bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Increased risk of breast cancer following different regimens of hormone replacement therapy frequently used in Europe
Authors: Stahlberg Claudia , Pedersen Anette Tønnes , Lynge Elsebeth , Andersen Zorana Jovanovic , Keiding Niels , Hundrup Yrsa Andersen , Obel Erik B. , Ottesen Bent
Published: March 2004

Epidemiologic studies have shown an increased risk of breast cancer following hormone replacement therapy (HRT). The aim of this study was to investigate whether different treatment regimens or the androgenecity of progestins influence the risk of breast cancer differently. The Danish Nurse Cohort was established in 1993, where all female nurses aged 45 years and above received a mailed questionnaire (n = 23,178). A total of 19,898 women returned the questionnaire (86%). The questionnaire included information on HRT types and regimens, reproductive history and lifestyle‐related factors. Breast cancer cases were ascertained using nationwide registries. The follow‐up ended on 31 December 1999. Women with former cancer diagnoses, women with missing information on HRT, surgical menopause, premenopausal, as well as hysterectomized women were excluded, leaving 10,874 for analyses. Statistical analyses were performed using Cox proportional hazards model. A total of 244 women developed breast cancer during follow‐up. After adjustment for confounding factors, an increased risk of breast cancer was found for the current use of estrogen only (RR = 1.96; 95% CI = 1.16–3.35), for the combined use of estrogen and progestin (RR = 2.70; 95% CI = 1.96–3.73) and for current users of tibolone (RR = 4.27; 95% CI = 1.74–10.51) compared to the never use of HRT. In current users of combined HRT with testosterone‐like progestins, the continuous combined regimens were associated with a statistically significant higher risk of breast cancer than the cyclical combined regimens (RR = 4.16, 95% CI = 2.56–6.75, and RR = 1.94, 95% CI = 1.26–3.00, respectively). An increased risk of breast cancer was noted with longer durations of use for the continuous combined regimens (p for trend = 0.048). The European traditional HRT regimens were associated with an increased risk of breast cancer. The highest risk was found for the use of continuous combined estrogen and progestin. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Nup88 mRNA overexpression is associated with high aggressiveness of breast cancer
Authors: Agudo David , Gómez‐Esquer Francisco , Martínez‐Arribas Fernando , Núñez‐Villar Mariá José , Pollán Marina , Schneider José
Published: March 2004

The nuclear pore complex protein Nup88 is overexpressed in tumor cells. Immunohistochemical studies have shown that this overexpression is linked to higher aggressiveness of colorectal carcinoma and to enhanced metastatic potential of melanoma cells. However, the antibodies so far developed against Nup88 have the drawback of recognizing a number of other, up to now unspecified antigens besides Nup88. For this reason, we devised the present study on Nup88 expression at the mRNA level. RNA was extracted from fresh tumor tissue corresponding to 122 breast cancer patients. Nup88 mRNA expression was measured by means of differential RT‐PCR, standardizing against a constitutive internal control gene (β‐actin). The results were dichotomized into “high” and “low” expression levels, using the median value as cut‐off. High Nup88 mRNA expression levels correlated significantly with ductal and tubular histology (p = 0.012), histologic and nuclear grade 3 of tumors (p < 0.001), absence of hormone receptor expression (p < 0.001), expression of the c‐erb‐B2 oncogene (p < 0.001), expression of mutant p53 protein (p < 0.001), high proliferation (defined by Ki67 labeling index >20%, p < 0.001), DNA aneuploidy (p < 0.001) as well as the most important ominous clinical prognostic factor, axillary node invasion (p < 0.001). We also found an inverse correlation (p < 0.001) with expression of the H‐MAM (mammaglobin) gene, a marker of low biologic and clinical aggressiveness of breast cancer. All of these factors, without exception, define a highly aggressive tumor phenotype. These findings appear to be specific to Nup88 and not to nuclear pore proteins in general. Indeed, analysis of Nup107 (which is a limiting component of the nuclear pore complex) under the same conditions in the same tumors did not yield comparable results. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Disruption of P‐glycoprotein anticancer drug efflux activity by a small recombinant single‐chain Fv antibody fragment targeted to an extracellular epitope
Authors: Haus‐Cohen Maya , Assaraf Yehuda G. , Binyamin Liat , Benhar Itai , Reiter Yoram
Published: March 2004

