bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Determination of the disulphide bridge arrangement of bovine histidine‐rich glycoprotein
Authors: Sorensen Charlotte B. , Krogh-Pedersen Helene , Petersen Torben E.
Published: July 2002

Histidine‐rich glycoprotein (HRG) was purified from bovine plasma and the disulphide bridge arrangement established. Disulphide‐bridged peptides were obtained from peptic and tryptic degradation of native bovine HRG. Twelve half‐cystine residues were found in bovine HRG (compared to sixteen cysteines in human HRG), all involved in the formation of six disulphide bridges connecting Cys‐1 to Cys‐12, Cys‐2 to Cys‐3, Cys‐4 to Cys‐5, Cys‐6 to Cys‐11, Cys‐7 to Cys‐8, and Cys‐9 to Cys‐10. Additional sequence analysis of 14C‐carboxymethylated chymotryptic and Staphylococcus aureus V8 protease generated peptides and CNBr‐fragments of bovine HRG yielded a partial amino acid sequence of bovine HRG constituting 78% of the sequence when compared to the human cDNA sequence.
Dynamical properties of bovine pancreatic trypsin inhibitor from a molecular dynamics simulation at 5000 atm
Authors: Brunne R.M. , van Gunsteren W.F.
Published: July 2002

Molecular dynamics simulations of bovine pancreatic trypsin inhibitor in water have been performed with coupling to pressure baths at 1 atm and at 5000 atm. The positional fluctuations of atoms in the α‐ and γ‐positions are slightly decreased at 5000 atm. The mobility of the backbone φ‐and ψ‐angles is not affected with respect to the root mean square fluctuations and the rate of torsional angle transitions. The amplitude of libration of sidechain χ‐angles remains nearly the same for both pressures, but the rate of torsional angle transitions decreases on average by 30% when increasing the hydrostatic pressure to 5000 atm.
Stabilization of a compact conformation of monomeric GroEL at low temperature by adenine nucleotides
Authors: Lissin Nikolai M. , Hemmingsen Sean M.
Published: July 2002

E. coli GroEL chaperonin monomers, isolated after urea‐induced dissociation of GroEL14, undergo cold denaturation below 5° C. Above 5°C, these monomers undergo MgATP‐dependent self‐assembly. We have demonstrated a conformational transition at 0°C induced by interaction of monomeric GroEL with adenine nucleotides. This conformation has a dramatically decreased Stokes radius and enhanced resistance to trypsin but it is slightly less compact than the conformation of monomers at 23°C in the absence of MgATP and it is not capable of spontaneous self‐assembly. A second, temperature‐dependent conformational change with a transition at about 5°C is required for GroEL to undergo oligomerization.
Internalization of the rat AT1a and AT1b receptors: pharmacological and functional requirements
Authors: Conchon Sophie , Monnot Catherine , Teutsch Betty , Corvol Pierre , Clauser Eric
Published: July 2002

The capacity of the angiotensin II (AngII) agonist [Sar1]AngII, the antagonist [Sar1‐I1e8]AngII and the non‐peptidic antagonist DuP753 to undergo receptor internalization were studied in Chinese hamster ovary cells expressing rat AngII type 1a or 1b receptors (AT1a or AT1b) or a mutant of AT1a (Asn74) unable to couple G‐protein. In this expression system, the ligand‐induced internalization of rat AT1a and AT1b are similar. Moreover, peptidic ligands, either the agonist or antagonist, induce a significant internalization of AT1 receptors, but the non‐peptidic antagonist DuP753 is far less potent. Finally, the normal internalization of the mutant Asn74 demonstrates that receptor activation and G‐protein coupling are not required for AT1ainternalization.
Lessened malate inhibition of guard‐cell phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase velocity during stomatal opening
Authors: Zhang Shu Qiu , Outlaw William H , Chollet Raymond
Published: July 2002

Leaflets of Vicia faba with closed stomata or with opening stomata were freeze‐dried. Excised guard‐cell pairs were assayed individually under suboptimal conditions (pH 7.1 and subsaturating substrate) for phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PEPC; EC 4.1.1.31) using quantitative histochemical procedures. l‐Malate, 400 μM, significantly inhibited guard‐cell PEPC activity of closed stomata but not that of opening stomata. We postulate that the lessened sensitivity of guard‐cell PEPC activity to malate inhibition is an important regulatory feature of stomatal opening, which is associated with malate accumulation.
Two‐step binding of green mamba toxin to muscarinic acetylcholine receptor
Authors: Toomela T. , Jolkkonen M. , Rinken A. , Järv J. , Karlsson E.
Published: July 2002

The mechanism of binding of toxin MT2 from venom of green mamba Dendroaspis angusticeps to muscarinic acetylcholine receptors from rat cerebral cortex was investigated by studying the kinetics of the toxin—receptor interaction. The muscarinic antagonist N‐methyl‐[3H]scopolamine was used as a ‘reporter’ ligand. Evidence for a mechanism of toxin—receptor interaction comprising at least two steps was obtained. Such a mechanism increases the potency of the toxin. The first step was fast with no competition between the toxin and the antagonist. The second step was slow with formation of a more stable toxin—receptor complex and inhibition of the antagonist binding. It is proposed that the snake toxin is a muscarinic agonist of slow action.
Facilitator oligonucleotides increase ribozyme RNA binding to full‐length RNA substrates in vitro
Authors: Denman Robert B.
Published: July 2002

