bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effects of Own and Spousal Disability on Loneliness Among Older Adults
Authors: Korporaal Marga , Broese van Groenou Marjolein I. , van Tilburg Theo G.
Published: March 2008

Objectives: This study examines the effects of own and spousal disability on social and emotional loneliness among married adults aged 65 and older. Method: Data from 710 men and 379 women of a Dutch community sample were analyzed with linear regression analyses. Results: For men, only their wives' disability was related to higher levels of social loneliness, whereas for women mainly their own disability was related to higher levels of social loneliness. Own disability and spousal disability were related to higher levels of emotional loneliness among both men and women. Effects of disability remained unaffected after controlling for characteristics of the social network and the marital relationship. Discussion: Findings underscore the importance of considering effects of both spouses' health on measures of individual well-being. Also, the traditional division of social roles makes older married men relatively vulnerable to social loneliness when their wives suffer from disability.
Pygmalions in plastic surgery
Authors: Davis Kathy
Published: March 2008

This article focuses on the gendered underpinnings of the profession of plastic surgery, drawing upon a popular autobiography of a plastic surgeon. Written at a time when plastic surgery made its entrance as a legitimate branch of medicine, the author presents himself as a mouthpiece of his profession, as the person whose task it is to explain the wonders of the ‘noble and compassionate’ practice of plastic surgery to disbelieving critics, both within and outside the field. As such, it provides a resource for understanding the discourses which shaped – and continue – to shape the profession of plastic surgery. By analysing the textual practices which the author employs to construct his life as the idealized story of a plastic surgeon, the professional ideology of plastic surgery as well as the construction of masculinity in its professionalized form will be explored.
Four perspectives on unconventional therapies
Authors: Gray Ross E.
Published: March 2008

In recent decades, North American health consumers have increasingly turned to unconventional therapies to complement, or replace, traditional biomedical practices. The topic of unconventional therapies can no longer be ignored or marginalized because, for better or worse, each seriously ill person cannot help but be confronted with choices about their possible usage. In this paper four perspectives relevant to a consideration of unconventional therapies are characterized and discussed, with cancer used to exemplify issues. The perspectives include the biomedical, the alternative, the progressive, and the postmodern. Each perspective is discussed in terms of its implications for patient choice. All perspectives are potentially helpful, dependent upon individual factors and the stage of illness, and patients tend to modify their perspective to meet circumstances. However, the postmodern perspective is argued to most clearly allow for the changing needs of ill persons, and the many inherent uncertainties involved with serious illness.
Thermal Environmental Interference with Airborne Bacteria and Fungi Levels in Air-Conditioned Offices
Authors: Wong L.T. , Mui K.W. , Hui P.S. , Chan W.Y. , Law A.K.Y.
Published: March 2008

Indoor airborne bacteria and fungi levels can be selected as indicators of a healthy indoor environment. This study investigated the relationships between the airborne bacteria levels, fungi levels, and thermal environmental parameters, i.e., air temperature and relative humidity, in some offices with a Mechanical Ventilation and Air-Conditioning (MVAC) system operating. A total of 101 samples were collected from two typical Hong Kong air-conditioned office premises. There was evidence that the operation of the MVAC system would have significant influence on both of the indoor airborne bacteria and fungi levels. The results showed that no significant difference in airborne bacteria and fungi levels was observed between offices having similar thermal environments ( p > 0.05). However, significantly higher airborne bacteria and fungi levels were found in the same office during non-office hours when the air-conditioning system was shut down ( p<0.03). It was also reported that the airborne bacteria and fungi levels would be correlated with the thermal environmental parameters in some offices ( p<0.0001).
Air Ion Behavior in Ventilated Rooms
Authors: Fletcher L.A. , Noakes C.J. , Sleigh P.A. , Beggs C.B. , Shepherd S.J.
Published: March 2008

Air ionizers have seen increasing use as devices for improving indoor air quality, including applications designed to reduce the transmission of infection in healthcare environments. However, little attention has been given to understanding and quantifying the physical behavior of ions in indoor air. This study presents experimental data and a theoretical model to examine the factors that influence the concentration of ions in a ventilated room. The results demonstrate how, with an ionizer in operation, the ion concentration is governed by ion—ion interactions and electrical deposition at the walls, with the ventilation rate having a minimal influence. The results also demonstrate that an ion concentration > 1010 ions · m ×3 is necessary for these electrical effects to be significant, which has implications for the suitability of an ionizer for a particular location.
The Generation of Postmemory
Authors: Hirsch Marianne
Published: March 2008

Postmemory describes the relationship of the second generation to powerful, often traumatic, experiences that preceded their births but that were nevertheless transmitted to them so deeply as to seem to constitute memories in their own right. Focusing on the remembrance of the Holocaust, this essay elucidates the generation of postmemory and its reliance on photography as a primary medium of transgenerational transmission of trauma. Identifying tropes that most potently mobilize the work of postmemory, it examines the role of the family as a space of transmission and the function of gender as an idiom of remembrance.
Paratextual Profusion: Photography and Text in Bertolt Brecht'sWar Primer
Authors: Long J. J.
Published: March 2008

