bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
C-Type Natriuretic Peptide Down-Regulates Expression of Its Cognate Receptor in Rat Aortic Smooth Muscle Cells
Authors: Rahmutula Dolkun , Gardner David G.
Published: August 2005

The C-type natriuretic (CNP) peptide signals through the type B natriuretic peptide receptor (NPR-B) in vascular smooth muscle cells to activate the particulate guanylyl cyclase activity intrinsic to that receptor and raise cellular cyclic GMP levels. In the present study, we demonstrate that CNP down-regulates the expression of this receptor leading to a reduction in NPR-B activity. Pretreatment of rat aortic smooth muscle cells with CNP reduces NPR-B activity, NPR-B protein levels, NPR2 (NPR-B gene) mRNA levels, and NPR2 promoter activity. The decrease in NPR2 promoter activity is dependent on DNA sequence present between −441 and −134 relative to the transcription start site. The reduction in NPR2 gene expression appears to operate through generation of cyclic GMP. 8-Bromo cyclic GMP, a membrane-permeable cyclic GMP analog, reduced NPR2 mRNA levels and NPR2 promoter activity. Atrial natriuretic peptide, which signals through the type A natriuretic peptide receptor (NPR-A) to increase cyclic GMP levels in these cells, also reduced NPR-B mRNA levels and inhibited NPR-B promoter activity; however, this inhibition was not additive with that produced by CNP, implying that the two ligands traffic over a common signal transduction pathway. This report provides the first documentation that CNP is capable of autoregulating the expression of its cognate receptor.
Hypoxia-Inducible Factor-1-Mediated Activation of Stanniocalcin-1 in Human Cancer Cells
Authors: Yeung Ho Y. , Lai Keng P. , Chan Hoi Y. , Mak Nai K. , Wagner Graham F. , Wong Chris K. C.
Published: August 2005

Stanniocalcin-1 (STC1) is an endocrine hormone originally discovered in the corpuscles of Stannius, endocrine glands on kidneys of bony fishes, and also has been identified in mammals. The mammalian STC1 gene is widely expressed in various tissues and appears to be involved in diverse biological processes. There is growing evidence to suggest that altered patterns of gene expression have a role in human cancer development. Recently STC1 has been identified as a stimulator of mitochondrial respiration and has been hypothesized to be functionally related to the Warburg effect, of which hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1 plays a key role in reprogramming tumor metabolism. This prompted us to examine the involvement of HIF-1 in the regulation of STC1 expression in tumor hypoxia. Our data reveal that hypoxia can stimulate STC1 gene expression in various human cancer cell lines, including those derived from colon carcinomas, nasopharyngeal cancer (CNE-2, HONE-1, HK-1), and ovarian cancer (CaOV3, OVCAR3, SKOV3). By far, the greatest response was observed in CNE-2 cells. In further studies on CNE-2 cells, desferrioxamine, cobalt chloride, and O2 depletion all increased HIF-1α protein and STC1 mRNA levels. Desferrioxamine treatment, when coupled with Fe replenishment, abolished these effects. RNA interference studies further confirmed that endogenous HIF-1α was a key factor in hypoxia-induced STC1 expression. The ability of vascular endothelial growth factor to stimulate STC1 expression in CNE-2 cells was comparatively low. Collectively, the present findings provide the first evidence of HIF-1 regulation of STC1 expression in human cancer cells. The studies have implications as to the role of STC1 in hypoxia induced adaptive responses in tumor cells.
Comparative analysis of the DNA staining efficiencies of different fluorescent dyes in preparative agarose gel electrophoresis
Authors: Huang Qing , Fu Wei-Ling
Published: August 2005

Ethidium bromide (EB) is a mutagen and toxin that is widely used in the laboratory for visualization of nucleic acids. Safer nucleic acid stains, such as SYBR
Human Embryonic Stem Cells and Their Differentiated Derivatives Are Less Susceptible to Immune Rejection Than Adult Cells
Authors: Drukker Micha , Katchman Helena , Katz Gil , Even-Tov Friedman Smadar , Shezen Elias , Hornstein Eran , Mandelboim Ofer , Reisner Yair , Benvenisty Nissim
Published: August 2005

Differentiated cell types derived from human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) may serve in the future to treat various human diseases. A crucial step toward their successful clinical application is to examine the immune response that might be launched against them after transplantation. We used two experimental platforms to examine the in vivo leukocyte response toward hESCs. First, immunocompetent and immunodeficient mouse strains were used to identify T cells as the major component that causes xenorejection of hESCs. Second, mice that were conditioned to carry peripheral blood leukocytes from human origin were used to test the human leukocyte alloresponse toward undifferentiated and differentiated hESCs. Using this model, we have detected only a minute immune response toward undifferentiated as well as differentiated hESCs over the course of 1 month, although control adult grafts were repeatedly infiltrated with lymphocytes and destroyed. Our data show that the cells evade immune destruction due to a low immunostimulatory potential. Nevertheless, a human cytotoxic T lymphocyte clone that was specifically prepared to recognize two hESC lines could lyse the cells after major histocompatibility complex class I (MHC-I) induction. Although MHC-I levels in hESCs are sufficient for rejection by cytotoxic T cells, our data suggest that the immunostimulatory capacity of the cells is very low. Thus, immunosuppressive regimens for hESC-based therapeutics could be highly reduced compared with conventional organ transplantation because direct allorejection processes of hESCs and their derivatives are considerably weaker.
Offset‐free receding horizon control of constrained linear systems
Authors: Pannocchia Gabriele , Kerrigan Eric C.
Published: August 2005

