bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Mechanism-Based Inactivation of Prostatic Acid Phosphatase
Authors: Myers Jason K. , Widlanski Theodore S.
Published: October 2006

Protein phosphatases play important roles in the regulation of cell growth and metabolism, yet little is known about their enzymatic mechanism. By extrapolation from data on inhibitors of other types of hydrolases, an inhibitor of prostatic acid phosphatase was designed that is likely to function as a mechanism-based phosphotyrosine phosphatase inactivator. This molecule, 4-(fluoromethyl)phenyl phosphate, represents a useful paradigm for the design of potent and specific phosphatase inhibitors.
Binding to DNA and the Retinoblastoma Gene Product Promoted by Complex Formation of Different E2F Family Members
Authors: Krek Wilhelm , Livingston David M. , Shirodkar Suman
Published: October 2006

The E2F family of transcription factors functions in the control of the mammalian cell cycle. Here it is shown that two family members, E2F-1 and DP-1, form specific heterodimers in vivo, a process that enhances DNA binding, transactivation, and the binding of the retinoblastoma gene product. These results suggest that heterodimerization regulates E2F function and contributes to cell cycle control.
Subacute Sclerosing Panencephalitis: Experimental Infection in Primates
Authors: Albrecht Paul , Burnstein Theodore , Klutch Michael J. , Hicks John T. , Ennis Francis A.
Published: October 2006

Measles virus isolated from the brain of a 12-year-old boy with subacute sclerosing panencephalitis caused a chronic, progressive encephalitis in experimentally infected rhesus monkeys. The infection was eventually fatal in spite of preexisting measles immunity and a vigorous secondary antibody response in serum and cerebrospinal fluid of the infected animals. The findings provide a basis for studies into the pathogenesis and possible treatment of the human disease.
Participation of a Nonenzymatic Transformation in the Biosynthesis of Estrogens from Androgens
Authors: Goto Junichi , Fishman Jack
Published: October 2006

The biosynthesis of estrogens from androgens proceeds via three enzymatic hydroxylations, of which the first two take place on the C-19 methyl group and convert it to aldehyde. The final and rate-determining hydroxylation occurs at the 2β position, and the product rapidly and nonenzymatically collapses to an estrogen.
Plasma Membrane: Rapid Isolation and Exposure of the Cytoplasmic Surface by Use of Positively Charged Beads
Authors: Jacobson Bruce S. , Branton Daniel
Published: October 2006

Erythrocytes were ionically attached to polylysine-coated beads 30 micrometers in diameter. The binding of the cells was so tenacious that lysis or disruption of the attached cells left the beads covered by plasma membranes whose cytoplasmic surface was exposed and accessible for further analysis.
Selective Blockade of Hypothalamic Hyperphagia and Obesity in Rats by Serotonin-Depleting Midbrain Lesions
Authors: Coscina Donald V. , Stancer Harvey C.
Published: October 2006

Adult female rats, depleted of 70 percent of forebrain serotonin by dorsal and median raphe lesions, showed little overeating of food pellets and obesity following medial hypothalamic lesions. However, these rats showed the same reduced acceptance of sucrose solutions, enhanced rejection of quinine solutions, and exaggerated weight gain on a high-fat diet as did other rats made obese by medial hypothalamic lesions alone. Since raphe lesions alone produced none of these effects, the pattern of behaviors observed suggests a hitherto unknown (perhaps secondary) role for brain serotonin metabolism in selective aspects of the medial hypothalamic syndrome.
Right Hemisphere Dominance for the Production of Facial Expression in Monkeys
Authors: Hauser Marc D.
Published: October 2006

In humans, the left side of the face (right hemisphere of the brain) is dominant in emotional expression. In rhesus monkeys, the left side of the face begins to display facial expression earlier than the right side and is more expressive. Humans perceive rhesus chimeras created by pairing the left half of the face with its mirror-reversed duplicate as more expressive than chimeras created by right-right pairings. That the right hemisphere determines facial expression, and the left hemisphere processes species-typical vocal signals, suggests that human and nonhuman primates exhibit the same pattern of brain asymmetry for communication.
Crystal Structure of Hemoprotein Domain of P450BM-3, a Prototype for Microsomal P450's
Authors: Ravichandran Kurumbail G. , Boddupalli Sekhar S. , Hasermann Charles A. , Peterson Julian A. , Deisenhofer Johann
Published: October 2006

Cytochrome P450BM-3, a bacterial fatty acid monooxygenase, resembles the eukaryotic microsomal P450's and their flavoprotein reductase in primary structure and function. The three-dimensional structure of the hemoprotein domain of P450BM-3 was determined by x-ray diffraction and refined to an
R
factor of 16.9 percent at 2.0 angstrom resolution. The structure consists of an α and a β domain. The active site heme is accessible through a long hydrophobic channel formed primarily by the β domain and the B′ and F helices of the α domain. The two molecules in the asymmetric unit differ in conformation around the substrate binding pocket. Substantial differences between P450BM-3 and P450cam, the only other P450 structure available, are observed around the substrate binding pocket and the regions important for redox partner binding. A general mechanism for proton transfer in P450's is also proposed.
Gene Dose of Apolipoprotein E Type 4 Allele and the Risk of Alzheimer's Disease in Late Onset Families
Authors: Corder E. H. , Saunders A. M. , Strittmatter W. J. , Schmechel D. E. , Gaskell P. C. , Small G. W. , Roses A. D. , Haines J. L. , Pericak-Vance M. A.
Published: October 2006

