bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Markedly asymmetrical parkinsonism as a leading feature of adult‐onset Huntington's disease
Authors: Wang Shih‐Ching , Lee‐Chen Guey‐Jen , Wang Cheng‐Kung , Chen Chiung‐Mei , Tang Lok‐Ming , Wu Yih‐Ru
Published: April 2004

We report on a 28‐year‐old man who presented with right hand tremor, bradykinesia, and rigidity of his right side extremities. Our case report emphasizes that markedly asymmetrical parkinsonism can be an initial presentation of adult‐onset Huntington's disease (HD), and different clinical presentations can be observed in members of an individual HD family with the same CAG repeat length. © 2004 Movement Disorder Society
Refined linkage to the RDP/DYT12 locus on 19q13.2 and evaluation of GRIK5 as a candidate gene
Authors: Kamm Christoph , Leung Joanne , Joseph Soni , Dobyns William B. , Brashear Alison , Breakefield Xandra O. , Ozelius Laurie J.
Published: April 2004

By examining two previously described families with rapid‐onset dystonia parkinsonism, we have identified a key recombination event that places the disease locus (DYT12) into a 5.9 cM interval flanked by markers D19S224 and D19S900. Evaluation of a positional candidate gene, the glutamate receptor subunit GRIK5, revealed no mutations. © 2004 Movement Disorder Society
Evaluation of the role of Nurr1 in a large sample of familial Parkinson's disease
Authors: Nichols William C. , Uniacke Sean K. , Pankratz Nathan , Reed Terry , Simon David K. , Halter Cheryl , Rudolph Alice , Shults Clifford W. , Conneally P. Michael , Foroud Tatiana
Published: April 2004

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a common neurodegenerative disorder in humans with wide variability in the age of disease onset. Although the disease has been thought previously to occur sporadically in most patients, there is increasing evidence of a genetic contribution to the disorder. Recently, a polymorphic variant within intron 6 of the Nurr1 gene was reported to be associated with sporadic and familial PD. In an effort to identify susceptibility genes for PD, we have collected 783 PD patients from 372 families and 397 healthy controls from 217 families. PD patients and healthy controls were genotyped for the intron 6 insertion polymorphism byBseRI restriction endonuclease digestion. No significant difference in either homozygosity or heterozygosity for the 7048G7049 (IVS6 1361 +16insG) polymorphism was detected in the PD patient cohort as compared with the panel of healthy controls. Moreover, direct sequencing of exon 1 of the Nurr1 gene in PD patients failed to detect either of the two recently reported Nurr1 mutations identified in a small subset of a PD patient cohort. Taken together, these data suggest that genetic alteration at the Nurr1 locus is not a significant risk factor for the development of Parkinson's disease in our large sample of familial PD patients. © 2004 Movement Disorder Society
Preparation of chitosan‐plasmid DNA nanoparticles encoding zona pellucida glycoprotein‐3α and its expression in mouse
Authors: Sun Cai‐Jun , Pan Shan‐Pei , Xie Qi‐Xuan , Xiao Luan‐Juan
Published: April 2004

In the present study, the porcine zona pellucida (ZP)‐3α eukaryotic expression vector pVAX1‐pZP3α was constructed by genetic recombinant technology, then the recombinant plasmid was encapsulated in nanoparticles with chitosan, and the imaging of chitosan/pVAX1‐pZP3α nanoparticles by Atomic Force Microscope (AFM) was processed. Feeding mouse with those microencapsulation by gastric larvae, and after 5 days, detecting its expression in mouse intestine by RT‐PCR and indirect immunofluorescence (IIF). Results show that the porcine ZP‐3α eukaryotic expression vector pVAX1‐pZP3α had been constructed correctly, and the chitosan‐DNA expressing ZP microencapsulation was prepared successfully. After 5 days of feeding mouse, the transcription and expression of those DNA vaccines were found in mouse alvine chorion. The preparation of chitosan/pVAX1‐pZP3α plasmid DNA nanoparticles and its expression in mice will help to investigate the feasibility of ZP DNA vaccine to induce oviduct local mucosal immunity against ZP to block the fertilization without causing ovarian dysfunction, which will provide new ideas and ways for research and exploiting more effective, more convenient oral contraceptive vaccines. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 68: 182–188, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Detection of msj‐1 gene expression in the frog, Rana esculenta testis, brain, and spinal cord
Authors: Meccariello Rosaria , Cobellis Gilda , Scarpa Donatella , Fienga Giulia , Pierantoni Riccardo , Fasano Silvia
Published: April 2004