The design of a dynamic state feedback receding horizon controller is addressed, which guarantees robust constraint satisfaction, robust stability and offset‐free control of constrained linear systems in the presence of time‐varying setpoints and unmeasured disturbances. This objective is obtained by first designing a dynamic linear offset‐free controller and computing an appropriate domain of attraction for this controller. The linear (unconstrained) controller is then modified by adding a perturbation term, which is computed by a (constrained) robust receding horizon controller. The receding horizon controller has the property that its domain of attraction contains that of the linear controller. In order to ensure robust constraint satisfaction, in addition to offset‐free control, the transient, as well as the limiting behavior of the disturbance and setpoint need to be taken into account in the design of the receding horizon controller. The fundamental difference between the results and the existing literature on receding horizon control is that the transient effect of the disturbance and set point sequences on the so‐called “target calculator” is explicitly incorporated in the formulation of the receding horizon controller. An example of the control of a continuous stirred‐tank reactor is presented. © 2005 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2005
Predictors of esophageal cancer risk: Assessment of susceptibility to DNA damage using comet assay
Authors: Shao Lina , Lin Jie , Huang Maosheng , Ajani Jaffer A. , Wu Xifeng
Published: August 2005

Individuals' susceptibility to DNA damage could be identified by mutagen‐challenged assays. We tested the hypothesis that susceptibility to DNA damage, measured by comet assay, may be associated with increased esophageal cancer (EC) risk. We recruited 102 subjects with previously untreated EC and 112 healthy controls. Baseline (untreated), benzo[a]pyrene diol epoxide (BPDE)‐induced, and γ‐radiation‐induced DNA damage were quantified by the Olive tail moment parameter. The mean tail moment was significantly higher in cases than in controls at baseline (case vs. control: 2.6 vs. 1.9, P < 0.01), after BPDE induction (case vs. control: 3.8 vs. 2.7, P < 0.01), and after γ‐radiation‐induction (case vs. control: 5.0 vs. 3.8, P < 0.01). When data were dichotomized with the median values in the controls, a significantly increased risk for EC was observed for high baseline tail moment [odds ratio (OR) = 5.7, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 2.9–11.4], high BPDE‐induced tail moment (OR = 5.8, 95% CI = 2.9–11.8), and high γ‐radiation‐induced tail moment (OR = 4.6, 95% CI = 2.4–8.8). Further, the association between DNA damage and EC was stronger in never smokers than in ever smokers. Compared with subjects not sensitive to both mutagens, individuals sensitive to only one mutagen showed a 3.4‐fold risk for EC and those sensitive to both mutagens showed an 8.7‐fold risk for EC. Thus, we conclude that susceptibility to DNA damage as assessed by comet assay might help identify individuals with high EC risk. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Monitoring multiple angiogenesis‐related molecules in the blood of cancer patients shows a correlation between VEGF‐A and MMP‐9 levels before treatment and divergent changes after surgical vs. conservative therapy
Authors: Zaman Khalil , Driscoll Robert , Hahn Diane , Werffeli Patricia , Goodman Simon L. , Bauer Jean , Leyvraz Serge , Lejeune Ferdy , Stupp Roger , Rüegg Curzio
Published: August 2005

Anti‐angiogenic therapies are currently in cancer clinical trials, but to date there are no established tests for evaluating the angiogenic status of a patient. We measured 11 circulating angiogenesis‐associated molecules in cancer patients before and after local treatment. The purpose of our study was to screen for possible relationships among the different molecules and between individual molecules and tumor burden. We measured VEGF‐A, PlGF, SCF, MMP‐9, EDB+‐fibronectin, sVEGFR‐2, sVEGFR‐1, sαVβ3, sTie‐2, IL‐8 and CRP in the blood of 22 healthy volunteers, 17 early breast, 17 early colorectal, and 8 advanced sarcoma/melanoma cancer patients. Breast cancer patients had elevated levels of VEGF‐A and sTie‐2, colorectal cancer patients of VEGF‐A, MMP‐9, sTie‐2, IL‐8 and CRP, and melanoma/sarcoma patients of sVEGFR‐1. sαVβ3 was decreased in colorectal cancer patients. A correlation between VEGF‐A and MMP‐9 was found. After tumor removal, MMP‐9 and sαVβ3 significantly decreased in breast and CRP in colorectal cancer, whereas sVEGFR‐1 increased in colorectal cancer patients. In sarcoma/melanoma patients treated regionally with TNF and chemotherapy we observed a rise in VEGF‐A, SCF, VEGFR‐2, MMP‐9, Tie‐2 and CRP, a correlation between CRP and IL‐8, and a decreased in sVEGFR‐1 levels. In conclusion, among all factors measured, only VEGF‐A and MMP‐9 consistently correlated to each other, elevated CRP levels were associated with tumor burden, whereas sVEGF‐R1 increased after tumor removal in colorectal cancer. Treatment with chemotherapy and TNF induced changes consistent with an angiogenic switch. These results warrant a prospective study to compare the effect of surgical tumor removal vs. chemotherapy on some of these markers and to evaluate their prognostic/predictive value. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Arsenite pre‐conditioning reduces UVB‐induced apoptosis in corneal epithelial cells through the anti‐apoptotic activity of 27 kDa heat shock protein (HSP27)
Authors: Shi Biao , Isseroff R. Rivkah
Published: August 2005

Exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light poses a health risk for eye disease, and solar ultraviolet in the B range (UVB, 280–320 nm) is known to be related to various corneal disorders. In this study, we investigated whether pre‐conditioning of cells with arsenite (AsO) can reduce UVB‐induced apoptosis in human corneal epithelial cells, and whether the anti‐apoptotic activity of 27 kDa heat shock protein (HSP27), a small heat shock protein, plays a role in this protection. UVB at levels comparable to physiologic solar exposure induces apoptosis of corneal epithelial cells in culture, demonstrated by activation of caspase 9 and caspase 3, and DNA fragmentation. When cells were pre‐conditioned with arsenite prior to UVB exposure, the UVB‐induced cell death was reduced, and UVB‐induced activation of caspases and DNA fragmentation was inhibited. When cells were pre‐treated with SB 203580, which inhibits HSP27 phosphorylation through inhibition of p38 MAP kinase activation, the arsenite‐induced reduction of UVB‐induced apoptosis was partially reversed. Arsenite pre‐conditioning inhibited UVB‐induced apoptosis in a two‐phase pattern, which was temporally correlated with arsenite‐induced HSP27 expression and phosphorylation. Neutralization of intracellular HSP27 with its antibody reduced arsenite's inhibition of UVB‐induced caspase3 activation. Our results suggest that forms of stress that upregulate HSP27 and its phosphorylation may be useful as novel approaches to prevent adverse ocular effects arising from UV exposure in humans. J. Cell. Physiol. 206: 301–308, 2006. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Front Cover: Macromol. Biosci. 8/2005
Authors: Hiratani Haruyuki , Mizutani Yuri , Alvarez‐Lorenzo Carmen
Published: August 2005

Front Cover: The template:functional monomer mole ratio determines the timolol binding affinity of N,N‐dimethylacrylamide and tris(trimethylsiloxy)sililpropyl methacrylate imprinted hydrogels. Only with a low proportion of timolol, cavities with the maximum multiple‐point binding ability are created and hydrogels able to control timolol release are obtained. Further details can be found in the Full Paper by H. Hiratani,* Y. Mizutani, and C. Alvarez‐Lorenzo on page 728.
Retracted: Abnormal bone and calcium metabolism in immobilized Parkinson's disease patients
Authors: Sato Yoshihiro , Honda Yoshiaki , Iwamoto Jun , Kanoko Tomohiro , Satoh Kei
Published: August 2005

The above article, published online on 19 August 2005 in Wiley Online Library (http://wileyonlinelibrary.com) has been retracted by agreement between the authors, the Journal Editor‐in‐Chief, Jose A. Obeso, MD, PhD and John Wiley & Sons Inc. The Retraction has been agreed due to extensive duplication of work previously published by the same authors and concerns with authorship and data integrity. Reference Sato, Y. , Honda, Y. , Iwamoto, J. , Kanoko, T. and Satoh, K. (2005), Abnormal bone and calcium metabolism in immobilized Parkinson's disease patients. Mov. Disord., 20: 1598‐1603. doi:10.1002/mds.20658
Deep‐space communications with a 2‐hop downlink with high link‐availability
Authors: Matricciani Emilio
Published: August 2005

We recall and discuss the theory of a 2‐hop downlink in deep‐space communications. The first hop (length d1) links the deep‐space spacecraft to either a geostationary satellite or to a low Earth orbiting satellite. The second hop (length d2, with d2 ≪ d1) links the satellite to the Earth receiver through a transparent or regenerative transponder, in slant paths affected by troposphere attenuation. If we adopt a BPSK or QPSK modulation scheme and the same carrier frequencies in the two hops with a transparent transponder, a particular value of the carrier frequency makes the noise‐to‐signal ratio minimum. A better choice is to assign a low carrier frequency (X‐band) to the second hop and a high one (W‐band) to the first hop. A 2‐hop downlink is superior to a 1‐hop downlink with a large power gain proportional to (d1/d2)2 ≫ 1 at high microwave frequencies and large troposphere attenuation (high link‐availability). Shannon's capacity theorem provides the same large gain independently of the choice of the carrier frequencies in the two hops, if we use a regenerative transponder. The carrier frequencies of a 2‐hop downlink need not be those reserved to deep‐space communication, because the spacecraft could communicate as if it were transmitting ‘from the Earth’ through a conventional satellite connection. We have applied the theory to a first‐order design in the frequency range 10–100 GHz, slant path elevation angles 30°, 45° and 90° at Gera Lario or Fucino (Italy), and downlinks form Mars and Saturn, although the general findings and methodology are of global applicability. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Can the restoration of natural vegetation be accelerated on the Chinese Loess Plateau? A study of the response of the leaf carbon isotope ratio of dominant species to changing soil carbon and nitrogen levels
Authors: Wang Guo‐Hong
Published: August 2005

