bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The crystal structure of NlpI
Authors: Wilson Christopher G. M. , Kajander Tommi , Regan Lynne
Published: December 2004

There are several different families of repeat proteins. In each, a distinct structural motif is repeated in tandem to generate an elongated structure. The nonglobular, extended structures that result are particularly well suited to present a large surface area and to function as interaction domains. Many repeat proteins have been demonstrated experimentally to fold and function as independent domains. In tetratricopeptide (TPR) repeats, the repeat unit is a helix‐turn‐helix motif. The majority of TPR motifs occur as three to over 12 tandem repeats in different proteins. The majority of TPR structures in the Protein Data Bank are of isolated domains. Here we present the high‐resolution structure of NlpI, the first structure of a complete TPR‐containing protein. We show that in this instance the TPR motifs do not fold and function as an independent domain, but are fully integrated into the three‐dimensional structure of a globular protein. The NlpI structure is also the first TPR structure from a prokaryote. It is of particular interest because it is a membrane‐associated protein, and mutations in it alter septation and virulence.
Acute exacerbation of COPD requiring admission to the intensive care unit
Authors: YANG Steve , TAN Keng‐Leong , DEVANAND Anantham , FOOK‐CHONG Stephanie , ENG Philip
Published: December 2004

Objective:  The aim of this study was to summarize experiences of patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) for an acute exacerbation of COPD and to identify factors associated with a poor outcome.

Methodology:  An observational case series of 102 consecutive admissions to the ICU for acute exacerbation of COPD between January 1998 and December 2002 were studied.

Results:  In total, 102 admissions to the ICU were reviewed. There were no ICU deaths but there were 18 hospital deaths (18%). A total of 28 patients were treated with non‐invasive positive pressure ventilation (NIPPV), of whom four (14% failure rate) subsequently required intubation and mechanical ventilation (MV). Another 16 patients (16%) were successfully weaned from MV with NIPPV. Nine patients (9%), who had more than one episode of re‐intubation after weaning (RAW), were from the mechanically ventilated group. Tracheostomy was performed for four patients (3.9%). The median duration of both NIPPV and MV was 1 day. The median length of stay in the ICU and hospital were 2 days (SD, 7.2) and 8 days (SD, 9.6), respectively. Univariate analysis identified serum total protein to be associated with hospital mortality (P = 0.004)

Conclusion:  For patients with acute exacerbations of COPD in the ICU, serum total protein, a surrogate marker for nutrition, was significantly associated with hospital mortality.
BAL eotaxin and IL‐5 in asthma, and the effects of inhaled corticosteroid and β2 agonist
Authors: FELTIS Bryce N , REID David W , WARD Chris , WALTERS E Haydn
Published: December 2004

Objective:  In a longitudinal ex vivo placebo‐controlled study, asthmatics already treated with inhaled corticosteroid received supplemental long‐acting β‐agonist (LABA) or increased doses of their inhaled corticosteroid (ICS). Previously reports have shown significant reductions in biopsy eosinophil numbers after treatment with LABA. Following these findings, eosinophil chemokines eotaxin and IL‐5 in the BAL fluid at baseline and after 3 months of study medication have now been measured, and these data with that from new cross‐sectional controls have also been compared. It is hypothesised that changes in airway eosinophils would be related to eosinophil cytokines.

Methodology:  BAL cytokines were measured by chemiluminescent enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay, while eosinophils were measured by immunohistochemistry or differential cell counting. For all measures, longitudinal data were compared to that from ICS‐free asthmatics (n = 42) and non‐asthmatic controls (n = 28).

Results:  BAL eotaxin in asthmatics was elevated above non‐asthmatic levels regardless of ICS levels. BAL IL‐5 was elevated in ICS‐free asthmatics, but not in asthmatics on low‐dose ICS treatment. Longitudinally, BAL eotaxin was unchanged after 3 months. Unexpectedly, IL‐5 increased after 3 months of additional LABA treatment but was not further affected by increasing the dose of ICS. Airway eotaxin seemed to be constitutively raised in asthmatics, whereas, IL‐5 levels were more steroid‐responsive. No relationship was observed between eosinophils and eosinophilic cytokines in the BAL.

Conclusions:  While the elevation of luminal IL‐5 with LABA treatment cannot be accounted for, it may have contributed to luminal clearance of airway wall eosinophils. The lack of correlation between airways eosinophils and eosinophilic cytokines in the BAL is particularly important.
Budesonide once versus twice‐daily administration: meta‐analysis
Authors: MASOLI Matthew , WEATHERALL Mark , HOLT Shaun , BEASLEY Richard
Published: December 2004

Objectives:  The aim of this study was to examine the efficacy of budesonide administered once daily compared to twice daily in asthma.

Methodology:  Meta‐analysis of randomised controlled trials comparing budesonide administered once versus twice a day that presented data on at least one clinical outcome measure was conducted.

Results:  A total of 10 studies, with 1922 children and adults with asthma, met the inclusion criteria. These studies were performed predominantly with mild to moderate asthmatic patients, using doses of budesonide ranging from 200 to 800 µg per day. There was no significant difference between daily dosing once or twice for all the clinical outcome variables, including withdrawals due to asthma, for which the odds ratio was 1.0 (95% confidence interval, 0.65–1.52).