MSJ‐1 is member of the DnaJ/heat shock protein (Hsp) 40 chaperone protein family. It is present in mouse testis and spinal cord. In particular, MSJ‐1 is localized in post‐meiotic cells and in motoneurones of the ventral horns. To assess whether the role of this protein is evolutionarily conserved, we have investigated if msj‐1 gene is expressed in the frog, Rana esculenta. Using reverse transcription‐polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR), a msj‐1‐like transcript was detected in testis, brain, and spinal cord. Homology ranging from 42.3 to 46.0% was found as compared with the mammalian counterparts. Muscle did not show any signal. By Western blot analysis, a signal of the predicted size of 30 kDa was evidenced in testis, brain, and spinal cord but not in ovary, heart, liver, kidney, and muscle. MSJ‐1 fluctuations in the testis reveal that it appeared in concomitance with post‐meiotic events during the annual sexual cycle, as shown in a previous study. The protein is localized in spermatids and is still retained in mature spermatozoa, where it has perinuclear and centriolar localization. MSJ‐1 levels did not change in brain and spinal cord. Furthermore, in the brain MSJ‐1 was mainly present in diencephalon and mesencephalon, while in spinal cord MSJ‐1 was localized into several motoneurones of the cervical and thoracic tract. A putative role in vesicle trafficking is briefly discussed. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 68: 149–158, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Chromatin organization during spermiogenesis in Octopus vulgaris. I: Morphological structures
Authors: Ribes Enric , Giménez‐Bonafé Pepita , Martínez‐Soler Fina , Gonzalez Angel , Saperas Núria , Kasinsky Harold E. , Chiva Manel
Published: April 2004

In the process of the chromatin remodeling that occurs during spermiogenesis in some animal species, it is possible to distinguish between two separate aspects: the chromatin condensation pattern itself (granular, fibrillar, or lamellar), and the architecture of this pattern, that is to say, its arrangement within the nucleus. In the cephalopod Octopus vulgaris these two aspects are clearly differentiated. The condensation pattern develops from 25 nm fibers to fibers with a tubular aspect and with a progressively increasing diameter (40–60 nm and then to 80 nm), to end finally in the form of very thin fibers (3–5 nm) product of the coalescence and dissolution of the major fibers. The main directive force that governs this process lies in the global change that occurs in the proteins that interact with all (or the major part) of the genomic DNA. The condensation pattern by itself in this species does not present a fixed order: most of the fibers appear without any predominant spatial direction in the spermiogenic nuclei. However, as the nuclei elongate, the chromatin fibers arrange in parallel following the elongation axis. This parallel disposition of the chromatin fibers appears to be mediated by two specific areas, each of which we call a “polar nuclear matrix” (PNM). These matrices differentiate in the basal and apical nuclear poles adjacent to the centriolar implantation fosse and the acrosome, respectively. The areas that constitute the PNM have the following characteristics: (a) they are the only areas where DNA is found anchored to the nuclear membrane; (b) they are the zones from which the chromatin condensation pattern (fibers/tubules) begins; and (c) they are most probably the points through which the mechanical forces originating from nuclear elongation are transmitted to chromatin, causing the chromatin fibers/tubules to adopt an almost perfectly parallel disposition. Finally, we discuss the importance of the architecture of the chromatin condensation pattern, as it is one of the determining factors of the spatial organization of the mature sperm genome and chromosome positioning. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 68: 223–231, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Expression of mRNA of lipoprotein receptor related protein 8, low density lipoprotein receptor, and very low density lipoprotein receptor in bovine ovarian cells during follicular development and corpus luteum formation and regression
Authors: Argov Nurit , Sklan David
Published: April 2004

Lipoproteins in the plasma are the major source of cholesterol obtained by the ovarian theca and granulosa cells for steroidogenesis. In this study, we have identified mRNA expression in bovine theca and granulosa cells of two lipoprotein receptors, low density lipoprotein receptor (LDLr) and very low density lipoprotein receptor (VLDLr) in granulosa cells from small antral follicles through preovulatory follicles and in theca cells from large and medium sized antral follicles. In the corpus luteum (CL) both these receptors were found in the developing and differentiating stages whereas only mRNA for VLDLr was detected in the regression stage. This study also described for the first time, the presence of lipoprotein receptor related protein (LRP8) in granulosa cells from small antral follicles through preovulatory follicles and in theca cells from large and medium sized antral follicles. This may indicate a role of LRP8 in cholesterol delivery to steriodogenic cells. LRP8 was not detected in any of the CL stages. The roles of the LDLr superfamily in lipid transport to ovarian cells and its participation in follicular and CL development and regression is discussed. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 68: 169–175, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Embryo outcome in Y‐chromosome microdeleted infertile males after ICSI
Authors: Kihaile Paul E. , Kisanga Ramzy E. , Aoki Kazuo , Kumasako Yoko , Misumi Junichi , Utsunomiya Takafumi
Published: April 2004

A prospective study involving 118 infertile Japanese couples to assess the embryo outcomes in both azoospermic and oligoasthenoteratoazoospermic (OAT) patients with Y‐chromosome microdeletion. The men were divided into two groups; azoospermia (n = 27), and OAT, sperm concentration <5 × 106/ml (n = 91). They were investigated for Y‐chromosome microdeletions by a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of the Y‐chromosome‐specific sequence tag site (STS). The embryo outcomes of patients found to have Y‐microdeletion were determined. The frequency of microdeletion was 8.8% (9) and two had microdeletions distal to DAZ. The mean fertilization rate and the cleavage rate in the eight cycles of both azoospermic and oligospermic patients were 59.3 and 87.5%, respectively. The percentages of grade 1 & 2 embryos, ≥6 cells embryos, and blastocyts were 51.7, 65.6, and 45.3%, respectively. Three pregnancies resulted from the eight cycles (37.5%). Conclusion: in Y‐chromosome microdeletion cycles in which sperm cells were available for intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), embryo outcome was comparable to conventional IVF. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 68: 176–181, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Tonotopic gradients of Eph family proteins in the chick nucleus laminaris during synaptogenesis
Authors: Person Abigail L. , Pat Cerretti Douglas , Pasquale Elena B. , Rubel Edwin W. , Cramer Karina S.
Published: April 2004

