bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Prediction of synergistic transcription factors by function conservation
Authors: Hu Zihua , Hu Boyu , Collins James F
Published: December 2007

Background

Previous methods employed for the identification of synergistic transcription factors (TFs) are based on either TF enrichment from co-regulated genes or phylogenetic footprinting. Despite the success of these methods, both have limitations.

Results

We propose a new strategy to identify synergistic TFs by function conservation. Rather than aligning the regulatory sequences from orthologous genes and then identifying conserved TF binding sites (TFBSs) in the alignment, we developed computational approaches to implement the novel strategy. These methods include combinatorial TFBS enrichment utilizing distance constraints followed by enrichment of overlapping orthologous genes from human and mouse, whose regulatory sequences contain the enriched TFBS combinations. Subsequently, integration of function conservation from both TFBS and overlapping orthologous genes was achieved by correlation analyses. These techniques have been used for genome-wide promoter analyses, which have led to the identification of 51 homotypic TF combinations; the validity of these approaches has been exemplified by both known TF-TF interactions and function coherence analyses. We further provide computational evidence that our novel methods were able to identify synergistic TFs to a much greater extent than phylogenetic footprinting.

Conclusion

Function conservation based on the concordance of combinatorial TFBS enrichment along with enrichment of overlapping orthologous genes has been proven to be a successful means for the identification of synergistic TFs. This approach avoids the limitations of phylogenetic footprinting as it does not depend upon sequence alignment. It utilizes existing gene annotation data, such as those available in GO, thus providing an alternative method for functional TF discovery and annotation.
Transient Increased Extracellular Release of H2O2 during Establishment of UVB‐Induced Premature Senescence
Authors: BORLON CELINE , CHRETIEN ALINE , DEBACQ‐CHAINIAUX FLORENCE , TOUSSAINT OLIVIER
Published: December 2007

Abstract:  In this work, we found that extracellular release of H2O2 is 1.5‐ to 6‐fold higher in skin human diploid fibroblasts exposed to UVB in conditions inducing premature senescence when compared to control cells without exposure to UVB. The apparent decrease in H2O2 production from 0 to 72 h after the last exposure to UVB was not due to increased enzymatic activity of catalase or glutathione peroxidase.
Bone Mineral Density in Ukrainian Women of Different Age
Authors: POVOROZNYUK V. V. , DZEROVICH N. I. , KARASEVSKAYA T. A.
Published: December 2007

Abstract: We determined the bone mineral density (BMD) of normal Ukrainian female subjects and compared results with USA–European reference data. The research was conducted at the Ukrainian Scientific–Medical Centre for the Problems of Osteoporosis and included 353 women aged 20–79 years. Conventional BMD measurements of the spine (L1–L4 in the anterior–posterior position), proximal femur (neck, Ward's triangle, and trochanter regions), and radial shaft (33% site) were determined by dual‐energy X‐ray absorptiometry using a densitometer Prodigy. Age‐related changes in BMD were similar in form to those of USA–European reference data. We found that the BMD values of spine for Ukrainian women of 50–59 years were lower than published values. Regression analyses showed that weight was a significant predictor of female spine and femur BMD for both the premenopausal and the postmenopausal decades. Age was a significant predictor of female spine BMD in the 50‐ to 79‐year age group. The prevalence of osteoporosis and osteopenia for Ukrainian women was 11% at the femoral neck and 20% and 24% at the spine and radial shaft, respectively.
Protein Oxidative Modifications and Replicative Senescence of WI‐38 Human Embryonic Fibroblasts
Authors: AHMED EMAD KHAIRY , PICOT CÉDRIC R. , BULTEAU ANNE‐LAURE , FRIGUET BERTRAND
Published: December 2007

Abstract:  The age‐related accumulation of oxidized proteins is dependent on the balance between the generation of oxidatively modified proteins and their elimination by protein degradation and repair systems. Previous studies have demonstrated that replicative senescence represents a valid model of in vitro aging and that senescent cells do accumulate oxidized proteins while both proteasome, which is the major intracellular proteolytic system implicated in the removal of abnormal and oxidized proteins, and the oxidized protein‐repair enzymes, methionine sulfoxide reductases, are being impaired. Declining proteasome activity with age has been attributed to decreased proteasome subunits expression and/or inactivation upon alteration of proteasome subunits, as well as
accumulation of endogeneous inhibitors, such as highly oxidized and cross‐linked proteins. To gain further insight into the mechanisms that might be implicated in the decreased activity of the proteasome with replicative senescence, the occurrence of proteins modified by glycoxidation and conjugation by lipid peroxidation products has been investigated in senescent cells. Indeed, such modification as the formation of protein adducts with the lipid peroxidation product 4‐hydroxy‐2‐nonenal can generate cross‐linked proteins that become resistant to degradation by the proteasome and can act as inhibitors of the proteasome. Using specific antibodies that recognize glycoxidation and lipid peroxidation adducts on proteins, both modifications were demonstrated and found to increase in senescent cells when compared with young fibroblasts. Moreover, the patterns of modified proteins obtained after separation by SDS gel electrophoresis were indicative of preferential protein targets for both modifications.
Exposure of Human Diploid Fibroblasts to Hypoxia Extends Proliferative Life Span
Authors: POULIOS EFTHYMIOS , TROUGAKOS IOANNIS P. , CHONDROGIANNI NIKI , GONOS EFSTATHIOS S.
Published: December 2007

