bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The poor growth of Rhodospirillum rubrum mutants lacking PII proteins is due to an excess of glutamine synthetase activity
Authors: Zhang Yaoping , Pohlmann Edward L. , Conrad Mary C. , Roberts Gary P.
Published: June 2006

The PII family of proteins is found in all three domains of life and serves as a central regulator of the function of proteins involved in nitrogen metabolism, reflecting the nitrogen and carbon balance in the cell. The genetic elimination of the genes encoding these proteins typically leads to severe growth problems, but the basis of this effect has been unknown except with Escherichia coli. We have analysed a number of the suppressor mutations that correct such growth problems in Rhodospirillum rubrum mutants lacking PII proteins. These suppressors map to nifR3, ntrB, ntrC, amtB1 and the glnA region and all have the common property of decreasing total activity of glutamine synthetase (GS). We also show that GS activity is very high in the poorly growing parental strains lacking PII proteins. Consistent with this, overexpression of GS in glnE mutants (lacking adenylyltransferase activity) also causes poor growth. All of these results strongly imply that elevated GS activity is the causative basis for the poor growth seen in R. rubrum mutants lacking PII and presumably in mutants of some other organisms with similar genotypes. The result underscores the importance of proper regulation of GS activity for cell growth.
Dietary protein restriction
Authors: Johnson David
Published: June 2006

Date written: February 2004

Final submission: July 2004
Other agents
Authors: Johnson David
Published: June 2006

Date written: February 2004

Final submission: July 2004
Control of hypercholesterolaemia and progression of diabetic nephropathy
Authors: Nicholls Kathy
Published: June 2006

Date written: September 2004

Final submission: September 2005
Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis: use of cyclosporin A
Authors: Thomas Merlin
Published: June 2006

Date written: July 2005

Final submission: September 2005
Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis: cytotoxic therapy
Authors: Thomas Merlin
Published: June 2006

Date written: July 2005

Final submission: September 2005
Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis: correction of secondary causes
Authors: Thomas Merlin
Published: June 2006

Date written: July 2005

Final submission: September 2005
Calcium
Authors: Hawley Carmel
Published: June 2006

Date written: August 2005

Final submission: October 2005
Application of the competing risks analysis to fracture toughness of silicon‐killed C‐Mn plate steels
Authors: MOSKOVIC R.
Published: June 2006

The available Mode I fracture toughness data measured in the brittle‐to‐ductile transition temperature region on C‐Mn silicon‐killed plate steels used in the construction of Magnox reactor pressure vessels have been examined with the view to obtain statistically based estimates of fracture toughness parameters for use in structural integrity assessments. Although fracture toughness data have been measured for several pressure vessel materials, in all cases, except one, the number of test results per station is small.

A statistical analysis based on the maximum likelihood method has been performed on fracture toughness data for all plate steels to investigate the effect of test temperature and specimen thickness on pre‐cleavage ductile crack growth and the effect of all three on cleavage fracture toughness. For the purpose of the analyses, Weibull distributions have been assumed for pre‐cleavage ductile crack growth and cleavage fracture toughness with a threshold of zero. The equations derived for pre‐cleavage ductile crack growth and cleavage fracture toughness have been used to estimate their joint distribution.

The methodology accommodates the unfailed (censored) data by use of survival statistics. The probabilities of cleavage fracture are evaluated by use of the method of competing risks. Equations for cleavage fracture toughness given for the plate steels are of the same form as already available for C‐Mn submerged arc weld metal.
Histological changes in prostate biopsies after salvage cryotherapy: effect of chronology and the method of biopsy
Authors: IZAWA JONATHAN I. , BUSBY J. ERIK , MORGANSTERN NORA , VAKAR‐LOPEZ FUNDA , SCOTT SHELLIE M. , PISTERS LOUIS L.
Published: June 2006

OBJECTIVES

To examine changes in prostate biopsies at different intervals after salvage cryotherapy and the effect of biopsy type (transrectal ultrasonography‐guided vs transurethral resection, TUR), as the sequence and extent of histological changes occurring in the prostate after salvage cryotherapy for local failure of prostate cancer treatment are unknown.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

In all, 158 prostate biopsies from 150 patients were examined histologically after salvage cryotherapy for prostate cancer after radiotherapy had failed. Specimens were grouped by time from cryotherapy and biopsy technique.

RESULTS

Biopsies showed hyalinization, necrosis, inflammation and residual cancer. Hyalinization became predominant over time, most notably in biopsies with no residual cancer. Core biopsies showed more hyalinization and regenerating glands, while TUR biopsies showed more necrosis and inflammation.

CONCLUSIONS

Tissue cryo‐injury and reactive changes last for >1 year; more extensive cryo‐injury suggests more effective cancer ablation. A long‐term follow‐up is necessary, as prostate cancer might remain indolent for >1 year.
Glucose tolerance of offspring of mother with gestational diabetes mellitus in a low‐risk population
Authors: Malcolm J. C. , Lawson M. L. , Gaboury I. , Lough G. , Keely E.
Published: June 2006

Aims  To describe the prevalence of impaired glucose tolerance and obesity in offspring of mothers whose pregnancies were complicated by gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) in a low‐risk population and to investigate the effect on these outcomes of minimal intervention compared with tight control for management of GDM.

