bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Up‐regulation of Mac‐2 binding protein by hTERT in gastric cancer
Authors: Park Yuk Pheel , Choi Seung‐Chul , Kim Joo Heon , Song Eun Young , Kim Jae Wha , Yoon Do‐Young , Yeom Young Il , Lim Jong‐Seok , Kim Jong Wan , Paik Sang‐Gi , Lee Hee Gu
Published: November 2006

Mac‐2 binding protein (Mac‐2BP) is a secreted tumor antigen that is elevated in many cancers and implicated in tumor metastasis, as well as cell adhesion and immune functions. We focused on the human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) induced Mac‐2BP expression and the relationship between Mac‐2BP expression and the progression of gastric cancer. A cDNA expression array analysis was performed on the telomerase‐negative cell line, SW13, which was engineered to overexpress hTERT when compared with the parental SW13 cell. hTERT‐induced Mac‐2BP expression was confirmed via RT‐PCR and Northern blotting. ELISA and flow cytometric analyses revealed that Mac‐2BP protein was increased by 2‐ to 4‐fold in hTERT‐overexpressing cells compared with the mock control. Mac‐2BP expression was significantly reduced when the overexpressed hTERT was neutralized by the introduction of hTERT‐specific siRNA. These results suggest that Mac‐2BP expression is modulated by hTERT. Mac‐2BP levels in both gastric cancer cells and tumor tissues were determined via Northern blot analysis and immunohistochemistry. Mac‐2BP protein was highly expressed in most gastric cancer cell lines, and gastric tumor tissues were stained more densely than normal tissues. The intracellular and secreted Mac‐2BP levels were also evaluated via ELISA, indicating that Mac‐2BP was expressed and secreted more abundantly in gastric cancer patients than in healthy donors. The elevated serum Mac‐2BP level in gastric tumor patients was also significantly associated with distant metastasis (p = 0.05) and higher tumor stage (p = 0.04). Our findings suggest that Mac‐2BP is induced by hTERT, and that it may prove to be a useful prognostic marker for the detection of malignant progression of metastatic stomach cancers. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Micronutrients and the risk of renal cell cancer: A case‐control study from Italy
Authors: Bosetti Cristina , Scotti Lorenza , Maso Luigino Dal , Talamini Renato , Montella Maurizio , Negri Eva , Ramazzotti Valerio , Franceschi Silvia , Vecchia Carlo La
Published: November 2006

The role of various micronutrients on the risk of renal cell cancer (RCC) was examined in a multicentric case‐control study from Italy, in which information on dietary habits were collected using a validated food‐frequency questionnaire. Cases were 767 patients (494 men and 273 women) with incident, histologically confirmed RCC; controls were 1,534 subjects (988 men and 546 women) admitted to the same hospitals as cases for a wide spectrum of acute, nonneoplastic conditions. After allowing for energy and other major covariates, a significant inverse association was found for vitamin E (odds ratio, OR, for the highest quintile of intake versus the lowest one 0.56, 95% confidence interval, CI 0.41–0.75), and vitamin C (OR = 0.72, 95% CI = 0.54–0.96), although the trend in risk for vitamin C was of borderline significance. No significant trend of decreasing risk was found for other micronutrients analyzed, although for most of them the risk estimates were below unity for intakes above the lowest. The ORs for the upper quintile of intake when compared with the lowest one were 0.80 (95% confidence interval, CI = 0.59–1.08) for retinol, 0.82 (95% CI = 0.61–1.10) for α‐carotene, 0.90 (95% CI = 0.68–1.20) for β‐carotene, 0.94 (95% CI = 0.73–1.21) for β‐criptoxanthin, 0.85 (95% CI = 0.63–1.14) for lutein/zeaxanthin, 0.76 (95% CI = 0.57–1.01) for vitamin D, 0.75 (95% CI = 0.55–1.01) for thiamine, 0.88 (95% CI = 0.66–1.19) for riboflavin, 0.85 for vitamin B6 (95% CI = 0.64–1.13), 0.85 (95% CI = 0.64–1.12) for folate and 0.80 (95% CI = 0.60–1.07) for niacin. No meaningful associations emerged for lycopene (OR = 1.11). The present findings support a possible beneficial effect of vitamin E and C on RCC. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Time trends of esophageal cancer in Hong Kong: Age, period and birth cohort analyses
Authors: Tse Lap‐ah , Yu Ignatius Tak‐sun , Mang Oscar Wai‐Kong
Published: November 2006

This study was to examine the time trend of the incidence rates of esophageal cancer during the period 1979–2003 in Hong Kong and to identify the effects of year of diagnosis (period) and year of birth (cohort) on the observed time trends using regression models. Cancer incidence data were obtained from Hong Kong Cancer Registry and population data were from the Census and Statistics Department. Age‐standardized incidence rates were computed by the direct method using the World population of 1966. Annual percentage change (APC) in incidence rate was calculated using nonlinear regression. Period and cohort effects were assessed using 2 separate Poisson regression models after adjusting for age. During the period 1979–2003, a steady decrease in the age‐standardized incidence rate was observed for both males (APC = −3.38%, 95% confidence interval [CI]: −2.89%, −3.86%) and females (APC = −3.92%, 95% CI: −3.15%, −4.69%). The incidence rates were consistently higher among males than females. After the adjustment for age and with the period 1989–1993 or birth cohort of 1934–1938 as reference, the relative risk of more recent periods or birth cohorts significantly decreased. The age‐cohort model provided a better description of the data than the age‐period model. Given reasonable latency between exposures and esophageal cancer incidence, the declining birth cohort effects in the recent generations were in line with the increased intakes of fresh vegetables and decreased consumptions of alcohol drinking, tobacco smoking, and preserved foods observed in population, thus supported their importance in influencing the burden of esophageal cancer. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
A novel copper complex of 3‐benzoyl‐α methyl benzene acetic acid with antitumor activity mediated via cyclooxygenase pathway
Authors: Ahmed Fakhara , Adsule Shreelekha , Ali Ashhar S. , Banerjee Sanjeev , Ali Shadan , Kulkarni Sudhir , Padhye Subhash , Sarkar Fazlul H
Published: November 2006

