bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
An experimental test of whether bar instability contributes to the formation, periodicity and maintenance of pool–riffle sequences
Authors: Wilkinson Scott N. , Rutherfurd Ian D. , Keller Robert J.
Published: May 2008

Pool–riffle sequences (PRSs) are periodic river‐bed morphologies with wavelengths several times the channel width. Causes of PRS formation and maintenance are not clearly understood, which may limit the effectiveness of protection and rehabilitation measures. Some confusion has existed about whether the PRS morphology is the same as or distinct from alternate bars. In this paper we investigate whether the bar instability forming alternate bars also contributes to PRS formation, periodicity and maintenance. This was unclear because bar instability occurs only when the ratio of channel width/depth exceeds a critical value, generally understood to be approximately 10, which is larger than the width‐to‐depth ratio of many PRSs. A mobile‐bed physical model is used to test whether bar instability occurs in channels characteristic of PRS morphology, with low width‐to‐depth ratio, and high relative roughness. The physical model was scaled from a prototype PRS in a gravel and cobble bed river. Alternate bars formed in the model at channel width‐to‐depth ratios as low as 3·8. The wavelength of the alternate bars formed was generally 2·2–5 times channel width, which was similar to the prototype PRS. Therefore, bar instability can occur in virtually all PRSs, and it contributes to the widespread formation of periodic PRS morphology. The model showed that maintenance of the bar height in the prototype PRS also depends on variations in channel width. It is concluded that periodic PRSs are formed and maintained by the interaction between bar instability, and flow deflections associated with variations in channel geometry such as width variation. Resonance between bar instability and three‐dimensional bed forms such as alternate bars and variations in channel geometry. Variations in channel geometry are also important in determining the location and dimensions of individual pools and bars. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Oncolytic virotherapy as a personalized cancer vaccine
Authors: Li Qi‐Xiang , Liu Guohong , Wong‐Staal Flossie
Published: May 2008

Oncolytic virotherapy has demonstrated multimodal antitumor mechanisms in both preclinical and clinical settings for cancer treatment, including antitumor immunity. Compared with conventional immunotherapy, oncolytic viruses have the advantages of simultaneous cytoreduction and conferring personalized anticancer immunity, but without the need of personalized manufacture. Additionally, oncolytic viruses can be further engineered to delete immunosuppressive viral components and to insert transgenes that enhance antitumor immunity. Finally, combination with new immunomodulating agents (e.g., cyclophosphamide) or cell therapy approaches will likely further augment specific antitumor immunity of virotherapy. Virotherapy could become a new paradigm for potent, safe and practical therapeutic vaccines for cancer. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Adeno‐associated virus‐mediated gene transfer
Authors: Srivastava Arun
Published: May 2008

Although the remarkable versatility and efficacy of recombinant adeno‐associated virus 2 (AAV2) vectors in transducing a wide variety of cells and tissues in vitro, and in numerous pre‐clinical animal models of human diseases in vivo, have been well established, the published literature is replete with controversies with regard to the efficacy of AAV2 vectors in hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) transduction. A number of factors have contributed to these controversies, the molecular bases of which have begun to come to light in recent years. With the availability of several novel serotypes (AAV1 through AAV12), rational design of AAV capsid mutants, and strategies (self‐complementary vector genomes, hematopoietic cell‐specific promoters), it is indeed becoming feasible to achieve efficient transduction of HSC by AAV vectors. Using a murine serial bone marrow transplantation model in vivo, we have recently documented stable integration of the proviral AAV genome into mouse chromosomes, which does not lead to any overt hematological abnormalities. Thus, a better understanding of the AAV–HSC interactions, and the availability of a vast repertoire of novel serotype and capsid mutant vectors, are likely to have significant implications in the use of AAV vectors in high‐efficiency transduction of HSCs as well as in gene therapy applications involving the hematopoietic system. J. Cell. Biochem. 105: 17–24, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The effect of rottlerin in calcium regulation in HMC‐1560 cells is mediated by a PKC‐δ independent effect
Authors: Alonso Eva , Alfonso Amparo , Löber Kristin , Botana Luis M.
Published: May 2008

The human mast cell line (HMC‐1560) is a good model for Ca2+ signaling studies, because intracellular alkalinization is the mainly histamine release stimulus without changes in the intracellular Ca2+ levels. This fact allows us to study Ca2+ changes without degranulation, since this process can affected cellular viability. Ionomycin and thapsigargin have been fully used for induced Ca2+ influx across SOC channels. When HMC‐1560 cells are incubated with rottlerin, 5 µM, for 5 min a strong inhibition of ionomycin‐induced Ca2+ influx is observed. However, when thapsigargin stimulates Ca2+ influx, rottlerin did not show any effect on Ca2+ levels. This fact point two possibilities, ionomycin and thapsigargin might activate different SOC channels or that these drugs might activate the same channel but in a different way in HMC‐1560 cells. The rottlerin inhibition of ionomycin‐induced Ca2+ influx is PKC‐δ independent and this effect is not related with the store depletion, since rottlerin has the same effect when it is added before or after the stores are empty. FCCP, a know uncoupler of oxidative phosphorylation in mitochondria, induces the same inhibition in ionomycin Ca2+ influx than rottlerin which point to the mitochondria as a cellular target to rottlerin. J. Cell. Biochem. 105: 255–261, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Every longest circuit of a 3‐connected, K3,3‐minor free graph has a chord
Authors: Birmelé Etienne
Published: May 2008