Primer extension arrest (PEA) studies have demonstrated that antisense oligonucleotides (ß112C, ß114C), which lie upstream of a ribozyme targeted to ß‐amyloid peptide precursor (ßAPP) mRNA, but not sense oligonucleotides (ß112S, ß116S) or a scrambled oligonucleotide, ß116M, affect ribozyme‐mediated cleavage in vitro. Substrate dissociation experiments revealed that the ribozyme binding site in this mRNA was masked; PEA kinetics showed the association of the ribozyme and substrate was enhanced by antisense oligonucleotide binding. These studies suggest that masked ribozyme cleavage sites that may occur in disease‐causing mRNAs can be targeted for degradation using “facilitator” oligonucleotides.
Hyperthyroidism in hyperemesis gravidarum
Authors: Leylek Ö.A. , Çetin A. , Toyaksi M. , Erselcan T.
Published: July 2002

Objective: To evaluate the hormonal and hematologic parameters of 24 patients with hyperemesis gravidarum without evidence of thyroid disease compared with matched controls. Methods: Twenty‐four pregnant women with hyperemesis and 20 control subjects were included in this study. A prospective comparison of hormonal milieu of hCG and thyroid function was performed. Results: Mean serum hCG, fT3, and fT4 levels of patients were significantly higher than those of controls (P < 0.007), while there was no statistically significant difference in terms of TSH. Serum hCG correlated negatively with TSH and positively with fT3 and fT4 in the patient group (r = 0.66, r = 0.70, r = 0.85; P < 0.05, respectively), while there was no relationship between hCG and thyroid functions in controls (r < 0.25). The lymphocyte count of patients was significantly higher than that of controls (P < 0.007), while there were no statistically significant differences in the overall white blood count and the granulocyte count (P > 0.007). The lymphocyte count correlated positively with serum hCG, fT4 and fT3, and negatively with TSH in the patient group (r = 0.73, r = 0.72, r = 0.64 and r = −0.63; P < 0.05, respectively), while there was no relationship between lymphocyte count and serum hCG, fT4, fT3 and TSH in controls (r < 0.25). Conclusions: Maternal immune recognition of the conceptus and immune response, hypothetically, may be related to the high level of hCG and/or fT4. Patients who have hyperthyroidism in early pregnancy should be assessed for transient hyperthyroidism as it relates to hyperemesis gravidarum.
Effects of adenosine on cAMP production during early development in the optic tectum of chicks
Authors: Tasca C.I. , Vendite D. , Garcia K.L. , Souza D.O.
Published: July 2002

Accumulation of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) elicited by adenosine was studied in slices and membrane preparations of optic tectum from chicks aged 1–13days post‐hatch. Accumulation of cAMP promoted by adenosine declined with age, chicks and the lowest in 11‐day‐old chicks. However, when the slices were incubated with adenosine and the phosphodiesterase inhibitor‐Ro 20‐1724 the differences between teh two ages were abolished, suggesting a higher phosphodiesterase activity in 11‐day‐old chicks. In membrane preparations, although basal adenylate cyclase activity was lower in three‐day‐old chicks, the guanylyl‐imidodiphosphate (Gpp(NH)p) concentration curves for stimulation of adenylate cyclase activity indicated a higher sensitivity of G protein to Gpp(NH)p at this age. This hypothesis was reinforced by the observation that the binding of [3H]Gpp(NH)p to the membrane preparation was greater in three‐day‐old animals. In spite of these differences, the percentage of adenylate cyclase activity stimulation by 2‐chloroadenosine (2CADO) + Gpp(NH)p was the same at both ages. These findings suggest that the decreased response evoked by adenosine during development is probably due to increased phosphodiesterase activity and a lower sensitivity of adenylate cyclase activity to Gpp(NH)p.
Early risk factors in schizophrenia: place and season of birth
Authors: Takei N , Sham PC , Callaghan EO' , Glover G , Murray RM
Published: July 2002

First admission psychiatric patients born in England and Wales between 1938 and 1963, and discharged from hospitals in England and Wales between 1976 and 1986, were examined. Using logistic regression, we tested the hypothesis that the risk of shizophrenia varies by place, and season of birth. Persons born in city areas showed a 12% greater risk of schizophrenia (odds ratio 1.12; 95% confidence interval 1.06 to 1.19) than those born in non-city areas, when compared with other psychiatric patients. The increase in risk was particularly high for individuals born in city areas in winter (21%, ie odds ratio 1.21 and confidence interval 1.08 to 1.36). These findings suggest that the factor(s) responsible for the season-of-birth effect preferentially affects city born schizophrenics.
Caspase‐induced inactivation of the anti‐apoptotic TRAF1 during Fas ligand‐mediated apoptosis
Authors: Irmler Martin , Steiner Véronique , Ruegg Curzio , Wajant Harald , Tschopp Jürg
Published: July 2002

The activation of the transcription factor NF‐κB often results in protection against apoptosis. In particular, pro‐apoptotic tumor necrosis factor (TNF) signals are blocked by proteins that are induced by NF‐κB such as TNFR‐associated factor 1 (TRAF1). Here we show that TRAF1 is cleaved after Asp‐163 when cells are induced to undergo apoptosis by Fas ligand (FasL). The C‐terminal cleavage product blocks the induction of NF‐κB by TNF and therefore functions as a dominant negative (DN) form of TRAF1. Our results suggest that the generation of DN‐TRAF1 is part of a pro‐apoptotic amplification system to assure rapid cell death.
Protection of mitochondrial integrity from oxidative stress by the triaminopyridine derivative flupirtine
Authors: Schlüter Thomas , Struy Heinz , Schönfeld Peter
Published: July 2002