Conclusions:  In mild to moderate asthma a once‐daily budesonide regimen has a similar efficacy to a twice‐daily regimen in doses up to 800 µg per day. A once‐daily regimen has potential advantages in terms of patient compliance and satisfaction, when used in clinical practice.
Herbivore arthropods benefit from vectoring plant viruses
Authors: Belliure Belén , Janssen Arne , Maris Paul C. , Peters Dick , Sabelis Maurice W.
Published: December 2004

Plants infected with pathogens often attract the pathogens’ vectors, but it is not clear if this is advantageous to the vectors. We therefore quantified the direct and indirect (through the host plant) effects of a pathogen on its vector. A positive direct effect of the plant‐pathogenic Tomato spotted wilt virus on its thrips vector (Frankliniella occidentalis) was found, but the main effect was indirect; juvenile survival and developmental rate of thrips was lower on pepper plants that were damaged by virus‐free thrips than on unattacked plants, but such negative effects were absent on plants that were damaged and inoculated by infected thrips or were mechanically inoculated with the virus. Hence, potential vectors benefit from attacking plants with virus because virus‐infected plants are of higher quality for the vector's offspring. We propose that plant pathogens in general have evolved mechanisms to overcome plant defences against their vectors, thus promoting pathogen spread.
A Comparison of Bicarbonate Hemodialysis, Hemodiafiltration, and Acetate‐free Biofiltration on Cytokine Production
Authors: Higuchi Terumi , Yamamoto Chii , Kuno Tsutomu , Okada Kazuyoshi , Soma Masayoshi , Fukuda Noboru , Nagura Yuji , Takahashi Susumu , Matsumoto Koichi
Published: December 2004

Abstract:  Acetate‐free biofiltration (AFB) is a special hemodiafiltration (HDF) modality performed with a base‐free dialysate and simultaneous injection of non‐pyrogenic sodium bicarbonate solution. The purpose of this study was to investigate the difference of cytokine production by conventional bicarbonate hemodialysis (BCD), standard HDF and AFB in the same patients. Eight stable hemodialysis patients were treated in random order with BCD, HDF and AFB every 4 weeks. The production of interleukin‐1β (IL‐1β) and interleukin‐1 receptor antagonist (IL‐1Ra) by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) was investigated without stimulation and with stimulation by a small amount of endotoxin (ET)‐contaminated β2‐microglobulin (β2M) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) before and after dialysis treatment in the last sessions during all periods. To serve as controls, 14 healthy volunteers participated in this study. In spontaneous IL‐1Ra production, the values of before and after AFB were not significantly different from that of the controls, and the values of before and after BCD and before HDF were significantly higher than that of the controls. In LPS‐stimulated PBMC, IL‐1β production before and after AFB was not significantly different from that of the controls, and before and after BCD and HDF was significantly higher than that of the controls. In ET‐contaminated β2M‐stimulated PBMC, IL‐1β production before and after AFB was not significantly different compared to the controls, and the production was significantly lower than that before and after BCD and HDF. In addition, IL‐1Ra production after AFB was not significantly different from the controls, and the production was significantly lower than that before and after BCD and HDF. It was concluded that a lower cytokine production by AFB may have the effect of preventing dialysis‐related complications.
Therapeutic Plateletpheresis in a Case of Symptomatic Thrombocytosis in Chronic Myeloid Leukemia
Authors: Thakral Beenu , Saluja Karan , Malhotra Pankaj , Sharma Ratti Ram , Marwaha Neelam , Varma Subhash
Published: December 2004

Abstract:  Extreme thrombocytosis is a frequent feature in myeloproliferative disorders which can predispose a person to thrombotic complications. As opposed to other myeloproliferative disorders, symptomatic thrombocytosis is rare in chronic myeloid leukemia. We describe a second case report of chronic myeloid leukemia (Ph chromosome positive) in a patient in chronic phase on hydroxyurea who presented with sudden onset digital cyanosis of the left hand, giddiness, headache and malaise due to extreme thrombocytosis. A 67% global reduction in the platelet count from 1553 × 109/L to 513 × 109/L after two therapeutic plateletpheresis procedures was seen. There was simultaneous improvement in all symptoms except cyanosis on the tip of the middle finger that progressed to dry gangrene. Dramatic reduction in the platelet count and ablation of symptoms by therapeutic plateletpheresis is an effective therapy and should begin as soon as possible.
Bio‐Intact Parathyroid Hormone and Intact Parathyroid Hormone in Hemodialysis Patients With Secondary Hyperparathyroidism Receiving Intravenous Calcitriol Therapy
Authors: Fujimori Akira , Sakai Makoto , Yoshiya Kunihiko , Shin Jeongsoo , Kim Jong‐Il , Inaba Yoko , Miyamoto Takashi , Inoue Seishi , Fukagawa Masafumi
Published: December 2004

