bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Photodynamic therapy of newly implanted glioma cells in the rat brain
Authors: Madsen Steen J. , Angell‐Petersen Even , Spetalen Signe , Carper Stephen W. , Ziegler Sarah A. , Hirschberg Henry
Published: January 2006

Background and Objective

A syngeneic rat brain tumor model is used to investigate the effects of aminolevulinic acid (ALA)‐mediated photodynamic therapy (PDT) on small clusters of tumor cells sequestered in normal brain.

Study Design/Materials and Methods

Biodistribution studies on tumor‐bearing animals were undertaken in order to determine the occurrence of photosensitizer in tumor cells invading normal brain. ALA–PDT toxicity in normal brain and gross tumor were evaluated from histopathology. Effects of PDT on isolated glioma cells in normal brain were investigated by treating animals 48 hours after tumor cell implantation.

Results

Fluorescence microscopy of frozen tissue sections showed that photosensitizer content was limited and variable in tumor tissue invading normal brain. ALA–PDT with high light doses resulted in significant damage to both gross tumor and normal brain, however, the treatment failed to prolong survival of animals with newly implanted glioma cells. In contrast, animals inoculated with tumor cells pre‐incubated in vitro with ALA showed a significant survival advantage in response to PDT.

Conclusion

The results show that ALA–PDT could not prevent tumors from forming if treatment was performed shortly after tumor initiation. This was likely due to inadequate levels of ALA/PpIX in the glioma cells. Lasers Surg. Med. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Do pulsed lasers produce an effective photodynamic therapy response?
Authors: Strasswimmer John , Grande Donald J.
Published: January 2006

Background

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) in dermatology is traditionally performed with topical aminolevulinic acid (ALA) and continuous‐wave (CW) illumination with blue or red light. Recently, several authors have reported success with laser and other pulsed‐light sources for PDT. While the clinical benefits on sun‐exposed skin are apparent, no study has demonstrated that the pulsed light sources are responsible for the observed response.

Study Design

A placebo‐controlled study of two pulsed light sources previously reported for PDT: the pulsed dye laser (PDL) or broadband flashlamp filtered intense pulsed light (IPL). Sun‐hidden skin was prepared with microdermabrasion and acetone scrub followed by ALA under occlusion. Laser or IPL was delivered under conditions previously reported to produce a clinical response. Control areas were exposed to standardized CW blue light or to no light. A second control area was prepared and received light and the ALA vehicle.

Results

IPL and PDL demonstrated a faint dose‐response effect on PDT activation, but were less potent than a smaller fluence of CW blue light. Ambient light activated ALA‐treated skin.

Conclusion

Both IPL and PDL are capable of activation of PDT but produce dramatically less PDT reaction than the standard CW blue‐light broadband source. Physicians desiring a robust PDT response might select CW sources over pulsed sources. Ambient light may activate a PDT reaction. Lasers Surg. Med. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Methylene blue‐mediated photodynamic therapy: A possible alternative treatment for oral lichen planus
Authors: Aghahosseini Farzane , Arbabi‐Kalati Fateme , Fashtami Leila Ataie , Djavid Gholamreza Esmaeeli , Fateh Mohsen , Beitollahi Jalil Momen
Published: January 2006

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

In this study, methylene blue‐mediated photodynamic therapy (MB‐PDT) was used as a possible alternative method for the treatment of oral lichen planus (OLP).

STUDY DESIGN/MATERIALS AND METHODS

Thirteen patients with 26 OLP lesions were enrolled in this study. Patients were instructed to gargle a 5% methylene blue solution in water for 5 minutes. Ten minutes later, irradiation was performed by laser light (λ = 632 nm, light exposure dose = 120 J/cm2). Lesions were evaluated pre and post‐operatively and at follow‐up sessions by changes in sign and symptom (pain) scores, and size of lesions.

RESULTS

Improvement in sign scores was achieved in 16 lesions. Four keratotic lesions disappeared completely. There was a statistically significant decrease in sign and symptom scores 1 week after treatment and at follow‐up sessions up to 12 weeks. Average reduction in size of lesions was 44.3%.

CONCLUSION

MB‐PDT seems to be an effective alternative treatment for control of OLP. In our opinion, this preliminary result warrant further studies in order to show the efficacy of MB‐PDT in control of OLP for a longer period of time. Lasers Surg. Med. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Structural characterization of silica modified polyimide membranes
Authors: Boroglu Mehtap Safak , Boz Ismail , Gurkaynak Mehmet Ali
Published: January 2006

Polyimide and hybrid polyimide‐siloxane were synthesized by polycondensation, imidization, and sol‐gel reaction. The polyimides were prepared from pyromellitic dianhydride (PMDA) and 4,4‐oxydianiline (ODA) in N‐methyl‐2‐pyrollidone (NMP). Trimethoxyvinyl silane (TMVS) was used as a source of silica. Their surface morphologies, structures and thermal performances were determined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), infrared spectroscopy (IR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The results showed that the silica particles were finely and rather homogeneously dispersed in polymers. The glass transition temperature (Tg) of hybrid membrane materials increased with the increasing silica content. TGA analysis showed that polyimides were thermally stable with silica. Modified polyimide‐siloxane films, thermal characteristics were found to be better than the polyimide films without silica. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Erythrocyte concentrations of metabolites or cumulative doses of 6‐mercaptopurine and methotrexate do not predict liver changes in children treated for acute lymphoblastic leukemia
Authors: Halonen Päivi , Mattila Jorma , Mäkipernaa Anne , Ruuska Tarja , Schmiegelow Kjeld
Published: January 2006

Background

During therapy consisting of 6MP and MTX, metabolites accumulate in the erythrocytes. The erythrocyte levels of metabolites reflect the intensity of therapy. Whether they are associated with hepatotoxicity manifested as histological liver changes is not known. We studied the association of the metabolites and cumulative doses of 6MP and MTX with histological liver disease.

