, but often supported by a small number of proof-texts (esp. Mt. 8.16-17 and 2 Pet. 2.24). Specifically, the study explores the ways in which the Fourth Gospel affirms the connection between healing and salvation and suggests additional ways to reflect upon this issue, thereby making a small contribution to the revisioning of this doctrine. This study includes the following components. First, it offers a reading of the accounts of healing found within the Fourth Gospel in order to ascertain the level of explicit connection between healing and salvation within these stories. Second, it explores the significance of the narrative location of the signs of healing and their relationship to explicit textual referents to Jesus’ exaltation upon the cross. Third, it offers a couple of observations on other portions of the Fourth Gospel that might be of some relevance to this topic. Fourth, it explores this topic further by listening to readings (‘testimonies’) from early Pentecostalism that see some connection between healing in the atonement and the Fourth Gospel. Finally, this study attempts to make explicit the modest implications of this discussion for a Pentecostal theology of healing in the atonement.
Challenges to Complementary and Alternative Medical Research: Focal Issues Influencing Integration Into a Cancer Care Model
Authors: Giordano James , Engebretson Joan , Garcia Mary K.
Published: August 2005

Complementary and alternative therapies are increasingly used by cancer patients for palliative and postcancer preventive and/or wellness care. It is critical that evidence-based models be employed to both provide information for patients' use and informed consent and for physicians to advise patients and assess relative risk:benefit ratios of using specific complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) approaches within the cancer care paradigm. Research models for biomedicine have been somewhat limited when applied to broader, more holistic conceptualizations of health common to many forms of CAM. Thus, while numerous challenges to studying CAM exist, a fundamental question is not just whatCAMpractices should be studied but howCAM should be studied. The authors propose a model that emphasizes methodologic rigor yet approaches CAM research according to relative levels of evidence, meaning, and context, ranging from experimental, quantitative studies of mechanism to qualitative, observational studies of noetic/ salutogenic variables. Responsibility for training researchers prepared to meet such challenges rests on bothCAMand mainstream academic institutions, and care must be taken to avoid philosophical and practical pitfalls that might befall a myopic perspective of integration.
Enhanced TNF-α–induced apoptosis in Fanconi anemia type C–deficient cells is dependent on apoptosis signal-regulating kinase 1
Authors: Bijangi-Vishehsaraei Khadijeh , Saadatzadeh M. Reza , Werne Adam , McKenzie Kristina A. Wilson , Kapur Reuben , Ichijo Hidenori , Haneline Laura S.
Published: August 2005

Fanconi anemia (FA) is a chromosomal instability disorder characterized by progressive bone marrow failure. Experimental evidence suggests that enhanced oxidant and myelosuppressive cytokine-mediated apoptosis of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells contributes to the pathogenesis of marrow failure in FA. However, the molecular mechanisms responsible for the apoptotic phenotype in hematopoietic cells are incompletely understood. Recent data in Fancc-/- murine embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) implicate increased oxidant-induced apoptotic signaling through the redox-dependent protein, apoptosis signal-regulating kinase 1 (Ask1). Here, we examined whether altered Ask1 signaling participated in the proapoptotic phenotype of primary Fancc-/- MEFs and hematopoietic progenitors treated with the myelosuppressive cytokine tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α). Our data indicate that TNF-α induces hyperactivation of Ask1 and the downstream effector p38 in Fancc-/- MEFs. In addition,Ask1 inactivation in Fancc-/- MEFs and hematopoietic progenitors restored survival to wild-type (WT) levels in the presence of TNF-α. Furthermore, targeting the Ask1 pathway by using either antioxidants or a p38 inhibitor protected Fancc-/- MEFs and c-kit+ cells from TNF-α-induced apoptosis. Collectively, these data argue that the predisposition of Fancc-/- hematopoietic progenitors to apoptosis is mediated in part through altered redox regulation and Ask1 hyperactivation.
Vegetation responses to the 8200 cal. BP cold event and to long-term climatic changes in the Eastern Alps: possible influence of solar activity and North Atlantic freshwater pulses
Authors: Kofler Werner , Krapf Veronika , Oberhuber Walter , Bortenschlager Sigmar
Published: August 2005