Pancreatic cancer (PC) is characterized as one of the deadliest malignancies and its treatment is a great challenge to clinical oncologists. Expression of COX‐2 is detectable in 75% of PCs among which 50% showed overexpression, suggesting the importance of COX‐2 enzyme and its metabolic product prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) in PC. Here the authors report the synthesis and biological activity of a novel COX‐2 inhibitor, FPA‐306, and its effects on PC cells with different levels of COX‐2 expression. Using MTT assay, the authors found a significant growth inhibition of BxPC‐3 cells treated by FPA‐306 with an IC50 of 10 μmol/L, which was lower than that of ketoprofen (IC50 = 35.4 μmol/L) and celecoxib (IC50 > 100 μmol/L). There was no such effect found in MIAPaCa cell line, which does not express COX‐2. The authors also found dose dependent reduction in cell survival and induction of apoptosis by FPA‐306 treatment in BxPC‐3 cells but not in MIAPaCa cells. These results were correlated with apoptosis data and secreted PGE2 levels. The molecular modeling of FPA‐306 in the COX‐2 active site showed that FPA‐306 is potentially able to inhibit the activity of enzyme by blocking the active site, thereby resulting in decreased PGE2 production. The authors also found a significant reduction of COX‐2 at the mRNA and protein levels together with downregulation of NF‐κB DNA binding activity and its downstream genes, Bcl‐2 and survivin. These results suggest that FPA‐306 is an effective and potent agent in inhibiting the growth of PC cells. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Mitofilin and titin as target antigens in melanoma‐associated retinopathy
Authors: Pföhler Claudia , Preuss Klaus‐Dieter , Tilgen Wolfgang , Stark Alexandra , Regitz Evi , Fadle Natalie , Pfreundschuh Michael
Published: November 2006

Melanoma‐associated retinopathy (MAR) is a rare paraneoplastic syndrome in patients with melanoma. Since the onset of MAR symptoms is often associated with tumor progression or recrudescence of metastases, MAR‐related symptoms are prognostic relevant. The pathomechanism underlying MAR is supposed to result from antibody production against yet unknown melanoma‐associated antigens that are also expressed in retinal tissue, leading to the destruction of retinal cells and resulting in defective signal transduction. Only a 35 kDa protein in Müller glial cells, a 22 kDa neuronal antigen and retinal transducin have been identified as MAR‐associated antigens to date. To identify additional antigens potentially involved in the pathogenesis of MAR, we screened a retina cDNA phage library for reactivity with antibodies in the sera from 9 patients with MAR or subclinical MAR using the serological analysis of recombinantly expressed clones (SEREX) approach. Six sera from melanoma patients without evidence of MAR and 10 sera from healthy donors served as controls. Mitofilin and titin were identified as antigens against which antibodies were found exclusively in sera of MAR patients, but not in the sera of MM patients without MAR or healthy donors. This is the first study to demonstrate that titin is highly expressed from retinal tissue and melanoma. The fact that none of the MAR‐associated antigens detected to date by their capacity to elicit a humoral immune response is located on the cell surface questions a major pathogenetic role of the respective antibodies and suggests that cellular, rather than humoral mechanisms are operative in the primary immune attack against the retina in MAR. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Dimeric ansamycins—A new class of antitumor Hsp90 modulators with prolonged inhibitory activity
Authors: Zhang Hong , Yang Yong‐Ching , Zhang Lin , Fan Junhua , Chung Daun , Choi Diana , Grecko Roy , Timony Gregg , Karjian Patricia , Boehm Marcus , Burrows Francis
Published: November 2006

The geldanamycin derivative 17‐allyamino‐17‐demethoxygeldanamycin (17‐AAG) is a clinical stage ATP‐competitive HSP90 inhibitor that induces degradation of HSP90 client proteins. 17‐AAG contains 1 ansamycin moiety and is highly potent in conventional cell killing assays. Since active Hsp90 exists as a dimer, we hypothesized that dimeric compounds containing 2 ansamycin pharmacophores might inhibit Hsp90 function more efficiently than 17‐AAG. Here, we show that monomeric and dimeric ansamycins exert their activity in distinct ways. Under conditions of continuous exposure, 17‐AAG induced client degradation and cell growth inhibition more readily than the dimeric drugs CF237 and CF483. By contrast, 24 hr treatment of various tumor cells with 17‐AAG followed by drug washout caused temporary client degradation and cell cycle arrest but minimal cell death, whereas both dimers induced massive apoptosis. CF237 remained bound to Hsp90 for days after drug withdrawal and, while both monomeric and dimeric compounds caused accumulation of the inactive intermediate Hsp90 complex, this effect disappeared following washout of 17‐AAG but not CF237. The dimer was also retained for longer in tumor xenografts and displayed superior antitumor activity in vivo. These results indicate that monomeric and dimeric Hsp90 inhibitors have distinct biological profiles and work differentially toward target inhibition. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Risk of second malignant neoplasms among lymphoma patients with a family history of cancer
Authors: Landgren Ola , Pfeiffer Ruth M. , Stewart Laveta , Gridley Gloria , Mellemkjaer Lene , Hemminki Kari , Goldin Lynn R. , Travis Lois B.
Published: November 2006

