bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A New Tyrosine Phosphorylation Mechanism Involved in Signal Transduction in Bacillus subtilis
Authors: Kirstein Janine , Turgay Kürşad
Published: January 2006

A new kind of prokaryotic protein tyrosine kinase was recently discovered, utilizing a guanidino-phosphotransferase domain for its kinase activity. Guanidino kinase domains originate from eukaryotic phosphagen kinases, a family of phosphoryl transfer enzymes with no homology to the serine/threonine and tyrosine kinase superfamily. Nevertheless, this kinase, McsB, exhibits the main structural and functional properties of prokaryotic tyrosine kinases. Tyrosine phosphorylation in bacteria is predominantly described to be involved in the regulation of exopolysaccharide synthesis and is therefore required for biofilm formation and virulence. McsB on the other hand modulates together with its activator protein, McsA, the activity of the repressor of the class III heat shock genes in B. subtilis. The analogy of the kinase mechanism of McsB to tyrosine kinases implicates that tyrosine kinases may harbor various and independently evolved domains for ATP-binding/hydrolysis and the transfer of the γ-phosphate of ATP onto tyrosine residues.
Role of Protein Phosphorylation on Serine/Threonine and Tyrosine in the Virulence of Bacterial Pathogens
Authors: Cozzone Alain J.
Published: January 2006

Bacterial pathogens have developed a diversity of strategies to interact with host cells, manipulate their behaviors, and thus to survive and propagate. During the process of pathogenesis, phosphorylation of proteins on hydroxyl amino acids (serine, threonine, tyrosine) occurs at different stages, including cell-cell interaction and adherence, translocation of bacterial effectors into host cells, and changes in host cellular structure and function induced by infection. The phosphorylation reactions are catalyzed in a reversible fashion by specific protein kinases and phosphatases that belong to either the invading bacterial cells or the infected eukaryotic host cells. Among the various virulence factors involved in bacterial pathogenesis, special attention has been paid recently to the cell wall components, exopolysaccharides. A major breakthrough has been made by showing the existence of a biological link between the activity of certain protein-tyrosine kinases/phosphatases and the production and/or transport of surface polysaccharides. In addition, genetic studies have revealed a key role played by some serine/threonine kinases in pathogenesis. Considering the structural organization and membrane topology of these different kinases, it can be envisaged that they operate as one-component systems in signal transduction pathways, in the form of single proteins containing input and output domains on the same polypeptide chain. From a general standpoint, the demonstration of a direct relationship between protein phosphorylation on serine/threonine/tyrosine and bacterial virulence represents a novel concept of great importance in deciphering the molecular and cellular mechanisms that underlie pathogenesis.
Interaction between the Yersinia Tyrosine Phosphatase YopH and Its Macrophage Substrate, Fyn-Binding Protein, Fyb
Authors: Yuan Ming , Deleuil Fabienne , Fällman Maria
Published: January 2006

Pathogenic Yersinia species can evade phagocytosis by injecting virulence effectors that interfere with the phagocytic machinery of host cells. One of these virulence effectors is the protein tyrosine phosphatase YopH. Through its enzymatic activity, YopH interferes with the initial phagocytic process by affecting signalling for cytoskeletal rearrangements. Fyb (Fyn-binding protein), which is an immune cell-specific adaptor protein, has been identified as a substrate of YopH in macrophages. In this study, the interaction between YopH and Fyb is studied. We show that YopH binds to Fyb via different regions in both phosphotyrosine-dependent and phosphotyrosine-independent ways. The phosphotyrosine substrate binding N-terminal part (1–130) of YopH as well as the C-terminal catalytic region binds to Fyb in a phosphotyrosine-dependent manner. We also show that a central part of YopH (130–260) interacts with the Fyb C-terminus (548–783) in a phosphotyrosine-independent manner. Further, we demonstrate that the N-terminal binding region of YopH is important for YopH-mediated functions on macrophages such as dephosphorylation of Fyb, blockage of phagocytosis, and cytotoxic effects.
How Seryl-Phosphorylated HPr Inhibits PrfA, a Transcription Activator of Listeria monocytogenes Virulence Genes
Authors: Herro Rana , Poncet Sandrine , Cossart Pascale , Buchrieser Carmen , Gouin Edith , Glaser Philippe , Deutscher Josef
Published: January 2006

