bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Social support, physical activity and sedentary behavior among 6th-grade girls: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Springer Andrew E , Kelder Steven H , Hoelscher Deanna M
Published: April 2006

Background

Despite the importance of social support in promoting physical activity, little is known about the relative influence of the type or source of social support on adolescent girls' physical activity and sedentary behaviors. This study examined the associations of two types of social support (social participation in and social encouragement for physical activity) and two social support sources (family and friends) with self-reported daily minutes of physical activity and sedentary behavior among sixth-grade girls in Texas.

Methods

A secondary analysis of 718 sixth-grade girls between the ages of 10 to 14 was performed using cross-sectional baseline data from an osteoporosis prevention intervention study. Physical activity and sedentary behaviors (television-video viewing and computer-video game playing) were assessed using 3 administrations of the Self-Administered Physical Activity Checklist; social support indicators were assessed with Likert-type items from a psychosocial questionnaire.

Results

In multiple linear regression analyses, friend physical activity participation (partial correlation coefficient (r) = 0.10, p = .009) and friend (r = 0.12) and family encouragement (r = 0.11) (p < .01, respectively) were positively related to moderate-to-vigorous physical activity in the full model with other support variables, BMI and ethnicity; friend encouragement was the only variable positively related to vigorous physical activity (r = 0.11, p = .005). Family participation in physical activity had the strongest negative correlation with total minutes of television-video viewing and computer-video playing (r = -0.08, p < .05).

Conclusion

Findings lend support to the importance of social support for physical activity among adolescent girls but suggest that the source and type of social support may differ for physical activity and sedentary behaviors. Further research is needed to assess the causal or reciprocal relation between the roles of friends and family in promoting physical activity and of family physical activity in decreasing sedentary behaviors among early adolescent girls.
A proposed mechanism for progesterone regulation of trophoblast MMP2 transcription independent of classical progesterone response elements on its promoter
Authors: Goldman Shlomit , Shalev Eliezer
Published: April 2006

Background

Progesterone receptor act as ligand-inducible transcription factor in the respective target cells by binding to specific progesterone response elements in the promoter of the target genes. However, despite the lack of the classical progesterone response elements on matrix-metalloproteinase-2 promoter, progesterone has been shown to decrease the activity of this promoter

Presentation of the hypothesis

It has recently been suggested that in addition to interacting with their classical co-activators and co-repressors, progesterone receptor are capable of binding to several transcription factors. By interacting with other classes of transcription factors, progesterone receptor is capable of transcriptional activation through the transcription factors cognate DNA binding site.

Testing the hypothesis

Exploring transcription factors and transcription binding sites, interacting with the progesterone receptor in modulation of the matrix-metalloproteinase promoter.

Implications of the hypothesis

Identification of additional endogenous progesterone target genes makes it possible to further explore the signaling mechanisms by which the hormone regulates biological actions. Furthermore, the concepts of ligand-driven conformational diversity and selective tissue actions can be exploited in the future for drug development which selectively regulate orphan receptors from the nuclear receptor family.
Activation of Protein Kinase C in the Spinal Cord Produces Mechanical Hyperalgesia by Activating Glutamate Receptors, but does not Mediate Chronic Muscle-Induced Hyperalgesia
Authors: Sluka KA , Audette KM
Published: April 2006

Background

Protein kinase C (PKC) in the spinal cord appears to mediate chronic injury-induced pain, but not acute nociceptive pain. Muscle insult results in increased release of glutamate spinally, and hyperalgesia that is reversed by spinal blockade of NMDA and non-NMDA glutamate receptors. Therefore, we hypothesized that spinal activation of PKC 1) mediates the late phase of hyperalgesia 1 week after muscle insult, and 2) produces mechanical hyperalgesia through activation of NMDA and non-NMDA glutamate receptors.

Results

Rats were implanted with intrathecal catheters for delivery of drugs directly to the spinal cord. Mechanical withdrawal thresholds of the paw were determined using von Frey filaments. Intrathecal phorbol 12, 13 dibutyrate (PDBu) produced a dose-dependent decrease in the mechanical withdrawal threshold of the paw that was prevented by pretreatment with the PKC inhibitor, GF109203X. Pretreatment with an NMDA receptor antagonist (AP5) or a AMPA/kainate receptor antagonist (NBQX) prevented the decrease in mechanical withdrawal threshold by PDBu. Two injections of acidic saline in the gastrocnemius muscle decreased the mechanical withdrawal thresholds of the paw bilaterally 24 h and 1 week after the second injection. However, blockade PKC in the spinal cord had no effect on the decreased withdrawal thresholds of the paw when compared to vehicle controls.

