bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
EFFECTS OF COOKING METHODS ON SENSORY QUALITIES AND CAROTENOID RETENTION IN SELECTED VEGETABLES1
Authors: NUNN MONIQUE D. , GIRAUD DAVID W. , PARKHURST ANNE M. , HAMOUZ FAYRENE L. , DRISKELL JUDY A.
Published: October 2006

The effects of induction boiling, conventional boiling and microwave steaming on the sensory qualities and carotenoid retention of broccoli, carrots, green beans and sweet potatoes were investigated. Significantly higher cooking yields were obtained for vegetables that were induction and conventionally boiled. No differences in the retentions of alpha‐carotene (α‐carotene), beta‐carotene (β‐carotene) and lutein/zeaxanthin were observed for vegetables by the cooking method, with the exception of β‐carotene retention in broccoli and sweet potatoes where retentions were higher for those that were induction boiled (90.3 and 86.1%, respectively) than those that were microwave steamed (62.2 and 66.4%, respectively). A trained panel judged the color scores of three vegetables by the cooking method as similar. The mean flavor scores (1 = extremely bland; 9 = extremely intense) for three vegetables that were conventional (4.7–5.4) and induction (5.3–5.5) boiled were lower than those that were microwave steamed (5.9–7.0). The mean texture scores (1 = extremely mushy/tender; 9 = extremely firm/tough) for all induction‐boiled (5.0–6.0) vegetables were higher than those that were conventionally boiled (3.4–5.2) and lower than those that were microwave steamed (5.1–6.6).
Abortion and the Beginning and End of Human Life
Authors: Marquis Don
Published: October 2006

How can the abortion issue be resolved? Many believe that the issue can be resolved if, and only if, we can determine when human life begins. Those opposed to abortion choice typically say that human life begins at conception. Many who favor abortion choice say that we will never know when human life begins. The importance of the when-does-human-life-begin issue is not so much argued for as it is taken to be self-evident. Furthermore, belief that this issue is fundamental is taken for granted – at least outside of philosophy – by many of the people who seem to disagree about almost everything else concerning abortion. It has been my experience that – with rare exceptions – even those who insist that the issue of abortion should focus on the interests of pregnant women believe that this focus is warranted because fetuses are either not yet fully alive or not yet fully human.
Progress in Paleoclimate Modeling*
Authors: Cane Mark A. , Braconnot Pascale , Clement Amy , Gildor Hezi , Joussaume Sylvie , Kageyama Masa , Khodri Myriam , Paillard Didier , Tett Simon , Zorita Eduardo
Published: October 2006

This paper briefly surveys areas of paleoclimate modeling notable for recent progress. New ideas, including hypotheses giving a pivotal role to sea ice, have revitalized the low-order models used to simulate the time evolution of glacial cycles through the Pleistocene, a prohibitive length of time for comprehensive general circulation models (GCMs). In a recent breakthrough, however, GCMs have succeeded in simulating the onset of glaciations. This occurs at times (most recently, 115 kyr b.p.) when high northern latitudes are cold enough to maintain a snow cover and tropical latitudes are warm, enhancing the moisture source. More generally, the improvement in models has allowed simulations of key periods such as the Last Glacial Maximum and the mid-Holocene that compare more favorably and in more detail with paleoproxy data. These models now simulate ENSO cycles, and some of them have been shown to reproduce the reduction of ENSO activity observed in the early to middle Holocene. Modeling studies have demonstrated that the reduction is a response to the altered orbital configuration at that time. An urgent challenge for paleoclimate modeling is to explain and to simulate the abrupt changes observed during glacial epochs (i.e., Dansgaard–Oescher cycles, Heinrich events, and the Younger Dryas). Efforts have begun to simulate the last millennium. Over this time the forcing due to orbital variations is less important than the radiance changes due to volcanic eruptions and variations in solar output. Simulations of these natural variations test the models relied on for future climate change projections. They provide better estimates of the internal and naturally forced variability at centennial time scales, elucidating how unusual the recent global temperature trends are.
Climatological Extremes of Simulated Annual Mean Rainfall
Authors: Hunt B. G.
Published: October 2006

The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) Mark 2 global coupled climatic model has been used to generate a 10 000-yr simulation of “present” climate. The resultant dataset has been used to investigate a number of aspects of extremes associated with annual mean rainfall. Multimillennial time series of normalized rainfall amounts for selected points are used to highlight secular variability, spatial variations, and the differences between pluvial and drought conditions. Global distributions are also presented for selected rainfall characteristics, including the frequency of occurrence of specified rainfall anomalies with annual durations, the frequency of occurrence of 5-yr sequences of specified rainfall anomalies, and the maximum and minimum normalized rainfall amounts attained in the simulation. Such features cannot be obtained from observations because of their limited duration. A case study is also made of a megadrought over the southwestern United States, together with an analysis of the associated causal mechanisms. Given the exclusion of all external forcing from the model, it is concluded that the extreme annual mean rainfall extremes presented in the paper are attributable to stochastic events.
Mycophenolate mofetil as an immunomodulatory silver bullet in atherogenesis?
Authors: Van Leuven SI , Kastelein JJP , Hayden MR , Stroes ES
Published: October 2006

