bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Tunable near‐infrared optical properties based on poly(methyl methacrylate)–oxide waveguide materials
Authors: Wei Ming‐Hsin , Lee Chia‐Hua , Chang Chao‐Ching , Chen Wen‐Chang
Published: August 2005

In this study, two classes of low‐loss optical planar waveguides were prepared from trialkoxysilane‐capped poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA)–silica and PMMA–titania hybrid materials, respectively. The prepared hybrid films had very uniform structure and surface planarity. The incorporation of the silica or titania segments into the acrylic polymer matrix reduced the intermolecular interaction and thus induced an increase in anharmonicity of the C‐H bond in the acrylic segment. Therefore, the third harmonic stretching vibration absorption of the C‐H bond was red‐shifted and resulted in a tuning of near‐infrared (NIR) optical absorption. The optical loss of the studied waveguides was reduced from 0.65 dB/cm of the PMMA waveguide to 0.26 and 0.28 dB/cm with increasing the silica and titania content in the hybrid materials, respectively. The reduction of the C‐H number density and shifting of the NIR absorption spectra accounted for the relationship between the optical loss and the inorganic oxide content. The increased anharmonicity through the incorporation of the inorganic moiety in the hybrid materials provides another approach for tuning the NIR optical properties. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 98: 1224–1228, 2005
Preparation and characterization of polypropylene/clay nanocomposites with polypropylene‐graft‐maleic anhydride
Authors: Jang Lee Wook , Kim Eung Soo , Kim Hun Sik , Yoon Jin‐San
Published: August 2005

Polypropylene (PP)/montmorillonite (MMT) nanocomposites were prepared by the esterification of propylene‐g‐maleic anhydride (MAPP) with MMT modified with α,ω‐hydroxyamines. The structural characterization confirmed the formation of ester linkages and the interaction between the silicate layers. In particular, X‐ray diffraction patterns of the modified clays and MAPP/MMT composites showed 001 basal spacing enlargement as great as 0.14–0.62 nm according to the type of α,ω‐hydroxyamine. Thermal characterization by thermogravimetric analysis for the composites revealed increased onset temperatures of thermal decomposition. The melting peak temperature decreased, and the crystallization peak temperature increased; this indicated that MMT retarded the crystallization of MAPP. Compounding PP with MAPP/MMT composites enhanced the tensile modulus and tensile strength of PP. However, the elongation at break decreased drastically even when the MMT content was as low as 0.4–2.0 wt %. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 98: 1229–1234, 2005
Development and characterization of homogeneous membranes prepared from sulfonated poly(phenylene oxide)
Authors: Guan Rong , Gong Chunli , Lu Deping , Zou Hua , Lu Wei
Published: August 2005

This article investigates the comprehensive properties of sulfonated poly(phenylene oxide) (SPPO) membranes with different sulfonation degrees and presents the completion of previous work necessary for the application of SPPO membranes to proton‐exchange membrane fuel cells. The sulfonation level has been accurately determined by conductometric titration and 1H‐NMR, and the glass‐transition temperature has been obtained with both differential scanning calorimetry and dynamic mechanical thermal analysis. Sulfonic groups attached to the aromatic ring in the poly(phenylene oxide) backbone split at 220–340°C, but the main‐chain splitting temperature of SPPO is similar to that of the pure polymer. In addition, the effects of sulfonic groups and water on the tensile strength of these membranes have been studied. An increase in the sulfonate groups in the polymer results in an increase in the water uptake. Atomic force microscopy phase images of the acid‐form membranes clearly show the hydrophilic domains, and the ionic regions of the membranes with a low sulfonation degree are isolated and become connected to produce a cocontinuous morphology as the degree of sulfonation increases. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 98: 1244–1250, 2005
Liability of professional and volunteer mental health practitioners in the wake of disasters: a framework for further considerations
Authors: Abdel‐Monem Tarik , Bulling Denise
Published: August 2005

Qualified immunity from civil liability exists for acts of disaster mental health (DMH) practitioners responding to disasters or acts of terrorism. This article reviews current legal regimens dictating civil liability for potentially wrongful acts of DMH professionals and volunteers responding to disasters. Criteria are proposed to inform determinations of civil liability for DMH workers in disaster response, given current legal parameters and established tort law in relevant areas. Specific considerations are examined that potentially implicate direct liability of DMH professionals and volunteers, and vicarious liability of DMH supervisors for actions of volunteer subordinates. The relevance of pre‐event DMH planning and operationalization of the plan post‐event is linked to considerations of liability. This article concludes with recommendations to minimize liability exposure for DMH workers in response efforts. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
What is terrorism and can psychology do anything to prevent it?
Authors: Stevens Michael J.
Published: August 2005

Terrorism has a long history, which continues to unfold, and takes many forms. Notwithstanding these facts, there is no generally accepted definition of terrorism. I set forth the definitional issues that underlie the current debate about terrorism. By comparing terrorism with various forms of violence, I argue that it is plausible to construe terrorism as crime and, in support of this, I demonstrate why terrorism cannot be morally justified. Next, I cluster various immediate and long‐term approaches intended to prevent terrorism, highlighting psychologically based strategies, such as behavioral profiling, teaching tolerance and citizenship, modifying media images of terrorism, and building peace. In order to understand and respond more effectively to 21st‐century terrorism, I advocate adoption of a multidisciplinary, contextually sensitive approach. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A reassessment of state‐level covariates of militia groups
Authors: Freilich Joshua D. , Pridemore William Alex
Published: August 2005

