bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Stimulation of Steroid Receptor Coactivator-3 (SRC-3) Gene Overexpression by a Positive Regulatory Loop of E2F1 and SRC-3
Authors: Mussi Paola , Yu Chundong , O’Malley Bert W. , Xu Jianming
Published: August 2006

Steroid receptor coactivator 3 (SRC-3, amplified in breast cancer 1, or ACTR) is a transcriptional coactivator for nuclear receptors and certain other transcription factors such as E2F1. SRC-3 is overexpressed in breast cancers, and its overexpression is sufficient to cause mammary carcinomas in vivo. However, the mechanisms controlling endogenous SRC-3 overexpression are unknown. In this study, we identified the first exon and analyzed the 5′ regulatory sequence of the SRC-3 gene. We found three evolutionarily conserved regions (ECRs) in the 5′ SRC-3 regulatory sequence, and ECR2 makes a major contribution to the SRC-3 promoter activity. The ECR2 region (bp −250/+350) contains several specificity protein 1 (Sp1) binding sites and two E2F1 binding sites. We show that E2F1 can significantly activate the ECR2 promoter activity in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, overexpression of E2F1 significantly increases the promoter activity of the endogenous SRC-3 gene and boosts SRC-3 expression in vivo. Conversely, knockdown of E2F1 reduces SRC-3 expression. We demonstrate that the mechanism of E2F1 activity on SRC-3 promoter is independent of the E2F binding sites but relies on the Sp1 element located at bp +150/+160. Sp1, E2F1, and SRC-3 are specifically recruited to this Sp1 site and the interaction between E2F1 and Sp1 is essential to modulate SRC-3 expression. Moreover, SRC-3 coactivates E2F1 activity and thereby additively stimulates a further increase in SRC-3 expression in vivo. These results suggest that in cells with hyperactive E2F1, such as the case encountered in breast cancer cells, there is a positive feedback regulatory loop consisting of E2F1 and SRC-3 to maintain high levels of SRC-3 and E2F1 activity, which may partially interpret the oncogenic role of SRC-3 overexpression.
Sade and the Cynic Tradition
Authors: Shea Louisa
Published: August 2006

Louisa Shea is assistant professor of French studies at Rice University. She is working on a book tentatively titled Diogenes in the Salon: Cynicism and the Question of Enlightenment.
“The Queen of the Waste Land”: The Endgames of Modernism in Angela Carter's Magic Toyshop
Authors: Smith Patricia Juliana
Published: August 2006

Patricia Juliana Smith is associate professor of English at Hofstra University. She is author of Lesbian Panic: Homoeroticism in Modern British Women's Fiction (1997), editor of The Queer Sixties (1999), and coeditor of En Travesti: Women, Gender Subversion, Opera (1995) and Catholic Figures, Queer Narratives (forthcoming). Her book in progress is Britannia Waives the Rules: The Permissive Society in Postimperial British Literature and Culture.
The White Oriental
Authors: Szalay Michael
Published: August 2006

Michael Szalay is associate professor of English and director of the Humanities Center at the University of California, Irvine. He is author of New Deal Modernism: American Literature and the Invention of the Welfare State (2000) and, most recently, coeditor of “Countercultural Capital: Essays on the Sixties from Some Who Weren't There,” a special issue of the Yale Journal of Criticism.
Egypt's Unwavering Path to Democratic Reform
Authors: Fahmy Nabil
Published: August 2006

Nabil Fahmy is ambassador of Egypt to the United States.
Plain Talk about Iraq
Authors: Pranger Robert J.
Published: August 2006

Robert J. Pranger is a private consultant with extensive experience in national security affairs. He was formerly associate/managing editor of Mediterranean Quarterly.
Albanian Nationalism and Unionist Ottomanization, 1908 to 1912
Authors: Psilos Christophoros
Published: August 2006

Christophoros Psilos is a research fellow at the Hellenic Defense Analyses Institute Athens.
“Migrating Icons”: Politics and Serbian Cultural Heritage in Bosnia-Herzegovina before and after 1992
Authors: Rakić Svetlana
Published: August 2006

Svetlana Rakić is associate professor of art at Franklin College in Franklin, Indiana. She is the author of several books on Serbian Orthodox icons and the interrelatedness of modern art and religious thought. She worked as a consultant at the Institute for the Preservation of Cultural Heritage in Sarajevo and as a curator at the State Art Gallery of Bosnia-Herzegovina. She would like to thank Aleksander Kuzmanovich for helping her gather the information on the present situation of major icon collections from Bosnia-Herzegovina.
The Evolution of Diplomacy
Authors: Roberts Walter R.
Published: August 2006

Walter R. Roberts is a co-founder of the Public Diplomacy Institute of George Washington University, where he taught a course on public diplomacy for ten years. His government career included service as associate director of the US Information Agency and appointment by Presidents George H. W. Bush and Bill Clinton to the US Advisory Commission on Public Diplomacy.
Humanity's Ecological Footprint
Authors: Vallianatos Evaggelos G.
Published: August 2006

Evaggelos G. Vallianatos, a former analyst with the US Environmental Protection Agency and a former visiting college professor, is the author of This Land Is Their Land: How Corporate Farms Threaten the World (Monroe, Maine: Common Courage Press, 2006).
From the Western Balkans to the Greater Balkans Area: The External Conditioning of “Awkward” and “Integrated” States
Authors: Kavalski Emilian
Published: August 2006

