bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Toll-Like Receptors and Their Function in Innate and Adaptive Immunity
Authors: Heine Holger , Lien Egil
Published: April 2003

Over the past 3 years our knowledge about how we sense the microbial world has been fundamentally changed. It has been known for decades that microbial products, such as lipopolysaccharide, lipoproteins, or peptidoglycan, have a profound activity on human cells. Whereas the structure of many different pathogenic microbial compounds has been extensively studied and characterized, the molecular basis of their recognition by the cells of the innate immune system remained elusive for a long time. It was Charles Janeway [Cold Spring Harb Symp Quant Biol 1989;54/1:1–13] who developed the idea of microbial structures forming pathogen-associated molecular patterns that would be recognized by pattern recognition receptors. The discovery of the family of Toll receptors in species as diverse as Drosophila and humans, and the recognition of their role in distinguishing molecular patterns that are common to microorganisms have led to a renewed appreciation of the innate immune system. Moreover, it is now clear that the activation of the innate immune system through mammalian Toll-like receptors has also an instructive role for the responses of the adaptive immune response and, thus, may influence allergic diseases such as asthma.
Hepatoprotective Effect of Angelica archangelica in Chronically Ethanol-Treated Mice
Authors: Yeh Mei-Ling , Liu Chi-Feng , Huang Chun-Liang , Huang Tian-Chyuan
Published: April 2003

Angelica archangelica (AAA) has been effectively used in folk medicines as a remedy against stomachal and intestinal disturbances, arthritic disease, etc. However, there is still lack of scientific proof about its antioxidant capability. This study aimed at investigating the effects of total AAA against chronic ethanol-induced hepatotoxicity. ICR mice were divided into five groups, each consisting of 10 animals. A single dose of ethanol (70%, 0.1 ml, p.o.) was used to induce hepatotoxicity in these mice which resulted in a significant elevation of the activities of serum GOT and GPT. Treatment of mice with AAA (10, 25, and 50 mg/kg p.o.) after 2 weeks ameliorated the ethanol-induced hepatotoxicity effects. Hepatotoxicity was evidenced by a significant increase in hepatic lipid peroxidation manifested as the presence of malondialdehyde. It was found that AAA inhibits the malondialdehyde formation in mouse liver homogenates both in vitro and in vivo. AAA is cytoprotective agent effective against chronic ethanol-induced hepatotoxicity, possibly through inhibition of the production of oxygen free radicals that cause lipid peroxidation, and hence indirectly protects the liver from oxidative stress.
Comparison of the Effects of Cilazapril and of the Combination of Cilazapril Plus Valsartan in Patients with Advanced Heart Failure
Authors: Cocco Giuseppe , Kohn Sophia , Sfrisi Claudio
Published: April 2003

Background: Combined treatment with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and angiotensin II antagonists may be a more efficient therapy for cardiac failure than monotherapy with either drug. Objective: We compared the efficacy of the combination of cilazapril and valsartan to cilazapril as monotherapy in 46 patients with advanced heart failure of ischaemic aetiology. Methods: The design of the study is double blind, double dummy, with parallel groups. Diuretics and β-blockers were used as a basal therapy, and many patients were treated with digoxin, spironolactone and nitrates. Concomitant medication was left unchanged and patients were randomised in three groups: placebo (for test drugs), cilazapril, or a combination of cilazapril and valsartan. During 3 weeks, the test drugs were titrated upward, and the highest tolerated dose level was maintained for 6 weeks. At baseline and again at the end of the treatment, left ventricular ejection fraction and regional wall ventricular motility (echocardiography at rest and after pharmacological stress), exercise capacity, signs and symptoms of heart failure and brain natriuretic peptide levels were recorded. Results: Both treatments were well tolerated, however the effects of the combination were superior. Our results show that, in patients who are treated with β-blockers and diuretics, the combination of cilazapril and valsartan is more effective than cilazapril at the highest tolerated dosage in improving global and regional myocardial function both at rest and after stress, and in ameliorating cardiac symptoms and signs of heart failure. We think that the superior effect of the combination is related to a more effective anti-ischaemic effect.
NF-κB as a Therapeutic Target for Cardiovascular Disease
Authors: Hishikawa Keiichi , Nakaki Toshio
Published: April 2003

The transcription factor NF-ĸB regulates expression of many genes that are involved in inflammation, infection and tumor growth, and may play an important role in cardiovascular disease. Agents that inhibit this pathway, such as nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs and glucocorticoids, can reduce the inflammatory response, but their role in the treatment of cardiovascular disease is poorly understood. In this review, we describe various kinds of NF-ĸB inhibitors and discuss their potential role in the treatment of cardiovascular disease.
Intracellular Activity of Fosfomycin against Two Distinct Enteropathogenic Bacteria, Salmonella enterica and Listeria monocytogenes, Alive inside Host Cells
Authors: Okada Nobuhiko , Nishio Miki , Danbara Hirofumi
Published: April 2003