Abstract:  Normal human mitotic cells do not proliferate indefinitely in culture but undergo a limited number of divisions and progressively reach a state of irreversible growth arrest, a process termed replicative senescence. Hypoxia is a situation of reduced oxygen concentration that relates to many physiological and pathophysiological conditions. In the current study we investigated the effects of oxygen concentration, in both normoxic and hypoxic conditions, on the proliferative capacity, cell viability, oxidative status, and protein expression of human embryonic diploid fibroblasts. Maintenance of WI38 and IMR90 cells in 1.5% or 3% O2 concentration significantly delayed the appearance of replicative senescence compared to cells grown in 20% O2, induced the hypoxia‐inducible factor‐1α, and resulted in reduced expression levels of the key cell cycle modulators, namely p21 and p16. Moreover, cell exposure to short‐term hypoxia affected their response to several cytotoxic agents, whereas adaptation to the hypoxic environment prior to the treatment had no impact on cell viability. These findings clearly identify that oxygen concentration plays a crucial role in regulating cellular life span of normal human cells.
Late Recurrences of Cushing’s Disease after Initial Successful Transsphenoidal Surgery
Authors: Patil Chirag G. , Prevedello Daniel M. , Lad Shivanand P. , Vance Mary Lee , Thorner Michael O. , Katznelson Laurence , Laws Edward R.
Published: December 2007

Context: Few studies have systematically analyzed the long-term recurrence rates of Cushing’s disease after initial successful transsphenoidal surgery.

Setting: This was a retrospective review of patients treated at the University of Virginia Medical Center.

Patients: A total of 215 subjects with Cushing’s disease who underwent initial transsphenoidal surgery for resection of a presumed pituitary microadenoma from 1992–2006 were included.

Main Outcome Measures: Remission and recurrence rates of Cushing’s disease were examined. Recurrence was defined as an elevated 24-h urine free cortisol with clinical symptoms consistent with Cushing’s disease.

Results: Of the 215 patients who underwent transsphenoidal surgery for Cushing’s disease, surgical remission was achieved in 184 (85.6%). The mean length of follow-up was 45 months. Actuarial recurrence rates of Cushing’s disease after initially successful transsphenoidal surgery at 1, 2, 3, and 5 yr were 0.5, 6.7, 10.8, and 25.5%, respectively. Among the 184 patients who achieved remission, 32 (17.4%) patients followed for more than 6 months ultimately had a recurrence of Cushing’s disease. The median time to recurrence was 39 months. Immediate postoperative hypocortisolemia (serum cortisol ≤ 2 μg/dl within 72-h surgery) was achieved in 97 (45.1%) patients. Patients who had postoperative serum cortisol of more than 2 μg/dl were 2.5 times more likely to have a recurrence than patients who had serum cortisol less than or equal to 2 μg/dl (odds ratio = 2.5; 95% confidence interval 1.12–5.52; P = 0.022).

Conclusions: A quarter of the patients with Cushing’s disease who achieve surgical remission after transsphenoidal surgery, recur with long-term follow-up. This finding emphasizes the need for continued biochemical and clinical follow-up to ensure remission after surgery.
Advances in fluorescent protein technology
Authors: Shaner Nathan C. , Patterson George H. , Davidson Michael W.
Published: December 2007

Current fluorescent protein (FP) development strategies are focused on fine-tuning the photophysical properties of blue to yellow variants derived from the Aequorea victoria jellyfish green fluorescent protein (GFP) and on the development of monomeric FPs from other organisms that emit in the yellow-orange to far-red regions of the visible light spectrum. Progress toward these goals has been substantial, and near-infrared emitting FPs may loom over the horizon. The latest efforts in jellyfish variants have resulted in new and improved monomeric BFP, CFP, GFP and YFP variants, and the relentless search for a bright, monomeric and fast-maturing red FP has yielded a host of excellent candidates, although none is yet optimal for all applications. Meanwhile, photoactivatable FPs are emerging as a powerful class of probes for intracellular dynamics and, unexpectedly, as useful tools for the development of superresolution microscopy applications.
Munc18-1 prevents the formation of ectopic SNARE complexes in living cells
Authors: Medine Claire N. , Rickman Colin , Chamberlain Luke H. , Duncan Rory R.
Published: December 2007

Membrane trafficking in eukaryotic cells must be strictly regulated both temporally and spatially. The assembly at the plasma membrane of the ternary SNARE complex, formed between syntaxin1a, SNAP-25 and VAMP, is essential for efficient exocytotic membrane fusion. These exocytotic SNAREs are known to be highly promiscuous in their interactions with other non-cognate SNAREs. It is therefore an important cellular requirement to traffic exocytotic SNARE proteins through the endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi complex while avoiding ectopic interactions between SNARE proteins. Here, we show that syntaxin1a traffics in an inactive form to the plasma membrane, requiring a closed-form interaction, but not N-terminal binding, with munc18-1. If syntaxin is permitted to interact with SNAP-25, both proteins fail to traffic to the plasma membrane, becoming trapped in intracellular compartments. The munc18-1–syntaxin interactions must form before syntaxin encounters SNAP-25 in the Golgi complex, preventing the formation of intracellular exocytotic SNARE complexes there. Upon delivery to the plasma membrane, most SNARE clusters in resting cells do not produce detectable FRET between t-SNARE proteins. These observations highlight the crucial role that munc18-1 plays in trafficking syntaxin through the secretory pathway.
A dileucine motif in its cytoplasmic domain directs β-catenin-uncoupled E-cadherin to the lysosome
Authors: Miyashita Yayoi , Ozawa Masayuki
Published: December 2007