Methods

Serial measurements of E‐TGN, E‐MTX, and ALT during maintenance therapy were performed and cumulative doses of 6MP and MTX were calculated as g/m2 in 16 children with ALL. Each subject underwent a percutaneous liver biopsy at the end of therapy to screen for histological liver disease.

Results

No differences in E‐TGN, E‐MTX, or cumulative doses of 6MP or MTX were detected in the children with ALL with liver fibrosis compared to those without fibrosis, or in the children with less liver fatty change compared to those with more fatty change. Serum median ALT levels correlated significantly positively with cumulative doses of 6MP during therapy (rS = 0.527, P = 0.036), but not with cumulative doses of MTX, or E‐TGN, or E‐MTX.

Conclusions

Erythrocyte levels of the metabolites or the cumulative doses of 6MP and MTX do not predict histological liver disease in children treated for ALL. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Prevention and monitoring of invasive fungal infections in pediatric patients with cancer and hematologic disorders
Authors: Hovi Liisa , Saxen Harri , Saarinen‐Pihkala Ulla M. , Vettenranta Kim , Meri Taru , Richardson Malcolm
Published: January 2006

Background

The occurrence of invasive fungal infection (IFIs) in a pediatric hematology/oncology unit after renovation of the ventilation system, and initiating routine azole antifungal prophylaxis was monitored. In addition, the value of serial screening for Aspergillus galactomannan (GM) for diagnosing invasive aspergillosis was assessed.

Procedure

A total of 98 consecutive high‐risk pediatric patients were prospectively surveyed for signs of IFI and weekly monitored for serum GM. The data was not made available to treating physicians.

Results

Only 2 patients had proven and 27 possible IFI based on the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer/Mycoses Study Group definitions. The incidence of proven IFI was 1/31 (3.2%) in the allogeneic stem cell transplant (SCT) (Aspergillus spp), 0/26 in the autologous SCT, and 1/60 (1.6%) in the induction therapy group (C. krusei). GM was detected at least in one tested sample in 12/98 patients (12.2%), in five patients in two or more sequential samples. In the latter group, IFI was proven in one patient and could not be excluded in the others. Four of the five patients belonged to the 31 allogeneic and one to the 26 autologous SCT patients. In patients with only one positive GM test none developed signs of IFI and only one received empirical amphotericin B.

Conclusions

With the currently used preventative and prophylactic measures, IFI is uncommon in children with high‐risk for infection. Regular screening for GM could be useful among allogeneic SCT patients and two positive samples should prompt further investigative procedures and pre‐emptive antifungal therapy. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2007;48:28–34. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Immunotherapy for severe aplastic anemia following orthotopic liver transplantation in children
Authors: Sanchez Rosa , Rosenthal Philip , Goldsby Robert
Published: January 2006

Severe aplastic anemia is a well‐recognized complication of fulminant non‐A, non‐B, and non‐C hepatitis requiring orthotopic liver transplantation. The first line of therapy for cure in the treatment of aplastic anemia is a histocompatible bone marrow transplant. Immunosuppressive therapy is also effective if a histocompatible donor is not available. We describe two children who developed severe aplastic anemia following orthotopic liver transplant who achieved bone marrow recovery with a single course of anti‐thymocyte globulin, solumedrol, and adjustments to their immunosuppressive therapy for prevention of liver allograft rejection. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2007;49:93–98. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Progressive vacuolar myelopathy and leukoencephalopathy in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia and transient improvement with vitamin B12
Authors: Olcay Lale , Irkkan Çiğdem , Şenbil Nesrin , Uzun Hacı , Basmacı Mehmet , Gürer Y.K. Yavuz
Published: January 2006

Vacuolar myelopathy (VM) in leukemia is rare. We report a boy with leukemia who developed isolated central nervous system (CNS) relapse during reinduction therapy. 5 months after cranial radiotherapy, he gradually developed quadriparesis. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed an intramedullary lesion which extended through the cervical spine. Serum vitamin B12, folic acid, cerebrospinal fluid methyl malonic acid were normal. Viral screening by ELISA was negative. He had lymphopenia, and reduced immunoglobulins, from a cardiac arrest. Biopsy revealed VM. He responded to weekly vitamin B12 treatment but on the 6th week of the therapy he died after developing periventricular, gliotic, hyperintense lesions in the brain. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2007;49:754–758. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Survival after relapse in children with solid tumors: A follow‐up study from the Italian off‐therapy registry
Authors: Ceschel Stefano , Casotto Veronica , Valsecchi Maria Grazia , Tamaro Paolo , Jankovic Momcilo , Hanau Guia , Fossati Franca , Pillon Marta , Rondelli Roberto , Sandri Alessandro , Silvestri Daniela , Haupt Riccardo , Cuttini Marina
Published: January 2006

Background

Despite the increased survival of children with solid tumors, a significantproportion of cases still relapse following treatment discontinuation, and knowledge about the long‐term outcome of this selected group of patients remains incomplete.

Objective

To describe the long‐term outcome of children treated for a solid tumor who relapsed after the elective end of therapy, and to explore factors associated with survival.