We studied the effect of fosfomycin (FOM) on the intracellular growth of two different facultative intracellular bacteria, Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium and Listeria monocytogenes, in an enterocyte-like cell line, Caco-2. These bacteria replicate in different compartments within the host cells; Salmonella serovar Typhimurium grow inside phagosomes, whereas L. monocytogenes escape the phagosomal environment and multiply in the cytosol of the host cells. At concentrations equal to 0.25 of the MIC and 4 times the MIC, respectively, FOM effectively decreased the number of intracellular Salmonella serovar Typhimurium. Although FOM was ineffective at inhibiting the extracellular growth of L. monocytogenes in vitro, this antibiotic induced a marked reduction in intracellular L. monocytogenes, indicating that, comparatively, FOM may be more effectively taken up by L. monocytogenes in the intracellular environment.
Reverse mosaicism in Fanconi anemia: natural gene therapy via molecular self-correction
Authors: Gross M. , Hanenberg H. , Lobitz S. , Friedl R. , Herterich S. , Dietrich R. , Gruhn B. , Schindler D. , Hoehn H.
Published: April 2003

Fanconi anemia (FA) is a genetically and phenotypically heterogenous autosomal recessive disease associated with chromosomal instability and hypersensitivity to DNA crosslinkers. Prognosis is poor due to progressive bone marrow failure and increased risk of neoplasia, but revertant mosaicism may improve survival. Mechanisms of reversion include back mutation, intragenic crossover, gene conversion and compensating deletions/insertions. We describe the types of reversions found in five mosaic FA patients who are compound heterozygotes for single base mutations in FANCA or FANCC. Intragenic crossover could be shown as the mechanism of self-correction in the FANCC patient. Restoration to wildtype via back mutation or gene conversion of either the paternal or maternal allele was observed in the FANCA patients. The sequence environments of these mutations/reversions were indicative of high mutability, and selective advantage of bone marrow precursor cells carrying a completely restored FANCA allele might explain the surprisingly uniform pattern of these reversions. We also describe a first example of in vitro phenotypic reversion via the emergence of a compensating missense mutation 15 amino acids downstream of the constitutional mutation, which explains the reversion to MMC resistance of the respective lymphoblastoid cell line. With one exception, our mosaic patients showed improvement of their hematological status during a three- to six-year observation period, indicating a proliferative advantage of the reverted cell lineages. In patients with Fanconi anemia, genetic instability due to defective caretaker genes sharply increases the risk of neoplasia, but at the same time increases the chance for revertant mosaicism leading to improved bone marrow function.
Comparative M-FISH and CGH analyses in sensitive and drug-resistant human T-cell acute leukemia cell lines
Authors: Weise A. , Liehr T. , Efferth T. , Kuechler A. , Gebhart E.
Published: April 2003

Cell lines of human T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemias (T-ALL) have gained high interest for study of mechanisms of cytostatic drug resistance. However, they should also be suited to examine the validity and reliability of molecular cytogenetic techniques in detecting genomic alterations in neoplastic cells. Therefore, comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) and 24-color-fluorescence-in-situ-hybridization (M-FISH) were applied to eight sublines of CCRF-CEM leukemia cells selected in vitro for drug resistance and to their drug-sensitive parental counterparts. All cell lines were characterized by altered chromosome numbers and by a variety of chromosomal structural aberrations as shown by M-FISH. The great majority of anomalies detected by this technique were confirmed by CGH. Interestingly, a considerable number of the rearrangements found were imbalanced. Amplifications of 5q13 in the six methotrexate-resistant cell lines, a del(9)(p21pter) in all lines examined, and a gain of chromosome 20 in 9 of the 10 lines examined were readily detected by both techniques. The same held true for losses of chromosomes 17 and 18 in the near tetraploid cell lines which could also be confirmed by CGH. Some imbalances of genomic material detected by CGH were, however, not observed by means of M-FISH, possibly due to the limited extension of the corresponding chromosomal segment involved or the small subpopulation of cells affected. On the other hand, reciprocal translocations, balanced isochromosomes, and small deletions remained mainly undetected by CGH. A comparison of chromosomal alterations in drug-resistant and parental cell lines showed not only amplifications of chromosomal segments harboring well-known drug resistance genes, e.g., the dihydrofolate reductase gene, but also chromosomal changes which may involve novel genes associated with drug resistance. Thus, the present study has clearly unveiled the strengths and weaknesses of both techniques which can excellently complement each other. Their combination allowed a distinct improvement of the definition of the complex karyotypes of drug-resistant cell lines.
Chromosome rearrangements between chicken and guinea fowl defined by comparative chromosome painting and FISH mapping of DNA clones
Authors: Shibusawa M. , Nishida-Umehara C. , Masabanda J. , Griffin D.K. , Isobe T. , Matsuda Y.
Published: April 2003

Chromosome homology between chicken (Gallus gallus) and guinea fowl (Numida meleagris) was investigated by comparative chromosome painting with chicken whole chromosome paints for chromosomes 1–9 and Z and by comparative mapping of 38 macrochromosome-specific (chromosomes 1–8 and Z) and 30 microchromosome-specific chicken cosmid DNA clones. The comparative chromosome analysis revealed that the homology of macrochromosomes is highly conserved between the two species except for two inter-chromosomal rearrangements. Guinea fowl chromosome 4 represented the centric fusion of chicken chromosome 9 with the q arm of chicken chromosome 4. Guinea fowl chromosome 5 resulted from the fusion of chicken chromosomes 6 and 7. A pericentric inversion was found in guinea fowl chromosome 7, which corresponded to chicken chromosome 8. All the chicken microchromosome-specific DNA clones were also localized to microchromosomes of guinea fowl except for several clones localized to the short arm of chromosome 4. These results suggest that the cytogenetic genome organization is highly conserved between chicken and guinea fowl.
Isolation of a new germ line-specific repetitive DNA family in Acricotopus by microdissection of polytenized germ line-limited chromosome sections from a permanent larval salivary gland preparation
Authors: Staiber W.
Published: April 2003