For the heavily degraded ecosystem on the Chinese Loess Plateau, it would be of great significance if vegetation restoration could be accelerated anthropogenically. However, one major concern is that if the late successional species were planted or sown in degraded habitats, would they still be competitive in terms of some critical plant traits associated with specific habitats? Water use efficiency (WUE) is a major plant trait shaping the pattern of species turnover in vegetation secondary succession on the Loess Plateau. We hypothesized that if late successional stage plants could still hold a competitive advantage in terms of WUE, the prospects for an acceleration of succession by sowing these species in newly abandoned fields would be good. We tested this hypothesis by comparing the leaf C isotope ratio (δ13C) value (a surrogate of WUE) of dominant species from different successional stages at given soil C and N levels. Results indicated that leaf δ13C of the two dominant species that co‐dominated in the second and third stages were significantly more positive than that of the dominant species from the first stage regardless of changing soil C and N. Yet the dominant species from the climax stage is a C4 grass assumed to have the highest WUE. In addition, increasing soil nutrition had no effects on leaf δ13C of two dominant species in the late successional stage, indicating that dominant species from the late successional stages could still have a competitive advantage in terms of WUE in soil C‐ and N‐poor habitats. Therefore, from the perspective of plant WUE, there are great opportunities for ecosystem restoration by sowing both dominant species and other species that co‐occur in late successional stages in newly abandoned fields, for the purpose of enhancing species diversity and optimising species composition.
Topors acts as a SUMO‐1 E3 ligase for p53 in vitro and in vivo
Authors: Weger Stefan , Hammer Eva , Heilbronn Regine
Published: August 2005

Human Topors, which was originally identified as cellular binding partner of DNA topoisomerase I and of p53, has recently been shown to function as an ubiquitin E3 ligase for p53 in a manner dependent on its N′‐terminally located RING finger. Here, we demonstrate that Topors also enhances the conjugation of the small ubiquitin‐like modifier 1 (SUMO‐1) to p53 in vivo and in a reconstituted in vitro system. The Topors SUMO‐1 E3 ligase activity does not depend upon its RING finger motif. In HeLa cells, Topors induced p53 sumoylation was accompanied by an increase in endogenous p53 protein levels. Furthermore, Topors enhances the sumoylation of a variety of other, yet unidentified, cellular proteins.
T‐box and homeobox genes from the ctenophore Pleurobrachia pileus: Comparison of Brachyury, Tbx2/3 and Tlx in basal metazoans and bilaterians
Authors: Martinelli Cosimo , Spring Jürg
Published: August 2005

Most animals are classified as Bilateria and only four phyla are still extant as outgroups, namely Porifera, Placozoa, Cnidaria and Ctenophora. These non‐bilaterians were not considered to have a mesoderm and hence mesoderm‐specific genes. However, the T‐box gene Brachyury could be isolated from sponges, placozoans and cnidarians. Here, we describe the first Brachyury and a Tbx2/3 homologue from a ctenophore. In addition, analysing T‐box and homeobox genes under comparable conditions in all four basal phyla lead to the discovery of novel T‐box genes in sponges and cnidarians and a Tlx homeobox gene in the ctenophore Pleurobrachia pileus . The conservation of the T‐box and the homeobox genes suggest that distinct subfamilies with different roles in bilaterians were already split in non‐bilaterians.
Extending the universality of the Heath–Jarrow–Morton model
Authors: Grant Dwight , Vora Gautam
Published: August 2005

Heath, Jarrow, and Morton (HJM) developed an important model of the evolution of interest rates. A key assumption of the model is that interest rate changes are normally distributed in continuous time. Implementing the HJM‐method of evolution of interest rates in discrete time for more complex volatility functions remains a significant challenge. In this article, we present a relatively simple and flexible method of implementation, that extends the usefulness of the HJM model. The derivation assumes that the distribution of interest rates is stable, but not necessarily identical, for each discrete time period. This allows us to identify the drift‐adjustment terms necessary to build interest rate lattices and trees and Monte Carlo simulations that satisfy exactly the no‐arbitrage and volatility conditions, even complex ones, of the model. The much more difficult discrete‐time implementation methods suggested in the literature (Heath, Jarrow, and Morton (1991) [Heath, D., Jarrow, R. & Morton, A. (1991). Contingent claim valuation with a random evolution of interest rates. Review of Futures Markets, 54–76.] and Jarrow (1996) [Jarrow, R. (1996). Modeling fixed income securities and interest rate options. New York, NY: McGraw‐Hill Companies Inc.]) do not accomplish that. We illustrate our analytical implementation with three examples of volatility functions and demonstrate its superiority to other methods of implementation.
Combating GNSS Interference with Advanced Inertial Integration
Authors: Groves Paul D. , Long Daniel C.
Published: August 2005

There are many scenarios where an integrated INS/GNSS navigation system may be required to operate in a high interference or weak signal environment. The GPS receiver may exploit the inertial aiding by operating with narrow tracking loop bandwidths in order to increase interference resistance. However, where a low grade INS is used, wider bandwidths are desirable to calibrate the INS errors effectively. This is important for GPS tracking loop aiding and sole-means inertial navigation during jamming. To obtain both effective INS calibration and jamming resistance, an adaptive tightly-coupled (ATC) INS/GPS integration architecture has been developed. The ATC technique has been assessed by simulation, showing that it provides a significant anti-jam margin over an INS/GPS with fixed tracking bandwidths selected for INS calibration. Compared to the deep (or ultra-tightly-coupled) integration techniques currently under development, ATC is a low cost anti-jam integration technique as it does not require a complete re-design of the navigation architecture. When there is too much interference for any GNSS signals to be tracked, the INS provides sole-means navigation. Thus, it is important to optimise the calibration of the INS when GNSS signals are available. To this end, the effects of estimating higher order inertial instrument errors and satellite range biases within the INS/GPS integration filter have been assessed.
WORLD WAR III – The 1960's Version
Authors: Brocklebank Roy
Published: August 2005