The suitability of the triaminopyridine derivative flupirtine, an analgesic drug with antioxidative property [Gassen, M., Pergande, G. and Youdim, M.B.H. (1998) Biochem. Pharmacol. 56, 1323–1329], for the preservation of mitochondrial integrity from oxidative stress‐induced damage was studied. Rat liver mitochondria were exposed to strong oxidative stress as generated by Fe2+ plus ascorbate. Peroxidation damage of membrane lipids was followed by the measurement of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances. Protein oxidation was estimated by electron spin resonance spectroscopy, after labeling of the ‘peroxidized’ mitochondria with 4‐maleimido‐2,2,6,6‐tetramethylpiperidine‐1‐oxyl. We found that (i) low concentrations of flupirtine (10 μM) protect lipids and also proteins (with lesser efficiency) from attacks of reactive oxygen species; (ii) flupirtine remarkably delayed the decline of complex mitochondrial functions, such as the respiratory control or the Ca2+ retention capacity of mitochondria, under oxidative stress; and (iii) the ADP/ATP antiporter (ANT), a main component of the oxidative phosphorylation machinery as well as a core component of the permeability transition pore complex, seems to be a membrane protein particularly protected by flupirtine. In conclusion, the preservation of the Ca2+ buffer capacity of mitochondria and of the ANT activity against oxidative stress supports an antiapoptotic application of flupirtine.
Maternal cold inducible RNA binding protein is required for embryonic kidney formation in Xenopus laevis
Authors: Peng Ying , Kok K.H. , Xu Ren-He , Kwok K.H.H. , Tay David , Fung P.C.W. , Kung Hsiang-fu , Lin Marie C.M.
Published: July 2002

We cloned a major isoform of Xenopus homologue of cold inducible RNA binding protein (CIRP), XCIRP‐1. XCIRP‐1 was neither cold inducible nor essential for cell division during early embryonic development. Suppression of XCIRP‐1 dose dependently produced tailbuds with deformations of the brain and internal organs. The defects were XCIRP‐1 specific as they could be rescued by sense transcript. Suppression of XCIRP‐1 also disrupted the morphogenetic migration of the C3 blastomeres (lineaged to become the embryonic kidney, the pronephros). In animal cap explants, depletion of XCIRP‐1 inhibited activin/retinoic acid induced expressions of pronephros related Xlim‐1 and WT1 genes. These results suggest that XCIRP‐1 is required for the specification and morphogenetic lineage migration of the pronephros.
Membrane association and conformational change of palmitoylated Goα
Authors: Yang Shengyu , Zhang Ling , Huang Youguo
Published: July 2002

Bovine brain Goα was specifically palmitoylated in vitro. The apparent dissociation constant for depalmitoylated Goα (dGoα) was 0.273 μM, while that for palmitoylated Goα (pGoα) was 5.77 nM. The dissociation rate constant (K
21) and dissociation half‐life for dGoα were 8.4×10−4 min and 825 min respectively, while no significant dissociation of pGoα was detected. The limiting membrane insertion pressures for pGoα and dGoα were 44.4 mN/m and 41.3 mN/m respectively. These data suggested that palmitoylation facilitated the membrane association of Goα. Conformational changes of dGoα and pGoα detected by monitoring fluorescence spectra and fluorescence quenching were significantly different after they were associated with the membrane. It was suggested that conformational changes of Goα upon membrane association might be related to regulation of Goα signaling by palmitoylation.
Tricyclic antidepressants block cholinergic nicotinic receptors and ATP secretion in bovine chromaffin cells
Authors: Izaguirre Victor , Fernández-Fernández José M , Ceña Valentı́n , González-Garcı́a Carmen
Published: July 2002

Nicotine‐induced ATP secretion from chromaffin cells was blocked by imipramine and desipramine. This blocking action took place on both, fast and slow, components of ATP secretion. Exposure of chromaffin cells to nicotine (10 μM) for 4 s induced an inward current of about −155 pA. Imipramine and desipramine blocked, in a concentration‐dependent manner, both peak inward current and total charge influx in response to nicotine. In addition, imipramine and desipramine partially (40%) blocked depolarization‐induced ATP secretion and Ca2+ currents evoked by high K+. This suggests that tricyclic antidepressants block nicotine‐induced ATP secretion by acting on two targets: one is the nicotinic receptor itself and the second one are voltage‐dependent Ca2+ channels.
Mapping flexible protein domains at subnanometer resolution with the atomic force microscope
Authors: Müller Daniel J , Fotiadis Dimitrios , Engel Andreas
Published: July 2002

The mapping of flexible protein domains with the atomic force microscope is reviewed. Examples discussed are the bacteriorhodopsin from Halobacterium salinarum, the head‐tail‐connector from phage φ29, and the hexagonally packed intermediate layer from Deinococcus radiodurans which all were recorded in physiological buffer solution. All three proteins undergo reversible structural changes that are reflected in standard deviation maps calculated from aligned topographs of individual protein complexes. Depending on the lateral resolution (up to 0.8 nm) flexible surface regions can ultimately be correlated with individual polypeptide loops. In addition, multivariate statistical classification revealed the major conformations of the protein surface.
Novel methylenecyclopropyl‐based acyl‐CoA dehydrogenase inhibitor
Authors: Broadway Neil M. , Engel Paul C.
Published: July 2002

