bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Impact of three or more sirolimus‐eluting stents versus paclitaxel‐eluting stents on clinical outcomes in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention
Authors: Chu William W. , Kuchulakanti Pramod K. , Torguson Rebecca , Wang Betty , Clavijo Leonardo C. , Suddath William O. , Pichard Augusto D. , Satler Lowell F. , Kent Kenneth M. , Waksman Ron
Published: June 2006

Objectives:

The purpose of this study was to examine the clinical outcomes of patients who underwent stenting with ≥3 sirolimus‐eluting stents (SES) when compared with those treated with ≥3 paclitaxel‐eluting stents (PES).

Background:

Drug‐eluting stent (DES) implantation for single coronary lesions is proven to be effective and durable.

Methods:

A total of 126 patients who received DES were identified, of which 66 patients received ≥3 SES (SES group) and 60 patients received ≥3 PES (PES group).

Results:

The baseline clinical and angiographic characteristics were compatible between the two study groups. During the index hospitalization, all clinical outcomes were similar between the two groups. There were no deaths or Q‐wave myocardial infarctions (MIs) in either group. At 30 days' and 6 months' follow‐up, all clinical outcomes, including death, Q‐wave MI, non–Q‐wave MI, target lesion revascularization, target vascular revascularization, and major adverse cardiac events, were compatible between both groups. There were 2 patients (3.0%) with subacute thrombosis in the SES group and 1 patient (1.7%) in the PES group, but there was no statistical significance. There was no late thrombosis from either group. In addition, patients in the SES group had similar event‐free survival rates as compared with those in the PES group (P = 0.56).

Conclusions:

Patients who require ≥3 DES implantations experienced increased adverse clinical events as compared with historical single stent implantation. However, there were no differences in safety and efficacy among the patients treated with SES as compared with those treated with PES. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss., Inc.
Discrete Organic Nanotubes Based on a Combination of Covalent and Non‐Covalent Approaches
Authors: Block Marco A. Balbo , Kaiser Christian , Khan Anzar , Hecht Stefan
Published: June 2006

ChemInform is a weekly Abstracting Service, delivering concise information at a glance that was extracted from about 200 leading journals. To access a ChemInform Abstract, please click on HTML or PDF.
Genetic determinants for activated fluoropyrimidine chemotherapy
Authors: Gmeiner William H.
Published: June 2006

Fluoropyrimidines (FPs) remain widely used for the treatment of diverse malignancies more than four decades following the initial report of 5‐fluorouracil (5FU), the archetypal FP, as a novel compound with potential anti‐neoplastic activity. Subsequent decades of research have enriched our understanding of the biochemical mechanisms that are important for FP activation as well as the genetic determinants that are predictive of the likely success, or failure, of FP chemotherapy for a particular individual. The concept that chemotherapy should be customized to complement the genetic profiles of cancer patients has become increasingly important as genotyping of tumor samples has become possible and as the number of available anticancer drugs has increased. Significant progress has been made in identifying the gene expression profiles for cancer patients who are likely to benefit from treatment with FPs. In this review, we will summarize the results of retrospective clinical studies correlating response to FP chemotherapy with the expression of specific genes, such as TS and DPD. We will also present a summary of FPs in current clinical use, including orally bioavailable FPs such as capecitabine, as well as FPs that are in pre‐clinical development, such as FdUMP[10]. Refinement of a target population through pharmacogenetic analysis and development of novel FPs that evoke very high response rates in this target population will likely result in the use of FP regimens in the coming era when cancer becomes a largely manageable disease. Drug Dev. Res. 67:119–129, 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Synthesis, Isolation and Structural Investigation of Schiff‐Base Alkoxytitanium Complexes: Steric Limitations of Ligand Coordination
Authors: Johnson Andrew L. , Davidson Matthew G. , Lunn Matthew D. , Mahon Mary F.
Published: June 2006

This paper reports the reaction of Ti(OiPr)4 with a series of Schiff‐base ligands. The Schiff‐base proligands 1a–l are synthesised by the condensation of salicylaldehyde with a range of primary alkylamine and aniline derivatives. The treatment of 1a–f with Ti(OiPr)4 yields the octahedral bis(aryloxy–imine)Ti(OiPr)2 complexes 2a–f. X‐ray crystal structure analysis of 2c, 2d and 2e reveals complexes with a trans‐aldiminato oxygen atom and cis‐N,cis‐alkoxide ligand arrangement about the central metal atom. The reactions of Ti(OiPr)4 with the ligands 1g and 1h result in a sterically induced ligand rearrangement to form the octahedral complexes 2g and 2h, also characterised by X‐ray diffraction experiments, in which the nitrogen atoms of the O,N‐chelate are now trans‐orientated at the titanium centre. 1H NMR analysis reveals significant deshielding of the isopropoxide methine proton, induced by this coordination mode. In contrast, reactions of 1i and 1j with Ti(OiPr)4 result in the formation and isolation of the complexes 2i and 2j. X‐ray crystal structure analysis shows complex 2j to have a previously unobserved ligand orientation, in which both ligands are trans‐orientated, with respect to the aldiminato oxygen atoms, about the titanium centre, but steric bulk of the ligand inhibits the bidentate coordination of both O,N‐ligands. Further increase in thesteric bulk of the imine substituent results in a reduced reactivity for ligands 1k and 1l, such that Ti(OiPr)4 reacts with 1k to form the dimeric mono(Schiff‐base) complex 2k (characterised by X‐ray analysis). No reaction is observed for 1l. (© Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2006)
Growth curve models for stochastic modeling and analyzing of natural disinfection of wastewater
Authors: Bischoff Wolfgang , Huang Mong‐Na Lo , Yang Lei
Published: June 2006

