bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Synthesis and Structural Metastability of CdTe Nanowires
Authors: Kumar Sandeep , Ade Martin , Nann Thomas
Published: February 2005

A new organometallic preparation method is described for CdTe nanowires with a high aspect ratio and a predominantly metastable wurtzite phase. The optical and morphological properties of the resulting nanowires were studied, as well as the influence of elevated temperatures on the crystallographic properties. A phase transition from wurtzite to sphalerite was observed at about 500 °C. The results show that the wurtzite phase is stabilized by the synthetic method and the surfactants.
Direct effects of T‐bet and MHC class I expression, but not STAT1, on peripheral NK cell maturation
Authors: Robbins Scott H. , Tessmer Marlowe S. , Van Kaer Luc , Brossay Laurent
Published: February 2005

The homeostatic maturation of NK cells is severely impaired in mice lacking the transcription factor T‐bet, and the expression of the NK cell maturation marker killer cell lectin‐like receptor G1 (KLRG1) has been shown to be dependent on MHC class I molecules. Interferon (IFN)‐γ signaling via the signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT)1 is vital for T‐bet and MHC class I induction. Here we investigated the relationship between STAT1, T‐bet, and MHC class I molecules with regard to the phenotypic maturation of peripheral NK cells. We demonstrate that, to varying degrees, the maturation status of peripheral NK cells is impaired in naive mice with deficiencies in STAT1, T‐bet, or MHC class I molecules. We find that in naive animals, the expression of wild‐type levels of MHC class I molecules in trans is sufficient to restore the maturation profiles of STAT1–/– NK cells in vivo. In contrast, expression of T‐bet is required in cis for normal NK cell maturation to occur. Additionally, we demonstrate that the activation‐induced maturation of NK cells during the course of murine cytomegalovirus (MCMV) infection does not require expression of MHC class I molecules or STAT1 but is severely delayed in the absence of T‐bet.
Hippocampal 72‐kDa heat shock protein expression varies according to mice learning performance independently from chronic exposure to stress
Authors: Ambrosini Maria Vittoria , Mariucci Giuseppina , Tantucci Michela , Van Hooijdonk Lenneke , Ammassari‐Teule Martine
Published: February 2005

The possibility that the inducible 72‐kDa heat shock protein (hsp72) is involved in learning‐related plasticity mechanisms was investigated in two inbred strains of mice that show spontaneous differences in spatial learning performance as well as an opposite reactivity to stress. Induction of hsp72 after radial maze training was measured by immunoblotting in the hippocampus of C57BL/6 (C57) and DBA/2 (DBA) inbred mice exposed or nonexposed to chronic acoustic stress. In agreement with previous studies, inter‐strain differences in radial maze performance were found in nonstressed mice with C57 mice showing the higher scores. Chronic acoustic stress, however, impaired performance in the high‐learner C57 strain and improved performance in the low‐learner DBA strain. Western blot analysis revealed that post‐training expression of hsp72 was low in the condition each strain was showing the higher‐performance (nonstressed C57 and stressed DBA) and high in the condition each strain was showing the lower performance (stressed C57 and nonstressed DBA). These findings indicate that expression of hsp72 in the hippocampus varies as a function of the learning performance independently from exposure to chronic acoustic stress. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Induction of cytotoxicity in human lung adenocarcinoma cells by 6‐O‐carboxypropyl‐α‐tocotrienol, a redox‐silent derivative of α‐tocotrienol
Authors: Yano Yoshihisa , Satoh Haruna , Fukumoto Keiko , Kumadaki Itsumaro , Ichikawa Tomio , Yamada Kazuhiko , Hagiwara Kiyokazu , Yano Tomohiro
Published: February 2005

Tocotrienols are one of the most potent anticancer agents of all natural compounds and the anticancer property may be related to the inactivation of Ras family molecules. The anticancer potential of tocotrienols, however, is weakened due to its short elimination half life in vivo. To overcome the disadvantage and reinforce the anticancer activity in tocotrienols, we synthesized a redox‐silent analogue of α‐tocotrienol (T3), 6‐O‐carboxypropyl‐α‐tocotrienol (T3E). We estimated the possibility of T3E as a new anticancer agent against lung adenocarcinoma showing poor prognosis based on the mutation of ras gene. T3E showed cytotoxicity against A549 cells, a human lung adenocarcinoma cell line with a ras gene mutation, in a dose‐dependent manner (0–40 μM), whereas T3 and a redox‐silent analogue of α‐tocopherol (T), 6‐O‐carboxypropyl‐α‐tocopherol (TE), showed much less cytotoxicity in cells within 40 μM. T3E cytotoxicity was based on the accumulation of cells in the G1‐phase of the cell‐cycle and the subsequent induction of apoptosis. Similar to this event, 24‐hr treatment of A549 cells with 40 μM T3E caused the inhibition of Ras farnesylation, and a marked decrease in the levels of cyclin D required for G1/S progression in the cell‐cycle and Bcl‐xL, a key anti‐apoptotic molecule. Moreover, the T3E‐dependent inhibition of RhoA geranyl‐geranylation is an inducing factor for the occurrence of apoptosis in A549 cells. Our results suggest that T3E suppresses Ras and RhoA prenylation, leading to negative growth control against A549 cells. In conclusion, a redox‐silent analogue of T3, T3E may be a new candidate as an anticancer agent against lung adenocarcinoma showing poor prognosis based on the mutation of ras genes. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Neuroserpin (PI‐12) is upregulated in high‐grade prostate cancer and is associated with survival
Authors: Hasumi Hisashi , Ishiguro Hitoshi , Nakamura Masashi , Sugiura Shinpei , Osada Yutaka , Miyoshi Yasuhide , Fujinami Kiyoshi , Yao Masahiro , Hamada Kenji , Yamada‐Okabe Hisafumi , Kubota Yoshinobu , Uemura Hiroji
Published: February 2005

