bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
GNL3L inhibits activity of estrogen-related receptor γ by competing for coactivator binding
Authors: Yasumoto Hiroaki , Meng Lingjun , Lin Tao , Zhu Qubo , Tsai Robert Y. L.
Published: July 2007

Guanine nucleotide binding protein-like 3 (GNL3L) is the closest homologue of a stem cell-enriched factor nucleostemin in vertebrates. They share the same yeast orthologue, Grn1p, but only GNL3L can rescue the growth-deficient phenotype in Grn1-null yeasts. To determine the unique function of GNL3L, we identified estrogen-related receptor γ (ERRγ) as a GNL3L-specific binding protein. GNL3L and ERRγ are coexpressed in the eye, kidney and muscle, and co-reside in the nucleoplasm. The interaction between GNL3L and ERRγ requires the intermediate domain of GNL3L and the AF2-domain of ERRγ. Gain-of- and loss-of-function experiments show that GNL3L can inhibit the transcriptional activities of ERR genes in a cell-based reporter system, which does not require the nucleolar localization of GNL3L. We further demonstrate that GNL3L is able to reduce the steroid receptor coactivator (SRC) binding and the SRC-mediated transcriptional coactivation of ERRγ. This work reveals a novel mechanism that negatively regulates the transcriptional function of ERRγ by GNL3L through coactivator competition.
PTEN plays a role in the suppression of lateral pseudopod formation duringDictyosteliummotility and chemotaxis
Authors: Wessels Deborah , Lusche Daniel F. , Kuhl Spencer , Heid Paul , Soll David R.
Published: July 2007

It has been suggested that the phosphatydylinositol (3,4,5)-trisphosphate [PtdIns(3,4,5)P3] phosphatase and tensin homolog PTEN plays a fundamental role in Dictyostelium discoideum chemotaxis. To identify that role, the behavior of a pten– mutant was quantitatively analyzed using two-dimensional and three-dimensional computer-assisted methods. pten– cells were capable of polarizing and translocating in the absence of attractant, and sensing and responding to spatial gradients, temporal gradients and natural waves of attractant. However, all of these responses were compromised (i.e. less efficient) because of the fundamental incapacity of pten– cells to suppress lateral pseudopod formation and turning. This defect was equally manifested in the absence, as well as presence, of attractant. PTEN, which is constitutively localized in the cortex of polarized cells, was found essential for the attractant-stimulated increase in cortical myosin II and F-actin that is responsible for the increased suppression of pseudopods during chemotaxis. PTEN, therefore, plays a fundamental role in the suppression of lateral pseudopod formation, a process essential for the efficiency of locomotion and chemotaxis, but not in directional sensing.
The calcium-sensing receptor changes cell shape via a β-arrestin-1–ARNO–ARF6–ELMO protein network
Authors: Bouschet Tristan , Martin Stéphane , Kanamarlapudi Venkateswarlu , Mundell Stuart , Henley Jeremy M.
Published: July 2007

G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) transduce the binding of extracellular stimuli into intracellular signalling cascades that can lead to morphological changes. Here, we demonstrate that stimulation of the calcium-sensing receptor (CaSR), a GPCR that promotes chemotaxis by detecting increases in extracellular calcium, triggers plasma membrane (PM) ruffling via a pathway that involves β-arrestin 1, Arf nucleotide binding site opener (ARNO), ADP-ribosylating factor 6 (ARF6) and engulfment and cell motility protein (ELMO). Expression of dominant negative β-arrestin 1 or its knockdown with siRNA impaired the CaSR-induced PM ruffling response. Expression of a catalytically inactive ARNO also reduced CaSR-induced PM ruffling. Furthermore, β-arrestin 1 co-immunoprecipitated with the CaSR and ARNO under resting conditions. Agonist treatment did not markedly alter β-arrestin 1 binding to the CaSR or to ARNO but it did elicit the translocation and colocalisation of the CaSR, β-arrestin 1 and ARNO to membrane protrusions. Furthermore, ARF6 and ELMO, two proteins known to couple ARNO to the cytoskeleton, were required for CaSR-dependent morphological changes and translocated to the PM ruffles. These data suggest that cells ruffle upon CaSR stimulation via a mechanism that involves translocation of β-arrestin 1 pre-assembled with the CaSR or ARNO, and that ELMO plays an essential role in this CaSR-signalling-induced cytoskeletal reorganisation.
Observation of Halide-Induced Conformational Conversion of Dinuclear Copper Complexes Having a Tetradentate Polypyridine Ligand with a p-Xylene Backbone
Authors: Nishioka Takanori , Mitsui Shigeru , Kinoshita Isamu , Koshiyama Tamami , Kato Masako
Published: July 2007

