bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Mortality trends for cervical squamous and adenocarcinoma in the United States
Authors: Sherman Mark E. , Wang Sophia S. , Carreon Joseph , Devesa Susan S.
Published: February 2005

BACKGROUND

In the United States, detection of squamous carcinoma in situ (CIS) by screening has led to reduced rates for invasive squamous carcinoma and lower mortality. Adenocarcinoma in situ (AIS) rates also have increased, but invasive cervical adenocarcinoma rates have not declined similarly. To make inferences about the effectiveness of screening, the authors assessed mortality trends for squamous and adenocarcinoma in relation to incidence of these tumors, incidence of their precursors and survival.

METHODS

Using data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results program (SEER), the authors tabulated incidence per 105 woman‐years for invasive carcinomas (1976–2000) and for CIS and AIS (1976–1995) by age (< 50 years, ≥ 50 years) and race (whites, blacks). Cumulative relative survival rates were tabulated for 1976–1995 and mortality rates were estimated for 1986–2000.

RESULTS

Among all groups, CIS rates approximately doubled whereas rates for invasive squamous carcinoma declined. Among younger whites, mortality declined from 1.12 to 0.93, and for older whites, mortality decreased from 5.02 to 3.82. Among younger blacks, mortality for squamous carcinoma decreased from 2.69 to 1.96. Among older blacks, the mortality rates declined from 14.88 to 9.15. Although AIS rates have increased dramatically among whites (all ages) and younger blacks, adenocarcinoma incidence and mortality rates have not changed greatly. Survival for patients did not change greatly within these age‐race groups.

CONCLUSIONS

The authors concluded that increases in CIS seemed disproportionately large compared with improvements in mortality rates for squamous carcinoma. Despite increased reporting of AIS, declines in mortality for cervical adenocarcinoma have not been demonstrated conclusively. However, future analyses are required to evaluate these trends more completely. Cancer 2005. Published 2005 by the American Cancer Society.
Differences in toxicity between men and women treated with 5‐fluorouracil therapy for colorectal carcinoma
Authors: Chansky Kari , Benedetti Jacqueline , Macdonald John S.
Published: February 2005

BACKGROUND

Recent explorations suggest that women may experience more severe 5‐fluorouracil (5‐FU)–related toxicity than men. The patient populations from 4 Southwest Oncology Group colorectal carcinoma trials with 5‐FU–containing regimens were examined for toxicity differences between the genders.

METHODS

The current study included 1074 patients from 4 trials. Hypotheses regarding differences in specific toxicities were generated via exploratory analyses on the data from the 2 earlier trials (n = 505 patients), using basic univariate techniques and classification tree methods. Validation of these hypotheses was performed on data from the 2 later trials (n = 569 patients) using logistic regression models for dichotomous toxicity outcomes and rank‐sum tests for comparisons of overall toxicity grade.

RESULTS

5‐FU toxicity was more extensive in women than in men in terms of average maximum toxicity grade (P = 0.005), number of different types of toxicity experienced (P = 0.009), and incidence of severe toxicities (P = 0.02). The incidence of ≥ Grade 2 hematologic toxicity in the 2 later trials was higher in women than in men and women experienced more frequent moderate to severe mucositis compared with men.

CONCLUSIONS

Differences in 5‐FU toxicity profiles between men and women were hypothesized after an exploratory analysis, and then verified by an independent confirmatory analysis using data from the 2 later trials. This process provided substantial evidence for gender differences in specific aspects of 5‐FU toxicity that persist across a range of treatment regimens, patient characteristics, and cancer trial settings. Cancer 2005. © 2005 American Cancer Society.
Evidence on purchasing power parity from univariate models: the case of smooth transition trend‐stationarity
Authors: Sollis Robert
Published: February 2005

Recent research has found that trend‐break unit root tests derived from univariate linear models do not support the hypothesis of long‐run purchasing power parity (PPP) for US dollar real exchange rates. In this paper univariate smooth transition models are utilized to develop unit root tests that allow under the alternative hypothesis for stationarity around a gradually changing deterministic trend function. These tests reveal statistically significant evidence against the null hypothesis of a unit root for the real exchange rates of a number of countries against the US dollar. However, restrictions consistent with long‐run PPP are rejected for some of the countries for which a rejection of the unit root hypothesis is obtained. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Osteogenic effects of bioactive glass on bone marrow stromal cells
Authors: Radin S. , Reilly G. , Bhargave G. , Leboy P.S. , Ducheyne P.
Published: February 2005

