bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Connexin43 enhances glioma invasion by a mechanism involving the carboxy terminus
Authors: Bates Dave C. , Sin W. C. , Aftab Q. , Naus C. C.
Published: September 2007

Gliomas are particularly difficult to cure owing largely to their invasive nature. The neoplastic changes of astrocytes which give rise to these tumors frequently include a reduction of connexin43 (Cx43), the most abundant connexin isoform expressed in astrocytes. Cx43 is a subunit of gap junctions (GJ), intercellular channels which directly link the cytosol of adjacent cells and allow the regulated passage of ions and small molecules. To examine the role of Cx43 in glioma motility, we identified two variant C6 cell lines which endogenously express high (C6‐H) or low (C6‐L) levels of Cx43. In wound healing and transwell assays, C6‐H cells were more motile than C6‐L cells. To deduce whether Cx43 mediated these differences, assays were conducted on C6‐H cells retrovirally transduced with Cx43 shRNA. Coincident with the stable knockdown of endogenous Cx43, a decrease in motility and invasion was observed. Gap junctional intercellular communication was also decreased, however motility assays conducted in the presence of GJ inhibitors did not reveal significant differences in cell motility. C6 cells transfected with full length or C‐terminal truncated Cx43 (Cx43ΔCT) were subjected to the aforementioned motility assays to expose alternate mechanisms of Cx43‐mediated motility. Cells expressing full length Cx43 exhibited increased motility while cells expressing Cx43ΔCT did not. This report, the first in which RNAi has been employed to reduce Cx43 expression in gliomas, indicates that the downregulation of Cx43 decreases motility of C6 cells. Furthermore, it is the first report to suggest that the Cx43 CT plays an important role in glioma motility. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Glial coverage of the small cell somata in the rat nucleus of tractus solitarius during postnatal development
Authors: Tashiro Yasura , Kawai Yoshinori
Published: September 2007

Astrocytes are thought to be active participants in synaptic plasticity in the developing nervous system. Previous studies suggested that axosomatic synapses decreased in number on the small cells of the rat caudal nucleus of tractus solitarius (cNTS) toward the end of the first postnatal week. Astrocytes might be involved in this phenomenon. We examined the morphological development of astrocytic processes around the small cell soma in the rat cNTS using light and electron microscopy. Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), glutamate‐aspartate transporter (GLAST), and glutamate transporter‐1 (GLT‐1)‐positive structures within the cNTS became more intensely stained as development proceeded. GLAST‐positive structures encompassed calbindin‐positive small cell somata after postnatal day 10. Electron microscopic observations indicated that astrocytic processes encompass the small cell soma, while the number of axosomatic synapses decreases as development proceeds. The timing for glial coverage of the small cell soma appears to be consistent with the decrease in axosomatic synapses on the small cells. These observations imply that astrocytes may participate actively in regulating the decrease of axosomatic synapses on small cells in the cNTS during postnatal development. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
New estimates of exchange rate pass‐through in Japanese exports
Authors: Parsons Craig R. , Sato Kiyotaka
Published: September 2007

Recently, the issue of a decline in exchange rate pass‐through has gained much more attention. Taylor conjectures that a worldwide decline in exchange rate pass‐through is related to the low and stable inflation in many industrialized countries since the early 1990s. Developments of ‘new open‐economy macroeconomics’ also cast renewed attention on exchange rate pass‐through. Theoretical research shows that the choice of an optimal exchange rate regime and the transmission of monetary policy impacts depend crucially on the exporter's price setting behaviour. There are many studies on the pass‐through of Japanese exports, yet most studies simply use the industry‐breakdown data on export price indices, which is insufficient to assess pass‐through patterns in regional trade. Significantly, highly disaggregated (HS 9‐digit level) commodity data are used here to evaluate the extent of pass‐through by commodity and by destination. We investigate and compare the extent of pass‐through to East Asia, Europe, and the US. We also examine whether there is any difference in the degree of pass‐through in the pre‐ and post‐Asian crisis era. Results suggest the most pricing‐to‐market (PTM) occurs in exports to the US market followed by significant, but less PTM in Europe. Virtually no PTM is found in Japanese exports to East Asia. Also, there is no clear evidence of either increasing or decreasing pass‐through over time. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Incomplete financial market and the sequence of international trade liberalization
Authors: Ma Yue
Published: September 2007

In this paper, an incomplete financial market model was built to illustrate the impacts of the market incompleteness on the benefits of trade liberalization. Particularly, it will focus on the investigation of the impacts of different sequences of opening up the goods market. That is, should the government open up international trade simultaneously with the opening up of the domestic trade, i.e. implementing a ‘shock therapy’ approach? Or should the government liberalize the domestic goods market first, and then deregulate the international trade, i.e. following a ‘gradualism’ approach? This paper proves that the gradualism approach by opening up the domestic goods market before liberalization of the international trade can guarantee the successive improvement of everyone's welfare. Therefore, the gradualism approach is a Pareto‐improvement sequence. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The helping relationship and program participation in early childhood home visiting
Authors: Korfmacher Jon , Green Beth , Spellmann Mark , Thornburg Kathy R.
Published: September 2007

