bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Phase II intra‐patient dose‐escalation trial of weight‐based darbepoetin alfa with or without granulocyte‐colony stimulating factor in myelodysplastic syndromes
Authors: Gotlib Jason , Lavori Philip , Quesada Sylvia , Stein Richard S. , Shahnia Shahin , Greenberg Peter L.
Published: October 2008

This Phase II study evaluated darbepoetin alfa (DA) in 24 patients with predominantly low or intermediate‐1 risk myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). Intra‐patient dose escalation of DA was undertaken in three 6‐week dose cohorts until a major erythroid response was achieved: 4.5 mcg/kg/week, 9 mcg/kg/week, and 9 mcg/kg/week plus granulocyte‐colony stimulating factor (G‐CSF) 2.5 mcg/kg twice weekly. Patients with refractory anemia with ringed sideroblasts (RARS) commenced DA at 9 mcg/kg/week. The weight‐based dosing regimen translated into a median starting DA dose of 390 mcg/week. Erythroid responses were observed in 16/24 patients (67%; 12 major and 4 minor), with a median response duration of 11 months in major responders. Addition of G‐CSF generated a major erythroid response in 7/15 patients (47%) who suboptimally responded to DA alone. DA was well tolerated, except for worsening of baseline mild hypertension and renal insufficiency in one patient with diabetes. IPSS score <0.5 and RBC transfusions <2 units/month increased the probability of an erythroid response. A minority of subjects (12%) developed low‐level non‐neutralizing anti‐DA antibodies. Our data indicate that weekly weight‐based dosing of DA, with the addition of G‐CSF in selected individuals, can be an effective erythropoietic option in a high proportion of lower‐risk MDS patients. Am. J. Hematol, 2009. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
High nontransferrin bound iron levels and heart disease in thalassemia major
Authors: Piga Antonio , Longo Filomena , Duca Lorena , Roggero Simona , Vinciguerra Tiziana , Calabrese Roberto , Hershko Chaim , Cappellini Maria Domenica
Published: October 2008

Although the presence of nontransferrin bound plasma iron (NTBI) in transfusional iron overload is well documented, knowledge about its clinical significance is limited. We assessed NTBI levels in a large and homogeneous series of thalassemia patients on regular transfusion and chelation and explored the hypothesis that NTBI levels may be associated with relevant clinical outcomes: in particular, heart disease. Among 174 patients with thalassemia major and intermedia, we showed the presence NTBI in 145 of 174 or 83.3% of cases. NTBI levels correlated with transferrin saturation, age, and ALT, and not with serum ferritin or liver iron concentrations. At a multiple regression analysis, transferrin saturation and heart disease but not age was independent predictors of NTBI. Patients with heart disease had NTBI levels significantly higher than those without. All patients with heart disease had transferrin saturation above 70%, and all were NTBI positive. Conversely, none of the patients without NTBI and/or with transferrin saturation less than 70% had preclinical or clinical heart disease. To our knowledge, this is the first documentation of a link between the presence of NTBI in thalassemic patients with transfusional iron overload and heart disease. Further investigation from these preliminary findings may clarify whether NTBI assessment may have a role in evaluating the risks and optimizing treatment for transfusion‐dependent patients. Am. J. Hematol., 2009. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Spectroscopic detection and identification of infected cells with herpes viruses
Authors: Erukhimovitch Vitaly , Karpasasa Mark , Huleihel Mahmoud
Published: October 2008

Matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization time‐of‐flight (MALDI‐TOF) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) microspectroscopy were previously applied for the identification of various biological samples. In the present study, normal cells in culture and cells infected with herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV‐2) or varicella‐zoster virus (VZV) were analyzed by MALDI‐TOF and FTIR microscopy. Specific spectral biomarkers for rapid and reliable monitoring and identification of infected cells and probably for the discrimination between these viruses were searched. The results show consistent spectral peaks in all examined normal uninfected human fibroblast cells both in MALDI‐T0F and FTIR microscopy. In HSV‐2‐ or VZV‐infected cells, two unique peaks for each appeared at m/z 5397 and 5813 or at m/z 3501 and 4951, respectively, in MALDI‐TOF spectra. In addition, several peaks that appeared in control uninfected cells at the region m/z 13,000–20,000 disappeared completely in all examined infected samples. When these infected cells were examined by FTIR microscopy, a band at 859 cm−1 in control uninfected cells was significantly shifted to 854 cm−1 in both HSV2‐ and VZV‐infected cells. In addition, phosphate levels were considerably increased in all infected cells compared to normal uninfected cells. These parameters could be used as a basis for developing a spectral method for the detection and identification of cells infected with herpes viruses. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Biopolymers 91: 61–67, 2009.