In Acricotopus lucidus (Diptera, Chironomidae) the germ line-limited chromosomes (Ks) have developed from the soma chromosomes (Ss) by endoreduplication, rearrangements and accumulation of germ line-specific repetitive sequences. For molecular analysis of specific small K sections, microdissection of metaphase Ks generally yields very limited amounts of DNA. In this study, K-specific DNA was microdissected from defined polytenized K sections of X-ray induced K-S-rearrangements of permanent salivary gland chromosome preparations and was then amplified by DOP-PCR. A new germ line-specific tandem repetitive DNA family was isolated by this way from a heterochromatic K segment, characterized and localized on the Ks by FISH. The repetitive elements are related to sequences of earlier described K-specific tandem repetitive DNA families in A. lucidus, but are located mainly in terminal heterochromatin bands of the two largest Ks and only to a limited degree in the paracentromeric K heterochromatin. This demonstrates that a collection of permanent preparations of K-S-rearrangements with polytenized heterochromatic and S-homologous K sections of A. lucidus can be used as a source for obtaining K sequences of defined K parts to investigate the molecular evolution of the Ks.
UVA and UVB Transmission of Fabrics: Critical Wavelength Based on Absorbance and Effective Dose
Authors: Gambichler T. , Laperre J. , Altmeyer P. , Hoffmann K.
Published: April 2003

Background: The degree to which a fabric protects the skin from ultraviolet (UV) rays is given as its UV protection factor (UPF) that is predominantly influenced by UVB transmission through the fabric. However, the UVA-blocking properties of a fabric are of significance as UVA plays also a role in photocarcinogenesis, photo-aging and provocation of photosensitive disorders. Objectives: The objective of this study was to present some overall performance of the protection against UVA radiation compared to the protection against UVB radiation of apparel fabrics. For this purpose, we aimed to study the ratio of the average UVA and UVB transmission and to calculate the critical wavelength (CW) of a large collection of fabric materials. Methods: We studied 196 different fabric materials. The fabrics were spectrophotometrically assessed in accordance with the European standard (part 1). We determined the mean UVB (290–320 nm) and UVA (320–400 nm) transmission, mean UVB/UVA ratios, maximum UVA transmission and CW based on absorbance and effective dose (ED). Results: We observed that about 90% of the fabrics had UVB/UVA ratios smaller than 1. This indicates that the average UVA transmission was higher than the average UVB transmission. For 20% of the fabrics, the average UVA transmission was at least twice as high as the average UVB transmission. When calculating the CW based on the absorbance for the sample set, we found that the CW of fabric materials is generally higher than 370 nm and is usually close to 380 nm. When the ED was used, a much smaller CW was found compared to the calculations based on absorbance. Conclusions: UVA transmission through fabrics is usually higher than UVB transmission. Despite a high UPF, increased UVA transmission through clothing may be of significance in triggering photosensitive disorders. The UVB/UVA ratio of fabric materials strongly correlates with the CW based on ED. Because frequently a UG-11 fluorescence filter has to be used in UPF assessment, the CW based on the ED is more relevant and less prone to measurement error.
Hyperhomocysteinemia and Vitamin Score: Correlations with Silent Brain Ischemic Lesions and Brain Atrophy
Authors: Polyak Zeev , Stern Felicia , Berner Yitshal N. , Sela Ben-Ami , Gomori John M. , Isayev Marina , Doolman Ram , Levy Shmuel , Dror Yosef
Published: April 2003

Elevated fasting plasma total homocysteine concentration (tHcy) and lower vitamin status are associated with atherosclerotic states. Silent brain ischemic lesions and brain atrophy, prevailing in the elderly, are affected by tHcy and vitamin status. The study was performed on 56 outpatients who had undergone brain computed tomography (CT) before the onset of the study. According to brain CT evaluation, three groups were set: minor brain ischemia, brain atrophy and control. Brain CT, tHcy, plasma pyridoxal phosphate (PLP), vitamin B12, folic acid and cognitive and functional capacities were measured or evaluated in all of the subjects. Plasma vitamin score for three vitamins was calculated. In subjects with minor brain ischemic lesions (n = 21), tHcy was higher by 5.6 µM, whereas vitamin score and cognitive function were lower than in controls (n = 24). In subjects with brain atrophy (n = 11), plasma PLP and cognitive function were lower. Particular attention should be paid to tHcy monitoring, vitamin status assessment and brain impairment evaluation.
Interleukin-2 Immunotherapy of Murine Cytomegalovirus Retinitis during MAIDS Correlates with Increased Intraocular CD8+ T-Cell Infiltration
Authors: Dix Richard D. , Cousins Scott W.
Published: April 2003