Methods  Eighty‐nine children (mean age 9.1 years, 93% Caucasian) were recruited through a follow‐up study of women previously involved in a randomized controlled trial of minimal intervention (control group) vs. tight glycaemic control (treatment group) for GDM. Fasting blood glucose (FBG) and 2‐h glucose tolerance tests (2hGTT) were performed on offspring and body mass index (BMI) calculated. Glucose tolerance and BMI of treatment groups were compared using non‐inferiority tests (non‐inferiority margin −15%).

Results  Of those offspring, 6.9% (5/72) had abnormal glucose metabolism [four children had impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) and one had Type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) (all Caucasian)]. Of the four children with IGT, three were male, three had normal BMI, and three had a family history of Type 2 diabetes. Of the 71 offspring who underwent 2hGTT, 25/25 (100%) of the control offspring and 46/46 (100%) of the treatment offspring had normal FBG (FBG < 5.7 mmol/l). Twenty‐five of 25 (100%) of control and 42/46 (91.3%) of the treatment offspring had normal glucose tolerance (2hGTT < 7.8 mmol/l) (% difference 8.7, 95% CI −5.6, 20.3). BMI < 85th percentile was found in 25/33 (75.8%) of the treatment group and 44/52 (84.6%) of the control group (difference in percentage −8.9, 95% CI −27.2, 7.8).

Conclusions  School‐age children of mothers with GDM are at risk of IGT and overweight, even if from a low‐risk ethnic population. FBG was not adequate for screening this population. Minimal intervention for glycaemic control in GDM pregnancies appears to be as effective as tight control for preventing IGT in childhood but not for preventing obesity.
Race, Segregation, and Physicians' Participation in Medicaid
Authors: GREENE JESSICA , BLUSTEIN JAN , WEITZMAN BETH C.
Published: June 2006

Many studies have explored the extent to which physicians' characteristics and Medicaid program factors influence physicians' decisions to accept Medicaid patients. In this article, we turn to patient race/ethnicity and residential segregation as potential influences. Using the 2000/2001 Community Tracking Study and other sources we show that physicians are significantly less likely to participate in Medicaid in areas where the poor are nonwhite and in areas that are racially segregated. Surprisingly—and contrary to the prevailing Medicaid participation theory—we find no link between poverty segregation and Medicaid participation when controlling for these racial factors. Accordingly, this study contributes to an accumulating body of circumstantial evidence that patient race influences physicians' choices, which in turn may contribute to racial disparities in access to health care.
Pocket protein function in melanocyte homeostasis and neoplasia
Authors: Tonks Ian D. , Hayward Nicholas K. , Kay Graham F.
Published: June 2006

Melanoma is the most lethal of human skin cancers and its incidence is increasing worldwide [L.K. Dennis (1999). Arch. Dermatol. 135, 275; C. Garbe et al. (2000). Cancer 89, 1269]. Melanomas often metastasize early during the course of the disease and are then highly intractable to current therapeutic regimens [M.F. Demierre and G. Merlino (2004). Curr. Oncol. Rep. 6, 406]. Consequently, understanding the factors that maintain melanocyte homeostasis and prevent their neoplastic transformation into melanoma is of utmost interest from the perspective of therapeutic interdiction. This review will focus on the role of the pocket proteins (PPs), Rb1 (retinoblastoma protein), retinoblastoma‐like 1 (Rbl1 also known as p107) and retinoblastoma‐like 2 (Rbl2 also known as p130), in melanocyte homeostasis, with particular emphasis on their functions in the cell cycle and the DNA damage repair response. The potential mechanisms of PP deregulation in melanoma and the possibility of PP‐independent pathways to melanoma development will also be considered. Finally, the role of the PP family in ultraviolet radiation (UVR)‐induced melanoma and the precise contribution that each PP family member makes to melanocyte homeostasis will be discussed in the context of a number of genetically engineered mouse models.1
Cloning of a Resistance Gene Analog from Wheat and Development of a Codominant PCR Marker for Pm21
Authors: Chen Ya‐Ping , Wang Hua‐Zhong , Cao Ai‐Zhong , Wang Chun‐Mei , Chen Pei‐Du
Published: June 2006

To investigate the mechanism of resistance to wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) powdery mildew, suppression subtractive hybridization was conducted between an isogenic resistant line carrying Pm21 and its recurrent parent Yangmai 5 to isolate the resistance relative genes. A cDNA fragment specifically expressed in the resistant line was obtained and its full length was cloned by in silico cloning and RT‐PCR. This gene encoded a deduced protein of 219 amino acids with a leucine‐rich repeat (LRR) motif, often found in plant resistance genes, and was designated as Ta‐LRR2. Ta‐LRR2 had an increased expression level in the resistant line after inoculation with Erysiphe graminis DC. f. sp. tritici Marchal. PCR analysis with different cytogenetic stocks suggested that Ta‐LRR2 was specifically associated with chromosome arms 6VS and 6AS. Linkage analysis further showed that Ta‐LRR2 could be used as a resistance gene analog polymorphism marker of Pm21 for marker‐assisted selection in germplasm enhancement and breeding practice. Moreover, how to isolate Pm21 based on the information obtained for Ta‐LRR2 is discussed.