This study investigated state‐level variation in the number of right‐wing militia groups. We built on prior quantitative examinations by more carefully operationalizing theoretical concepts and testing alternative hypotheses offered to account for the etiology of social movements generally and of militias specifically. Using negative binomial regression, we found that, consistent with previous research, states with higher levels of farm job loss had more militia groups. However, in contrast to prior studies, we did not find gun culture, hospitable political climate, female empowerment, or general economic deprivation to be associated with the number of militia groups. We also found no relationship between the number of militia groups and levels of fundamentalist religious culture and minority empowerment. Our study was the first to test the effects of social disorganization on the number of militias in a state, and we found the two to be positively and significantly associated. We situate our results in the theoretical and empirical literature and outline two challenges for future research. First, scholars must operationalize variables carefully since different measures of the same theoretical concept may result in diverging conclusions. Second, since one major factor (i.e., social disorganization) found in this study to be associated with the number of militia groups in a state was examined here for the first time, it is important for researchers to continue to investigate new hypotheses. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Structure and IR Spectrum of Phenylalanyl–Glycyl–Glycine Tripetide in the Gas‐Phase: IR/UV Experiments, Ab Initio Quantum Chemical Calculations, and Molecular Dynamic Simulations
Authors: Řeha D. , Valdés H. , Vondrášek J. , Hobza P. , Abu‐Riziq Ali , Crews Bridgit , de Vries Mattanjah S.
Published: August 2005

We investigated the potential‐energy surface (PES) of the phenylalanyl–glycyl–glycine tripeptide in the gas phase by means of IR/UV double‐resonance spectroscopy, and quantum chemical and statistical thermodynamic calculations. Experimentally, we observed four conformational structures and we recorded their IR spectra in the spectral region of 3000–4000 cm−1. Computationally, we investigated the PES by a combination of molecular dynamics/quenching procedures with high‐level correlated ab initio calculations. We found that neither empirical potentials nor various DFT functionals provide satisfactory results. On the other hand, the approximative DFT method covering the dispersion energy yields a reliable set of the most stable structures, which we subsequently investigated with an accurate, correlated ab initio treatment. The global minimum contains three moderately strong intramolecular hydrogen bonds and is mainly stabilized by London dispersion forces between the phenyl ring, the carboxylic acid group, and various peptide bonds. A proper description of the last type of interaction requires accurate correlated ab initio calculations, including the complete basis set limit of the MP2 method and CCSD(T) correction terms. Since in our beam experiments the conformations are frozen by cooling from a higher temperature, it is necessary to localize the most stable structures on the free‐energy surface rather than on the PES. We used two different procedures (rigid rotor/harmonic oscillator/ideal gas approximation based on ab initio characteristics and evaluation of relative populations from the molecular dynamic simulations using the AMBER potential) and both yield four structures, the global minimum and three local minima. These four structures were among the 15 most energetically stable structures obtained from accurate ab initio optimization. The calculated IR spectra for these four structures agree well with the experimental frequencies, which validates the localization procedure.
Synthetic Scope and Mechanistic Studies of Ru(OH)x/Al2O3‐Catalyzed Heterogeneous Hydrogen‐Transfer Reactions
Authors: Yamaguchi Kazuya , Koike Takeshi , Kotani Miyuki , Matsushita Mitsunori , Shinachi Satoshi , Mizuno Noritaka
Published: August 2005

Three kinds of hydrogen‐transfer reactions, namely racemization of chiral secondary alcohols, reduction of carbonyl compounds to alcohols using 2‐propanol as a hydrogen donor, and isomerization of allylic alcohols to saturated ketones, are efficiently promoted by the easily prepared and inexpensive supported ruthenium catalyst Ru(OH)x/Al2O3. A wide variety of substrates, such as aromatic, aliphatic, and heterocyclic alcohols or carbonyl compounds, can be converted into the desired products, under anaerobic conditions, in moderate to excellent yields and without the need for additives such as bases. A larger scale, solvent‐free reaction is also demonstrated: the isomerization of 1‐octen‐3‐ol with a substrate/catalyst ratio of 20 000/1 shows a very high turnover frequency (TOF) of 18 400 h−1, with a turnover number (TON) that reaches 17 200. The catalysis for these reactions is intrinsically heterogeneous in nature, and the Ru(OH)x/Al2O3 recovered after the reactions can be reused without appreciable loss of catalytic performance. The reaction mechanism of the present Ru(OH)x/Al2O3‐catalyzed hydrogen‐transfer reactions were examined with monodeuterated substrates. After the racemization of (S)‐1‐deuterio‐1‐phenylethanol in the presence of acetophenone was complete, the deuterium content at the α‐position of the corresponding racemic alcohol was 91 %, whereas no deuterium was incorporated into the α‐position during the racemization of (S)‐1‐phenylethanol‐OD. These results show that direct carbon‐to‐carbon hydrogen transfer occurs via a metal monohydride for the racemization of chiral secondary alcohols and reduction of carbonyl compounds to alcohols. For the isomerization, the α‐deuterium of 3‐deuterio‐1‐octen‐3‐ol was selectively relocated at the β‐position of the corresponding ketones (99 % D at the β‐position), suggesting the involvement of a 1,4‐addition of ruthenium monohydride species to the α,β‐unsaturated ketone intermediate. The ruthenium monohydride species and the α,β‐unsaturated ketone would be formed through alcoholate formation/β‐elimination. Kinetic studies and kinetic isotope effects show that the RuH bond cleavage (hydride transfer) is included in the rate‐determining step.
A Platinium(II)‐Based Molecular Light Switch for Proteins
Authors: Vaidyanathan Vaidyanathan G. , Nair Balachandran U.
Published: August 2005