Conclusion

Spinal activation of PKC produces mechanical hyperalgesia of the paw that depends on activation of NMDA and non-NMDA receptors. Chronic muscle-induced mechanical hyperalgesia, on the other hand, does not utilize spinal PKC.
A Clinical Genetic Method to Identify Mechanisms by Which Pain Causes Depression and Anxiety
Authors: Max Mitchell B , Wu Tianxia , Atlas Steven J , Edwards Robert R , Haythornthwaite Jennifer A , Bollettino Antonella F , Hipp Heather S , McKnight Colin D , Osman Inge A , Crawford Erin N , Pao Maryland , Nejim Jemiel , Kingman Albert , Aisen Daniel C , Scully Michele A , Keller Robert B , Goldman David , Belfer Inna
Published: April 2006

Background

Pain patients are often depressed and anxious, and benefit less from psychotropic drugs than pain-free patients. We hypothesize that this partial resistance is due to the unique neurochemical contribution to mood by afferent pain projections through the spino-parabrachial-hypothalamic-amygdalar systems and their projections to other mood-mediating systems. New psychotropic drugs for pain patients might target molecules in such brain systems. We propose a method to prioritize molecular targets by studying polymorphic genes in cohorts of patients undergoing surgical procedures associated with a variable pain relief response. We seek molecules that show a significant statistical interaction between (1) the amount of surgical pain relief, and (2) the alleles of the gene, on depression and anxiety during the first postoperative year.

Results

We collected DNA from 280 patients with sciatica due to a lumbar disc herniation, 162 treated surgically and 118 non-surgically, who had been followed for 10 years in the Maine Lumbar Spine Study, a large, prospective, observational study. In patients whose pain was reduced >25% by surgery, symptoms of depression and anxiety, assessed with the SF-36 Mental Health Scale, improved briskly at the first postoperative measurement. In patients with little or no surgical pain reduction, mood scores stayed about the same on average. There was large inter-individual variability at each level of residual pain. Polymorphisms in three pre-specified pain-mood candidate genes, catechol-O-methyl transferase (COMT), serotonin transporter, and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) were not associated with late postoperative mood or with a pain-gene interaction on mood. Although the sample size did not provide enough power to persuasively search through a larger number of genes, an exploratory survey of 25 other genes provides illustrations of pain-gene interactions on postoperative mood – the mu opioid receptor for short-term effects of acute sciatica on mood, and the galanin-2 receptor for effects of unrelieved post-discectomy pain on mood one year after surgery.

Conclusion

Genomic analysis of longitudinal studies of pain, depression, and anxiety in patients undergoing pain-relieving surgery may help to identify molecules through which pain alters mood. Detection of alleles with modest-sized effects will require larger cohorts.
Identification of acid reflux cough using serial assays of exhaled breath condensate pH
Authors: Hunt John , Yu Yuanlin , Burns James , Gaston Benjamin , Ngamtrakulpanit Lina , Bunyan Dorothy , Walsh Brian K , Smith Alison , Hom Stephanie
Published: April 2006

Background

Chronic cough is a common problem, frequently caused or exacerbated by acid reflux. Diagnosis of acid reflux cough is haphazard currently, often relying on long therapeutic trials of expensive medications. We tested the hypothesis that the most relevant mechanistic component of acid reflux in chronic cough is when it rises to the level of the airway where acid can potentially be aspirated. We further wished to determine if multi-sample exhaled breath condensate (EBC) pH profiles can identify chronic cough patients likely to respond to proton pump inhibitor therapy.

Methods

59 subjects were recruited for this study. Initially we examined EBC pH (gas-standardized with Argon) in the setting of 15 experimental pharyngeal acid challenges to determine duration of EBC acidification. Subsequently, we enrolled 22 healthy subjects to determine a normal multi-sample exhaled breath condensate pH profile over 1–3 days. We additionally obtained multi-sample EBC pH profiles in 22 patients with chronic cough. These samples were timed to occur after coughing episodes. Exhaled breath condensate pH was measured after gas standardization.

Results

We found that exhaled breath condensate pH is substantially reduced for approximately 15 minutes after pharyngeal acid load. Healthy subjects rarely have any low EBC pH values (defined as < 7.4 based on a normative reference range from 404 healthy subjects). Patients with chronic cough who subsequently responded well to proton pump inhibition (n = 8) invariably had one or more cough episodes associated with EBC acidification. No patient who had normal EBC pH with each of their cough episodes reported a clinically relevant response to proton-pump inhibition.

Conclusion

Patients whose cough responds to proton pump inhibition have transient exhaled breath condensate acidification with coughing episodes, supporting the role of airway acidification in reflux-triggered cough. Multi-sample EBC pH profiles, involving samples collected immediately subsequent to a coughing episode, may be useful appropriately to direct therapy to those patients with cough who have relevant acid reflux.
ModuleFinder and CoReg: alternative tools for linking gene expression modules with promoter sequences motifs to uncover gene regulation mechanisms in plants
Authors: Holt Kathryn E , Harvey Millar A , Whelan James
Published: April 2006

Background

Uncovering the key sequence elements in gene promoters that regulate the expression of plant genomes is a huge task that will require a series of complementary methods for prediction, substantial innovations in experimental validation and a much greater understanding of the role of combinatorial control in the regulation of plant gene expression.

Results

To add to this larger process and to provide alternatives to existing prediction methods, we have developed several tools in the statistical package R. ModuleFinder identifies sets of genes and treatments that we have found to form valuable sets for analysis of the mechanisms underlying gene co-expression. CoReg then links the hierarchical clustering of these co-expressed sets with frequency tables of promoter elements. These promoter elements can be drawn from known elements or all possible combinations of nucleotides in an element of various lengths. These sets of promoter elements represent putative cis-acting regulatory elements common to sets of co-expressed genes and can be prioritised for experimental testing. We have used these new tools to analyze the response of transcripts for nuclear genes encoding mitochondrial proteins in Arabidopsis to a range of chemical stresses. ModuleFinder provided a subset of co-expressed gene modules that are more logically related to biological functions than did subsets derived from traditional hierarchical clustering techniques. Importantly ModuleFinder linked responses in transcripts for electron transport chain components, carbon metabolism enzymes and solute transporter proteins. CoReg identified several promoter motifs that helped to explain the patterns of expression observed.