The apolipoprotein E type 4 allele (
APOE
-ε4) is genetically associated with the common late onset familial and sporadic forms of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Risk for AD increased from 20% to 90% and mean age at onset decreased from 84 to 68 years with increasing number of
APOE
-ε4 alleles in 42 families with late onset AD. Thus
APOE
-ε4 gene dose is a major risk factor for late onset AD and, in these families, homozygosity for
APOE
-ε4 was virtually sufficient to cause AD by age 80.
Liposome-Cell Interaction: Transfer and Intracellular Release of a Trapped Fluorescent Marker
Authors: Weinstein J. N. , Yoshikami S. , Henkart P. , Blumenthal R. , Hagins W. A.
Published: October 2006

When small, unilamellar lipid vesicles containing a high concentration of the fluorescent dye 6-carboxyfluorescein are incubated with either frog retinas or human lymphocytes, fluorescence distributes widely throughout each cell. Since "self-quenching" largely prevents the dye from fluorescing as long as it remains sequestered in vesicles, it is clear that a considerable amount of dye is released from the vesicles and diluted into the much larger volume of the cell.
Rapid Brain Cooling in Exercising Dogs
Authors: Baker M. A. , Chapman L. W.
Published: October 2006

In alert, resting dogs, the brain is warmer than arterial blood in the common carotid artery. When dogs run, brain temperature drops, despite a sharp rise in carotid blood temperature, and is maintained 1.3°C below carotid temperature during exercise. This brain cooling apparently results from countercurrent heat exchange between warm arterial blood supplying the brain and cool venous blood draining the nose and mouth. The heat exchange occurs in the arteries at the base of the brain, which form a rudimentary carotid rete in the dog, and is greatest during exercise, when respiratory evaporation is at a peak. In animals with a carotid rete, the brain is protected against overheating during the severe thermal stress of exercise.
Zirconocene Complexes of Unsaturated Organic Molecules: New Vehicles for Organic Synthesis
Authors: Broene Richard D. , Buchwald Stephen L.
Published: October 2006

Transition metals are known to stabilize high-energy species and to activate otherwise unreactive ones. The zirconocene unit stabilizes highly strained alkynes and alkenes, allowing their use in selective carbon-carbon bond-forming reactions. This unit also increases the reactivity of unactivated molecules, enabling them to participate in nontraditional transformations. A general route has been developed that allows a wider variety of unsaturated fragments to participate in these reactions. The use of these zirconocene complexes in organic synthesis has led to the development of novel routes to a number of polyfunctionalized organic molecules.
Acceleration of Intracellular Calcium Waves in
Xenopus
Oocytes by Calcium Influx
Authors: Girard Steven , Clapham David
Published: October 2006

Many cell membrane receptors stimulate the phosphoinositide (PI) cycle, which produces complex intracellular calcium signals that regulate diverse processes such as secretion and transcription. A major messenger of this cycle, inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP
3
), stimulates its receptor channel on the endoplasmic reticulum to release calcium into the cytosol. Activation of the PI cycle also induces calcium influx, which refills the intracellular calcium stores. Confocal microscopy was used to show that receptor-activated calcium influx, enhanced by hyperpolarization, modulates the frequency and velocity of IP
3
-dependent calcium waves in
Xenopus laevis
oocytes. These results demonstrate that transmembrane voltage and calcium influx pathways may regulate spatial and temporal patterns of IP
3
-dependent calcium release.
Membrane Potential of Mitochondrial Measured with Microelectrodes
Authors: Maloff Bruce L. , Scordilis Stylianos P. , Tedeschi Henry
Published: October 2006

The membrane potentials of giant mitochondria from cuprizone-fed mice were found to be independent of metabolic state. Experiments are described in which the presence of the microelectrodes in the inner mitochondrial space, and the metabolic viability of the impaled mitochonidra, are validated.
Patchiness and Correlations in DNA Sequences
Authors: Karlin Samuel , Brendel Volker
Published: October 2006

The highly nonrandom character of genomic DNA can confound attempts at modeling DNA sequence variation by standard stochastic processes (including random walk or fractal models). In particular, the mosaic character of DNA consisting of patches of different composition can fully account for apparent long-range correlations in DNA.
Tumor Cell Growth Arrest Caused by Subchromosomal Transferable DNA Fragments from Chromosome 11
Authors: Koi Minoru , Johnson Laura A. , Kalikin Linda M. , Little Peter F. R. , Nakamura Yusuke , Feinberg Andrew P.
Published: October 2006

A fundamental problem in the identification and isolation of tumor suppressor and other growth-inhibiting genes is the loss of power of genetic complementation at the subchromosomal level. A direct genetic strategy was developed to isolate subchromosomal transferable fragments (STFs) from any chromosome, each containing a selectable marker within the human DNA, that could be transferred to any mammalian cell. As a test of the method, several overlapping STFs from 11p15 were shown to cause in vitro growth arrest of rhabdomyosarcoma cells. This activity mapped between the β-globin and insulin genes.
Tissue Engineering
Authors: Langer Robert , Vacanti Joseph P.
Published: October 2006

The loss or failure of an organ or tissue is one of the most frequent, devastating, and costly problems in human health care. A new field, tissue engineering, applies the principles of biology and engineering to the development of functional substitutes for damaged tissue. This article discusses the foundations and challenges of this interdisciplinary field and its attempts to provide solutions to tissue creation and repair.
A Strategy for the Solid-Phase Synthesis of Oligosaccharides
Authors: Danishefsky Samuel J. , McClure Kim F. , Randolph John T. , Ruggeri Roger B.
Published: October 2006

