bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Trainees' experiences of a Balint group
Authors: Das Arthita , Egleston Paul , El-Sayeh Hany , Middlemost Michelle , Pal Narinder , Williamson Lucy
Published: June 2003

Psychotherapy training is mandatory before trainees can gain membership of the Royal College of Psychiatrists. One type of introduction to psychotherapy is via a case discussion group, such as the one pioneered by Michael Balint. Much has been published regarding psychotherapy training, but little describing the Balint method from a trainee's perspective. Our paper outlines trainees' experiences of participating in this type of group. The group encouraged trainees to think about the doctor–patient relationship in their everyday clinical practice. All of those who finished the group described a positive experience, giving a good grounding for further psychotherapy training.
Cytochrome P450 CYP3A4/5 Expression as a Biomarker of Outcome in Osteosarcoma
Authors: Dhaini Hassan R. , Thomas Dafydd G. , Giordano Thomas J. , Johnson Timothy D. , Biermann J. Sybil , Leu Kirsten , Hollenberg Paul F. , Baker Laurence H.
Published: June 2003

Purpose: Osteosarcoma, the most common pediatric primary bone tumor, is an aggressive malignancy with a tendency for early pulmonary metastasis. A reliable biomarker to predict clinical outcome at diagnosis has not yet been identified. To date, pathological review of neoadjuvant chemotherapy–induced necrosis is the most useful determinant of which patients are likely to develop metastatic disease. There is a clinical need to identify patients who will benefit from more aggressive preoperative therapy or perhaps require less aggressive chemotherapy. More than 30 human P450 isoenzymes have been characterized, with at least nine possessing some clinical relevance. One of these, CYP3A4/5 is involved in metabolic activation and detoxification of a wide number of carcinogens and chemotherapeutic agents, including many drugs that are useful in the treatment of osteosarcomas.

Materials and Methods: Osteosarcoma tissue microarray blocks containing biopsies from 18 primary tumors were used to analyze the expression of P450s 1A1/2, 1B1, 2B6, 2D6, and 3A4/5 by enzyme-linked avidin-biotin complexed immunohistochemistry. The frequencies of expression were 83%, 67%, and 83% for P450s 1A1/2, 1B1, and 3A4/5, respectively. P450s 2B6 and 2D6 were not detectable.

Results: These results were extended by developing a fluorescent-based quantitative immunocytochemistry technique to assess the levels of CYP3A4/5 in 18 paraffin-embedded primary biopsy sections. Expression of CYP3A4/5 was found to be significantly higher in primary biopsies of patients who developed distant metastatic disease compared with biopsies from patients with nonmetastatic disease (P = 0.0004).

Conclusion: High cytochrome P450 CYP3A4/5 expression may predict metastasis and poor prognosis in osteosarcomas. Its use as a biomarker of therapeutic response will have implications for the treatment of these tumors.
Correlation of Early Metastatic Response by123I-Metaiodobenzylguanidine Scintigraphy With Overall Response and Event-Free Survival in Stage IV Neuroblastoma
Authors: Matthay Katherine K. , Edeline Veronique , Lumbroso Jean , Tanguy Marie Laure , Asselain Bernard , Zucker Jean Michel , Valteau-Couanet Dominique , Hartmann Olivier , Michon Jean
Published: June 2003

Purpose: Metaiodobenzylguanidine (MIBG), specifically taken up in cells of sympathetic origin, provides a highly sensitive and specific indicator for the detection of metastases in neuroblastoma. The aim of this study was to correlate early response to therapy by MIBG scan, using a semiquantitative scoring method, with the end induction response and event-free survival (EFS) rate in stage IV neuroblastoma.

Patients and Methods: Seventy-five children older than 1 year and with stage IV neuroblastoma had 123I-MIBG scans at diagnosis, after two and four cycles of induction therapy, and before autologous stem-cell transplantation. The scans were read by two independent observers (concordance > 95%) using a semiquantitative method. Absolute and relative (score divided by initial score) MIBG scores were then correlated with overall pretransplantation response, bone marrow response, and EFS.

Results: The pretransplantation response rate was 81%, and the 3-year EFS rate was 32%, similar to a concomitant group of 375 stage IV patients. The median relative MIBG scores after two, four, and six cycles were 0.5, 0.24, and 0.12, respectively. The probability of having a complete response or very good partial response before transplantation was significantly higher if the relative score after two cycles was ≤ 0.5, or, if after four cycles, the relative score was ≤ 0.24. Patients with a relative score of ≤ 0.5 after two cycles or a score of ≤ 0.24 after four cycles had an improved EFS rate (P = .053 and .045, respectively).

Conclusion: Semiquantitative MIBG score early in therapy provides valuable prognostic information for overall response and EFS, which may be useful in tailoring treatment.
High Response Rates and Lasting Remissions After Low-Dose Involved Field Radiotherapy in Indolent Lymphomas
Authors: Haas R.L.M. , Poortmans Ph. , de Jong D. , Aleman B.M.P. , Dewit L.G.H. , Verheij M. , Hart A.A.M. , van Oers M.H.J. , van der Hulst M. , Baars J.W. , Bartelink H.
Published: June 2003

Purpose: To study the response rates and duration of response after low-dose (4 Gy) involved field radiotherapy (LD-IF-RT) in patients with recurrent indolent lymphoma.