Abstract:  Intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH) assay has been the most widely used for the diagnosis of secondary hyperparathyroidism and evaluation of vitamin D therapy. However, 1–84 PTH assay might be a better diagnostic tool since iPTH detects not only 1–84 PTH but also large C‐terminal fragments, which would antagonize PTH action. Therefore, we conducted a multicenter study to evaluate the clinical usefulness of a newly developed immunochemiluminometric assay for 1–84 PTH, Bio‐Intact PTH (BiPTH). Thirty‐five uremic patients with secondary hyperparathyroidism participated in the study. Intravenous calcitriol therapy was continued for 12 months. iPTH and bone‐specific alkaline phosphatase (BAP) were monitored at each dialysis center to control the dose of calcitriol. Serum and plasma samples were collected from each center and both iPTH and BiPTH were measured using Allegro‐Lite assay reagents from Nichols Institute Diagnostics (San Clemente, CA, USA). Intravenous calcitriol suppressed iPTH after 1 month as well as BiPTH. Bone‐specific alkaline phosphatase decreased after 3 months. A high degree of correlation between Nichols iPTH and BiPTH (y = 0.3913 × + 19.517, r = 0.9561) was demonstrated with a BiPTH/iPTH ratio of approximately 0.44. Significant correlation between BAP and iPTH, or between BAP and BiPTH was not observed. Our limited data failed to demonstrate the superiority of BiPTH to iPTH. Therefore, further investigations would be  necessary to examine the relationship between BiPTH and bone histomorphometry.
A Case Report of Plasma Exchange Therapy in Non‐paraneoplastic Cerebellar Ataxia Associated with Anti‐Yo Antibody
Authors: Meloni Carlo , Iani Cesare , Dominijanni Sara , Arciprete Flavio , Cipriani Silvia , Caramiello Maria Stella , Tozzo Carmela , Lombardo Pietrina Angela , Tatangelo Paola , Cecilia Annalisa , Straccialano Emilia , Casciani Carlo Umberto
Published: December 2004

Abstract:  A 71‐year‐old‐woman was admitted to the S. Eugenio Hospital for a history of progressively impaired standing and gait. Anamnesis revealed systemic hypertension, gastric polyposis and juvenile pulmonary tuberculosis. Neurological examination showed a severe truncal and gait ataxia, without any sensory‐motor impairment. Motor and somato‐sensory evoked potentials were normal. Brain Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) showed minimal signs of chronic ischemia only at a supratentorial level. Cerebral Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography, spinal MRI, total body computed tomography, Esophagogastroduodenoscopy, and finally total body Positron Emission Tomography resulted negative for neoplasms. Oncological serum markers were negative. Serum antibody against Purkinje's cells (Anti‐Yo) was detected and titer was 1 : 80, while normally it should be undetectable. Other autoantibodies (Anti‐Hu, Anti‐Ri) were undetectable. Two sessions of plasma exchange (PE) were thus performed, leading to a rapid, marked and durable improvement of standing and gait and to a reduction of the autoantibody, which became undetectable. No serious adverse effect was noted. Although no definite therapy for autoimmune cerebellar ataxia has been established, PE should be considered as one of the main therapeutic choices.
Silicon Device Scaling to the Sub-10-nm Regime
Authors: Ieong Meikei , Doris Bruce , Kedzierski Jakub , Rim Ken , Yang Min
Published: December 2004

In the next decade, advances in complementary metal-oxide semiconductor fabrication will lead to devices with gate lengths (the region in the device that switches the current flow on and off) below 10 nanometers (nm), as compared with current gate lengths in chips that are now about 50 nm. However, conventional scaling will no longer be sufficient to continue device performance by creating smaller transistors. Alternatives that are being pursued include new device geometries such as ultrathin channel structures to control capacitive losses and multiple gates to better control leakage pathways. Improvement in device speed by enhancing the mobility of charge carriers may be obtained with strain engineering and the use of different crystal orientations. Here, we discuss challenges and possible solutions for continued silicon device performance trends down to the sub-10-nm gate regimes.
Darwinian Selection on a Selfing Locus
Authors: Shimizu Kentaro K. , Cork Jennifer M. , Caicedo Ana L. , Mays Charlotte A. , Moore Richard C. , Olsen Kenneth M. , Ruzsa Stephanie , Coop Graham , Bustamante Carlos D. , Awadalla Philip , Purugganan Michael D.
Published: December 2004

The shift to self-pollination is one of the most prevalent evolutionary transitions in flowering plants. In the selfing plant
Arabidopsis thaliana
, pseudogenes at the
SCR
and
SRK
self-incompatibility loci are believed to underlie the evolution of self-fertilization. Positive directional selection has driven the evolutionary fixation of pseudogene alleles of
SCR
, leading to substantially reduced nucleotide variation. Coalescent simulations indicate that this adaptive event may have occurred very recently and is possibly associated with the post-Pleistocene expansion of
A. thaliana
from glacial refugia. This suggests that ancillary morphological innovations associated with self-pollination can evolve rapidly after the inactivation of the self-incompatibility response.
The Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 DNA Packaging Protein UL17 Is a Virion Protein That Is Present in Both the Capsid and the Tegument Compartments
Authors: Thurlow Johanna K. , Rixon Frazer J. , Murphy Mary , Targett-Adams Paul , Hughes Michelle , Preston Valerie G.
Published: December 2004