This article was originally published online as an accepted preprint. The “Published Online” date corresponds to the preprint version. You can request a copy of the preprint by emailing the Biopolymers editorial office at biopolymers@wiley.com
Virtual laboratory for experimental structural dynamics
Authors: Sim S. H. , Spencer B. F. , Lee G. C.
Published: October 2008

This article presents a Java‐powered virtual laboratory (VL) which has been developed to provide a means for on‐line interactive structural dynamics experiments for undergraduate and graduate education. This VL intends to provide a conceptual and practical understanding of a wide range of topics related to the collection, analysis, and interpretation of data from dynamic testing, including sensor type and placement, aliasing, windowing, nonlinearities, etc. A multi‐story shear building is employed as a test bed and the responses of the structure are obtained through the linear/nonlinear dynamic analysis. The VL is available on‐line at http://sstl.cee.uiuc.edu/java/esd/virtuallab.html. This article presents the unique features and usage of this VL. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Comput Appl Eng Educ 17: 80–88, 2009; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com); DOI 10.1002/cae20162
Content‐rich interactive online laboratory systems
Authors: Aziz El‐Sayed S. , Esche Sven K. , Chassapis Constantin
Published: October 2008

Online learning environments are rapidly becoming viable options for offering students a bridge from theoretical concepts to practical engineering applications. They represent collections of integrated tools that provide a delivery mechanism for rich learning content, advanced assessment capabilities as well as affordable access to a wide range of educational resources. Such online learning environments have been used at Stevens Institute of Technology (SIT) for a number of years to provide undergraduate engineering students with a comprehensive laboratory experience based on content‐rich and flexible remote and virtual laboratory experiments. These Web‐based educational tools were developed using various open source programming languages and free software applications. As discussed in this article, these open source components form a powerful combination for the cost‐efficient development, implementation and sharing of Web‐based virtual experimentation systems. This article describes the delivery methods for online experiments and the corresponding software modules implemented, which were integrated into a comprehensive student laboratory experience currently being used at SIT in a sophomore‐level core undergraduate course on solid mechanics taken by all undergraduate engineering majors as well as in a junior‐level course on mechanisms and machine dynamics for mechanical engineering majors. Furthermore, some results of the learning outcomes assessment for online experiments conducted over several years at SIT are summarized. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Comput Appl Eng Educ 17: 61–79, 2009; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com); DOI 10.1002/cae20210
Rational management of endocrine resistance in breast cancer
Authors: Hurvitz Sara A. , Pietras Richard J.
Published: October 2008

Endocrine therapy for breast cancer was introduced more than 100 years ago. In the last 30 years, it has been demonstrated that tamoxifen significantly improves outcomes for patients with hormone‐responsive breast tumors. Aromatase inhibitors, which suppress the production of estrogen, are recognized today as an effective alternative for estrogen‐receptor‐positive breast cancer in postmenopausal women. However, despite an initial response to treatment, many tumors eventually recur or progress. When selecting subsequent endocrine therapy, it is helpful to understand the mechanisms of hormone resistance, consider the goals of treatment, and evaluate the clinical potential of each available drug. The objective of this article was to review the underlying mechanisms of action and resistance for each type of hormone therapy, evaluate the most recent data regarding the use of endocrine agents after disease progression or recurrence, and explore potential combinations of hormone therapies with novel molecules that target key growth factor signaling pathways. Cancer 2008. © 2008 American Cancer Society.
Evaluating an hepatic enzyme induction mechanism through coarse‐ and fine‐grained measurements of an in silico liver
Authors: Ropella Glen E. P. , Park Sunwoo , Hunt C. Anthony
Published: October 2008

Results from simulation experiments falsified the hypothesis that a uniform distribution of simulated drug passing through an in silico liver (ISL) will produce a uniform extent of enzyme induction (EI). Wet‐lab EI experiments, as formulated, are infeasible. The simulated EI is intended to have a hepatic counterpart. The ISL is synthetic, physiologically based, fine‐grained, and multi‐agent. It has been validated against in situ drug disposition data. We discuss methodological considerations regarding the phenomenal manifold, multi‐level observation, and manipulation of synthetic models and their referents. Interestingly, a lower probability of metabolism caused higher EI and, counter‐intuitively, more extraction. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Complexity, 2009
An aboral‐dorsalization hypothesis for chordate origin
Authors: Satoh Nori
Published: October 2008

Chordates originated from a common ancestor(s) shared with two other deuterostome groups, echinoderms and hemichordates, by creating a novel type of tadpole‐like larva, which was characterized by a dorsal hollow neural tube and notochord. Recent molecular phylogeny supports the notion that echinoderms and hemichordates form a clade named the Ambulacraria and that, among the chordates, cephalochordates are more basal than urochordates and vertebrates. An aboral‐dorsalization hypothesis is proposed to explain how the tadpole‐type larva evolved. Embryological comparison of cephalochordates with nonchordate deuterostomes suggests that, because of limited space on the oral side of the ancestral embryo, morphogenesis to form the neural tube and notochord occurred on the aboral side of the embryo. Namely, the dorsalization of the aboral side of the ancestral embryo may have been a key developmental event that led to the formation of the basic chordate body plan. genesis 46:614–622, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The history of a developmental stage: Metamorphosis in chordates
Authors: Paris Mathilde , Laudet Vincent
Published: October 2008

