bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Food and beverage management
Authors: Riley Michael
Published: February 2005

Purpose

The paper is a reflection on the changes that have taken place in the area of food and beverage and serves as a reminder that it is still one of the most complex activities within the area of hospitality.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper highlights major changes, with particular emphasis on marketing and the rising influence of design. However, the basic argument is that the changes that have taken place during the last two decades are essentially add‐ons to the basic activities of the function: very little has fallen away. In other words, although technological advances, particularly in the kitchen, and the invasion of modern business techniques, such as branding and business process engineering, have brought new activities, the need for the traditional knowledge and skills remains. This makes modern food and beverage management an even more complex activity but an exciting one.

Findings

The paper acknowledges the changing career patterns of those with food and beverage backgrounds but suspects that it is skill the bedrock of hotel management.

Practical implications

The paper defends the case for food and beverage training within hospitality management courses but acknowledges the problems associated with this.

Originality/value

The conclusion drawn is that educational decisions need a full appraisal of the functions of modern food and beverage management: which is the purpose of this paper.
Getting IT right
Authors: Lashley Conrad , Rowson Bill
Published: February 2005

Purpose

The paper reports on a research project undertaken for the North West Tourism Skills Network.

Design/methodology/approach

The project explored the provision of information technology within hospitality and tourism programmes in educational institutions in the region. Researchers conducted telephone interviews with key specialist staff in 80 per cent of the schools, colleges and universities delivering programmes for introductory, operational and managerial programmes.

Findings

Findings suggest that IT provision occurs in all programmes and can now be considered as a core basic skill along with literacy and numeracy. Provision was generally applied to the industry and the specific requirements of the programme. There were several examples of excellent educational practice. However, some smaller colleges and sixth‐form college providers found the high purchase price of industry software a barrier to on‐site resources. That said, many ensured familiarity with industry software through industry partnerships and industrial visits.

Practical implications

While research gathered responses from 85 per cent of hospitality and tourism providers in the North West region, the study needs to be replicated nationally because these interviews suggest that information technology skill development is a key requirement for those destined to work in hospitality and tourism occupations.

Originality/value

Highlights the importance of information technology in the curriculum.
Investigating the meaning of supplier‐manufacturer partnerships
Authors: Lemke Fred , Goffin Keith , Szwejczewski Marek
Published: February 2005

Supplier partnerships can be the key in enhancing the performance of manufacturing companies. Consequently, partnership has been strongly recommended by academics and practitioners alike. Surprisingly, the concept of partnership is only poorly understood. Many authors have identified the advantages that it can bring but far less has been published on the attributes of partnership itself. What is known is that partnerships are “close” relationships and thus, the level of relationship closeness is an appropriate angle for exploring supplier partnerships. Research was conducted using the repertory grid technique with an exploratory sample of ten managers from four German engineering companies. It revealed that supplier partnerships are very different from other forms of relationship and identified five distinct attributes of partnerships. These findings have a number of implications for both practitioners and researchers.
Spirituality: Description, Measurement, and Relation to the Five Factor Model of Personality
Authors: MacDonald Douglas A.
Published: February 2005

The present article focused on the development and measurement of a factor model of the expressions of spirituality. Study 1 (N = 534) involved the use of factor analysis to examine the latent factor structure in a sample of 11 measures of spiritual constructs. Study 2 (N = 938) focused on the replication of Study 1 results and on the construction and initial validation of an instrument to operationalize the factor model of spirituality. Results indicate that at least 5 robust dimensions of spirituality underlie the spirituality test domain. These dimensions were labeled Cognitive Orientation Towards Spirituality (COS), Experiential/Phenomenological Dimension (EPD), Existential Well‐Being (EWB), Paranormal Beliefs (PAR), and Religiousness (REL). The measure developed, named the Expressions of Spirituality Inventory (ESI), takes the form of a 98‐item instrument that generated scores demonstrating satisfactory reliability and adequate initial validity. Examination of the relation of spirituality to the Five Factor Model (FFM) as measured by the NEO Personality Inventory‐Revised revealed that the dimensions of the FFM appear to differentially relate to the major elements of spirituality but are nevertheless conceptually unique, pointing to the possible existence of major aspects of personality not represented in the FFM.
REGIONAL GDP IN BRITAIN, 1871–1911: SOME ESTIMATES
Authors: Crafts Nicholas
Published: February 2005

The paper builds on a method proposed by Geary and Stark for estimating regional incomes in Victorian Britain. This is modified by using tax data to allocate non‐wage income across regions. The results suggest that the coefficient of variation of regional GDP per head was rising rapidly prior to World War I in similar fashion to the late 20th century such that its level in 1901 and 2001 was about the same. In both episodes of globalization there were big winners and big losers among British regions.
PROTECTION BY TARIFF BARRIERS AND INTERNATIONAL TRANSACTION COSTS
Authors: Milner Chris
Published: February 2005

Using estimates of protection in the EU market against US exports, this paper illustrates the relative importance of natural and policy sources of protection and the measurement errors induced in the measurement of effective protection by omitting transactions costs. It also considers protection in the EU ‘domestic’ and export market, and the implications of the elimination of tariff barriers only on relative rates of protection in ‘domestic’ and export markets.
DO PEOPLE (WANT TO) PLAN?
Authors: Hey John D.
Published: February 2005