(Managing editor: Li‐Hui Zhao)
Nonmetro Residence, Hearing Loss, and Its Accommodation Among Elderly People
Authors: Johnson Nan E.
Published: June 2006

ABSTRACT: Background: No previous studies compare the prevalence of physiological hearing loss among older adults by nonmetro/metro residence. Also, there is little information on their relative successes in accommodating hearing loss with a hearing aid. Purpose: This study sought to bridge these gaps by analyzing the 8,222 respondents to Wave 1 (1993–1994) of the national Asset and Health Dynamics Among the Oldest Old (AHEAD) Survey. Methods: Respondents were classified into 4 categories of hearing status: (1) physiologically normal hearing; and physiologically abnormal hearing with (2) full accommodation of lost hearing with a hearing aid, (3) partial accommodation, and (4) no hearing aid. A multinomial logistic regression was used to predict the odds of having any of the 3 statuses of physiologically abnormal hearing rather than normal hearing. Findings: Nonmetro residents had the same odds as metro residents of having no residual hearing loss when a hearing aid was worn (versus having physiologically normal hearing). But nonmetro residents had a much greater risk than their metro counterparts of having a hearing loss but no hearing aid or a residual hearing loss even when wearing an aid. The association of nonmetro residence with either of these latter hearing‐loss statuses was greater than that of age, a more traditionally acknowledged hearing‐risk factor. Conclusion: Future studies should add nonmetro residence to the list of risk factors for negative hearing outcomes, especially since the percentage of elderly nonmetro residents is expected to grow over the next 2 decades.
Characterization of the Immune Status of CD8+T Cells in Oral Lesions of Human Immunodeficiency Virus-Infected Persons with Oropharyngeal Candidiasis
Authors: Leigh Janet E. , McNulty Kelly M. , Fidel Paul L.
Published: June 2006

Oropharyngeal candidiasis (OPC) remains the most common oral infection in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) disease. In a high percentage of HIV+persons with reduced CD4+T cells, oral lesions withCandidapresent at the outer epithelium have an accumulation of CD8+T cells at the epithelium-lamina propria interface associated with reduced expression of the mucosal cell-trafficking adhesion molecule E-cadherin. The purpose of the present study was to characterize the immune status of these CD8+T cells. Immunohistochemical staining for phenotypic and activation and costimulation markers was performed on frozen biopsy tissue sections from HIV+OPC+persons with accumulated CD8+T cells. CD8+T cells consisted primarily of central memory cells by virtue of positive CD45RO (memory) and CD27 (central memory) expression. However, concomitant negative expression of CD62L and CCR7 (effector memory) was suggestive of a transitioning memory phenotype within the tissue. Despite this, the cells are considered to be activated on the basis of positive expression of CD69. The CD8+T cells are not considered to be NK T cells or anti-HIV CD8+T cells because of negative or low expression of CD161 and vascular cell adhesion molecule, respectively. These results suggest that the accumulated mucosal migratory-challenged CD8+T cells are otherwise normal memory T cells in an activated state.
Comparison of the Digene HC2 Assay and the Roche AMPLICOR Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Test for Detection of High-Risk HPV Genotypes in Cervical Samples
Authors: Sandri Maria T. , Lentati Paola , Benini Elvira , Dell'Orto Patrizia , Zorzino Laura , Carozzi Francesca M. , Maisonneuve Patrick , Passerini Rita , Salvatici Michela , Casadio Chiara , Boveri Sara , Sideri Mario
Published: June 2006

Many different methods with different sensitivity and specificity have been proposed to detect the presence of high-risk human papillomavirus (HR HPV) in cervical samples. The HC2 is one of the most widely used. Recently, a new standardized PCR-based method, the AMPLICOR HPV test, has been introduced. Both assays recognize the same 13 HR HPV genotypes. The performances of these two commercially available assays were compared in 167 consecutive women (for a total of 168 samples) who presented at the Colposcopy Clinic either for a follow-up or for a diagnostic visit. Concordant results were found in 140/168 cervical samples (overall agreement, 83%; Cohen's kappa = 0.63). Twenty-eight samples gave discordant results: 20 were positive with the AMPLICOR HPV test and negative with the HC2 assay, and 8 were negative with the AMPLICOR HPV test and positive with the HC2 assay. The genotyping showed that no HR HPV was detected in the 8 HC2 assay-positive AMPLICOR HPV test-negative samples, while in 8/20 AMPLICOR HPV test-positive HC2 assay-negative samples, an HR HPV genotype was found. The AMPLICOR HPV test scored positive in a significantly higher percentage of subjects with normal Pap smears. All 7 cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 3 patients scored positive with the AMPLICOR HPV test, while 2 of them scored negative with HC2. Both tests had positive results in the only patient with squamous cell carcinoma. In conclusion, this study shows that the HC2 assay and the AMPLICOR HPV test give comparable results, with both being suitable for routine use. The differences noted in some cases may suggest a different optimal clinical use.
Evaluation of a Real-Time Nucleic Acid Sequence-Based Amplification Assay Using Molecular Beacons for Detection of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1
Authors: McClernon D. R. , Vavro C. , St. Clair M.
Published: June 2006

We evaluated the performance characteristics of a new, real-time nucleic acid sequence-based amplification (NASBA) assay that incorporates molecular beacon technology for detection of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1). The quantitative results were comparable to those obtained with three leading commercially available assays. The analytical sensitivity was 37 IU/ml. The NASBA assay detected clinically relevant recombinant viruses and all group M HIV-1 subtypes.
Detection of rtN236T and rtA181V/T Mutations Associated with Resistance to Adefovir Dipivoxil in Samples from Patients with Chronic Hepatitis B Virus Infection by the INNO-LiPA HBV DR Line Probe Assay (Version 2)
Authors: Osiowy Carla , Villeneuve Jean-Pierre , Heathcote E. Jenny , Giles Elizabeth , Borlang Jamie
Published: June 2006