Emilian Kavalski is the Izaak Walton Killam Postdoctoral Fellow at the Department of Political Science, University of Alberta. His research focuses on the Europeanization and Atlanticization of southeastern Europe and the global/Eurasian Balkans. He is the author of the forthcoming Extending the European Zone of Peace: Constructing Peace in the Balkans (London: I. B. Tauris).
KAPF Literature in Modern Korean Literary History
Authors: Kim Yoon-shik
Published: August 2006

Translated by Yoon Sun Yang
The Left-Wing Drama Movement in China and Its Relationship to Japan
Authors: Liu Ping
Published: August 2006

Translated by Krista Van Fleit Hang
Sensitization of the Primary Charge Separation in Photosystem I to Green Light by an Amphiphilic Polymer Bearing Rhodamine 6G
Authors: Miyajima Yoshitaka , Mizoguchi Shinji , Nakamura Akimasa , Kuroiwa Yoshinori , Kato Yuki , Watanabe Tadashi
Published: August 2006

An amphiphilic polymer carrying an artificial fluorescent dye, Rhodamine 6G (Rh6G), acts as a good solubilizing agent for a hydrophobic membrane protein, the photosystem (PS) I complex from Spirulina platensis, and at the same time as an efficient sensitizing agent in the green wavelength region, resulting in an enhancement of the primary charge separation within the complex by ca. 1.5-fold.
Development of a Supercritical Fluid Jet Technique for Supersonic Jet Laser Spectroscopy of Nonvolatile and Pyrolytic Molecules
Authors: Ishiuchi Shun-ichi , Fujii Masaaki
Published: August 2006

A new supersonic jet technique, for nonvolatile and pyrolytic molecules, such as biomolecules, called the supercritical fluid jet (SCF-jet) technique was developed. This method enables the vaporization of such molecules without hard heating. To demonstrate the SCF-jet technique, we applied it to 1-naphthol and measured the resonant enhanced multiphoton ionization spectrum.
Cocaethylene Affects Human Microvascular Endothelial Cell p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Activation and Nuclear Factor-κB DNA-Binding Activity
Authors: Tacker Danyel Hermes , Herzog Norbert K , Okorodudu Anthony O
Published: August 2006

Background: Cocaethylene (CE) is known to increase the permeability of human microvascular endothelial cell monolayers. The molecular mechanism underlying this increase may involve calcium-modulated signaling pathways such as the p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK) and the nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) family of transcription factors. The hypothesis of this study was that CE-mediated endothelial permeability change may be mediated by the p38 MAPK and consequently NF-κB dimers.

Methods: We used sandwich ELISA to detect phosphorylated p38 MAPK in the cell line human microvascular endothelial cell 1 (HMEC-1) after treatment with 1 mmol/L CE. We used electrophoretic mobility shift assay to detect changes in NF-κB dimers present in HMEC-1 and their DNA-binding activity after treatment with CE. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) from Salmonella typhosa was used as a positive control for all experiments.

Results: Treatment with CE and LPS had similar effects on HMEC-1 p38 MAPK phosphorylation and NF-κB DNA-binding activity. Both treatments increased the phosphorylation of p38 MAPK, consistent with activation of proinflammatory cell signaling. Treatment of HMEC-1 with CE decreased DNA binding of both the RelA/p50 and p50/p50 dimers of the NF-κB transcription factor family, whereas treatment with LPS decreased and then increased the DNA binding of these dimers.

Conclusion: In addition to increasing HMEC-1 monolayer permeability, CE also alters transcription factor and kinase activity related to inflammation. Thus, CE causes endothelial activation that can elicit a prolonged and organized cellular response, rather than being directly toxic to endothelial cells.
Multilectin Affinity Chromatography for Characterization of Multiple Glycoprotein Biomarker Candidates in Serum from Breast Cancer Patients
Authors: Yang Ziping , Harris Lyndsay E , Palmer-Toy Darryl E , Hancock William S
Published: August 2006

Background: Glycoproteins are often associated with cancer and are important in serum studies, for which glycosylation is a common posttranslational modification.

Methods: We used multilectin affinity chromatography (M-LAC) to isolate glycoproteins from the sera of breast cancer patients and controls. The proteins were identified by HPLC–tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) analysis of the corresponding tryptic digests. We used the FuncAssociate Gene Ontology program for association analysis of the identified proteins. Biomarker candidates in these groups were comparatively quantitated by use of peak area measurements, with inclusion of an internal standard. We analyzed data for concordance within the ontology association groups for vector of change with the development of breast cancer.

Results: Detection of the known low-concentration biomarker HER-2 (8–24 μg/L) enabled us to establish a dynamic range of 106, relative to the amount of albumin, for the depletion step. We then used ELISA to confirm this range. Proteins associated with lipid transport and metabolism, cell growth and maintenance, ion homeostasis, and protease inhibition were found to be differentially regulated in serum from women with breast cancer compared with serum from women without breast cancer.