Subfossil pollen from two bogs in temperature-sensitive, high-altitude regions were analysed in order to reconstruct early-to mid-Holocene summer temperature fluctuations in the Eastern Alps. The pollen records showed four centennial-scale cooling intervals with low growing-season temperatures, resulting in decreasing pollen production and/or lower treeline position during the period 9000-6000 cal. BP. For the first time, the 8200 cal. BP cold event and an equivalent to the Misox cold phase in the Swiss Alps were detected in the Eastern Alps. The oscillations recorded in the pollen curves for Swiss stone pine (Pinus cembra) and sedges (Cyperaceae) at c. 8200 cal. BP match, in time and magnitude, the δ18O excursion in the Greenland GRIP ice-core record as well as sea-surface cooling in the North Atlantic. The close congruence between the pollen records covering 3000 years and climate proxy-data from both Hemispheres indicates that large-scale environmental changes, possibly caused by North Atlantic freshwater pulses and/or fluctuations in solar activity, caused decreases in pollen production and/or treeline shifts in the Alps. Although the 8200 cal. BP climatic deterioration was of a global character, its impact on biological productivity of temperature-sensitive sites at high altitude has only rarely been demonstrated. The data indicate that pollen analyses near and above the timberline within high-altitude, herb-dominated plant communities are of considerable and yet largely unexplored potential to detect abrupt short-term as well as long-term climatic variations.
Holocene palaeoenvironmental reconstruction in norteastern Brazi inferred from polen,, charcoal and carboon isotope records
Authors: Pessenda L. C.R. , Ledru M. P. , Gouveia, S. E.MN. , Aravena R. , Ribeiro A. S. , Bendashsollil J. A. , Boulet R.
Published: August 2005

Soils in the Barreirinhas region, Maranhao State, were sampled for 613 C analysis and buried charcoal fragments in the soils were radiocarbon dated. Three soil profiles collected in forested areas around the Lagoa do Caqö and one in a woody savanna (mixture of non-arboreal and arboreal species) located approximately 10 km southeast of the Lagoa were studied. A high-resolution pollen record was obtained from lake sediments, showing that forest vegetation was predominant in the area in the early Holocene. From approximately 10 000 14C yr BP the pollen spectrum gradually changed, suggesting the dominance of open savanna communities, these were transformed to a more forested landscape (woody savanna) from approximately 7500 yr BP. The lake sediments also record evidence of fire (indicated by buried charcoal particles at several soil depths) during the Holocene. The 613 C analysis of soil organic matter (SOM) indicates that from between approximately IO0000 yr BP and 9000 yr BP to -4000 yr BP, a woody savanna prevailed at two sites around the lake, probably reflecting a drier climate. From -4000-3000 yr BP to the present, the results indicate a moderate and progressive increase in arboreal vegetation around the lake as a result of the return to more humid climate conditions probably similar to the present-day. The carbon isotope results from the site located 10 km from the lake indicate the presence of an open vegetation from the early Holocene. In general, there is agreernent between the palaeovegetation patterns inferred from the pollen and carbon isotope data. However, a much less uniform landscape, with a mosaic of different ecosystems at any given time, is inferred from the carbon isotope record.
GLUT8 Subcellular Localization and Absence of Translocation to the Plasma Membrane in PC12 Cells and Hippocampal Neurons
Authors: Widmer Mathieu , Uldry Marc , Thorens Bernard
Published: August 2005

GLUT8 is a high-affinity glucose transporter present mostly in testes and a subset of brain neurons. At the cellular level, it is found in a poorly defined intracellular compartment in which it is retained by an N-terminal dileucine motif. Here we assessed GLUT8 colocalization with markers for different cellular compartments and searched for signals, which could trigger its cell surface expression. We showed that when expressed in PC12 cells, GLUT8 was located in a perinuclear compartment in which it showed partial colocalization with markers for the endoplasmic reticulum but not with markers for the trans-Golgi network, early endosomes, lysosomes, and synaptic-like vesicles. To evaluate its presence at the plasma membrane, we generated a recombinant adenovirus for the expression of GLUT8 containing an extracellular myc epitope. Cell surface expression was evaluated by immunofluorescence microscopy of transduced PC12 cells or primary hippocampal neurons exposed to different stimuli. Those included substances inducing depolarization, activation of protein kinase A and C, activation or inhibition of tyrosine kinase-linked signaling pathways, glucose deprivation, AMP-activated protein kinase stimulation, and osmotic shock. None of these stimuli-induced GLUT8 cell surface translocation. Furthermore, when GLUT8myc was cotransduced with a dominant-negative form of dynamin or GLUT8myc-expressing PC-12 cells or neurons were incubated with an anti-myc antibody, no evidence for constitutive recycling of the transporter through the cell surface could be obtained. Thus, in cells normally expressing it, GLUT8 was associated with a specific intracellular compartment in which it may play an as-yet-uncharacterized role.
Characterization of the Optimal Culture Conditions for Clinical Scale Production of Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells
Authors: Sotiropoulou Panagiota A. , Perez Sonia A. , Salagianni Maria , Baxevanis Constantin N. , Papamichail Michael
Published: August 2005