The UL17 protein of herpes simplex virus type 1 is essential for packaging the viral genome into the procapsid, a spherical assembly intermediate, and is present in the mature virus particle. We have examined the distribution of UL17 in various assembly products and virions to determine which component of the virus particle UL17 is associated with and at what stage in capsid assembly UL17 is required. UL17 was present in the procapsid, in the DNA-containing angularized C capsid, and in two other angularized capsid forms, A and B, that lack DNA and are thought to be dead-end products. The results suggest that UL17 is a minor capsid protein which is incorporated into the procapsid during assembly of the particle. UL17 was also found in virions and in noninfectious structures known as light (L) particles, which possess a tegument and envelope but lack a capsid. The level of UL17 in these particles was much greater than the amount that could be attributed to capsid contamination of the purified L-particle preparation, suggesting that UL17 is also a tegument protein. The finding that virions contain approximately twofold more UL17 than do C capsids provided further support for the idea that UL17 is present in two different structural components within the mature virion. The UL25 packaging protein, which is also present in virions, was not found in significant amounts in L particles, indicating that it is associated only with the capsid. UL6, the third virion-associated packaging protein, was present in slightly increased levels in L particles.
Comparative Efficacy and Immunogenicity of Replication-Defective, Recombinant Glycoprotein, and DNA Vaccines for Herpes Simplex Virus 2 Infections in Mice and Guinea Pigs
Authors: Hoshino Yo , Dalai Sarat K. , Wang Kening , Pesnicak Lesley , Lau Tsz Y. , Knipe David M. , Cohen Jeffrey I. , Straus Stephen E.
Published: December 2004

Many candidate vaccines are effective in animal models of genital herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) infection. Among them, clinical trials showed moderate protection from genital disease with recombinant HSV-2 glycoprotein D (gD2) in alum-monophosphoryl lipid A adjuvant only in HSV women seronegative for both HSV-1 and HSV-2, encouraging development of additional vaccine options. Therefore, we undertook direct comparative studies of the prophylactic and therapeutic efficacies and immunogenicities of three different classes of candidate vaccines given in four regimens to two species of animals: recombinant gD2, a plasmid expressing gD2, and
dl
5-29, a replication-defective strain of HSV-2 with the essential genes
UL5
and
UL29
deleted. Both
dl
5-29 and gD2 were highly effective in attenuating acute and recurrent disease and reducing latent viral load, and both were superior to the plasmid vaccine alone or the plasmid vaccine followed by one dose of
dl
5-29.
dl
5-29 was also effective in treating established infections. Moreover, latent
dl
5-29 virus could not be detected by PCR in sacral ganglia from guinea pigs vaccinated intravaginally. Finally,
dl
5-29 was superior to gD2 in inducing higher neutralizing antibody titers and the more rapid accumulation of HSV-2-specific CD8
+
T cells in trigeminal ganglia after challenge with wild-type virus. Given its efficacy, its defectiveness for latency, and its ability to induce rapid, virus-specific CD8
+
-T-cell responses, the
dl
5-29 vaccine may be a good candidate for early-phase human trials.
Importance of Arginine 20 of the Swine Vesicular Disease Virus 2A Protease for Activity and Virulence
Authors: Inoue Toru , Alexandersen Soren , Clark Angela T. , Murphy Ciara , Quan Melvyn , Reid Scott M. , Sakoda Yoshihiro , Johns Helen L. , Belsham Graham J.
Published: December 2004

A major virulence determinant of swine vesicular disease virus (SVDV), an
Enterovirus
that causes an acute vesicular disease, has been mapped to residue 20 of the 2A protease. The SVDV 2A protease cleaves the 1D-2A junction in the viral polyprotein, induces cleavage of translation initiation factor eIF4GI, and stimulates the activity of enterovirus internal ribosome entry sites (IRESs). The 2A protease from an attenuated strain of SVDV (Ile at residue 20) is significantly defective at inducing cleavage of eIF4GI and the activation of IRES-dependent translation compared to the 2A protease from a pathogenic strain (J1/73, Arg at residue 20), but the two proteases have similar 1D-2A cleavage activities (Y. Sakoda, N. Ross-Smith, T. Inoue, and G. J. Belsham, J. Virol. 75:10643-10650, 2001). Residue 20 has now been modified to every possible amino acid, and the activities of each mutant 2A protease has been analyzed. Selected mutants were reconstructed into full-length SVDV cDNA, and viruses were rescued. The rate of virus growth in cultured swine kidney cells reflected the efficiency of 2A protease activity. In experimentally infected pigs, all four of the mutant viruses tested displayed much-reduced virulence compared to the J1/73 virus but a significant, albeit reduced, level of viral replication and excretion was detected. Direct sequencing of cDNA derived from samples taken early and late in infection indicated that a gradual selection-reversion to a more efficient protease occurred. The data indicated that extensive sequence change and selection may introduce a severe bottleneck in virus replication, leading to a decreased viral load and reduced or no clinical disease.
Ganglioside GD1a Restores Infectibility to Mouse Cells Lacking Functional Receptors for Polyomavirus
Authors: Gilbert Joanna , Dahl Jean , Riney Cathy , You John , Cui Cunqi , Holmes Randall , Lencer Wayne , Benjamin Thomas
Published: December 2004