Conclusions: M-LAC for isolation of the serum glycoproteome, coupled with liquid chromatography–MS/MS and the use of gene ontology associations, can be used to characterize large panels of candidate markers, which can then be evaluated in a particular patient population.
The Relationships of Plasma Adiponectin with a Favorable Lipid Profile, Decreased Inflammation, and Less Ectopic Fat Accumulation Depend on Adiposity
Authors: Kantartzis Konstantinos , Rittig Killian , Balletshofer Bernd , Machann Jürgen , Schick Fritz , Porubska Katarina , Fritsche Andreas , Häring Hans-Ulrich , Stefan Norbert
Published: August 2006

Background: The metabolic effects of adiponectin, including insulin sensitivity, seem to become stronger with increasing adiposity. Adiposity may also affect the relationship of adiponectin concentrations with serum lipid profile; markers of inflammation, atherosclerosis, and endothelial function; and ectopic fat accumulation.

Methods: We measured plasma adiponectin concentrations, serum lipids, and serum markers of inflammation, atherosclerosis, and endothelial function in 242 Caucasians without type 2 diabetes. We also measured visceral adipose tissue with magnetic resonance tomography and liver and intramyocellular fat with 1H magnetic resonance spectroscopy.

Results: We divided the study participants into 2 groups: lean [mean (SE) total body fat, 26% (0.6%); n = 119] and obese [36% (0.6%); n = 123]. In the obese group, plasma adiponectin concentrations showed a strong positive association with concentrations of HDL cholesterol (P <0.0001) and negative associations with LDL cholesterol, triglycerides, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, interleukin 6, apolipoprotein B100, soluble E-selectin, soluble vascular cellular adhesion molecule 1, plasminogen activator inhibitor 1, leukocyte count, and liver and intramyocellular fat (all P <0.03). In the lean group, adiponectin showed a less strong association with HDL cholesterol (P = 0.005) and liver fat (P = 0.03) and no significant associations with the other variables (all P >0.10). High visceral adipose tissue was a strong predictor of low adiponectin concentrations, particularly in the obese group, and attenuated many of the significant relationships.

Conclusions: High adiponectin plasma concentrations are associated with favorable lipid profiles, decreased subclinical inflammation, decreased markers of atherosclerosis and endothelial function, and low ectopic fat accumulation, particularly in obese persons. Adiponectin may also have a concentration-related effect on the relationship between visceral adipose tissue and these metabolic characteristics, especially in obese persons.
Genotype-Specific Signal Generation Based on Digestion of 3-Way DNA Junctions: Application to KRAS Variation Detection
Authors: Amicarelli Giulia , Adlerstein Daniel , Shehi Erlet , Wang Fengfei , Makrigiorgos G Mike
Published: August 2006

Background: Genotyping methods that reveal single-nucleotide differences are useful for a wide range of applications. We used digestion of 3-way DNA junctions in a novel technology, OneCutEventAmplificatioN (OCEAN) that allows sequence-specific signal generation and amplification. We combined OCEAN with peptide-nucleic-acid (PNA)-based variant enrichment to detect and simultaneously genotype v-Ki-ras2 Kirsten rat sarcoma viral oncogene homolog (KRAS) codon 12 sequence variants in human tissue specimens.

Materials and Methods: We analyzed KRAS codon 12 sequence variants in 106 lung cancer surgical specimens. We conducted a PNA-PCR reaction that suppresses wild-type KRAS amplification and genotyped the product with a set of OCEAN reactions carried out in fluorescence microplate format. The isothermal OCEAN assay enabled a 3-way DNA junction to form between the specific target nucleic acid, a fluorescently labeled “amplifier”, and an “anchor”. The amplifier-anchor contact contains the recognition site for a restriction enzyme. Digestion produces a cleaved amplifier and generation of a fluorescent signal. The cleaved amplifier dissociates from the 3-way DNA junction, allowing a new amplifier to bind and propagate the reaction.

Results: The system detected and genotyped KRAS sequence variants down to ∼0.3% variant-to-wild-type alleles. PNA-PCR/OCEAN had a concordance rate with PNA-PCR/sequencing of 93% to 98%, depending on the exact implementation. Concordance rate with restriction endonuclease-mediated selective-PCR/sequencing was 89%.

Conclusion: OCEAN is a practical and low-cost novel technology for sequence-specific signal generation. Reliable analysis of KRAS sequence alterations in human specimens circumvents the requirement for sequencing. Application is expected in genotyping KRAS codon 12 sequence variants in surgical specimens or in bodily fluids, as well as single-base variations and sequence alterations in other genes.
Pro12Ala Sequence Variant of the PPARG Gene Is Associated with Postprandial Hypertriglyceridemia in Non-E3/E3 Patients with the Metabolic Syndrome
Authors: Cardona Fernando , Morcillo Sonsoles , Gonzalo-Marín Montserrat , Garrido-Sanchez Lourdes , Macias-Gonzalez Manuel , Tinahones Francisco J
Published: August 2006

Background: Postprandial hypertriglyceridemia, a component of the metabolic syndrome, has varied etiology and involves many genes related to triglyceride metabolism. Variations in these genes may affect postprandial hypertriglyceridemia in the context of the metabolic syndrome.

Methods: We orally administered 60 g of fat overload to 74 patients with the metabolic syndrome. We then measured baseline concentrations of cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL cholesterol, apolipoprotein AI, apolipoprotein B, uric acid, and uric acid excretion; we also performed homeostasis model assessments of insulin resistance and insulin sensitivity. At 3 h, we measured triglycerides, cholesterol, apolipoprotein AI, and apolipoprotein B. Patients were considered to have postprandial hypertriglyceridemia if the difference in plasma triglycerides between baseline and 3 h after the test was 1.71 mmol/L or more. We also measured anthropometrical variables and classified the patients according to their peroxisome proliferative activated receptor, gamma (PPARG) gene and apolipoprotein E (APOE) genotype.