Radiotherapy and chemotherapy are known risk factors for second cancers after lymphoma. The role of genetic influences, however, remains largely unknown. We assessed risk of second cancers associated with family history of any cancer in 41,181 patients with Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) (n= 7,476), non‐Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) (n= 25,941), or chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) (n= 7,764), using a large population‐based database. Family history of cancer was based on a diagnosis of any cancer in 110,862 first‐degree relatives. We found increased relative risk (RR) (1.81, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.04–3.16) of breast cancer among HL patient with positive (vs.negative) family history of cancer. Among CLL patients with positive (vs.negative) family history of cancer, we observed elevated risks of bladder (RR = 3.53, 95% CI: 1.31–9.55) and prostate cancer (RR = 2.15, 95% CI: 1.17–3.94). For NHL patients with positive (vs.negative) family history of cancer, we observed non‐significantly increased risk of non‐melanoma skin cancer (RR = 1.94, 95% CI: 0.86–4.38) and lung cancer (RR = 1.99, 95% CI: 0.73–5.39). Our observations suggest that genetic factors, as measured by positive family history of cancer, may be influential risk‐factors for selected second tumors following lymphoproliferative disorders. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Socioeconomic inequality and short‐term outcome in Hodgkin's lymphoma
Authors: Soares Andrea , Biasoli Irene , Scheliga Adriana , Luiz Ronir Raggio , Costa Mário Alberto , Land Marcelo , Romano Sérgio , Morais José Carlos , Spector Nelson
Published: November 2006

Socioeconomic status (SES) is a determinant of outcome in various types of cancer. The aim of this study is to analyze the impact of the SES in Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL). From 2001 to 2005, 194 consecutive patients were prospectively followed in 5 institutions. Patients answered a questionnaire with a set of items used to determine the SES, and were then divided in 2 groups according to their SES score. There were 151 patients (78%) with a higher SES and 43 patients (22%) with a lower SES. The complete remission (CR) rate was 82%. Patients with a higher SES had a higher CR rate than those with a lower SES (85 vs. 72%, crude odds ratio = 2.27, p = 0.046). A lower SES and the performance status >1 were independently associated with a trend towards a lower CR, even when controlled for the other covariables of interest. Ten patients (5%) died during treatment. Death during treatment was associated with a lower SES (16 vs. 2%, p = 0.001), a performance status >1 (p < 0.0001), a lower lymphocyte count (p = 0.012) and weakly with a lower albumin level (p = 0.065). With a median follow‐up of 1.7 years, a higher SES was associated with a better 2‐year overall survival (93 vs. 79%, p = 0.01). In underprivileged countries, patients with a lower SES require a more careful monitoring during treatment, possibly with specific support measures. Regimens more intense than doxorubicin, bleomycin, vinblastine and dacarbazine could pose a prohibitive risk of complications in this group of patients. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Breast cancer guidelines—Physicians' intentions and behaviors
Authors: Eisinger Francois , Ronda Isabelle , Puig Brigitte , Camerlo Jacques , Giovannini Marie‐Hélène , Bardou Valérie‐Jeanne
Published: November 2006

Guidelines are written to define what a physician should do, and networks set up to provide every patient with good practice. However, is willingness to treat according norms enough to actually implement it? Between 1997 and 2003, 4,533 women with invasive, noninflammatory, nonmetastatic breast cancer have been treated within the framework of a regional network (R2C). The rate of implementation of 5 consensual norms was assessed. The rate of “abnormal” management regarding surgical re‐excision for inadequate margin was found to be 12.6%. The main explanatory variable was patient age >70 years (OR = 4.05). For nodal exploration, the sampling quality threshold was set at 10. Mean rate of lack of compliance was 25.2%. The 2 main explicative factors were surgeon's experience and women's age. The observed rate of “insufficient” irradiation dose was 18.2%. The main explanatory variables were age (with a gradient) and a negative nodal status. Concerning adjuvant chemotherapy, the rate of no treatment (despite consensual indication) was 16.0%. Again, the main explicative factor was age (with a gradient). Women's age appears to be a major explanatory variable predicting lack of physician's compliance with consensual norms. Besides the age of the women, a “better” prognosis (negative nodal status and pT ≤ 20 mn) is often associated with lack of compliance. It is not clear, however, if it's the rules that do not fit the clinical situation of aging patients or the physicians who are not aware of the benefit of consensual disease management for aging patients. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
A dynamic model of contraceptive choice of Spanish couples
Authors: Carro Jesús M. , Mira Pedro
Published: November 2006

