bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Emergence and Development of the Politics of Recognition of Cultural Diversity and Indigenous Peoples' Rights in Mexico: Chiapas and Oaxaca in Comparative Perspective
Authors: MUÑOZ ALEJANDRO ANAYA
Published: July 2005

In this article I attempt to explain the differentiated development of the politics of recognition – that is the process of formal recognition of cultural diversity and indigenous peoples' rights – in Mexico, particularly in the states of Oaxaca and Chiapas. I follow an explanatory framework that proposes that the recognition agenda emerges in the context of armed conflict and/or legitimacy and governability crises, and evolves successfully when indigenous actors get access to the decision-making process and form alliances with key political actors. I find that government legitimacy has eroded in both states, and that governability has been severely threatened in Oaxaca and disturbed by armed conflict in Chiapas. However, only in the former have indigenous actors influenced the decision-making process and made alliances with the key decision-makers. This latter finding – fundamental within the explanatory framework followed – begs a further question – why was an alliance between the indigenous and the government elite possible in Oaxaca but not in Chiapas? I go beyond the original explanatory framework and identify a series of structural, contextual and agent-related factors that account for the uneven development of the politics of recognition in each state.
Structural geology and regional tectonic significance of the Ramgarh thrust, Himalayan fold‐thrust belt of Nepal
Authors: Pearson Ofori N. , DeCelles Peter G.
Published: July 2005

The Ramgarh thrust is one of the major fault systems of the Himalayan thrust belt in Nepal and northern India. The Ramgarh thrust sheet is ∼0.2–2.0 km thick and can be traced along strike the entire length of the Himalaya in Nepal. The fault generally places the oldest Paleoproterozoic rocks in the Lesser Himalayan series upon younger Lesser Himalayan rocks or lower Miocene foreland basin deposits. Regional balanced cross sections suggest that the Ramgarh thrust had at least ∼120 km of initial south vergent displacement. Subsequently, the frontal part of the thrust experienced further slip as the roof thrust for a large duplex in underlying Lesser Himalayan rocks. Ramgarh hanging wall strata are greenschist‐grade phyllite, quartzite, and augen gneiss, all of which locally exhibit phyllonitic and mylonitic fabrics that indicate a top‐to‐the‐south sense of shear. Structural fabrics in the Ramgarh thrust sheet are generally parallel to the fabrics in rocks above and below the thrust sheet. Regional and local mapping of the Ramgarh thrust in Nepal demonstrates that the fault always places a hanging wall flat upon a footwall flat, except where local lateral ramps complicate its geometry. Similarly, the structurally overlying Main Central thrust always places a hanging wall flat in Greater Himalayan series rocks upon the regionally flat Ramgarh thrust sheet. These geometric relationships preclude kinematic and thermal models that elevate Greater Himalayan and lower Lesser Himalayan rocks along high‐angle thrust ramps in the vicinity of the present traces of the Ramgarh and Main Central thrust faults. Instead, the corresponding footwall ramps for these thrusts must be located more than 100 km north of the current trace of the Main Central thrust. The present steep dips of the Ramgarh and Main Central thrust sheets can be attributed to tilting during emplacement of structurally lower thrust sheets within a large antiformal duplex that occupies most of the Lesser Himalayan zone. The Ramgarh thrust sheet overlaps a bed length of at least 100 km in lower Miocene foreland basin deposits, indicating that a significant amount of displacement on the thrust must have occurred after ∼15 Ma. Growth of the Lesser Himalayan duplex and additional slip on the frontal part of the Ramgarh thrust occurred from ∼12 to 5 Ma. The presence of a major greenschist‐grade metasedimentary thrust sheet composed of Lesser Himalayan rocks directly below the Main Central thrust suggests that the famous “inverted metamorphism” in this region is a result of structural inversion. Similarly, the concept of a broad zone of intense shear strain related exclusively to emplacement of the Main Central thrust sheet is probably invalid in Nepal.
Relationship between stationary planetary wave activity and the East Asian winter monsoon
Authors: Chen Wen , Yang Song , Huang Rong‐Hui
Published: July 2005

The variability of both the stationary planetary wave activity and the East Asian winter monsoon is strongly associated with the thermal contrast between oceans and landmasses. In this study, we explore the interannual relationship between the monsoon and the wave activity defined by an index of the difference in the divergence of Eliassen‐Palm flux between 50°N at 500 hPa and 40°N at 300 hPa. It is found that, compared to the winters of low wave activity, the equatorward propagation of planetary waves in the middle and upper troposphere is stronger in the high wave activity winters. During these high activity winters, the upward wave propagation from the troposphere into the stratosphere becomes weaker. This is accompanied by a smaller perturbation in the polar vortex, which tends to be colder and stronger. In the meantime, the East Asian westerly jet stream, the East Asian trough, the Siberian high, and the Aleutian low all become weaker apparently. In particular, the weakening of the Siberian high and the Aleutian low decreases the northeasterly wind over East Asia, leading to a warming condition in the region especially in northeastern Asia. A further analysis reveals that the zonal wavenumber‐2 pattern of planetary waves contributes dominantly to the variability of the East Asian winter monsoon.
Sediment evacuation and glacial erosion rates at a small alpine glacier
Authors: Riihimaki Catherine A. , MacGregor Kelly R. , Anderson Robert S. , Anderson Suzanne P. , Loso Michael G.
Published: July 2005