Inherent and acquired MDR is characterized by simultaneous resistance to diverse anticancer drugs and continues to be a major impediment in the curative chemotherapy of cancer. The MDR1 gene product, Pgp, is an ATP‐driven efflux pump, which extrudes a variety of dissimilar hydrophobic cytotoxic compounds from MDR cells. Pgp overexpression results in MDR of tumor cell lines in vitro as well as of a variety of human malignancies. Thus, one major goal is to develop strategies aimed at specifically disrupting Pgp drug‐efflux activity. To this end, we have developed a small recombinant antibody capable of potent reversal of MDR, by disrupting Pgp drug‐efflux activity. Using a phage display approach, we isolated a small scFv recombinant antibody fragment that specifically reacts with the first extracellular loop of human Pgp. This scFv fragment binds specifically to various Pgp‐overexpressing human MDR carcinoma cell lines, consequently disrupts Pgp drug‐efflux function and thereby reverses the MDR phenotype. We have successfully disrupted anticancer drug‐extrusion pump activity in MDR cells using a small recombinant scFv fragment. We propose that these novel small Fv‐based recombinant antibody molecules may lead to the development of a new class of antibody fragment‐based agents that specifically inhibit Pgp drug extrusion. Hence, these small recombinant antibody fragments may be applied in combination chemotherapy to overcome MDR in various human cancers. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Protection against MUC1 expressing mouse tumours by intra‐muscular injection of MUC1 cDNA requires functional CD8+ and CD4+ T cells but does not require the MUC1 tandem repeat domain
Authors: Plunkett Tim , Graham Rosalind , Correa Isobel , Sewell Robert , Miles David , Burchell Joy , Taylor‐Papadimitriou Joyce
Published: March 2004

Using a C57Bl/6 mouse model system, where intramuscular (i.m.) injection of full length (FL) MUC1 cDNA protects against subsequent challenge with MUC1‐expressing syngeneic tumour cells, we have investigated the importance of the tandem repeat (TR) domain in the induction of T cell‐dependent tumour rejection. A MUC1 construct engineered to remove the TR domain (MUC1 0TR) was found to be as effective as the full length MUC1 cDNA in inhibiting the growth of RMA MUC1 cells in C57Bl/6 mice. Protection by i.m. injection of either the FL‐MUC1 cDNA or the MUC1 0TR construct depended on the presence of functional CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. Specific CD8+ T cell responses, however, could not be detected in vitro using mouse spleen cells taken after only cDNA injection, but only after challenge in vivo with MUC1‐expressing tumour cells. To attempt to enhance the responses of CD4+ T cells, a cDNA construct was developed, where the extracellular domain of MUC1 was fused to the transmembrane and cytoplasmic domain of Lamp1 (MUC1/Lamp1). This construct was equally effective in inducing tumour rejection but did not induce MUC1‐specific CTL in mice before challenge with MUC1‐expressing tumour cells. Our results indicate that, in this model, T cell responses necessary for protection against MUC1‐expressing tumours that are induced by IM injection of MUC1 cDNA are independent of the tandem repeat domain as well as the transmembrane and cytoplasmic domains. A low level of protection was seen with all constructs in BALB/c mice, which show a defect in Th1 responses. C57Bl/6×BALB/c hybrids were, however, well protected against both H2d and H2b expressing tumour challenge, emphasizing the importance of the host background. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Homozygous deletion and expression of PTEN and DMBT1 in human primary neuroblastoma and cell lines
Authors: Muñoz Jorge , Lázcoz Paula , del Mar Inda María , Nistal Manuel , Pestaña Angel , Encío Ignacio J. , Castresana Javier S.
Published: March 2004

Neuroblastoma is the most common pediatric solid tumor. Although many allelic imbalances have been described, a bona fide tumor suppressor gene for this disease has not been found yet. In our study, we analyzed 2 genes, PTEN and DMBT1, mapping 10q23.31 and 10q25.3‐26.1, respectively, which have been found frequently altered in other kinds of neoplasms. We screened both genes for homozygous deletions in 45 primary neuroblastic tumors and 12 neuroblastoma cell lines. Expression of these genes in cell lines was assessed by RT‐PCR analysis. We could detect 2 of 41 (5%) primary tumors harboring PTEN homozygous deletions. Three of 41 (7%) primary tumors and 2 of 12 cell lines presented homozygous losses at the g14 STS on the DMBT1 locus. All cell lines analyzed expressed PTEN, but lack of DMBT1 mRNA expression was detected in 2 of them. We tried to see whether epigenetic mechanisms, such as aberrant promoter hypermethylation, had any role in DMBT1 silencing. The 2 cell lines lacking DMBT1 expression were treated with 5‐aza‐2′‐deoxycytidine; DMBT1 expression was restored in only one of them (MC‐IXC). From our work, we can conclude that PTEN and DMBT1 seem to contribute to the development of a small fraction of neuroblastomas, and that promoter hypermethylation might have a role in DMBT1 gene silencing. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Characterization of statically loaded tissue‐engineered mitral valve chordae tendineae
Authors: Shi Yaling , Vesely Ivan
Published: March 2004