Listeria monocytogenes PrfA, a transcription activator for several virulence genes, including the hemolysin-encoding hly, is inhibited by rapidly metabolizable carbon sources (glucose, fructose, etc.). This inhibition is not mediated via the major carbon catabolite repression mechanism of gram-positive bacteria, since inactivation of the catabolite control protein A (CcpA) did not prevent the repression of virulence genes by the above sugars. In order to test whether the catabolite co-repressor P-Ser-HPr might be involved in PrfA regulation, we used a Bacillus subtilis strain (BUG1199) containing L. monocytogenes prfA under control of pspac and the lacZ reporter gene fused to the PrfA-activated hly promoter. Formation of P-Ser-HPr requires the bifunctional HPr kinase/phosphorylase (HprK/P), which, depending on the concentration of certain metabolites, either phosphorylates HPr at Ser-46 or dephosphorylates P-Ser-HPr. The hprKV267F allele codes for an HprK/P leading to the accumulation of P-Ser-HPr, since it has normal kinase, but almost no phosphorylase activity. Interestingly, introducing hprKV267F into BUG1199 strongly inhibited transcription activation by PrfA. Preventing the accumulation of P-Ser-HPr in the hprKV267F mutant by replacing Ser-46 in HPr with an alanine restored PrfA activity, while ccpA inactivation had no effect. Interestingly, disruption of ccpA in the hprK wild-type strain BUG1199 also led to inhibition of PrfA. The lowered lacZ expression in the ccpA strain is probably also due to elevated amounts of P-Ser-HPr, since it disappeared when Ser-46 in HPr was replaced with an alanine. To carry out its catalytic function in sugar transport, HPr of the phosphotransferase system (PTS) is also phosphorylated by phosphoenolpyruvate and enzyme I at His-15. However, P-Ser-HPr is only very slowly phosphorylated by enzyme I, which probably accounts for PrfA inhibition. In agreement with this concept, disruption of the enzyme I- or HPr-encoding genes also strongly inhibited PrfA activity. PrfA activity therefore seems to depend on a fully functional PTS phosphorylation cascade.
The Concept of Cathemerality: History and Definition
Authors: Tattersall Ian
Published: January 2006

During a field study in 1974 it was noticed, and further fieldwork in 1977 and 1980 confirmed, that the activity of the Mayotte lemur,Eulemur fulvus fulvus, is distributed fairly evenly throughout the daily 24-hour cycle: by a very crude approximation the daytime activity:rest ratio averages 0.271, while the night-time ratio averages 0.283. In 1978 I proposed the new word ‘cathemeral’, compounded from the Greek roots ĸατα (through) and ogon;µΕρα (the day), to describe this unusual activity pattern, though for reasons described in this article the term was not formally published until 1988. Since then cathemeral activity has been routinely recorded, with some variation, in species of the strepsirhine generaEulemurandHapalemur; and in one form or another it apparently also occurs, at least occasionally, among platyrrhines (species ofAotusandAlouatta) as well as among a variety of non-primate mammals. It may well thus be a more widespread activity pattern than earlier appreciated.
Chronobiological Background to Cathemerality: Circadian Rhythms in Eulemur fulvus albifrons (Prosimii) and Aotus azarai boliviensis (Anthropoidea)
Authors: Erkert Hans G. , Cramer Birgit
Published: January 2006

Cathemeral activity, in which the animals’ motor activity is almost evenly distributed throughout the dark and the light portion of the day, has been described in various lemur genera(Eulemur, Hapalemur)and in the owl monkeyAotus azaraiof the Argentinean Chaco. Proximate and ultimate factors responsible for this behaviour are still being debated. However, the chronobiological background of the behaviour has largely been ignored. We studiedE. fulvus albifronsandA. a. boliviensisunder controlled laboratory conditions to assess whether their activity rhythm is endogenously regulated by a circadian timing system that obeys general rules found in other mammals, or whether there are characteristic differences. To this end, we carried out long-term activity recordings on individuals of both subspecies kept under constant light and various light-dark cycles (LDs) using a PC-controlled electro-acoustic device in combination with telemetric body temperature measurements. Both subspecies developed free-running circadian activity and body temperature rhythms with periods deviating from 24 h in constant light, and LDs turned out to be the most efficient Zeitgeber synchronizing this endogenous rhythmicity to the external 24-hour day. The luminosity prevailing during the dark time of the LD had a decisive effect on levels of activity in the lemurs and induced strong masking effects on their circadian activity pattern. The results indicate that, from a chronobiological viewpoint, both species should be considered as dark active primates. Their diel activity rhythm is regulated by a normally responding circadian timing system and strong activity inhibiting or enhancing direct effects of light intensity. Thus, hypotheses on proximate and/or ultimate factors of cathemerality in primates must also consider its circadian background.
A Note on the Activity Cycle of Captive White-Fronted Lemurs (Eulemur fulvus albifrons)
Authors: Traber Sybille Y. , Müller Alexandra E.
Published: January 2006

We studied the activity cycle of captive-born white-fronted lemurs(Eulemur fulvus albifrons)at Zurich Zoo with the aim to discuss current hypotheses on the evolution of cathemerality in lemurs. In contrast to their relatives in the wild, these lemurs were active exclusively during the day. If cathemerality is a strategy to increase food intake or to avoid predators, then nocturnal activity is not essential for captive animals and may be suppressed simply due to the absence of stimuli. This suggests that cathemerality includes a distinct element of flexibility regarding the distribution of diurnal and nocturnal activity, with the option to omit nightly activities.
Absence of a Difference in the Neurosecretory Activity of Supraoptic Nucleus Vasopressin Neurons of Neuroleptic-Treated Schizophrenic Patients
Authors: Malidelis Yiannis I. , Panayotacopoulou Maria T. , van Heerikhuize Joop J. , Unmehopa Unga A. , Kontostavlaki Dimitra P. , Swaab Dick F.
Published: January 2006