We carried out Genechip analysis using prostate cancer and non‐malignant tissue to identify specific genes related to prostate cancer. We focused on neuroserpin (PI‐12), which has been identified as one of the genes with high expression in prostate cancer. We analyzed the relationship between its expression pattern and clinical characteristics. Prostate cancer and normal prostate tissue were analyzed by Affymetrix GeneChip technology. We carried out real‐time quantitative PCR on a total of 102 specimens: 45 of normal prostate, 45 of previously untreated prostate cancer (constituting 45 pairs of samples obtained at radical prostatectomy, with each pair dissected from the same prostate specimen) and 12 of recurrent hormone refractory prostate cancer (HRPC). Results showed that the neuroserpin gene was more highly expressed in prostate cancer than in normal prostate tissue. Neuroserpin expression in untreated prostate cancer was significantly higher than that in normal prostate. In HRPC it was significantly higher than that in untreated prostate cancer and normal prostate. In untreated prostate cancer, neuroserpin expression was significantly higher in high grade tumors such as poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma than in lower grade tumors such as well or moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma. Higher neuroserpin expression was associated with shorter recurrence‐free survival after radical prostatectomy, shorter recurrence‐free survival in HRPC patients and shorter overall survival in HRPC patients. The neuroserpin gene may be associated with the development, progression and aggressiveness of prostate cancer. Our present data suggests that higher neuroserpin expression may predict an unfavorable outcome after radical prostatectomy or hormone therapy. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Lithium‐mediated downregulation of PKB/Akt and cyclin E with growth inhibition in hepatocellular carcinoma cells
Authors: Erdal Esra , Ozturk Nuri , Cagatay Tolga , Eksioglu‐Demiralp Emel , Ozturk Mehmet
Published: February 2005

We studied in vitro effects of glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK3β)‐inhibitor lithium on the growth of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells. Lithium induced strong growth inhibition (>70%) in 75% (n = 9 of 12) of cell lines, apparently independent from the status of major genes that are mutated in HCC including p53, p16INK4a, β‐catenin and Axin1. Comparative studies with a growth‐sensitive Huh7 and growth‐resistant Hep40 cell lines showed that lithium induces growth arrest in Huh7 cells but not in Hep40 cells. Lithium induced the accumulation of N‐terminally phosphorylated inactive form of GSK3β with concomitant increase in β‐catenin and β‐catenin/TCF transcriptional activity in both cell lines. This suggests that lithium‐mediated HCC growth inhibition is independent of its well‐known stimulatory effect on Wnt‐β‐catenin signaling. The main differences between Huh7 and Hep40 responses to lithium treatment were observed at the levels PKB/Akt and cyclin E proteins. Lithium induced depletion of both proteins in growth‐sensitive Huh7, but not in growth‐resistant Hep40 cells. PKB/Akt and Cyclin E are 2 major proteins that are known to be constitutively active in HCC. The targeting of both proteins with lithium may be the main reason why most HCC cells are responsive to lithium‐mediated growth inhibition, independent of their p53, retinoblastoma and Wnt‐β‐catenin pathways. The exploration of molecular mechanisms involved in lithium‐mediated growth inhibition in relation with PKB/Akt and cyclin E downregulation may provide new insights for therapy of liver tumors. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Yeast (ADPribosyl)ation: Revisiting a controversial question
Authors: Faraone‐Mennella Maria Rosaria , De Maio Anna , Petrella Anna , Syntichaki Evangelia , Kerbalaeva Albina M. , Nasmetova S.M. , Goulyamova Toshkon G. , Farina Benedetta
Published: February 2005

The controversy about the occurrence of an (ADPribosyl)ating activity in yeast is still standing up. Here we discuss this topic on the basis of results obtained with classic experiments proposed over years as basis to characterize an (ADPribosyl)ation system in any organism. Independent results obtained in two different laboratories were in line with each other and went towards the occurrence of an active (ADPribosyl)ating system in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. In fact data collected from nuclear preparations of cultured cells matched those from baker's yeast and lyophilized yeast cells. Yeast (ADPribosyl)ating enzyme is a protein of 80–90 kDa, as determined by electrophoresis on polyacrylamide gel in sodium dodecyl sulphate, followed by immunoblotting with antibodies against anti‐poly(ADPribose) polymerase catalytic site. It synthesizes products, that, after digestion with phosphodiesterase, co‐migrates mainly with phosphoribosyl adenosine monophosphate after thin layer chromatography on silica gel plate. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Comparison of potential protective effects of melatonin, indole‐3‐propionic acid, and propylthiouracil against lipid peroxidation caused by potassium bromate in the thyroid gland
Authors: Karbownik Malgorzata , Stasiak Magdalena , Zasada Krzysztof , Zygmunt Arkadiusz , Lewinski Andrzej
Published: February 2005

