bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Dominant B cell epitope from NY‐ESO‐1 recognized by sera from a wide spectrum of cancer patients: Implications as a potential biomarker
Authors: Zeng Gang , Aldridge Michael E. , Wang Yu , Pantuck Allan J. , Wang Allen Y. , Liu Yue‐xiang , Han Yan , Yuan Yan‐hua , Robbins Paul F. , Dubinett Steven M. , deKernion Jean B. , Belldegrun Arie S.
Published: November 2004

Monitoring the spontaneous antibody (Ab) response against a panel of relevant tumor‐associated antigens (TAA) in cancer patients may provide useful information regarding the clinical status of cancer. However, current Ab detection approaches require the purification of recombinant proteins, which is often difficult to achieve. In order to bypass the purification of recombinant proteins, we identified a dominant B‐cell epitope from a shared tumor antigen NY‐ESO‐1. A synthetic peptide of the epitope, ESO:1‐40, was as sensitive as the recombinant protein for detecting Ab against NY‐ESO‐1 in most patients. NY‐ESO‐1 specific Ab present in the sera of patients with melanoma, prostate cancer, nonsmall cell lung cancer, esophageal cancer, gastric cancer and hepatocellular carcinoma reacted with the dominant peptide at a similar frequency as the recombinant protein. To our knowledge, ESO:1‐40 is the first peptide epitope recognized by sera from a wide spectrum of cancer patients but not healthy donors. This simple and straightforward approach may allow the investigation of the clinical significance of spontaneous Ab responses against multiple TAA and their correlation with the clinical course of malignant diseases in the future. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Role of the polymorphic IL‐1B, IL‐1RN and TNF‐A genes in distal gastric cancer in Mexico
Authors: Garza‐González Elvira , Bosques‐Padilla Francisco Javier , El‐Omar Emad , Hold Georgina , Tijerina‐Menchaca Rolando , Maldonado‐Garza Héctor Jesus , Pérez‐Pérez Guillermo Ignacio
Published: November 2004

Several cytokine gene polymorphisms have been associated with increased risk of distal gastric cancer (GC) and its precursor histological markers in Caucasian, Asian and Portuguese populations although little is known about their role in other ethnic groups. Our study investigates the role of the IL‐1B‐31, IL‐1RN and TNF‐A‐308 gene polymorphisms as risk factors for the development of GC in a Mexican population. We studied 278 patients who were enrolled at the Hospital Universitario Dr. José Eleuterio González, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León. The subjects were divided into 2 groups. Sixty‐three patients with histologically confirmed distal GC (mean age = 58.8 years, range = 22–84, F:M = 0.56), and 215 patients with no evidence of distal or proximal GC (mean age = 56.1 years, range = 18–92, F:M = 1.17). The IL‐1B‐31 and the TNF‐A‐308 polymorphisms were determined by PCR‐RFLP and pyrosequencing, respectively, in all cases and controls. The VNTR polymorphism in intron 2 of the 1L‐1RN gene was typed by PCR in 25 cases and 201 controls. The H. pylori status was determined by histology, rapid urease test, culture and serology for non‐cancer controls and by histology for the GC cases. The carriage of the proinflammatory IL‐1B‐31*C allele was associated with increased risk of distal GC (odds ratio [OR] = 7.63, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.73‐46.94, p = 0.003). When cases and controls were matched by age and gender, the OR value was higher (OR = 8.05, 95% CI = 1.8–50.22, p = 0.001). When only H. pylori GC cases and controls were compared, the OR value was 7.8 (95% CI = 1.05–161.8, p = 0.04). No association was found between any of the other polymorphisms studied and distal GC. In this Mexican population, the IL‐1B proinflammatory genotype increases the risk of distal GC. These findings are similar to previous reports in Caucasian populations and underscore the importance of cytokine gene polymorphisms in the development of distal GC. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Rapid enrichment of human papillomavirus (HPV)‐specific polyclonal T cell populations for adoptive immunotherapy of cervical cancer
Authors: de Jong Annemieke , van der Hulst Jeanette M. , Kenter Gemma G. , Drijfhout Jan Wouter , Franken Kees L. M. C. , Vermeij Pieter , Offringa Rienk , van der Burg Sjoerd H. , Melief Cornelis J. M.
Published: November 2004

The majority of cervical cancers are caused by human papillomavirus type 16 (HPV16). Cervical cancer is associated with an ineffective host immune response against the HPV16 oncoproteins, characterized by the lack of the strong E6‐specific T‐helper type 1 (Th1) immunity that is generally present in healthy individuals, the presence of improperly polarized HPV16E6‐ and E7‐specific CD4+ T cells and increased numbers of regulatory T cells. Therefore, immunotherapeutic intervention is likely to require a modality that deletes the regulatory T cell component and enhances the HPV16‐specific Type 1 T cell response. HLA‐matched allogeneic stem cell transplantation may offer such a modality, because it involves the eradication of host immune cells and enables the transfer of donor derived tumor‐specific T cells to the patient. As a first step in the development of such a treatment, we evaluated the success rate of a protocol for enrichment of HPV16E6‐specific CD4+ T cells from healthy donor PBMC on the basis of their IFNγ secretion. After a short in vitro stimulation with overlapping 30 amino acid long HPV16E6 peptides, we enriched the IFNγ secreting cells by magnetic cell sorting. The obtained polyclonal CD4+ T cell populations recognized distinct epitopes within HPV16E6, as well as E6 protein, processed and presented by autologous professional antigen presenting cells. The described protocol proved successful in PBMC from more than half of the healthy adult blood donors. These HPV16E6‐specific CD4+ T cells may turn out to be an essential component of future adoptive T cell therapy for advanced cervical cancer, by orchestrating CTL dependent and independent tumoricidal mechanisms. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Comparison of genomic abnormalities between BRCAX and sporadic breast cancers studied by comparative genomic hybridization
Authors: Gronwald Jacek , Jauch Anna , Cybulski Cezary , Schoell Brigitte , Böhm‐Steuer Barbara , Lener Marcin , Grabowska Ewa , Górski Bohdan , Jakubowska Anna , Domagała Wenancjusz , Chosia Maria , Scott Rodney J. , Lubiński Jan
Published: November 2004