Dysfunction in water intake and metabolism has frequently been reported in schizophrenia. The general population of schizophrenics under neuroleptic treatment secretes lower amounts of vasopressin than controls at comparable values of plasma osmolality. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the synthetic activity of vasopressin neurons of the dorsolateral supraoptic nucleus in schizophrenia on postmortem material using a battery of histochemical activity markers. Our material consisted of formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded hypothalami from 5 schizophrenic patients under neuroleptic treatment and from 5 matched controls, obtained from The Netherlands’ Brain Bank. DSM-III or DSM-IV criteria were used for the clinical diagnosis. The histochemical markers used to study the neuronal activity of the magnocellular vasopressin-synthesizing neurons were: cell size, size of the Golgi apparatus, and expression of vasopressin and tyrosine hydroxylase mRNA by in situ hybridization. Morphometric evaluation and statistical analysis (Mann-Whitney U test) were performed. Our results showed no statistically significant differences in any of the neuronal activity markers between schizophrenic patients and controls. Therefore, the neurosecretory activity of vasopressin neurons of the dorsolateral part of the supraoptic nucleus does not appear to be changed in schizophrenic patients under medication. Since our sample did not include patients with reported polydipsia or hyponatremia, prospective investigation is needed to evaluate the above-mentioned neuronal activity markers in such a particular subgroup of schizophrenic patients.
Histaminergic Neurons Are Involved in the Orexigenic Effect of Orexin-A
Authors: Jørgensen E.A. , Knigge U. , Watanabe T. , Warberg J. , Kjaer A.
Published: January 2006

Orexin-A is an orexigenic peptide expressed mainly in the hypothalamus. Orexin-A increases and anti-orexin-A antibodies decrease food intake. However, the exact mechanism by which orexin-A exerts its orexigenic action is not fully elucidated. The histaminergic system is known to play a role in feeding behavior and we hypothesized that it could be involved in the orexigenic effect of orexin-A. To study this, we used histamine knockout animals and pharmacological blockade of the histaminergic system and studied the effect of orexin-A on feeding behavior and gene expression of neuropeptide Y (NPY). Orexin-A was administered intracerebroventricularly and food intake measured in wild-type, histamine H1-receptor knockout or histidine decarboxylase knockout mice. Additionally, we administered orexin-A to wild-type mice with pharmacologically blocked H1-receptors or pharmacologically stimulated autoinhibitory H3-receptors. By quantitative real-time PCR we measured the effect of orexin-A on NPY mRNA expression in wild-type and knockout mice. Orexin-A dose-dependently stimulated food intake when administered to wild-type mice in doses up to 0.03 µg. Orexin-A in a dose of 0.01 µg increased food intake 10-fold in wild-type mice, whereas no increase in food intake was seen in either knockout mice or pharmacologically manipulated mice. Orexin-A increased NPY mRNA 4-fold in wild-type mice, whereas no change was observed in knockout mice. We conclude that the orexigenic effect of orexin-A is dependent on an intact histaminergic neuronal system and seems to involve an H1-receptor mechanism.
Sex Differences in Methamphetamine-Evoked Striatal Dopamine Output Are Abolished following Gonadectomy: Comparisons with Potassium-Evoked Output and Responses in Prepubertal Mice
Authors: Dluzen Dean E. , Salvaterra Ty J.
Published: January 2006

Sex differences are reported for methamphetamine (MA)-induced neurotoxicity of the nigrostriatal dopaminergic system. In an attempt to understand some of the bases for these differences, we investigated MA-evoked dopamine (DA) responses from superfused striatal tissue fragments of intact and male and female CD-1 mice. These responses were compared with that of gonadectomized mice, potassium-evoked DA responses in intact mice and responses in prepubertal mice. In experiment 1, DA responses were tested using infusion of MA at doses of 1, 10, 100 and 1,000 µM. In intact mice, mean peak MA-evoked DA responses were consistently increased and significantly greater in male vs. female mice at the 1,000 µM dose. No such significant differences were observed between gonadectomized male vs. female mice (experiment 2). In contrast to MA, potassium-stimulated DA responses were increased in intact female mice, with statistically significant differences at doses of 30 and 60 mM (experiment 3). No statistically significant differences between intact prepubertal male and female mice were obtained in response to a 1,000 µM dose of MA (experiment 4) or to a 60 mM dose of potassium (experiment 5). These results indicate that intact male mice show greater sensitivity to MA-evoked DA output. This sex difference is abolished following gonadectomy, is not observed with potassium, nor is it present in prepubertal mice. The increased sensitivity to MA shown by intact males may be related to the greater degree of striatal dopaminergic neurotoxicity observed in male mice in response to this psychostimulant and appears to be attributable to differences in gonadal steroid hormones between male and female mice.
Multilocus Linkage Analysis of Affected Sib Pairs
Authors: Ionita Iuliana , Lo Shaw-Hwa
Published: January 2006

Objective: The conventional affected sib pair methods evaluate the linkage information at a locus by considering only marginal information. We describe a multilocus linkage method that uses both the marginal information and information derived from the possible interactions among several disease loci, thereby increasing the significance of loci with modest effects. Methods: Our method is based on a statistic that quantifies the linkage information contained in a set of markers. By a marker selection-reduction process, we screen a set of polymorphisms and select a few that seem linked to disease. Results: We test our approach on genome scan data for inflammatory bowel disease (InfBD) and on simulated data. On real data we detect 6 of the 8 known InfBD loci; on simulated data we obtain improvements in power of up to 40% compared to a conventional single-locus method. Conclusion: Our extensive simulations and the results on real data show that our method is in general more powerful than single-locus methods in detecting disease loci responsible for complex traits. A further advantage of our approach is that it can be extended to make use of both the linkage and the linkage disequilibrium between disease loci and nearby markers.
Shared Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
Authors: Grover Sandeep , Gupta Nitin
Published: January 2006

