bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Activation of ubiquitin-proteasome pathway is involved in skeletal muscle wasting in a rat model with biliary cirrhosis: potential role of TNF-α
Authors: Lin Shih-Yi , Chen Wen-Yin , Lee Fa-Yauh , Huang Ching-Jang , Sheu Wayne Huey-Herng
Published: November 2004

Hepatic cirrhosis is associated with negative nitrogen balance and loss of lean body mass. This study aimed to identify the specific proteolytic pathways activated in skeletal muscles of cirrhotic rats. TNF-α can stimulate muscle proteolysis; therefore, a potential relationship between TNF-α and muscle wasting in liver cirrhosis was also evaluated. Cirrhosis was induced by bile duct ligation (BDL) in male adult Sprague-Dawley rats. mRNA and protein levels of various targets were determined by RT-PCR and Western blotting, respectively. The proteolytic rate was measured ex vivo using isolated muscles. Compared with sham-operated controls, BDL rats had an increased degradation rate of muscle proteins and enhanced gene expression of ubiquitin, 14-kDa ubiquitin carrier protein E2, and the proteasome subunits C2 and C8 ( P < 0.01). The muscle protein levels of free ubiquitin and conjugated ubiquitin levels were also elevated ( P < 0.01). However, there was no difference between the two groups with regard to cathepsin and calpain mRNA levels. Cirrhotic muscle TNF-α levels were increased and correlated positively with free and conjugated ubiquitin ( P < 0.01). We conclude that the ubiquitin-proteasome system is involved in muscle wasting of rats with BDL-induced cirrhosis. TNF-α might play a role in mediating activation of this proteolytic pathway, probably through a local mechanism.
Abnormal EGF-dependent regulation of sodium absorption in ARPKD collecting duct cells
Authors: Veizis I. Elias , Cotton Calvin U.
Published: November 2004

Amiloride-sensitive sodium entry, via the epithelial sodium channel (ENaC), is the rate-limiting step for Na+absorption in kidney collecting ducts, and epidermal growth factor (EGF) inhibits Na+transport and ENaC expression. A pathognomonic feature of polycystic kidney disease (PKD) is EGF receptor mislocalization to the apical plasma membrane and EGF/EGF receptor axis overactivity. Immunohistochemical and biochemical analysis revealed mislocalization of EGF receptor and excessive activation of the p42/44 extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase pathway (ERK1/2) in kidneys from cystic mice compared with noncystic littermates. Primary monolayer cultures of noncystic and cystic murine collecting duct principal cells were used to identify aberrant EGF-dependent ERK1/2 activation and regulation of Na+transport associated with autosomal recessive PKD. Addition of EGF to the basolateral bathing solution of noncystic or cystic monolayers led to p42/44 phosphorylation and inhibition of Na+transport (30–35%), whereas apical EGF was effective only in monolayers derived from cystic mice. p42/44 Phosphorylation and inhibition of Na+transport were prevented by prior treatment of the cells with an ERK kinase inhibitor. Chronic treatment (24 h) of noncystic and cystic monolayers with basolateral EGF elicited sustained inhibition of Na+absorption (50–55%) and a reduction in steady-state ENaC mRNA levels (50–75%). In contrast, addition of EGF to the apical bathing solution (24 h) had no effect in noncystic monolayers but led to inhibition of Na+transport (50–60%) and decreased ENaC expression (45–60%) in cystic cells. Pretreatment of the monolayers with an ERK kinase inhibitor abolished the chronic effects of EGF on Na+transport. The results of these studies reveal that the mislocalized apical EGF receptors are functionally coupled to the ERK pathway and that abnormal EGF-dependent regulation of ENaC function and expression may contribute to PKD pathophysiology.
Ipsilateral Motor Cortex Activity During Unimanual Hand Movements Relates to Task Complexity
Authors: Verstynen Timothy , Diedrichsen Jörn , Albert Neil , Aparicio Paul , Ivry Richard B.
Published: November 2004

Functional imaging studies have revealed recruitment of ipsilateral motor areas during the production of sequential unimanual finger movements. This phenomenon is more prominent in the left hemisphere during left-hand movements than in the right hemisphere during right-hand movements. Here we investigate whether this lateralization pattern is related specifically to the sequential structure of the unimanual action or generalizes to other complex movements. Using event-related fMRI, we measured activation changes in the motor cortex during three types of unimanual movements: repetitions of a sequence of movements with multiple fingers, repetitive “chords” composed of three simultaneous key presses, and simple repetitive tapping movements with a single finger. During sequence and chord movements, strong ipsilateral activation was observed and was especially pronounced in the left hemisphere during left-hand movements. This pattern was evident for both right-handed and, to a lesser degree, left-handed individuals. Ipsilateral activation was less pronounced in the tapping condition. The site of ipsilateral activation was shifted laterally, ventrally, and anteriorly with respect to that observed during contralateral movements and the time course of activation implied a role in the execution rather than planning of the movement. A control experiment revealed that strong ipsilateral activity in left motor cortex is specific to complex movements and does not depend on the number of required muscles. These findings indicate a prominent role of left hemisphere in the execution of complex movements independent of the sequential nature of the task.
Glutamate Neurotransmission Is Not Required for, But May Modulate, Hypoxic Sensitivity of Pre-Bötzinger Complex In Vivo
Authors: Solomon Irene C.
Published: November 2004

