bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Stress reactivity: biological and subjective responses to the cold pressor and Trier Social stressors
Authors: McRae Aimee L. , Saladin Michael E. , Brady Kathleen T. , Upadhyaya Himanshu , Back Sudie E. , Timmerman Mary Ann
Published: August 2006

The cold pressor test (CPT) and Trier Social Stress Test (TSST) have been shown to reliably increase HPA activity; however, little research has compared responses to these stressors. In this study, biological (plasma cortisol and ACTH levels) and subjective (e.g., stress and mood) responses were compared in 31 subjects administered both the CPT and TSST. Subjects were diagnosed with alcohol dependence and post‐traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) (n = 11), alcohol dependence without PTSD (n = 10), PTSD without alcohol use disorder (n = 4), and neither PTSD nor alcohol use disorder (n = 6). All subjects completed both the CPT and TSST. In all groups, the TSST elicited higher levels of ACTH and cortisol than the CPT, and the response time course differed between tasks. The TSST also produced lower mood ratings than the CPT. A comparison of all diagnosed groups with normal controls revealed group differences in ACTH responding for the CPT but not the TSST. The results suggest that the TSST results in a greater HPA response than the CPT; however, the CPT may have utility in diagnostically heterogeneous patients. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Relationship of prolactin response to meta‐chlorophenylpiperazine with severity of drug use in cocaine dependence
Authors: Patkar Ashwin A. , Mannelli Paolo , Hill Kevin P. , Peindl Kathleen , Pae Chi‐un , Lee Tong H.
Published: August 2006

Rationale

Serotonergic (5‐HT) mechanisms appear to mediate central effects of cocaine. Therefore 5‐HT disturbances could be associated with drug severity.

Objectives

We investigated whether prolactin (PRL) response to meta‐chlorophenylpiperazine (m‐CPP), a mixed 5‐HT agonist/antagonist were associated with severity of cocaine use.

Methods

Thirty‐six cocaine‐dependent subjects and 33 controls underwent a challenge with 0.5 mg/kg of oral m‐CPP. Severity of drug use was assessed using the Addiction Severity Index (ASI).

Results

The PRL response to m‐CPP was significantly blunted in cocaine patients compared to controls (F = 21.86,p < 0.001). ΔPRL (peak PRL—baseline PRL) was negatively correlated with ASI‐drug (r = −0.45,p < 0.01), ASI‐alcohol (r = −0.32,p < 0.05), and ASI‐psychological (r = −0.41,p < 0.01) composite scores, and with the quantity, frequency and duration of drug use (rranged from − 0.41 to − 0.32,pranged from < 0.01 to 0.05). Hierarchical regressions showed that ASI‐drug composite scores significantly predicted the variance in ΔPRL after controlling for behavioral and demographic variables (F = 4.27,p < 0.05).

Conclusions

The results indicate that disturbances in 5‐HT function as reflected by a blunted response to m‐CPP seem to be primarily associated with severity of drug use and to a lesser, although significant extent with behavioral traits in cocaine‐dependent patients. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Long‐term treatment with long‐acting risperidone in Korean patients with schizophrenia
Authors: Lee Moon‐Soo , Ko Young‐Hoon , Lee Sang‐Hoon , Seo Yong‐Jin , Kim Seung‐Hyun , Joe Sook‐Haeng , Han Chang‐Su , Lee Jung‐Ho , Jung In‐Kwa
Published: August 2006

Objectives

We evaluated the efficacy and safety of long‐acting risperidone for 48‐week period in Korean patients.

Methods

This was a non‐randomized, open‐label, single‐centered, 48‐week study. Each of the participants visited the hospital every 2 weeks, and injections were given at each visit. Complete evaluations were done on five occasions (baseline, 12, 24, 36, 48 weeks). We used Clinical Global Impression, Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale, Global Assessment of Functioning, Subjective Well‐being under Neuroleptic treatment scale and Short‐form‐36 health survey. Drug attitude inventory and Drug Induced Extra‐Pyramidal Symptoms Scale were also used.

Results

Forty patients were enrolled, and twenty‐five patients completed this study. The therapeutic response rate was 36.1% in LOCF and 48% in completer's analysis. Scores on CGI, PANSS subscales and total were significantly decreased over 48‐week period. Scores on other assessments did not show any significant changes over the period. At weeks 48, there was no significant difference in the changes of scores from baseline on self‐rated assessments between the clinical improvement and non‐improvement groups.

Conclusions

Our study showed significant improvement of investigator‐rated psychiatric symptoms in long‐term follow‐up using long‐acting risperidone. Further researches would be required to find out the effects of the psychiatric symptom improvements on overall changes in perceived functioning and well‐being. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Electron pairing and chemical bonds: Pair localization in ELF domains from the analysis of domain averaged Fermi holes
Authors: Ponec Robert , Chaves Joaquin
Published: August 2006

This article reports the application of a recently proposed formalism of domain averaged Fermi holes to the problem of the localization of electron pairs in electron localization function (ELF) domains and its possible implications for the electron pair model of chemical bond. The main focus was on the systems, such as H2O or N2, in which the “unphysical” population of ELF domains makes the parallel between these domains and chemical bond questionable. On the basis of the results of the Fermi‐hole analysis, we propose that the above problems could be due to the fact that in some cases the boundaries of the ELF domains need not be determined precisely enough. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Comput Chem, 2006
Treatment with trimethyltin promotes the formation of cleaved tau in the rat brain
Authors: Straiko M.M.W. , Gudelsky G.A. , Coolen L.M. , Harrison R. , Zemlan F.P.
Published: August 2006