The platinum(II) complex [Pt(bzimpy)Cl]+ (1) [bzimpy = 2,6‐bis(benzimidazo‐2‐yl)pyridine] has been synthesized and characterized by FAB mass spectrometry and UV/Vis, NMR, and emission spectroscopy. Complex 1 emits weakly from its 3MLCT state in aqueous solution but strongly in nonaqueous media. Complex 1 exhibits a molecular light switch effect with a drastic enhancement in its emission intensity and a 72‐nm blue shift in the emission maxima in the presence of bovine serum albumin (BSA). Denaturation of BSA in the presence of 6 M urea leads to a decrease in the emission intensity of the complex, which suggests its binding to the hydrophobic pockets of the protein. In the presence of hemoglobin, however, quenching of the emission of the complex is observed due to its binding to Cys104 in subunit C and the resultant fluorescence resonance energy transfer from the platinum(II) complex to the heme. (© Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2005)
Protein expression profiling identifies maspin and stathmin as potential biomarkers of adenoid cystic carcinoma of the salivary glands
Authors: Nakashima Dai , Uzawa Katsuhiro , Kasamatsu Atsushi , Koike Hirofumi , Endo Yosuke , Saito Kengo , Hashitani Susumu , Numata Tsutomu , Urade Masahiro , Tanzawa Hideki
Published: August 2005

Adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) is one of the most common malignant tumors of the salivary glands. It tends to grow slowly but is associated with a poor prognosis compared to other malignant salivary gland tumors. To identify specific markers of ACC, we examined protein expression profiling in ACC xenograft and normal salivary glands (NSG) using fluorescent 2‐dimensional differential in‐gel electrophoresis (2‐D‐DIGE), an emerging technique for comparative proteomics, that improves the reproducibility and reliability of differential protein expression analysis between the samples. To identify the proteins, matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization time‐of‐flight peptide mass fingerprinting was carried out. Using these strategies, we detected 4 upregulated proteins and 5 downregulated proteins in ACC xenograft. Maspin and stathmin were selected for further analyses. Western blotting and immunohistochemical staining showed a higher expression of these proteins in ACC xenograft and clinical ACC tissue compared to NSG. Furthermore, Expression of these proteins was correlated with the histologic grading of ACC (n = 10). Therefore, our data indicate that maspin and stathmin may be not only useful biomarkers of ACC but also markers of biologic behavior in this tumor. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Preschool diet and adult risk of breast cancer
Authors: Michels Karin B. , Rosner Bernard A. , Chumlea Wm. Cameron , Colditz Graham A. , Willett Walter C.
Published: August 2005

Events before puberty may affect adult risk of breast cancer. We examined whether diet during preschool age may affect a woman's risk of breast cancer later in life. We conducted a case‐control study including 582 women with breast cancer and 1,569 controls free of breast cancer selected from participants in the Nurses' Health Study and the Nurses' Health Study II. Information concerning childhood diet of the nurses at ages 3–5 years was obtained from the mothers of the participants with a 30‐item food‐frequency questionnaire. An increased risk of breast cancer was observed among woman who had frequently consumed French fries at preschool age. For one additional serving of French fries per week, the odds ratio (OR) for breast cancer adjusted for adult life breast cancer risk factors was 1.27 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.12–1.44). Consumption of whole milk was associated with a slightly decreased risk of breast cancer (covariate‐adjusted OR for every additional glass of milk per day = 0.90; 95% CI = 0.82–0.99). Intake of none of the nutrients calculated was related to the risk of breast cancer risk in this study. These data suggest a possible association between diet before puberty and the subsequent risk of breast cancer. Differential recall of preschool diet by the mothers of cases and controls has to be considered as a possible explanation for the observed associations. Further studies are needed to evaluate whether the association between preschool diet and breast cancer is reproducible in prospective data not subject to recall bias. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Zinc blocks gene expression of mitochondrial aconitase in human prostatic carcinoma cells
Authors: Tsui Ke‐Hung , Chang Phei‐Lang , Juang Horng‐Heng
Published: August 2005

Mitochondrial aconitase (mACON) contains a [4Fe‐4S] cluster as the key enzyme for citrate oxidation in the human prostatic epithelial cell. Although there is accumulating evidence indicating that accumulation of high levels of zinc in prostate epithelial cells causes reduced efficiency of citrate oxidation, zinc regulation on the mACON is still not well understood. From in vitro studies, zinc chloride treatment has been developed using humic acid as the carrier (Zn‐HA) in human prostatic carcinoma cells, PC‐3. Zn‐HA treatment (0.1–10 μM) restricts mACON enzymatic activity, which attenuates citrate utility and decreases intracellular ATP levels in PC‐3 cells, whereas the effect is blocked by adding the zinc chelator, diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA). Immunoblot, ribonuclease‐protection and transient gene‐expression assays indicate that Zn‐HA treatments inhibit mACON gene expression. Mutation of the putative metal response element (MRE) from CTCGCCTTCA to TGATCCTTCA abolishes Zn‐HA inhibition of mACON promoter activity. Our results have demonstrated that zinc possesses a specific regulatory mechanism on the mACON gene, and a biologic function of the putative metal regulatory system in mACON gene transcription has been identified. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Identification of flat dysplastic aberrant crypt foci in the colon of azoxymethane‐treated A/J mice
Authors: Paulsen Jan Erik , Knutsen Helle , Ølstørn Hege Benedikte , Løberg Else Marit , Alexander Jan
Published: August 2005