Potassium bromate (KBrO3) is a prooxidant and carcinogen, inducing thyroid tumors. Melatonin and indole‐3‐propionic acid (IPA) are effective antioxidants. Some antioxidative effects of propylothiouracil (PTU)—a thyrostatic drug—have been found. The aim of the study was to compare protective effects of melatonin, IPA, and PTU against lipid peroxidation in the thyroids, collected from rats treated with KBrO3, and in homogenates of porcine thyroids, incubated in the presence of KBrO3. Wistar rats were administered KBrO3 (110 mg/kg b.w., i.p., on the 10th day of the experiment) and/or melatonin, or IPA (0.0645 mmol/kg b.w., i.p., twice daily, for 10 days), or PTU (0.025% solution in drinking water, for 10 days). Homogenates of porcine thyroids were incubated for 30 min in the presence of KBrO3 (5 mM) plus one of the antioxidants: melatonin (0.01, 0.1, 0.5, 1.0, 5.0, 7.5 mM), or IPA (0.01, 0.1, 0.5, 1.0, 5.0, 7.5, 10.0 mM), or PTU (0.01, 0.1, 0.5, 1.0, 5.0, 7.5, 10.0 mM). The level of lipid peroxidation products (MDA + 4‐HDA) was measured spectrophotometrically in thyroid homogenates. In vivo pretreatment with either melatonin or with IPA or with PTU decreased lipid peroxidation caused by KBrO3—injections in rat thyroid gland. Under in vitro conditions, PTU (5.0, 7.5, and 10.0 mM), but neither melatonin nor IPA, reduced KBrO3‐related lipid peroxidation in the homogenates of porcine thyroids. In conclusion, melatonin and IPA may be of great value as protective agents under conditions of exposure to KBrO3. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Career choices and workplace challenges for individuals with ADHD
Authors: Nadeau Kathleen G.
Published: February 2005

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in adults is increasingly recognized as a common disorder that can significantly impact workplace functioning, yet few clinicians or career consultants have training in how to help adults select careers or jobs within a chosen career that are a good match for their strengths, weaknesses, ADHD tendencies, and coexisting conditions. Straightforward career counseling is inadequate to meet the needs of adults who have ADHD, and significant follow‐up, brain‐based counseling or therapy is often necessary to help these adults implement the recommendations generated by an ADHD career assessment. This article guides the clinician through the multiple steps of clinical interview, assessment, and intervention when working with adults who have ADHD who face challenges in the workplace. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Psychol/In Session 61: 549–563, 2005.
Ileal digestibility of defatted soybean, lupin and chickpea seed meals in cannulated Iberian pigs: I. Proteins
Authors: Rubio Luis A
Published: February 2005

Five castrated male Iberian pigs (100 ± 2 kg body weight) fitted with T‐shaped cannulas at the terminal ileum were used to determine ileal digestibility of legume seed meals. The diets were based on defatted soybean, lupin or chickpea seed meals and contained similar levels of digestible energy (14.2–15.1 kJ g−1) and protein (107 g kg−1). Protein‐free and a hydrolysed casein diets were used to study endogenous ileal amino acid flows. Chromium oxide (10 g kg−1 diet) was added to the diets as an indigestible marker. Ileal flows in pigs fed the hydrolysed casein diet were different (p < 0.05) in amino acid contents and composition from those on the protein‐free diet. Ileal sialic acid flows in pigs fed lupin‐ or chickpea‐based diets were higher (p < 0.05) than those of animals fed soybean or casein diets. Among essential amino acids, only the apparent ileal digestibilities of phenylalanine and valine in lupin meal were lower (p < 0.05) than those in soybean. Apparent ileal digestibilities of lupin aspartate and proline, together with chickpea aspartate, were also lower (p < 0.05) than those of soybean. True ileal digestibility of nitrogen in pigs fed lupin or chickpea meals, calculated according to values from animals fed the protein‐free diet, was lower (p < 0.05) than that for soybean or casein. Among individual essential amino acids, only the true ileal digestibility of phenylalanine in lupin was lower (p < 0.05) than that in soybean. True ileal digestibility of nitrogen calculated according to values obtained with pigs fed a hydrolysed casein diet was not different among soybean, lupin or chickpea meals. Among essential amino acids, only the true ileal digestibilities of isoleucine and lysine in chickpea were lower (p < 0.05) than those of soybean. It is concluded that true ileal nitrogen and amino acid digestibilities of lupin and chickpea meals are comparable to those of defatted soybean in Iberian pigs. The results with protein‐free diets tended to underestimate endogenous protein secretion in pigs fed on diets containing protein. Copyright © 2005 Society of Chemical Industry
Prognostic indicators for carcinoid neuroendocrine tumors of the gastrointestinal tract
Authors: Rorstad Otto
Published: February 2005

Factors that determine the clinical course and outcome of patients with gastrointestinal (GI) carcinoid tumors are complex and multifaceted. These include the site of origin within the GI tract, the size of the primary tumor, and the anatomical extent of disease, whether localized, regional, or metastatic to distant sites. The new World Health Organization (WHO) histological classification of endocrine tumors, including carcinoids, represents a significant advance in terms of providing a consistent framework for histopathological interpretation that should facilitate multicenter research on treatment outcomes. Histochemical indicators of a poorer prognosis are the degree of expression of the proliferation protein Ki‐67 and the p53 tumor suppressor protein. Adverse clinical indicators are the malignant carcinoid syndrome, carcinoid heart disease, and high concentrations of the tumor markers, urinary 5‐HIAA and plasma chromogranin A. J. Surg. Oncol. 2005;89:151–160. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Management of midgut carcinoids
Authors: Åkerström Göran , Hellman Per , Hessman Ola , Osmak Liliana
Published: February 2005