Carsten Thomassen conjectured that every longest circuit in a 3‐connected graph has a chord. We prove the conjecture for graphs having no K3,3 minor, and consequently for planar graphs. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Graph Theory 58: 293–298, 2008
Antisense suppression of tau in cultured rat oligodendrocytes inhibits process formation
Authors: Gordon David , Kidd Grahame J. , Smith Ross
Published: May 2008

The microtubule‐associated protein tau is integral to neuronal process development and has a role in the pathogenesis of several neurodegenerative conditions. We examined possible roles for tau in cultured oligodendrocyte process formation by using antisense oligonucleotide treatment. Inhibition of tau synthesis with single oligonucleotides resulted in decreased tau protein levels and significantly shorter cellular processes. Simultaneous use of two nonoverlapping oligonucleotides caused a major reduction in tau levels and severely inhibited process outgrowth. The timing of oligonucleotide addition to oligodendrocyte cultures was important, with addition of antisense at the time of plating into culture having the most significant effect on morphology through reduction of tau expression. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Two motifs within the tau microtubule‐binding domain mediate its association with the hsc70 molecular chaperone
Authors: Sarkar Mitul , Kuret Jeff , Lee Gloria
Published: May 2008

Tau, a microtubule‐associated protein with multiple phosphorylation sites, forms aggregates that correlate with neurodegeneration in Alzheimer's disease and several other neurodegenerative diseases, termed tauopathies. Hsc70 is a highly expressed constitutive chaperone that can drive conformational change in proteins, prevent the aggregation of its substrates, recognize misfolded substrates, and facilitate their degradation. Here, we show that hsc70 binds to the microtubule‐binding domain of tau in vitro and in vivo, without an absolute requirement for tau phosphorylation. Binding requires a carboxy‐terminal region of hsc70 comprising its peptide‐binding and variable domains. We have identified two hsc70 binding sites on tau and hydrophobic amino acids crucial for hsc70 binding. Interestingly, these hsc70 binding sites correspond to the β‐structure elements that have been previously reported to facilitate tau aggregation. Thus, it is possible that hsc70 binding might directly inhibit tau–tau interactions that precede tau oligomerization and aggregation. Our results provide an important stimulus for research into how the hsc70–tau interaction might affect tau fate in normal cells and in disease. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Hypoxia‐induced deactivation of NGF‐mediated ERK1/2 signaling in hippocampal cells: Neuroprotection by acetyl‐L‐carnitine
Authors: Barhwal Kalpana , Hota Sunil Kumar , Prasad Dipti , Singh Shashi Bala , Ilavazhagan G.
Published: May 2008

Cellular and molecular pathways underlying hypoxic neurotoxicity and cell death are multifaceted and complex. Although many potentially neuroprotective agents have been investigated, the protection conferred is often inadequate, resulting in their insufficient clinical utility. In light of the above, we investigated the therapeutic potential and mechanism of action of acetyl‐L‐carnitine (ALCAR) in protecting hippocampal neurons from hypoxia‐induced neurotoxicity and cellular death. Results showed decreased viability of hippocampal cells when exposed to hypoxia (3% O2) for 48 hr along with concomitant membrane depolarization, adenosine triphosphate depletion, DNA fragmentation, accentuated free radical production, and lactate dehydrogenase activity. Pretreatment with ALCAR significantly attenuated hypoxia‐induced cytotoxicity in a dose‐dependent manner and improved cellular glutathione levels and cytochrome c oxidase activity compared with normoxic controls. Supplementation of ALCAR also prevented apoptosis by down‐regulating caspase‐3 levels, cytochrome c release, and p‐Bcl‐2 expression. A decrease in nerve growth factor (NGF) was observed in hypoxic stress despite increased phosphorylation of ERK1/2 (extracellular signal–related kinase) and its downstream effector, Elk‐1. Supplementation of ALCAR, on the other hand, up‐regulated NGF and tyrosine kinase A expression along with concomitant increase in ERK1/2 phosphorylation, thus enhancing cell survival. ALCAR therefore provides neuroprotection by stabilizing mitochondrial membrane, restoring the cholinergic transmission, and more importantly, it stimulates NGF receptors, thus triggering cell survival pathway via ERK phosphorylation. Therefore, ALCAR may be useful as an effective therapeutic agent for hypoxic stress and associated neurodegenerative diseases. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Low‐density lipoproteins from embryonic cerebrospinal fluid are required for neural differentiation
Authors: Parada Carolina , Escolà‐Gil Joan Carles , Bueno David
Published: May 2008