AIDS-related human cytomegalovirus retinitis continues to be an important sight-threatening disease in AIDS patients who do not respond to highly active antiretroviral therapy. We have shown previously that systemic cytokine immunotherapy with interleukin-2 (IL-2) will protect against experimental murine cytomegalovirus (MCMV) in mice with a murine retrovirus-induced immunodeficiency syndrome (MAIDS). Since IL-2 serves as a Th1 immunoregulatory cytokine, we hypothesized that IL-2-induced protection against MCMV retinitis during MAIDS would correlate with a measurable increase in the number of natural killer (NK) cells and/or CD8+ T cells that infiltrate the eye in response to MCMV infection of the retina. We therefore performed a study to quantify and compare the number of NK cells and CD8+ T cells that infiltrate MCMV-infected eyes in untreated and IL-2-treated mice with MAIDS at 3 days and 5 days after subretinal MCMV inoculation. Double-label flow cytometric analysis revealed the detection of measurable numbers of both NK cells and CD8+ T cells in MCMV-infected eyes of untreated MAIDS mice destined to develop retinitis. In contrast, IL-2 immunotherapy during MAIDS correlated with a 10-fold increase by day 5 after inoculation in the number of CD8+ T cells in MCMV-infected eyes destined to be resistant to retinitis. However, IL-2 immunotherapy during MAIDS had no appreciable effect on the number of NK cells that infiltrated MCMV-infected eyes. Taken together, our findings suggest that function of cytotoxic lymphocytes that infiltrate the eye may be more important than absolute numbers of cytotoxic lymphocytes that infiltrate the eye when assessing the protective effects of IL-2 immunotherapy on MCMV retinitis during MAIDS.
Metabolic Acidosis of Chronically Hemodialyzed Patients
Authors: Kovacic Vedran , Roguljic Luka , Kovacic Vinko
Published: April 2003

Metabolic acidosis is a condition that is commonly encountered in both chronic renal failure and in end-stage renal disease. Metabolic acidosis is associated with many adverse effects: negative nitrogen balance, increased protein decomposition, anorexia, fatigue, bone lesions, impaired function of the cardiovascular system, impaired function of the gastrointestinal system, hormonal disturbances, insulin resistance, hyperkalemia, altered gluconeogenesis and triglyceride metabolism, increased progression of chronic renal failure, and growth retardation in children. Even ‘minor’ degrees of metabolic acidosis are deleterious. Metabolic acidosis of end-stage renal patients could be successfully corrected with bicarbonate hemodialysis and with peroral bicarbonate-containing phosphate binders, i.e. calcium carbonate. Bicarbonate powder compared with bicarbonate solutions has some advantages and enables a stabile composition of electrolytes. ‘High’ dialysate bicarbonate (40– 42 mmol/l) is a safe, well-tolerated and useful tool for better correction of the metabolic acidosis and must become a standard of hemodialysis treatment. Measured postdialysis blood bicarbonate concentration should be obtained at least every month and correction of metabolic acidosis by maintaining serum bicarbonate ≧22 mmol/l should be a goal of the management of patients undergoing chronic hemodialysis.
Caveolin, Caveolae, and Endothelial Cell Function
Authors: Frank Philippe G. , Woodman Scott E. , Park David S. , Lisanti Michael P.
Published: April 2003

Caveolae are 50- to 100-nm cell-surface plasma membrane invaginations observed in terminally differentiated cells. They are particularly abundant in endothelial cells, where they are believed to play a major role in the regulation of endothelial vesicular trafficking and signal transduction. The use of caveolin-1–deficient mice has provided many new insights into the roles of caveolae and caveolin-1 in the regulation of endothelial cell function. These novel findings suggest an important role for caveolin-1 in the pathogenesis of cancer, atherosclerosis, and vascular disease.
Structural Changes in AMPA-Receptive Neurons in the Nucleus of the Solitary Tract of Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats
Authors: Aicher Sue A. , Sharma Sarita , Mitchell Jennifer L.
Published: April 2003

The baroreceptor reflex is critical for homeostatic regulation of blood pressure and is initiated centrally by glutamate release from baroreceptive afferents onto neurons in the nucleus of the solitary tract that activates AMPA-type glutamate receptors. The GluR1 subunit of the AMPA receptor is located at postsynaptic sites within the nucleus of the solitary tract, particularly in dendritic spines, which are important sites for synaptic plasticity. We tested whether the distribution of GluR1 changes after sustained hypertension, which alters baroreceptor afferent activity. We examined the distribution of GluR1 in the nucleus of the solitary tract of both hypertensive (spontaneously hypertensive) and normotensive (Wistar-Kyoto) rats at the light microscopic and electron microscopic levels. There were more GluR1-containing dendritic spines in the nucleus of the solitary tract of hypertensive rats compared with normotensive rats, which was attributable to an increase in the proportion of dendritic spines containing GluR1 as well as an increase in the total number of dendritic spines. The differences were only seen after the development of hypertension and were not seen in rostral regions of the nucleus of the solitary tract. In the spontaneously hypertensive rat, many synapses on GluR1-containing dendrites had the morphological features of synapses undergoing dynamic changes, including the presence of perforated synapses. These results suggest that changes in afferent activity to the nucleus of the solitary tract during sustained hypertension alter both the dendritic structure and AMPA receptor content of some neurons. These structural changes may be a substrate for central resetting of the baroreceptor reflex.
Treatment of Indolent B-Cell Nonfollicular Lymphomas: Final Results of the LL01 Randomized Trial of the Gruppo Italiano per lo Studio dei Linfomi
Authors: Baldini Luca , Brugiatelli Maura , Luminari Stefano , Lombardo Marco , Merli Francesco , Sacchi Stefano , Gobbi Paolo , Liberati Marina , Cavanna Luigi , Colombi Mariangela , Stelitano Caterina , Goldaniga Maria , Morabito Fortunato , Federico Massimo , Silingardi Vittorio
Published: April 2003

Purpose: To evaluate the effect of epirubicin on therapeutic response and survival in patients with indolent nonfollicular B-cell lymphomas (INFL) treated with pulsed high-dose chlorambucil.