As researchers have focused on better understanding those circumstances under which home visiting can lead to positive effects on parent and child outcomes, there has been growing interest in examining variation in the experiences of families within these programs, including the quality of the helping relationships between home visitors and parents. The current study examined how participating mothers perceive the helping relationship, using information collected from the Early Head Start National Research and Evaluation Project. Results suggest that although maternal report of the helping relationship is biased towards positive ratings, it remains a significant predictor of program participation, over and above general program satisfaction. Implications for measurement development and program interventions are discussed.
Can we differentiate sensory over‐responsivity from anxiety symptoms in toddlers? perspectives of occupational therapists and psychologists
Authors: Ben‐Sasson Ayelet , Cermak Sharon A. , Orsmond Gael I. , Carter Alice S. , Fogg Louis
Published: September 2007

Suppose a toddler becomes distressed after hearing a loud noise or when getting messy; are these indicators of sensory over‐responsiveness or indicators of anxiety? There is little evidence regarding the distinction between sensory over‐responsivity and anxiety disorders in toddlers. This construct validity study examined differences between occupational therapists' and psychologists' judgments of behaviors as representing sensory processing disorders (SPD) versus anxiety disorders. Twenty‐four occupational therapists and 25 psychologists completed a mailed survey, rating items from sensory and anxiety scales as representing sensory and/or anxiety disorders in toddlers, and analyzing cases of toddlers with these disorders. Occupational therapists were more likely to rate items as representing SPD than psychologists, and occupational therapists were more certain of the distinction of the sensory scales from anxiety. For the case designed to present a general anxiety disorder and the one designed to present sensory over‐responsivity, more occupational therapists diagnosed as sensory over‐responsive, while more psychologists diagnosed with a general anxiety disorder. The overlap in judgments of sensory over‐responsivity and anxiety supports the notion that these constructs in part reflect different professionals' perspectives upon behaviors as well as the difficulty in distinguishing these constructs in toddlers.
Quantitative measurement of telomerase activity and localization of its catalytic subunit (hTERT) in chronic inflammation of capsule formation around various model implants and in sarcomas in a rat model
Authors: Bettendorf O. , Schmidt H. , Eltze E. , Rody A. , Herchenröder F. , Jackisch C. , Böcker W. , Pfleiderer B.
Published: September 2007

Telomerase is upregulated in some preneoplastic lesions and overexpressed in the majority of malignant tumors, but absent in most nonneoplastic somatic tissues. We analyzed telomerase activity using TRAP‐assay in capsule tissues in a rat model with chronic inflammation and in tumor, and visualized the catalytic subunit of telomerase (hTERT) by immunhistochemistry. Significant elevated telomerase activity was found in tumor tissue compared with nonneoplastic tissue (p = 0.047). Cases with a strong inflammation in capsule tissue showed a specific telomerase activity. In these cases, there were no significant differences in telomerase activities compared with malignant tumor tissue. We demonstrate elevated telomerase activity and its diagnostic limits around model implants in a rat model, and visualize its expression not only in malignant tissue but also in inflammatory cells. So the quantitative measurement of telomerase activity should not be applied in general as a marker for malignancy in capsule tissue. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res, 2008
ISBT 128 implementation plan for cellular therapy products
Authors: Ashford Paul , Distler Pat , Gee Adrian , Lankester Alan , Larsson Stella , Feller Irene , Loper Kathy , Pamphilon Derwood , Poston Leigh , Rabe Fran , Slaper‐Cortenbach Ineke , Szczepiorkowski Zbigniew , Warkentin Phyllis
Published: September 2007

The publication of new standards for terminology and labeling marks an important step in ensuring consistency and traceability of cellular therapies at the global level. However, it is only with the widespread implementation of the standard that the benefits can be truly realized. This paper provides guidance on the practical aspects of adopting these new standards for organizations with differing current levels of computerization. It discusses project management, equipment, licensing, and validation topics. J. Clin. Apheresis, 2007. © 2007 Internal Cellular Therapy Coding and Labeling Advisory Group.
Aminopeptidase O contains a functional nucleolar localization signal and is implicated in vascular biology
Authors: Axton Richard , Wallis Julie A. , Taylor Helen , Hanks Mark , Forrester Lesley M.
Published: September 2007

We have identified a gene trap integration into Aminopeptidase O, the gene encoding a member of the M1 family of metalloproteases. Using the βgal reporter of the gene trap vector, we have revealed that at least some ApO isoforms are expressed predominantly in embryonic and adult blood vessels leading us to propose that ApO plays a role in vascular cell biology. The protein produced from an engineered Gfp‐ApO fusion cDNA localises to the nucleolus in transfected COS7 cells. We confirm that indeed the APO protein contains a functional nucleolar localisation domain by demonstrating that GFP‐APO fusion proteins that lack the predicted nucleolar localisation signal are retained in the cytoplasm. We report the existence of multiple alternatively spliced Apo isoforms that differ with respect to the presence of exons encoding important functional domains. Alternative splicing predictably produces protein products with or without the catalytic domain and/or a nucleolar localisation signal and therefore likely represents an important mechanism in regulating the biological activity of APO that has been reported to cleave one of the peptides of the renin angiotensin pathway. J. Cell. Biochem. 103: 1171–1182, 2008. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Compatible circuit decompositions of 4‐regular graphs
Authors: Fleischner Herbert , Genest François , Jackson Bill
Published: September 2007