The role of aberrant crypt foci (ACF) as preneoplastic lesions in colon carcinogenesis is not clear. In Min/+ mice and their wild‐type littermates treated with azoxymethane (AOM), we previously identified a subgroup of flat ACF that seem more immediate precursors of tumors than the classical elevated ACF. In the present study, we identified a similar subgroup of flat ACF in AOM‐treated A/J mice and compared them with nascent tumors and classical elevated ACF. At week 1 and 2 after birth, A/J mice were injected subcutaneously with AOM (10 mg/kg bw/injection). At weeks 7–14, we examined the luminal surface of unsectioned colon preparations stained with methylene blue in the inverse light microscope. The lesions were also examined by histopathology and immunohistochemistry. Surface examination revealed flat ACF, classical elevated ACF and nascent tumors. Since flat ACF were not observed as elevated structures, their bright blue appearance and compressed pit pattern of crypt openings seen with transillumination were used as criteria for their identification. Flat ACF and nascent tumors displayed a uniform picture of severe dysplasia, compressed pit pattern, overexpression of cytoplasmic/nuclear β‐catenin and nuclear overexpression of cyclin D1. Apparently, flat ACF and tumors represented the same type of dysplastic lesions at different stages of crypt multiplication. In contrast, classical elevated ACF did not seem to be as clearly related to tumorigenesis. They infrequently (1/20) possessed severe dysplasia, overexpression of cytoplasmic/nuclear β‐catenin, or nuclear overexpression of cyclin D1, and they did not have compressed crypt openings. Furthermore, flat ACF grew significantly faster than classical elevated ACF. In conclusion, our data indicate a development from flat ACF to adenoma characterized by aberrant activation of the Wnt signaling pathway and fast crypt multiplication. Classical elevated ACF do not seem to be as closely related to tumorigenesis. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Degradation of maternal mRNA in mouse embryos: Selective degradation of specific mRNAs after fertilization
Authors: Alizadeh Zohreh , Kageyama Shun‐Ichiro , Aoki Fugaku
Published: August 2005

During oogenesis, mRNA is actively transcribed and accumulated in growing oocytes, but this transcription stops before the oocytes grow to their full size. The accumulated maternal mRNA is used for protein synthesis in the oocytes during meiotic maturation and even in the embryos to sustain development after fertilization. Therefore, the degradation of accumulated maternal mRNA starts during meiotic maturation, but its rate is slow. Nevertheless, some mRNA species should rapidly degrade after fertilization if they encode proteins that play a role in specific events during meiosis and are detrimental for development after fertilization. In this study, to identify the selective degradation of maternal transcripts after fertilization, we sought mRNAs that are degraded in the early hours after fertilization by constructing an oocyte cDNA library after subtracting the cDNA of embryos at the mid one‐cell stage. H1oo, c‐mos, tPA (tissue type plasminogen activator gene), and Gdf9 were identified as genes whose transcripts undergo rapid degradation after fertilization. RT‐PCR analysis showed that none of these transcripts was expressed during pre‐implantation development once they were eliminated, suggesting that the mRNA species that are required for oogenesis, but not for early pre‐implantation development, are degraded rapidly after fertilization. Microinjection of chimeric mRNAs in which the coding and 3′‐untranslated regions (3′UTR) were exchanged between c‐mos and hypoxanthine phosphoribosyltransferase mRNAs revealed that the 3′UTR plays a role in the rapid degradation that occurs after fertilization. Cytoplasmic polyadenylation elements (CPEs) was found near a poly(A) signal in the 3′UTR of all the mRNA species identified as rapidly degrading mRNA. The mechanism for the selective degradation is discussed, in relation to its biological significance. Mol. Reprod. Dev. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Fixed‐parameter tractability and data reduction for multicut in trees
Authors: Guo Jiong , Niedermeier Rolf
Published: August 2005

We study an NP‐complete (and MaxSNP‐hard) communication problem on tree networks, the so‐called MULTICUT IN TREES: given an undirected tree and some pairs of nodes of the tree, find out whether there is a set of at mostktree edges whose removal separates all given pairs of nodes. MULTICUT has been intensively studied for trees as well as for general graphs mainly from the viewpoint of polynomial time approximation algorithms. By way of contrast, we provide a simple fixed‐parameter algorithm for MULTICUT IN TREES showing fixed‐parameter tractability with respect to parameterk. Moreover, based on some polynomial time data reduction rules, which appear to be of particular interest from an applied point of view, we show a problem kernel for MULTICUT IN TREES by an intricate mathematical analysis. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. NETWORKS, Vol. 46(3), 124–135 2005
The fundraising CEO
Authors: Hall Frank R.
Published: August 2005

Truly savvy CEOs have grasped the importance of devoting resources to philanthropy.
Hardwiring for maximum fundraising return on investment
Authors: Greenfield James M.
Published: August 2005

