bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Richter syndrome
Authors: Tsimberidou Apostolia‐Maria , Keating Michael J.
Published: December 2004

Richter's transformation denotes the development of high‐grade non‐Hodgkin lymphoma, prolymphocytic leukemia, Hodgkin disease, or acute leukemia in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL)/small lymphocytic lymphoma. A search of published articles in Medline (PubMed) and abstracts from professional meetings was performed. An electronic database search of patients with CLL at The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center (Houston, TX) determined the incidence of Richter syndrome (RS) in patients with CLL between 1992 and 2002. RS occurs in approximately 5% of patients with CLL. The large cells of RS may arise through transformation of the original CLL clone or represent a new neoplasm. RS may be triggered by viral infections, such as Epstein–Barr virus. Trisomy 12 and chromosome 11 abnormalities are more frequent in patients with RS than in the overall population of patients with CLL. Multiple genetic defects, such as mutations of the p53 tumor suppressor gene, p16INK4A, and p21, loss of p27 expression, deletion of retinoblastoma, increased copy number of C‐MYC, and decreased expression of the A‐MYB gene, have been described. These abnormalities may cause CLL cells to proliferate and—by facilitating the acquisition of new genetic abnormalities—to transform into RS cells. Therapeutic strategies include intensive chemotherapy, monoclonal antibodies, and stem cell transplantation. The response rates range from 5% to 43% (complete response, 5–38%), and the median survival duration ranges from 5 months to 8 months. In conclusion, RS may be triggered by viral infections or by genetic defects. Current treatments are aggressive, but prognosis is poor. Novel curative treatment strategies are needed. Cancer 2005. © 2004 American Cancer Society.
A different pattern of cytotoxic T lymphocyte recognition against primary and metastatic tumor cells in a patient with nonsmall cell lung carcinoma
Authors: So Tetsuya , Takenoyama Mitsuhiro , Ichiki Yoshinobu , Mizukami Makiko , So Tomoko , Hanagiri Takeshi , Sugio Kenji , Yasumoto Kosei
Published: December 2004

BACKGROUND

Lung carcinoma represents the most frequent cause of cancer death worldwide because of tumor metastases. The objective of the current study was to analyze the immunologic response during the progress of lung carcinoma metastasis.

METHODS

The authors established two tumor cell lines that were derived from primary and metastatic lesions in a patient with lung carcinoma (Patient G603). One cell line (G603L) was established from the primary lesion, and the other cell line (G603AD) was established from a metastatic lesion in the right adrenal gland 7 months after the patient underwent surgery for the primary lesion. Autologous regional lymph node lymphocytes were stimulated with CD80‐transfected G603L cells, then cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) were induced against both lung carcinoma cell lines.

RESULTS

Both G603L cells and G603AD cells expressed Class I human leukocyte antigen, intracellular cell adhesion molecule 1, and lymphocyte‐associated antigen type 3 (LFA‐3), but not Fas or Fas ligand on their surfaces. By stimulation with CD80‐transfected G603L cells, 2 CTL clones (H2/17 and H2/36) were established from the bulk CTLs. CTL clone H2/17 lysed G603L cells but not G603AD cells, suggesting that the antigen recognized by CTL clone H2/17 was abrogated during the process of metastasis. In contrast, CTL clone H2/36 lysed both G603L cells and G603AD cells, indicating that the antigen recognized by CTL clone H2/36 was maintained in the tumor cells throughout tumor progression.

CONCLUSIONS

The results demonstrated the possibility that some tumor‐associated antigens may be abrogated during the process of metastasis, although others are maintained. The identification of these antigens will lead to a better understanding of their immunologic role during disease progression in patients with lung carcinoma. Cancer 2005. © 2004 American Cancer Society.
Microsatellite distribution and indication for locoregional therapy in small hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Sasaki Atsushi , Kai Seiichiro , Iwashita Yukio , Hirano Seitaro , Ohta Masayuki , Kitano Seigo
Published: December 2004

BACKGROUND

Intrahepatic disease recurrence is observed frequently after locoregional therapies for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the indication for locoregional therapy is still unclear. To clarify the indication for locoregional therapy for small HCC tumors, the authors measured the distance of microsatellites from the main tumor and analyzed the relation between this distance and clinicopathologic factors.

METHODS

The authors retrospectively analyzed 100 patients with small HCC tumors (≤ 5 cm in dimension) treated by curative hepatectomy. A microsatellite was defined as invasion into the portal vein or intrahepatic metastasis, and the distance from the main tumor to the most distant microsatellite was determined under light microscopy. The current study investigated the relation between microsatellite distance (0 mm if none present, ≤ 5 mm, and > 5 mm) and clinicopathologic factors, as well as overall and disease‐free survival rates after hepatectomy.

RESULTS

Of the 100 patients, 46 had microsatellites with a mean distance of 9.9 mm (median, 5.0 mm). Of the clinicopathologic factors investigated, tumor grade and preoperative α‐fetoprotein level significantly correlated with the presence of a microsatellite. Tumor size and distance to the microsatellite were significantly correlated. All but 1 tumor associated with a microsatellite distance > 5 mm was a high‐grade tumor > 25 mm in greatest dimension. The overall survival rate of patients with a microsatellite distance of > 5 mm was lower than that of patients with a microsatellite distance < 5 mm.