Chordae tendineae are essential to the proper function of the mitral valve. Native chordae contain a dense collagenous core and an outer elastin sheath. We have been using the principle of directed collagen gel shrinkage to fabricate tissue‐engineered mitral valve chordae. Because the microstructure of biologic tissues determines their mechanical behavior, the morphology of collagen and elastin in tissue‐engineered chordae should mimic that of native chordae. The objective of this study, therefore, was to examine the morphology of our tissue‐engineered constructs in comparison to native chordae. A collagen‐cell suspension was cast into silicon rubber wells with microporous anchors at the ends and cultured in an incubator. The anchors allowed shrinkage to occur only transverse to the long axis of the wells, thus creating highly aligned collagen fibril constructs. The collagen constructs were cultured for 8 weeks and characterized mechanically, histologically, and biochemically at different culture time points. Histologic sections showed that in all mature constructs collagen fibers were oriented parallel to the long axis of the constructs. At the edge of the tissue collagen fibers were in general straight, whereas in the middle of the tissue they were wavy. Transmission electron microscopy showed a progressive increase in the density and longitudinal orientation of collagen fibrils with culture time. Light and scanning electron microscopy showed the presence of an elastin sheath around the collagen core. Immunostaining demonstrated that smooth muscle cells differentiate during tissue development and TUNEL assay showed that cells in the interior of the constructs undergo apoptosis. This study has demonstrated that collagen‐cell constructs, with material properties and microstructure similar to native mitral valve chordae, can be developed using static culture. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res 69A: 26–39, 2004
Biocompatibility of adenoviral vectors in poly(vinyl chloride) tubing catheters with presence or absence of plasticizer di‐2‐ethylhexyl phthalate
Authors: Bilbao Roberto , Reay Daniel P. , Koppanati Bhanu M. , Clemens Paula R.
Published: March 2004

Adenoviral (Ad) vectors feature attractive characteristics for gene therapy of a wide variety of diseases. In many cases, the Ad vector must be administered using catheters and other plastic medical devices. Although poly(vinyl chloride) is one of the most frequently used catheter materials, it is relatively rigid and requires the addition of a plasticizer such as di‐2‐ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) to increase its flexibility. In this study, we demonstrated that exposure to a DEHP‐containing catheter decreased the infectivity of Ad vectors but not the total particle number of the vector. Loss of Ad vector infectivity was directly related to the time of exposure to the DEHP‐containing catheter, but it was not due to simple leaching of the chemical from the plastic. The loss of Ad vector infectivity could be prevented by preflushing the tube with albumin. Careful consideration of the compatibility between gene therapy vectors and medical delivery devices will be critical to the success of human gene therapy applications. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res 69A: 91–96, 2004
Effect of enamel matrix proteins on the phenotype expression of periodontal ligament cells cultured on dental materials
Authors: Inoue M. , LeGeros R.Z. , Hoffman C. , Diamond K. , Rosenberg P. A. , Craig R.G.
Published: March 2004

Cells within the periodontal ligament have the potential to regenerate a periodontal connective tissue attachment on pathologically exposed root surfaces as well as on several material surfaces including titanium. However, rather than a periodontal connective tissue attachment, a fibrous encapsulation or chronic inflammatory response has been reported at the material connective tissue interface for most dental materials. Cementum is the first tissue of the periodontal connective tissue attachment to develop and the secretion of enamel matrix related proteins on the newly mineralized dentin surface precedes and is thought to induce cementum formation. Enamel matrix‐related proteins may also function in the adult because the application of an acid extract of porcine enamel protein matrix (Emdogain®, EMD) on pathologically exposed root surfaces has been shown to result in cementum regeneration. Therefore, the objective of the present study was to determine whether the application of EMD to materials that do not normally support cementogenesis in vivo would alter the in vitro phenotype of periodontal ligament (PDL) cells including the synthesis of cementum‐associated extracellular matrix proteins. Primary PDL cells were established from 21‐day‐old Sprague‐Dawley rats, and were cultured on four materials commonly encountered in dental practice (gutta percha, calcium hydroxide, amalgam, and super EBA cement) with and without the application of EMD. After 7 or 14 days of culture, total‐DNA content, collagen synthesis, alkaline phosphatase activity, and the synthesis of a 42‐kDa cementum‐associated extracellular matrix protein were determined. PDL cells cultured on all materials had decreased total DNA content. The application of EMD further decreased total DNA content. PDL cells cultured on gutta percha and calcium hydroxide with the application of EMD had similar levels of collagen synthesis and alkaline phosphatase activity but also expressed a 42‐kDa cementum extracellular matrix‐associated protein when compared to the other groups. These results suggest that EMD can alter the phenotype of PDL cells when cultured on these dental materials. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res 69A: 172–179, 2004
Pentapeptide YIGSR‐mediated HT‐1080 fibrosarcoma cells targeting of adriamycin encapsulated in sterically stabilized liposomes
Authors: Lopez‐Barcons L. A. , Polo D. , Reig F. , Fabra A.
Published: March 2004

In the peptide‐targeted therapy for cancer, peptides are used to reach a selective and specific target in cancer cells. Peptides are used free or coupled to chemotherapeutic drugs, phagues, proteins, polymers, liposomes, and polymer‐grafted liposomes. Using this latter approach, the pentapeptide YIGSR was coupled to the distal end from carboxyl groups of liposome‐grafted polyethyleneglycol (PEG) chains (YIGSR‐PEG‐liposome). As a control, the peptide PEAGD coupled to PEG‐liposome was used. The biological activity of YIGSR‐PEG‐liposome was tested using HT‐1080 human fibrosarcoma cells. In adhesion assays, the YIGSR‐PEG‐liposome coated to plastic plates promoted 30% of the specific cell attachment. In competition assays, YIGSR‐PEG‐liposome inhibited the specific attachment of cells to laminin‐1‐coated plates by 25%. Following this, we prepared peptide‐PEG‐liposomes encapsulating adriamycin (ADR). In vitro cytotoxicity assays against HT‐1080 cells gave IC50 values 2.1 times lower for YIGSR‐PEG‐liposomal ADR in comparison to PEAGD‐PEG‐liposomal ADR. The free peptide added in excess increased the IC50 value of YIGSR‐PEG‐liposomal ADR by 72%, while the IC50 value of control liposomal ADR was unaffected, supporting a receptor‐mediated mechanism of targeting. In addition, the lower IC50 value is correlated with a higher total of ADR accumulation in the cells. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res 69A: 155–163, 2004
London, Royal Albert Hall Proms 2003
Authors: Stein Robert
Published: March 2004