This article is based on a lecture to the Royal Institute of Navigation History of Air Navigation Group at Tangmere Museum on 12 May 2004. The author served as a navigator-radar – or a radar bomb aimer – within RAF Bomber Command during the mid-1960s. This article is based on his experience of this time in Bomber Command and describes how the Medium Bomber Force would have carried out their war operations had nuclear deterrence failed. In its day these plans were TOP SECRET.
The changing prevalence of drug-resistant Escherichia coli clonal groups in a community: evidence for community outbreaks of urinary tract infections
Authors: MANGES A. R. , NATARAJAN P. , SOLBERG O. D. , DIETRICH P. S. , RILEY L. W.
Published: August 2005

A multidrug-resistant clonal group (CgA) of Escherichia coli was shown to cause half of all trimethoprim–sulphamethoxazole (TMP–SMZ)-resistant urinary tract infections (UTIs) in a college community between October 1999 and January 2000. This second study was conducted to determine the fate of CgA. Urine E. coli isolates from women with UTI, collected between October 2000 and January 2001, were tested for antibiotic susceptibility, O serogroup, ERIC2 PCR and DNA macrorestriction patterns using pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. The proportion of UTIs caused by CgA declined by 38% (P<0·001) but the prevalence of resistance to TMP–SMZ did not change. Six additional clonal groups were identified and these were responsible for 32% of TMP–SMZ-resistant UTIs. The temporal decline in the proportion of UTIs caused by CgA provides evidence that CgA caused a community outbreak of UTI. The fluctuation and occurrence of other E. coli clonal groups in this community suggest that a proportion of community-acquired UTIs may be caused by E. coli disseminated from one or more point sources.
Anopheles gambiae SRPN2 facilitates midgut invasion by the malaria parasite Plasmodium berghei
Authors: Michel Kristin , Budd Aidan , Pinto Sofia , Gibson Toby J , Kafatos Fotis C
Published: August 2005

We report on a phylogenetic and functional analysis of genes encoding three mosquito serpins (SRPN1, SRPN2 and SRPN3), which resemble known inhibitors of prophenoloxidase‐activating enzymes in other insects. Following RNA interference induction by double‐stranded RNA injection, knockdown of SRPN2 in adult Anopheles gambiae produced a notable phenotype: the appearance of melanotic pseudotumours, which increased in size and number with time, indicating spontaneous melanization and association with an observed lifespan reduction. Furthermore, knockdown of SRPN2 strongly interfered with the invasion of A. gambiae midguts by the rodent malaria parasite Plasmodium berghei. It did not affect ookinete formation, but markedly reduced oocyst numbers, by 97%, as a result of increased ookinete lysis and melanization.
tRNA‐balanced expression of a eukaryal aminoacyl‐tRNA synthetase by an mRNA‐mediated pathway
Authors: Frugier Magali , Ryckelynck Michaël , Giegé Richard
Published: August 2005

Aminoacylation of transfer RNAs is a key step during translation. It is catalysed by the aminoacyl‐tRNA synthetases (aaRSs) and requires the specific recognition of their cognate substrates, one or several tRNAs, ATP and the amino acid. Whereas the control of certain aaRS genes is well known in prokaryotes, little is known about the regulation of eukaryotic aaRS genes. Here, it is shown that expression of AspRS is regulated in yeast by a feedback mechanism that necessitates the binding of AspRS to its messenger RNA. This regulation leads to a synchronized expression of AspRS and tRNAAsp. The correlation between AspRS expression and mRNAAspRS and tRNAAsp concentrations, as well as the presence of AspRS in the nucleus, suggests an original regulation mechanism. It is proposed that the surplus of AspRS, not sequestered by tRNAAsp, is imported into the nucleus where it binds to mRNAAspRS and thus inhibits its accumulation.
Langevin dynamics of semiflexible polyelectrolytes: Rod-toroid–globule-coil structures and counterion distribution
Authors: Ou Zhaoyang , Muthukumar M.
Published: August 2005

We have investigated the nature of counterion condensation on uniformly charged semiflexible polyelectrolyte chains and the concomitant configurations by monitoring the role of chain stiffness, chain length, counterion valency, and the strength of electrostatic interaction. The counterion condensation is seen to follow the adsorption process and the effective polymer charge increases with chain stiffness. Size and shape, as calculated through the radius of gyration, effective persistence length, and hydrodynamic radius, are studied. Stable coil-like, globular, folded-chain, toroidal, and rodlike configurations are possible at suitable combinations of values of chain stiffness, chain length, electrostatic interaction strength, and the valency of counterion. For high strengths of electrostatic interactions, sufficiently stiff polyelectrolytes form toroids in the presence of multivalent counterions, whereas flexible polyelectrolytes form disordered globules. The kinetic features of the nucleation and growth of toroids are monitored. Several metastable structures are found to frustrate the formation of toroids. The generic pathway involves the nucleation of one primary loop somewhere along the chain contour, followed by a growth process where the rest of the chain is folded continuously on top of the primary loop. The dependence of the average radii of toroids on the chain length is found to be roughly linear, in disagreement with existing scaling arguments.
Soft x-ray spectroscopy of Ba24Ge100: Electronic phase transition and Ba-atom rattling
Authors: Rachi Takeshi , Kitajima Masaki , Kobayashi Kensuke , Guo FangZhun , Nakano Takehito , Ikemoto Yuka , Kobayashi Keisuke , Tanigaki Katsumi
Published: August 2005