Repeating glycosidic linkages of oligosaccharides can be synthesized by solid-phase methods. Glycals were attached to a polystyrene copolymer with a silyl ether bond and were activated to function as glycosyl donors with 3,3-dimethyldioxirane. Glycosidation was performed by reactions with a solution-based acceptor (itself a glycal). Excess acceptor and promoter were removed by rinsing after each coupling, and the desired oligosaccharides were then easily obtained from the polymer by the addition of tetra-
n
-butylammonium fluoride. By this method, glycosidations are stereospecific and interior deletions are avoided.
Protection Against Vaginal SIV Transmission with Microencapsulated Vaccine
Authors: Marx Preston A. , Compans Richard W. , Gettie Agegnehu , Staas Jay K. , Gilley Richard M. , Mulligan Mark J. , Yamshchikov Galina V. , Chen Dexiang , Eldridge John H.
Published: October 2006

Although protection in animal models against intravenous challenges with simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) has been reported, no previous vaccines have protected against a heterosexual route of infection. In this study, five of six macaques were protected against vaginal challenge when immunized with formalin-treated SIV in biodegradable microspheres by the intramuscular plus oral or plus intratracheal route. Oral immunization alone did not protect. After a second vaginal challenge, three of four intramuscularly primed and mucosally boosted macaques remained protected. The data suggest that protection against human immunodeficiency virus vaginal transmission could be provided by microsphere-based booster vaccines when used to immunize women who are systemically primed.
Field-Flow Fractionation: Analysis of Macromolecular, Colloidal, and Particulate Materials
Authors: Giddings J. Calvin
Published: October 2006

Field-flow fractionation (FFF) is a family of flexible elution techniques capable of simultaneous separation and measurement. Its sample domain extends across a broad macromolecular-colloidal-particulate continuum from about 1 nanometer to more than 100 micrometers and incorporates both simple and complex macromaterials of biological, biomedical, industrial, and environmental relevance. Complex materials are separated into components to simplify measurement. Component properties measurable by FFF include mass, size, density, charge, diffusivity, and thickness of adsorbed layers. When characterization by these properties is inadequate, other measurement tools can be readily coupled to FFF, either off-line or on-line, by virtue of its flow-elution operation. This article describes the principles and major subtechniques of the FFF family along with application of its measurement and separative capabilities.
Relation of Phenotype Evolution of HIV-1 to Envelope V2 Configuration
Authors: Groenink Martijn , Fouchier Ron A. M. , Broersen Silvia , Baker Catriona H. , Koot Maarten , van't Wout Angélique B. , Huisman Han G. , Miedema Frank , Tersmette Matthijs , Schuitemaker Hanneke
Published: October 2006

Biological variability of human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1) is involved in the pathogenesis of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Syncytium-inducing (SI) HIV-1 variants emerge in 50 percent of infected individuals during infection, preceding accelerated CD4
+
T cell loss and rapid progression to AIDS. The V1 to V2 and V3 region of the viral envelope glycoprotein gp120 contained the major determinants of SI capacity. The configuration of a hypervariable locus in the V2 domain appeared to be predictive for non-SI to SI phenotype conversion. Early prediction of HIV-1 phenotype evolution may be useful for clinical monitoring and treatment of asymptomatic infection.
Environmental Asbestos Pollution Related to Use of Quarried Serpentine Rock
Authors: Rohl Arthur N. , Langer Arthur M. , Selikoff Irving J.
Published: October 2006

Crushed serpentinite quarried in Montgomery County, Maryland, has been extensively used for paving roads and other surfaces. The mineral assemblage includes antigorite or lizardite as well as chrysotile and tremolite. Air samples taken in the vicinity of serpentine-paved roads show that chrysotile concentrations are about 10
3
times greater than those typically found in urban ambient air in the United States.
Tumor Antigen and Human Chorionic Gonadotropin in CaSki Cells: A New Epidermoid Cervical Cancer Cell Line
Authors: Pattillo R. A. , Hussa R. O. , Story M. T. , Ruckert A. C. F. , Shalaby M. R. , Mattingly R. F.
Published: October 2006

Epidermoid cervical carcinoma cells (CaSki line) have been established in continuous culture. When leukocytes from cervical cancer patients were incubated with CaSki culture fluid concentrates, inhibition of leukocyte migration was observed in more than 70 percent of the patients tested. By contrast, significantly less inhibition was observed with normal donor leukocytes or leukocytes from patients with other types of cancer. These results were consistent with the expression of tumor-associated antigen by CaSki cells. Analysis of the serum from the donor of the cell line at the time of tumor biopsy, and of CaSki culture fluids, demonstrated the presence of the beta subunit of human chorionic gonadotropin.
Birth Order and Intellectual Development: The Confluence Model in the Light of Cross-Cultural Evidence
Authors: Davis Daniel J. , Cahan Sorel , Bashi Joseph
Published: October 2006

For Israeli eighth-grade students of Asian-African origin, achievement decreases as a function of birth order in small families and increases as a function of birth order in large families. This finding cannot be accounted for by differences in developmental rate or size of birth intervals. It can be accounted for by considering the effect of external influences, such as schooling, on intellectual development.
Asymmetric Structure of the Purple Membrane
Authors: Blaurock Allen E. , King Glen I.
Published: October 2006