Methods

All patients with the selected diagnoses—Hodgkin disease (HD), neuroblastoma (NB), tumor of the central nervous system (CNS), Wilms tumor (WT), or soft tissue sarcoma (STS)‐enrolled in the Italian Pediatric Off‐Therapy Registry in the period 1980–1998 were evaluated. Out of 3,927 patients, 694 had relapsed after treatment suspension; 639 were available for analysis. Survival and event‐free survival were estimated by the Kaplan–Meier method. The log‐rank test was used to assess differences in survival among the various types of cancer considered. Multivariate Cox proportional hazards analysis was adopted to explore possible prognostic factors.

Results

There were 335 deaths: most of them (93%) were related to the primary cancer. The overall survival rate after relapse was 38% (95% CI 33–42) at 5 years, and 32% (95% CI 27–36%) at 15 years, while event free survival was 31% (95% CI 26–35) and 26% (95% CI 22–30%), respectively. There were significant differences according to the original diagnosis, with patients with HD doing better, and those with NB, CNS, and STS worse. No improvement of prognosis was evident over time. Post‐relapse stem cell transplantation was associated with decreased risk of death only in the first year, not thereafter.

Conclusions

Overall, patients with solid tumors who relapse after treatment discontinuation have a poor outcome, but significant differences exist according to the tumor types. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2006; 47:560–566. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Evaluation of plasma tissue factor and tissue factor pathway inhibitor levels in childhood hemangiomas
Authors: Türker Meral , İrken Gülersu , Ören Hale , Yılmaz Şebnem , Yüksel Faize , Olgun Nur
Published: January 2006

Background

The purpose of the study was to evaluate the plasma levels of tissue factor (TF), an angiogenic marker, and tissue factor pathway inhibitor (TFPI), an antiproliferative protein, in the childhood hemangiomas at proliferative and regressive stages.

Procedure

The study included 30 patients with hemangiomas and 30 healthy children. Localization, number, stage, type, duration of growth, and complications of the hemangiomas were determined. Venous blood samples from all individuals were collected into citrated tubes and centrifuged. Supernatant plasma was separated, aliquated, and stored at −70°C until samples could be assayed. Plasma levels of TF and TFPI were measured with quantitative ELISA kits.

Results

Plasma TF and TFPI levels did not show any significant difference between the study and control groups. When plasma TF and TFPI levels of the children in the control group and in the study group who were in proliferative and regressive stage were compared to each other, no statistically significant difference could be detected.

Conclusions

Plasma TF and TFPI levels of our patients with hemangiomas were not different from healthy children and they did not show any significant difference in proliferative and regressive stages. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Daily subcutaneous amifostine administration during irradiation of pediatric head and neck cancers
Authors: Anacak Yavuz , Kamer Serra , Haydaroglu Ayfer
Published: January 2006

Five pediatric patients with head and neck cancers were treated with radiotherapy. Subcutaneous injections of 200 mg flat dose amifostine were given 30 min prior to radiation fractions. A total of 129 amifostine injections were done. Grade 3 nausea occurred three times and emesis only once. Hypotension, hypocalcemia, or allergic reactions following injections were not recorded. No grade 3 or 4 mucosal or skin reactions occurred. After 16 months, all patients were alive and disease‐free. There were no grade 3 or 4 side effects of radiotherapy on follow‐up. Further studies with more patients are required to determine the role of amifostine in pediatric radiation oncology, but these data should contribute to the clinical spectrum of amifostine use in pediatric oncology. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2007;48:579–581. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Rational use of drugs: prescribing and dispensing practices at public health facilities in Lao PDR
Authors: Keohavong Bounxou , Syhakhang Lamphone , Sengaloundeth Sivong , Nishimura Akio , Ito Katsuki
Published: January 2006

Purpose

To evaluate the rational use of drug (RUD) patterns with a focus on prescribing and dispensing practices for providing information to the policy makers for further planning and identifying intervention strategies.

Method

A cross‐sectional study conducted by interviewing 370 presenting outpatients, checking records of 900 out‐ patients with any cases and 798 outpatients with tracer diseases such as simple diarrhea, pneumonia and non‐pneumonia (Flu) within 30 public health facilities (HFs) of five geographical areas with different socio‐economic statuses grouped into high, middle and low. The WHO Operational Package for Monitoring and Assessing Country Pharmaceutical Situations indicators were used for data collection.

Results

Among the 3 items of drugs prescribed per average encounter, 97% were dispensed from HFs, of which 67% were adequately labeled, 84% were on the national essential drug (ED) list, and 78% were prescribed by generic name. Seventy‐four percent of patients knew how to take the drugs they received, 47% of them received antibiotics (ABs), and 18% received injections. Forty‐seven percent of under‐five children with simple diarrhea received ABs, 77% received Oral Rehydration Salts (ORS) and 5% received anti‐diarrhea drugs, and 91% of such under‐five children with mid/moderate pneumonia received one of first line ABs, 15% received more than one ABs, and 41% of non‐pneumonia (flu) patients of any age received ABs.

Conclusion

The use of drugs in Laos was not fully appropriate in terms of rationally prescribing and dispensing practices. Since prescriptions for AB, injections, non‐ED, and non‐generics are still high, information on drug use provided is insufficient. Therefore, continuous health education programs among both health staff and public are needed. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Cardiovascular risk of selective cyclooxygenase‐2 inhibitors and other non‐aspirin non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory medications
Authors: Velentgas Priscilla , West William , Cannuscio Carolyn C. , Watson Douglas J. , Walker Alexander M.
Published: January 2006

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to estimate rates of acute coronary syndrome (ACS), and sudden cardiac death in relation to use of rofecoxib, celecoxib, naproxen, diclofenac, and ibuprofen.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective cohort study among 424 584 health plan enrollees ages 40–64 who used non‐aspirin non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs (NANSAIDs) by prescription from 1999 to 2001. We used automated medical and pharmacy claims data to compute person‐time exposed to study drugs, and to identify hospitalizations for ACS. The primary endpoint was ACS, inclusive of myocardial infarction (MI), unstable angina, and sudden cardiac death as identified through claims data and confirmed through hospital medical records, or through the National Death Index.