Conclusion

ModuleFinder identifies sets of genes and treatments that form useful sets for analysis of the mechanisms behind co-expression. CoReg links the clustering tree of expression-based relationships in these sets with frequency tables of promoter elements. These sets of promoter elements represent putative cis-acting regulatory elements for sets of genes, and can then be tested experimentally. We consider these tools, both built on an open source software product to provide valuable, alternative tools for the prioritisation of promoter elements for experimental analysis.
Cultural context in medical ethics: lessons from Japan
Authors: Powell Tia
Published: April 2006

This paper examines two topics in Japanese medical ethics: non-disclosure of medical information by Japanese physicians, and the history of human rights abuses by Japanese physicians during World War II. These contrasting issues show how culture shapes our view of ethically appropriate behavior in medicine. An understanding of cultural context reveals that certain practices, such as withholding diagnostic information from patients, may represent ethical behavior in that context. In contrast, nonconsensual human experimentation designed to harm the patient is inherently unethical irrespective of cultural context. Attempts to define moral consensus in bioethics, and to distinguish between acceptable and unacceptable variation across different cultural contexts, remain central challenges in articulating international, culturally sensitive norms in medical ethics.
The use of moderate hypothermia during cardiac surgery is associated with repression of tumour necrosis factor-α via inhibition of activating protein-1: an experimental study
Authors: Qing Ma , Wöltje Michael , Schumacher Kathrin , Sokalska Magdalena , Vazquez-Jimenez Jaime F , Minkenberg Ralf , Seghaye Marie-Christine
Published: April 2006

Introduction

The use of moderate hypothermia during experimental cardiac surgery is associated with decreased expression of tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α in myocardium and with myocardial protection. In order to identify the cellular mechanisms that lead to that repression, we investigated the effect of hypothermia during cardiac surgery on both main signalling pathways involved in systemic inflammation, namely the nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) and activating protein-1 pathways.

Method

Twelve female pigs were randomly subjected to standardized cardiopulmonary bypass with moderate hypothermia or normothermia (temperature 28°C and 37°C, respectively; six pigs in each group). Myocardial probes were sampled from the right ventricle before, during and 6 hours after bypass. We detected mRNA encoding TNF-α by competitive RT-PCR and measured protein levels of TNF-α, inducible nitric oxide synthase and cyclo-oxygenase-2 by Western blotting. Finally, we assessed the activation of NF-κB and activating protein-1, as well as phosphorylation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase by electrophoretic mobility shift assay with super shift and/or Western blot.

Results

During and after cardiac surgery, animals subjected to hypothermia exhibited lower expression of TNF-α and cyclo-oxygenase-2 but not of inducible nitric oxide synthase. This was associated with lower activation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase and of its downstream effector activating protein-1 in hypothermic animals. In contrast, NF-κB activity was no different between groups.

Conclusion

These findings indicate that the repression of TNF-α associated with moderate hypothermia during cardiac surgery is associated with inhibition of the mitogen-activated protein kinase p38/activating protein-1 pathway and not with inhibition of NF-κB. The use of moderate hypothermia during cardiac surgery may mitigate the perioperative systemic inflammatory response and its complications.
Percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy versus surgical tracheostomy in critically ill patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Delaney Anthony , Bagshaw Sean M , Nalos Marek
Published: April 2006

Introduction

Tracheostomy is one of the more commonly performed procedures in critically ill patients yet the optimal method of performing tracheostomies in this population remains to be established. The aim of this study was to systematically review and quantitatively synthesize all randomized clinical trials (RCTs), comparing elective percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy (PDT) and surgical tracheostomy (ST) in adult critically ill patients with regards to major short and long term outcomes.

Methods

MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL and the Cochrane Controlled Clinical Trials Register databases were searched to identify relevant studies. Additionally, bibliographies and selected conference proceedings were reviewed, and experts in the field and manufacturers of two PDT kits were contacted. Randomized clinical trials comparing any method of elective PDT to ST that included critically ill adults and reported at least one clinically relevant outcome were included. Data extracted included trial characteristics, measures of study validity, and clinically relevant outcomes.

Results

Seventeen RCTs involving 1,212 patients were included. Most PDTs used a multiple dilator technique and were performed in the intensive care unit (ICU). The pooled odds ratio (OR) for wound infection was 0.28 (95% confidence interval (CI), 0.16 to 0.49, p < 0.0005), indicating a significant reduction with PDT compared to ST. Overall, PDT was equivalent to ST for bleeding, major peri-procedural and long-term complications; however, subgroup analysis suggested PDT resulted in a lower incidence of bleeding (OR = 0.29 (95% CI 0.12 to 0.75, p = 0.01)) and death (OR = 0.71 (95% CI 0.50 to 1.0, p = 0.05)) when the STs were performed in the operating theatre.