The E-cadherin-catenin complex regulates Ca2+-dependent cell-cell adhesion and is localized to the basolateral membrane of polarized epithelial cells. Uncoupling β-catenin from E-cadherin by deletion or substitution mutations causes accumulation of these proteins in intracellular compartments, including the trans-Golgi network and early endosomes, and degradation in lysosomes. Expression of a dominant-negative dynamin did not change the pattern of the mutant E-cadherin localization, indicating that the endocytosis of the protein from the cell surface does not contribute significantly to the accumulation of the protein in the intracellular compartments. Alternatively, E-cadherin lacking its entire cytoplasmic domain (tail-less E-cadherin) was detected on the surface of cells and targeted to the basolateral membrane. We found that 20 amino acid residues within the juxtamembrane region contain the signal responsible for intracellular accumulation and the lysosomal targeting of E-cadherin. A dileucine motif within this region seems crucial, because substitution of these residues to alanines resulted in efficient surface expression of the protein. The tail-less E-cadherin construct and the dileucine-substitution construct were detected on the basolateral membranes. Thus, the dileucine motif of E-cadherin is not required for its basolateral targeting.
Nucleotide P2Y1 receptor regulates EGF receptor mitogenic signaling and expression in epithelial cells
Authors: Buvinic Sonja , Bravo-Zehnder Marcela , Boyer José Luis , Huidobro-Toro Juan Pablo , González Alfonso
Published: December 2007

Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) function is transregulated by a variety of stimuli, including agonists of certain G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). One of the most ubiquitous GPCRs is the P2Y1 receptor (P2RY1, hereafter referred to as P2Y1R) for extracellular nucleotides, mainly ADP. Here, we show in tumoral HeLa cells and normal FRT epithelial cells that P2Y1R broadcasts mitogenic signals by transactivating the EGFR. The pathway involves PKC, Src and cell surface metalloproteases. Stimulation of P2Y1R for as little as 15-60 minutes triggers mitogenesis, mirroring the half-life of extracellular ADP. Apyrase degradation of extracellular nucleotides and drug inhibition of P2Y1R, both reduced basal cell proliferation of HeLa and FRT cells, but not MDCK cells, which do not express P2Y1R. Thus, cell-released nucleotides constitute strong mitogenic stimuli, which act via P2Y1R. Strikingly, MDCK cells ectopically expressing P2Y1R display a highly proliferative phenotype that depends on EGFR activity associated with an increased level of EGFR, thus disclosing a novel aspect of GPCR-mediated regulation of EGFR function. These results highlight a role of P2Y1R in EGFR-dependent epithelial cell proliferation. P2Y1R could potentially mediate both trophic stimuli of basally released nucleotides and first-line mitogenic stimulation upon tissue damage. It could also contribute to carcinogenesis and serve as target for antitumor therapies.
Bleeding with menopausal hormone therapy: physiological or pathological?
Authors: Hickey Martha
Published: December 2007

Abnormal bleeding is a common reason for discontinuation of hormone replacement therapy. There is little consensus regarding when to investigate abnormal bleeding, what to do about persistent bleeding or when reinvestigation is indicated. Transvaginal ultrasound, endometrial biopsy and hysteroscopy are discussed. The mechanisms of this bleeding are poorly understood and do not correlate well with endometrial histology or the type or dose of hormone therapy used. Endometrial bleeding requires breakdown of endometrial vessels and their overlying epithelium. Endometrial vascular breakdown appears to be largely locally regulated. Potential mechanisms involved in endometrial bleeding include: changes in the ratio of vascular endothelial growth factor (pro-angiogenic) to thrombospondin-1 (anti-angiogenic); alterations in matrix metalloproteinases and their tissue inhibitors; changes in endometrial haemostasis due to tissue factor; and increased endometrial leucocytes.
Medium- and long-term performance of 11 516 uncemented primary femoral stems from the Norwegian arthroplasty register
Authors: Hallan G. , Lie S. A. , Furnes O. , Engesaeter L. B. , Vollset S. E. , Havelin L. I.
Published: December 2007

Primary uncemented femoral stems reported to the Norwegian arthroplasty register between 1987 and 2005 were included in this prospective observational study. There were 11 516 hips (9679 patients) and 14 different designs of stem. Kaplan-Meier survival probabilities and Cox regression were used to analyse the data.

With aseptic loosening as the end-point, all currently used designs performed excellently with survival of 96% to 100% at ten years. With the end-point as stem revision for any cause, the long-term results of the different designs varied from poor to excellent, with survival at 15 years ranging between 29% and 97%. Follow-up for longer than seven years was needed to identify some of the poorly-performing designs. There were differences between the stems; the Corail, used in 5456 hips, was the most frequently used stem with a survival of 97% at 15 years. Male gender was associated with an increased risk of revision of × 1.3 (95% confidence interval 1.05 to 1.52), but age and diagnosis had no influence on the results. Overall, modern uncemented femoral stems performed well.