This work is motivated by a study on the natural disinfection of wastewater in marine environment for ocean outfall systems without chlorination. In the study of the disinfection on wastewater in marine environment two natural factors, consisting of light intensity and salinity, one controllable factor, the volumetric mixing ratio of seawater to wastewater, and one random effect factor, the existence of predators, were investigated. Our problem and data are modeled by a growth curve model with an unknown random parameter that can be described by a mixed model with the factors mentioned above as covariates. For our model we determine the optimal variance estimations. Finally, we apply our model with these optimal estimated variance components to the data obtained from the real experiments. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Resampling‐based multiple hypothesis testing procedures for genetic case‐control association studies
Authors: Chen Bingshu E. , Sakoda Lori C. , Hsing Ann W. , Rosenberg Philip S.
Published: June 2006

In case‐control studies of unrelated subjects, gene‐based hypothesis tests consider whether any tested feature in a candidate gene—single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), haplotypes, or both—are associated with disease. Standard statistical tests are available that control the false‐positive rate at the nominal level over all polymorphisms considered. However, more powerful tests can be constructed that use permutation resampling to account for correlations between polymorphisms and test statistics. A key question is whether the gain in power is large enough to justify the computational burden. We compared the computationally simple Simes Global Test to themin Ptest, which considers the permutation distribution of the minimump‐value from marginal tests of each SNP. In simulation studies incorporating empirical haplotype structures in 15 genes, themin Ptest controlled the type I error, and was modestly more powerful than the Simes test, by 2.1 percentage points on average. When disease susceptibility was conferred by a haplotype, themin Ptest sometimes, but not always, under‐performed haplotype analysis. A resampling‐based omnibus test combining themin Pand haplotype frequency test controlled the type I error, and closely tracked the more powerful of the two component tests. This test achieved consistent gains in power (5.7 percentage points on average), compared to a simple Bonferroni test of Simes and haplotype analysis. Using data from the Shanghai Biliary Tract Cancer Study, the advantages of the newly proposed omnibus test were apparent in a population‐based study of bile duct cancer and polymorphisms in the prostaglandin‐endoperoxide synthase 2 (PTGS2)gene.Genet. Epidemiol.2006. Published 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Effects of calcium chloride treatments on wheat grain peroxidase activity and outer layer mechanical properties
Authors: Desvignes Claire , Olivé Caroline , Lapierre Catherine , Rouau Xavier , Pollet Brigitte , Lullien‐Pellerin Valerie
Published: June 2006

Wheat grain soaking in calcium solutions was used as a tool to enhance endogenous peroxidase activities and follow potential changes in outer layer mechanical properties and cell wall phenolic profile. Treatment with 10 mmol L−1 calcium chloride was found to increase peroxidase activities in grains from two cultivars differing in kernel hardness, but at a different level. Concomitantly, mechanical properties of the outer layers from treated grains, assessed by uniaxial tension tests, showed significant stiffening depending on wheat cultivar. These changes were also observed in tissues after removal of the outer pericarp but not in each of the isolated layers, suggesting that modification of the mechanical properties occurs at the interface between the aleurone layer and the surrounding tissues. Analyses of the outer layer phenolic acid composition after mild or severe alkaline hydrolysis and of released lignin monomers after thioacidolysis appeared in accordance with the observed changes in tissue mechanical properties and suggest modification of cell wall compound interactions. Copyright © 2006 Society of Chemical Industry
New results on characterization of highly transparent
C-modification Lu2O3
nanocrystalline ceramics: room-temperature tunable CW laser action
of Yb3+ ions under LD-pumping and the
propagation kinetics of non-equilibrium acoustic phonons
Authors: Kaminskii A A , Bagayev S N , Ueda K , Takaichi K , Shirakawa A , Ivanov S N , Khazanov E N , Taranov A V , Yagi H , Yanagitani T
Published: June 2006

We report on the first achievement of CW oscillation in
Yb3+ :Lu2O3 ceramic lasers (2F5/2 →
2F7/2 channel) under LD-pumping at 0.976 μm wavelength,
as well as present of the thickness of grain boundary layers in
Lu2O3 ceramics was estimated under non-equilibrium acoustic
phonon propagation kinetics at helium temperature (2.4–3.8 K).
Amplification of nonlinear currents generation at harmonics
frequencies of submillimeter radiation
Authors: Ferrante G , Zarcone M , Uryupin S A
Published: June 2006

The conditions are found when rapid heating of the
electrons of a degenerate semiconductor in the presence of two
electric fields, one constant and the other variable, is
accompanied by the formation of a distribution function
significantly departing from the Fermi one. It is also shown that
the newly found modification of the electron distribution yields a
relative amplification of nonlinear currents generation.
Image transfer through the complex scattering turbid media
Authors: Berrocal E , Meglinski I V , Greenhalgh D A , Linne M A
Published: June 2006