A dinucleating ligand consisting of thiopyridyl groups appended to a p-xylene backbone reacts with copper(I) halides to afford dinuclear copper complexes with terminal halogeno ligands, which are in equilibrium with bridging halogeno dicopper complexes formed by rearrangement and loss one of the terminal halogeno ligands. The identity of the products was confirmed by using 1H NMR spectroscopy, electrospray ionization mass spectrometry, and X-ray structure analyses.
Do Dibenzo[22–30]crown Ethers Bind Secondary Ammonium Ions to Form Pseudorotaxanes?
Authors: Tokunaga Yuji , Yoshioka Megumi , Nakamura Tatsuya , Goda Tatsuhiro , Nakata Ryuji , Kakuchi Suzuka , Shimomura Youji
Published: July 2007

In this study, we synthesized dibenzo[22–30]crown ethers and dumbbell-like secondary ammonium salts having stoppers of varying bulk. These crown ethers formed pseudorotaxanes with the ammonium ions in solution and in the gas phase, as evidenced using NMR spectroscopy and MS/MS spectrometry, respectively. The association constants in solution were obtained through regulation of the association and dissociation rates by varying the nature of the stopper groups of the dumbbell-like ammonium ions. The [25]- and [26]crown ether/isopropylphenyl group, the [27]- and [30]crown ether/tert-butylphenyl group, and the [22]- and [23]crown ether/furyl group were matched pairs. 1H NMR spectra of mixtures (CDCl3/CD3CN) of the crown ethers and their matched ammonium salts indicated the presence of three sets of signals in solution: those of the crown ether, the ammonium salt, and their pseudorotaxane. Integration of pertinent signals allowed the association constants of pseudorotaxanes to be determined readily. Among the [22–30]crown ethers, the highest value of the association constant was that for the [24]crown ether/dibenzylammonium ion system; the [25–30]crown ether/ammonium ion systems exhibited moderate values of their association constants [Kexp=35–114 M−1 when using (ArCH2)2NH2+PF6− as the ammonium salt at 27 °C; Kexp=21 M−1 when using (ArCH2)2NH2+TsO− at 27 °C]. The [22]- and [23]crown ethers interacted weakly [Kexp=6–14 M−1 when using (ArCH2)2NH2+TsO− at 27 °C].
Enantioselective Incorporation of Carbon Dioxide into Epoxides Catalyzed by Optically Active Cobalt(II) Complexes
Authors: Yamada Wataru , Kitaichi Yasunori , Tanaka Hirotaka , Kojima Tomohide , Sato Mitsuo , Ikeno Taketo , Yamada Tohru
Published: July 2007

The enantioselective chemical fixation of CO2 into an epoxide was developed using an optically active ketoiminatocobalt(II) complex as a chiral Lewis acid. In the presence of a catalytic amount of the cobalt complex and amine base, enantioselective CO2 fixation with an epoxide proceeded with kinetic resolution to afford the corresponding carbonate along with unreacted epoxide, both of which were optically active. To improve their enantioselectivities, the ligand structures of the cobalt complexes and amine bases were examined. Thus, the optimized catalytic system was successfully applied to various epoxides to obtain the corresponding optically active cyclic carbonates and to recover epoxides with good-to-high enantioselectivities.
Quantitative Analysis of Surface Functional Groups on the Amorphous Carbon in Magnetic Media with XPS Preceded by Chemical Derivatization
Authors: Kondo Hirofumi , Nishida Yasuyo
Published: July 2007