Glacial erosion is known to be driven by sliding, which occurs in brief episodes in the melt season. What is not known is how well this sliding history is reflected in the sediment output from a glacier and to what degree temporary sediment storage in the glacier smoothes the history of sediment production. We document sediment evacuation rates for three seasons at Bench Glacier, a small temperate alpine glacier in the Chugach Range of Alaska. Two lines of evidence suggest that subglacial sediment storage is small. Strong hysteresis in the relationship between sediment and water discharge argues for sediment exhaustion from the subglacial system on seasonal and flood event timescales. Uplift of the glacier surface during periods of enhanced basal motion reflects intimate contact of the glacier sole with up‐glacier‐inclined stoss slopes of bedrock bumps. Sediment evacuation rates at Bench Glacier should therefore closely track glacial erosion rates over annual timescales. Much of the sediment emerges in a major pulse that closely follows the termination of enhanced sliding each year, suggesting that the conduits and well‐connected cavities that allowed removal of englacial water to terminate sliding also promoted efficient transport of sediment. This small glacier efficiently modifies the landscape, lowering its bed by 1–2 mm/yr while sliding only 1–2 m/yr. Our sparse measurements of instantaneous bed load discharge average 41% of concurrent suspended sediment discharge. Assuming that half of the suspended load derives from abrasion of subglacially quarried clasts, roughly two thirds of the sediment evacuated can be attributed to quarrying.
Improving permeability semivariograms with transition probability models of hierarchical sedimentary architecture derived from outcrop analog studies
Authors: Dai Zhenxue , Ritzi Robert W. , Dominic David F.
Published: July 2005

As analogs for aquifers, outcrops of sedimentary deposits allow sedimentary units to be mapped, permeability to be measured with high resolution, and sedimentary architecture to be related to the univariate and spatial bivariate statistics of permeability. Sedimentary deposits typically can be organized into hierarchies of unit types and associated permeability modes. The types of units and the number of hierarchical levels defined on an outcrop might vary depending upon the focus of the study. Regardless of how the outcrop sediments are subdivided, a composite bivariate statistic like the permeability semivariogram is a linear summation of the autosemivariograms and cross semivariograms for the unit types defined, weighted by the proportions and transition probabilities associated with the unit types. The composite sample semivariogram will not be representative unless data locations adequately define these transition probabilities. Data reflecting the stratal architecture can often be much more numerous than permeability measurements. These lithologic data can be used to better define transition probabilities and thus improve the estimates of the composite permeability semivariogram. In doing so, bias created from the incomplete exposure of units can be reduced by a Bayesian approach for estimating unit proportions and mean lengths. We illustrate this methodology with field data from an outcrop in the Española Basin, New Mexico.
A shear heating origin for ridges on Triton
Authors: Prockter Louise M. , Nimmo Francis , Pappalardo Robert T.
Published: July 2005

Triton and Europa each display a variety of distinctive curvilinear ridges and associated troughs. Here we propose that ridges on Triton may have formed by diurnal tidal stresses, in a manner similar to that proposed for ridge formation on Europa. The greater width of ridges on Triton is likely a consequence of the lower surface temperature and greater brittle‐ductile transition depth on this body compared to Europa. The magnitudes of the stresses and heat fluxes required to generate ridges of the correct scale are comparable to likely values generated during the latter part of Triton's orbital evolution from an initial highly eccentric state.
Aerosol invigoration and restructuring of Atlantic convective clouds
Authors: Koren Ilan , Kaufman Yoram J. , Rosenfeld Daniel , Remer Lorraine A. , Rudich Yinon
Published: July 2005

Clouds and precipitation play crucial roles in the Earth's energy balance, global atmospheric circulation and the availability of fresh water. Aerosols may modify cloud properties and precipitation formation by modifying the concentration and size of cloud droplets, and consequently the strength of cloud convection, and height of glaciation levels thus affecting precipitation patterns. Here we evaluate the aerosol effect on clouds, using large statistics of daily satellite data over the North Atlantic Ocean. We found a strong correlation between the presence of aerosols and the structural properties of convective clouds. These correlations suggest systematic invigoration of convective clouds by pollution, desert dust and biomass burning aerosols. On average increase in the aerosol concentration from a baseline to the average values is associated with a 0.05 ± 0.01 increase in the cloud fraction and a 40 ± 5mb decrease in the cloud top pressure.
Tsallis distributions of the large‐scale magnetic field strength fluctuations in the solar wind from 7 to 87 AU
Authors: Burlaga L. F. , F.‐Viñas A.
Published: July 2005

The solar wind is a driven nonlinear, nonequilibrium system with large jumps and fluctuations in the temporal profiles of the magnetic field strength B. Relatively large clusters of strong fields (“merged interaction regions,” MIRs) form beyond 1 AU, grow out to ≈5–30 AU, and decay slowly between ≈30 AU and at least 90 AU. We analyze the probability distribution functions (PDFs) of fluctuations of B observed by Voyager 1 between 7 and 87 AU on scales from 1 to 128 days during each of four years (1980, 1991, 2001, and 2002). The 32 PDFs of the increments of B can be described by a single function, the q‐exponential distribution of the nonextensive Tsallis statistical mechanics. The tails of the PDFs are described by the entropic index q, which is scale dependent. The Tsallis distribution has a finite variance when q < 5/3 and a divergent moment when q ≥ 5/3. For the 1980 and 1991 data (near 8 and 45 AU, respectively), q ≥ 5/3 at all scales, owing to large tails of the PDFs caused by large fluctuations and jumps in B(t). For the 2001 and 2002 data (between 80 and 87 AU), q < 5/3, and q approaches 1 (the PDF tends to a Gaussian) at large scales. The standard deviation and kurtosis of the observed increments of B vary with the scale of the fluctuations. The transition from q > 5/3 at <45 AU to q < 5/3 at >80 AU suggests the possibility of a phase transition in the distant heliosphere.
Electronic absorption spectra of linear and cyclic Cn+n=7–9 in a neon matrix
Authors: Fulara Jan , Shnitko Ivan , Batalov Anton , Maier John P.
Published: July 2005