Focal hypoxia in the pre-Bötzinger complex (pre-BötC) in vivo elicits excitation of inspiratory motor output by modifying the patterning and timing of phrenic bursts. Hypoxia, however, has been reported to enhance glutamate release in some regions of the brain, including the medullary ventral respiratory column; thus the pre-BötC–mediated hypoxic respiratory excitation may result from, or be influenced by, hypoxia-induced activation of ionotropic glutamate [i.e., excitatory amino acid (EAA)] receptors. To test this possibility, the effects of focal pre-BötC hypoxia [induced by sodium cyanide (NaCN)] were examined before and after blockade of ionotropic EAA receptors [using kynurenic acid (KYN)] in this region in chloralose-anesthetized, vagotomized, mechanically ventilated cats. Before blockade of ionotropic EAA receptors, unilateral microinjection of NaCN (1 mM; 10–20 nl) into the pre-BötC produced either phasic or tonic excitation of phrenic nerve discharge. Unilateral microinjection of KYN (50–100 mM; 40 nl) decreased the amplitude and frequency of basal phrenic nerve discharge; however, subsequent microinjection of NaCN, but not dl-homocysteic acid (DLH, a glutamate analog), still produced excitation of phrenic motor output. Under these conditions, the NaCN-induced excitation included frequency modulation (FM) of phasic phrenic bursts, and in many cases, augmented and/or fractionated phrenic bursts. These findings show that the hypoxia-sensing function of the in vivo pre-BötC, which produces excitation of phrenic nerve discharge, is not dependent on activation of ionotropic glutamate receptors, but ionotropic glutamate receptor activation may modify the expression of the focal hypoxia-induced response. Thus these findings provide additional support to the concept of intrinsic hypoxic sensitivity of the pre-BötC.
Synchronization in Hybrid Neuronal Networks of the Hippocampal Formation
Authors: Netoff Theoden I. , Banks Matthew I. , Dorval Alan D. , Acker Corey D. , Haas Julie S. , Kopell Nancy , White John A.
Published: November 2004

Understanding the mechanistic bases of neuronal synchronization is a current challenge in quantitative neuroscience. We studied this problem in two putative cellular pacemakers of the mammalian hippocampal theta rhythm: glutamatergic stellate cells (SCs) of the medial entorhinal cortex and GABAergic oriens-lacunosum-moleculare (O-LM) interneurons of hippocampal region CA1. We used two experimental methods. First, we measured changes in spike timing induced by artificial synaptic inputs applied to individual neurons. We then measured responses of free-running hybrid neuronal networks, consisting of biological neurons coupled (via dynamic clamp) to biological or virtual counterparts. Results from the single-cell experiments predicted network behaviors well and are compatible with previous model-based predictions of how specific membrane mechanisms give rise to empirically measured synchronization behavior. Both cell types phase lock stably when connected via homogeneous excitatory-excitatory (E-E) or inhibitory-inhibitory (I-I) connections. Phase-locked firing is consistently synchronous for either cell type with E-E connections and nearly anti-synchronous with I-I connections. With heterogeneous connections (e.g., excitatory-inhibitory, as might be expected if members of a given population had heterogeneous connections involving intermediate interneurons), networks often settled into phase locking that was either stable or unstable, depending on the order of firing of the two cells in the hybrid network. Our results imply that excitatory SCs, but not inhibitory O-LM interneurons, are capable of synchronizing in phase via monosynaptic mutual connections of the biologically appropriate polarity. Results are largely independent of synaptic strength and synaptic kinetics, implying that our conclusions are robust and largely unaffected by synaptic plasticity.
Coenzyme Q10 Combined With Mild Hypothermia After Cardiac Arrest
Authors: Damian Maxwell Simon , Ellenberg Diana , Gildemeister Ramona , Lauermann Jörg , Simonis Gregor , Sauter Wolfgang , Georgi Christian
Published: November 2004

Background—

Therapeutic hypothermia can improve survival after cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) has shown a protective effect in neurodegenerative disorders. We investigated whether combining mild hypothermia with CoQ10 after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest provides additional benefit.

Methods and Results—

Forty-nine patients were randomly assigned to either hypothermia plus CoQ10 or hypothermia plus placebo after CPR. Hypothermia with a core temperature of 35°C was instituted for 24 hours. Liquid CoQ10 250 mg followed by 150 mg TID for 5 days or placebo was administered through nasogastric tube. Age, sex, premorbidity, cause of arrest, conditions of CPR, and degree of hypoxia were similar in both groups; no side effects of CoQ10 were identified. Three-month survival in the CoQ10 group was 68% (17 of 25) and 29% (7 of 24) in the placebo group (
P
=0.0413). Nine CoQ10 patients versus 5 placebo patients survived with a Glasgow Outcome Scale of 4 or 5. Mean serum S100 protein 24 hours after CPR was significantly lower in the CoQ10 group (0.47 versus 3.5 ng/mL).