Bioactive glass (BG) is an effective synthetic bone graft material. BG granules of narrow size range (300–355 μm) have the ability to form new bone tissue inside excavations produced by in vivo resorption. Previously, we demonstrated that BG stimulates the differentiation of cultured osteoblast precursors if the glass surface was biomimetically modified by the formation of bone‐like apatite and adsorption of serum proteins. We now report that modified BG can also increase the rate at which multipotential rat bone marrow stromal cells (rMSC) will undergo osteogenesis. BG promoted rMSC osteogenesis both when cells were plated in contact with BG and when cells were not directly in contact with the BG. Alkaline phosphatase activity, a marker of bone cell differentiation, was used as an indicator for osteogenesis. Alkaline phosphatase activity of rMSCs exposed to osteoinducers such as ascorbate, dexamethasone, and BMP‐2 was enhanced in the presence of BG. The stimulatory effect of BG was more pronounced in rMSC cultures with low basal alkaline phosphatase activity than in those with higher activity. The enhanced differentiation of rMSCs was associated with both a change in rMSC morphology and altered chemical composition of the cell culture media. rMSCs cultured on BG in the presence of BMP or dexamethasone exhibited a more rounded osteoblast‐like appearance as compared with cells grown on tissue culture plastic. In the presence of BG, elevated levels of calcium and silicon in the culture medium were observed throughout the 7‐day culture period, suggesting a continuous dissolution of surface‐modified BG and resulting release of BG dissolution products. The data suggest that both surface‐ and solution‐mediated events play a role in the osteogenic effect of BG. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res 73A: 21–29, 2005
Increased expression of G11α in osteoblastic cells enhances parathyroid hormone activation of phospholipase C and AP‐1 regulation of matrix metalloproteinase‐13 mRNA
Authors: Cheung Ricky , Erclik Mary S. , Mitchell Jane
Published: February 2005

In osteoblasts parathyroid hormone (PTH) stimulates the PTH/PTH‐related peptide (PTHrP) receptor (PTH1R) that couples via Gs to adenylyl cyclase stimulation and via G11 to phospholipase C (PLC) stimulation. We have investigated the effect of increasing G11α levels in UMR 106‐01 osteoblastic cells by transient transfection with cDNA encoding G11α on PTH stimulation of PLC and protein kinase C (PKC) as well as PTH regulation of mRNA encoding matrix metalloproteinase‐13 (MMP‐13). Transfection with G11α cDNA resulted in a 5‐fold increase in PTH‐stimulated PLC activity with no change in PTH‐stimulated adenylyl cyclase. PTH‐induced translocation of PKC‐βI, ‐δ, and ‐ζ to the cell membrane and PKC‐ζ to the nucleus was also increased. Increased G11α protein resulted in increased stimulation of MMP‐13 mRNA levels at all doses of PTH. There was a 2.5 ± 0.35 fold increase in maximal PTH‐stimulation of c‐jun mRNA and smaller but significant increases in c‐fos accompanied by increased basal and PTH‐stimulated AP‐1 binding in cells expressing increased G11α. Runx‐2 mRNA and protein levels were not significantly increased by increased G11α expression. The increase in PTH stimulation of c‐jun, c‐fos, and MMP‐13 in G11α‐transfected cells were all blocked by bisindolylmaleimide I, a selective inhibitor of PKC. These results demonstrate that regulation of the PLC pathway through the PTH1R is significantly increased by elevating expression of G11α in osteoblastic cells. This leads to increased PTH stimulation of MMP‐13 expression by increased stimulation of AP‐1 factors c‐jun and c‐fos. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Career success in a boundaryless career world
Authors: Arthur Michael B. , Khapova Svetlana N. , Wilderom Celeste P. M.
Published: February 2005

This paper compares contemporary career theory with the theory applied in recent career success research. The research makes inconsistent use of career theory, and in particular neglects the interdependence of the objective and subjective careers, and ‘boundaryless career’ issues of inter‐organizational mobility and extra‐organizational support. The paper offers new guidelines for bringing about a rapprochement between career theory and career success research. These guidelines cover adequacy of research designs, further dimensions of career success, broader peer group comparisons, deeper investigation of the subjectively driven person, and seeing new connections between boundaryless career theory and career success research. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Plasmon channels in the electronic relaxation of diamond under
high-order harmonics femtosecond irradiation
Authors: Gaudin J , Geoffroy G , Guizard S , Olevano V , Esnouf S , Klimentov S M , Pivovarov P A , Garnov S V , Martin P , Belsky A , Petite G
Published: February 2005

We used high order harmonics of a femtosecond
titanium-doped sapphire system (pulse duration 25 fs) to realise
Ultraviolet Photoelectron Spectroscopy (UPS) measurements on
diamond. The UPS spectra were measured for harmonics in the range
13 to 27. We also made ab initio calculations of the
electronic lifetime of conduction electrons in the energy range
produced in the UPS experiment. Such calculations show that the
lifetime suddenly diminishes when the conduction electron energy
reaches the plasmon energy, whereas the UPS spectra show evidence
in this range of a strong relaxation mechanism with an increased
production of low energy secondary electrons. We propose that in
this case the electronic relaxation proceeds in two steps:
excitation of a plasmon by the high energy electron, the latter
decaying into individual electron-hole pairs, as in the case of
metals. This process is observed for the first time in an
insulator and, on account of its high efficiency, should be
introduced in the models of laser breakdown under high intensity.
Strengthening subnational administration in Afghanistan: technical reform or state‐building?
Authors: Lister Sarah , Wilder Andrew
Published: February 2005

This article discusses aspects of the reform of public administration, particularly subnational administration, which are often overlooked or neglected by donors in post‐conflict contexts. It analyses findings of research conducted in Afghanistan, mainly in 2002–2003. The research showed that the functioning of subnational administration both shapes and is shaped by complex political dynamics and is part of broader political processes. Interventions to strengthen subnational administration should therefore not only focus on mechanisms and structures designed to increase the collection of revenues and facilitate the more efficient delivery of services. Reform processes are affected by the current distribution of power in Afghanistan and have political effects on the establishment of legitimate authority throughout the territory. The reform of subnational administration should therefore be seen as part of an overarching political strategy of state‐building. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Chiefs, money and politicians: rebuilding local government in post‐war Sierra Leone
Authors: Jackson Paul
Published: February 2005