Results

Compared with ibuprofen or diclofenac use, the relative risk (RR) of ACS during periods of current rofecoxib use was 1.35 (95%CI 1.09–1.68). For current use of celecoxib, the RR was 1.03 (95%CI 0.83–1.27). Risks in the first 30 days of rofecoxib and celecoxib use were modestly elevated. Rofecoxib use at the 25 mg/day (modal) dose was associated with an elevated risk of ACS (RR 1.54, 95%CI 1.15–2.04), while use at 26–50 mg/day (>modal) was not (RR 0.81, 95%CI 0.41–1.60). There were no increased risks with modal or greater than modal doses of celecoxib or naproxen compared with all doses of ibuprofen or diclofenac combined.

Conclusions

The incidence of ACS was 1.35 times greater during rofecoxib use than use of ibuprofen or diclofenac. No statistically significant elevation in risk was observed with celecoxib use. Naproxen use was not associated with risk of ACS. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Improvement of statistical potentials and threading score functions using information maximization
Authors: Solis Armando D. , Rackovsky S.
Published: January 2006

We show that statistical potentials and threading score functions, derived from finite data sets, are informatic functions, and that their performance depends on the manner in which data are classified and compressed. The choice of sequence and structural parameters affects estimates of the conditional probabilities P(C|S), the quantification of the effect of sequence S on conformation C, and determines the amount of information extracted from the data set, as measured by information gain. The mathematical link between information gain and mean conformational energy, established in this work using the local backbone potential as model, demonstrates that manipulation of descriptive parameters also alters the “energy” values assigned to native conformation and to decoy structures in the test pool, and consequently, the performance of such statistical potential functions in fold recognition exercises. We show that sequence and structural partitions that maximize information gain also minimize the mean energy of the ensemble of native conformations. Moreover, we establish an informatic basis for the placement of the native score within an energy spectrum given by the decoy pool in a threading exercise. We discover that, among all informatic quantities, information gain is the best predictor of threading success, even better than the standard Z‐score. Consequently, the choices of sequence and structural descriptors, extent of compression, and levels of discretization that maximize information gain must also produce the best potential functions. Strategies to optimize these parameters with respect to information extraction are therefore relevant to building better statistical potentials. Last, we demonstrate that the backbone torsion potential, defined by the trimer sequence, can be an effective tool in greatly reducing the set of possible conformations from a vast decoy pool. Proteins 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Inferring protein interactions from experimental data by association probabilistic method
Authors: Chen Luonan , Wu Ling‐Yun , Wang Yong , Zhang Xiang‐Sun
Published: January 2006

To elucidate protein interaction networks is one of the major goals of functional genomics for whole organisms. So far, various computational methods have been proposed for inference of protein–protein interactions. Based on the association method by Sprinzak et al., we propose an association probabilistic method in this short communication to infer protein interactions directly from the experimental data, which outperformed other existing methods in terms of both accuracy and efficiency despite its simple form. Specifically, we show that the association probabilistic method achieves the highest accuracy among the existing approaches for the measures of root‐mean‐square error and the Pearson correlation coefficient, and also runs much faster than the LP‐based method, by experimental dataset in Yeast. Software is available from the authors upon request. Proteins 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
PSI‐DOCK: Towards highly efficient and accurate flexible ligand docking
Authors: Pei Jianfeng , Wang Qi , Liu Zhenming , Li Qingliang , Yang Kun , Lai Luhua
Published: January 2006

We have developed a new docking method, Pose‐Sensitive Inclined (PSI)‐DOCK, for flexible ligand docking. An improved SCORE function has been developed and used in PSI‐DOCK for binding free energy evaluation. The improved SCORE function was able to reproduce the absolute binding free energies of a training set of 200 protein–ligand complexes with a correlation coefficient of 0.788 and a standard error of 8.13 kJ/mol. For ligand binding pose exploration, a unique searching strategy was designed in PSI‐DOCK. In the first step, a tabu‐enhanced genetic algorithm with a rapid shape‐complementary scoring function is used to roughly explore and store potential binding poses of the ligand. Then, these predicted binding poses are optimized and compete against each other by using a genetic algorithm with the accurate SCORE function to determine the binding pose with the lowest docking energy. The PSI‐DOCK 1.0 program is highly efficient in identifying the experimental binding pose. For a test dataset of 194 complexes, PSI‐DOCK 1.0 achieved a 67% success rate (RMSD <2.0 Å) for only one run and a 74% success rate for 10 runs. PSI‐DOCK can also predict the docking binding free energy with high accuracy. For a test set of 64 complexes, the correlation between the experimentally observed binding free energies and the docking binding free energies for 64 complexes is r = 0.777 with a standard deviation of 7.96 kJ/mol. Moreover, compared with other docking methods, PSI‐DOCK 1.0 is extremely easy to use and requires minimum docking preparations. There is no requirement for the users to add hydrogen atoms to proteins because all protein hydrogen atoms and the flexibility of the terminal protein atoms are intrinsically taken into account in PSI‐DOCK. There is also no requirement for the users to calculate partial atomic charges because PSI‐DOCK does not calculate an electrostatic energy term. These features are not only convenient for the users but also help to avoid the influence of different preparation methods. Proteins 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Three‐dimensional model of the human aromatase enzyme and density functional parameterization of the iron‐containing protoporphyrin IX for a molecular dynamics study of heme‐cysteinato cytochromes
Authors: Favia Angelo Danilo , Cavalli Andrea , Masetti Matteo , Carotti Angelo , Recanatini Maurizio
Published: January 2006