The electronic states of Ba24Ge100 are studied by soft x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) at a high-energy photon factory. A large reduction in the density of states (DOS) at the Fermi level is clearly shown before and after the electronic phase transition at 200K. The changes in the spectrum widths and the fine structures of the core-level Ba 4d spectra give a very reasonable indication of the Ba-atom rattlings in the clathrate polyhedra. On-resonance experiments using the excitation from Ba 3d to 4f levels display that the wave functions of Ba 5d and 6s orbitals give only a small contribution to make a Fermi surface through the hybridization with the Ge20 cluster orbitals. Importantly, reliable values of the DOS at the Fermi level NEF are successfully deduced, using two data sets of DOS obtained from high-resolution XPS and the total magnetic susceptibilities by a superconducting quantum interference device, to be 0.149 and 0.0427stateseV−1(Geatom)−1 for a high-temperature and for a low-temperature phase.
New correlation factors for explicitly correlated electronic wave functions
Authors: Tew David P. , Klopper Wim
Published: August 2005

We have investigated the correlation factors exp(−ζr12), r12exp(−ζr12), erfc(ζr12), and r12erfc(ζr12) in place of the linear-r12 term for use in explicitly correlated electronic-structure methods. The accuracy obtained with all of these correlation factors is significantly greater than that obtained with the plain correlation factor r12. Polarization functions that are more diffuse than those of standard basis sets give even better results. The correlation factor exp(−ζr12) is very close to the optimum correlation factor for helium and outperforms the others.
Photon emission from a driven single-molecule source: A renormalization group approach
Authors: Rozhkov Igor , Barkai E.
Published: August 2005

The photon emission from a single molecule driven simultaneously by a laser and a slow electric radio frequency (rf) field is studied. We use a non-Hermitian Hamiltonian approach which accounts for the radiative decay of a two-level system modeling the single-molecule source. We apply the renormalization group method for differential equations to obtain long time solution of the corresponding Schrödinger equation, which allows us to calculate the average waiting time for the first photon emission. Then, we analyze the conditions for suppression and enhancement of photon emission in this dissipative two-level system. In particular we derive a transcendental equation, which yields the nontrivial rf field control parameters, for which enhancement and suppression of photon emission occurs. For finite values of radiative decay rate an abrupt transition to the state when both situations are indistinguishable is found for certain values of the rf field parameters. Our results are shown to be in agreement with the available experiments [Ch. Brunel et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 81, 2679 (1998)].
Ion-beam amorphization of semiconductors: A physical model based on the amorphous pocket population
Authors: Mok K. R. C. , Jaraiz M. , Martin-Bragado I. , Rubio J. E. , Castrillo P. , Pinacho R. , Barbolla J. , Srinivasan M. P.
Published: August 2005

We introduce a model for damage accumulation up to amorphization, based on the ion-implant damage structures commonly known as amorphous pockets. The model is able to reproduce the silicon amorphous-crystalline transition temperature for C, Si, and Ge ion implants. Its use as an analysis tool reveals an unexpected bimodal distribution of the defect population around a characteristic size, which is larger for heavier ions. The defect population is split in both size and composition, with small, pure interstitial and vacancy clusters below the characteristic size, and amorphous pockets with a balanced mixture of interstitials and vacancies beyond that size.
Investigation of the humidity effect on the electrical properties of single-walled carbon nanotube transistors
Authors: Na Pil Sun , Kim Hyojin , So Hye-Mi , Kong Ki-Jeong , Chang Hyunju , Ryu Beyong Hwan , Choi Youngmin , Lee Jeong-O , Kim Byoung-Kye , Kim Ju-Jin , Kim Jinhee
Published: August 2005

We investigated the effect of humidity on the electrical transport properties of single-walled carbon nanotube field effect transistors (SWNT-FETs). Water molecules are found to behave as electron donors to the nanotube: Current through the p-type carbon nanotube device is found to decrease under a modest humidity, and starts to increase as the humidity increases over 65%, which is believed to be due to the opening of electron channels. Through first principles calculations based on the density functional theory, we found that water molecules can donate electrons to the carbon nanotube. Moreover, a hydrogen-bonded water monolayer will be formed around the nanotube at fully covered conditions. We suggest that this result could provide a systematic understanding of the humidity effect on SWNT-FETs, which has been believed to be essential in the development of nanotube-based sensors.
Experimentally demonstrated filters based on guided resonance of photonic-crystal films
Authors: Lin Chunchen , Lu Zhaolin , Shi Shouyuan , Jin Ge , Prather Dennis W.
Published: August 2005

We demonstrate a guided resonance filter based on photonic crystals (PhCs), which are fabricated in a high-permittivity material. The resulting spectra from a three-dimensional analysis of the structure and experimental measurement results show sharp dips and flattop transmissions. These provide promising properties in constructing sensitive and compact wavelength-selective devices, such as wavelength-division multiplexers.
Silver halide single-mode fibers for the middle infrared
Authors: Shalem S. , Tsun A. , Rave E. , Millo A. , Nagli L. , Katzir A.
Published: August 2005

There is an interest in single-mode fibers that are highly transparent in the middle infrared. Such fibers would be valuable for spectroscopy, interferometry, fiber lasers, and heterodyne detection. We developed core-clad fibers made of crystalline silver halides, with external diameter 900 μm, small core diameters (50–60 μm) and an extremely small difference (∼0.004) between the indices of refraction of the core and the clad. These fibers behaved as single-mode fibers at the wavelength 10.6 μm.
Cytoplasmic SnoN in normal tissues and nonmalignant cells antagonizes TGF-β signaling by sequestration of the Smad proteins
Authors: Krakowski Ariel R. , Laboureau Julien , Mauviel Alain , Bissell Mina J. , Luo Kunxin
Published: August 2005