Patients and Methods: A total of 109 assessable patients (304 symptomatic sites) were irradiated (53 males and 56 females; median age, 62 years; range, 35 to 93), including 98 patients with follicular lymphoma (43 grade 1 and 55 grade 2), nine extranodal marginal zone lymphomas of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue-type and two patients with lymphoplasmacytoid lymphoma. Bulky disease (≥5 cm) was present in 52% of all patients. A median of two prior regimens (range, 0 to 11) preceded LD-IF-RT. The median time since diagnosis was 41 months (range, 2 to 358 months). Time to (local) progression was calculated according to the Kaplan-Meier method. Differences in response rates between treatments within the same patient were compared using the McNemar test.

Results: The overall response rate was 92%; complete response was reached in 67 patients (61%), partial response in 34 patients (31%), stable disease in six patients (6%), and progressive disease in two patients (2%). The median time to progression was 14 months. The median time to local progression was 25 months. The 67 patients with complete response showed a median time to progression of 25 months and a median time to local progression of 42 months. None of the factors studied (age, sex, follicular lymphoma grade, radiotherapy regimen, number of previous regimens and previous history, number of positive sites or largest lymphoma diameter) were found to be related to response rate.

Conclusion: LD-IF-RT is a valuable asset in the management of patients with follicular lymphoma and should be considered in patients with recurrent disease.
Phase II Study of First-Line Chemotherapy With Temozolomide in Recurrent Oligodendroglial Tumors: The European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Brain Tumor Group Study 26971
Authors: van den Bent M.J. , Taphoorn M.J.B. , Brandes A.A. , Menten J. , Stupp R. , Frenay M. , Chinot O. , Kros J.M. , van der Rijt C.C.D. , Vecht Ch.J. , Allgeier A. , Gorlia T.
Published: June 2003

Purpose: Oligodendroglial tumors are chemotherapy-sensitive tumors, with two thirds of patients responding to combination chemotherapy with procarbazine, lomustine, and vincristine (PCV). Temozolomide (TMZ), a new alkylating and methylating agent, has demonstrated high response rates in patients with recurrent anaplastic astrocytoma. We investigated TMZ as first-line chemotherapy in recurrent oligodendroglial tumors (OD) and mixed oligoastrocytomas (OA) after surgery and radiation therapy.

Patients and Methods: In a prospective, nonrandomized, multicenter, phase II trial, patients were treated with 200 mg/m2 of TMZ on days 1 through 5 in 28-day cycles for 12 cycles. Patients with a recurrence after prior surgery and radiotherapy, and with measurable and enhancing disease on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were eligible for this study. Patients with large lesions and mass effect or with new clinical deficits were not eligible. Pathology and the MRI scans of all responding patients were centrally reviewed.

Results: Thirty-eight eligible patients were included. In three patients, pathology review did not confirm the presence of an OD or OA. TMZ was generally well tolerated. The most frequent side effects were hematologic; only one patient discontinued treatment for toxicity. In 20 (52.6%) of 38 patients (95% exact confidence interval, 35.8% to 69.0%), a complete (n = 10) or partial response to TMZ was observed. The median time to progression was 10.4 months for all patients and 13.2 months for responding patients. At 12 months from the start of treatment, 40% of patients were still free from progression.

Conclusion: TMZ provides an excellent response rate with good tolerability in chemotherapy-naive patients with recurrent OD. A randomized phase III study comparing PCV with TMZ is warranted.
FRIZZY PANICLEis required to prevent the formation of axillary meristems and to establish floral meristem identity in rice spikelets
Authors: Komatsu Mai , Chujo Atsushi , Nagato Yasuo , Shimamoto Ko , Kyozuka Junko
Published: June 2003

Inflorescences of grass species have a distinct morphology in which florets are grouped in compact branches called spikelets. Although many studies have shown that the molecular and genetic mechanisms that control floret organ formation are conserved between monocots and dicots, little is known about the genetic pathway leading to spikelet formation. In the frizzy panicle(fzp) mutant of rice, the formation of florets is replaced by sequential rounds of branching. Detailed analyses revealed that several rudimentary glumes are formed in each ectopic branch, indicating that meristems acquire spikelet identity. However, instead of proceeding to floret formation, axillary meristems are formed in the axils of rudimentary glumes and they either arrest or develop into branches of higher order. The fzp mutant phenotype suggests that FZP is required to prevent the formation of axillary meristems within the spikelet meristem and permit the subsequent establishment of floral meristem identity. The FZP gene was isolated by transposon tagging. FZP encodes an ERF transcription factor and is the rice ortholog of the maize BD1gene. Consistent with observations from phenotypic analyses, FZPexpression was found to be restricted to the time of rudimentary glumes differentiation in a half-ring domain at the base of which the rudimentary glume primordium emerged.
zag-1, a Zn-finger homeodomain transcription factor controlling neuronal differentiation and axon outgrowth inC. elegans
Authors: Wacker Irene , Schwarz Valentin , Hedgecock Edward M. , Hutter Harald
Published: June 2003