Mammalian cytochromes P450 (CYP) are enzymes of great biological and pharmaco‐toxicological relevance. Due to their membrane‐bound nature, the structural characterization of these proteins is extremely difficult, and therefore computational techniques, such as comparative modeling, may help obtaining reliable structures of members of this family. An important feature of CYP is the presence of an iron‐containing porphyrin group at the enzyme active site. This calls for quantum chemical calculations to derive charges and parameters suitable for classical force field‐based investigations of this proteins family. In this report, we first carried out density functional theory (DFT) computations to derive suitable charges for the Fe2+‐containing heme group of P450 enzymes. Then, by means of the homology modeling technique, and taking advantage of the recently published crystal structure of the human CYP2C9, we built a new model of the human aromatase (CYP19) enzyme. Furthermore, to study the thermal stability of the new model as well as to test the suitability of the new DFT‐based heme parameters, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations were carried out on both CYP2C9 and CYP19. Finally, the last few ns of aromatase MD trajectories were investigated following the essential dynamics protocol that allowed the detection of some correlated motions among some protein domains. Proteins 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Energetics of the native and non‐native states of the glycophorin transmembrane helix dimer
Authors: Mottamal Madhusoodanan , Zhang Jinming , Lazaridis Themis
Published: January 2006

Using an implicit membrane model (IMM1), we examine whether the structure of the transmembrane domain of Glycophorin A (GpA) could be predicted based on energetic considerations alone. The energetics of native GpA shows that van der Waals interactions make the largest contribution to stability. Although specific electrostatic interactions are stabilizing, the overall electrostatic contribution is close to zero. The GXXXG motif contributes significantly to stability, but residues outside this motif contribute almost twice as much. To generate non‐native states a global conformational search was done on two segments of GpA: an 18‐residue peptide (GpA74‐91) that is embedded in the membrane and a 29‐residue peptide (GpA70–98) that has additional polar residues flanking the transmembrane region. Simulated annealing was done on a large number of conformations generated from parallel, antiparallel, left‐ and right‐handed starting structures by rotating each helix at 20° intervals around its helical axis. Several crossing points along the helix dimer were considered. For 18‐residue parallel topology, an ensemble of native‐like structures was found at the lowest effective energy region; the effective energy is lowest for a right‐handed structure with an RMSD of 1.0 Å from the solid‐state NMR structure with correct orientation of the helices. For the 29‐residue peptide, the effective energies of several left‐handed structures were lower than that of the native, right‐handed structure. This could be due to deficiencies in modeling the interactions between charged sidechains and/or omission of the sidechain entropy contribution to the free energy. For 18‐residue antiparallel topology, both IMM1 and a Generalized Born model give effective energies that are lower than that of the native structure. In contrast, the Poisson‐Boltzmann solvation model gives lower effective energy for the parallel topology, largely because the electrostatic solvation energy is more favorable for the parallel structure. IMM1 seems to underestimate the solvation free energy advantage when the CO and NH dipoles just outside the membrane are parallel. This highlights the importance of electrostatic interactions even when these are not obvious by looking at the structures. Proteins 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Structural and magnetic characterization of MgxNi1−xSm0.02Fe1.98O4 ferrites
Authors: Al‐Haj Mansour
Published: January 2006

The Mgx Ni1−x Sm0.02Fe1.98O4 ferrites were prepared by the solid‐state reaction method and were characterized by X‐ray diffraction and magnetization measurements. A single spinel phase was obtained in all prepared samples. It was found that the lattice parameter increases and the X‐ray density decreases as the Ni2+ ions on the octahedral sites are replaced by the Mg2+ ions. The coercivity measurements indicated a decrease of internal strains in samples for x > 0.5. (© 2006 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Microstructure–magnetic properties relationships in nanocrystalline Nd–Fe–Co–Ge–B annealed ribbons
Authors: Gholamipour R. , Beitollahi A. , Marghusian V. K. , Ohkubo T. , Hono K. , Andreev S. V. , Bogatkin A. N. , Duragin S. S. , Kozolov A. N. , Kudervatykh N. V.
Published: January 2006

In this work, the effects of Ge addition on the microstructure and magnetic properties of some rapidly quenched Nd13.5Fe(74.9–z )Co5.5Gez B6 alloys with z = 0.0, 0.18, 0.36, 0.54, 0.72 and 0.9 prepared by a rapid solidification method were studied. For the first time, detailed microstructural study of nanometer size grain boundaries enriched with very small amount of Ge as well as Nd was carried out using 3 Dimensional Atom Probe (3DAP) technique. The magnitudes of B r and (BH )max were seen to increase for the samples substituted with up to 0.36 at% Ge in spite of the fact that Ge is a non‐magnetic atom. This was related to the observed change of Co concenteration in matrix phase. However, the magnetic properties deteriorated for the samples with Ge addition beyond 0.36 at%. The observed magnetic properties are discussed in relation with the observed microstructural changes monitored by 3DAP and TEM techniques. (© 2006 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Electron transport anisotropies in pseudomorphic InGaAs channel materials and their structural origin
Authors: Wilson J. A. , MacKenzie M. , MacFadzean S. , McMullen T. , Hamill S. , Stopford P. , Holland M. C. , Stanley C. R. , Long A. R.
Published: January 2006