Accountability in fundraising often is focused on cost‐benefit ratios, not how each of the individual solicitation methods performed. “How much did you raise” has been replaced with “How much did it cost?” and “How do our results compare with others'?”
Identifying points of conflict
Authors: Morgan Terry Upshaw
Published: August 2005

Philanthropic leadership is being challenged to lead change and elevate the status and value of health care philanthropy.
Rheological and drug‐release behaviour of a scleroglucan gel matrix at different drug loadings
Authors: François Nora J , Rojas Ana María , Daraio Marta E
Published: August 2005

The aim of this study was to investigate the drug‐loading effects on release and mechanical properties of a scleroglucan gel, with the intention of considering them in delivery systems formulations. The rheological and kinetic properties of a 2 % w/w scleroglucan gel matrix loaded with 0, 0.02, 0.04, 0.06, 0.2 and 0.4 % w/w of theophylline (Th, used as a model drug) were investigated. Rheological measurements were performed in a controlled‐stress rotational‐shear rheometer under isothermal conditions. For theophylline release from the gel a flat Franz cell was used and the kinetic parameters were derived applying a semi‐empirical power law. The influence of scleroglucan molar weight on kinetic and rheological behaviour was also studied. Results suggest two possible effects of drug loading on the gel network: in the 0.04–0.06 % w/w Th range a plasticizing effect and in the 0.2–0.4 % w/w Th range a rigidization effect. In the first range mentioned, the changes in the gel structural properties tested by means of rheological measurements are coincident with changes in drug‐release kinetics. Copyright © 2005 Society of Chemical Industry
Dielectric response of water confined in MCM‐41 molecular sieve material
Authors: Kinka Martynas , Banys Juras , Macutkevic Jan , Pöppl Andreas , Böhlmann Winfried , Umamaheswari Venkatesan , Hartmann Martin , Völkel Georg
Published: August 2005

Properties of water adsorbed in mesoporous MCM‐41 material with pore diameter of 3.7 nm have been investigated in wide frequency (20 Hz–1 MHz) and temperature (200 K– 400 K) ranges using the dielectric spectroscopy method. The obtained results showed that the dielectric response of such a two‐phase system in a temperature interval close to 0 °C is caused by the superposition of two processes: reorientation of confined water molecules and AC conductivity of the whole sample. We must mark that the freezing–melting dynamics of confined water is strongly affected by the interaction with the pore surface, which leads to the formation of a highly disordered network of hydrogen bonds. (© 2005 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Detection and recognition of correction utterances on misrecognition of spoken dialog system
Authors: Kitaoka Norihide , Kakutani Naoko , Nakagawa Seiichi
Published: August 2005

When we communicate with computers through a speech interface, misrecognition is inevitable. Detection of repetition by users is helpful for the system to detect the error and recover. In this paper, we assume that the utterance includes repetitions for correction and propose a method to detect correction utterances in spontaneously spoken dialog. We combined a word spotting method based on dynamic time warping (DTW) and anN‐best hypothesis overlap measure for the purpose. We obtained a recall rate of 92.7% and a precision of 89.1%. We next used the detection of correction utterances to improve recognition accuracy. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Syst Comp Jpn, 36(11): 24–33, 2005; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/scj.20341
Relevance of Electronic Health Information to Doctors in the Developing World: Results of the Ptolemy Project’s Internet‐based Health Information Study (IBHIS)
Authors: Burton Kirsteen R. , Howard Andrew , Beveridge Massey
Published: August 2005

The aim of this study was to determine the current usage, relevance, and preferences for electronic health information (EHI) in the participant surgeons’ clinical, research, and teaching activities. The Internet‐Based Health Information Survey (IBHIS) was conducted from August to December 2003. Thirty‐seven doctors (primarily practicing in East Africa) participated, all of whom had been using the Ptolemy resources for at least 6 months. Survey questions concerned time spent reading medical literature, preferred information sources, preferred type of publication, relevance, preference for western versus local medical literature, and academic productivity. Among the 75 eligible participants, 37 (48%) responded. From these responses it was found that African surgeons with access to EHI read more than articles than they did before they had such access, and they find that the information obtained is highly relevant to their clinical, teaching, and research activities. They prefer electronic journals to textbooks and are more inclined to change their practice based on information found in western journals than local journals. Ptolemy resources helped the respondents who reported academic work write a total of 33 papers for presentation or publication. Overall, access to EHI enables doctors in Africa to read more, is relevant, and contributes directly to academic productivity; thus Western medical literature is useful in the developing world, and EHI delivery should continue to expand.
HAUSP, a deubiquitinating enzyme for p53, is polyubiquitinated, polyneddylated, and dimerized
Authors: Lee Hye-Jin , Kim Myung-Sun , Kim Yu-Kyung , Oh Yu-Kyoung , Baek Kwang-Hyun
Published: August 2005