Conclusions—

Combining CoQ10 with mild hypothermia immediately after CPR appears to improve survival and may improve neurological outcome in survivors.
Multiscale Motion Mapping
Authors: Sühling Michael , Jansen Christian , Arigovindan Muthuvel , Buser Peter , Marsch Stephan , Unser Michael , Hunziker Patrick
Published: November 2004

Background—

Objective, quantitative, segmental noninvasive/bedside measurement of cardiac motion is highly desirable in cardiovascular medicine, but current technology suffers from significant drawbacks, such as subjectivity of conventional echocardiographic reading, angle dependence of tissue Doppler measurements, radiation exposure by computer tomography, and infrastructure requirements in MRI. We hypothesized that computer vision technology could represent a powerful new paradigm for quantification in echocardiography.

Methods and Results—

We present multiscale motion mapping, a novel computer vision technology that is based on mathematical image processing and that exploits echocardiographic information in a fashion similar to the human visual system. It allows Doppler- and border-independent determination of motion and deformation in echocardiograms at arbitrary locations. Correctness of the measurements was documented in synthetic echocardiograms and phantom experiments. Exploratory case studies demonstrated its usefulness in a series of complex motion analyses that included abnormal septal motion and analysis of myocardial twisting. Clinical applicability was shown in a consecutive series of echocardiograms, in which good feasibility, good correlation with expert rating, and good intraobserver and interobserver concordance were documented. Separate assessment of 2D displacement and deformation at the same location was successfully applied to elucidate paradoxical septal motion, a common clinical problem.

Conclusions—

This is the first clinical report of multiscale motion mapping, a novel approach to echocardiographic motion quantification. For the first time, full 2D echocardiographic assessment of both motion and deformation is shown to be feasible. Overcoming current limitations, this computer vision–based technique opens a new door to objective analysis of complex heart motion.
Testosterone Induces Cytoprotection by Activating ATP-Sensitive K
+
Channels in the Cardiac Mitochondrial Inner Membrane
Authors: Er Fikret , Michels Guido , Gassanov Natig , Rivero Francisco , Hoppe Uta C.
Published: November 2004

Background—

Whereas in the past, androgens were mainly believed to exert adverse effects on the cardiovascular system, recent experimental data postulate a benefit of testosterone for recovery of myocardial function after ischemia/reperfusion injury. Thus, we examined whether testosterone might improve myocardial tolerance to ischemia due to activation of mitochondrial (mitoK
ATP
) and/or sarcoplasmatic (sarcK
ATP
) K
ATP
channels.

Methods and Results—

In a cellular model of ischemia, testosterone significantly decreased the rate of ischemia-induced death of cardiomyocytes that could be prevented by 5-hydroxydecainoic acid but was unaffected by the sarcK
ATP
blocker HMR1098 and the testosterone receptor antagonist flutamide. To index mitoK
ATP
, mitochondrial flavoprotein fluorescence was measured. Testosterone induced a highly significant increase in mitochondrial flavoprotein fluorescence in intact myocytes and isolated mitoplasts that could be abolished by 5-hydroxydecainoic acid. Testosterone-mediated flavoprotein oxidation of mitoplasts was K
+
dependent and ATP sensitive. In mitoplast-attached single-channel recordings, testosterone directly activated an ATP-sensitive K
+
channel of the inner mitochondrial membrane. Addition of the K
ATP
channel opener diazoxide and pinacidil to the cytosolic solution activated the ATP-sensitive K
+
current comparable to testosterone, whereas 5-hydroxydecainoic acid and glibenclamide inhibited the testosterone-induced current. Patch-clamp experiments of intact myocytes in whole-cell configuration did not demonstrate any effect of testosterone on sarcK
ATP
channels.

Conclusions—

Our results provide direct evidence for the existence of cardiac mitoK
ATP
and a link between testosterone-induced cytoprotection and activation of mitoK
ATP
. Endogenous testosterone might play a more important role in recovery after myocardial infarction than is currently assumed.
Value of Noncontact Mapping for Identifying Left Ventricular Scar in an Ovine Model
Authors: Thiagalingam Aravinda , Wallace Elisabeth M. , Campbell Craig R. , Boyd Anita C. , Eipper Vicki E. , Byth Karen , Ross David L. , Kovoor Pramesh
Published: November 2004

Background—

We assessed the hypothesis that “virtual electrograms” from a noncontact mapping system (EnSite 3000) could be used to localize myocardial scar.

Methods and Results—

Myocardial infarctions were induced in sheep by inflating an angioplasty balloon in the left anterior descending coronary artery for 3 hours. Scar mapping was performed on 8 sheep without inducible ventricular tachycardia by use of the noncontact mapping system and a 256-channel contact mapping system. Transmural mapping needles were inserted into myocardial regions that were (1) scarred, (2) peripheral to the scar, and (3) distant from the scar. Unipolar electrograms were exported from both systems and analyzed on a personal computer workstation. The percentage of myocardial scarring at each needle site was assessed histologically. Pearson’s correlation was used to assess the degree of association between various electrogram characteristics and the presence of myocardial scarring. The only noncontact electrogram characteristic that showed any association with the presence of myocardial scarring was the negative slope duration (contact,
r
=0.62,
P
<0.001; noncontact,
r
=0.23,
P
=0.004). The other electrogram characteristics studied were electrogram maximal deflection (contact,
r
=0.38,
P
<0.001; noncontact,
r
=0.03,
P
=0.75) and minimal slope (contact,
r
=0.42,
P
<0.001; noncontact,
r
=0.05,
P
=0.54).