CONCLUSIONS

Locoregional therapy, including limited resection and ablation therapies, was appropriate for patients with low‐grade HCC tumors or with tumors < 25 mm in diameter. Cancer 2005. © 2004 American Cancer Society.
The analysis of monopole antenna centered on circular ground plane using boundary diffraction wave
Authors: Kitagata Kimiyasu , Inagawa Akihiro , Tokumaru Shinobu
Published: December 2004

Various methods for the analysis of a monopole antenna located on a perfectly conducting circular ground plane have been proposed as a canonical electromagnetic field problem and as a model for an antenna used for wireless communications. On the other hand, the physical optics approximation has been used as a powerful method for the electromagnetic scattering problems and the problem of representation of radiation patterns of antennas. As an example of application of this physical optics approximation, the effect of the scattered waves generated by the presence of a circular ground plane is expressed by the boundary diffraction wave in this paper and an analysis of the above problem is attempted. For the scattering wave representation using the boundary diffracted wave, the current distribution on the antenna is derived by the point matching method of moments and the input impedance characteristics and the radiation patterns are calculated. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electron Comm Jpn Pt 1, 88(4): 54–63, 2005; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/ecja.20152
BER performance of MLSE demodulator for digital SSB with partial response signaling
Authors: Yamasaki Takahiro , Saito Yoichi
Published: December 2004

In this paper, we propose a demodulation method using maximum likelihood sequence estimation (MLSE) after coherent detection for partial response signaling single sideband (SSB) signals and present the bit error rate performance achieved by this configuration. Coherent detection is implemented by a pilot carrier method. The power of the pilot carrier inserted in the SSB modulated wave and the noise bandwidth of the phase locked loop (PLL) that extracts the base carrier cause the degradation in the power efficiency of the SSB signal. We then evaluate the equivalent carrier‐to‐noise power ratio (CNR) degradation of the pilot carrier method. The partial response demodulated signal can be MLSE decoded since the signal is time correlated. From the characteristics of an SSB demodulated signal, first‐order MLSE decoding using only the in‐phase channel generally results. Here, we also study a complex MLSE decoding method that considers the quadrature channel. Based on this configuration, we show that the SSB signal power efficiency was improved by about 5 dB compared to the conventional coherent detection and instantaneous identification and demodulation method. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electron Comm Jpn Pt 1, 88(4): 44–53, 2005; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/ecja.20167
Performance analysis of backoff algorithms under unsaturated conditions
Authors: Sasaki Mitsuru , Sakakibara Katsumi , Yamakita Jiro
Published: December 2004

This paper is concerned with the backoff algorithm for a random access system on the basis of slotted ALOHA. The performance of the algorithm in which the backoff counter is reset after the packet transmission success (conventional scheme), and the performance of the algorithm in which the backoff counter is successively decremented (modified scheme), are analyzed for the unsaturated condition. Based on the concept of equilibrium point analysis, the packet transmission failure probability, the throughput, the average transmission delay, and the uniformity of the transmission delay variation are evaluated. It is shown by a numerical example that the modified scheme exhibits better performance than the conventional scheme, even in the unsaturated condition, as well as in the saturated condition, with appropriate setting of the backoff window width. In addition, the modified scheme is shown to be better from the viewpoint of uniformity, in the sense that the packet transmission delay variation is smaller, even if the parameters are set to values that degrade the throughput. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electron Comm Jpn Pt 1, 88(4): 32–43, 2005; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/ecja.20176
Measurement of snow dielectric constant profile at UHF band using probe sensor array
Authors: Nakata Waichi , Togawa Hitoshi , Yokoyama Hisashi
Published: December 2004

In this paper, with regard to a resonant sensor of a three‐parallel line type consisting of a snow probe sensor array placed in snow for long‐term measurement of the complex permittivity profile of accumulated snow layers at UHF frequencies, a derivation of an approximate formula for estimating the constant permittivity on the basis of the method of moments and experimental verification results are presented. The measured snow dielectric constant profile over a period of about 2 weeks at Aomori Airport is described. In particular, the change from dry snow to wet snow associated with snow melting is acquired. Hence, the effectiveness of the probe sensor for long‐term measurement of the snow dielectric constant is confirmed. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electron Comm Jpn Pt 1, 88(4): 10–19, 2005; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/ecja.20186
Double Self‐Inclusion by Rotating Glucopyranose Units in Per‐O‐methylated β‐Cyclodextrin Moieties Attached to a Porphyrin in Aqueous Solution
Authors: Nishiyabu Ryuhei , Kano Koji
Published: December 2004

Double self‐inclusion of the porphyrin part by two per‐O‐methylated β‐cyclodextrin moieties, which were attached to the 4‐positions of the phenyl groups of 10,20‐bis(3,5‐dicarboxylatophenyl)‐5,15‐diphenylporphyrin, occurred through 360° rotation of two glucopyranose units in the per‐O‐methylated cyclodextrin moieties. The self‐inclusion proceeded quantitatively in aqueous solution. As the porphyrin ring was completely covered by two cyclodextrin moieties, no fluorescence quenching of the porphyrin by 9,10‐anthraquinone‐2‐sulfonate took place. The intramolecular self‐inclusion is achieved by destroying a hydrogen‐bond belt at the secondary OH group side of the native cyclodextrin by O‐methylation and extremely strong hydrophobic effects resulting from complexation of the porphyrin with per‐O‐methylated β‐cyclodextrin. (© Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2004)
Stereoselective Enzymatic Synthesis of cis‐Pellitorine, a Taste Active Alkamide Naturally Occurring in Tarragon
Authors: Ley Jakob P. , Hilmer Jens‐Michael , Weber Berthold , Krammer Gerhard , Gatfield Ian L. , Bertram Heinz‐Jürgen
Published: December 2004