The tumor suppressor protein p53 is ubiquitinated and neddylated by MDM2 and then degraded by 26S proteasome. However, p53 is stabilized by the HAUSP (Herpes‐virus‐associated ubiquitin‐specific protease) deubiquitinating enzyme. In this study, we discovered that rat HAUSP (rHAUSP) is polyubiquitinated, polyneddylated, and dimerized using co‐immunoprecipitation assays. This suggests that rHAUSP may function as a dimer or multimer and is also degraded through the proteasome‐mediated degradation. Transfection of rHAUSP into RGC‐Lac‐Z cell line with the integrated p53 response element revealed that rHAUSP contributed to p53 stabilization, and a rHAUSP (C224S) mutant contributed to p53 destabilization in a dose‐dependent manner.
Requirements of myocyte‐specific enhancer factor 2A in zebrafish cardiac contractility
Authors: Wang Yue-Xiang , Qian Lin-Xi , Yu Zhang , Jiang Qiu , Dong Yong-Xin , Liu Xue-Fei , Yang Xin-Ying , Zhong Tao P. , Song Hou-Yan
Published: August 2005

Myocyte‐specific enhancer factor 2A (MEF2A) regulates a broad range of fundamental cellular processes including cell division, differentiation and death. Here, we tested the hypothesis that MEF2A is required in cardiac contractility employing zebrafish as a model organism. MEF2A is highly expressed in heart as well as somites during zebrafish embryogenesis. Knock‐down of MEF2A in zebrafish impaires the cardiac contractility and results in sarcomere assembly defects. Dysregulation of cardiac genes in MEF2A morphants suggests that sarcomere assembly disturbances account for the cardiac contractile deficiency. Our studies suggested that MEF2A is essential in cardiac contractility.
Heat stable ssDNA/RNA‐binding activity of a wheat cold shock domain protein
Authors: Nakaminami Kentaro , Sasaki Kentaro , Kajita Shinya , Takeda Hisashi , Karlson Dale , Ohgi Kazuko , Imai Ryozo
Published: August 2005

The cold‐induced wheat WCSP1 protein belongs to the cold shock domain (CSD) protein family. In prokaryotes and eukaryotes, the CSD functions as a nucleic acid‐binding domain. Here, we demonstrated that purified recombinant WCSP1 is boiling soluble and binds ss/dsDNA and mRNA. Furthermore, boiled‐WCSP1 retained its characteristic nucleic acid‐binding activity. A WCSP1 deletion mutant, containing only a CSD, lost ssDNA/RNA‐binding activity; while a mutant containing the CSD and the first glycine‐rich region (GR) displayed the activity. These data indicated that the first GR of WCSP1 is necessary for the binding activity but is not for the heat stability of the protein.
Origins of depression in later life
Authors: BLAZER DAN G. , HYBELS CELIA F.
Published: August 2005

Background. Despite the burden of depression in late life, its origins present a paradox to investigators and clinicians alike.

Method. We review biological (genetics and heredity factors, neurotransmitter dysfunction, endocrine changes, vascular disorders, and medical co-morbidities), psychological (personality attributes, neuroticism, cognitive distortions, and the lack of emotional control and self-efficacy) and social (stressful life events, bereavement, chronic stress or strain, socio-economic disadvantage and impaired social support) origins of late-life depression based upon an extensive though not exhaustive review of the extant literature. In addition, modifying psychological and social factors are discussed.

Results. Older adults appear to be at greater risk for major depression biologically, such as depression resulting from vascular changes, yet the frequency of depression is lower compared to younger adults. Older adults may be protected psychologically due to factors such as socio-emotional selectivity and wisdom, compared to younger adults, and perhaps relatively protected from social risks.

Conclusions. A biopsychosocial approach to evaluating the origins of late-life depression is heuristically valuable, a continual reminder of the many factors that contribute to the onset and persistence of clinically significant symptoms in late life.
A comparison of health service use in two jurisdictions with and without compulsory community treatment
Authors: KISELY STEPHEN , SMITH MARK , PRESTON NEIL J. , XIAO JIANGUO
Published: August 2005

Background. This study examines whether community treatment orders (CTOs) reduce psychiatric admission rates or bed-days for patients from Western Australia compared to control patients from a jurisdiction without this legislation (Nova Scotia).

Method. A population-based record linkage analysis of an inception cohort using a two-stage design of matching and multivariate analyses to control for sociodemographics, clinical features and psychiatric history. All discharges from in-patient psychiatric services in Western Australia and Nova Scotia were included covering a population of 2·6 million people. Patients on CTOs in the first year of implementation in Western Australia were compared with controls from Nova Scotia matched on date of discharge from in-patient care, demographics, diagnosis and past in-patient psychiatric history. We analysed time to admission using Cox regression analyses and number of bed-days using logistic regression.

Results. We matched 196 CTO cases with an equal number of controls. On survival analyses, CTO cases had a significantly greater readmission rate. Co-morbid personality disorder and previous psychiatric history were also associated with readmission. However, on logistic regression, patients on CTOs spent less time in hospital in the following year, with reduced in-patient stays of over 100 days.

Conclusions. Although compulsory community treatment does not reduce hospital admission rates, increased surveillance of patients on CTOs may lead to earlier intervention such as admission, so reducing length of hospital stay. However, we do not know if it is the intensity of treatment, or its compulsory nature, that effects outcome.
A controlled trial of cognitively oriented psychotherapy for early psychosis (COPE) with four-year follow-up readmission data
Authors: JACKSON HENRY , McGORRY PATRICK , EDWARDS JANE , HULBERT CAROL , HENRY LISA , HARRIGAN SUSY , DUDGEON PAUL , FRANCEY SHONA , MAUDE DANA , COCKS JOHN , KILLACKEY EOIN , POWER PADDY
Published: August 2005

Objectives. Cognitively oriented psychotherapy for early psychosis (COPE) is aimed at facilitating the adjustment of the person, and preventing or alleviating secondary morbidity in the wake of the first psychotic episode. The present study reports on the outcomes of a controlled trial comparing two conditions: COPE versus No-COPE.