Moderate differences in survival between well-performing stems should be interpreted with caution since the differences may be caused by factors other than the stem itself.
Key factors for a successful National Arthroplasty Register
Authors: Kolling C. , Simmen B. R. , Labek G. , Goldhahn J.
Published: December 2007

Since the introduction of the first National Arthroplasty Register in Sweden in 1975, many other countries have tried to adopt the successful Scandinavian system. However, not all have overcome the political and practical difficulties of establishing a working register. We have surveyed the current registries to establish the key factors required for an effective database. We have received detailed information from 15 arthroplasty registers worldwide. The legal conditions under which they operate together with the methods of collection and handling of the data differ widely, but the fulfilment of certain criteria is necessary achieve a high degree of completeness of the data to ensure the provision of statistically relevant information.
The long-term results of endoprosthetic replacement of the proximal tibia for bone tumours
Authors: Myers G. J. C. , Abudu A. T. , Carter S. R. , Tillman R. M. , Grimer R. J.
Published: December 2007

We have investigated whether improvements in design have altered the outcome for patients undergoing endoprosthetic replacement of the proximal tibia following resection of a tumour. Survival of the implant and ‘servicing’ procedures have been documented using a prospective database.

A total of 194 patients underwent a proximal tibial replacement, with 95 having a fixed-hinge design and 99 a rotating-hinge with a hydroxyapatite collar; their median age was 21.5 years (10 to 74). At a mean follow-up of 14.7 years (5 to 29), 115 patients remain alive. The risk of revision for any reason in the fixed-hinge group was 32% at five years, 61% at ten years and 75% at 15 and 20 years, and in the rotating-hinge group 12% at five years, 25% at ten years and 30% at 15 years. Aseptic loosening was the most common reason for revision in the fixed-hinge knees, fracture of the implant in the early design of rotating hinges and infection in the current version. The risk of revision for aseptic loosening in the fixed-hinge knees was 46% at ten years. This was reduced to 3% in the rotating-hinge knee with a hydroxyapatite collar. The cemented, rotating hinge design currently offers the best chance of long-term survival of the prosthesis.
Utility and Collectivity: Some Suggestions on the Anatomy of Citizen Preferences
Authors: Curry G. David
Published: December 2007

This paper is an attempt to link certain public choice theories with empirical analysis of citizen preferences. We begin with a reasonably clear, or at least strong, relation: cities with more Irish, Catholic, and foreign-born residents spend more through their municipal budgets. The relation holds across three data sets for American cities: for 51 cities from 1880 to 1968, for 154 cities in 1903, and for 661 citics in 1960. Why? Clark tested and rejected a Downsean interpretation of this relation using data for ten cities and for Boston. His test was based on analysis of questionnaire items concerning preferred spending levels.

This paper presents an alternative conceptualization for some of the same findings, by extending the basic Downsean framework to encompass distinct sectors within a political system. The basic elements of the public choice tradition are well known. We mention only one or two highlights to show how the present paper extends this framework.

Economists concerned with public choice, from Buchanan, Tullock, Downs, and Olsen have largely operated with an assumption of methodological individualism.
Free market by force: the making and un-making of a neo-liberal Iraq
Authors: Docena Herbert
Published: December 2007

As occupying power, the United States embarked on a radical and comprehensive project to reconstruct Iraq's political and economic system along neo-liberal lines. In doing so, however, the United States was constrained by a fundamental predicament: its goal was not just to entrench
a self-perpetuating neo-liberal economic system that endures after occupation, but to do so in a way that would seem to fulfil the United States' pre-invasion promise of delivering democracy to Iraq. The problem, however, was that, in the face of widespread opposition to the occupation and
to the neo-liberal plan, democracy could put in place an Iraqi government opposed to the project. The article documents and analyses the ways by which the United States attempted to confront this dilemma during the early stages of the occupation. It shows how, as it tried to overcome its constraints,
the United States shed off its rhetorical support for democracy by attempting, in practice, to effectively establish a free market economy by force. Such a choice, however, may have also compromised and ensured the continuing fragility of the project.
Iraqi GDP since 2003: some simple calculations
Authors: Rowat Colin
Published: December 2007

This paper attempts to assess the economic consequences for Iraq of its 2003 invasion. Using revised GDP data (available only back to 1997), it estimates the effects of oil price changes, the invasion, and the threat of invasion on GDP growth rates. Even in a short time series, the
invasion is found to be significant at the 10 level, and is associated with a halving of real GDP in 2003. Almost alone among its neighbours and OPEC members, Iraqi real GDP correlates negatively with oil prices over 19972004, a symptom of the economic distortions faced by its economy. While
Iraq has received considerable attention from international institutions following the 2003 invasion, its subsequent troubled economic performance should not surprise in light of the transition recessions of the post-Soviet countries.
Review Articles
Authors: Perry Glenn E
Published: December 2007

Making the most of the fiasco: dividing Iraq and salvaging Kurdistan

The Future of Iraq: Dictatorship, Democracy, or Division? Liam Anderson and Gareth Stansfield, (2005)
New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 288 pp. ISBN: 1-4039-7144-7 (updated paperback edition), $15.95

The
End of Iraq: How American Incompetence Created a War without End, Peter W. Galbraith, (2006)
New York: Simon & Schuster,288 pp. ISBN: 0743294238 (Hardcover) $26.00/Can. $36.00.
Book Review
Authors: Langille Chris , Johnson Andrew F
Published: December 2007