During development, embryonic cerebrospinal fluid(E‐CSF) is involved in cell survival, proliferation, and neurogenesis of the neuroepithelial progenitor cells. We have recently identified a complex pattern of proteins in chick and rat E‐CSF, which include apolipoproteins. Apolipoproteins play a critical role in the function of lipoproteins by interacting with receptors to deliver the lipid cargo to target cells. However, the function of these E‐CSF apolipoproteins is unclear. Here, we characterized the chick E‐CSF lipoprotein profile and analyzed the role of its lipoprotein fractions in neural differentiation. We found that the lipoprotein pattern of chick E‐CSF differed significantly from that of adult plasma, with a major proportion of apoB‐containing lipoproteins. Further, supplementation of lipoprotein‐depleted fraction with E‐CSF very low‐density lipoprotein (VLDL) and low‐density lipoprotein (LDL) resulted in 25% and 60%, respectively, of the neurogenesis induced by the whole E‐CSF in chick neuroepithelium explants, whereas high‐density lipoproteins caused the lowest induction. We further investigated the potential role of E‐CSF LDL in vivo by analyzing neural differentiation in the neuroepithelium of wild‐type (WT) and LDL receptor–knockout (LDLR KO) mouse embryos. E‐CSF lipids were mainly associated with LDL in both WT and LDLR KO mice, and the latter exhibited a substantial increase in LDL lipids compared with WT mice. Externally, LDLR KO embryos were apparently normal, and they exhibited up to 26% reduction in the number of neural differentiating cells in comparison with WT mice, although this finding was not statistically significant. These data strongly suggest that E‐CSF LDL plays a critical role during early neural differentiation. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Microsomal epoxide hydrolase deletion enhances tyrosine hydroxylase phosphorylation in mice after MPTP treatment
Authors: Liu Mei , Hunter Randy , Nguyen Xuan V. , Kim Hyoung‐Chun , Bing Guoying
Published: May 2008

Parkinson's disease (PD) is the most prevalent neurodegenerative movement disorder. Epidemiological studies have suggested most cases of PD are linked to environmental risk factors. Microsomal epoxide hydrolase (mEH) is a conserved enzyme that catalyzes hydrolysis of a large number of epoxide intermediates such as drugs and epoxides of environmental toxins. We hypothesize that changes in mEH are involved in the pathogenesis of PD by modulating the vulnerability of dopaminergic neurons to environmental stress. Herein we reported that acute treatment with the neurotoxin MPTP (1‐methyl‐4‐phemyl‐1,2,3,6‐tetrahydropyridine) markedly increased the mEH immunoreactivity in the nigrostriatal system of C57BL/6 mice. Next, mEH knockout (KO) mice were used, and we found that tyrosine hydroxylase (TH)‐positive cell loss was significantly lower in the substantia nigra of mEH KO mice compared with wild‐type (WT) mice after MPTP treatment. The mean dopamine turnover ratios were significantly increased in MPTP‐treated mEH KO mice compared with WT. In addition, TH is the rate‐limiting enzyme for dopamine biosynthesis, and its activity is mainly regulated by TH phosphorylation at Ser‐31 (pSer31) and Ser‐40 (pSer40). Double immunofluorescence showed that both pSer31 and pSer40 are completely colocalized in total TH‐positive cells. However, immunoblotting confirmed that there was a significantly higher level of pSer31 in mEH‐KO mice when compared with WT mice after MPTP, and no marked differences among TH and its phosphorylation levels occurred after saline injection. These data suggested that mEH deficiency facilitates TH phosphorylation in the nigrostriatal dopamine system, which may be associated with an increased resistance of dopaminergic neurons to environmental toxins. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Cytotoxic effect of azaspiracid‐2 and azaspiracid‐2‐methyl ester in cultured neurons: Involvement of the c‐Jun N‐terminal kinase
Authors: Vale Carmen , Wandscheer Carolina , Nicolaou K.C. , Frederick Michael O. , Alfonso Carmen , Vieytes Mercedes R. , Botana Luis M.
Published: May 2008

Human poisoning by azaspiracids (AZAs) has emerged as an increasing problem in Europe in recent years. Azaspiracid‐2 (AZA‐2) is one of the most abundant azaspiracids in nature. Although AZA‐2 was recently involved in several toxic episodes leading to human intoxications, there is no information available about its mechanism of action or its cytotoxic effect in cellular models. This paper reports on the neurotoxic effect of azaspiracid‐2 and its potential cellular targets. We explore the cellular and cytotoxic effects of AZA‐2 and AZA‐2‐methyl ester (where the carboxylic acid moiety of AZA‐2 was converted to the corresponding methyl ester) in cerebellar neurons. Pharmacological tools were used to analyze the role of different signal transduction pathways in the toxicity of AZA‐2. The neurotoxicity of AZA‐2 and AZA‐2‐methyl ester was developmentally regulated, exhibiting a higher cytotoxicity in younger cells (2–3 div). After excluding several signal transduction pathways, we found that inhibition of the mitogen‐activated protein kinase JNK completely prevented the cytotoxic effect of AZA‐2 in neurons. Furthermore, neuronal exposure to AZA‐2 or AZA‐2‐methyl ester caused an increase in the amount of total and phosphorylated JNK and produced nuclear accumulation of the protein. The results presented here point to a common target for AZA‐1 and AZA‐2 and constitute the first experimental approach to investigate the cytotoxicity of AZA‐2 in vitro, establishing an initial approach to probe the mechanism of action of these group of natural toxins. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Effect of environmental enrichment on fearful behavior and gastrin‐releasing peptide receptor expression in the amygdala of prenatal stressed rats
Authors: Qian Jing , Zhou Dong , Pan Fang , Liu Chun‐xi , Wang Yu‐wei
Published: May 2008