Conclusion

PDT reduces the overall incidence of wound infection and may further reduce clinical relevant bleeding and mortality when compared with ST performed in the operating theatre. PDT, performed in the ICU, should be considered the procedure of choice for performing elective tracheostomies in critically ill adult patients.
Senseless physically interacts with proneural proteins and functions as a transcriptional co-activator
Authors: Acar Melih , Jafar-Nejad Hamed , Giagtzoglou Nikolaos , Yallampalli Sasidhar , David Gabriela , He Yuchun , Delidakis Christos , Bellen Hugo J.
Published: April 2006

The zinc-finger transcription factor Senseless is co-expressed with basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) proneural proteins in Drosophila sensory organ precursors and is required for their normal development. High levels of Senseless synergize with bHLH proteins and upregulate target gene expression,whereas low levels of Senseless act as a repressor in vivo. However, the molecular mechanism for this dual role is unknown. Here, we show that Senseless binds bHLH proneural proteins via its core zinc fingers and is recruited by proneural proteins to their target enhancers to function as a co-activator. Some point mutations in the Senseless zinc-finger region abolish its DNA-binding ability but partially spare the ability of Senseless to synergize with proneural proteins and to induce sensory organ formation in vivo. Therefore, we propose that the structural basis for the switch between the repressor and co-activator functions of Senseless is the ability of its core zinc fingers to interact physically with both DNA and bHLH proneural proteins. As Senseless zinc fingers are ∼90% identical to the corresponding zinc fingers of its vertebrate homologue Gfi1, which is thought to cooperate with bHLH proteins in several contexts, the Senseless/bHLH interaction might be evolutionarily conserved.
Asymmetric Wholesale Pricing: Theory and Evidence
Authors: Ray Sourav , Chen Haipeng (Allan) , Bergen Mark E. , Levy Daniel
Published: April 2006

Asymmetric pricing or asymmetric price adjustment is the phenomenon where prices rise more readily than they fall. We offer and provide empirical support for a new theory of asymmetric pricing in wholesale prices. Wholesale prices may adjust asymmetrically in the small but symmetrically in the large, when retailers face cost of price adjustment. Such retailers will not adjust prices for small changes in their costs. Manufacturers then see a region of inelastic demand where small wholesale price changes do not translate into commensurate retail price changes. The implication is asymmetric—a small wholesale price increase is more profitable because manufacturers will not lose customers from higher retail prices; yet, a small decrease is less profitable, because it will not lower retail prices; hence, there is no extra revenue from greater sales. For larger changes, this asymmetry in the behavior of wholesale price vanishes as the price adjustment cost is compensated by the increase in retailers’ revenue resulting from correspondingly large retail price changes. We present a formal economic model of a channel with forward-looking retailers and cost of price adjustment, test the derived propositions on the behavior of manufacturer prices using a large supermarket scanner data set, and find that the results are consistent with the predictions of our theory. We then discuss the implications for asymmetric pricing, channels, and cost of price adjustment literatures, as well as public policy.
The Last Years of Innocent Gentillet: 'Princeps Adversariorum Machiavelli'
Authors: D'Andrea Antonio
Published: April 2006

Scholars directly or indirectly interested in the history of Machiavelli's reputation tend now to regard as exaggerated the importance attributed, in the nineteenth century, to Gentillet's Discours... Contre Nicolas Machiavel Florentin. Nobody, for instance, would be prepared today to share Edward Meyer's view that Gentillet was, ‘beyond a doubt, the source of all Elizabethan misunderstanding’ of Machiavelli. 'The grotesque Machiavel-figure of Elizabethan-Jacobean drama' —to quote from one of the most recent works on the subject—'is firmly within the acceptance/rejection theme of reaction to Machiavelli, and not an external phenomenon generated by Gentillet's Contre-Machiavel. Gentillet, despite Simon Patericke's translation, was never of any importance in England.
Bacon and Gondomar: An Unknown Link in 1618
Authors: Loomie Albert J.
Published: April 2006

In the summer of 1618 Francis Bacon wrote the following letter to the Spanish Ambassador to England, the Count of Gondomar, who had just left the kingdom:-

Illustrissime Domine, Hoc mihi per absentiam tuam reliquum est ut desiderium tui per colloquia literarum leviam. Huius rei etiam data est occasio non nulla. Rex enim meus cum profisceretur ab urbe dedit mihi in mandatis curaeque meae comisit ut accerbitates et corruptelas apparitorum versus Catholicos examinari et tempore quam primo coerceri curarem. Quod ipsum tametsi pertineat ad exhibendam justitiam qua nihil Regi nostro antiquius esse solet tamen facile perspexi serenissimam suam Maiestatem huic curae hoc tempore magis sollicite incumbere quod in hac re satisfactionem dominationis tuae Illustrissimae contempletur. Quod tibi non iniucundum fore existimo cum ipse hoc propter amorem tui libentius audirem. Vale et adhibe diligentiam ad valitudinem tuam quae rerum magnarum periculo constat. De prospera transfretatione tibi gratulor.

Julij 22° stilo vetero 1618

Fr. Verulam Canc.
Encyclopédie
Authors: Françon Marcel
Published: April 2006

On lit, dans A Literary History of England, un passage qui prétend traduire le latin d'Erasme: ‘Who does not admire in Grocyn the perfection of his training?’