Patients and Methods: A total of 170 untreated patients with advanced/active INFL were randomly assigned to receive either eight cycles of high-dose chlorambucil (15 mg/m2/d) plus prednisone (100 mg/d) for 5 days (HD-CHL-P; arm A) or eight cycles of HD-CHL-P plus epirubicin 60 mg/m2 intravenous on day 1 (arm B). The responding patients were randomly assigned to either maintenance therapy with interferon alfa (IFNα-2a; 3 MU, three times weekly) for 12 months or observation.

Results: There were 160 assessable patients (82 males, 78 females; median age, 63 years; range, 33 to 77 years); 77 patients were assigned to arm A, and 83 were assigned to arm B. Induction therapy led to 47 complete responses (CRs; 29.4%) and 68 partial responses (PRs; 42.5%), with no significant difference between the two arms (60 CR + PR in arm A [77.9%] and 55 CR + PR in arm B [66.3%]; P = .07). After a median follow-up of 38 months (range, 2 to 103 months), there was no between-group difference in overall survival (OS; P = .45), failure-free survival (P = .07), or progression-free survival (PFS; P = .5). Eighty-eight patients were randomly assigned to either IFNα-2a (n = 43) or observation (n = 45), without any difference in 3-year PFS (44% and 42%, respectively). Univariate analysis showed that OS was influenced by age, anemia, serum lactate dehydrogenase levels, and International Prognostic Index distribution; multivariate analysis identified age and anemia as having influence on OS.

Conclusion: HD-CHL-P treatment outcome in INFL patients was good (50% 3-year PFS, minimal toxicity, and low costs); epirubicin did not add any advantage. One-year IFNα maintenance treatment did not prolong response duration.
Coordinating Expertise in Software Development Teams
Authors: Faraj Samer , Sproull Lee
Published: April 2003

Like all teams, knowledge teams must acquire and manage critical resources in order to accomplish their work. The most critical resource for knowledge teams is expertise, or specialized skills and knowledge, but the mere presence of expertise on a team is insufficient to produce high-quality work. Expertise must be managed and coordinated in order to leverage its potential. That is, teams must be able to manage their skill and knowledge interdependencies effectively through expertise coordination, which entails knowing where expertise is located, knowing where expertise is needed, and bringing needed expertise to bear. This study investigates the importance of expertise coordination through a cross-sectional investigation of 69 software development teams. The analysis reveals that expertise coordination shows a strong relationship with team performance that remains significant over and above team input characteristics, presence of expertise, and administrative coordination.
Capital Budgeting, the Hold-up Problem, and Information System Design
Authors: Arya Anil , Fellingham John , Glover Jonathan , Sivaramakrishnan K.
Published: April 2003

In this article, we explore the connection between information system design and incentives for project search. The choice of an information system affects the level of managerial slack that is generated during project implementation. Whether slack is beneficial or costly to an organization has been the subject of debate. In our model of the hold-up problem in capital budgeting, there are both costs and benefits to having managerial slack. The cost of slack is the consumption of perquisites by the manager. The benefit of slack is that it can serve as a motivational tool. The possibility of increasing his slack may encourage a self-interested manager to conduct a more diligent search for a profitable project. To trade off the costs and benefits of slack in our model, an optimal information system sometimes incorporates coarse information, late information, and a mix of monitored and self-reported information. These features are familiar to accountants. Accounting incorporates both verified (monitored) and unverified (self-reported) information and provides information that is aggregated (coarse) and historical (late).
Improved Rolling Schedules for the Dynamic Single-Level Lot-Sizing Problem
Authors: Stadtler Hartmut
Published: April 2003

A major argument for favoring simple lot-sizing heuristics—like the Silver/Meal or Groff's heuristic—to solve instances of the dynamic single-level uncapacitated lot-sizing problem (SLLSP) instead of exact algorithms—like those of Wagner/Whitin or Federgruen/Tzur—is that exact algorithms applied in a rolling horizon environment are heuristics too and may be outperformed by simple heuristics.

This article shows how to modify the model of the SLLSP by looking beyond the planning horizon. Extensive tests within a rolling horizon environment have demonstrated that the modified model solved by an exact algorithm now performs at least as well as well-known heuristics and is fairly insensitive to the length of the planning horizon.

Furthermore, our principal idea of improving rolling schedules by considering only a portion of the fixed cost related to a decision with an impact on periods beyond the planning horizon is applicable to a wide range of decision models.
Sequential Product Positioning Under Differential Costs
Authors: Tyagi Rajeev K.
Published: April 2003

This paper examines the product positioning decisions of firms that enter a market sequentially and that have potentially different cost structures. It shows that if the first mover knows the second mover to have a lower production cost, it positions away from the most attractive location in the market; further, the larger the second-mover's cost advantage, the farther away the first mover positions from the most attractive location. The paper also models uncertainty in the first-mover's mind about the later-entrant's cost structure, and shows that an increase in this uncertainty (in the sense of mean-preserving spread) also makes the first mover position farther from the most attractive location in the market. Overall, this paper suggests that unless the first entrant in a market is certain that the later entrant will not have a superior cost structure, it may be better off leaving the best position in the market vacant and having a niche or fringe product.
The Volumetric Barrier for Semidefinite Programming
Authors: Anstreicher Kurt M.
Published: April 2003