There has been very little written about the interaction between the different elements of local government in Sierra Leone, finance and the diamond trade. This article draws on recent work in Sierra Leone on local government reconstruction by DFID and the World Bank undertaken by the author and draws some of these issues together. It argues that the emphasis on the prefix ‘re’ is actually dangerous in the context of Sierra Leone, and that the reconstitution of the politico‐economic networks surrounding diamond extraction outside of local government may lead to the alienation of the same groups that led the rebellion over the last few years. Local government holds the key to alleviating this alienation and the poverty that causes it, but it is in danger of being undermined by national politicians, trading networks and the local chiefs that control the land. This article analyses this situation and provides a way forward. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Democratic governance in Iraq? Progress and peril in reforming state‐society relations
Authors: Brinkerhoff Derick W. , Mayfield James B.
Published: February 2005

This article examines the experience of the Local Governance Project (LGP) in Iraq. LGP activities include: establishment of representative councils, service delivery capacity‐building, civil society strengthening, decentralisation policy development and civic dialogue. The article documents how these activities contributed to changing interactions between citizens and government, reaching across individual social and ethnic groups. In post‐war Iraq, such social capital could be a positive contributor. Its potential, however, is limited by the absence of the conditions necessary for stability and reconstruction. Violence and insecurity, the actions of conflict entrepreneurs and the resiliency of the shadow state raise doubts about the prospects for governance reform. Lessons include: a local governance focus can build reform constituencies resistant to reversal by central‐level actors; reformed local governance cannot support democratisation without a security and political framework that raises costs of resorting to violence; donor‐led governance innovations often maintain control of change at the expense of legitimacy; acceptance of governance reforms depends upon the extent to which they are perceived as effective and legitimate, but such changes are likely to be fragile in post‐conflict societies; short‐term reconstruction timetables increase the risk of relying on existing power structures and on weak newly‐created institutions, which lay an insufficient foundation for fundamental governance reform and new state‐society relations. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Rebuilding governance in failed states and post‐conflict societies: core concepts and cross‐cutting themes
Authors: Brinkerhoff Derick W.
Published: February 2005

This overview article looks at the emergence of failed and post‐conflict states on the international relations and assistance agenda, and at the importance of governance in establishing peace, pursuing state reconstruction and preventing conflict. It introduces the topic of the special issue, how effective governance can be re‐established following societal conflict or war. After a brief review of the terminology of failed states, post‐conflict and governance, the article discusses governance reconstruction in terms of three dimensions: reconstituting legitimacy, re‐establishing security and rebuilding effectiveness. The article summarises key points made by the contributors to the special issue, who look at donor governance reconstruction agendas, security‐sector governance and subnational governance. Several common themes emerge and are elaborated upon: similarities between development and post‐conflict assistance; linkages among governance's legitimacy, effectiveness and security dimensions; rebuilding versus creating governance systems; local versus national governance reconstruction; formal versus informal governance. The article concludes with a call for further work to elaborate frameworks that can incorporate the particulars of individual countries in addressing legitimacy, security and effectiveness. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Proteomic analysis of livers of patients with primary hepatolithiasis
Authors: Nabetani Takuji , Tabuse Yo , Tsugita Akira , Shoda Junichi
Published: February 2005

Primary hepatolithiasis or intrahepatic calculi (IHC), which is characterized by the formation of gallstones in the intrahepatic bile duct, is an intractable liver disease and suspected to be one of the causes of cholangiocellular carcinoma. To obtain an insight into the disease, we performed proteomic analysis of liver tissue specimens of paired affected and unaffected hepatic segments from patients with primary hepatolithiasis by two‐dimensional gel electrophoresis followed by identification of proteins. For the specimens from the unaffected segments, 125 spots out of 613 spots were identified, defining 83 unique protein names. For the specimens from the affected segments, 102 spots out of 671 spots were identified, defining 74 unique protein names. To further precisely compare, we used two‐dimensional fluorescence difference gel electrophoresis. Consequently we identified 12 up‐regulated proteins and 21 down‐regulated proteins. The up‐regulated proteins contained the proteins related to liver fibrosis and to cellular oxidoreduction. The down‐regulated proteins contained RAF kinase inhibitor protein, chaperonin and proteins related to principal liver function.
An efficient proteomics based strategy for the functional characterization of a novel halophilic enzyme from Halobacterium salinarum
Authors: Choi Jiyeon , Joo Won‐A , Park Soo‐Jin , Lee So‐Hee , Kim Chan‐Wha
Published: February 2005