This paper makes a modest contribution to investigating whether people, when tackling dynamic decision problems, formulate plans and then implement them. Assumed behaviour of this form is central to many theories of economic decision‐making, yet much direct empirical evidence (from economists and particularly from psychologists) suggests that it has rather dubious empirical support. The paper begins by discussing the importance and centrality of planning to economic theories of dynamic decision‐making, and then examines the difficulty of empirically investigating whether planning occurs. It then describes a simple experiment that sheds some light on this phenomenon. The findings from the experiment, although only directly relevant to the context of the experiment, do suggest that people do (want to) plan when the circumstances are appropriate. The paper concludes by discussing alternative designs.
Engagement of human monocyte-derived dendritic cells into interleukin (IL)-12 producers by IL-1b + interferon (IFN)-g
Authors: Nakahara T , Urabe K , Fukagawa S , Uchi H , Inaba K , Furue M , Moroi Y
Published: February 2005

Dendritic cells (DCs) are potent antigen-presenting cells and can induce tumour- or pathogen-specific T cell responses. For adoptive immunotherapy purposes, immature DCs can be generated from adherent monocytes using granulocyte macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and interleukin (IL)-4, and further maturation is usually achieved by incubation with tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α. However, TNF-α-stimulated DCs produce low levels of IL-12. In this study, we compared the effects of TNF-α, interferon (IFN)-γ, IL-1β or IFN-γ + IL-1β on the phenotypic and functional maturation of DCs. Our results show that IFN-γ, but not IL-1β, augmented the surface expression of CD80, CD83 and CD86 molecules without inducing IL-12 production from DCs. However, IL-1β, but not IFN-γ, induced IL-12 p40 production by DCs without enhancing phenotypic maturation. When combined, IFN-γ + IL-1β treatment profoundly up-regulated the expression of CD80, CD83, CD86 and major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II antigens. Furthermore, IFN-γ + IL-1β-treated DCs produced larger amounts of IL-12 and induced stronger T cell proliferation and IFN-γ secretion in primary allogeneic mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR) than did TNF-α-treated DCs. Our results show that IFN-γ + IL-1β induced human monocyte-derived DCs to differentiate into Th1-prone mature DCs.
Expression of fractalkine (CX3CL1) and its receptor, CX3CR1, in periodontal diseased tissue
Authors: Hosokawa Y , Nakanishi T , Yamaguchi D , Nakae H , Matsuo T
Published: February 2005

The regulatory role of chemokines and chemokine receptors on specific leucocyte recruitment into periodontal diseased tissue is poorly characterized. We observed that leucocytes infiltrating inflamed gingival tissue expressed marked levels of CX3CR1. In periodontal diseased tissue, the expression of fractalkine and CX3CR1 mRNA was detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and further, fractalkine was distributed mainly on endothelial cells, as shown by immunohistochemistry. Moreover, we can detect CX3CR1-expressing cells infiltrated in periodontal diseased tissue by immunohistochemical staining. Furthermore, fractalkine production by human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) was up-regulated by pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs), including Porphyromonas gingivalis lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Thus, these findings suggested that CX3CR1 and the corresponding chemokine, fractalkine may have an important regulatory role on specific leucocyte migration into inflamed periodontal tissue.
Altered CD46-mediated T cell co-stimulation in haemodialysis patients
Authors: Brinkkoetter P-T , Marinaki S , Gottmann U , Fleckenstein S , Stump C , Van Der Woude F J , Braun C , Yard B A
Published: February 2005

While most of our understanding of immune dysfunction in dialysis patients involves alterations in CD28–CD80/86 signalling, nothing is known of CD46-mediated co-stimulation of T cells in these patients. Because C3b/C4b bind to CD46 and complement activation occurs during haemodialysis (HD), we addressed whether CD46-mediated T cell activation is altered in HD (n = 9), peritoneal dialysis (PD) (n = 10) and predialysis patients (n = 8) compared to healthy controls (HC) (n = 8). T cell surface markers, T cell proliferation and interleukin (IL)-10 production were studied in CD4+T cells. In addition, CD46 splice-variants and IL-10 promoter gene polymorphisms were studied by reverse transcription (RT) or amplification refractory mutation system-polymerase chain reaction (ARMS-PCR), respectively. In all uraemic patients, irrespective of the stage of renal insufficiency or dialysis modality, a significant increase in the percentage of CD25 positivity in naive CD4+T cells was found (64% ± 21%versus 23% ± 18%, P < 0·001). Lymphocytes of HD patients proliferated in greater numbers and produced more IL-10 after co-stimulation with anti-CD46 than after co-stimulation with anti-CD28. This was also found in CD4+T cells of PD patients, albeit to a lesser extent. In contrast, with T cells of predialysis patients and of HC, co-stimulation via CD28 was more efficient. The observed alterations in T cell proliferation and IL-10 production were associated neither with CD46 splice variants nor with IL-10 promoter gene polymorphisms. Lymphocytes of HD patients show an increased response on CD46 co-stimulation. These data suggest that ongoing complement activation in HD patients may lead to alterations in acquired immunity.
Imbalance in the production between vascular endothelial growth factor and endostatin in Kawasaki disease
Authors: Takeshita S , Kawamura Y , Takabayashi H , Yoshida N , Nonoyama S
Published: February 2005