Prenatal stressed offspring exhibit more fearful behavior in behavioral tests, which can be reversed by environmental enrichment (EE). However, the physiological basis of these phenomena remains unclear. Previous studies revealed that abnormal fearful behavior of prenatally stressed offspring may be a consequence of increased activities of CRFergic systems (corticotropin‐releasing factor and its receptors) in the amygdala. Gastrin‐releasing peptide receptors (GRPR) also have an important role in regulating amygdala‐dependent, fear‐related learning. The aim of this study was to examine weather prenatal stress and EE can affect the expression of GRPR in the amygdala. We reported here that prenatal chronic stress (subjected to immobilization and bright light stress for 45 min three times per day) caused increased fearfulness in defensive withdrawal test but had no effect on the expression of GRPR in the amygdala. However, enriched environment housing treatment on postnatal days 21–60 can dramatically increase the expression of GRPR in amygdala and reduce fearfulness in the defensive withdrawal test. Our results demonstrate for the first time that EE can modify the expression of GRPR in the amygdala, which might contribute to our understanding of the physiological effects of environmental enrichment. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
WTC medical monitoring and treatment program: Comprehensive health care response in aftermath of disaster
Authors: Moline Jacqueline M. , Herbert Robin , Levin Stephen , Stein Diane , Luft Benjamin J. , Udasin Iris G. , Landrigan Philip J.
Published: May 2008

The attack on the World Trade Center (WTC) on September 11th, 2001 exposed thousands of individuals to an unprecedented mix of chemicals, combustion products and micronized building materials.

Clinicians at the Mount Sinai Irving Selikoff Center for Occupational and Environmental Medicine, in partnership with affected stakeholder organizations, developed a medical screening program to evaluate the health status of workers and volunteers who spent time at the WTC site and thus sustained exposure in the aftermath of September 11th. Standardized questionnaires were adapted for use in this unique population and all clinicians underwent training to ensure comparability.

The WTC Worker and Volunteer Medical Screening Program (MSP) received federal funding in April 2002 and examinations began in July 2002. The MSP and the follow up medical monitoring program has successfully recruited nearly 22,000 responders, and serves as a model for the rapid development of a medical screening program to assess the health of populations exposed to environmental hazards as a result of natural and man‐made disasters.

The MSP constitutes a successful screening program for WTC responders. We discuss the challenges that confronted the program; the absence of a prior model for the rapid development of a program to evaluate results from mixed chemical exposures; little documentation of the size of the exposed population or of who might have been exposed; and uncertainty about both the nature and potential severity of immediate and long‐term health effects. Mt Sinai J Med 75:67–75, 2008 © 2008 Mount Sinai School of Medicine
Mental health of workers and volunteers responding to events of 9/11: Review of the literature
Authors: Bills Corey B. , Levy Nancy A. S. , Sharma Vansh , Charney Dennis S. , Herbert Robin , Moline Jacqueline , Katz Craig L.
Published: May 2008

Background: Disaster workers responding to the events of September 11th were exposed to traumatic events. No study has systematically investigated the diverse mental health status and needs of the heterogeneous population of disaster workers responding to the events of September 11th.

Methods: Using PubMed and Medline and the search terms of “September 11, 2001” or “September 11” or “9/11”or “WTC” or “World Trade Center”, the authors reviewed all articles that examined the mental health outcomes of workers at one of the three September 11th crash sites or the Fresh Kills landfill in New York City.

Results: In total, 25 articles met study inclusion criteria, often using different methodologies. The articles described varying degrees of mental health symptomatology, risk factors for adverse mental health outcomes, and utilization of mental health services.