There is both functional and structural evidence that bacteriorhodopsin is oriented asymmetrically across the purple membrane of
Halobacterium halobium
. To assess the degree of asymmetry, the x-ray diffraction data from the membrane have been analyzed for possible electron-density profiles. A recent theory predicts that only a limited number of profiles are consistent with the continuous diffraction data, and two possible profiles have been found. Both profiles indicate that the protein molecules span a lipid bilayer in the membrane. Both profiles are asymmetric; there are more lipid molecules in one half of the membrane than in the other, and the bacteriorhodopsin molecule shows a slight complementary asymmetry.
Erythema Chronicum Migrans and Lyme Arthritis: Cryoimmunoglobulins and Clinical Activity of Skin and Joints
Authors: Steere Allen C. , Hardin John A. , Malawista Stephen E.
Published: October 2006

We report the presence of serum cryoimmunoglobulins in patients with attacks of a newly described epidemic arthritis—Lyme arthritis—and in some patients with a characteristic skin lesion—erythema chronicum migrans—that sometimes precedes the onset of the arthritis. Seven patients who had cryoimmunoglobulins at the time of the skin lesion have developed arthritis; four patients without them have not. The cryoglobulins in patients with the skin lesion consisted primarily of immunoglobulin M (IgM); those in patients with arthritis often included both IgM and IgG. These findings support the hypothesis that a common origin exists for the skin and joint lesions and suggest that circulating immune complexes may have a pathogenetic role in Lyme arthritis.
Relaxin: A Disulfide Homolog of Insulin
Authors: Schwabe Christian , McDonald J. Ken
Published: October 2006

Relaxin, a peptide hormone responsible for the widening of the birth canal in mammals, has been purified from the ovaries of pregnant hogs. The amino acid sequences of its constituent A and B chains were determined, and the positions of the disulfide cross-links were established. Relaxin was shown to be identical to insulin with respect to its disulfide bond distribution, but significant homology was lacking in other positions. These findings suggest that relaxin and insulin were derived from a common ancestral gene. Since the intrauterine mode of propagation is synonymous with the development of mammals, the genetic distance between insulin and relaxin should therefore permit an estimate of the earliest possible time of commitment of one evolutionary branch to the development of mammals. This event was estimated to have occurred about 5 × 10
8
years ago.
Aluminum Absorption and Distribution: Effect of Parathyroid Hormone
Authors: Mayor Gilbert H. , Keiser Joan A. , Makdani Dhirajlal , Ku Pao K.
Published: October 2006

In rats, gastrointestinal aluminum absorption and tissue distribution were altered by parathyroid hormone; the resultant tissue concentrations were similar to those observed in dialysis patients with a fatal encephalopathy. In dialysis patients, serum aluminum and endogenous parathyroid hormone concentrations are significantly correlated. These data suggest that aluminum toxicity in dialysis patients results from oral aluminum ingestion in the presence of hyperparathyroidism.
Noninvasive, Infrared Monitoring of Cerebral and Myocardial Oxygen Sufficiency and Circulatory Parameters
Authors: Jöbsis Frans F.
Published: October 2006

The relatively good transparency of biological materials in the near infrared region of the spectrum permits sufficient photon transmission through organs in situ for the monitoring of cellular events. Observations by infrared transillumination in the exposed heart and in the brain in cephalo without surgical intervention show that oxygen sufficiency for cytochrome a,a
3
, function, changes in tissue blood volume, and the average hemoglobin-oxyhemoglobin equilibrium can be recorded effectively and in continuous fashion for research and clinical purposes. The copper atom associated with heme a
3
did not respond to anoxia and may be reduced under normoxic conditions, whereas the heme-a copper was at least partially reducible.
Isolations of a Cartilage Factor That Inhibits Tumor Neovascularization
Authors: Langer Robert , Brem Henry , Falterman Kenneth , Klein Michael , Folkman Judah
Published: October 2006

A cartilage fraction isolated by guanidine extraction and purified by affinity chromatography inhibits tumor-induced vascular proliferation and consequently restricts tumor growth. This fraction contains several different proteins; the major one has a molecular weight of about 16,000. The fraction strongly inhibits protease activity.
Calcium Influx Requirement for Human Neutrophil Chemotaxis: Inhibition by Lanthanum Chloride
Authors: Boucek Mark M. , Snyderman Ralph
Published: October 2006

Calcium fluxes of human neutrophils measured in the presence of chemotactically active serum showed a marked stimulation of calcium-45 uptake from the media. Chemotactically inactive serum did not cause an influx of calcium. The magnitude of the calcium influx due to activated serum is sufficient to trigger contractile systems previously described in muscle cells. Lanthanum chloride inhibited the chemotactic response of human neutrophils to activated serum. Lanthanum in concentrations that suppressed chemotaxis also inhibited the calcium influx caused by activated serum. The data support a direct role of calcium influx in chemotaxis of neutrophils.
The Effect of Stimulus Sequence on the Waveform of the Cortical Event-Related Potential
Authors: Squires Kenneth C. , Wickens Christopher , Squires Nancy K. , Donchin Emanuel
Published: October 2006