Bertolt Brecht's War Primer, first published in 1955, is a collection of what Brecht termed “photo-epigrams.” These consist of a photograph—usually one cut from the illustrated press—mounted on a black background and accompanied by a four-line poem by Brecht. The theme of the book is World War II. Critics have tended to view the War Primer as a didactic piece that offers a Marxist corrective to “Western” histories of the war. This article, however, argues against this view. By contextualizing the work in terms of Brecht's and Benjamin's writings on photography in the 1920s and 1930s and taking into account not merely the relationship between photograph and quatrain but all of the numerous paratexts (original newspaper captions, titles, explanatory notes, foreword, jacket copy, title page, and author's signature), the article argues that the diverse modes of address constructed by the text preclude communication of a unitary ideological message.
A Two-step and Hysteretic Spin-crossover Transition in New Cyano-bridged Hetero-metal FeIIAuI 2-Dimensional Assemblage
Authors: Kosone Takashi , Kachi-Terajima Chihiro , Kanadani Chikahide , Saito Toshiaki , Kitazawa Takafumi
Published: March 2008

A new hetero-metal 2-dimensional (2D) spin-crossover complex, {[FeII(3-Fpy)2][AuI(CN)2]2}n (3-Fpy = 3-fluoropyridine) has been synthesized and characterized crystallographically and magnetically. The complex consists of an octahedral FeII ion and a mononuclear [AuI(CN)2]− unit with a linear coordination geometry which combine to form an infinite 2D structure. The spin transition observed for this complex is accompanied by a drastic and reversible change of color from blue to purple.
Novel Sulfur–Selenium Exchange in Ethylenedioxy- and Ethylenedithio-dithiadiselenafulvalenedithiolates
Authors: Hayashi Toshiki , Xiao Xunwen , Yamaji Yuhta , Fujiwara Hideki , Sugimoto Toyonari , Nakazumi Hiroyuki
Published: March 2008

Ethylenedioxy- and ethylenedithiodithiadiselenafulvalenedithiolates are subjected to sulfur–selenium exchange, in which one selenium atom in the molecular skeleton is replaced by an outside sulfur atom. The reaction of the exchanged dithiolates with 2-methylthio-1,3-dithiolylium ion gives the corresponding thioquinone-1,3-dithiolemethides as new donor molecules.
An Internet-based videoconferencing system for supporting frail elderly people and their carers
Authors: Savolainen Liina , Hanson Elizabeth , Magnusson Lennart , Gustavsson Tomas
Published: March 2008

Summary

The ACTION project uses information and communication technology to support frail elderly people and their family carers. The aims are to enhance their quality of life, independence and preparedness and to break social isolation. A videoconferencing system, connecting homes and a call centre, was used in a pilot study in 1997–2002. A re-designed system was brought into use in late 2004 and over 60 new units were introduced during the first six months. The new system was evaluated with an interview study and by data logging. Eight family users and four professional carers were interviewed. The family users had used the videophone at least six times and they had had the equipment at home for at least two months. The average number of initiated calls per user was 5.7 per month and the average call time per user was 40 min per month. Seven of the users (88%) reported that the system very much reduced their sense of loneliness and isolation. The results of the evaluation were encouraging. There were several frequent users of videoconferencing. System quality was acceptable although a shorter audio delay would be desirable. The system was used regularly by the participants and it fulfilled its purpose.
Telemedicine for audiology screening of infants
Authors: Krumm Mark , Huffman Todd , Dick Kelly , Klich Richard
Published: March 2008

Summary

Distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAE) and automated auditory brainstem response (AABR) screening were conducted in infants at a distant hospital using remote computing. Eighteen males and twelve females ranging in age from 11–45 days were tested. Both DPOAE and AABR data were recorded using an integrated test system which was connected to the computer network at the Utah Valley Regional Medical Center. Using a broadband Internet connection, an examiner at Utah State University, 200 km away, could control the DPOAE and the ABR equipment. Identical hearing screening results were obtained for face-to-face and telemedicine trials with all infants. The DPOAE means for face-to-face and telemedicine trials were not significantly different at any frequency. In an analysis of variance, there was no significant difference for the test method ( F = 0.8, P > 0.05). These results indicate that remote computing is a feasible telemedicine method for providing DPOAE and ABR hearing screening services to infants in rural communities.
Evaluating distance education of a mindfulness-based meditation programme for chronic pain management
Authors: Gardner-Nix Jacqueline , Backman Stéphanie , Barbati Julianna , Grummitt Jessica
Published: March 2008

Summary

Patients with chronic pain were recruited from two large urban hospitals and from rural hospitals in Ontario. Patients on the waiting list served as controls. The intervention was a Mindfulness-Based Chronic Pain Management course, delivered to patients for two hours per week for 10 weeks. Pre- and postcourse measures of quality of life, pain catastrophizing and usual pain ratings were collected over a period of two years. Patients received the course via traditional face-to-face, in-person teaching (Present site group) or via videoconferencing at their local hospital site (Distant site group). In all, there were 99 Present site participants, 57 at Distant sites and 59 waitlist controls. Patients at Present and Distant sites achieved similar gains in mental health ( P < 0.01) and pain catastrophizing levels ( P < 0.01) relative to controls. However, the Present site group obtained significantly higher scores on the physical dimension of quality of life ( P < 0.01) and lower usual-pain ratings ( P < 0.05) than the Distant site group. The results suggest that videoconferencing is an effective mode of delivery for the Mindfulness course and may represent a new way of helping chronic pain patients in rural areas manage their suffering.
Aquatic fate and effects of Bacillus thuringiensis Cry3Bb1 protein: Toward risk assessment
Authors: Prihoda Kelsey R , Coats Joel R
Published: March 2008