Trimethyltin (TMT) is a well‐documented neurotoxin that affects primarily limbic system structures. Most previous studies have relied on histological approaches to examine TMT neurotoxicity, so the aim of this study was to employ the novel biomarker cleaved MAP‐tau (C‐tau) to assess TMT‐induced CNS injury both quantitatively and qualitatively. Immunoblot studies indicated that cleaved MAP‐tau proteins with molecular weights of 45–50 kD were present in the hippocampus of rats treated with TMT but not vehicle 21 days after treatment. Quantitative ELISA revealed that C‐tau concentration in rats treated with TMT was greatest at 14 and 21 days in the piriform cortex and hippocampus, respectively; TMT did not significantly increase C‐tau concentration in the mesencephalon. C‐tau immunocytochemistry demonstrated the greatest TMT‐induced damage in the hippocampus and piriform cortex. Additional studies utilizing dual immunocytochemistry revealed that C‐tau‐labeled cells were also glial fibrillary acidic protein‐positive, leading to identification of these cells as astrocytes. Although the origin of C‐tau in astrocytes of rats treated with TMT is currently unknown, increased C‐tau concentration and the presence of C‐tau positive cells in limbic system structures of TMT‐treated rats further supports the view that C‐tau is a reliable marker of CNS toxicity. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Influence of diurnal hyperosmotic loading on the metabolism and matrix gene expression of a whole‐organ intervertebral disc model
Authors: Haschtmann Daniel , Stoyanov Jivko V. , Ferguson Stephen J.
Published: August 2006

It is generally agreed that the mechanical environment of intervertebral disc cells plays an important role in maintaining a balanced matrix metabolism. The precise mechanism by which the signals are transduced into the cells is poorly understood. Osmotic changes in the extracellular matrix (ECM) are thought to be involved. Current in‐vitro studies on this topic are mostly short‐term and show conflicting data on the reaction of disc cells subjected to osmotic changes which is partially due to the heterogenous and often substantially‐reduced culture systems. The aim of the study was therefore to investigate the effects of cyclic osmotic loading for 4 weeks on metabolism and matrix gene expression in a full‐organ intervertebral disc culture system. Intervertebral disc/endplate units were isolated from New Zealand White Rabbits and cultured either in iso‐osmotic media (335 mosmol/kg) or were diurnally exposed for 8 hours to hyper‐osmotic conditions (485 mosmol/kg). Cell viability, metabolic activity, matrix composition and matrix gene expression profile (collagen types I/II and aggrecan) were monitored using Live/Dead cell viability assay, tetrazolium reduction test (WST 8), proteoglycan and DNA quantification assays and quantitative PCR. The results show that diurnal osmotic stimulation did not have significant effects on proteoglycan content, cellularity and disc cell viability after 28 days in culture. However, hyperosmolarity caused increased cell death in the early culture phase and counteracted up‐regulation of type I collagen gene expression in nucleus and annulus cells. Moreover, the initially decreased cellular dehydrogenase activity recovered with osmotic stimulation after 4 weeks and aggrecan gene down‐regulation was delayed, although the latter was not significant according to our statistical criteria. In contrast, collagen type II did not respond to the osmotic changes and was down‐regulated in both groups. In conclusion, diurnal hyper‐osmotic stimulation of a whole‐organ disc/endplate culture partially inhibits a matrix gene expression profile as encountered in degenerative disc disease and counteracts cellular metabolic hypo‐activity. © 2006 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 24:1957–1966, 2006
Sex differences in long bone fatigue using a rat model
Authors: Moreno Luisa D. , Waldman Stephen D. , Grynpas Marc D.
Published: August 2006

Stress fractures can occur because of prolonged exercise and are associated with cyclic loading. Fatigue is the accumulated damage that results from cyclic loading and bone fatigue damage is of special concern for athletes and army recruits. Existing literature shows that the rates of stress fracture for female athletes and female army recruits are higher than their male counterparts. In this study, we used an ex vivo rat model to investigate the fatigue response of female and male bones. We determined the strain versus number of cycles to failure (S/N) for each sex and found that for a certain initial strain (5,000–7,000 µε) female bones have shorter fatigue life. To further characterize the bone response to fatigue, we also determined the creep that occurred during the fatigue test. From the creep data, for a certain strain range, female bones accumulated greater residual strains and reached the critical strain at a faster rate. In summary, this study demonstrates that female rat bones have a lower resistance to fatigue in the absence of a physiological response such as muscle fatigue or osteogenic adaptation. From these results, we hypothesized that creep was the underlying mechanism that accounted for the fast deterioration of female bones during fatigue. © 2006 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 24:1926–1932, 2006
Development of 125I‐methylene blue for sentinel lymph node biopsy
Authors: Stafford Shawn J. , Wright Jessica L. , Schwimer Joshua , Anthony Catherine T. , Cundiff Jason D. , Thomson Jessica L. , Wang Yi‐Zarn , Espenan Gregory , Maloney Thomas , Camp Arthur , Woltering Eugene A.
Published: August 2006

Background

Sentinel lymph node biopsy is an established alternative to complete lymph node dissection in some patients. We have developed a novel, radiolabeled methylene blue dye that may be a useful alternative to the traditional two‐step procedure involving 99mTc–labeled colloid and unlabeled blue dye. We hypothesize that 125I‐labeled methylene blue will be rapidly absorbed into the lymphatics and transported to the drainage basin containing the sentinel nodes.