A novel hexyl‐substituted methylenecyclopropyl acetyl‐CoA was tested as an enzyme‐specific acyl‐CoA dehydrogenase inhibitor. Its CoA ester generated in situ from the carboxylic acid and CoASH, displayed marked differences in inhibition specificity as compared to methylenecyclopropyl acetyl‐CoA, consistent with the substrate specificities of the target enzymes. Thus methylenecyclopropyl acetyl‐CoA inactivated short‐chain‐specific acyl‐CoA dehydrogenase rapidly, medium‐chain‐specific acyl‐CoA dehydrogenase much more slowly and had no effect on long‐chain‐ or very long‐chain‐specific acyl‐CoA dehydrogenases. The hexyl‐substituent on the methylenecyclopropyl ring gave an inhibitor which rapidly inactivated MCAD and LCAD whilst VLCAD was inhibited more slowly and SCAD was essentially unaffected. In some cases (e.g. SCAD and MCPA‐CoA) inhibition was accompanied by flavin bleaching. In other cases (e.g. LCAD and C6MCPA) less pronounced bleaching suggests a different chemistry of inhibition.
Artificial chaperoning of insulin, human carbonic anhydrase and hen egg lysozyme using linear dextrin chains – a sweet route to the native state of globular proteins
Authors: Sivakama Sundari C , Raman B , Balasubramanian D
Published: July 2002

Linear dextrins (α‐1,4‐d‐glucopyranoside chains) are known to possess amphiphilic surfaces and solubilize lipophilic compounds. We have assessed the ability of this amphiphilic surface of dextrin to inhibit the self‐aggregation and assist the refolding of proteins. Addition of decameric dextrin, or dextrin‐10, in the renaturation buffer improves the refolding yield of human carbonic anhydrase from its guanidinium chloride‐induced denatured state. It is also seen to inhibit the self‐aggregation of insulin. The ability of dextrin‐10 to interact with cetyltrimethylammonium bromide and postpone its critical micellar concentration allows the use of dextrin‐10 as a ‘detergent stripping agent' in a novel artificial chaperoning process described earlier. The aggregation of human carbonic anhydrase and lysozyme upon refolding is prevented by cetyltrimethylammonium bromide due to the formation of a protein‐detergent complex; dextrin‐10 strips off the detergent from the complex and allow the proteins to fold, thus increasing the renaturation yield. Dextran‐4 (the α‐1,6‐d‐glucopyranoside chain), which does not exhibit amphiphilic properties, does not help in such artificial chaperoning.
Novel anti‐inflammatory chalcone derivatives inhibit the induction of nitric oxide synthase and cyclooxygenase‐2 in mouse peritoneal macrophages
Authors: Herencia Felipe , Ferrándiz M.Luisa , Ubeda Amalia , Guillén Isabel , Dominguez José N. , Charris Jaime E. , Lobo Gricela M. , Alcaraz M.José
Published: July 2002

In a previous work, we tested a series of chalcone derivatives as possible anti‐inflammatory compounds. We now investigate the effects of three of those compounds, CH1, CH8 and CH12, on nitric oxide and prostanoid generation in mouse peritoneal macrophages stimulated with lipopolysaccharide and in the mouse air pouch injected with zymosan, where they showed a dose‐dependent inhibition with inhibitory concentration 50% values in the μM range. This effect was not the consequence of a direct inhibitory action on enzyme activities. Our results demonstrated that chalcone derivatives inhibited de novo inducible nitric oxide synthase and cyclooxygenase‐2 synthesis, being a novel therapeutic approach for inflammatory diseases.
Cathepsin L is capable of truncating cystatin C of 11 N‐terminal amino acids
Authors: Popovič Tatjana , Cimerman Nina , Dolenc Iztok , Ritonja Anka , Brzin Jože
Published: July 2002

Cystatin C with the 11 N‐terminal amino acids truncated shows a much lower affinity for cysteine proteinases than the intact inhibitor. Such truncation of cystatin C is recorded after action of glycyl endopeptidase and cathepsin L. Incubation of cystatin C with papain, cathepsin B or cathepsin H led to no changes in the cystatin C molecule. Isoelectric focusing of the cathepsin L and cystatin C mixture showed the formation of two new bands. One of them appeared whether E‐64 or PMSF was added or not, evidently representing a cystatin C/cathepsin L complex. The other band is the truncated cystatin C molecule. N‐terminal sequencing after separation by HPLC showed that cystatin C is cleaved by cathepsin L at the Gly11‐Gly12 bond. The action of cathepsin L on cystatin C may be explained by the cleavage of the scissile bond in an inappropriate complex.
Adenovirus E1A blocks oxidant‐dependent ferritin induction and sensitizes cells to pro‐oxidant cytotoxicity
Authors: Orino Kouichi , Tsuji Yoshiaki , Torti Frank M. , Torti Suzy V.
Published: July 2002

Ferritin is a protein that oxidizes and sequesters intracellular iron in a mineral core. We have reported that the E1A oncogene selectively represses ferritin H transcription, resulting in reduced levels of the ferritin H protein. Here we demonstrate that cells respond to pro‐oxidant challenge by inducing ferritin mRNA and protein, and that this response is completely blocked by E1A. Concordantly, E1A sensitized cells to the cytotoxic effects of oxidative stress and enhanced the accumulation of reactive oxygen species in response to pro‐oxidant challenge. These results demonstrate that expression of E1A impedes the cellular response to oxidative stress, including the induction of ferritin.
Lipoleiomyoma of the uterus
Authors: Lin K.C. , Sheu B.C. , Huang S.C.
Published: July 2002

Uterine lipoleiomyoma may associate with certain concomitant metabolic disorders. The possible clinical correlates and the potential implications on the pathogenesis are elaborated.
A preliminary investigation of the relationships between employee motivation/vision, service learning, and perceived service quality
Authors: Hays Julie M , Hill Arthur V
Published: July 2002