Very little is known about the chromosomal regions harbouring genes involved in initiation and progression of BRCAX‐associated breast cancers. We applied comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) to identify the most frequent genomic imbalances in 18 BRCAX hereditary breast cancers and compared them to chromosomal aberrations detected in a group of 27 sporadic breast cancers. The aberrations observed most frequently in BRCAX tumours were gains of 8q (83%), 19q (67%), 19p (61%), 20q (61%), 1q (56%), 17q (56%) and losses of 8p (56%), 11q (44%) and 13q (33%). The sporadic cases most frequently showed gains of 1q (67%), 8q (48%), 17q (37%), 16p (33%), 19q (33%) and losses of 11q (26%), 8p (22%) and 16q (19%). Losses of 8p and gains 8q, 19 as well as gains of 20q (with respect to ductal tumours only) were detected significantly more often in BRCAX than in sporadic breast cancers. Analysis of 8p‐losses and 8q‐gains showed that these aberrations are early events in the tumorigenesis of BRCAX tumors. The findings of this report indicate similarities between BRCAX and BRCA2 tumours, possibly suggesting a common pathway of disease. These findings need confirmation by more extensive studies because only a limited number of cases were analysed and there are relatively few reports published. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Micro/nanoscale mechanical and tribological characterization of SiC for orthopedic applications
Authors: Li Xiaodong , Wang Xinnan , Bondokov Robert , Morris Julie , An Yuehuei H. , Sudarshan Tangali S.
Published: November 2004

Micro/nanomechanical and tribological characterization of SiC has been carried out. For comparison, measurements on SiC, CoCrMo, Ti‐6Al‐4V, and stainless steel have also been made. Hardness and elastic modulus of these materials were measured by nanoindentation using a nanoindenter. The nanoindentation impressions were imaged using an atomic force microscope (AFM). Scratch, friction, and wear properties were measured using an accelerated microtribometer. Scratch and wear damages were studied using a scanning electron microscope (SEM). It is found that SiC exhibits higher hardness, elastic modulus, scratch resistance as well as lower friction with fewer and smaller debris particles compared to other materials. These results show that SiC possesses superior mechanical and tribological properties that make it an ideal material for use in orthopedic and other biomedical applications. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater 72B: 353–361, 2005
Assessment of the selectivity equivalence of DB‐608 and DB‐624 open‐tubular columns for gas chromatography
Authors: Kiridena Waruna , Patchett Cheryl C. , Koziol Wladyslaw W. , Poole Colin F.
Published: November 2004

The solvation parameter model is used to characterize the selectivity of DB‐608 and DB‐624 open‐tubular columns at five equally spaced temperatures over the range 60 to 140°C. The system constants for the DB‐608 and DB‐624 columns were used as selectivity parameters to search a database of open‐tubular columns to identify columns with similar selectivity. The search was refined using the absolute deviation of the system constants and retention factor regression models for varied compounds. For method development it is shown that the selectivity of the poly(cyanopropylphenyldimethylsiloxane) stationary phase containing 6% cyanopropylphenylsiloxane monomer (DB‐1301) is equivalent to DB‐624 and the poly(dimethyldiphenylsiloxane) stationary phases containing either 50 or 65% diphenylsiloxane monomer (Rtx‐50 and Rtx‐65) are suitable choices for DB‐608.
Etched chemically modified capillaries: Novel separation media for electrophoretic analyses
Authors: Pesek Joseph J. , Matyska Maria T.
Published: November 2004

The fabrication, properties, and applications of etched chemically modified capillaries for electrophoretic analysis are reviewed. It is shown that the etching process creates a surface that is fundamentally different than a bare fused silica capillary. The new surface matrix produces unique electroosmotic flow properties and is more compatible with basic and biological compounds. After chemical modification of the surface, the bonded organic moiety (stationary phase) contributes to the control of migration of solutes in the capillary. Both electrophoretic and chromatographic processes take place in the etched chemically modified capillaries leading to a variety of experimental variables (pH, buffer type, presence and amount of organic modifier, and temperature) that can be used to optimize separations. A number of examples of separations on these capillaries are presented as well as data on column ruggedness and reproducibility.
Studies on the Homogeneous Acetylation of Cellulose in the Novel Solvent Dimethyl Sulfoxide/Tetrabutylammonium Fluoride Trihydrate
Authors: Ass Beatriz A. P. , Frollini Elisabete , Heinze Thomas
Published: November 2004