The nervous system consists of diverse subtypes of neurons, whose identities must be specified during development. One important aspect of the differentiation program of neurons is the expression of the appropriate set of genes controlling axon pathway selection. We have identified a novel Znfinger/homeodomain containing transcription factor, zag-1, required for particular aspects of axonal pathfinding. In zag-1 mutants,motorneuron commissures either branch prematurely or fail to branch at the correct point. Ventral cord interneurons show defects in the guidance towards the ventral cord and also in the ventral cord. Several neurons misexpress differentiation markers, including glutamate receptor subunits and chemosensory receptors. zag-1 is expressed transiently in embryonic and postembryonic neurons during differentiation as well as in some mesodermal tissues. Null mutants of zag-1 are unable to swallow food and die as L1 larvae with a starved appearance, indicating that zag-1 has an additional role in pharynx development. The vertebrate homolog, δEF1, is highly conserved and known to act as transcriptional repressor in various tissues. Our data indicate that zag-1 also acts as transcriptional repressor controlling important aspects of terminal differentiation of neurons.
Free‐rider effects of generic advertising: The case of salmon
Authors: Kinnucan Henry W. , Myrland Øystein
Published: June 2003

The free‐rider effects of commodity promotion are a neglected issue in the empirical literature. This study addresses the lacuna by considering the salmon promotion program conducted by the Norwegian Seafood Export Council. Specifically, a model of the world salmon market is used to indicate returns to Norwegian producers from NSEC's marketing activities, but also returns to Norway's international competitors. Results suggest program intensification would have a positive effect on total (worldwide) producer surplus in the short run, but the gain's distribution is uneven. Specifically, Norway would receive 23% of the gain compared to 48% for United Kingdom producers. By way of comparison, Norway and UK world trade shares are 47 and 16%, respectively. The disproportionate gains to UK producers are due to a double free ride: from the export tax used to fund the advertising increase, and from the advertising itself. [EconLit citations: L660, Q130, Q170]. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Agribusiness 19: 315–324, 2003.
Performance of an acrylic acid grafted polycaprolactone/starch composite: Characterization and mechanical properties
Authors: Wu Chin‐San
Published: June 2003

In this article, the properties of a polycaprolactone and starch composite (PCL/starch) and an acrylic acid grafted polycaprolactone and starch composite (PCL‐g‐AA/starch) were examined by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance, differential scanning calorimetry, Instron mechanical testing, and scanning electron microscopy. Mechanical properties of PCL became significantly worse when it was blended with starch, due to the poor compatibility between the two phases. Much better dispersion and homogeneity of starch in the polymer matrix was obtained when PCL‐g‐AA was used in place of PCL in the composite. Improved mechanical and thermal properties of the PCL‐g‐AA/starch composite, notably an increase in tensile strength at breakpoint, evidenced its superiority to the PCL/starch one. Furthermore, PCL‐g‐AA/starch was more easily processed than PCL/starch because the former had lower melt viscosity. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 89: 2888–2895, 2003
Synthesis of Na+‐montmorillonite/amphiphilic polyurethane nanocomposite via bulk and coalescence emulsion polymerization
Authors: Kim Ju‐Young , Jung Woo‐Chul , Park Kang‐Yeol , Suh Kyung‐Do
Published: June 2003

Polyurethane/clay nanocomposites have been synthesized using Na+‐montmorillonite (Na+‐MMT)/amphiphilic urethane precursor (APU) chains that have hydrophilic polyethylene oxide (PEO) chains and hydrophobic segments at the same molecules. Nanocomposites were synthesized through two different crosslinking polymerization methods. One is UV curing of melt mixed APU/Na+‐MMT mixtures; the other is coalescence polymerization of APU/Na+‐MMT emulsions. These two kinds of composites had intercalated silicate layers of Na+‐montmorillonite by insertion of PEO chains in APU chains, which was confirmed by X‐ray diffraction measurement and transmission electron microscopy. These composite films also showed improved mechanical properties compared to pristine APU films. Although the two kinds of nanocomposites exhibited the same degree of intercalation and were synthesized based on the same precursor chains, these nanocomposite films had the different mechanical properties. Nanocomposites synthesized using APU/Na+‐MMT emulsions, having microphase‐separated structure, had greater tensile strength than those prepared with melt‐mixed APU/Na+‐MMT mixtures. Location of intercalated Na+‐MMT by PEO chains at the oil–water interface also could be confirmed by rheological behavior of the APU/Na+‐MMT/water mixture. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 89: 3130–3136, 2003
Preparation and characterization of acrylonitrile–styrene–methylmethacrylate terpolymer as a compatibilizer for rubber blends
Authors: Botros S. H. , Moustafa A. F.
Published: June 2003

Acrylonitrile‐co‐styrene‐co‐methylmethacrylate (AN‐S‐MMA) terpolymer was prepared by bulk and emulsifier‐free emulsion polymerization techniques. The bulk and emulsion terpolymers were characterized by means of Fourierr transform infrared spectroscopy, 13C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, gel permeation chromatography, thermal gravimetric analysis, and elemental analysis. The kinetics of the terpolymerization were studied. The terpolymers were then incorporated into butadiene—acrylonitrile rubber (NBR)/ethylene propylene diene monomer rubber (EPDM) blends and into chloroprene rubber (CR)/EPDM blend. The terpolymers were then tested for potential as compatibilizers by using scanning electron microscopy and differential scanning calorimetry. The terpolymers improved the compatibility of CR/EPDM and NBR/EPDM blends. The physicomechanical properties of CR/EPDM and NBR/EPDM blend vulcanizates revealed that the incorporation of terpolymers was advantageous, since they resulted in blend vulcanizates with higher 100% moduli and with more thermally stable mechanical properties than the individual rubbers. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 89: 3143–3153, 2003
Statistical relationship between hardness of drinking water and cerebrovascular mortality in Valencia: a comparison of spatiotemporal models
Authors: Ferrándiz J. , López‐Quílez A. , Gómez‐Rubio V. , Sanmartín P. , Martínez‐Beneito M. A. , Melchor I. , Vanaclocha H. , Zurriaga O. , Ballester F. , Gil J. M. , Pérez‐Hoyos S. , Abellán J. J.
Published: June 2003