Dictatorship, Imperialism & Chaos: Iraq since 1989, Thabit A.J. Abdullah, (2006)
London: Zed Books, 136 pp. ISBN: 9781842777879 (paperback) 22.50 US

Iraq in Fragments: The Occupation and its Legacy, Eric Herring and Glen Rangwala, (2006)
London: C.
Hurst & Company, 354 pp. ISBN: 0801444578 (paperback) $27.95 US

Barriers to Reconciliation: Case Studies on Iraq and PalestineIsrael Conflict, Jacqeline S. Ismael and William Haddad (eds), (2006)
Lanham, MD: University Press of America, 320 pp. ISBN: 0761835547
(paperback) $42.00 US

The Way it Works: Inside Ottawa, Eddie Goldenberg, (2006)
Toronto: McClelland & Stewart, 402 pp., ISBN 0771033524 (hbk), CDN 36.99
Polysaccharide degradation in waterlogged oak wood from the ancient warship Vasa
Authors: Lindfors Eva-Lisa , Lindström Mikael , Iversen Tommy
Published: December 2007

A rather extensive degradation of cellulose and hemicelluloses was found in waterlogged oak wood samples from the ancient warship Vasa by size exclusion chromatography with the solvent system lithium chloride/N,N-dimethylacetamide (LiCl/DMAc). The degradation has mainly occurred after salvage of the wreck, probably as a consequence of keeping iron contaminated wood in contact with air. The most likely explanation is Fenton type of reactions degrading the wood polymers and oxidising reduced sulphur forms to sulphuric acid. An increased degradation rate of the Vasa wood can be anticipated in the future if the sulphuric acid cannot be neutralised and the oxidative reactions cannot be quenched.
Adhesive penetration of wood cell walls investigated by scanning thermal microscopy (SThM)
Authors: Konnerth Johannes , Harper David , Lee Seung-Hwan , Rials Timothy G. , Gindl Wolfgang
Published: December 2007

Cross sections of wood adhesive bonds were studied by scanning thermal microscopy (SThM) with the aim of scrutinizing the distribution of adhesive in the bond line region. The distribution of thermal conductivity, as well as temperature in the bond line area, was measured on the surface by means of a nanofabricated thermal probe offering high spatial and thermal resolution. Both the thermal conductivity and the surface temperature measurements were found suitable to differentiate between materials in the bond region, i.e., adhesive, cell walls and embedding epoxy. Of the two SThM modes available, the surface temperature mode provided images with superior optical contrast. The results clearly demonstrate that the polyurethane adhesive did not cause changes of thermal properties in wood cell walls with adhesive contact. By contrast, cell walls adjacent to a phenol-resorcinol-formaldehyde adhesive showed distinctly changed thermal properties, which is attributed to the presence of adhesive in the wood cell wall.
Analog, Digital or Both?
Authors: Havekes Frans
Published: December 2007

For almost 50 years IDC Publishers has been publishing primary sources on analog carriers, thus combining access possibilities with the preservation of often vulnerable sources. The fact that access to online resources is much more convenient compared to analog sources will need no further clarification. As a result IDC is focusing increasingly on online access to existing and new publications. Online resources such as Art Sales Catalogues Online and COMINTERN Online are examples of dedicated services offering access to a specific resource containing millions of pages. In the last quarter of 2005 IDC will launch its new platform for online access to relatively small sets of titles. Through this platform, each library can put together its own collection of titles that is online accessible.
Tyramine and Octopamine Independently Inhibit Serotonin-Stimulated Aversive Behaviors inCaenorhabditis elegansthrough Two Novel Amine Receptors
Authors: Wragg Rachel T. , Hapiak Vera , Miller Sarah B. , Harris Gareth P. , Gray John , Komuniecki Patricia R. , Komuniecki Richard W.
Published: December 2007

Biogenic amines modulate key behaviors in both vertebrates and invertebrates. InCaenorhabditis elegans,tyramine (TA) and octopamine (OA) inhibit aversive responses to 100%, but not dilute (30%) octanol. TA and OA also abolish food- and serotonin-dependent increases in responses to dilute octanol in wild-type but nottyra-3(ok325)andf14d12.6(ok371)null animals, respectively, suggesting that TA and OA modulated responses to dilute octanol are mediated by separate, previously uncharacterized, G-protein-coupled receptors. TA and OA are high-affinity ligands for TYRA-3 and F14D12.6, respectively, based on their pharmacological characterization after heterologous expression.f14d12.6::gfpis expressed in the ASHs, the neurons responsible for sensitivity to dilute octanol, and thesra-6-dependent expression of F14D12.6 in the ASHs is sufficient to rescue OA sensitivity inf14d12.6(ok371)null animals. In contrast,tyra-3::gfpappears not to be expressed in the ASHs, but instead in other neurons, including the dopaminergic CEP/ADEs. However, although dopamine (DA) also inhibits 5-HT-dependent responses to dilute octanol, TA still inhibits indop-2; dop-1; dop-3 animals that do not respond to DA andcat-2(tm346)andPdat-1::ICEanimals that lack significant dopaminergic signaling, suggesting that DA is not an intermediate in TA inhibition. Finally, responses to TA and OA selectively desensitize after preexposure to the amines. Our data suggest that although tyraminergic and octopaminergic signaling yield identical phenotypes in these olfactory assays, they act independently through distinct receptors to modulate the ASH-mediated locomotory circuit and thatC. elegansis a useful model to study the aminergic modulation of sensory-mediated locomotory behaviors.
Comparison wage in trade union decision making
Authors: Drakopoulos S.
Published: December 2007