The extremely halophilic archaeon, Halobacterium salinarum grows in environments containing over 25% NaCl. The enzymes of this organism have thus been adapted to be active and stable in hypersaline conditions, which makes them strong candidates as robust industrial enzymes. In this study, the proteomics approach was applied to screen novel halophilic enzymes. We focused initially on proteins that are differentially expressed under different salt concentrations in culture media. After two‐dimensional gel electrophoresis over a pH 3.5–4.5 range, 29 differentially expressed protein spots were identified by tandem mass spectrometry and six of these had no similarity to preexisting genes of known function. To predict the function of them, we used various bioinformatic methods. Among other proteins, we selected Vng0487h, which showed a high similarity to acetyltransferases. As a step toward assaying the enzymatic activity of this protein, we cloned the Vng0487h gene of H. salinarum and expressed and purified the recombinant protein with a glutathione‐S‐transferase (GST) tag in Escherichia coli. Using a GST‐pulldown assay, a protein fragment derived from E. coli could interact with recombinant Vng0487h, and was identified to be the ribosomal protein L3. This protein showed high sequence homology with ribosomal protein L7 / 12 from E. coli and ribosomal protein L13p from H. salinarum. This suggests that Vng0487h acetylates a subunit of ribosomal protein, possibly L13p, in H. salinarum. During the present study, an efficient procedure was established to screen novel halophilic enzymes, and to predict and assess their functions.
Amphoteric, buffering chromatographic beads for proteome prefractionation. I: Theoretical model
Authors: Fortis Frédéric , Girot Pierre , Brieau Olivier , Boschetti Egisto , Castagna Annalisa , Righetti Pier Giorgio
Published: February 2005

The possibility is reported here of fractionating proteins on amphoteric, buffering resins via ion‐exchange chromatography. A given protein's adsorption to a particular amphoteric buffering resin is characterized by a bell‐shaped curve in which the maximum protein binding capacity is observed at an optimum pH value lying approximately midway between the isoelectric point values (pI) of the resin and the protein. On either side of this maximum the protein binding capacity declines steadily, reaching zero at the pI of either the protein or exchanger. For instance, on beads of pI equal to 8, four proteins, two acidic (bovine albumin and ovalbumin) and two basic (cytochrome c and lysozyme), exhibit binding curves reaching zero values for the whole set when the exchanger is conditioned at pH 8.0. Away from the pI, and on both sides of the pH scale, the bell‐shaped adsorption curves reach a maximum, for each protein, at a pH located at the midpoint between the pI values of each protein and that of the exchanger, and decline steadily to reach zero at the pI value of each protein species. Separation of model proteins using different amphoteric buffering resins of various pI was possible at different pH values according to both the pI of the proteins and of the exchangers. It was also demonstrated, using surface enhanced laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry and two dimensional electrophoretic mapping, that separation of an Escherichia coli cell lysate on columns packed with amphoteric buffering resins of different pI and titrated to a particular pH value, delivered two distinctly different fractions, i.e. characteristically composed of, on the one hand, proteins having a pI below the buffer pH (the ‘adsorbed’ fraction), and on the other, of alkaline proteins possessing a pI above the pH of the buffer (the ‘unadsorbed’ fraction). This approach represents an attractive addition and/or alternative to the armory of protein pre‐fractionation techniques currently employed in proteomics.
Different isoforms and post‐translational modifications of human salivary acidic proline‐rich proteins
Authors: Inzitari Rosanna , Cabras Tiziana , Onnis Giuseppina , Olmi Chiara , Mastinu Andrea , Sanna Maria Teresa , Pellegrini Maria Guiseppina , Castagnola Massimo , Messana Irene
Published: February 2005

The human salivary acidic proline‐rich proteins (aPRPs) complex was investigated by different chromatographic and mass spectrometric approaches and the main aPRPs, namely PRP‐1, PRP‐2 and PIF‐s (15 515 amu), Db‐s (17 632 amu) and Pa (15 462 amu) proteins, were detected. All these isoforms are phosphorylated at Ser‐8 and Ser‐22 and have a pyroglutamic moiety at the N‐terminus. Apart from Pa, all the other aPRPs undergo a proteolytic cleavage at Arg‐106 residue (Arg‐127 in Db‐s protein), that generates the small PC peptide (4371 amu) and PRP‐3, PRP‐4, PIF‐f (11 162 amu) and Db‐f (13 280 amu) proteins, all of which were detected. With regard to the Pa protein, the main form detected was the dimeric derivative (Pa 2‐mer, 30 922 amu) originated by a disulfide bond involving Cys‐103 residue. Besides these known isoforms, several previously undetected aPRP derivatives were found (in minor amounts): (i) the triphosphorylated derivatives of PRP‐1/PRP‐2/PIF‐s and Db‐s, showing the additional phosphate group at Ser‐17; (ii) the mono‐phosphorylated forms at either Ser‐22 or Ser‐8 of PRP‐1/PRP‐2/PIF‐s, PRP‐3/PRP‐4/PIF‐f, Db‐s and Db‐f; (iii) a nonphosphorylated form of PRP‐3/PRP‐4/PIF‐f; (iv) the triphosphorylated and diphosphorylated forms of Pa 2‐mer. Moreover, minor quantities of PRP‐3/PRP‐4/PIF‐f lacking the C‐terminal Arg (11 006 amu), and of Pa 2‐mer lacking the C‐terminal Gln (30 793 amu) were found. By this approach the different phenotypes of PRH1 locus in 59 different subjects were characterized.
Structural investigations of polypropylene glycol (PPG) and isophorone diisocyanate (IPDI)‐based polyurethane prepolymer by 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy
Authors: Prabhakar A. , Chattopadhyay D. K. , Jagadeesh B. , Raju K. V. S. N.
Published: February 2005