The Cn+n=7–9 cations were produced by electron-impact ionization of perchloronaphthalene, mass selected, and their electronic absorption spectra in 6K neon matrices recorded. The linear and cyclic isomers of C7+ and C8+ are detected. Three systems of linear C7+ are observed with origin bands near 770, 332, and 309nm. The cyclic C7+ shows two transitions near 676 and 448nm. One system of linear C9+ is observed commencing at 371nm. Linear C8+ shows five dipole-allowed electronic transitions from the X̃Πg2 ground state, and the strongest ones have the origin bands at 890.8 and 308.1nm. Five electronic transitions of cyclic C8+ are also discernible.
Coherent and sequential contributions to femtosecond transient absorption spectra of a rhodamine dye in solution
Authors: Dobryakov A. L. , Kovalenko S. A. , Ernsting N. P.
Published: July 2005

A unified description is presented of sequential and coherent contributions to optical transient absorption measured by femtosecond pump-supercontinuum probe spectroscopy. All inherent transient terms are taken into account. The “coherence spike” seen during pump-probe overlap is thereby decomposed into its components. The method is demonstrated with rhodamine 110 in methanol. Pure homogeneous dephasing times are obtained from a simultaneous fit of all pertinent measurements. Vibronic structure in the coherence spectrum is assigned to stimulated Raman scattering between vibrational levels in the first excited electronic state. The time-zero spectrum for stimulated emission and the solvation relaxation function are also obtained.
Electrochemical and optical characterization of p- and n-doped poly[2-methoxy-5-(2-ethylhexyloxy)-1,4-phenylenevinylene]
Authors: Holt A. L. , Leger J. M. , Carter S. A.
Published: July 2005

We study electrochemical p- and n-type doping in the well-known light-emitting polymer poly[2-methoxy-5-(2-ethylhexyloxy)-1,4-phenylenevinylene] (MEH-PPV). Doping reactions are characterized using cyclic voltammetry. Optical measurements including photoluminescence and UV/Vis/NIR transmission were performed on doped samples. We find that oxidation in MEH-PPV is a highly reversible reaction resulting in stable freestanding doped films, while the reduced form is unstable and the reaction irreversible. We discuss the dependence of doping reactions on scan rate, film thickness, salt type and concentration, and working electrode type. We observe the development of two additional broad absorption bands in both lightly and heavily doped films accompanied by a slight blueshift in the primary optical transition, suggesting bipolaron band formation. Finally we find that both p and n dopings result in extremely sensitive photoluminescence quenching. We propose a physical model for understanding electrochemical doping in MEH-PPV and the implications this has on the development of such technologies as polymer light-emitting electrochemical cells, electrochromic devices, actuators, and sensors.
Potential-energy surface and van der Waals motions of p-difluorobenzene-argon cation
Authors: Makarewicz Jan
Published: July 2005

The structure and dynamics of the van der Waals complex of argon with the p-difluorobenzene cation are investigated using the ab initio theory. The restricted open-shell Møller–Plesset second-order perturbation method combined with the augmented correlation-consistent polarized valence double-ζ basis set is employed to determine the electronic ground-state potential-energy surface of the cationic complex. This surface is extremely flat in a wide region of the configuration space of the Ar atom which moves almost freely over the monomer ring. However, it is bound to the monomer stronger in the cationic than in the neutral complex. Its binding energy is calculated to be 621cm−1 at a distance of 3.445Å from the monomer center. The calculated dissociation energy of 572cm−1 agrees perfectly with the experimental value of 572±6cm−1 [S. M. Belm, R. J. Moulds, and D. Lawrence, J. Chem. Phys. 115, 10709 (2001)]. The effect of a strong coupling of large-amplitude intermolecular motions on the character of van der Waals vibrational states is investigated. The vibrational structure of the spectrum of the complex is explained and its earlier assignment is partly corrected.
Density scaling and exchange-correlation energy
Authors: Nagy Á.
Published: July 2005

The exchange-correlation energy is studied using the density scaling proposed by Chan and Handy [G. K.-L. Chan and N. C. Handy, Phys. Rev. A 59, 2670 (1999)]. It is shown that there exists a value of the scaling factor for which the correlation energy disappears. The optimized potential method and the Krieger-Li-Iafrate approach are generalized to incorporate correlation.
The ferroelectric transition of dipolar hard spheres
Authors: Weis J.-J.
Published: July 2005

We investigate by Monte Carlo simulation the size dependence of the variation of the polarization and the dielectric constant with temperature for dipolar hard spheres at the two densities ρσ3=0.80 and 0.88. From the crossing of the fourth-order cumulant for different system sizes first more precise estimates of the ferroelectric transition temperatures are obtained. Theoretical approaches, when predicting an ordering transition, are shown to generally overestimate the critical temperature.
Extending the Picard-Fuchs system of local mirror symmetry
Authors: Forbes Brian , Jinzenji Masao
Published: July 2005