Most experts agree that a learning organization whose employees have a clear vision of the importance of service quality and are motivated to provide that quality will achieve superior service quality. We develop a theoretical framework and conduct a cross‐sectional empirical study to investigate the inter‐relationships among these constructs. The results indicate that higher levels of both employees’ motivation/vision and organizational learning positively affect perceived service quality. Additionally, employees’ motivation/vision was found to mediate the relationship between organizational learning and perceived service quality. These results highlight the importance of employees’ motivation/vision in both the service process and the learning process.
Gliding characteristics of tendon repair in canine flexor digitorum profundus tendons
Authors: Zhao Chunfeng , Amadio Peter C. , Zobitz Mark E. , An Kai‐Nan
Published: July 2002

The gliding resistance between the flexor digitorum profundus (FDP) tendon and the proximal pulley system was measured using the method of S. Uchiyama, J.H. Coert, L. Berglund, P.C. Amadio, K.N. An (J. Orthop. Res. 13 (1995) 83) in 108 adult dog digits in vitro. The FDP tendons were then lacerated to 80% of their transverse section. Each tendon was repaired with one of the following six suture techniques: Kessler, modified Kessler, Savage, Lee, Becker and simple running suture alone. Each repaired tendon was then tested again using the same method. The Student—Newman—Keuls test for multiple comparisons was performed for statistical analysis. The average gliding resistances of the Kessler, Savage, and Becker repairs were significantly greater than the resistances of the Lee, modified Kessler, and running suture alone repairs (P < 0.05). The Lee suture technique had a significantly greater resistance than the modified Kessler repair and the running suture (P < 0.05). The results of the peak gliding resistance followed the same trends, except that the modified Kessler repair was significantly higher than the running suture alone (P < 0.05). Suture techniques with a multi‐strand core suture, with knots located outside the tendon surface, and with multiple‐loops on the tendon surface may result in increased gliding resistance between the tendon and pulley system after tendon repair. © 2001 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
Regulation of regional cerebral blood flow by cholinergic fibers originating in the basal forebrain
Authors: Sato Akio , Sato Yuko , Uchida Sae
Published: July 2002

The intracranial neural vasodilative system of cholinergic fibers projecting from the basal forebrain to the cortex was discovered by Biesold, Inanami, Sato and Sato (Biesold, D., Inanami, O., Sato, A., Sato, Y., 1989. Stimulation of the nucleus basalis of Meynert increases cerebral cortical blood flow in rats. Neurosci. Lett. 98, 39–44) using laser Doppler flowmetry in anesthetized rats. This cholinergic vasodilative system, which operates by increasing extracellular ACh release, relies upon activation of both muscarinic and nicotinic cholinergic receptors in the parenchyma of the cortex. Further, the involvement of nitric oxide in this cholinergic vasodilation, indicates the necessity to this system of neurons, which contain nitric oxide synthase. The increase in cortical blood flow elicited by this cholinergic vasodilative system is independent of systemic blood pressure and is not coupled to cortical metabolic rates. This cholinergic vasodilative system may be activated by somatic afferent stimulation. Most of the data presented here were obtained in anesthetized animals.
Personality traits in social phobia
Authors: Marteinsdottir I. , Furmark T. , Tillfors M. , Fredrikson M. , Ekselius L.
Published: July 2002

The purpose was to assess personality traits in subjects with a DSM-IV diagnosis of social phobia. Thirty-two subjects were administered the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV for Axes I and II disorders (SCID I and II). Personality traits were assessed by means of the Karolinska Scales of Personality (KSP). Current and lifetime axis I co-morbidity was diagnosed in 28% and 53% of the subjects, respectively. In total, 59% had at least one personality disorder and 47% were diagnosed with an avoidant personality disorder.

The social phobics scored significantly higher than a Swedish normative sample on the KSP measuring anxiety proneness, irritability, detachment, and indirect aggression but lower on the scales for socialisation and social desirability. The presence as compared to absence of avoidant personality disorder in the social phobics was associated with significantly higher psychic anxiety and inhibition of aggression. In addition, symptom severity was higher in social phobics with an avoidant personality disorder. Generally, the results support the view that social phobia and avoidant personality disorder reflect different aspects of a social anxiety spectrum.
Trust and the politics of postcommunism
Authors: Lovell David W.
Published: July 2002

The citizens of postcommunist states have relatively low levels of trust in their basic political institutions. This paper argues that to consolidate the advances towards civil society and democracy particular attention must be paid to strengthening trust. Trust requires not just the institutional framework appropriate to democracy and the rule of law — already substantially in place — but also an appreciation of politics and civil society as spheres of continuing diversity, competition and conflict. The deficit of trust can be addressed by a leadership exemplary in its service to the public interest, and by an acceptance of the new, adversarial politics.
STATE REGULATION OF MIDWIVES: ISSUES AND OPTIONS
Authors: Reed Alyson , Roberts Joyce E.
Published: July 2002

In the United States, state governments play a central role in determining the extent to which midwives can provide care to women and babies. State laws and regulations establish midwives' scope of practice, set licensure requirements, and frequently determine their ability to get paid and obtain access to health care facilities. For certified nurse‐midwives (CNMs), state regulation has evolved from a haphazard patchwork of highly variable regulatory models into a fairly uniform set of rules and requirements from one state to the next. For direct entry midwives (DEMs), there is much less uniformity, with some states outlawing practice by any midwife who is not a CNM, whereas other states have established rigorous standards and requirements for the licensure of DEMs. This article provides a broad overview of these state regulatory variables for both CNMs and DEMs, and explores issues and options that both state regulators and midwives should consider when developing or amending state laws and regulations governing their practice. In particular, the role of the state in regulating the practice of the certified midwife (CM) is examined in the context of existing regulatory frameworks for CNMs and DEMs.
Apolipoprotein L1 is transcriptionally regulated by SP1, IRF1 and IRF2 in hepatoma cells
Authors: Wang De‐Ping , Yu Zhao‐Xi , He Zong‐Cun , Liao Jin‐Fu , Shen Xue‐Bin , Zhu Peng‐Li , Chen Wan‐Nan , Lin Xu , Xu Shang‐Hua
Published: July 2020