We propose a simple dynamic stochastic model of sterilization and contraceptive use and we estimate its structural parameters using a sample of married couples from the 1995 Spanish Family and Fertility Survey. The estimated structural model improves on previous studies in terms of its ability to rationalize observed behaviour. Allowing for simple forms of permanent unobserved heterogeneity across couples in their ability to conceive has important implications for estimates of utility and cost parameters. Estimates of child valuation parameters imply that most Spanish couples would have two children, but significant deviations from this goal are brought about by imperfect and costly fertility control. We perform simulations to quantify the impact on fertility of the availability of sterilization and other technologies which improve fertility control. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Bayesian analysis of the two‐part model with endogeneity: application to health care expenditure
Authors: Deb Partha , Munkin Murat K. , Trivedi Pravin K.
Published: November 2006

This paper studies the effect of managed care on medical expenditure using a model in which the insurance status is assumed to be endogenous. Insurance plan choice is modeled through the multinomial probit model. The medical expenditure variable, the outcome of interest, has a significant proportion of zeros that are handled using the two‐part model, extended to handle endogenous insurance. The estimation approach is Bayesian, based on the Gibbs Sampler. The model is applied to a sample of 20 460 individuals obtained from the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey. The results provide substantial evidence of selectivity. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The costs of motherhood: an analysis using matching estimators
Authors: Simonsen Marianne , Skipper Lars
Published: November 2006

We estimate the effect of motherhood on wages using matching. We distinguish between net and direct effects. The net effect includes the total wage costs, whereas the direct represents the causal effect. Since covariates are likely affected by motherhood, the latter effect is not immediately uncovered. We therefore implement two strategies: first, we confine the analysis to consider sector‐specific treatment effects; second, we impose additive separability on the outcome equation. We find negative net effects that vary little with sector. The direct effect is small and negative in the public sector and insignificant in the private sector. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Teaching undergraduate econometrics with GRETL
Authors: Mixon Jr J. Wilson , Smith Ryan J.
Published: November 2006

This paper reviews GRETL, a software package for econometrics. Mainly it discusses GRETL's merits as an aid in teaching undergraduate econometrics. This discussion is in two parts. First one author, an instructor, reviews the teaching of undergraduate econometrics with GRETL. Then the second author, a student, discusses the experience of being introduced to GRETL as part of the introductory course and of putting it to work as part of his employment. The paper briefly discusses GRETL as a research tool. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Desorption/ionization on porous silicon mass spectrometry (DIOS) of model cationized fatty acids
Authors: Budimir Natali , Blais Jean‐Claude , Fournier Françoise , Tabet Jean‐Claude
Published: November 2006

Desorption/ionization on porous silicon (DIOS) is a very useful technique in the case of small molecular weight compounds, compared to the matrix‐assisted laser desorption ionization (MALDI). This is because MALDI generates matrix‐related ions that overlap with the mass range of interest. The aim of our work was to investigate the suitability of the DIOS technique in the case of fatty acids in negative ion mode. The analysis of the chosen fatty acid models, nonadecanoic acid (C19H38O2) and heneicosanoic acid (C21H42O2), gave rise to the observation of the deprotonated monomeric species and selective cationized multimeric species. This cation selectivity was further elucidated by complementary studies based on the addition of various metals such as AgI, ZnII, FeII, and also CuII. Specific behavior, depending upon the introduced metal, was highlighted by different redox reaction processes and also metastable decompositions (in PSD mode). Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
17β‐estradiol differentially regulates androgen‐responsive genes through estrogen receptor‐β‐ and extracellular‐signal regulated kinase‐dependent pathways in LNCaP human prostate cancer cells
Authors: Takahashi Yoko , Perkins Susan N. , Hursting Stephen D. , Wang Thomas T.Y.
Published: November 2006

The molecular mechanism underlying the actions of estrogens in normal prostate physiology and prostate cancer development remains unclear. In the present study we tested the hypothesis that estrogens modulate androgen‐dependent events in prostate cells by examining the effects of 17β‐estradiol (E2) on androgen‐responsive genes (ARGs) in the androgenresponsive LNCaP cells. We found that LNCaP cells express estrogen receptor‐β (ER‐β) as the major form of ER and ER treatment with E2 led to an increase in cell growth. The proliferative effect of E2 correlated with induction of several ARGs by E2. Interestingly, some other ARGs did not respond to E2. Consistent with involvement of ER‐β, the induction of both cell growth and ARG mRNA levels by E2 was attenuated by the pure antiestrogen ICI 182,780. Moreover, we found ER‐β small interfering RNA attenuated induction of ARG mRNAs by E2. However, the effect of E2 on ARG mRNA appeared also to require the androgen receptor and to be mediated through activation of the extracellular‐signal regulated kinase (ERK) pathway. These results provide mechanistic evidence supporting a direct effect of estrogen, mediated through ER‐β‐ and ERK‐dependent pathways, on specific molecular targets in human prostate cancer cells. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
On singularities of solution of Maxwell's equations in axisymmetric domains with conical points
Authors: Nkemzi Boniface
Published: November 2006