Atherosclerotic vascular disease is a chronic disorder of the vasculature with a substantial impact on society. Although the availability of statins has represented an unparalleled improvement in the treatment of patients with such cardiovascular disease, even more effective measures are required to reverse this disorder with a continuously growing incidence. The classification of atherosclerosis as an inflammatory disorder has prompted the hypothesis that immunomodulation could comprise a novel anti-atherosclerotic strategy. Mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) has various anti-atherogenic effects on major components of the atherosclerotic plaque such as T-lymphocytes, monocytes/macrophages and the endothelium. MMF can inhibit leukocyte recruitment to the subendothelium and the subsequent reduced activation of leukocytes will translate into attenuation of subendothelial crosstalk between T-cells and macrophages. This cascade of events will interrupt the self-perpetuating pro-inflammatory environment within the arterial wall, the hallmark of atherosclerotic vascular disease.
Mycophenolate mofetil and systemic lupus erythematosus
Authors: Doria A , Iaccarino L , Arienti S , Rampudda ME , Canova MG , Rondinone R , Todesco S
Published: October 2006

Mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) is an immunosuppressive agent which provides protection against acute transplant rejection, in patients who undergo kidney, heart and liver transplantation. Recently MMF has been used in various autoimmune conditions, including systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). In SLE, MMF has been more extensively used in the treatment of proliferative lupus glomerulonephritis (GLN) and following the success in this field, it has also been used to control extra-renal manifestations. However, in the majority of cases MMF was administered to patients with refractory SLE manifestations and, therefore, no definite conclusion could be drawn from these experiences.

In this paper, after a brief description of the mechanisms of action, the pharmacokinetics and metabolism of MMF which are relevant in SLE, and after a short discussion on the utility of performing therapeutic dose monitoring of mycphenolic acid, the experiences with the use of this drug in the different SLE manifestations were summarized and some personal data in patients with GLN were reported. Finally, the hypothetical use of MMF as a preventive strategy against the occurrence of severe manifestations in patients with mild SLE has been put forward and discussed.
Mycophenolate mofetil and animal models
Authors: Gibson WT , Hayden MR
Published: October 2006

Mycophenolate mofetil (MMF), is the morpholinoethyl ester of mycophenolic acid (MPA). Though initially developed as an anti-rejection treatment, MMF is beginning to find application in more common immune-mediated diseases. MMF has been shown to be effective against transplant-associated vascular disease, lupus and other inflammatory diseases via multiple mechanisms in several animal models. MMF treatment blocks the proliferation of T cells and B cells, attenuates the production of autoreactive IgG and IgM, diminishes complement deposition, and reduces the production of multiple proinflammatory cytokines including TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-2, IL-3, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6 and IL-12. It also increases production of the anti-inflammatory mediator IL-10. In addition, MMF reduces the infiltration of immune cells into sites of inflammation by interfering with the expression of cell-surface molecules critical for this process, including MHC class II, CD40, CD80, CD86, I-A, and ICAM-1. Additional mechanisms involving mannosylation and N-linked glycosylation of cell-surface molecules are only beginning to be investigated. This article will focus on the contribution of animal models of disease as investigational tools in the development of MMF as an immunomodulatory drug. The use of mice, rats, rabbits, monkeys, baboons and interspecific xenografts will be discussed.
Auditory–Visual Context and Memory Retrieval in 3‐Month‐Old Infants
Authors: Daman‐Wasserman Michelle , Brennan Barbara , Radcliffe Fiona , Prigot Joyce , Fagen Jeffrey
Published: October 2006

In 3 experiments, 3‐month‐old infants were trained to move an overhead mobile by kicking 1 of their feet in the presence of a distinctive visual (crib bumpers) and auditory (music) context. In Experiment 1A, 5‐day but not 1‐day retention was disrupted if either or both elements of the context present during the retention test were novel. In Experiment 1B, 5‐day retention was observed when only a single component of the training context, visual or auditory, was present. In Experiment 2, the retention test occurred at 14 days but it was preceded 24 hr earlier by a brief reactivation treatment. When the reactivation treatment consisted of reexposing the infant to the training crib bumpers and music, or just to the training music, it was not successful. Reactivation was successful when the reactivation treatment consisted of only the training crib bumpers. These results indicate that, in this paradigm, 3‐month‐old infants do not encode the elements of the context holistically and that, following forgetting, the visual contextual cues become dominant over the auditory contextual cues in facilitating retrieval.
Host cell Ca2+ and protein kinase C regulate innate recognition ofToxoplasma gondii
Authors: Masek Katherine S. , Fiore Jim , Leitges Michael , Yan Shi-Fang , Freedman Bruce D. , Hunter Christopher A.
Published: October 2006