Measurements of the electron transport properties in Inx Ga1−x As (x  = 0.2 and x  = 0.3) channel heterostructures have consistently shown the transport mobility to be higher in the [01&1macr;] direction compared to [011] on a (100) wafer. Low temperature (1.6 K) measurements of these materials show that the mobility difference can be as large as 30% whilst the differences in carrier concentrations for the two directions are negligible in comparison. The mobility anisotropy decreases to below 5% at room temperature as the effects of phonon scattering, which is isotropic, begin to dominate. The anisotropy in the quantum mobility is much less pronounced than that in the transport mobility. This suggests that the low mobility in the [011] direction is primarily a result of large angle scattering. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis was performed on cross‐sections of material in the two directions. Thickness ﬂuctuations in the channel were observed whilst traversing the channel of a (01&1macr;) section in the [011] direction where as none were observed in (011) sections along the [01&1macr;] direction. The length scale of the ﬂuctuations was variable but typically around 50–100 nm. Transport simulations reveal that a 1‐dimensional potential modulation with a wavelength similar to that of the fluctuations produces a mobility anisotropy with the observed sign. Therefore it is likely that the thickness variations, possibly combined with synchronous fluctuations in the indium concentration along the [011] direction, are responsible for the reduced mobility in [011] transport. Although to the best of our knowledge these thickness fluctuations are reported here for the first time, similar growth anisotropies are well known for Inx Ga1−x As layers deposited on InP. (© 2006 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Reactive magnetron sputtering of highly (001)‐textured WS2−x films: Influence of Ne+, Ar+ and Xe+ ion bombardment on the film growth
Authors: Ellmer K. , Seeger S. , Sieber I. , Bohne W. , Röhrich J. , Strub E. , Mientus R.
Published: January 2006

Layer‐type van der Waals semiconductor WS2−x films were grown by radio frequency reactive magnetron sputtering from a metallic tungsten target onto oxidized silicon substrates. The sputtering atmosphere consisted of 75% hydrogen sulfide and 25% neon, argon or xenon. The substrate voltage and hence the energy of the ions bombarding the growing film, was varied from about 20 V (floating potential) to −80 V. By in situ energy‐dispersive X‐ray diffraction the growth of the films was monitored and by elastic recoil detection analysis the film composition was measured. It was found that with xenon in the sputtering atmosphere a substrate voltage of −20 V is sufficient to suppress the crystalline film growth, while for argon as the sputtering rare gas this occurs only at −80 V. The disturbed film growth is accompanied by a sulfur loss of the growing WS2−x films down to x  = 1.1 for sputtering in Ar + H2S at a substrate potential of −60 V. The results are tentatively explained by the different momentum transfers to sulfur atoms, which is highest for argon ions. It has also to be taken into account that the low‐energy xenon bombardment is a many‐body cascade process with a much higher local energy density compared to argon and neon bombardment and leading to a higher defect density and a supression of the crystalline growth. (© 2006 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Synthesis and characterization of γ‐Al2O3 nanorods
Authors: Li W. F. , Ma X. L. , Zhang W. S. , Zhang W. , Li Y. , Zhang Z. D.
Published: January 2006

One‐dimensional nanorods of cubic aluminum oxide (γ‐Al2O3) have been synthesized by DC electric arc discharge of Fe and Al powders. It is seen that the diameters of the γ‐Al2O3 nanorods are relatively uniform, ranging from 20 to 30 nm. On the basis of detailed transmission electron microscopic observation, it is proposed that the growth of a γ‐Al2O3 nanorod follows the vapor–liquid–solid (VLS) process assisted by a two‐dimensional vapor–solid (VS) nucleation and growth mechanism. The features of heavy twinning in the nanorod imply that twins might contribute to the growth of the nanorod and serve as the nucleus of the nanorod. (© 2006 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Letters to the Editor
Authors: Graubart Michael
Published: January 2006

ORPHEUS TRUST: Killed or expelled - will they now be forgotten?
Brussels, Opera Royal de la Monnaie: ‘Thyeste’
Authors: Dunnett Roderic
Published: January 2006

Brussels, Opera Royal de la Monnaie: ‘Thyeste’
Richard Rodney Bennett’s ‘The Mines of Sulphur’
Authors: Dunn Joanna
Published: January 2006

BENNETT: The Mines of Sulphur. Kristopher Irmiter, Beth Clayton, Brandon Jovanovich, James Maddalena, Caroline Worra; Glimmerglass Opera Orchestra; c. Stewart Robinson. Chandos CHSA 5036(2)
Proms 2005 (1)
Authors: Anderson Martin
Published: January 2006

Proms 2005 (1): Berkeley, Musgrave, MacMillan, Glanert, Corigliano, Abrahamsen
George Rochberg
Authors: Johnson Bret
Published: January 2006

ROCHBERG: Symphony No. 2; Imago Mundi. Naxos 8.559182.

ROCHBERG: Symphony No. 5; Black Sounds; Transcendental Variations. Naxos 8.559115.