The waveform of the cortical event-related potential is extremely sensitive to variations in the sequence of stimuli preceding the eliciting event. The waveform changes were manifested primarily in the amplitudes of the negative component of the potential that peaked at 200 milliseconds, the positive component that peaked at 300 milliseconds, and the slow-wave components. A quantitative model was developed relating the waveform changes to changes in event expectancy. Expectancy is assumed to depend on a decaying memory for events within the prior sequence, the specific structure of the sequence, and the global probability of event occurrence. For stimuli relevant to the task, the less expected the stimulus the larger the amplitudes of late components of the event-related potentials.
Plasma Prothrombin Concentration in Dogs Given 3,3′-Methylenebis(4-Hydroxycoumarin) and Purified Beef Prothrombin
Authors: McGinty Daniel A. , Seegers Walter H. , Pfeiffer Carl C. , Loew Earl R.
Published: October 2006

Purified beef prothrombin will antidote the hypoprothrombinemia induced in dogs by oral administration of 3,3′-methylenebis (4-hydroxycoumarin). If the hypothesis is proven that this chemical compound acts only by preventing the production of prothrombin in the liver then the life of injected beef prothrombin is probably of the same duration as that of the dog's own plasma prothrombin; namely, 2 to 3 days.
Vasectomy Increases the Severity of Diet-Induced Atherosclerosis in
Macaca fascicularis
Authors: Alexander Nancy J. , Clarkson Thomas B.
Published: October 2006

Diet-induced atherosclerosis developed more extensively in vasectomized cynomolgus monkeys (
Macaca fascicularis
) than in sham-vasectomized control monkeys fed the same diet. The effect was most pronounced in the abdominal aortas, carotid arteries, distal segments of the coronary arteries, and intracranial cerebral arteries. Antibodies to sperm developed in all vasectomized monkeys, and complement and immunoglobulins were associated with atherosclerotic plaques in some of the vasectomized animals. The immunological response to sperm antigens that often accompanies vasectomy may exacerbate atherosclerosis.
Rod Outer Segment Disk Shedding in Rat Retina: Relationship to Cyclic Lighting
Authors: LaVail Matthew M.
Published: October 2006

When albino rats are reared in cyclic light, a burst of rod outer segment disk shedding occurs in the retina soon after the onset of light. The number of large packets of outer segment disks (phagosomes) in the pigment epithelium at this time is 2.5 to 5 times greater than at any other time of day or night. The subsequent degradation of large phagosomes to smaller structures within pigment epithelial cells proceeds rapidly. The burst of disk shedding follows a circadian rhythm for at least 3 days, since it occurs in continuous darkness at the same time without the onset of light.
Diamond-Blackfan Syndrome: Lymphocyte-Mediated Suppression of Erythropoiesis
Authors: Hoffman Ronald , Zanjani Esmail D. , Vila Jose , Zalusky Ralph , Lutton John D. , Wasserman Louis R.
Published: October 2006

Peripheral blood lymphocytes from six patients with congenital hypoplastic anemia suppressed erythroid cell formation by normal human bone marrow cells in response to erythropoietin in vitro. The results suggest that the anemia in these children has an immunologic basis.
Bone Compressive Strength: The Influence of Density and Strain Rate
Authors: Carter Dennis R. , Hayes Wilson C.
Published: October 2006

The compressive strength of bone is proportional to the square of the apparent density and to the strain rate raised to the 0.06 power. This relationship is applicable to trabecular and compact bone, and provides clinical guidelines for predicting bone strength on the basis of x-ray and densitometric examination.
A MATHEMATICAL MODEL FOR COMBATING HIV/AIDS IN SOUTHERN AFRICA: WILL MULTIPLE STRATEGIES WORK?
Authors: NYABADZA FARAI
Published: September 2006

A model for the transmission of HIV is proposed with the inclusion of prevention strategies, such as condom use, ARV drug treatment and voluntary counseling and testing. The model is used to predict the potential impact of the strategies that are currently being used to control HIV/AIDS. The model shows that reduction in the number of sexually contacts, by increasing condom use and avoidance of multiple sexual partners has a significant impact in reducing the transmission of the disease.
YAGYOPATHY VERSUS ORAL AND IV DRUG ADMINISTRATION: EVALUATION FOR PULMONARY TUBERCULOSIS USING COMPARTMENT MODELING
Authors: JOSHI RAJANI R. , RAGHUVANSHI MEENAKSHI , PANDYA PRANAV
Published: September 2006

With pulmonary drug administration gaining more and more importance, there is an obvious need for improvement in the existing methods and search for the newer ones. We have carried out the first ever study on the potentials of yagyopathy in this regard. While introducing this new mode of pulmonary drug administration, we also highlight some preliminary clinical and empirical results on drug inhalation characterization of yagyopathy that indicate its effectiveness in the treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis and thus motivate the present study. We construct mathematical models to evaluate the efficacy of this method of herbal cure vis-à-vis the common modes of oral and intravenous medication. The models are analyzed mathematically for the availability of the drug and other important pharmacokinetic features for the case when the site of infection and hence of desired activation is located in the lungs. Computer simulation experiments and validation are also carried out using available data from relevant empirical studies. The results further support significant potential of yagyopathy especially in terms of higher lung deposits, (bio)availability and residence time. The scope of yagyopathy and related research directions are discussed.
PHYLOGENETIC ANALYSES OF FRINGILLIDAE (AVES: PASSERIFORMES) USING MITOCHONDRIAL tRNA GENE SEQUENCES AND SECONDARY STRUCTURE
Authors: CUI BO , MA FEI , WANG XIANG , SUN YI , YU LI , LI-LING JESSE , LI QINGWEI
Published: September 2006