The nucleotide analog adefovir dipivoxil (ADV) is an effective antiviral treatment for chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, with resistance to ADV estimated to occur less frequently than resistance to lamivudine treatment. The detection of ADV resistance mutations is necessary during therapy to monitor and anticipate possible treatment failure. The INNO-LiPA HBV DR v2 (LiPA; Innogenetics, Ghent, Belgium) is a DNA hybridization line probe assay for the detection of HBV polymerase mutations associated with resistance to lamivudine and ADV. Evaluation of this assay to detect ADV resistance mutations was performed by analyzing 38 patients treated with ADV. Serial samples taken at 6-month intervals during treatment were available for most patients. A total of 124 samples were analyzed by both LiPA and sequencing. By LiPA analysis, 12 patients (31.5%) were found to have mutations associated with resistance to ADV (rtA181V/T and/or rtN236T). This contrasted with sequence analysis, which found nine patients (24%) with either or both mutations. Twice as many samples were rtN236T positive by LiPA (18 of 124) compared to sequence analysis (9 of 124). LiPA detected the rtN236T mutation at least 6 months earlier than its detection by sequencing in patients for whom consecutive serum samples were available. Although less sensitive, sequencing has the advantage of providing information on other polymerase mutations not represented on LiPA strips. The INNO-LiPA HBV DR v2 assay is a very sensitive and specific assay for the detection of the rtN236T mutation associated with resistance to ADV.
The superoxide scavenger TEMPOL induces urokinase receptor (uPAR) expression in human prostate cancer cells
Authors: Lejeune Danielle , Hasanuzzaman Mohammad , Pitcock Amanda , Francis Joseph , Sehgal Inder
Published: June 2006

There is little understanding of the effect that reactive oxygen metabolites have on cellular behavior during the processes of invasion and metastasis. These oxygen metabolites could interact with a number of targets modulating their function such as enzymes involved in basement membrane dissolution, adhesion molecules involved in motility or receptors involved in proliferation. We investigated the effect of increased scavenging of superoxide anions on the expression of the urokinase receptor (uPAR) in PC-3M human prostate cancer cells. Urokinase receptor is a GPI-linked cell surface molecule which mediates multiple functions including adhesion, proliferation and pericellular proteolysis. Addition of the superoxide scavenger 4-hydroxy-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidinyloxy (TEMPOL) to PC-3M cultures stimulated expression of uPAR protein peaking between 48 and 72 hours. Cell surface expression of the uPAR was also increased. Surprisingly, uPAR transcript levels increased only slightly and this mild increase did not coincide with the striking degree of protein increase. This disparity indicates that the TEMPOL effect on uPAR occurs through a post-transcriptional mechanism. TEMPOL presence in PC-3M cultures reduced intracellular superoxide-type species by 75% as assayed by NBT dye conversion; however this reduction significantly diminished within hours following TEMPOL removal. The time gap between TEMPOL treatment and peak uPAR protein expression suggests that reduction of reactive oxygen metabolites in prostate cancer cells initiates a multistep pathway which requires several hours to culminate in uPAR induction. These findings reveal a novel pathway for uPAR regulation involving reactive oxygens such as superoxide anion.
Comprehensive curation and analysis of global interaction networks in Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Authors: Reguly Teresa , Breitkreutz Ashton , Boucher Lorrie , Breitkreutz Bobby-Joe , Hon Gary C , Myers Chad L , Parsons Ainslie , Friesen Helena , Oughtred Rose , Tong Amy , Stark Chris , Ho Yuen , Botstein David , Andrews Brenda , Boone Charles , Troyanskya Olga G , Ideker Trey , Dolinski Kara , Batada Nizar N , Tyers Mike
Published: June 2006

Background

The study of complex biological networks and prediction of gene function has been enabled by high-throughput (HTP) methods for detection of genetic and protein interactions. Sparse coverage in HTP datasets may, however, distort network properties and confound predictions. Although a vast number of well substantiated interactions are recorded in the scientific literature, these data have not yet been distilled into networks that enable system-level inference.

Results

We describe here a comprehensive database of genetic and protein interactions, and associated experimental evidence, for the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, as manually curated from over 31,793 abstracts and online publications. This literature-curated (LC) dataset contains 33,311 interactions, on the order of all extant HTP datasets combined. Surprisingly, HTP protein-interaction datasets currently achieve only around 14% coverage of the interactions in the literature. The LC network nevertheless shares attributes with HTP networks, including scale-free connectivity and correlations between interactions, abundance, localization, and expression. We find that essential genes or proteins are enriched for interactions with other essential genes or proteins, suggesting that the global network may be functionally unified. This interconnectivity is supported by a substantial overlap of protein and genetic interactions in the LC dataset. We show that the LC dataset considerably improves the predictive power of network-analysis approaches. The full LC dataset is available at the BioGRID (http://www.thebiogrid.org) and SGD (http://www.yeastgenome.org/) databases.

