bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Role of free radicals in viral pathogenesis and mutation
Authors: Akaike Takaaki
Published: August 2002

Oxygen radicals and nitric oxide (NO) are generated in excess in a diverse array of microbial infections. Emerging concepts in free radical biology are now shedding light on the pathogenesis of various diseases. Free‐radical induced pathogenicity in virus infections is of great importance, because evidence suggests that NO and oxygen radicals such as superoxide are key molecules in the pathogenesis of various infectious diseases. Although oxygen radicals and NO have an antimicrobial effect on bacteria and protozoa, they have opposing effects in virus infections such as influenza virus pneumonia and several other neurotropic virus infections. A high output of NO from inducible NO synthase, occurring in a variety of virus infections, produces highly reactive nitrogen oxide species, such as peroxynitrite, via interaction with oxygen radicals and reactive oxygen intermediates. The production of these various reactive species confers the diverse biological functions of NO. The reactive nitrogen species cause oxidative tissue injury and mutagenesis through oxidation and nitration of various biomolecules. The unique biological properties of free radicals are further illustrated by recent evidence showing accelerated viral mutation by NO‐induced oxidative stress. NO appears to affect a host's immune response, with immunopathological consequences. For example, NO is reported to suppress type 1 helper T cell‐dependent immune responses during infections, leading to type 2 helper T cell‐biased immunological host responses. NO‐induced immunosuppression may thus contribute to the pathogenesis of virus infections and help expansion of quasispecies population of viral pathogens. This review describes the pathophysiological roles of free radicals in the pathogenesis of viral disease and in viral mutation as related to both nonspecific inflammatory responses and immunological host reactions modulated by NO. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Post‐genomic virology: the impact of bioinformatics, microarrays and proteomics on investigating host and pathogen interactions
Authors: Kellam Paul
Published: August 2002

Post‐genomic research encompasses many diverse aspects of modern science. These include the two broad subject areas of computational biology (bioinformatics) and functional genomics. Laboratory based functional genomics aims to measure and assess either the messenger RNA (mRNA) levels (transcriptome studies) or the protein content (proteome studies) of cells and tissues. All of these methods have been applied recently to the study of host and pathogen interactions for both bacteria and viruses. A basic overview of the technology is given in this review together with approaches to data analysis. The wealth of information produced from even these preliminary studies has shown the generalities, subtleties and specificities of host–pathogen interactions. Such research should ultimately result in new methods for diagnosing and treating infectious diseases. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Oncogenic retroviruses in animals and humans
Authors: Burmeister Thomas
Published: August 2002

Retrovirology emerged as a branch of science at the beginning of the last century. However, a deeper insight into the pathology of retroviruses and retrovirus‐induced cancers could only be gained after the advent of modern biochemical and molecular biological techniques in the 1970s and 1980s. This study gives an overview of the known and well‐characterised exogenous oncogenic animal retroviruses and the only human oncoretrovirus discovered thus far, HTLV‐1. It briefly reviews retrovirus genetics, mechanisms of oncogenic transformation and malignant diseases caused by retroviruses. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Inherent limitations and control design for camless engine idle speed dynamics
Authors: Wang Yan , Stefanopoulou Anna , Smith Roy
Published: August 2002

The idle speed control problem of a spark‐ignited engine equipped with a camless valvetrain is considered. The camless valvetrain allows control of the individual intake and exhaust valves of each cylinder and can be used to achieve unthrottled operation, and consequently, optimize the engine performance. We formulate the speed control problem for this engine and show that it exhibits unstable open‐loop behaviour with a significant delay in the feedback loop. The instability is intrinsic to the unthrottled operation and specific to the camless actuation used to achieve the unthrottled operation. The delay is caused by the discrete combustion process and the sensor/computer/actuator interface. We demonstrate the inherent system limitations associated with the unstable dynamics and the delay and provide insight on the structural (plant) design that can alleviate these limitations. Finally, stabilizing controllers using classical and modern robust design techniques are presented and tested on a nonlinear simulation model. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The long and winding (and frequently bumpy) road to successful client engagement: one team's journey
Authors: Campbell Deborah
Published: August 2002

Successful client engagements require both good model‐building process and good facilitation. Using an executive team‐building wilderness journey as an analogy, this article describes the process and facilitation of one particularly successful client engagement. At completion, in addition to using the model results to guide their strategic decision process that year, the client took on full ownership of the model, its use as an ongoing decision‐making resource, and its maintenance. Yet, between the smooth and relatively easy sales process and the important final results were a myriad of ups and downs. Each obstacle in our road brought learning and insight, and confirmed standard processes or suggested new ones. In the end, we developed a model to guide a specific but not restrictive strategic decision area, facilitated an understanding within the organization of the dynamic complexity of their business without the detail complexity, organized their data in a way that made it useful for them as it had not been before, and built a very strong client–consultant team relationship. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Aiming for restructuring success at London Underground
Authors: Mayo Donna D. , Callaghan Martin J. , Dalton William J.
Published: August 2002