The alkamide cis‐pellitorine [(2E,4Z)‐N‐isobutyldeca‐2,4‐dienamide] that occurs naturally in tarragon was prepared in yields up to 80% by lipase‐catalyzed conversion of ethyl 2E,4Z‐decadienoate, the so‐called pear ester, and isobutylamine both with and without the use of cosolvents. Of 13 different commercial enzyme preparations tested (lipases, proteases, esterases), only the lipase type B from Candida antarctica has a suitable activity. The reaction of the different geometric isomers of ethyl 2,4‐decadienoate to the appropriate pellitorines shows a remarkable selectivity: the 2E,4Z ester is converted between 1.4 and 3.9 times faster than the 2E,4E isomer, and the relative yield of cis‐pellitorine compared with trans‐pellitorine is 5.7 to 16.3 times higher. In contrast to the better known trans‐pellitorine, which at 10 ppm is only slightly tingling and numbing, cis‐pellitorine shows very interesting pungent and warming sensations after tasting trials already in low concentrations of 10 ppm. (© Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2004)
A Highly Effective (Triphenyl phosphite)palladium Catalyst for a Cross−Coupling Reaction of Allylic Alcohols with Organoboronic Acids
Authors: Kayaki Yoshihito , Koda Takashi , Ikariya Takao
Published: December 2004

The cross coupling reaction of aryl and vinyl boronic acids and allylic alcohols proceeded smoothly in toluene or dioxane in the presence of a (triphenyl phosphite)palladium catalyst to give the corresponding allylbenzene derivatives and 1,4‐dienes. Neither cocatalysts for promoting C−O bond cleavage of allylic alcohols nor bases for activation of organoboron reagents are required for promoting the coupling process. (© Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2004)
Cover Picture: Total Synthesis and Olfactory Evaluation of 5β,10‐Dimethyl‐des‐A‐18‐nor‐androstan‐13β‐ol: A Potential Human Pheromone? (Eur. J. Org. Chem. 24/2004)
Authors: Kraft Philip , Popaj Kasim
Published: December 2004

Ever smelt the heat of a beloved body close to you, ever felt the sensation of being caressed just by catching a whiff of a perfume? This phenomenon could be due to odorants that imitate human pheromones. Just as Ohloff wondered 20 years ago, Kraft and Popaj recently wondered if the steroid‐type scent of Timberol® and Limbanol® could be due to a steroid‐type folding on the receptor. To finally prove or disprove this speculation, they synthesized the underlying parent steroid structure, which is shown on the cover in front of a female silver torso immersed in light. Details are discussed in their article on p. 4995 ff.
HIV‐1 tat protein induces a migratory phenotype in human fetal microglia by a CCL2 (MCP‐1)‐dependent mechanism: Possible role in NeuroAIDS
Authors: Eugenin Eliseo A. , Dyer Gawain , Calderon Tina M. , Berman Joan W.
Published: December 2004

Acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) encephalitis and dementia are characterized by neuronal loss, astrogliosis, and microglia activation and migration that contribute to the formation of multinucleated giant cells. Despite extensive evidence of pathological changes in the brain of infected individuals, the mechanisms of human immune deficiency virus type 1 (HIV‐1) entry, microglia migration, and viral propagation within the brain are still not completely understood. In this study, we report that the induction of a migratory phenotype in human fetal microglia by the HIV‐1 transactivator protein, tat, is mediated by the chemokine, CCL2. CCL2 or tat treatment alone induced rearrangement of actin and the formation of microglial processes. The time course of cell membrane ruffling induced by CCL2 was faster (5–30 min) than that elicited by tat treatment (2–3 h). Our previous data in human fetal microglia showed that tat induces CCL2 expression. Thus, we examined whether tat‐induced microglia membrane ruffling and process formation, critical components in cell migration, are mediated by the secretion of CCL2 by these cells. To test this hypothesis, we treated microglia with tat protein in the presence of neutralizing CCL2 antibodies. Co‐treatment with neutralizing CCL2 antibodies resulted in the loss of tat‐induced membrane ruffling. Tat treatment of microglia induced polarization of CCR2, the receptor for CCL2, to the leading edge of processes, further suggesting a CCL2‐dependent mechanism of tat‐induced microglia migration. Our data indicate that tat facilitates microglia migration by inducing autocrine CCL2 release. Our results suggest that tat induced CCL2 secretion may be one of the early signals during NeuroAIDS. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Dinucleotide polymorphism of p73 gene is associated with a reduced risk of lung cancer in a Chinese population
Authors: Hu Zhibin , Miao Xiaoping , Ma Hongxia , Tan Wen , Wang Xinru , Lu Daru , Wei Qingyi , Lin Dongxin , Shen Hongbing
Published: December 2004