We propose an extended set of differential operators for local mirror symmetry. If X is Calabi-Yau such that dimH4(X,Z)=0, then we show that our operators fully describe mirror symmetry. In the process, a conjecture for intersection theory for such X is uncovered. We also find operators on several examples of type X=KS through similar techniques. In addition, open string Picard-Fuchs systems are considered.
Analytical on-state current model of polycrystalline silicon thin-film transistors including the kink effect
Authors: Hatzopoulos A. T. , Tassis D. H. , Dimitriadis C. A. , Kamarinos G.
Published: July 2005

A simple analytical expression for the on-state current of polycrystalline silicon thin-film transistors is presented, valid in both linear and saturation regimes including the impact ionization effect. The maximum channel electric field and the avalanche multiplication factor are described in terms of an average trapped charge density at the grain boundary, varying with gate voltage due to the continuous energy distribution of the grain boundary trap states. Based on the parameters of the charge inversion voltage, effective carrier mobility and grain boundary barrier height which are extracted from the transfer characteristic at low drain voltage, the model reproduces the experimental output characteristics in devices with different gate lengths using few fitting parameters.
Quantum dot strain engineering for light emission at 1.3, 1.4 and 1.5μm
Authors: Seravalli L. , Frigeri P. , Minelli M. , Allegri P. , Avanzini V. , Franchi S.
Published: July 2005

We designed and prepared by molecular beam epitaxy strain-engineered InAs∕InGaAs∕GaAs quantum dot (QD) nanostructures where we separately controlled: (i) the mismatch f between QDs and confining layers (CLs), and, then, the QD strain, by changing the thickness of a partially relaxed InGaAs lower CL and (ii) the CL composition x. The appropriate values of f and x to tune the emission energies at wavelengths in the 1.3–1.55μm range were calculated by means of a simple model. Comparing model calculations and activation energies of photoluminescence quenching, we also concluded that quenching is due to both intrinsic and extrinsic processes; we show that the structures can be designed so as to maximize the activation energy of the intrinsic process, while keeping the emission energy at the intended value in the 1.3–1.55μm range.
Magnetic property investigations on Mn-doped ZnO Layers on sapphire
Authors: Mofor A. Che , El-Shaer A. , Bakin A. , Waag A. , Ahlers H. , Siegner U. , Sievers S. , Albrecht M. , Schoch W. , Izyumskaya N. , Avrutin V. , Sorokin S. , Ivanov S. , Stoimenos J.
Published: July 2005

The need for diluted magnetic semiconductors has stimulated research on Mn-doped ZnO. However, the type of magnetic coupling (ferro/para) in ZnMnO remains an issue of debate. We have investigated the magnetic properties of Mn-doped ZnO layers grown by molecular beam epitaxy. Some samples showed a hysteresis with remnant magnetization on the order of 10−5emu, thus eventually suggesting ferromagnetism. We observed that the critical influence of the substrate substantially affects magnetic property measurements. This has to be taken into account in order to clearly confirm ferromagnetism. In our case, after subtraction of the substrate effect, there is no evidence of a ferromagnetic behavior for the ZnMnO samples.
Femtosecond laser pulses distinguish bacteria from background urban aerosols
Authors: Courvoisier François , Boutou Véronique , Wood Vanessa , Bartelt Andreas , Roth Matthias , Rabitz Herschel , Wolf Jean-Pierre
Published: July 2005

The fluorescence from living bacteria (Bacillus subtilis, Enteroccocus and Escherichia coli), induced by a ultrashort 270 nm pump pulse is depleted up to 50% by an optically delayed ultrafast 810 nm probe pulse in a pump-probe arrangement. The fast (subpicosecond) fluorescence decrease occurs for a pump-probe delay of Δt>2ps. Depletion is also observed for tryptophan in water in contrast with organic cyclic molecules such as naphtalene or diesel fuel, despite similar absorption and fluorescence spectra. This remarkable difference allows us to propose a new remote sensing method able to efficiently discriminate organic from biological aerosols in highly populated urban areas.
Fast and reversible excited state absorption in II-VI-based nanocomposite thin films
Authors: Vasa Parinda , Ayyub Pushan , Singh B. P.
Published: July 2005

Nanocomposite CdS-ZnO thin films deposited directly on quartz substrates by high-pressure magnetron sputtering show a completely reversible photodarkening at a very low threshold intensity (∼1kWcm−2), and a moderately fast recovery time (<1ms). This makes them ideal in optical limiting applications for both continuous wave as well as high rep-rate pulsed lasers. The same system also shows an intensity-dependent quenching of the photoluminescence. Using a pump-probe experiment, we show that photodarkening in such a quantum-dot thin film originates from excited state absorption.
Large-scale fabrication of boron nitride nanohorn
Authors: Zhi Chunyi , Bando Yoshio , Tang Chengchun , Golberg Dmitri , Xie Rongguo , Sekiguchi Takashi
Published: July 2005

Boron nitride nanohorns (BNNHs) are synthesized in large scale. Their morphology and structure were investigated by scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. The hollow conical structure and particular aggregation behavior are revealed. Cathodoluminescence measurement is performed and ultraviolet light emission is observed, which indicates the potential applications of BNNHs in optical devices.
Seeded amplification of colored conical emission via spatiotemporal modulational instability
Authors: Zeng Heping , Wu Kun , Xu Han , Wu Jian
Published: July 2005