Conclusion

Comprehensive datasets of biological interactions derived from the primary literature provide critical benchmarks for HTP methods, augment functional prediction, and reveal system-level attributes of biological networks.
Holocaust Testimony, Ethics, and the Problem of Representation
Authors: Kushner Tony
Published: June 2006

It has taken many decades after 1945 for the testimony of Holocaust victims to be taken seriously. This article charts the shift from the marginalization of survivors and the lack of interest in their accounts immediately after the war to more recent developments, whereby they have gained belated recognition and huge efforts have been made to record their experiences. Faced now with the largest collection of testimony ever gathered about one specific event in history, historians and others representing the past are faced with the dilemma of what to do with this remarkable archive of material. It is suggested that only by understanding the nature of ordinary people's constructions of their life histories, with their internal silences and mythologies, will scholars do full justice to the complexity and richness of Holocaust testimony.
Archival Memory: Representations of the Holocaust in Oral Testimony
Authors: Kraft Robert N.
Published: June 2006

Videotaped oral testimony of Holocaust survivors documents the extended (disjointed) memories of individuals who suffered through the industrial cruelty of the Third Reich. This testimony is studied cognitively in an effort to understand memory for atrocity and to characterize the enduring influences of such memory on the lives of the survivors. Unlike the topographic summaries of trauma in large correlational studies or the distant approximations in the laboratory, qualitative analysis of Holocaust testimony discloses what lies underneath—or inside: the phenomenology of the tormented. Drawing on close observation of this testimony, this article examines how atrocity is remembered and how it is communicated to others. Most notably, the testimony reveals two levels of representation: core memory and narrative memory. Core memory consists of representations of the original phenomenal experience—vivid perceptual images, deeply felt emotions, and bodily sensations—which are then integrated into episodic narratives, creating memory's second level. The core memories of atrocity are extraordinarily persistent—recent memories do not weaken or conceal them, and time does not diminish their potency. To convey Holocaust memory now, some survivors call upon narrative conventions, applying archetypal images or referring to Holocaust stories already told. Other survivors avoid specifics, partly out of concern for the listener. Still others translate their private memories of horror into the public domain. In such cases, narrating the traumatic events ascribes meaning not to the past suffering and not to the memories themselves but to the function of memory. No longer meant to be hidden, memory is then meant to be communicated: to educate others and to document the lives of those who were murdered.
Fabrication of mixed matrix hollow fibers with intimate polymer–zeolite interface for gas separation
Authors: Jiang Lan Ying , Chung Tai Shung , Kulprathipanja Santi
Published: June 2006

It has been demonstrated that a novel p‐xylenediamine/methanol soaking method could efficiently remove the polymer–zeolite interface defects of the mixed‐matrix structure. In this work, the mixed‐matrix structure is in the form of an ultrathin (1.5–3 μm) polysulfone/zeolite beta mixed‐matrix layer that is supported by a neat Matrimid® layer in dual‐layer composite hollow fibers. The particle's loading in this thin layer has reached 30 wt %. The ideal selectivities of the mixed‐matrix hollow fibers (30 wt % of zeolite) for O2/N2 and CO2/CH4 separation were roughly 30 and 50% superior to that of the neat PSF/Matrimid® hollow fibers, respectively. Investigation of the morphology of the mixed‐matrix selective layer and its relation with gas separation performance indicated that without p‐xylenediamine/methanol solution treatment, the outer layer showed various polymer–zeolite interface structures in different fibers with the same heat treatment procedures; this situation might lead to the different selectivities after coating. However, by applying p‐xylenediamine/methanol processing on the fibers before thermal treatment, the fibers obtained a more uniform structure and improved attachment between polymer matrix and zeolite surface. Hydrogen bonding was proposed as the possible mechanism for the tighter attachment between the two phases. The improvement of separation efficiency was presumably related to the polymer chain rigidification, partial pore blockage, and/or favorable interaction between the gas penetrants and zeolite framework. © 2006 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2006
Biomolecular Modeling: Goals, Problems, Perspectives
Authors: van Gunsteren Wilfred F. , Bakowies Dirk , Baron Riccardo , Chandrasekhar Indira , Christen Markus , Daura Xavier , Gee Peter , Geerke Daan P. , Glättli Alice , Hünenberger Philippe H. , Kastenholz Mika A. , Oostenbrink Chris , Schenk Merijn , Trzesniak Daniel , van der Vegt Nico F. A. , Yu Haibo B.
Published: June 2006

Computation based on molecular models is playing an increasingly important role in biology, biological chemistry, and biophysics. Since only a very limited number of properties of biomolecular systems is actually accessible to measurement by experimental means, computer simulation can complement experiment by providing not only averages, but also distributions and time series of any definable quantity, for example, conformational distributions or interactions between parts of systems. Present day biomolecular modeling is limited in its application by four main problems: 1) the force‐field problem, 2) the search (sampling) problem, 3) the ensemble (sampling) problem, and 4) the experimental problem. These four problems are discussed and illustrated by practical examples. Perspectives are also outlined for pushing forward the limitations of biomolecular modeling.
War and the dis‐eases of othering
Authors: Moglen Helene , Namir Sheila
Published: June 2006

This essay is concerned with ways in which primal psychic relations, socio‐economic structures, and political imperatives have collaborated in the production of othering relations that have supported Bush's war on terror. Drawing on the psychoanalytic conception of the “third,” the authors identify alternative relational structures that can open up dehumanizing and hierarchical dyadic pairings. Finally, they consider how the events of Hurricane Katrina enabled journalists to occupy the space of the third and, therefore, to help in relational reconfigurations that grow out of the raising of consciousness and the acquisition of knowledge. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Still crazy after all these years: “the paranoid style in American politics”
Authors: Wolfenstein Victor
Published: June 2006