Genetically engineered crops expressing Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) insecticidal crystalline (Cry) proteins became commercially available in the United States in 1996. In 2006, 19 million ha of Bt corn were planted worldwide, which represents a 10 million ha increase in 10 years. The sustainability of Bt crops is important, because their use has significantly reduced the amount of chemical insecticides necessary to control agricultural pests. Despite the high adoption rates of this novel insecticide, little is known about the aquatic fate of transgenic Bt proteins and their nontarget effects on aquatic invertebrates, although several potential routes exist for their transport to aquatic systems. Methods were developed to investigate the aquatic fate of transgenic Bt proteins and to determine their potential effects on nontarget aquatic invertebrates. Laboratory microcosms containing pond water only or pond water and sediment were used to examine the fate of the coleopteran-active Bt Cry3Bb1 protein in decomposing transgenic corn event MON863 (hereafter referred to as MON863 corn) leaf, stalk, and root. A half-life of less than 3 d was found for Bt Cry3Bb1 from decomposing MON863 corn residue. No Bt Cry3Bb1 was measured in the pond water or sediment extracts of microcosms containing MON863 corn. In an acute, static, partial-renewal toxicity test, Bt Cry3Bb1 protein from MON863 root extracts was fed to Chironomus dilutus larvae for 10 d. A significant decrease in C. dilutus survival at nominal concentrations of 30 ng/ml was found; however, no effect on growth among the surviving larvae was observed.
Membrane–Water partitioning, membrane permeability, and baseline toxicity of the parasiticides ivermectin, albendazole, and morantel
Authors: Escher Beate I , Berger Cindy , Bramaz Nadine , Kwon Jung-Hwan , Richter Manuela , Tsinman Oksana , Avdeef Alex
Published: March 2008

A comparative hazard assessment of the antiparasitics ivermectin, albendazole, and morantel was performed, with a particular focus on bioavailability and uptake into biological membranes. The experimentally determined liposome–waterdistribution ratio at pH 7 (Dlipw (pH 7)) of the positively charged morantel was 100 L/kg lipid. The Dlipw (pH 7) of albendazole was 3,000 L/kg lipid. The membrane permeability determined with the parallel artificial membrane permeability assay was consistent with predictions from a quantitative structure–activity relationship (QSAR) for morantel but 14-fold lower than predicted for albendazole, which can be rationalized because neutral albendazole is, in fact, zwitterionic and the large dipole moment hinders permeation through hydrophobic membranes. An unusually large molecule, ivermectin was suspected to show decreased bioaccumulation because of its bulkiness, but experimental determination of solubility showed that it was 40-fold less soluble than expected from a QSAR between solubility and the octanol–water partition coefficient. In contrast, its membrane permeability appeared to be typical for a compound of the given hydrophobicity, but it was not possible to determine the membrane–water partition coefficient because of its low solubility and high affinity to the dialysis membrane of the experimental device. The Dlipw (pH 7) for ivermectin of 2,700 L/kg lipid was calculated with a QSAR model. Morantel and albendazole were baseline toxicants in the bioluminescence inhibition test with Vibrio fischeri and a test for inhibition of photosynthesis in green algae. Only ivermectin exhibited a specific effect toward algae, but the excess toxicity was not very pronounced and might be biased by the uncertainty of the estimated hydrophobicity descriptor. Overall, we did not find any unexpected effect on nontarget endpoints.
Development of pipe deterioration models for water distribution systems using EPR
Authors: Berardi L. , Giustolisi O. , Kapelan Z. , Savic D. A.
Published: March 2008

The economic and social costs of pipe failures in water and wastewater systems are increasing, putting pressure on utility managers to develop annual replacement plans for critical pipes that balance investment with expected benefits in a risk-based management context. In addition to the need for a strategy for solving such a multi-objective problem, analysts and water system managers need reliable and robust failure models for assessing network performance. In particular, they are interested in assessing a conduit's propensity to fail and how to assign criticality to an individual pipe segment. In this paper, pipe deterioration is modelled using Evolutionary Polynomial Regression. This data-driven technique yields symbolic formulae that are intuitive and easily understandable by practitioners. The case study involves a water quality zone within a distribution system and entails the collection of historical data to develop network performance indicators. Finally, an approach for incorporating such indicators into a decision support system for pipe rehabilitation/replacement planning is introduced and articulated.
Plant species segregation on different spatial scales in semi‐natural grasslands
Authors: Reitalu T. , Prentice H.C. , Sykes M.T. , Lonn M. , Johansson L.J. , Hall K.
Published: March 2008

Question:

We studied the patterns of plant species co‐occurrence on three, nested, spatial scales in semi‐natural grassland communities and explored the possible ecological processes underlying the patterns.