Materials and Methods

Rabbits footpads were injected with 1 mCi of 125I‐labeled methylene blue admixed with unlabeled dye. A hand‐held gamma detection device allowed tracking of radiolabeled dye to nodes in the popliteal and inguinal regions. At pre‐established time points animals were sacrificed, and the nodal basin dissected. Nodal radioactivity as well as uptake of blue dye was recorded.

Results

The spread of the radiolabeled methylene blue compound from the footpad to the popliteal lymph nodes occurred in 5–10 min.

Conclusion

The radiolabeled dye rapidly progresses through lymphatics to the draining nodes. Use of radiolabeled methylene blue may be an attractive alternative to current two‐step sentinel node techniques, as it may be less painful, and may reduce the cost associated with the time‐delay between the injection of the radioactive compound and surgery. J. Surg. Oncol. 2006;94:293–297. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Osteopontin expression correlates with prognostic variables and survival in clear cell renal cell carcinoma
Authors: Matusan Koviljka , Dordevic Gordana , Stipic Darko , Mozetic Vladimir , Lucin Ksenija
Published: August 2006

Background and Objectives

Osteopontin (OPN) is a phosphorylated glycoprotein with diverse functions including tumorigenesis and tumor cell metastasis. Recently, it has been detected in a growing number of human tumors, and assessed as a potential prognostic marker. The aim of this study was to analyze the expression of OPN in normal renal tissue and clear cell renal cell carcinomas (CRCCs), and to assess its prognostic significance.

Methods

The expression of OPN protein was immunohistochemically analyzed in 171 CRCCs and compared to usual clinicopathological parameters such as tumor size, nuclear grade, pathological stage, Ki‐67 proliferation index, and cancer‐specific survival.

Results

In normal renal parenchyma, the expression of OPN was seen in distal tubular epithelial cells, calcifications, and some stromal cells. The upregulation of OPN was observed in 61 CRCCs (35.7%) in the form of cytoplasmic granular staining of various intensities. Statistical analysis showed correlation of the OPN expression with tumor size (P < 0.001), Fuhrman nuclear grade (P < 0.001), pathological stage (P = 0.011), and Ki‐67 proliferation index (P < 0.001). Moreover, patients with OPN‐positive tumors had significantly worse prognosis in comparison to patients with tumors lacking OPN protein (P = 0.004).

Conclusion

Our results suggest that overexpression of OPN is involved in the progression of CRCC. J. Surg. Oncol. 2006;94:325–331. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Clinical implications of sentinel nodes outside the axilla and internal mammary chain in patients with breast cancer
Authors: van Rijk Maartje C. , Tanis Pieter J. , Nieweg Omgo E. , Olmos Renato A. Valdés , Rutgers Emiel J.Th. , Hoefnagel Cornelis A. , Kroon Bin B.R.
Published: August 2006

Purpose

The aim of this study was to determine the incidence, location, surgical identification rate, tumor status, and clinical implications of sentinel nodes outside the axilla and internal mammary chain.

Patients and Methods

In 785 breast cancer patients, pre‐operative lymphoscintigraphy was performed after intratumoral injection of 116 MBq 99mTc‐labeled nanocolloid (0.2 ml; 3.1 mCi). Sentinel nodes were pursued using a gamma‐ray detection probe and vital blue dye.

Results

Lymphoscintigraphy visualized sentinel nodes outside the axilla and internal mammary chain in 91 of the 785 patients (12%). Sentinel nodes (106) were identified in 80 patients. These nodes were found in the following locations: 50 in the breast, 31 in the infraclavicular fossa, 19 between the pectoral muscles, and 6 within the supraclavicular bed. Eighteen nodes contained a metastasis (17%) and were removed from 16 patients. The treatment strategy was adjusted in 12 of them with the addition of adjuvant local or systemic therapy. Two additional patients with an unusually situated tumor‐negative sentinel node were spared an axillary node dissection that would otherwise have been performed.

Conclusion

Unusually situated sentinel nodes were visualized in 12% of the patients. The treatment was adjusted in 18% of patients in whom these nodes were identified. J. Surg. Oncol. 2006;94:281–286. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Determining the potential of American Vietnam veterans returning to Vietnam as tourists
Authors: Agrusa Jerome , Tanner John , Dupuis Judy
Published: August 2006

Tourism is the world's largest industry, which brings with it foreign exchange, employment and a modern way of life. Vietnam is one of the latest Asian countries to declare the importance of tourism to national development. Although for almost two decades following the end of the Vietnam conflict it was illegal for American tourists to travel to Vietnam, studies have shown that people who have knowledge or experience of an area are likely to travel to the area. The re‐establishment of diplomatic ties between America and Vietnam has initiated a new era of commercial and cultural relations between the two nations. Because many American Vietnam veterans have a high degree of familiarity with Vietnam, there appears to be considerable potential for marketing tourism packages with American Vietnam veterans as the target market. This study was developed to estimate the potential interest of American Vietnam veterans in returning to Vietnam as tourists. Of those American Vietnam veterans surveyed in this study, the results are mixed with 48.9% of the American Vietnam veterans stating they had a low interest in returning to Vietnam as tourists, whereas 41.5% had a high interest in returning to Vietnam as tourists, with 48.5% of those stating they had a high interest in visiting war history displays and war museums. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The Pacific War battlefields: tourist attractions or war memorials?
Authors: Cooper Malcolm
Published: August 2006