Summary: The novel solvent dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO)/tetrabutylammonium fluoride trihydrate (TBAF · 3H2O) was studied for acetylation of linters cellulose. In order to control the degree of substitution (DS), acetylation of the macromolecule was carried out at different reaction time and temperature, molar ratio of reactants, as well as under variation of the concentration of TBAF · 3H2O in solution. Cellulose acetate (CA) was accessible with DS ranging from 0.43 to 2.77. The change in concentration of TBAF · 3H2O in DMSO showed a strong influence on DS. The most appropriate reaction conditions for acetylation of linters cellulose regarding maximal DS were evaluated. The structure of the CA was characterized by means of FTIR and NMR spectroscopy. The solubility of the CA depends not only on the DS but also on the reaction conditions applied, indicating a different distribution of acetate moieties both within and between polymer chains.
New Star‐Branched Poly(acrylonitrile) Architectures: ATRP Synthesis and Solution Properties
Authors: Pitto Valentina , Voit Brigitte I. , Loontjens Ton J. A. , van Benthem Rolf A. T. M.
Published: November 2004

Summary: Atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) has been chosen as “living”/controlled free radical polymerization system to synthesize a number of novel poly(acrylonitrile) (PAN) architectures. The reaction conditions for the synthesis of linear samples with control over molar mass and molar mass distribution have been investigated together with the possibility of obtaining copolymers of acrylonitrile with small quantities of methyl acrylate (max. 5 mol‐%). Well‐defined star polymers with 3, 4 and 6 arms have been successfully synthesized together with linear chains initiated by a bifunctional initiator and star‐branched polymers with a hyperbranched poly(ester amide) as core. Molar masses were determined by NMR and GPC with the latter leading to a significant over estimation. Solution viscosity studies indicated that the stiff structure of the PAN chains is still maintained in the homopolymer star architectures and that the incorporation of small quantities of methyl acrylate as comonomer has a stronger effect on chain flexibility than the incorporation of star‐branch points.

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A Review on Pineapple Leaf Fibers, Sisal Fibers and Their Biocomposites
Authors: Mishra Supriya , Mohanty Amar K. , Drzal Lawrence T. , Misra Manjusri , Hinrichsen Georg
Published: November 2004

Summary: The use of lignocellulosic fibers, pineapple leaf fiber (PALF) and sisal as reinforcements in thermoplastic and thermosetting resins for developing low cost and lightweight composites is an emerging field of research in polymer science and technology. Although, these biofibers have several advantages, such as low densities, low cost, nonabrasive nature, high filling level possible, low energy consumption, high specific properties, biodegradability, etc., over synthetic fibers, the absorption of moisture by untreated biofibers, poor wettability, and insufficient adhesion between the polymer matrix and fiber deteriorate the mechanical properties of composites made up of these biofibers. Therefore, the modification of these fibers is a key area of research at present to obtain optimum fiber‐matrix properties. This review article is concerned with the structure, composition and properties of PALF and sisal, the chemical modifications of these fibers and PALF/sisal‐reinforced thermosets, thermoplastics, rubber, cement, hybrids and biocomposites.

Scanning electron micrograph of tensile fractured surface of alkali treated sisal fiber (magnification ×500).

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Scanning electron micrograph of tensile fractured surface of alkali treated sisal fiber (magnification ×500).
On a generalization of the Neumann problem for the Laplace equation outside cuts in a plane
Authors: Krutitskii P. A. , Chikilev A. O. , Krutitskaya N. Ch. , Kolybasova V. V.
Published: November 2004

A boundary value problem for harmonic functions outside cuts in a plane is considered. The jump of the normal derivative is specified on the cuts as well as a linear combination of the normal derivative on one side of the cut and the jump of the unknown function. The problem is studied with three different conditions at infinity, which lead to different results on existence and number of solutions. The integral representation for a solution is obtained in the form of potentials density in which satisfies the uniquely solvable Fredholm integral equation of the 2nd kind. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Listening to the voice of the customer is the key to QVC's success
Authors: Schwarz Anne
Published: November 2004

QVC, Inc., the world's preeminent electronic retailer, with round‐the‐clock televised home‐shopping shows 364 days a year, ships a staggering 100 million packages annually to millions of customers. Customer trust, satisfaction, and loyalty are the bedrock on which this enormously successful company has been built, and the voice of the customer speaks loudly at QVC. The company has made both a science and an art of capturing, understanding, and responding to customer input, which it leverages—along with world‐class customer service—to create hordes of loyal, satisfied customers. © 2004 QVC, Inc.
Fibroblast growth factor 17 is over‐expressed in human prostate cancer
Authors: Heer R , Douglas D , Mathers ME , Robson CN , Leung HY
Published: November 2004