F. M. Nichols traduisit ainsi: ‘In Grocin who does not marvel at such a perfect round of learning.'

Voici le texte original: ‘In Grocino quis ilium absolutum disciplinarum orbem non miretur?'

La traduction de l'ouvrage de Baugh est trop éloignée du texte latin, et ne permet pas de comprendre ce que Erasme a voulu dire: je crois, en effet, qu'Erasme voulait désigner ce que le mot Encyclopédie, signifie, pour Budé, ‘une perfection des arts liberaux et sciences politicques, qu'on appelle en Grec Encyclopediaqui veult autant a dire (pour le declarer briefvement) comme erudition circulaire.'
Marlowe, Spenser, Donne, Shakespeare and Joseph Wybarne
Authors: Dent R. W.
Published: April 2006

As John D. Jump confirms in his recent edition of Tamburlaine, L. Francis Kirkman's 1671 play list has long been regarded as the earliest unambiguous attribution of Tamburlaine to Marlowe. Admittedly, the internal evidence supporting Marlowe's authorship is so strong that virtually no one has felt much need for external confirmation. It may be worthwhile, nevertheless, to move such confirmation back by sixty-two years, to a 1609 work by Joseph Wybarne (M.A., 1606; ordained deacon [Lincoln], May 31, 1607): ‘The New Age of Old Names. By Ios. Wib. Master of Artes of Trinitie Colledge in Cambridge.' On sig. D4V, with ‘Marloe.’ in the margin, Wybarne echoes verbatim I Tamburlaine I.ii.205 ('As far as Boreas claps his brazen wings’).
Notes on the Iconology of Donatello's Judgment of Pilate at San Lorenzo
Authors: Pfeiffenberger Selma
Published: April 2006

The identity of the bicephalic servant holding the water utensils in the Judgment of Pilate (Fig. i) on Donatello's Gospel ambo in San Lorenzo has been a puzzling problem. Early writers did not identify the figure. Recently, H. W. Janson and Irving Lavin postulated that the strange bearer in this unique composition was merely an attribute of Pilate's, created to explicate the governor's character. Janson believes that the double face derives from Janus, or ‘rather, the personification of January’ carrying a jug, as portrayed in Romanesque calendar art. According to this theory, Donatello discarded or did not understand the meaning attached to a bicephalic January, and used the figure to show Pilate ‘torn between the pleas of his wife and the demands of expediency.' Lavin, who is in general agreement with this theory, carefully studied the literature on Pontius Pilate to support it. He divided the literary tradition into three parts—that which was favorable to the governor, against him, or merely neutral. Lavin concluded that Donatello's relief reflects an unfavorable view of Pilate, whom he sees as a man of ‘two minds,’ someone ‘akin to our idea of a hypocrite.'
The Legendary 'First' Military Campaign of Philip II
Authors: Spivakovsky Erika
Published: April 2006

Philip II, as everyone knows, was an armchair strategist; he lacked the physical stamina of a military man, and the nearest he came to seeing a field of battle was his visit to St. Quentin (1557) after his troops had gained him a great victory there. Charles V was wise enough not to push his son beyond his limits; he never made him participate in one of his many wars. Yet a legend of relatively recent origin now sees Philip take part, at the age of fifteen, in the Spanish triumph (1542) at Perpignan.

The facts of this event may be summed up as follows: In the summer of 1542, after not quite four years of the ten-year truce between Charles V and Francis I had passed, French armies under the Dauphin (the later Henri II) set out in June toward Narbonne, aiming to advance on the (then) Spanish county of Rosellón (Roussillon), laying siege to Perpignan in the latter part of August. The Duke of Alba, anticipating their approach, had improved Perpignan's fortifications in good time and lined up an overflow of Spanish armies ready to meet the attackers.
Analysis of serum granulysin in patients with hematopoietic stem‐cell transplantation: Its usefulness as a marker of graft‐versus‐host reaction
Authors: Nagasawa Masayuki , Isoda Takeshi , Itoh Sukeyuki , Kajiwara Michiko , Morio Tomohiro , Shimizu Norio , Ogawa Kazuyuki , Nagata Kinya , Nakamura Masataka , Mizutani Shuki
Published: April 2006

Granulysin is a newly identified CTL/NK cell‐related cytotoxic protein, which is secreted in both constitutive and Ca‐dependent manner. To evaluate its significance in stem‐cell transplantation (SCT), serum granulysin was measured by newly established ELISA method in 26 patients undergoing SCT (21 allogeneic and 5 autologous). In the allogeneic SCT, granulysin was transiently increased in 3 weeks, which was not observed in autologous SCT. In acute GVHD, serum granulysin was markedly increased and correlated with the severity of GVHD. Elevation of granulysin was not necessarily associated with increase of sIL2R or IFN‐γ. In vitro, allospecific T cells released granulysin in an allo‐specific manner, and it was correlated with allo‐specific cytotoxic activity. These results indicate that increased release of granulysin presents alloreactivity and serum granulysin is useful as a marker of GVHD in SCT. Am. J. Hematol. 81:340–348, 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Avian pancreatic polypeptide fragments refold to native aPP conformation when combined in solution: A CD and VCD study
Authors: Copps Jeffrey , Murphy Richard F. , Lovas Sándor
Published: April 2006