The starting point of this paper is the idea that trade unions and individual workers pay attention to wage settlements in similar sectors of the economy. The foundations of the concept of comparison wage can be found in other social sciences and also in the literature of psychological economics. Despite the fact, however, that comparison — or reference — wage enters the decision making of the union (i.e. the union utility function), the concept has not received much attention in connection with union decision making. In this paper, a union utility function is employed incorporating the concept of comparison wage. The analysis is conducted in a bargaining framework and the results show the effects on the optimal wage of important variables like comparison wage, unemployment benefit, union power and of the weight that the union places on the comparison wage.
Carrier detection in families affected by Duchenne/Becker muscular dystrophy
Authors: Pikó Henriett , Nagy Bálint , Balog Judit , Bán Zoltán , Herczegfalvi Ágnes , Karcagi Veronika
Published: December 2007

A Duchenne-/Becker-izomdystrophia súlyos, X-kromoszómához kötött, recesszív neuromuscularis betegség, amelynek előfordulási gyakorisága 1/3500 (Duchenne-típus) és 1/30000 (Becker-típus). A betegség kialakulásáért felelős gént az Xp21-es régióban lokalizálták, amelynek terméke a 427 kD nagyságú dystrophinfehérje. Deletiókat, pontmutációkat és ritkán duplikációkat a teljes génben detektáltak, ami megnehezíti a diagnosztikát. Multiplex polimeráz láncreakció az érintett férfiak 95%-ában kimutatja a deletiót, de nem alkalmas a hordozóság detektálására. Southern-blot-analízissel, 6 cDNS-próbával a teljes 14 kb nagyságú dystrophin-gént kódoló szekvencia analizálható, és a különböző exonokhoz tartozó radioaktív jelek intenzitásának meghatározásával a hordozósági állapot is vizsgálható. A Southern-blot-analízis idő- és anyagigényes, összehasonlítva a multiplex ligációfüggő próbaamplifikációs módszerével, amely lehetővé teszi több DNS-szekvencia relatív mennyiségének meghatározását egyetlen reakcióban. Kilencvenhárom női hozzátartozó hordozósági státuszát vizsgálták Southern-blot- és multiplex ligációfüggő próbaamplifikáció analízissel összehasonlítva. Negyvenkét esetben (45%) igazolták mind a két módszerrel a hordozósági státuszt. Érdekességként, a hordozó populációban két esetben detektáltak duplikációt, két másik esetben pedig a női rokonok hordozónak bizonyultak a teljes dystrophingén hiánya tekintetében. Három további leánybeteg bizonyult hordozónak, klinikai tünetekkel (manifest carrier). A szerzők tapasztalatai alapján a multiplex ligációfüggő próbaamplifikáció analízise a Duchenne-/Becker-izomdystrophia-betegség hordozóságának szűrésében gyors és megbízható módszernek bizonyul, valamint alkalmas az érintett férfiak deletioméretének pontos meghatározására is. A pontos deletiós vagy duplikációs méret ismeretében a fenotípusra is előrejelzés adható, amely a jövőbeli terápiás eljárás kiválasztásához is segítséget nyújthat.
Reprodutibilidade e validade de questionário de consumo alimentar para escolares
Authors: Assis Maria Alice Altenburg de , Guimarães Débora , Calvo Maria Cristina Marino , Barros Mauro Virgílio Gomes de , Kupek Emil
Published: December 2007

O estudo objetivou avaliar a reprodutibilidade e a validade do questionário de consumo alimentar do dia anterior (QUADA) para escolares. O questionário é ilustrado com 21 alimentos e foi delineado para uso em nível de grupo. Participaram 131 escolares de oito a dez anos de idade de uma escola pública de período integral da cidade de Balneário Camboriú, Santa Catarina, em 2005. A reprodutibilidade foi avaliada em duas aplicações do questionário no mesmo dia. A validade foi obtida pela comparação entre os itens alimentares selecionados no questionário e a observação direta de três refeições escolares do dia anterior. O questionário apresentou alta sensibilidade, com valores variando entre 73,4% (feijão) e 95,5% (arroz), e alta especificidade, variando entre 87,3% (frutas) e 98,8% (feijão). Conclui-se que o questionário pode gerar dados reprodutíveis e válidos para avaliar o consumo alimentar de escolares no dia anterior.
Pedestrian planning for the 2006 Commonwealth Games
Authors: Mounsey G. , McPherson C. , Langdon N.
Published: December 2007

The pedestrian planning work undertaken in preparation for the 2006 Commonwealth Games held in Melbourne is described. The paper considers why pedestrian modelling is needed and how it works. The work done in Melbourne is detailed and benefits and lessons learned are considered.
Addition of Lenalidomide to Melphalan in the Treatment of Newly Diagnosed Multiple Myeloma: The National Cancer Institute of Canada Clinical Trials Group MY.11 Trial
Authors: White D.J. , Paul N. , Macdonald D.A. , Meyer R.M. , Shepherd L.E.
Published: December 2007