Over‐expression of fibroblast growth factor 8 (FGF8) in human prostate cancer is associated with clinically aggressive disease. Among different members of the FGF family, FGF17 and FGF8 share high sequence homology and have similar patterns of expression during embryogenesis. In this study, the clinical significance of FGF17 expression and its in vitro function in prostate cancer cells were tested. Forty resected prostate specimens from patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH, n = 12) and prostate cancer (CaP, n = 28; Gleason sum scores 3–10) were studied using semi‐quantitative RT‐PCR. In addition, 85 cases of CaP (Gleason sum scores 5–9) and 20 cases of BPH were examined using immunohistochemistry and findings were correlated with clinical parameters. In vitro experiments using prostate cancer cell lines examined the functional significance of FGF17 in prostate cancer. These studies revealed a significant linear correlation between increasing Gleason sum scores and FGF17 expression using both immunohistochemistry (p < 0.0001, ρ = 0.99) and RT‐PCR (p = 0.008, ρ = 0.99). Immunohistochemistry demonstrated upregulation of FGF17 in CaP compared with BPH (p < 0.0001) and, when comparing high‐grade CaP (Gleason sum score 7–10) with BPH, RT‐PCR showed a fourfold upregulation of FGF17 mRNA expression (p < 0.0001). Men with tumours displaying high levels of FGF17 expression had a worse outcome on survival analysis (p = 0.044) and a higher risk of progression with metastases (p < 0.0001). Proliferation assays showed low‐dose recombinant (r) FGF17 (1 ng/ml) to be a more potent mitogen than rFGF1 and rFGF8 in prostate cancer cell lines (LNCaP, DU145, and PC3M) (p < 0.001). Furthermore, FGF8 was shown to induce expression of FGF17 in these cell lines. These data support a role for FGF17, and a model of co‐expression of multiple FGFs, with FGF17 as a potential mediator of FGF8 function, in human prostate carcinogenesis. Copyright © 2004 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Hydrogen bonding, mechanical properties, and surface morphology of clay/waterborne polyurethane nanocomposites
Authors: Kuan Hsu‐Chiang , Ma Chen‐Chi M. , Chuang Wen‐Ping , Su Hsun‐Yu
Published: November 2004

A novel clay/waterborne polyurethane (WPU) nanocomposite was synthesized from polyurethane and saponite organoclay. The clay was organically modified with various swelling agents, the effect of which has been investigated. Hydrogen bonding between organic and inorganic materials was characterized with Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The results implied that hydrogen bonding increased when organoclay was added. Mechanical and wear property studies revealed that introducing clay into waterborne polyurethane will enhance the Young's modulus (from 56 to 126 MPa), the maximum stress (from 3.9 to 7.6 MPa), and the elongation at break (from 27.7 to 58.7%) of the nanocomposite by a factor of two, whereas the wear loss will be only one third of the neat waterborne polyurethane. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) was used to analyze the surface morphology of the nanocomposite. An AFM microphotograph showed that the surface of the clay/waterborne polyurethane nanocomposite was smoother when clay was added in waterborne polyurethane. The average roughness (Ra) decreased from 1.00 to 0.12. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 43: 1–12, 2005
Stress–strain behavior of low‐density polyethylene/poly(methyl methacrylate) blends with modulated interfaces with a hydrogenated polybutadiene‐block‐poly(methyl methacrylate) diblock copolymer
Authors: Harrats C. , Benabdallah T. , Groeninckx G. , Jérôme R.
Published: November 2004

The stress–strain diagrams and ultimate tensile properties of uncompatibilized and compatibilized hydrogenated polybutadiene‐block‐poly(methyl methacrylate) (HPB‐b‐PMMA) blends with 20 wt % poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) droplets dispersed in a low‐density polyethylene (LDPE) matrix were studied. The HPB‐b‐PMMA pure diblock copolymer was prepared via controlled living anionic polymerization. Four copolymers, in terms of the molecular weights of the hydrogenated polybutadiene (HPB) and PMMA sequences (22,000–12,000, 63,300–31,700, 49,500–53,500, and 27,700–67,800), were used. We demonstrated with the stress–strain diagrams, in combination with scanning electron microscopy observations of deformed specimens, that the interfacial adhesion had a predominant role in determining the mechanism and extent of blend deformation. The debonding of PMMA particles from the LDPE matrix was clearly observed in the compatibilized blends in which the copolymer was not efficiently located at the interface. The best HPB‐b‐PMMA copolymer, resulting in the maximum improvement of the tensile properties of the compatibilized blend, had a PMMA sequence that was approximately half that of the HPB block. Because of the much higher interactions encountered in the PMMA phase in comparison with those in HPB (LDPE), a shorter sequence of PMMA (with respect to HPB but longer than the critical molecular weight for entanglement) was sufficient to favor a quantitative location of the copolymer at the LDPE/PMMA interface. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 43: 22–34, 2005
Nonisothermal melting and crystallization of polypropylene in model composites: Kinetic analysis
Authors: Grozdanov Anita , Buzarovska Aleksandra , Bogoeva‐Gaceva Gordana , Nedkov Emanuel
Published: November 2004

The kinetics of nonisothermal melting and the crystallization of polypropylene (PP) in polypropylene/carbon‐fiber (C/PP) composites were studied by differential scanning calorimetry with the Nedkov and Atanasov method. Characteristic parameters such as the lamellar thickness, the transport energy through the phase boundary, and the surface free energy were determined and analyzed. In nonisothermal melting, the nucleation effect of carbon fibers was confirmed by decreasing transport energy (79 and 41 kJ/mol for PP and C/PP, respectively) and surface free energy (8 × 10−4 and 7.9 × 10−5 J/m2 for PP and C/PP, respectively). Depending on the carbon‐fiber content, the lamellar thickness changed from 6.7 × 10−9 m to 9.05 × 10−9 m. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 43: 66–73, 2005
Viscoelastic characteristics of plasticized cellulose nanocomposites
Authors: Lee Dai Hoe , Lee Jong Hoon , Cho Mi Sook , Choi Sung Hun , Lee Young Kwan , Nam Jae Do
Published: November 2004