p73, a structural and functional homologue of p53, shares some p53‐like tumor suppressor activity but also possesses oncogenic activity. Therefore, p73 plays an important role in modulating cell‐cycle control and apoptosis. A potentially functional dinucleotide polymorphism, G4C14‐to‐A4T14, has been identified in the 5′ untranslated region (UTR) of exon 2 of the p73 gene, which may theoretically form a stem‐loop structure and affect gene expression. To test the hypothesis that these 2 common variants play a role in lung cancer susceptibility, we conducted a case‐control study of 425 lung cancer patients and 588 cancer‐free controls frequency‐matched to the cases on age and sex in a Chinese population. The results showed that these 2 polymorphisms were in complete linkage disequilibrium and the frequencies of variant p73 AT haplotype (A4T14) were less common in the cases (0.225) than in the controls (0.287) (p = 0.0018), suggesting that this AT haplotype was protective against lung cancer. Compared to the p73 GC/GC homozygotes, both the AT/AT variant homozygotes and GC/AT heterozygotes were associated with a significantly decreased risk (adjusted OR: 0.45, 95% CI: 0.26–0.80 and OR: 0.70, 95% CI: 0.53–0.92, respectively). These results suggest that this p73 dinucleotide polymorphism may have a role in lung cancer susceptibility in our study population. Further studies are needed to elucidate potential functional relevance of the p73 AT variant allele. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Multiplicity of abnormal promoter methylation in lung adenocarcinomas from smokers and never smokers
Authors: Divine Kevin K. , Pulling Leah C. , Marron‐Terada Patricia G. , Liechty Kieu C. , Kang Terri , Schwartz Ann G. , Bocklage Therese J. , Coons Teresa A. , Gilliland Frank D. , Belinsky Steven A.
Published: December 2004

The prevalence of methylation of the p16, DAPK and RASSF1A genes was investigated in lung adenocarcinoma from smokers, former uranium miners and never smokers. The association between a common genetic alteration in adenocarcinoma, mutation of the K‐ras gene and methylation of these genes, as well as survival was examined. Adenocarcinomas from 157 smokers, 46 never smokers and 34 former uranium miners were evaluated for methylation of the p16, DAPK and RASSF1A genes using the methylation‐specific PCR assay. Comparisons were also made to prevalences of methylation of the MGMT gene and mutation of the K‐ras gene previously examined in these tumors. The prevalence of methylation for all genes was similar between adenocarcinomas from smokers and never smokers, although the prevalence for methylation of the p16 gene tended to be higher in smokers compared to never smokers. A significantly higher prevalence for p16 methylation was seen in central vs. peripheral lung tumors. At least 1 gene was methylated in 35% of stage I tumors, whereas 2 and ≥3 genes were methylated in 40% and 16% of tumors, respectively. Methylation of all genes was independent of K‐ras mutation, whereas methylation of the DAPK and RASSF1A genes was positively associated. Environmental tobacco smoke, the strongest lung cancer risk factor among never smokers, induces adenocarcinoma in part through inactivation of the p16, DAPK and RASSF1A genes. Adenocarcinomas may develop through 2 distinct processes: multiple gene inactivations through promoter hypermethylation and activation of the K‐ras gene. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Supercritical CO2 extraction of accumulated capsidiol from biotic elicitor‐activated Capsicum annuum L fruit tissues
Authors: Salgın Uǧur , Üstün A Sülün , Mehmetoǧlu Ülkü , Çalımlı Ayla
Published: December 2004

This work investigates the supercritical CO2 extraction of capsidiol from pepper fruit tissues activated with Alternaria alternate (Fr) Keissler suspension culture as a biotic elicitor. Capsidiol production in the fruit tissue was markedly increased by the treatment with a biotic elicitor and reached its maximum level after 4 days of elicitation. The effects of separation parameters such as temperature, pressure, supercritical solvent flow rate, particle diameter and also initial capsidiol concentration were investigated on solubility, initial extraction rate and extraction yield. The optimal extraction conditions were obtained at the temperature of 40 °C, the pressure of 400 bar, the supercritical CO2 flow rate of 2 cm3 min−1, and the average particle diameter of 116 µm. The results showed that the ratio of the supercritical CO2 extraction yield to the organic solvent extraction yield was changed from 84 to 97 wt‐% depending on the initial capsidiol concentration. Copyright © 2004 Society of Chemical Industry
Smart element method I. The Zienkiewicz–Zhu feedback
Authors: Li Shaofan , Liu Xiaohu , Gupta Anurag
Published: December 2004

A new error control finite element formulation is developed and implemented based on the variational multiscale method, the inclusion theory in homogenization, and the Zienkiewicz–Zhu error estimator. By synthesizing variational multiscale method in computational mechanics, the equivalent eigenstrain principle in micromechanics, and the Zienkiewicz–Zhu error estimator in the finite element method (FEM), the new finite element formulation can automatically detect and subsequently homogenize its own discretization errors in a self‐adaptive and a self‐adjusting manner. It is the first finite element formulation that combines an optimal feedback mechanism and a precisely defined homogenization procedure to reduce its own discretization errors and hence to control numerical pollutions.