In thin film magnetic recording media, the carbon protective layer and the outermost lubricant layer have a significant influence on the tribological properties. It is thought that the functional groups on the surface of the carbon influence the adsorption of the lubricant. The present study describes the identification and quantification of the functional groups on the surface of magnetic thin film media based on an X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) preceded by chemical derivatization. The number of functional groups on the surface of the carbon protective layer was obtained from the ratio of the fluorine and carbon in the XPS spectrum. Gas-phase chemical modification was found to be preferable as a pretreatment for surface analysis, and the number of carbonyl, hydroxy, and carboxylic acid groups were directly determined. The number of hydroxy group was higher immediately after deposition, and the carbonyl group, of which the concentration rapidly increased with exposure time to air, became the most abundant. Both groups improved the affinity of the lubricant and will probably lead to a better lubricity.
Service screening with mammography in Northern Sweden: effects on breast cancer mortality – an update
Authors: Jonsson Håkan , Bordás Pál , Wallin Hans , Nyström Lennarth , Lenner Per
Published: July 2007

Objectives: To study the effectiveness of service screening with mammography in Northern Sweden.

Setting: Two counties which invited women aged 40–74 years to service screening with mammography were compared with two counties where service screening started 5–7 years later. There were 109,000 and 77,000 women in the study and control counties, respectively.

Methods: Cohorts in the study group were defined to include only breast cancer cases diagnosed after their first invitation to screening. Two outcome measures for breast cancer mortality were used; excess mortality and underlying cause of death (UCD). Detection mode was used to estimate the efficacy of screening for those women who actually attended screening. The cohorts were followed for 11 years.

Results: The relative rate (RR) of breast cancer death as excess mortality and UCD for women aged 40–74 years invited to screening, compared with women not yet invited, was 0.70 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.56–0.87) and 0.74 (95% CI 0.62–0.88), respectively. The largest effect was seen in women aged 40–49 years (RR = 0.64 and RR = 0.62 for excess mortality and UCD, respectively). RR in age 40–74 years for women actually screened was 0.65 (95% CI 0.51–0.84) and 0.70 (95% CI 0.57–0.86) for excess mortality and UCD, respectively. The number of women needed to screen to save one life was 912 after 11 years of follow-up.

Conclusions: This study confirms previous findings in the earlier follow-up and indicates a long-term reduction of breast cancer mortality by 26–30%. The efficacy among those who actually attended screening was about 5% larger.
Lessons learnt from a population-based pilot programme for colorectal cancer screening in Catalonia (Spain)
Authors: Peris Mercè , Espinàs Josep A , Muñoz Laura , Navarro Matilde , Binefa Gemma , Borràs Josep M ,   Catalan Colorectal Cancer Screening Pilot Programme Group
Published: July 2007

Study objective: To assess the feasibility of a colorectal cancer population-based screening programme in Catalonia (Spain).

Design and setting: A pilot colorectal cancer screening programme based on faecal occult blood (FOB) test was introduced in February 2000 in Hospitalet de Llobregat (Barcelona, Spain), a city of 239,000 inhabitants.

Participants: All the residents from the selected area, aged 50–69 years old, were invited by mail to participate in the screening programme. Overall, 63,880 persons were invited to the first screening round and 66,534, to the second round. Colonoscopy was the first choice of procedure for the positive FOB test.

Results: The participation rate was 17.2% in the first screening round and 22.3% in the second round. The overall rate of positive FOBT was 3.4% in the first round and 0.8% in the second round. In the first round, the prevalence of screen-detected cancer was 2.1 per 1000 screened people, 7.2 for high-risk adenomas (HRA) and 11.3 for neoplasm (cancer and/or adenoma). The positive predictive value (PPV) was 6.2% for cancer, 21.2% for HRA and 33.3% for advanced neoplasm. In the second round, the prevalence of screen-detected cancer was 0.9 per 1000 people screened, 2.8 per 1000 for HRA and 4.2 per 1000 for neoplasm. The PPV was 10.6% for cancer, 34.1% for HRA and 50.4% for any neoplasm.