We consider the volumetric barrier for semidefinite programming, or “generalized” volumetric barrier, as introduced by Nesterov and Nemirovskii. We extend several fundamental properties of the volumetric barrier for a polyhedral set to the semidefinite case. Our analysis facilitates a simplified proof of self-concordance for the semidefinite volumetric barrier, as well as for the combined volumetric-logarithmic barrier for semidefinite programming. For both of these barriers we obtain self-concordance parameters equal to those previously shown to hold in the polyhedral case.
Face‐Centered‐Cubic “Supracrystals” of Cobalt Nanocrystals
Authors: Lisiecki I. , Albouy P.‐A. , Pileni M.‐P.
Published: April 2003

Magnetic “supra” crystals have been built by slow evaporation of a solution of 7.2 nm cobalt nanoparticles in hexane. Scanning electron microscopy shows isolated pavements which height is of the order of 5 μm (see Figure). Investigation made by small‐angle X‐ray diffraction clearly indicates a face‐centered cubic structure.
Interphase layer formation in isotactic polypropylene/ethylene–propylene rubber blends
Authors: Baranov Andrey O. , Erina Nataliya A. , Kuptsov Sergey A. , Medintseva Tatiyana I. , Prut Eduard V.
Published: April 2003

The influence of the interphase layer, formed by the introduction of an oil in ethylene–propylene rubber (EPR), on the structure and properties of isotactic polypropylene (iPP)/EPR blends was studied. The dispersity of the rubber phase in the iPP matrix did not depend on presence of oil. The melting temperature of iPP decreased with increasing content of oil‐extended EPR, and it did not change if the oil was absent. The compatibility parameter was determined from the dependency of the iPP melting point on the rubber content with the Nishi–Wang equation. A negative value of the parameter indicated a limited compatibility of iPP with oil‐extended EPR. The latter also reduced the temperature and heat of crystallization of iPP. The mechanical properties of iPP/EPR blends were investigated as functions of temperature and elongation rate. It appeared that elastic modulus and yield stress of the blends linearly depended on the logarithm of the elongation rate. Activation volumes, calculated with the Eyring equation, increased with increasing content of elastomer; moreover, this increase was more pronounced for the oil‐extended elastomer. It is suggested that the oil influenced the structure of the interphase layer and, accordingly, the characteristics of the iPP/EPR blends. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 89: 249–257, 2003
Preparation and characterizations of interpenetrating polymer network hydrogels of poly(ethylene oxide) and poly(methyl methacrylate)
Authors: Kim Seon Jeong , Lee Chang Kee , Kim In Young , Hyeok An Kay , Kim Sun I.
Published: April 2003

Interpenetrating polymer network (IPN) hydrogels based on poly(ethylene oxide) and poly(methyl methacrylate) were prepared by radical polymerization using 2,2‐dimethyl‐2‐phenylacetophenone and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate as initiators and crosslinkers, respectively. The IPN hydrogels were analyzed for sorption behavior at 25°C and at a relative humidity of 95% using dynamic vapor sorption. The IPN hydrogels exhibited a relatively high equilibrium water content in the range of 13–68%. The state of water in the swollen IPN hydrogels was investigated using differential scanning calorimetry. The free water in the hydrogels increased as the hydrophilic content increased. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 89: 258–262, 2003
Sag mir, wo die Männer sind …
Authors: Vogt Günter
Published: April 2003

Mitte der 1990er Jahre ist im deutschen Aquarienhandel ein Flusskrebs aufgetaucht, der sich wegen seiner ansprechenden marmorierten Färbung und seiner einfachen Handhabbarkeit rasch zu einem Liebling der Aquarianer entwickelt hat. Seine Herkunft ist rätselhaft, seine Vermehrungsfähigkeit enorm: Im Gegensatz zu anderen Dekapoden sind die Weibchen des „Marmorkrebses”︁ zur Fortpflanzung nicht auf Männchen angewiesen.
Synaptic connections of starburst amacrine cells and localization of acetylcholine receptors in primate retinas
Authors: Yamada Elizabeth S. , Dmitrieva Nina , Keyser Kent T. , Lindstrom Jon M. , Hersh Louis B. , Marshak David W.
Published: April 2003

Starburst amacrine cells in the macaque retina were studied by electron microscopic immunohistochemistry. We found that these amacrine cells make a type of synapse not described previously; they are presynaptic to axon terminals of bipolar cells. We also confirmed that starburst amacrine cells are presynaptic to ganglion cell dendrites and amacrine cell processes. In order to determine the functions of these synapses, we localized acetylcholine receptors using a monoclonal antibody (mAb210) that recognizes human α3‐ and α5‐containing nicotinic receptors and also antisera against the five known subtypes of muscarinic receptors. The majority of the mAb210‐immunoreactive perikarya were amacrine cells and ganglion cells, but a subpopulation of bipolar cells was also labeled. A subset of bipolar cells and a subset of horizontal cells were labeled with antibodies to M3 muscarinic receptors. A subset of amacrine cells, including those that contain cholecystokinin, were labeled with antibodies to M2 receptors. Taken together, these results suggest that acetylcholine can modulate the activity of retinal ganglion cells by multiple pathways. J. Comp. Neurol. 461:76–90, 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Distribution of CNTF receptor α protein in the central nervous system of the chick embryo
Authors: Fuhrmann Sabine , Grabosch Kim , Kirsch Matthias , Hofmann Hans‐Dieter
Published: April 2003

Ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) promotes the survival and differentiation of various neuronal and glial cell populations in the nervous system of vertebrates. In mammals, the ligand‐binding α‐subunit of the CNTF receptor (CNTFRα) is expressed in a variety of neuronal populations, including all CNTF‐responsive cells. Previous studies suggested that functional differences in the CNTF/CNTF receptor system between chicks and mammals exist. The purpose of the present study was to examine the temporal and spatial expression pattern of the chick CNTFRα protein during CNS development. Receptor expression was detectable by immunoblotting in all CNS areas tested but showed area‐specific developmental regulation. Interestingly, two variants of CNTFRα, 69 and 65 kD, were identified by immunoblotting with a shift from the higher to the lower molecular mass species occurring during development. Immunoreactivity for CNTFRα protein was preferentially observed in neuropil and white matter structures of the developing CNS while neuronal somata generally appeared unlabeled. For example, expression was observed in the olfactory system, in the telencephalon, in parts of the somatosensory system, in components of the tectofugal pathway, in the cerebellum, and in auditory brainstem nuclei. Fiber tracts that exhibit CNTFRα immunoreactivity were the lateral forebrain bundle, occipitomesencephalic tract, quintofrontal tract, and vestibular nerve. Our study identifies potential new targets of a chick CNTF‐related molecule and reveals significant regional differences of CNTFRα protein expression between chick and mammals. These results suggest that the CNTF receptor performs distinct developmental functions in different animals. J. Comp. Neurol. 461:111–122, 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Stable systolic inequalities and cohomology products
Authors: Bangert Victor , Katz Mikhail
Published: April 2003

Multiplicative relations in the cohomology ring of a manifold impose constraints upon its stable systoles. Given a compact Riemannian manifold (X, g), its real homology H*(X, ℝ) is naturally endowed with the stable norm. Briefly, if h ∈ Hk (X, ℝ), then the stable norm of h is the infimum of the Riemannian k‐volumes of real cycles representing h. The stable k‐systole is the minimum of the stable norm over nonzero elements in the lattice of integral classes in Hk (X, ℝ). Relying on results from the geometry of numbers due to W. Banaszczyk, and extending work by M. Gromov and J. Hebda, we prove metric‐independent inequalities for products of stable systoles, where the product can be as long as the real cup length of X. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Synthesis of hindered hydrazones and their reaction with thionyl chloride
Authors: Hegab Mohamed I. , Hassan Nasser A. , El‐Telbani Emad M. , Ahmed Farag Ibrahim S. , Abdel‐Megeid Farouk M. E.
Published: April 2003

Hydrazones 12a–c and ketazines 13a–c were prepared by the reaction of ketones 11a–c with hydrazine hydrate depending on the temperature and the reaction time. Some ketone (aryl)hydrazone derivatives 14a,c,e reacted with thionyl chloride to afford the chlorothiadiazoline derivatives 15a–c. Surprisingly, the chlorine atom in the latter compounds was found to undergo smooth nucleophilic substitution, and by boiling these compounds in absolute ethanol gave the corresponding ethoxythiadiazoline derivatives 16a–c. The structure of the ethoxythiadiazoline 16b was confirmed by single crystal X‐ray determination. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heteroatom Chem 14:223–228, 2003; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/hc.10125
A facile approach to phosphonic acid diesters
Authors: Xiao Qiang , Ju Yong , Zhao Yufen
Published: April 2003

The symmetric H‐phosphonates of carbohydrate and other compounds were conveniently prepared by direct transesterification of the corresponding monohydroxylic compounds with diphenyl phosphite. The approach has the merits of mild reaction conditions and high yields. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heteroatom Chem 14:208–210, 2003; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/hc.10130
Parmelia cirrhatum: a potential source of broad spectrum natural antifungal
Authors: Shahi Sushil K. , Patra Mamta , Dikshit Anupam , Upreti D. K
Published: April 2003

During antifungal screening of some plants, the water extract of lichen, Parmelia cirrhatum was found to be most effective against tested pathogenic fungi at the range of 60–80 µL/mL concentrations. The extract showed heavy doses of inoculum potential at 80 µL/mL and the antifungal activity of the extract did not expire up to 24 months of storage. The extract did not showed any irritation on mammalian skin up to 10% concentration. Thus, the water extract of Parmelia cirrhatum can be used a potential source of natural antifungal against fungal infections. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Effects of Zuccagnia punctata on the gastrointestinal tract in rats and mice
Authors: Ortega C. A. , María A. O. M. , Giordano O. S. , Gianello J. C.
Published: April 2003

A pharmacological evaluation of Zuccagnia punctata Cav. (Fabaceae) on the gastrointestinal tract was made in rats and mice. 2′,4′‐dihydroxychalcone and 2′,4′‐dihydroxy‐3′‐methoxychalcone were isolated from Zuccagnia punctata. The data reported in the present work indicate that the acetone extract and infusion of Zuccagnia punctata reduced intestinal transit in rats and mice and offered protection against ethanol‐induced ulceration in rats. The Z. punctata effect could be due, in part, to the presence of 2′,4′‐dihydroxychalcone and 2′,4′‐dihydroxy‐3′‐methoxychalcone in this plant. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Antiangiogenic activity of lupeol from Bombax ceiba
Authors: You Young‐Jae , Nam Nguyen‐Hai , Kim Yong , Bae Ki‐Hwan , Ahn Byung‐Zun
Published: April 2003