To investigate whether an imbalance exists in the production between angiogenic and antiangiogenic growth factors in patients with Kawasaki disease (KD), we measured the serum levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and endostatin (ES) in 35 patients with KD, 15 patients with acute febrile diseases (disease controls) and 15 healthy children. KD patients had significantly higher VEGF levels and lower ES levels (P < 0·01) in the acute and subacute phases than the disease control and healthy children. KD patients with coronary artery lesions (CAL, n = 10) had significantly higher VEGF levels and lower ES levels (P < 0·05) in the subacute and convalescent phases than those without CAL (n = 25). The ratios of VEGF/ES in sera of KD patients with CAL were significantly higher (P < 0·05) in the acute and convalescent phases compared to those without CAL. Furthermore, the occurrence of CAL significantly correlated with the VEGF/ES ratio above 10 × 10−3 in the subacute phase of KD (Odds ratio 17·25, P = 0·005). The findings in the present study indicate that an imbalance exists in the production between VEGF and ES in patients with KD while also suggesting that KD patients with a high VEGF/ES ratio have a significantly greater risk of CAL involvement.
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-2-specific T lymphocyte proliferative responses in HIV-2-infected and in HIV-2-exposed but uninfected individuals in Guinea-Bissau
Authors: Andersson S , Larsen O , Da Silva Z , Linder H , Norrgren H , Dias F , Thorstensson R , Aaby P , Biberfeld G
Published: February 2005

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-2-specific T lymphocyte proliferative responses were determined in cultures of peripheral blood mononuclear cells from HIV-2-exposed uninfected individuals, HIV-2-infected individuals and HIV-negative controls in Guinea-Bissau. Increased HIV-2-specific T lymphocyte proliferative responses were detected in both groups compared to HIV-negative controls (healthy HIV-uninfected individuals without known exposure to an HIV-infected person); five out of 29 of the HIV-2-exposed uninfected and half (16 of 32) of the HIV-2-infected individuals had stimulation indexes >2, compared to one out of 49 of the HIV-negative controls (P = 0·003 and P < 0·0001, respectively). The exposed uninfected individuals had reactivity to a HIV-2 V3-peptide corresponding to amino acids 311–326 of the envelope glycoprotein, while the HIV-2-infected people reacted mainly to HIV-2 whole viral lysate. Thus, this study demonstrates a high degree of HIV-2-specific T helper cell activity, as measured by lymphocyte proliferation, in HIV-2-exposed uninfected individuals as well as in HIV-2-infected subjects. These immune responses could be important for resistance to the infection and for the control of established infection and, thus, play a role in the lower transmission and progression of HIV-2 compared to HIV-1.
Anti-endothelial cell antibodies (AECA) in patients with propylthiouracil (PTU)-induced ANCA positive vasculitis are associated with disease activity
Authors: Yu F , Zhao M-H , Zhang Y-K , Zhang Y , Wang H-Y
Published: February 2005

Increasing evidence has demonstrated that propylthiouracil (PTU) could induce ANCA positive vasculitis. However, our previous work has suggested that only one-fifth of the PTU-induced ANCA positive patients had clinical vasculitis and so the mechanism is not clear. Anti-endothelial cell antibodies (AECA) have been implicated in the pathogenesis of various vasculitides, including primary ANCA positive systemic vasculitis. The purpose of this study is to investigate the prevalence of AECA and their possible role in the pathogenesis of patients with PTU-induced ANCA positive vasculitis. Sera from 11 patients with PTU-induced ANCA positive vasculitis at both active and quiescent phases, and sera from 10 patients with PTU-induced ANCA but without clinical vasculitis, were studied. Sera from 30 healthy blood donors were collected as normal controls. Soluble proteins from 1% Triton-100 extracted in vitro cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells were used as antigens and an immunoblotting technique was performed to determine the presence of AECA, and their specific target antigens were identified. In patients with PTU-induced ANCA positive vasculitis, 10 of the 11 patients in an active phase of disease were serum IgG-AECA positive and six protein bands of endothelial antigens could be blotted (61 kD, 69 kD, 77 kD, 85 kD, 91 kD and 97 kD). However, in the quiescent phase, seven of the 10 positive sera turned negative. None of the ANCA positive but vasculitis negative patients or normal controls were AECA positive. In conclusion, AECA could be found in sera from patients with PTU-induced ANCA positive vasculitis and were associated more closely with vasculitic disease activity.
C1 inhibitor deficiency: consensus document
Authors: Gompels M M , Lock R J , Abinun M , Bethune C A , Davies G , Grattan C , Fay A C , Longhurst H J , Morrison L , Price A , Price M , Watters D
Published: February 2005

We present a consensus document on the diagnosis and management of C1 inhibitor deficiency, a syndrome characterized clinically by recurrent episodes of angio-oedema. In hereditary angio-oedema, a rare autosomal dominant condition, C1 inhibitor function is reduced due to impaired transcription or production of non-functional protein. The diagnosis is confirmed by the presence of a low serum C4 and absent or greatly reduced C1 inhibitor level or function. The condition can cause fatal laryngeal oedema and features indistinguishable from gastrointestinal tract obstruction. Attacks can be precipitated by trauma, infection and other stimulants. Treatment is graded according to response and the clinical site of swelling. Acute treatment for severe attack is by infusion of C1 inhibitor concentrate and for minor attack attenuated androgens and/or tranexamic acid. Prophylactic treatment is by attenuated androgens and/or tranexamic acid. There are a number of new products in trial, including genetically engineered C1 esterase inhibitor, kallikrein inhibitor and bradykinin B2 receptor antagonist. Individual sections provide special advice with respect to diagnosis, management (prophylaxis and emergency care), special situations (childhood, pregnancy, contraception, travel and dental care) and service specification.
Ex vivo induction of viral antigen-specific CD8+ T cell responses using mRNA-electroporated CD40-activated B cells
Authors: Van den Bosch G A , Ponsaerts P , Nijs G , Lenjou M , Vanham G , Van Bockstaele D R , Berneman Z N , Van Tendeloo V F I
Published: February 2005