Beginning in 1997, the UK government called on London Underground Limited (LUL) to assess its options for a broad restructuring. LUL commissioned an analysis by PA Consulting Group featuring the development and use of a system dynamics simulation model of the Underground. This article describes major aspects of this work, and how use of the dynamic simulation model has evolved to meet LUL's changing needs. The model provided a common framework for analyzing structural options; simulated performance under different potential structures and identified critical aspects of implementation; helped educate LUL's potential private‐sector partners about the Underground; and, most recently, enhanced LUL's evaluation of the private sector bids. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Direct detection of mutation sites on stretched DNA by atomic force microscopy
Authors: Zhang Yi , Lu Yongtao , Hu Jun , Kong Xiangyin , Li Bin , Zhao Guoping , Li Minqian
Published: August 2002

Based on MutS protein recognition of heteroduplex DNA, here we report an approach by using atomic force microscopy (AFM) in combination with a DNA stretching technique for detecting small DNA alternations. The AFM studies showed that the binding ratio of heteroduplex DNA to MutS was higher than that of homoduplex DNA. The data also showed that the stretching operation caused little change to the binding ratios of both heteroduplex and homoduplex DNA. By stretching the MutS‐bound DNA, the distances from MutS binding sites to the DNA ends could be measured directly using AFM and the position of the binding sites could be measured. Because of the DNA stretching operation, this method will be competent to detect unpaired or mismatched sites on long DNA molecules in a direct and visual way. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
XPS study of the changes during the service life of polyester powder coatings
Authors: Haverkamp R. G. , Siew D. C. W. , Barton T. F.
Published: August 2002

Polyester powder coatings have been used for many years on architectural products, such as aluminium window trim. This study investigates the degradation mechanism of naturally weathered coatings that have been exposed to aggressive climatic conditions, including high ultraviolet radiation and coastal atmospheres containing salt. These conditions provide a harsh test regime over a period of 10 years. X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) was useful for detecting the initial stages of coating degradation. The technique allows for the testing of new polymer coating materials under real conditions in much shorter time spans. The XPS study is supported by photoacoustic Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Bruno de Finetti: the mathematician, the statistician, the economist, the forerunner
Authors: Rossi Carla
Published: August 2002

Bruno de Finetti is possibly the best known Italian applied mathematician of the 20th century, but was he really just a mathematician? Looking at his papers it is always possible to find original and pioneering contributions to the various fields he was interested in, where he always put his mathematical ‘formamentis’ and skills at the service of the applications, often extending standard theories and models in order to achieve more general results. Many contributions are also devoted to educational issues, in mathematics in general and in probability and statistics in particular.

He really thought that mathematics and, in particular, those topics related to uncertainty, should enter in everyday life as a useful support to everyone's decision making. He always imagined and lived mathematics as a basic tool both for better understanding and describing complex phenomena and for helping decision makers in assuming coherent and feasible actions. His many important contributions to the theory of probability and to mathematical statistics are well known all over the world, thus, in the following, minor, but still pioneering, aspects of his work, related both to theory and to applications of mathematical tools, and to his work in the field of education and training of teachers, are presented. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A new approach to training back‐propagation artificial neural networks: empirical evaluation on ten data sets from clinical studies
Authors: Ciampi Antonio , Zhang Fulin
Published: August 2002

We present a new approach to training back‐propagation artificial neural nets (BP‐ANN) based on regularization and cross‐validation and on initialization by a logistic regression (LR) model. The new approach is expected to produce a BP‐ANN predictor at least as good as the LR‐based one. We have applied the approach to ten data sets of biomedical interest and systematically compared BP‐ANN and LR. In all data sets, taking deviance as criterion, the BP‐ANN predictor outperforms the LR predictor used in the initialization, and in six cases the improvement is statistically significant. The other evaluation criteria used (C‐index, MSE and error rate) yield variable results, but, on the whole, confirm that, in practical situations of clinical interest, proper training may significantly improve the predictive performance of a BP‐ANN. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Teaching hypothesis tests – time for significant change?
Authors: Sterne Jonathan A. C.
Published: August 2002

Confusion in the teaching of statistical inference dates back to the conflict of Fisher's P‐values and significance tests with the Neyman‐Pearson hypothesis testing approach. To avoid the well‐known pitfalls arising from over‐reliance on significance tests and the division of results into ‘significant’ or ‘not significant’, many medical journals now insist that presentation of statistical analyses includes confidence intervals as well as or instead of P‐values. The confusion over how to report statistical analyses which is evident in the recent medical literature is matched by divergent teaching of hypothesis tests between the 16 U.K. medical schools represented at the April 2000 Burwalls meeting. Suggested guidelines for the teaching of statistical inference to medical students are presented, and possible future developments are discussed. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Logistic regression when binary predictor variables are highly correlated
Authors: Barker Lawrence , Brown Cedric
Published: August 2002