A transition system T of an Eulerian graph G is a family of partitions of the edges incident to each vertex of G into transitions, that is, subsets of size two. A circuit decomposition $\cal C$ of G is compatible with T if no pair of adjacent edges of G is both a transition of T and consecutive in a circuit of $\cal C$. We give a conjectured characterization of when a 4‐regular graph has a transition system which admits no compatible circuit decomposition. We show that our conjecture is equivalent to the statement that the complete graph on five vertices and the graph with one vertex and two loops are the only essentially 6‐edge‐connected 4‐regular graphs which have a transition system which admits no compatible circuit decomposition. In addition, we show that our conjecture would imply the Circuit Double Cover Conjecture. © Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Graph Theory 56: 227–240, 2007
Homologies of the longissimus, iliocostalis, and hypaxial muscles in the anterior presacral region of extant diapsida
Authors: Tsuihiji Takanobu
Published: September 2007

Homologies of muscles of the m. longissimus and m. iliocostalis groups in the dorsal and cervical regions, as well as those of the subvertebral muscles and mm. intercostales externi that continue from the dorsal into the cervical regions, in extant Diapsida are proposed based on detailed dissections and published accounts of lepidosaurs, crocodylians, and birds. The morphology of tendons and innervation patterns suggest that the avian “m. iliocostalis” in the dorsal region include the homologs of both m. longissimus and m. iliocostalis in non‐avian diapsids. The conserved nature of the morphology of tendons in palaeognath birds also revealed that the avian mm. intertransversarii in the cervical region consist of muscles of the both m. longissimus and m. iliocostalis groups despite having been treated as a single series of muscles, and thus are not homologous with muscles of the same name in Lepidosauria or Crocodylia. The avian mm. inclusi that lie medial to mm. intertransversarii are homologous with mm. intercostales externi in Lepidosauria and mm. intercostales externi and m. scalenus combined in Crocodylia. Innervation patterns suggest that a muscle (“m. iliocostalis capitis”) connecting the atlas rib and occiput in Crocodylia includes contributions from the subvertebral layer and m. cucullaris complex, and possibly m. iliocostalis as well. The present findings may serve as a basis for revising the currently used avian nomenclature so that it will reflect homologies of muscles with their non‐avian counterparts. J. Morphol., 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Characteristics and fate of the spermatozoa of Inachus phalangium (Decapoda, Majidae): Description of novel sperm structures and evidence for an additional mechanism of sperm competition in brachyura
Authors: Rorandelli Rocco , Paoli Francesco , Cannicci Stefano , Mercati David , Giusti Fabiola
Published: September 2007

Various aspects of the reproductive anatomy of the spider crab Inachus phalangium are investigated utilizing light and electron microscopy. Spermatozoal ultrastructure reveals the presence of a glycocalyx in the peripheral region of the periopercular rim, never recorded before in crustacean sperm cells. Sperm cell morphological traits such as semi‐lunar acrosome shape, centrally perforate and flat operculum, and absence of a thickened ring, are shared only with Macropodia longirostris, confirming a close phylogenetic relationship of these species and their separation from the other members of the family Majidae. Spermatozoa are transferred to females inside spermatophores of different sizes, but during ejaculate transfer, larger spermatophores might be ruptured by tooth‐like structures present on the ejaculatory canal of the male first gonopod, releasing free sperm cells. Such a mechanism could represent the first evidence of a second form of sperm competition in conflict with sperm displacement, the only mechanism of sperm competition known among Brachyura, enabling paternity for both dominant and smaller, non‐dominant, males. In addition, we propose several hypotheses concerning the remote and proximal causes of the existence of large seminal receptacles in females of I. phalangium. Among these, genetically diverse progeny, reduction of sexual harassment and phylogenetic retention seem the most plausible, while acquisition of nutrients from seminal fluids, demonstrated in other arthropods, and suggested by previous studies, could be discarded on the basis of the presented data. J. Morphol., 2008. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
New interpretations of the skull of a primitive bony fish Erpetoichthys calabaricus (Actinopterygii: Cladistia)
Authors: Claeson Kerin M. , Bemis William E. , Hagadorn James W.
Published: September 2007

Polypterid fishes are considered the basalmost group of extant actinopterygians and may be a direct link to understanding the systematics and evolution of the first bony fishes. Several investigations have been conducted on one member genus, Polypterus; however, since the first specimens of its sister taxon Erpetoichthys calabaricus were described, remarkably little work has been done on the species. We review terminology critical to understanding cranial morphology in polypterids and present a new description of the skull of E. calabaricus as observed through classical methods of skeletal preparation, X‐radiographic microfocus computed tomography, and 3D‐digital reconstruction. Differences among E. calabaricus and at least three species of Polypterus (P. bichir, P. senegalus, and P. endlicheri), besides the gross variation in size, include an overall elongation of the skull roof observable in most elements of E. calabaricus with a shortening of most associated processes. In addition, several elements present in species of Polypterus are absent in E. calabaricus. As a result, Polypterus should not be used as a proxy for the family Polypteridae to the exclusion of E. calabaricus in phylogenetic studies, which examine early actinopterygians. Each should be treated separately, to resolve inter‐ and intrarelationships of Polypteridae. J. Morphol., 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Anthropogenic heat release in an old European agglomeration (Toulouse, France)
Authors: Pigeon G. , Legain D. , Durand P. , Masson V.
Published: September 2007