TGF-β is a ubiquitously expressed cytokine that signals through the Smad proteins to regulate many diverse cellular processes. SnoN is an important negative regulator of Smad signaling. It has been described as a nuclear protein, based on studies of ectopically expressed SnoN and endogenous SnoN in cancer cell lines. In the nucleus, SnoN binds to Smad2, Smad3, and Smad4 and represses their ability to activate transcription of TGF-β target genes through multiple mechanisms. Here, we show that, whereas SnoN is localized exclusively in the nucleus in cancer tissues or cells, in normal tissues and nontumorigenic or primary epithelial cells, SnoN is predominantly cytoplasmic. Upon morphological differentiation or cell-cycle arrest, SnoN translocates into the nucleus. In contrast to nuclear SnoN that represses the transcriptional activity of the Smad complexes, cytoplasmic SnoN antagonizes TGF-β signaling by sequestering the Smad proteins in the cytoplasm. Interestingly, cytoplasmic SnoN is resistant to TGF-β-induced degradation and therefore is more potent than nuclear SnoN in repressing TGF-β signaling. Thus, we have identified a mechanism of regulation of TGF-β signaling via differential subcellular localization of SnoN that is likely to produce different patterns of downstream TGF-β responses and may influence the proliferation or differentiation states of epithelial cells.
Framework for kernel regularization with application to protein clustering
Authors: Lu Fan , Keleş Sündüz , Wright Stephen J. , Wahba Grace
Published: August 2005

We develop and apply a previously undescribed framework that is designed to extract information in the form of a positive definite kernel matrix from possibly crude, noisy, incomplete, inconsistent dissimilarity information between pairs of objects, obtainable in a variety of contexts. Any positive definite kernel defines a consistent set of distances, and the fitted kernel provides a set of coordinates in Euclidean space that attempts to respect the information available while controlling for complexity of the kernel. The resulting set of coordinates is highly appropriate for visualization and as input to classification and clustering algorithms. The framework is formulated in terms of a class of optimization problems that can be solved efficiently by using modern convex cone programming software. The power of the method is illustrated in the context of protein clustering based on primary sequence data. An application to the globin family of proteins resulted in a readily visualizable 3D sequence space of globins, where several subfamilies and subgroupings consistent with the literature were easily identifiable.
Introduction
Authors: Crenshaw James L.
Published: August 2005

Psalms 77 and 104 present opposing worldviews: pessimism and optimism. Beliefs about reality are shaped by the circumstances of ordinary existence, which in turn become occasions for existential anxiety arising from moral, natural, and religious evil. Their consequences, suffering and death, evoke a defense of God in the pious. Theodicy, the impulse to defend a deity, who is believed to be both merciful and just in Exod 34:6–7, and its many manifestations is the subject of this book.
Alternative Gods
Authors: Crenshaw James L.
Published: August 2005

The polytheistic environment of ancient Israel offered a convenient response to evil’s persistence. Psalm 82 endorses this view of a pantheon of gods and points to its fundamental weakness, the inability of the gods to assure justice on earth. The indictment of these derelict deities by a single heavenly being, Elohim, marks the first truly revolutionary moment in biblical thought: the death of the gods and ensuing monotheism. Still, this revolution is not without a certain irony, for the remaining Elohim must be implored to establish justice.
Limited Power and Knowledge
Authors: Crenshaw James L.
Published: August 2005

The deity’s role in human affairs need not be determinative, for people are not automatons. To endow them with the dignity of self-expression, God is said to impose limits on his own power and knowledge. The onerous consequences of freedom gave birth to an axiom that the prophets Jeremiah and Ezekiel tried to defuse: “The parents have eaten sour grapes and the children’s teeth are sensitive.” Freedom implies the possibility of saying “no” to God, a rejection that contributed to divine pathos. The depth of God’s suffering is beautifully documented by Hosea and Third Isaiah.
Split Personality
Authors: Crenshaw James L.
Published: August 2005

The tension between justice and mercy within God gave rise to stories illustrating YHWH’s desire to let compassion prevail, although not always. Genesis 18–19 has Abraham plead with God to spare the innocents who lived in the doomed cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, and the prophet Joel appeals to God to extend the merciful attributes of Exod 34:6 to a devastated Judean populace. In contrast, a petulant Jonah objects when a merciful God spares a foreign city, Nineveh, and a greatly wronged prophet, Jeremiah, accuses YHWH of rape.
A Disciplinary Procedure
Authors: Crenshaw James L.
Published: August 2005

The necessity for parental discipline to instill virtue in children raises the possibility that God employs evil for similar purposes. This popular understanding of evil and the possibilities inherent to this approach to theodicy permeate the Bible and Deutero-canonical literature. Sirach 4:11–19 introduces a personification of divine wisdom as disciplinarian, while Wis Sol 11:15–12:27 stresses God’s measured and timely punishment of the wicked. Biblical precedent for such divine discipline is found in a liturgy of wasted opportunity in Amos 4:6–11 and in a poignant revelation of God’s pain in Hos 11:1–7.
Justice Deferred
Authors: Crenshaw James L.
Published: August 2005