Cell-based immunotherapy, in which antigen-loaded antigen-presenting cells (APC) are used to elicit T cell responses, has become part of the search for alternative cancer and infectious disease treatments. Here, we report on the feasibility of using mRNA-electroporated CD40-activated B cells (CD40-B cells) as alternative APC for the ex vivo induction of antigen-specific CD8+ T cell responses. The potential of CD40-B cells as APC is reflected in their phenotypic analysis, showing a polyclonal, strongly activated B cell population with high expression of MHC and co-stimulatory molecules. Flow cytometric analysis of EGFP expression 24 h after EGFP mRNA-electroporation showed that CD40-B cells can be RNA transfected with high gene transfer efficiency. No difference in transfection efficiency or postelectroporation viability was observed between CD40-B cells and monocyte-derived dendritic cells (DC). Our first series of experiments show clearly that peptide-pulsed CD40-B cells are able to (re)activate both CD8+ and CD4+ T cells against influenza and cytomegalovirus (CMV) antigens. To demonstrate the ability of viral antigen mRNA-electroporated CD40-B cells to induce virus-specific CD8+ T cell responses, these antigen-loaded cells were co-cultured in vitro with autologous peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) for 7 days followed by analysis of T cell antigen-specificity. These experiments show that CD40-B cells electroporated with influenza M1 mRNA or with CMV pp65 mRNA are able to activate antigen-specific interferon (IFN)-gamma-producing CD8+ T cells. These findings demonstrate that mRNA-electroporated CD40-B cells can be used as alternative APC for the induction of antigen-specific (memory) CD8+ T cell responses, which might overcome some of the drawbacks inherent to DC immunotherapy protocols.
Circadian rhythms of early morning awakening insomniacs
Authors: LACK LEON C. , MERCER JEREMY D. , WRIGHT HELEN
Published: February 2005

SUMMARY It has been suggested that two types of insomnia, sleep onset insomnia and early morning awakening insomnia, may be caused by delays and advances respectively of circadian rhythms. Evidence supports the circadian rhythm phase delay of sleep onset insomniacs. The present study investigated the phase timing of circadian rhythms of early morning awakening insomniacs compared with a group of age matched good sleepers. A 24‐h bed rest laboratory session was used to evaluate the endogenous core body temperature and urinary melatonin rhythms. Objective and subjective sleepiness were also measured every 30 min across the session with 10 min multiple sleep latency tests and Stanford Sleepiness Scale. Maximum and minimum phases of each individual's rhythm were identified using two‐component cosine curve fitting. Compared with the good sleepers, the insomniacs had significant phase advances of 2 4 h for the temperature and melatonin rhythms. However, the 0‐4 h advances of the sleepiness rhythms were not significant. This latter unexpected result was explained on the basis of variability of sleepiness measures. It was suggested that early morning awakening insomnia arises from phase advanced circadian rhythms which evoke early arousal's from sleep.
Processing of auditory stimuli during tonic and phasic periods of REM sleep as revealed by event‐related brain potentials
Authors: SALLINEN MIKAEL , KAARTINEN JUKKA , LYYTINEN HEIKKI
Published: February 2005

SUMMARY The brain has been reported to be more preoccupied with dreams during phasic than during tonic REM sleep. Whether these periods also differ in terms of the processing of external stimuli was examined. Event‐related brain potentials (ERPs) to a frequent standard tone of 1000 Hz (P= 97%) and infrequent deviant tones of 1100 and 2000 Hz (P= 1.5% for each) were recorded (n= 13) during wakefulness and nocturnal sleep. An ERP wave (called REM‐P3) resembling a waking P3 wave was larger for the 2000 Hz deviant during tonic than during phasic REM sleep. Also the P210 wave was larger during tonic than during phasic REM sleep. A reliable mismatch negativity component appeared only in wakefulness. In summary, these results support the hypothesis that the brain is more ‘open’ for changes in an auditory input during tonic than phasic REM sleep.
Neurological pupillary noise in narcolepsy
Authors: O'NEILL WILLIAM D. , OROUJEH A. M. , KEEGAN ANDREW P. , MERRITT SHARON L.
Published: February 2005

SUMMARY Pupillometry has a long but inconclusive history as a means of measuring human alertness. Spontaneous pupillary oscillations in narcoleptics and the sleep deprived are a recognized but quantitatively elusive indication of alertness. Stimulation of the pupillary light reflex (PLR) has provided contradictory or confusing indications of alertness levels. Results from 10 diagnosed narcoleptics and 10 control subjects in which the PLR system was stimulated and a reliable (90%) discriminator derived for classifying narcoleptics and controls was reported. Random pupillary oscillations, which is called pupillary noise to distinguish these oscillations from spontaneous ones, were estimated from continuous pupil diameter recordings using a recursive least squares method applied to a subject–specific PLR system model. Pupillary noise sum of squares indicate that narcoleptics have significantly (P < 0.005) less PLR noise than controls. This difference was attributed to supranuclear inhibition of randomly active Edinger‐Westphal neurons long hypothesized to be the source of random papillary oscillations. This inhibition also has been suggested as a cause of PLR sensitivity to nocturnal sleep quality so it may be that these findings apply to the sleep deprived and not just specifically to narcoleptics.
Good sleep — its timing and physiological sleep characteristics
Authors: ÅKERSTEDT TORBJÖRRN , HUME KEN , MINORS DAVID , WATERHOUSE JIM
Published: February 2005