The anthropogenic heat release, QF, has been estimated for the old European agglomeration of Toulouse (France) from February 2004 to March 2005 in the frame of the CAPITOUL experiment. Surface energy balance (SEB) measurements have been conducted at a downtown site, over a dense urban area. A method is proposed to estimate QF at the local scale around this site from observations, as the daily residual term of the SEB equation. The values obtained from this method are in agreement with what can be expected: QF estimates are around 70 W m−2 during winter and 15 W m−2 during summer. On a larger scale (that of the agglomeration), an energy consumption inventory was conducted for the period of the field campaign with a 1‐day temporal resolution and a 100‐m spatial resolution. The estimates of QF obtained with this second method were analysed at the local scale around the measurements site, and compared with estimates computed from the energy budget observations. For the winter period, both estimates are in good agreement. For the summer period, the method based on SEB measurements seems to underestimate QF which is estimated around 30 W m−2 from the inventory. The simultaneous estimate of QF, with these two independent methods is a strength of this study.

At the scale of the agglomeration, the basal state of energy consumption (observed during the summer period) varies between 25 W m−2 for the densest areas to less than 5 W m−2 for the residential suburban areas. In the regions crossed by the major roads, the traffic is the major source during summer. Then during the winter period, QF can reach 100 W m−2 in the densest areas of Toulouse whereas it ranges between 5 and 25 W m−2 in the suburban areas. Copyright © 2007 Royal Meteorological Society
Urban shading—a design option for the tropics? A study in Colombo, Sri Lanka
Authors: Emmanuel R. , Rosenlund H. , Johansson E.
Published: September 2007

Recent urban microclimate studies in Colombo, Sri Lanka, indicate that the maximum daily temperature within street canyons decreases with increasing height to width (H/W) ratio, but higher H/W ratio negatively affects street‐level wind flow. There is also evidence pointing to the cooling effect of sea breeze. The nocturnal heat island is small in contrast to daytime urban–rural differences. In this paper, we use the software ENVI‐met to simulate the effect of different urban design options on air and surface temperatures, as well as on outdoor thermal comfort. The latter is expressed as the physiologically equivalent temperature (PET), an index based on air and radiant temperatures as well as wind and humidity. It is found that high albedo at street level gives the lowest air temperature during daytime, although the reduction is only about 1 °C. The lowest daytime mean radiant temperatures result from high H/W ratios of streets. This has a positive effect on thermal comfort; the increase of H/W ratio from about 1 to 3 leads to a decrease in PET by about 10 °C. Differences in air and surface temperatures, as well as PET, are small during the night. The results show that strategies that lead to better air temperature mitigation may not necessarily lead to better thermal comfort. However, shade enhancement through increased H/W ratios is clearly capable of significant reductions in PET, and thus, improved outdoor thermal comfort. Consequently, a critical urban design task in the humid tropics will be to guide the rapid urban growth towards efficient ‘shade growth’. Copyright © 2007 Royal Meteorological Society
Level and source of predictability of seasonal rainfall anomalies in Malaysia using canonical correlation analysis
Authors: Juneng Liew , Tangang Fredolin T.
Published: September 2007

This study examines the level and origin of seasonal forecast skills of rainfall anomalies in Malaysia. The forecast models are based on an empirical technique known as the canonical correlation analysis (CCA). The CCA technique searches for maximally correlated coupled patterns between sets of predictor and predictand matrices. The predictive skills of five predictor fields, namely station rainfall in preceding seasons (i.e. the predictand itself), local sea surface temperature (SST) over the western Pacific sector, quasi‐global SST, sea level pressure, and northern hemisphere 700 hPa geopotential height, are investigated. The sequence of four consecutive 3‐month predictor periods is used to capture evolutionary features in the predictor fields. The predictor‐predictand setup is designed such that the predictor fields are followed by a lead‐time ranging from 0 to 9 months and then by a single predictand period of 3 months' duration. The skills are estimated in hindcast mode using the one‐year‐out version of the cross‐validation technique. Skill estimates are expressed as temporal correlation coefficients between forecasts and observed values.

A series of experiments with different predictor combinations reveal that the model with quasi‐global SST alone produces most favourable forecast skills. The forecast skills of this model generally outperform the persistence forecast. Moreover, the model also has higher forecast skills in the East Malaysian region compared to those in Peninsular Malaysia. The forecast skill peaks during the late Northern Hemisphere winter season (January–February–March (JFM)) with a secondary maximum during the early summer season (May–June–July, (MJJ)). The average forecast skills are between 0.3–0.5 for up to 5 months' lead‐time in the East Malaysian region and this can be considered very useful for the appropriate users. In the Peninsular Malaysia region, the forecast skills are generally weak, although some stations registered modest skills even at a 5‐month lead‐time. For both prediction periods, the source of predictability originates from anomalous SST conditions associated with the El Niño‐Southern Oscillation (ENSO) phenomenon. Generally, during a La Niña (an El Niño) event, regions in northern Borneo experience excess (deficit) rainfall during the JFM period. Similar conditions are experienced during the MJJ period except that the impact tends to be more widespread throughout the country. Interestingly, the origin of predictability during the JFM period can be traced to typical ENSO events, while ENSO events of longer duration are responsible for the MJJ period. Copyright © 2007 Royal Meteorological Society
Safety tests and antinutrient analyses of noni (Morinda citrifolia L.) leaf
Authors: West Brett J , Tani Hisanori , Palu Afa K , Tolson Charles B , Jensen C Jarakae
Published: September 2007

BACKGROUND: Noni (Morinda citrifolia L.) leaves have a documented history of food use. However, previous safety and antinutrient studies are absent. The current investigation was conducted to assess the utility of noni leaves as food.