The title of James MacMillan's Symphony No. 3, Silence, could easily mislead. An avowedly religious work from a devotedly Catholic composer, the symphony does not stand back in contemplative reverence before God. On the contrary, in choosing as his inspiration Shusaku Endo's 1966 novel of the same name, MacMillan has drawn upon a text that admirably meets and mirrors the fundamentals of his own musical personality. Endo's novel deals with Western attempts to convert the inhabitants of 17th-century Japan to Catholicism and their bloody failure. The agents of the Lord are defeated by the violent resistance of the Japanese and the inhospitable terrain. Struggle, hope, grace, martyrdom, defeat. MacMillan's devotees will recognize his trademarks in a dramatic new piece, albeit one whose narrative is rather more oblique than Isabel Gowdie or Veni, Veni Emmanuel.
London, Royal Albert Hall Proms 2003
Authors: Anderson Martin
Published: March 2004

Until the world première of Joe Duddell's Ruby on 25 July, I had yet to hear a percussion concerto which didn't trip itself up. I thought it was in the nature of the beast: the orchestra develops some material, which is then passed to the percussion, at which point all development perforce stops. Duddell (b. 1972) solved the problem by turning it on its head, and limiting the orchestral material to what the solo percussionist could handle; the downside is that he necessarily limits the expressive scope of the orchestra. Ruby – the title is simply a rhyming-slang working label that stuck: it's the final part of a trilogy of works written for the percussionist Colin Currie – opens with a vibraphone pattern that suggests a lyrical music-box and soon shows a stylistic affinity with American minimalism, which alternates with slabs of good-natured energy. The slow movement begins with tremolo marimba chords over string lines that drift aimlessly and agreeably, with a more active central section spurred by brief brass figures which trigger rising scalic patterns in the vibraphone. The initial material returns with soft-centred strings above hypnotic vibraphone figuration and is sung to a close by the rapturous sound of bowed vibraphone chords. The finale likewise deals in cheerfully mesmeric vibraphone patterns over a wash of strings and stuttering comment from horns and trumpets; the soloist then offers an improvised toccata on drum-kit backed by forceful rhythms from a near-tutti orchestra. The vibraphone resumes its jolly prattle until, seemingly having run out of things to say, the music just stops dead. Currie, supported by the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra under the functional Marin Alsop, played it with obvious commitment, and from memory – no small achievement in such motoric music.
A topological view of the replicon
Authors: Schvartzman Jorge B , Stasiak Andrzej
Published: March 2004

The replication of circular DNA faces topological obstacles that need to be overcome to allow the complete duplication and separation of newly replicated molecules. Small bacterial plasmids provide a perfect model system to study the interplay between DNA helicases, polymerases, topoisomerases and the overall architecture of partially replicated molecules. Recent studies have shown that partially replicated circular molecules have an amazing ability to form various types of structures (supercoils, precatenanes, knots and catenanes) that help to accommodate the dynamic interplay between duplex unwinding at the replication fork and DNA unlinking by topoisomerases.
Novel RNAs Identified From an In-Depth Analysis of the Transcriptome of Human Chromosomes 21 and 22
Authors: Kampa Dione , Cheng Jill , Kapranov Philipp , Yamanaka Mark , Brubaker Shane , Cawley Simon , Drenkow Jorg , Piccolboni Antonio , Bekiranov Stefan , Helt Gregg , Tammana Hari , Gingeras Thomas R.
Published: March 2004

In this report, we have achieved a richer view of the transcriptome for Chromosomes 21 and 22 by using high-density oligonucleotide arrays on cytosolic poly(A)+ RNA. Conservatively, only 31.4% of the observed transcribed nucleotides correspond to well-annotated genes, whereas an additional 4.8% and 14.7% correspond to mRNAs and ESTs, respectively. Approximately 85% of the known exons were detected, and up to 21% of known genes have only a single isoform based on exon-skipping alternative expression. Overall, the expression of the well-characterized exons falls predominately into two categories, uniquely or ubiquitously expressed with an identifiable proportion of antisense transcripts. The remaining observed transcription (49.0%) was outside of any known annotation. These novel transcripts appear to be more cell-line-specific and have lower and less variation in expression than the well-characterized genes. Novel transcripts were further characterized based on their distance to annotations, transcript size, coding capacity, and identification as antisense to intronic sequences. By RT-PCR, 126 novel transcripts were independently verified, resulting in a 65% verification rate. These observations strongly support the argument for a re-evaluation of the total number of human genes and an alternative term for “gene” to encompass these growing, novel classes of RNA transcripts in the human genome.
Gene Conversion and the Evolution of Protocadherin Gene Cluster Diversity
Authors: Noonan James P. , Grimwood Jane , Schmutz Jeremy , Dickson Mark , Myers Richard M.
Published: March 2004

