bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cross‐priming utilizes antigen not available to the direct presentation pathway
Authors: Donohue Keri B. , Grant Jean M. , Tewalt Eric F. , Palmer Douglas C. , Theoret Marc R. , Restifo Nicholas P. , Norbury Christopher C.
Published: June 2006

CD8+ T cells play a crucial role in protective immunity to viruses and tumours. Antiviral CD8+ T cells are initially activated by professional antigen presenting cells (pAPCs) that are directly infected by viruses (direct‐priming) or following uptake of exogenous antigen transferred from virus‐infected or tumour cells (cross‐priming). In order to efficiently target each of these antigen‐processing pathways during vaccine design, it is necessary to delineate the properties of the natural substrates for either of these antigen‐processing pathways. In this study, we utilized a novel T‐cell receptor (TCR) transgenic mouse to examine the requirement for both antigen synthesis and synthesis of other cellular factors during direct or cross‐priming. We found that direct presentation required ongoing synthesis of antigen, but that cross‐priming favoured long‐lived antigens and did not require ongoing antigen production. Even after prolonged blockade of protein synthesis in the donor cell, cross‐priming was unaffected. In contrast, direct‐presentation was almost undetectable in the absence of antigen neosynthesis and required ongoing protein synthesis. This suggests that the direct‐ and cross‐priming pathways may utilize differing pools of antigen, an observation that has far‐reaching implications for the rational design of vaccines aimed at the generation of protective CD8+ T cells.
It's like being in another world – patients’ lived experience of magnetic resonance imaging
Authors: Törnqvist Erna , Månsson Åsa , Larsson Elna‐Marie , Hallström Inger
Published: June 2006

Aim.  The aim of this study was to illuminate patients’ lived experience during magnetic resonance imaging.

Background.  Magnetic resonance imaging has increased in importance since the early 1980s and is today a common useful diagnostic tool. Although magnetic resonance imaging are non‐invasive and considered painless, many patients experience anxiety, sometimes so strong that the scan has to be terminated.

Design and methods.  The study had an inductive design and a hermeneutic phenomenological methodology was used.

Results.  The essential theme of going through magnetic resonance imaging was a feeling of being in another world. The strange environment and isolation inside the scanner made the participants’ experiences unusual, with varying degrees of difficulty dealing with it. Being in the other world caused a threat to the participants’ self‐control. There was a relation between threat to self‐control, effort and need for support in the sense that the magnitude of threat to self‐control had an impact on the effort it took to handle the situation and on the need for support, and conversely that the support received could affect the effort and threat to self‐control.

Conclusions.  The study shows that the information received and the interaction between patients and staff have a significant influence on patients’ lived experiences.

Relevance to clinical practice.  The individual experience of threat to self‐control requires the need for support to be individualized and care need to be adjusted for each patient.
Influence of prior assignment on refusal rates in a trial of supplemental oxygen for retinopathy of prematurity
Authors: Engel Rolf R. , Oden Neal L. , Cohen Geoff R. , Phelps Dale L. ,   on behalf of the STOP‐ROP Multicenter Study Group
Published: June 2006

Investigators aware of prior treatment assignments may deliberately or subliminally influence rates of subsequent consent in randomised trials, thus introducing the possibility of bias. As a trial of Supplemental Therapeutic Oxygen for Prethreshold Retinopathy of Prematurity (STOP‐ROP) was not masked to health professionals other than ophthalmologists, this possibility was evaluated by comparing the incidence of refusal to participate in relation to the previous assignment.

Over 5 years, the STOP‐ROP trial enrolled 649 infants, while 394 eligible subjects refused. Enrolled infants were assigned to supplemental oxygen or control groups at 30 centres including 71 hospitals, and stratified into two severity strata of their retinopathy of prematurity. We studied whether the assignment of the previously enrolled infant to either the supplemental arm or the control arm of the study affected the incidence of refusal to participate in the study by the next eligible infant. We also evaluated the possibility that refusal based on the preceding assignment could have influenced either the baseline balance of eye severity and pulmonary status between the two arms of the study or the final outcome of the randomised trial.

There was a significantly higher incidence of refusal if the prior enrollee had been assigned to the supplemental oxygen group (44%) as compared with the control group (34%, P = 0.004). This effect from the prior assignment was larger in the later half of the study. Irrespective of the prior enrollee’s assignment, refusal was more likely for more mature infants and those with milder baseline disease. Selection bias did not influence the ophthalmic or pulmonary findings at baseline, or the study outcomes. In incompletely masked studies, monitoring the distribution of refusers in relation to the previous assignment can reveal selection bias. Despite evidence of unequal refusal rates, the results of the STOP‐ROP trial were not affected.
Gene expression patterns reveal tissue‐specific signaling networks controlling programmed cell death and ABA‐ regulated maturation in developing barley seeds
Authors: Sreenivasulu Nese , Radchuk Volodymyr , Strickert Marc , Miersch Otto , Weschke Winfriede , Wobus Ulrich
Published: June 2006