RESULTS: No evidence of toxicity or differences in weight gain were observed in acute, subacute, and subchronic oral toxicity tests of ethanol–water (1:1 v/v) and hot‐water extracts of noni leaves in mice at doses of 2000, 200, and 20 mg kg−1 body weight, respectively. Acute systemic anaphylaxis tests of the ethanol–water (4:1 v/v) and hot‐water extracts were negative. Further, leaf proteins were readily digested in simulated gastric fluid. Tannic acid concentrations in frozen and dried leaf were 1.6 and 25.8 g kg−1, respectively. Phytic acid was not detected in the raw leaf (<1 g kg−1). The average oxalic acid content was 1 g kg−1 and was fairly uniform among 22 leaf samples from 11 islands throughout French Polynesia. Similarly, campesterol, stigmasterol, and β‐sitosterol content did not vary widely, suggesting low inter‐island content variability.

CONCLUSIONS: The apparent lack of toxicity of the leaves and the hardiness of the plant make it ideal for further agricultural development, especially where sustained growth of other food crops is difficult. Copyright © 2007 Society of Chemical Industry
Concentration‐dependent antioxidant activities of conjugated linoleic acid and α‐tocopherol in corn oil
Authors: Badr El‐Din Nariman K , Omaye Stanley T
Published: September 2007

BACKGROUND: Antioxidants prevent rancidity (lipid peroxidation) and natural antioxidants, e.g., α‐tocopherol, likely provide additional value to oil‐based food products because of their health benefits. Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) has potential health benefits and may exhibit antioxidant properties. The main aim of this study was to compare the antioxidant efficacy of α‐tocopherol, trans‐10, cis‐12‐CLA and cis‐9, trans‐11‐CLA (in graded concentrations) added to antioxidant‐stripped corn oil.

RESULTS: As compared to α‐tocopherol, both CLA isomers displayed significant inhibition of corn oil lipid peroxidation induced by copper. Inhibition of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) were CLA concentration dependent for both isomers but with significant inhibition occurring at 0.1 and 1 ppm of CLA isomers or α‐tocopherol, respectively (P < 0.05). Graded concentrations of α‐tocopherol, and for both CLA isomers and time, had significant effects on TBARS formation (P < 0.0001). There were significant effects in interactions between graded concentrations and time for both CLA isomers (P < 0.0001) but not for α‐tocopherol (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSION: CLA compounds could serve as useful food antioxidants and provide additional value because of their potential bioactivity in disease prevention. Copyright © 2007 Society of Chemical Industry
Sodium maleopimaric acid as pseudostationary phase for chiral separations of amino acid derivatives by capillary micellar electrokinetic chromatography
Authors: Wang Hengshan , Zhao Shulin , He Min , Zhao Zhicai , Pan Yingming , Liang Qian
Published: September 2007

A new type of chiral surfactant, sodium maleopimaric acid (SMA), was synthesized, and employed for the enantioselective micellar electrokinetic chromatographic (MEKC) separation of amino acid enantiomers derivatized with naphthalene‐2,3‐dicarboxaldehyde (NDA‐D/L‐AAs). The effect of the surfactant concentration, type and concentration of the BGE, and buffer pH on the resolution was studied, and optimized conditions were used to evaluate the ability of this new surfactant to perform chiral separations toward NDA‐D/L‐AAs by MEKC. Enantiomeric separations of NDA‐D/L‐AAs were achieved with a running buffer consisting of 100 mM borate (pH 9.5) and 20 mM SMA in a 58.5 cm length×50 μm id capillary. Under the conditions selected, two pairs of tested amino acid enantiomers including NDA‐D/L‐trptophan (Trp) and NDA‐D/L‐kynurenine (Kyn) were resolved.
Experimental choices for the determination of carbonyl compounds in air
Authors: Pal Raktim , Kim Ki‐Hyun
Published: September 2007

The analysis of carbonyls in ambient air has received a great deal of scientific attention with the advancement of analytical techniques and increased demand for the build‐up of its data base. In this review article, we have attempted to provide some insight into the relative performance of different instrumental approaches available for the analysis of ambient carbonyls with a major emphasis on high performance liquid chromatographic and gas chromatographic methods. Reported in several international standard procedures, derivatization of carbonyls with 2,4‐dinitrophenylhydrazine (2,4‐DNPH) with either an impinger or cartridges is the most commonly used method of HPLC detection. In this respect, a number of alternative hydrazine reagents have also been discussed for use with HPLC. In contrast, GC methods based on the combined application of adsorptive enrichment on solid sorbents and thermal desorption are examined with regard to their suitability for carbonyl analysis in air. Particular emphasis has been directed towards the advantages and drawbacks of these different instrumental techniques for ambient carbonyls. Based on this comparative approach, we discuss the suitability for each method for carbonyl analysis.
Enantiomeric analysis of β‐pinene and limonene by direct coupling of reversed phase liquid chromatography and gas chromatography using absorbents as packing materials
Authors: Flores Gema , Ruiz del Castillo Maria Luisa , Herraiz Marta
Published: September 2007