Seeing through a turbid medium such as fog, mist or
clouds is a fascinating idea that would find applications in a
large range of fields from research to industry. The main
difficulty of this challenging task is related to the complexity
of multiple scattering of optical radiation propagated through an
ensemble of scattering particles and/or droplets randomly
distributed in a medium. To deal with this challenging problem we
develop a new Monte Carlo based computational technique able to
simulate image transfer through the complex inhomogeneous turbid
media. The model is able to identify the contribution of the
scattering orders in the detected images for a particular medium.
With the presented approach the simulation of laser beam
propagation and image transfer of an object hidden within a turbid
scattering medium has been performed. The results of simulation
demonstrate a good agreement with the experimental results. The
validation of the technique has been done by using several
modeling samples of water polystyrene spheres solutions.
Polyester Scaffolds with Bimodal Pore Size Distribution for Tissue Engineering
Authors: Sosnowski Stanislaw , Woźniak Piotr , Lewandowska‐Szumieł Małgorzata
Published: June 2006

Summary: This paper presents a method for the preparation of porous poly(L‐lactide)/poly[(L‐lactide)‐co‐glycolide] scaffolds for tissue engineering. Scaffolds were prepared by a mold pressing‐salt leaching technique from structured microparticles. The total porosity was in the range 70–85%. The pore size distribution was bimodal. Large pores, susceptible for osteoblasts growth and proliferation had the dimensions 50–400 µm. Small pores, dedicated to the diffusion of nutrients or/and metabolites of bone forming cells, as well as the products of hydrolysis of polyesters from the walls of the scaffold, had sizes in the range 2 nm–5 µm. The scaffolds had good mechanical strength (compressive modulus equal to 41 MPa and a strength of 1.64 MPa for 74% porosity). Scaffolds were tested in vitro with human osteoblast‐like cells (MG‐63). It was found that the viability of cells seeded within the scaffolds obtained using the mold pressing‐salt leaching technique from structured microparticles was better when compared to cells cultured in scaffolds obtained by traditional methods. After 34 d of culture, cells within the tested scaffolds were organized in a tissue‐like structure.

Photos of section of macro‐ and mesoporous PLLA/PLGA scaffold containing 50 wt.‐% of PLGA microspheres after 34 d of culture. Dark spots mark MG‐63 cells, white areas belong to the scaffold. The specimen was stained with haematoxylin/eosin. Bar = 100 µm.

magnified image

Photos of section of macro‐ and mesoporous PLLA/PLGA scaffold containing 50 wt.‐% of PLGA microspheres after 34 d of culture. Dark spots mark MG‐63 cells, white areas belong to the scaffold. The specimen was stained with haematoxylin/eosin. Bar = 100 µm.
Preparation and Characterization of Poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide)‐modified Poly(2‐hydroxyethyl acrylate) Hydrogels by Interpenetrating Polymer Networks for Sustained Drug Release
Authors: Liu Yu‐Yang , Lü Jian , Shao Ying‐Hui
Published: June 2006

Summary: In order to investigate the influence of hydrophobic moieties formed by poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAm) in a hydrogel matrix on the release behavior of the hydrogel, a series of poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAm)‐modified poly(2‐hydroxyethyl acrylate‐co‐2‐hydroxyethyl 2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (P(HEA‐co‐HEMA)) via interpenetrating polymer networks (IPNs) were prepared by a sequential UV solution polymerization. Interestingly, it was found that P(HEA‐co‐HEMA)/PNIPAm IPN indicated a single glass transition temperature (Tg) and the Tgs of the IPNs increased with an increase in the PNIPAm component. This phenomenon may be attributed to hydrogen bonding between the two polymer networks, but the hydrogen bonding exerts less influence on the swelling behavior of the IPNs, due to the fact that IPNs can respond to changes in temperature like PNIPAm. Using 2‐[(diphenylmethyl)sulphiny]acetamide (modafinil, MOD) and p‐hydroxybenzoic acid (HBA) as model drug compounds, the release behavior of the IPNs was studied at body temperature, and it was found that the presence of PNIPAm could retard drug release regardless of the solubility of the drugs.

Release profiles of HBA from the IPNs and their component samples as a function of time at 37 °C.

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Release profiles of HBA from the IPNs and their component samples as a function of time at 37 °C.
Effect of Clay Type on Structure and Properties of Poly(methyl methacrylate)/Clay Nanocomposites
Authors: Si Mayu , Goldman Michael , Rudomen Gregory , Gelfer Mikhail Y. , Sokolov Jonathan C. , Rafailovich Miriam H.
Published: June 2006

Summary: PMMA nanocomposites using natural Cloisite 6A and synthetic Lucentite SPN clays were produced via melt blending. The degree of intercalation or exfoliation was measured for both composites using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and the results were confirmed with small angle X‐ray scattering (SAXS). The smaller dimensions of the synthetic SPN, as well as the complete absence of Fe ion impurities allowed for the production of a composite which was optically clear and completely colorless. TEM and SAXS measurements were performed on samples heated to high temperatures. The data showed that in both cases large ribbons composed of the individual platelets were formed. We postulated that these ribbons formed a barrier against spreading of the flame and hence the smaller clays, which are more mobile, had a higher efficiency.

TEM image of a high degree of exfoliation of synthetic clay SPN in the PMMA matrix.