Gene expression patterns covering over 10 000 seed‐expressed sequences were analyzed by macroarray technology in maternal tissue (mainly pericarp) and filial endosperm and embryo during barley seed development from anthesis until late maturation. Defined sets of genes showing distinct expression patterns characterized both tissue type and major developmental phases. The analysis focused on regulatory networks involved in programmed cell death (PCD) and abscisic acid (ABA)‐mediated maturation. These processes were similar in the different tissues, but typically involved the expression of alternative members of a common gene family. The analysis of co‐expressed gene sets and the identification of cis regulatory elements in orthologous rice gene ‘promoter’ regions suggest that PCD in the pericarp is mediated by distinct classes of proteases and is under the hormonal control of both jasmonic acid (JA) and ethylene via ethylene‐responsive element binding protein (EREBP) transcription factors (TFs). On the other hand, PCD in endosperm apparently involves only the ethylene pathway, but employs distinct gene family members from those active in the pericarp, and a different set of proteases and TFs. JA biosynthetic genes are hardly activated. Accordingly, JA levels are high in the pericarp but low in the endosperm during middle and late developmental stages. Similarly, genes acting in the deduced ABA biosynthetic pathway and signaling network differ between endosperm and embryo. ABA in the endosperm appears to exert an influence over storage product synthesis via SNF1 kinase. In the embryo, ABA seems to influence the acquisition of desiccation tolerance via ABA response element binding factors, but the data also suggest the existence of an ABA‐independent but interactive pathway acting via the dehydration‐responsive element binding (DREB) 2A TF.
Oncological outcome of retroperitoneoscopic nephroureterectomy for upper urinary tract transitional cell carcinoma
Authors: OKEGAWA TAKATSUGU , ODAGANE AKIHIRO , IDE HISAMITSU , HORIE SHIGEO , NUTAHARA KIKUO , HIGASHIHARA EIJI.
Published: June 2006

Objective:  To report the oncological outcome of retroperitoneoscopic nephroureterectomy (RNU) with bladder cuff excision for upper urinary tract transitional cell carcinoma (TCC), and to compare the outcome with that of the traditional open nephroureterectomy (ONU).

Patients and methods:  From January 2001, 48 patients with upper urinary tract TCC were enrolled in the study; 25 had RNU and 23 had ONU. Oncological parameters (disease‐free survival and disease‐specific survival) were calculated from the time of surgery to the date of last follow up and were analysed by the Kaplan–Meier method.

Results:  Mean follow up was 24.3 months in the RNU group, significantly shorter than in the ONU group. Bladder recurrence was identified in two patients with grade 3 pathological stage pT3, one patient with grade 3 stage pT2 disease and two patients with grade 2 stage pT2 disease. Multiple organ metastases in the lung, liver and lymph nodes were associated with bladder recurrence in two cases (grade 2 stage pT3, and grade 3 stage pT3). The recurrence rate was 20% (5 of 25 cases) and mean time to recurrence was 9.5 months. In the ONU group, bladder recurrence and metastases developed in four and three patients, respectively. The recurrence rate was 17% (4 of 23 cases) and mean time to recurrence was 23.4 months. No significant difference was detected in the disease‐free survival rate and cancer‐specific survival rate between the two groups (P = 0.759 and P = 0.866, respectively).

Conclusion:  The oncological outcome of RNU appears to be equivalent to that of ONU. Moreover, long‐term follow up is necessary to evaluate the oncological outcome in comparison to ONU.
Novel HER2 selective tyrosine kinase inhibitor, TAK‐165, inhibits bladder, kidney and androgen‐independent prostate cancer in vitro and in vivo
Authors: NAGASAWA JOJI , MIZOKAMI ATSUSHI , KOSHIDA KIYOSHI , YOSHIDA SEI , NAITO KENICHIRO , NAMIKI MIKIO
Published: June 2006

Purpose:  TAK‐165 is a new potent inhibitor of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) tyrosine kinase. Several reports suggest HER2 expression in bladder cancer, renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and androgen‐independent prostate cancer. We therefore investigated the antitumor effect of TAK‐165 on these urological cancer cells.

Materials and methods:  Western blot analysis was performed to confirm HER2 expression in cell lines. To study in vitro efficacy, cells were treated with TAK‐165 at various concentrations for 72 h and then counted using a hemocytometer. Then the IC50 value was calculated. In the xenograft model, after the tumor reached 200–300 mm3 in volume, mice were orally administered TAK‐165 10 mg/kg per day or 20 mg/kg per day or saline for 14 consecutive days (n = 6–8).

Results:  HER2 expression was observed in HT1376, UMUC3, T24 (bladder), ACHN (kidney), DU145, LNCaP, LN‐REC4 (prostate), although the expression level in these cells was weak compared with BT474 (a breast cancer cell line which expresses HER2 strongly). IC50 was varied from 0.09 to greater than 25 µmol/L in the bladder cancer cell line. ACHN cells were less sensitive in vitro. The prostate cancer cell lines studied were all sensitive (IC50 0.053–4.62 µmol/L). In the xenograft model, treatment with TAK‐165 significantly inhibited growth of UMUC‐3, ACHN, and LN‐REC4. The antitumor effect (T/C [%] = growth of TAK‐165 treated tumor/average growth of control tumor × 100) after 14 days treatment were 22.9%, 26.0%, and 26.5% in UMUC3, ACHN and LN‐REC4, respectively.