The statistical detection of environmental risk factors in public health studies is usually difficult due to the weakness of their effects and their confounding with other covariates. Small area geographical data bring the opportunity of observing health response in a wide variety of exposure values. Temporal sequences of these geographical datasets are crucial to gaining statistical power in detecting factors.

The spatiotemporal models required to perform the statistical analysis have to allow for spatial and temporal correlations, which are more easily modelled via hierarchical structures of hidden random factors. These models have produced important research activity during the last decade, the most promising line being Bayesian analysis via Markov chain Monte Carlo. Practical issues without a clear answer still remain. Model comparison is one of those with the most practical relevance.

In this article we perform the analysis of hierarchical spatiotemporal models to evaluate the protective effect of calcium and magnesium in drinking water against cerebrovascular mortality. Our data register yearly mortality counts from 1990 to 1995 in a municipality scale but we are not sure which temporal aggregation would be adequate. Many small counts might introduce computational artifacts, leading to inaccurate conclusions. We compare hierarchical models of diverse structure for different temporal aggregation settings via pseudo‐Bayes factor and deviance information criteria. We carry out a sensitivity analysis of our main conclusions to ascertain their validity independently of the arbitrary degree of data aggregation and model structure. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Semiparametric spatio‐temporal frailty modeling
Authors: Banerjee Sudipto , Carlin Bradley P.
Published: June 2003

Recent developments in GIS have encouraged health science databases to incorporate geographical information about the subjects under study. Such databases have in turn generated interest among statisticians to develop and analyze models that account for spatial clustering and variation. In this article we develop a semiparametric (Cox) hierarchical Bayesian frailty model for capturing spatio‐temporal heterogeneity in the survival patterns of women diagnosed with breast cancer in Iowa. In the absence of appropriate surrogates for standards of treatments and health care for cancer patients in the different counties, epidemiologists and health‐care professionals are interested in discerning spatial patterns in survival from breast cancer that might be present among the counties. In addition, it is naturally of interest to see if the counties show discernible temporal trends over the years. The SEER (Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results) database from the National Cancer Institute (NCI) provides data on a cohort of breast cancer patients observed progressively through time, spanning 26 years. We implement our hierarchical spatio‐temporal models on data extracted from the database for the 99 counties of Iowa. Our results suggest log‐relative hazards that are generally flat initially, but steadily decrease for more recent years. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
New switched‐network phase shifter with broadband characteristics
Authors: Eom Soon‐Young , Park Han‐Kyu
Published: June 2003

A new switched‐network broadband phase shifter is presented in this paper. The proposed unique network consists of a fixed main line of length λ/2, and λ/8 parallel open and short stubs, which are shunted at the edge points of the main line. It has a more dispersive phase property than a standard transmission line, and can control the phase slope by the optimum Zm and Zs values to produce an impedance match and minimum phase deviation at the desired phase shift. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 38: 255–257, 2003; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.11030
Improved coplanar waveguide (CPW) bandstop filter with photonic bandgap (PBG) structure
Authors: Her Man‐Long , Chang Chin‐Min , Wang Yu‐Zhen , Kung Fan‐Hsi , Chiou Yi‐Chyun
Published: June 2003

A new doubly tapered photonic bandgap (DT‐PBG) technique in both planar and cylindrical coplanar waveguide (CCPW) structures is proposed and analyzed. The DT‐PBG structure of a coplanar waveguide (CPW) bandstop filter not only can reduce the passband ripple but can also increase the stopband rejection bandwidth without degrading the upper passband loss. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 38: 274–277, 2003; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.11036
Error estimates for finite volume element methods for general second‐order elliptic problems
Authors: Wu Haijun , Li Ronghua
Published: June 2003

We treat the finite volume element method (FVE) for solving general second order elliptic problems as a perturbation of the linear finite element method (FEM), and obtain the optimal H1 error estimate, H1 superconvergence and Lp (1 < p ≤ ∞) error estimates between the solution of the FVE and that of the FEM. In particular, the superconvergence result does not require any extra assumptions on the mesh except quasi‐uniform. Thus the error estimates of the FVE can be derived by the standard error estimates of the FEM. Moreover we consider the effects of numerical integration and prove that the use of barycenter quadrature rule does not decrease the convergence orders of the FVE. The results of this article reveal that the FVE is in close relationship with the FEM. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Numer Methods Partial Differential Eq 19: 693–708, 2003.
A high‐order compact boundary value method for solving one‐dimensional heat equations
Authors: Sun Haiwei , Zhang Jun
Published: June 2003