Method. Ninety-one people participated in the trial which was analysed by intention-to-treat, including 12 people who were assigned to COPE but refused to participate. Assessments were conducted at pre-treatment, mid-treatment and post-treatment. Hospital readmission data were obtained through a Psychiatric Case Register. The study was conducted in a front-line public mental health service, the Early Psychosis Prevention and Intervention Centre (EPPIC). Clients in both COPE and No-COPE were provided with full access to the complete range of EPPIC services.

Results. There were no significant differences between the two conditions on the nine primary outcome variables. Hospital readmissions were assessed for each client at yearly intervals up to 4 years following the completion of treatment and again there were no significant between-group differences.

Conclusions. The study indicated that there was no significant advantage to COPE over and above routine care at EPPIC.
WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION SYSTEMATIC REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE AND MULTINATIONAL NUTRITIONAL SURVEY OF CALCIUM INTAKE DURING PREGNANCY
Authors: MERIALDI M , MATHAI M , NGOC NTN , PURWAR M , CAMPODONICO L , ABDEL-ALEEM H , HOFMEYR GJ , ROJAS MX , PEREZ-CUEVAS R , JOSEPH G , HIEU NT , RADHA NA , MOTGHARE V , CARROLI G , DEL CERRO S , GIORDANO D , AHMED A , NIKODEM VC , MANGESI L , ROODT A , MAHMOUD FA , PIAGGIO G , VILLAR J
Published: August 2005

In 1999, the US Food and Nutrition Board revised the Adequate Intake (AI) for calcium in pregnancy and recommended 1000 mg/day for adult pregnant women and 1300 mg/day for adolescent women (<19 years). Our interest, from the perspective of an international health organization, was to assess if pregnant women globally meet those requirements. This is particularly important because, among the various biological functions of calcium, the potential protective effect of adequate calcium intake in pregnancy on the risk of pre-eclampsia may have major public health implications, pre-eclampsia being one of the most important causes of maternal and perinatal mortality world-wide. Therefore, we conducted a systematic review of studies, published from 1991 to 2004, that assessed calcium dietary intake in pregnant women. In addition, we conducted a multicentre survey of calcium dietary intake during pregnancy among nulliparous women attending antenatal care in developing countries. This survey was conducted before starting a large calcium supplementation multicentre trial: the WHO Calcium Supplementation Trial in Low Calcium Intake Women for the Prevention of Pre-eclampsia. This article presents the results of the systematic review and of the multicentre survey.
Why does reemergence of winter sea surface temperature anomalies not occur in eastern mode water areas?
Authors: Sugimoto Shusaku , Hanawa Kimio
Published: August 2005

In terms of buoyancy flux, winter mixed layer depth, and mode water thickness in summer, we explore the causes why reemergence does not occur in the formation areas of the North Pacific eastern subtropical mode water (NPESTMW) and the North Atlantic Madeira mode water (NAMMW). It is found that as season goes by, the thicknesses of these mode waters become quickly thinner due to vigorous salt‐finger type convection throughout the water column in contrast to those of the other mode waters. Correspondingly, mode waters lying under the shallow summer mixed layer quickly lose their water properties. In addition, it is found that in these areas, net buoyancy flux integrated through a year is almost zero, while in the other mode water areas where reemergence occurs, net buoyancy flux is negative (the ocean's loss) to some degree. Based on these facts, we can conclude that the formation areas of NPESTMW and NAMMW are the regions having unfavorable conditions for an occurrence of reemergence.
Cerebral Vascular Effects of Angiotensin II: New Insights from Genetic Models
Authors: Faraci Frank M , Lamping Kathryn G , Modrick Mary L , Ryan Michael J , Sigmund Curt D , Didion Sean P
Published: August 2005

Very little is known regarding the mechanisms of action of angiotensin II (Ang II) or the consequences of Ang II-dependent hypertension in the cerebral circulation. We tested the hypothesis that Ang II produces constriction of cerebral arteries that is mediated by activation of AT1A receptors and Rho-kinase. Basilar arteries (baseline diameter ~130 µm) from mice were isolated, cannulated and pressurized to measure the vessel diameter. Angiotensin II was a potent constrictor in arteries from male, but not female, mice. Vasoconstriction in response to Ang II was prevented by an inhibitor of Rho-kinase (Y-27632) in control mice, and was reduced by ~85% in mice deficient in expression of AT1A receptors. We also examined the chronic effects of Ang II using a model of Ang II-dependent hypertension, mice which overexpress human renin (R+) and angiotensinogen (A+). Responses to the endothelium-dependent agonist acetylcholine were markedly impaired in R+ A+ mice (P < 0.01) compared with controls, but were restored to normal by a superoxide scavenger (PEG-SOD). A-23187 (another endothelium-dependent agonist) produced vasodilation in control mice, but no response or vasoconstriction in R+ A+ mice. In contrast, dilation of the basilar artery in response to a NO donor (NONOate) was similar in R+ A+ mice and controls. Thus, Ang II produces potent constriction of cerebral arteries via activation of AT1A receptors and Rho-kinase. There are marked gender differences in cerebral vascular responses to Ang II. Endothelial function is greatly impaired in a genetic model of Ang II-dependent hypertension via a mechanism that involves superoxide.
Induction of Prostacyclin/PGI2 Synthase Expression After Cerebral Ischemia–Reperfusion
Authors: Fang Yao-Ching , Wu Jui-Sheng , Chen Jean-Ju , Cheung Wai-Mui , Tseng Ping-Hui , Tarn Ka-Bik , Shyue Song-Kun , Chen Jin-Jer , Lin Teng-Nan
Published: August 2005