In healthy hosts, acute infection with the opportunistic pathogen Toxoplasma gondii is controlled by innate production of IL-12, a key cytokine crucial for the development of protective immunity. Previous work has established that the mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK), particularly p38 and ERK1/2, are important regulators of T. gondii-induced IL-12 synthesis. Here we report that host cell Ca2+ is required for activation of MAPK by T. gondii, as well as LPS and CpG, and for parasite-induced synthesis of IL-12. In addition, pharmacological mobilization of Ca2+ stores in macrophages treated with parasites or LPS enhanced MAPK phosphorylation initiated by these stimuli. Investigation of the upstream mechanism by which Ca2+ regulates MAPK activation revealed that T. gondii induced acute activation of conventional, Ca2+-dependent PKCα and PKCβ, which are required for infection-induced MAPK activation and production of IL-12. Despite these findings, neither acute parasite infection nor LPS initiated a measurable Ca2+ response in macrophages, suggesting that low levels of Ca2+ are permissive for initiation of pro-inflammatory signaling. Together these data identify host cell Ca2+ and PKC as crucial regulators of the innate immune response to microbial stimuli, including T. gondii.
An experimental study on the laryngeal electromyography and visual observations in varying types of surgical injuries to the unilateral recurrent laryngeal nerve in the neck
Authors: Mu Liancai , Yang Shilin
Published: October 2006

A series of varying types of surgical injuries to the recurrent laryngeal nerve, including half section, double crush, suture ligation, and complete section of the nerve, was investigated in dogs by correlating clinical and electromyographic findings. The state of recovery from palsy was evaluated by recording the electromyography from the affected laryngeal muscles as well as by observing the movements of the vocal cords.

Six electromyography patterns were recorded from the affected muscles following injuries to the recurrent laryngeal nerve. There is a close relationship between the electromyography patterns and the types of nerve injuries.

Within 3 months after injuries of the recurrent laryngeal nerve, the electromyography motor unit potentials in the involved intrinsic laryngeal muscles and vocal cord movements on the side of the nerve injury were back to normal in the groups of dogs in which the recurrent laryngeal nerves were partially sectioned and doubly crushed; the electromyography potentials and vocal cord motion on the affected side did not return to normal in the group of dogs in which the recurrent laryngeal nerves were permanently ligated with suture. In the group of dogs which had had a complete section of the recurrent laryngeal nerve, no recovery of both electromyography and vocal cord function on the affected side was observed 6 months after injury of the recurrent laryngeal nerve.

This study showed that the frequency of the regenerated potentials recorded from the affected muscles is related to the types and degrees of injuries to the recurrent laryngeal nerve. Recovery from recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy is complete within 3 months after nerve impairment if over half of the nerve fibers of the impaired nerve are maintained intact without degeneration. Moreover, the period from onset to complete recovery from palsy was remarkably short, less than 2 months. The most appropriate time for the electromyography examination to evaluate the degrees of the nerve injury and to anticipate the prognosis of recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy was proposed.
Toxic effects of cisplatin alone and in combination with gentamicin in stria vascularis of guinea pigs
Authors: Kohn Sarah , Nir Izhak , Fradis Milo , Podoshin Ludwig , David Yaacov Ben , Zidan Jamal , Robinson Eliezer
Published: October 2006

The toxic effects on the stria vascularis of treatment with cisplatin alone and combined with the aminoglycoside antibiotic, gentamicin, were studied in guinea pigs. The toxicity induced in albino and pigmented guinea pigs was investigated morphologically with light and transmission electron microscopy, and functionally by brainstem‐evoked response audiometry. The results of hearing thresholds were variable, ranging from no change in one ear in some of the animals to a hearing loss of 20 dB in one or both ears when treated with low‐dose cisplatin alone or in combination with gentamicin. Bilateral deafness resulted from high‐dose cisplatin combined with gentamicin. The combined treatment produced prominent structural damage in the stria vascularis. The results should be considered when aminoglycoside therapy is required in conjunction with cisplatin.
Future directions of laser phototherapy for diagnosis and treatment of malignancies: Fantasy, fallacy, or reality?
Authors: Castro Dan J. , Ward Paul H. , Castro Donna J. , Saxton Romaine E. , Lufkin Robert B. , Kangarloo Hooshang , Haugland Richard P. , Zwarun Andrew A. , Fetterman Harold R. , Soudant Jacques
Published: October 2006

A new and highly promising adjunctive modality for the diagnosis and therapy of malignancies is under development using lasers and tumor targeting dyes. To reach the eventual goal of clinical treatment, several current “fantasies and fallacies” regarding laser applications in medicine must be identified and their problems clearly outlined. A multidisciplinary scientific approach is also required to enable the clinical practicality of this laser targeting approach. Many new dyes and laser wavelengths are being tested to improve specific tumor uptake and/or retention, lower systemic toxicity, increase tissue penetration, and identify fluorochromes with synergistic properties to further enhance laser tumoricidal effects. Rapid technological advancements in magnetic resonance imaging may now provide an extremely sensitive way to detect and monitor laser‐tissue effects, and allow efficient interstitial laser phototherapy of deep and sometimes inaccessible tumors. The current and future prospectives of the emerging field of laser phototherapy are described.
Otologic manifestations of neurofibromatosis
Authors: Smullen Sean , Willcox Thomas , Wetmore Ralph , Zackai Elaine
Published: October 2006