We combine fourth‐order boundary value methods (BVMs) for discretizing the temporal variable with fourth‐order compact difference scheme for discretizing the spatial variable to solve one‐dimensional heat equations. This class of new compact difference schemes achieve fourth‐order accuracy in both temporal and spatial variables and are unconditionally stable due to the favorable stability property of BVMs. Numerical results are presented to demonstrate the accuracy and efficiency of the new compact difference scheme, compared to the standard second‐order Crank‐Nicolson scheme. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Numer Methods Partial Differential Eq 19: 846–857, 2003.
The impact of human resource management on export performance of Chinese manufacturing enterprises
Authors: Deng Jianshu , Menguc Bulent , Benson John
Published: June 2003

Export growth has been a major contributor to the economic development of China. Underpinning this growth was
the development of special economic zones, the reform of SOEs, and the adoption of new models of human resource
management. Few empirical studies, however, have been conducted to explore the effects of human resource
management on the export performance of Chinese firms. This was the purpose of this study. Based on a survey of
96 SOEs in four special economic zones, the research found that human resource management had a substantial
impact on enterprise performance as measured by export growth and the percentage of export sales. The article
concludes by suggesting avenues for future research. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Induction of mitochondrial aldehyde dehydrogenase by submergence facilitates oxidation of acetaldehyde during re‐aeration in rice
Authors: Tsuji Hiroyuki , Meguro Naoki , Suzuki Yasuhiro , Tsutsumi Nobuhiro , Hirai Atsushi , Nakazono Mikio
Published: June 2003

Post‐hypoxic injuries in plants are primarily caused by bursts of reactive oxygen species and acetaldehyde. In agreement with previous studies, we found accumulations of acetaldehyde in rice during re‐aeration following submergence. During re‐aeration, acetaldehyde‐oxidizing aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) activity increased, thereby causing the acetaldehyde content to decrease in rice. Interestingly, re‐aerated rice plants showed an intense mitochondrial ALDH2a protein induction, even though ALDH2a mRNA was submergence induced and declined upon re‐aeration. This suggests that rice ALDH2a mRNA is accumulated in order to quickly metabolize acetaldehyde that is produced upon re‐aeration.
O‐GlcNAc turns twenty: functional implications for post‐translational modification of nuclear and cytosolic proteins with a sugar
Authors: Wells Lance , Hart Gerald W.
Published: June 2003

O‐linked β‐N‐acetylglucosamine (O‐GlcNAc) is a dynamic nucleocytoplasmic post‐translational modification more analogous to phosphorylation than to classical complex O‐glycosylation. A large number of nuclear and cytosolic proteins are modified by O‐GlcNAc. Proteins modified by O‐GlcNAc include transcription factors, signaling components, and metabolic enzymes. While the modification has been known for almost 20 years, functions for the monosaccharide modification are just now emerging. In this review, we will focus on the cycling enzymes and emerging roles for this post‐translational modification in regulating signal transduction and transcription. Finally, we will discuss future directions and the working model of O‐GlcNAc serving as a nutrient sensor.
Activation of a putative MAP kinase in pollen is stimulated by the self‐incompatibility (SI) response
Authors: Rudd Jason J. , Osman Kim , Franklin F.Christopher H. , Franklin-Tong Vernonica E.
Published: June 2003

Mitogen‐activated protein kinases (MAPKs) operate downstream of receptor–ligand interactions, playing a pivotal role in responses to extracellular signals. The self‐incompatibility (SI) response in Papaver rhoeas L. triggers a Ca2+‐dependent signalling cascade resulting in inhibition of incompatible pollen. We have investigated the possible involvement of MAPKs in SI. We report the enhanced activation of a 56 kDa protein kinase (p56) in SI‐induced pollen and provide evidence that p56 has MAPK activity. This provides an important advance in our understanding of the SI response. We believe this is the first direct biochemical demonstration of activation of a MAPK during SI.
Chondrogenic differentiation of mesenchymal progenitor cells encapsulated in ultrahigh‐viscosity alginate
Authors: Steinert Andre , Weber Meike , Dimmler Arno , Julius Conrad , Schütze Norbert , Nöth Ulrich , Cramer Hubert , Eulert Jochen , Zimmermann Ulrich , Hendrich Christian
Published: June 2003

One major problem of current cartilage repair techniques is that three‐dimensional encapsulated mesenchymal progenitor cells frequently differentiate into hypertrophic cells that express type X collagen and osteogenic marker genes. Studies on wild‐type cells of murine mesenchymal C3H10T1/2 progenitor cells as well as on cells transfected with cDNA encoding for bone morphogenetic protein (BMP)‐2 or ‐4 in alginate revealed that the formation of markers for osteogenesis and chondrogenic hypertrophy apparently depended on the BMP‐transfection. Cells were encapsulated in ultrahigh‐viscosity, clinical grade alginate and differentiation was studied over a period of 17 days. Consistent with results published previously (Biomaterials, 2002;23:2003) staining with haematoxylin–eosin or Alcian blue, immunohistochemical analysis, and quantitative RT‐PCR confirmed the expression of chondrogenic markers (chondroitin‐4‐ and ‐6‐sulfate as well as type II collagen). Production of chondrogenic markers was particularly high in BMP‐4 transfected cells. Hypertrophic chondrogenesis did not occur in BMP‐4 transfected cells, as revealed by measurement of type X collagen, but could be demonstrated for wild‐type cells and to some extent for BMP‐2 transfected cells. The osteogenic markers, type I collagen, alkaline phosphatase, and Cbfal were upregulated in all cell lines even though the levels and the time of upregulation differed significantly. In any case, the markers were less and only very shortly expressed in BMP‐4 transfected cells as revealed quantitatively by real time RT‐PCR. Thus, the in vitro results suggested that BMP‐4 is a very promising candidate for suppressing chondrogenic hypertrophy, while simultaneously enhancing the production of chondrogenic components. © 2003 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
Gastric pentadecapeptide BPC 157 accelerates healing of transected rat Achilles tendon and in vitro stimulates tendocytes growth
Authors: Staresinic M. , Sebecic B. , Patrlj L. , Jadrijevic S. , Suknaic S. , Perovic D. , Aralica G. , Zarkovic N. , Borovic S. , Srdjak M. , Hajdarevic K. , Kopljar M. , Batelja L. , Boban‐Blagaic A. , Turcic I. , Anic T. , Seiwerth S. , Sikiric P.
Published: June 2003