Conclusions: The mental health needs of workers exposed to the events of September 11th ranged from little to no care to pharmacotherapy. A range of risk factors, including exposures at the WTC site and occupational activities, impacted on these needs but the role of specific mental health interventions was less clear. These findings suggest the need for a future program for disaster workers consisting of an accessible mental health treatment service supported by comprehensive postdisaster surveillance and emphasis on pre‐disaster mental wellness. A number of areas for further consideration and study were identified, including the need for a more diverse exploration of involved responder populations as well as investigation of potential mental health outcomes beyond post‐traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Mt Sinai J Med 75:115–127, 2008 © 2008 Mount Sinai School of Medicine
Standardization of spirometry in assessment of responders following man‐made disasters: World Trade Center worker and volunteer medical screening program
Authors: Enright Paul , Skloot Gwen , Herbert Robin
Published: May 2008

Background: Spirometry is the most commonly used pulmonary function test to screen individuals for suspected lung disease. It is also used for screening workers with exposures to agents associated with pulmonary diseases. Although the American Thoracic Society (ATS) provides guidelines for spirometers and spirometry techniques, many factors are not standardized, so that results from individual pulmonary function laboratories vary substantially. These differences can create substantial difficulties in using data pooled from multiple sites to understand health consequences of disasters that involve exposures to pulmonary toxins. This article describes the approach used to minimize these differences for a consortium of institutions who are providing medical monitoring examinations to World Trade Center (WTC) responders. The protocol improved upon the minimal ATS guidelines.

Methods: Spirometric measurements were obtained before and after use of a bronchodilator. A fourth‐generation spirometer was chosen that exceeded ATS spirometer accuracy standards. The accuracy was verified at the beginning of each day of testing. Technologists who performed the spirometry tests were centrally trained and certified and received regular reports on their performance. Reference values and normal ranges were obtained from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III) data set. A standardized interpretation flowchart was followed to reduce misclassification rates for airway obstruction and restriction. Patients with spirometric abnormalities were referred for more extensive diagnostic testing.

Results: More than 12,000 spirometry tests were performed during the first examination. The 20 spirometers used at the 6 participating institutions maintained accuracy within 3% for more than 4 years. Overall, more than 80% of the test sessions met ATS quality goals. Spirometry abnormality rates exceeded those obtained for adults who participated in the NHANES III survey.

Conclusions: The program allowed standardization of the performance and interpretation of spirometry results across multiple institutions. This facilitated reliable and rapid diagnosis of lung disease in the large number of WTC responders screened. We recommend this approach for postdisaster pulmonary evaluations in other settings. Mt Sinai J Med 75:109–114, 2008 © 2008 Mount Sinai School of Medicine
Upper and lower respiratory diseases after occupational and environmental disasters
Authors: Prezant David J. , Levin Stephen , Kelly Kerry J. , Aldrich Thomas K.
Published: May 2008

Respiratory consequences from occupational and environmental disasters are the result of inhalation exposures to chemicals, particulate matter (dusts and fibers) and/or the incomplete products of combusion that are often liberated during disasters such as fires, building collapses, explosions and volcanoes. Unfortunately, experience has shown that environmental controls and effective respiratory protection are often unavailable during the first days to week after a large‐scale disaster.

The English literature was reviewed using the key words—disaster and any of the following: respiratory disease, pulmonary, asthma, bronchitis, sinusitis, pulmonary fibrosis, or sarcoidosis.

Respiratory health consequences after aerosolized exposures to high‐concentrations of particulates and chemicals can be grouped into 4 major caterogies: 1) upper respiratory disease (chronic rhinosinusitis and reactive upper airways dysfunction syndrome), 2) lower respiratory diseases (reactive [lower] airways dysfunction syndrome, irritant‐induced asthma, and chronic obstructive airways diseases), 3) parenchymal or interstitial lung diseases (sarcoidosis, pulmonary fibrosis, and bronchiolitis obliterans, and 4) cancers of the lung and pleura.

This review describes several respiratory consequences of occupational and environmental disasters and uses the World Trade Center disaster to illustrate in detail the consequences of chronic upper and lower respiratory inflammation. Mt Sinai J Med 75:89–100, 2008. © 2008 Mount Sinai School of Medicine
Impact of september 11 World Trade Center disaster on children and pregnant women
Authors: Landrigan Philip J. , Forman Joel , Galvez Maida , Newman Brooke , Engel Stephanie M. , Chemtob Claude
Published: May 2008

Background: Children are uniquely sensitive to toxic exposures in the environment. This sensitivity reflects children's disproportionately heavy exposures coupled with the biologic vulnerability that is a consequence of their passage through the complex transitions of early development.

Methods and Results: To assess effects on children's health associated with the attacks on the World Trade Center (WTC) of September 11, 2001, research teams at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine and other academic health centers in New York City launched a series of clinical and epidemiologic studies. Mount Sinai investigators undertook a prospective analysis of pregnancy outcomes in 182 women who were pregnant on September 11, 2001, and who had been either inside or within 0.5 miles of the WTC at the time of the attacks; they found a doubling in incidence of intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) among infants born to exposed mothers as compared to infants born to unexposed women in northern Manhattan. A Columbia research team examined pregnancy outcomes in 329 women who lived, worked or gave birth in lower Manhattan in the 9 months after September 11; they found that these women gave birth to infants with significantly lower birth weight and shorter length than women living at greater distances from Ground Zero. NYU investigators documented increased numbers of new asthma cases and aggravations of preexisting asthma in children living in lower Manhattan. Mount Sinai mental health researchers documented a significant increase in mental health problems in children who directly witnessed the attacks and subsequent traumatic events; these problems were most severe in children with a past history of psychological trauma. The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene established a WTC Registry that has enrolled over 70,000 persons of all ages in lower Manhattan and will follow the health of these populations to document on a continuing basis the health consequences of September 11. Mt Sinai J Med 75:129–134, 2008. © 2008 Mount Sinai School of Medicine
Does memantine induce bradycardia? A study in the French PharmacoVigilance Database
Authors: Gallini Adeline , Sommet Agnès , Montastruc Jean‐Louis
Published: May 2008

Objective

To review the cardiovascular adverse drug reactions (ADRs) with memantine reported to the French PharmacoVigilance Database.