Midgut carcinoids developing in the small intestine represent the most common cause of the carcinoid syndrome, with severe symptoms of flush, diarrhoea, and fibrotic valvular heart disease. The tumours may be histologically identified with specific chromogranin A or synaptophysine immunostainings, and by serotonin reactivity, which supports a midgut origin. Urinary 5‐HIAA excretion and serum chromogranin A measurements are used as biochemical tumour markers for clinical diagnosis, and as important monitors of treatment effects and prognostic predictors. The midgut carcinoids have typically slow proliferation and extended disease course, and surgical treatment has become increasingly important for their management. Surgery should aim to remove primary tumours and mesenteric metastases, which may cause long‐term abdominal complications, by typical fibrotic intestinal entrapment and small bowel ischaemia due to encasement of mesenteric vessels. Attempts should also be made to surgically remove or ablate liver metastases, since this may significantly contribute to palliation of the carcinoid syndrome. In patients with this syndrome surgery is combined with continuous biotherapy with long‐acting somatostatin analogues and interferon, which may alleviate symptoms and cause stable disease with slow progression. Favourable survival and life‐quality can be expected with this treatment also in patients with advanced midgut carcinoids. J. Surg. Oncol. 2005;89:161–169. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Generation of Laguerre-Gaussian modes in Nd:YAG laser using diffractive optical pumping
Authors: Bisson J-F , Senatsky Yu , Ueda Ken-Ichi
Published: February 2005

A beam of pulsed laser radiation at the wavelength λ = 0.532 μm was diffracted at a circular diaphragm to produce a hollow-shape intensity distribution in the near field. This light distribution was used to pump an Nd:YAG laser, resulting in the formation of an inversion profile with a minimum at the laser resonator axis and enabling the suppression of the fundamental mode. Under this condition, the oscillation at λ = 1.064 μm of Laguerre-Gaussian modes (LG0m) with low and high values of the azimuthal indexmwas produced in the gain-switching regime. By changing the geometry of the resonator, the size of its waist parameter was changed, enabling the selection of the mode with an indexmthat best overlaps with the inversion profile. Oscillation of LG0mmodes with indices ranging fromm=1 to more thanm=200 was obtained. LG0mmodes withm≤ 50 were produced using the dependence of the waist parameter on the length of the resonator near the boundary of its stability region. A LG0mmode of the highest order,m≈ 240 was obtained by building a miniature laser resonator and using a pair of diaphragms in order to form a sharper ring-shape pumping distribution. Applications of diffractive optical pumping and ``hollow'' LG0mlaser beams are discussed.
Addition of serum sodium into the MELD score predicts waiting list mortality better than MELD alone
Authors: Ruf Andres E. , Kremers Walter K. , Chavez Lila L. , Descalzi Valeria I. , Podesta Luis G. , Villamil Federico G.
Published: February 2005

In this study, we investigated the prognostic value of serum sodium and hyponatremia (≤130 mEq/L) in 262 cirrhotic patients consecutively listed, 19 of which died (7%), 175 survived (67%), and 68 underwent liver transplantation (26%) during 3 months of follow-up. Hyponatremia was present in 63% of patients who died, compared to 13% of those who survived (

P

< .001), whereas the proportion with elevated creatinine (≥1.4 mg/dL) was low and similar in both groups (10.5 vs. 3%). Prevalence of hyponatremia was higher than that of elevated serum creatinine across all model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) categories. Using logistic regression, hyponatremia and serum sodium were significant predictors of mortality with concordance statistics (c-statistics) .753 for hyponatremia, .784 for sodium, .894 for MELD, .905 for MELD plus hyponatremia (

P

= .006 vs. MELD alone), and .908 for MELD plus serum sodium (

P

= .026 vs. MELD alone). Risk of death across all MELD scores was higher for patients with hyponatremia than without hyponatremia. Cox regression considering data within 6 months of follow-up yielded qualitatively similar results, with hyponatremia being a significant predictor of greater mortality risk with an odds ratio of 2.65 (

P

= .015). Each increase of 1 mEq/L of serum sodium level was associated with a decreased odds ratio of .95 (

P

= .048). Our results indicate that hyponatremia appears to be an earlier and more sensitive marker than serum creatinine to detect renal impairment and / or circulatory dysfunction in patients with advanced cirrhosis. In conclusion, addition of serum sodium to MELD identified a subgroup of patients with poor outcome in a more efficient way than MELD alone and significantly increased the efficacy of the score to predict waitlist mortality. (Liver Transpl 2005;11:336–343.)
Improving the prediction of hepatocellular carcinoma in cirrhotic patients with an arterially-enhancing liver mass
Authors: Marrero Jorge A. , Hussain Hero K. , Nghiem Hahn V. , Umar Ramsey , Fontana Robert J. , Lok Anna S.
Published: February 2005

In the United States, cirrhotic patients with known or suspected hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are prioritized for liver transplantation. Noninvasive criteria for the diagnosis of HCC rely on arterial enhancement of a mass. The aim of this study was to determine whether clinical, laboratory, and / or radiologic data can improve the prediction of HCC in cirrhotic patients with an arterially-enhancing mass. Between May 2002 and June 2003, dynamic gadolinium-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of consecutive patients with liver cirrhosis and a solid mass were reviewed by 2 radiologists blinded to the clinical diagnosis. Clinical, laboratory, and radiologic data were recorded for all patients. A total of 94 patients with cirrhosis and an arterially-enhancing liver mass were studied, 66 (70%) of whom had HCC. Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) >20 ng/mL (