Apolipoprotein L1 (APOL1) participates in lipid metabolism. Here, we investigate the mechanisms regulating APOL1 gene expression in hepatoma cells. We demonstrate that the −80‐nt to +31‐nt region of the APOL1 promoter, which contains one SP transcription factor binding GT box and an interferon regulatory factor (IRF) binding ISRE element, maintains the maximum activity. Mutation of the GT box and ISRE element dramatically reduces APOL1 promoter activity. EMSA and chromatin immunoprecipitation assay reveal that the transcription factors Sp1, IRF1 and IRF2 could interact with their cognate binding sites on the APOL1 promoter. Overexpression of Sp1, IRF1 and IRF2 increases promoter activity, leading to increased APOL1 mRNA and protein levels, while knockdown of Sp1, IRF1 and IRF2 has the opposite effects. These results demonstrate that the APOL1 gene could be regulated by Sp1, IRF1 and IRF2 in hepatoma cells.
Chemical Doping of Conjugated Polymers with the Strong Oxidant Magic Blue
Authors: Hofmann Anna I. , Kroon Renee , Zokaei Sepideh , Järsvall Emmy , Malacrida Claudia , Ludwigs Sabine , Biskup Till , Müller Christian
Published: July 2020

Molecular doping of organic semiconductors is a powerful tool for the optimization of organic electronic devices and organic thermoelectric materials. However, there are few redox dopants that have a sufficiently high electron affinity to allow the doping of conjugated polymers with an ionization energy of more than 5.3 eV. Here, p‐doping of a broad palette of conjugated polymers with high ionization energies is achieved by using the strong oxidant tris(4‐bromophenyl)ammoniumyl hexachloroantimonate (Magic Blue). In particular diketopyrrolopyrrole (DPP)‐based copolymers reach a conductivity of up to 100 S cm−1 and a thermoelectric power factor of 10 µW m−1 K−2. Further, both electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) as well as a combination of spectroelectrochemistry and chronoamperometry is used to estimate the charge‐carrier density of the polymer PDPP‐3T doped with Magic Blue. A molar attenuation coefficient of 6.0 ± 0.2 × 103 m2 mol−1 is obtained for the first polaronic sub‐bandgap absorption of electrochemically oxidized PDPP‐3T. Comparison with chemically doped PDPP‐3T suggests a charge‐carrier density on the order of 1026 m−3, which yields a charge‐carrier mobility of up to 0.5 cm2 V−1 s−1 for the most heavily doped material.
Controlled Memory and Threshold Switching Behaviors in a Heterogeneous Memristor for Neuromorphic Computing
Authors: Li Hao‐Yang , Huang Xiao‐Di , Yuan Jun‐Hui , Lu Yi‐Fan , Wan Tian‐Qing , Li Yi , Xue Kan‐Hao , He Yu‐Hui , Xu Ming , Tong Hao , Miao Xiang‐Shui
Published: July 2020

The fully memristive neural network is emerging as a game‐changer in the artificial intelligence competition. Artificial synapses and neurons, as two fundamental elements for hardware neural networks, have been substantially implemented by different devices with memory and threshold switching (TS) behaviors, respectively. However, obtaining controllable memory and TS behaviors in the same memristive material system is still a considerable challenge that holds great potential for realizing compatible artificial neurons and synapses. Here, a heterogeneous bilayer conductive filamentary memristor comprising two different electrolytes with distinct copper ion mobility is reported: Cu/GeTe/Al2O3/Pt, which can demonstrate the governance of switching types. Experimentally, when the thickness of the Al2O3 layer is 3 nm, stable nonvolatile multilevel memory switching (MS) is observed and employed to mimic the synaptic plasticity. With increasing oxide thickness, the switching behavior under the same compliance current alters from MS to volatile TS and is used to emulate the integrate‐and‐fire neuron function. The controllable switching stems from the change in the metal filament morphology within the Al2O3 layer, which is supported by ab initio calculation results. This method enables a new pathway for constructing functionally reconfigurable neuromorphic devices for intelligence neuromorphic systems.
Synergistic effects of surface aminolysis and hydrolysis on improving fibroblast cell colonization within poly(L‐lactide) scaffolds
Authors: Bakry Ahmed
Published: July 2020