Metamorphosis displays a striking diversity in chordates, a deuterostome phylum that comprises vertebrates, urochordates (tunicates), and cephalochordates (amphioxus). In anuran amphibians, the tadpole loses its tail, develops limbs, and undergoes profound changes at the behavioral, physiological, biochemical, and ecological levels. In ascidian tunicates, the tail is lost and the head tissues are drastically remodeled into the adult animal, whereas in amphioxus, the highly asymmetric larva transforms into a relatively symmetric adult. This wide diversity has led to the proposal that metamorphosis evolved several times independently in the different chordate lineages during evolution. However, the molecular mechanisms involved in metamorphosis are largely unknown outside amphibians and teleost fishes, in which metamorphosis is regulated by the thyroid hormones (TH) T3 and T4 binding to their receptors (thyroid hormone receptors). In this review, we compare metamorphosis in chordates and then propose a unifying definition of the larva‐to‐adult transition, based on the conservation of the role of THs and some of their derivatives as the main regulators of metamorphosis. According to this definition, all chordates (if not, all deuterostomes) have a homologous metamorphosis stage during their postembryonic development. The intensity and the nature of the morphological remodeling varies extensively among taxa, from drastic remodeling like in some ascidians or amphibians to more subtle events, as in mammals. genesis 46:657–672, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Novel current‐source multilevel inverter driven by single gate drive power supply
Authors: Iwaya Kazuki , Noguchi Toshihiko
Published: October 2008

This paper proposes a novel current‐source multilevel inverter, which is based on a current‐source half‐bridge topology. Multilevel inverters are effective for reducing harmonic distortion in the output voltage and the output current. However, the multilevel inverters require many gate drive power supplies to drive switching devices. The gate drive circuits using a bootstrap circuit and a pulse transformer can reduce the number of the gate drive power supplies, but the pulse width of the output PWM waveform is limited. Furthermore, high‐speed power switching devices are indispensable to create a high‐frequency power converter, but various problems, such as high‐frequency noise, arise due to the high dv/dt rate, especially in high‐side switching devices. The proposed current‐source multilevel inverter is composed of a common emitter topology for all switching devices. Therefore, it is possible to operate it with a single power supply for the gate drive circuit, which allows stabilizing the potential level of all the drive circuits. In this paper, the effectiveness of the proposed circuit is verified through experimental results. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 166(2): 88–95, 2009; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/eej.20475
Distribution voltage rise at dense photovoltaic generation area and its suppression by SVC
Authors: Iioka Daisuke , Sakakibara Kuniaki , Yokomizu Yasunobu , Matsumura Toshiro , Izuhara Norihisa
Published: October 2008

An SVC is proposed as a reactive power compensation device to suppress the rise in the customer voltage due to photovoltaic power generation systems. The SVC produces a reactive power by controlling a thyristor. The effect of the SVC on the rise in the customer voltage has been investigated. Calculation results show that installing an SVC on the low‐voltage side is more effective for suppressing the rise in the customer voltage compared to an SVC located on the high‐voltage side. As far as the calculation conditions are concerned, it is found that the rated capacity of the SVC needed to maintain the customer voltage within 101±6V is over ±11.1kVA. The slope reactance required to suppress the customer voltage lower than 107 V is found to be under 1.28%. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 166(2): 47–53, 2009; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/eej.20478
A passive EMI filter with access to the ungrounded motor neutral line—Its effect on attenuating bearing current
Authors: Tamura Shunsuke , Akagi Hirofumi
Published: October 2008

This paper describes the effect of a passive EMI filter on preventing bearing current from flowing inside an inverter‐driven motor. Motor‐bearing damage is often caused by bearing currents resulting from the breakdown of grease films in the motor bearing. The high‐frequency common‐mode voltage generated by the PWM inverter induces a shaft voltage between the rotor and the frame. When the shaft voltage exceeds the breakdown voltage of the grease films, a destructive instantaneous discharge current with a peak value of about 1 A flows through the motor bearing. The passive EMI filter, which is unique in access to the motor neutral line, can reduce the shaft voltage as a result of eliminating the high‐frequency common‐mode voltage from the motor terminals. Hence, no breakdown occurs in the grease film, so that no bearing current flows. The viability and effectiveness of the passive EMI filter is verified by experimental results obtained from a 400‐V, 3.7‐kW laboratory system. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 166(2): 78– 87, 2009; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/eej.20489
Development of pulsed power modulator for induction synchrotron
Authors: Koseki Kunio , Takayama Ken
Published: October 2008

A pulsed power modulator for the POP experiment of an induction synchrotron has been developed. Various difficulties in the development of the modulator, such as enormous power dissipation at a MOSFET, the resonant ringing in the output waveform, the isolation from the ground potential, and the incorrect action of a gate driving circuit, have been discussed and solved. The developed power modulator is installed into the existing accelerator, KEK 12‐GeV proton synchrotron. The POP experiment of the induction sychrotron has been successfully conducted. A single RF bunch injected from the 500‐MeV booster ring was accelerated to the flat‐top energy of 8 GeV. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 166(2): 8– 14, 2009; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/eej.20494
A technique of waveform judgment for harmonic analysis on distribution lines
Authors: Aizawa Tadao
Published: October 2008

Most general‐purpose analyzers for harmonic analysis on distribution lines are designed to sample the data of one or two power supply periods. In other words, these analyzers process waveforms and display the results based on the assumption that the analyzed waveforms contain no noninteger components, such as subharmonics and interharmonics. When waveforms containing noninteger components are analyzed with these general‐purpose analyzers, the results often indicate components that are not actually present.