SUMMARY The present study used short sleep episodes to explore the relation between subjective sleep quality, timing and physiological content of sleep. Eight subjects participated in 18 4‐h sleep episodes to provide 4, 8, and 12 h of prior time awake before bedtimes at six different times of day in a sleep laboratory insulated from environmental disturbances. The results were analysed by ANOVAs and multiple regression techniques. Subjective sleep quality, calmness of sleep, ease of falling asleep, ability to ‘sleep through’, number of awakenings, and sleep latency showed a significant pattern of ‘better’ sleep with increasing prior time awake and with closeness to the circadian minimum (nadir) of rectal temperature (morning hours). ‘Ease of awakening’ in contrast, ‘decreased’ with increasing time awake and with closeness to the nadir/ morning hours. Multiple regression analysis showed that subjective sleep quality was predicted by subjective calmness of sleep and ease of falling asleep, among the subjective measures, and by total sleep time (TST) and slow‐wave sleep (SWS – stages 3 +4) among the physiological sleep measures. The subjective ease of awakening was predicted by slow‐wave sleep (negatively) and the circadian maximum of rectal temperature. The results indicate that the duration of wakefulness prior to sleep and the timing of sleep determine its physiological expression, which in turn determines its subjective impression.
Sleepiness and driving: the experience of heavy goods vehicle drivers in the UK
Authors: MAYCOCK G.
Published: February 2005

SUMMARY An interview survey of 996 heavy goods vehicle (HGV) drivers was undertaken. It was designed to investigate the relationship between HGV drivers' accidents, daytime sleepiness (measured using the Epworth Sleepiness Scale) and other relevant physical characteristics. The drivers were sampled randomly at motorway service areas. The average age was 41.4 y (SD 10.5), they drove an average of 69 700 miles annually (SD 36 120), and their average score on the Epworth daytime sleepiness scale was 5.65 (SD 3.31). They reported an average accident liability of 0.26 accidents in a 3‐y recall period. Drivers who reported snoring regularly whilst sleeping at night or who were obese or who had a noticeably large collar size had higher accident liabilities than those not exhibiting these characteristics. Accident liability increased with increasing scores on the Epworth daytime sleepiness scale. These findings suggest that further investigation of the mechanisms behind the higher accident rates of some categories of HGV drivers would be justified in the interests of road safety.
Reliability of scoring EMG orofacial events: polysomnography compared with ambulatory recordings
Authors: GALLO LUIGI M. , LAVIGNE GILLES , ROMPRÉ PIERRE , PALLA SANDRO
Published: February 2005

SUMMARY The study of sleep bruxism is usually based on clinical history, signs and symptoms. The recording of electromyographic signals with either ambulatory portable home recorders or with polysomnographic techniques in the laboratory environment allows collection of objective data. The present study showed a 100% agreement with clinical evaluation in the recognition of bruxism episodes from the masseter electromyogram recorded with portable recorders and using the polysomnographic technique. On the contrary, scorers had difficulties in discriminating between different types f episodes (phasic, tonic and mixed), the between‐scorers agreement varied between 62% and 63% and the κ‐values between 0.43 and 0.33. The ideal time base at which electromyographic signals should be integrated to allow for a good discrimination of bruxism patterns is 0.06 s. The results indicate that portable electromyography recorders are a valuable complement to polysomnographic recordings of orofacial motor activities as they provide a very good recognition rate with adequate time base data collection.
Prevalence and correlates of nocturnal desaturations in a sample of elderly people
Authors: PHILIP P. , DEALBERTO M. J. , DARTIGUES J. F. , GUILLEMINAULT C. , BIOULAC B.
Published: February 2005

SUMMARY We designed an epidemiological study to estimate the prevalence and correlates of nocturnal desaturations in a sample of elderly subjects from the general population. Sleep‐related respiratory disturbances were assessed by questionnaire and MESAM IV® (MADAUS electronic sleep apnoea monitor) ambulatory monitoring. An oxygen desaturation index (ODI), oxygen desaturation being defined as a decrease in SaO2 of or exceeding 4%, was then computed from these data. An oxygen desaturation index ≥10 was observed in 27.0% of the 293 subjects studied (mean age 76.6 ± 5.7 y, median = 75 y, min. = 69, max. = 99), an oxygen desaturation index ≥30 in 4.4%. Multivariate analysis identified as correlates to an oxygen desaturation index ≥10: male gender (OR= 1.80; P=0.04), a high body mass index (BMI) in men (OR= 1.20 per kg m2; P=0.0009), and advanced age in women (OR= 1.09 per y; P=0.02). A positive association was found between loud snoring (OR = 1.75; P = 0.06) and an oxygen desaturation index ≥10. However, there was no statistically significant relationship between an oxygen desaturation index ≥10 and either daytime somnolence (OR= 1.50; P=0.19) or trouble getting to sleep (OR=0.59; P=0.09). We found no significant relationship in our sample between oxygen desaturation index and arterial hypertension or cardiac dysrhythmia. Previous studies on younger populations have reported different results. It may well be the advanced age of our sample that explains these inconsistencies. For the elderly persons we studied our results underline the relatively high prevalence of sleep‐related respiratory disturbances. However, these may be of less consequence than in younger populations.
Microarousals in patients with sleep apnoea/hypopnoea syndrome
Authors: MARTIN SASCHA E. , ENGLEMAN HEATHER M. , KINGSHOTT RUTH N. , DOUGLAS NEIL J.
Published: February 2005