Conclusions—

Noncontact electrograms do not reliably identify ventricular scar. Alternative strategies such as importing computed tomography images into the geometry should be used when scar localization is important.
Hypertension and RhoA/Rho-Kinase Signaling in the Vasculature
Authors: Lee Dexter L. , Webb R. Clinton , Jin Liming
Published: November 2004

Under normal conditions, contractile activity in vascular smooth muscle is initiated by either receptor activation (norepinephrine, angiotensin II, etc.) or by a stretch-activated mechanism. After this activation, several signaling pathways can initiate a Ca
2+
-calmodulin interaction to stimulate phosphorylation of the light chain of myosin. Ca
2+
sensitization of the contractile proteins is signaled by the RhoA/Rho-kinase pathway to inhibit the dephosphorylation of the light chain by myosin phosphatase thereby maintaining force generation. In opposition to force generation, NO is released from endothelial cells and causes vasodilation through inhibition of the RhoA/Rho-kinase signaling pathway. This brief review will highlight recent studies demonstrating a role for the RhoA/Rho-kinase signaling pathway in the increased vasoconstriction characteristic of hypertension.
Sex Differences in Feeding Behaviour at Feeding Station Scale in Soay Sheep (Ovis Aries)
Authors: Walker  , Gordon  , Pérez-Barbería
Published: November 2004

Herbivorous ungulates live in a spatially heterogeneous environment making foraging decisions at a range of hierarchical scales, from bite size to landscape. We investigated the factors that control intake rate in Soay sheep (Ovis aries) when discrete items of food were sparsely distributed at the feeding station scale. Within the feeding station we varied the difficulty of accessing food, distance between items of food, difficulty of finding the food and complexity of the feeding station and recorded how intake rate responded in relation to body size, mouth size and the sex of the animal. Our findings demonstrated how increasing difficulty of accessing food, and increasing complexity of the feeding station negatively affected intake rate. The expected mechanistic response that smaller animals or animals with smaller mouth size were better at handling discrete small items of food, was overridden by individual and sexual differences in behaviour. We also considered that intake rate within a feeding station could be maximised by optimising the spatial pattern of offtake, and the results clearly indicated that both sexes tended to show clustered patterns of offtake. Animals of the same sex responded in a similar way to the difficulty in handling food items; males persevered more than females and consequently were less handicaped by having larger mouths. We discussed these results in relation to behavioural and body mass differences between the sexes and animals.
Degradation of Great Tit (Parus Major) Song Before And After Foliation: Implications for Vocal Communication in a Deciduous Forest
Authors: Blumenrath Sandra , Dabelsteen Torben
Published: November 2004

Songbirds living in temperate forests experience great seasonal changes in habitat acoustics during the part of the breeding season when singing activity is high. These changes, which are brought about by accelerated vegetation growth and leaf burst in spring, affect sound propagation and potentially render vocal communication more difficult as the total number of scattering and absorbing obstacles increases. We investigated this in a sound transmission experiment in which representative great tit (Parus major) songs were broadcast in a typical forest habitat before and after foliation. Speaker and microphone were placed at natural separation distances and in typical sender and receiver positions. For each song note we quantified several aspects of sound degradation and found that they all increased considerably when leaves were present. Before foliation the same amount of degradation would only be obtained by doubling the transmission distance, i.e. foliage shortens the active space of great tit song. This inevitably alters distance information, provided that distance-dependent, structural changes of received songs are used as ranging cues. Moreover, sender and receiver positions within the canopy become unfavourable compared to heights just below the canopy when the aim is to maximise song propagation distances. Altogether, the presence of foliage greatly affects the potential for vocal information transfer in great tits and requires behavioural and/or perceptual adjustment of the communicating individuals to counteract or reduce the impact of foliage on signal degradation.
Behavioral Evidence for the Cutaneous Expression Of Emotion in a Chimpanzee (Pan Troglodytes)
Authors: Leavens David , Hopkins William , Aureli Filippo
Published: November 2004

Self-directed behaviors (SDBs) are behavioral indicators of stress, but have received relatively little experimental scrutiny. The present study reports the distribution of SDBs in a 14-year-old male chimpanzee in relation to performance on a matching-to-sample task of varying difficulty. The rate of rubbing behaviors (self-touching with the hand without any raking motion of the fingernails) was positively correlated with performance, whereas scratching rates were negatively correlated with performance. SDBs were displayed predominantly with the left hand during sessions of high performance (low task difficulty), with a shift toward the right hand during sessions of low performance (high task difficulty). SDBs were exhibited relatively more with the right hand after incorrect responses (and secondary negative reinforcer) than after correct responses (and secondary positive reinforcer). Rubs directed to the face were displayed relatively more often to the right side after incorrect responses, compared to rubs displayed after correct responses, whereas scratching was directed relatively more often to the left side of the body after incorrect responses, compared to scratching displayed after correct responses. Rough scratching was displayed more quickly after auditory feedback on performance than were rubs or gentle scratches. Rubs were directed more to the face (trigeminal) and scratches more to the body (spinothalamic). Taken together, these results suggest that there may be asymmetrical central nervous system processing of negative emotion by chimpanzees during cognitive tasks.
The effect of mycorrhization of potato roots on the hatching chemicals active towards the potato cyst nematodes, Globodera pallida and G. rostochiensis
Authors: Ryan Aileen , Jones Peter
Published: November 2004