Fringillidae is a large and diverse family of Passeriformes. So far, however, Fringillidae relationships deduced from morphological features and by a number of molecular approaches have remained unproven. Recently, much attention has been attracted to mitochondrial tRNA genes, whose sequence and secondary structural characteristics have shown to be useful for Acrodont Lizards and deep-branch phylogenetic studies. In order to identify useful phylogenetic markers and test Fringillidae relationships, we have sequenced three major clusters of mitochondrial tRNA genes from 15 Fringillidae taxa. A coincident tree, with coturnix as outgroup, was obtained through Maximum-likelihood method using combined dataset of 11 mitochondrial tRNA gene sequences. The result was similar to that through Neighbor-joining but different from Maximum-parsimony methods. Phylogenetic trees constructed with stem-region sequences of 11 genes had many different topologies and lower confidence than with total sequences. On the other hand, some secondary structural characteristics may provide phylogenetic information on relatively short internal branches at under-genus level. In summary, our data indicate that mitochondrial tRNA genes can achieve high confidence on Fringillidae phylogeny at subfamily level, and stem-region sequences may be suitable only at above-family level. Secondary structural characteristics may also be useful to resolve phylogenetic relationship between different genera of Fringillidae with good performance.
INTERPOLATION OF CHEBYSHEV POLYNOMIALS AND INTERACTING FOCK SPACES
Authors: KUBO IZUMI , KUO HUI-HSIUNG , NAMLI SUAT
Published: September 2006

We discover a family of probability measures μa, 0 < a ≤ 1, [Formula: see text] which contains the arcsine distribution (a = 1) and semi-circle distribution (a = 1/2). We show that the multiplicative renormalization method can be used to produce orthogonal polynomials, called Chebyshev polynomials with one parameter a, which reduce to Chebyshev polynomials of the first and second kinds when a = 1 and 1/2 respectively. Moreover, we derive the associated Jacobi–Szegö parameters. This one-parameter family of probability measures coincides with the vacuum distribution of the field operator of the interacting Fock spaces related to the Anderson model.
FREE TRANSPORTATION COST INEQUALITIES FOR NONCOMMUTATIVE MULTI-VARIABLES
Authors: HIAI FUMIO , UEDA YOSHIMICHI
Published: September 2006

The free analogue of the transportation cost inequality so far obtained for measures is extended to the noncommutative setting. Our free transportation cost inequality is for tracial distributions of noncommutative self-adjoint (also unitary) multi-variables in the framework of tracial C*-probability spaces, and it tells that the Wasserstein distance is dominated by the square root of the relative free entropy with respect to a potential of additive type (corresponding to the free case) with some convexity condition. The proof is based on random matrix approximation procedure.
SELF-SIMILARITY OF FREE STOCHASTIC PROCESSES
Authors: FAN ZHAOZHI
Published: September 2006

In this paper we study self-similarity of free stochastic processes. We establish the noncommutative counterpart of Lamperti's self-similar processes. We develop the characterization of noncommutative self-similar processes through a modification of Voiculescu transform, the free cumulant transform. We study the connection between free self-similarity, strict ⊞-stability and ⊞-self-decomposability. In particular, we derive the properties of free self-similar processes and their connection to strict ⊞-stability and ⊞-self-decomposability, that turn out to be consistent with their classical analogue.
Comparison of Shape Encoding in Primate Dorsal and Ventral Visual Pathways
Authors: Lehky Sidney R. , Sereno Anne B.
Published: October 2006

Ventral and dorsal visual pathways perform fundamentally different functions. The former is involved in object recognition, whereas the latter carries out spatial localization of stimuli and visual guidance of motor actions. Despite the association of the dorsal pathway with spatial vision, recent studies have reported shape selectivity in the dorsal stream. We compared shape encoding in anterior inferotemporal cortex (AIT), a high-level ventral area, with that in lateral intraparietal cortex (LIP), a high-level dorsal area, during a fixation task. We found shape selectivities of individual neurons to be greater in anterior inferotemporal cortex than in lateral intraparietal cortex. At the neural population level, responses to different shapes were more dissimilar in AIT than LIP. Both observations suggest a greater capacity in AIT for making finer shape distinctions. Multivariate analyses of AIT data grouped together similar shapes based on neural population responses, whereas such grouping was indistinct in LIP. Thus in a first comparison of shape response properties in late stages of the two visual pathways, we report that AIT exhibits greater capability than LIP for both object discrimination and generalization. These differences in the two visual pathways provide the first neurophysiological evidence that shape encoding in the dorsal pathway is distinct from and not a mere duplication of that formed in the ventral pathway. In addition to shape selectivity, we observed stimulus-driven cognitive effects in both areas. Stimulus repetition suppression in LIP was similar to the well-known repetition suppression in AIT and may be associated with the “inhibition of return” memory effect observed during reflexive attention.
Nuclear Factor Y Drives Basal Transcription of the Human TLX3, a Gene Overexpressed in T-Cell Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia
Authors: Borghini Silvia , Vargiolu Manuela , Di Duca Marco , Ravazzolo Roberto , Ceccherini Isabella
Published: September 2006