Conclusions:  TAK‐165 may be a hopeful new agent for bladder, kidney and androgen‐independent prostate cancer.
Laparoscopic management of a single system ectopic ureterocele with transitional cell carcinoma in the distal ureter
Authors: KIJVIKAI KITTINUT , RATANA‐OLARN KRISADA , CHALERMSANYAKORN PANAS , NITJAPHANICH SIRIPORN
Published: June 2006

Abstract  Single system ectopic ureterocele associated with transitional cell carcinoma in the ureter has not been described previously. Only two cases of transitional cell carcinoma in a single ectopic ureter have been reported in the published literature. With the development of minimally invasive surgery, we report the first case of single system ectopic ureterocele with transitional cell carcinoma in the distal ureter that was successfully managed by laparoscopic surgery.
Giant prostatic urethral calculus associated with urethrocutaneous fistula
Authors: KAPLAN MUSTAFA , ATAKAN İRFAN H , KAYA ESAT , AKTOZ TEVFIK , İNCI OSMAN
Published: June 2006

Abstract  Urethral stones in men are rare clinical entity and most of them migrate from the urinary bladder. Urethral stones are rarely formed primarily in the urethra and are usually associated with urethral strictures or diverticula. We report a 41‐year‐old man with giant prostatic urethral stone (5.9 × 3.2 × 2.8 cm) associated with a urethrocutaneous fistula. The etiological factors, pathogenesis, clinical presentation, complications and management of giant urethral calculi are reviewed.
A case of leiomyosarcoma of the penis
Authors: NANRI MASAYUKI , KONDO TSUNENORI , OKUDA HISASHI , TANABE KAZUNARI , TOMA HIROSHI
Published: June 2006

Abstract  A case of leiomyosarcoma of the penis is reported. A 27‐year‐old‐man presented to our department with a mass at the root of the penis. Biopsy of the tumor showed that the tumor was leiomyosarcoma. The tumor was clinically and pathologically categorized into the deep type. Despite total penectomy and adjuvant chemotherapy, the patient died from disseminated disease 14 months after surgery. This is the 45th case of penile leiomyosarcoma.
Elements of a neurobiological theory of hippocampal function: the role of synaptic plasticity, synaptic tagging and schemas
Authors: Morris R. G. M.
Published: June 2006

The 2004 EJN Lecture was an attempt to lay out further aspects of a developing neurobiological theory of hippocampal function [Morris, R.G.M., Moser, E.I., Riedel, G., Martin, S.J., Sandin, J., Day, M. & O'Carroll, C. (2003)Phil. Trans. R. Soc. Lond. B Biol. Sci.,358, 773–786.] These are that (i) activity‐dependent synaptic plasticity plays a key role in the automatic encoding and initial storage of attended experience; (ii) the persistence of hippocampal synaptic potentiation over time can be influenced by other independent neural events happening closely in time, an idea with behavioural implications for memory; and (iii) that systems‐level consolidation of memory traces within neocortex is guided both by hippocampal traces that have been subject to cellular consolidation and by the presence of organized schema in neocortex into which relevant newly encoded information might be stored. Hippocampal memory is associative and, to study it more effectively than with previous paradigms, a new learning task is described which is unusual in requiring the incidental encoding of flavour–place paired associates, with the readout of successful storage being successful recall of a place given the flavour with which it was paired. NMDA receptor‐dependent synaptic plasticity is shown to be critical for the encoding and intermediate storage of memory traces in this task, while AMPA receptor‐mediated fast synaptic transmission is necessary for memory retrieval. Typically, these rapidly encoded traces decay quite rapidly over time. Synaptic potentiation also decays rapidly, but can be rendered more persistent by a process of cellular consolidation in which synaptic tagging and capture play a key part in determining whether or not it will be persistent. Synaptic tags set at the time of an event, even many trivial events, can capture the products of the synthesis of plasticity proteins set in train by events before, during or even after an event to be remembered. Tag–protein interactions stabilize synaptic potentiation and, by implication, memory. The behavioural implications of tagging are explored. Finally, using a different protocol for flavour–place paired associate learning, it is shown that rats can develop a spatial schema which represents the relative locations of several different flavours of food hidden at places within a familiar space. This schema is learned gradually but, once acquired, enables new paired associates to be encoded and stored in one trial. Their incorporation into the schema prevents rapid forgetting and suggests that schema play a key and hitherto unappreciated role in systems‐level memory consolidation. The elements of what may eventually mature into a more formal neurobiological theory of hippocampal memory are laid out as specific propositions with detailed conceptual discussion and reference to recent data.
Immunohistochemical analysis of negative inguinal lymph nodes in men with squamous cell carcinoma of the penis: are we missing micrometastases which could predict recurrence?
Authors: BIEDRZYCKI OLAF J. , HADWAY PAUL , COOKE ANGELA , WATKIN NICK , CORBISHLEY CATHY
Published: June 2006

OBJECTIVE

To determine the presence or absence of micrometastases in lymph node dissection specimens of men with squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the penis using immunohistochemistry, and to correlate the results with clinical outcome.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

In all, 13 men (mean age 55.8 years) with penile SCC, treated at St George’s hospital between 2001 and 2005, were selected. All had prophylactic lymph node dissections; (12 bilateral and one unilateral). All lymph nodes were negative on standard haematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining. Each block was stained for cytokeratins MNF 116 and LP34. In all, 217 lymph nodes were examined (mean 16.7 per patient). The median (range) follow‐up was 23 (10–52) months.

RESULTS

The mean tumour size and depth of invasion were 30.2 mm and 15.9 mm, respectively. There were eight T2 and four T3 tumours. Four tumours showed lymphovascular invasion. Information on tumour size and pathological grade was not available in one case. None of the patients have to date developed a local recurrence. A single lymph node was found to contain a micrometastasis, which was identified retrospectively on the original H&E slide. This measured 0.24 mm in maximum dimension. This patient had a T2G2 tumour with no vascular invasion; he has not progressed clinically in 10 months of follow‐up.