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TEM image of a high degree of exfoliation of synthetic clay SPN in the PMMA matrix.
Mechanical Properties and Antimicrobial Activity of Silicone Rubber Compounds Containing Acrylated Norfloxacin and Its Polymer
Authors: Yang Hea‐Sun , Park Eun‐Soo
Published: June 2006

Summary: Antibacterial silicone rubbers (SR) were prepared by platinum curing and peroxide curing of a silicone compound containing the synthetic antimicrobial monomer 1‐ethyl‐6‐fluoro‐7‐{4‐[2‐hydroxy‐3‐(2‐methylacryloyloxy)‐propyl]piperazin‐1‐yl}‐4‐oxo‐1,4‐dihyroquinoline‐3‐carboxylic acid (MQ) and its polymer PMQ. The effects of the two curing systems on the mechanical properties were compared. Tensile strength and elongation at break of the platinum‐cured SR decreased with increasing concentrations of MQ and PMQ. For the peroxide curing system, the elongation at break increased with increasing concentrations of the antimicrobial agents. The antibacterial activity of the prepared SR was examined by the shake flask test against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli, which are representative of Gram‐positive and Gram‐negative bacteria, respectively. All compounds showed excellent antibacterial activities against these two types of bacteria.

Structure of acrylated norfloxacin.

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Structure of acrylated norfloxacin.
Reinforcement of Elastomer by Starch
Authors: Tang Huaiguo , Qi Qing , Wu Youping , Liang Guihua , Zhang Liqun , Ma Jun
Published: June 2006

Summary: Significant reinforcement of styrene‐butadiene‐rubber was achieved by the novel modification of starch through the use of a resorcinol‐formaldehyde and a silane surfactant. The mechanical property improvement by the modified starch is comparable with that reinforced by carbon black. SEM micrograph shows fine morphologies caused by the modification. Dynamic mechanical test shows the advantages of the modified SBR/starch composite: the lowered glass transition temperature means improved low temperature properties; the decreased Tan delta value predicts a smaller internal temperature rise produced by dynamic stress; the increased storage modulus indicates this material is of higher hardness; the improved loss modulus demonstrates higher resistance to tearing.

Tensile strength and tear strength of SBR/starch with co‐modification by KH‐792 and RF.

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Tensile strength and tear strength of SBR/starch with co‐modification by KH‐792 and RF.
Synthesis, Characterization, and Properties of Multifunctional Epoxy Maleimide Resins
Authors: Mustata Fanica , Bicu Ioan
Published: June 2006

Summary: Novel multifunctional formaldehyde resins bearing diaminodiphenylmethane groups are synthesized by the polymerization of a mixture of diaminodiphenylmethane (DDM), o‐cresol (o‐Cz), and cyclohexanone (CHx) with formaldehyde (FA) (at a molar ratio of monomers/formaldehyde, 1/1), in the presence of acid catalyst (HCl). The obtained resins are epoxidated with a large excess of epichlorohydrin and transformed into multifunctional epoxy resins. The multifunctional epoxy maleimide resins are obtained by reaction of the epoxy resins with carboxy phenyl maleimide in the presence of triethylamine as a catalyst. The resultant resins are characterized by IR and NMR spectroscopy, elemental, and thermal analysis. The curing and thermal behavior of these epoxy maleimide resin/DDM systems are investigated using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetry (TG) techniques. The activation energies of the curing reactions are situated in the range of 53–90 kJ · mol−1. The cured products have good thermal properties, and activation energies of degradation reactions have values between 42–74 kJ · mol−1.

The curing reaction of multifunctional epoxy maleimide resins with DDM.

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The curing reaction of multifunctional epoxy maleimide resins with DDM.
Anisotropically weighted Poincaré‐type inequalities; Application to the Oseen problem
Authors: Amrouche Chérif , Razafison Ulrich
Published: June 2006

The aim of this article is to prove Poincaré‐type inequalities concerning functions in Sobolev spaces with anisotropic weights that appear in the investigation of the Oseen equations. The inequalities are a generalization and an extension of inequalities we established in a previous work. As an application, we derive existence result and anisotropically weighted Lp estimates for the pressure of the Oseen problem in ℝ3. (© 2006 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
On factorization of Schatten class type mappings
Authors: de Andrade Mendes Cristiane
Published: June 2006

We present some results on factorization of multilinear mappings and polynomials of Schatten class type 𝒮2 through infinite dimensional Banach spaces, ℒ︁1 and ℒ︁∞ spaces. We conclude this work with a factorization result for holomorphic mappings of Schatten class type 𝒮2. (© 2006 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Flows on few paths: Algorithms and lower bounds
Authors: Martens Maren , Skutella Martin
Published: June 2006

The classical network flow theory allows decomposition of flow into several chunks of arbitrary sizes traveling through the network on different paths. In the first part of this article we consider the unsplittable flow problem where all flow traveling from a source to a destination must be sent on only one path. We prove a lower bound ofΩ(logm/log logm) on the performance of a general class of algorithms for minimizing congestion wheremis the number of edges in a graph. These algorithms start with a solution for the classical multicommodity flow problem, compute a path decomposition, and select one of its paths for each commodity in order to obtain an unsplittable flow. Our result matches the best known upper bound for randomized rounding—an algorithm of this type introduced by Raghavan and Thompson. The k‐splittable flow problem is a generalization of the unsplittable flow problem where the number of paths is bounded for each commodity. We study a new variant of this problem with additional constraints on the amount of flow being sent along each path. We present approximation results for two versions of this problem with the objective to minimize the congestion of the network. The key idea is to reduce the problem under consideration to an unsplittable flow problem while only losing a constant factor in the performance ratio. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. NETWORKS, Vol. 48(2), 68–76 2006
Direct algorithms to solve the two‐sided obstacle problem for an M‐matrix
Authors: Zeng J. P. , Jiang Y. J.
Published: June 2006