Seeded amplification of colored conical emission was realized by means of parametric wave mixing via spatiotemporal modulational instabilities in a thick β-barium borate crystal, where an accurately synchronized white-light supercontinuum seed pulse obtained exponential growth along the conical angle under infrared fundamental pump, leading to the generation of a broadband upconverted pulse.
Progesterone receptors and proliferating cell nuclear antigen expression in equine luteal tissue
Authors: Roberto da Costa R. P. , Branco V. , Pessa P. , Silva J. Robalo , Ferreira-Dias G.
Published: July 2005

Steroid hormones act via specific receptors, and these play an important physiological role in the ovary. The objective of this study was to evaluate the cellular distribution of progesterone receptors and their staining intensity in different equine luteal structures during the breeding season, as well as their relationship to luteal cell composition, cell proliferation pattern and plasma progesterone (P4) concentration. There was an increase in proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) expression in large luteal cells from the corpus hemorrhagicum (CH) to mid-luteal phase, followed by a decrease toward the late luteal stage. In the CH, the number of large luteal cells was lower than in other structures. Only large luteal cells showed positive staining for P4 receptors. An increase in staining intensity for P4 receptors was observed between CH and mid-phase corpus luteum, and CH and late-phase corpus luteum. Synthesis of P4 started at a very early stage of the luteal structure and was accompanied by an increase in P4 receptors and PCNA expression, and proliferation of large luteal cells, until mid-luteal phase. These data suggest that large luteal cells might play an important role in the regulation or synthesis of P4 in equine luteal structures.
Comparative study of sperm chromatin condensation in the excurrent ducts of the laboratory mouse Mus musculus and spinifex hopping mouse Notomys alexis
Authors: Bauer M. , Leigh C. , Peirce E. , Breed W. G.
Published: July 2005

In most mammals, post-testicular sperm maturation is completed in the caput and corpus epididymides, with storage occurring in the cauda epididymides. However, in the spinifex hopping mouse, Notomys alexis, epididymal sperm transit is rapid and some sperm storage occurs in the distal region of the vas deferens. The aim of the present study was to determine whether the rapid progression of sperm into the vas deferens in the hopping mouse results in late sperm maturation. To determine this, sperm nuclei from the epididymides and vasa deferentia of laboratory and hopping mice were compared for: (1) thiol content after staining with monobromobimane (mBBr); (2) chromatin resistance to acid denaturation following incubation with acetic alcohol and staining with acridine orange; and (3) chromatin resistance to in vitro decondensation after incubation with 1% sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS). It was found that, whereas laboratory mouse sperm completed chromatin condensation by the time they reached the cauda epididymidis, hopping mouse sperm nuclei from the vas deferens showed significantly less mBBr fluorescence and a greater proportion of sperm were resistant to decondensation with SDS than those in the cauda epididymidis. Therefore, the results of the present study indicate that, unlike in the laboratory mouse, hopping mouse chromatin condensation of spermatozoa continues in the vas deferens and this may be due, at least in part, to rapid epididymal transit.
Effect of homologous follicular fluid from medium-sized and large follicles on in vitro maturation of equine cumulus - oocyte complexes
Authors: Conforti Valéria Amorim , Vanderwall Dirk K. , Woods Gordon L.
Published: July 2005

The in vitro maturation (IVM) of equine oocytes is typically performed using various synthetic media; however, an optimal IVM system for equine oocytes has not been developed. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of two types of follicular fluid (FF) obtained from cyclic mares and two incubation intervals for the IVM of equine cumulus–oocyte complexes (COCs). Follicular fluid was collected from medium-sized (20–29 mm diameter) and large (≥30 mm; post-human chorionic gonadotrophin administration) follicles using transvaginal ultrasound-guided follicle aspiration. Compact (n = 232) and non-compact (n = 183) COCs obtained from a slaughterhouse were incubated separately in the following groups: (1) FF from medium follicles for 24 h; (2) FF from large follicles for 24 h; (3) control (synthetic) medium for 24 h; (4) FF from medium follicles for 24 h then FF from large follicles for an additional 24 h; (5) FF from large follicles for 48 h; and (6) control medium for 48 h. For compact COCs, there was a tendency (P = 0.06) for more COCs incubated in FF from large follicles for 24 h to reach metaphase II compared with those incubated in control medium for 24 h (58% v. 35%, respectively). More (P < 0.05) compact COCs had degenerated after incubation in control medium for 48 h compared with all other groups (51% v. 14–24%, respectively). For non-compact COCs, incubation in FF from medium follicles for 24 h resulted in more (P = 0.05) COCs at metaphase II compared with control medium for 48 h (58% v. 29%, respectively). These results indicate that homologous FF from cyclic mares is a suitable alternative for the IVM of equine COCs and that it may be superior to conventional media for longer (i.e. >24 h) incubation intervals.
Juxtanodin: An oligodendroglial protein that promotes cellular arborization and 2′,3′-cyclic nucleotide-3′-phosphodiesterase trafficking
Authors: Zhang Bin , Cao Qiong , Guo Anchen , Chu Haiying , Chan Yee Gek , Buschdorf Jan Paul , Low Boon Chuan , Ling Eng Ang , Liang Fengyi
Published: July 2005