Boundary value problems (BVP) in three‐dimensional axisymmetric domains can be treated more efficiently by partial Fourier analysis. Partial Fourier analysis is applied to time‐harmonic Maxwell's equations in three‐dimensional axisymmetric domains with conical points on the rotation axis thereby reducing the three dimensional BVP to an infinite sequence of 2D BVPs on the plane meridian domain Ωa⊂ℝ of . The regularity of the solutions un (n∈ℕ0:={0, 1, 2,…}) of the two dimensional BVPs is investigated and it is proved that the asymptotic behaviour of the solutions un near an angular point on the rotation axis can be characterized by singularity functions related to the solutions of some associated Legendre equations. By means of numerical experiments, it is shown that the solutions un for n∈ℕ0\{1} belong to the Sobolev space H2 irrespective of the size of the solid angle at the conical point. However, the regularity of the coefficient u1 depends on the size of the solid angle at the conical point. The singular solutions of the three dimensional BVP are obtained by Fourier synthesis. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Modification of dynamic characteristics of FGM plates with integrated piezoelectric layers using first‐ and second‐order approximations
Authors: Aryana F. , Bahai H. , Mirzaeifar R. , Yeilaghi A.
Published: November 2006

This paper proposes a method for calculating the required changes in the physical properties of plates made of functionally graded materials (FGM) in order to achieve the desired eigenfrequency shifts in the structure. A finite element formulation based on the classical laminated plate theory (CLPT) is presented for an FGM plate with integrated piezoelectric layers. Using this formulation, an efficient method based on the first‐order and second‐order approximations in Taylor expansion is expressed to calculate the corresponding changes in the plate modal properties due to changes in parameters which characterize the structure's dynamic behaviour. An initial sensitivity analysis is carried out to identify the regions within the structure where modifications are most effective on the structure's dynamic characteristics. The proposed algorithm is applied to a case study with two different boundary conditions and the results are validated against exact solutions. The influence of structural modifications on dynamic response of the plate is also studied using the Newmark‐β method. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A dedicated Fourier analysis for the simulation of composite pipes with defects
Authors: Baranger E. , Allix O. , Blanchard L.
Published: November 2006

Through the study of a linear problem, this paper introduces some of the ingredients that are needed in order to conduct efficient non‐linear calculations on composite pipes under thermo‐mechanical loading in the presence of defects. Based on the observation that the main degradation scenarios take place at the extremity of a pipe, a refined model is used to describe this end zone while the rest of the pipe is described using a beam model. This study focuses on the efficient resolution of the refined end zone. For that, a dedicated Fourier expansion is used. The initial 3D problem is then transformed in a set of coupled 2D ones. The questions of the expansion truncation and the resolution of the coupled problem are then tackled. The use of a preconditioned conjugate gradient method allows to treat quasi‐industrial problems in a prototype code in Matlab. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Artists' attitudes to marketing: a cross‐cultural perspective
Authors: Kubacki Krzysztof , Croft Robin
Published: November 2006

Although the music industry is dominated by a few global players, the vast majority of musical performances are by nonprofit organisations, self‐employed musicians or small and medium enterprises (SMEs). But, while a great deal has been written about the marketing of music—distribution, branding, audience development, etc.—comparatively little is known about the attitudes of musicians themselves to marketing, despite the fact their role as both product and producer is so central to the musical experience.

The research sets out to gain an understanding of this neglected topic by undertaking a cross‐cultural analysis of musicians from two different cultures: it compares the attitudes of artists in a mature, post‐industrial economy (UK) with those in a post‐communist, emerging democracy (Poland). The research finds that society, culture and the economic environment appear to shape attitudes far less than art itself. Across both cultures the research discovers at best an ambivalence towards marketing, and at worst a general antipathy towards the whole notion of art‐as‐business.

The implications of these findings, if replicated across other countries, other musical genres and across the arts as a whole, could be worrying. Historically, the arts have been dominated by nonprofit organisations funded at least in part by public and private subsidies, funds which are being substantially eroded in both mature economies and in developing nations. The challenge for nonprofits and SMEs in the arts, then, is about achieving some sort of engagement with business and marketing, without losing their artistic integrity in the process.

Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Further studies on the rheological properties of hydrophobically modified polyelectrolyte systems: effect of varying degree of ethoxylation
Authors: Tam KC , Ng WK , Jenkins RD
Published: November 2006

The rheological properties of aqueous solutions of a series of hydrophobically modified alkali‐soluble emulsion (HASE) polymers containing hydrophobic macromonomer with varying number of ethylene oxide (EO) units were examined. The viscosity of a 3 wt% HASE solution increased from 0.06 to 300 Pa s when the number of EO units changed from 0 to 30, and then decreased to 4 Pa s for 40 EO units. The formation of a network structure in the HASE polymer systems is caused by association of hydrophobic moieties in the solution rather than by physical chain entanglements. Two different associating mechanisms, namely the backbone and the multiple center associative mechanisms, are proposed for the HASE polymer with varying number of EO units. The backbone associative mechanism is applicable to HASE polymers with short EO spacer where the hydrophobic association is hindered by electrostatic repulsion on the backbone. In contrast, with longer EO spacer, hydrophobes from different polymer chains are able to associate, leading to the formation of multiple center associative junctions. The drastic reduction in the viscosity for 40 EO units in both dilute and semi‐dilute concentrations is attributed to the formation of a higher proportion of intramolecular associative junctions. Copyright © 2006 Society of Chemical Industry
Demonstrating formation of potentially persistent transformation products from the herbicides bromoxynil and ioxynil using liquid chromatography‐tandem mass spectrometry (LC‐MS/MS)
Authors: Nielsen Marie KK , Holtze Maria S , Svensmark Bo , Juhler René K
Published: November 2006