Methods

We reviewed all the observations of cardiovascular ADRs with memantine reported to the French PharmacoVigilance Database up to May 2007. We recorded the characteristics of patients (age, sex and underlying disease) and of ADRs (nature, seriousness, delay in occurrence, evolution, imputability).

Results

After exclusion of 16 cases, the cardiac origin of which was not clearly assessed, 36 cardiac ADRs with memantine were recorded between its commercialisation in France (July 2003) and May 2007. These ADRs consisted of 18 reports of bradycardia and 18 reports of various cardiovascular ADRs (orthostatic hypotension with fall[6] electrocardiogram perturbations[4] fainting[2] malaise with arterial hypotension[2] arterial hypotension and acute renal failure[1] fatal heart failure[1] sudden death[2]). Among the 18 reports of bradycardia, 7 cases occurred with memantine as the sole suspected drug and all but one resolved after memantine's discontinuation.

Conclusion

Cardiovascular properties of memantine seem to be complex and remain quite unclear. Despite its drawbacks and its descriptive design, our study suggests that memantine could determine some cardiac ADRs, especially bradycardia; the mechanism of which remains unexplained. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Public-Private Partnership: Elements for a Project-Based Management Typology
Authors: Mazouz Bachir , Facal Joseph , Viola Jean-Michel
Published: May 2008

The polysemic concept of public-private partnership (PPP) covers a great diversity of institutional arrangements. In this paper, we propose a typology based on the management of public projects that constitute partnerships with private firms. Our typology is founded on two key variables: (1) the proximity of the target and (2) the capacity to generate projects. We can then identify four distinct models of PPP: situational, elementary, symbiotic, and forward-looking. The management challenges, the risks, and the major issues particular to each type of PPP are described in order to enlighten management teams and contribute to the production of useful knowledge in the field.
Impact of Organizational and Project Factors on Acceptance and Usage of Project Management Software and Perceived Project Success
Authors: Bani Ali Abdullah Saeed , Anbari Frank T. , Money William H.
Published: May 2008

This study surveyed 497 participants to determine the factors that affect project professionals’ acceptance of project management software and the perceived impact of software usage on their performance. The study finds that greater information quality and higher project complexity are the dominant factors explaining higher levels of system utilization, that greater system functionality and ease of use have a significant positive relationship with increased software usage, and that a strong positive relationship exists between higher usage of project management software and perceived project managers’ improved performance. Inconsistent with prior research, more training was not found to be associated with project management software usage. The study explains more than 40% of the variation in project management software acceptance and adds project management software usage to project success factors by empirically confirming for the first time that project management software enhances project professionals’ perceived performance and provides a positive impact on the results of their projects. The study provides practical implications for project professionals, their organizations, senior management, decision makers, software developers, and vendors. These findings support the call for further research that investigates the diffusion of information technologies in the project management field and their impact on project success and competitive position.
Motivation in Project Management: The Project Manager's Perspective
Authors: Schmid Bernhard , Adams Jonathan
Published: May 2008

Project motivation is a key aspect to a successful project, yet few studies exist that shed light on this important subject. This article reviews the current literature and theoretical aspects of motivation and provides an analysis of the data. A survey was conducted by soliciting project managers to tell how they perceive their ability to influence motivation. In total, 115 certified project managers responded to the survey. A discussion and suggestions for future research follow the data.
Blending Service Provider-Client Project Teams to Achieve Client Trust: Implications for Project Team Trust, Cohesion, and Performance
Authors: Webber Sheila Simsarian
Published: May 2008

The objective of the present research is to examine the effectiveness of “teaming with the client,” using blended service provider-client teams as an organizational strategy for achieving effective co-production engagements. The results show that having a blended team creates a more trusting relationship between the project manager and client. The client's trust results in greater team trust, team cohesion, and team performance. However, the research also demonstrates an important limitation to the use of blended teams. In blended teams, when the client does not trust the project manager, significant problems arise for the team itself as compared to non-blended teams.
The Impact of Project Managers’ Communication Competencies: Validation and Extension of a Research Model for Virtuality, Satisfaction, and Productivity on Project Teams
Authors: Henderson Linda S.
Published: May 2008