Topographically precise projections are established early in neural development. One such topographically organized network is the auditory brainstem. In the chick, the auditory nerve transmits auditory information from the cochlea to nucleus magnocellularis (NM). NM in turn innervates nucleus laminaris (NL) bilaterally. These projections preserve the tonotopy established at the level of the cochlea. We have begun to examine the expression of Eph family proteins during the formation of these connections. Optical density measurements were used to describe gradients of Eph proteins along the tonotopic axis of NL in the neuropil, the somata, and the NM axons innervating NL at embryonic day 10, when synaptic connections from NM to NL are established. At E10–11, NL dorsal neuropil expresses EphA4 at a higher concentration in regions encoding high frequency sounds, decreasing in concentration monotonically toward the low frequency (caudolateral) end. In the somata, both EphA4 and ephrin‐B2 are concentrated at the high frequency end of the nucleus. These tonotopic gradients disappear between E13 and E15, and expression of these molecules is completely downregulated by hatching. The E10–11 patterns run counter to an apparent gradient in dendrite density, as indicated by microtubule associated protein 2 (MAP2) immunolabeling. Finally, ephrin‐B2 is also expressed in a gradient in tissue ventral to the NL neuropil. Our findings thus suggest a possible conserved mechanism for establishing topographic projections in diverse sensory systems. These results of this study provide a basis for the functional examination of the role of Eph proteins in the formation of tonotopic maps in the brainstem. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Neurobiol 60: 28–39, 2004
Nicotine decreases agrin signaling and acetylcholine receptor clustering in C2C12 myotube culture
Authors: Ferayorni Angelique J. , Gunville Cameron F. , Grow Wade A.
Published: April 2004

The clustering of acetylcholine receptors (AChRs) in skeletal muscle fibers is a critical event in neuromuscular synaptogenesis. AChRs in concert with other molecules form postsynaptic scaffolds in response to agrin released from motor neurons as motor neurons near skeletal muscle fibers in development. Agrin drives an intracellular signaling pathway that precedes AChR clustering and includes the tyrosine phosphorylation of AChRs. In C2C12 myotube culture, agrin application stimulates the agrin signaling pathway and AChR clustering. Previous studies have determined that the frequency of spontaneous AChR clustering is decreased and AChRs are partially inactivated when bound by the acetylcholine agonist nicotine. We hypothesized that nicotine interferes with AChR clustering and consequent postsynaptic scaffold formation. In the present study, C2C12 myoblasts were cultured with growth medium to stimulate proliferation and then differentiation medium to stimulate fusion into myotubes. They were bathed in a physiologically relevant concentration of nicotine and then subject to agrin treatment after myotube formation. Our results demonstrate that nicotine decreases agrin‐induced tyrosine phosphorylation of AChRs and decreases the frequency of spontaneous as well as agrin‐induced AChR clustering. We conclude that nicotine interferes with postsynaptic scaffold formation by preventing the tyrosine phosphorylation of AChRs, an agrin signaling event that precedes AChR clustering. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Neurobiol 60: 51–60, 2004
Thrombopoietin receptor (Mpl) expression by megakaryocytes in myeloproliferative disorders
Authors: Bock Oliver , Schlué Jerome , Mengel Michael , Büsche Guntram , Serinsöz Ebru , Kreipe Hans
Published: April 2004

The thrombopoietin receptor (Mpl) is involved in the pathogenesis of chronic myeloproliferative disorders (CMPD). In this study, we determined Mpl expression by bone marrow cells and megakaryocytes in CMPD by applying laser microdissection, real‐time RT‐PCR, and immunohistochemistry. Mpl mRNA expression was significantly increased up to 9‐fold in total bone marrow cells (p < 0.001) and up to 4‐fold in megakaryocytes in chronic myeloproliferative disorders (n = 73) compared to normal controls (n = 26, p = 0.01). Immunohistochemistry revealed heterogeneous Mpl expression by megakaryocytes in CMPD with a stronger accentuation in idiopathic myelofibrosis (IMF) in comparison to polycythaemia vera (PV) and essential thrombocythemia (ET). In addition to megakaryocytes, the erythropoietic lineage was prominently labelled by Mpl antiserum, with considerably stronger staining in polycythaemia vera. We conclude that, in CMPD, megakaryocytes and erythroid cells exhibit increased Mpl expression levels which may contribute to the sustained proliferation of both cell lineages in CMPD. Copyright © 2004 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Comprehensive study of polymer fiber surface modifications Part 1: high‐fluence UV‐excimer‐laser‐induced structures
Authors: Yip Joanne , Chan Kwong , Sin Kwan Moon , Lau Kai Shui
Published: April 2004