In this paper, two direct algorithms for solving the two‐sided obstacle problem with an M‐matrix are presented. The algorithms are well defined and have polynomial computational complexity. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Numerical evaluation of harmonic Green's functions for triclinic half‐space with embedded sources—Part I: a 2D model
Authors: Chen Zhengxiang , Dravinski Marijan
Published: June 2006

The Green's functions for a triclinic half‐space for embedded harmonic line load are considered. Corresponding displacement and stress fields are expressed in terms of double Fourier integrals. The first integral was evaluated using contour integration while the second one was computed through the Gauss–Legendre quadrature. The resulting Green's functions algorithm avoids repeated calculations of the same quantities and utilizes the vector computational features within MATLAB environment. Extensive testing of the results has been performed for both displacement and stress fields. The tests demonstrate the accuracy of the proposed procedure for evaluating the Green's functions without any restrictions upon material properties, frequency, and location of the source and observation points. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Detection of operons
Authors: Yan Yongpan , Moult John
Published: June 2006

Operons are clusters of genes that are transcribed as a single message, and regulated by the same gene expression machinery. They are found primarily in prokaryotic genomes. Because genes in the same operon are likely to have related functions, identification of the operon structure is potentially useful for assigning gene function. We report the development and benchmarking of two different methods for detecting operons, based on an analysis of 42 fully sequenced prokaryotic organisms. The Gene Neighbor method (GNM) utilizes the relatively high conservation of gene order in operons, compared with genes in general. The Gene Gap Method (GGM) makes use of the relatively short gap between genes in operons compared with that otherwise found between adjacent genes. The methods have been benchmarked using KEGG pathway data and RegulonDB Escherichia coli operon data. With optimum parameters, the specificity of the GNM is 93% and the sensitivity is 70%. For the GGM, the specificity is 95% and the sensitivity is 68%. Together, the two methods have a sensitivity of 87.2%, while joint predictions have a sensitivity of 50% and a specificity of 98%. The methods are used to infer possible functions for some hypothetical genes in prokaryotic genomes. The methods have proven a useful addition to structure information in deriving protein function in a structural genomics project. Proteins 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Phosphorylation‐induced transient intrinsic structure in the kinase‐inducible domain of CREB facilitates its recognition by the KIX domain of CBP
Authors: Solt Iván , Magyar Csaba , Simon István , Tompa Peter , Fuxreiter Monika
Published: June 2006

Phosphorylation at Ser‐133 of the kinase inducible domain of CREB (KID) triggers its binding to the KIX domain of CBP via a concomitant coil‐to‐helix transition. The exact role of this key event is still puzzling: it does not switch between disordered and ordered states, nor its direct interactions fully account for selectivity. Hence, we reasoned that phosphorylation may shift the conformational preferences of KID towards a binding‐competent state. To this end we investigated the intrinsic structural properties of the unbound KID in phosphorylated and unphosphorylated forms by simulated annealing and molecular dynamics simulations. Although helical populations show subtle differences, phosphorylation reduces the flexibility of the turn segment connecting the two helices in the complexed structure and induces a transient structural element that corresponds to its bound conformation. It is stabilized by the pSer‐133–Arg‐131 interaction, which is absent from the unphosphorylated KID. Diminishing this coupling decreases the 3.1 kcal/mol contribution of pSer‐133 to the binding free energy (ΔGbind) of the phosphorylated KID to KIX by 1.1 kcal/mol, as computed in reference to Ser‐133. In a binding competent form of the S133E KID mutant, the contribution of Glu‐133 to ΔGbind is by 1.5 kcal/mol smaller than that of pSer, suggesting that altered structural properties due to pSer → Glu replacement impair the binding affinity. Thus, we propose that phoshorylation contributes to selectivity not merely by the direct interactions of the phosphate group with KIX, but also by promoting the formation of a transient structural element in the highly conserved turn segment. Proteins 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Some remarks on the calculation of the complex refractive index of medium in terahertz reflection spectroscopy
Authors: Gornov Evgeny , Peiponen Kai‐Erik
Published: June 2006

This paper presents a technique, based on dispersion theory, for the analysis of terahertz reflection spectroscopy data measured using ellipsometric methods. Formulas for the complex reflection coefficient provide simpler equations than those used in conventional ellipsometry for resolving the complex refractive index in the THz spectral range. It is proposed that a reflection coefficient ratio yields information on the surface roughness when probing a surface by THz radiation. (© 2007 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
octopus:a tool for the application of time‐dependent density functional theory
Authors: Castro Alberto , Appel Heiko , Oliveira Micael , Rozzi Carlo A. , Andrade Xavier , Lorenzen Florian , Marques M. A. L. , Gross E. K. U. , Rubio Angel
Published: June 2006