Recent investigations on the pathway of cell entry by polyomavirus (Py) and simian virus 40 (SV40) have defined specific gangliosides as functional receptors mediating virus binding and transport from the plasma membrane to the endoplasmic reticulum (B. Tsai et al., EMBO J.
22:
4346-4355, 2003; Gilbert and Benjamin, in press). These studies were carried out with C6 rat glioma cells, a heterologous host chosen for its known deficiency in ganglioside biosynthesis. Here, a cell genetic approach was undertaken to identify components required for the early steps of infection using mouse cells as the natural host for Py. Receptor-negative (R−) mouse cells, screened based on resistance to Py infection, were shown to bind Py but failed to allow entry of the virus. R− cells were also found to be resistant to SV40. Infectibility was restored or enhanced by the addition of the same specific gangliosides found in earlier studies with C6 cells. In one R− line, overexpression of caveolin-1 also increased infectibility. These results support and extend findings on gangliosides in lipid rafts as functional receptors and mediators of internalization for Py and SV40.
NUMERICAL SIMULATIONS OF MIXED STATE QUANTUM COMPUTATION
Authors: GAWRON P. , MISZCZAK J. A.
Published: December 2004

We describe the [Formula: see text] package of functions useful for simulations of quantum algorithms and protocols. The presented package allows one to perform simulations with mixed states. We present numerical implementation of important quantum mechanical operations — partial trace and partial transpose. Those operations are used as building blocks of algorithms for analysis of entanglement and quantum error correction codes. A simulation of Shor's algorithm is presented as an example of package capabilities.
A QUANTUM TELEPORTATION GAME
Authors: PIRANDOLA STEFANO
Published: December 2004

We investigate a game where a sender (Alice) teleports coherent states to two receivers (Bob and Charlie) through a tripartite Gaussian state. The aim of the receivers is to optimize their teleportation fidelities by means of local operations and classical communications. We show that a non-cooperative strategy corresponding to the standard telecloning protocol can be outperformed by a cooperative strategy which gives rise to a novel (cooperative) telecloning protocol.
Heritability of free and receptor-bound leptin in normal twins
Authors: Jordan Jens , Brabant Georg , Brinsuk Marina , Tank Jens , Horn Rüdiger , Luft Friedrich C. , Busjahn Andreas
Published: December 2004

Free and receptor-bound leptin may be regulated by different mechanisms. Genes that influence the concentration of these fractions may have an important functional bearing. We determined circulating leptin receptor concentrations, bound as well as free leptin concentrations, and body composition in 24 monozygotic (MZ) and in 22 dizygotic (DZ) twin pairs. Bound leptin and leptin receptor concentrations were inversely correlated with body fat content. Free leptin concentrations were directly correlated with body fat content. The correlations in age- and sex-adjusted free leptin, bound leptin, and leptin receptor concentrations were higher between MZ twins than between DZ twins. Adjusted heritability (h2) estimates were 0.28 for free leptin, 0.73 for bound leptin, and 0.55 for leptin receptor. The genetic correlation with body fat was −0.58 for the leptin receptor, −0.20 for bound leptin, and 0.93 for free leptin. Our data are consistent with a strong genetic influence on leptin receptor and bound leptin and a weaker genetic influence on free leptin concentrations. The same genes that lower bound leptin and leptin receptor concentrations may increase fat mass or vice versa.
RNAi-Induced Gene Silencing by Local Electroporation in Targeting Brain Region
Authors: Akaneya Yukio , Jiang Bin , Tsumoto Tadaharu
Published: December 2004

Genetic manipulation for “knockout” (KO) is a useful tool for characterizing a target gene. However, its shortcomings that need to be overcome hinder its easy and ready usage in ordinary laboratories. Here we describe a knockdown technique termed the RNA interference (RNAi)-induced gene silencing by local electroporation (RISLE). Small interfering RNA (siRNA) introduction by electroporation into a specific brain region results in a marked reduction in the expression levels of both the mRNA and protein of the target genes such as GluR2 and Cox-1 without affecting the expression levels of proteins other than that of the target protein or causing pathological changes in the target tissues. The effective electrical pulses are relatively weak, consisting of a strong short pulse and a weak long pulse applied in tandem. RISLE can knock down a gene at the target region, for example, the visual cortex and the CA1 region of the hippocampus, without affecting other regions. Moreover, the knockdown models constructed using this technique have physiological functions consistent with previous findings, that is, glutamate release from presynaptic sites, long-term potentiation (LTP), and long-term depression (LTD). These results suggest that this technique is applicable and characterized by spatial flexibility, temporal accessibility, and ease of establishment of knockdown models. The intactness of the tissue subjected to RISLE is due to the weak electrical pulses applied and the limited area of gene silencing. Thus RISLE may be applicable to disease therapy in the future.
A Sound-Evoked Vestibulomasseteric Reflex in Healthy Humans
Authors: Deriu Franca , Tolu Eusebio , Rothwell John C.
Published: December 2004