P

= .029), tumor size >2 cm (

P

= .0018), and delayed hypointensity (

P

= .0001) were independent predictors of HCC. Delayed hypointensity of an arterially-enhancing mass had a sensitivity of 89% and a specificity of 96% for HCC. The presence of delayed hypointensity was the only independent predictor of HCC among patients with arterially-enhancing lesions <2 cm (odds ratio, 6.3; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.8-13), with a sensitivity of 80% and a specificity of 95%. In conclusion, delayed hypointensity of an arterially-enhancing mass was the strongest independent predictor of HCC, regardless of the size of the lesion. If additional studies confirm our results, the noninvasive criteria utilized to make a diagnosis of HCC should be revised. (Liver Transpl 2005;11:281–289.)
Cover Picture: Macromol. Chem. Phys. 4/2005
Authors: Miura Yozo , Sakai Yumi , Yamaoka Keisuke
Published: February 2005

Cover: 3‐ and 5‐Miktoarm star copolymers were prepared by the ring‐opening polymerization of ε‐caprolactone and subsequent nitroxide‐mediated radical polymerization styrene. SEC and 1H NMR measurements showed that they are well‐defined miktoarm star copolymers with narrow polydispersities of 1.10–1.37.

Further details can be found in the Full Paper by Y. Miura,* Y. Sakai, and K. Yamaoka on page 504.
Antiparkinson medications improve agonist activation but not antagonist inhibition during sequential reaching movements
Authors: Kelly Valerie E. , Bastian Amy J.
Published: February 2005

The execution of sequential arm movements is critical to activities of daily living such as eating and grooming. It is known that movement sequences are bradykinetic in people with Parkinson's disease (PD) and that antiparkinson medications improve the speed of movement sequences. However, it is unclear how muscle activity is modulated during sequential movements and what effect antiparkinson medications have on muscle modulation. We studied subjects with PD and age‐ and gender‐matched control subjects making sequential reaching movements. Subjects with PD were tested before and after their morning dose of antiparkinson medications (levodopa and/or dopamine agonists). We examined the effect of antiparkinson medications on the modulation of muscle activity (i.e., the ability to activate and inhibit each muscle throughout the course of a sequence). Results showed that the group with PD, before medication, moved more slowly and modulated muscle activity poorly compared to the control group. Antiparkinson medications improved movement speed as expected, although sequential movements remained slower than normal even after medication. Medication improved the ability to activate agonist muscle activity but did not improve the ability to inhibit antagonist activity. Instead, antagonist activity was also increased, resulting in minimal improvements in muscle modulation during sequential reaching movements. © 2005 Movement Disorder Society
Feasibility and validity of a modified finger‐nose‐finger test
Authors: Louis Elan D. , Applegate LaKeisha M. , Borden Sarah , Moskowitz Carol , Jin Zhezhen
Published: February 2005

In essential tremor (ET) research, it is important to obtain standardized, objective data on tremor severity. Often, it is not possible to carry out in‐person or videotaped neurological examinations. In place of these, handwriting samples can be collected, but they do not capture all of the variance in tremor severity. Although additional tests of tremor severity (finger‐nose‐finger [FNF] test) might be of use, these would need to be modified to allow ET patients to mail their results to the study investigator for rating. We modified the standard FNF test (sFNF) by asking subjects to hold a pen during this activity and mark a paper target. The purpose of this report was to determine whether the modified FNF (mFNF) test was feasible and valid. Of 70 subjects, 65 (92.9%) were able to complete the mFNF, demonstrating that it was feasible. The scores of the mFNF correlated highly with those of the sFNF (r = 0.56–0.85; all P < 0.001), indicating the mFNF is a valid measure of tremor severity. In addition, using the regression equation, sFNF = 0.174(mFNF) + 0.743, a sFNF score can be derived easily from the mFNF score. The mFNF may be used to collect valuable data on tremor severity in pathological, genetic, and epidemiological field studies of ET, in which in‐person or videotaped neurological examinations are not possible. © 2005 Movement Disorder Society
Localized two‐dimensional 1H magnetic resonance exchange spectroscopy: A preliminary evaluation in human muscle
Authors: Thomas M. Albert , Chung Hyun‐Kyung , Middlekauff Holly
Published: February 2005

A localized two‐dimensional (2D) 1H MR chemical exchange spectroscopic (L‐EXSY) sequence has been implemented on a whole‐body 1.5‐T MRI/MRS scanner. The second spectroscopic encoding to monitor the chemical exchange was an integral part of the single‐volume localization using three slice‐selective 90° radiofrequency (RF) pulses, thereby eliminating the need for any additional RF pulses, off‐resonance/continuous wave saturation, or selective inversion, which are essential in the one‐dimensional 1H MR exchange spectroscopy. Even though the TM‐crusher dephased single‐ and higher‐order multiple‐quantum coherences, the zero‐quantum coherences were indistinguishable from the longitudinal magnetization leading to J‐coupled 2D cross peaks similar to COSY. With TM of 300 ms, two different exchange cross peaks were recorded in human calf muscle: a first peak, between the mobile tissue water and total creatine pools, and a second peak, possibly between the olefinic and magnetically equivalent poly methylene protons of unsaturated lipids. Our preliminary results demonstrate that the intermolecular and intramolecular chemical exchange mechanisms can be monitored noninvasively in human calf muscle using 2D L‐EXSY. Magn Reson Med 53:495–502, 2005. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Advantages of frequency‐domain modeling in dynamic‐susceptibility contrast magnetic resonance cerebral blood flow quantification
Authors: Chen Jean J. , Smith Michael R. , Frayne Richard
Published: February 2005