Based on a knocked-out mouse model and a few expression studies, TLX3 is regarded as a homeobox gene crucial for the development of the autonomic nervous system. This gene can undergo rearrangements or deregulation, giving rise to T-cell acute lymphocytic leukemia. The present report is focused on the identification of elements and factors playing a role in the TLX3 physiologic expression regulation and therefore likely to be involved in cancer development. In particular, after identifying the transcription start points, we have made use of in vitro transfection assays to show that the 5′-untranslated region of the gene is necessary for the basal promoter activity in cell lines from different origin. By site-directed mutagenesis, two tandem CCAAT boxes have been localized as critical elements of this region. In vivo chromatin immunoprecipitation and electrophoretic mobility shift assays have indicated that nuclear factor Y (NFY) recognizes these sites in all the analyzed cell lines. The physiologic role of such an interaction has been confirmed by a dominant-negative version of the NFY transcription factor that has turned out to decrease both in vitro TLX3 promoter activity and endogenous amount of mRNA. Finally, a consistent in vivo TLX3 expression impairment was also achieved after NFY mRNA knockdown. The full characterization of the TLX3 transcription regulation will ultimately provide crucial elements to define the involvement of this gene in T-cell acute lymphocytic leukemia development. (Mol Cancer Res 2006;4(9):635–43)
Long-Lasting Effects of Sublingual Immunotherapy for House Dust Mites in Allergic Rhinitis with Bronchial Hyperreactivity: A Long-Term (13-Year) Retrospective Study in Real Life
Authors: Marogna Maurizio , Bruno Marco , Massolo Alessandro , Falagiani Paolo
Published: October 2006

Background: Subcutaneous immunotherapy for respiratory allergy has shown a long lasting efficacy after its discontinuation, whereas evidence in the case of sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) is weak. This retrospective study evaluates whether SLIT exerts a long-lasting effect and whether it relates to its duration. Methods: Sixty-five patients allergic to mite and positive to methacholine challenge 13 years ago were studied. Twelve (control group, SLIT 0) were treated for 4 years only with standard pharmacological therapy (SPT), while 53 received SLIT and SPT. Among these, four groups were identified according to SLIT duration. Fifteen patients were treated for 1 year (SLIT 1), 10 for 2 (SLIT 2), 14 for 3 (SLIT 3) and 14 for 4 years (SLIT 4). Clinical parameters (symptom monthly score, SMS), bronchial reactivity and FEV1 were evaluated in 1992 (run-in), 1993 (baseline) and every 2 years from 1997 to 2005. Results: Two to 3 years after the treatment ended, a positive effect on SMS, but not methacholine challenge and FEV1, was seen in the SLIT groups versus SLIT 0. At this time interval an effect on methacholine challenge was also seen in SLIT 3. After 7–8 years a significant difference was seen for SMS, i.e., it was significantly better in SLIT 4 than in the other groups, while bronchial reactivity was still improved in SLIT 1, 3 and 4 only after 5–6 years. Conclusions:The effects of a 4-year SLIT on clinical parameters but not bronchial reactivity and FEV1 last 7–8 years after its discontinuation. SLIT shorter than 4 years yields proportionally less impressive results.
A Posterior Probability of Linkage-Based Re-Analysis of Schizophrenia Data Yields Evidence of Linkage to Chromosomes 1 and 17
Authors: Logue M.W. , Brzustowicz L.M. , Bassett A.S. , Chow E.W.C. , Vieland V.J.
Published: October 2006

Objective: Linkage analysis using 22 Canadian pedigrees identified a promising schizophrenia candidate region on 1q23 with a maximum 2-point HLOD under a recessive model of 5.8 [Brzustowicz et al. 2000]. In the current study, we revisited this data set using a Bayesian linkage analysis technique, namely the posterior probability of linkage (PPL). Methods: The PPL has been developed as an alternative to traditional linkage analysis. It differs from both LOD scores and ‘non-parametric’ methods in that it directly measures the probability of linkage given the data, and incorporates prior genomic information. Results: As expected, PPL results for 1q23 supported the previously observed linkage, with an estimated multipoint PPL of 99.7%. However, the PPL supported two further results: a second peak on chromosome 1 at 1p13 with a multipoint with PPL of 70% and a chromosome 17 marker (D17S784 at 17q25) with a multipoint PPL of 44%. Conclusions: The PPL-based analysis presented has the advantage over other likelihood-based linkage methods in that it avoids maximization and produces a less complex view of the strength of evidence for linkage.
Direct Protection by a Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone Analog from Doxorubicin-Induced Granulosa Cell Damage
Authors: Imai Atsushi , Sugiyama Michiyo , Furui Tatsuro , Tamaya Teruhiko , Ohno Tsukasa
Published: October 2006

Background/Aims: Recent clinical applications suggest a beneficial effect of gonadotropin-releasing hormone analog (GnRHa) as a gonadal protector from chemotherapy-induced premature ovarian failure. This study aimed to determine cellular mechanisms involved in the protective action of GnRHa against granulosa cell damage caused by doxorubicin. Methods: Granulosa cells were obtained by ultrasound-guided follicular aspiration from patients undergoing in vitro fertilization, and screened for GnRH receptor expression prior to analyses. The cellular function was assessed by measuring the conversion of exogenously supplied androstenedione to estradiol-β (E2) in response to follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) (1 µM). Results: Exposing to doxorubicin for 12 h before FSH stimulation caused a concentration-dependent inhibition of the E2 secretion to a minimum level of 20% of control. When the cells were incubated with a GnRHa for 12 h before and during exposure to doxorubicin, granulosa cells produced an equal level of E2 to that of control cells. The protective action of GnRHa was dose-dependent; a half-maximal effect occurred at 10 nM. Preincubation with GnRHa alone had no effect on FSH-induced E2 production. Conclusion: These findings demonstrate that a GnRHa may retard doxorubicin-induced granulosa cell damage, suggesting an additional GnRH activity to protect the gonads during chemotherapy through GnRH receptor-mediated mechanism(s).
Autologous Serum Skin Test for Autoantibodies Is Associated with Airway Hyperresponsiveness in Patients with Asthma
Authors: Jang An-Soo , Park Jong-Sook , Lee June-Hyuk , Park Sung-Woo , Kim Do-Jin , Park Choon-Sik
Published: October 2006