A method based on the use of absorbents as packing materials inside the interface of the online coupling between RPLC and GC is proposed for the enantiomeric analysis of β‐pinene and limonene in essential oils. For that purpose, a comparison of the RSD, detection limit and recovery provided by two absorbents and one adsorbent is included in this study. The results found in this work proved the validity of absorbents as packing materials in online RPLC–GC to determine minor compounds in complex matrices. In particular, PDMS seemed to be specially useful to analyse nonpolar compounds, such as β‐pinene and limonene, since it provided higher sensitivity for this kind of compounds. The developed method was applied to the evaluation of the natural and non‐natural character of commercial essential oils by means of the determination of the enantiomeric composition of β‐pinene and limonene.
Generation of mesoscopic superpositions of a binary Bose-Einstein condensate in a slightly asymmetric double well
Authors: Weiss C , Teichmann N
Published: September 2007

A previous publication [1] suggested to coherently generate mesoscopic superpositions of a two-component Bose-Einstein condensate in a double well under perfectly symmetric conditions. However, already tiny asymmetries can destroy the entanglement properties of the ground state. Nevertheless, even under more realistic conditions, the scheme is demonstrated numerically to generate mesoscopic superpositions.
Grafting of 1‐Vinylimidazole onto Pre‐Irradiated ETFE Films
Authors: Schmidt Christian , Schmidt‐Naake Gudrun
Published: September 2007

1‐Vinylimidazole (1VIm) was grafted onto poly(ethylene‐alt‐tetrafluoroethylene) (ETFE) films via an electron beam pre‐irradiation technique employing doses from 50 to 150 kGy. The effect of the volume fraction of the monomer in water (ϕ), the irradiation dose and the concentration of a Fe2+ salt additive on the degree of grafting (d.o.g.) were studied. The homogeneity of the graft profile was probed by confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) and evaluated by means of a uniformity parameter U. It was found that addition of 50 mmol · L−1 of FeSO4 · 7H2O allows high d.o.g. values of up to ca. 120% with homogenous depth profiles achieved for d.o.g. greater than 50%. The resulting membranes turn out to be mechanically stable and flexible and endure temperatures of up to 250 °C without significant weight loss.

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Reduced muscle‐fiber conduction but normal slowing after cold exposure in paramyotonia congenita
Authors: Blijham Paul J. , Drost Gea , Stegeman Dick F. , Zwarts Machiel J.
Published: September 2007

In this study we investigated a family with paramyotonia (PC) congenita caused by a Gly1306Val mutation in the voltage‐gated sodium‐channel gene SCN4A. A previous study showed that exposure to cold aggravates the muscle stiffness in patients with this mutation. However, the mechanism behind cold sensitivity and the sodium‐channel defect remained unclear. In order to gain a better understanding of sarcolemmal propagation in these patients, we measured muscle‐fiber conduction velocity (MFCV) invasively. We studied four PC patients and four healthy subjects at room temperature. After the muscle was cooled, MFCV was measured again in the two PC patients and four control subjects. MFCV was significantly lower in the PC patients at room temperature, compatible with dysfunctional sodium channels. After cooling, MFCV was significantly lower in both groups as compared with room temperature. The relative slowing was 1.4% per °C for PC patients and 1.5% per °C for healthy subjects. These results indicate that, in these PC patients, mutant and wild‐type sodium channels respond equally to cold exposure. Thus, MFCV is abnormal in these patients, but the aggravation of muscle stiffness cannot be explained by an abnormal sarcolemmal response to cold. Muscle Nerve, 2007
Two medieval ‘trepanations’ – therapy or swindle?
Authors: Holck P.
Published: September 2007

During the 1991–1992 excavation of the ruins of the medieval cathedral in Hamar, Norway, the broken skull of an elderly man was found, showing evidence of an incomplete trepanation. The ‘surgeon’ had obviously tried to penetrate the skull surface around bregma in an irregular circle of 23 × 21 mm. Upon investigation, the skull revealed a reactive‐pathological area of the internal surface of the occipital bone, which probably represents a respite after a meningeal disorder (a tumour or an infectious process), causing us to suggest that the trepanation was meant to cure the patient's increasing headache. However, as a second skull with similar marks was found in the same churchyard, another explanation seems possible. Because the brain tumour in the first case may have altered the patient's mental state, we may surmise that these incomplete operations were an attempt to remove from these patients' heads the ‘Stone of Madness’, which was then commonly considered to be the reason for psychiatric diagnoses as well as persistent headache, and often depicted in European art, most notably in the 16th and 17th centuries. The second skull, revealing an even more incomplete attempt, did not show any skeletal pathology at all. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The perception of peer support by teenagers aged 12–16 years with type 1 diabetes
Authors: Lowes L , Eaton N , Bill S , Ford L
Published: September 2007

Teenagers with diabetes have to cope with the demands of managing the condition within their social context at a time of rapid physical and psychosocial development. As teenagers actively seek independence from parents, they place greater importance on relationships with friends. Friends of teenagers with diabetes have an important supportive role and can influence how diabetes is managed.