In the US, the 9/11 attacks resulted in the instantaneous crystallization of a paranoid group formation, functioning as defense – not against the real dangers of the situation – but rather against an underlying, identity‐shattering state of psychotic panic. This regressed collective emotional state was exploited by the Bush regime to initiate the war in Iraq, a war that plays out internationally the Ur‐Fascistic tendencies that late capitalistic systems have difficulty containing. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Hybridbrücken mit blockverleimtem Brettschichtholz
Authors: Döhrer Antje , Rautenstrauch Karl
Published: June 2006

Der Einsatz von Holz als Tragelement in Brücken ist in Deutschland fast ausschließlich auf den Bau von Fuß‐ und Radwegüberführungen beschränkt. Die Entwicklung neuer holzbasierter Produkte und moderner Technologien eröffnen dem Holzbrückenbau interessante Zukunftsperspektiven. Durch die Blockverleimung von Brettschichtholz sind Hauptträger mit hoher Steifigkeit und Dimensionsstabilität herstellbar. Durch Kombination blockverleimter Holzträger mit einer Betonfahrbahnplatte lassen sich leistungsfähige hybride Überbauquerschnitte in Holz‐Beton‐Verbundbauweise herstellen, die alternativ zu den herkömmlichen Bauweisen im Straßenbrückenbau eingesetzt werden können. Der vorliegende Beitrag gibt einen Überblick über den Entwicklungsstand der Holz‐Beton‐Verbundbauweise im Brückenbau und zeigt statische und konstruktive Besonderheiten auf.
Materialermüdung an einer Schiffsschleuse aus Stahlbeton
Authors: Fleischer Helmut , Lutz Matthias , Deutscher Martin , Ehmann Rainer
Published: June 2006

Im Jahr 2004 mußte an der ca. 40 Jahre alten Schleuse Bamberg am Main‐Donau‐Kanal ein kompletter Bruch der Biegezugbewehrung im Bereich mehrerer Kammerblöcke festgestellt werden. Eine umfangreiche Schadensanalyse führte zu dem Ergebnis, daß Materialermüdung in Kombination mit Korrosion (Schwingungsrißkorrosion) zum Kollaps des Betonstahls geführt hatte. In diesem Beitrag werden die wichtigsten Ergebnisse der umfangreichen Untersuchungen und Berechnungen erläutert und die aus einer Variantenuntersuchung hervorgegangene Sanierungskonzeption vorgestellt. Abschließend wird auf die Auswirkungen des Bewehrungsbruches mit dieser für Stahlbetontragwerke relativ seltenen Schadensursache auf die anderen Schiffahrtsschleusen an den deutschen Wasserstraßen eingegangen.
Initial capsid‐specific CD4+ T cell responses protect against Theiler's murine encephalomyelitisvirus‐induced demyelinating disease
Authors: Mohindru Mani , Kang Bongsu , Kim Byung S.
Published: June 2006

Central nervous system (CNS) infection by Theiler's murine encephalomyelitis virus (TMEV) causes an immune‐mediated demyelinating disease similar to human multiple sclerosis in susceptible mice. To understand the pathogenic mechanisms, we analyzed the level, specificity, and function of CD4+ Th cells in susceptible SJL/J and resistant C57BL/6 mice. Compared to resistant mice, susceptible mice have three‐ to fourfold higher levels of overall CNS‐infiltrating CD4+ T cells during acute infection. CD4+ T cells in the CNS of both strains display various activation markers and produce high levels of IFN‐γ upon stimulation with anti‐CD3 antibody. However, susceptible mice display significantly fewer (tenfold) IFN‐γ‐producing Th1 cells specific for viral capsid epitopes as compared to resistant mice. Furthermore, preimmunization with capsid‐epitope peptides significantly increased capsid‐specific CD4+ T cells in the CNS during the early stages of viral infection and delayed the development of demyelinating disease in SJL/J mice. This suggests a protective role of capsid‐reactive Th cells during early viral infection. Therefore, a low level of the protective Th1 response to viral capsid proteins, in conjunction with Th1 responses to unknown epitopes may delay viral clearance in susceptible mice leading to pathogenesis of demyelination during acute infection, as compared to resistant mice.
TLR2 engagement on CD8 T cells lowers the thresholdfor optimal antigen‐induced T cell activation
Authors: Cottalorda Anne , Verschelde Claire , Marçais Antoine , Tomkowiak Martine , Musette Philippe , Uematsu Satoshi , Akira Shizuo , Marvel Jacqueline , Bonnefoy‐Berard Nathalie
Published: June 2006

TLR have a crucial role in the detection of microbial infection in mammals. Until recently, most investigations on TLR have focused on cells of the innate immune system and on the role of TLR in the initiation of antigen‐specific responses following recognition of microbial products by APC. Here, we report that murine T cells express TLR1, TLR2, TLR6, TLR7 and TLR9 mRNA. Using CD8 T cells from F5 TCR‐transgenic mice, we demonstrate that the lipopeptide Pam3CysSK4 (Pam), a synthetic analog of bacterial and mycoplasmal lipoproteins that recognizes TLR1/2 complex, costimulates antigen‐activated T cells. Costimulation with Pam permits an increased cell proliferation and survival associated with a sustained CD25 expression and an enhanced expression of Bcl‐xL anti‐apoptotic protein. In addition, we show that costimulation with Pam up‐regulates IFN‐γ production but also granzyme B secretion and cytotoxic activity of antigen‐activated T cells, indicating that TLR2 engagement enhances the major effector functions of CD8 T cells. Finally, we demonstrate that TLR2 engagement on T cells lowers the activation threshold for costimulatory signals delivered by APC.
Assessment of climate‐change impacts on alpine discharge regimes with climate model uncertainty
Authors: Horton Pascal , Schaefli Bettina , Mezghani Abdelkader , Hingray Benoît , Musy André
Published: June 2006