ROCHBERG: Violin Concerto (revised and extended version). Peter Sheppard Skaerved (vln). Naxos 8.559129. All three discs Saarbrücken Radio Symphony Orchestra c. Christopher Lyndon-Gee.
Henze’s early one-act operas
Authors: Rickards Guy
Published: January 2006

HENZE Ein Landarzt; Das Ende einer Welt.
Proms 2005 (3)
Authors: Stein Robert
Published: January 2006

Proms 2005 (3): Gubaidulina, Adès, Turnage
Bolcom, Gann and other Americans
Authors: Lister Rodney
Published: January 2006

WILLIAM BOLCOM: Songs of Innocence and of Experience. Christine Brewer, Measha Brueggergosman, Hana Davidson, Linda Hohenfeld, Carmen Pelton (sops), Joan Morris (mezzo-sop), Marietta Simpson (con), Thomas Young (ten), Nmon Ford (bar), Nathan Lee Graham (speaker/vocals), Tommy Morgan (harmonica), Peter ‘Madcat’ Ruth (harmonica and vocals), Jeremy Kittel (fiddle), The University of Michigan Musical Society Choral Union, Chamber Choir, University Choir, Orpheus Singers, Michigan State University Children’s Choir, Contemporary Directions Ensemble, University Symphony Orchestra c. Leonard Slatkin. Naxos 8.559216-18.

AARON COPLAND: Inscape. ROGER SESSIONS: Symphony No. 8. GEORGE PERLE: Transcendental Modulations. BERNARD RANDS: …where the murmurs die… . The American Symphony Orchestra c. Leon Botstein. New World 80631-2.

KYLE GANN: Nude Rolling Down an Escalator: Studies for Disklavier. New World 80633-2.
Swiss Cello Concertos
Authors: Palmer Peter
Published: January 2006

URS JOSEPH FLURY: Vineta; Concerto for Cello and Orchestra; Sinfonietta for Strings. Biel Symphony Orchestra; Pierre Fournier (vlc), Vienna Volksoper Orchestra; Vienna Chamber Orchestra c. Urs Joseph Flury. Musikszene Schweiz MGB CD 6184.

SCHOECK: Concerto for Cello and String Orchestra, op. 61; Suite in A flat for Strings, op. 59. Julius Berger (vlc), South West German Chamber Orchestra of Pforzheim c. Vladislav Czarnecki. ebs 6145 (www.EBSMusikproduktion.de).
Adolf Busch
Authors: Anderson Martin
Published: January 2006

ADOLF BUSCH String Sextet in G, op. 40. BRAHMS String Sextet No. 1 in B flat major, op. 18. Kölner Streichsextett. Raumklang/Marc Aurel Edition CMN 006.

ADOLF BUSCH: Quartet in One Movement in B minor, op. 29. KAMINSKI: String Quartet in F major. SCHULHOFF: String Quartet No. 1. ULLMANN: String Quartet No. 3. Casal Quartet. Telos Music Records TLS 111.

ADOLF BUSCH: Organ Works. Ludger Lohmann (organ). Motette CD 13101.
Dutilleux
Authors: Quinn Peter
Published: January 2006

HENRI DUTILLEUX: L’Arbre des Songes; La Geôle; Deux Sonnets de Jean Cassou; Mystère de l’Instant. Olivier Charlier (vln), François Le Roux (bar), Orchestre National Bordeaux Aquitaine c. Hans Graf. Arte Nova Classics 82876 63825 2.
Ernst Toch’s symphonies
Authors: Johnson Bret
Published: January 2006

TOCH: Complete Symphonies. Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin c. Alun Francis. Three CDs, available separately: Nos. 1 and 4: cpo 999 774-2; Nos. 2 and 3: cpo 999 705-2; Nos. 5, 6 and 7: cpo 999 389-2.

TOCH: Piano Concerto No. 1, op. 38; Peter Pan, op. 76; Pinnochio Overture; ‘Big Ben’ Variations, op. 62. Todd Crow (pno), NDR Hamburg Symphony Orchestra c. Leon Botstein. New World Records 80609-2.
British Piano Music
Authors: MacDonald Calum
Published: January 2006

KENNETH LEIGHTON: Sonatinas Nos. 1 and 2, op.1; Sonata No.1 op.2; Sonata No.2 op.17; Five Studies op.22; Fantasia Contrappuntistica (Homage to Bach) op.24; Variations op.30; Nine Variations op.36; Pieces for Angela op.47; Conflicts (Fantasy on Two Themes) op.51; Six Studies (Study-Variations) op.56; Sonata (1972) op.64; Household Pets op.86; Four Romantic Pieces op.95; Jack-in-the-Box; Study; Lazy-bones. Angela Brownridge (pno). Delphian DCD 34301-3 (3-CD set).

PATRICK PIGGOTT: Fantasia quasi una Sonata; 8 Preludes and a Postlude (Third Set). Second Piano Sonata. Malcolm Binns (pno). British Music Society BMS 430CD.

SORABJI: Fantasia ispanica. Jonathan Powell (pno). Altarus AIR-CD-9084.

ROWLEY: Concerto for piano, strings and percussion, op.49. DARNTON: Concertino for piano and string orchestra. GERHARD: Concerto for piano and strings. FERGUSON: Concerto for piano and string orchestra, op.12. Peter Donohoe (pno and c.), Northern Sinfonia. Naxos 8.557290.

Severnside Composers’ Alliance Inaugural Piano Recital. GEOFFREY SELF: Sonatina 1. IVOR GURNEY:Preludes, Sets 1, 2 and 3. JOLYON LAYCOCK: L’Abri Pataud. RICHARD BERNARD: On Erin Shore. STEVEN KINGS: Fingers Pointing to the Moon. SUSAN COPPARD: Round and Around. JOHN PITTS: Aire 1; Fantasies 1, 5. JAMES PATTEN: Nocturnes 3, 4. SULYEN CARADON: Dorian Dirge. RAYMOND WARREN: Monody; Chaconne. Peter Jacobs (pno). Live recording, 23 February 2005. Dunelm DRD0238.