The plasticization effects of cellulose diacetate composite systems including nanoparticles (montmorillonite, MMT) and plasticizers(diethyl phthalate, DEP) were investigated by the time–temperature superposition technique and viscoelastic modeling. Exhibiting the highest modulus value in the glass state, the viscoelastic modulus of the MMT nanocomposite rapidly decreased above the glass‐transition temperature (Tg). The Arrhenius‐type activation energy of pristine cellulose acetate showed the lowest value of activation energy and both DEP‐plasticized and MMT‐reinforced systems exhibited increased values of activation energy. Although the free volume fraction at the Tg decreased with the plasticizer content, it increased with the incorporation of MMT, seemingly preventing the polymer chains from being arranged in an ordered structure. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 43: 59–65, 2005
A study of the disappearance of pesticides during composting using a gas chromatography‐tandem mass spectrometry technique
Authors: Garrido Frenich A , González Rodríguez Manuel J , Martínez Vidal José L , Arrebola Francisco J , Hernández Torres María E
Published: November 2004

A simple method for multi‐residue analysis of pesticides by low‐pressure gas chromatography‐tandem mass spectrometry (LP‐GC‐MS‐MS) has been validated in compost samples. The pesticide residues were extracted from the lyophilised samples with organic solvent by stirring. No sample clean‐up was required prior to the analysis. The method was applied to determine the fate of two organochlorine pesticides (lindane and endosulfan) and two organophosphates (malathion and chlorpyrifos‐methyl) during the composting process in the reactor of a pilot plant. Malathion, chlorpyrifos‐methyl and lindane residues almost fully disappeared after 8 days of maturation in the reactor, while endosulfan residues were only partially degraded. Alongside this, a study of natural disappearance of the pesticides was carried out in the laboratory and a characteristic time profile was traced for each pesticide class. Copyright © 2004 Society of Chemical Industry
Plastic responses of neonatal 5‐hydroxytryptamine1B receptors to 5,7‐dihydroxytryptamine lesions mapped by quantitative autoradiography
Authors: Pranzatelli Michael R. , Durkin Margaret M. , Farmer Michael
Published: November 2004

We previously found different effects on behavior, serotonin (5‐HT) concentrations, 5‐HT uptake sites, and 5‐HT1A binding sites of neonatal 5,7‐dihydroxytryptamine (5,7‐DHT) lesions depending on the route of 5,7‐DHT injection. To study the impact of early lesions on 5‐HT1B sites as putative 5‐HT terminal autoreceptors, we labelled them autoradiographically with [3H]5‐HT 4 months after intraperitoneal (i.p.) or intracisternal (i.c.) 5,7‐DHT injection during the first postnatal week and quantitated specific binding in 22 brain regions. Changes were confined to the subiculum and substantia nigra, regions with the most 5‐HT1B‐specific binding and projection areas of structures with high mRNA expression. Both routes of 5,7‐DHT injection were associated with increases in specific binding in subiculum (24% for i.p. and 47% for i.c. route). In contrast, there was a 32% increase in specific binding in the substantia nigra in rats with lesions made i.c. but not i.p. No significant differences were found in nucleus accumbens, caudate‐putamen or other brain areas. In saturation homogenate binding studies of 5‐HT1B sites using [125I]iodocyanopindolol 1 month after i.p. injections, neonatal 5,7‐DHT lesions did not significantly alter Bmax or Kd in the neocortex, striatum, diencephalon or brainstem. These data indicate the differential effects of the route of neonatal 5,7‐DHT injections on plasticity of 5‐HT1B receptor recognition sites and suggest the presence of a subpopulation of post‐synaptically located 5‐HT1B sites which increases in response to denervation. The data also suggest that sprouting of 5‐HT neurons after neonatal 5,7‐DHT lesions does not involve 5‐HT1B sites.
Localization of the hoxb5 protein in the developing CNS of late gestational mouse embryos
Authors: Sakach M. , Safael R.
Published: November 2004

We cloned a full‐length HoxB5 cDNA from the human neuroblastoma cell line, SHSY5Y, and used it to raise specific antibodies against a divergent domain of its protein. The antibodies then were used to immunolocalize and determine the expression pattern of the HoxB5 homeodomain protein in the late gestational mouse embryos. With particular reference to the structures of the developing nervous system, relatively high levels of the HoxB5 protein were detected in 15‐ and 18‐day‐old gestational mouse embryos. Expression domains were similar in both stages and were limited almost exclusively to the central nervous system. Expression of the HoxB5 protein was found in areas that extended from the rostral medulla oblongata to the caudal parts of the spinal cord. In all regions of the CNS, expression levels were higher in the rostral and ventral regions compared to the caudal and dorsal areas, respectively. These findings suggest that the function of the HoxB5 protein is not limited to the early stages of neural development and extends into later stages as well. These findings suggest also that the HoxB5 protein may play a role in the organization of the neural structures along both of the dorsoventral and craniocaudal axes of the developing fetus in vertebrate species.
Lichens and ultramafic rocks: a review
Authors: FAVERO-LONGO Sergio E. , ISOCRONO Deborah , PIERVITTORI Rosanna
Published: November 2004

Floristic, vegetational and ecological features of lichens in ultramafic environments are reviewed using a wide range of literature dating from the beginning of the 20th century. Co-presence of acidophytic (silicicolous) and basiphytic (calcicolous) species and the occurrence of species characterized by particular (disjunct) distribution patterns are features of lichens in ultramafic environments. It is not possible to detect consistent trends in data on other broadly accepted features, such as paucity of species, low cover and the occurrence of particular ecotypes because of the influence of several environmental factors in addition to the substratum. Some recent data about physico-chemical interactions between saxicolous lichens and ultramafic rocks are also reported.
Nesting success of hawksbill turtles (Eretmochelys imbricata) on Cousine Island, Seychelles
Authors: Hitchins P. M. , Bourquin O. , Hitchins S.
Published: November 2004