Standard logistic regression can produce estimates having large mean square error when predictor variables are multicollinear. Ridge regression and principal components regression can reduce the impact of multicollinearity in ordinary least squares regression. Generalizations of these, applicable in the logistic regression framework, are alternatives to standard logistic regression. It is shown that estimates obtained via ridge and principal components logistic regression can have smaller mean square error than estimates obtained through standard logistic regression. Recommendations for choosing among standard, ridge and principal components logistic regression are developed. Published in 2001 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Repeated‐measures models to evaluate a hepatitis B vaccination programme
Authors: Renard Didier , Bruckers Liesbeth , Molenberghs Geert , Vellinga Akke , Van Damme Pierre
Published: August 2002

In 1985–1986, a hepatitis B vaccination programme was conducted in a Belgian institution for the mentally handicapped. A group of 97 residents was followed up for 11 years in order to characterize the long‐term persistence of hepatitis B antibodies after vaccination. This paper proposes the use of linear mixed‐effects models to account for serial correlation and between‐individual heterogeneity in the data, while adjusting the analysis for various individual characteristics and important risk factors in the response to vaccination. We propose several model building strategies and focus on the prediction of future levels of antibodies. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The continual reassessment method: comparison of Bayesian stopping rules for dose‐ranging studies
Authors: Zohar Sarah , Chevret Sylvie
Published: August 2002

The continual reassessment method (CRM) provides a Bayesian estimation of the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) in phase I clinical trials and is also used to estimate the minimal efficacy dose (MED) in phase II clinical trials. In this paper we propose Bayesian stopping rules for the CRM, based on either posterior or predictive probability distributions that can be applied sequentially during the trial. These rules aim at early detection of either the mis‐choice of dose range or a prefixed gain in the point estimate or accuracy of estimated probability of response associated with the MTD (or MED). They were compared through a simulation study under six situations that could represent the underlying unknown dose–response (either toxicity or failure) relationship, in terms of sample size, probability of correct selection and bias of the response probability associated to the MTD (or MED). Our results show that the stopping rules act correctly, with early stopping by using the two first rules based on the posterior distribution when the actual underlying dose–response relationship is far from that initially supposed, while the rules based on predictive gain functions provide a discontinuation of inclusions whatever the actual dose–response curve after 20 patients on average, that is, depending mostly on the accumulated data. The stopping rules were then applied to a data set from a dose‐ranging phase II clinical trial aiming at estimating the MED dose of midazolam in the sedation of infants during cardiac catheterization. All these findings suggest the early use of the two first rules to detect a mis‐choice of dose range, while they confirm the requirement of including at least 20 patients at the same dose to reach an accurate estimate of MTD (MED). A two‐stage design is under study. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Model‐based estimation of vaccine effects from community vaccine trials
Authors: Longini Ira M. , Halloran M. Elizabeth , Nizam Azhar
Published: August 2002

Community vaccine trials are becoming increasingly important to assess both the direct and indirect community level effects of vaccination. In this paper, we present statistical methods to analyse such trials, using a design with several matched pairs of communities. The communities are matched on similarities in infection transmission as reflected through the basic reproduction number. Two methods of analysis are presented and compared. The first is simple empirical estimation of vaccine effects. Summary measures of these effects are constructed by reciprocal variance weighted averages across the community pairs. The second is likelihood‐based where we derive a mixed effects epidemic model. This model takes the intercommunity variability into account through a random effect on the basic reproduction number. With this model, we derive a distribution‐free estimator for the variance of the random effect. We use simulated epidemics to explore the performance of the two estimation methods for different numbers of community pairs and different levels of inter‐pair variability. Both methods provide acceptable estimates in terms of bias and precision under reasonable conditions. Although the empirical approach involves fewer assumptions than the model‐based approach, the resulting vaccine effectiveness estimates are only applicable to the vaccination fraction tested in the trial. In contrast, the model‐based approach can be used to predict the vaccine effectiveness at vaccination fractions other than those used in the trial. Thus, it can be used as a public health policy tool for predicting the community level effects of vaccination. We demonstrate such use by predicting total vaccine effectiveness for the whole range of vaccination fractions. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Global strategy and population‐level learning: the case of hard disk drives
Authors: McKendrick David G.
Published: August 2002