A chart review of 440 patients with neurofibromatosis seen at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Neurofibromatosis Clinic between 1980 and 1991 was performed to look for otologic manifestations. Neurofibromatosis 1 was present in 434 patients, and neurofibromatosis 2 was present in 6. A total of 31 otologic abnormalities related to neurofibromatosis were found in 28 patients. Neurofibromas of the external ear, including the pinna and the external auditory canal, were the most common finding. Middle ear neurofibromas were found in two patients. Acoustic neuromas were seen exclusively in patients believed to have neurofibromatosis 2. One cerebellopontine angle neurofibrosarcoma was found in a patient with neurofibromatosis 1.
Periodic rewetting enhances the viability of chondrocytes in human articular cartilage exposed to air
Authors: Pun S. Y. , Teng M. S. , Kim H. T.
Published: October 2006

Desiccation of articular cartilage during surgery is often unavoidable and may result in the death of chondrocytes, with subsequent joint degeneration. This study was undertaken to determine the extent of chondrocyte death caused by exposure to air and to ascertain whether regular rewetting of cartilage could decrease cell death.

Macroscopically normal human cartilage was exposed to air for 0, 30, 60 or 120 minutes. Selected samples were wetted in lactated Ringer’s solution for ten seconds every ten or 20 minutes. The viability of chondrocytes was measured after three days by Live/Dead staining.

Chondrocyte death correlated with the length of exposure to air and the depth of the cartilage. Drying for 120 minutes caused extensive cell death mainly in the superficial 500 μm of cartilage. Rewetting every ten or 20 minutes significantly decreased cell death.

The superficial zone is most susceptible to desiccation. Loss of superficial chondrocytes likely decreases the production of essential lubricating glycoproteins and contributes to subsequent degeneration. Frequent wetting of cartilage during arthrotomy is therefore essential.
The role of KiSS-1 in the regulation of puberty in higher primates
Authors: Plant Tony M
Published: October 2006

Puberty in higher primates is triggered by resurgence in the pulsatile secretion of hypothalamic GnRH after a hiatus in the robust release of this hypophysiotropic signal during childhood and juvenile development. Interestingly, the prepubertal decline in GnRH release is not associated with a marked reduction in the expression of either the gene that codes for GnRH (GnRH-1) or the decapeptide itself, and the network of GnRH neurons in the hypothalamus of the juvenile may by activated prematurely and with surprising ease by intermittent neurochemical stimulation with N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA), a glutamate receptor agonist. KiSS-1, a gene that encodes for kisspeptin-121, which is proteolytically cleaved to a 54 amino acid peptide, metastin, was initially studied in the context of tumor suppression. In 2003, however, inactivating mutations in the metastin receptor, GPR54, were reported to be associated with hypogonadotropic hypogonadism and absent puberty in man. Subsequent studies in the rhesus monkey have shown that GPR54 and KiSS-1 are expressed in the mediobasal hypothalamus (MBH), KiSS-1 expression in the MBH increases at the time of the pubertal resurgence in GnRH release and pulsatile, but not continuous, i.v. administration of metastin 45–54 in the juvenile male monkey elicits sustained GnRH release precociously. The significance of these findings in the context of the initiation of the onset of puberty is discussed.
Genetics of growth in the normal child
Authors: Pfäffle Roland
Published: October 2006

Although an impaired longitudinal growth is a part of many chromosomal aberrations and a variety of single gene mutations, rarely is it the only symptom of patients with genetic syndromes. Otherwise, in a healthy child, the influence of parental height on the adult height of their children is well established. Although this genetic influence can be easily demonstrated by statistics and is observed over generations, the hormonal and metabolic factors that control the quantitative marker ‘growth’ remain difficult to establish. Genetics has used different approaches to address this question. Linkage studies so far have yielded some new, but partially conflicting, data about the key factors that influence growth and finally adult height. In contrast, the examination of ‘candidate genes’ has been very fruitful in identifying those genes that are responsible for some well-defined hormonal deficiencies in patients with severe short stature.

As the systematic examination of such genes in short children with and without hormonal deficiencies has become feasible, it appears that the phenotypic appearance of some of these disorders is variable to an extent that makes it difficult to differentiate them from a ‘short normal child’. Both the ‘candidate gene’ and the ‘reverse genetics’ approaches using linkage analysis on a whole genome scale have produced results that have already furthered our understanding of the complex mechanisms that influence growth. Both the approaches have come closer to each other, but so far they have not produced the overlap of evidence that one had initially anticipated.
Prenatal testosterone and gender-related behaviour
Authors: Hines Melissa
Published: October 2006