In some ways, the most satisfying theodicy has been the promise of equitable adjustment in a future existence. This response to rampant injustice is the second major intellectual revolution in biblical literature. This hope is grounded in the intensity of religious devotion and belief that evil will not finally prevail. Originating in the myth about Enoch’s ascension, replicated by Elijah, this belief that God takes extraordinarily devout people into glory becomes more frequent in Psalms (49:16; 73:24) and late additions to the Bible (Isa 26:19; 53:8; Dan 12:2), especially in the Apocrypha and the Pseudepigrapha as a result of martyrdom (Wis Sol; 2 Macc 7). Belief in life beyond the grave that was distinct from the older shadowy existence in Sheol took two forms, immortality and resurrection, but strong resistance to this belief arose in Job 14:1–22, Ecclesiastes, and Sirach.
Introduction
Authors: Cooke Bernard , Macy Gary
Published: August 2005

Rituals perform many important functions. They facilitate everyday human interaction as well as symbolize and celebrate the most important values of individuals, communities, and nations. Symbols and rituals, including the use of language itself, actually construct the human world, and it is only through symbols that we perceive both the world and ourselves. The symbols and rituals of the society in which we are a part shape even our experience of reality.
Conclusion
Authors: Cooke Bernard , Macy Gary
Published: August 2005

Christians practice many other rituals and have many more symbols than those described as central in most books of ritual. Some of these popular rituals are introduced, including Quinceañera, the use of icons and statues, the Bible, sacred spaces (e.g., churches and shrines), pilgrimage, sacred clothes, and private prayer.
Rituals in the Christian Context
Authors: Cooke Bernard , Macy Gary
Published: August 2005

Christians have their own language for the rituals they use including the word “sacrament”, the Christian term for their most important rituals. This chapter explains the role that Jesus plays for Christians in their lives and in their rituals, and what Christians mean when they say that Jesus “saves” them. It explains how the Christian belief in the resurrection of Jesus and his continued presence in the community of Christians gives meaning to their ritual activity through what Christians term “grace”. Five elements present in all Christian rituals are introduced: hermeneutic of experience, maturation, presence, service, and friendship.
Rituals of Friendship
Authors: Cooke Bernard , Macy Gary
Published: August 2005

Friendship rituals help create the important relationships that give individuals self-worth and identity. In Christianity, the most important of these rituals is marriage. Marriage within Christianity can be understood as the clearest symbol of the selfless love of God for humans. This chapter details the history of marriage within Christianity, as well as the relations of marriage to the wedding ritual. An appendix explains the different Christian positions on the possibility of dissolving a Christian marriage through divorce or annulment.
Rituals for Healing, Suffering, Death
Authors: Cooke Bernard , Macy Gary
Published: August 2005

Jesus was perhaps best known as a healer. Christians have continued this ministry of Jesus in their long history, proving care for the sick, needy, and dying. They also pray over the sick, anoint them, accompany them in their final days, and offer comfort to those bereaved in the ritual of funerals. This chapter discusses the theology and history behind these practices.
Communion
Authors: Stewart Dianne M.
Published: August 2005

This concluding chapter considers the implications of studying African-Jamaican religiosity for theology and for African-derived religions. It suggests new directions for Caribbean theology that are consonant with the historical manifestations of Jamaica's African-derived religions and with the spiritual insights and ethical imperatives of broader African-Caribbean religions. It argues that African-derived religions are critical in shaping liberative perspectives in Caribbean theology. Some methodological insights and limitations of contemporary Caribbean, Black, Pan-African, womanist, and Latin American theologies are explored, particularly liberation theological approaches to indigenous religions, which seek to bring credibility to aspects of indigenous traditions as they have been incorporated into localized expressions of Christianity.
The Second Factor: Centering Focus
Authors: Kieckhefer Richard
Published: August 2005

In the classic sacramental tradition, the main focus is the altar, conceived as the place of eucharistic sacrifice. The history of the altar is discussed, with reference to the pagan temples and the early Christian house of worship at Dura Europos, in Syria, where the altar seems to have been a moveable table. The proliferation of altars in medieval churches is illustrated by Saint-Jacques in Perpignan, in France. The centrality of the pulpit in the classic evangelical tradition is traced to its origins—although the Castle Chapel at Torgau (an early example of Protestant church design) retains the altar and the pulpit as alternative foci. In the modern communal tradition of church design, which takes the congregation as the chief focus, liturgical furnishings tend to be relatively simple and are often moveable. Baptisteries, as secondary liturgical foci, are related in various ways to the overall design of a church.
The Third Factor: Aesthetic Impact
Authors: Kieckhefer Richard
Published: August 2005

There is broad consensus that churches should be places of beauty, but for different reasons. The aesthetic design of a church may be viewed as a way of signaling holiness--the presence of the holy (i.e., the divine) within the sacred (i.e., a cultural complex drawing upon sacred tradition and fostering a sacred community). The emphasis in the classic sacramental tradition on an interplay of transcendence and immanence—with creation of height, light, and volume that call attention to themselves and serve as sacred symbols—is illustrated by early descriptions (ekphraseis) of Hagia Sophia in Constantinople (Istanbul) An alternative conception of church aesthetics is found at Christ Church Lutheran in Minneapolis, where architectural forms are simple and subtle reminders of grace. A church by Julia Morgan serves as an example of architectural articulation. And the Thorncrown Chapel at Eureka Springs, Arkansas, illustrates the integration of church design with natural setting.