In dynamic‐susceptibility contrast magnetic resonance perfusion imaging, the cerebral blood flow (CBF) is estimated from the tissue residue function obtained through deconvolution of the contrast concentration functions. However, the reliability of CBF estimates obtained by deconvolution is sensitive to various distortions including high‐frequency noise amplification. The frequency‐domain Fourier transform‐based and the time‐domain singular‐value decomposition‐based (SVD) algorithms both have biases introduced into their CBF estimates when noise stability criteria are applied or when contrast recirculation is present. The recovery of the desired signal components from amid these distortions by modeling the residue function in the frequency domain is demonstrated. The basic advantages and applicability of the frequency‐domain modeling concept are explored through a simple frequency‐domain Lorentzian model (FDLM); with results compared to standard SVD‐based approaches. The performance of the FDLM method is model dependent, well representing residue functions in the exponential family while less accurately representing other functions. Magn Reson Med 53:700–707, 2005. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Controlled aliasing in parallel imaging results in higher acceleration (CAIPIRINHA) for multi‐slice imaging
Authors: Breuer Felix A. , Blaimer Martin , Heidemann Robin M. , Mueller Matthias F. , Griswold Mark A. , Jakob Peter M.
Published: February 2005

In all current parallel imaging techniques, aliasing artifacts resulting from an undersampled acquisition are removed by means of a specialized image reconstruction algorithm. In this study a new approach termed “controlled aliasing in parallel imaging results in higher acceleration” (CAIPIRINHA) is presented. This technique modifies the appearance of aliasing artifacts during the acquisition to improve the subsequent parallel image reconstruction procedure. This new parallel multi‐slice technique is more efficient compared to other multi‐slice parallel imaging concepts that use only a pure postprocessing approach. In this new approach, multiple slices of arbitrary thickness and distance are excited simultaneously with the use of multi‐band radiofrequency (RF) pulses similar to Hadamard pulses. These data are then undersampled, yielding superimposed slices that appear shifted with respect to each other. The shift of the aliased slices is controlled by modulating the phase of the individual slices in the multi‐band excitation pulse from echo to echo. We show that the reconstruction quality of the aliased slices is better using this shift. This may potentially allow one to use higher acceleration factors than are used in techniques without this excitation scheme. Additionally, slices that have essentially the same coil sensitivity profiles can be separated with this technique. Magn Reson Med 53:684–691, 2005. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Cu(InGa)Se2solar cells on a flexible polymer web
Authors: Birkmire Robert , Eser Erten , Fields Shannon , Shafarman William
Published: February 2005

Deposition of CuInGaSe2films on 6‐inch wide Mo coated polyimide web substrate in a roll‐to‐roll vapor deposition system from elemental sources is described. Material transport from the sources to the moving web substrate has been modeled by combining an evaporative effusion model and the gas flow kinetics and by experimentally determining the flux intensity profile. The model gives a reasonably good approximation of the Ga profile in the films. Poor adhesion of the selenide film to molybdenum has been resolved by depositing a thin layer of β‐(Ga0.8In0.2)2Se3precursor layer. Two‐dimensional compositional mapping by energy dispersive spectroscopy of 5‐feet‐long web gave 0.88 ± 1.9% and 0.28 ± 2.5% respectively for Cu/(Ga+In) and Ga/(Ga+In) ratios, indicating highly uniform film composition. This compositional uniformity translated to the uniformity in the devices fabricated on the web. The open‐circuit voltages of the devices from the centerline of the 5‐feet web were measured to be 0.529 ± 0.86%. A two‐dimensional device efficiency survey gave 9.2 ± 1%. The process was able to produce high‐quality material, as defined by the best device efficiency, for a wide range of Cu/(Ga+In) ratios. The best efficiency achieved so far was 12.1% with MgF2anti‐reflection coating. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Using SRIM to calculate the relative damage coefficients for solar cells
Authors: Messenger Scott R. , Burke Edward A. , Walters Robert J. , Warner Jeffrey H. , Summers Geoffrey P.
Published: February 2005

It is shown how the widely available computer code SRIM can be used to calculate proton relative damage coefficients (RDCs) for solar cells. This approach is important in cases when the incident proton energy is reduced significantly in traversing the active volume of the cell and, consequently, when analytic calculations of the nonionizing energy loss (NIEL) are not satisfactory for calculating the energy dependence of the RDCs. In the SRIM approach it is assumed that the RDCs are proportional to the total number of vacancies formed. The calculation involves integrating the ‘vacancy.txt’ files produced by SRIM over the active depth of the cells and normalizing the results to the number of total vacancies produced by 10 MeV protons. The RDCs calculated from SRIM are found to agree well with experimentally measured values for both Si and multijunction (MJ) solar cells. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Boarding of upper middle class toddlers in China
Authors: Brassard Marla R. , Chen Suhong
Published: February 2005

In the West, institutions are considered the worst environment for rearing young children. It was thus surprising to discover on the 2002 Fulbright Travel Seminar to China that boarding schools for children two years of age and older were popular among affluent parents. This article uses observations of the first author in China, cultural knowledge of the second author (a Chinese woman living in the United States and trained as a school psychologist), recent Chinese history relative to family and educational policy, and attachment theory to explore developmental implications of boarding toddlers, and the cultural context supporting it, and to suggest directions for future research. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Psychol Schs 42: 297–304, 2005.
Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Laser sources for gas detection
Authors: Cerutti L. , Garnache A. , Ouvrard A. , Garcia M. , Genty F.
Published: February 2005