An equimolar mixture of avian pancreatic polypeptide (aPP) fragments aPP(1–11)‐NH2 and Ac‐aPP(12–36) had an electronic circular dichroism (ECD) spectrum that was similar to that of whole aPP in H2O and even more so in 30% (v/v) trifluoroethanol (TFE) in 15 mM Na2HPO4, but was different from the sum of the spectra of the individual fragments. The vibrational circular dichroism (VCD) spectrum of the combined fragments in 30% (v/v) TFE in 15 mM Na2HPO4 in D2O was also similar to that of the intact aPP and unlike the sum of the VCD spectra of the fragments. The interaction of these fragments is thus sufficient to support the conformation of whole aPP. This study demonstrates that VCD, in combination with ECD, is useful for the study of protein–protein interactions. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Biopolymers 83: 32–38, 2006

This article was originally published online as an accepted preprint. The “Published Online” date corresponds to the preprint version. You can request a copy of the preprint by emailing the Biopolymers editorial office at biopolymers@wiley.com
Animated instructional software for mechanics of materials: Implementation and assessment
Authors: Philpot Timothy A. , Hall Richard H.
Published: April 2006

During the past 3 years, the Basic Engineering Department at the University of Missouri, Rolla has been developing a second‐generation suite of instructional software called MecMovies for the Mechanics of Materials course. The MecMovies suite consists of over 110 animated example problems, drill‐and‐practice games, and interactive exercises. Students generally respond favorably to software of this type; however, much of the data that has been gathered to assess the effectiveness of similar software has been anecdotal. The method by which instructional software is incorporated into the engineering class is partly responsible for this lack of systematic evaluation. Often, software packages have been implemented in the classroom as supplemental material—recommended but not required. In the Fall 2003 semester, MecMovies was integrated thoroughly into the course assignments for one of the six UMR Mechanics of Materials sections. Four professors were involved in the study, and student performance in the experimental MecMovies section was compared to performance in the five control sections through a common final exam. At the end of the semester, students who used the MecMovies software also completed a survey questionnaire consisting of a number of subjective rating items. This paper presents a comparison of student performance in the experimental and control sections along with discussion of student qualitative ratings and comments. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Comput Appl Eng Educ 14: 31–43, 2006; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com); DOI 10.1002/cae.20065
Estrogen‐based hormone therapy and thrombosis risk in women with essential thrombocythemia
Authors: Gangat Naseema , Wolanskyj Alexandra P. , Schwager Susan M. , Mesa Ruben A. , Tefferi Ayalew
Published: April 2006

BACKGROUND

There is currently insufficient evidence to either support or refute an association between estrogen‐based hormone treatment (EBHT) and thrombosis risk in essential thrombocythemia (ET).

METHODS

A retrospective review of thrombotic events, which occurred both at diagnosis of ET and during subsequent follow‐up, was performed in a consecutive cohort of women with WHO‐defined ET seen at the Mayo Clinic. Details of EBHT were concomitantly obtained.

RESULTS

A total of 305 women were seen during the study period and followed for a median of 133 months. EBHT at diagnosis was documented in 59 women and such therapy was instituted at a variable time after diagnosis in 34 additional patients. At diagnosis, major thrombosis occurred in 73 patients (24%), including 11 of 59 (19%) on EBHT and 62 of 246 (25%) not on EBHT (P = .28). Thrombosis after diagnosis occurred in 94 patients (31%), including 64 of 212 (30%) not on EBHT, 5 of 17 (29%) in whom EBHT was discontinued at diagnosis, 13 of 42 (31%) in whom EBHT was continued despite the diagnosis of ET, and 12 of 34 (35%) in whom EBHT was started after diagnosis (P = .95). The overall results were the same when arterial and venous events were analyzed separately. However, EBHT in the form of oral contraceptives (OCP) was associated with an increased risk of venous thrombosis (P = .03).

CONCLUSIONS

EBHT is safe in ET outside the setting of OCP use, which might be associated with an increased risk of deep vein thrombosis. Cancer 2006. © 2006 American Cancer Society.
Assessment of biliary fibrosis by transient elastography in patients with PBC and PSC
Authors: Corpechot Christophe , El Naggar Ahmed , Poujol-Robert Armelle , Ziol Marianne , Wendum Dominique , Chazouillères Olivier , de Lédinghen Victor , Dhumeaux Daniel , Marcellin Patrick , Beaugrand Michel , Poupon Raoul
Published: April 2006

Noninvasive measurement of liver stiffness with transient elastography has been recently validated for the evaluation of hepatic fibrosis in chronic hepatitis C. The current study assessed the diagnostic performance of liver stiffness measurement (LSM) for the determination of fibrosis stage in chronic cholestatic diseases. One hundred one patients with primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC, n = 73) or primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC, n = 28) were prospectively enrolled in a multicenter study. All patients underwent liver biopsy (LB) and LSM. Histological and fibrosis stages were assessed on LB by two pathologists. LSM was performed by transient elastography. Efficiency of LSM for the determination of histological and fibrosis stages were determined by a receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve analysis. Analysis failed in six patients (5.9%) because of unsuitable LB (n = 4) or LSM (n = 2). Stiffness values ranged from 2.8 to 69.1 kPa (median, 7.8 kPa). LSM was correlated to both fibrosis (Spearman's ρ = 0.84,

P

< .0001) and histological (0.79,

P

< .0001) stages. These correlations were still found when PBC and PSC patients were analyzed separately. Areas under ROC curves were 0.92 for fibrosis stage (F) ≥2, 0.95 for F ≥ 3 and 0.96 for F = 4. Optimal stiffness cutoff values of 7.3, 9.8, and 17.3 kPa showed F ≥ 2, F ≥ 3 and F = 4, respectively. LSM and serum hyaluronic acid level were independent parameters associated with extensive fibrosis on LB.