This paper proposes a technique of waveform judgment and explains its method of application. The technique allows noninteger components to be recognized in analyzed waveforms from the properties of Lissajous figures, and clarifies the types of components and the time windows necessary for appropriate analysis. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 166(2): 32– 38, 2009; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/eej.20536
Controller reduction via frequency weightings considering $H_{\infty}$ property preservation
Authors: Nagado Tsutomu , Usui Shota
Published: October 2008

In this paper, a new $H_{\infty}$ controller reduction method is proposed to preserve the $H_{\infty}$ property using frequency weightings. It is necessary to consider decreasing degradation of $H_{\infty}$ property for $H_{\infty}$ controller reduction. It is well known that all $H_{\infty}$ controllers are represented by free parameters which are stable and bounded. In the paper, frequency weightings are given to stabilize the free parameters, and low‐order controller is provided by using frequency‐weighted balanced technique. Some numerical examples are given to show the effectiveness of the method. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 166(2): 63–69, 2009; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/eej.20683
Short‐term load forecasting using informative vector machine
Authors: Kurata Eitaro , Mori Hiroyuki
Published: October 2008

In this paper, a novel method is proposed for short‐term load forecasting, which is one of the important tasks in power system operation and planning. The load behavior is so complicated that it is hard to predict the load. The deregulated power market is faced with the new problem of an increase in the degree of uncertainty. Thus, power system operators are concerned with the significant level of load forecasting. Namely, probabilistic load forecasting is required to smooth power system operation and planning. In this paper, an IVM (Informative Vector Machine) based method is proposed for short‐term load forecasting. IVM is one of the kernel machine techniques that are derived from an SVM (Support Vector Machine). The Gaussian process (GP) satisfies the requirements that the prediction results are expressed as a distribution rather than as points. However, it is inclined to be overtrained for noise due to the basis function with N2 elements for N data. To overcome this problem, this paper makes use of IVM that selects necessary data for the model approximation with a posteriori distribution of entropy. That has a useful function to suppress the excess training. The proposed method is tested using real data for short‐term load forecasting. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 166(2): 23– 31, 2009; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www. interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/eej.20693
Improvement of sensing characteristics of self‐sensing active magnetic bearings
Authors: Morita Kozo , Yoshida Toshiya , Ohniwa Katsumi
Published: October 2008

A winding‐current interference model of self‐sensing magnetic bearings (AMBs) and an improvement technique of position‐sensing characteristics are proposed. In the self‐sensing AMB systems, the electromagnets work not only as actuators suspending the rotor but also as position sensors. The self‐sensing position signal, however, includes errors because of nonlinearity of the magnetic circuits. In the proposed model, the current is directly transmitted to the self‐sensing position signal. This transmission means degradation of the self‐sensing characteristics. This winding‐current interference to the self‐sensing signal is reduced by the proposed compensation method. The characteristics of the proposed self‐sensing method agree well with a reference sensor signal up to over 1 kHz. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 166(2): 70– 77, 2009; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/eej.20732 Copyright © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Large trades and intraday futures price behavior
Authors: Frino Alex , Bjursell Johan , Wang George H. K. , Lepone Andrew
Published: October 2008

This study examines the effects of large trades executed by outside customer on the prices of futures contracts traded on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange. We find that, on average, large buyer‐initiated trades have a larger permanent price impact (information effect) than large seller‐initiated trades, whereas the opposite is found for the temporary price impact (liquidity effects) of large trades. These results are consistent with previous findings for block and institutional trades in equity markets. However, we also find that the information effects of large sells are larger than large buys in bearish markets, whereas the results are the reverse in bullish markets. The liquidity price effects of buys are larger than the liquidity price effects of sells in bearish markets whereas the reverse results hold in bullish markets. Our results are consistent with the hypothesis that the current economic condition is a key determinant of asymmetric price effects between large buys and large sells. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Jrl Fut Mark 28:1147–1181, 2008
Informed trading in the index option market: The case of KOSPI 200 options
Authors: Ahn Hee‐Joon , Kang Jangkoo , Ryu Doojin
Published: October 2008

This study examines if informed trading is present in the index option market by analyzing the KOSPI 200 options, the most actively traded derivative product in the world. The spread decomposition model developed by Madhavan, Richardson, and Roomans (1997) is utilized and the adverse‐selection cost component of the spread estimated by the model is then used as a proxy for the degree of informed trading. We find that adverse‐selection costs constitute a nontrivial portion of the transaction costs in index options trading. Approximately one‐third of the spread can be accounted for by information asymmetry costs. A further analysis indicates that adverse‐selection costs are positively related with option delta. Our regression analysis shows that option‐related variables are significantly associated with estimated information asymmetry costs, even when controlling for proxies for informed trading in the index futures market. Finally, we find the evidence that foreign investors are better informed compared to domestic investors and that domestic institutions have an edge in terms of information over domestic individuals. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Jrl Fut Mark 28:1118–1146, 2008
Can exchange seat prices predict financial market volatility?
Authors: You Taewoo , Holder Mark E.
Published: October 2008