The molecular beam epitaxy growth conditions of a GaInAsSb/AlGaAsSb multi‐quantum wells stack have been successfully optimised. This included minimising the full‐width at half‐maximum of the high resolution X‐ray diffraction satellites and maximising the photoluminescence peak intensity collected at room temperature. Then, the optimised gain structures were successfully inserted in a) a microcavity and b) an external‐cavity Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Laser. In both cases, room temperature laser operation near 2.3 µm in the continuous wave regime, with a circular single transverse mode output beam, was demonstrated. An output power larger than 1 mW at room temperature was measured. (© 2005 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
First‐trimester fetuses with increased nuchal translucency do not show altered intracardiac flow velocities
Authors: Haak M. C. , Twisk J. W. R. , Bartelings M. M. , Gittenberger‐de Groot A. C. , van Vugt J. M. G.
Published: February 2005

Objective

To study intracardiac flow velocities in first‐trimester fetuses with normal nuchal translucency thickness (NT) and those with increased NT.

Methods

Ultrasound examinations were performed in 85 normal fetuses and 45 fetuses with NT > 95th percentile. Follow‐up was complete and postmortem examination was performed on terminated pregnancies. Flow velocities during the early (e‐wave) and late (a‐wave) peaks across the tricuspid and mitral valves were measured and compared, using multilevel analysis, between the fetuses with normal and those with increased NT. In the group with increased NT, fetuses with and without a heart defect irrespective of the karyotype were compared, and in this group, euploid and aneuploid fetuses were compared, irrespective of the presence of a heart defect.

Results

No difference in intracardiac flow velocities was found between fetuses with normal and those with increased NT. Within the group of fetuses with increased NT, there was no difference between the fetuses with and without a cardiac defect. However, comparison of aneuploid with euploid fetuses within the group with increased NT showed that both the e‐wave and a‐wave peaks were decreased significantly by 3.03 cm/s and 5.95 cm/s, respectively, across the tricuspid valve, and by 3.47 cm/s and 5.92 cm/s, respectively, across the mitral valve (P < 0.05). The most common cardiac malformations were septal defects.

Conclusion

There is no difference in intracardiac blood flow velocities between normal fetuses and those with increased NT. This contradicts the theory that NT is caused by impaired atrial contraction or cardiac failure. In fetuses with increased NT, those with aneuploidy show a decreased e‐wave and a‐wave compared with euploid fetuses. This cannot, however, be explained by the presence of cardiac defects, because there is no difference between fetuses with and without a cardiac defect. Therefore, we hypothesize that the relationship between enlarged NT and cardiac defects can only be explained by a developmental process that coexists at this period of gestation and is linked to cardiovascular development. Copyright © 2005 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Inhibition of epidermal growth factor binding to Swiss 3T3 cells by human platelet release-products
Authors: Brown Kenneth D. , Blakeley Diane M. , MacDonald Moira
Published: February 2005

Human platelet ionophore release-products (IRP) inhibit the binding of 125I-labelled epidermal growth factor (125I-EGF) to its receptors on Swiss 3T3 cells. The inhibition appears to be caused by platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) in the IRP and results from a decrease in the apparent affinity of cellular receptors for 125I-EGF. However, our results indicate that PDGF does not bind directly to EGF receptors, since (1) PDGF does not down-regulate EGF receptors; (2) the PDGF-mediated inhibition of 125I-EGF binding is temperature-dependent; (3) cells which possess EGF receptors but lack PDGF receptors do not exhibit a PDGF-mediated inhibition of 125I-EGF binding.
Synergistic effects of endothelin-1 (ET-1) and transforming growth factor alpha (TGF-α) or epidermal growth factor (EGF) on DNA replication and G1 to S phase transition
Authors: Yeh Yun-Chi , Burns E. Robert , Yeh John , Yeh Hsing-Wu
Published: February 2005

The cooperative cell kinetic actions of ET-1 with TGF-α or EGF in normal rat kidney fibroblasts (NRK-49F) and KNRK cells (Kirsten MSV transformed) were analyzed by [3H]-thymidine incorporation assay and flow cytometry. A marked synergistic effect of TGF-α and ET-1 (or EGF and ET-1) on DNA synthesis and G1 to S transition was observed in NRK cells; 15–20% S for TGF-α and 12% S for ET-1 alone but 45–50% S in combination. There was no detectable effect on cell cycle kinetics by TGF-α (1 ng/ml) or EGF (1 ng/ml) plus ET-1 (1 ng/ml) in KNRK cells treated for 22 hours. Insulin, insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I), fibroblast growth factor (FGF), platelet derived growth factor (PDGF), and transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) were also tested and found to have no significant synergistic effects on ET-1 actions. Our findings suggest that the combination of TGF-α (EGF) and ET-1 is an important part of an intricate network which coordinates progression of G1 to S phase in normal cells.
Expression of the asialoglycoprotein receptor in cultured rat hepatocytes is modulated by cell density
Authors: Massimi M. , Falasca L. , Felici A. , Dini L. , Devirgiliis L. Conti
Published: February 2005