It is shown that potentially persistent transformation products can be formed from the herbicides bromoxynil (3,5‐dibromo‐4‐hydroxybenzonitrile) and ioxynil (3,5‐diiodo‐4‐hydroxybenzonitrile), and possible leaching to groundwater is discussed. A similar process to the formation of BAM (2,6‐dichlorobenzamide) from the herbicide dichlobenil (2,6‐dichlorobenzonitrile) can be anticipated as bromoxynil and ioxynil are analogues of dichlobenil and they are degraded by the enzymes nitrilase, nitrile hydratase and amidase. A biodegradation study using cultured Variovorax sp. DSM 11402, a species commonly found in soil, demonstrated that ioxynil and bromoxynil were fully transformed into their corresponding amides in 2–5 days. These amides were not further degraded within 18 days, and formation of other degradation products was not observed. These results are in agreement with biodegradation experiments with dichlobenil. In soil, dichlobenil is transformed into its only observed degradation product BAM, which is persistent and mobile, and has been found in 19% of 5000 samples of Danish groundwater. Variovorax sp. is known to degrade the non‐halogenated analogue benzamide, suggesting that degradation of the three amides may be hindered by the halogenated substituents (meta‐Br; meta‐I; ortho‐Cl). This hypothesis is supported by QSAR modelling of fundamental properties. Using a new optimised liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC‐MS/MS) method, the sorption and desorption properties of bromoxynil and ioxynil were characterised in sandy topsoil at four concentration levels. The estimated sorption coefficient Kd was 1.4 L kg−1 for bromoxynil and 5.4 L kg−1 for ioxynil, indicating weak to moderate sorption to topsoil. Desorption of the herbicides showed that they were strongly and irreversible bound to the soil (Kdes > Kd). The amount of herbicide desorbed depended on the initial concentration level. At low levels, Kdes values were higher, indicating stronger binding than at higher levels. The isocratic LC‐MS/MS method developed for simultaneous detection of bromoxynil, ioxynil and their main degradation products is described. Using negative electrospray ionisation (ESI–), the detection limits were 0.4–1.0 µg L−1, with relative standard deviations of 4–10% (n = 10) using direct injection without clean‐up steps. The standard curves showed linearity in the range 5–100 µg L−1 with r2 > 0.992. Copyright © 2006 Society of Chemical Industry
Disruption of mating in codling moth (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) by chlorantranilipole, an anthranilic diamide insecticide
Authors: Knight Alan L , Flexner Lindsey
Published: November 2006

The influence of the anthranilic diamide insecticide chlorantranilipole (DPX‐E2Y45; Rynaxypyr™) against the adult stage of codling moth, Cydia pomonella L., was examined. Insecticide residues in plastic cups sprayed with 56 mg AI L−1 (equivalent to the recommended field rate) had a minimal effect on adult survival or fecundity, but significantly fewer female moths were mated in treated than in untreated cups. Similar results were found in field studies with adults placed in screened cages on treated apple foliage for up to 3 weeks. Mating was disrupted when either sex was topically dosed with technical material (0.01–0.1 µg). Males were more sensitive to the disruptive effects of chlorantranilipole than females. A 2 h exposure significantly reduced male activity (walking and wing fanning), but not female calling. A 25 h exposure significantly reduced the activity of both sexes. The proportion of males landing near a sex pheromone source in a flight tunnel was significantly reduced following exposures of 2–4 h and completely eliminated following a 17 h exposure. Male moths partially recovered from either topical or residual exposure to chlorantranilipole, but the extent of their recovery was dose and time dependent. Male response to sex pheromone recovered within 2 h following a 4 h exposure, but following a 17 h exposure only a partial recovery occurred after 48 h. Mating by moth pairs exposed to chlorantranilipole residues for 24 h did not significantly increase during recovery periods of 24–96 h, except in cups treated with 10% of the standard concentration. The proportion of field‐collected female codling moths caught in pear ester‐baited traps that were mated was significantly lower in apple orchards treated season‐long with chlorantranilipole compared with females caught in either untreated orchards or those treated with sex pheromones to cause mating disruption. Copyright © 2006 Society of Chemical Industry
Molecular dynamics study of amyloid formation of two Abl‐SH3 domain peptides
Authors: Liepina Inta , Ventura Salvador , Czaplewski Cezary , Liwo Adam
Published: November 2006

Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations were carried out for two‐strand and ten‐strand β‐sheets constructed from two peptides corresponding to the diverging turn of two homologous Abl‐SH3 domains, DLSFMKGE (MK; from Drosophila) and DLSFKKGE (KK; from man), in explicit water at the temperatures of 30, 170/190 and 300 K. It was found that the 2 × MK β‐sheet is more stable than the 2 × KK β‐sheet, and that the 10 × MK β‐sheet is more stable than the 10 × KK β‐sheet; this suggests that the MK systems are fibril‐creating and the KK systems are not. These results might explain why most SH3 domains possess two conserved basic residues at the diverging turn, which may act as gatekeepers in order to avoid aggregation. Copyright © 2006 European Peptide Society and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Comparison of the stability of glutathione and related synthetic tetrapeptides by HPLC and capillary electrophoresis
Authors: Mahlapuu Riina , Vaher Merike , Ehrlich Kersti , Kaljurand Mihkel , Soomets Ursel
Published: November 2006