The Pacific War segment of the Second World War provides several important sites in the touristic geography of war and peace today—the more violent the particular conflict area, the more ‘attractions’ it appears to provide. Discussion of Japanese involvement and therefore of Japanese battlefield tourism has, however, been made more problematic by a curious paradox in the way the Japanese see themselves and their country on the world stage. On the one hand there has been assiduous promotion of the idea that Japan has always been an isolated island nation, poor in natural resources, unable to understand the outside world and constantly struggling to break from Edo period isolationist shackles as an explanation of their involvement in the Pacific War. On the other hand the country now enjoys its status as the second largest economy in the world and has been a leader in rapid economic development for more than 60 years since 1945, based solely on internationalisation. This dichotomy has in fact been very useful in avoiding discussion of the actual impact of Japan's imperial past on its subject peoples (and on its own veterans), as the new Japan should not be seen as being in any way responsible for the old Japan. This paper discusses the ongoing debate on Japan's involvement in the Pacific War 1941–45, the development of Pacific battlefields as tourist destinations, and makes some attempt to portray and explain present‐day attitudes to battlefield tourism amongst the veterans and populations of both sides. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Contested representations of war and heritage at the Residency, Lucknow, India
Authors: Hannam Kevin
Published: August 2006

This paper discusses the contemporary politics of heritage tourism in India and focuses upon contested representations of The First War of Indian Independence/The Indian Mutiny of 1857. The severity of this conflict has been written about extensively from both British and Indian perspectives. One site in particular—the ‘British’ Residency at Lucknow—was and still is remembered as an important memorial to both the British and the Indians who died in this conflict. However, the representations of the conflict are and have been contested. This paper thus examines this heritage dissonance by examining both official and lay representations of the residency. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The Korean War and tourism: legacy of the war on the development of the tourism industry in South Korea
Authors: Lee Young‐Sook
Published: August 2006

Although the development of tourism has been dominantly viewed and conceptualised in relation to the economic development of a region or a nation, some studies have argued that tourism fosters world peace. This argument, however, is not without some doubt for at the opposite end of the spectrum is that tourism might have a possible relationship with ‘war’; the focus of this paper. This study, using qualitative research methods, traces the causes of the Korean War and its subsequent impacts upon the development of the tourism industry in South Korea. Findings indicate that the war had a significant impact upon the notion of tourism as a ‘good’ industry for society, which would bring benefits in the post‐conflict era. Further, it created some ideas in society that purely consumptive travel is ‘unpatriotic’ and people should think about the interests of the nation when they travel. This paper concludes with a suggestion that future research should look into the ways in which tourism and tourists have developed where ‘accumulation of capitalism’ and changes in legislative moves, such as ‘paid holidays’ were not the initiating elements for a country's tourism development. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Getting them to forgive and forget: cognitive based marketing responses to terrorist acts
Authors: Taylor Peter A.
Published: August 2006

The context for the article is crisis management and the recognition of the essential role of the mass media in the strategically constructive diffusion of information. The paper introduces the relationship in the media between perception and reality specifically as it relates to the tourism industry. Building on this context, the elaborate likelihood model (ELM) of persuasion is creatively applied to strategies for attitude intervention and manipulation to affect market recovery from acts of terrorism. Additionally the model is applied to non‐affected but competitive destinations as an opportunistic strategy. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
War and ecotourism in the National Parks of Colombia: some reflections on the public risk and adventure
Authors: Ospina Guillermo Andrés
Published: August 2006

Recent years have attested to the intensification of armed conflicts around the world. Although conflict and tourism—two of the most lucrative contemporary enterprises—seem incompatible concepts, a new relationship between risk and adventure is emerging. This paper attempts an approach to the incidence of armed conflict on ecotourism in Colombia considering its endemic sociopolitical variables. The situation of risk to potential tourism diffused by the mass media is founded on images of bombs, shootings, combats, massacres, drugs and kidnapping, making Colombia a dangerous country included in the black‐list of global tourism. Although ecotourism is considered one of the main strategies of the state environmental institutions for generating revenues in the National Parks, and their populations, the reality is that these areas have been transformed into places of armed direct confrontation for legal and illegal groups. Different strategies have been adapted by institutional agencies around ecotourism in National Parks, contesting problems generated by conflict. How is the challenge of ecotourism assumed in an attractive scenario for the leisure market and nature contemplation, but affected by war, like the National Parks? A clear position doesn't exist. The environmental authorities opt to close entry to visitors, and officials deny access permits to these areas; while on the other hand, politics of social participation are profiled in the conservation that looks to link the local populations of the Parks like the sustenance of conservation. Nevertheless, ecotourism is today a high‐risk adventure involving armed actors, illicit crops, traffic areas and refuge; but it is also one of the most interesting fields in the construction of peace that remains still unexplored, considering the cultural and ecological potential of the country beyond exclusively economic concepts. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Association of metabolic syndrome risk factors with selected markers of oxidative status and microinflammation in healthy omnivores and vegetarians
Authors: Šebeková Katarína , Boor Peter , Valachovičová Martina , Blažíček Pavol , Parrák Vojtech , Babinská Katarína , Heidland August , Krajčovičová‐Kudláčková Marica
Published: August 2006