The paper focuses on the following two issues: (1) how to combine a multiscale method with the existing finite element error estimate criterion through a feedback mechanism, and (2) convergence study. It has been shown that by combining the proposed variational multiscale homogenization method with the Zienkiewicz–Zhu error estimator a clear improvement can be made on the coarse scale computation. It is also shown that when the finite element mesh is refined, the solution obtained by the variational eigenstrain multiscale method will converge to the exact solution. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Newton‐ vs. Multilevel‐Newton method in the FEM
Authors: Hartmann Stefan
Published: December 2004

In this presentation it is shown that in implicit finite element computations based on material models of evolutionary type the resulting system of non‐linear equations is usually not solved by means of the classical Newton‐Raphson method which is frequently stated. It is emphasized that the so‐called Multilevel‐Newton algorithm yields the known local and global schemes of stress or internal variables and nodal displacement computations. (© 2004 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Flow over a profile in a channel with dynamical effects
Authors: Honzátko Radek , Kozel Karel , Horáček Jaromír
Published: December 2004

The work deals with a numerical solution of 2D inviscid incompressible flow over the profile NACA 0012 in a channel. The finite volume method in a form of cell‐centered scheme at quadrilateral C‐mesh is used. Governing system of equations is the system of Euler equations. Numerical results are partially compared with experimental data. Steady state solutions of the flow as well unsteady flows caused by prescribed oscillation of the profile were computed. The method of artificial compressibility and the time dependent method are used for computation of the steady state solution. (© 2004 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Virtual modeling of residual stress in drawn wire due to the skin pass effect
Authors: Iankov Roumen
Published: December 2004

The wire drawing technological process is wide use in industry. The effect of skin‐pass is apply for reduction of residual stress in final product. The finite element method is applied to simulate the effect of skin‐pass in wire drawing process. (© 2004 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Homogenisation of random composites via the multiscale finite‐element method
Authors: Ilić Sandra , Hackl Klaus
Published: December 2004

The transition between the chosen microstructure and microvariables and the material properties on the macrolevel is always a sensitive point in the theory of homogenisation. In this talk we will observe the transfer of data between the scales based on the multiscale finite element method where in each Gauss point of the macromesh a micromesh is attached. For a given deformation gradient provided from the macroscale one calculates microfluctuations satisfying periodic boundary conditions and from those the effective first Piola‐Kirchhoff stress tensor for each Gauss point. The latter provides a possibility to calculate the elasticity tensor on the macrolevel. We study a microstructure containing elliptical cracks of random aspect ratio and orientation. The results based on such procedure show the dependence of the macrovariables on the crack ellipticity. (© 2004 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Electric/magnetic deformations of S3 and AdS3, and geometric cosets
Authors: Israël D. , Kounnas C. , Orlando D. , Marios Petropoulos P.
Published: December 2004

We analyze asymmetric marginal deformations of SU(2)k and SL(2,ℝ)k WZW models. These appear in heterotic string backgrounds with non‐vanishing Neveu–Schwarz three‐forms plus electric or magnetic fields, depending on whether the deformation is elliptic, hyperbolic or parabolic. Asymmetric deformations create new families of exact string vacua. The geometries which are generated in this way, deformed S3 or AdS3, include in particular geometric cosets such as S2, AdS2 or H2. Hence, the latter are consistent, exact conformal sigma models, with electric or magnetic backgrounds. We discuss various geometric and symmetry properties of the deformations at hand as well as their spectra and partition functions, with special attention to the supersymmetric AdS2 × S2 background. We also comment on potential holographic applications.
Complete correlation, detection loophole and Bell's theorem
Authors: Shafiee A. , Golshani M.
Published: December 2004

Two new formulations of Bell's theorem are given here. First, we consider a definite set of two entangled photons with only two polarization directions, for which Bell's locality assumption is violated for the case of perfect correlation. Then, using a different approach, we prove an efficient Bell‐type inequality which is violated by some quantum mechanical predictions, independent of the efficiency factors.
Theoretical investigations of prostatic acid phosphatase
Authors: Sharma Satyan , Päivi Pirilä  , Kaija Helena , Porvari Katja , Vihko Pirkko , Juffer André H.
Published: December 2004

The phosphotyrosyl protein phosphatase activity of prostatic acid phosphatase (PAP) has been well established. It has also been suggested that PAP partly regulates the activity of growth factor receptors by dephosphorylating the autophosphorylysable tyrosines in them. We studied the binding of the peptides from epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and its homolog (ErbB‐2), corresponding to their autophosphorylation sites, to PAP using theoretical modeling and molecular dynamics (MD) simulation methods. Nine different peptides, each with a phosphotyrosine residue, were docked on human PAP. The binding energies of these peptide–PAP complexes were calculated theoretically and compared to experimentally obtained affinities. The peptide AceDNLpYYWDNH2 from ErbB‐2(1197–1203) showed the most favorable free energy of binding when estimated theoretically. The results demonstrate that the presence of another tyrosine residue proximate to C‐terminal of autophosphorylysable Tyr enhances the binding affinity considerably. The presence of a bulky group instead prevents the binding, as is observed in case of peptide AceNLYpYWDQNH2 which failed to bind, both in theoretical calculations and experiments. Thus we demonstarted that PAP could potentially bind to EGFR and Erbb‐2 and dephosphorylate them. Thus it could be involved in the regulation of the function of such receptors. In addition, complexes of a peptide from AngiotensinII and phosphotyrosine(pY) with human PAP were also modeled. The effects of different protonation states of the titratable active site residues on ligand (pY) binding have also been investigated. For a favorable binding His12 and Asp258 should be neutral, His257 should be positively charged and the phosphate group of the ligand should be in PO state. Furthermore, the analysis of protein motion as observed during simulations suggests the loop–loop contact in the PAP dimer to be of importance in cooperativity. Proteins 2005. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Correlation between displacive‐type ferroelectricity and electronic density of states near the Fermi level in SrBi2Ta2O9
Authors: Hidaka M. , Soejima M. , Noguchi Y. , Miyayama M. , Choi Sun‐Hee , Sung Nark Eon , Kim Min Gyu , Lee Jay Min
Published: December 2004