Results: Postprandial hypertriglyceridemia occurred in 64.7% of patients with the Ala12 allele vs 19.9% of the Pro12Pro patients, (P = 0.00032; odds ratio, 7.6), and in 87.5% of the patients with both the Ala12 allele and the non-E3/E3 APOE genotype (odds ratio, 23.8). Logistic regression analysis showed that PPARG and APOE sequence variants were associated with the presence of postprandial hypertriglyceridemia.

Conclusion: The Pro12Ala PPARG sequence variant together with a non-E3/E3 APOE genotype is associated with a high risk for postprandial hypertriglyceridemia in patients with the metabolic syndrome, indicating a close association between these genes and the regulation of lipoproteinase clearance.
The C-Reactive Protein +1444C/T Alteration Modulates the Inflammation and Coagulation Response in Human Endotoxemia
Authors: Marsik Claudia , Sunder-Plassmann Raute , Jilma Bernd , Kovar Florian M , Mannhalter Christine , Wagner Oswald , Rumpold Helmut , Endler Georg
Published: August 2006

Background: C-reactive protein (CRP) plays a major role in the immune system and is an independent risk marker of cardiovascular disease. However, CRP’s role in atherogenesis as innocent bystander, causative, or even protective agent, remains unresolved. The +1444C/T alteration in the CRP gene has been reported to determine basal CRP concentrations. We hypothesized that this alteration may also be associated with the degree of inflammatory response and coagulation activation in a well-standardized model of systemic inflammation.

Methods: We administered 2 ng/kg endotoxin [Escherichia coli bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS)] intravenously to stimulate inflammation in 91 healthy young Caucasian male paid volunteers (age range, 19–40 years). Participants were confined to bed rest and fasted for 8.5 h after LPS infusion. We collected blood samples before LPS infusion and at 0, 2, 6, and 24 h after LPS infusion to measure inflammation markers [interleukin 6 (IL6), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNFα)], temperature, and coagulation markers (prothrombin fragment F1+2, D-dimer). We analyzed the CRP 3′ untranslated variant with a mutagenic separated PCR assay.

Results: Basal concentrations of high-sensitivity CRP were ∼40% lower in +1444CC alteration carriers than in T homozygous (TT) allele carriers (P = 0.04). In contrast, basal IL6 concentrations were 2-fold higher in wild-type C homozygous (CC) than in TT individuals (P = 0.01). In response to the LPS challenge, CC individuals had 4-fold higher peak TNFα concentrations (P <0.01), >2.5-fold higher peak IL6 concentrations (P <0.01), and increased temperature (P <0.01). Twenty-four hours after LPS challenge, prothrombin fragment F1+2 concentrations were 75% higher and D-dimer concentrations 50% higher in CC than in TT individuals (P <0.05).

Conclusions: Genetic factors regulating CRP concentrations also modulate the individual response to endotoxin-stimulated inflammation.
Postanalytical External Quality Assessment of Warfarin Monitoring in Primary Healthcare
Authors: Kristoffersen Ann-Helen , Thue Geir , Sandberg Sverre
Published: August 2006

Background: An increasing number of patients are treated with warfarin worldwide, and many are monitored in general practice, often with office instruments. Bleeding or thromboembolic episodes may be consequences of inadequate treatment. We have therefore examined some important aspects of general practitioners’ (GPs’) knowledge of warfarin treatment.

Methods: A questionnaire including 2 case histories with familiar indications for warfarin treatment (mechanical heart valve prosthesis and pulmonary embolism) was circulated to 3781 GPs in Norway as a postanalytical quality assessment.

Results: A total of 1547 GPs (41%) responded. There were substantial variations among GPs concerning the frequency of international normalized ratio (INR) monitoring, stated therapeutic ranges for arterial (but not venous) indications for anticoagulation therapy, and handling of a moderately high INR result of 5.9. Most GPs estimated an unrealistically high risk of serious bleeding in the latter situation (median, 15%; 10th and 90th percentiles, 4% and 50%, respectively). The critical difference necessary to change the warfarin dose was highly dependent on perceived therapeutic intervals, and about half of the GPs suggested a critical difference of 0.8 INR, which is attainable with office instruments. Sex and age of the GPs, practice size, and availability of an INR instrument in the office laboratory did not influence the results to any substantial degree, as variations within subgroups were similar.

Conclusions: Gross variations in practice were found, especially for aspects of warfarin treatment that lacked uniform guidelines. Evidence-based and practicable recommendations for treatment and monitoring of these patients are still needed.
Unfavorable Prognostic Value of Human Kallikrein 7 Quantified by ELISA in Ovarian Cancer Cytosols
Authors: Shan Shannon J C , Scorilas Andreas , Katsaros Dionyssios , Rigault de la Longrais Irene , Massobrio Marco , Diamandis Eleftherios P
Published: August 2006

Background: Human tissue kallikrein 7 (gene, KLK7; protein, hK7) is a member of the kallikrein family of secreted serine proteases. Reports indicate that in ovarian cancer, KLK7 is significantly up-regulated at the mRNA level. The aim of this study was to determine whether hK7, measured quantitatively by ELISA in ovarian cancer cytosols, is a prognostic biomarker for ovarian cancer.