Polyurethane prepolymers are widely used in reactive hot melt adhesives and moisture cured coatings. NCO‐terminated polyurethane of polypropylene glycol (PPG)‐1000 and isophoron diisocyanate (IPDI) with an NCO/OH ratio of 1.2:1 were prepared without any catalyst or solvent. 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy was used for the structural investigation of the synthesized prepolymer. 1H NMR spectra and dibutylamine back‐titration were used to monitor the reaction of isocyanate groups with the hydroxyl function of PPG and to allow a good description of the evaluation of the urethane groups. The data on percentage conversion were crosschecked with 13C NMR spectroscopy in the urethane zone for the methanol endcapped prepolymer. The observations show a higher reactivity of the secondary NCO group than of the primary group. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 1196–1209, 2005
An SL(2,ℝ)‐covariant, first order, κ‐supersymmetric action for the D5‐brane
Authors: Fré P. , Modesto L.
Published: February 2005

The new first order, rheonomic, κ–supersymmetric formalism recently introduced by us for the world‐volume action of the D3 brane is extended to the case of D5 branes. This extension requires the dual formulation of the Free Differential Algebra of type IIB supergravity in terms of 6–form gauge potentials which was so far missing and is given here. Furthermore relying on our new approach we are able to write the D5 world volume action in a manifestly SL(2,ℝ) covariant form. This is important in order to solve the outstanding problem of finding the appropriate boundary actions of D3–branes on smooth ALE manifolds with twisted fields. The application of our results to this problem is however postponed to a subsequent publication.
Compactifications on half‐flat manifolds
Authors: Gurrieri S.
Published: February 2005

We review various aspects of compactifications of heterotic and type II supergravities on six dimensional manifolds. In the general framework of non‐Kähler compactifications, emphasis is made on a particular class of manifolds withSU(3)‐structure named half‐flat. We recall how these manifolds appeared in the context of mirror symmetry of type II theories, providing mirror configurations to Calabi‐Yau compactifications with NS‐NS electric fluxes. In the heterotic sector, they generate a potential for all moduli, and are expected to break theE8×E8gauge group down toSO(10) ×E8in 4 dimensions.
Canadian bag‐in‐box wine under distribution channel abuse: material fatigue, flexing simulation and total closure/spout leakage investigation
Authors: Doyon Gilles , Clément Alain , Ribéreau Sabine , Morin Gérald
Published: February 2005

Bag‐in‐box (BIB) is a convenient means of wine transportation. One of the materials commonly used, metallized polyester (Met.Pet), has good oxygen barrier properties. However, little is known of the effect of handling and transportation of the BIB on O2 permeation of the flexible material and the tap under a Canadian distribution system. Our objectives were to characterize the damages to the BIB after actual transportation and distribution, correlate with a standard method for mechanical damage (Gelbo flex cracking) and validate a new capture cell design for the measurement of O2 leakage from the tap (valve and neck). Damage to Met.Pet occurred mainly near the edges and around the tap. Oxygen transmission rate ranged from 2.45 to 4.99 cm3/m2·d·atm for routes of 414–809 km, with storage times of 3–8.1 months. Storage time (r2 = 0.83; p < 0.01) was a much better predictor of damage than distance covered (r2 = 0.33; NS at α = 0.05), with respect to O2 permeation. Wear simulation using the Gelbo flex test was significantly related to O2 transmission rate (p < 0.01) and was a suitable film pre‐selection method. Converting permeation values back to an equivalent number of cycles (DMZE) shows that minimum damage measured on BIB represents about 43 flexing cycles. Up to 60% of total O2 ingress in BIB is caused by the tap, an element overlooked by actual standards. 10–16% of tap permeation was due to the neck and valve–neck interface, and the snugness of the fit was particularly sensitive to temperature under our experimental conditions. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Improving science inquiry with elementary students of diverse backgrounds
Authors: Cuevas Peggy , Lee Okhee , Hart Juliet , Deaktor Rachael
Published: February 2005

This study examined the impact of an inquiry‐based instructional intervention on (a) children's ability to conduct science inquiry overall and to use specific skills in inquiry, and (b) narrowing the gaps in children's ability among demographic subgroups of students. The intervention consisted of instructional units, teacher workshops, and classroom practices. The study involved 25 third‐ and fourth‐grade students from six elementary schools representing diverse linguistic and cultural groups. Quantitative results demonstrated that the intervention enhanced the inquiry ability of all students regardless of grade, achievement, gender, ethnicity, socioeconomic status (SES), home language, and English proficiency. Particularly, low‐achieving, low‐SES, and English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) exited students made impressive gains. The study adds to the existing literature on designing learning environments that foster science inquiry of all elementary students. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Res Sci Teach 42: 337–357, 2005
Actin filament content in platelets—A sensitive index of cellular reactivity
Authors: Spangenberg P. , Till U.
Published: February 2005

Blood platelets have the capacity to participate in a number of physiological as well as pathological processes within the circulation. In order to evaluate their cellular reactivity a number of platelet function tests have been developed. The main in vitro function tests are assessment of aggregation and adhesion, secretion, arachidonate metabolism, coagulant activities and the characterization of surface membrane glycoproteins (Day and Rao, 1986). Here we measure alterations of the G-/F-actin equilibrium of platelets. High F-actin values of unstimulated platelets indicate a hyperreactivity of the cell as examined in platelets from diabetics. Determination of the actin filament content in platelets can be considered as a new sensitive function test.
α- and β-adrenergic control of thermogenin mRNA expression in brown adipose tissue
Authors: Jacobsson Anders , Nedergaard Jan , Cannon Barbara
Published: February 2005

By the use of an earlier characterised cDNA clone, CIN-1, corresponding to a sequence of the mRNA coding for the brown-fat specific “uncoupling” protein, thermogenin, the amount of thermogenin mRNA found in the brown adipose tissue of mice was quantitatively investigated under different physiological and pharmacological conditions.