Glutathione and related peptides are interesting targets as protectors of biological systems against an oxidative injury. Two novel glutathione analogues, UPF1 and UPF15, have been designed and synthesised. As a result of different reactions taking place, the thiol‐containing compounds oxidise to disulfides. In this study, the stability of UPF1, UPF15 and glutathione in various solutions was investigated by using HPLC and CE. The results showed that UPF1 and UPF15 are powerful hydroxyl radical scavengers and their dimerisation process velocity is higher than that of glutathione. Copyright © 2006 European Peptide Society and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
‘Click peptide’: a novel ‘O‐acyl isopeptide method’ for peptide synthesis and chemical biology‐oriented synthesis of amyloid β peptide analogues
Authors: Sohma Youhei , Taniguchi Atsuhiko , Yoshiya Taku , Chiyomori Yousuke , Fukao Fukue , Nakamura Setsuko , Skwarczynski Mariusz , Okada Takuma , Ikeda Keisuke , Hayashi Yoshio , Kimura Tooru , Hirota Shun , Matsuzaki Katsumi , Kiso Yoshiaki
Published: November 2006

After over a decade of studies on aspartic protease inhibitors and water‐soluble prodrugs, we have been developing a novel method, since 2003, called ‘O‐acyl isopeptide method’, for the synthesis of peptides containing difficult sequences. With our recent discoveries of ‘O‐acyl isodipeptide unit’ and the ‘racemization‐free segment condensation method’, this method has further evolved as a general synthetic method for peptides. Moreover, ‘Click Peptide’, which could be a powerful tool for identifying the pathological functions of amyloid β peptides in Alzheimer's disease, represents a valuable use of the isopeptide method in Chemical Biology‐oriented research. Copyright © 2006 European Peptide Society and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Effect of salts on the structural behavior of hPrP α2‐helix‐derived analogues: the counterion perspective
Authors: Ronga Luisa , Palladino Pasquale , Tizzano Barbara , Marasco Daniela , Benedetti Ettore , Ragone Raffaele , Rossi Filomena
Published: November 2006

Both theoretical studies and direct experimental evidence have emphasized the importance of electrostatic interactions in the general phenomenon of spontaneous amyloid fibril formation. A number of observations have recently spurred interest in the contribution of these interactions to the conformational behavior of the prion protein. In this paper, we show how salt addition and pH change can modify the conformation of two peptide analogues derived from the human prion protein helix 2 according to a Hofmeister‐series‐type dependence. Employment of various sodium salts allowed us to highlight the fact that chaotropic anions favor unstructured conformation, whereas kosmotropic anions promote the formation of compact structures like α‐helix and β‐sheet, which may ultimately facilitate fibril formation. This finding should warn people engaged in ion‐based research on prion and derived peptides about cation‐bound effects, which have been almost exclusively investigated to date, being easily confounded with modifications that are actually caused by anion activity, thus leading researchers into misunderstand ion‐specific effects. To avoid the common complication of ion confounding, it is highly desirable that experiments be designed so that the species causing the modification can be unequivocally perceived. Copyright © 2006 European Peptide Society and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Electronic structure of tellurium under high pressure
Authors: Nishikawa Atsushi
Published: November 2006

We have investigated the electronic structure and the structural stability of tellurium under pressure by using the full‐potential linearized APW method. Te‐II and Te‐III have triclinic structure and incomensurate monoclinic structure respectively and we have shown that a tripling of monoclinic Te‐III unit cell along b‐axis yields a large dip in the density of states of the 5p‐band and this yields the lowering of the band structure energy to make these structures with low symmetry stable. (© 2007 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Resistivity relaxation of ammonium halides near high‐pressure induced phase transitions
Authors: Tikhomirova Galina , Babushkin Alexey
Published: November 2006

Comparative studies of high‐pressure effect on the resistivity of ammonium halides NH4X (X = F, Cl, Br) at the temperatures of 77 to 400 K are presented. High‐pressure phase transitions are found being apparent in a sharp change of the resistance by orders of magnitude at some critical pressures and a hysteresis typical for first‐order phase transitions. The critical pressure values correlate with the material density being approximately 40, 27 and 15 GPa for NH4F, NH4Cl and NH4Br, respectively. Relaxation times of resistivity at changing pressure are determined. The relaxation of resistivity obeys the exponential law at the pressures far enough from the critical ones; the relaxation times are tenths seconds to minutes. Near the critical pressures, the resistivity relaxation becomes highly non‐exponential; the time delay of hours to days appears before the phase transition (the resistance jump). (© 2007 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Application of phenylboronic acid modified hydrogel affinity chips for high‐throughput mass spectrometric analysis of glycated proteins
Authors: Gontarev Sergey , Shmanai Vadim , Frey Simone K. , Kvach Maksim , Schweigert Florian J.
Published: November 2006