CONCLUSIONS

Anticytokeratin immunohistochemistry on H&E‐negative inguinal dissection specimens in men with SCC of the penis can detect micrometastases that might be overlooked on routine stains. Their prognostic and therapeutic significance needs further study.
PROSTATE‐SPECIFIC ANTIGEN TESTING IN HYPOGONADISM: IMPLICATIONS FOR THE SAFETY OF TESTOSTERONE‐REPLACEMENT THERAPY
Authors: GOULD DUNCAN C. , FENELEY MARK R. , KIRBY ROGER S.
Published: June 2006

Hypogonadal men have lower prostate volumes and serum prostate‐specific antigen (PSA) levels than age‐matched controls. When present, prostate cancer in hypogonadal men is more aggressive than in eugonadal men, and given the lack of specificity of PSA for diagnosing prostate cancer, a more accurate test would be desirable in hypogonadal men. Once testosterone‐replacement therapy is started in hypogonadal men, PSA levels should be measured regularly; however, there is often an initial rise 3–6 months after starting treatment. A rise of >0.5 ng/mL within this time requires further investigation.
Is the association between balanitis xerotica obliterans and penile carcinoma underestimated?
Authors: PIETRZAK PETER , HADWAY PAUL , CORBISHLEY CATHY M. , WATKIN NICHOLAS A.
Published: June 2006

OBJECTIVE

To determine the incidence of balanitis xerotica obliterans (BXO) in a consecutive series of penile carcinomas in one centre, as BXO is a common penile disease that usually involves the prepuce and glans, and there have been sporadic case reports of the association between BXO and penile carcinoma, although it is uncertain if there is a specific causal relationship.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The reported incidence of penile carcinoma in patients with BXO is 2.6–5.8%, leading some to advocate circumcision in all cases, with close follow‐up in those with persistent glanular disease. We prospectively analysed all cases of penile cancer referred to the unit over a 54‐month period, to determine the prevalence of BXO.

RESULTS

In all, 155 patients with penile malignancy were reviewed, 44 of whom had BXO (28%). This group included 34 men with squamous cell carcinoma and 10 with carcinoma in situ; in 39, BXO and malignancy presented synchronously. In three other cases, cancer occurred in the background of chronic persistent BXO; in two cases penile cancer was truly metachronous. The tumours with associated BXO tended to be of lower stage and grade, and the patients presented when younger, but this was not statistically significant.

CONCLUSION

A significant proportion of patients with penile malignancy have a histological diagnosis of BXO. We think that patients presenting with long‐standing BXO and those in whom BXO has not resolved after circumcision warrant biopsies and a careful follow‐up.
Aberrant expression of cystatin C in prostate cancer is associated with neuroendocrine differentiation
Authors: JIBORN THOMAS , ABRAHAMSON MAGNUS , GADALEANU VIRGIL , LUNDWALL ÅKE , BJARTELL ANDERS
Published: June 2006

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the expression of cystatin C and the relationship with neuroendocrine differentiation and proliferation in benign and malignant prostatic tissues, as cystatin C, the most important inhibitor of human lysosomal cysteine proteases, is considered to be a major regulator of pathological protein degradation in inflammatory and neoplastic diseases.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Immunoreactivity for cystatin C, prostate‐specific antigen, Ki‐67 and the neuroendocrine marker chromogranin A was examined in whole‐mount radical prostatectomy specimens and using tissue microarrays. Cystatin C in tissue homogenates was analysed by Western blotting and enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The expression and relative levels of cystatin C mRNA were assessed by in situ hybridization and quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction (QRT‐PCR).

RESULTS

The intensity of cystatin C immunostaining in Gleason grade 2 and 3 prostate cancer was significantly higher than in benign prostatic tissues, but decreased significantly with increasing Gleason grades. There was strong expression of cystatin C in neuroendocrine‐like cells, which increased significantly with increasing Gleason grades. The Ki‐67 immunoreactivity also increased significantly during de‐differentiation. In situ hybridization showed staining patterns in concordance with the immunohistochemical results. ELISA showed high concentrations of cystatin C in benign and malignant tissue extracts and QRT‐PCR further corroborated that the cystatin C gene is highly expressed in both benign and malignant prostatic tissues.

CONCLUSIONS

There was a significant decrease in the immunohistochemical expression of cystatin C in non‐neuroendocrine prostate cancer cells, concomitant with increasing Gleason grades. That there were more strongly cystatin C‐positive neuroendocrine‐like cells in prostate cancer than in benign prostatic tissue suggests a connection between cystatin C and neuroendocrine differentiation in prostate cancer progression.
A comparative in vitro study to determine the beneficial effect of calcium‐channel and α1‐adrenoceptor antagonism on human ureteric activity
Authors: DAVENPORT KIM , TIMONEY ANTHONY G. , KEELEY FRANCIS X.
Published: June 2006

OBJECTIVE

To compare the in vitro human ureteric muscle response to calcium‐channel and α‐adrenoceptor antagonists, to determine the promoting factor for stone passage. Clinical trials suggest that stone passage in renal colic can be promoted by ureteric relaxation using these agents, however nonsteroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs appear to reduce ureteric activity in vitro but do not promote stone passage when used in clinical trials.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Human ureteric muscle strips were used to record the effect that each drug had on muscle tone in vitro. The ureter was obtained at open nephrectomy or cystectomy. Potassium‐enriched Krebs’ solution was used to evoke maximal muscle tone, followed by adding each drug in increasing concentrations to determine the percentage reduction in tone. The drugs used to represent each group were nifedipine, 5‐methylurapidil (5‐MU) and diclofenac. In all, 201 ureteric strips were obtained from 39 patients.