It was found that a 4 hr cold stress led to a 7-fold increase in the amount of thermogenin mRNA; injection of norepinephrine had a significant but smaller effect. Most notably, isoprenaline (β-agonist) and phenylephrine (α-agonist) had in themselves no effect, but when injected together were able to increase the mRNA level synergistically. In 4 hr cold-stressed mice, norepinephrine, isoprenaline and cholera toxin could all further potentiate the effect of the cold stress itself on the mRNA level. Insulin and the glucocorticoid dexamethasone both had weak stimulatory effects on the mRNA level.

It is concluded that an increase in intracellular cAMP levels is a necessary and perhaps sufficient stimulus for the increase in thermogenin gene expression. However, at least under in vivo conditions, this increase requires stimulation of both α- and β-adrenergic pathways.
Distribution of newly synthesized DT-diaphorase in rat liver
Authors: Edlund C. , Elhammer Å. , Dallner G.
Published: February 2005

The distribution, synthesis transport, and glycosylation of rat-liver DT-diaphorase has been investigated. The enzyme could be isolated using specific antibodies, mainly from the soluble supernatant but also from microsomal vesicles, Golgi membrane, and mitochondria. 40% of the microsomal enzyme was located in the lumen or on the interior side of the membrane, the rest remaining as an integral non-extractable part of the membrane. Synthesis of DT-diaphorase takes place on both free and bound ribosomes, although it was found to be transported in a sequential manner from the rough to the smooth endoplasmic reticulum and also subsequently to the mitochondria. The rough and smooth microsomal DT-diaphorase contains covalently bound carbohydrate, but no sugar moiety could be detected bound to the cytoplasmic form of the enzyme.
Evidence that calmodulin may be involved in phytohaemagglutinin-stimulated lymphocyte division
Authors: Mac Neil Sheila , Walker S. W. , Brown B. L. , Tomlinson S.
Published: February 2005

Phytohaemagglutinin-stimulated and non-stimulated incorporation of [3H]thymidine into human peripheral blood lymphocytes is inhibited by the calcium antagonist PY 108–068 and by the calmodulin antagonists trifluo-perazine and N-(6-aminohexyl)-5-chloro-l-naphthalene sulphonamide (W7). It is argued that calmodulin may be involved in both non-stimulated [3H]thymidine uptake in lymphocytes and also in the lymphocyte response to phytohaemagglutinin.
Sequencing of large double-stranded DNA using the dideoxy sequencing technique
Authors: Hong G. F.
Published: February 2005

The dideoxy sequencing technique has been applied to the direct sequencing of large double-stranded DNA molecules with a small single-stranded primer. For instance, the method was applied to the lambda genome, which contains 48 502 base-pairs (Sanger F, Coulson AR, Hong GF, Hill D & Petersen GB, 1982, J. Mol. Biol., in press), and the coding region for gene W identified. The procedure proves useful in the sequence analysis of a large number of different mutations in a particular region and in the analysis of eukaryotic DNA cloned in plasmids, phages, and cosmids.
Pyruvate kinase and alanine synthesis in skeletal muscle
Authors: Palmer T. Norman , Caldecourt Margaret A. , Slavin John P.
Published: February 2005

L-Phenylalanine is an allosteric inhibitor of M1-type pyruvate kinase. Accordingly, the effects were studied of 20 mM phenylalanine on the metabolism of 5 mM [U-14C]glucose and 3 mM L-[U-14C]glutamate by isolated hemidiaphragms from starved rats. Phenylalanine inhibited lactate and 14CO2 production from both substrates and stimulated alanine release. It is concluded that pyruvate kinase may have a dual role in intermediary metabolism in skeletal muscle: the enzyme is a component of the lower glycolytic pathway and is implicated in a pathway of amino acid oxidation and alanine synthesis.
Photoreaction of tyrosin-iodinated bacteriorhodopsin at low temperature
Authors: Iwasa Tatsuo , Takeda Kazuo , Tokunaga Fumio , Scherrer Peter S. , Packer Lester
Published: February 2005

To elucidate the role of tyrosine residues in the shift of λmax and the light-driven proton pump of bacteriorhodopsin, the photochemical reaction of tyrosine-iodinated bacteriorhodopsin (tyr-mod-bR) was investigated by low-temperature spectrophotometry. After 4–5 of 11 tyrosine residues of bacteriorhodopsin were iodinated, the meta-intermediate of tyr-mod-bR in 75% glycerol solution became so stable that its decay could be observed even at room temperature and it was stable in the dark for several hours at −65°C.