Averaged responses to loud clicks were recorded in the unrectified and rectified masseter electromyogram (EMG) of 18 healthy subjects. Unilateral clicks (0.1 ms, 3 Hz, 70–100 dB NHL), delivered during a steady masseter contraction, evoked bilateral responses that appeared to consist of 2 components on the basis of threshold, latency, and their appearance in rectified EMG. The lowest threshold response appeared as a p16 wave (onset 11–13 ms) in the unrectified EMG and corresponded with a 10- to 12-ms period of inhibition in the rectified EMG. Higher-intensity clicks recruited an earlier p11 response in the unrectified EMG (onset 7.0–9.2 ms) that sometimes appeared as an initial increase in the rectified EMG before suppression. The amplitude of the p11 wave scaled with background EMG level and was asymmetrically modulated by 30° tilt of the whole body. The threshold of the early p11/n15 wave in masseter was the same as the threshold for click-induced vestibulocollic reflexes. Single motor unit recordings demonstrated that responses in masseters corresponded to a silent period in unit firing that began earlier and lasted longer at 100 dB than at 80 dB. We propose that loud clicks induce 2 partially overlapping short-latency reflexes in masseter muscle EMG: a p11/n15 response, which we suggest is of vestibular origin, and a p16/n21 response, which we suggest is equivalent to the previously described jaw–acoustic reflex.
Public management and organizational autonomy: the continuing relevance of significant earlier knowledge
Authors: Thynne Ian , Wettenhall Roger
Published: December 2004

A key theme of recent reforms in public management in various countries is the perceived need for many organizations in government to have a degree of legal and operational autonomy. In studying this and other aspects of the reforms, there is considerable merit in examining how the underlying ideas have been explored in earlier works. In this article, we argue that this is particularly relevant to the current interest in organizational autonomy. Pertinent ideas, issues and concerns were addressed several decades ago by scholars such as Macmahon, Seidman, Selznick and Follett. The contributions of these scholars have continuing analytical value and deserve to be revisited.
Examining myths and truths in public social policy: the Latin American case
Authors: Kliksberg Bernardo
Published: December 2004

Latin America is a continent with enormous economic potential going through a hopeful and positive process of democratization. But it nevertheless presents acute social problems: 44 percent of the population is poor; 60 percent of children live below the line of poverty; and nearly 20 percent of young people are unemployed. A central reason for this is the high level of inequality. According to available reports, these inequalities were worsened by the orthodox policies applied in countries like Argentina during the 1990s, which reduced the middle classes and increased polarization. Social public policies can be key to the future of the region. This study examines a series of myths about these policies that lead down erroneous paths and that are applicable to other regions of the developing world as well. It suggests the need to overcome such myths and urgently advance economic policies with a human face as well as aggressive and well-managed social policies.
A multifaceted portrait of a library and information science journal: the case of the Journal of Information Science
Authors: Bonnevie Ellen
Published: December 2004

This paper presents an analysis of a journal in the field of library and information science by means of a variety of bibliometric methods. The journal selected is Journal of Information Science (JIS). The methods are mainly publication and citation analyses, including a journal co-citation analysis, self-citation analyses, an overlap analysis, as well as Lotka’ s law regarding authorship characteristics. This variety of methods provides a multifaceted image. The analyses are focused on the last 25 years, since the basis of research primarily is ISI’s citation databases and LISA, in which JIS has been indexed since 1979. The library and information science journal is pictured by a catalogue of different methodologies as a supplement to Journal Impact Factor (JIF), the usual tool of journal evaluation in measuring the impact of a journal. The areas of study are the visibility of the journal in databases, the pattern of authorship, the pattern of self-citations, internalization and scientific impact. The methods employed in analysing JIS supplement and sustain other analyses in the field of library and information science journals.
Internet facilities: use and non-use by Nigerian university scientists
Authors: Ehikhamenor Fabian A.
Published: December 2004

The Internet culture is creating a new scientific communication system with new facilities that are competing with, and might replace, the present printed information sources. The use and non-use of these facilities by Nigerian academic scientists were investigated, using data collected from a survey of academic staff of selected disciplines in 10 universities. It was found that the scientists are still heavily dependent on printed information sources, especially journals, indexes and abstracts. The study reveals that 64.4% of them have a computer at their disposal, while 50.4% have access to, and are using, the Internet. Besides e-mail, very little use is made of other Internet facilities. Non-use of the Internet is attributable to problems of accessibility, ease of use and cost. Most of the non-users are aware of the information and communication potential of the Internet in their disciplines, and believe that the Internet will become indispensable in their research in the future.
Women’s Satisfaction with Their Breast Prosthesis
Authors: Livingston Patricia M. , White Victoria M. , Roberts Susan B. , Pritchard Emma , Hayman Jane , Gibbs Anne , Hill David J.
Published: December 2004

The aim of this study is to determine what factors constitute a quality prosthesis and ascertain which factors affect prosthesis satisfaction. Sixty-four women who received full funding for their prosthesis and 38womenwho received their hospital’s usual fundingwere recruited. Women rated the information provided about breast prostheses very highly, with 85% reporting that it was “very good” or “excellent.” Satisfaction was significantly associatedwith how well the prosthesis fit (1 week,p =.001; 3 months,p =.01), level of comfort (3 months,p =.005), and appearance of the prosthesis when worn (6 months,p = .001). Quality was significantly associated with how well it fit (1 week,p = .001; 3months,p = .001), how natural it felt (1 week,p = .001; 6months,p =.01), the weight of the prosthesis (3 months,p =.003), and appearance when worn (6 months,p = .03). The results will be used to improve women’s access to a quality prosthesis.
Bear Bodies, Bear Masculinity
Authors: Hennen Peter
Published: December 2004