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are multipotent cells defined by multilineage potential, ease to gene modification, and immunosuppressive ability, thus holding promise for tissue engineering, gene therapy, and immunotherapy. They exhibit a unique in vitro expansion capacity, which, however, does not compensate for the very low percentage in their niches given the vast numbers of cells required for the relative studies. Taking into consideration the lack of a uniform approach for MSC isolation and expansion, we attempted in this study, by comparing various culture conditions, to identify the optimal protocol for the large-scale production of MSCs while maintaining their multilineage and immunosuppressive capacities. Our data indicate that, apart from the quality of fetal calf serum, other culture parameters, including basal medium, glucose concentration, stable glutamine, bone marrow mononuclear cell plating density, MSC passaging density, and plastic surface quality, affect the final outcome. Furthermore, the use of basic fi-broblast growth factor (bFGF), the most common growth supplement in MSC culture media, greatly increases the proliferation rate but also upregulates HLA-class I and induces low HLA-DR expression. However, not only does this upregulation not elicit significant in vitro allogeneic T cell responses, but also bFGF-cultured MSCs exhibit enhanced in vivo immunosuppressive potential. Besides, addition of bFGF affects MSC multilineage differentiation capacity, favoring differentiation toward the osteogenic lineage and limiting neurogenic potential. In conclusion, in this report we define the optimal culture conditions for the successful isolation and expansion of human MSCs in high numbers for subsequent cellular therapeutic approaches.
Effects of Three-Dimensional Culture and Growth Factors on the Chondrogenic Differentiation of Murine Embryonic Stem Cells
Authors: Hwang Nathaniel S. , Kim Myoung Sook , Sampattavanich Somponnat , Baek Jin Hyen , Zhang Zijun , Elisseeff Jennifer
Published: August 2005

Embryonic stem (ES) cells have the ability to self-replicate and differentiate into cells from all three germ layers, holding great promise for tissue regeneration applications. However, controlling the differentiation of ES cells and obtaining homogenous cell populations still remains a challenge. We hypothesize that a supportive three-dimensional (3D) environment provides ES cell-derived cells an environment that more closely mimics chondrogenesis in vivo. In the present study, the chondrogenic differentiation capability of ES cell-derived embryoid bodies (EBs) encapsulated in poly(ethylene glycol)-based (PEG) hy-drogels was examined and compared with the chondrogenic potential of EBs in conventional monolayer culture. PEG hydrogel-encapsulated EBs and EBs in monolayer were cultured in vitro for up to 17 days in chondrogenic differentiation medium in the presence of transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 or bone morphogenic protein-2. Gene expression and protein analyses indicated that EB-PEG hydrogel culture upregulated cartilage-relevant markers compared with a monolayer environment and induction of chondrocytic phenotype was stimulated with TGF-β1. Histology of EBs in PEG hydrogel culture with TGF-β1 demonstrated basophilic extracellular matrix deposition characteristic of neocartilage. These findings suggest that EB-PEG hydrogel culture, with an appropriate growth factor, may provide a suitable environment for chondrogenic differentiation of intact ES cell-derived EBs.
Growth factor signalling in clinical breast cancer and its impact on response to conventional therapies: a review of chemotherapy
Authors: Barrett-Lee P J
Published: August 2005

Adjuvant chemotherapy has been shown to provide survival benefits in patients with breast cancer, but some patients still relapse despite this. There is therefore a need for molecular markers present within the primary tumour that can predict for chemotherapy sensitivity or resistance. Until now, no single marker has emerged into routine clinical practice, but several candidate pathways are being extensively investigated. This paper summarises the current status of growth factor singalling and p53 function in this context. The data on human epidermal growth factor receptor-2, topoisomerase II and p53 expression in a variety of breast cancer treatment settings are discussed.
Growth factor signalling and response to endocrine therapy: the Royal Marsden Experience
Authors: Dowsett M , Johnston S , Martin L-A , Salter J , Hills M , Detre S , Gutierrez M C , Mohsin S K , Shou J , Allred D C , Schiff R , Osborne C K , Smith I
Published: August 2005