The synaptic cell adhesion molecules encoded by the protocadherin gene cluster are hypothesized to provide a molecular code involved in the generation of synaptic complexity in the developing brain. Variation in copy number and sequence content of protocadherin cluster genes among vertebrate species could reflect adaptive differences in protocadherin function. We have completed an analysis of zebrafish protocadherin cluster genes. Zebrafish have two unlinked protocadherin clusters, DrPcdh1 and DrPcdh2. Like mammalian protocadherin clusters, DrPcdh1 has both α and γ variable and constant region exons. A consensus protocadherin promoter motif sequence identified in mammals is also conserved in zebrafish. Few orthologous relationships, however, are apparent between zebrafish and mammalian protocadherin proteins. Here we show that protocadherin cluster genes in human, mouse, rat, and zebrafish are subject to striking gene conversion events. These events are restricted to regions of the coding sequence, particularly the coding sequences of ectodomain 6 and the cytoplasmic domain. Diversity among paralogs is restricted to particular ectodomains that are excluded from conversion events. Conversion events are also strongly correlated with an increase in third-position GC content. We propose that the combination of lineage-specific duplication, restricted gene conversion, and adaptive variation in diversified ectodomains drives vertebrate protocadherin cluster evolution.
Tracking the Evolution of the SARS Coronavirus Using High-Throughput, High-Density Resequencing Arrays
Authors: Wong Christopher W. , Albert Thomas J. , Vega Vinsensius B. , Norton Jason E. , Cutler David J. , Richmond Todd A. , Stanton Lawrence W. , Liu Edison T. , Miller Lance D.
Published: March 2004

Mutations in the SARS-Coronavirus (SARS-CoV) can alter its clinical presentation, and the study of its mutation patterns in human populations can facilitate contact tracing. Here, we describe the development and validation of an oligonucleotide resequencing array for interrogating the entire 30-kb SARS-CoV genome in a rapid, cost-effective fashion. Using this platform, we sequenced SARS-CoV genomes from Vero cell culture isolates of 12 patients and directly from four patient tissues. The sequence obtained from the array is highly reproducible, accurate (>99.99% accuracy) and capable of identifying known and novel variants of SARS-CoV. Notably, we applied this technology to a field specimen of probable SARS and rapidly deduced its infectious source. We demonstrate that array-based resequencing-by-hybridization is a fast, reliable, and economical alternative to capillary sequencing for obtaining SARS-CoV genomic sequence on a population scale, making this an ideal platform for the global monitoring of SARS-CoV and other small-genome pathogens.
Cape of Storms or Cape of Good Hope? Educational technology in a changing environment
Authors: Czerniewicz Laura
Published: March 2004

This article locates and describes the work of the Multimedia Education Group (MEG) at the University of Cape Town (UCT). This work is contextualised by three national and international challenges, these being (1) the need to increase access to new technologies and overcome the digital divide, (2) the need to respond to a new communication order, and (3) the urgency of transforming higher education in post‐apartheid South Africa. Operating in a fragmented policy environment, MEG has focused on developing educationally appropriate low‐cost interventions, supporting academically disadvantaged students, and understanding the relationship between online and contact educational interventions. MEG's experiences suggest that this kind of emergent work requires new ways of working, contributing to transformation within the institution itself. The work also creates epistemological challenges because it is interdisciplinary and because educational technology is a field that is not yet firmly established.
The Web and information literacy: scaffolding the use of web sources in a project‐based curriculum
Authors: Walton Marion , Archer Arlene
Published: March 2004

In this article we describe and discuss a three‐year case study of a course in web literacy, part of the academic literacy curriculum for first‐year engineering students at the University of Cape Town (UCT). Because they are seen as ‘practical’ knowledge, not theoretical, information skills tend to be devalued at university and rendered invisible to the students. In particular, web‐searching skills are problematic, given the challenges that the Web poses to academic values and traditional research practices. Consequently, the technical skills of web searching are often taught separately from academic curricula or left entirely unaddressed. We illustrate an alternative, integrated approach to the development of this aspect of information literacy. We apply a critical action research methodology to document, evaluate and reflect on students’ use of evaluative frameworks. Focusing on the facilitation of critical and evaluative use of the Web for exploratory learning, we interrogate the role of ‘cultural capital’ and evaluate the effectiveness of the scaffolding provided by the course design. We find important connections between developing knowledge of academic discourse and successful academic use of the Web, and note that, for students to transfer their skills to a range of contexts, these skills will require sustained attention throughout the undergraduate curriculum. We present evidence that the most effective strategies integrate everyday practical knowledge of research techniques with teaching about academic discourse and building students’ knowledge in a specific domain.
Media rich, resource poor: practical work in an impractical environment
Authors: Van Der Vliet Emma , Deacon Andrew
Published: March 2004