RESULTS

At all drug concentrations, the in vitro relaxant effect of nifedipine and 5‐MU was greater than that of diclofenac. At 10−5m the median reduction in proximal and distal ureteric tone to diclofenac, nifedipine and 5‐MU were 18%, 5% and 47%, vs 57%, 33% and 65%, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Nifedipine and 5‐MU produced greater ureteric relaxation in vitro than diclofenac; they predominantly relax distal ureter. This suggests that a reduction in ureteric muscle tone, as opposed to complete ablation of activity, might be the promoting factor for stone passage.
New Reflections on Visual Search
Authors: Zoest Wieske van , Giesbrecht Barry , Enns James T. , Kingstone Alan
Published: June 2006

A 90° rotation of a display can turn a relatively easy visual search into a more difficult one. A series of experiments examined the possible causes of this effect, including differences in overall item shape and response mapping (Experiment 1), the interpretation of scene lighting (Experiment 2), the axis of internal symmetry of the search items (Experiment 3), and the axes of interitem symmetry between target and distractor items (Experiment 4). Only the elimination of differences in interitem mirror symmetry resulted in equal search efficiency in the upright and rotated displays. This finding is strong support for the view that visual search is guided by an analysis that considers interitem relations.
Degenerate dentition of the dugong (Dugong dugon), or why a grazer does not need teeth: morphology, occlusion and wear of mouthparts
Authors: Lanyon J. M. , Sanson G. D.
Published: June 2006

The morphology and functional occlusion of the cheekteeth of 57 dugongs Dugong dugon of both sexes were examined using reflected light and scanning electron microscopy, radiography, hardness testing and skull manipulation. The functional morphology of the horny oral pads was also described. Mouthparts and body size allometry was examined for ontogenetic and gender‐related trends. We found that the worn erupted cheekteeth of the dugong are simple flat pegs composed of soft degenerative dentine. During occlusion, the mandible moves in a mainly antero‐lingual direction, with the possibility of mandibular retraction in some individuals. Anterior parts of the cheektooth row may become non‐functional as a dugong ages. As a function of body size, dugong cheekteeth are extremely small compared with those of other mammalian herbivores, and with other hindgut fermenters in particular. The morphology, small size and occlusal variability of the cheekteeth suggest that there has not been strong selective pressure acting to maintain an effective dentition. In contrast, great development of the horny pads and associated skull parameters and their lower size variability suggest that the horny pads may have assumed the major role in food comminution.
Derived reproductive modes in New Guinean anuran amphibians and description of a new species with paternal care in the genus Callulops (Microhylidae)
Authors: Günther R.
Published: June 2006

The diversity, distribution, ecology and reproductive biology of the New Guinean anuran amphibians are still poorly known. Recent fieldwork in the western part of New Guinea (Papua, Province of Indonesia, formerly West Irian or Irian Jaya) has documented many new species and revealed derived reproductive modes in some taxa. These strategies are all associated with the liberation of early developmental stages from permanent water. Litoria cf. havina attach comparatively few eggs on the leaves of shrubs or herbs above the water surface. Larvae of Litoria arfakiana have strongly reduced jaws, and at least some older individuals occupy semiterrestrial habitats. Oreophryne clamata deposits its eggs on leaves c. 2 m above the ground, making it the third species known to have arboreal eggs in this speciose genus. In addition to guarding terrestrial eggs, a male of Oreophryne cf. wapoga transported juveniles on its back. The same behaviour was observed in a species of Callulops (the first case in the subfamily Asterophryinae, family Microhylidae), which is here described as new to science. This new species is closely related to C. eurydactylus and was found in lower montane tropical rainforest at the base of the Wandammen Peninsula. Despite having unusually large terminal discs on the fingers and toes for its genus, it was never found climbing on vegetation. Its terrestrial eggs are probably guarded by the male parent and hatchlings are carried around by the male for some days. Through this paternal care, the offspring have a greater chance of survival than do unattended eggs and froglets, and guarding males have, in this way, a greater genetic fitness than males who do not provide this care. It may be supposed that the latter fact was chiefly responsible for the evolution of paternal care in frogs.
Intraspecific phylogeography of the white‐rumped snowfinch (Onychostruthus taczanowskii) endemic to the Tibetan Plateau based on mtDNA sequences
Authors: Yang S.‐J. , Lei F.‐M. , Qu Y.‐H. , Yin Z.‐H.
Published: June 2006

Variation of the mitochondrial control region segment was analyzed from white‐rumped snowfinch Onychostruthus taczanowskii through its Tibetan Plateau distribution range. Very low genetic diversity (0.117%) and no differentiation were found between geographic groups. This may be because of a combination of several ecological and historical factors, including lack of geographical barriers and a relatively homogenic habitat through the plateau, high gene flow and a relatively fast population expansion from a very small population size. The genetic diversity of its closely related codistributed species, the red‐necked snowfinch Pyrgilauda ruficollis, was much higher, possibly as a result of expansion from different population size and glacial refugia.
Effect of combined water and nutrient management on runoff and sorghum yield in semiarid Burkina Faso
Authors: Zougmoré R. , Mando A. , Ringersma J. , Stroosnijder L.
Published: June 2006