Some scholars argue that firms within the same industry engage in similar foreign investment behavior irrespective of nationality because they face a common set of pressures and incentives. Others emphasize the persistent diversity in business practices and behavior of firms from different nations as they invest abroad. Using the hard disk drive industry as a case, this paper explores whether nationality or industry has the greater influence on global strategy and whether it affects industry performance. The findings suggest that firms from the same nation are likely to adopt similar global strategies initially, but that, over time, the industry as a whole converges on the same blueprint for action. At the same time, however, strategic focus and organizational characteristics moderate national influences: firms from the same nation are more likely to adopt the same global strategy if they compete in the same product segment and are of similar size and age. The evidence also indicates that the national industry that is first to select what becomes the dominant strategy acquires an advantage over competitors from other countries. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Ageing of a data‐intensive legacy system: symptoms and remedies
Authors: Visaggio Giuseppe
Published: August 2002

This study generalizes some of the symptoms of ageing of a legacy system. Each symptom is specified by metrics and the results of the measurements made suggest what operations should be undertaken to renew the software. The study is based on retrospective analysis of data collected during the execution of a large renewal process of a very old legacy system. It therefore provides evidence of the expected efficacy of such renewal processes and can be used to decide how best to plan them and manage them in order to increase their efficacy. It can also be used to define the reengineering requirements to ensure long life to the system despite successive evolutions of the application and the operation domain. The metrics can provide a basis for monitoring a software system to ensure that its quality does not degrade to such an extent that the most costly and risky renewal processes then have to be performed to improve it. Finally, the paper points out the problems with renewal processes that still remain open. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Natural philosophy and developmental systems
Authors: Salthe Stanley N.
Published: August 2002

Natural philosophy is being revived by way of grounding it in thermodynamics and information theory. This discourse systematizes information from all the sciences so that every field of knowledge of nature supports every other as parts of a concept of general evolution. The point is to construct an intelligible picture of the world. Change in material systems involves both development and evolution. General evolution is primarily developmental, and the specification hierarchy of integrative levels can be used to model it. In this hierarchy, biology is seen as a kind of material system, and social phenomena as kinds of biological systems. This pattern implies there was a tendency toward psychology on the earth. This scheme is biased by having been produced by psychological, social, biological beings, integrating humans with the rest of nature, and so it embodies valuation. Natural philosophy welcomes values in its constructions. There has never been a culture without an origination myth; general evolution, as constructed within natural philosophy, differs by referring to its own genesis within a picture of the genesis of the world. Copyright © 2001 International Society for the Systems Sciences.
Gerard de Zeeuw and architectural research
Authors: Verbeke Johan
Published: August 2002

This paper reports on the interaction between Professor Gerard de Zeeuw and the staff of the Faculty of Architecture Sint‐Lucas (Brussels–Ghent, part of the Hogeschool voor Wetenschap & Kunst), henceforth referred to as Sint‐Lucas (Architecture). The paper is a case study of Professor Gerard de Zeeuw at work, highlighting the main issues he brings into discussion and reports on the way he works with groups. It is structured around the four encounters between Gerard de Zeeuw and staff of Sint‐Lucas and discusses the important problem of defining the background and criteria for scientific research in Architecture.

During the group activities, Gerard de Zeeuw stimulated a positive and open climate valuing ideas and allowing emergence of ideas. His way of working was based on enlightening ideas, maintaining focus, creating a constructive climate, introducing the framework described in this paper and an iterative process of developing ideas.

The first encounter was during a meeting to prepare an EU application in Delft. Some time later, the Board of Sint‐Lucas decided to invest in the development of architectural research. A short meeting with de Zeeuw in Brussels was followed by a residential workshop in Wissant (France). This resulted in a policy statement on architectural research at Sint‐Lucas. This statement is the formal outcome of the interaction processes between Gerard de Zeeuw and Sint‐Lucas and proves Gerard de Zeeuw's impact on the formulation of criteria for scientific research in architecture. The final ideas were developed during de Zeeuw's retirement meeting in Amsterdam (the Netherlands). For each encounter, we will try to highlight the main ideas and the impact on Sint‐Lucas and research in architecture. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
An Asian American Perspective on Psychosocial Student Development Theory
Authors: Maekawa Kodama Corinne , McEwen Marylu K. , Liang Christopher T. H. , Lee Sunny
Published: August 2002

Psychosocial student development theory based on predominantly white student populations may not be appropriate for Asian American students. The authors propose a new model of psychosocial development for Asian American students that takes racial identity and external influences into account.
Developing Asian American Leaders
Authors: Liang Christopher T. H. , Lee Sunny , Ting Marie P.
Published: August 2002

Cultural factors can influence the way Asian American students display leadership as well as how they are perceived as leaders. Redefining leadership and devising inclusive leadership development programs can help empower Asian American students and encourage them to become more involved on campus.
NMDA antagonist effects on striatal dopamine release: Microdialysis studies in awake monkeys
Authors: Adams Barbara W. , Bradberry Charles W. , Moghaddam Bita
Published: August 2002