Comparison of potato root leachates (PRL) collected from the roots of mycorrhizal (using the mixed-isolate inoculum, Vaminoc) and non-mycorrhizal potato cv. Golden Wonder confirmed that mycorrhization caused a significant increase in hatching activity towards Globodera pallida but not G. rostochiensis. After fractionating the leachates by low pressure molecular exclusion/anion exchange liquid chromatography, several potato cyst nematode (PCN) species-specific hatching factors (HF) were found only in PRL from mycorrhizal plants. Leachate from mycorrhizal plants also contained more of several of those HF common to PRL from both mycorrhizal and non-mycorrhizal plants. Significantly more hatching factor stimulants (HS) active towards both PCN species were found in the PRL from mycorrhizal than from non-mycorrhizal plants; several HS were specific to mycorrhizal plants. No differences (quantitative or qualitative) were observed in hatching inhibitor (HI) levels between PRL from mycorrhizal and non-mycorrhizal plants. Mycorrhization of potato plants resulted in a 20% increase in carbon but a 48% decrease in nitrogen concentrations of the PRL compared to that from the non-mycorrhizal plants.
Competition between two phenotypes of the nematophagous fungus ARF in infecting eggs of Heterodera glycines and effect of soil depth on parasitism by ARF
Authors: Wang Kening , Riggs Robert , Crippen Devany
Published: November 2004

The sterile nematophagous fungus ARF (Arkansas fungus) had been separated into two phenotypes based on morphological differences: those with compact sclerotium-like-structures (SLS) (ARF-C), and those with loose SLS (ARF-L). The ARF-L isolate TN14 had been more effective than the ARF-C isolate BG2 in suppressing nematode numbers in glasshouse studies, and the BG2 isolate had been more virulent in in vitro tests. No tests had been conducted on the effect of depth in the soil on the level of parasitism by ARF. The objectives of this study were to determine: i) which isolate is more competitive in field microplots by comparing isolation frequency of the two fungal strains from parasitised eggs of Heterodera glycines; and ii) whether parasitism by ARF varies with soil depth (0-10, 10-20, 20-30 cm deep). TN14 was isolated more frequently than BG2, irrespective of whether the original mixture of BG2 and TN14 was 50% TN14 + 50% BG2, 75% TN14 + 25% BG2, or 25% TN14 + 75% BG2. The percentage of parasitised eggs of H. glycines by ARF was different for the 0-10 cm soil layer vs the 10-20 cm soil layer, or the 0-10 cm soil layer vs the 20-30 cm soil layer. Parasitism by ARF was greatest at a soil depth of 10-20 cm. This would correspond with the level where the root concentration and numbers of cysts should be greatest.
Morphological and molecular characterisation of Steinernema hermaphroditum n. sp. (Nematoda: Steinernematidae), an entomopathogenic nematode from Indonesia, and its phylogenetic relationships with other members of the genus
Authors: Stock S. Patricia , Griffin Christine T. , Chaerani Rani
Published: November 2004

Steinernema hermaphroditum n. sp., a new entomopathogenic nematode isolated
from soil samples in the Moluccan islands, Indonesia, is described.
Morphological observations as well as biological evidence
(cross-hybridisation studies) indicate the distinctness of S. hermaphroditum
n. sp. from other Steinernema spp. This new species is characterised by the
presence of hermaphrodites in the first adult generation. Key morphological
diagnostic characters include: a digitate tail with a mucro and a glandular
spermatheca filled with sperm in the first generation hermaphrodite; the
value of D%; the morphology of the male spicules and gubernaculum and the
number and arrangement of the genital papillae; the values of D%, E% and the
pattern of the lateral field of the third-stage infective juvenile.
Additionally, molecular evidence obtained from ITS rDNA RFLP profiles, 28S
rDNA sequence analyses, and phylogenetic reconstruction provide further
evidence to establish this nematode as a new species.
High-pressure freezing and freeze substitution of gravid Caenorhabditis elegans (Nematoda: Rhabditida) for transmission electron microscopy
Authors: Claeys Myriam , Vanhecke Dimitri , Couvreur Marjolein , Tytgat Tom , Coomans August , Borgonie Gaëtan
Published: November 2004