In the process of screening cell-type-specific genes, we identified juxtanodin (JN), an oligodendroglial protein featuring a putative C-terminal actin-binding domain. At the cellular level, JN in the rat CNS colocalized with 2′,3′-cyclic nucleotide-3′-phosphodiesterase (CNPase), a cytoskeleton-related oligodendroglial protein. In the myelin sheath, JN was found mainly in the abaxon and the lateral few terminal loops. Its apposition to the myelinated axon, through the latter, defined an axonal subregion, herewith termed juxtanode, at the Ranvier node-paranode junction. During forebrain ontogenesis, JN expression paralleled that of MBPs but lagged behind CNPase.Juxtanodintransfection promoted arborization of cultured OLN-93 cells and augmented endogenous CNPase expression and transport to the process arbors of cultured primary oligodendrocyte precursors. These results reveal JN as a cytoskeleton-related oligodendroglial protein that delineates the juxtanode and might serve oligodendrocyte motility, differentiation, or myelin-axon signaling. Functionally, JN may be involved in CNS myelination and/or specialization of the node of Ranvier.
SpA: web-accessible spectratype analysis: data management, statistical analysis and visualization
Authors: He Min , Tomfohr John K. , Devlin Blythe H. , Sarzotti Marcella , Markert M. Louise , Kepler Thomas B.
Published: July 2005

Summary: SpA is a web-accessible system for the management, visualization and statistical analysis of T-cell receptor spectratype data. Users upload data from their spectratype analyzers to SpA, which saves the raw data and user-defined supplementary covariates to a secure database. The statistical engine performs several data analyses and statistical summaries. The visualization engine displays spectratype histograms in a Java applet and in an image file suitable for download. All of these results are also saved to the database and remain accessible to the user. Additional statistical tools specific to the analysis of multiple spectratypes are also available through the SpA interface.

Availability: The service is freely accessible via the web at http://www.duke.edu/~kepler/spa.html. Additional technical support and specialized statistical analysis and consultation are available by arrangement with the authors and, depending on the service requested, may be subject to fee.

Contact:  kepler@duke.edu
HIV‐1 protease inhibitor induces growth arrest and apoptosis of human prostate cancer LNCaP cells in vitro and in vivo in conjunction with blockade of androgen receptor STAT3 and AKT signaling
Authors: Yang Yang , Ikezoe Takayuki , Takeuchi Tamotsu , Adachi Yoshihiro , Ohtsuki Yuji , Takeuchi Seisho , Koeffler H. Phillip , Taguchi Hirokuni
Published: July 2005

This study found that the HIV‐1 protease inhibitor nelfinavir (NFV) induced growth arrest and apoptosis of human prostate cancer cells (LNCaP, DU145 and PC‐3 cells), as measured by MTT and terminal deoxyribonucleotide transferase‐mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assays, respectively, on the third day of culture. In addition, NFV blocked androgen receptor (AR) signaling in association with downregulation of nuclear levels of AR in LNCaP cells as measured by reporter assay and western blot analysis. As expected, NFV downregulated the level of the AR target molecule prostate specific antigen in these cells. Moreover, NFV disrupted STAT3 signaling; protease inhibitors blocked interleukin‐6‐induced phosphorylation of STAT3 and inhibited STAT3 DNA binding activity in LNCaP and DU145 cells, as measured by western blot analysis and enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), respectively. Furthermore, NFV blocked AKT signaling in prostate cancer cells as measured by kinase assay with glycogen synthase kinase‐3α/β as a substrate. Importantly, NFV inhibited the proliferation of LNCaP cells presented as tumor xenografts in BALB/c nude mice without side‐effects. Taken together, NFV inhibited the proliferation of prostate cancer cells in conjunction with blockade of signaling by AR, STAT3, and AKT, suggesting that this family of compounds might be useful for the treatment of individuals with prostate cancer. (Cancer Sci 2005; 96: 425 – 433)
Mechanism of HIF‐1α‐dependent suppression of hypoxia‐induced apoptosis in squamous cell carcinoma cells
Authors: Sasabe Eri , Tatemoto Yukihiro , Li Dechao , Yamamoto Tetsuya , Osaki Tokio
Published: July 2005

The transcriptional factor hypoxia‐inducible factor‐1 (HIF‐1) plays an important role in solid tumor cell growth and survival. Overexpression of HIF‐1α has been demonstrated in many human tumors and predicts a poor response to chemoradiotherapy. We examined the HIF‐1α‐induced survival pathways in human oral squamous cell carcinoma cell (OSCC) lines. The results showed that forced expression of HIF‐1α suppressed hypoxia‐induced apoptosis of OSCC lines by inhibiting cytochrome c release from mitochondria. Overexpression of HIF‐1α inhibited the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), elevation of intracellular Ca2+ concentration, reduction of mitochondrial membrane potential, and cytosolic accumulation of cytochrome c, which resulted in the inactivation of caspase‐9 and caspase‐3. In addition, antiapoptotic Bcl‐2 and Bcl‐XL levels were increased and pro‐apoptotic Bax and Bak levels were decreased in the HIF‐1α‐overexpressing OSCC line. Overexpression of HIF‐1α also increased the levels of phosphorylation of Akt and extracellular signal‐regulated kinases (ERK). These findings indicate that HIF‐1α prevents apoptotic cell death through two mechanisms, including inhibition of cytochrome c release and activation of Akt and ERK. (Cancer Sci 2005; 96: 394–402)
Distinct patterns of gene expression in hepatocellular carcinomas and adjacent non‐cancerous, cirrhotic liver tissues in rats fed a choline‐deficient, l‐amino acid‐defined diet
Authors: Uematsu Fumiyuki , Takahashi Masakazu , Yoshida Midori , Igarashi Maki , Watanabe Naoto , Suzuki Noriko , Abe Masayoshi , Rusyn Ivan , Floyd Robert A. , Nakae Dai
Published: July 2005