Brain imaging studies have suggested that the NMDA antagonist ketamine is as potent a releaser of striatal dopamine as amphetamine. This conclusion contradicts microdialysis findings in the rodent that NMDA antagonists, in contrast to amphetamine, have little or no effect on striatal dopamine release. The present study addressed two mechanisms that could account for this discrepancy: 1) whether there is a species difference, i.e., rodents vs. primates, in the responsivity of striatal dopamine to NMDA antagonists, and 2) whether rapid uptake of dopamine prevents reliable measures of synaptic dopamine release by microdialysis in response to NMDA antagonists. MRI‐directed in vivo microdialysis was used to compare the effects of psychotomimetic NMDA antagonists phencyclidine (PCP), ketamine, and amphetamine on extracellular striatal dopamine levels in awake rhesus monkeys. The effect of PCP was also investigated in the presence of intrastriatally applied nomifensine, a dopamine uptake blocker. Amphetamine (0.1 or 0.4 mg/kg) produced robust and dose‐dependent increases in dopamine release ranging 2–10‐fold above baseline. PCP at 0.1 mg/kg had no effect and at 0.3 mg/kg produced a small 50% increase over baseline. Ketamine, at the relatively high dose of 5 mg/kg, produced only a 30% increase in dopamine release. Intrastriatal application of nomifensine did not influence the effect of PCP, suggesting that rapid uptake of dopamine is not preventing the detection of a PCP‐induced increase in dopamine release. These findings suggest that in the primate, ketamine and PCP are not effective dopamine releasers, as has been suggested by previous imaging studies. Synapse 43:12–18, 2002. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Orientation Control and Fixation of Discotic Liquid Crystal
Authors: Kawata Ken
Published: August 2002

We established hybrid, horizontal, vertical, and vertical‐twisted alignment of discotic liquid crystals on web‐coating
thin film. Newly developed materials are the photopolymerizable discotic liquid crystals, in order to fix desired novel alignment,
the alignment promoters that deposit toward air surface during web coating, followed by drying of solvent, and then accomplish desired
alignment of liquid crystals, the alignment layers that promote desired alignment of liquid crystals from the substrate side and the
chiral agents, which have strong chiral powers in small amounts. Hybrid aligned discotic liquid crystal thin film has proven quite
effective in expanding the viewing angle of thin film transistor liquid crystal displays. © 2002 The Japan Chemical Journal
Forum and Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Chem Rec 2:59–80, 2002: Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com)
DOI 10.1002/tcr.10015
Prevalence of spina bifida and anencephaly during the transition to mandatory folic acid fortification in the United States
Authors: Williams Laura J. , Mai Cara T. , Edmonds Larry D. , Shaw Gary M. , Kirby Russell S. , Hobbs Charlotte A. , Sever Lowell E. , Miller Lisa A. , Meaney F. John , Levitt Miriam
Published: August 2002

Background

In 1992, the United States Public Health Service recommended that all women of childbearing age consume 400 μg of folic acid daily. The Food and Drug Administration authorized the addition of synthetic folic acid to grain products in March 1996 with mandatory compliance by January 1998. The impact of these public health policies on the prevalence of neural tube defects needs to be evaluated. We sought to determine the prevalences of spina bifida and anencephaly during the transition to mandatory folic acid fortification.

Methods

Twenty‐four population‐based surveillance systems were used to identify 5,630 cases of spina bifida and anencephaly from 1995–99. Cases were divided into three temporal categories depending on whether neural tube development occurred before folic acid fortification (January 1995 to December 1996), during optional fortification (January 1997 to September 1998), or during mandatory fortification (October 1998 to December 1999). Prevalences for each defect were calculated for each time period. Data were also stratified by programs that did and did not ascertain prenatally diagnosed cases.

Results

The prevalence of spina bifida decreased 31% (prevalence ratio [PR] = 0.69, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.63–0.74) from the pre‐ to the mandatory fortification period and the prevalence of anencephaly decreased 16% (PR = 0.84, 95% CI = 0.75–0.95). Stratification by prenatal ascertainment did not alter results for spina bifida but did impact anencephaly trends.

Conclusions

The decline in the prevalence of spina bifida was temporally associated with folic acid fortification of US grain supplies. The temporal association between fortification and the prevalence of anencephaly is unclear. Teratology 66:33–39, 2002. Published 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Teratogen update: Inorganic arsenic
Authors: DeSesso John M.
Published: August 2002

Background

Inorganic arsenic has been used by many laboratories to study the pathogenesis of exencephaly in rodents. These studies, which used predominantly injection exposures, coupled with the paucity of epidemiology data, resulted in the erroneous inference that inorganic arsenic should be considered a human teratogen.