Film and media courses appear well placed to exploit technology convergence in exposing students both to practical skills and to theoretical concepts. For the University of Cape Town's (UCT) large film and media studies courses, it is impractical simply to use the technology of professionals as this would typically be too expensive to purchase and time‐consuming to run. Our approach has been to develop activities that can run with large classes in generic computer laboratories and which simulate environments and tools of the real world. Two illustrative examples, emphasising writing skills in context, involve the production of a TV news story and the development of a proposal for an educational soap opera. Using these, we reflect on our experience of integrating practical skills into the curriculum of a traditional academic institution, where these skills have a lower status and must be sufficiently flexible to accommodate changes in the higher‐status academic components. This suggests that such flexibility has to be part of the design of practical interventions and that they should additionally aim to provide a challenge to some of the more theoretical aspects of these courses. While developing one's own interventions allows for some of this flexibility to be incorporated into the design, it remains difficult for academic departments to adopt these solutions as their own, thus requiring continued involvement of the original developers to adapt to changes.
Is the home range concept compatible with the movements of two species of lowland river fish?
Authors: Crook David A.
Published: March 2004

Many studies of the movements of riverine fish have found that most individuals are sedentary and occupy very restricted home ranges. Recently, this ‘Restricted Movement Paradigm’ has been challenged and there is currently a need for tests of the home range concept as a theoretical basis for describing the movements of riverine fish. In this paper, I describe a radio‐tracking study of golden perch (Macquaria ambigua) and carp (Cyprinus carpio) in the Broken River, Australia that aims to assess the home range concept as a means of describing the movements of these species.

A random movement analysis and a translocation experiment were conducted to test for site fidelity and home range occupation. Both golden perch and carp exhibited strong site fidelity and occupied restricted home ranges. Carp had larger total home ranges than golden perch, and both species had areas of concentrated use (core areas) within the home range.

Several golden perch and carp exhibited shifts in the locations of their home ranges during the study. To incorporate such shifts into a theoretical framework, a ‘home range shift’ conceptual model is proposed and the need to consider the temporal stability of site fidelity when describing home range movements is discussed.
Metabolic rate models and the substitutability of predator populations
Authors: Chalcraft David R. , Resetarits William J.
Published: March 2004

Much of the debate surrounding the consequences of biodiversity loss centres around the issue of whether different species are functionally similar in their effects on ecological processes. In this study, we examined whether populations consisting of smaller, more abundant individuals are functionally similar to populations of the same species with larger, fewer individuals.

We manipulated the biomass and density of banded sunfish (Enneacanthus obesus) and measured their impact on populations of Southern leopard frog (Rana sphenocephala) larvae. We also evaluated the ability of models relating metabolic rate to body size to predict the relative impacts of populations that differ in average body size and population density.

Our results indicate that population biomass, density and their interaction each play a large role in determining the effect of a predator population on its food resource. Populations with smaller but more abundant individuals had effects as large or larger than those populations with larger but fewer individuals.

Although we found qualitative agreement between the observed relative effects of populations with that predicted by allometric models, we also found that density‐dependence can cause effects of a population to differ from that expected based on allometry.

The substitutability of populations differing in average body size appears to depend on complex relationships between metabolic rate, population density and the strength of density‐dependence. The restrictive conditions necessary to establish functional equivalence among different populations of the same species suggests that functional equivalence should be rare in most communities.
Digestively constrained predators evade the cost of interference competition
Authors: Van Gils Jan A. , Piersma Theunis
Published: March 2004

Models of functional and aggregative responses generally assume that rates of prey encounter and handling times limit a predator's intake rate (Holling's disc equation). Two different lines of approach build upon this fundamental foraging concept. In the first, mutual interference further constrains intake rate, while in the second, intake rate may be constrained by rate of digestion. By combining both approaches, we come up with four competing models that differ in whether predators interfere and whether they face a digestive constraint.

The functional responses expected by these four models are tested experimentally in a medium‐sized shorebird, the red knot (Calidris canutus), fed a shelled prey, the blue mussel (Mytilus edulis). The experimental results suggest that intake rate is constrained by rate of digestion at low bird densities and by interference at high bird densities.

Using the experimentally obtained parameters, we predicted aggregative responses for each of the four models, which we verified by using field observations. We found evidence that the combination of interference and digestive constraints similarly governed the aggregative responses of red knots. Compared to the expectations of the models that do not include digestive constraints, red knots fed in lower and more variable prey densities and were generally aggregated in denser flocks. In addition, they were packed twice as densely when feeding on hard‐shelled prey than when feeding on soft‐bodied prey.