De novo resistance to endocrine therapy is a near-universal feature of oestrogen receptor (ER)- negative breast cancer. Although many ER-positive breast cancers also show no response to tamoxifen or aromatase inhibitors on objective clinical grounds the large majority show reduced proliferation indicating that some oestrogen dependence is present in almost all ER-positive breast cancer. In neoadjuvant studies HER2 positivity is associated with poor response rates to tamoxifen but not aromatase inhibitors, consistent with preclinical models. Acquired resistance to tamoxifen is associated with decreases in ER positivity but most recurrent lesions remain ER-positive. A small proportion of these show increased HER2 expression and in these patients increased phospho-p38 may contribute to the tamoxifen-resistant phenotype. There is an unfortunate paucity of clinical and biological data on acquired resistance to aromatase inhibitors.
Prediction of Henry's constants for alkane/alkane binaries above solute critical
Authors: Kato Satoru
Published: August 2005

A universal prediction method for Henry's constants of alkanes in alkane solvents has not been established. The present study proposes a universal method for the prediction of Henry's constants representing all of the data for alkane/alkane binaries in the literature. The method involves two universal constants and works at Tri < 3, where Tri denotes the reduced temperatures of the solute alkanes. One of the constants modifies the expression of the infinite‐dilution activity coefficients for their application to simple fluids reflecting end‐to‐sphere molecular orientations, whereas the other represents the vapor pressures of hypothetical liquids defined above solute critical. The prediction method also satisfactorily predicts the Henry's constants of rare gases and liquids having spherical molecules, such as Ar, Kr, Xe, and CCl4, in alkane solvents. Using the prediction method, the most reliable data of high‐pressure vapor–liquid equilibrium for alkane/alkane binaries under dilute conditions in the literature were identified. © 2005 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2005
Ultraviolet–circular dichroism spectroscopy and potentiometric study of the interaction between human serum albumin and sodium perfluorooctanoate
Authors: Messina Paula , Prieto Gerardo , Dodero Verónica , Ruso Juan M. , Schulz Pablo , Sarmiento Félix
Published: August 2005

The interaction of a fluorinated surfactant, sodium perfluorooctanoate, with human serum albumin (HSA) has been investigated by a combination of ultraviolet–circular dichroism (UV‐CD) spectroscopy and potentiometry (by a home‐built ion‐selective electrode) techniques to detect and characterize the conformational transitions of HSA. By using difference spectroscopy, the transition was followed as a function of temperature, and the data were analyzed to obtain the parameters characterizing the thermodynamics of unfolding. The results indicate that the presence of surfactant drastically changes the melting unfolding, acting as a structure stabilizer and delaying the unfolding process. Potentiometric measurements were used to determine the binding isotherms and binding capacity for this system. The isotherm shows a high affinity of surfactant molecules for HSA. The average number of surfactant molecules absorbed per protein molecule (at 28 mM of surfactant concentration) was found to be ≈900, about 6 g of surfactant per gram of protein. The shape of the binding capacity curve and the relation between binding capacity and extend of cooperativity were examined. From these analysis, the values of g (number of ligand‐binding sites), KH (Hill binding constant), and nH (Hill coefficient) were determined. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Biopoly 79: 300–309, 2005

This article was originally published online as an accepted preprint. The “Published Online” date corresponds to the preprint version. You can request a copy of the preprint by emailing the Biopolymers editorial office at biopolymers@wiley.com
Gas‐chromatographic separation of tri(hetero)halogenomethane enantiomers
Authors: Jiang Zhengjin , Crassous Jeanne , Schurig Volker
Published: August 2005

Five‐atomic tri(hetero)halogenomethanes represent the simplest class of non‐isotopic small chiral molecules suitable for the study of fundamental aspects of chirality. The analytical gas‐chromatographic separation of the enantiomers of bromochlorofluoromethane 1 and of chlorofluoroiodomethane 2 on the immobilized chiral stationary phase octakis(3‐O‐butanoyl‐2,6‐di‐O‐n‐pentyl)‐γ‐cyclodextrin 3, chemically linked to polydimethylsiloxane, is described. By temperature‐dependent thermodynamic measurements very low isoenantioselective temperatures Tiso are found and for optimum enantiomeric separations cryogenic temperatures are required. The ee values of enantiomerically enriched tri(hetero)halogenomethanes 1 and 2 are determined and relative configurations are correlated with the chromatographic elution order of 1 and 2 on 3. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc. Chirality 17:488–493, 2005.
The effect of the PPARγ ligand rosiglitazone on energy balance regulation
Authors: Joosen Annemiek M. C. P. , Bakker Arjen H. F. , Gering Maarten J. A. , Westerterp Klaas R.
Published: August 2005

Background and aim

Fat mass generation requires an energy surplus and the activity of the peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor γ (PPARγ). We investigated if the PPARγ ligand rosiglitazone influences substrate usage, energy expenditure (EE) and energy intake (EI) and, thereby, how PPARγ activity contributes to susceptibility to obesity.