Background: Shared psychotic disorder (folie à deux) is an uncommon entity reported mainly in the context of delusions. Obsessions and compulsions occur very rarely as shared psychopathology. Material and Methods: We present two sisters who manifested shared obsessive-compulsive disorder. Results: Both sisters were managed in keeping with their shared obsessive-compulsive disorder leading onto a similar pattern of response. Conclusions: Shared obsessions could represent the continuum concept of obsessions and delusions, and their relationship needs to be evaluated in greater detail.
Rituximab, Ara-C, Dexamethasone and Oxaliplatin Is Safe and Active in Heavily Pretreated Patients with Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma
Authors: Woehrer Stefan , Hejna Michael , Skrabs Cathrin , Drach Johannes , Zielinski Christoph C. , Jaeger Ulrich , Raderer Markus
Published: January 2006

Objective: Patients with relapsed diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) who are either not suitable for stem cell transplantation or suffer from relapsed disease after standard second-line chemotherapy face a dismal prognosis. Most of them have a reduced performance status and do not tolerate intensive chemotherapy. Methods: Twenty patients with relapsed DLBCL were given rituximab 375 mg/m2 intravenously on day 1, Ara-C 2 × 1,000 mg intravenously on day 2, dexamethasone 40 mg intravenously on days 1–4, and oxaliplatin 130 mg/m2 intravenously over 2 h on day 3 (R-ADOx). Results: Five patients (25%) achieved a complete remission, 9 (45%) had a partial response , 2 (10%) had stable disease with improvement in performance status, while 4 patients (20%) progressed. The median survival was 11 months (range 1–13). Despite extensive pretreatment, side effects were relatively mild and consisted of thrombocytopenia WHO grade III in 9 (45%) and grade IV in 2 (11%) patients, leukocytopenia WHO grade III in 10 (50%) cases (with infectious episodes in 2 patients), and transient peripheral neuropathy in 9 (45%) patients. Conclusion: R-ADOx is well tolerated in heavily pretreated patients with an impaired performance status. In addition, it displays impressive therapeutic activity given the highly unfavorable patient characteristics and should be further investigated for treatment of DLBCL.
Trade-Off between L-Thyroxin and Melatonin in Immune Regulation of the Indian Palm Squirrel, Funambulus pennanti during the Reproductively Inactive Phase
Authors: Rai Seema , Haldar Chandana , Singh Shiv Shankar
Published: January 2006

The thyroid gland and its hormones have been reported to influence reproduction and metabolism in a positive manner. However, research to date provides strong evidence for a reciprocal relationship between the immune system and hormones of the hypothalamus-pituitary-thyroid axis. The present study has been taken to elucidate the effect of L-thyroxin (T4) on immune parameters such as total leukocyte count, percent lymphocyte count, blastogenic response and percent stimulation ratio of thymocytes and splenocytes of a seasonally breeding rodent, Funambulus pennanti, during its reproductively inactive phase when peripheral T4 is low. Treatment with L-thyroxin at a near-physiological dose of 35 µg/100 g body weight during evening hours showed a significant elevation of all immune parameters. However, combined treatment of L-thyroxin and melatonin (25 µg/100 g body weight) had no additive effect. On the other hand, in vitro supplementation of T4 (10–6 M) either alone or in combination with melatonin (0.5 µM) did not induce any significant change on thymocyte and splenocyte proliferation. Therefore, a trade-off effect of L-thyroxin and melatonin on the immune system (T- and B-cell differentiation) is suggested for this rodent.
Developmental haemostasis
Authors: Barnes Chris , Ignjatovic Vera , Furmedge Janine , Newall Fiona , Chan Anthony , De Rosa Lidia , Hamilton Simone , Ragg Philip , Robinson Stephen , Auldist Alex , Crock Cathy , Roy Neil , Rowlands Shelley , Monagle Paul
Published: January 2006

Developmental haemostasis is a concept, now universally accepted, introduced by Andrew et al. in the late 1980’s. However, coagulation analysers and reagents have changed significantly over the past 15 years. Coagulation testing is known to be sensitive to changes in individual reagents and analysers. We hypothesised that the reference ranges developed by Andrew et al. may not be appropriate for use in a modern coagulation laboratory. Our study was designed to determine whethera current day coagulation testing system (STA Compact analyser and Diagnostica Stago reagent system) was sensitive to agerelated changes in coagulation assays. This is the first large scale study since Andrew et al. to determine the age associated numerical changes in coagulation proteins. Our results confirm the concepts of developmental haemostasis elucidated by Andrew et al. However, our results clearly demonstrate that the absolute values of reference ranges for coagulation assays in neonates and children vary with analyser and reagent systems. The results confirm the need for coagulation laboratories to develop age-related reference ranges specific to their own testing systems. Without this, accurate diagnosis and management of neonates and children with suspected bleeding or clotting disorders is not possible. Finally we present age related reference ranges for D-dimers, TFPI, and endogenous thrombin potential, previously not described.
Evaluation of haemostatic molecular markers for diagnosis of disseminated intravascular coagulation in patients with infections
Authors: Asakura Hidesaku , Okamoto Kohji , Iba Toshiaki , Uchiyama Toshimasa , Eguchi Yutaka , Kawasugi Kazuo , Koga Shin , Mayumi Toshihiko , Koike Kaoru , Gando Satoshi , Wada Hideo
Published: January 2006