Recently, there has been great interest in physico‐chemical surface treatments for modifying polymer surfaces. Ultraviolet (UV)‐excimer‐laser irradiation of polymers is of particular interest. In this study, polyamide was irradiated by a 193 nm excimer laser with a fluence above its ablation threshold (high‐fluence). Morphological changes of the resulting samples were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and tapping mode atomic force microscopy (TM‐AFM). Chemical modifications by laser treatment were studied by X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), time‐of‐flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF‐SIMS) and chemical force microscopy (CFM). Topographical results indicated that ‘ripple‐like’ structures of micrometer size were formed after laser irradiation. XPS and Tof‐SIMS results showed that bond scission occurred on the polymer surface under the action of high‐fluence. Changes in surface chemical properties of the laser‐irradiated polyamide were supported by CFM experiments. Copyright © 2004 Society of Chemical Industry
Comparison of TiO2and other dielectric coatings for buried‐contact solar cells: a review
Authors: Richards B. S.
Published: April 2004

This paper compares the optical, electronic, physical and chemical properties of dielectric thin films that are commonly used to enhance the performance of bulk silicon photovoltaic devices. The standard buried‐contact (BC) solar cell presents a particularly challenging set of criteria, requiring the dielectric film to act as: (i) an anti‐reflection (AR) coating; (ii) a film compatible with surface passivation; (iii) a mask for an electroless metal plating step; (iv) a diffusion barrier for achieving a selective emitter; (v) a film with excellent chemical resistance; (vi) a stable layer during high‐temperature processing. The dielectric coatings reviewed here include thermally grown silicon dioxide (SiO2), silicon nitride deposited by plasma‐enhanced chemical vapour deposition (a‐SiNx:H) and low‐pressure chemical vapour deposition (Si3N4), silicon oxynitride (SiON), cerium dioxide (CeO2), zinc sulphide (ZnS), and titanium dioxide (TiO2).

While TiO2dielectric coatings exhibit the best optical performance and a simple post‐deposition surface passivation sequence has been developed, they require an additional sacrificial diffusion barrier to survive the heavy groove diffusion step. A‐SiNx:H affords passivation through its high fixed positive charge density and large hydrogen concentration; however, it is difficult to retain these electronic benefits during lengthy high‐temperature processing. Therefore, for the BC solar cell, Si3N4films would appear to be the best choice of dielectric films common in industrial use. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Conversion of commercial si solar cells to keep their efficient performance at 15 suns
Authors: Coello J. , Castro M. , Antón I. , Sala G. , Vázquez M. A.
Published: April 2004

The screen‐printing method is an economical metallization technique used by most manufacturers of conventional silicon solar cells. This method limits the cells' use under concentrated light owing to high series resistance losses caused, among other reasons, by low metal density in the fingers. This paper describes increasing the finger metal density by electrolytic deposition. The electrolytic deposition of silver is an economical, controllable and readily commercializable deposition method to reduce the front and back metallization series resistance contributions. With an optimized grid design, compatible with 1 sun silicon cell technology, and later electrolytic silver deposition we have obtained cells that maintain their efficiency up to 15 suns. In addition, an analysis of the performance of these cells under uniform and non‐uniform illumination were carried out on n+p and n+pn+ structures. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Gambling with your life: The process of breast cancer treatment decision making in Chinese women
Authors: Lam Wendy WT , Fielding Richard , Chan Miranda , Chow Louis , Or Amy
Published: April 2004

Treatment decision making (TDM) studies have primarily focused on assessing TDM quality and predominantly presume rational analytic processes as the gold standard. In a grounded theory study of 22 Hong Kong Chinese women following breast surgery who completed an in‐depth interview exploring the process of TDM in breast cancer (BC), narrative data showed that discovery of a breast abnormality and emotional responses to BC diagnosis influence the TDM process. Lack of guidance from surgeons impaired TDM. Decisions were, for the most part, made using intuitive, pragmatic and emotionally driven criteria in the absence of complete information. The experience of TDM, which was likened to gambling, did not end once the decision was made but unfolded while waiting for surgery and the post‐operative report. In this waiting period, women were emotionally overwhelmed by fear of death and the uncertainty of the surgical outcome, and equivocated over whether they had made the ‘right’ choice. This suggests that Chinese women feel they are gambling with their lives during TDM. These women are particularly emotionally vulnerable whilst waiting for their surgery and the post‐surgical clinical pathology results. Providing emotional support is particularly important at this time when these women are overwhelmed by uncertainty. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Does a symptom management intervention affect depression among cancer patients: Results from a clinical trial
Authors: Given Charles , Given Barbara , Rahbar Mohammad , Jeon Sangchoon , McCorkle Ruth , Cimprich Bernadine , Galecki Andrez , Kozachik Sharon , Devoss Danielle , Brady Albert , Fisher‐Malloy Mary Jo , Courtney Kathy , Bowie Elizabeth
Published: April 2004

Cancer patients diagnosed with solid tumors and undergoing a first course of chemotherapy were randomized to either conventional care or a 10 contact 20 week cognitive behavioral intervention designed to reduce emotional distress. Three hypotheses were tested. First, a test for a group effect found that patients in the intervention who entered the trial with higher symptom severity reported significantly lower depression at 10 but not 20 weeks. Patients in the experimental group who entered with higher depression were more depressed at 10 weeks than patients in the control group. The second hypothesis compared the intervention in two sub‐indices of symptom severity; one comprised of symptoms with a depressive component, the other of symptoms not associated with depression. The intervention was more effective in lowering depression at 10 weeks through an interaction with the non‐depressive symptom sub‐index. At 20 weeks, a significant main effect for the intervention on depression was observed. No interaction with either sub‐index was observed. The third hypothesis found no main or interaction effect between psychotropic drugs and the intervention. In conclusion, behavioral interventions may influence depression differently over time. Initially, the intervention lowered depression through certain symptoms and only later did it effect depression directly. Symptoms with an affective component are relatively unaffected by the intervention which was independent of the presence of psychotropic medications. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Quality of life in patients who survive a dire prognosis compared to control cancer survivors
Authors: Gotay Carolyn Cook , Isaacs Patti , Pagano Ian
Published: April 2004