Bears comprise a subculture of gay men who valorize the larger, hirsute body. This research interrogates Bear culture as a gendered strategy for repudiating effeminacy that simultaneously challenges and reproduces norms of hegemonic masculinity. In this research, the author situates his ethnographic study of a major metropolitan Bear community in its social and historical context to illuminate this paradox, with special emphasis on the embodiment of Bear masculinity and its effect on sexual practice. The author concludes that through a process of embodied agency, Bear culture yields a number of sexually innovative practices that disperse pleasure across the body and disrupt genitally centered, phallusandreceptacle interpretations of sex. However, the subversive potential of these practices is significantly undermined by an attendant set of practices that reflect heteronormative and hegemonically masculine interpretations of sex.
A Burning Desire
Authors: Myers Karen K.
Published: December 2004

This study utilized Myers and Oetzel’s six-dimensional model of organizational assimilation as a framework to explore members’ assimilation into a highreliability organization (HRO)—14 stations of a fire department in a major U.S. city. Qualitative data were gathered from semistructured interviews and participant observation. Consistent with the Myers and Oetzel framework, new firefighters did develop a familiarity with others, acculturate, become involved, feel recognized, and develop job skills. The firefighters did not role negotiate, but they put considerable effort into establishing trustworthiness. Trust was built by demonstrating humility and a good work ethic. Furthermore, unlike newcomers to most non-HROs, newcomers were required to socialize themselves prior to entry. The study also reveals how a strong culture and environment affect informal socialization and offers additional evidence of the reciprocal nature of organizational assimilation. Implications and suggestions for future research are offered.
The Interactive Effects of Role Change Goals Andrelational Exchangeson Employee Upward Influence Tactics
Authors: Olufowote James O. , Miller Vernon D. , Wilson Steven R.
Published: December 2004

Employee upward influence for role changes implicates involvement in decision making, fit, and organizational functioning. Porter, Allen, and Angle’s framework is used to explore employee upward influence with supervisors during role change. Tactic selection is hypothesized to vary as a function of role change goals (i.e., magnitude of change and degree of personal and organizational benefit sought) and the quality of the leader-member exchange (LMX). Regression analyses of employee surveys (N = 128) indicate that employee goals (i.e., both personal and organizational) and the magnitude of role change interact to predict employee use of rationality and coalition. Furthermore, LMX and the magnitude of change interact to predict employee rationality. Implications for research and practice are discussed.
The Perfect is the Enemy of the Best
Authors: Bendor Jonathan , Kumar Sunil
Published: December 2004

Organizations such as the Food and Drug Agency can make both type I (approving bad drugs) and type II errors (rejecting good ones). Optimal reliability entails balancing these two kinds of mistakes just so. This paper addresses the question of whether and when an imperfectly rational agency - in particular, one using an adaptive decision-making policy - would become optimally reliable. We establish a necessary condition that an adaptive scheme must satisfy if it is to guide the agency to optimal reliability. The necessary condition takes the form of a constraint on the agency’s propensity to explore the space of alternatives: it must become ‘stoic’ in the face of errors. The paper supplements this normative analysis by providing a descriptive examination of a common class of adaptive rules that could be used by an agency coping with type I and type II errors. Here we analyze how technological factors, external political pressure, and changes in the quality of information affect the agency’s reliability, both dynamically and in the steady-state.
Power, but scant responsibility
Authors: Marsh Kevin
Published: December 2004

Journalists working in the British press need now to be part of the answer and not the cause of a continuing crisis, writes Marsh, editor of BBC Radio 4's Today programme. To this end, they need five characteristics. First, toughness - to resist the hypocrisy that values a scalp, that values a resignation or public humiliation while professing indifference to the effects of the press on the public sphere. Second, belief - belief that finding the truth and telling it is a public good. Third, responsibility - an individual sense of responsibility for journalism's purpose in scrutinising government and public institutions fairly and with the intent of enabling them to work better. Fourth, accountability - accountability for the results of the profession and the acceptance that journalism isn't something you just do and walk away from. Fifth, ambition - ambition for a profession built on values; fairness, impartiality, open mindedness, inclusivity. Britain needs journalists who read from both sides of every balance sheet and who know that a partial truth - in both senses of the word - is more lethal than a blatant untruth.
A story to die for
Authors: Bridge Rhidian
Published: December 2004

There have been many developments in recent years in the admirable efforts made to mitigate the risks of war zones, or "hazardous environments", for those in the media industry who have to venture into them, writes this "manager of projects in hostile environments". Having worked as a consultant to a plethora of organisations that have sought the planning skills and common sense advice of an ex-soldier, I have observed these developments with interest in several of the world's current so-called "post-conflict" areas. These days you usually bump into other ex-military colleagues who are employed by the Western bureaus as safety advisers and, more recently, as "hired foreign guns" brought in to protect news crews. By my reckoning even the most conservative of Western TV operations in Iraq now have armed foreign minders as well as Iraqi national armed guards. In my view there is no question that to get their job done, journalists need minders and local fixers in nasty places. Apart from the safety question, such help is necessary to hitch a ride and/or negotiate a free passage with some or all of the factions in a war zone, as any war correspondent worth his or her flak jacket knows.
Agenda Dissonance
Authors: Esposito Noreen
Published: December 2004