The structural deformations around Sr, Bi, and Ta ions, and the electronic density of states near the Fermi level have been studied in paraelectric and ferroelectric phases of the layer pseudo‐perovskite compound, SrBi2Ta2O9 (SBT), by means of X‐ray absorption spectra (XAS) near the absorption edges of Sr, Bi, and Ta ions. The X‐ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) shows that localized largely structural deformations appear around Sr and Ta ions, but not around Bi ion in the vicinity of the ferroelectric to paraelectric structural phase transition. In both phases, there are the charge‐transfer (4dL, 4d2L2, and 4d3L3) bands of Sr, the negative charge‐transfer (5d9L′, 5d8L′2, and 5d7L′3) bands of Bi, and the charge‐transfer 5dnLm bands of Ta. The notations L and L′ represent a hole in the O‐2p valence band, and in the fully occupied 5d band of the Bi ions, respectively. The Sr‐4d, Bi‐5d, and Ta‐5d orbitals are largely hybridized with the 2p orbitals of the nearest‐neighbor oxygen ions occupying the (Bi2O2)2+ sheets or the pseudo‐perovskite blocks (SrTa2O7)2–. This hybridization is induced by an electronic interaction between the cations (Sr, Bi, and Ta ions) and the anions (O ions). The Fermi level is very close to the unoccupied Sr‐5pπ and Ta‐5d(eg) bands, but not the unoccupied Bi‐6dπ band. In the ferroelectric phase, the hybridization between the Bi ion and the oxygen ions (O2) from the (SrTa2O7)2– blocks considerably reduced and almost disappears. This reduction and disappearance of the hybridization increases the effective charges on O2 in the TaO6 octahedra, while the (Bi2O2)2+ layers act only as insulators. Thus, the charge‐up of O2 contributes a large dielectric permittivity of the pseudo‐perovskite (SrTa2O7)2– blocks, in addition to the structural deformation induced near the phase transition at 300 °C. The strong hybridization between the Sr and oxygen ions (O1, O4, and O5) also plays a crucial role to characterize the unusual ferroelectricity in SrBi2Ta2O9 family of compounds substituted Sr ions with other ions or vacancies. (© 2005 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Moving dislocations in general anisotropic piezoelectric solids
Authors: Soh Ai Kah , Liu Jin‐xi , Lee Kwok Lun , Fang Dai‐ning
Published: December 2004

The explicit closed‐form solution is presented for a moving dislocation with the generalized Burgers vector $ {\bf {\tilde b} } $ = [b1, b2, b3, Δφ]T in an anisotropic piezoelectric solid, where Δφ corresponds to an electric dipole layer along the slip plane. The steady‐state version of the Stroh formalism for piezoelectricity is used in this work. Particular attention is paid to the basic characteristics of the electric displacement and electric field due to the moving piezoelectric dislocations. As an important example, a detailed analysis is made for moving dislocations in hexagonal piezoelectric crystals. (© 2005 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Relationship between and implications of the isotope and pressure effects on transition temperature, penetration depths and conductivities
Authors: Schneider T.
Published: December 2004

It is shown that the empirical relations between transition temperature, normal state conductivity linearly extrapolated to the value at the transition temperature, zero temperature penetration depths, etc., as observed in a rich variety of cuprate superconductors, are remarkably consistent with the universal critical properties of anisotropic systems which fall into the 3D‐XY universality class and undergo a crossover to a quantum critical point in 2D. The variety includes n‐ and p‐type cuprates, comprises the underdoped and overdoped regimes and the consistency extends up to six decades in the scaling variables. The resulting scaling relations for the oxygen isotope hydrostatic pressure effects agree with the experimental data and reveal that these effects originate from local lattice distortions preserving the volume of the unit cell. These observations single out 3D and anisotropic microscopic models which incorporate local lattice distortions, fall in the experimentally accessible regime into the 3D‐XY universality class, and incorporate the crossover to 2D quantum criticality where superconductivity disappears. (© 2005 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Nonadiabatic electron–phonon effects in low carrier density superconductors
Authors: Cappelluti E. , Pietronero L.
Published: December 2004

Different families of unconventional superconductors present a low charge carrier density as a common trait, suggesting that the low charge density can be at the basis of a unifying picture for different superconductors. In the past years we have suggested that the electron–phonon interaction can be responsible for a high‐Tc superconducting pairing in a nonadiabatic regime, where nonadiabatic effects are triggered on by the small electronic Fermi energy associated with the low charge density character. A coherent picture of such a framework requires however reconciling the low charge density and the small Fermi energy with a finite metallic character (sizable density of states and large Fermi surfaces). In this paper we investigate the peculiar conditions which are needed to be encountered in order to fulfill these requirements. We discuss the specific case of fullerenes, cuprates and MgB2 alloys by analyzing their specific structural and electronic properties The comparison between these materials and simple instructive models permits to underline the different routes to reconcile these characteristics in different compounds. In cuprates and fullerenes the interplay between small Fermi energies and large Fermi surface is strictly connected with strong electronic correlation effects. A comprehensive understanding of these issues can be useful to the future search for new nonadiabatic high‐Tc materials. (© 2005 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Residual adenylosuccinase activities in fibroblasts of adenylosuccinase‐deficient children: Parallel deficiency with adenylosuccinate and succinyl‐AICAR in profoundly retarded patients and non‐parallel deficiency in a mildly retarded girl
Authors: Van den Bergh F. , Vincent M. F. , Jaeken J. , Van den Berghe G.
Published: December 2004