Methods

Twenty healthy males (20–29 years) were randomly assigned to receive a placebo (n = 10) or rosiglitazone (8 mg/d) (n = 10) for seven consecutive days, while staying in a respiration chamber. Food intake was ad libitum. Body composition was determined by underwater weighing (day 1) and deuterium dilution (day 1 and 8).

Results

Mean (±SE) EI was 15.9 ± 0.9 MJ/d in the placebo group and 18.9 ± 1.2 MJ/d in the rosiglitazone group. Mean EE was 11.3 ± 0.3 MJ/d and 12.5 ± 0.5 MJ/d for the placebo and rosiglitazone groups respectively. This resulted in a cumulative positive energy balance (EB) of 32.3 ± 5.1 MJ for placebo and 44.7 ± 6.9 MJ for rosiglitazone. There were no significant differences in EI, EE, and EB between treatments. Both groups did not adjust their fat oxidation to the increased fat intake, but fat oxidation decreased faster in the rosiglitazone group (significantly lower on days 6 and 7). During treatment with rosiglitazone, significantly more fat storage was seen in overweight subjects while this was not the case in the placebo group.

Conclusions

Our results suggest a shift in substrate usage during PPARγ stimulation leading to a preference for fat storage, especially in subjects with a higher BMI. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Human hippocampal theta activity during virtual navigation
Authors: Ekstrom Arne D. , Caplan Jeremy B. , Ho Emily , Shattuck Kirk , Fried Itzhak , Kahana Michael J.
Published: August 2005

This study examines whether 4–8‐Hz theta oscillations can be seen in the human hippocampus, and whether these oscillations increase during virtual movement and searching, as they do in rodents. Recordings from both hippocampal and neocortical depth electrodes were analyzed while six epileptic patients played a virtual taxi‐driver game. During the game, the patients alternated between searching for passengers, whose locations were random, and delivering them to stores, whose locations remained constant. In both hippocampus and neocortex, theta increased during virtual movement in all phases of the game. Hippocampal and neocortical theta activity were also significantly correlated with each other, but this correlation did not differ between neocortex and hippocampus and within disparate neocortical electrodes. Our findings demonstrate the existence of movement‐related theta oscillations in human hippocampus, and suggest that both cortical and hippocampal oscillations play a role in attention and sensorimotor integration. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Phase/amplitude reset and theta–gamma interaction in the human medial temporal lobe during a continuous word recognition memory task
Authors: Mormann Florian , Fell Juergen , Axmacher Nikolai , Weber Bernd , Lehnertz Klaus , Elger Christian E. , Fernández Guillén
Published: August 2005

We analyzed intracranial electroencephalographic (EEG) recordings from the medial temporal lobes of 12 epilepsy patients during a continuous word recognition paradigm, contrasting trials of correctly recognized repeated words (hits) and correctly identified new words (correct rejections). Using a wavelet‐based analysis, we investigated how power changes and phase clustering in different frequency bands contribute to the averaged event‐related potentials (ERPs). In addition, we analyzed the actual mean phases of the different oscillations. Our analyses yielded the following results: (1) power changes contributed significantly only to the late components of the ERPs (>400 ms) (2) earlier ERP components were produced by a stimulus‐related broad‐band phase and amplitude reset of ongoing oscillatory activity about 190 ms after stimulus onset that involved not only the theta band, but also covered alpha and lower beta band frequencies (3) phase and amplitude reset occurred during an epoch of increased phase entrainment over time that lasted for about two oscillation periods for all involved frequencies and was more pronounced for correct rejections than for hits. The broad‐band phase and amplitude reset was observed for both hits and correct rejections, and therefore, did not appear to support a specific cognitive function, but rather to act as a general facilitating factor for the processes involved in this memory task. Further analyses of synchronization between oscillations and power changes in different frequency bands revealed a task‐dependent modulation of gamma activity by the entrained theta cycle, a mechanism potentially related to memory encoding and retrieval in the rhinal cortex and hippocampus, respectively. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The class II phosphoinositide 3‐kinase PI3K‐C2β regulates cell migration by a PtdIns(3)P dependent mechanism
Authors: Domin Jan , Harper Lisa , Aubyn Deborah , Wheeler Matthew , Florey Oliver , Haskard Dorian , Yuan Ming , Zicha Daniel
Published: August 2005