We report on the background, current status, and current lines of development of theoctopusproject. This program materializes the main equations of density‐functional theory in the ground state, and of time‐dependent density‐functional theory for dynamical effects. The focus is nowadays placed on the optical (i.e. electronic) linear response properties of nanostructures and biomolecules, and on the non‐linear response to high‐intensity fields of finite systems, with particular attention to the coupled ionic‐electronic motion (i.e. photo‐chemical processes). In addition, we are currently extending the code to the treatment of periodic systems (both to one‐dimensional chains, two‐dimensional slabs, or fully periodic solids), magnetic properties (ground state properties and excitations), and to the field of quantum‐mechanical transport or “molecular electronics.” In this communication, we concentrate on the development of the methodology: we review the essential numerical schemes used in the code, and report on the most recent implementations, with special attention to the introduction of adaptive coordinates, to the extension of our real‐space technique to tackle periodic systems, and on large‐scale parallelization. More information on the code, as well as the code itself, can be found athttp://www.tddft.org/programs/octopus/. (© 2006 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Risk‐taking among adolescents: Associations with social and affective factors
Authors: Michael Keren , Ben‐Zur Hasida
Published: June 2006

The research investigated the associations of social and affective factors with risk‐taking in male and female adolescents. A sample of 269 Israeli adolescents completed questionnaires measuring frequency of involvement in risk‐taking behaviours, relationships with parents, orientation towards peer group, depressive mood, and aggressive behaviour. Correlations and multiple regression analyses showed that risk behaviour among male adolescents was mainly related to orientation towards peer group, while for female adolescents relationships with parents was the prominent factor in risk behaviour. The parental factor also contributed to the depressive mood of both genders in the sample. However, depressive mood showed only a weak association with risk taking. These results underscore the differential associations of relationships with parents vs. peers among adolescent boys and girls, respectively, in regard to risk taking.
Parental communication and youth sexual behaviour
Authors: Aspy Cheryl B. , Vesely Sara K. , Oman Roy F. , Rodine Sharon , Marshall LaDonna , McLeroy Ken
Published: June 2006

The role of parental communication and instruction concerning sexual behaviour were studied in a community‐based sample of 1083 youth aged 13–17 (mean age of 15 years; 51% girls, 49% White). The Youth Asset Survey was administered along with items measuring demographics and youth risk behaviours. After controlling for demographic factors, multivariate analysis revealed that youth were much less likely to have initiated sexual intercourse if their parents taught them to say no, set clear rules, talked about what is right and wrong and about delaying sexual activity. If youth were sexually active, they were more likely to use birth control if taught at home about delaying sexual activity and about birth control. Having only one sexual partner was associated with having an adult role model who supports abstinence, being taught at home about birth control, and being taught at home how to say no. If parents reported talking with youth about birth control and sexually transmitted disease (STD) prevention, youth were significantly more likely to use birth control. Our conclusion is that parents have the opportunity and ability to influence their children's sexual behaviour decisions.
Symptomatic imperfections David Adger, Core syntax: a Minimalist approach. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2003. Pp. xiii+424. Andrew Radford, Minimalist syntax: exploring the structure of English. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2004. Pp. xiii+512.
Authors: ASUDEH ASH , TOIVONEN IDA
Published: June 2006

Minimalist syntax and Core syntax are reasonably good textbooks. They should be very helpful indeed in teaching a syntax course on current Principles and Parameters theory (P&P; Chomsky 1981) that focuses on the Minimalist Program (MP; Chomsky 1995, 2000, 2001, 2004, 2005). The books present a range of syntactic phenomena, which are for the most part discussed lucidly and illustrated by considerable relevant data. Nevertheless, the books are not pedagogically faultless and the pedagogical faults are often due to underlying theoretical problems.
On a post-syntactic account of the generic Middle Construction Markus Steinbach, Middle Voice: a comparative study in the syntax–semantics interface of German (Linguistik Aktuell/Linguistics Today 50). Amsterdam: John Benjamins, 2002. Pp. xii+340.
Authors: OTTOSSON KJARTAN , MALING JOAN
Published: June 2006

A perennially challenging topic in generative syntax, the Middle Construction, has been the topic of several recent dissertations, including the book under review. Although not acknowledged as such in the published book, this is a moderately revised version of the Dr. Phil. (Promotion) dissertation, Middles in German: the syntax and semantics of transitive reflexive sentences, defended at the Humboldt-Universität in Berlin in 1998. Steinbach's book is clearly the fullest treatment of the Middle Construction in German published in recent times. It presents an original and challenging analysis of this construction and offers a wealth of penetrating observations. As is natural for a review article, however, we will focus more on what we see as the problems and weaknesses of Steinbach's analysis than on the book's virtues.
Characteristics and performance of the Improved Limb Atmospheric Spectrometer‐II (ILAS‐II) on board the ADEOS‐II satellite
Authors: Nakajima H. , Sugita T. , Yokota T. , Ishigaki T. , Mogi Y. , Araki N. , Waragai K. , Kimura N. , Iwazawa T. , Kuze A. , Tanii J. , Kawasaki H. , Horikawa M. , Togami T. , Uemura N. , Kobayashi H. , Sasano Y.
Published: June 2006