Location:

Dry, semi‐natural grasslands in a 4.5 km x 4.5 km area on the Baltic Island of Oland (Sweden). Methods: The study used replicated samples on three, nested, spatial scales: 50 cm x 50 cm plots (N= 516), grassland patches (N = 109) and the whole landscape (N= 6). We used a null model approach to study species co‐occurrence patterns and compared the ecological amplitudes of the pairs of species contributing most to the patterns. We used linear models to search for associations between species segregation and environmental and landscape factors.

Results and Conclusions:

Our results support the prediction that patterns of species co‐occurrence are likely to be influenced by different mechanisms on different spatial scales. On the plot scale, we interpreted the species segregation in terms of species interactions. The degree of species segregation was significantly associated with the plots'positions within the grassland patches (edge effects) and with management intensity of the grasslands ‐ both variables can be assumed to influence species interactions. On the grassland patch scale, we interpreted the species segregation in terms of within‐patch environmental heterogeneity. The degree of segregation was significantly associated with the area of the grassland patches and with management intensity ‐ both variables that are likely to be related to environmental heterogeneity within the grasslands. Species segregation on the landscape scale was interpreted in terms of environmental heterogeneity among grassland patches and was significantly associated with land‐use history.
Glycan Synthesis: Key Strategies
Authors: Andrade Rodrigo B.
Published: March 2008

The biologic significance of glycans (i.e., carbohydrates and saccharides) and the need to obtain structurally defined material for study have resulted in a proliferation of strategies for the synthesis of this extraordinary class of biomolecules. Each strategy carries with it both advantages and disadvantages. The two major approaches, chemical and enzymatic synthesis, will be discussed with an emphasis on the former.
Human Hemoglobin: Identification of a Key Intermediate
Authors: Ackers Gary K. , Holt Jo M.
Published: March 2008

Human hemoglobin binds four oxygen molecules with positive cooperativity in a binding cascade of eight partially ligated intermediates whose oxygen ligands are distributed in different combinations between the hemoglobin's two αβ dimers. Traditionally, it had been assumed that, given their close association in forming the hemoglobin tetramer, the two αβ dimers would always respond to oxygen binding in a synchronous and symmetric manner. Using linkage thermodynamics, the intermediate binding constants are evaluated
via
dimer–tetramer assembly with ligand configurations within the tetramer fixed through the use of hemesite analogs. It is observed that the free energy contribution of the asymmetrically ligated intermediate composed of one fully oxygenated αβ dimer plus one unoxygenated dimer is not the same as other doubly ligated intermediates, which contain at least one bound oxygen on both dimers. Therefore, the dimers within the tetramer respond to oxygenation differently, and cooperativity is dependent on the distribution of ligands between the two αβ dimers.
Intramembrane Proteolysis
Authors: Wolfe Michael S.
Published: March 2008

Evolutionarily conserved membrane‐embedded enzymes somehow use water to hydrolyze peptide bonds that reside within the lipid bilayer. These proteases are stitched into the membrane and bear little or no sequence similarity to other known proteases with one exception: All known intramembrane proteases apparently have converged on catalytic mechanisms that resemble those of proteases that reside in the aqueous milieu. The identities of these residues suggest that the intramembrane proteases use catalytic functionalities similar to those found in their soluble counterparts. However, in contrast to classical proteases, residues essential for catalysis lie within predicted hydrophobic transmembrane domains. Current research is focused on elucidating the range of biologic roles of these proteases, identifying their substrates, and understanding their structure and mechanism of action. Such knowledge is important because the intramembrane proteases discovered thus far play critical regulatory roles in biology and contribute to human disease.
Microtubule Dynamics
Authors: Lopus Manu , Yenjerla Mythili , Wilson Leslie
Published: March 2008

Microtubules are cylindrical, cytoskeletal protein polymers found in all eukaryotic cells. They perform a plethora of functions associated with cellular structure, organization, and movement. They polymerize and depolymerize by the reversible addition and loss of α:β tubulin heterodimers, which are their building block subunits, at the microtubule ends. Importantly, microtubules are not simple equilibrium polymers. The hydrolysis of GTP that occurs when tubulin dimers add to the ends of microtubules creates two distinct and often coexisting dynamic behaviors: dynamic instability and treadmilling. These dynamic properties are crucial in guaranteeing the faithful segregation of chromosomes during cell division, in many kinds of intracellular transport, in cell signaling, and even during programmed cell death. Microtubule dynamics play critical roles in terminally differentiated cells as well. In neurons, microtubule dynamics regulate neuronal plasticity, growth‐cone motility, and maintenance of mature neurons. Suppression of mitotic spindle microtubule dynamics by small drug molecules is an important therapeutic strategy for treatment of many types of cancer. In addition, agents that stabilize microtubule dynamics offer potential for treating neurodegenerative diseases in which the dynamics are misregulated. Agents that modulate microtubule dynamics can be used as experimental tools or could be used therapeutically to perturb the functions of any cellular disease processes dependent on the dynamics.
Nuclear Receptors, Chemistry of
Authors: Campbell Lioudmila A. , Ingraham Holly A.
Published: March 2008