Abstract. In the semiarid regions of sub‐Saharan Africa, fertilizer recovery and nutrient release from organic sources are often moisture limited. Moreover, in these regions runoff brings about large nutrient losses from fertilizer or organic inputs. This study was conducted in the north sudanian climate zone of Burkina Faso (annual rainfall 800 mm, PET 2000 mm yr−1). We assessed the combined and interactive effects of two types of permeable barriers (stone rows and grass strips of Andropogon gayanus Kunth cv. Bisquamulatus (Hochst.) Hack.) and organic or mineral sources of nitrogen on erosion control and sorghum yield. The field experiment (Ferric Lixisol, 1.5% slope) was carried out during three rainy seasons and consisted of 2 replications of 9 treatments, in which the barriers were put along contours and combined with compost, manure and fertilizer nitrogen (N). Compared with the control plots, the average reduction in runoff was 59% in plots with barriers alone, but reached 67% in plots with barriers + mineral N and 84% in plots with barriers + organic N. On average, stone rows reduced soil erosion more than grass strips (66% versus 51%). Stone rows or grass strips without N input did not induce a significant increase of sorghum production. Supplying compost or manure in combination with stone rows or grass strips increased sorghum grain yield by about 142%, compared with a 65% increase due to mineral fertilizers. The sorghum grain yields at 1 m upslope from the grass strips were less than those 17 m from the grass strips. As stones do not compete with plants, the opposite trend was observed with stone rows. We conclude that for these nutrient depleted soils, permeable barriers improve nutrient use efficiency and therefore crop production. However, grass strips must be managed to alleviate shade and other negative effects of the bunds on adjacent crops.
Effects of amendments on soil structural development in a clay soil‐forming material used as a cap for landfill restoration
Authors: Gregory A.S. , Vickers A.W.
Published: June 2006

Abstract. Restoration of landfill sites to a vegetated after‐use is severely compromised if soil‐forming materials (SFMs) have to be used as substitute growing media for the restoration cap, owing partly to their poorly‐developed structure. The effects of crushed brick material (brick), composted green‐waste organic matter (OM) and potassium chloride salt (KCl) in a clay SFM were assessed at the Brogborough Landfill Site (Shank Group plc) in the county of Bedfordshire, UK. Soil structure was characterized three times in a two‐year experimental period through measuring drainage water release and aggregate stability and size distribution. Crushed brick and composted OM at 100 t ha−1 improved the ability of the clay to release water by drainage. In addition, the composted OM was associated with an increase in the size of stable aggregates, whereas the brick amendment reduced the overall aggregate stability. The KCl amendment had no consistent effect. Some beneficial structural improvements were thus associated with the brick and OM amendments, although these were rarely significant at the 5% level and the effects declined over time in the absence of vegetation and re‐application. Nevertheless, incorporation of crushed brick and organic amendments may offer a potential structure‐improving option in clay SFMs prior to vegetation establishment.
SEXUAL REPRODUCTION IN NAVICULA CRYPTOCEPHALA (BACILLARIOPHYCEAE)1
Authors: Poulíčková Aloisie , Mann David G.
Published: June 2006

Homothallic sexual reproduction and auxosporulation were studied in monoclonal cultures and seminatural populations of the freshwater epipelic diatom Navicula cryptocephala Kütz. Gametangia paired via the girdle, one gamete was formed per gametangium (and hence one zygote per pair of gametangia), and gamete fusion took place without the formation of any copulation envelope or copulation canal. Superfluous nuclei from meiosis survived unusually long, so that gametes and young zygotes were probably functionally polyploid; later, all but two haploid nuclei degenerated. Expanded auxospores had a swollen center, but during formation of the initial valves, the auxospore contracted away from the perizonium to produce linear‐lanceolate valves. The pattern of reproductive behavior found in N. cryptocephala can be classified as type IIA2a auxosporulation in Geitler's system. The same type of zygote and auxospore formation seen in clonal cultures was observed in seminatural material from four lakes in Scotland and the Czech Republic. Variation in nuclear structure and auxosporulation in the N. cryptocephala species complex is discussed, as is the evolution of type II auxosporulation (one zygote per pair of gametangia) from type I auxosporulation (two zygotes per pair). The penalty of smaller numbers of zygote produced in type II may be outweighed by formation of larger auxospores (prolonging the vegetative phase) or more vigorous auxospores. The variation present among members of the N. cryptocephala complex indicates that biogeographical analyses based on use of the name N. cryptocephala, as performed recently to support the ubiquity hypothesis of protist distributions, are almost meaningless.
QTL Mapping for Low‐Dose Ethanol Activation in the LXS Recombinant Inbred Strains
Authors: Downing Chris , Carosone‐Link Phyllis , Bennett Beth , Johnson Thomas E.
Published: June 2006

Background: Most mouse quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for behavioral traits have been mapped using populations of mice derived from C57BL/6J (B6) and DBA/2J (D2). It is also important to identify QTLs for behavior in populations derived from other progenitors. We report results from QTL mapping for low‐dose (ethanol) locomotor activation (LDA) using the recently developed LXS recombinant inbred (RI) strains, derived from Inbred Long Sleep (ILS) and Inbred Short Sleep (ISS) progenitors. The LXS RI panel has additional genetic variation, and greater power due to a larger number of strains, compared with other RI panels and strain crosses.

Methods: Mice were tested using a 3‐day protocol in which activity levels were monitored for 15 minutes each day. On day 1, baseline activity was recorded; on day 2, mice were injected with saline before testing; and on day 3, mice were injected with 1.8 g/kg ethanol and tested.

Results: Several suggestive QTLs were found, on chromosomes 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 12, and 13; 3 of these QTLs were sex‐specific.