Background: Autoimmune diseases have been implicated as a cause of intrinsic asthma; however, there is little data on the role of autoimmunity in the pathogenesis of asthma. Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate circulating functional autoantibodies against the high-affinity IgE receptor FcΕRI or IgE in patients with asthma. Methods: Twenty-eight patients with asthma and 19 control subjects were included. All subjects were skin tested with autologous serum to assess for the potential presence of receptor FcΕRI or IgE autoantibodies. If the serum-induced wheal diameter was 1.5 mm larger than the histamine-induced wheal diameter and that was 3 mm larger than the saline-induced wheal diameter at 30 min, the reaction was defined positive. Results: Of the 47 total subjects (both asthma patients and control subjects), 13 (27.7%) had a positive autologous serum skin test (ASST). Of the 28 asthma patients, 8 (28.6%) were regarded as having autoimmune origin. Autoantibodies against FcΕRI or IgE were found in asthma patients, irrespective of atopic status (atopy+ 3/13 vs. atopy– 5/15). The wheal diameter related to ASST was not related to atopy. Asthma patients with ASST-positive results as compared with patients with ASST-negative results exhibited a significant increased airway hyperresponsiveness (PC20 methacholine, 2.70 ± 1.27 vs. 9.08 ± 2.35; p < 0.026). Conclusion: Our data demonstrate that aberrant autoantibodies against the high-affinity IgE receptor FcΕRI or IgE are related to airway hyperresponsiveness in patients with asthma.
Asymptotic Complexity of Algorithms via the Nonsymmetric Hausdorff Distance
Authors: Rodríguez-López Jesús , Romaguera Salvador , Valero Oscar
Published: September 2006

The theory of nonsymmetric topology has been successfully applied to the theory of complexity of algorithms. In 1995, Schellekens introduced a quasi-pseudo-metric space in order to obtain a mathematical model for the study of complexity of algorithms. Here, we provide a mathematical context to study the asymptotic complexity of algorithms.
Introduction: Rethinking Child Care Research
Authors: Besharov Douglas J. , Morrow Jeffrey S.
Published: September 2006

This introduction summarizes the articles in this collection. It describes how the articles address one or more of the key elements of the child care research model: (a) selecting and measuring the independent variables to determine the characteristics (“qualities”) of the child care environment (and, in some studies, the characteristics of parents and family), (b) selecting and measuring the dependent variables to determine the child's physical and developmental status after a period of time in a particular child care arrangement (usually a school year) compared with that of children in other arrangements (or simply the same child before spending time in the arrangement), (c) establishing causal links between the independent and dependent variables that are either assumed in randomized experiments or estimated through statistical controls in nonexperimental studies, and (d) assessing impacts across subgroups to see whether the program benefits one particular group more (or less) than others. The collection closes with a proposal to develop a systematic federal research program to pursue improvements in child care and early childhood education programs.
The role of the lateral line and vision on body kinematics and hydrodynamic preference of rainbow trout in turbulent flow
Authors: Liao James C.
Published: October 2006

The ability to detect water flow using the hair cells of the lateral line system is a unique feature found in anamniotic aquatic vertebrates. Fishes use their lateral line to locate prey, escape from predators and form cohesive schooling patterns. Despite the prevalence of complex flows in nature, almost nothing is known about the function of the lateral line and its relationship to other sensory modalities for freely swimming fishes in turbulent flows. Past studies indicate that under certain conditions the lateral line is not needed to swim steadily in uniform flow. This paper examines how the lateral line and vision affect body kinematics and hydrodynamic habitat selection of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) exposed to vortices generated behind a cylinder. Trout Kármán gaiting (i.e. exploiting vortices to hold station in a vortex street) with a pharmacologically blocked lateral line display altered kinematics; body wavelength and wave speed increase compared to control animals. When visual cues are withheld by performing experiments in the dark, almost all Kármán gait kinematics measured for fish with and without a functional lateral line are the same. The lateral line, rather than vision, plays a larger role in affecting body kinematics when trout hold station in a vortex street. Trout show a preference to Kármán gait in the light but not in the dark, which may be attributed to physiological state rather than hydrodynamic or sensorimotor reasons. In the dark, trout both with and without a functional lateral line hold station near the downstream suction region of the cylinder wake (i.e. entraining) and avoid the vortex street. Vision therefore plays a larger role in the preference to associate with a turbulent vortex street. Trout in the light with a blocked lateral line show individual variation in their preference to Kármán gait or entrain. In the dark, entraining trout with an intact lateral line will alternate between right and left sides of the cylinder throughout the experiment, showing an ability to explore their environment. By contrast, when the lateral line is blocked these fish display a strong fidelity to one side of the cylinder and are not inclined to explore other regions of the flow tank. Both entraining and Kármán gaiting probably represent energetically favorable strategies for holding station relative to the earth frame of reference in fast flows. The ability to decipher how organisms collect and process sensory input from their environment has great potential in revealing the mechanistic basis of how locomotor behaviors are produced as well as how habitat selection is modulated.