Nuclear hormone receptors are integral players in endocrine networks that lie at the interface between biology and chemistry. Unlike most other classes of transcription factors, these proteins are designed uniquely to bind small molecules and, thus, affect gene expression in response to the cellular and organismal chemical environment. After several decades of research, it is now appreciated that nuclear receptors bind very diverse lipophilic small molecules with a wide range of specificity and affinities. Recent nuclear receptor structures coupled with large‐scale screening efforts challenge the dogma that all nuclear receptors, especially the large subset of constitutively active receptors, will have ligands and will represent tractable drug targets. As such, the “pharmacologic future” for such orphan nuclear receptors may reside outside of the ligand‐binding pocket.
Passive Diffusion Across Membranes
Authors: Brandl Martin , Eide Flaten Gøril , Bauer‐Brandl Annette
Published: March 2008

This article deals with the passive transport of electrolytes, water, and small organic molecules across biologic membranes (cell membranes and membranes that confine cellular compartments). Passive transport may be classified into diffusion, facilitated diffusion, and bulk flow. The focus in the current article is on simple diffusion, a process described by the random movement of solutes that results in the net transport (flux) along a concentration gradient. This process, at first, may be described by the first law of Fick. More detailed models take into account the partitioning of solutes between the aqueous media and the barrier itself, as well as the flux resistance that arises from water layers adherent to the barrier, which results in the second law of Fick. The actual extent of the diffusion of molecules across biologic membranes is caused by the interaction between the composition and the structural arrangement of the membrane and by the physico‐chemical characteristics of the permeant. For the sake of simplification, the primary structural element of a biomembrane, which is a phospholipid bilayer, can be considered a continuous, lipophilic phase between two aqueous compartments. Commonly used permeability screening approaches include
in silico
modeling, liposome‐based experimental models, cell culture models, and
in situ
perfusion.
Glycosphingolipids, Chemistry of
Authors: Lingwood Clifford A. , Abram Richard , Mylvaganum Murugesapillai
Published: March 2008

Eukaryotic cell glycosphingolipids (GSLs) are central components of membrane lipid microdomains that function as trans plasmamembrane signaling foci. GSLs serve as important receptors and coreceptors, primarily to mediate host/microbial pathogen interactions, and undergo unique intracellular trafficking pathways. As such, their chemical modification can generate interventive therapeutic strategies and biologic probes. The process of achieving such goals via chemistry of the carbohydrate is in its infancy, but substitution within the lipid moiety has been used extensively. A consideration of the importance of the lipid moiety in GSL function has led to novel chemical approaches that attempt to retain this property.
Quorum Sensing
Authors: Singh Pratibha , Igarashi Jun , Suga Hiroaki
Published: March 2008

Bacterial pathogenesis can cost in terms of loss of man‐hours, loss of livestock, and damage to cash crops. Quorum sensing (QS) is a mechanism by which bacteria regulate the expression of their virulence factors and the resultant pathogenicity. It presents itself as an attractive target for the design of small‐molecule inhibitors. An added advantage of targeting QS is that it does not threaten the viability of the bacteria as opposed to the traditional antibacterial agents. Thus, when compared with the traditional antibacterial agents, these small‐molecule inhibitors promise to maintain their efficacy over a longer period of time. In this article, the mechanism of bacterial QS systems will be discussed along with a survey of the small molecules/strategies designed to combat them.
An experimental study of nettle feeding in captive gorillas
Authors: Tennie Claudio , Hedwig Daniela , Call Josep , Tomasello Michael
Published: March 2008

Mountain gorillas (Gorilla beringei beringei) in Karisoke, Rwanda, feed on the stinging nettle Laportea alatipes by means of elaborate processing skills. Byrne [e.g. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London, Series B, Biological Sciences 358:529–536, 2003] has claimed that individuals acquire these skills by means of the so‐called program‐level imitation, in which the overall sequence of problem‐solving steps (not the precise actions) is reproduced. In this study we present western lowland gorillas (Gorilla gorilla gorilla) with highly similar nettles. Twelve gorillas in three different groups (including also one nettle‐naïve gorilla) used the same program‐level technique as wild mountain gorillas (with differences mainly on the action level). Chimpanzees, orangutans, and bonobos did not show these program‐level patterns, nor did the gorillas when presented with a plant similar in structural design but lacking stinging defenses. We conclude that although certain aspects (i.e. single actions) of this complex skill may be owing to social learning, at the program level gorilla nettle feeding derives mostly from genetic predispositions and individual learning of plant affordances. Am. J. Primatol. 70:584–593, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Treponema denticola Msp‐deduced peptide conjugate, P34BSA, promotes RhoA‐dependent actin stress fiber formation independent of its internalization by fibroblasts
Authors: Amin Mohsen , Magnusson Karl‐Eric , Kapus András , Glogauer Michael , Ellen Richard P.
Published: March 2008