The influence of cell density on expression of the asialoglycoprotein receptor system in primary cultures of rat hepatocytes was evaluated by measuring the level of the receptor specific mRNA. When the hepatocytes are cultured at high cellular density and are not in a proliferative condition, the transcript molecules of the receptor appear increased about 50% with respect to the low plating density, indicating a modulation of asialoglycoprotein receptor expression at transcriptional level. Such control may be dependent on surface molecules involved in cell specific reassociation, since it is well known that cell contacts play a significant regulatory role in differentiated cells.
Insulin pretreatment (imprinting) produces elevated capacity in the insulin binding of Tetrahymena. Different binding by the cilia of the body and oral field
Authors: Fülöp A. K. , Csaba G.
Published: February 2005

Gold-labeled insulin is bound first of all to the cilia of the oral field of Tetrahymena. A primary treatment (hormonal imprinting) with insulin increases the binding capacity even after 24h and makes it more sensitive for appearance a week later, within a minute of giving insulin-gold. The food vacuoles contain insulin-gold in pretreated cells or without pretreatment as well, though in imprinted situations the label can be found in pinocytotic vesicles at the bases of cilia in the oral field. Altogether, a functional difference can be observed between the cilia of the oral and non-oral surfaces of Tetrahymena and hormonal imprinting has a specifying effect on the binding of labeled hormone.
Evidence that protein kinase C and mitogen activated protein kinase are not involved in the mechanism by which insulin stimulates translation in L6 myoblasts
Authors: Thompson Michael G. , Pascal Monique , Mackie Steven C. , Thom Amanda , Morrison Kenneth S. , Colette Backwell F. R. , Palmer Robert M.
Published: February 2005

Insulin stimulated a concentration-dependent increase in protein synthesis in L6 myoblasts which was significant at 1 nM. This response was not prevented by the transcription inhibitor, actinomycin D. The protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor, Ro-31-8220, and downregulation of PKC by prolonged incubation of cells with 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA), had no effect on the ability of insulin to stimulate protein synthesis whilst completely blocking the response to TPA. In contrast, insulin failed to enhance protein synthesis significantly in the presence of either ibuprofen, a selective cyclooxygenase inhibitor or rapamycin, an inhibitor of the 70 kDa S6 kinase. When cell extracts were prepared and assayed for total myelin basic protein kinase activity, a stimulatory effect of insulin was not observed until the concentration approached 100-fold (i.e. 100 nM) that required to elicit increases in protein synthesis. Upon fractionation on a Mono-Q column, 100 nM insulin increased the activity of 3 peaks which phosphorylated myelin basic protein. Two of these peaks were identified as the 42 and 44 kDa forms of Mitogen Activated Protein (MAP) kinase by immunoblotting. In contrast, 1 nM insulin had no effect on the activity of these peaks. The data suggest that physiologically relevant concentrations of insulin do not stimulate translation in L6 cells through either PKC or the 42/44 kDa isoforms of MAP kinase and that this response is, at least in part, mediated through the activation of the 70 kDa S6 kinase by cyclooxygenase metabolites.
NMR study of the selective inhibition of water permeability of rat erythrocyte membrane
Authors: Petcu Ileana , Lupu Mihaela , Grosescu Radu
Published: February 2005

The inhibition of water diffusion across the rat erythrocyte membrane was studied by NMR using two basically different types of inhibitory agents: PCMB and in vivo irradiation. The contribution of lipid and protein to water permeability revealed the inhibitory effect of each pathway. Internal contamination with tritium (25–115 mGy) reduces water permeability due to protein modifications; for doses higher than 100 mGy the lipid mediated mechanism seems also to be impaired. The same procedure enables one to assess the extent to which the higher water permeability of rat, compared to human, erythrocyte is due to one of the two pathways.
Cellular responses to enteropathogenicEscherichia coliinfection
Authors: Knutton Stuart
Published: February 2005

Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC), first described in the 1940's and 1950's, remain an important cause of severe infantile diarrhoea in many parts of the developing world. EPEC do not produce enterotoxins and are not invasive; instead their virulence depends upon exploitation of host cell signalling pathways and the host cell cytoskeleton both as a means of colonizing mucosal surfaces of the small intestine and causing diarrhoea. Following initial mucosal attachment, EPEC secrete ‘signalling’ proteins and expresss a surface adhesin, intimin, to produce ‘attaching & effacing’ lesions in the enterocyte brush border membrane characterised by localised destruction of brush border microvilli, intimate bacterial adhesion and cytoskeletal reorganisation and accretion beneath attached bacteria. The pathophysiology of EPEC diarrhoea is also complex and probably results from a combination of epithelial cell responses including both electrolyte secretion and structural damage.
Chloride channels and cystic fibrosis of the pancreas
Authors: Gray M. A. , Winpenny J. P. , Verdon B. , McAlroy H. , Argent B. E.
Published: February 2005

Cystic fibrosis (CF) affects approximately 1 in 2000 people making it one of the commonest fatal, inherited diseases in the Caucasian population. CF is caused by mutations in a cyclic AMP-regulated chloride channel known as CFTR, which is found on the apical plasma membrane of many exocrine epithelial cells. In the CF pancreas, dysfunction of the CFTR reduces the secretory activity of the tubular duct cells, which leads to blockage of the ductal system and eventual fibrosis of the whole gland. One possible approach to treating the disease would be to activate an alternative chloride channel capable of bypassing defective CFTR. A strong candidate for this is a chloride channel regulated by intracellular calcium, which has recently been shown to protect the pancreas in transgenic CF mice. Pharmacological intervention directed at activating this calcium-activated Cl− conductance might provide a possible therapy to treat the problems of pancreatic dysfunction in CF.