This study analyses the uncertainty induced by the use of different state‐of‐the‐art climate models on the prediction of climate‐change impacts on the runoff regimes of 11 mountainous catchments in the Swiss Alps having current proportions of glacier cover between 0 and 50%. The climate‐change scenarios analysed are the result of 19 regional climate model (RCM) runs obtained for the period 2070–2099 based on two different greenhouse‐gas emission scenarios (the A2 and B2 scenarios defined by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) and on three different coupled atmosphere‐ocean general circulation models (AOGCMs), namely HadCM3, ECHAM4/OPYC3 and ARPEGE/OPA. The hydrological response of the study catchments to the climate scenarios is simulated through a conceptual reservoir‐based precipitation‐runoff transformation model called GSM‐SOCONT. For the glacierized catchments, the glacier surface corresponding to these future scenarios is updated through a conceptual glacier surface evolution model.

The results obtained show that all climate‐change scenarios induce, in all catchments, an earlier start of the snowmelt period, leading to a shift of the hydrological regimes and of the maximum monthly discharges. The mean annual runoff decreases significantly in most cases. For the glacierized catchments, the simulated regime modifications are mainly due to an increase of the mean temperature and the corresponding impacts on the snow accumulation and melting processes. The hydrological regime of the catchments located at lower altitudes is more strongly affected by the changes of the seasonal precipitation. For a given emission scenario, the simulated regime modifications of all catchments are highly variable for the different RCM runs. This variability is induced by the driving AOGCM, but also in large part by the inter‐RCM variability. The differences between the different RCM runs are so important that the predicted climate‐change impacts for the two emission scenarios A2 and B2 are overlapping. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Adsorption of bismuth(III) by bayberry tannin immobilized on collagen fiber
Authors: Wang Ru , Liao Xue‐pin , Zhao Shi‐lin , Shi Bi
Published: June 2006

The adsorption behavior of collagen fiber‐immobilized bayberry tannin towards Bi(III) at acidic pH values was investigated. The adsorption capacity of the adsorbent towards Bi(III) was 0.348 mmol g−1 at 303 K, and increased with the rise in temperature. The adsorption isotherms of Bi(III) were in the shape of so‐called type II isotherms and could be described by an empirical equation, ln qe = k + (1/n)Ce, which implies that chemical adsorption is predominant at lower concentrations of Bi(III) and that physical adsorption is involved at higher concentrations. The adsorption kinetics of Bi(III) on the immobilized bayberry tannin could be well described by the pseudo‐second‐order rate model, and the adsorption capacities calculated by the model were almost the same as those determined by actual measurements. The adsorbent could be regenerated by using 0.02 mol dm−3 ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) solution after adsorption of Bi(III). The adsorption selectivity of the immobilized bayberry tannin towards Bi(III) in a Cu(II)–Bi(III) binary solution in acidic medium was remarkable. Therefore, it is strongly suggested that the immobilized bayberry tannin could be applied to the removal of Bi(III) from crude Cu(II) samples under proper conditions. Copyright © 2006 Society of Chemical Industry
Linear free energy relationship as a tool for characterization of three teicoplanin‐based chiral stationary phases under various mobile phase compositions
Authors: Kalíková Květa , Lokajová Jana , Tesařová Eva
Published: June 2006

Teicoplanin, teicoplanin aglycon, and methylated teicoplanin aglycon chiral stationary phases (CSPs) have been compared on the basis of the regression coefficients calculated from the linear free energy relationship (LFER) equation. The parameters have been obtained from the measurements of a set of 34 structurally diverse solutes. Influence of mobile phase composition – variation of methanol (MeOH) content – on the participation of different interactions types in the retention mechanism has been evaluated. Retention of the various interaction forces in analytes differs with both the CSP and the mobile phase composition. Hydrophobic interactions play a major role in mobile phases for high buffer contents. The more hydrophobic the CSP, the more important are they in the retention mechanism. With increase of MeOH contents in the mobile phase the major role in the interaction mechanism is shifted to more polar forces in which basicity and dipolarity/polarizability dominate. Although the LFER model does not address chiral aspects, we have attempted to explore the importance of the individual interactions in chiral discrimination of amino acids and their N‐tert‐butyloxycarbonyl derivatives.
Comparison of monolithic approaches for enantioselective capillary electrochromatography involving cyclodextrins
Authors: Wistuba Dorothee , Schurig Volker
Published: June 2006