Current research continues to establish the importance of communication in the management of projects. However, little is known about the behavioral aspects of project managers’ communication competency especially as they relate to crucial outcomes in virtual environments. This article reports on a survey-based research study of 564 respondents from the Chief Project Officer Web site that validates and extends a research model of project managers’ competencies in decoding and encoding communication, the satisfaction and productivity of their team members, and the degree of virtuality present in the project. The findings indicate that project managers’ competencies in decoding and encoding communication significantly contribute to team member satisfaction and productivity. In addition, geographic dispersion plays an unexpected and significant role in how project managers’ competency in decoding and encoding communication impacts team member satisfaction and productivity.
Information Systems Project Management Decision Making: The Influence of Experience and Risk Propensity
Authors: Huff Richard A. , Prybutok Victor R.
Published: May 2008

Managing information systems (IS) projects is a notoriously difficult task. The project manager is a crucial player in a successful IS development project. This research examines how a project manager's prior experience and risk propensity influence his or her decision making. An experiment was conducted that showed that both experience and risk propensity have significant influence on the decisions made.
Project Management for New Product Development
Authors: Pons Dirk
Published: May 2008

This article examines the intersection of the project management body of knowledge with new product development (NPD). The area under examination is the development of consumer products that have a significant engineering production content. It is concluded that the project management method, with its structured task definition and software tools, is gen-erally useful for managing NPD projects. However, in some areas, project management incom-pletely meets the needs of NPD. Specifically, NPD is characterized by complex interrelated activities and large uncertainties about precisely which solution path will be taken, such that the full scope of the project can often not be anticipated beforehand. The article identifies that more research is required to validate the stage-gate and lean project management methods. Whereas cost is the primary focus in project management, with NPD there is a need to consider both cost and income (from product sales) in making strategic decisions. Communication and human resource management are important factors in NPD success, but existing project management perspectives have little to say about the social and behavioral aspects, such as organizational culture, team dynamics, and leadership styles, especially not for NPD. Current project management practices are very much based on “output control” (targets, appraisal, rewards, management by objectives), which the human resource management literature identifies as inhibiting innovation. There is also likely to exist an intersection, as yet poorly understood, between project management and knowledge management, particularly for innovation processes such as NPD. For practitioners, the main message is that the project management method provides a basic, but imperfect, tool for managing NPD. The relevance for researchers is that gaps have been identified in the project management method as it is cur-rently applied to NPD. Several places are identified where further research is required to (a) better understand the causality between factors (e.g., human resource management) and project success and (b) adapt project management methods to better serve the NPD process.
Ru(II) complexes and light: molecular tools for biomolecules
Authors: Herman Leslie , Ghosh Sumana , Defrancq Eric , Mesmaekera Andrée Kirsch‐De
Published: May 2008

Ruthenium(II) (Ru(II)) complexes are the focus of numerous research works with various applications mainly due to their attractive photophysical and photochemical properties. In biological research areas, in particular, they are developed as efficient photoprobes or photosensors of biological molecules. More interestingly specific Ru(II) complexes bearing π‐deficient ligands such as TAP = 1,4,5,8‐tetraazaphenanthrene, bpz = 2,2′‐bipyrazyl or HAT =  1,4,5,8,9,12‐hexaazatriphenylene exhibit interesting photoreactivity with biomolecules (DNA, polypeptides). The photoreactions are initiated by a photo‐electron transfer from the biomolecule to the excited metal complex. A back electron transfer (BET) succeeds this primary process. However in competition with this BET, a DNA photocleavage and/or formation of adducts of the complex with guanine units of DNA or with tryptophan (Trp) residues of polypeptides can take place. In this review we highlight the studies of these photo‐adducts carried out by our laboratories, and connected to some applications. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The use of XPS spectra for the study of reaction mechanisms: the atom inventory method
Authors: Humeres Eduardo , de Castro Karen Mendes , Moreira Regina de F. P. M. , Schreiner Wido H. , Aliev Abil E. , Canle Moisés , Santaballa J. Arturo , Fernández Isabel
Published: May 2008

X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) allows the analysis of the surface atomic composition of a solid and can be used for mechanistic studies of solid–gas and solid–liquid reactions. The change of atomic composition of a surface after a reaction can be calculated considering hypothetical mechanisms based on the known reactivity of the organic moieties bound to the solid surface. Atom inventory of the elements involved in the reactions was used to quantify the components of the XPS spectrum after the reaction and consequently the change of concentration in at%. The method was used to study the basic hydrolysis and photolysis of the intermediates bound to the carbon matrix after the reduction of SO2 on activated carbon. Consistent mechanisms were postulated for these reactions. Basic hydrolysis hydrolyzed the sultine intermediate, and the attack of hydroxide ion on the episulfide formed a sulfide anion, eliminating S2− in a consecutive step. Laser photolysis of modified activated carbon in t‐butanol showed the insertion of the organic moiety in the carbon matrix with expulsion of an SO2 radical anion that oxidized to ${\rm SO}_4^{2 - } $. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Some effects of the initiator on the cationic polymerization of alkenes
Authors: Plesch Peter H. , Austin James C.
Published: May 2008