Conditions predisposing to metabolic syndrome (MetS) are associated with increased oxidative stress and inflammation. We studied, in vegetarians (n = 90) and omnivores (n = 46), the impact of the dietary regimen on the occurrence of MetS risk factors (RFs: BMI, blood pressure, glucose metabolism and lipid profile) in relation to oxidative status (advanced glycation end products (AGEs), advanced oxidation protein products (AOPPs), malondialdehyde, ferric reducing ability of plasma, vitamins A, E, C, β‐carotene and superoxide dismutase activity) and microinflammation (C‐reactive protein, leukocytes and neopterin). The proportion of subjects without/positive for one or two MetS RFs was comparable between the groups. From the components of MetS only immunoreactive insulin levels differed significantly (95% CI: omnivores: 5.0–7.1 μU/mL, vegetarians: 4.5–5.4, p = 0.03). Omnivores had lower AOPP (omnivores: 0.29–0.36 μmol/g albumin, vegetarians: 0.36–0.52, p = 0.01) and β‐carotene levels than vegetarians, they consumed more calories, proteins, fat and saturated fatty acids, and less fibres, β‐carotene and vitamin C. Multiple regression analysis revealed vitamin E and AOPP levels as the most important independent determinants of MetS RFs. The vegetarian diet seems to exert beneficial effects on MetS RFs associated microinflammation. Whether the vegetarian diet may counteract the deleterious effects of elevated AOPPs and AGEs, remains to be elucidated.
Study on fluorescence of Maillard reaction compounds in breakfast cereals
Authors: Delgado‐Andrade Cristina , Rufián‐Henares José A. , Morales Francisco J.
Published: August 2006

During the advanced stage of the Maillard reaction (MR) in food processing and cooking, Amadori rearrangement products undergo dehydration and fission and fluorescent substances are formed. Free and total (free + linked to the protein backbone) fluorescence (FIC) due to Maillard compounds in 60 commercial breakfast cereals was evaluated. Pronase was used for efficient release of linked fluorescent Maillard compounds from the protein backbone. Results were correlated with some heat‐induced markers of the extent of the MR or sugar caramelisation during cereal processing, such as hydroxymethylfurfural, furfural, glucosilisomaltol and furosine. The effect of sample composition (dietary‐fibre added, protein, etc.) on levels of FIC, expressed as fluorescence intensity (FI) per milligram of sample, is discussed. FIC is significantly correlated to the protein content of the sample and fluorescent Maillard compounds are mainly linked to the protein backbone. The ratio of total‐FIC to free‐FIC was 10.4‐fold for corn‐based, wheat‐based and multicereal‐based breakfast cereals but significantly higher in rice‐based samples. Addition of dietary fibre or honey increased the FIC values. Data support the usefulness of FIC measurement as an unspecific heat‐induced marker in breakfast cereals.
Computer vision based analysis of potato chips – A tool for rapid detection of acrylamide level
Authors: Gökmen Vural , Senyuva Hamide Z. , Dülek Berkan , Çetin Enis
Published: August 2006

In this study, analysis of digital color images of fried potato chips were combined with parallel LC‐MS based analysis of acrylamide in order to develop a rapid tool for the estimation of acrylamide during processing. Pixels of the fried potato image were classified into three sets based on their Euclidian distances to the representative mean values of typical bright yellow, yellowish brown, and dark brown regions using a semiautomatic segmentation algorithm. The featuring parameter extracted from the segmented image was NA2 value which was defined as the number of pixels in Set‐2 divided by the total number of pixels of the entire fried potato image. Using training images of potato chips, it was shown that there was a strong linear correlation (r = 0.989) between acrylamide level and NA2 value. Images of a number of test samples were analyzed to predict their acrylamide level by means of this correlation data. The results confirmed that computer vision system described here provided explicit and meaningful description from the viewpoint of inspection and evaluation purpose for potato chips. Assuming a provisional threshold limit of 1000 ng/g for acrylamide, test samples could be successfully inspected with only one failure out of 60 potato chips.
Analysis of 5‐hydroxymethylfurfual in coffee, dried fruits and urine
Authors: Murkovic Michael , Pichler Nicole
Published: August 2006

5‐Hydroxymethylfurfural has become a substance of interest since recent results showed a possible carcinogenic potential in consequence of a metabolic activation by sulfotransferases. 5‐Hydroxymethylfurfural is formed either by acid catalysed degradation of reducing sugars or via the Maillard reaction. This work provides an overview of foods potentially containing high amounts of 5‐hydroxymethylfurfural. It comprises dried fruits with a high sugar content that were exposed to heat for a long time. The concentration ranges from very low in, e. g. figs (1 mg/kg) to plums that contained up to 2200 mg/kg. Several types of roasted coffee were analysed that contained from 300 to 2900 mg/kg of 5‐hydroxymethylfurfural. In a small human study with seven healthy volunteers the urine excretion of unmetabolised 5‐hydroxymethylfurfural was investigated. After uptake of 20 g of plum jam containing 24 mg of 5‐hydroxymethylfurfural, 163 μg (mean) were excreted within 6 h, an equivalent of 0.75% of the ingested 5‐hydroxymethylfurfural.
Dose‐dependent utilisation of casein‐linked lysinoalanine, N(epsilon)‐fructoselysine and N(epsilon)‐carboxymethyllysine in rats
Authors: Somoza Veronika , Wenzel Elisabeth , Weiß Carola , Clawin‐Rädecker Ingrid , Grübel Nadine , Erbersdobler Helmut F.
Published: August 2006