Methods: We used a newly developed ELISA with 2 monoclonal antibodies to quantify hK7 production in 260 ovarian tumor cytosols and correlated these data with various clinicopathologic variables and patient outcomes [progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS)] over a median follow-up period of 52 months.

Results: Median (range) hK7 concentration in ovarian tumor cytosols was 2.84 (0–32.8) ng/mg of total protein. Compared with healthy and benign ovarian tissues and nonovarian tumors that metastasized to the ovary, malignant ovarian tumor cytosols highly overproduced hK7 (P <0.001). We used the median value as the cutoff value to categorize tumors as hK7-positive and hK7-negative. Women with hK7-positive tumors most frequently had advanced-stage disease, higher tumor grade (G3), suboptimal debulking, and serous or undifferentiated histotype (P <0.001). Univariate analysis showed that hK7 positivity was associated with significantly shorter PFS (P = 0.01) but not OS. Kaplan–Meier survival curves confirmed an increased risk of relapse in women with hK7-positive tumors (P = 0.009). In multivariate analysis, hK7 was not significantly associated with either PFS or OS.

Conclusions: hK7 is associated with other unfavorable characteristics of ovarian cancer, but it is not an independent prognosticator for ovarian cancer.
England's National Traffic Control Centre: improving travel
Authors: Stockbridge G.
Published: August 2006

The Highways Agency's National Traffic Control Centre (NTCC) became fully operational in November 2003. The services provided by the control centre are key to satisfying the objectives of providing better information to travellers and ensuring more reliable journeys. This paper describes the policy context within which the control centre has been delivered; the means by which it collects data on conditions on England's motorway and all-purpose trunk road network; how those data are analysed; and the means by which information is disseminated to the general public. These services are providing the catalyst for the development of traffic information delivery tools by the Agency and private sector information providers.
The Madrid—Seville line experience
Authors: Guirao B.
Published: August 2006

The first Spanish high-speed railway entered operation in April 1992, between the cities of Madrid and Seville. Just over 11 years later, in October 2003, the first high-speed commercial service began on the Madrid–Lérida line, which forms the inaugural part of the Madrid–Barcelona route. The aim of this paper is to analyse, in detail, the evolution of the Madrid–Seville line operation in order to infer some conclusions that can be applied to the Madrid–Barcelona corridor. The analysis starts with a description of the evolution of the high-speed concept and the operating conditions on the Spanish high-speed network. Then the effects of the new high-speed line on inter-urban mobility behaviour, for the various origin–destination pairs on the Madrid–Seville line, are discussed. The main research studies that have been carried out, including examination of possible bimodal operation, are summarised, using the Spanish high-speed line as an example. Special attention has been paid to the various current methods of measuring traffic induced by new transport provision, with specific regard to the Madrid–Seville corridor in the first years of operation. Finally, the paper considers what can be learnt from the Madrid–Seville experience to understand better the likely utilisation of the Madrid–Barcelona line.
Pavement moduli variation under heavy aircraft trafficking
Authors: Gopalakrishnan K. , Thompson M. R.
Published: August 2006

Heavyweight deflectometer (HWD) tests at 160·2 kN (36 000 lb) force amplitude were periodically conducted at the US Federal Aviation Administration's National Airport Pavement Test Facility (NAPTF) to monitor the effect of Boeing 777 and Boeing 747 test gear trafficking on the structural condition of pavements. In this study, the changes in back-calculated pavement moduli with trafficking were used to compare the relative severity of the aircraft landing gear on the test sections. ILLI-PAVE, an advanced finite-element flexible pavement structural model that can accommodate non-linear unbound material properties was used to model the NAPTF test sections under the HWD loading and synthetic databases were generated. Regression algorithms relating the moduli to HWD deflection basin parameters were developed for predicting asphalt concrete and sub-grade moduli from NAPTF HWD test data. The traffic lane back-calculated moduli values were compared with the untrafficked centreline moduli values to study the loss of stiffness as a result of trafficking. The results were finally compared with those obtained using conventional elastic layer program-based back-calculation software. The results indicate that both test gears have similar potential in terms of their damaging effect on airport flexible pavements.
A decision model for junction improvement schemes
Authors: Vassou V. , Labib A. , Roberts M.
Published: August 2006

The selection of appropriate junction improvement schemes is somewhat complex, as most decisions involve multiple objectives, and several decision-makers are subject to stakeholders' review. Usually a subjective engineering judgement process is adopted for selecting new road alignment designs, and so the need arose for a generic decision model to be developed to support engineers and decision-makers in selecting the optimal design solution. This contribution uses multiple-criteria decision-making based on the analytical hierarchy process (AHP) as a means of adopting a formalised and systematic decision framework. The paper also discusses issues relating to inconsistency analyses and model validation. The practical value of the decision framework presented is that it allows the decision-maker to rank choices in the order of their effectiveness in meeting conflicting objectives or priorities.
Paired‐End diTagging for Transcriptome and Genome Analysis
Authors: Ng Patrick , Wei Chia‐Lin , Ruan Yijun
Published: August 2006