Conclusions: Two apparently novel LDA QTLs were identified, on chromosomes 4 and 8. The other QTLs appear to replicate previously identified LDA QTLs. These replicated QTLs will be pursued in subsequent studies designed to identify candidate genes.
Abnormal Transsulfuration and Glutathione Metabolism in the Micropig Model of Alcoholic Liver Disease
Authors: Villanueva Jesus A. , Esfandiari Farah , Wong Donna H. , Ahmad Iram , Melnyk Stepan , James S. Jill , Halsted Charles H.
Published: June 2006

Background: Alcoholic liver disease is associated with abnormalities of methionine metabolic enzymes that may contribute to glutathione depletion. Previously, we found that feeding micropigs a combination of ethanol with a folate‐deficient diet resulted in the greatest decreases in S‐adenosylmethionine and glutathione and increases in liver S‐adenosylhomocysteine and oxidized disulfide glutathione.

Methods: To study the mechanisms of glutathione depletion, we analyzed the transcripts and activities of enzymes involved in its synthesis and metabolism in liver and plasma specimens that were available from the same micropigs that receive folate‐sufficient or folate‐depleted diets with or without 40% of energy as ethanol for 14 weeks.

Results: Ethanol feeding, folate deficiency, or their combination decreased liver and plasma glutathione and the activities of hepatic copper‐zinc superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase and increased the activity of manganese superoxide dismutase and glutathione reductase. Hepatic levels of cysteine and taurine were unchanged while plasma cysteine was increased in the combined diet group. Cystathionine β‐synthase transcripts and activity were unaffected by ethanol feeding, while the activities of other transsulfuration enzymes involved in glutathione synthesis were increased. Glutathione transferase transcripts were increased 4‐fold and its mean activity was increased by 34% in the combined ethanol and folate‐deficient diet group, similar in magnitude to the observed 36% reduction in hepatic glutathione.

Conclusions: Chronic ethanol feeding and folate deficiency acted individually or synergistically to affect methionine metabolism in the micropig by depleting glutathione pools and altering transcript expressions and activities of enzymes involved in its synthesis, utilization, and regeneration. The data suggest that the observed decrease in hepatic glutathione during ethanol feeding reflects its increased utilization to meet increased antioxidant demands, rather than reduction in its synthesis.
Fabrication of Transparent Cerium‐Doped Lutetium Aluminum Garnet (LuAG:Ce) Ceramics by a Solid‐State Reaction Method
Authors: Li Hui‐Li , Liu Xue‐Jian , Huang Li‐Ping
Published: June 2006

Polycrystalline, transparent LuAG:Ce ceramics were fabricated by a solid‐state reaction method using high‐purity Lu2O3, Al2O3 and CeO2 powders. The mixed powder compacts were sintered at 1770°C for 10 h under vacuum and annealed at 1450°C for 20 h in air. The transmittance in the visible light region reaches 70%. The emission spectra at 470–650 nm wavelengths are consistent with that of LuAG:Ce single crystals, and satisfy the property requirements of a scintillator.
Effects of Annealing on Dielectric Loss and Microstructure of Aluminum Nitride Ceramics
Authors: Kume Shoichi , Yasuoka Masaki , Omura Naoki , Watari Koji
Published: June 2006

The effect of annealing on tan δ and microstructures of aluminum nitride (AlN) ceramics were explored. Yttria was added as a sintering additive to AlN powders, and the powders were pressureless‐sintered at 1900°C for 2 h in a nitrogen flow atmosphere. In succession to sintering, AlN samples were annealed at 720, 970 and 1210°C for 2 and 4 h. Very low tan δ values between 2.6 and 6.0 × 10−4 at 28 GHz were obtained when the AlN samples were annealed for 4 h at all the annealing temperatures.
Synthesis of Anatase‐Type TiO2 Nanocrystallites Via a Redox Route
Authors: Li Ji‐Guang , Ishigaki Takamasa
Published: June 2006

Anatase nanocrystallites showing high surface area (∼62 m2/g) and good photocatalytic property have been obtained by pyrolyzing at 600°C for 4 h an ammonium titanyl double sulfate precursor (α‐(NH4)2TiO(SO4)2) synthesized via a redox approach, that is, by oxidizing an aqueous solution of titanium trichloride (TiCl3) with ammonium peroxodisulfate ((NH4)2S2O8), followed by reacting with ammonium sulfate ((NH4)2SO4).
Mechanical Behavior of a Borosilicate Glass Under Aqueous Corrosion
Authors: Ji Hui , Rouxel Tanguy , Abdelouas Abdesselam , Grambow Bernd , Jollivet Patrick
Published: June 2006

In France, fission products are being vitrified for a possible final geological disposal. Under disposal conditions, corrosion of the glass by groundwater as well as stress corrosion because of stresses occurring at surface flaws cannot be excluded. Within this framework, the mechanical behavior of the French simulated nuclear waste glass SON68 was studied by Vickers indentation and fracture experiments in air and in a corrosive solution. The glass was corroded at 90°C in a solution enriched with Si, B, and Na. The results showed that the glass corrosion enhances the cracks propagation relative to experiments in air. The indentation fracture toughness (KIC) obtained using a four‐point bending test showed that the KIC of the glass decreased with increasing corrosion time.
Migration of Corundum Crystal Basal Surfaces in a Matrix of Fine Alumina Grains and Anorthite Liquid
Authors: Back Ju Hee , Kim Mi Jin , Yoon Duk Yong
Published: June 2006