Four batho-intermediates were formed by irradiation with green light (500 nm) at −170°C. Like native bacteriorhodopsin, these batho-intermediates were photoreversible at −170°C. Four corresponding meta-intermediates were also formed by irradiation at −60°C. Using the difference spectra between meta-intermediates and tyr-mod-bR, the absorption spectra of four kinds of tyr-mod-bRs, batho-intermediates, and meta-intermediates were estimated. Each was at shorter wavelengths than that of its corresponding type in native bacteriorhodopsin. The results indicate that two or more tyrosine residues have some role in determining color in native bacteriorhodopsin.
‘De novo’ centrioles originate at sites associated with annulate lamellae in sea-urchin eggs
Authors: Kallenbach Rein J.
Published: February 2005

Hypertonic stress stimulates the formation of new centrioles in sea-urchin eggs. Those centrioles which appear away from the nuclear surface originate exclusiveJy at sites associated with annulate lamellae. Although apparent when nascent centrioles become visible, the annulate lamellar association is gradually lost as nascent forms mature into centrioles.
The measurement of membrane potential using optical indicators
Authors: Bashford C. Lindsay
Published: February 2005

Conclusions

Optical methods have become established as a major experimental protocol for following membrane potential. They can provide a rapid, continuous record of the potential and have a very wide applicability. However, when used to make quantitative assertions about membrane potential, optical methods have a number of weaknesses. Even the most reliable calibration procedures depend on accurate evaluation of a small number, namely the internal ion concentration, in a large background, that is total ion levels. However, a consensus seems to be emerging that the plasma membrane potential of non-excitable cells nevertheless has considerable magnitude: typical values are −60 mV for lymphocytes (Rink et al., 1980), −20 to −100 mV, depending on metabolic load, for Ehrlich ascites tumour cells (Philo & Eddy, 1978; but see also Smith & Robinson, 1980), and −66 to −86 mV for neutrophils (Tatham et al., 1980). In our own experiments using monolayer cultures of cells grown to confluence (Bashford et al., 1981) the potential across the plasma membrane is of the order of −100 mV (see Fig. 2). Membrane potentials of similar magnitude have been found using ion-distribution methods and microelectrodes in neuroblastoma cells and lymphocytes (Deutsch et al., 1979a,b). In the latter studies ions of different charge were used to provide upper and lower estimates of the potential, the presumed effects of binding being very different for anions and cations. A similar approach, in this case the use of optical indicators of different charge, has been taken by Rink et al. (1980), and this would seem to be one way in which to diminish the uncertainties involved in dye calibration. Unfortunately many anions, particularly oxonols, form complexes with valinomycin (Lavie & Sonenberg, 1980; Rink et al., 1980), although we have found no evidence for such a complex with bis isoxazolone oxonols (J.C. Smith and C.L. Bashford, unpublished observations). It is apparent that calibration procedures not dependent on valinomycin should be sought in order to establish optical methods as a quantitative approach to the study of membrane potential.
The use of membrane-active compounds to examine the structure of the surface membrane ofSchistosoma mansoni
Authors: Kusel J. R. , Stones L. , Harnett W.
Published: February 2005

The effects of. a variety of lipophilic compounds on the young stage (schistosomulum) and adult Schistosoma mansoni have been studied by measuring the release of51Cr and125I-labelled wheat-germ agglutinin from labelled parasites. The compounds could be classified into three groups, one of which described reagents which affected only the schistosomulum. It is concluded that during development, changes occur in the organization of the lipid phase of the parasite membrane
Monoclonal antibodies to mammalian neurofilaments
Authors: Wood John N. , Anderton Brian H.
Published: February 2005

Hybrid cell lines secreting monoclonal antibodies against mammalian neurofilaments have been prepared. An improved protocol for the preparation of neurofilaments and methods for the identification and isolation of such hybridomas are presented. The antibodies produced specifically stain only neuronal cell types in both cerebellar sections and culture.
Effects of alloxan-induced diabetes on somatostatin binding to cytosolic components of rabbit gastric fundic mucosa
Authors: Guijarro L. G. , Lopez-Ruiz M. P. , Prieto J. C. , Arilla E.
Published: February 2005

Diabetes was induced by administration of alloxan (150 mg/Kg) to 24 h-fasted rabbits. Somatostatinlike immunoreactivity (SLI) and cytosolic binding sites for somatostatin in gastric fundic mucosa were studied using radiolabelled Tyr11-somatostatin. Three months after the onset of the disease, the specific binding of somatostatin to these sites was seen to be significantly lower, due to a reduction in the number (but not the affinity) of specific somatostatin binding sites of high-affinity and a disappearance of the specific, somatostatin binding sites of low-affinity. These changes were associated with an increase in the SLI concentration in both gastric fundic mucosa and plasma.
A radioimmunocytological quantitative method for the rapid detection of ras oncogene p21 protein in mammalian cells
Authors: Spandidos Demetrios A. , Dimitrov Todor , Kam Ephraim Y.
Published: February 2005

In order to provide a sensitive and quantitative detection method of ras p21 at the cytological level, the monoclonal antibody Y 13 259 and iodinated protein A were used to locate the ras protein in various mammalian cell lines. The subsequent autoradiograph can be analysed by a computer-assisted system which showed in these reported experiments that the relative levels of p21 detected in these cells corresponded to results obtained earlier using conventional biochemical methods.
Pharmacological characterization of the histamine uptake system in HL-60 human promyelocytic leukemia cells
Authors: Gespach Christian , Marrec Noel , Abita Jean-Pierre
Published: February 2005