Oral melphalan and prednisone remain an effective and tolerable treatment for patients with multiple myeloma. For approximately 40 years, this combination has been the standard of care for patients not proceeding to stem cell transplant. Within the last 10 years, new agents have been found to be efficacious in the relapsed/refractory setting. Within the last year, two trials of added thalidomide in the newly diagnosed setting have demonstrated outcomes superior to those achieved with melphalan and prednisone alone. This improved outcome comes at the cost of increased toxicity. The National Cancer Institute of Canada Clinical Trials Group (NCIC CTG) has recently developed a randomized phase II trial (MY.11) that uses a combination of lenalidomide with melphalan for patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma. Lenalidomide is a thalidomide analogue and, like thalidomide, is thought to work through immunomodulatory effects. It was shown to have activity in patients with relapsed or refractory disease and, in combination with dexamethasone, is superior to dexamethasone alone. Lenalidomide holds promise as a more effective and potentially less toxic derivative of thalidomide. Experience with lenalidomide in combination with chemotherapy is very limited, and the purpose of MY.11 is to establish tolerability and to gain knowledge about efficacy. The information gained from MY.11 is expected to help inform dosing levels and schedules for a large phase III trial being developed by the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group that will include participation by the NCIC CTG.
A fundamental analysis of continuous flow bioreactor and membrane reactor models with death and maintenance included
Authors: Nelson Mark Ian , Kerr Tara Bridget , Chen Xiao Dong
Published: December 2007

In this research we analyse the steady‐state operation of a continuous flow bioreactor, with or without recycle, and an idealised, or non‐idealised, continuous flow membrane reactor. The reaction is assumed to be governed by the well‐known Monod growth kinetics. We show that a flow reactor with idealised recycle has the same performance as an idealised membrane reactor and that the performance of a non‐idealised membrane reactor is identical to an appropriately defined continuous flow bioreactor with non‐idealised recycle. The performance of all three reactor types can therefore be obtained by analysing a flow reactor with recycle. The steady‐states of the recycle model are found and their stability determined as a function of the residence time. The performance of the reactor at large residence times is obtained. In the limit, as the residence time becomes very large, all three reactor configurations have identical performances. Thus the main advantage of using a membrane reactor, or a flow reactor with recycle, for the treatment of industrial wastewaters and slurries is to improve the performance at low residence times. This is quantified for the case of an ideal membrane reactor. Copyright © 2007 Curtin University of Technology and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Effects of mixed diluent compositions on poly(vinylidene fluoride) membrane morphology in a thermally induced phase‐separation process
Authors: Li Xianfeng , Xu Guoqiang , Lu Xiaolong , Xiao Changfa
Published: December 2007

The effects of a mixed diluent (MD) composition [dibutyl phthalate/dioctyl phthalate (DOP)] on poly (vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) membrane morphology were investigated with scanning electron microscopy, and a bicontinuous morphology could be obtained with MD in a thermally induced phase‐separation process. The reasons for the morphology formation were explained according to the effect of MD on the phase diagrams. In addition, the effects of the PVDF concentration on the membrane morphology were examined. For the system with less DOP, the large spherulite morphology was obvious under all investigated concentrations, whereas no large spherulite structure existed in the membrane as the DOP content increased to concentrations other than 20%. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008
Photocure properties of high‐heat‐resistant photoreactive polymers with cinnamate groups
Authors: Kim Whan Gun
Published: December 2007

New high‐heat‐resistant photoreactive polymers with cinnamate groups were synthesized by the reaction of cinnamic acid (CA) and epoxy resins. Their photocure properties were investigated with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, UV–visible spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Their photocure reaction rates and the extent of reaction conversion increased with the intensity of UV irradiation. To investigate their photocure reaction kinetics, their reaction conversion rates were plotted against reaction conversion so that their photocure reactions could be analyzed in terms of an nth‐order kinetics reaction equation. The YX4000H–CA photoreactive polymer with a biphenyl moiety, which was expected to have strong molecular interactions, showed a lower reaction conversion rate and reaction constant, and the highest reaction conversion rate and reaction constant was observed in XP2030–CA with an optimum cure reaction space and a reduction of molecular interactions compared with the other photoreactive polymers. Thermal stability was studied by observation of the changes in the transmittance of the photocured polymer films upon heating and by measurement of the weight loss with temperature with TGA. These photoreactive polymers showed good thermal properties, with almost no transmittance change in the visible range even after they were heated at 250°C for 1 h, and they exhibited little weight loss up to about 250°C. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008
Novel approach in investigation of the poly(acrylic acid) hydrogel swelling kinetics in water
Authors: Adnadjevic B. , Jovanovic J.
Published: December 2007

The swelling kinetics curves of structurally defined poly(acrylic acid) hydrogel in bidistilled water at temperatures: 25, 30, 35, 40, and 45°C were determined. The possibility of kinetically explaining the isothermal swelling process by applying the following models: reaction controlled by diffusion, first order chemical reaction kinetics, and second order chemical reaction kinetics, was investigated. It was found that kinetically explaining the swelling process using these methods was limited to only certain parts of the process. The swelling process in bidistilled water was described in full range assuming that the hydrogel's swelling rate was a kinetically controlled reaction by the rate of the movement of reactive interface of hydrogel. Based on that model, the kinetic parameters, activation energy (Ea) and preexponential factor (A), of the swelling process were determined to be Ea = 35 kJ/mol and lnA = 8.6. A possible mechanism of the investigated swelling process was discussed. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008
Moisture absorption and desorption in a UV cured urethane acrylate adhesive based on radiation source
Authors: Wrosch Matt , Xian Guijun , Karbhari Vistasp M.
Published: December 2007