During the heat treatment of protein‐containing foods, the amino acid lysine is most prone to undergo chemical reactions in the course of amino acid cross‐linking or Maillard reactions. Among the reaction products formed, lysinoalanine (LAL), N(epsilon)‐fructoselysine (FL) and N(epsilon)‐carboxymethyllysine (CML) are those which serve as sensitive markers for the heat treatment applied. From a nutritional perspective, these compounds are ingested with the diet in considerable amounts but information about their metabolic transit and putative in vivo effects is scarce. In the present study, casein‐linked LAL, FL and CML were administered to rats in two different doses for 10 days. Quantitation of LAL, FL and CML in plasma, tissue and faeces samples revealed that the kidneys are the predominant sites of accumulation and excretion. The maximum percent of dietary LAL, FL and CML excreted in the urine was 5.6, 5.2 and 29%, whereas the respective recoveries in the kidneys were 0.02, 26 and 1.4%. The plasma and tissue analyses revealed that the endogenous load of either compound is increased by its dietary intake. But the dose‐dependent utilisation of dietary protein‐linked LAL, FL and CML in rats has been demonstrated for the first time to vary substantially from each other.
Adapted BDF algorithms applied to parabolic problems
Authors: Vigo‐Aguiar J. , Martín‐Vaquero J. , Wade B. A.
Published: August 2006

In this article we study the application of the adaptive BDF type formulas to parabolic problems that appear in Vigo‐Aguiar et al. J Comput Appl Math 175(i1) (2004), 183–194. We discuss the properties of zero and absolute stability of high order methods. Theoretical and computational error analysis show good behavior of the new higher order methods applied to parabolic problems. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Numer Methods Partial Differential Eq 23: 350–365, 2007
Activation of STAT3 in thymic epithelial tumours correlates with tumour type and clinical behaviour
Authors: Chang K‐C , Wu M‐H , Jones D , Chen F‐F , Tseng Y‐L
Published: August 2006

The STAT3 (signal transducers and activators of transcription 3) signalling pathway plays a pivotal role in oncogenesis and appears essential for postnatal maintenance of thymic architecture and thymocyte survival. The association of STAT3 activation with thymic epithelial tumours (TETs) and myasthenia gravis (MG) has not been elucidated. In this study, 118 cases of TET and 25 non‐neoplastic thymic tissue samples were evaluated for STAT3 and phospho‐STAT3 (pSTAT3) expression immunohistochemically. In addition, 44 normal thymuses of different ages were included for comparison. It was found that STAT3 activation in thymic epithelial cells (TECs), as evidenced by pSTAT3 expression and/or nuclear STAT3, was present in the majority of non‐neoplastic thymuses (88%, 22/25), including those from young children, but not in fetal thymus. In thymoma (n = 73), activated STAT3 was noted at a significantly higher frequency in the cases of lymphocyte‐rich thymoma (ie types AB, B1, and B2, 46%, 23/50) in comparison with lymphocyte‐depleted thymoma (types A and B3, 1/23) (p = 0.009). Thymoma with activated STAT3 tended to present at an earlier stage, show complete resectability and less aggressive behaviour, and have a higher correlation with MG than the STAT3‐negative/inactive group (p < 0.05). In contrast, thymic carcinoma with activated STAT3 (14/45, 31%) had significantly higher rates of unresectability, vascular invasion, and regional lymph node metastasis (p < 0.05). These data provide the first evidence that constitutive STAT3 activation is seen in both benign and neoplastic thymic tissue and is associated with the persistence of thymic tissue and the presence of MG. It is likely to be induced by different factors in thymoma and thymic carcinoma. Copyright © 2006 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Awareness and attitude toward prenatal diagnosis of chromosomal abnormalities in patients with no access to legal termination of pregnancy
Authors: Gadow E. , Petracchi F. , Igarzabal L. , Gadow A. , Quadrelli R. , Krupitzki H.
Published: August 2006

Objective

To analyze variables affecting couples' decision making about prenatal cytogenetic diagnosis in patients with no access to legal termination of pregnancy (TOP).

Methods

Patients undergoing invasive prenatal diagnosis were anonymously surveyed after counseling and before the procedure. The questionnaire enquired about sociodemographic features, medical history, knowledge of and attitudes toward genetic testing and TOP.

Results

Two genetic units distributed 372 questionnaires. Mean maternal age was 36 ± 4 years. Access to prenatal genetic counseling was mainly patient's own initiative, or ‘self‐referral’. Most self‐referred patients (87%) considered that ‘receiving accurate information’ was the main issue. Eighty‐one per cent of all couples knew that TOP because of fetal anomalies was not legal. In case of a serious anomaly, 68.2% of patients would contemplate TOP, in spite of the risk of being exposed to an unsafe abortion.