The Improved Limb Atmospheric Spectrometer‐II (ILAS‐II) monitored components associated with Polar ozone depletion. ILAS‐II was on board the Advanced Earth Observing Satellite‐II (ADEOS‐II, “Midori‐II”), which was successfully launched on 14 December 2002 from the Tanegashima Space Center of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). ILAS‐II used a solar occultation technique to measure vertical profiles of ozone (O3), nitric acid (HNO3), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), nitrous oxide (N2O), methane (CH4), water vapor (H2O), chlorine nitrate (ClONO2), dinitrogen pentoxide (N2O5), CFC‐11, CFC‐12 and aerosol extinction coefficients at high latitudes in both the Northern and Southern hemispheres. ILAS‐II included Sun‐tracking optics and four spectrometers, a Sun‐edge sensor, and electronics. The four spectrometers measured in the infrared (channel 1) between 6.21 and 11.76 μm, in the midinfrared (channel 2) between 3.0 and 5.7 μm, at high resolution in the infrared (channel 3) between 12.78 and 12.85 μm, and in the visible (channel 4) between 753 and 784 nm. The vertical height of the entrance slit was 1 km at the tangent point. A Sun‐edge sensor accurately registered tangent height. After an initial check of the instruments, ILAS‐II recorded routine measurements for about 7 months, from 2 April 2003 to 24 October 2003, a period that included the formation and collapse of an Antarctic ozone hole in 2003 that was one of the largest in history. All of the ILAS‐II data were processed using the version 1.4 data‐processing algorithm. Validation analyses show promising results for some ILAS‐II measurement species, which can be used to elucidate mechanisms of Polar ozone depletion. Studies are ongoing on ozone depletion, on the formation mechanisms of Polar stratospheric clouds, on denitrification, and on air mass descent. A state‐of‐the‐art data retrieval algorithm that is currently being developed will yield more sophisticated data sets from the ILAS‐II data in the near future.
Seasonal and diurnal variations of submicron organic aerosol in Tokyo observed using the Aerodyne aerosol mass spectrometer
Authors: Takegawa N. , Miyakawa T. , Kondo Y. , Jimenez J. L. , Zhang Q. , Worsnop D. R. , Fukuda M.
Published: June 2006

In situ measurements of trace gases and aerosols were conducted at an urban site in Tokyo (35°39′N, 139°40′E). The data obtained in summer (July–August 2003), fall (September–October 2003), and winter (February 2003 and January–February 2004) are used for the present analysis. Size‐resolved chemical composition of nonrefractory (vaporized at 600°C under high vacuum) submicron aerosol was measured using an Aerodyne aerosol mass spectrometer (AMS). Organics are found to be the dominant component (40–60% of total nonrefractory aerosol mass) in all periods. Organic aerosol (OA) is classified by correlation with carbon monoxide (CO) and fragments of aliphatic and oxygenated organic compounds in the AMS mass spectra. Combustion‐related organic aerosol (combustion OA) is defined as the primary organic aerosol (POA) fraction, as determined by a linear correlation with CO. Excess organic aerosol (excess OA) is defined by subtracting the combustion OA and the background OA from the total OA. The combustion OA and excess OA show good correlation (r2 = 0.65–0.85) with hydrocarbon‐like organic aerosol (HOA) and oxygenated organic aerosol (OOA), respectively, which were derived from a custom principal component analysis. In the summer period the estimated excess OA concentrations show distinct diurnal variations and correlate with ozone (O3) during daytime. On average, the combustion OA does not exhibit a distinct diurnal variation for the summer, fall, and winter periods, while the excess OA shows a clear diurnal pattern (daytime peak at ∼1300 LT). At the daytime peak the excess OA is found to be at nearly the same concentration as the combustion OA for all seasons, suggesting that significant formation of secondary organic aerosol (SOA) occurred in daytime throughout the measurement period.
Refined thorium abundances for lunar red spots: Implications for evolved, nonmare volcanism on the Moon
Authors: Hagerty J. J. , Lawrence D. J. , Hawke B. R. , Vaniman D. T. , Elphic R. C. , Feldman W. C.
Published: June 2006

We have used improved knowledge of the spatial distribution of thorium (Th) on the lunar surface, in conjunction with a forward modeling analysis of Lunar Prospector gamma ray data, to estimate the thorium abundances of lunar red spots. The results from this study can be combined with preexisting compositional and morphologic evidence to suggest that Hansteen Alpha, the Gruithuisen domes, and the Lassell massif are silicic, nonmare, volcanic constructs, similar in nature to terrestrial rhyolite domes. We propose that either silicate liquid immiscibility or, more likely, basaltic underplating could have produced lunar rhyolite domes. Thus the Lunar Prospector data presented in this study provide new information about the full range of volcanic and crustal processes that could have occurred on the Moon.
Western Pacific modulation of large phytoplankton blooms in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific
Authors: Ryan John P. , Ueki Iwao , Chao Yi , Zhang Hongchun , Polito Paulo S. , Chavez Francisco P.
Published: June 2006

Satellite observations show that large‐scale phytoplankton blooms (increases in chlorophyll) occurred in the equatorial Pacific in 1998, 2003, and 2005, following termination of the three most recent El Niño events. The occurrence of blooms following successive El Niño events cannot be explained by local enhancement of vertical nutrient flux, as evidenced by observations of equatorial winds, thermocline depth, and the depth and strength of the Equatorial Undercurrent (EUC, which supplies the limiting nutrient iron to the euphotic zone). However, near the peak of each El Niño event (late in 1997, 2002, and 2004), while the thermocline of the western equatorial Pacific was anomalously shallow, the flow of the New Guinea Coastal Undercurrent (NGCUC, which is the primary source of iron‐enriched waters to the EUC) intensified, and its core shoaled from >200 m to ∼100 m depth. Analysis of NGCUC variability using a high‐resolution, terrain‐following three‐dimensional ocean circulation model simulation indicates that as the NGCUC shoals and intensifies, it develops meanders and eddies that augment coupling of the New Guinea shelf and upper slope to the EUC. We hypothesize that these changes in NGCUC circulation during El Niño enhance iron transport from the New Guinea margin into the EUC and thereby trigger large‐scale blooms when iron‐enriched waters subsequently reach the euphotic zone along the equator. The threefold to fourfold chlorophyll increases over large regions, up to ∼5 × 105 km2, must have profound impacts on the equatorial ecosystem and biogeochemical cycles.
Enhancement of nitric oxide production by methylecgonidine in cultured neonatal rat cardiomyocytes
Authors: Yang Yinke , Liao Haisun , Ke Qingen , Cai Jingbo , Xiao Yong‐Fu , Morgan James P
Published: June 2006