Severnside Composers’ Alliance – A Recital by two pianists. MARTINŮ: Three Czech Dances. BEDFORD: Hoquetus David. JOHN PITTS: Changes. HOLLOWAY: Gilded Goldbergs Suite. JOLYON LAYCOCK: Die! A1 Sparrow. POULENC: Élégie. LUTOSLAWSKI: Paganini Variations. Steven Kings, Christopher Northam (pnos). Live recording, 14 May 2005. Dunelm DRD0243.

‘Transcendent Journey’. FOULDS: Gandharva-Music, op.49; April-England, op.48 no.1. CORIGLIANO: Fantasia on an Ostinato. PROKOFIEV: Toccata, op.11. With works by BACH-CHUQUISENGO, HANDEL, BEETHOVENLISZT, BACH-BUSONI, SCHUMANN. Juan José Chuquisengo (pno). Sony SK 93829.
London, Royal Albert Hall
Authors: Miller Malcolm
Published: January 2006

London, Royal Albert Hall – Wynton Marsalis’s ‘All Rise’
London, Royal College of Music
Authors: Venn Edward
Published: January 2006

London, Royal College of Music: Adès and Hesketh London premières
A nightingale sang in Berkeley Square
Authors: Barlow Jill
Published: January 2006

A nightingale sang in Berkeley Square: Sadie Harrison’s ‘an angel reads my open book’
Historical variability of sea ice edge position in the Nordic Seas
Authors: Divine Dmitry V. , Dick Chad
Published: January 2006

Historical ice observations in the Nordic Seas from April through August are used to construct time series of ice edge position anomalies spanning the period 1750–2002. While analysis showed that interannual variability remained almost constant throughout this period, evidence was found of oscillations in ice cover with periods of about 60 to 80 years and 20 to 30 years, superimposed on a continuous negative trend. The lower frequency oscillations are more prominent in the Greenland Sea, while higher frequency oscillations are dominant in the Barents. The analysis suggests that the recent well‐documented retreat of ice cover can partly be attributed to a manifestation of the positive phase of the 60–80 year variability, associated with the warming of the subpolar North Atlantic and the Arctic. The continuous retreat of ice edge position observed since the second half of the 19th century may be a recovery after significant cooling in the study area that occurred as early as the second half of the 18th century.
Patterns of soil nitrogen storage in China
Authors: Tian Hanqin , Wang Shaoqiang , Liu Jiyuan , Pan Shufen , Chen Hua , Zhang Chi , Shi Xuezheng
Published: January 2006

We have investigated the storage and spatial distribution of soil nitrogen (N) in China based on a data set of 2480 soil profiles and a map of Chinese soil types at a spatial resolution of 1:1,000,000. Our estimate indicates that the total N storage in China is 8.29 × 1015 g, representing 5.9–8.7% of the total global N storage. The total N storage in China is on average or slightly above the average of its share in the global N storage, even though low nitrogen content soils cover a large area in China. N density varies substantially with soil types and regions. Peat soils in the southeast of Tibet, southwest China, show the highest averaged N density with a value of 7314.9 g/m3 among all soil types. This is more than 30 times of the lowest N density of brown desert soils in the western desert and arid region. The highest N storages among all the soil types are the felty soil in southeast of Tibet, dark‐brown earths in northeast China, and red earths in southeast China with values of 921.1, 611.4, and 569.6 Tg, respectively. N density also varies with land cover types in China. Wetlands in southwest China exhibit the highest N density at 6775.9 g/m3 and deserts in northwest China have the least at 447.5 g/m3. Our analysis also indicates that land cover types are poor predictors of N content. Further research is needed to examine how transformation from organic agriculture to increased use of fertilizers and pesticides has influenced N storage in China.
Renormalizing chaotic dynamics in fractal porous media with application to microbe motility
Authors: Park Moongyu , Kleinfelter Natalie , Cushman John H.
Published: January 2006

Motivated by the need to understand the movement of microbes in natural porous systems and the evolution of their genetic information, a renormalization procedure for motile particles in media with fractal functionality between upper and lower cutoffs is developed and applied to Lévy particles. On the micro scale, particle trajectories are the solution to an integrated stochastic ordinary differential equation (SODE) with Markov, stationary, ergodic drift subject to Lévy diffusion. The Lévy diffusion allows for self‐motile particles. On the meso scale, the trajectory is the solution to an integrated SODE with Lévy drift and diffusion arising from the microscale asymptotics. Lévy drift is associated with the fractal character of the Lagrangian velocity. On the macro scale, the process is driven by the asymptotics of the mesoscale drift without additional diffusion. Renormalized dispersion equations are presented on the meso and macro scales.
An alternative method to calculate cloud radiative forcing: Implications for quantifying cloud feedbacks
Authors: Vavrus Steve
Published: January 2006

A modification to the traditional cloud radiative forcing (CRF) formula is presented. This alternative approach uses incident–rather than absorbed–solar radiation to calculate shortwave cloud radiative forcing at the surface. By removing the competing influence of surface albedo on CRF, the new formula more effectively isolates the impact of clouds and cloud changes under different climatic regimes. The removal of surface albedo effects makes the change in CRF a more useful measure of cloud feedback, although other factors (such as changes in clear‐sky solar absorption) can still muddle the interpretation. I present examples from GCM greenhouse simulations that demonstrate how this new formula can help to differentiate between actual cloud feedbacks versus apparent ones induced by snow and ice meltback using the traditional CRF equation. The results suggest that changes in surface albedo contribute approximately 20 to 40% of the high‐latitude CRF anomaly using the standard formula applied to an equilibrium 2 × CO2 simulation and about 50% to the greater Arctic when used on 21st‐century transient greenhouse experiments.