The Paired‐End diTagging (PET) procedure enables one to obtain sequence information from both termini of any contiguous DNA fragment. This is achieved by a series of enzymatic manipulations that introduce MmeI sites directly flanking each DNA insert during the construction of a plasmid library. Subsequent MmeI digestion and self‐ligation results in the production of covalently‐linked paired‐end ditags (PETs) that can be extracted and then concatenated for efficient sequencing. By mapping the PET sequences to assembled genomes, the original DNA fragments from which the PETs were derived can be precisely localized. This unit details two applications of PET technology. In GIS‐PET, ditagging of mRNA converted to full‐length cDNA enables whole‐transcriptome analysis, including novel gene identification, gene prediction validation, and gene expression studies. In ChIP‐PET, ditagging of chromatin immunoprecipitation–enriched genomic DNA fragments enables the global mapping of transcription factor binding sites.
RNA Immunoprecipitation for Determining RNA‐Protein Associations In Vivo
Authors: Gilbert Chris , Svejstrup Jesper Q.
Published: August 2006

Similar to chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP), RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) can be used to detect the association of individual proteins with specific nucleic acid regions, in this case on RNA. Live cells are treated with formaldehyde to generate protein‐RNA cross‐links between molecules that are in close proximity in vivo. RNA sequences that cross‐link with a given protein are isolated by immunoprecipitation of the protein, and reversal of the formaldehyde cross‐linking permits recovery and quantitative analysis of the immunoprecipitated RNA by reverse transcription PCR. The basics of RIP are very similar to those of ChIP, but with some important caveats. This unit describes the RIP procedure for Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Although the corresponding steps for metazoan cells have not yet been worked out, it is likely that the yeast procedure can easily be adapted for use in other organisms.
Comparison of the Kid's Block Food Frequency Questionnaire to the 24‐hour recall in urban Native American youth
Authors: Smith Chery , Fila Stefanie
Published: August 2006

This study evaluated the appropriateness of the Kid's Block Food Frequency Questionnaire (Kid's Block FFQ) for use in a group of urban Native American youth by comparing it to a self‐reported 24‐hr recall. Subjects were 61 urban Native American youth, aged 9–13 years. Researchers assessed dietary intake using the two methods in random order on the same day. Analyses of diets revealed no significant difference between estimated total energy, protein, fat, and saturated fat between the two methods. Significant differences in estimations for the two tools occurred for carbohydrates and some micronutrients. Results suggest that the Kid's Block FFQ may be less appropriate than 24‐hr recall in measuring the dietary intake of Native American youth. A high prevalence of obesity in this population necessitates more accurate dietary assessment tools for this population. Am. J. Hum. Biol. 18:706–709, 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The impact of occupational injury reduction on the U.S. economy
Authors: Zaloshnja Eduard , Miller Ted R. , Waehrer Geetha
Published: August 2006

Background

Preventing occupational injuries reduces labor and fringe benefit costs to employers. The related savings filter through the economy, impacting its performance. This study is a first attempt to measure the impact of occupational injury reduction on national economic output, gross domestic product, national income, and employment by using an input–output model of the U.S. economy.

Methods

Occupational injury costs by industry for 1993 were used as a baseline for an input–output model, and the impact of the 38% injury rate reduction between 1993 and 2002 was measured. All computations are in year 2000 dollars.

Results

Declining occupational injury between 1993 and 2002 increased employment by an estimated 550,000 jobs. The increase in gross domestic product (GDP) was $25.5 billion or 9% of the average annual GDP increase from 1993 to 2002.

Conclusions

These estimates represent the benefits of injury rate reduction but ignore associated prevention costs. Am. J. Ind. Med. 49:719–727, 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Costs differences across demographic groups and types of occupational injuries and illnesses
Authors: Leigh J. Paul , Waehrer Geetha , Miller Ted R. , McCurdy Stephen A.
Published: August 2006

Background

Little is known about cost differences for demographic groups or across occupational injuries and illnesses.

Methods

In this incidence study of nationwide data for 1993, an analysis was conducted on fatal and non‐fatal injury and illness data recorded in government data sets. Costs data were from workers' compensation records, estimates of lost wages, and jury awards.

Results

The youngest (age ≤ 17) and oldest (age ≥ 65) workers had exceptionally high fatality costs. Whereas men's costs for non‐fatal incidents were nearly double those for women, men's costs for fatal injuries were 10 times the costs for women. The highest ranking occupation for combined fatal and non‐fatal costs—farming, forestry, and fishing—had costs‐per‐worker ($5,163) over 18 times the lowest ranking occupation—executives and managers ($279). The occupation of handlers, cleaners, and laborers, ranked highest for non‐fatal costs. Gunshot wounds generated especially high fatal costs. Compared to whites, African‐Americans had a lower percentage of costs due to carpal tunnel syndrome, circulatory, and digestive diseases.