Nesting hawksbill turtles Eretmochelys imbricata were studied on Cousine Island, Seychelles from 1995 to 1999. Mean overall incubation time averaged 58.1 days. Clutch size did not influence incubation periods. Following hatching, hatchlings took an average of 3.8 days to leave the nest. Mean hatchling emergence time was 60.4 days. Hatching success averaged 64.3% for the four seasons. During 1996–97 there were heavy, unexplained egg losses due to crab predation. Excluding that season, average hatching success was 70.9%. Overall hatchling success was 61.1%, translocated nests having a better success (69.3%) than natural nests (57.7%). Overall egg and hatchling losses were 35.8% and 3.1%, respectively, most egg losses being attributed to ghost crabs Ocypode cordimana (16.3% overall) and unknown causes (17.0% overall), which were mainly non‐viable eggs. The high level of nest manipulation was believed to be justified by increasing the number of hatchlings entering the sea.
The alternation between l'on and on in spoken French
Authors: COVENEY AIDAN
Published: November 2004

Although frequent reference is made to l'on as an alternative to on in standard grammars, judgements vary as to whether or not l'on is used at all in spoken French. This question is investigated here by treating l'on ∼ on as a sociolinguistic variable. A review of the historical, dialectal and cross-linguistic background is followed by an examination of the traditional ‘rules’ for the use of l'on, as described by Vaugelas and reconsidered by Goosse for written French. The frequency of l'on in speech, and the contexts in which it is used, are then examined in a corpus of informal interviews, and some comparisons are made with a corpus of TV news reports. (The total N of on + l'on in the two corpora is 3,549.) In general, l'on can be viewed as a ‘long form’, marking formality and comparable in some respect to l'un(e), cela, ce sont and nous -ons. But there are some individuals who use l'on even when speaking informally, especially in relative clauses opening with que.
Considérations sur la forme et le sens. Pis en français québécois. Une simple variante de puis? Un simple remplaçant de et?
Authors: DOSTIE GAÉTANE
Published: November 2004

Plusieurs travaux ont été consacrés à ce jour à puis (Chevalier et Molho, 1986; Hansen, 1998; Reyle, 1998; Bras, Le Draoulec et Vieu, 2001). En revanche, à l'exception de quelques études ciblées (Laurendeau, 1982 et 1983; Laks, 1983), pis a généralement été tenu pour une variante dans la prononciation de puis et a rarement été examiné pour lui-même. L'objectif du présent article, consacré à pis dans son usage en français québécois, est double. Il s'agit:

– de dégager les spécificités sémantiques du marqueur lorsqu'il est connecteur (propositionnel et textuel). Cela conduit à le situer par rapport à et et à proposer une hypothèse, basée sur l'opposition ‘connecteur associatif/connecteur dissociatif’, susceptible d'expliquer pourquoi les marqueurs en cause se trouvent en distribution complémentaire dans l'oral familier, bien qu'ils expriment tous deux un type de connexion neutre;

– d'identifier les sens de pis lorsqu'il est marqueur discursif et de mettre en évidence les liens qui les unissent entre eux, de même que les liens qui les rattachent à l'emploi où le marqueur agit à titre de connecteur.
Le(s) temps du compte rendu sportif
Authors: LABEAU EMMANUELLE
Published: November 2004

Cellard (1979: 19) avançait de façon quelque peu impressionniste que ‘le passé simple se rencontrait beaucoup plus souvent dans les comptes rendus de rencontres sportives de notre journal que dans toute autre catégorie de textes’. Même si un tel passé perfectif était le vecteur idéal du rapport d'un exploit sportif au déroulement chronologique, la réalité des textes nous offre un panorama nettement diversifié. Une compétition acharnée se joue avec d'autres tiroirs verbaux (passé composé, imparfait, présent) qui, chacun, offre une présentation différente des procès. Après une brève présentation théorique de chaque tiroir, nous entamerons une étude de corpus basée sur des textes de presse francophone. Nous conclurons que le panorama temporel du compte rendu sportif contemporain pourrait résulter de contraintes extra-linguistiques comme le type de publication et l'évolution des médias.
Inanimate interrogatives and settlement patterns in Francophone Louisiana
Authors: ROTTET KEVIN J.
Published: November 2004

In the light of the extensive dialect leveling found in Francophone Louisiana, the suggestion made in Byers (1988) is a particularly interesting one, that the geographical distribution of qui and quoi, both meaning ‘what’, reflects the differential settlement histories of early 18th century Creoles, and Acadians, respectively. In this article I document these two interrogative patterns as to form and locales of attestation, and I explore the evidence for Byer's claim, showing that a strong case can be made by considering not only settlement history but also the interrogatives of Louisiana Creole, the origins of which arguably predate the arrival of the Acadians in Louisiana.
Satellite mapping of rain‐induced nitric oxide emissions from soils
Authors: Jaeglé L. , Martin R. V. , Chance K. , Steinberger L. , Kurosu T. P. , Jacob D. J. , Modi A. I. , Yoboué V. , Sigha‐Nkamdjou L. , Galy‐Lacaux C.
Published: November 2004