The primary goal of this study was to describe well‐being and its correlates in long‐term cancer survivors who had exceeded their life expectancies (‘exceptional survivors’ (ES)) and to identify ways in which exceptional survivors differed from cancer survivors with much better prognoses (‘control survivors’ (CS)). Survivors were identified through a population‐based tumor registry, and ES (n= 160) were matched to CS (n= 160) on age, ethnicity, site of disease, and time since diagnosis. Data were collected through in person interviews and self‐administered questionnaires. Outcomes included quality of life, depression, and stress. Predictors included demographics, clinical variables and psychological predictors (sense of coherence, optimism, and resiliency). The findings led to several clear conclusions: (1) cancer survivors are doing well, in comparison to well‐being in control populations; (2) cancer survivors exhibit higher levels of sense of coherence and resilience, but not optimism, than control populations; (3) psychological variables explain considerable variance in well‐being; and (4) there are few differences between exceptional and control survivors. We conclude that objective disease state is not as important to cancer survivor well‐being as personal attributes, and that a cancer diagnosis has such frightening implications that all survivors consider their recovery to be ‘exceptional.’. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Numerical simulation of the impacts of climate warming on a permafrost mound
Authors: Buteau Sylvie , Fortier Richard , Delisle Georg , Allard Michel
Published: April 2004

A finite‐element, one‐dimensional, heat conduction model, which takes thaw settlement into account following drainage of excess water produced by the melt of ice lenses at the permafrost boundaries, is used to assess the thermal response of a permafrost mound in Northern Québec to different scenarios of climate warming. In addition to the cryostratigraphy of the mound, the unfrozen water content, thermal conductivity and volumetric heat capacity of the marine sediments comprising the mound were integrated in the simulation.

Warming rates from 0.03 to 0.01°C/year are predicted in the mound for a gradual linear increase in mean annual air temperature of 0.05°C/year over a 100 year period. Downward thawing occurs at the permafrost table at rates of 1–13 cm/year but there is also upward thawing from the permafrost base at rates of 2.4–5.8 cm/year. The thermal response of permafrost is not linear with time. At the end of the 100 year period, thaw settlement predicted was 1.4 m and the active layer was 3.22 m thick over a talik of 1.46 m thick. This is in comparison to an active layer of 2.14 m thick over a talik of 1.86 m if thaw settlement is not considered in the simulation. Thaw settlement, the direct result of ice melting in permafrost, brings permafrost nearer to the surface and accelerates its thawing. It should be included in any numerical simulation. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Stratigraphic and environmental implications of a large ice‐wedge cast at Tjæreborg, Denmark
Authors: Kolstrup Else
Published: April 2004

Exceptionally large ice‐wedge casts and composite‐wedge casts occur together with involutions (cryoturbations) in a gravel pit near Tjæreborg, western Jutland. The filling reveals distinctly different, vertically‐orientated sedimentary units, suggesting discrete events. Variations in wedge structure and infill between the different exposures suggest differences with alternating pools and drier conditions over the former wedges. In an attempt to date and correlate crack development a perusal of local glacial history is given and optically‐stimulated‐luminescence (OSL) dates are presented. A review of Saalian and early Weichselian wedge casts and deep involutions in other areas in northwest Europe is provided for correlation. It is suggested that the cracking in Tjæreborg took place during the Saale or/and early Weichselian. The existence of such old wedges shows that the present land surface has probably existed since the Saalian, leaving the ground available for cracking and infilling during succeeding periods of permafrost. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Field theory on a non‐commutative plane: a non‐perturbative study
Authors: Hofheinz F.
Published: April 2004

The 2d gauge theory on the lattice is equivalent to the twisted Eguchi–Kawai model, which we simulated at N ranging from 25 to 515. We observe a clear large N scaling for the 1‐ and 2‐point function of Wilson loops, as well as the 2‐point function of Polyakov lines. The 2‐point functions agree with a universal wave function renormalization. The large N double scaling limit corresponds to the continuum limit of non‐commutative gauge theory, so the observed large N scaling demonstrates the non‐perturbative renormalizability of this non‐commutative field theory. The area law for the Wilson loops holds at small physical area as in commutative 2d planar gauge theory, but at large areas we find an oscillating behavior instead. In that regime the phase of the Wilson loop grows linearly with the area. This agrees with the Aharonov‐Bohm effect in the presence of a constant magnetic field, identified with the inverse non‐commutativity parameter. Next we investigate the 3d λϕ4 model with two non‐commutative coordinates and explore its phase diagram. Our results agree with a conjecture by Gubser and Sondhi in d = 4, who predicted that the ordered regime splits into a uniform phase and a phase dominated by stripe patterns. We further present results for the correlators and the dispersion relation. In non‐commutative field theory the Lorentz invariance is explicitly broken, which leads to a deformation of the dispersion relation. In one loop perturbation theory this deformation involves an additional infrared divergent term. Our data agree with this perturbative result. We also confirm the recent observation by Ambjø rn and Catterall that stripes occur even in d = 2, although they imply the spontaneous breaking of the translation symmetry.
Nitroprusside stimulates mitochondrial aconitase gene expression through the cyclic adenosine 3′,5′‐monosphosphate signal transduction pathway in human prostate carcinoma cells
Authors: Juang Horng‐Heng
Published: April 2004