Conclusions

Costs comparisons can be drawn across age, race, gender, and occupational groups as well as categories of injuries and illnesses. Am. J. Ind. Med. 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Possible involvement of alpha‐2A adrenergic receptors in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: Radioligand binding and polymorphism studies
Authors: Deupree J.D. , Smith S.D. , Kratochvil C.J. , Bohac D. , Ellis C.R. , Polaha J. , Bylund D.B. ,   UNMC Collaborative ADHD Research Team
Published: August 2006

Neuropharmacological and genetic association studies have implicated norepinephrine and adrenergic receptors in the pathogenesis of ADHD. The purpose of this study was to compare genetic association studies of three polymorphisms of the alpha‐2A adrenergic receptor gene (ADRA2A) with radioligand binding studies of the alpha‐2A adrenergic receptor protein in platelets from a sample of children without or with ADHD. The pediatric subjects ranged from 6 to 18 years of age. A thorough clinical assessment of each child resulted in one of the following DSM‐IV ADHD diagnoses: inattentive, hyperactive/impulsive, combined, or no ADHD. No significant linkage was found between the ADRA2A polymorphisms (MspI, HhaI, and DraI) and any of the phenotypes tested. Association analysis, however, did detect significant linkage disequilibrium for the DraI polymorphism. Association was also evaluated considering the three ADRA2A single nucleotide polymorphisms as haplotypes. The HhaI‐DraI and the MspI‐HhaI‐DraI haplotypes were significantly associated with ADHD. The platelet alpha‐2 adrenergic receptor density did not differ between children without or with ADHD. The affinity of the receptor for the radioligand however, differed significantly between those without and with ADHD. In addition, there were some significant correlations between binding parameters and severity of ADHD in this well‐characterized clinical population, and significant association was found between these measures of receptor function and MspI and DraI polymorphisms. Thus, both the genetic and the binding studies indicate that the alpha‐2 adrenergic receptor may play a role in ADHD. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Isolation of monomethylarsonic acid‐mineralizing bacteria from arsenic contaminated soils of Ohkunoshima Island
Authors: Maki Teruya , Takeda Noriko , Hasegawa Hiroshi , Ueda Kazumasa
Published: August 2006

Chemical warfare agents, composed of harmful organoarsenic compounds have contaminated the soils of Ohkunoshima Island with high levels of arsenic. As a basic research establishing useful bioremediation techniques, environmental factors such as arsenic concentrations and bacterial biomass in the soils were investigated. Among the five stations of Ohkunoshima Island, the soils of four stations were contaminated by high levels of arsenic compounds at concentrations of 125, 12.7, 3.29 and 0.504 g/kg soil, while the other station with low arsenic concentrations of 0.007 g/kg soil was considered an uncontaminated area. The distribution of arsenic compounds originating from the chemical weapon agent differs among the various areas of Ohkunoshima Island. The cell densities of arsenate‐resistant bacteria also varied among the five stations, ranging from 106 to 108 cells/g soil. In an attempt to isolate bacteria that strongly mineralize the organoarsenic compounds, the mineralization activities for monomethylarsonic acid [MMAA(V)] of 48 isolates of arsenate‐resistant bacteria were determined. Only nine isolates reduced 140 µg/l of MMAA(V), giving decreasing percentages ranging from 5 to 100% within 14 days. Among the nine isolates, two remarkably converted 140 µg/l of MMAA to more than 71 µg/l of inorganic arsenic. Presumably only specific members of the environmental bacterial population have strong mineralization activities for MMAA. Phylogenetic analysis using 16S rDNA sequences showed that the two isolates belonged to the Pseudomonas putida strains, which are known to have strong mineralization activity for various organic compounds. In the soil contaminated by arsenic at a high level, few bacteria in the arsenate‐resistant bacterial group would significantly mineralize organoarsenic compounds. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A protocol standard for heterogeneous telescope networks
Authors: Allan A. , Hessman F. , Bischoff K. , Burgdorf M. , Cavanagh B. , Christian D. , Clay N. , Dickens R. , Economou F. , Fadavi M. , Fraser S. , Granzer T. , Grosvenor S. , Jenness T. , Koratkar A. , Lehner M. , Mottram C. , Naylor T. , Saunders E. , Solomos N. , Steele I. , Tuparev G. , Vestrand T. , White R. , Yost S.
Published: August 2006

The scientific need for a standard protocol permitting the exchange of generic observing services is rapidly escalating as more observatories adopt service observing as a standard operating mode and as more remote or robotic telescopes are brought on‐line. To respond to this need, we present the results of the first interoperability workshop for Heterogeneous Telescope Networks (HTN) held in Exeter. We present a draft protocol, designed to be independent of the specific instrumentation and software that controls the remote and/or robotic telescopes, allowing these telescopes to appear to the user with a unified interface despite any underlying architectural differences. (© 2006 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Astronomical network event and observation notification
Authors: White R. R. , Allan A. , Barthelmy S. , Bloom J. , Graham M. , Hessman F. V. , Marka S. , Rots A. , Scholberg K. , Seaman R. , Stoughton C. , Vestrand W. T. , Williams R. , Wozniak P. R.
Published: August 2006

Networks are becoming a key element in most current and all future, telescope and observatory projects. The ability to easily and efficiently pass observation data, alert data and instrumentation requests between distributed systems could enable science as never before. However, any effective large scale or meta‐network of astronomical resources will require a common communication format or development resources will have to be continuously dedicated to creating interpreters. The necessary elements of any astronomy communication can be easily identified, efficiently described and rigidly formatted so that both robotic and human operations can use the same data. In this paper we will explore the current state of notification, what notification requirements are essential to create a successful standard and present a standard now under development by the International Virtual Observatory Alliance (IVOA), called the VOEvent. (© 2006 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Application of preferential crystallization to resolve racemic compounds in a hybrid process
Authors: Lorenz Heike , Polenske Daniel , Seidel‐Morgenstern Andreas
Published: August 2006