This work presents a method for overcoming the low internal cell colonization within the tissue engineering scaffolds. 3D scaffolds were fabricated by the compression molding/salt leaching technique from mixtures of aminolyzed and hydrolyzed poly(L‐lactide) single crystals (PLLAsc) with poly(D,L‐lactide) (PDLLA) microparticles. Modified PLLAsc were used to guarantee the surface hydrophilicity, while PDLLA microparticles were used to reinforce the scaffolds. Mechanical properties, morphology, water uptake and fibroblast cell response of the scaffolds were investigated in comparison with scaffolds from only pristine, hydrolyzed, or aminolyzed PLLAsc. Results showed that the scaffolds exhibited proper morphology and hydrophilicity with an enhanced strength. Water uptake by scaffolds from modified PLLAsc was 1.9 times that from pristine PLLAsc. The scaffolds' compressive moduli increased 2.5 times by using of PDLLA (30 wt%). After cell seeding for a week, the number of cells founded on aminolyzed/hydrolyzed PLLAsc scaffolds were 4.28, 2.14, and 1.36 times that founded for pristine, aminolyzed and hydrolyzed PLLAsc scaffolds, respectively. SEM studies showed that fibroblasts migrated and spread throughout the aminolyzed/hydrolyzed PLLAsc scaffolds better than other scaffolds. Hence, combining both aminolyzed and hydrolyzed PLLAsc with PDLLA could result in a mechanically stable scaffold with an enhanced cell colonization.
Rolling with resistance: A client language analysis of deliberate practice in continuing education for psychotherapists
Authors: Di Bartolomeo Alyssa A. , Shukla Serena , Westra Henny A. , Shekarak Ghashghaei Nazanin , Olson David A.
Published: July 2020

Continuing education workshops have been criticised for focusing on knowledge rather than skill acquisition by a focus on didactic teaching methods. A recent randomised controlled trial conducted by Westra et al. (2020) demonstrated that a deliberate practice (DP) training workshop for responding to ambivalence and resistance resulted in longer‐lasting skill acquisition than the same workshop in a traditional, more didactic format. The present study examined whether this same DP workshop was also efficacious at the level of client motivational language in 4‐month post‐testing interviews used to assess trainee skill in the Westra et al. parent study. Sixty therapists from the community (30 = DP and 30 = traditional) conducted an interview with either an ambivalent simulator or an ambivalent community volunteer. Interviews were coded for interviewee motivational language using the Motivational Interviewing Skills Code (MISC 1.1; Glynn & Moyers, 2009). Counterchange talk (CCT) was further classified into either Ambivalent‐CCT (uttered to disclose conflict about change) or Resistant‐CCT (statements against change uttered to oppose the therapist). Results revealed a significant difference between training groups, with the DP group eliciting less Resistant‐CCT than the traditional training group. This study provides further support for the use of DP training for potentially creating more productive conversations by minimising Resistant‐CCT; a form of speech that has been found to be negatively associated with client outcomes.
Enabling heterogeneous ray‐tracing acceleration in edge/cloud architectures
Authors: Sampaio Adrianno A. , Sena Alexandre C. , Nery Alexandre S.
Published: July 2020

The ray‐tracing algorithm is very costly regarding time complexity and while many techniques have been conceived over the years with the purpose of accelerating its execution, one stands out: parallelism exploitation of ray‐triangle intersection operations. In this sense, field‐programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) have plenty resources to run specialized accelerators that execute multiple operations in parallel. Moreover, modern FPGAs are embedded with multiprocessor systems‐on‐chip based on ARM architecture, which can be used simultaneously with the FPGA programmable logic to further accelerate the application execution. In this work, we present and analyze a reconfigurable accelerator for ray‐tracing specialized in computing ray‐triangle intersections at the network edge of a heterogeneous cloud computing environment. The accelerator is specified using Xilinx high‐level synthesis and is implemented in a Xilinx Zynq FPGA (XC7Z020‐1CLG400C). We also present an execution model which enables the exploitation of the available computing elements of the heterogeneous system: ARM Cortex‐A53, FPGA programmable logic, and cloud machines. Experimental performance and synthesis results show that the heterogeneous system can efficiently render a simplified version of the Stanford Bunny model when using the hardware accelerator with up to six instances of a ray‐triangle intersection unit together with the other computing resources.
The Pathway Forward: Insights on Factors that Facilitate Research with Pregnant Women
Authors: Mastroianni Anna C. , Franceschini Robert , Wicks Sarah L. , Henry Leslie Meltzer
Published: July 2020

The near‐routine exclusion of pregnant women from clinical research has resulted in evidence gaps that endanger the health of pregnant women and their future offspring. Although existing literature documents numerous obstacles along the clinical trial pathway that can stymie research involving pregnant women, there is little guidance on how to facilitate such research. This qualitative study aims to fill that void by examining the experiences of individuals involved in conducting, approving, or overseeing research involving pregnant women at one academic institution. The study identifies factors throughout the clinical pathway—from protocol development, to IRB review, and ultimately trial execution—that likely contribute to the successful conduct of research with pregnant women. Attention to those factors, coupled with agreement among stakeholders that research with pregnant women should and can be done ethically and legally, is critical to shifting the narrative from “why we cannot” do such research to “how we can.”
Cover crops and precipitation influence soluble reactive phosphorus losses via tile drain discharge in an agricultural watershed
Authors: Trentman Matt T. , Tank Jennifer L. , Royer Todd V. , Speir Shannon L. , Mahl Ursula H. , Sethna Lienne R.
Published: July 2020