Because chemical fixatives have a profound negative influence on tissue
morphology and antigenicity, alternative fixation methods must be applied
for some purposes. In this work we used high-pressure freezing (HPF)
followed by freeze substitution to maximally preserve antigenicity and
morphology. We developed a pipette method for bringing living Caenorhabditis
elegans nematodes into the HPF recipient. Using cellulose tubes, it is
possible to select individual nematodes for fixation. We were able to HPF
complete adults and preserve the morphology in an enhanced fashion compared
to chemically fixed tissue. Cellular organelles, especially mitochondria,
were much better preserved. Uterine embryos protected by the intact eggshell
were excellently preserved without the need for elaborate techniques.
Antigenicity with MH27 and ICB4 antisera was tested. With the MH27 serum, an
adequate, reproducible, specific binding pattern with chemically fixed
tissue could only be achieved using purified antibodies, whereas with
highpressure freezing, unpurified MH27 antisera was effective. For ICB4
antisera, a reproducible specific binding pattern was achieved at a
concentration of primary antiserum 1000 × lower than that for chemically
fixed tissue.
Neurophenomenology of the Supernatural Sense in Religion
Authors: Peters Frederic
Published: November 2004

The great majority of scholarly definitions of "religion" center around some notion involving experience or awareness of a supernatural dimension (forces, entities). This sense of the supernatural has been found in virtually all human societies extending back into paleolithic times. Advances in neuroscientific research technology have made it possible to assert that phenomenal experience is in fact a form of brain activity; the two are identical. This naturally leads us to inquire as to why and how a brain evolving to serve the needs of survival and replication in a harsh natural environment should have developed the capacity and evident propensity to generate a sense of the supernatural. Psychology has recently identified a set of three primitive interpretive modules dedicated to generating a sense of causative essence. These modules are located in areas of the brain whose representational output can be experienced as non-material, like the stream of thought, rather than as external physical landscape. These non-physical neurophenomenal essences are identical to the three forms of otherworldly spirit essence found throughout human religious history, and they form the basis of the multi-layered neurophenomenal complex comprising the sense of the supernatural.
Catastrophic Cervical Spine Injuries in the Collision Sport Athlete, Part 2
Authors: Banerjee Rahul , Palumbo Mark A. , Fadale Paul D.
Published: November 2004

Catastrophic cervical spine injuries can lead to devastating consequences for the collision athlete. Improved understanding of these injuries can lead to identification of risk factors, early diagnosis, and effective on-field management. This article is the second in a 2-part series. The first part, published in the June 2004 issue, reviewed the current concepts regarding the epidemiology, functional anatomy, and diagnostic considerations relevant to cervical spine trauma in collision sports. In this article, the principles of on-field emergency care of the spine-injured athlete are reviewed. The authors discuss the need for effective pre-event planning, on-field evaluation and management of cervical spine injuries, and the transition of care from the playing field to the emergency room. The protocol for equipment removal, when necessary, is also reviewed. An organized, rapid approach to the management of cervical spine–injured collision athletes can help to optimize the outcomes of these catastrophic injuries.
Evaluation and Treatment of Posterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries
Authors: Wind William M. , Bergfeld John A. , Parker Richard D.
Published: November 2004

Current knowledge and treatment of posterior cruciate ligament injuries continue to lag behind that of anterior cruciate ligament injuries. This is the result of the relative infrequency of posterior cruciate ligament injuries and the lack of consensus with respect to its natural history, surgical indications, technique, and postoperative rehabilitation. Recent anatomical and biomechanical studies have improved our understanding of the posterior cruciate ligament in an attempt to reproduce its anatomy and function during reconstruction. The following is a comprehensive review on the evaluation and treatment of posterior cruciate ligament injuries with special focus on the current surgical techniques.
Focused Reflection Reminiscence Group for Elders: Implementation and Evaluation
Authors: Zauszniewski Jaclene A. , Eggenschwiler Karen , Preechawong Sunida , Chung ChaeWeon , Airey Tonya F. , Wilke Patricia A. , Morris Diana L. , Roberts Beverly L.
Published: November 2004

The majority of elders have at least one or more chronic conditions. Functional decline coupled with increased dependence can make elders more vulnerable to negative emotions. Reminiscence can be useful in maintaining a healthy psychological adaptation in the later years of life. This study examined the effectiveness of a specific type of reminiscence in reducing negative emotions in 32 elders residing in retirement communities. This type of reminiscence, called focused reflection, was organized into six weekly, 2-hour group sessions, each with a specific theme. Paired t tests suggested that the focused reflection program reduced symptoms of depression and anxiety but not those reflecting agitation. Overall, the participants gave high ratings to the program. Health care providers should develop focused reflection reminiscence programs to enhance the psychological well-being of elders. Further testing of the focused reflection in larger groups of elders is recommended.
The Influence of Osteoporosis on the Marital Relationship of Older Couples
Authors: Roberto Karen A. , Gold Deborah T. , Yorgason Jeremy B.
Published: November 2004

Thirty-four older wives and their husbands participated in interviews about adaptation to the wives’osteoporosis and its influence on their relationship. For most couples, the wives’osteopo-rosis resulted in changes in the structure of their marital relationship but not the overall quality of the marriage. Discrepancies in pain perceptions were associated with lower marital adjustment for wives but not for husbands. The findings suggest the need to focus on the dynamics of the marital relationship to understand chronic illness in late-life families.
Agility and Balance Differ Between Older Community and Retirement Facility Residents
Authors: Kang Kyung-Hwan , White Karen N. , Hayes Wilson C. , Snow Christine M.
Published: November 2004