Testosterone plays an important role in mammalian brain development. In neural regions with appropriate receptors testosterone, or its metabolites, influences patterns of cell death and survival, neural connectivity and neurochemical characterization. Consequently, testosterone exposure during critical periods of early development produces permanent behavioural changes. In humans, affected behaviours include childhood play behaviour, sexual orientation, core gender identity and other characteristics that show sex differences (i.e. differ on average between males and females). These influences have been demonstrated primarily in individuals who experienced marked prenatal hormone abnormalities and associated ambiguities of genital development (e.g. congenital adrenal hyperplasia). However, there is also evidence that testosterone works within the normal range to make some individuals within each sex more sex-typical than others. The size of testosterone-related influences, and perhaps even their existence, varies from one sex-typed characteristic to another. For instance: prenatal exposure to high levels of testosterone has a substantial influence on sex-typical play behaviour, including sex-typed toy preferences, whereas influences on core gender identify and sexual orientation are less dramatic. In addition: there appears to be little or no influence of prenatal testosterone on mental rotations ability, although mental rotations ability shows a marked sex difference. These findings have implications for basic understanding of the role of testosterone in normative gender development, as well as for the clinical management of individuals with disorders of sex development (formerly called intersex syndromes).
Gonadal development and reproductive hormones in infant boys
Authors: Main Katharina M , Toppari Jorma , Skakkebæk Niels E
Published: October 2006

Background: The intrauterine milieu plays a crucial role for cardiovascular and metabolic diseases in adulthood, but little is known about its impact on gonadal development and reproduction. Impaired testis development in fetal life can lead to cryptorchidism, hypospadias, impaired semen quality, and testicular cancer, disorders that may present symptoms of a testicular dysgenesis syndrome. The prevalence of these disorders appears to increase in many areas, probably due to environmental factors actingin utero. Denmark has a significantly higher incidence of testicular cancer and lower sperm quality than Finland.

Methods: We conducted a population-based study of newborn boys from Denmark and Finland, in order to examine whether this geographic difference was reflected in the reproductive health of newborns.

Results: Danish boys had a lower testis volume at birth, a smaller testis growth up to 18 months of age and lower serum inhibin B and FSH levels at 3 months than Finnish. Danish boys also had a higher prevalence of both cryptorchidism and hypospadias than Finnish boys. In boys with cryptorchidism and hypospadias subtle changes in hormonal levels occurred, towards increased gonadotropins and lower inhibin B in cryptorchidism. Both types of congenital malformations were more frequent in children born small for gestational age, indicative of a relationship between growth and reproductive development.

Conclusions: These early postnatal findings suggest that the previously observed population differences in reproductive health between young Danish and Finnish men are of fetal origin. The differences may originate as a result of gene–environment interactions, where endocrine disrupters may also play a role.
The role of corticotrophin-releasing hormone in the diagnosis of Cushing’s syndrome
Authors: Peters C J , Storr H L , Grossman A B , Savage M O
Published: October 2006

Background: Corticotrophin-releasing hormone (CRH) was identified by Vale and co-workers in 1981 and has since been used extensively in the diagnosis of ACTH-dependent Cushing’s syndrome (CS). It was hoped that the CRH test would discriminate between pituitary and ectopic ACTH secretion. In adults, a rise from basal to peak plasma cortisol of ≥20% and ACTH of ≥50% is consistent with Cushing’s disease (CD).

Methods: Twenty-seven paediatric patients, with CD (mean age ± s.d. 13.1 ± 3.2; range 6.4–17.8 years) were investigated in our centre between 1982 and 2005.

Results: During the CRH test, all patients showed an increase in cortisol of >20% (range 106–554%). In one patient with ectopic ACTH syndrome, there was no increase in cortisol after CRH. In six paediatric patients with CS due to primary adrenal hyperplasia, no patient showed an increase in cortisol after CRH of >1%.

Conclusions: A further suggested use of CRH is to increase the sensitivity of the central to peripheral and interpetrosal ratios of ACTH during inferior petrosal sinus catheterisation (IPSS). Bilateral IPSS with human CRH (hCRH) has been performed in our unit in 21 children with CD, as part of the preoperative preparation prior to transsphenoidal surgery (TSS). Its principal role was to identify the site of the microadenoma. Sixteen of 21 patients (76%) who underwent IPSS with hCRH were cured following TSS. In our view, the CRH test is of value during IPSS by clarifying the position of the microadenoma and in this way contributed to the overall outcome of TSS in paediatric patients with CD.
Management of children with idiopathic short stature
Authors: Dunkel Leo
Published: October 2006

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the use of biosynthetic GH for the treatment of children with idiopathic short stature (ISS) in the US in 2003. Primarily, the decision was based on two studies: a randomized placebo-controlled study and a dose–response study, both demonstrating an increase in adult height over the predicted height at baseline and over placebo-treated controls by an average of 4–7 cm. Despite these data and FDA approval of GH treatment for ISS, there is still a significant controversy among paediatric endocrinologists about how, and to what extent, GH should be used in this indication. GH is clearly efficacious in several growth disorders and has the potential to alleviate debilitating short stature. However, it has been questioned whether ISS should be considered a condition warranting pharmacological treatment, whether the degree of morbidity of untreated ISS is clinically significant, and whether improved psychosocial status or well-being is achieved through GH treatment and height gain. The benefits must outweigh treatment costs and risks to justify GH treatment in ISS. The safety of GH treatment in ISS has been the main subject in two recent articles from pharmaceutical companies that conducted the pioneering studies mentioned earlier. No new safety concerns were observed in the ISS populations, but there were some limitations in study designs that prevent clinicians, their patients and families from ‘resting assured’. Studies addressing these controversial issues are needed before the widespread use of GH treatment in ISS is warranted.
How to study cancers with a possible intrauterine etiology
Authors: Olsen Jorn
Published: October 2006