The application of preferential crystallization is at present limited to conglomerate forming systems, which cover only a minor part of chiral substances. In this paper, a hybrid process is proposed that extends the applicability of the preferential crystallization principle to the more common racemic compound forming systems. It comprises a preliminary (e.g., chromatographic) enantiomeric enrichment step and preferential crystallization to finally produce the desired pure enantiomer(s). The applicability of preferential crystallization to racemic compounds is demonstrated on the example of mandelic acid as a model system. Direct monitoring of the separation progress is performed using combined online polarimetry and online density measurements. A cyclic crystallization process, which provides alternating the pure mandelic acid enantiomer and the racemic compound, is feasible and allows the resolution of rac‐mandelic acid as part of the proposed hybrid approach. Chirality 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Conformationally Constrained CCK8 Analogues Obtained from a Rationally Designed Peptide Library as Ligands for Cholecystokinin Type B Receptor
Authors: De Luca Stefania , Saviano Michele , Della Moglie Raffaella , Digilio Giuseppe , Bracco Chiara , Aloj Luigi , Tarallo Laura , Pedone Carlo , Morelli Giancarlo
Published: August 2006

A library of 14 cyclic peptide analogues derived from the octapeptide C‐terminal sequence of the human cholecystokinin hormone (CCK(26–33), or CCK8) was designed, synthesized, and characterized. The 14 peptide analogues were rationally designed to specifically interact with the CCK type B receptor (CCKB‐R) on the basis of the structure of the bimolecular complex between CCK8 and the third extracellular loop of CCKB‐R, namely CCKB‐R(352–379). The rational design of new ligands for CCKB‐R has relied on stabilization by cyclic constraints of the structural motifs that bring the key residues of the ligand (especially Trp 30, Met 31, and Phe 33) in the proper spatial orientation for optimal interaction with the receptor. The binding affinity of the new ligands for CCKB‐R was assessed by displacement experiments of 111In‐radiolabeled CCK8 in cells that overexpress the CCKB receptor. The new ligands generally showed binding affinities lower than that of parent CCK8, with the best compounds having IC50 values around 10 μM. Structure–activity relationship data show that preservation of the Trp 30–Met 31 motif is essential and that the Phe 33 side chain must be present. NMR conformational studies of the compound with maximal binding affinity (cyclo‐B11, IC50=11 μM) in DPC micelles shows that this compound presents a turn‐like conformation centered at the Trp 30–Met 31 segment, as planned by rational design. Such a conformation is stabilized by its interaction with the micelle rather than by the cyclic constraint.
Fickian Diffusion Constrained on Spherical Surfaces: Voltammetry
Authors: Thompson Mary , Compton Richard G.
Published: August 2006

A model is developed for the voltammetric response due to surface charge injection at a single point on the surface of a sphere on whose surface the electroactive material is confined. Accordingly, charge diffusion is constrained to the spherical surface and thus mimicks the voltammetric response of immobilised microparticles derivatised with electroactive material. The full cyclic voltammetric response is investigated, and the peak currents, the peak‐to‐peak separation and the symmetry of the voltammetric wave are shown to be indicative of the heterogeneous kinetics and the geometry of the adsorbed microparticle. The results show strong deviations from the responses expected for planar diffusion.
Residual vibration suppression using initial value compensation for repetitive positioning
Authors: Hirose Noriaki , Kawafuku Motohiro , Iwasaki Makoto , Hirai Hiromu
Published: August 2006

This paper presents a novel residual vibration suppression methodology for repetitive fast‐response and high‐precision positioning in machine tool drives. In sequential positioning motions, as the interval period of position references becomes shorter, the residual vibration in response due to undesired initial values deteriorates the positioning accuracy, since the positioning controller is generally designed on the condition that initial state variables are zero. In this research, an Initial Value Compensation (IVC) approach is proposed under the theoretical study on effects of the initial state values on the position transient response. The IVC can appropriately assign poles and zeros of the transfer characteristic of position output for the initial values by applying an additional input corresponding to the initial state variables, enabling the response to be residual vibration free. The desired positioning performance, as a result, can be achieved in repetitive motions with arbitrary interval period. The effectiveness of the proposed compensation has been verified by numerical simulations and experiments using a positioning device of industrial machine tools. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 157(3): 63–72, 2006; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/eej.20276 Copyright © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Corona and micro‐gap discharge at a wire particle in precessional motion under a DC electric field
Authors: Kudo Yusuke , Sugimoto Toshiyuki , Higashiyama Yoshio
Published: August 2006

A free wire particle located in an electric field between parallel plate electrodes manifests several motions: standing, precession on the electrode, crossing, and breakdown via the particle. During stable standing or precessional motion, the corona discharge inevitably occurs. To clarify the influence of discharge phenomenon on the behavior of the wire particle, the corona discharge characteristic of the particle in the precession was investigated experimentally in a DC electric field formed by parallel plate electrodes with a positive voltage applied to the upper electrode. The waveforms of the corona discharge current flowing through a 6‐mm wire particle were measured under two conditions: when a free wire was in precession on the lower electrode and when a wire was fixed between the electrodes vertically with a spacing of less than 1 mm between the lower electrode and the bottom of the particle. From a comparison of the waveform of corona discharge occurring at the particle in precession with that of the fixed particle, it was found that both micro‐gap discharge and negative corona occurred simultaneously only when the particle was in precession with a relatively small elevation angle. The particle was lifted up when the magnitude of the corona discharge current was decreased below about 15 µA. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 157(2): 8–14, 2006; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/eej.20278