BACKGROUGD

Mitochondrial aconitase (mACON), an iron‐requiring enzyme, is a major target of nitric oxide (NO) in cells, which causes the oxidant‐mediated disruption of the [4Fe‐4S] prosthetic group of the enzyme. In this study, the effect of NO on mACON enzymatic activity and gene expression were investigated.

MEHTODS

Three NO generators, sodium nitroprusside (SNP), S‐nitoso‐N‐acetylpenicillamine (SNAP), and 3‐morpholinosydnonimine (SIN) were used to determine the regulation of mACON enzymatic activity by NO. The effect of SNP on mACON, which modulates citrate secretion and cellular bioenergetics in PC‐3 cells, was investigated by determining the effect of SNP on mACON gene expression using Western blot and transient gene expression assays.

RESULTS

SNP upregulated mACON enzymatic activity and gene expression in PC‐3 cells. However, treating cells with other NO generators, SNAP and SIN, resulted in decreased mACON enzymatic activity. The addition of ascorbic acid to the SNP treatment resulted in a decrease in mACON enzymatic activity and gene expression. Our results showed that both SNP and dibutyryl‐cAMP increased the mACON promoter activity 2‐fold while the effect was blocked by adding H‐89. Mutation of the cAMP response element (CRE) to the AGAGCT abolished the activating effects of SNP and dibutyryl‐cAMP on mACON promoter activity.

CONCLUSIONS

These results establish the function of nitroprusside as a signaling molecule for mACON gene expression through the cAMP signal transduction pathway in human prostatic carcinoma cells. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Survivorship, tunneling and feeding behaviors of Coptotermes formosanus (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae) in response to 2′‐acetonaphthone‐treated sand
Authors: Ibrahim Sanaa A , Henderson Gregg , Fei Huixin , Laine Roger A
Published: April 2004

In laboratory tests, 2′‐acetonaphthone was incorporated into sand at different concentrations (4.16–200 mg kg−1) and evaluated for survivorship, feeding and tunneling effects on the Formosan subterranean termite, Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki. 2′‐Acetonaphthone at 8.33 mg kg−1 sand significantly reduced survivorship (89–94%), tunnel area (68–91%) and food consumption (84–100%) compared with the control. Most of the dead workers were found at the release point and a few had traveled to the surface of the treated sand. Malformed workers (≤27%) with an unexpected symptom of molting failure were observed, particularly at the lowest concentration tested (4.16 mg kg−1). In choice assays, threshold concentration for significant reduction in survivorship, tunnel construction in treated sand and food consumption in the treated‐sand side was 8.33 mg kg−1 with termites collected from New Orleans, LA and 35.0 mg kg−1 for those from Lake Charles, LA. Termites actively fed and tunneled in the untreated sand, whereas 2′‐acetonaphthone at 140 mg kg−1 completely inhibited consumption of food placed on the treated sand. Copyright © 2004 Society of Chemical Industry
Genetics of spinosad resistance in a multi‐resistant field‐selected population of Plutella xylostella
Authors: Sayyed Ali H , Omar Dzolkhifli , Wright Denis J
Published: April 2004

Resistance to the bacteria‐derived insecticides spinosad (Conserve), abamectin (Vertimec), Bacillus thuringiensis var kurstaki (Btk) (Dipel), B thuringiensis var aizawai (Bta) (Xentari), B thuringiensis crystal endotoxins Cry1Ac and Cry1Ca, and to the synthetic insecticide fipronil was estimated in a freshly‐collected field population (CH1 strain) of Plutella xylostella (L) from the Cameron Highlands, Malaysia. Laboratory bioassays at G1 indicated significant levels of resistance to spinosad, abamectin, Cry1Ac, Btk, Cry1Ca, fipronil and Bta when compared with a laboratory insecticide‐susceptible population. Logit regression analysis of F1 reciprocal crosses indicated that resistance to spinosad in the CH1 population was inherited as a co‐dominant trait. At the highest dose of spinosad tested, resistance was close to completely recessive, while at the lowest dose it was incompletely dominant. A direct test of monogenic inheritance based on a back‐cross of F1 progeny with CH1 suggested that resistance to spinosad was controlled by a single locus. Copyright © 2004 Society of Chemical Industry
Pesticide residues on the external surfaces of field‐crop sprayers: environmental impact
Authors: Ramwell Carmel T , Johnson Paul D , Boxall Alistair BA , Rimmer Duncan A
Published: April 2004