In studies intended to improve healing of transected Achilles tendon, effective was a stable gastric pentadecapeptide BPC 157 (GEPPPGKPADDAGLV, M.W. 1419). Currently in clinical trials for inflammatory bowel disease (PLD‐116, PL 14736, Pliva), it ameliorates internal and external wound healing. In rats, the right Achilles tendon transected (5 mm proximal to its calcaneal insertion) presents with a large tendon defect between cut ends. Agents (/kg b.w., i.p., once time daily) (BPC 157 (dissolved in saline, with no carrier addition) (10 μg, 10 ng or 10 pg) or saline (5.0 ml)), were firstly applied at 30 min after surgery, the last application at 24 h before autopsy. Achilles functional index (AFI) was assessed once time daily. Biomechanical, microscopical and macroscopical assessment was on day 1, 4, 7, 10 and 14. Controls generally have severely compromised healing. In comparison, pentadecapeptide BPC 157 fully improves recovery: (i) biomechanically, increased load of failure, load of failure per area and Young's modulus of elasticity; (ii) functionally, significantly higher AFI‐values; (iii) microscopically, more mononuclears and less granulocytes, superior formation of fibroblasts, reticulin and collagen; (iv) macroscopically, smaller size and depth of tendon defect, and subsequently the reestablishment of full tendon integrity. Likewise, unlike TGF‐β, pentadecapeptide BPC 157, presenting with no effect on the growth of cultured cell of its own, consistently opposed 4‐hydroxynonenal (HNE), a negative modulator of the growth. HNE‐effect is opposed in both combinations: BPC 157 + HNE (HNE growth inhibiting effect reversed into growth stimulation of cultured tendocytes) and HNE + BPC 157(abolished inhibiting activity of the aldehyde), both in the presence of serum and serum deprived conditions. In conclusion, these findings, particularly. Achilles tendon transection fully recovered in rats, peptide stability suitable delivery, usefully favor gastric pentadecapeptide BPC 157 in future Achilles tendon therapy. © 2003 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
Indentation properties of growing femoral head following ischemic necrosis
Authors: Pringle Douglas , Koob Thomas J. , Kim Harry K. W.
Published: June 2003

Little is known about the mechanical properties of the growing femoral head as it develops deformity following ischemic injury. The purpose of this study was to determine the indentation stiffness of growing femoral head following ischemic injury and to correlate the changes in stiffness with radiographic and histopathologic changes in the femoral head as it develops deformity. Following the induction of ischemia in 24 piglets, indentation testing of whole femoral heads was performed at 2, 4, and 8 weeks, as well as on femoral heads from eight sham operated animals. At 2 weeks, a 52% reduction of indentation stiffness was observed in the infarcted femoral heads compared to the control heads (p = 0.004). The bony epiphyses in infarcted femoral heads were smaller due to growth arrest but they were not deformed. Histologically, no evidence of repair was seen. At 4 and 8 weeks, the indentation stiffness in the infarcted femoral heads was reduced by 75% (p < 0.000001) and 72% (p = 0.001) respectively compared to the control heads. Variable degree of femoral head deformity and repair was observed at 4 weeks. Severe deformity with extensive revascularization and repair were observed at 8 weeks. Although epiphyseal cartilage was thickened on the infarcted femoral heads only a weak correlation was found between the increase in the cartilage thickness and the decrease in the indentation stiffness (R2 = 0.55). These results indicate that the indentation properties of growing femoral head were significantly affected by ischemic injury, prior to the presence of repair process and deformity. A further decrease in the indentation stiffness was concomitant with repair of the infarcted head. These findings suggest that a reduction in the mechanical properties of the infarcted femoral head include both a cartilage and a bony component, which cannot be differentiated at this point. The study validates early institution of treatments that are aimed at limiting the mechanical loading of the affected hip. The study also suggests that in order to minimize the mechanical compromise of the infarcted femoral head, early institution of treatments aimed at stimulating new bone formation and retarding osteoclastic bone resorption may be beneficial. © 2003 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
The significance of coping as a therapeutic variable for the outcome of psychological therapy in schizophrenia
Authors: Andres Karl , Pfammatter Mario , Fries Alexander , Brenner Hans Dieter
Published: June 2003