In the present experiments, we investigated the effects of methylecgonidine (MEG) on nitric oxide (NO) production in cultured neonatal rat cardiomyocytes. Incubation of cultured cardiomyocytes with carbachol or MEG for 48 h significantly enhanced NO production. No release was increased from 1.48±0.13 μM (mg protein)−1 for control to 5.73±0.19 μM (mg protein)−1 for 1 μM carbachol treated cells (P<0.001). In addition, incubation with 1 μM MEG enhanced NO production to 5.55±0.28 μM (mg protein)−1. The effects of MEG on NO production were concentration‐dependent. The muscarinic antagonist atropine prevented the enhancement of NO production induced by carbachol or MEG. Compared to MEG‐induced NO production, cocaine was much less potent.

The enhancement of NO production by carbachol or MEG was even greater in cultured cardiomyocytes transfected with the M2 cDNA. After 48‐h incubation with 1 μM carbachol or 1 μM MEG, NO production was increased by 6.5 and 6.7 fold, respectively, in cardiomyocytes overexpressing M2 receptors. Coincubation with atropine or NG‐nitro‐L‐arginine methyl ester abolished the enhancement of NO production. In contrast, NO production enhanced by carbachol or MEG in M1‐ or M3‐transfected cardiomyocytes was similar to the level in non‐transfected cells.

Western blot analysis showed that the protein levels of M1, M2, and M3 were significantly increased in cardiomyocytes transfected with the receptor cDNAs, but MEG had no effect on the expressions. It is interesting that both carbachol and MEG caused a significant increase in constitutive endothelial NO synthase (eNOS) only in M2‐transfected cardiomyocytes, not in non‐transfected, M1‐ or M3‐transfected cells. Again, atropine blocked the MEG‐produced induction of eNOS.

Our data demonstrate that MEG significantly enhanced NO production in cultured cardiomyocytes and that the enhancement of NO production may result from MEG stimulation of muscarinic M2 receptors.

British Journal of Pharmacology (2002) 135, 188–196; doi:10.1038/sj.bjp.0704414
Endothelium‐dependent hyperpolarization and relaxation in mesenteric arteries of middle‐aged rats: influence of oestrogen
Authors: Sakuma Ichiro , Liu Ming‐Yue , Sato Atsushi , Hayashi Toshio , Iguchi Akihisa , Kitabatake Akira , Hattori Yuichi
Published: June 2006

We determined whether gender and/or oestrogen deficiency affect endothelium‐dependent hyperpolarization and relaxation in mesenteric arteries isolated from middle‐aged (44 – 45 week old) rats.

The hyperpolarizing response to acetylcholine (ACh) was significantly greater in females than in males. Ovariectomy caused a marked reduction in ACh‐induced hyperpolarization in female arteries, and this was improved by 17β‐oestradiol replacement therapy.

ACh‐induced relaxations in female arteries were not significantly different from those observed in male rats, and were unaffected by ovariectomy, regardless of whether indomethacin was present. However, when endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) was blocked with NG‐nitro‐L‐arginine, the sensitivity and maximum relaxant response to ACh was significantly higher in intact females compared with males and ovariectomized females. Treatment with 17β‐oestradiol prevented the reduced vasorelaxant response in ovariectomized females.

Immunohistochemical examination for eNOS showed no apparent difference in eNOS protein expression in the endothelium of arteries between intact and ovariectomized females.

Since circulating concentrations of oestrogen were essentially low in middle‐aged female rats, the present results suggest that subtle changes from a critical concentration of oestrogen at this age may strongly affect the vascular actions of endothelium‐derived hyperpolarizing factor without effect on eNOS expression and activity.

British Journal of Pharmacology (2002) 135, 48–54; doi:10.1038/sj.bjp.0704444
Urotensin II evokes potent vasoconstriction in humans in vivo
Authors: Böhm Felix , Pernow John
Published: June 2006

The peptide urotensin II (U II) evokes potent vasoconstriction in non‐human primates. In human blood vessels studied in vitro variable effects of U II are reported; vasoconstriction, vasodilatation or no response. It is therefore of importance to determine the vascular effect of U II in humans in vivo. U II (0.1 – 300 pmol min−1) was infused into the brachial artery of nine healthy volunteers. Changes in forearm blood flow (FBF) were determined by venous occlusion plethysmography. U II induced dose‐dependent reduction in FBF. A threshold response was obtained by 1 pmol min−1, and the highest dose of U II (300 pmol min−1) reduced FBF by 31±4% (P<0.01). FBF returned to baseline values within 30 min. This study demonstrates that U II produces potent vasoconstriction in humans in vivo.

British Journal of Pharmacology (2002) 135, 25–27; doi:10.1038/sj.bjp.0704448