The concept that many chronic diseases has an early, even fatal, etiology has inspired funding agencies to support large and long-term follow-up studies starting as early in life as possible. These cohort studies provide new opportunities for studying childhood cancer using data that are less biased than those from case-control studies. However, these studies have to be coordinated to reach sufficient sample sizes and a number of novel ethical concerns have to be solved.
An adolescent with polycystic ovary syndrome
Authors: Ojaniemi Marja , Pugeat Michel
Published: October 2006

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common clinical condition that manifests during adolescence with menstrual irregularities, acne, and hirsutism. As these symptoms are frequently observed in healthy teenagers, it can be difficult to recognize PCOS. Establishment of hyperandrogenism, polycystic ovaries, and identifying a metabolic disorder are required for the management of PCOS in a teenager. The underlying defects in PCOS are still unclear; however, insulin resistance and the metabolic syndrome are common in both obese and non-obese PCOS patients, so that the evaluation of glucose tolerance is recommended. More than 50% of PCOS patients are overweight or obese, and will benefit from an increase in physical activity and weight loss. Metformin is a treatment option that requires further investigation before being recommended on a long-term basis.
Beyond unusual? Examining the role of attention in the weapon focus effect
Authors: Hope Lorraine , Wright Daniel
Published: October 2006

The current study examined whether the weapon focus effect could be accounted for in terms of stimulus novelty. Participants viewed a slideshow of a simulated event while attending to a secondary task. In the critical slide, the target was shown holding a threatening object (weapon condition), a novel object (unusual condition) or a neutral object (control condition). Reaction times on the secondary task were impaired in the weapon and unusual conditions. Participants in the weapon condition had poorest recognition scores for the target's appearance when confidence was also taken into account. Results suggest that while both unusual and threatening objects command attention, the significance of a weapon can lead to impaired performance on less immediately informative aspects of a scene such as target appearance. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Finite‐model adaptive control using an LS‐like algorithm
Authors: Ma Hongbin
Published: October 2006

Adaptive control problem of a class of discrete‐time nonlinear uncertain systems, of which the internal uncertainty can be characterized by a finite set of functions, is formulated and studied by using an least squares (LS)‐like algorithm to design the feedback control law. For the finite‐model adaptive control problem, this algorithm is proposed as an extension of counterpart of traditional LS algorithm. Stability in sense of pth mean for the closed‐loop system is proved under a so‐called linear growth assumption, which is shown to be necessary in general by a counter‐example constructed in this paper. The main results have been also applied to parametric cases, which demonstrate how to bridge the non‐parametric case and parametric case. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Titelbild: Massively Parallel Dip–Pen Nanolithography with 55 000‐Pen Two‐Dimensional Arrays (Angew. Chem. 43/2006)
Authors: Salaita Khalid , Wang Yuhuang , Fragala Joseph , Vega Rafael A. , Liu Chang , Mirkin Chad A.
Published: October 2006

55 000 AFM‐Federarme übertragen bei der Massenparallel‐Dip‐Pen‐Nanolithographie direkt Moleküle auf eine Oberfläche. Ein Mikroskopiebild zeigt die Oberfläche nach dem Ätzprozess (links); in jede runde Struktur ist ein Miniaturkonterfei von Thomas Jefferson eingeschrieben (AFM‐Bild, rechts), der an der Entwicklung des Polygraphen, eines Vervielfältigungsapparates mit Schreibstiften, beteiligt war. Detailinformationen zur neuen Technik finden sich in der Zuschrift von C. A. Mirkin et al. auf S. 7378 ff.
Cover Picture: Massively Parallel Dip–Pen Nanolithography with 55 000‐Pen Two‐Dimensional Arrays (Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 43/2006)
Authors: Salaita Khalid , Wang Yuhuang , Fragala Joseph , Vega Rafael A. , Liu Chang , Mirkin Chad A.
Published: October 2006

Massively parallel dip–pen nanolithography is possible when 55 000 AFM cantilevers are used to write molecules directly onto a surface. An optical micrograph shows the surface after etching (cover picture, left), and each round feature is a miniature image of the face of Thomas Jefferson (AFM image, right), who helped develop the polygraph, a duplicator based on an array of pens. For more information on the new technique see the Communication by C. A. Mirkin and co‐workers on page 7220 ff.
Microwave processing of starch‐based porous structures for tissue engineering scaffolds
Authors: Torres Fernando G. , Boccaccini Aldo R. , Troncoso Omar P.
Published: October 2006

A novel microwave (MW) processing technique was used to produce biodegradable scaffolds for tissue engineering from different types of starch‐based polymers. Potato, sweet potato, corn starch, and nonisolated amaranth and quinoa starch were used to produce porous structures. Water and glycerol were used as plasticizers for the different types of starch. Characterization of the pore morphology of the scaffolds was carried out with scanning electron microscopy. Three‐dimensional structures with variable porosity and pore size distribution were obtained with the MW foaming technique. The amount of remaining water in the scaffolds and their corresponding densities showed important variations among the different types of starch. Compressive mechanical properties were assessed by indentation tests, and a strong dependence of the indentation stress on the average pore size was found. Studies in simulated body fluid were used to assess the in vitro bioactivity, degradability, and surface topology evolution in the scaffolds. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 103: 1332–1339, 2007
Culturing freshwater pearl mussel Margaritifera margaritifera: a breakthrough in the conservation of an endangered species
Authors: Preston S.J. , Keys A. , Roberts D.
Published: October 2006

The freshwater pearl mussel Margaritifera margaritifera L. is globally endangered and is threatened by commercial exploitation, pollution and habitat loss throughout its range. Captive breeding would be a valuable tool in enhancing the status of M. margaritifera in the UK.