We suggest that digestive constraints allow red knots to live in dense flocks: if digestion proceeds during interference interactions, the time‐cost of interference may be negligible.
Elective primary caesarean delivery: accuracy of administrative data
Authors: Korst Lisa M. , Gregory Kimberly D. , Gornbein Jeffrey A.
Published: March 2004

The caesarean delivery rate has become a commonly used measure intended to reflect the quality of obstetric care. At least 25% of all primary caesarean deliveries occur electively, i.e. to women who are not in labour. This study is intended to validate a previously published model designed to use ICD‐9‐CM codes to identify and categorise cases of elective primary caesarean delivery by their indication. ICD‐9‐CM codes were compared with diagnoses written in the medical record for all women without a prior caesarean who delivered in the same month in a single hospital to examine the accuracy of the codes for 12 potential elective primary caesarean indications derived by the published model: malpresentation; bleeding; genital herpes; severe hypertension; uterine scar; multiple gestation; macrosomia; unengaged fetus; maternal soft tissue conditions; other hypertensive conditions; prematurity; and chromosomal anomalies.

Of 440 eligible women, a total of 26 (5.9%) had an elective primary caesarean by medical record review vs. [27] (6.1%) by administrative data. Using medical record data as the gold standard, the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of administrative data for the identification of elective primary caesarean delivery were 73.1%, 98.1%, and 96.6%, respectively. Administrative coding for all of the 12 conditions was highly specific, although wide variability existed in its sensitivity; its accuracy ranged between 83.9% and 100%. These results suggest that, despite widespread use of caesarean delivery rates obtained through administrative data, more experience is needed to determine which obstetric codes may be sufficiently specific, sensitive, or prevalent to serve a monitoring or surveillance function reflecting the quality of obstetrical care. The results support continued efforts to use administrative data to monitor elective primary caesarean delivery.
Estimation of the incidence of sudden infant death syndrome in Korea: using the capture‐recapture method
Authors: Ha Mina , Yoon S. J. , Lee H. Y. , Goh U. Y. , Kim C. H. , Lee Y. S.
Published: March 2004

This study was undertaken to estimate the incidence of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) for 2 years from 1997 to 1998 in Korea. The information on SIDS was obtained from three independent sources, the Korean Medical Insurance Corporation data, data from different medical facilities (Korean surveillance on SIDS) and mortality data from the Korean National Statistical Office. A log linear model with no interactions among the 3 sources was used with the selection criteria of both the Akaike Information Criterion and the Bayesian Information Criterion. The 95% confidence intervals of the estimated number of SIDS deaths were calculated using the goodness‐of‐fit‐method. The estimated number of deaths who were not found in any of the sources was 535, and the estimated total number of SIDS deaths was 759. The 95% confidence interval for estimated total number of patients ranged from 642 to 1522. The estimated rate of SIDS cases was 0.56 per 1000 live births per annum, which is similar to the incidence in the USA or Japan.
Conditional, recombinase‐mediated expression of genes in plant cell cultures
Authors: Joubès Jérôme , De Schutter Kristof , Verkest Aurine , Inzé Dirk , De Veylder Lieven
Published: March 2004

In plant cells, overexpression of critical genes can be hampered by deleterious effects on development that results in a counterselection of transgenic cells harboring the gene of interest. Inducible expression systems have been reported, but many of them show unwanted leaky expression. To circumvent this potential problem, a novel inducible system was developed based on two previously characterized systems: the CRE‐loxP site‐specific recombination system of bacteriophage P1 and the subcellular targeting of proteins by a mammalian glucocorticoid receptor (GR). By fusing the receptor domain of the rat GR to the carboxyl terminus of the CRE recombinase, a double‐lock conditional transcriptional induction system was created that is highly useful to overexpress genes whose expression may block transgenic regeneration. Furthermore, because the designed vector utilizes the GATEWAY™ recombination technology, cloning was restriction‐ and ligation‐free, thus rendering the vector suitable for high‐throughput research. The system was tested in Nicotiana tabacum bright yellow‐2 (BY‐2) cells and its efficiency was demonstrated for the controlled overexpression of the gus reporter gene and a mutant allele of the A‐type cyclin‐dependent kinase (CDKA), which is known to be a potent inhibitor of the cell cycle.
mapman: a user‐driven tool to display genomics data sets onto diagrams of metabolic pathways and other biological processes
Authors: Thimm Oliver , Bläsing Oliver , Gibon Yves , Nagel Axel , Meyer Svenja , Krüger Peter , Selbig Joachim , Müller Lukas A. , Rhee Seung Y. , Stitt Mark
Published: March 2004