A photopolymerizable urethane acrylate (UA) adhesive was cured using two different sources: a conventional UV‐lamp and a UV‐emitting light emitting diode (LED). Moisture uptake in cured specimens was characterized by immersion in deionized water at 21.8, 30, 37.5, and 45°C for a period of 6 months. Additionally, desorption experiments were performed for selected specimens under vacuum at room temperature. Material degradation in the form of mass loss was observed in all samples after attainment of a maximum water uptake level, with the phenomenon being more pronounced at higher immersion temperatures. This degradation is attributed to leaching and dissolution of uncured monomers and lower weight molecular species from the samples. A two stage moisture uptake model is proposed to account for mass loss and excellent agreement between the tested mass loss and the loss‐rate parameters determined from the model is shown. Performance of specimens was characterized with dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). It was found the LED source was not as effective in curing surfaces, due to which there is a higher level of mass and lower Tg from hygrothermal exposure as compared to the core regions of the LED cured specimens and the overall lamp cured specimens. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008
Total Synthesis of Epohelmin B and Its Analogues
Authors: Fürstner Alois , Korte Alexander
Published: December 2007

A concise synthesis of the pyrrolizidine alkaloid epohelmin B (1) and a series of analogues is described. The key steps en route to this lanosterol synthase (oxidosqualene cyclase) inhibitor comprise a highly practical “azonia–Cope rearrangement”, which sets the chiral amine center with excellent optical purity, a ring‐closing metathesis (RCM) reaction catalyzed by a readily prepared and now also commercially available ruthenium–indenylidene complex, a manganese‐catalyzed epoxidation of the resulting eight‐membered cycloalkene derivative, and a nosyl‐deprotection/transannular‐epoxide‐opening cascade to forge the pyrrolizidine core. Digression from the route leading to the natural product in the final stages allowed for the preparation of several “epohelmin‐like” compounds with modified side chains, which is necessary for investigations into a possible functional relationship with other known lanosterol synthase inhibitors.
The assessment of absorption of periplocinin situvia intestinal perfusion of rats by HPLC
Authors: Xie Yue‐Sheng , Ren Xiao‐Liang , Pan Gui‐Xiang , Gao Xiu‐Mei , Liu Chang‐Xiao
Published: December 2007

Periplocin is an important compound of Cortex Periplocae, which shows poor absorption when administered orally. The effective intestinal permeability of periplocin was investigated using single‐pass intestinal perfusion technique in male Wistar rats. SPIP was performed in rat jejunum. The samples of perfusate were collected at the designated time points after rat intestinal perfusion and analyzed by HPLC. The specificity of this method was demonstrated by the absence of interference of the drug peak with the intestinal sac artifacts and the components of the KRB solution. Recovery studies, as well as the intra‐day and inter‐day variations, were within statistical limits. This technique was applied to the study of the intestinal absorption of periplocin. The determined fraction absorbed (Fa) of periplocin was 0.151 ± 0.072 (n= 6) at a concentration of 6 µg/mL; the absorption rate constant (Ka) was 0.0102 ± 0.0039/min and the effective permeability coefficient (Peff) was 0.0021 ± 0.0012 cm/min. These data suggest that periplocin has high permeability and might be absorbed in rat intestine. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Microbial metabolism of loganin by intestinal bacteria and identification of new metabolites in rat
Authors: Li Xiaona , Huo Changhong , Wang Qiao , Zhang Xiaowei , Sheng Xiaona , Zhang Lantong
Published: December 2007

Loganin is an important constituent of the traditional Chinese medicine Fructus Corni, with several bioactivities. Microbial metabolism of loganin by intestinal bacteria was investigated. Two metabolites (log‐1 and log‐2) were isolated from anaerobic culture and their structures were identified by means of their ESI‐MS, 1H‐NMR, 13C‐NMR and 2D‐NMR spectral data. Log‐1 was an aglycone of loganin and log‐2 was proved to be a new compound. In vivo metabolites of loganin were detected in rat urine, bile and feces after oral administration of loganin and the structures were proved to be identical with that of the microbial metabolites log‐1 and log‐2 by HPLC–PDA analysis and comparison with the reference standards. Therefore we can prepare metabolites by anaerobic culture with intestinal bacteria. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
HPLC assay for determination of amphotericin B in biological samples
Authors: Espada R. , Josa J. M. , Valdespina S. , Dea M. A. , Ballesteros M. P. , Alunda J. M. , Torrado J. J.
Published: December 2007

A fast and selective HPLC method for assaying amphotericin B in biological samples was developed and validated. The chromatographic separation was achieved in less than 12 min on a reverse‐phase C18 column using an acetonitrile–acetic acid–water (52:4.3:43.7, v/v/v) mixture as mobile phase. The flow rate was 1 mL/min and the effluent was monitored at 406 nm. A linear response over the concentration range 0.1–10.0 µg/mL was obtained. Intra‐day and inter‐day RSDs were below 5% for all the sample types. This new HPLC method was applied to assay amphotericin B in plasma and several tissue samples such as kidney, liver, spleen and bone marrow. Application of this method to pharmacokinetic studies in mice and dog is provided. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.