The biological and pathophysiological significance of class II phosphoinositide 3‐kinase enzyme expression currently remains unclear. Using an in vitro scrape wound assay and time‐lapse video microscopy, we demonstrate that cell motility is increased in cultures expressing recombinant PI3K‐C2β enzyme. In addition, overexpression of PI3K‐C2β transiently decreased cell adhesion, stimulated the formation of cytoplasmic processes, and decreased the rate of cell proliferation. Consistent with these observations, expression of PI3K‐C2β also decreased expression of alpha4 beta1 integrin subunits. Using asynchronous cultures, we show that endogenous PI3K‐C2β is present in lamellipodia of motile cells. When cells expressing recombinant PI3K‐C2β were plated onto fibronectin, cortical actin staining increased markedly and actin rich lamellipodia and filopodia became evident. Overexpression of a 2xFYVEHrs domain fusion protein abolished this response demonstrating that the effect of PI3K‐C2β on the reorganization of actin filaments is dependent upon PtdIns(3)P. Finally, overexpression of PI3K‐C2β increased GTP loading of Cdc42. Our data demonstrates for the first time, that PI3K‐C2β plays a regulatory role in cell motility and that the mechanism by which it reorganizes the actin cytoskeleton is dependent upon PtdIns(3)P production. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Molecular recognition of nucleic acids: Coralyne binds strongly to poly(A)
Authors: Xing Feifei , Song Guangtao , Ren Jinsong , Chaires Jonathan B. , Qu Xiaogang
Published: August 2005

The small molecule coralyne was found to bind preferentially and strongly to single‐stranded poly(A) with an apparent association constant (K
a) of (1.8 ± 0.3) × 106
M−1. Binding of coralyne to poly(A) is predominantly enthalpically driven with a stoichiometry of one coralyne per four adenine bases. Poly(A) forms a coralyne dependent secondary structure with a melting temperature of 60 °C, for the conditions of our study.
Comparison of Adaptive Factors in Kalman Filters on Navigation Results
Authors: Yang Yuanxi , Gao Weiguang
Published: August 2005

The quality of kinematic navigation and positioning depends on the quality of the model describing the vehicle movements and the reliability of the observations. An adaptive Kalman filtering is introduced. Three kinds of adaptive factors based on the discrepancy between the geometrical positions and the kinematic model predictions and a variance component ratio between model predictions and observations are described. A new exponential adaptive factor is established. The theoretical curves of the adaptive factors are drawn and a practical example is given. The errors of four adaptive filtering results and the corresponding curves of the adaptive factors are also drawn. It is shown, by comparison and analysis, that all of the four adaptive factors can control the influences of the vehicle disturbances in movements on the navigation results. The results derived by the adaptive factor constructed by the variance component ratio are slightly better than those derived by other adaptive factors.
Effect of a closed drug-delivery system on the incidence of nosocomial and catheter-related bloodstream infections in infants
Authors: REITER P. D. , NOVAK K. , VALUCK R. J. , ROSENBERG A. A. , FISH D.
Published: August 2005

We conducted a prospective, cohort study at two affiliated level III neonatal intensive care units to evaluate the effect of a closed drug-delivery system on the incidence of nosocomial and catheter-related bloodstream infections (CRBSI) in infants. A total of 300 infants (n=150 at each site) were enrolled over a 4-year study period. There was no difference in the rate of CRBSI per 1000 catheter days between the two sites (16·2±39 vs. 8·9±24, P=0·054, 95% CI−14·8 to 0·13). Infants at site A (closed drug-delivery system) had a higher rate of infectious nosocomial respiratory complications per 100 hospital days than infants at site B (open delivery system) (1·1±2·2 vs. 0·5±1·5, P=0·009), however, there was no difference in the overall number of confirmed or suspected nosocomial infection events per patient between study sites. Logistic regression revealed that the number of additional peripheral catheters, gestational age and duration of parenteral nutrition all significantly contributed to the risk of developing one or more CRSBI. The closed drug-delivery system failed to reduce the incidence of CRBSI or overall rate of nosocomial infections in premature infants.
Epidemiology and outcome of sepsis in a tertiary-care hospital in a developing country
Authors: TANRIOVER M. D. , GUVEN G. S. , SEN D. , UNAL S. , UZUN O.
Published: August 2005