We use space‐based observations of NO2 columns from the Global Ozone Monitoring Experiment (GOME) to map the spatial and seasonal variations of NOx emissions over Africa during 2000. The GOME observations show not only enhanced tropospheric NO2 columns from biomass burning during the dry season but also comparable enhancements from soil emissions during the rainy season over the Sahel. These soil emissions occur in strong pulses lasting 1–3 weeks following the onset of rain, and affect 3 million km2 of semiarid sub‐Saharan savanna. Surface observations of NO2 from the International Global Atmospheric Chemistry (IGAC)/Deposition of Biochemically Important Trace Species (DEBITS)/Africa (IDAF) network over West Africa provide further evidence for a strong role for microbial soil sources. By combining inverse modeling of GOME NO2 columns with space‐based observations of fires, we estimate that soils contribute 3.3 ± 1.8 TgN/year, similar to the biomass burning source (3.8 ± 2.1 TgN/year), and thus account for 40% of surface NOx emissions over Africa. Extrapolating to all the tropics, we estimate a 7.3 TgN/year biogenic soil source, which is a factor of 2 larger compared to model‐based inventories but agrees with observation‐based inventories. These large soil NOx emissions are likely to significantly contribute to the ozone enhancement originating from tropical Africa.
VIP enhances both pre‐ and postsynaptic GABAergic transmission to hippocampal interneurones leading to increased excitatory synaptic transmission to CA1 pyramidal cells
Authors: Cunha‐Reis Diana , Sebastião Ana M , Wirkner Kerstin , Illes Peter , Ribeiro Joaquim Alexandre
Published: November 2004

Vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) is present in the hippocampus in three subtypes of GABAergic interneurones, two of which innervate preferentially other interneurones, responsible for pyramidal cell inhibition. We investigated how pre‐ and postsynaptic modulation of GABAergic transmission (to both pyramidal cells and interneurones) by VIP could influence excitatory synaptic transmission in the CA1 area of the hippocampus.

VIP (0.1–100 nM) increased [3H]GABA release from hippocampal synaptosomes (maximum effect at 1 nM VIP; 63.8±4.0%) but did not change [3H]glutamate release.

VIP (0.3–30 nM) enhanced synaptic transmission in hippocampal slices (maximum effect at 1 nM VIP; field excitatory postsynaptic potentials (epsp) slope: 23.7±1.1%; population spike amplitude: 20.3±1.7%). The action on field epsp slope was fully dependent on GABAergic transmission since it was absent in the presence of picrotoxin (50 μM) plus CGP55845 (1 μM).

VIP (1 nM) did not change paired‐pulse facilitation but increased paired‐pulse inhibition in CA1 pyramidal cells (16.0±0.9%), reinforcing the involvement of GABAergic transmission in the action of VIP.

VIP (1 nM) increased muscimol‐evoked inhibitory currents by 36.4±8.7% in eight out of ten CA1 interneurones in the stratum radiatum. This suggests that VIP promotes increased inhibition of interneurones that control pyramidal cells, leading to disinhibition of synaptic transmission to pyramidal cell dendrites.

In conclusion, concerted pre‐ and postsynaptic actions of VIP lead to disinhibition of pyramidal cell dendrites causing an enhancement of synaptic transmission.

British Journal of Pharmacology (2004) 143, 733–744. doi:10.1038/sj.bjp.0705989
Double proton transfer behavior and one-electron oxidation effect in double H-bonded glycinamide-formic acid complex
Authors: Li Ping , Bu Yuxiang
Published: November 2004

The behavior of double proton transfer occurring in a representative glycinamide-formic acid complex has been investigated at the B3LYP/6-311++G** level of theory. Thermodynamic and, especially, kinetic parameters, such as tautomeric energy, equilibrium constant, and barrier heights have been discussed, respectively. The relevant quantities involved in the double proton transfer process, such as geometrical changes, interaction energies, and intrinsic reaction coordinate calculations have also been studied. Computational results show that the participation of a formic acid molecule favors the proceeding of the proton transfer for glycinamide compared with that without mediate-assisted case. The double proton transfer process proceeds with a concerted mechanism rather than a stepwise one since no ion-pair complexes have been located during the proton transfer process. The calculated barrier heights are 11.48 and 0.85 kcal/mol for the forward and reverse directions, respectively. However, both of them have been reduced by 2.95 and 2.61 kcal/mol to 8.53 and −1.76 kcal/mol if further inclusion of zero-point vibrational energy corrections, where the negative barrier height implies that the reverse reaction should proceed with barrierless spontaneously, analogous to that occurring between glycinamide and formamide. Furthermore, solvent effects on the thermodynamic and kinetic processes have also been predicted qualitatively employing the isodensity surface polarized continuum model within the framework of the self-consistent reaction field theory. Additionally, the oxidation process for the double H-bonded glycinamide-formic acid complex has also been investigated. Contrary to that neutral form possessing a pair of two parallel intermolecular H bonds, only a single H bond with a comparable strength has been found in its ionized form. The vertical and adiabatic ionization potentials for the neutral complex have been determined to be about 9.40 and 8.69 eV, respectively, where ionization is mainly localized on the glycinamide fragment. Like that ionized glycinamide-formamide complex, the proton transfer in the ionized complex is characterized by a single-well potential, implying that the proton initially attached to amide N4 in the glycinamide fragment cannot be transferred to carbonyl O13 in the formic acid fragment at the geometry of the optimized complex.
Ab initio benchmark study for the oxidative addition of CH4 to Pd: Importance of basis-set flexibility and polarization
Authors: de Jong G. Theodoor , Solà Miquel , Visscher Lucas , Bickelhaupt F. Matthias
Published: November 2004