Serotonin and histamine H1, H2 receptor agonists or antagonists inhibited [3H]histamine uptake by HL-60 cells, according to the following order of potency: impromidine >4-MH>histamine>AET>PEA and: cimetidine, histamine>diphenhydramine, serotonin. It is concluded that histamine uptake by HL-60 cells was specifically controlled by the H2 type histamine receptor and that this active process might be involved in pathophysiological regulations in leukemic and normal granulocytic precursors and in the control of histamine levels in peripheral blood and tissues in man.
New permeability pathways induced by the malarial parasite in the membrane of its host erythrocyte: Potential routes for targeting of drugs into infected cells
Authors: Ginsburg Hagai , Stein Wilfred D.
Published: February 2005

Malarial parasites propagate asexually inside the erythrocytes of their vertebrate host. Six hours after invasion, the permeability of the host cell membrane to anions and small nonelectrolytes starts to increase and reaches its peak as the parasite matures. This increased permeability differs from the native transport systems of the normal erythrocyte in its solute selectivity pattern, its enthalpy of activation and its susceptibility to inhibitors, suggesting the appearance of new transport pathways. A biophysical analysis of the permeability data indicates that the selectivity barrier discriminates between permeants according to their hydrogen bonding capacity and has solubilization properties compared to those of iso-butanol. The new permeability pathways could result from structural defects caused in the host cell membrane by the insertion of parasite-derived polypeptides. It is suggested that the unique transport properties of the new pathways be used to target drugs into infected cells, to affect the parasite either directly or through the modulation of the intraerythrocytic environment. The feasibility of drug targeting is demonstrated in in vitro cultures of the human malarial parasite Plasmodium falciparum.
Activation of hepatic glycogenolysis by phagocytic stimulation
Authors: Buxton Denis B.
Published: February 2005

Infusion of latex beads into isolated perfused rat livers transiently increased glucose output, perfusate lactate/pyruvate ratio and portal vein pressure, mimicking hepatic effects of heat-aggregated IgG (HAG). Indomethacin attenuated hepatic responses to latex beads, and extracellular calcium was required for full expression of hepatic responses. Prior infusion of HAG inhibited the glycogenolytic response to latex beads, supporting a common mechanism of action for the two agents.
Smoking‐gene Interaction and Disease Development: Relevance to Pancreatic Cancer and Atherosclerosis
Authors: Wang Xing Li , Wang Jian
Published: February 2005

There is little doubt that cigarette smoking remains a major environmental health risk that humans are facing in the twenty‐first century. Cigarette smokers are more likely to develop many forms of diseases than nonsmokers, including cancers and vascular diseases. With the availability of the human genome sequence, we become more aware of the genetic contributions to these common diseases, especially the interactive relations between environmental factors (e.g., smoking) and genes on disease susceptibility, development, and prognosis. Although smoking is responsible for up to 30% of pancreatic cancers and about 10% of cases are ascribed to genetic reasons, some genetic variants do not predispose carriers to disease development unless they are exposed to a specific adverse environment such as smoking. This smoke‐gene interaction could potentially be responsible for most of the cases. Certain polymorphisms in genes such as CYP1A1 have been shown particularly sensitive to smoking‐induced pathogenesis, including pancreatic cancer and atherosclerosis. We found that individuals with CYP1A1 CC genotype had a more than three fold increase in risk for severe coronary atherosclerosis when they smoked. Patients with endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) intron 4 27 repeat homozygotes were more likely to develop severe coronary stenosis when they smoked. On the other hand, DNA variants at the eNOS gene also dictate how smoking affects the expression of eNOS. We showed that GSTM1 deficiency was not involved in smoking‐induced vascular diseases, but p53 polymorphisms tended to modify the disease severity in smokers. We are still at an early stage of defining the pairs and mechanisms of smoke‐gene interaction, and this etiologic mechanism may hold great potential for risk assessment, treatment strategy, and prognostic predictions.
Elevated plasma levels of lipoprotein(a) in psychiatric patients: a possible contribution to increased vascular risk
Authors: Emanuele Enzo , Carlin Maria V. , D’Angelo Angela , Peros Emmanouil , Barale Francesco , Geroldi Diego , Politi Pierluigi
Published: February 2005

An increased incidence of adverse cardiovascular events has been reported in psychiatric patients, but the exact mechanisms underlying this association are still uncertain. Elevated plasma level of lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] is an independent risk factor for atherothrombotic disease in the general population. To study the implications of Lp(a) in psychiatric patients, we measured the plasma levels of Lp(a) in 74 patients with psychiatric disorders (39 schizophrenia, 10 major depression, 13 bipolar disorder and 12 personality disorder) and 74 healthy controls. The Lp(a) levels of the patient groups with schizophrenia, major depression and bipolar disorder were significantly higher than that of the control group. The median Lp(a) value of these diagnostic groups was comparable with those reported in patients with prior atherothrombotic events. On the other hand, no differences were found among personality disorder and controls. Our findings suggest that the elevation of plasma Lp(a) may contribute to increased cardiovascular risk in several patients with psychiatric disorders.