Sepsis continues to have a substantial mortality and morbidity despite advances in the diagnosis and management of this condition. We retrospectively analysed hospital charts of patients diagnosed to have sepsis between January 2002 and June 2003. Demographic characteristics of patients, microbiological findings and predictors of survival were evaluated. Sixty-nine sepsis episodes that occurred in 63 patients were analysed. The most common underlying diseases were hypertension, malignancies and diabetes mellitus. Renal insufficiency, respiratory distress and disseminated intravascular coagulation developed in 52·2, 30·4 and 30·4% of the episodes respectively; 47·7% of the blood cultures yielded an organism. Gram-negative bacteria were the predominant microorganisms (65·9%). Fifty-five patients (87·3%) died. Mechanical ventilation and underlying renal disease were significant determinants of mortality. In conclusion, Gram-negative bacteria remain the major pathogens in sepsis. The mortality remains very high, and a change in the clinical approach to the septic patient should be employed to improve the outcome.
Prisoners favour hepatitis C testing and treatment
Authors: VALLABHANENI S. , MACALINO G. E. , REINERT S. E. , SCHWARTZAPFEL B. , WOLF F. A. , RICH J. D.
Published: August 2005

More people with hepatitis C virus pass through incarcerated settings each year than any other venue. The goal of this study was to assess inmates' attitudes towards hepatitis C testing and treatment while incarcerated. We interviewed 153 male and female inmates at the Rhode Island Department of Corrections (RIDOC). Ninety-one per cent of inmates said they would agree to be tested for hepatitis C and 95% said that they would be willing to be treated for hepatitis C while incarcerated. Thirty-three per cent perceived themselves to be at risk for hepatitis C. Inmates were very interested in hepatitis C testing and, if indicated treatment. Inmates' attitudes towards hepatitis C testing and treatment do not pose a major obstacle to implementing comprehensive hepatitis C screening and treatment programme in correctional settings.
Tropopause region temperatures and CFC 11 mixing ratios from CRISTA 2
Authors: Kuell V. , Offermann D. , Jarisch M. , Schaeler B. , Engel A. , Claude H. , Smit H. G. J. , Ebel A. , Feldmann H.
Published: August 2005

Nearly global measurements of CFC 11 (CFCl3) in the upper troposphere and stratosphere are presented. Data are from the CRyogenic Infrared Spectrometers and Telescopes for the Atmosphere (CRISTA 2) experiment in August 1997. They are the first global CFC 11 data set that covers the altitude regime 8 km to 28 km. A new temperature data product was developed for the CFC 11 retrieval by combining high accuracy of UKMO temperatures with high spatial resolution of CRISTA temperatures. At midlatitudes these temperatures and resulting CFC 11 mixing ratios are compared to in situ measurements and the regional CTM system EURAD. Measured temperatures agree within about 1 K (except at the cold point tropopause). CFC 11 mixing ratios agree within 0–15%, depending on altitude. Model temperatures of EURAD have a small warm bias (1 K). Model CFC 11 has a low bias of 15–30 pptv (10% at 147 hPa). The high resolution transport model data are for the first time combined with dense and reliable CFC 11 measurements from space to study specific dynamical features. Emphasis is on a midlatitude blocking event characterized by an omega circulation pattern with a persistent cutoff low at its western wing. At low latitudes our CFC 11 mixing ratios and temperatures suggest a warm bias of the UKMO temperatures near the tropical tropopause.
Winter Northern Hemisphere surface air temperature variability associated with the Arctic Oscillation and North Atlantic Oscillation
Authors: Wang Dongxiao , Wang Chunzai , Yang Xiaoyi , Lu Jian
Published: August 2005

The interannual variability of winter surface air temperature (SAT) in the Northern Hemisphere (NH) associated with the Arctic Oscillation (AO) and the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) is studied. The AO and the NAO show different impacts on winter NH SAT variations. The AO affects the SAT over the Euro‐Asian and African continents, whereas the NAO is more regional with the major effect on the SAT in the western North Africa. This discrepancy can be reflected in other atmospheric variables such as sea level pressure and geopotential height fields as well. The analyses in this paper also suggest that the AO‐related signal can penetrate deeply into the stratosphere while the NAO one is largely a tropospheric phenomenon.
Initial altitude of the micrometeor phenomenon: Comparison between Arecibo radar observations and theory
Authors: Janches Diego , ReVelle Douglas O.
Published: August 2005