The content of this article is indicated by what could be its full title: “An Explanation of the dependence of the rate of the cationic polymerizations of alkenes and of the DP of their products, on the reaction variables, especially the size of the anionic moiety of the initiator.” We continue here the discussion started in 1965 and show mathematically how the theory of dieidic polymerizations by unpaired and paired cations can explain why some of these polymerizations become faster with falling temperature, why the Arrhenius plot of the DP of the polymers obtained from most such systems shows a discontinuity or kink, and also how the temperature of minimum rate, TM, and that at which the kink occurs, TK, depend on the reaction variables, namely the concentrations of monomer, m, and of initiator, c, and the a, D, and T (interionic distance in the ion‐pair, dielectric constant of the reaction mixture and temperature). Our treatment explains why the most effective way of achieving the economically desirable aim, to make the longest polymers at the highest possible temperatures, is by maximizing the product a.D, so as to increase the TK, preferably by the use of polar solvents and initiators with large anions. The choice of such combinations by several investigators, but for other, vaguer, reasons, is given here a theoretical basis. Our argument is illustrated by Literature examples and is presented in the form of a new diagram (the Plesch‐Austin plot) which shows the TK as a function of a.D for several systems. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 4265–4284, 2008
Novel narrow‐band‐gap conjugated copolymers containing phenothiazine‐arylcyanovinyl units for organic photovoltaic cell applications
Authors: Li Kuang‐Chieh , Hsu Ying‐Chan , Lin Jiann‐T'suen , Yang Chang‐Chung , Wei Kung‐Hwa , Lin Hong‐Cheu
Published: May 2008

A series of novel narrow‐band‐gap copolymers (P1‐P12) composed of alkyl‐substituted fluorene (FO) units and six analogous mono‐ and bis(2‐aryl‐2‐cyanovinyl)‐10‐hexylphenothiazine monomers (M1‐M6) were synthesized by a palladium‐catalyzed Suzuki coupling reaction with two different feed in ratios of FO to M1‐M6 (molar ratio = 3:1 and 1:1). The absorption spectra of polymers P1‐P12 exhibited broad peaks located in the UV and visible regions from 400 to 800 nm with optical band gaps at 1.55–2.10 eV, which fit near the wavelength of the maximum solar photon reflux. Electrochemical experiments displayed that the reversible p‐ and n‐doping processes of copolymers were partially reversible, and the proper HOMO/LUMO levels enabled a high photovoltaic open‐circuit voltage. As blended with [6,6]‐phenyl C61 butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) as an electron acceptor in bulk heterojunction photovoltaic devices, narrow‐band‐gap polymers P1‐P12 as electron donors showed significant photovoltaic performance which varied with the intramolecular donor‐acceptor interaction and their mixing ratios to PCBM. Under 100 mW/cm2 of AM 1.5 white‐light illumination, the device of copolymer P12 produced the highest preliminary result having an open‐circuit voltage of 0.64 V, a short‐circuit current of 2.70 mA/cm2, a fill factor of 0.29, and an energy conversion efficiency of 0.51%. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 4285–4304, 2008
A humidity blocker approach to overcoming the humidity interference with cationic photopolymerization
Authors: Chen Zhigang , Zhang Ying , Chisholm Bret. J. , Webster Dean C.
Published: May 2008

A humidity blocker approach to overcoming the humidity interference with cationic photopolymerization is proposed and validated. Environmental humidity is one of the major interfering factors in cationic photopolymerization, and cationic photopolymerization is found to be inhibited by high humidity. When curing cycloaliphatic epoxide based cationic UV curable materials flexibilized by various reactive diluents under different humidity conditions, it was found that the more hydrophobic materials exhibited higher monomer conversion under higher humidity. To obtain cationic UV curable materials that are less influenced by humidity, a humidity blocker approach was proposed and monomer conversion of materials containing both hydroxy‐functional reactive diluents and epoxy‐siloxane were examined using real‐time FTIR. The hydroxy‐functional reactive diluents act as an internal hydroxyl source that enhances monomer conversion through chain transfer mechanism, and the hydrophobic epoxy‐siloxane acts as a humidity blocker, mitigating the inhibiting effects of humidity. Cationic UV curable materials with an optimized combination of these two components exhibited higher and more consistent monomer conversion under a range humidity conditions. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 4344–4351, 2008
Elevated IRT levels in African‐American infants: Implications for newborn screening in an ethnically diverse population
Authors: Giusti Robert ,   New York State Cystic Fibrosis Newborn Screening Consortium
Published: May 2008

During the first 4 years of newborn screening (NBS) for Cystic Fibrosis (CF) in New York there was a statistically significant, twofold greater relative risk of an Immunoreactive Trypsinogen (IRT) level greater than 95% in African‐American infants. The reason for this previously reported increase in IRT level in African‐American infants is unclear. The positive predictive value of a screen positive result in this population was only 0.3%. The bulk of screen‐positive African‐American infants were in the top 0.2% (IRT) group, with no CF mutations isolated. Repeat IRT testing at 2–3 weeks of age may represent a suitable approach to decrease the false‐positive rate in this population. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2008; 43:638–641. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.