The aim of this cross-sectional study was to determine whether agility and static balance differ between older adults living in the community (n = 169) and those living in retirement facilities (n = 172). Participants underwent tests of agility (timed Up & Go, tandem gait, reaction time, and lateral stepping velocity) and static balance (body sway, eyes open and closed while standing normally; body sway, eyes open while standing semitandem). A MANCOVA revealed that older adults living in retirement facilities demonstrated 20% to 21% slower values of tandem gait, reaction time, and lateral stepping velocity than community-dwelling residents (p <. 0001). Retirement-dwelling residents had 411% greater sway while standing in a normal position and 79% greater sway while standing in a semitandem position (p <. 01). In conclusion, older adults living in the community performed better on tests of agility and balance than older adults living in retirement facilities.
Psychosocial Factors Associated With Acceptance of Old Age Home Placement: A Study of Elderly Chinese in Hong Kong
Authors: Wu Anise Man Sze , Tang Catherine So-kum , Yan Elsie Chau-wai
Published: November 2004

This study examined psychosocial factors associated with the acceptance of long-term placement in old age homes (OAHs) among 185 elderly Chinese in Hong Kong. Participants were recruited from local community centers for elderly people and were individually interviewed on their willingness to enter OAHs, attitudes toward OAHs, perceived mental and physical health status, and beliefs about filial piety and independence. Results showed that only 20% of the participants indicated their willingness to enter OAHs in the coming 6 months. Among depicted services and facilities in OAHs, participants rated the quality of OAH staff as the most important, whereas the choice of food and mealtimes were viewed as the least important. Participants were more willing to enter OAHs if depicted services and facilities were provided at OAHs. Findings of the hierarchical regression analysis revealed that salient correlates of willingness to enter OAHs were positive attitudes toward OAHs, poor perceived physical health, male gender, and a low need for independence. Prior visits to OAHs and filial piety beliefs were unrelated to participants’acceptance of OAH care. Service and policy implications in promoting elderly people’s sense of autonomy and acceptance of OAH care, reducing the cost of placement in OAHs, and ensuring the quality of services and care in OAHs are also discussed.
Is Sprawl Unhealthy?
Authors: Kelly-Schwartz Alexia C. , Stockard Jean , Doyle Scott , Schlossberg Marc
Published: November 2004

This article addresses the contention that urban sprawl influences general health through physical activity, obesity, and the presence of chronic disease. Data on individual health is obtained from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey III study in 29 primary metropolitan statistical areas, and data on sprawl are from Ewing et al. Using hierarchical modeling, the results indicate that even with strong controls for individual variables, residents of areas with more highly accessible and gridded street networks have higher health ratings. At the same time, residents of more densely populated urban areas have lower rated health, net of individual-level measures. Measures of sprawl have no significant relationship to frequency of walking, body mass index, or diagnosis of various chronic diseases. However, among those with chronic conditions, including hypertension, diabetes, and lung disease, those who live in areas with more highly connected street networks have higher rated health.
Local Knowledge in Action
Authors: Van Herzele Ann
Published: November 2004

This article examines the value of local knowledge in the creative phase of planning practice. It uses the case study of an urban renewal project in Antwerp to explore the ways that workshop participants made sense of the planning situation. Analysis of the “talks” identified shared interpretive “frames” employed by the lay participants. The article goes on to discuss how distinctive these were from the professionals’ perspectives and what the consequences were for the material outcomes of the planning process. It was concluded that the public input was used to making adjustments to planning solutions rather than formulating new interpretations of the planning situation itself.
Overcoming Barriers to Ecologically Sensitive Land Management
Authors: Thompson Robert H.
Published: November 2004

Recently, a number of “green” developments have been built. Green developments will reach their potential only if residents understand the design, support the goals, and act as responsible land managers. However, studies by psychologists, anthropologists, environmental educators, and economists show that even knowledgeable, well-intentioned people frequently fail to adopt proenvironmental behaviors. This article identifies three categories of potential barriers to better individual land management: barriers to recognizing environmental problems, internal barriers to action, and external barriers to action. Two case studies show that unless barriers are addressed through education or design, individuals probably will not adopt more ecologically sensitive practices. Both cases are in the tallgrass prairie ecoregion.
Negotiating the Antipoverty Agenda: Foundations, Community Organizations, and Comprehensive Community Initiatives
Authors: Silver Ira
Published: November 2004

This analysis looks at how foundations and community organizations jointly formulated antipoverty agendas within the context of a collaboration forged in Chicago between these two groups in the aftermath of the 1992 Los Angeles riots. The study reveals that as foundations exhibited preferences for supporting antipoverty work that they saw as politically safe and uncontroversial, community organizations enticed foundations to expand the range of funding agendas that suited these preferences. This finding is of timely significance given that during the past 2 decades, policy-making responsibility has shifted from the public to the philanthropic sectors.
The Shifting Pattern of Food Security Support: Food Stamp and Food Bank Usage in North Carolina
Authors: Berner Maureen , O’Brien Kelley
Published: November 2004