Early treatment of disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) is recommended but global coagulation tests used in authorized DIC criteria are not sensitive for diagnosis of early-phase DIC. We examined the plasma levels of thrombin-antithrombin complex (TAT), plasmin-plasmin inhibitor complex (PPIC) and D-dimer in patients with suspected DIC to determine the cutoff values for diagnosis of DIC. Plasma levels of D-dimer, TAT and PPIC were significantly elevated in patients with DIC and correlated with DIC score. The cutoff values were determined using the receiver operative curve analysis. The cutoff value represented the point at which the sensitivity curve crossed the specificity curve. The cutoff values of D-dimer, TAT and PPIC for DIC were 12. 0 µg/ml, 11.0 ng/ml and 1.8 µg/ml, respectively. These values were moderately to highly sensitive for the diagnosis of DIC but not for poor outcome. The combination of D-dimer, TAT and PPIC showed high sensitivity and low specificity when one or more tests were positive, but showed low sensitivity and high specificity when all three tests were positive. We conclude that hemostatic molecular markers might be useful for the diagnosis of DIC and should be confirmed by several trials.
Polymorphisms of COX-1 and GP VI associate with the antiplatelet effect of aspirin in coronary artery disease patients
Authors: Mikkelsson Jussi , Reséndiz Julio , Viiri Leena , Backman Janne , Kankuri Esko , Karhunen Pekka , Lassila Riitta , Lepäntalo Aino
Published: January 2006

The antiplatelet effect of aspirin varies individually. This study evaluated whether the antiplatelet effect of aspirin associates with polymorphisms in the genes coding for cyclo-oxygenase-1 (COX-1) and several platelet glycoprotein (GP) receptors in patients with stable coronary artery disease (CAD). Blood samples were collected from 101 aspirin-treated (mean 100 mg/d) patients. Compliance to treatment was assessed by plasma salicylate measurement. Platelet functions were assessed by two methods: 1) Response to arachidonic acid (AA, 1.5 mmol/L in aggregometry, and 2) PFA-100, evaluating platelet activation under high shear stress in the presence of collagen and epinephrine (CEPI). Aspirin non-response was defined as: 1) slope steeper than 12%/min in AA-aggregations,and 2) by closure time shorter than 170 s in PFA-100. The methods used detected different individuals as being aspirin non-responders. Five and 21 patients, respectively, were non-responders according to AA-induced aggregation and PFA-100. Increased plasma thromboxane B2 levels correlated with poor aspirin-response measured with both AA-induced aggregations and PFA-100 (P=0.02 and P=0.003, respectively). Of the non-responders detected by AA, 3 of5 (60%) carried the rareG allele for the -A842G polymorphism of COX-1 in contrast to 16 of 96 (17%) responders (P=0.016). Diabetes was associated with poor response. Aspirin non-response detected by PFA-100 associated with C13254T polymorphism of GP VI and female gender (P=0.012 and P=0.019, respectively). Although two patients were possibly non-compliant, this did not effect present conclusions. Evaluation of aspirin efficacy by AA-induced aggregation and PFA-100 detected different individuals, with different genotypic profiles, as being aspirin non-responders.
Modulation of protease nexin-1 activity by polysaccharides
Authors: Bouton Marie-Christine , Loyau Stéphane , Lavigne Damien , Letourneur Didier , Jandrot-Perrus Martine , Arocas Véronique , Richard Benjamin
Published: January 2006

Protease nexin-1 (PN-1) is a non-circulating pericellular serpin expressed by vascular cells. PN-1 inhibits different proteases but when associated with glycosaminoglycans, its activity is mainly directed towards thrombin. Fucoidans are sulphated polysaccharides which can interact with several serpins and have antithrombotic and anticoagulant properties in vivo with a lower hemorrhagic risk than heparin. The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of low (LMW) or high molecular weight (HMW) fucoidans to those of standard heparin and LMW heparin on PN-1 properties. Using surface-enhanced laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (SELDI-TOF MS) and affinity coelectrophoresis, we observed that polysaccharides bound to thrombin, PN-1 and the thrombin/PN-1 complex. Progress curve kinetics showed that LMW and HMW fucoidans accelerate thrombin inhibition by PN-1 (111 and 402 fold, respectively) whereas the acceleration by LMW heparin and standard heparin was only of 36– and of 307-fold, respectively. Moreover, the formation of PN-1/125I-thrombin complex was increased in the presence of heparin, HMW and LMW fucoidans, but barely by LMW heparin. The dose response followeda bell shape curve, again suggesting the formation of ternary complexes between thrombin, PN-1 and polysaccharides. We also investigated the ability of polysaccharides to remove PN-1 bound to the cell membrane of smooth muscle cells in culture. PN-1 was detached by fucoidans and heparins and was still able to inhibit thrombin. In conclusion, fucoidans reduce cell-associated PN-1 and thrombin/PN-1 complexes and increase the antithrombin activity of PN-1. The capacity of PN-1 to regulate the pericellular activity of thrombin amongst other proteases reinforces the therapeutical interest of fucoidans.
Modeling Global and Regional Net Primary Production under Elevated Atmospheric CO2: On a Potential Source of Uncertainty
Authors: El Maayar Mustapha , Ramankutty Navin , Kucharik Christopher J.
Published: January 2006