There is considerable evidence that trading volume and volatility are positively related and that exchange seat prices are largely a function of trading volume. This article examines whether changes in seat prices at the Chicago Board of Trade (where stock index and interest rate futures account for the vast majority of trading volume) are useful in predicting changes in interest rate and stock market volatility. Exponential GARCH and transfer function models are used to demonstrate the power of changes in CBOT seat prices in predicting changes in interest rate and stock market volatility. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Jrl Fut Mark 28:1206–1221, 2008
Role of endoscopic ultrasound in the diagnosis and staging of pancreatic cancer
Authors: Săftoiu Adrian , Vilmann Peter
Published: October 2008

Early diagnosis of pancreatic cancer remains a difficult task, and multiple imaging tests have been proposed over the years. The aim of this review is to describe the current role of endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) for the diagnosis and staging of patients with pancreatic cancer. A detailed search of MEDLINE between 1980 and 2007 was performed using the following keywords: pancreatic cancer, endoscopic ultrasound, diagnosis, and staging. References of the selected articles were also browsed and consulted. Despite progress made with other imaging methods, EUS is still considered to be superior for the detection of clinically suspected lesions, especially if the results of other cross‐sectional imaging modalities are equivocal. The major advantage of EUS is the high negative predictive value that approaches 100%, indicating that the absence of a focal mass reliably excludes pancreatic cancer. The introduction of EUS‐guided fine needle aspiration allows a preoperative diagnosis in patients with resectable cancer, as well as a confirmation of diagnosis before chemoradiotherapy for those that are not. This comprehensive review highlighted the diagnostic capabilities of EUS including the newest refinements such as contrast‐enhanced EUS, EUS elastography, and 3‐dimensional EUS. The place of EUS‐guided biopsy is also emphasized, including the addition of molecular marker techniques. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Ultrasound, 2009
A biometric study of the fetal orbit and lens in normal pregnancies
Authors: Sukonpan Kanchapan , Phupong Vorapong
Published: October 2008

Purpose.

To construct nomograms of the size of the fetal orbit and lens and to evaluate the relationships between the gestational age and the biometry of the fetal orbit and lens.

Method.

Six hundred two normal pregnant women were evaluated from 15 to 40 weeks of gestation. Fetal orbital and lens measurements were added to routine biometric measurements for normal fetuses.

Results.

A total of 595 measurements were used for analyses. A strong linear correlation was observed between gestational age and orbital diameter, orbital circumference, and orbital surface. A linear correlation was also found between gestational age and lens diameter, lens circumference, and lens surface. A linear growth function was observed between biparietal diameter and both the orbital diameter and the lens diameter.

Conclusion.

Orbital and lens measurements provide data that correlate with fetal growth and development. These data may also help detect fetal ocular abnormalities. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Ultrasound, 2009
Characterization of the molecular reorientational dynamics of the neat ionic liquid 1‐butyl‐3‐methylimidazolium bromide in the super cooled state using 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy
Authors: Imanari Mamoru , Tsuchiya Hiroyuki , Seki Hiroko , Nishikawa Keiko , Tashiro Mitsuru
Published: October 2008

The 13C spectra and 13C longitudinal relaxation times (T1) were measured to investigate the segmental motion of the neat ionic liquid 1‐butyl‐3‐methylimidazolium bromide ([bmim]Br) in the super cooled state. The 13C signals of the imidazole ring significantly broadened at 283 K, whereas many other signals were unchanged. In the process of lowering temperature, the [bmim]Br changed to the solid state at ca 273 K without showing the rapid phase transition. Only the 13C signal of the terminal methyl group in the butyl chain was still observed at 263 K, indicating that the motion of the imidazole ring was extremely restricted, whereas the methyl group in the butyl chain was active even in the solid state. The 13C‐T1 values measured as a function of temperature also supported the discrete segmental motions of the [bmim]+ cation. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
1H and 13C NMR assignments of new methoxylated furanoflavonoids from Lonchocarpus araripensis
Authors: Lima Almi F. , Mileo Paulo Graziane M. , Andrade‐Neto Manoel , Braz‐Filho Raimundo , Silveira Edilberto R. , Pessoa Otília Deusdênia L.
Published: October 2008

Two new polymethoxylated flavonoids, 2′,5′,6′‐trimethoxy‐[2″,3″ : 3′,4′]furano dihydrochalcone and 2,4′,4,5‐tetramethoxy‐[2″,3″ : 6,7]‐furanodihydroaurone, were isolated from the root barks of Lonchocarpus araripensis, along with the known compounds 3,4,5,6‐tetramethoxy‐[2″,3″ : 7,8]‐furanoflavan, 3,6‐dimethoxy‐1″,1″‐dimethylcromene‐[2″,3″ : 7,8]‐flavone, 3′,4′‐methylenodioxy‐5,6‐dimethoxy‐[2″,3″ : 7,8]‐furanoflavone, 3,5,6‐trimethoxy‐[2″,3″ : 7,8]‐furanoflavanone, 3,5,6‐trimethoxy‐[2″,3″ : 7,8]‐furanoflavone, and 6α‐hydroxy‐medicarpin. The complete 1H and 13C NMR assignments of the new furan flavonoids were performed using 1D and 2D pulse sequences, including COSY, HSQC, and HMBC experiments, and comparison with spectral data for analog compounds from the literature, particularly for the new furanodihydroaurone because of several inconsistencies on the carbonyl chemical shifts from the literature. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Dominant versus recessive: Molecular mechanisms in metabolic disease
Authors: Zschocke Johannes
Published: October 2008