In conclusion

, transient elastography is a simple and reliable noninvasive means for assessing biliary fibrosis. It should be a promising tool to assess antifibrotic therapies in PBC or PSC. (Hepatology 2006;43:1118–1124.)
Trends in drug resistance mutations in antiretroviral‐naïve intravenous drug users of Rio de Janeiro
Authors: Maia Teixeira Sylvia Lopes , Bastos Francisco Inácio , Hacker Mariana A. , Guimarães Monick Lindenmeyer , Morgado Mariza Gonçalves
Published: April 2006

DNA sequencing of a pol gene fragment from drug‐naive injecting drug users samples obtained at two time points of the Brazilian AIDS epidemic (Pre‐HAART era: 1994 to early 1997, n = 27; post‐HAART era: 1999–2001, n = 38) was undertaken to assess HIV‐1 antiretroviral drug resistance mutations and subtyping profiles. Genotypic analysis revealed the presence of PR primary L90M, D30N, M46I, and V82A mutations in 7.9% of the post‐HAART group, and a high frequency of secondary mutations (84.2%). Nucleoside RT‐associated mutations were observed in 13.2%. In the pre‐HAART group, a higher frequency of RT mutations was observed (22.2%) and no PR primary mutations were found, in agreement with the introduction of protease inhibitors (PIs) in therapy during the same period. The identification of 7.9% of drug‐naive injecting drug users already bearing RT/PR primary resistance mutations in the post‐HAART era group constitutes a major concern in terms of dissemination of drug resistant viruses. The resistance mutations profile of the individuals may reflect the context of antiretroviral treatment in Brazil at the sample collection periods (1994–1997 and 1999–2001). In spite of the differences observed in the drug resistance profiles, similar frequencies of subtype B (63.0 vs. 73.7%), F (22.2 vs. 10.5%), and recombinant B/F (14.8 vs. 15.8%) viruses were found, respectively, in the pre‐ and post‐HAART groups. J. Med. Virol. 78:764–769, 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Exploring the relationship between the North Atlantic oscillation and rainfall patterns in Barbados
Authors: Charlery J. , Nurse L. , Whitehall K.
Published: April 2006

The North Atlantic oscillation (NAO) is a large‐scale seesawing movement of atmospheric mass between the North Atlantic subtropical high‐pressure system and the Icelandic low‐pressure system. This phenomenon has been acknowledged as the dominant mode of winter climate variability in the temperate latitudes of the North Atlantic region. In this study, an attempt is made to identify the effect of the NAO on the rainfall pattern in the Eastern Caribbean, based on data from a representative station in that subregion.

Rainfall data taken from a southeastern coastal station in Barbados are used to explore the relationship between the behavior of the NAO (using standardized monthly indexes) and the rainfall pattern at that station. In the period considered (1950–2004), the NAO is shown to have a very significant effect on the monthly variability of rainfall in Barbados during both El Niño and La Niña periods. Copyright © 2006 Royal Meteorological Society
Sciatic and peroneal nerve injuries
Authors: Korompilias Anastasios V. , Payatakes Alexandros H. , Beris Alexandros E. , Vekris Marios D. , Afendras Gerasimos D. , Soucacos Panayotis N.
Published: April 2006

In the past, the attitude toward surgical repair of sciatic and peroneal nerve lesions was excessively pessimistic. Refinements of microsurgical technique, nerve conduction studies, and the establishment of indications and optimal timings for surgical interventions have led to significant improvements in outcomes, making repair worthwhile in most cases. Tendon transfers can augment functional outcomes, and are performed as secondary procedures or (in selected cases) in combination with the initial repair. Developments in the basic sciences, bioengineering, and medical imaging may further improve the results of management of these serious nerve injuries. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc. Microsurgery, 2006
Adsorption behavior of PS‐PEO diblock copolymers on silver and alumina surfaces: A surface plasmon resonance study
Authors: Koutsioubas Alexandros G. , Spiliopoulos Nikolaos , Anastassopoulos Dimitrios L. , Vradis Alexandros A. , Toprakcioglu Chris , Priftis George D.
Published: April 2006

In this work, the adsorption behavior at the silver/toluene and alumina/toluene interface of polystyrene–polyethylene oxide (PS‐PEO) diblock copolymers of various molecular weights was investigated by implementation of the surface plasmon resonance (SPR) technique. This was accomplished under a careful choice of experimental setup and the use of a suitable physical model for the interpretation of the experimental data. Comparison between polystyrene homopolymer and PS‐PEO diblock copolymer adsorption measurements indicate that PS‐PEO is anchored on the alumina surface via the PEO block, while on silver the copolymer is attached by various chain segments. The measured final adsorption amounts on alumina are typical of end‐attached polymeric brush formation while the dynamics of the adsorption process present two clearly different evolution regimes. This work provides insight into the many advantages of the use of the SPR technique as a valuable tool for similar surface studies. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 44: 1580–1591, 2006
Spectroscopic properties as a function of fluorine content in Eu3+:PMMA
Authors: Gordon Jennifer , Ballato John , Jin Jianyong , Smith Dennis W.
Published: April 2006