P34BSA, a BSA conjugate of a synthetic 10‐mer peptide deduced from Treponema denticola major outer sheath protein (Msp), stabilizes actin filaments in fibroblasts and retards cell motility. We reported previously that it is internalized by cells, binds and bundles actin filaments in vitro, and activates RhoA; yet, its site and mechanism of action were not defined. We have assessed P34BSA's modes of interaction with and signaling to fibroblasts. At 4°C, P34BSA was not internalized, but it bound to the plasma membrane and promoted actin stress fiber formation at ∼80% capacity compared with 37°C controls, casting doubt that cellular uptake is a critical step for its cytoskeleton‐stabilizing property. In Rho G‐LISA™ and co‐immunoprecipitation assays, P34BSA was found to activate RhoA, even at 4°C, to promote its interaction with guanosine nucleotide exchange factor p114RhoGEF. It also caused phosphorylation of cofilin. Upon RhoA inhibition, either by C3 transferase RhoA inhibitor or by transfection with a dominant negative RhoA construct, P34BSA did not achieve the stress fiber formation seen with P34BSA alone. By inhibiting phosphatidylinositol‐3 kinase (PI 3‐K) with LY294002, the P34BSA effects were completely blocked. Depletion of cholesterol with methyl‐β‐cyclodextrin (MβCD) partially inhibited P34BSA signaling via the plasma membrane to the cytoskeleton. This suggests that multivalent P34BSA activation of lipid raft components requires active PI 3‐K, and initiates the pathway through a RhoGEF and RhoA, which mediates stress fiber formation in fibroblasts. Hence, P34BSA may represent a novel tool to investigate RhoA‐dependent processes, such as remodeling filamentous actin in eukaryotic cells. Cell Motil. Cytoskeleton 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Diffusion of surgical innovation among patients with kidney cancer
Authors: Miller David C. , Saigal Christopher S. , Banerjee Mousumi , Hanley Jan , Litwin Mark S.
Published: March 2008

BACKGROUND

Despite their potential benefits to patients with kidney cancer, the adoption of partial nephrectomy and laparoscopy has been gradual and asymmetric. To clarify whether this trend reflects differences in kidney cancer patients or differences in surgeon practice styles, the authors compared the magnitude of surgeon‐attributable variance in the use of partial nephrectomy and laparoscopic radical nephrectomy with that attributable to patient and tumor characteristics.

METHODS

By using linked Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results‐Medicare data, the authors identified a cohort of 5483 Medicare beneficiaries who underwent surgery for kidney cancer between 1997 and 2002. Two primary outcomes were defined: 1) the use of partial nephrectomy and (2) the use of laparoscopy among patients undergoing radical nephrectomy. By using multilevel models, surgeon‐ and patient‐level contributions to observed variations in the use of partial nephrectomy and laparoscopic radical nephrectomy were estimated.

RESULTS

Of the 5483 cases identified, 611 (11.1%) underwent partial nephrectomy (43 performed laparoscopically), and 4872 (88.9%) underwent radical nephrectomy (515 performed laparoscopically). After adjusting for patient demographics, comorbidity, tumor size, and surgeon volume, the surgeon‐attributable variance was 18.1% for partial nephrectomy and 37.4% for laparoscopy. For both outcomes, the percentage of total variance attributable to surgeon factors was consistently higher than that attributable to patient characteristics.

CONCLUSIONS

For many patients with kidney cancer, the surgery provided depends more on their surgeon's practice style than on the characteristics of the patient and his or her disease. Consequently, dismantling barriers to surgeon adoption of partial nephrectomy and laparoscopy is an important step toward improving the quality of care for patients with early‐stage kidney cancer. Cancer 2008. © 2008 American Cancer Society.
Association between cholesteryl ester transfer protein Taq1B polymorphism with lipid levels in primary hyperlipidemic patients
Authors: Ghasabeh Taghi Hassanzadeh , Firoozrai Mohsen , Zonouz Abdolvahhab Ehsani , Paoli Max
Published: March 2008

Primary hyperlipidemia, characterized by hypertriacylglycerolemia and/or hypercholesterolemia, is considered to be one of the most important risk factors for atherosclerosis and coronary heart disease. This study was performed by using polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis. We measured lipids and cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) activity in primary hyperlipidemic and normolipidemic subjects, with and without Taq1B polymorphism. Genotype distribution and allelic frequencies of polymorphism were determined and compared in both groups. Our results showed that plasma CETP activity was significantly higher in primary hyperlipidemia than in controls (p = 0.001). Plasma lipids were also remarkably increased in primary hyperlipidemic subjects. In both patient and control groups, individuals with B1B1 and B1B2 genotypes had higher plasma CETP activity, lower total cholesterol, lower high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol and higher triacylglycerol than those with the B2B2 genotype. The values of low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol were significantly increased in primary hyperlipidemic patients with the B2B2 genotype. The genotype and allelic frequencies for this polymorphism differed significantly between primary hyperlipidemic patients and controls (p = 0.022 and p = 0.039, respectively). Taq1B polymorphism of the CETP gene was associated with changes in lipid profile and plasma CETP activity in the selected population.
Alkaline neutralization of crude soybean oil by various adsorbents
Authors: Kuleasan Sukran , Tekin Aziz
Published: March 2008