This focus group study examined immigrant Hispanic women’s and providers’ assumptions about and expectations of healthcare encounters in the context of menopause. Four groups of immigrant women from Central America and one group of healthcare providers were interviewed in Spanish and English, respectively. The women wanted provider-initiated, individualized anticipatory guidance about menopause, acknowledgement of their symptoms, and mainstream medical treatment for disruptive symptoms. Providers believed that menopause was an unimportant health issue for immigrant women and was overshadowed by concerns about high-risk medical problems, such as diabetes, heart disease and HIV prevention. The women expected a healthcare encounter to be patient centered, social, and complete in itself. Providers expected an encounter to be businesslike and one part of multiple visit care. Language and lack of time were barriers cited by all. Dissonance between patient-provider assumptions and expectations around issues of healthcare leads to missed opportunities for care.
Randomized Controlled Trial of a Family Problem-Solving Intervention
Authors: Drummond Jane , Fleming Darcy , Mcdonald Linda , Kysela Gerard M.
Published: December 2004

Adaptive problem solving contributes to individual and family health and development. In this article, the effect of the cooperative family learning approach (CFLA) on group family problem solving and on cooperative parenting communication is described. A pretest or posttest experimental design was used. Participant families were recruited from Head Start programs and exhibited two or more risk factors. Participant preschool children were screened to have two or more developmental delays. Direct behavioral observation measures were used to determine group family problem solving and cooperative parenting communication outcomes. Few group family problem-solving behaviors were coded, and they displayed little variability. However, intervention parents increased the length of time they played and extended the cooperative parent-child interactions. The evidence shows that CFLA has the potential to enhance parentalmodeling of cooperative behavior while engaged in play activities with preschoolers. Direct measurement of group family problem solving was difficult. Solutions are suggested.
The Validation of the Career Decision-Making Difficulties Scale in a Chinese Culture
Authors: Tien Hsiu-Lan Shelley
Published: December 2004

The purpose of the study was to test the classification system for career decision difficulties of college students in a Chinese culture. Five hundred twenty-one college students completed the Chinese version of the Career Decision-Making Difficulties Questionnaire. Data obtained were analyzed by multivariate analysis of variance, factor analysis, and a clustering algorithm, ADDTREE. The results indicated significant differences between decided and undecided students on their perceptions of career difficulties,.(10,464) = .729. The results of factor analysis and the ADDTREE analysis indicated that the three-group classification system for career decision-making difficulties was generally supported. However, for the undecided students in the process of career decision making, the factors before and during the process were mixed.
Singing the Russian Blues: An Argument for Culturally Basic Color Terms
Authors: Paramei Galina V.
Published: December 2004

The universal inventory of basic color terms (BCTs) consists of 11 terms, including a single blue term. Russian has two terms for blue, sinij (dark blue) and goluboj (light blue). The proposed status of goluboj as the 12th basic term challenges theory stating the upper limit of BCTs. This article reviews a body of research on the Russian blues and draws on arguments from lexical-semantic analysis and linguistic and psycholinguistic studies. It is argued that goluboj, being symbolically charged, emerged in Russian as culturally basic. Counterparts of the Russian blues in other languages are considered. Within a context beyond Russian, the potential refinement of the blue area is suggested to follow perceptual-cognitive universals. This is reinforced by language and culturally specific semiotics. By drawing attention to a distinction between denotative and designative meaning, the issue of the Russian blues calls into question the proper definition of a basic color term.
Ascribed Economic Inequality and Homicide Among Modern Societies
Authors: Chamlin Mitchell B. , Cochran John K.
Published: December 2004

Although a great number of studies have established, through a variety ofmethodologies, the existence of a positive association between economic inequality and homicide rates cross-culturally, none, in our view, have offered a sound theoretical explanation for this association. Almost all of these accounts suffer from problems of reductionism in that they offer social-psychological explanations for macro-social phenomena. They also provide explanations that cannot be logically extended to the crime of homicide, which cannot be falsified due to the lack of the data necessary to critically test them and/or are limited to the United States but cannot logically be extended cross-nationally. In this article, the authors offer a solution to this problem that avoids invoking reductionist explanations. This macro-social approach distinguishes between achieved and ascribed bases of economic inequality, arguing that variations in cross-national rates of homicide among modern societies are best explained by high levels of ascribed economic inequality.
Getting the Numbers: The Unacknowledged Work in Recruiting for Survey Research
Authors: Lindsay Jo
Published: December 2004

This article reflects on the work of recruiting participants for survey research. Published accounts in this area frequently neglect complex and time-consuming elements of the recruiting process. These are negotiating access with gatekeepers, negotiating the cooperation of participants, and emotional engagement in the recruitment process. This article describes these processes through the example of recruiting nonprofessional young workers for a survey on sex, drugs, and drinking. The challenges of recruiting for a quantitative study where there is limited rather than prolonged engagement in the field are examined in detail, and strategies for overcoming recruitment barriers are offered.
Survey Response in the Long Run: The Wisconsin Longitudinal Study
Authors: Hauser Robert M.
Published: December 2004

This article reviews the history and design of the Wisconsin Longitudinal Study (WLS), which has successfully followed a sample of more than 10,000 members of Wisconsin’s class of 1957 from high school graduation to the retirement years. It describes methods that have been used to locate the graduates in the 1964, 1975, 1992–1993, and 2003–2005 follow-up surveys and differentials in survey participation. Although typical response differentials by gender and education appear in the WLS, these are explainedby differentials in response by adolescent academic ability, academic performance, and social participation.