Inborn errors of metabolism used to be regarded as simple monogenic traits, but a closer look at how different alleles of a gene determine different phenotypes shows that the molecular mechanisms in the individual case are often complicated. Most metabolic disorders represent a spectrum of phenotypes from normal via attenuated to severe (and sometimes prenatally fatal), and disease manifestation is often influenced by other specific genetic or exogenous factors. The terms ‘dominant’ or ‘recessive’ relate to the functional consequences of differing alleles in the (compound) heterozygous individual; the terms are irrelevant for homozygous individuals and inappropriate for X‐linked disorders. Mutations affecting the same amino acid residue may be associated with different inheritance patterns. True dominant inheritance in metabolism is rare; it may be found e.g. in tightly regulated biosynthetic pathways or when minor changes in metabolite concentrations have a functional effect. Some disorders such as erythropoietic protoporphyria show pseudodominant inheritance due to prevalent loss‐of‐function polymorphisms in the general population and are better acknowledged as recessive traits. The term ‘variable expressivity’ is not helpful with regard to autosomal recessive disorders when variable phenotypes are explained by different mutations in the respective gene. Clonal unmasking of a heterozygous mutation through somatic loss of the second allele, the main pathomechanism in inherited tumour predisposition syndromes, is rare in metabolic disorders, but focal congenital hyperinsulinism is a notable exception. Somatic mosaicism for an OTC gene mutation is given as an example of an apparently heterozygous mutation pattern in a boy with an X‐linked disease.
Influence of Sodium Ions on Micelles of Surfactin‐C16 in Solution
Authors: Li Yi , Ye Ru‐Qiang , Mu Bo‐Zhong
Published: October 2008

The properties of surfactin‐C16 aqueous solution in the presence of Na+ ions, produced by Bacillus subtilis, were studied by the fluorescence method. The critical micelle concentration (CMC) of surfactin‐C16 was measured as 24.7 μM in 0.05 M Tris buffer (pH 8.5–8.6). With an increase in Na+ concentration, the CMC value and micropolarity of surfactin‐C16 decreased while the microviscosity increased, which means that the addition of Na+ improves the surface activity and enhances the micellization of the surfactin‐C16 in solution. The preliminary aggregation number (N) was obtained by the steady‐state fluorescence method.
Different culture conditions used for arresting the G0/G1 phase of the cell cycle in goldfish (Carassius auratus) caudal fin‐derived fibroblasts
Authors: Choresca Casiano H. , Koo Ok Jae , Oh Hyun Ju , Hong So Gun , Gomez Dennis K. , Kim Ji Hyung , Lee Byeong Chun , Park Se Chang
Published: October 2008

One of the most important factors determining the success of the development of cloned embryos is the cell cycle stage of the donor cells. We investigated the effects of serum starvation, culturing to confluence and roscovitine treatment on the cell cycle synchronization of goldfish caudal fin‐derived fibroblasts by flow cytometric analysis. The results show that culturing the cells to confluence (85.5%) and roscovitine treatment (82.71%) yield a significantly higher percentage of cells arrested in the G0/G1 (P < 0.05) phase than serum starvation (62.85%). Different concentrations of roscovitine (5, 10, or 15 μM) induce cell cycle arrest at the G0/G1 phase.
Monte Carlo valuation of natural gas investments
Authors: Abadie Luis M. , Chamorro José M.
Published: October 2008

In this evaluation of energy assets related to natural gas, our particular focus is on a base load natural gas combined cycle power plant and a liquefied natural gas facility in a realistic setting. We also value several American‐type investment options following the least squares Monte Carlo approach. We calibrate mean‐reverting stochastic processes for gas and electricity prices by using data from NYMEX NG futures contracts and the Spanish wholesale electricity market, respectively. Additional sources of uncertainty concern the initial investment outlay, or the option's time to maturity, or the cost of CO2 emission permits.
Die kognitive Regulation von Handlungskonflikten
Authors: Wühr Peter , Kunde Wilfried
Published: October 2008