Gene expression profiles of HCC and surrounding non‐cancerous tissues in rats fed a CDAA diet for 70 weeks, as well as normal liver tissues, were explored using an oligonucleotide microarray for 3757 genes. A total of 146 genes were identified as differentially expressed; the affected functions including metabolism, apoptosis, cell cycling, RNA splicing, Wnt signaling, reactive oxygen species‐induced stress, and fibro/cirrhogenesis. The genes were found to fit into four distinct expression patterns after classification by hierarchical and k‐means clustering procedures. Notably, genes within the same functional category tended to be found within the same cluster, thus gene functions appeared to be related to their expression patterns. For example, genes encoding receptors (Fisher's exact test, P < 0.01) and cytokines (Fisher's exact test, P < 0.05) were both enriched in a cluster characterized by low expression in HCC compared to their surrounding tissues. While some of the receptors in this cluster had cell‐proliferative potential, others are known to be growth‐suppressive. It was noted, however, that four of the 10 receptor genes encode G‐protein‐coupled receptors, for which growth‐suppressive potential has been reported. The seven growth factors in the same cluster included two fibroblast growth factors. The current findings suggest the possibility that genes differentially expressed in this multistep carcinogenic model may be classified into relatively few clusters according to their expression patterns, and that these clusters may be associated with gene functional categories. (Cancer Sci 2005; 96: 414 – 424)
Dyspepsia consulters and patterns of management: a population‐based study
Authors: AHLAWAT S. K. , RICHARD LOCKE G. , WEAVER A. L. , FARMER S. A. , YAWN B. P. , TALLEY N. J.
Published: July 2005

Background:  Although dyspepsia is common, management patterns in the United States are unknown.

Aim:  To determine the pattern of dyspepsia evaluation and treatment over 20 years in a population‐based cohort, and test the hypothesis that the management was influenced by dyspepsia subgroup and gender.

Methods:  The validated Bowel Disease Questionnaire was mailed to a random sample of Olmsted County, Minnesota residents (1988–1990). Of the 835 survey respondents, 213 subjects were identified as having dyspepsia according to Rome I Criteria. The medical chart of each dyspeptic subject who had not denied research authorization (n = 206) was reviewed to identify all episodes of care for dyspepsia symptoms 10 years before and 10 years after the date the Bowel Disease Questionnaire was completed. Of these 206 subjects (mean age 47 years, 48% female), 34% had ulcer‐like dyspepsia, 32% had dysmotility‐like dyspepsia, and 37% had reflux‐like dyspepsia.

Results:  Nearly half (n = 98, 48%) had episodes of care for dyspepsia symptoms over 20 years. Of these 98 subjects, 49% had upper gastrointestinal endoscopy, 4% motility studies and 12% were tested for Helicobacter pylori. At the first visit of the episode of care closest to Bowel Disease Questionnaire completion, 72% were seen in primary care, 16% in emergency medicine and 2% in gastroenterology. In addition, 13% were referred to gastroenterology clinic within this episode. During the study period, 70% were given an ‘acid’ diagnosis, 7% a ‘motility’ diagnosis and 54% a ‘functional’ diagnosis; 78% received acid suppression agents (28% proton pump inhibitors), 18% psychotropic agents and 7% prokinetic agents. No significant association was found between gender and test usage, specialty referral or type of treatment, although women were three times less likely to receive proton pump inhibitors (odds ratio 3.3, 95% CI: 1.2–9.1). Symptom severity, frequency and pattern were risk factors for health care seeking in dyspepsia.

Conclusions:  Delivery of care for dyspepsia was similar among dyspepsia subgroups and in men and women.
Systematic review and meta‐analysis: proton‐pump inhibitor treatment for ulcer bleeding reduces transfusion requirements and hospital stay – results from the Cochrane Collaboration
Authors: LEONTIADIS G. I. , SHARMA V. K. , HOWDEN C. W.
Published: July 2005

Background:  Proton‐pump inhibitors reduce re‐bleeding and surgical intervention, but not mortality, after ulcer bleeding.

Aim:  To examine the effects of proton‐pump inhibitor treatment on transfusion requirements and length of hospital stay in patients with ulcer bleeding.

Methods:  For the Cochrane Collaboration meta‐analysis of randomized‐controlled trials of proton‐pump inhibitor therapy for ulcer bleeding, outcomes of transfusion requirements and hospital stay were summarized, respectively, as mean (±s.d.) units transfused and hospital days. We calculated weighted mean difference with 95% confidence interval. We also performed subgroup analyses according to geographical origin of the randomized‐controlled trials.

Results:  There was significant heterogeneity among randomized‐controlled trials for either outcome. Overall, proton‐pump inhibitor treatment marginally reduced transfusion requirements (WMD = −0.6 units; 95% CI: −1.1 to 0; P = 0.05) and length of hospitalization (WMD = −1.1 days; 95% CI: −1.5 to −0.7; P < 0.0001). Most of the randomized‐controlled trials did not state precise criteria for administering blood transfusion and discharging patients, thereby limiting the strength of conclusions on the pooled effects.