There is increased awareness of the need to clean the external surfaces of sprayers, but the extent to which the washings may impact on the environment is not known. Quantification of the levels of external residues on sprayers could give an indication of the potential environmental impact of sprayer cleaning. The presence of azoxystrobin, carbendazim, chlorothalonil, cyanazine, cypermethrin, epoxiconazole, flusilazole, isoproturon, kresoxim‐methyl, metazachlor, pendimethalin, pirimicarb and tebuconazole on thirteen sprayers, sampled on two occasions was investigated. Composite samples were taken from the boom, nozzles and spray tank (delivery system) and the mudguard, cab door, rear window and windscreen (tractor body). Despite being subject to some form of cleaning, pesticides were detected on all sprayers. Residues were found at higher quantities and with greater frequency on the nozzles and booms, but the mean dose on the spray tank was equal to that on the mudguard (7.2 mg m−2). Isoproturon, pendimethalin, metazachlor, chlorothalonil and azoxystrobin were all detected above 1000 mg m−2 on the delivery system, whereas on the tractor body the highest concentrations were between 100 and 1000 mg m−2 (isoproturon, pendimethalin, chlorothalonil and carbendazim). On the whole, azoxystrobin was detected on the least number of occasions. However, there was great variation within and between compounds and sampling sites. Generally sprayers were not cleaned frequently or efficiently, enabling residues to accumulate on the external surfaces where they can remain for years. The findings here indicate that the quantity of these residues may be sufficient to be harmful to aquatic organisms should the residues enter a watercourse. In addition, if all the residues were removed by cleaning in the field and the washings catchment area was 15 m2 or less, overdosing could occur. Further work is required to assess whether a more frequent cleaning regime would reduce the overall environmental impact of cleaning sprayers. Implications for potential occupational exposure are considered elsewhere. Copyright © British Crown copyright 2004. Reproduced with the permission of Her Majesty's Stationery Office.
Assessing the use of δ13C natural abundance in separation of root and microbial respiration in a Danish beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) forest
Authors: Formánek Pavel , Ambus Per
Published: April 2004

Our understanding of forest biosphere–atmosphere interactions is fundamental for predicting forest ecosystem responses to climatic changes. Currently, however, our knowledge is incomplete partly due to inability to separate the major components of soil CO2 effluxes, viz. root respiration, microbial decomposition of soil organic matter and microbial decomposition of litter material. In this study we examined whether the δ13C characteristics of solid organic matter and respired CO2 from different soil‐C components and root respiration in a Danish beech forest were useful to provide information on the root respiration contribution to total CO2 effluxes. The δ13C isotopic analyses of CO2 were performed using a FinniganMAT DeltaPLUS isotope‐ratio mass spectrometer coupled in continuous flow mode to a trace gas preparation‐concentration unit (PreCon). Gas samples in 2‐mL crimp seal vials were analysed in a fully automatic mode with an experimental standard error ±0.11‰. We observed that the CO2 derived from root‐free mineral soil horizons (A, BW) was more enriched in 13C (δ13C range −21.6 to −21.2‰) compared with CO2 derived from root‐free humus layers (δ13C range −23.6 to −23.4‰). The CO2 evolved from root respiration in isolated young beech plants revealed a value intermediate between those for the soil humus and mineral horizons, δ13Croot = −22.2‰, but was associated with great variability (SE ± 1.0‰) due to plant‐specific differences. δ13C of CO2 from in situ below‐ground respiration averaged −22.8‰, intermediate between the values for the humus layer and root respiration, but variability was great (SE ± 0.4‰) due to pronounced spatial patterns. Overall, we were unable to statistically separate the CO2 of root respiration vs. soil organic matter decomposition based solely on δ13C signatures, yet the trend in the data suggests that root respiration contributed ∼43% to total respiration. The vertical gradient in δ13C, however, might be a useful tool in partitioning respiration in different soil layers. The experiment also showed an unexpected 13C‐enrichment of CO2 (>3.5‰) compared with the total‐C signatures in the individual soil‐C components. This may suggest that analyses of bulk samples are not representative for the C‐pools actively undergoing decomposition. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Isotopic (13C) analysis of dissolved organic carbon in stream water using an elemental analyzer coupled to a stable isotope ratio mass spectrometer
Authors: Gandhi H. , Wiegner T. N. , Ostrom P. H. , Kaplan L. A. , Ostrom N. E.
Published: April 2004

A technique for measurement of the stable isotope composition of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) in stream water, using an elemental analyzer (EA) coupled to an isotope ratio mass spectrometer (IRMS), is described. Stream water samples were concentrated by rotary evaporation, acidified to remove dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC), and dried in silver cups prior to analysis. Precision was evaluated with standards (alanine and humic acid), and with stream water samples with varying 13C enrichment. Standards and samples were also prepared in sealed quartz tubes for high‐temperature combustion (HTC) and analyzed by dual inlet for comparison. The δ13C values of natural abundance standards and samples measured by the two techniques differed by ≤0.3‰. Isotopically enriched stream water samples analyzed using the EA and HTC methods had comparable δ13C and atom % values (differed by ≤6%). Expensive quartz vessels and the extensive time required for sample lyophilization, combustion and cryogenic separation of combustion products before isotopic analysis for the HTC method are eliminated with the EA method. Overall, the EA method is simpler, faster, and more economical than the HTC method, and it can be used for 13C‐enriched as well as natural abundance samples. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Online learning of a simple perceptron learning with margin
Authors: Hara Kazuyuki , Okada Masato
Published: April 2004