The complexity of the human plasma proteome is greatly increased by post‐translational modifications. Besides physiological modifications, pathological conditions such as diabetes are responsible for adding to this complexity by producing advanced glycation endproducts (AGEs). When searching for specific biomarkers it is a prerequisite to reduce this complexity prior to analysis. To do this, agarose hydrogel was used to create a high‐capacity affinity layer on the modified aluminum surface of MALDI (matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization) targets. 3‐Aminophenylboronic acid was immobilized via cyanogen bromide activation as a ligand for affinity sorption of glycated proteins, followed by their direct detection by MALDI. High protein capacity of prepared MALDI chips, efficient separation and low non‐specific protein binding were demonstrated. The results show that phenylboronic acid modified hydrogels are very suitable for creating affinity surfaces for the high‐throughput analysis of AGEs. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A simple purification protocol for the detection of peptide hormones in the hemolymph of individual insects by matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry
Authors: Fastner Sandy , Predel Reinhard , Kahnt Jörg , Schachtner Joachim , Wegener Christian
Published: November 2006

The endocrine system of insects is largely based on peptide hormones. Nevertheless, an unequivocal chemical demonstration of the occurence in the hemolymph (the ‘insect blood’) is still lacking for most if not all insect peptide hormones, although this is the only way to prove their hormonal status. Focusing on peptides released during ecdysis behavior of the tobacco hornworm Manduca sexta, we developed a purification protocol based on ultrafiltration and a single reversed‐phase high‐performance liquid chromatography (RP‐HPLC) step that for the first time allowed the mass spectrometric and chemical identification of a peptide hormone in the hemolymph of single specimens. Since this method is simple, relatively cheap and fast, it should be useful for routine endocrinological analyses and for monitoring peptide release during different physiological conditions and behaviors in insects. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Consensus control for a class of networks of dynamic agents
Authors: Xie Guangming , Wang Long
Published: November 2006

In this paper, the consensus problems for networks of dynamic agents are investigated. The agent dynamics is adopted as a typical point mass model based on the Newton's law. The average‐consensus problem is proposed for such class of networks, which includes two aspects, the agreement of the states of the agents and the convergence to zero of the speeds of the agents. A linear consensus protocol for such networks is established for solving such a consensus problem that includes two parts, a local speed feedback controller and the interactions from the finite neighbours. Two kinds of topology are discussed: one is fixed topology, the other is switching one. The convergence analysis is proved and the protocol performance is discussed as well. The simulation results are presented that are consistent with our theoretical results. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Studies on the role of phospholipids in the triglyceride cycle: I. Phospholipid synthesis in liver and plasma of ethionine‐treated rats
Authors: Olmsted C. A.
Published: November 2006

A single administration ofdl‐ethionine to rats was found to initiate a rapid accumulation of triglyceride in the liver while plasma and liver phospholipid (PL) levels decreased. As measured by the incorporation of intravenous NaH2P32O4 at several time intervals after a single administration of ethionine, the drug decreased the specific activity (SA) of liver and plasma phospholipid phosphorus (PLP). At early time intervals after the injection of ethionine this occurred to a greater extent in the plasma than in the liver. Hence, the relative specific activity (RSA) of plasma to liver PLP was decreased initially by ethionine. As a measure of the exchange of PL between plasma and liver, this change in the RSA indicates decreased mobilization of PL from the liver to the plasma following ethionine inhibition of PL synthesis by the liver. Subsequently, the RSA increased, that is, an increased mobilization of PL occurred under conditions of fasting several hours after ethionine administration. Thus, it appeared that remobilization of liver PL tends to occur following the hepatic triglyceride accumulation brought about by inhibition of PL synthesis in the liver. However, remobilization of liver PL occurred also in male rats given ethionine and in fasted rats which did not show accumulation of hepatic triglyceride. These data suggest that phospholipid turnover and transport play an active role in the triglyceride cycle which is activated by fasting and during the recovery phase following ethionine administration.
Endocrine control of fat mobilization in the isolated fat cells of cold‐exposed rats
Authors: Therriault Donald G. , Hubbard Roger W. , Mellin Donald B.
Published: November 2006

Adipose tissue in rats maintained at normal ambient temperature grows by a mixture of cell proliferation and lipid deposition in the early growth stage of the rat. In the mature rat, the tissue grows primarily by lipid deposition, mitotic activity being significantly decreased. When the rat is acclimated to 5 C, growth of adipose tissue is less than that of rats maintained at normal ambient temperature. Furthermore, growth of adipose tissue in the 5 C rat occurs through a mixture of cell proliferation and lipid deposition throughout the body weight range studied. The differences in tissue growth were taken into consideration in measuring the stimulatory effect of norepinephrine on lipolysis and reesterification of isolated fat cells. The results indicate that the cell size affects the lipolytic response; the larger the cell the less sensitive it is. Fat cells from cold‐acclimated rats are more sensitive to the lipolytic action of norepinephrine, independent of differences in cell size. On the other hand, reesterification is not affected by cell size, nor by exposure of the rat to cold
Stereospecific analysis of the major triglyceride species in the monounsaturated fraction of cocoa butter
Authors: Sampugna J. , Jensen R. G.
Published: November 2006

A stereospecific analysis employing pancreatic lipase,Geotrichum candidum lipase and phospholipase A was applied to the monounsaturated triglyceride fraction of cocoa butter. Diacid triglycerides required additional analyses involving the gas liquid chromatographic determination of the proportions of digly ceride acetates produced by separately acetylating the α,α and α,β‐digly cerides obtained from aG. candidum digestion mixture. Results indicated that the major triacid triglyceride in cocoa butter wasrac glyceryl‐l‐palmitate‐2‐oleate‐3‐stearate. Approximately 5% of cocoa butter was comprised of triglycerides which were solely or predominantly of one enantiomer, containing oleic acid in the 3 position.