Methods

This study assembles and assesses literature analyses of older human and animal investigations together with the results of new experimental studies. These recent studies were performed according to modern regulatory guidelines, and relevant exposure routes (inhalation and ingestion) were used to evaluate the potential risk of developmental effects in humans.

Results

The existing epidemiological data are inadequate to support risk assessment because of the failure to confirm or measure arsenic exposure during early gestation and the deficiencies in accounting for potential confounding factors. The animal data revealed that inorganic arsenic caused malformations in offspring only when it was injected into the veins or peritoneal cavity of pregnant animals during early gestation. Exposure via inhalation or oral ingestion, even at concentrations that were nearly fatal to pregnant females, caused no arsenic‐related malformations.

Conclusions

Inorganic arsenic poses virtually no danger to developing offspring when maternal exposure occurs by relevant routes (oral and inhalation) at concentrations that are likely to be experienced in the environment or in the workplace. Teratology 64:170–173, 2001. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Writing Teaching Assessment Questions for Precision and Reflection
Authors: Rando William L.
Published: August 2002

Sometimes the standard student feedback questionnaires don't ask the questions you want answers to. You can create your own questions with a little guidance.
Cognitive Psychology and College‐Level Pedagogy: Two Siblings That Rarely Communicate
Authors: Matlin Margaret W.
Published: August 2002

The annotated bibliography in this chapter lists several dozen resources that have explored how to use principles of cognitive psychology to strengthen college‐level pedagogy.
Engendering trust through institutional policies and practices
Authors: Lucas Ann F.
Published: August 2002

Transforming the department into a team of people who support and trust each other not only revitalizes faculty members as their value is affirmed but also increases their contributions to the department and institution.
The fate of diesel hydrocarbons in soils and their effect on the germination of perennial ryegrass
Authors: Siddiqui Samina , Adams W. A.
Published: August 2002

Hydrocarbon contamination in soils may be toxic to plants and soil microorganisms and act as a source of groundwater contamination. The objective of this study was to evaluate the fate of diesel in soils with or without added nutrients. The soils examined either had or had not a previous history of hydrocarbon contamination. Particular aspects examined were soil respiration, changes in microbial population, breakdown of diesel hydrocarbons, and phytotoxicity to the germination of perennial ryegrass. Soil respiration was measured as evolved CO2. Bacterial population was determined as colony forming units in dilution plates and fungal activity was measured as hyphal length. The fate of individual hydrocarbons was determined by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry after extraction with dichloromethane. When diesel was added to soil with no previous history of hydrocarbon contamination at rates up to 50 mg/g, the respiration response showed a lag phase of 6 days and maximum respiration occurred at day 11. The lag phase was 2 days and maximum respiration occurred at day 3 in soil with a previous history of hydrocarbon contamination. After the peak, respiration decreased up to about 20 days in both soils. Thereafter, respiration become more or less constant but substantially greater than the control. N and P addition along with diesel did not reduce the lag phase but increased the respiration over the first 20 days of incubation. Diesel addition with or without N and P increased the bacterial population 10‐ to 100‐fold but fungal hyphal length did not increase. Diesel addition at a rate of 136 mg/g did not increase the microbial population. Removal of inhibition to germination of perennial ryegrass was linked to the decomposition of nC10 and nC11 hydrocarbons and took from 11 to 30 days at diesel additions up to 50 mg/g depending on the soil. Inhibition to germination of perennial ryegrass persisted to more than 24 weeks at the 136 mg/g of diesel addition. © 2002 by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol 17: 49–62, 2002
Lightning protection for wind turbine blades and bearings
Authors: Cotton Ian , Jenkins Nick , Pandiaraj Krishnan
Published: August 2002

The protection of wind turbines from lightning damage is increasingly important as they increase in size and are placed in locations where access to carry out repairs may be difficult. As blades are the most common attachment point of lightning, they must be adequately protected. In addition, the passage of lightning current through wind turbine bearings introduces a risk of lightning damage to these vital components. Investigations relating to the improvement of blade lightning protection systems have been carried out, including experiments designed to address the difficult problems involved in the protection of hydraulic cylinders used for tip brake control. Work has also focused on the ability of lightning current to cause damage to wind turbine bearings. The work has been a mixture of computer simulations and experimental testing using high‐voltage and high‐current facilities. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Marker‐fusion PCR for one‐step mutagenesis of essential genes in yeast
Authors: Kitazono Ana A. , Tobe Brian T. D. , Kalton Helen , Diamant Noam , Kron Stephen J.
Published: August 2002