Subsurface tile drainage speeds water removal from agricultural fields that are historically prone to flooding. While managed drainage systems improve crop yields, they can also contribute tothe eutrophication of downstream ecosystems, as tile‐drained systems are conduits for nutrients to adjacent waterways. The changing climate of the Midwestern US has already altered precipitation regimes which will likely continue into the future, with unknown effects on tile drain water and nutrient loss to waterways. Adding vegetative cover (i.e., as winter cover crops) is one approach that can retain water and nutrients on fields to minimize export via tile drains. In the current study, we evaluate the effect of cover crops on tile drain discharge and soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP) loads using bi‐monthly measurements from 43 unique tile outlets draining fields with or without cover crops in two watersheds in northern Indiana. Using four water years of data (n = 844 measurements), we examined the role of short‐term antecedent precipitation conditions and variation in soil biogeochemistry in mediating the effect of cover crops on tile drain flow and SRP loads. We observed significant effects of cover crops on both tile drain discharge and SRP loads, but these results were season and watershed specific. Cover crop effects were identified only in spring, where their presence reduced tile drain discharge in both watersheds and SRP loads in one watershed. Varying effects on SRP loads between watersheds were attributed to different soil biogeochemical characteristics, where soils with lower bioavailable P and higher P sorption capacity were less likely to have a cover crop effect. Antecedent precipitation was important in spring, and cover crop differences were still evident during periods of wet and dry antecedent precipitation conditions. Overall, we show that cover crops have the potential to significantly decrease spring tile drain P export, and these effects are resilient to a wide range of precipitation conditions.
Paradigm shift from a liquidation culture to a corporate rescue culture in Malaysia: A legal review
Authors: Chen Thim Wai , Azmi Ruzita , Abdul Rahman Rohana
Published: July 2020

The company law landscape in Malaysia has witnessed a significant change in its insolvency law with the adoption of two new corporate rescue mechanisms, the corporate voluntary arrangement and judicial management under the Companies Act 2016 (CA 2016), which has repealed the Companies Act 1965 (CA 1965). Previously, the insolvency laws under the CA 1965 were based on the traditional pro‐creditor laws of winding up and receivership, which embodied the liquidation culture. This article examines the transition of the insolvency laws in Malaysia from a liquidation culture under the CA 1965 to a corporate rescue culture under the CA 2016. It also reviews the necessary changes to the pro‐creditor laws, which are preserved under the CA 2016 in order to accommodate the pro‐debtor laws with the introduction of the corporate rescue mechanisms, which came into force on March 1, 2018. Through comparative and critical analysis of similar laws in the United Kingdom and Singapore, this article argues that while the corporate rescue mechanisms are regarded as pro‐debtor however the review reveals that the position of secured creditors are impeding its application and reforms ought to be considered.
Review of workbody activities under the strategy theme basin*
Authors: Hayashida Naoki , Emami Kamran
Published: July 2020

The strategy theme Basin deals with all the basin‐level environment aspects that impact agriculture water management, such as climate, floods, droughts, seawater, etc. and includes the work of six working groups (WGs) and one task team. This review examines the strategy theme Basin and consists of the Mandate, Activities and Achievements arising from the Bali meeting, and Appraisal and Recommendations for the Theme. Main general observations and recommendations are as follows:

Generally, WGs under the strategy theme Basin are functioning quite well and productively.

Overall, the attendance of members is good, but in some cases this is limited.

WGs should promote the exchange of knowledge with other agriculture water management professionals by publishing summaries and outcomes in ICID NEWS.

WGs should clearly identify their output in a work plan in accordance with the Action Plan on the Road Map to ICID Vision 2030.

WGs' productivity and necessity should be evaluated carefully and when mandates and objectives are completed a final report should be written and then they should move on.

Efforts to attract young professionals should be continued and increased.

All WG chairs and theme leaders should be more conscious of the purpose and the set procedures initially.
In vitro degradation profiles and in vivo biomaterial–tissue interactions of microwell array delivery devices
Authors: Hadavi Elahe , de Vries Rick H.W. , Smink Alexandra M. , de Haan Bart , Leijten Jeroen , Schwab Leendert W. , Karperien Marcel H.B.J. , de Vos Paul , Dijkstra Pieter J. , van Apeldoorn Aart A.
Published: July 2020

To effectively apply microwell array cell delivery devices their biodegradation rate must be tailored towards their intended use and implantation location. Two microwell array devices with distinct degradation profiles, either suitable for the fabrication of retrievable systems in the case of slow degradation, or cell delivery systems capable of extensive remodeling using a fast degrading polymer, were compared in this study. Thin films of a poly(ethylene glycol)‐poly(butylene terephthalate) (PEOT‐PBT) and a poly(ester urethane) were evaluated for their in vitro degradation profiles over 34 weeks incubation in PBS at different pH values. The PEOT‐PBT films showed minimal in vitro degradation over time, while the poly(ester urethane) films showed extensive degradation and fragmentation over time. Subsequently, microwell array cell delivery devices were fabricated from these polymers and intraperitoneally implanted in Albino Oxford rats to study their biocompatibility over a 12‐week period. The PEOT‐PBT implants shown to be capable to maintain the microwell structure over time. Implants provoked a foreign body response resulting in multilayer fibrosis that integrated into the surrounding tissue. The poly(ester urethane) implants showed a loss of the microwell structures over time, as well as a fibrotic response until the onset of fragmentation, at least 4 weeks post implantation. It was concluded that the PEOT‐PBT implants could be used as retrievable cell delivery devices while the poly(ester urethane) implants could be used for cell delivery devices that require remodeling within a 4–12 week period.
First reported case of a longevity overestimation error in the new Medtronic tablet‐based device programmer
Authors: Kazemian Pedram , Xu Lei
Published: July 2020

With the advancement and miniaturization of mobile technologies, major device companies are replacing the traditional cardiac rhythm device programmers with smaller and more efficient tablet‐based systems. As clinicians rely on data obtained from multitude of these systems, it is imperative that they provide consistent, reliable, and reproducible results. In this case report, we illustrate, for the first time, a major discrepancy between remote monitoring data, a conventional device programmer, and the new tablet‐based Medtronic CareLink SmartSync Device Manager which erroneously overestimated the battery longevity in a pacemaker‐dependent patient whose device had reached Recommended Replacement Time (RRT) status.