We present calculations of the altitude at which the micrometeor phenomenon begins, that is, the point where the interaction between micrometeoroids and the Earth's atmosphere becomes important. At these altitudes, physical processes such as light emission, heating, electron production, etc., begin to occur. The calculations are performed using four very different initial height models including (1) solving the full integration of the single‐body meteor equations, (2) using a balance between the loss of momentum and the component of the acceleration due to gravity along the meteor trajectory, (3) using a solution that emanates from a “linearized” form of the meteor energy equation but without including either atmosphere or meteoroid radiation emission effects, and finally (4) utilizing a solution of the meteor energy equation that is specifically approximated for small particles. We compare our evaluated theoretical results with direct micrometeor observations detected using the 430 MHz Arecibo Observatory (AO) radar system. The goal of these calculations is to provide reliable initial conditions in order to completely model the AO micrometeor observations, most of which have nearly constant decelerations. The nature of this study, although performed with already existing theoretical formulations, is of unprecedented value because it is the first study where these models are directly compared against very highly resolved micrometeor velocity and altitude distributions that are derived directly from the radar observations. We found that the meteor energy equation approximated for small particles agrees very well with the radar observations, in particular for meteor melting temperatures of the order of 2100 K and entry angles lower than 30° with respect to the radar beam normal direction. Unfortunately, from this model the composition characteristics of the particles detected by the AO radar cannot conclusively be drawn. However, comparison with the calculation of the penetration height of meteoroids reported by ReVelle (2005a) suggests that chondritic material seem to be the best candidate to explain the observed penetration of these particles in the mesosphere. Calculation of the light emission and electron density production of the meteor are also presented and discussed.
Separate fusion of outer and inner mitochondrial membranes
Authors: Malka Florence , Guillery Olwenn , Cifuentes‐Diaz Carmen , Guillou Emmanuelle , Belenguer Pascale , Lombès Anne , Rojo Manuel
Published: August 2005

Mitochondria are enveloped by two closely apposed boundary membranes with different properties and functions. It is known that they undergo fusion and fission, but it has remained unclear whether outer and inner membranes fuse simultaneously, coordinately or separately. We set up assays for the study of inner and outer membrane fusion in living human cells. Inner membrane fusion was more sensitive than outer membrane fusion to inhibition of glycolysis. Fusion of the inner membrane, but not of the outer membrane, was abolished by dissipation of the inner membrane potential with K+ (valinomycin) or H+ ionophores (cccp). In addition, outer and inner membrane fusion proceeded separately in the absence of any drug. The separate fusion of outer and inner membranes and the different requirements of these fusion reactions point to the existence of fusion machineries that can function separately.
The trust-region self-consistent field method in Kohn–Sham density-functional theory
Authors: Thøgersen Lea , Olsen Jeppe , Köhn Andreas , Jørgensen Poul , Sałek Paweł , Helgaker Trygve
Published: August 2005

The trust-region self-consistent field (TRSCF) method is extended to the optimization of the Kohn–Sham energy. In the TRSCF method, both the Roothaan–Hall step and the density-subspace minimization step are replaced by trust-region optimizations of local approximations to the Kohn–Sham energy, leading to a controlled, monotonic convergence towards the optimized energy. Previously the TRSCF method has been developed for optimization of the Hartree–Fock energy, which is a simple quadratic function in the density matrix. However, since the Kohn–Sham energy is a nonquadratic function of the density matrix, the local energy functions must be generalized for use with the Kohn–Sham model. Such a generalization, which contains the Hartree–Fock model as a special case, is presented here. For comparison, a rederivation of the popular direct inversion in the iterative subspace (DIIS) algorithm is performed, demonstrating that the DIIS method may be viewed as a quasi-Newton method, explaining its fast local convergence. In the global region the convergence behavior of DIIS is less predictable. The related energy DIIS technique is also discussed and shown to be inappropriate for the optimization of the Kohn–Sham energy.
Rigid rod anchored to infinite membrane
Authors: Guo Kunkun , Qiu Feng , Zhang Hongdong , Yang Yuliang
Published: August 2005

We investigate the shape deformation of an infinite membrane anchored by a rigid rod. The density profile of the rod is calculated by the self-consistent-field theory and the shape of the membrane is predicted by the Helfrich membrane elasticity theory [W. Helfrich, Z. Naturforsch. 28c, 693 (1973)]. It is found that the membrane bends away from the rigid rod when the interaction between the rod and the membrane is repulsive or weakly attractive (adsorption). However, the pulled height of the membrane at first increases and then decreases with the increase of the adsorption strength. Compared to a Gaussian chain with the same length, the rigid rod covers much larger area of the membrane, whereas exerts less local entropic pressure on the membrane. An evident gap is found between the membrane and the rigid rod because the membrane’s curvature has to be continuous. These behaviors are compared with that of the flexible-polymer-anchored membranes studied by previous Monte Carlo simulations and theoretical analysis. It is straightforward to extend this method to more complicated and real biological systems, such as infinite membrane/multiple chains, protein inclusion, or systems with phase separation.