Terrestrial ecosystem models are built, among several reasons, to explore how the Earth’s biosphere responds to climate change and to the projected continual increase of atmospheric CO2 concentration. Many of these models adopt the Farquhar et al. approach, in which leaf carbon assimilation of C3 plants is regulated by two limitations depending on the rate of Rubisco activity and ribulose-1, 5-bisphosphate regeneration (RuBP). This approach was expanded upon by others to include a third limitation that expresses the occurrence, in some plant species, of a photosynthetic downregulation under high concentrations of ambient CO2. Several ecosystem models, however, constrain leaf photosynthesis using only two limitations according to the original formulation of Farquhar et al. and thus neglect the limitation that represents the downregulation of photosynthesis under elevated atmospheric CO2. In this study, the authors first reviewed the effect of elevated CO2 on photosynthesis of C3 plants, which illustrated that short-term observations are likely to considerably underestimate the number of plant species that exhibit a photosynthetic downregulation. Several recent long-term field observations have shown that such downregulation starts to be effective only after several seasons/years of plant exposure to elevated CO2. Second, an ecosystem model was used to illustrate that neglecting the photosynthetic downregulation may significantly bias predictions of net primary production of the middle and high latitudes under high atmospheric CO2 concentrations. Based on both review of field observations and results of simulations, the authors conclude that a more appropriate representation of plant physiology and choice of plant functional types may be required in ecosystem models in order to accurately simulate plant responses to changing environmental conditions.
Prediction of Law Enforcement Training Performance and Dysfunctional Job Performance With General Mental Ability, Personality, and Life History Variables
Authors: Cuttler Michael J. , Muchinsky Paul M.
Published: January 2006

Two studies were conducted on personnel in the field of law enforcement. Study 1 examined the predictability of law enforcement candidates who failed to complete either academy or field training versus a matched-case control sample who passed training. Study 2 examined the predictability of lawenforcement officers who were formally disciplined for inappropriate behavior on the job versus a matched-case control sample who were not disciplined. General mental ability, personality, and life history variables served as the predictors of these criteria. The predictive accuracy of a specially constructed life history veracity index (an internal validity scale) was also examined. The results revealed that both criteria were predictable, but with differential accuracy across the predictor types. These findings are discussed in the context of recent research on the selection of law enforcement personnel, the major constructs assessed in the study, and issues associated with longitudinal validational research.
Minimization, Denial, and Victim Blaming by Batterers
Authors: Henning Kris , Holdford Robert
Published: January 2006

Male domestic violence (DV) offenders often minimize their aggression or attribute blame to their partner. These distortions make it difficult to obtain accurate self-report information and men who engage in significant denial are less compliant with treatment. It is also commonly believed that batterers who minimize, deny, and blame their victim are more dangerous than men who accept responsibility for their actions. Data to support this latter opinion remain limited, however, and the few studies that are available have produced mixed findings. In this study, measures of minimization, denial, attributions, and socially desirable responding were collected from a large sample of convicted DV offenders (N = 2,824). Analyses examined the association between these scales and new DV police reports. Little evidence was found to support the hypothesis that minimization, denial, and victim blaming are associated with increased recidivism. Explanations for these findings and suggestions for further study are discussed.
Crisis (Hostage) Negotiation Training
Authors: Van Hasselt Vincent B. , Baker Monty T. , Romano Stephen J. , Schlessinger Kari M. , Zucker Marc , Dragone Romina , Perera Aimee L.
Published: January 2006

This study represents one of the first empirical investigations of the efficacy of crisis (hostage) negotiation training. Forty-five special agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) were assessed on a role-play test of crisis negotiation skill before and after completing the FBI's 2-week National Crisis Negotiation Course at the FBI Academy. This multiple-component, behaviorally based program focuses on the training of active list skills (e.g., paraphrasing, emotional labeling) and a number of other vital competencies requisite to successful diffusion and resolution of crisis situations. Results showed significant pre-post differences on nearly all active listening skills for course participants. Further, attempts to problem solve, often detrimental in early phases of crisis negotiation, decreased as related to training.
Engagement of Policing Ideals and Their Relationship to the Exercise of Discretionary Powers
Authors: Mendias Claudia , Kehoe E. James
Published: January 2006