SUMMARY Upper airway obstructions during sleep cause recurrent brief awakenings or microarousals. Standard criteria exist for sleep and respiratory event scoring, however, there are different definitions currently used to score microarousals. We therefore compared three definitions of microarousal (ranging from 1.5‐3 s in duration) and one of awakening (> 15 s). We examined their occurrence at the termination of apnoeas and hypopnoeas and their correlation with daytime sleepiness in patients with sleep apnoea/hypopnoea syndrome (SAHS). Sixty‐three patients (aged 49, SD 10) had overnight polysomnography, multiple sleep latency tests (MSLT) and Epworth Sleepiness Scales (ESS). There were significantly more microarousals by any definition than there were awakenings (P<0.001) and there were more 1.5 s than 3 s microarousals (P<0.001). Significantly more apnoeas and hypopnoeas were terminated by 1.5 s microarousals (83% and 81%) than by 3 s microarousals (75%) (all P<0.001). Apnoea/hypopnoea index (AHI) correlated significantly with objective daytime sleepiness (p = ‐0.30, P<0.01). There were weakly significant relationships between all three microarousal definitions (‐0.24<P< ‐0.22, 0.03<P<0.04) and objective daytime sleepiness. None of the arousal definitions correlated with Epworth Sleepiness Scales scores. These results suggest that although 1.5 s microarousals are found at the end of more respiratory events, relationships between 3 and 1.5 s definitions, and daytime sleepiness are similar. This indicates that any of the three microarousal definitions can be used for visual assessment of sleep fragmentation.
Perception of the auxin signal at the plasma membrane of tobacco mesophyll protoplasts
Authors: Barbier‐Brygoo Hélène , Ephritikhine Geneviève , Klämbt Dieter , Maurel Christophe , Palme Klaus , Schell Jeff , Guern Jean
Published: February 2005

Auxin‐induced variations of transmembrane potential difference have been shown to be a useful tool for analyzing hormone sensitivity in tobacco protoplasts. Using this technique, we demonstrated that protoplasts derived from wild‐type, an auxin‐resistant mutant and Agrobacterium‐rhizogenes transformed plants differed widely in the sensitivity of their electrical response to naphthalene acetic acid. We have used different antibodies, raised to auxin binding proteins (ABP) from maize coleoptiles, or to the axr1 gene product (ABP1), to test whether changes in auxin sensitivity can be correlated with the presence of tobacco proteins immunologically related to this ABP. Titrations indicated that 0.4 nM anti‐ABP IgG inhibited 50% of the auxin‐specific response of wild‐type protoplasts, whereas 0.04 nM or 4 nM anti‐ABP IgG were necessary to inhibit the response of mutant and transformed protoplasts, respectively, to the same extent. On wild‐type protoplasts, blocking part of the immunoreactive sites with anti‐ABP antibodies resulted in a decrease in auxin sensitivity of the electrical response (0.4 nM anti‐ABP IgG inducing a 10–fold decrease), whereas addition of maize ABP increased this auxin sensitivity (1 pM ABP1 raised the sensitivity more than 1000–fold). The results obtained suggest that the auxin sensitivity detected by our assay system correlates with the amount of tobacco proteins immunologically related to the axr1 gene product from maize. A hypothesis accounting for the presence of these proteins at the external surface of tobacco protoplasts and for the effects of hetero‐logous maize ABP on auxin sensitivity is proposed.
Co‐regulated expression of nitrate and nitrite reductases
Authors: Faure Jean‐Denis , Vincentz Michel , Kronenberger Jocelyne , Caboche Michel
Published: February 2005

The regulation of nitrate and nitrite reductases (NR and NiR, respectively) expression was compared in wild‐type and NR‐deficient (n/a) Nicotiana plumbaginifolia plants. In wild‐type plants, NiR and NR mRNA levels fluctuated according to a circadian rhythm, with similar timing of maximal and minimal transcript accumulation. NiR and NR mRNA levels were also nitrate‐ and light‐inducible. It had been found previously that some of the n/a mutants over expressed NR mRNA. In mutant plants, irrespective of the mutation affecting the n/a gene, NiR mRNA and activity were over expressed. However, nitrate and light inducibility of NR and NiR mRNAs was still detectable. Normal NiR expression levels of mRNA were restored in n/a leaky mutants obtained by intragenic complementation which contained low levels of NR activity. These data support the hypothesis of a common regulation of NR and NiR expression by a nitrate‐derived metabolite. They also prove that the autogenous model of NR regulation described in fungi is not valid for higher plants.
Evidence for a plasma membrane proton pump in phloem cells of higher plants
Authors: DeWitt Natalie D. , Harper Jeffrey F. , Sussman Michael R.
Published: February 2005