Adenylosuccinase (ASase) catalyses both the conversion of succinylaminoimidazole carboxamide ribotide (succinyl‐AICAR) into AICAR and that of adenylosuccinate into AMP in the synthesis of purine nucleotides. Its deficiency results in the accumulation in body fluids of the nucleosides corresponding to both substrates, succinyl‐AICAriboside and succinyladenosine. Two main subtypes of the defect are type I with severe mental retardation and succinyladenosine/succinyl‐AICAriboside ratios around 1, and type II with slight mental delay and succinyladenosine/succinyl‐AICAriboside ratios around 4. We report that in fibroblasts of type I patients, the activity of ASase with both adenylosuccinate and succinyl‐AICAR is about 30% of normal. In contrast, in type II fibroblasts, the activity with adenylosuccinate is only 3% of normal, whereas that with succinyl‐AICAR is also 30% of normal. If also present in other tissues, this non‐parallel deficiency provides an explanation for the higher concentration of succinyladenosine in type II. In type I fibroblasts, ASase is further characterized mainly by a 3‐fold to 4‐fold increase inKm for succinyl‐AICAR, and by retarded elution from an anion exchanger. In type II fibroblasts, ASase is characterized by a similar increase inKm for succinyl‐AICAR but by a potent inhibition by KCl and nucleoside triphosphates, and by a normal elution profile. These results suggest a modification of the surface charge of ASase in type I, and the addition of one or more positively charged residues in the active site in type II.
Biochemical diagnosis of mucopolysaccharidoses: Experience of 297 diagnoses in a 15‐year period (1977–1991)
Authors: Di Natale P. , Annella T. , Daniele A. , De Luca T. , Morabito E. , Pallini R. , Rosario P. , Spagnuolo G.
Published: December 2004

We report the results over 15 years (1977–1991) for biochemical diagnoses of patients referred from throughout Italy and suspected of having a mucopolysaccharidosis. Of these, 147 patients were diagnosed as being homozygous or hemizygous for a specific lysosomal enzyme deficiency; 74 pregnancies at risk were monitored in their families; 76 heterozygote diagnoses were performed on their relatives, with a total of 48 positive diagnoses.

We also report the analysis of genomic DNA from 11 unrelated Italian Hunter patients, using pc2S15 probe. DNA from two patients, digested with Pst‐I, showed a variant pattern of hybridization caused by deletion or rearrangement of the gene.
Mutation analysis in families with discordant phenotypes of phenylalanine hydroxylase deficiency. Inheritance and expression of the hyperphenylalaninaemias
Authors: Guldberg P. , Levy H. L. , Koch R. , Berlin C. M. , Francois B. , Henriksen K. F. , Güttler F.
Published: December 2004

Neonatal hyperphenylalaninaemia caused by mutations in the gene encoding phenylalanine hydroxylase (PAH) represents a wide spectrum of metabolic phenotypes, ranging from classical phenylketonuria (PKU) to mild hyperphenylalaninaemia (MHP). The marked interindividual heterogeneity is due to the expression of multiple PAH mutations in genetic compounds. We have investigated four unusual families in which both PKU and MHP were present. In each family three different mutations in the PAH gene were identified, including two associated with PKU and one associated with MHP. The unexpected outcome of discordant phenotypes within the families described is explained by previously unrecognized parental MHP. By mutation analysis we have also predicted the phenotypical outcome in a hyperphenylalaninaemic infant born to a mother who before pregnancy had been diagnosed as having MHP. Our results demonstrate the utility of nucleic acid analysis in follow‐up in PKU screening programmes.
Mild phenotypic expression of α‐N‐acetylgalactosaminidase deficiency in two adult siblings
Authors: Chabás A. , Coll M. J. , Aparicio M. , Diaz E. Rodriguez
Published: December 2004

Two adult siblings with an α‐N‐acetylgalactosaminidase deficiency are described. The patients' major features are massive lymphoedema and angiokeratoma corporis diffusum. Neurological evaluation performed in one of the patients was considered within normal limits. Blood type is A positive in each case. Ultrastructural examination of skin revealed numerous vacuoles in endothelial cells and pericytes. Fibroblast activity of α‐N‐acetylgalactosaminidase was decreased to 0.6–2% of mean normal value. Chromatography of urinary oligosaccharides showed abnormal bands identical to those excreted by two infantile patients with Schindler disease. The bands were identified as sialyloligosaccharides, and gas chromatography revealed the presence ofN‐acetylgalactosamine‐rich compounds accounting for 30% of the total monosaccharide content of the oligosaccharide fraction.