We describe a one‐step gene replacement method based on fusion PCR that can be used to mutagenize essential genes at their endogenous locus. Marker‐fusion PCR can facilitate transfer of alleles between strains as well as PCR‐based techniques, such as site‐directed and error‐prone PCR mutagenesis, all without cloning or strain constructions. With this method, PCR is used to fuse a mutagenized fragment to an overlapping fragment containing a selectable marker flanked by regions of homology to the target. By transforming yeast with these PCR products, specific mutations are introduced at the endogenous locus through homologous recombination. We tested the ‘marker‐fusion PCR’ method using the budding yeast CDC28 gene and were able to efficiently introduce site‐directed mutations and integrate genomic or plasmid‐borne mutant alleles. As a further application for this method, we used a spiked oligonucleotide to randomize the coding sequence for a single domain of CDC28 and were able to construct highly mutagenized libraries for this region. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A second Zn(II)2Cys6 transcriptional factor encoded by the YNA2 gene is indispensable for the transcriptional activation of the genes involved in nitrate assimilation in the yeast Hansenula polymorpha
Authors: Ávila Julio , González Celedonio , Brito Nélida , Machín, M Félix , Pérez Dolores , Siverio José M.
Published: August 2002

Nitrate assimilation genes encoding a nitrate transporter (YNT1), nitrite reductase (YNI1), a Zn(II)2Cys6 transcriptional factor involved in nitrate induction (YNA1) and the nitrate reductase (YNR1) are clustered in the yeast Hansenula polymorpha. A second gene, termed YNA2 (yeast nitrate assimilation), was located seven nucleotides away from the 3′ region of YNR1 gene. The cluster is flanked by an ORF encoding a protein with similarity to glutathione‐S‐transferase on the YNT1 side and an ORF with similarity to Saccharomyces cerevisiae Rad3p on the YNA2 side. The disruption of YNA2 confers the resulting null mutant strain with inability to grow in nitrate. The YNA2 gene encodes a putative protein of 618 residues bearing in the N‐terminus the consensus sequence Cys–X2–Cys–X6–Cys–X5–16–Cys–X2–Cys–X6–8–Cys characteristic of the Zn(II)2Cys6 transcriptional factors. YNA2 is therefore a member of the H. polymorpha nitrate assimilation gene cluster which is transcribed in the opposite direction to the rest of the members. Yna2p shares about 27% similarity with the H. polymorpha Yna1p Zn(II)2Cys6 transcriptional factor involved in nitrate induction. Unlike the wild‐type, the yna2::URA3 strain showed no expression of the nitrate assimilation genes when incubated in nitrate for 2 h. With regard to YNA2 expression, similar YNA2 transcript levels were observed in ammonium and in ammonium plus nitrate, but about a four‐fold higher expression was observed in nitrate. However, this induction by nitrate of the YNA2 gene was not observed in the Δyna1::URA3 strain. On the contrary, the pattern of YNA1 expression was the same in the wild‐type as in the yna2::URA3 strain, indicating that YNA2 does not affect YNA1 expression. The nucleotide sequence Accession No. for YNA2 is AJ223294. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
How many protein‐coding genes are there in the Saccharomyces cerevisiae genome?
Authors: Mackiewicz Pawel , Kowalczuk Maria , Mackiewicz Dorota , Nowicka Aleksandra , Dudkiewicz Malgorzata , Laszkiewicz Agnieszka , Dudek Miroslaw R. , Cebrat Stanislaw
Published: August 2002

We have compared the results of estimations of the total number of protein‐coding genes in the Saccharomyces cerevisiae genome, which have been obtained by many laboratories since the yeast genome sequence was published in 1996. We propose that there are 5300–5400 genes in the genome. This makes the first estimation of the number of intronless ORFs longer than 100 codons, based on the features of the set of genes with phenotypes known in 1997 to be correct. This estimation assumed that the set of the first 2300 genes with known phenotypes was representative for the whole set of protein‐coding genes in the genome. The same method used in this paper for the approximation of the total number of protein‐coding sequences among more than 40 000 ORFs longer than 20 codons gives a result that is only slightly higher. This suggests that there are still some non‐coding ORFs in the databases and a few dozen small ORFs, not yet annotated, which probably code for proteins. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Isolation and mapping of self‐assembling protein domains encoded by the Saccharomyces cerevisiae genome using λ repressor fusions
Authors: Mariño‐Ramírez Leonardo , Hu James C.
Published: August 2002

Understanding how proteins are able to form stable complexes is of fundamental interest from the perspective of protein structure and function. Here we show that λ repressor fusions can be used to identify and characterize homotypic interaction domains encoded by the genome of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, using a selection for polypeptides that can drive the assembly of the DNA binding domain of bacteriophage λ repressor. Three high complexity libraries were constructed by cloning random fragments of S. cerevisiae DNA as λ repressor fusions. Repressor fusions encoding homotypic interactions were recovered, identifying oligomerization units in 35 yeast proteins. Seventeen of these interaction domains have not been previously reported, while the other 18 represent homotypic interactions that have been characterized at varying levels of detail. The novel interactions include several predicted coiled‐coils as well as domains of unknown structure. With the availability of genomic sequences it should be possible to apply this approach, which provides information about protein–protein interactions that is complementary to that obtained from yeast two‐hybrid screens, on a genome‐wide scale in yeast or other organisms where large‐scale protein–protein interaction data is not available. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The tibial attachment of the anterior cruciate ligament in children and adolescents: analysis of magnetic resonance imaging
Authors: Shea Kevin G. , Apel Peter J. , Pfeiffer Ronald P. , Showalter Larry D. , Traughber Paul D.
Published: August 2002