Zusammenfassung. Eine zentrale Aufgabe der menschlichen Handlungssteuerung besteht in der flexiblen Regulation von Handlungskonflikten. Der vorliegende Beitrag beschäftigt sich mit den Ergebnissen der neuro-kognitiven Forschung zu den Prozessen der Konfliktregulation. Bei der reaktiven Konfliktregulation wird das Vorhandensein widersprüchlicher Handlungstendenzen registriert und die Informationsverarbeitung so angepasst, dass nur solche Handlungen ausgeführt werden, die den gegenwärtigen Zielen des Akteurs entsprechen. Ergebnisse von empirischen Arbeiten deuten darauf hin, dass das primäre Werkzeug der reaktiven Konfliktregulation in einer Verstärkung der selektiven Aufmerksamkeit gegenüber zielrelevanten Reizattributen besteht. Die Ergebnisse von neuro-wissenschaftlichen Studien legen nahe, dass anteriore Anteile des cingulären Cortex bei der Entdeckung und präfrontale Strukturen bei der Regulation von Handlungskonflikten beteiligt sind. Im Unterschied zur reaktiven Konfliktregulation haben sich nur wenige Studien mit den Prozessen der antizipativen Konfliktregulation beschäftigt. Die Ergebnisse dieser Studien deuten darauf hin, dass die bloße Erwartung von Handlungskonflikten – im Gegensatz zu ihrer vorangehenden Bewältigung – nur eine sehr eingeschränkte Anpassung an Konfliktsituationen ermöglicht.
Wirksamkeit kognitiver Interventionen für Schizophrenie
Authors: Lincoln Tania Marie , Suttner Christiane , Nestoriuc Yvonne
Published: October 2008

Zusammenfassung. Kognitive Umstrukturierung von Wahn und dysfunktionalen Kognitionen wird zunehmend in der Schizophreniebehandlung eingesetzt. Bisherige Meta-Analysen zur Wirksamkeit von CBT integrieren jedoch sehr heterogene Interventionen, was Schlussfolgerungen auf die Wirksamkeit kognitiver Elemente erschwert. Die vorliegende Meta-Analyse analysiert kurz- und langfristige Effekte aus 18 randomisiert-kontrollierten Studien zu kognitiven Interventionen für Schizophrenie. Im Bezug auf die Gesamtsymptomatik bestanden im Vergleich zu Standardbehandlung signifikante kleine Effekte zum Behandlungsende (n = 908) und zum Follow-Up (n = 663). Im Vergleich zu aktiven Kontrollinterventionen war CBT zum Behandlungsende nicht signifikant überlegen (n = 559), jedoch zum Follow-up (n = 416). CBT zeigte sich auch für die Reduktion von Rehospitalisierungen einer Standardbehandlung, nicht aber alternativen Therapien, überlegen. Eine kognitive Schwerpunktsetzung der Interventionen korrelierte – auch nach Kontrolle der methodischen Qualität – positiv mit der prä-post Effektstärke. Es erscheint aussichtsreich, weiter zu untersuchen, ob die Effektivität von CBT durch einen verstärkten Einsatz kognitiver Elemente gesteigert werden kann.
School Bullying
Authors: Correia Isabel , Dalbert Claudia
Published: October 2008

This paper applies just world research to the analysis of bullying at school and examines the relation between the belief in a personal just world (BJW) and self-reported behavior in bullying situations. The hypotheses tested were that the more strongly students endorse the personal BJW, the less likely they should be to bully others, the less likely they should see themselves as victims, and the more likely they should be to defend victims of bullying. The participants were 187 Portuguese students in the 7th to 9th grade. The results showed that the stronger the adolescents’ endorsements of the BJW, the less likely they were to engage in bullying behavior, and this association persisted when controlled for emotional empathy. Defending the victim or becoming a victim was unrelated, however. The implications of these results for further studies on bullying and victimization are discussed.
Premature Behavioral Autonomy
Authors: Haase Claudia M. , Tomasik Martin J. , Silbereisen Rainer K.
Published: October 2008

Timing matters in the development of adolescents’ behavioral autonomy. Drawing from two German national surveys, the present studies showed that premature curfew autonomy (measured retrospectively) was associated with developmental risks in late adolescence (16–21 years, assessed in 1996) and young adulthood (25–30 years, assessed in 2005). Premature individuals neither experienced socioeconomic disadvantages nor had lower educational aspirations in late adolescence, but they attained lower levels of education in young adulthood. Premature curfew autonomy was further associated with maladjustment regarding certain developmental challenges of late adolescence (higher deviant behavior, lower disclosure, higher identity diffusion, and lower planfulness) and young adulthood (no differences in employment and partnership status, but higher demands of social change in work, family, and public life). Finally, premature curfew autonomy was related to lower subjective well-being in late adolescence and young adulthood.
Stability and Variability in National and European Self-Identification
Authors: Rutland Adam , Cinnirella Marco , Simpson Rhona
Published: October 2008

This study examines how intergroup context effects on national and European self-identification are in part dependent upon the perceived category relations between relevant self-categories ( Rutland & Cinnirella, 2000 ). Based upon the findings of a first study (N = 45) into the perceived similarity of Scottish, British and European self-categories, we successfully a priori predicted the direction of context effects on self-identification. Our second study (N = 104) found intergroup context effects on European self-identification but not Scottish and British self-identification. As anticipated, European self-identification decreased when Germans and Americans were included in the comparative intergroup context. This study extends previous research into intergroup context effects on self-identification by showing it is possible to predict the direction of such effects with prior consideration of the perceived category relations between self-categories.
Metacognition
Authors: Efklides Anastasia
Published: October 2008