These findings confirm the heterogeneity of α‐N‐acetylgalactosaminidase deficiency and emphasize the need to consider this lysosomal storage disease in the differential diagnosis of patients with angiokeratoma.
Variation in the herd composition counts of sika deer
Authors: Kaji Koichi , Takahashi Hiroshi , Tanaka Junpei , Tanaka Yuka
Published: December 2004

Herd composition counts (HCC) are commonly used to assess population status in deer. We evaluated the reliability of HCC of sika deer (Cervus nippon Temminck) using repeated counts and by comparing estimated sex ratios and calf‐to‐female ratios of marked deer on Nakanoshima Island, Hokkaido, Japan between April 1999 and October 2000. Although both total counts and sex and age ratios fluctuated greatly by month, seasonal changes showed a relatively small variance. This suggested that seasonal changes in behavior within sex and age classes contributed to biased ratio estimates obtained from HCC. Route counts should be used as a relative population abundance index with estimates of detection probability, especially for females. Adult sex ratios and age ratios from HCC were unbiased during the rutting season (October–November), and age ratios in spring could be used if yearlings are counted as adults.
Correlation of Volcanic Ash Deposits by Activation Analysis of Glass Separates
Authors: Borchardt G. A. , Harward M. E. , Schmitt R. A.
Published: December 2004

Volcanic ash deposits whose source is the Cascade Mountains area were correlated on the basis of 19 elemental abundances obtained by instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA). After activation of glassy separates in a TRIGA reactor, gammaray spectra were obtained and analyzed with computer programs. The elements Na, Sm, Sc, Fe, Ce, Hf, and Th were determined with relative standard deviations less than 5%; the precision for La, Co, Eu, Yb, Cs, Ba, and Lu was less than 17%; larger errors were obtained for Rb, Ta, Nd, Tb, and Cr. A statistical method was developed for correlation on the basis of relative elemental compositions unique to the ash deposits. Elemental abundances of Mazama glassy separates were independent of distance from the source. The site to site chemical variability of crystal rich Glacier Peak and St. Helens ash layers was greater than for Mazama and Newberry ashes. The Rb, Yb, Lu, Th, and Ta contents in Newberry glass were more than twice those in Mazama glass. The concentrations of trace elements in Glacier Peak and St. Helens ashes generally were less than one-half those in Mazama glass. The presence of Mazama ash has been confirmed at sites in Oregon, Washington, Alberta, and in sediments of the Pacific Ocean.
Sea Level History in Beringia During the Past 250,000 Years
Authors: Hopkins David M.
Published: December 2004

This paper attempts to relate current knowledge of sea-level history in Beringia to the Broecker-van Donk “Termination” concept of climatic and sea-level history. The Einahnuhtan transgression is thought to represent Termination III, which according to Broecker and van Donk, took place about 225,000 y.a. The Kotzebuan transgression is thought to represent a positive fluctuation that modulated the generally falling sea level during the ensuing 100,000 yr. Sea level probably fell to about −135 m in the Bering Sea area during the maximum phase of the penultimate glaciation. The two Pelukian shorelines probably represent Termination II (about 125,000 yr BP in the Broecker-van Donk chronology) and one of the two positive fluctuations that modulated the generally falling sea level of early Wisconsinan time, about 105,000 and 80,000 y.a. according to Broecker and van Donk. Another positive modulation brought sea level to at least −20 m, about 30,000 y.a. Sea level evidently fell to between −90 and −100 m during the late Wisconsinan regression, but a substantial part of the outer Bering shelf remained submerged. Submerged shoreline features at −38m, −30 m, −24 to −20 m, and −12 to −10 m represent stillstands or slight regressions that modulated Termination I, the late Wisconsinan, and early Holocene recovery of sea level.
Pleistocene Succession of the Central Interior United States
Authors: Frye John C.
Published: December 2004

The Quaternary of the continental interior of the United States is characterized by deposits from glacial ice, with associated outwash and eolian deposits, and by alluvial deposits produced by the same climatic pulses. Erosional incision of valleys occurred early in the glacial pulse, outwash deposition during the waning phase of the pulse, and soil formation during times of relative stability between the glacial pulses. These features of deposition, erosion, and soil formation are presented in a series of curves. One way the marine record could be correlated with that of the continental interior is to compare and match the physical records of both environments.
When did the Last Interglacial end?
Authors: Suggate R.P.
Published: December 2004

Disagreement on the time of the end of the Last Interglacial stems from lack of an agreed definition of an Interglacial. Although strictly a climatic episode, “Interglacial” as commonly used is essentially a chronologic unit equivalent to an Age, corresponding in time range to the chronostratigraphic unit Stage.

The name “Last Interglacial” has gained a global connotation so that its definition must take into account global rather than local effects of temperature fluctuations. An Interglacial begins with a warming to full interglacial warmth (as warm as the present day). It continues until a cooling of full glacial severity occurs, and includes any lesser coolings within a period of fluctuating climate. Such lesser coolings are recorded, particularly in deep-sea cores, following a period of warmth about 125,000 y.a. The cooling that led to the next full glacial cold began about 50,000 yr later. The Last Interglacial lasted from about 128,000 to 73,000 yr BP, equivalent to stage 5 of Shackleton and Opdyke.
The Racemization Rate Constant for Protein-Bound Aspartic Acid in Woodrat Middens
Authors: Petit Michael G.
Published: December 2004

The racemization rate constant for aspartic acid has been determined from the D/L isomeric ratio in four strata of radiocarbon dated woodrat midden in Arizona. Two different methods of stereospecifically deaminating L-aspartic acid prior to the assay are compared. It is found that pure L-amino acid oxidase pretreatment of the DL aspartic acid mixture requires one less step than treatment with crude, dialyzed venom (Crotalus viridis) but that the two methods give the same results. Application of the theory of amino acid racemization dating is discussed in the context of the steric properties ofthe protein environment in which the racemization actually occurs.