For four vignettes that described minor criminal incidents, police officers indicated whether they would make an arrest and ranked the importance of four policing ideals in justifying their decision. These ideals were law enforcement, peace maintenance, procedural compliance, and assessing whether the protagonist accepted responsibility. Although an arrest was always warranted, the overall arrest ratewas 56%, and only10% of the officers always indicated an arrest. In justifying an arrest, law enforcement was ranked first on only 31% of occasions. Across arrests and nonarrests, the officers justified 66% of their actions using two combinations of ideals: lawprocedure and peace-procedure. Hence, the officers appeared to exercise their discretionary powers using one of two cognitive schemas to appraise each incident.
Construct Validity of the Youth Psychopathic Traits Inventory (YPI) and the Antisocial Process Screening Device (APSD) With Justice-Involved Adolescents
Authors: Poythress Norman G. , Dembo Richard , Wareham Jennifer , Greenbaum Paul E.
Published: January 2006

Two measures of psychopathic features in youths, the self-report version of the Antisocial Process Screening Device (APSD) and the Youth Psychopathic traits Inventory (YPI) were administered to 165 youths in a juvenile diversion program. For both measures, internal consistency was poor for the scales that assess the affective domain of psychopathic features; otherwise, internal consistency was excellent for the YPI and generally superior to that of the APSD. However, the published three-factor models for both measures did not replicate when examined using confirmatory factor analysis. Both measures obtained the expected correlations with measures of a variety of criminal justice (e.g., age of delinquency onset, past year delinquent behavior) and psychological constructs (e.g., internalizing and externalizing behavior), providing evidence of construct validity for both measures. The YPI appears to be the better measure for exploring the construct of psychopathy in adolescents. Recommendations are made concerning revisions to the APSD.
The shape of a global ethic
Authors: Attfield Robin
Published: January 2006

A global ethic needs to be cosmopolitan in a sense which is explained; this excludes certain kinds of communitarian ethic. Contracttheories, Kantianism, basic-rights theories, Ross-type deontology and theories of virtue ethics are reviewed and found to encounter severe problems. Consequentialist theories, however, are found capable of coping with Williams’ objections, and practice-consequentialist theories capable of coping with right-making practices and with Lenman's unpredictability objection. Variants that exclude from consideration unintended consequences, the results of omissions, or impacts on possible people, or which prioritize average over total outcomes, fail to improve on the Total View, which is argued to overcome objections based on population numbers and on good procedures, but which needs to be biocentric in scope. Theories of this kind are capable of coping with global problems, while also favouring alliances between global citizens of diverse normative outlooks.
Habermas’ turn?
Authors: Matuštík Martin Beck
Published: January 2006

How a thinker comes to adopt or change a view may be regarded as either a strictly theoretical or biographical issue. First, looking backward at my completed philosophical-political profile of Habermas, I elucidate how biographical methodology can yield a coherent yet dynamically evolving profile rather than a static portrait. Second, examining Habermas’ thinking after 2000, the year my published biography of him ends, I venture a biographical-philosophical hypothesis that in what appears to be Habermas’ turn after 11 September 2001, or in his decisive self-choice, he is faithful to the basic motives and core intuitions that brought him to critical theory.
Jean-Luc Nancy: a negative politics?
Authors: Wagner Andreas
Published: January 2006

Taking his critique of totalitarianizing conceptions of community as a starting point, this text examines Jean-Luc Nancy's work of an ‘ontology of plural singular being’ for its political implications. It argues that while at first this ontology seems to advocate a negative or an anti-politics only, it can also be read as a ‘theory of communicative praxis’ that suggests a certain ethos – in the form of a certain use of symbols (which is expressed only inaptly by the word ‘style’) that would render the ontological plurality of singulars perceptible and practically effective. Finally, some recent texts by Nancy even sidestep the ontology of being-with and face the question of what politics, faced with demands of justice, could be and what a democratic politics could provide. Both of these aspects in Nancy's work, however, still remain to be spelled out more politically.
Rorty's ethical de-divinization of the moralist self
Authors: Barber Michael D.
Published: January 2006

This article examines Richard Rorty's approach to the self in Contingency, Irony, and Solidarity. In spite of their differing philosophical bases, Rorty and Emmanuel Levinas converge methodologically in their treatments of the self by avoiding paradigmatic notions of human nature and a philosophical project of justification. Although Rorty refuses to prioritize a moralist account of the self over its romanticist rivals, his presentation relies on the reader's response to the ethical appeal of the other as depicted by Levinas: Rorty ultimately de-divinizes the moralist self on an ethical basis. Finally, a Levinasian approach would supplement Rorty's view of the self by manifesting: concern for victims of de-moralization, greater appreciation for philosophical rationality and justification, and acceptance of self-critically executed paternalistic interventions. In addition, Rorty's mistrust of universals converges with Kant's apprehension that ethical universalization could treat human beings as less than ends in themselves.
American Beauty: The Seduction of the Visual Image in the Culture of Technology
Authors: Goudreau Kim
Published: January 2006

The critical examination of the film American Beauty reveals characteristics illustrative of the form of culture coextensive with modern technological societies. This form of culture creates an imbalance favoring the aesthetical over the ethical dimensions of human orientation. Absorption into the aesthetical dimension of the electronic or digital visual image significantly reduces the capacity of culture to nurture a meaningful symbolic world. The relative absence of a meaningful symbolic world leaves both identity and social relationships without a foundation.
Machines and Human Beings in the Movies
Authors: van der Laan J. M.
Published: January 2006