Metabolic energy is required for the loading of sucrose into the phloem and translocation of sugars throughout the plant. The proton electrochemical gradient generated by a plasma membrane proton pump (H+‐ATPase) is thought to provide energy for these processes. The plasma membrane H+‐ATPase is encoded by a multi‐gene family in Arabidopsis thaliana. Here we characterize the expression of isoform AHA3 (Arabidopsis H+‐ATPase isoform 3). The AHA3 mRNA start site was mapped and 464 bp of the putative upstream regulatory region sequenced. A translational fusion of AHA3 to the (3–glucuronidase (GUS) reporter gene was constructed and used to generate transgenic Nicotiana and Arabidopsis plants. Using a histochemical stain, expression of the AHA3/GUS fusion was found predominantly in phloem cells of leaves, stems, roots, and flowers. Biochemical measurements of GUS activity in pith and vascular explants confirmed the histochemical localization. Our results support the hypothesis that a proton pump is present in phloem cells, possibly providing energy to drive plasma membrane co‐transport systems required for phloem loading and translocation of photosynthates. In addition to AHA3/ GUS expression in phloem, expression was observed in pollen and regions of the ovule, tissues whose physiological functions correlate with a requirement for high levels of solute transport.
Characterization of the protein import apparatus in isolated outer envelopes of chloroplasts
Authors: Waegemann Karin , Soil Jürgen
Published: February 2005

Isolated outer envelope membrane from pea (Pisum sativum L.) chloroplasts can be used in vitro to study binding and partial translocation of precursor proteins destined for the inside of the organelle. Efficient binding to a receptor protein on the outside of the membrane vesicle and generation of a translocation intermediate depends strictly on the presence of ATP. Protease treatment of the translocation intermediate demonstrates its insertion into the membrane. The membrane‐inserted precursor protein cannot be extracted by 1 M NaCl and is also NaOH resistant to a large extent. Mild solubilization of outer envelope membranes by detergent resulted in the isolation of a complex which still contained the precursor protein. We have identified a constitutively expressed homologue hsc 70 as part of this membrane complex. Antibodies against hsp 70 (inducible heat shock protein 70) were able to immuno‐precipitate the complex bound precursor protein. A second protein of 86 kDa molecular weight (OEP 86) from the outer envelope membrane was also identified as a major component of this complex.
Localization of tandemly repeated DMA sequences in Arabidopsis thaliana
Authors: Maluszynska J. , Heslop‐Harrison J.S.
Published: February 2005

In‐situ hybridization to interphase nuclei and chromosomes of Arabidopsis thaliana (2n= 10) shows that there are four sites of rDNA in a diploid nucleus. The sites are located on chromosomes 2 and 4, and the strength of hybridization indicates that copy number is similar at both pairs of sites. Hybridization to trisomic line 4 revealed five hybridization sites. Silver staining of nucleoli demonstrates that all four loci can be active in diploid interphase nuclei. The tandemly repeated probe pAL1 hybridizes near to the centromeres of all five chromosome pairs. In diploid interphase nuclei, 10 sites of hybridization are detected, while 15 are seen in triploid nuclei. The sites of hybridization co‐localize with the centromeric heterochromatin visualized by staining DNA with the fluorochrome DAPI. The results demonstrate that molecular cytogenetics can be applied to A. thaliana and high resolution physical chromosome maps can be generated. Both probes may be useful for interphase cytogenetics, where they enable chromosome number and aneuploidy to be examined in tissues without divisions. The physical localization of these hybridization sites provides a starting point for linking RFLP and physical chromosome maps.
Molecular characterization of an Arabidopsis thaliana cDNA encoding a small GTP‐binding protein, Rha1
Authors: Anuntalabhochai S. , Terryn N. , Van Montagu M. , Inzé D.
Published: February 2005

We have isolated a cDNA encoding a small GTP‐binding protein from an Arabidopsis thaliana cDNA library using an oligonucleotide probe derived from the most conserved domain of the ras superfamily. The cDNA encodes a 21.8 kDa protein, designated Rha1, which shows high homology to members of the ras super‐family in the regions involved in GTP binding, GTPase activity, and membrane attachment. The amino acid sequence is 60% identical to the sequence of the mammalian RabS protein, a small GTP‐binding protein which is believed to be involved in endocytosis. Several regions, including the putative effector domain are completely conserved. This high percentage of amino acid identity suggests that the Rha1 protein is the functional plant counterpart of the Rab5 protein. When expressed in E. coli, the Rha1 protein was shown to bind GTP. The rha 1 gene is most highly expressed in root and callus tissue, weakly expressed in stems and inflorescences and virtually not expressed in leaves and seed pods. Genomic Southern analysis revealed that rha 1 is part of a small multigene family.
Simulations of the static and dynamic molecular conformations of xyloglucan. The role of the fucosylated sidechain in surface‐specific sidechain folding
Authors: Levy Samuel , York William S. , Stuike‐Prill Rainer , Meyer Bernd , Staehelin L. Andrew
Published: February 2005

The hemicellulosic polysaccharide xyloglucan binds with a strong affinity to cellulosic cell wall microfibrils, the resulting heterogeneous network constituting up to 50% of the dry weight of the cell wall in dicotyledonous plants. To elucidate the molecular details of this interaction, we have performed theoretical potential energy calculations of the static and dynamic equilibrium conformations of xyloglucan using the GEGOP software.