In this study, qualitative interviews were used to collect data from teenagers with type 1 diabetes from Wales (n = 13) and England (n = 8) recruited via the media. Study aims were to elicit teenagers' perception of the support of friends in managing their diabetes and to produce a diabetes information leaflet for friends.

Consistent with other studies, these teenagers would tell close friends they have diabetes. ‘Best’ friends were usually supportive, looking out for ‘hypos’ and encouraging blood glucose monitoring and insulin administration. However, misunderstandings about diabetes sometimes ‘hurt’, including misconceptions about the differences between type 1 and type 2 diabetes, particularly concerning aetiology and a wrongly assumed link between obesity and development of type 1 diabetes. All the teenagers believed it would be helpful for friends to have a diabetes information leaflet in age appropriate language.

Increasing emphasis is placed on the involvement of service users in research and service and policy development. Consequently, although interview data informed the content, the teenagers designed and developed the leaflet, which has subsequently been adopted by the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation for UK‐wide distribution. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons.
Neuropathic symptoms in newly diagnosed type 2 diabetic patients persist at six months, despite early glycaemic improvements
Authors: Coppini DV , Jones C , Ni'man N , Spruce M , Simon G
Published: September 2007

In a six‐month prospective study we compared 16 type 2 diabetic patients, who presented at diagnosis with neuropathic symptoms, with 16 asymptomatic newly diagnosed subjects. All patients had quantitative sensory testing for neuropathy by means of vibration perception threshold (VPT) testing measurements using a neurothesiometer. Both groups received similar intensive diabetes management to achieve optimal target HbA1c, with review of symptoms and assessment of neuropathy at six months. Despite some improvements in VPT, pain scores and symptoms were unaffected at six months, indicating likely poor reversibility of symptomatic neuropathy even at such an early stage in the course of type 2 diabetes. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons.
On the electronic improvement of multi‐crystalline silicon via gettering and hydrogenation
Authors: Tan J. , Cuevas A. , Macdonald D. , Trupke T. , Bardos R. , Roth K.
Published: September 2007

The electronic properties of multi‐crystalline silicon must be improved during solar cell fabrication if highly efficient devices are to be made. This work shows how gettering and silicon nitride induced hydrogenation improve three properties: carrier lifetime, interstitial iron concentration, and trap density. Area averaged effective carrier lifetimes less than 10 µs were improved to greater than 60 µs. A tenfold reduction in trap densities was achieved. Photoluminescence images showing the influence processing techniques have on the electronic properties of the silicon are presented. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Design of recombinant antibody microarrays for complex proteome analysis: Choice of sample labeling‐tag and solid support
Authors: Wingren Christer , Ingvarsson Johan , Dexlin Linda , Szul Dominika , Borrebaeck Carl A. K.
Published: September 2007

Antibody‐based microarray is a novel technology with great potential within high‐throughput proteomics. The process of designing high‐performing antibody (protein) microarrays has, however, turned out to be a challenging process. In this study, we have developed further our human recombinant single‐chain variable‐fragment (scFv) antibody microarray methodology by addressing two crucial technological issues, choice of sample labeling‐tag and solid support. We examined the performance of a range of dyes in a one‐ or two‐color approach on a selection of solid supports providing different surface and coupling chemistries, and surface structures. The set‐ups were evaluated in terms of sensitivity, specificity, and selectivity. The results showed that a one‐color approach, based on NHS‐biotin (or ULS‐biotin) labeling, on black polymer Maxisorb slides (or Nexterion slide H) was the superior approach for targeting low‐abundant (pg/mL) analytes in nonfractionated, complex proteomes, such as human serum or crude cell supernatants. Notably, microarrays displaying adequate spot morphologies, high S/Ns, minimized nonspecific binding, and most importantly a high selectivity, specificity, and sensitivity (≥fM range) were obtained. Taken together, we have designed the first generation of a high‐performing recombinant scFv antibody microarray technology platform on black polymer Maxisorb slides for sensitive profiling of low‐abundant analytes in nonfractionated biotinylated complex proteomes.
SRD5A2andHSD3B2polymorphisms are associated with prostate cancer risk and aggressiveness
Authors: Neslund‐Dudas Christine , Bock Cathryn H. , Monaghan Kristin , Nock Nora L. , Yang James J. , Rundle Andrew , Tang Deliang , Rybicki Benjamin A.
Published: September 2007

BACKGROUND

Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) is believed to play an important role in prostate carcinogenesis. Five alpha reductase type II (SRD5A2) and 3 beta‐hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type II (HSD3B2) are responsible for the biosynthesis and degradation of DHT in the prostate. Two polymorphisms, a valine (V) for leucine (L) substitution at the 89 codon of theSRD5A2gene and a (TG)n,(TA)n,(CA)n repeat polymorphism within the third intron of theHSD3B2gene were evaluated with regard to prostate cancer risk.

METHODS

Blood samples were collected for 637 prostate cancer cases and 244 age and race frequency matched controls. In analysis, theSRD5A2VL and LL genotypes were combined into one group and theHSD3B2repeat polymorphism was dichotomized into short (<283) and long (≥283) alleles.