We have developed a semi‐natural system for successfully infecting juvenile brown trout with glochidial M. margaritifera, and culturing juvenile mussels in experimental tanks where glochidial M. margaritifera can excyst from fish gills and settle into sediment.

Infected fish had less than 1% mortality. Levels of infection varied among fish. Two yearly cohorts of juvenile M. margaritifera were identified from samples of sediment taken from each experimental tank. Individuals range in size from 1.4 mm (2000 cohort) to >3 mm in length (1999 cohort).

The number of juvenile M. margaritifera present in the two experimental tanks are estimated to be between 3600 (tank A) and 0 (tank B) for the putative 1999 cohort and between 6000 (tank A) and 13 000 (tank B) for the putative 2000 cohort.

This pioneering method for large‐scale cultivation of juvenile M. margaritifera is intermediate between the release of infected fish into rivers and the intensive cultivation systems developed in continental Europe and the USA for other species of unionid. This is the first time that large numbers of M. margaritifera have been cultured and represents a significant breakthrough in the conservation of this globally endangered Red Data List species. The method is straightforward and is most cost‐effective when undertaken alongside established hatchery processes.

Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Acupuncture in patients with osteoarthritis of the knee or hip: A randomized, controlled trial with an additional nonrandomized arm
Authors: Witt Claudia M. , Jena Susanne , Brinkhaus Benno , Liecker Bodo , Wegscheider Karl , Willich Stefan N.
Published: October 2006

Objective

To investigate the effectiveness of acupuncture in addition to routine care, compared with routine care alone, in the treatment of patients with chronic pain due to osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee or hip.

Methods

In a randomized, controlled trial, patients with chronic pain due to OA of the knee or hip were randomly allocated to undergo up to 15 sessions of acupuncture in a 3‐month period or to a control group receiving no acupuncture. Another group of patients who did not consent to randomization underwent acupuncture treatment. All patients were allowed to receive usual medical care in addition to the study treatment. Clinical OA severity (Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index [WOMAC]) and health‐related quality of life (Short Form 36) were assessed at baseline and after 3 months and 6 months.

Results

Of 3,633 patients (mean ± SD age 61.8 ± 10.8 years; 61% female), 357 were randomized to the acupuncture group and 355 to the control group, and 2,921 were included in the nonrandomized acupuncture group. At 3 months, the WOMAC had improved by a mean ± SEM of 17.6 ± 1.0 in the acupuncture group and 0.9 ± 1.0 in the control group (3‐month scores 30.5 ± 1.0 and 47.3 ± 1.0, respectively [difference in improvement 16.7 ± 1.4; P < 0.001]). Similarly, quality of life improvements were more pronounced in the acupuncture group versus the control group (P < 0.001). Treatment success was maintained through 6 months. The changes in outcome in nonrandomized patients were comparable with those in randomized patients who received acupuncture.

Conclusion

These results indicate that acupuncture plus routine care is associated with marked clinical improvement in patients with chronic OA–associated pain of the knee or hip.
First Principles and Experimental 1H NMR Signatures of Solvated Ions: The Case of HCl(aq)
Authors: Murakhtina Tatiana , Heuft Jasper , Meijer Evert Jan , Sebastiani Daniel
Published: October 2006

A combined experimental and ab initio study is presented of the 1H NMR chemical shift distribution of aqueous hydrogen chloride solution as a function of acid concentration, based on Car–Parrinello molecular dynamics simulations and fully periodic NMR chemical‐shift calculations. The agreement of computed and experimental spectra is very good. From first‐principles calculations, we can show that the individual contributions of Eigen and Zundel ions, regular water molecules, and the chlorine solvation shell to the NMR line are very distinct and almost independent of the acid concentration. From the computed instantaneous NMR distributions, it is further possible to characterize the average variation in hydrogen‐bond strength of the different complexes.
Rational model and justification model in ‘outcome bias’
Authors: Tostain Manuel , Lebreuilly Joëlle
Published: October 2006

The authors of this study suggest that the harm‐punishment link (‘outcome bias’) can be explained by the activation of different judgment processes depending on the outcome severity of an offense: (1) a rational model for mild outcomes in which punishment is necessarily linked to responsibility of the perpetrator; (2) a justification model for severe outcomes in which punishment and responsibility are linked only when assessment order allows the latter to rationalize the former. Participants (126 university students) considered an unintentional road accident with mild or severe outcomes and made judgments of responsibility, punishment, and perceived seriousness of the offense. The results support the authors' hypothesis. In the discussion, the authors suggest different motives of punishment (preventive or compensative justice) which explain why responsibility and punishment are not necessarily linked. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The scapuloacromial angle: A 3D analysis of acromial slope and its relationship with shoulder impingement
Authors: Moses Daniel A. , Chang Eric Y. , Schweitzer Mark E.
Published: October 2006

Purpose

To quantify acromial slope (the scapuloacromial [SA] angle).