Research in the field of metacognition, a multifaceted phenomenon, is in the main fragmented without much theoretical integration of the findings related to its various facets. Moreover, metacognition is usually conceived of as an individual and conscious process that serves the regulation of cognition. However, there is growing evidence that metacognition also functions at a nonconscious level, is involved in the co-regulation of cognition in collaborative settings, and interacts with affect in the self-regulation of behavior. Based on these considerations, a multifaceted and multilevel model of metacognition is proposed that broadens Nelson and Naren’s conceptualization of metacognition. The implications for theory and measurement of metacognition as well as for interventions involving metacognition are explored.
Extending Planned Environmentalism
Authors: Kaiser Florian G. , Schultz P. Wesley , Berenguer Jaime , Corral-Verdugo Victor , Tankha Geetika
Published: October 2008

This paper cross-culturally tests an extended version of the planned behavior theory. Using cross-sectional surveys of 801 university students from four different cultures (high vs. low individualism, and English- vs. Spanish-speaking), we expected anticipated feelings of guilt to predict behavioral intention in cultures high on individualism, whereas anticipated feelings of embarrassment would be predictive of intention in cultures low on individualism. Results from a series of structural equation models showed that anticipated embarrassment had virtually the same effect as guilt across all four cultures. Although technically distinct, anticipated guilt and embarrassment were nearly indistinguishable from an individual perspective so that either concept is able to increase the explanatory power of the planned behavior theory for environmental conservation.
Hard-Earned Income and Tax Compliance
Authors: Muehlbacher Stephan , Kirchler Erich , Hoelzl Erik , Ashby Julie , Berti Chiara , Job Jenny , Kemp Simon , Peterlik Ursula , Roland-Lévy Christine , Waldherr Karin
Published: October 2008

Is the effort invested to achieve taxable income a relevant factor for tax compliance? If the value of income increases with the effort exerted, reluctance to pay taxes should be high. On the other hand, if income is perceived as compensation for one’s endeavor, there is too much at stake to take the risk of being audited and paying a fine. Consequently, tax evasion should be more likely if income was obtained easily. These contradicting predictions were tested in a questionnaire study with samples from eight countries (Australia, Austria, England, France, Italy, New Zealand, Spain and Switzerland; N = 1,223). Results show that the effort exerted to obtain taxable income and the aspiration level matter in compliance decisions. Hard-earned money is more likely to be reported honestly to tax authorities, particularly if the aspiration level can be satisfied by honest tax reporting.
Significant conservation of synthetic lethal genetic interaction networks between distantly related eukaryotes
Authors: Dixon Scott J. , Fedyshyn Yaroslav , Koh Judice L. Y. , Prasad T. S. Keshava , Chahwan Charly , Chua Gordon , Toufighi Kiana , Baryshnikova Anastasija , Hayles Jacqueline , Hoe Kwang-Lae , Kim Dong-Uk , Park Han-Oh , Myers Chad L. , Pandey Akhilesh , Durocher Daniel , Andrews Brenda J. , Boone Charles
Published: October 2008

Synthetic lethal genetic interaction networks define genes that work together to control essential functions and have been studied extensively in
Saccharomyces cerevisiae
using the synthetic genetic array (SGA) analysis technique (
Sc
SGA). The extent to which synthetic lethal or other genetic interaction networks are conserved between species remains uncertain. To address this question, we compared literature-curated and experimentally derived genetic interaction networks for two distantly related yeasts,
Schizosaccharomyces pombe
and
S. cerevisiae
. We find that 23% of interactions in a novel, high-quality
S. pombe
literature-curated network are conserved in the existing
S. cerevisiae
network. Next, we developed a method, called
S. pombe
SGA analysis (
Sp
SGA), enabling rapid, high-throughput isolation of genetic interactions in this species. Direct comparison by
Sp
SGA and
Sc
SGA of ∼220 genes involved in DNA replication, the DNA damage response, chromatin remodeling, intracellular transport, and other processes revealed that ∼29% of genetic interactions are common to both species, with the remainder exhibiting unique, species-specific patterns of genetic connectivity. We define a conserved yeast network (CYN) composed of 106 genes and 144 interactions and suggest that this network may help understand the shared biology of diverse eukaryotic species.
Nuclear Akt interacts with B23/NPM and protects it from proteolytic cleavage, enhancing cell survival
Authors: Lee Sang Bae , Xuan Nguyen Truong L. , Choi Joung Woo , Lee Kyung-Hoon , Cho Sung-Woo , Liu Zhixue , Ye Keqiang , Bae Sun Sik , Ahn Jee-Yin
Published: October 2008

B23/NPM is a major nucleolar phosphoprotein that has a critical role in cell proliferation and cell death. Here, we show that it forms a complex with Akt on growth factor (GF) stimulation in both the cytoplasm and the nucleus, for which Akt activation is indispensable. The C terminus of B23 (239–294 residues) potently binds pleckstrin homology (PH) domain of Akt. Akt binding to B23 protects it from proteolytic degradation by caspase-3, leading to the up-regulation of cell survival. Interestingly, unsumoylated B23 K263R, but not wild-type B23, strongly interacts with Akt in the nucleoplasm in the absence of GFs. Furthermore, we show that Akt2, but not other isoforms, specifically regulates B23 sumoylation and protein stability. Also, nuclear Akt regulates the cell cycle progression activity of B23. Therefore, our findings support that nuclear Akt binds and stabilizes B23 in the nucleoplasm, and regulates its activities in cell survival and cell cycle.