In this work europium was used as a spectroscopic probe of the local environment about a lanthanide dopant in a fluorinated copolymer of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA). Fluorination of PMMA was achieved through copolymerization with heptafluorobutyl methacrylate (HFBMA). Samples were characterized for their refractive index, glass transition temperature (Tg), and optical emissions via prism coupling, differential scanning calorimetry, and fluorescence spectroscopy respectively. The refractive index and Tgs were found to decrease linearly with fluorine content. The hypersensitivity ratio, which is defined as the ratio of integrated emission intensity between the 5D0 → 7F2 hypersensitive transition and 5D0 → 7F1 magnetic dipole transition in Eu3+, was found to decrease by ∼60% when the HFBMA copolymer content exceeded about 75% by weight. This implies a change in the local environment about the rare earth dopant that is dependent on the copolymer concentration and is likely due to changes in solubility between the ligand and host environment. The results show that fluorination of PMMA can be useful to tailor refractive index, glass transition, and the spectroscopic properties of active dopants. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 44: 1592–1596, 2006
Cocrystallization phenomena in novel poly(diethylene terephthalate‐co‐thiodiethylene terephthalate) copolyesters
Authors: Siracusa Valentina , Gazzano Massimo , Finelli Lara , Lotti Nadia , Munari Andrea
Published: April 2006

Poly(diethylene terephthalate‐co‐thiodiethylene terephthalate) (PDET/TDET) copolymers of various compositions were synthesized and characterized in terms of chemical structure and molecular weight. The thermal behavior was examined by thermogravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetry. All the polymers showed a good thermal stability. At room temperature they appeared as semicrystalline materials: the main effect of copolymerization was a lowering in the amount of crystallinity and a decrease of melting temperature with respect to homopolymers. WAXD measurements indicated that cocrystallization occurs over an extended composition range and three different crystalline phases have been identified. In particular, the applicability of Wendling–Suter's equation has been checked for the PDET/TDET copolymers with TDET unit content ranging from 60 to 90 mol %. Amorphous samples were obtained after melt quenching and a decrease of Tg as the content of TDET units is increased was observed. This behavior was explained as due to the presence of flexible CSC bonds in the polymeric chain. Lastly, the Fox equation well described Tg‐composition data. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 44: 1562–1571, 2006
Plant‐derived natural products exhibiting activity against formosan subterranean termites (Coptotermes formosanus)
Authors: Meepagala Kumudini M , Osbrink Weste , Sturtz George , Lax Alan
Published: April 2006

The Formosan subterranean termite, Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki, is among the most devastating termite pests. Natural products derived from plant extracts were tested in a discovery programme for effective, environmentally friendly termite control agents. Among the natural products tested, vulgarone B (isolated from Artemisia douglasiana Besser), apiol (isolated from Ligusticum hultenii (Fern.) Calder & Taylor) and cnicin (isolated from Centaurea maculosa Lam.) exhibited significantly higher mortalities than in untreated controls in laboratory bioassay. These compounds are present at high levels in their respective plant sources and also possess other biological activities such as phytotoxic and antifungal properties. Copyright © 2006 Society of Chemical Industry
8th International Workshop on Nonlinear Optics and Excitation Kinetics in Semiconductors (NOEKS 8), Münster, Germany, 20–24 February 2006
Authors: Knorr Andreas , Stolz Heinrich
Published: April 2006

Conference Reports are meant to offer an authoritative view on a recently held scientific meeting rather than a comprehensive list of the conference presentations. Authors are invited to describe what they feel were the most interesting contributions.

The full Proceedings of NOEKS 8 will be published in phys. stat. sol. (b) and phys. stat. sol. (c) in autumn 2006.
Improved cell typing by charge‐state deconvolution of matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectra
Authors: Wilkes Jon G. , Buzatu Dan A. , Dare Diane J. , Dragan Yvonne P. , Chiarelli M. Paul , Holland Ricky D. , Beaudoin Michael , Heinze Thomas M. , Nayak Rajesh , Shvartsburg Alexandre A.
Published: April 2006

Robust, specific, and rapid identification of toxic strains of bacteria and viruses, to guide the mitigation of their adverse health effects and optimum implementation of other response actions, remains a major analytical challenge. This need has driven the development of methods for classification of microorganisms using mass spectrometry, particularly matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI‐MS), that allows high‐throughput analyses with minimum sample preparation. We describe a novel approach to cell typing based on pattern recognition of MALDI mass spectra, which involves charge‐state deconvolution in conjunction with a new correlation analysis procedure. The method is applicable to both prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. Charge‐state deconvolution improves the quantitative reproducibility of spectra because multiply charged ions resulting from the same biomarker attaching a different number of protons are recognized and their abundances are combined. This allows a clearer distinction of bacterial strains or of cancerous and normal liver cells. Improved class distinction provided by charge‐state deconvolution was demonstrated by cluster spacing on canonical variate score charts and by correlation analyses. Deconvolution may enhance detection of early disease state or therapy progress markers in various tissues analyzed by MALDI‐MS. Published in 2006 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.