To obtain a state-of-the-art benchmark potential energy surface (PES) for the archetypal oxidative addition of the methane C-H bond to the palladium atom, we have explored this PES using a hierarchical series of ab initio methods (Hartree-Fock, second-order Møller-Plesset perturbation theory, fourth-order Møller-Plesset perturbation theory with single, double and quadruple excitations, coupled cluster theory with single and double excitations (CCSD), and with triple excitations treated perturbatively [CCSD(T)]) and hybrid density functional theory using the B3LYP functional, in combination with a hierarchical series of ten Gaussian-type basis sets, up to g polarization. Relativistic effects are taken into account either through a relativistic effective core potential for palladium or through a full four-component all-electron approach. Counterpoise corrected relative energies of stationary points are converged to within 0.1–0.2 kcal/mol as a function of the basis-set size. Our best estimate of kinetic and thermodynamic parameters is −8.1 (−8.3) kcal/mol for the formation of the reactant complex, 5.8 (3.1) kcal/mol for the activation energy relative to the separate reactants, and 0.8 (−1.2) kcal/mol for the reaction energy (zero-point vibrational energy-corrected values in parentheses). This agrees well with available experimental data. Our work highlights the importance of sufficient higher angular momentum polarization functions, f and g, for correctly describing metal–d-electron correlation and, thus, for obtaining reliable relative energies. We show that standard basis sets, such as LANL2DZ+1f for palladium, are not sufficiently polarized for this purpose and lead to erroneous CCSD(T) results. B3LYP is associated with smaller basis set superposition errors and shows faster convergence with basis-set size but yields relative energies (in particular, a reaction barrier) that are ca. 3.5 kcal/mol higher than the corresponding CCSD(T) values.
Electron attachment and detachment: Electron affinities of isomers of trifluoromethylbenzonitrile
Authors: Miller Thomas M. , Viggiano A. A. , Friedman Jeffrey F. , Van Doren Jane M.
Published: November 2004

Rate constants for electron attachment to the three isomers of trifluoromethylbenzonitrile [(CF3)(CN)C6H4, or TFMBN] were measured over the temperature range of 303–463 K in a 133-Pa He buffer gas, using a flowing-afterglow Langmuir-probe apparatus. At 303 K, the measured attachment rate constants are 9.0×10−8 (o-TFMBN), 5.5×10−8 (m-TFMBN), and 8.9×10−8 cm3 s−1 (p-TFMBN), estimated accurate to ±25%. The attachment process formed only the parent anion in all three cases. Thermal electron detachment was observed for all three anion isomers, and rate constants for this reverse process were also measured. From the attachment and detachment results, the electron affinities of the three isomers of TFMBN were determined to be 0.70(o-TFMBN), 0.67(m-TFMBN), and 0.83 eV (p-TFMBN), all ±0.05 eV. G3(MP2) [Gaussian-3 calculations with reduced Møller–Plesset orders (MP2)] calculations were carried out for the neutrals and anions. Electron affinities derived from these calculations are in good agreement with the experimental values.
Surface phase behavior in Langmuir monolayers of diethylene glycol mono-n-hexadecyl ether at the air-water interface
Authors: Islam Md. Nazrul , Kato Teiji
Published: November 2004

The surface phase behavior of condensed-phase domains formed during a first-order phase transition in Langmuir monolayers of diethylene glycol mono-n-hexadecyl ether at the air-water interface has been investigated by Brewster angle microscopy and polarization modulation infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy (PM-IRRAS). A variety of two-dimensional (2D) structures are observed just after the appearance of the phase transition at different temperatures. At 10 and 15 °C, the domains are found to be small nuclei of irregular structures. Spiral structures are observed at 20 and 22 °C, while striplike structures at 24 °C. The spiral domains attain increasingly compact shape with increasing temperature, and finally become circular at ⩾26 °C. Increases in temperature result in dehydration in the ethylene oxide chain, which increases the hydrophobicity, and impart to the molecules a longer-chain-like character. As a result line tension increases with increasing temperature, which probably outweighs the dipole-dipole repulsions showing circular domains at higher temperatures. The PM-IRRAS measurement reveals that the νas(CH2) mode moves to lower wave numbers indicating that the LE-LC (liquid expanded–liquid condensed) phase transition during the compression of the monolayer involves changes in the conformational order of the molecules with a preferential increase in the planner trans zigzag conformation of the hydrocarbon chains. The νas(CH2) mode in the LC region of the isotherm shows a constant value around 2917.8 cm−1 indicating a stable state of the monolayer with an almost all-trans conformation of the hydrocarbon chains. The downward band at 1124 cm−1 assigned to the νas(C–O–C) mode indicates that the corresponding transition dipole moment is oriented perpendicular to the water surface.
Dissociative electron attachment to dinitrogen pentoxide, N2O5
Authors: Cicman P. , Buchanan G. A. , Marston G. , Gulejová B. , Skalný J. D. , Mason N. J. , Scheier P. , Märk T. D.
Published: November 2004

Electron attachment was studied in gaseous dinitrogen pentoxide, N2O5, for incident electron energies between a few meV and 10 eV. No stable parent anion N2O5− was observed but several anionic fragments (NO3−, NO2−, NO−, O−, and O2−) were detected using quadrupole mass spectrometry. Many of these dissociative pathways were found to be coupled and provide detailed information on the dynamics of N2O5 fragmentation. Estimates of the cross sections for production of each of the anionic fragments were made and suggest that electron attachment to N2O5 is amongst the most efficient attachment reactions recorded for nonhalogenated polyatomic systems.