Although there is now strong evidence confirming the efficacy of psychological therapies in schizophrenia, the therapeutic processes which they activate remain widely unknown. In order to effectively implement them in clinical practice, identification of these processes is essential. In a controlled study, the efficacy of a coping-oriented therapy approach for schizophrenia patients was tested. Furthermore, the study aimed at establishing preliminary hypotheses on the therapeutically relevant factors. Treatment effects were found in the prominence of psychopathology, the extent of cognizance of the disorder, and the level of social functioning. Moreover, a better psychopathological and social outcome as measured 12 and 18 months after completion of therapy was best predicted by the patients’ mastery of active, problem-focused coping strategies immediately after completion of therapy. The findings underscore the clinical relevance of specific coping styles and corroborate the appropriateness of focusing on aspects of coping behavior in psychological interventions for schizophrenia patients.
Monitoring coastal northern cod: towards an optimal survey of Smith Sound, Newfoundland
Authors: Rose George A
Published: June 2003

The extant, coastal northern cod (Gadus morhua) have over-wintered and spawned in Smith Sound, Newfoundland, since 1995, and acoustic surveys have been conducted in several seasons since then. Cod move into the Sound in late fall, over-winter in a dense, size- and age-structured aggregation, spawn between late March and early June and then disperse into and beyond Trinity Bay during summer to feed. The optimal survey time for biomass estimation is January–February, when the waters are ice-free and the cod are in mono-specific, relatively stationary, and well-defined aggregations with the highest densities and are typically clear of “bottom returns”. Biomass surveys have been conducted in mid-January since 1999. An error analysis indicated the main sources of uncertainty to be density variability and target strength (TS). Repeated quasi-synoptic (10 h) surveys were the optimal means of producing an estimate of uncertainty about population size. Some vertical movement led to night-time surveys consistently having higher estimates than day-time surveys by approximately 15%. Detectability ranged from 73 to 86% and deadzone-corrected, acoustic measures did not differ from swept-area densities found by bottom trawling. Biomass scaling by TS used length-dependant dB/kg to reduce the size-sampling error. Overall, population biomass doubled in approximately 7 years, consistent with a rate of increase around 0.2, largely through recruitment. The surveys are internally consistent and indicate instantaneous rates of mortality among year classes of 0.3 to >2 (very high on older fish) and provide a method for monitoring the annual biomass (cv<40%).
Acoustic characterization of gelatinous plankton aggregations: four case studies from the Argentine continental shelf
Authors: Colombo Gustavo Alvarez , Mianzan Hermes , Madirolas Adrian
Published: June 2003

During routine acoustic surveys for the assessment of fish abundance in the Argentine Sea, large-scale, plankton-like scattering layers covering thousands of square nautical miles are commonly observed. Net sampling revealed that many of these scattering layers comprised gelatinous zooplankters aggregated in dense concentrations in the main. Even though echoes from gelatinous zooplankton are expected to be weak, because of the low reflectivity of their bodies, dense aggregations are capable of producing sound-scattering levels high enough to mask even the overlapping echoes from swimbladdered fish. The objective of this study is to relate the aggregations of four gelatinous species identified by means of nets to the presence of sound-scattering layers. Selected sections of echo recordings from aggregations of Lychnorhiza lucerna (Scyphozoa), Iasis zonaria (Salpidae), Mnemiopsis leidyi (Ctenophora), and Aequorea sp. (Hydrozoa) were obtained at 38 or 120 kHz, at different locations along the Argentine shelf. Some features of the spatial distributions of the aggregations are described. The feasibility of remote detection for different gelatinous groups is of great importance considering the impact that blooms of these organisms could have on some particularly sensitive ecosystems (e.g. fish spawning and nursery grounds). The characterization of specific aggregation and behavioural patterns will allow the mapping ofjellyfish distributions by the analysis of previous cruise databases. This methodology will provide a baseline for the study of spatial and temporal changes and trends in their abundance.
Extraction and comparison of acoustic backscatter from a calibrated multi- and single-beam sonar
Authors: Melvin Gary D , Cochrane Norman A , Li Yanchao
Published: June 2003

Multi-beam sonar is potentially a powerful analytical tool for investigating the acoustic properties and behaviour of fish in relation to quantitative fisheries research. The SIMRAD SM2000 is a 200 kHz multi-beam sonar employing an 80-element array to transmit and synthesize, electronically, 128 receive beams (20°×2.2°) over a 180° arc simultaneously. Once calibrated, such systems enable the extraction of acoustic target strength and volume backscattering from an extended 3D ocean volume. We present an overview of the theoretical framework for the calibration of a multi-beam sonar, and then compare the acoustic backscatter from a calibrated single-beam 50 kHz echosounder with selected beams from a sphere-calibrated multi-beam sonar. Both systems recorded acoustic data from Atlantic herring contained within a weir, as the fish passed beneath the transducers. Specifically, we examine the relationship between the area-backscattering strength (Sa) from the single-beam system with the nadir beam (beam 63) of the SM2000 sonar. In addition, data are presented on the observed variability in Sa with target aspect for off-vertical angles from 15° to 60° in 15° intervals. Non-standard synthesized SM2000 beam widths are explored for both calibration and field datasets. The implications for biomass estimation are also discussed.
Wide-bandwidth acoustical characterization of anchovy and sardine from reverberation measurements in an echoic tank
Authors: Conti Stéphane G , Demer David A
Published: June 2003