The access to CD‐modified monoliths for enantiomeric separation by CEC can be divided into two main approaches. (i) Silica‐based monoliths, prepared by either a sol–gel process or by sintering of silica particles, are modified after fabrication by coating with a CD selector. Alternatively the fusion of CD functionalized silica particle via gluing is feasible. (ii) Rigid or homogeneous organic polymer‐based monoliths, prepared by polymerization of organic monomers in the presence of a porogen, are modified with the CD selector either by copolymerization or by physical incorporation into the continuous bed.
Synthesis, thermal reactivity, and kinetics of stabilized phosphorus ylides, part 2: [(Arylcarbamoyl)(cyano)methylene]triphenylphosphoranes and their thiocarbamoyl analogues
Authors: Aitken R. Alan , Al‐Awadi Nouria A. , El‐Dusouqui Osman M. E. , Farrell Dorcas M. M. , Kumar Ajith
Published: June 2006

A series of five cyano(arylcarbamoyl) phosphorus ylides 2 and five cyano(arylthiocarbamoyl) phosphorus ylides 3 are prepared and fully characterized. Pyrolytic reaction products of a representative example of each type obtained by flash vacuum pyrolysis technique show that they undergo thermal extrusion of Ph3PO or Ph3PS. Kinetic study of the gas‐phase pyrolysis of each ylide by static method shows that these reactions are unimolecular and first order with no significant substituent effect, but the thiocarbamoyl ylides 3 react 40–65 times more rapidly than their carbamoyl analogues 2. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 38: 496–502, 2006
Does subthalamic nucleus deep brain stimulation really improve quality of life in Parkinson's disease?
Authors: Gronchi‐Perrin Aline , Viollier Sarah , Ghika Joseph , Combremont Pierre , Villemure Jean‐Guy , Bogousslavsky Julien , Burkhard Pierre R. , Vingerhoets François
Published: June 2006

We investigated the impact of subthalamic nucleus (STN) deep brain stimulation (DBS) on quality of life (QOL) in patients with advanced Parkinson's disease, as self‐assessed before and after surgery by completing the Parkinson's Disease Questionnaire (PDQ39). In addition to this prospective evaluation, we asked patients postoperatively to evaluate their preoperative QOL. In the prospective assessment, results showed that patients perceived a general improvement of QOL after the STN DBS. However, when evaluated retrospectively, they tended to overestimate their preoperative functioning, therefore obscuring the improvement found prospectively. This observation highlights the impact of the method used on obtained results when assessing the effects of STN DBS. © 2006 Movement Disorder Society
Identification of a new family of spinocerebellar ataxia type 14 in the japanese spinocerebellar ataxia population by the screening of PRKCG exon 4
Authors: Hiramoto Keiko , Kawakami Hideshi , Inoue Kimiko , Seki Takahiro , Maruyama Hirofumi , Morino Hiroyuki , Matsumoto Masayasu , Kurisu Kaoru , Sakai Norio
Published: June 2006

Spinocerebellar ataxia type 14 (SCA14) is an autosomal dominant neurodegenerative disorder characterized by cerebellar ataxia and intermittent axial myoclonus. Various mutations have been found in the PRKCG gene encoding protein kinase C γ in SCA14 families. Most of those mutations have been found in exon 4 of the PRKCG gene. We performed polymerase chain reaction (PCR)–based screening to clarify the approximate morbidity rate of the disease in the Japanese SCA population. We screened exon 4 of the PRKCG gene in 882 SCA patients with undefined etiologies using denaturing high‐performance liquid chromatography and subsequent direct sequencing. We found a novel C/T missense mutation with a Ser119‐to‐Phe substitution (S119F) in 2 patients and subsequently found that they belonged to the same family. This S119F mutation was not found in 259 control individuals. Further PCR‐based analysis revealed an additional 5 members with the same mutation in this family. Cerebellar ataxia was manifested in 5 of those 7 members. The main symptom in 4 of the 5 affected members was pure cerebellar ataxia with late onset. They had no myoclonus, extrapyramidal signs, ophthalmoplegia, or intellectual disturbance, some of which were found in previously reported SCA families. One patient showed intractable epilepsy, severe walking disturbance, and trunk ataxia with early onset. The results of this study suggest that the frequency of SCA14 in the Japanese SCA population is very low. © 2006 Movement Disorder Society
Real‐time refinement of subthalamic nucleus targeting using Bayesian decision‐making on the root mean square measure
Authors: Moran Anan , Bar‐Gad Izhar , Bergman Hagai , Israel Zvi
Published: June 2006

The subthalamic nucleus (STN) is a major target for treatment of advanced Parkinson's disease patients undergoing deep brain stimulation surgery. Microelectrode recording (MER) is used in many cases to identify the target nucleus. A real‐time procedure for identifying the entry and exit points of the STN would improve the outcome of this targeting procedure. We used the normalized root mean square (NRMS) of a short (5 seconds) MER sampled signal and the estimated anatomical distance to target (EDT) as the basis for this procedure. Electrode tip location was defined intraoperatively by an expert neurophysiologist to be before, within, or after the STN. Data from 46 trajectories of 27 patients were used to calculate the Bayesian posterior probability of being in each of these locations, given RMS‐EDT pair values. We tested our predictions on each trajectory using a bootstrapping technique, with the rest of the trajectories serving as a training set and found the error in predicting the STN entry to be (mean ± SD) 0.18 ± 0.84, and 0.50 ± 0.59 mm for STN exit point, which yields a 0.30 ± 0.28 mm deviation from the expert's target center. The simplicity and computational ease of RMS calculation, its spike sorting‐independent nature and tolerance to electrode parameters of this Bayesian predictor, can lead directly to the development of a fully automated intraoperative physiological procedure for the refinement of imaging estimates of STN borders. © 2006 Movement Disorder Society