Prostacyclin (PGI2), a potent vasodilator and inhibitor of platelet aggregation and leukocyte activation, is crucial in vascular diseases such as stroke. Prostacyclin synthase (PGIS) is the key enzyme for PGI2 synthesis. Although expression of PGIS was noted in the brain, its role in ischemic insult remains unclear. Here we reported the temporal and spatial expression of PGIS mRNA and protein after 60-min transient ischemia. Northern blot and in situ hybridization revealed a delayed increase of PGIS mRNA in the ischemic cortex at 24- to 72-h after ischemia; PGIS was detected mainly in the ipsilateral penumbra area, pyriform cortex, hippocampus, and leptomeninges. Western blot and immunohistochemical analysis revealed that PGIS proteins were expressed temporally and spatially similar to PGIS mRNA. PGIS was heavily colocalized with PECAM-1 to endothelial cells at the leptomeninges, large and small vessels, and localized to neuronal cells, largely at the penumbra area. A substantial amount of PGIS was also detected in the macrophage and glial cells. To evaluate its role against ischemic infarct, we overexpressed PGIS by adenoviral gene transfer. When infused 72 h before ischemia (–72 h), Adv-PGIS reduced infarct volume by ~50%. However, it had no effect on infarct volume when infused immediately after ischemia (0 h). Eicosanoid analysis revealed selective elevation of PGI2 at −72 h while PGI2 and TXB2 were both elevated at 0 h, altering the PGI2/thromboxane A2 (TXA2) ratio from 10 to 4. These findings indicate that PGIS protects the brain by enhancing PGI2 synthesis and creating a favorable PGI2/TXA2 ratio.
Transforming growth factor-β receptors localize to caveolae and regulate endothelial nitric oxide synthase in normal human endothelial cells
Authors: Schwartz Eric A. , Reaven Eve , Topper James N. , Tsao Philip S.
Published: August 2005

Caveolae (sphingolipid- and cholesterol-rich, 100 nm flask-shaped invaginations of the cell membrane) serve as a nexus of cell signalling. In the present study caveolin-rich lipid raft domains were extracted from HUVEC (human umbilical-vein endothelial cells) using both density gradient and immunoprecipitation techniques, and demonstrated localization of the TGF-β (transforming growth factor-β) receptors TβRI and TβRII to the Cav-1 (caveolin-1)-enriched raft fractions of these normal, human endothelial cells. Immunoprecipitation demonstrated an association between TβRI and TβRII, as well as an association of the TβRs receptors with Cav-1 and eNOS (endothelial nitric oxide synthase), suggesting a mutual co-localization to caveolae; after treatment of HUVEC with 5 ng/ml TGF-β1 for 15 min, however, co-precipitation of eNOS with TβRI, TβRII and Cav-1 was diminished. The loss of immunoprecipitable eNOS from Cav-1-enriched fractions was accompanied by a decrease both in phosphorylation of eNOS and in enzymatic activity (conversion of arginine into citrulline). No change in the localization of eNOS to morphologically distinct caveolae could be detected by electron microscopy after treatment of HUVEC with TGF-β1 for 20 min. The results of these investigations provide evidence that TβRI interacts with eNOS in the caveolae of normal, human endothelial cells and has a regulatory function on basal eNOS enzymatic activity.
Enzymatic properties of native and deglycosylated hybrid aspen (Populus tremula×tremuloides) xyloglucan endotransglycosylase 16A expressed in Pichia pastoris
Authors: Kallas Åsa M. , Piens Kathleen , Denman Stuart E. , Henriksson Hongbin , Fäldt Jenny , Johansson Patrik , Brumer Harry , Teeri Tuula T.
Published: August 2005

The cDNA encoding a xyloglucan endotransglycosylase, PttXET16A, from hybrid aspen (Populus tremula×tremuloides) has been isolated from an expressed sequence tag library and expressed in the methylotrophic yeast Pichia pastoris. Sequence analysis indicated a high degree of similarity with other proteins in the XTH (xyloglucan transglycosylase/hydrolase) gene subfamily of GH16 (glycoside hydrolase family 16). In addition to the conserved GH16 catalytic sequence motif, PttXET16A contains a conserved N-glycosylation site situated proximal to the predicted catalytic residues. MS analysis indicated that the recombinant PttXET16A expressed in P. pastoris is heterogeneous due to the presence of variable N-glycosylation and incomplete cleavage of the α-factor secretion signal peptide. Removal of the N-glycan by endoglycosidase H treatment did not influence the catalytic activity significantly. Similarly, site-directed mutagenesis of Asn93 to serine to remove the N-glycosylation site resulted in an enzyme which was comparable with the wild-type enzyme in specific activity and thermal stability but had clearly reduced solubility. Hydrolytic activity was detected neither in wild-type PttXET16A before or after enzymatic deglycosylation nor in PttXET16A N93S (Asn93→Ser) mutant.