mapman is a user‐driven tool that displays large data sets onto diagrams of metabolic pathways or other processes. SCAVENGER modules assign the measured parameters to hierarchical categories (formed ‘BINs’, ‘subBINs’). A first build of transcriptscavenger groups genes on the Arabidopsis Affymetrix 22K array into >200 hierarchical categories, providing a breakdown of central metabolism (for several pathways, down to the single enzyme level), and an overview of secondary metabolism and cellular processes. metabolitescavenger groups hundreds of metabolites into pathways or groups of structurally related compounds. An imageannotator module uses these groupings to organise and display experimental data sets onto diagrams of the users' choice. A modular structure allows users to edit existing categories, add new categories and develop SCAVENGER modules for other sorts of data. mapman is used to analyse two sets of 22K Affymetrix arrays that investigate the response of Arabidopsis rosettes to low sugar: one investigates the response to a 6‐h extension of the night, and the other compares wild‐type Columbia‐0 (Col‐0) and the starchless pgm mutant (plastid phosphoglucomutase) at the end of the night. There were qualitatively similar responses in both treatments. Many genes involved in photosynthesis, nutrient acquisition, amino acid, nucleotide, lipid and cell wall synthesis, cell wall modification, and RNA and protein synthesis were repressed. Many genes assigned to amino acid, nucleotide, lipid and cell wall breakdown were induced. Changed expression of genes for trehalose metabolism point to a role for trehalose‐6‐phosphate (Tre6P) as a starvation signal. Widespread changes in the expression of genes encoding receptor kinases, transcription factors, components of signalling pathways, proteins involved in post‐translational modification and turnover, and proteins involved in the synthesis and sensing of cytokinins, abscisic acid (ABA) and ethylene revealing large‐scale rewiring of the regulatory network is an early response to sugar depletion.
2003 Division 35 Presidential Address: Feminist Leadership: Feminist Visions and Diverse Voices
Authors: Chin Jean Lau
Published: March 2004

Although the theories and models on feminism and leadership exist, there has been little study of the intersection of the two. The literature on feminist leadership is scant. Few have defined it and fewer still have researched it. Thus, Feminist Leadership was chosen for my presidential initiative. This initiative kicked off a dialogue about feminist leadership that is summarized in this article. The article is based on my presidential address presented at the 2003 Annual Convention of the American Psychological Association in concluding my year as President of Division 35, the Society for the Psychology of Women. It identifies some challenges faced by women in leadership positions and by feminist leaders. It identifies the major issues that emerged during a web-based dialogue about feminist leadership. It discusses the intersection between theories of leadership and feminism. It ends with the lessons learned and implications for the future of feminist leadership.
2003 Carolyn Sherif Award Address: What College Women do and do not Experience as Rape
Authors: Kahn Arnold S.
Published: March 2004

College women who did ( n = 33) and did not ( n = 56) label their sexual assault experience as rape provided written descriptions of their sexual assaults. From these descriptions we identified eight different sexual assault situations. Women who labeled their experience as rape were most likely to have been assaulted forcefully by an acquaintance, awakened to an acquaintance performing sexual acts on them, or experienced the assault as a child. Women were least likely to call their experience rape if they submitted to a whining, begging boyfriend, gave in to a man because of being emotionally needy, were assaulted by a boyfriend, were severely impaired by alcohol or drugs and unable to resist, or were forced to engage in oral or digital sex. Observers who read these descriptions generally agreed with the victims regarding whether or not the experience constituted rape, although they could not agree on whether or not forced oral or digital intercourse or forced intercourse by a boyfriend constituted rape.
A Test of Objectification Theory: The Effect of the Male Gaze on Appearance Concerns in College Women
Authors: Calogero Rachel M.
Published: March 2004

This study extends the research on objectification theory by examining the effect of anticipating a male or female gaze on appearance-related concerns in 105 female undergraduates. Gaze anticipation was manipulated by having participants believe they would be interacting with a man or woman before completing several self-report measures. Results demonstrated that anticipating a male gaze produced significantly greater body shame and social physique anxiety than anticipating a female gaze, while no differences were observed for dietary intent. Discussion centers on the pervasiveness of the experience of self-objectification and the implications of these findings for future research.
Who's that Girl: Television's Role in the Body Image Development of Young White and Black Women
Authors: Schooler Deborah , Ward L. Monique , Merriwether Ann , Caruthers Allison
Published: March 2004

Although findings indicate a connection between frequent media use and greater body dissatisfaction, little attention has focused on the role of race. Accordingly, this study investigates the relation between television viewing and body image among 87 Black and 584 White women. Participants reported monthly viewing amounts of mainstream and Black-oriented television programs as well as body attitudes as measured by the Eating Disorders Inventory, the Body Esteem Scale, and the Body Shape Questionnaire. Results suggest different patterns predicting body image for White and Black women. Among White women, viewing mainstream television predicted poorer body image, while viewing Black-oriented media was unrelated to body image. Among Black women, viewing Black-oriented television predicted healthier body image, while viewing mainstream television was unrelated to body image. Ethnic identity also predicted healthier body image among Black women, and appeared to moderate, to some extent, the contributions of viewing Black-oriented programming.
Victim's Response and Alcohol-Related Factors as Determinants of Women's Responses to Violent Pornography
Authors: Norris Jeanette , Davis Kelly Cue , George William H. , Martell Joel , Heiman Julia R.
Published: March 2004

Women suffer a variety of detrimental effects from exposure to violent pornography. This study examined the role of specific situational cues embedded within a violent pornographic story, as well as alcohol consumption and alcohol expectancies, to determine potential mechanisms through which these effects occur. Female social drinkers ( N = 123), recruited from the community at large, participated in a between-subjects factorial experiment varying two situational cues—victim response (pleasure vs. distress) and story character beverage consumption (alcohol vs. mineral water)—and participant beverage consumption (alcohol vs. placebo vs. tonic). Results indicate that participants' identification with the victim plays a key role in affecting their responses and that alcohol-related factors appear to exacerbate the negative impact of pornography.