Over the years, many movies have presented on-screen a struggle between machines and human beings. Typically, the machines have come to rule and threaten the existence of humanity. They must be conquered to ensure the survival of and to secure the freedom of the human race. Although these movies appear to expose the dangers of an autonomous and hegemonic technology and to champion the human being, they do not. Humans do not in the end triumph over technology but merge with the machine. Instead of liberation from technological domination, the movies in question depict as inevitable the total surrender and absorption of humanity to and into technology. These movies lead to a denial of the true conditions of our existence in technology. Many films could serve to illustrate the problem, but this study focuses on two representative film trilogies: The Terminator and The Matrix.
Models of Transparency and Accountability in the Biotech Age
Authors: Andersson Kjell , Drottz-Sjöberg Britt-Marie , Espejo Raul , Fleming Patricia Ann , Wene Clas-Otto
Published: January 2006

Today, societal decisions in areas of complexity are often dominated by one of three alternative ways: (a) by scientists, nowadays often in combination with commercial interest; (b) by politicians alone; and (c) by simply “laissez-faire,” or “the tyranny of small steps.” None of these three ways of decision making is fully democratic because they do not create enough awareness among the politicians and the general public. One reason is that the decision making basis becomes too narrowly framed and fragmented. Biotechnology will continue to feed society with new democratic challenges for many years, perhaps decades, to come. The initially promising ideas of participative and deliberative democracy do not seem to solve the awareness problem. Instead, the authors propose an approach with more structured efforts for awareness building with transparency and participation taking place within the framework of representative democracy.
The GMO-Nanotech (Dis)Analogy?
Authors: Sandler Ronald , Kay W. D.
Published: January 2006

The genetically-modified-organism (GMO) experience has been prominent in motivating science, industry, and regulatory communities to address the social and ethical dimensions of nanotechnology. However, there are some significant problems with the GMO-nanotech analogy. First, it overstates the likelihood of a GMO-like backlash against nanotechnology. Second, it invites misconceptions about the reasons for public engagement and social and ethical issues research as well as their appropriate roles in nanotech research, development, application, commercialization, and regulatory processes. After an explication of the standard GMO-Nanotech analogy, these two problems are discussed in turn.
Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries in Female Athletes
Authors: Hewett Timothy E. , Myer Gregory D. , Ford Kevin R.
Published: January 2006

The mechanism underlying gender disparity in anterior cruciate ligament injury risk is likely multifactorial in nature. Several theories have been proposed to explain the mechanisms underlying the gender difference in anterior cruciate ligament injury rates. These theories include the intrinsic variables of anatomical, hormonal, neuromuscular, and biomechanical differences between genders and extrinsic variables. Identification of both extrinsic and intrinsic risk factors associated with the anterior cruciate ligament injury mechanism may provide direction for targeted prophylactic treatment to high-risk individuals.
The multiple calculi of meaning
Authors: Richland Justin B.
Published: January 2006

This article builds on investigations of practices of interpretation by linguistic anthropologists who, in their pursuit of challenges to Speech Act Theory, have alluded to but not yet fully explored how members of the same speech community make use of multiple, complex, and sometimes competing meaning-making practices within the same speech event. The argument is made that contexts of debate and dispute are ideal sites for analyzing such practices as the multiple calculi of meaning insofar as discourses of argumentation offer explicit moments by and through which members of a single community proffer competing interpretations of troubling acts and events. To support this claim, insights gained from J.L. Austin's treatment of speech act infelicities and legal anthropology's ‘trouble-case’ methodology are employed to inform an interaction-based analysis that explores how competing Hopi interpretive practices are constituted in courtroom discourses between parties to probate disputes before the Hopi Tribal Court.
Feminist engagement with restorative justice
Authors: Daly Kathleen , Stubbs Julie
Published: January 2006

We analyse five areas of feminist engagement with restorative justice (RJ): theories of justice; the role of retribution in criminal justice; studies of gender (and other social relations) in RJ processes; the appropriateness of RJ for partner, sexual or family violence; and the politics of race and gender in making justice claims. Feminist engagement has focused almost exclusively on the appropriateness of RJ for sexual, partner or family violence, but there is a need to broaden the focus. We identify a wider spectrum of theoretical, political and empirical problems for future feminist analysis of RJ.
Beyond white man's justice
Authors: Hudson Barbara
Published: January 2006

This article proposes three principles which justice should incorporate if it is to move beyond the closures and exclusions of white man's justice. After a brief review of feminist and critical race theory literature that establishes the white, male character of justice in modern liberal societies, the principles of discursiveness, relationalism and reflectiveness are explained and discussed. Their implications for restorative justice are discussed. Oppression and inequality are suggested as concepts that can guide the operation, context and limits of discursiveness, relationalism and reflectiveness. In the final section, the problem of relativism against universalism is discussed, and its relevance to the development of restorative justice suggested.
Stopping the violence
Authors: Cameron Angela
Published: January 2006

This article maps out the current literature and trends in Canada in the area of restorative justice and intimate violence. It focuses on feminist and women-centred approaches to the debates and controversies in this area. The article concludes with a recommendation for a moratorium on new restorative justice initiatives dealing with intimate violence.