From the mid-1990s to 2000, there was a decline in the number of food stamp recipients. That trend has recently reversed itself. Over the same time, food bank output has consistently increased. Research has not shown whether hunger is decreasing or whether there is a change in how food security is provided. To address this question, this study examined the combined monthly food outflow patterns of 193 emergency food providers (EFPs) in central North Carolina from 1995 to 2000. Through surveys and regression analysis, the authors find that although administrators felt that increased EFP usage was due to economic stress and population growth, the data instead show an inverse relationship with the number of public assistance recipients and a positive relationship with food stamp recipients. Although these results cannot explain individual behavior, they raise continued concerns over the growing role of nonprofits in providing food security.
No Longer Unmeasurable? A Multidimensional Integrated Model of Nonprofit Organizational Effectiveness
Authors: Sowa Jessica E. , Selden Sally Coleman , Sandfort Jodi R.
Published: November 2004

Few topics in nonprofit research and practice have received greater attention in recent years than organizational effectiveness. In spite of this intellectual interest, little consensus has emerged, either theoretically or empirically, as to what constitutes organizational effectiveness and how best to measure it. In this article, we introduce a multidimensional and integrated model of nonprofit organizational effectiveness (MIMNOE). The model captures two prominent dimensions of organizational effectiveness, management effectiveness and program effectiveness. In addition, to illustrate how this framework can be used empirically, the article proposes a method of analysis that exploits the interrelationships between the multiple dimensions in the model. MIMNOE is useful for both scholars and practitioners because it requires attention not only to program outcomes, but also equally to the factors that influence those outcomes.
Exploring the Attraction of Local Congregations to Community Organizing
Authors: Slessarev-Jamir Helene
Published: November 2004

This article explores why certain churches have become engaged in local faith-based community organizing at a time when the majority of congregations are not politically active and many of their denominational lobbying offices have come under heavy fire. It is based on interviews with the pastors of 15 congregations actively engaged in faith-based community organizing in three cities. The results suggest that community organizing fits into congregations’ localized priorities, with the majority of the pastors expressing primarily local concerns. Organizing has led to tangible community improvements, especially within poorer communities that are often excluded from professionalized forms of civic engagement. It has strengthened congregations’ social service efforts, which appear to be more extensive than is the norm. However, the most frequently cited benefit was the creation of relational bonds among diverse congregations.
Ending Payout as We Know It: A Conceptual and Comparative Perspective on the Payout Requirement for Foundations
Authors: Toepler Stefan
Published: November 2004

The payout requirement that the Tax Reform Act of 1969 imposed on foundations has come up for debate again over the past few years and a tightening of the requirement was proposed in Congress in 2003. Hypothetically applying corresponding German rules to Ford Foundation data, this article suggests that U.S. regulation of foundation spending policies is already stricter than elsewhere and that much of the current policy debate has little to do with the original intentions of the requirement. Reevaluating the underlying rationale of the policy, the article concludes with a proposal to introduce time limits to the payout requirement
Restoring Public Legitimacy to the Nonprofit Sector: A Survey Experiment Using Descriptions of Nonprofit Ownership
Authors: Schlesinger Mark , Mitchell Shannon , Gray Bradford H.
Published: November 2004

The authors argue that declining legitimacy of the nonprofit sector in American society can be traced to a limited public understanding of nonprofit enterprise. In this article, they explore the nature and correlates of ownership-related expectations in medical care. Data from a new national survey document that most Americans believe that ownership affects medical care. However, about a third of the public does not understand ownership; those who do not have decidedly less favorable attitudes toward nonprofits. Expectations for nonprofits are more positive among those who feel vulnerable to bad outcomes in medical care, but are substantially more negative among minority groups. Using an experimental design incorporated into the survey, the authors demonstrate that having additional information about ownership improves expectations about nonprofit performance but to varying degrees, depending on the content of the explanation, the particular dimension of performance, and the level of prior understanding.
Civic Service in Eastern Europe and Central Asia: From Mandatory Public Work Toward Civic Service
Authors: Kuti Éva
Published: November 2004

This article tries to take an initial step toward developing a systematic body of knowledge on civic service in the countries of Eastern Europe and Central Asia. It seeks to identify those elements of the cultural and historical background and the present social, political, and economic challenges that have a significant effect on the development of service programs. Based on the available anecdotal and research information, the article gives an overview of civic services, their goals, actual forms, predominant types, and institutional background. Motivations, sociodemographic characteristics, and social embeddedness of the participants of service programs are also discussed. The final part of the article offers a list of possible research approaches and projects that would be necessary to understand all aspects of this complex and heterogeneous set of interactions.
Civic Service in North America
Authors: Perry James L.
Published: November 2004

Civic service is well established in North America, where the United States and Canada are among the world leaders. The evolution of civic service has not been a story of continuous growth but rather one of episodic and cyclical development. The past decade’s events indicate that civic service is in a new cycle of growth and innovation. Among the reasons for the health of civic service in North America are the institutional structures there that define it. Civic service institutions in Mexico, largely because of its status as a developing country, are less accessible and less supportive of the service role than institutions in the rest of North America, where civic service is widely accessible to all types of servers and all social sectors are legitimately perceived as civic service providers. Open access is complemented by incentives and support for servers and organizations providing service opportunities. Several priorities are identified for further research.