RESULTS

TheSRD5A2V89L polymorphism was not independently associated with prostate cancer risk. Carriage of at least oneHSD3B2intron 3 intron 3 short allele was associated with a significant increased risk for prostate cancer among all subjects (OR = 2.07, 95% CI = 1.08–3.95,P = 0.03) and Caucasians (OR = 2.80, CI = 2.80–7.43,P = 0.04), but not in African Americans (OR = 1.50, CI = 0.62–3.60,P = 0.37). Stratified analyses revealed that most of the prostate cancer risk associated with the intron 3HSD3B2short allele was confined to theSRD5A289L variant subgroup and indicated that in combination these polymorphisms may be associated with increased risk of aggressive (Gleason >7) disease (Gleason >7).

CONCLUSIONS

In Caucasians, theHSD3B2(TG)n,(TA)n,(CA)n intron 3 length polymorphism is associated with both prostate cancer risk and aggressiveness and theSRD5A2V89L polymorphism may modify the risk conferred by this polymorphism. Prostate 67: 1654–1663, 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Paclitaxel enhanced radiation sensitization for the suppression of human prostate cancer tumor growth via a p53 independent pathway
Authors: Zhang An Ling , Russell Pamela J. , Knittel Tony , Milross Chris
Published: September 2007

BACKGROUND

This study investigated the influence of p53 status on treatment using combined paclitaxel and irradiation for human prostate cancer (PC) in vitro and in vivo.

METHODS

Enhancement of the radiation response by paclitaxel was determined by MTT and clonogenic assays in four sublines of the human PC cell line, LNCaP, stably transfected to express different p53 mutations found in PC patients. Suppression of xenograft growth by combined paclitaxel and radiation was assessed in NOD.SCID mice in vivo. Expression of p53 and downstream functional proteins, p21 and Bax, was assessed by Western blotting.

RESULTS

Paclitaxel (8–10 nM) suppressed cell proliferation by 50% by inducing G2M mitotic arrest in LNCaP cell lines transfected to overexpress wild‐type or mutant p53. Exposure to 20 nM paclitaxel before radiation therapy enhanced cytotoxicity in clonogenic assays. The dose and duration of paclitaxel exposure were important in inducing both G2M arrest and cell growth suppression and were critical factors in paclitaxel/irradiation combination therapy. Western blotting indicated that combination therapy increased p21 protein expression to varying degrees in all cell lines. In vivo studies indicated that paclitaxel pre‐treatment followed by irradiation significantly suppressed tumor growth compared with either treatment alone.

CONCLUSIONS

Pre‐treatment with paclitaxel enhances radiation efficacy on cell killing and suppression of growth of human PC cell lines in vitro and in vivo via p53 independent pathways. Paclitaxel has potential for use as a radiosensitizer in the treatment of patients with PC with either wild‐type or mutant p53 genetic status. Prostate 67: 1630–1640, 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
GRID‐MD—A tool for massive simulation of protein channels
Authors: Carrillo Oliver , Orozco Modesto
Published: September 2007

We present here a fast method for the exploration of channels in proteins based on molecular dynamics simulations of probe particles in a discrete grid space defined by an ensemble of protein conformations obtained either experimentally or by out‐of‐the‐grid atomistic molecular dynamics simulations. The method is able to provide millisecond‐long trajectories with a small computational effort, requires no human intervention in defining possible exit pathways and can detect both major and minor channels, giving a correct balance to the relative flux between them. The Grid‐Molecular‐Dynamics approach is then a suitable method for massive exploration of channels in proteins, even of those with unknown functional annotation. Proteins 2008. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Structural characterization of the zinc binding domain in cytosolic PSD‐95 interactor (cypin): Role of zinc binding in guanine deamination and dendrite branching
Authors: Fernández José R. , Welsh William J. , Firestein Bonnie L.
Published: September 2007

Dendrite morphology regulates how a postsynaptic neuron receives information from presynaptic neurons. The specific patterning of dendrite branches is promoted by extrinsic and intrinsic factors that trigger the activation of functional signaling pathways. However, most of the regulating factors and the biochemical mechanisms involved in regulating dendrite branching are unknown. Our laboratory previously reported that cypin (cytosolic PSD‐95 interactor) plays an active role in regulating dendrite branching in hippocampal neurons. Cypin‐promoted increases in dendrite number are dependent on guanine deaminase activity. In order to identify the specific structural role of zinc‐binding in cypin‐mediated dendrite branching and guanine deaminase activity, we employed computational homology modeling techniques to construct a three dimensional structural model of cypin. Analysis of the protein–ion sequestration scaffold of this model identified several histidines and aspartic acid residues responsible for zinc binding. Single substitution mutations in these specific sites completely disrupted the guanine deaminase enzymatic activity and rendered cypin unable to promote dendrite branching in rat hippocampal neurons. The specific zinc ion‐binding function of each residue in the protein scaffold was also confirmed by Inductively Coupled Plasma–Optic Emission Spectrometry. Inspection of our structural model confirmed that His82 and His84 coordinate with the zinc ion, together with His240, His279, and Asp330, residues that until now were unknown to play a role in this regard. Furthermore, promotion of dendrite branching by cypin is zinc‐dependent. Proteins 2008. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.