Conclusions:  Proton‐pump inhibitor treatment for ulcer bleeding produces small, but potentially important, reductions in transfusion requirements and length of hospitalization.
Normal and leukaemic stem cells
Authors: Bonnet Dominique
Published: July 2005

The blood‐related cancer leukaemias were the first diseases where human cancer stem cells, or leukaemic stem cells (LSC), were isolated. The haematopoietic system is one of the best tissues for investigating cancer stem cells, because the developmental hierarchy of normal blood formation is well defined. Leukaemias can now be viewed as aberrant haematopoietic processes initiated by rare LSC that have maintained or reacquired the capacity for indefinite proliferation through accumulated mutations and/or epigenetic changes. Yet, despite their critical importance, much remains to be learned about the developmental origin of LSC and the mechanisms responsible for their emergence in the course of the disease. This report will review our current knowledge on normal and LSC development and examine the impact of these discoveries may have clinically and in our understanding of the leukaemogenic process.
High‐dose idarubicin, cyclophosphamide and melphalan as conditioning for autologous stem cell transplantation increases treatment‐related mortality in patients with multiple myeloma: results of a randomised study
Authors: Fenk R. , Schneider P. , Kropff M. , Huenerlituerkoglu A. N. , Steidl U. , Aul C. , Hildebrandt B. , Haas R. , Heyll A. , Kobbe G. ,   the West German Myeloma Study Group
Published: July 2005

We conducted a randomised trial comparing an intensified versus a standard conditioning regimen for high‐dose chemotherapy followed by autologous stem‐cell transplantation in patients with multiple myeloma. In this study, 56 patients were randomly assigned for high‐dose therapy with melphalan 200 mg/m2 or with idarubicin 42 mg/m2, melphalan 200 mg/m2 and cyclophosphamide 120 mg/kg. The primary objective was response rate. Acute toxicity, mainly because of infections, was higher in the intensified treatment arm with a treatment‐related mortality of 20%versus 0% in the standard arm. This lead to the early discontinuation of the study. Response rates did not differ significantly between both treatment arms {intensified versus standard: complete response + near complete remission 50% [95% confidence interval (CI) 26–74%] vs. 33% (95% CI 17–55%), partial remission 35% (95% CI 16–61%) vs. 50% (95% CI 30–70%)}. After a follow‐up of 5 years, the median time‐to‐progression and overall survival were not significantly different between both patient groups. Analysis restricted to patients surviving the first 100 d after transplant showed a better outcome for patients with ≥2 bad prognostic risk factors in the intensified treatment arm, however all treatment‐related deaths occurred within this group of patients. In conclusion, intensified conditioning for high‐dose therapy had intolerably high toxicity without improving outcome in patients with multiple myeloma.
Rapid and specific detection of clinically significant haemoglobinopathies using electrospray mass spectrometry–mass spectrometry
Authors: Daniel Yvonne A. , Turner Charles , Haynes Roberta M. , Hunt Beverley J. , Neil Dalton R.
Published: July 2005

Increasing demand for population screening for the haemoglobinopathies gives rise to a requirement for high throughput systems, which allow for cost effective, rapid, sensitive and specific screening of clinically significant haemoglobins. We have developed a practical and efficient approach using tryptic digestion and electrospray triple quadrupole mass spectrometry–mass spectrometry (MSMS) in multiple reaction monitoring acquisition mode for the identification of the clinically important haemoglobin variants, S, C, DPunjab, OArab, and E. A total of 200 blood samples, comprising 52 haemoglobin AA, 57 AS (sickle cell trait), 44 AC (C trait), 16 SC (SC disease), 14 SS (sickle cell disease), 10 AE (E trait), 2 ADPunjab (DPunjab trait) and 1 each of AOArab (OArab trait), CC (C disease), DPunjabDPunjab (DPunjab disease), OArabOArab (OArab disease), and EE (E disease), have been analysed in parallel with existing phenotype and molecular methods. All haemoglobin variants were correctly identified by MSMS, with no false positives or false negatives. The system detects both heterozygotes and homozygotes and has potential applications in neonatal and antenatal screening.
Soluble syndecan‐1 level at diagnosis is an independent prognostic factor in multiple myeloma and the extent of fall from diagnosis to plateau predicts for overall survival
Authors: Lovell Richard , Dunn Janet A. , Begum Gulnaz , Barth Nicola J. , Plant Tim , Moss Paul A. , Drayson Mark T. , Pratt Guy ,   on behalf of the Working Party on Leukaemia in Adults (part of the National Cancer Research Institute Haematological Oncology Clinical Studies Group)
Published: July 2005

Syndecan‐1 (CD138) is a heparin sulphate proteoglycan that is over expressed on the surface of both normal and malignant plasma cells and actively shed from the cell surface (soluble syndecan‐1). Soluble syndecan‐1 has been shown to be an independent prognostic factor in myeloma but its role in prognostic classification requires further investigation. We have retrospectively measured soluble syndecan‐1 in 324 presentation samples and 154 plateau phase samples from the UK Medical Research Council Myeloma VIth trial. Log‐rank analysis showed that the presentation value of soluble syndecan‐1 is a highly significant prognostic factor when assessing survival from entry (χ2 = 14·92,P < 0·0001) and remains an important independent prognostic factor when considered in Cox regression models (P ≤ 0·02) with known independent factors. The magnitude of fall in soluble syndecan‐1 from presentation to plateau also had prognostic value when assessing overall survival from plateau (χ2 = 3·79,P = 0·05). In conclusion, this large study confirms that soluble syndecan‐1 level is a powerful independent prognostic factor both at diagnosis and at plateau phase.