In the search for antiangiogenic agents from medicinal plants used in Vietnam, a methanol extract of the stem barks of Bombax ceiba was found to exhibit a signiﬁcant antiangiogenic activity on in vitro tube formation of human umbilical venous endothelial cells (HUVEC). Bioactivity‐guided fractionation and isolation carried out on this extract afforded lupeol as an active principle. At 50 and 30 µg/mL lupeol showed a marked inhibitory activity on HUVEC tube formation while it did not affect the growth of tumor cell lines such as SK‐MEL‐2, A549, and B16‐F10 melanoma. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Protective effects of Acanthopanax Radix extract against endotoxemia induced by lipopolysaccharide
Authors: Yokozawa Takako , Rhyu Dong Young , Chen Cui Ping
Published: April 2003

Endotoxemia causes an enhanced production of reactive oxygen radicals, which contribute to multiple organ dysfunction. When rats were given intravenous lipopolysaccharide and tested 6 h later we found that the activities of catalase and glutathione peroxidase (GSH‐Px) in kidney, were acutely suppressed while in serum the levels of nitric oxide (NO), lipid peroxidation, urea nitrogen and creatinine were signiﬁcantly increased, indicating the excessive production of reactive oxygen radicals and the presence of renal injury. Pretreatment of rats with Acanthopanax Radix extract administered orally for 30 days reduced the NO and lipid peroxidation levels, increased the activities of catalase and GSH‐Px, and attenuated the renal dysfunction. These results suggested that scavenging of reactive oxygen radicals is part of the mechanism by which Acanthopanax Radix extract works as an effective agent in preventing multiple organ dysfunction. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
In vitro antagonistic activity of monoterpenes and their mixtures against ‘toe nail fungus’ pathogens
Authors: Ramsewak Russel S. , Nair Muraleedharan G. , Stommel Manfred , Selanders Louise
Published: April 2003

The antibiotic effect of the active ingredients in Meijer™ medicated chest rub (eucalyptus oil, camphor and menthol) as well as the inactive ingredients (thymol, oil of turpentine, oil of nutmeg and oil of cedar leaf) were studied in vitro using the fungal pathogens responsible for onychomycosis, such as the dermatophytes Tricophyton rubrum, Trichophyton mentagrophytes, Microsporum canis, Epidermophyton ﬂoccosum and Epidermophyton stockdale. The zones of inhibition data revealed that camphor (1), menthol (2), thymol (3) and oil of Eucalyptus citriodora were the most efﬁcacious components against the test organisms. The MIC100 for mixtures of these four components in various carrier solvents revealed that formulations consisting of 5 mg/mL concentrations of each have a potential to be efffective in controlling onychomycosis. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Curcacycline A — a novel cyclic octapeptide isolated from the latex of Jatropha curcas L
Authors: van den Berg A.J.J. , Horsten S.F.A.J. , Kettenes-van den Bosch J.J. , Kroes B.H. , Beukelman C.J. , Leeflang B.R. , Labadie R.P.
Published: April 2003

From the latex of Jatropha curcas L. (Euphorbiaceae) a novel cyclic octapeptide was isolated, which we named curcacycline A. The compound was found to contain one threonine, one valine, two glycine, and four leucine residues. By two‐dimensional 1H‐NMR spectroscopy (HOHAHA and ROESY), its sequence was determined to be Gly1‐Leu2‐Leu3‐Gly4‐Thr5‐Val6‐Leu7Leu8‐Gly1. Curcacycline A displays a moderate inhibition of (i) classical pathway activity of human complement and (ii) proliferation of human T‐cells.
Structures of genes for two cathelin‐associated antimicrobial peptides: prophenin‐2 and PR‐39
Authors: Zhao Chengquan , Ganz Tomas , Lehrer Robert I.
Published: April 2003

We characterized genes for prophenin (PF)‐2 and PR‐39, two cathelin‐associated antimicrobial peptides found in porcine leukocytes. Both contained 4 exons and 3 introns and were compact, contiguous and highly homologous. Exons I–III encoded most of their cathelin domains. Exon IV specified the final few cathelin residues, including its conserved C‐terminal valine, followed by the mature PR‐39 peptide or a PF‐2 precursor. The highly conserved 5′ flanking sequences of this gene family contained NF‐κB, IL‐6, GM‐CSF and NF‐1 binding motifs and the introns were unusually conserved. These data suggest that the panoply of porcine cathelin‐associated antimicrobial peptides arose relatively recently via gene reduplications and exon shuffling, and that in vivo expression of cathelin‐associated antimicrobial peptides may respond to mediators generated early during infection.
Regulation of ob gene mRNA levels in cultured adipocytes
Authors: Rentsch Juerg , Chiesi Michele
Published: April 2003

mRNA levels of the ob gene product, leptin, were investigated by quantitative competitive RT‐PCR in a mouse cell line (3T3‐L1) which can be induced to differentiate into adipocytes. During conversion to fat cells, the level of leptin mRNA increased several‐fold and in parallel to that for typical adipocyte markers like lipoprotein lipase, adipsin and glycerophosphate dehydrogenase. Leptin transcription, however, did not correlate with the size of the adipocytes measured as total triglycerides. On the other hand, mRNA levels for leptin in fully differentiated adipocytes were increased 2–3 fold by insulin. In contrast, free fatty acids exerted a concentration‐dependent inhibition of leptin transcription while the corticosteroid dexamethasone and an elevation of intracellular cAMP displayed only marginal inhibitory effects on leptin mRNA levels.