The authors analyze the dynamics of online learning in a simple perceptron using a Gardner‐style margin. The proposed method matches the perceptron rules for a margin of κ = 0 and the Hebb rules when κ → ∞. The results of analysis show that the generalization error is smaller than that of the perceptron rules and the Hebb rules during initial learning even though the proposed method is in between these two sets of learning rules. In addition, the authors show that the generalization error for the proposed method matches that of the perceptron rules in terms of asymptotic characteristics. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Syst Comp Jpn, 35(7): 98–105, 2004; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/scj.10473
Feature extraction of finger vein patterns based on iterative line tracking and its application to personal identification
Authors: Miura Naoto , Nagasaka Akio , Miyatake Takafumi
Published: April 2004

The research group of which the authors are members has proposed a scheme based on finger vein patterns as a scheme of biometric identification utilizing biological information. Since the finger vein images taken to obtain finger vein patterns are obtained by irradiating the fingers with infrared rays, fluctuations in brightness due to variations in the light power or the thickness of the finger occur. This paper proposes a scheme for extracting global finger vein patterns by iteratively tracking local lines from various positions to robustly extract finger vein patterns from such unclear images. The proposed scheme is robust against brightness fluctuations as compared with the conventional feature extraction schemes and the results of evaluating the proposed scheme by applying it to a personal identification system showed an effective error rate of 0.145%. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Syst Comp Jpn, 35(7): 61–71, 2004; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/scj.10596
A robust method for recognition of monetary amount printed by checkwriter
Authors: Koga Masashi , Mine Ryuji , Yasue Tsukasa , Sako Hiroshi , Fujisawa Hiromichi
Published: April 2004

We propose a new method to recognize monetary amounts printed by checkwriters. We applied a character segmentation method robust to noise and a bottom‐up parsing for postprocessing. In the proposed method, the input image is segmented both horizontally and vertically in the presegmentation step. A context‐free grammar describes the linguistic constraints in the monetary amounts. We devised a new bottom‐up parsing technique that interprets the results of character classification. We tested the validity of the new method using 1314 images. The correct ratio was 72.7%, which is 8.4 points higher than that of the conventional method. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Syst Comp Jpn, 35(7): 49–60, 2004; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/scj.10616
Gradual probabilistic DFA learning with caching for conversational agents
Authors: Okamoto Masayuki
Published: April 2004

This paper proposes a method of reducing the cost of gradually constructing task‐oriented conversational agents with FSMs by collecting example dialogues. Probabilistic‐DFA learning algorithms with the state merging method are available for the FSM‐based dialogue model. However, these algorithms must learn the whole model again as often as the example data increase.

We proposed a learning technique which decreases the recomputation cost by caching the history of the state merging process. Simulation and actual use of a conversational agent with 110 tour‐guide dialogues showed that the method which recomputes only compatibility‐changed states reduced the total compatibility‐checking cost by 33.0% without significantly changing the quality of learned models. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Syst Comp Jpn, 35(7): 24–32, 2004; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/scj.10653
Comparisons of genetic algorithms for timetabling problems
Authors: Ueda Hiroaki , Ouchi Daisuke , Takahashi Kenichi , Miyahara Tetsuhiro
Published: April 2004

We compare genetic algorithms (GA) that solve timetabling problems for universities. Here, we define a timetabling problem as that of finding both a class schedule and room allocation that do not conflict with any constraints. We have already proposed the TGA, which evolves two kinds of genotypes, one related to class scheduling, the other related to room allocation. However, TGA has not been applied to many kinds of problems and it has not been compared with other methods. Here, we present four kinds of genetic algorithms, TGA, STGA, SGA, and SGA2. TGA and STGA use the two kinds of genotypes mentioned above. TGA evolves these genotypes alternately, while STGA evolves those sequentially. SGA and SGA2 are based on the simple GA that uses one genotype. SGA evolves a population to find feasible class scheduling and room allocation, while SGA2 evolves a population to find only a feasible class schedule for which feasible room allocation is possible. These algorithms are implemented and we apply these methods to several timetabling problems generated by an automatic timetabling problem generator. We also implement two methods, SA and TS; experiments by those methods have been performed, where SA is a method based on simulated annealing and TS is a method based on Tabu search. The experimental results show that SGA2 finds feasible solutions for almost all problems, and TGA finds feasible solutions when the average number of subjects per class is high. In addition, STGA finds a feasible solution when the problem has many classes, and SA finds feasible solutions when the number of classes is small and it has many constraints and requests. 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Syst Comp Jpn, 35(7): 1–12, 2004; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/scj.10682
Foreign investment in Russia and China: A long way to go, but reason for optimism
Authors: Clark Eugene
Published: April 2004

D. LeBaron, with D. Carpenter. 2002. Mao, Marx, and the Market: Capitalist Adventures in Russia and
China. New York: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 303 pages; ISBN:
0‐471‐15315‐X.

B. Granville & P. Oppenheimer (Eds.). 2001. Russia's Post‐Communist
Economy. Oxford, England: University Press. 538 pages; ISBN
0‐19‐829525‐1.

H. Fung & K.H. Zhang (Eds.). 2002. Financial Markets and Foreign Direct Investment in
Greater China. New York: M.E. Sharpe, Inc. 302 pages; ISBN:
0‐7656‐0804‐9.