Conclusions

In many countries, prenatal genetic testing is offered, but TOP is not available. In the present study, although most of the couples who decided to undergo prenatal genetic testing were aware of this, they still chose to perform prenatal diagnosis. The main reason given was to obtain reliable information about fetal condition. Finally, if a fetal chromosomal abnormality were detected, most of them would consider TOP. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Prenatal detection and characterization of a small supernumerary marker chromosome (sSMC) derived from chromosome 22 with apparently normal phenotype
Authors: Lin Chyi‐Chyang , Hsieh Yao‐Yuan , Wang Chung‐Hsing , Li Yueh‐Chun , Hsieh Lie‐Jiau , Lee Chien‐Chung , Tsai Chang‐Hai , Tsai Fuu‐Jen
Published: August 2006

Objective

To present prenatal findings and molecular cytogenetic characterization of a small supernumerary marker chromosome (sSMC) derived from chromosome 22 with apparently normal phenotype.

Case and Methods

An amniocentesis was performed at 15 weeks' gestation and a small marker chromosome in the female fetus of a twin pregnancy was noted. A second amniocentesis was performed at 18 weeks; G‐banding analysis on amniotic cells confirmed the small marker chromosome found in the female fetus. Both parents and the male twin fetus had normal karyotypes. Spectral karyotyping (SKY), Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) analyses with chromosomal specific whole chromosome painting probe (WCP 22) and alphoid satellite DNA probe (D22Z4) were used to identify the origin of the sSMC. The make‐up of the sSMC was characterized by further FISH studies with chromosome region specific probes. The twin babies were delivered normally at 35 weeks' gestation. The female neonate with sSMC did not show any dysmorphic features, except for a type II atrial septum defect (ASD) at birth. She was found to be developing and growing normally at her 2‐year follow‐up.

Results

Conventional G‐banding study confirmed the presence of a sSMC with bi‐satellites. SKY and FISH with D22Z4 probes showed that the marker originated from chromosome 22. FISH studies using 4 locus‐specific DNA probes in the 22q11.2 region (N25 probe to detect the D22S75 locus within the velocardiofacial syndrome/DiGeorge syndrome (VCFS/DGS) critical region, a clone to detect the Bid locus just distal to the cat eye syndrome (CES) critical region and two clones 77H2 and 109L3 to detect the proximal end of the CES critical region, (CECR2 and CECR7), did not reveal any hybridization signal with the marker chromosome. The karyotype of the fetus was 47,XX,+ mar. ish der(22) (SKY+,D22Z42 + ,CECR7−,CECR2−, BID−,D22S75−).

Conclusion

The supernumerary marker chromosome in this case was a de novo inv dup(22)(q11.2) and contained a duplicated proximal long arm region < 400 kb from the centromere; it did not appear to affect the phenotype of the child. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Prenatal Diagnosis of congenital disorder of glycosylation type Ia (CDG‐Ia) by cordocentesis and transferrin isoelectric focussing of serum of a 27‐week fetus with non‐immune hydrops
Authors: Edwards Matthew , McKenzie Fiona , O'Callaghan Stephen , Somerset David , Woodford Phillip , Spilsbury Jillian , Fietz Michael , Fletcher Janice
Published: August 2006

Blood was obtained by cordocentesis from a fetus with non‐immune hydrops demonstrated by ultrasound scanning at 27 weeks' gestation. Abnormalities of serum transferrin isoelectric focussing (IEF) were identified, characteristic of a congenital disorder of glycosylation type I (CDG‐Ia). A diagnosis of CDG‐Ia was confirmed by enzyme analysis of cultured amniocytes. This is the first report of CDG‐Ia diagnosed by serum analysis in a fetus. Previous reports have warned that diagnostic abnormalities do not appear in serum until several weeks after birth. The sensitivity of cordocentesis transferrin IEF is unknown but is less than 100% effective because cases have been diagnosed postnatally after normal prenatal or neonatal studies. Enzyme analysis or mutation analysis is required for diagnosis of congenital disorder of glycosylation (CDGs) regardless of whether a diagnostic transferrin pattern is identified prenatally. The analysis of a small sample of serum, from cordocentesis, performed to check for fetal anemia, simplified the investigation, diagnosis, and genetic counselling of a case of non‐immune hydrops detected at 27 weeks' gestation. This might be a useful test for other cases in these circumstances, as fetal blood is usually collected to check for anemia. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Polymer‐tethered ligand–receptor interactions between surfaces
Authors: Martin Jeremy I. , Zhang Cheng‐Zhong , Wang Zhen‐Gang
Published: August 2006

We study the interaction between two parallel surfaces having a polymer‐tethered ligand on one and a random distribution of receptors on the other. We examine the interplay between the specific ligand–receptor binding and the conformation degrees of freedom of the polymer tether, and address the difference between the cases of mobile (annealed) and immobile (quenched) receptors. The annealed case is solved exactly and the quenched case is treated by both Monte Carlo direct sampling and an analytical density expansion. The combination of the entropic repulsion due to chain confinement at small surface separations, and the attraction due to ligand–receptor binding which can take place at significant chain stretching, results in a minimum in the interaction free energy. For the same set of parameters, stronger binding is obtained for the annealed case than for the quenched case, reflecting the ability of the mobile receptors to migrate into the region of the ligand. In the quenched case, binding is limited by the availability of receptors within the reach of the ligand; for a given receptor density and binding energy, there exists an optimal chain length that yields the lowest minimum in the interaction free energy for the quenched case. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 44: 2621–2637, 2006
Theory of chemical bonds in metalloenzymes V: Hybrid‐DFT studies of the inorganic [8Fe–7S] core
Authors: Shoji M. , Koizumi K. , Kitagawa Y. , Yamanaka S. , Okumura M. , Yamaguchi K. , Ohki Y. , Sunada Y. , Honda M. , Tatsumi K.
Published: August 2006