The total-scattering cross-sections (σt) of anchovy (Engraulis mordax) and sardine (Sardinops sagax caerulea) were measured acoustically over a wide bandwidth (0.5–202 kHz) from ensembles of reverberation time-series. Measurements were made sequentially in two cylindrical, galvanized-steel tanks containing filtered seawater (21±1°C). The lower-frequency measurements were made from two groups of fish (35 anchovy and 10 sardine) in a 1000-l tank, and those at higher-frequency (≥36 kHz) from 10 individual fish in a 100-l tank for each species. Thus, wide-bandwidth, total target strengths (TTS = 10 log10(σt/4π)) were estimated for multiple sizes of these important pelagic species of the California Current. The TTS frequency dependence (TTS(f)) is significantly different for these two species. For sardine, it first increases and then decreases over the frequency range, whereas for anchovy it increases monotonically with frequency. Moreover, at 38, 70, 120, and 200 kHz the variations of TTS with fish length and weight were markedly non-linear. Empirical estimates of TTS were statistically compared with theoretical predictions derived using the Kirchhoff ray-mode model. When surveying with echo-integration methods these measurements should be useful in the acoustical identification and classification of anchovy and sardine and for estimating their sizes.
Identification of Southern Ocean acoustic targets using aggregation backscatter and shape characteristics
Authors: Woodd-Walker Rachel S , Watkins Jonathan L , Brierley Andrew S
Published: June 2003

Acoustic surveys for biomass estimation require accurate identification of echoes from the target species. In one objective technique for identifying Antarctic krill, the difference between mean volume-backscattering strength at two frequencies is used, but can misclassify small krill and other plankton. Here, we investigate ways to improve target identification by including characteristics of backscattering energy and morphology of aggregations. To do this, multi-frequency acoustic data were collected concurrently with target fishing of Antarctic krill and other euphausiid and salp aggregations. Parameter sets for these known aggregations were collated and used to develop empirical classifications. Both linear discriminant-function analysis (DFA) and the artificial neural network technique were employed. In both cases, acoustic-backscattering energy parameters were most important for discriminating between Antarctic krill and other zooplankton. However, swarm morphology and other parameters improved the discrimination, particularly between krill and salps. Our study suggests that for krill-biomass estimates, a simple DFA based on acoustic-energy parameters is a substantial improvement over current dB-difference acoustic methods; but studies requiring the discrimination of zooplankton other than krill must still be supported by target fishing.
Time and cell cycle dependent formation of heterogeneous tubulin arrays induced by colchicine in Triticum aestivum root meristem
Authors: Lazareva Elena M. , Polyakov Vladimir Y. , Chentsov Yuri S. , Smirnova Elena A.
Published: June 2003

We have investigated the appearance and reorganization of tubulin‐containing arrays induced by colchicine in the root meristem of wheat Triticum aestivum, using immunostaining and electron microscopy. Colchicine caused depolymerization of microtubules and formation of tubulin cortical strands composed of filamentous material only in C‐mitotic cells. After prolonged exposure to the drug, both interphase and C‐mitotic cells acquired needle‐type bundles, arranged as different crystalloids and/or macrotubules. The unmodified tyrosinated form of α‐tubulin was detected within microtubules in control cells, but was not found within cortical strands. It was identified, however, within needle‐type bundles. The modified acetylated form of α‐tubulin, which was absent in control cells, was detected within needle‐type bundles. Thus, cortical strands were transitory arrays, transformed into needle‐type bundles during prolonged exposure to colchicine. Cortical strands appeared in a cell cycle‐dependent manner, whereas needle‐type bundles were cell cycle stable arrays. The diverse morphological organization, intracellular distribution and stability of tubulin‐containing arrays may be associated with heterogeneity of α‐tubulin isoforms. We assume that non‐microtubular arrays substitute for microtubules in conditions where normal tubulin polymerization is inhibited.
Characterization of chemotactic ability of peptides containing N‐formyl‐methionyl residues in Tetrahymena fMLP as a targeting ligand
Authors: Kohidai László , Török Krisztina , Illyés Eszter , Tamási Judit , Sebestyén Ferenc , Láng Orsolya , Csaba György , Hudecz Ferenc
Published: June 2003

The chemotactic effects of six formylated, putatively bacterial peptides (fMLP, fMLPP, fMMM, fMP, fMV, and fMS) were studied. From the set of six peptides, only fMLP (one of the most effective chemoattractant peptides in mammals) elicited a significant positive chemotactic response in the eukaryotic ciliate Tetrahymena pyriformis, while the other formylated ligands, e.g. fMMM (which is also effective in mammals), had neutral or antagonistic effects in Tetrahymena. A study of their amino acid sequences points to an, as yet obscure, interaction between C‐terminal f‐Met and N‐terminal aromatic Phe. Some optimal physicochemical characteristics (e.g. solvent exposed area, solubility) of the molecule may be responsible for this special feature of f‐MLP at such a low level of phylogeny. This means that the unicellular Tetrahymena is able to select between related molecules, giving high priority to the molecule that is the most chemoattractive in mammals. The results call attention to the possible presence of f‐Met receptors at a unicellular level and to the evolutionary conservation of chemotaxis‐activating processes.