The effect of sodium hydroxide in neutralization was increased by using various adsorbents. NaOH in various concentrations was attached to the particles of Kieselguhr, Celite and Bentonite. The neutralization reaction was performed at ambient temperature, and different reaction times were applied. The soap formed after reaction was removed by centrifugation; thus, washing and drying steps were omitted. The amount of remaining soap, the acidity and color of oils were determined after each treatment. According to the results, free fatty acid neutralization in crude oil was achieved by Kieselguhr application. In this process, 9.5% NaOH was applied for 60 min of reaction time. The free fatty acid content of crude oil was decreased from 0.56 to 0.14%, and the remaining soap was found at 34 mg/kg after centrifugation. The use of adsorbents increased the efficiency of NaOH in the neutralization reaction and in the removal of soap from the neutralized oil. Neutralization with support material is a new and promising approach. The application is energy saving, more practical and in accordance with the strict environmental legislation about waste disposal.
Regioselective Addition of Allylindium Reagents to Allenes in Functionalized 1,6‐Diols Bearing Allenynes
Authors: Kim Sundae , Ho Lee Phil
Published: March 2008

Addition reactions of allylindium reagents generated in situ from indium and allyl halides to functionalized allenyne 1,6‐diols proceeded regioselectively through anti‐Markovnikov addition to produce exclusively dienyne 1,6‐diols in good yields in THF at 70 °C. In the case of 3‐bromo‐2‐methylpropene, lithium iodide was used as an additive. (© Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2008)
Undergraduate intentions to apply to the Northern Ireland Civil Service: the application of a theory of planned behaviour model
Authors: Cammock Tommy , Carragher Natacha , Prentice Garry
Published: March 2008

The modern literature regarding the theory of planned behaviour (TPB) supports the distinction between self‐efficacy (SE) and perceived behavioural control (PBC, Ajzen, 2002). This study compared an extended TPB model (ETPB), incorporating a measure of SE, against the more traditional theory of reasoned action (TRA) and TPB models. In the historically recent context of fair participation and equal opportunity legislation, undergraduate behavioural intentions to apply to the Northern Ireland Civil Service (NICS) for employment were explored in terms of: model superiority; the underlying motivational and belief determinants; religious and gender differences. Using structural equation modelling techniques, the overall ETPB model: provided a better fit than either the TRA or TPB variants; exhibited no religion or gender differences, paralleling current NICS employment profile data (EOU, 2002, 2003); and, accounted for 60% of the variance in behavioural intentions. Notwithstanding concerns regarding TPB construct measurement issues, these results provide additional empirical evidence in support of the SE and PBC distinction, and the incorporation of the former within the TPB model. However, descriptive analyses of the underlying motivational and belief determinants of intentions indicated that the students were unimpressed with several perceived NICS employment outcomes and indifferent in their intentions to apply. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Electrochemical Oxidation of Guanosine and Xanthosine at Physiological pH: Further Evidences of a Convergent Mechanism for the Oxidation of Purine Nucleosides
Authors: González‐Fernández Eva , de‐los‐Santos‐Álvarez Noemí , Lobo‐Castañón María Jesús , Miranda‐Ordieres Arturo J. , Tuñón‐Blanco Paulino
Published: March 2008

The electrochemical oxidation of guanosine and xanthosine, which only differ in the presence of an oxygen atom at C2 position instead of an amine group, is studied on pyrolytic graphite electrodes at different electrolysis time scales in solutions of physiological pH. The oxidation products adsorbed on the electrode surface were electrochemical characterized in terms of variation of the formal potential with pH and catalytic activity towards the oxidation of NADH. The results were compared with those previously described for the oxidation of guanosine and adenosine in alkaline solutions. A common oxidation product is described, the oxidized form of 9‐β‐D‐ribofuranosyluric acid, which is proposed as the point of convergence in the oxidation routes of all three purine nucleosides.
Standardized Characterization of Electrocatalytic Electrodes
Authors: Svoboda Vojtech , Cooney Michael , Liaw Bor Yann , Minteer Shelley , Piles Elizabeth , Lehnert David , Calabrese Barton Scott , Rincon Rosalba , Atanassov Plamen
Published: March 2008

This paper investigates the utility of ‘cross–lab’ comparative analysis of electrocatalytic electrode performance using standardized modular stack cells and test protocols. Using poly(methylene green)‐modified glassy carbon electrodes as the model system, we characterized electrode fabrication and performance with respect to the catalytic oxidation of NADH at neutral pH and low overpotential. Three sets of experiments were duplicated across four independent laboratories and the experimental results from each set were analyzed and compared in terms of key electroanalytical parameters. Statistical analyses were performed at three distinct levels: 1) the standard deviation among repetitive cycles within an experiment; 2) the standard deviation among repetitive experiments in the same laboratory, and 3) the standard deviation among experiments performed across all four laboratories. Using predefined criteria of ‘reproducibility’ for each level, most parameters were found to be statistically reproducible at most levels. When a particular parameter was found to be irreproducible in a given level, commentary is given on how that information can be used diagnose what chemical/physical aspects of the process were uncontrolled or poorly understood and therefore candidates for future research. This exercise, which is presented as a ‘proof–of‐principle’ step towards the concept of standardizing electrocatalytic evaluation, illustrates the importance of executing electrochemical characterization protocols across several labs and using fixed geometry and dimensions, system configuration, and applied electrochemical conditions. Future work is under way to extend these principles to systems with fluid flow.
Nonlinear robust control of power system considering wide‐area signals' delay and incompleteness
Authors: Yu G. , Zhang B. , Bo Z. , Xie H. , Wang C.
Published: March 2008