Materials and Methods

We used shoulder MR studies in 64 subjects who were stratified surgically into impingement (with and without tear) and nonimpingement (shoulder instability) groups. We measure, in three dimensions, the angle between unit normal vectors to planes of best fit to the undersurface of the acromion and the medial surface of the blade of the scapula. We examine the projection of this SA angle onto the transverse, coronal, and sagittal planes to gauge some measure of rotation, lateral tilt, and anterior tilt with respect to the patient. Orientation of the acromion and scapular blade in relation to the MR scanner and therefore to the patient was also calculated.

Results

We found no significant differences between these two groups when examining age and side of pathology. A statistically significant difference was seen between males and females.

Conclusion

Our study does not support the idea that a flatter acromial slope causes impingement and is an etiological basis for rotator cuff tears. We believe that acromial slope, regardless of imaging plane, is not useful in classifying patients who present with shoulder pain and should not be considered as a source of pathologic changes. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Tandem mass spectrometry of amidated peptides
Authors: Mouls Laetitia , Subra Gilles , Aubagnac Jean‐Louis , Martinez Jean , Enjalbal Christine
Published: October 2006

The behavior of C‐terminal amidated and carboxylated peptides upon low‐energy collision‐induced dissociation (CID) was investigated. Two sets of 76 sequences of variable amino acid compositions and lengths were synthesized as model compounds. In most cases, C‐terminal amidated peptides were found to produce, upon CID, an abundant loss of ammonia from the protonated molecules. To validate such MS/MS signatures, the studied peptides contained amino acids that can potentially release ammonia from their side chains, such as asparagine, glutamine, tryptophan, lysine and arginine. Arginine, and to a lesser extent lysine, was shown to induce a competitive fragmentation leading to the loss of ammonia from their side chains, thus interfering with the targeted backbone neutral release. However, when arginine or lysine was located at the C‐terminal position mimicking a tryptic digest, losses of ammonia from the arginine side chain and from the peptide backbone were completely suppressed. Such results were discussed in the frame of peptidomic or proteomic studies in an attempt to reveal the presence of C‐terminal amidated peptides or proteins. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Morphological heterogeneity of CA1 pyramidal neurons in response to ischemia
Authors: Ruan Yi‐Wen , Zou Bende , Fan Yuan , Li Yan , Lin Nan , Zhang Yuchun , Xu Zao C.
Published: October 2006

We have found, based on the electrophysiological properties, two subtypes of CA1 pyramidal neurons in the CA1 region of the normal hippocampus, late postsynaptic potential (L‐PSP) neurons and non‐L‐PSP neurons. In addition, our previous study has shown that the electrophysiological properties of these two subtypes of pyramidal neurons were differentially modified after ischemia. In the present study, we hypothesized that ischemia might also induce different morphological alterations in these two subtypes of neuron. To test the hypothesis, we compared the changes in the dendritic arborization and soma volume of these two subtypes of neurons in rats subjected to transient global ischemia. We found a significant decrease in the basal dendritic length of L‐PSP neurons at 12 hr after reperfusion, resulting mainly from a significant decrease in the dendrite terminal length. The apical dendritic length of L‐PSP neurons markedly increased at 24 hr after ischemia, resulting mainly from an increase in the number of branching arbors in the middle part of the apical dendritic trees. The soma size of L‐PSP neurons was significantly reduced at 12 hr, but they became slightly larger at 24 hr and 48 hr after reperfusion. In contrast to L‐PSP neurons, non‐L‐PSP neurons showed slight modifications in the dendritic arborization but had persistent swelling of their soma after ischemia. These results indicate that pathological changes in these two subtypes of neurons are different after ischemia. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Poly(propylene glycol)‐Grafted Multi‐Walled Carbon Nanotube Polyurethane
Authors: Xia Hesheng , Song Mo , Jin Jie , Chen Lei
Published: October 2006

Summary: Poly(propylene glycol)‐grafted MWNT polyurethane was synthesized based on the hydroxyl functionalized MWNTs through a two‐step reaction. The grafted MWNTs can improve the rheological behavior of the polyol/MWNT dispersion, and have a better reinforcing effect on the mechanical properties of polyurethane and lower hysteresis compared to the raw carbon nanotubes. A comparison for energy dissipation in PU/carbon nanotube and exfoliated PU/organoclay nanocomposites was given. The energy dissipated in the grafted MWNT composite system is lower.

Dispersion stability of carbon nanotubes in polyether polyol after 40 min centrifugation (A: MWNT, B: MWNT‐OH, C: MWNT‐graft‐PU).

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Dispersion stability of carbon nanotubes in polyether polyol after 40 min centrifugation (A: MWNT, B: MWNT‐OH, C: MWNT‐graft‐PU).