The electronic and spin structures of the [8Fe–7S] inorganic model complex (1) have been investigated using the density functional theory (DFT) UB3LYP and UBLYP methods. The experimental geometry of 1 was used to calculate the sets of exchange interactions (J values) between Fe‐spin centers within spin Hamiltonian models. The experimental temperature‐dependent paramagnetism is well reproduced on the basis of the calculated J values. The calculated low‐lying energy levels are also consistent with those of the experiments. This indicates that the ground spin state of 1 is singlet (S = 0) for the weak antiferromagnetic coupling between two [4Fe–3S] cubane units, which take the Fe(III)Fe(II)3 formal charge and S = 7/2 spin states. The first‐order density matrix of the most stable broken‐symmetry (BS) solution has been diagonalized to elucidate the natural molecular orbitals (MOs) and their occupation number of 1, which are hardly obtained by the symmetry‐adapted (SA) CASSCF approach. Several chemical indices such as the effective bond orders before and after spin projection are also calculated by using the occupation numbers to provide the SA MO picture of labile chemical bonds of 1. It is found that the BS MO calculation followed by spin‐projected SA analysis is an effective and practical alternative to the CASSCF MO approach for the multinuclear transition metal clusters. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2006
Fungi Use Efficient Algorithms for the Exploration of Microfluidic Networks
Authors: Hanson Kristi L. , Nicolau Dan V. , Filipponi Luisa , Wang Lisen , Lee Abraham P. , Nicolau Dan V.
Published: August 2006

Fungi, in particular, basidiomycetous fungi, are very successful in colonizing microconfined mazelike networks (for example, soil, wood, leaf litter, plant and animal tissues), a fact suggesting that they may be efficient solving agents of geometrical problems. We therefore evaluated the growth behavior and optimality of fungal space‐searching algorithms in microfluidic mazes and networks. First, we found that fungal growth behavior was indeed strongly modulated by the geometry of microconfinement. Second, the fungus used a complex growth and space‐searching strategy comprising two algorithmic subsets: 1) long‐range directional memory of individual hyphae and 2) inducement of branching by physical obstruction. Third, stochastic simulations using experimentally measured parameters showed that this strategy maximizes both survival and biomass homogeneity in microconfined networks and produces optimal results only when both algorithms are synergistically used. This study suggests that even simple microorganisms have developed adequate strategies to solve nontrivial geometrical problems.
Attachment of Streptavidin to β‐Cyclodextrin Molecular Printboards via Orthogonal Host–Guest and Protein–Ligand Interactions
Authors: Ludden Manon J. W. , Péter Mária , Reinhoudt David N. , Huskens Jurriaan
Published: August 2006

Streptavidin (SAv) is attached to β‐cyclodextrin (β‐CD) self‐assembled monolayers (SAMs) via orthogonal host–guest and SAv–biotin interactions. The orthogonal linkers consist of a biotin functionality for binding to SAv and adamantyl functionalities for host–guest interactions at β‐CD SAMs. SAv complexed to excess monovalent linker in solution and then attached to a β‐CD SAM could be removed by rinsing with a 10 mM β‐CD solution. When SAv was attached to the β‐CD SAM via the divalent linker, it was impossible to remove SAv from the surface by the same rinsing procedure. This is interpreted by assuming that two SAv binding pockets are oriented towards the β‐CD SAM resulting in (labile) divalent and (stable) tetravalent β‐CD‐adamantyl interactions for the mono‐ and divalent linkers, respectively. This was confirmed by experiments at varying β‐CD concentrations. When the [linker]/[SAv] ratio is reduced, a clear trend in the divalent‐linker case is seen: the less linker the more protein could be removed from the surface. It is proven that the orthogonality of the binding motifs and the stability of the divalent linker at the β‐CD SAM allows the stepwise assembly of the complex at the β‐CD SAM by first adsorbing the linker, followed by SAv. This stepwise assembly allows the controlled heterofunctionalization of surface‐immobilized SAv.
UNEXPECTED CONTEXTS: VIEWS OF MUSIC IN A NARRATIVE OF THE GREAT SCHISM
Authors: Pieragostini Renata
Published: August 2006

On 11 November 1417, the election at the Council of Constance (1414–18) of Oddo Colonna as Pope Martin V brought to an end a period of almost forty years of instability and crisis within the Church, which had begun with the outbreak of the Schism in 1378. After his consecration, the new pope set out to return to Rome, intending to re-establish there the Holy See, while the Council continued. Martin V entered Rome in September 1420, after travelling through Geneva, Pavia, Mantua, Milan and Florence. In the latter city he resided for almost two years, from 26 February 1419 to 9 September 1420. It was most likely during the pope's residence there that an Italian student in law, Antonio Baldana, wrote and dedicated to him a peculiar work: a narrative of the Schism written in the form of prophecy, in a mixture of prose and verse, Latin and Italian, and accompanied by thirty watercolour illustrations. The only known surviving version of this work is contained in a manuscript now preserved in Parma, Biblioteca Palatina, as MS Parmense 1194. The manuscript has been studied primarily for its iconography, while its musical implications, which form the subject of the present study, have so far passed unnoticed. In fact, as we shall see, Baldana's work is also designed as a framework for a discussion encompassing the disciplines of trivium and quadrivium – a small encyclopedia, where a distinctive connection is drawn between rhetoric, astrology and music.