Recent studies have demonstrated that skeletally immature athletes with an ACL injury may require surgical reconstruction if they return to high‐demand sports. This study used MRI to compare the anatomy of the ACL in skeletally immature and adult subjects. Measurements were recorded in the sagittal plane for the anterior‐posterior dimension of the proximal tibia, and the anterior, center, and posterior limits of the ACL, and the roof inclination angle of the femur. These values were compared to established reference values for adult knee anatomy. In skeletally immature women (n=7) the ACL anterior limit, center and posterior limit, and roof inclination angle were 28%, 46%, 63%, and 38°, respectively, compared to 28%, 44%, 60%, and 35° in adult women. In skeletally immature men (n=15) the ACL anterior limit, center, posterior limit, and roof inclination angle were 27%, 43%, 59%, and 40°, respectively, compared to 28%, 44%, 59%, and 37° in adult men. In the younger subjects the overall dimensions of the proximal tibia were smaller than that in adults, but the anatomical landmarks for the ACL were proportional. If ACL reconstruction is performed in skeletally immature subjects, the smaller dimensions of the tibia need to be considered, and the use of anatomical landmarks is an important factor in graft placement
Incidence of Deep Venous Thrombosis in Patients Undergoing Obesity Surgery
Authors: Westling Agneta , Bergqvist David , Boström Annika , Karacagil Sadettin , Gustavsson Sven
Published: August 2002

The aim of this study was to investigate prospectively the incidence of deep venous thrombosis (DVT) after surgery for morbid obesity. The series comprised 116 consecutive patients undergoing Roux‐en‐Y gastric bypass. The median age and body mass index were 35 years (range 19–59 years) and 42
kg/m2 (range 32–68 kg/m2), respectively. The patients were examined with duplex ultrasonography pre‐ and postoperatively. No patient had any symptoms or signs of DVT postoperatively, and ultrasonography showed no signs of thrombosis in iliac, femoral, and popliteal veins in any of the patients. Two patients (1.7%) had a thrombus in the peroneal vein of one leg.
Repeated ultrasonographic investigation after 1 week showed complete resolution of both. One patient with a previously unknown activated protein C resistance had an angiographically confirmed minor pulmonary embolus. The incidence of venous thromboembolism after obesity surgery seems to be low, and obesity as a risk factor for thromboembolic disease might have been overestimated in the past.
Bedside Percutaneous Tracheostomy: Prospective Evaluation of a Modification of the Current Technique in 100 Patients
Authors: Velmahos George C. , Gomez Hugo , Boicey Charles M. , Demetriades Demetrios
Published: August 2002

Percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy (PDT) is being increasingly used. Concerns have been raised as to its safety, especially when it is done at the bedside. A prospective evaluation was conducted of 100 consecutive, unselected critically ill patients with PDT. The mean intensive care unit (ICU) stay before PDT was 12 days. One surgeon performed PDT alone (5 cases) or assisted residents (95 cases) in all operations; 84 were performed at the ICU bedside. Only the first six patients were taken to the operating room solely for tracheostomy. A modified technique was used: (1) the endotracheal tube was left in place during sequential dilations; (2) dilators were inserted in a 60‐degree cephalad orientation to the skin and directed caudally after penetration of the anterior tracheal wall; (3) a digit was inserted through the tracheal opening to guide withdrawal of the endotracheal tube to the level of the vocal cords; and (4) size 8 tracheostomy cannulas were inserted over 28F dilators. The average time from skin incision to insertion of the tracheostomy tube was 12 minutes (< 10 minutes, 41 patients; 10 to 15 minutes, 37 patients; > 15 minutes, 22 patients). Sixty‐five percent had unfavorable anatomic conditions due to spinal precautions or diffuse neck edema. Postoperative complications occurred in four patients; surgical emphysema after tracheal lacerations in three, cannula dislodgment in one. All complications were successfully managed without an operation by tube exchange (n= 3) or observation (n= 1); there was no procedure‐related mortality. Forty patients were available for long‐term follow‐up (6–18 months after tracheostomy) by telephone; one had persistent hoarseness without respiratory difficulty. We concluded that bedside PDT is safe and easy to teach when performed with a technique that ensures correct instrumentation.