Corundum crystals with basal surfaces have been embedded in a matrix of fine alumina grains and 15 wt% anorthite and heat treated at 1620°C. During the heat treatment, the fine alumina grains and the corundum crystals grow. The corundum basal surfaces that have been scratched grow most rapidly and those with a low dislocation etch pit density grow most slowly. The corundum basal surfaces with a high dislocation etch pit density grow at an intermediate rate. When the matrix alumina grains are very fine in the initial heat‐treatment stage, all three corundum basal planes grow at approximately the same rate, and, as the matrix grains coarsen, the growth rates of the basal surfaces diverge. The plots of the migration rates of the basal surfaces and the inverse average size of the matrix grains are non‐linear and depend on the estimated dislocation content at the basal surfaces. Such a growth behavior of the basal surfaces resembles those of the singular surfaces of a single crystal growing in a fluid. The results show that dislocations in the grains are important in abnormal growth of grains in liquid matrix.
Visible Light‐Sensitive InTaO4‐Based Photocatalysts for Organic Decomposition
Authors: Irie Hiroshi , Hashimoto Kazuhito
Published: June 2006

The ability of InTa1−xVxO4 (x=0, 0.002, 0.005, 0.01) and InTaO4−yNy (y=0, 0.048, 0.059) powders to photocatalyze the oxidative decomposition of gaseous 2‐propanol (IPA) when irradiated by the same number of visible or ultraviolet photons was confirmed. The first‐principle calculations of InTa0.875V0.125O8 indicated that the V 3d introduced state was discretely situated below the conduction band, which was composed mainly of Ta 5d. Similar calculations of InTaO3.5N0.5 indicated that the N 2p state was above the valence band, which was composed of O2p. These discrete narrow bands were responsible for the visible light sensitivity in the V‐ or N‐doped InTaO4 compounds.
Effect of Grain Boundary Structure on Diffusion‐Induced Grain Boundary Migration in BaTiO3
Authors: Wang Seong‐Min , Kang Suk‐Joong L.
Published: June 2006

The effect of grain boundary structure, either rough or faceted, on diffusion‐induced grain boundary migration (DIGM) has been investigated in BaTiO3. SrTiO3 particles were scattered on the polished surfaces of two kinds of BaTiO3 samples with faceted and rough boundaries and annealed in air for the samples with faceted boundaries and in H2 for those with rough boundaries. In the BaTiO3 samples with rough boundaries, an appreciable grain boundary migration occurred. In contrast, grain‐boundary migration hardly occurred in the BaTiO3 samples with faceted boundaries. The migration suppression observed in the sample with faceted boundaries was attributed to a low boundary mobility. The present experimental results show that DIGM is strongly affected by the boundary structure and can be suppressed by structural transition of boundaries from rough to faceted.
Local Conductivity of Nitrogen‐Graded Zirconia
Authors: Lee Jong‐Sook , Fleig Jürgen , Maier Joachim , Kim Doh‐Yeon , Chung Tai‐Joo
Published: June 2006

Conductivity profiles of nitrogen‐graded zirconia from nitridation of 2 mol% yttria‐doped tetragonal zirconia polycrystals (2Y‐TZP) were determined using microcontact impedance spectroscopy. Local conductivity variations were interpreted in terms of nitrogen concentration and the morphological distribution of the tetragonal precipitates in the two‐phase region of nitrogen partially stabilized zirconia (N‐PSZ). Nitrogen incorporation in the stabilized zirconia was found to strongly decrease the local conductivity below 400°C, even though the oxygen vacancy concentration increased nominally. This behavior is ascribed to the strong vacancy–vacancy interaction leading to vacancy ordering. The strong interaction is indicated by the formation of ordered‐vacancy phases in nitrogen‐doped zirconia. Percolation of elongated tetragonal precipitates of lesser nitrogen concentration and thus of higher conductivity explains the conductivity anisotropy observed by microcontact measurements as well as the large effective dielectric constants.
Uniformly Porous Al2O3/LaPO4 and Al2O3/CePO4 Composites with Narrow Pore‐Size Distribution
Authors: Suzuki Yoshikazu , Tsukatsune Masahiro , Yoshikawa Susumu , Morgan Peter E. D.
Published: June 2006

Porous Al2O3/20 vol% LaPO4 and Al2O3/20 vol% CePO4 composites with very narrow pore‐size distribution at around 200 nm have been successfully synthesized by reactive sintering at 1100°C for 2 h from RE2(CO3)3·xH2O (RE = La or Ce), Al(H2PO4)3 and Al2O3 with LiF additive. Similar to the previously reported UPC‐3Ds (uniformly porous composites with a three‐dimensional network structure, e.g. CaZrO3/MgO system), decomposed gases in the starting materials formed a homogeneous open porous structure with a porosity of ∼40%. X‐ray diffraction, 31P magic‐angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance, scanning electron microscopy, and mercury porosimetry revealed the structure of the porous composites.
Complex visual hallucination and mirror sign in posterior cortical atrophy
Authors: Yoshida T. , Yuki N. , Nakagawa M.
Published: June 2006

Objective:  In posterior cortical atrophy (PCA), visual hallucinations are rare symptoms and mirror sign has not been described.

Method:  Single case report.

Results:  We reported a 60‐year‐old woman with PCA who reported complex visual hallucinations, such as a man walking in her room, and mirror sign, which was the perception of a stranger staring at her when she looked into a mirror. She could not recognize images of herself in the mirror correctly, although she could recognize that a person standing next to her and the images of that person reflected in the mirror were the same person.

Conclusion:  Early complex visual hallucinations in this patient appeared to be more characteristic of dementia with Lewy body than Alzheimer's disease (AD). It is hard to explain mirror sign in this patient as being because of either prosopagnosia, Balint's syndrome or advanced AD. This patient may have other underlying cognitive dysfunction.