A novel nonlinear robust controller based on the wide‐area measurement system (WAMS) is proposed using the inverse system algorithm and linear matrix inequality technique. The controller not only takes into account time delays introduced by remote signals' transmission in WAMS, but also eliminates the effect of wide‐area information's incompleteness when not all generators are equipped with the phase measurement unit (PMU) in power system. Digital simulation studies with respect to a four‐machine system are conducted for various time delays of remote incomplete measured information. The results demonstrate that the nonlinear robust integrated controller (NRIC) has a significant potential in improving the dynamic performance and transient stability of power system. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Searching for epistasis and linkage heterogeneity by correlations of pedigree‐specific linkage scores
Authors: Schaid Daniel J. , McDonnell Shannon K. , Carlson Erin E. , Thibodeau Stephen N. , Stanford Janet L. , Ostrander Elaine A.
Published: March 2008

Recognizing that multiple genes are likely responsible for common complex traits, statistical methods are needed to rapidly screen for either interacting genes or locus heterogeneity in genetic linkage data. To achieve this, some investigators have proposed examining the correlation of pedigree linkage scores between pairs of chromosomal regions, because large positive correlations suggest interacting loci and large negative correlations suggest locus heterogeneity (Cox et al. [1999]; Maclean et al. [1993]). However, the statistical significance of these extreme correlations has been difficult to determine due to the autocorrelation of linkage scores along chromosomes. In this study, we provide novel solutions to this problem by using results from random field theory, combined with simulations to determine the null correlation for syntenic loci. Simulations illustrate that our new methods control the Type‐I error rates, so that one can avoid the extremely conservative Bonferroni correction, as well as the extremely time‐consuming permutational method to compute P‐values for non‐syntenic loci. Application of these methods to prostate cancer linkage studies illustrates interpretation of results and provides insights into the impact of marker information content on the resulting statistical correlations, and ultimately the asymptotic P‐values. Genet. Epidemiol. 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Depressive symptoms, vascular risk factors, and Alzheimer's disease
Authors: Luchsinger José A. , Honig Lawrence S. , Tang Ming‐Xin , Devanand Devangere P.
Published: March 2008

Background

Depressive symptoms in the elderly are associated with an increased Alzheimer's disease (AD) risk. We sought to determine whether the association between depressive symptoms and AD is explained by a history of vascular risk factors and stroke.

Methods

Five hundred and twenty‐six elderly persons from New York City without dementia at baseline were followed for a mean of 5 years. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the 17‐item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM). Incident AD was ascertained using standard criteria. Diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, current smoking and stroke were ascertained by self‐report. Proportional hazards regression was used to relate HAM scores to incident AD.

Results

HAM scores were higher in persons with hypertension, heart disease, and stroke, which in turn were related to higher AD risk. AD risk increased with increasing HAM scores as a continuous logarithmically transformed variable (HR for one point increase = 1.4; 95% CI = 1.1,1.8) and as a categorical variable (HR for HAM ≥ 10 = 3.4; 95% CI = 1.5,8.1; p for trend = 0.004 with HAM = 0 as the reference). These results were virtually unchanged after adjustment for vascular risk factors and stroke, individually (HR for HAM ≥ 10 = 3.4; 95% CI = 1.5,8.1; p for trend = 0.004), and in a composite measure (HR for HAM ≥ 10 = 3.0; 95% CI = 1.2,7.8; p for trend = 0.02).

Conclusion

The prospective relation between depressive symptoms and AD is not explained by a history of vascular risk factors and stroke, suggesting that other mechanisms may account for this association. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The hTAFII68‐TEC fusion protein functions as a strong transcriptional activator
Authors: Kim Sol , Lee Hye Jin , Jun Hee Jung , Kim Jungho
Published: March 2008

Human extraskeletal myxoid chondrosarcoma (EMC) is caused by a chromosomal translocation that involves TEC (translocated in extraskeletal myxoid chondrosarcoma), and either EWS (Ewing's sarcoma) or hTAFII68 (human TATA‐binding protein‐associated factor II 68), which generates EWS‐TEC or hTAFII68‐TEC fusion proteins, respectively. Although there has been a great deal of progress in characterizing EWS‐TEC, there is relatively little known about the biological function of hTAFII68‐TEC. We have examined the functional consequences of the fusion of the amino terminal domain (NTD) of hTAFII68 to TEC in EMC. The chimeric gene encodes a nuclear protein that binds DNA with the same sequence specificity as parental TEC. Nuclear localization of hTAFII68‐TEC was dependent on the DNA binding domain, and we identified a cluster of basic amino acids in the DNA binding domain, KRRR, that specifically mediate the nuclear localization of hTAFII68‐TEC. The transactivation activity of hTAFII68‐TEC was higher than TEC towards a known target promoter that contained several TEC binding sites. Finally, deletion analysis of hTAFII68‐TEC indicated that the hTAFII68 NTD, and the AF1 and AF2 domains of hTAFII68‐TEC are necessary for full transactivation potential. These results suggest that the oncogenic effect of the t(9;17) translocation may be due to the hTAFII68‐TEC chimeric protein and that fusion of the hTAFII68 NTD to the TEC protein produces a gain of function chimeric product. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.