In particular, we have evaluated the preferred side‐chain conformations of hexa‐, octa‐, deca‐ and heptadecasaccharide model fragments of xyloglucan for molecules with a cellulose‐like, flat, glucan backbone, and a cellobiose‐like, twisted, glucan backbone conformation. For the flat backbone conformation the determination of static equilibrium molecular conformations revealed a tendency for sidechains to fold onto one surface of the backbone, defined here as the H1s face, in the fucosylated region of the polymer. This folding produces a molecule that is sterically accessible on the opposite face of the backbone, the H4s face. Typically, this folding onto the H1s surface is significantly stabilized by favorable interactions between the fucosylated, trisaccharide sidechain and the backbone, with some stabilization from adjacent terminal xylosyl sidechains. In contrast, the trisaccharide sidechain folds onto the H4S face of xyloglucan fragments with a twisted backbone conformation. Preliminary NMR data on nonasaccharide fragments isolated from sycamore suspension‐cultured cell walls are consistent with the hypothesis that the twisted conformation of xyloglucan represents the solution form of this molecule.

Metropolis Monte Carlo (MMC) simulations were employed to assess sidechain flexibility of the hepta decasaccharide fragments. Simulations performed on the flat, rigid, backbone xyloglucan indicate that the trisaccharide sidechain is less mobile than the terminal xylosyl sidechains. MMC calculations on a fully relaxed molecule revealed a positive correlation between a specific trisaccharide sidechain orientation and the ‘flatness’ of the backbone glucosyl residues adjacent to this sidechain. These results suggest that the trisaccharide sidechain may play a role in the formation of nucleation sites that initiate the binding of these regions to cellulose.

Based on these conformational preferences we suggest the following model for the binding of xyloglucan to cellulose. Nucleation of a binding site is initiated by the fucosylated, trisaccharide sidechain that flattens out an adjacent region of the xyloglucan backbone. Upon contacting a cellulose microfibril this region spreads by step‐wise flattening of successive segments of the backbone. Self‐association of xyloglucan molecules in solution may be prevented by the low frequency of formation of these nucleation sites and the geometry of the molecules in solution.
Transcriptional repression of light‐induced flavonoid synthesis by elicitor treatment of cultured parsley cells
Authors: Lozoya Edmundo , Block Annette , Lois Rodrigo , Hahlbrock Klaus , Scheel Dierk
Published: February 2005

Cultured parsley (Petroselinum crispum) cells respond differentially to UV‐containing white light and fungal elicitor. Both stimuli activate the transcription of genes encoding enzymes of partly overlapping phenylpropanoid biosynthetic pathways. Irradiation induces vacuolar accumulation of flavonoids, whereas elicitor treatment stimulates the secretion of furanocoumarins. Simultaneous treatment of parsley cells with UV light and elicitor results in quantitative changes in both responses. Irradiation reduces elicitor‐induced furanocoumarin synthesis, possibly by post‐transcriptional mechanisms, whereas elicitor treatment completely blocks the light‐induced accumulation of flavonoids by repressing the transcription of the chalcone synthase gene. We have identified elicitor‐sensitive regions in the chalcone synthase promoter by transient expression analysis of selected promoter constructs linked to the β‐D‐glucuronidase reporter gene in parsley protoplasts. These regions are identical to those that were found to be sufficient for light inducibility of the chalcone synthase promoter.
Arabidopsis thaliana as a new model host for plant‐parasitic nematodes
Authors: Sijmons Peter C. , Grundler Florian M.W. , von Mende Nicola , Burrows Paul R. , Wyss Urs
Published: February 2005

We have established culture conditions for successful infection and development of several economically important cyst‐forming and root‐knot nematodes on Arabidopsis thaliana under monoxenic conditions. Complete life cycles were obtained with the sedentary cyst nematodes Heterodera schachtii, H. trifolii, H. cajani and the root‐knot nematodes Meloidogyne incognita and M. arenariaas well as with the migratory nematode Pratylenchus penetrans. In contrast, H. goettingiana and Globodera rostochiensis were unable to develop on Arabidopsis roots. Tissue‐culture quality agar and medium conditions optimized for hydroponic root culture were essential for successful infections. Detailed in‐vivo observations were made inside Arabidopsis roots during the early infection stages of M. incognita and during complete development of H. schachtii. Seventy‐four different ecotypes of Arabidopsis were screened for their susceptibility towards H. schachtii resulting in a range of infection rates. None of the ecotypes tested showed complete resistance in vitro. The use of Arabidopsis as a host for plant‐parasitic nematodes will provide a new model system for the molecular genetic analysis of this interaction.
Constitutive nitrate reductase: a dominant conditional marker for plant genetics
Authors: Nussaume Laurent , Vincentz Michel , Caboche Michel
Published: February 2005

We describe the development of a counter‐selection system based on the use of an engineered nitrate reductase (NR) gene. The engineered gene consists of an NR cDNA placed under the control of the CaMV 35S promoter (35S‐NR). Seedlings and cells derived from transgenic Nicotiana plumbaginifolia plants transformed with 35S‐NR are efficiently killed by the selective agent chlorate on medium containing ammonium as the sole nitrogen source. Under these nitrate‐free conditions wild‐type plants are not affected by chlorate because the endogenous wild‐type Niagene is not expressed.