Conclusions: Regardless of the moderate participation rate, population-based colorectal cancer screening would be feasible in Catalonia, with good results in terms of prevalence of screen-detected neoplasms.
Uptake of population-based flexible sigmoidoscopy screening for colorectal cancer: a nurse-led feasibility study
Authors: Brotherstone Hannah , Vance Maggie , Edwards Robert , Miles Anne , Robb Kathryn A , Evans Ruth E C , Wardle Jane , Atkin Wendy
Published: July 2007

Objective: To assess uptake of once-only flexible sigmoidoscopy (FS) in a community sample to determine whether FS would be viable as a method of population-based screening for colorectal cancer.

Methods: All adults aged 60–64 years registered at three General Practices in North West London, UK (510 men and women) were sent a letter of invitation to attend FS screening carried out by an experienced nurse, followed by a reminder if they did not make contact to confirm or decline the invitation. The primary outcome was attendance at the endoscopy unit for a FS test.

Results: Of the 510 people invited to attend, 280 (55%) underwent FS. Among non-attenders, 91 (18%) were ineligible for screening or did not receive the invitation, 19 (4%) accepted the offer of screening but were unable to attend during the study period, 52 (10%) declined the offer, 41 (8%) did not respond to the invitation, and 27 (5%) accepted the offer of screening but did not attend. Attendance among those eligible to be screened, who had received the invitation, was 67%. People from more socioeconomically deprived neighbourhoods were less likely to attend (odds ratio [OR] = 0.90; confidence interval [CI] = 0.84–0.96; P = 0.003). Women were more likely to attend than men (OR = 1.44; CI = 1.01–2.05; P = 0.041).

Conclusions: Attendance rates in this pilot for nurse-led, population-based FS screening were higher than those reported in other FS studies, and comparable with adherence to fecal occult blood testing (FOBT) in the UK FOBT pilot. Having a female nurse endoscopist may have been responsible for increasing female uptake rates but this warrants confirmation in a larger study.
Is routine molecular screening for common α-thalassaemia deletions necessary as part of an antenatal screening programme?
Authors: Sorour Y , Heppinstall S , Porter N , Wilson G A , Goodeve A C , Rees D , Wright J
Published: July 2007

Antenatal sickle and thalassaemia screening programmes are now established in most high prevalence areas in England. Although screening reliably detects β-thalassaemia trait, in many cases, results state that α-thalassaemia trait cannot be excluded. The detection of couples at risk of a child with hydrops fetalis is one of the aims of the national programme. We, therefore, performed polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for the common α-thalassaemia gene deletions to assess the usefulness of this technique in routine screening practice.

Between August 2001 and August 2002, of the 5092 women booked at the antenatal clinic, 425 were found to have a mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH) <27 pg in the absence of β-thalassaemia trait; 189 (44.5%) had an MCH <25 pg. All 425 patients underwent PCR analysis for the common deletions: –SEA (South-East Asian), –MED (Mediterranean), − α20.5, –FIL (Filipino), − α 3.7 and − α 4.2 genotypes.

In total, 130 (31%) women were positive for α-thalassaemia deletion; 86 (24.7%) were heterozygous for − α 3.7, 19 (4.4%) were homozygous for − α 3.7, 12 (2.8%) were heterozygous for − α 4.2, 1 (0.2%) was homozygous for − α 4.2, 11 (2.6%) were heterozygous for –SEA and one (0.2%) was heterozygous for the –MED genotype. Although the detection rate for α+-thalassaemia was high, a strategy of selective screening using MCH <25 pg and ethnic group (SEA, Middle East or Eastern MED) would have identified all individuals heterozygous for α0-thalassaemia.

Routine molecular screening for all forms of α-thalassaemia trait is unjustified in antenatal screening.
Consent in elective joint replacement surgery: are we doing enough?
Authors: Waheed Atif , Ahmed Kamran , Ansara Sameh , Geeranavar Shivanand S
Published: July 2007

A substantial number of clinical negligence claims arise from a failure to adequately advise patients prior to surgery. It is important for surgeons at all levels to maintain good practice in obtaining consent and to recognize that the standards against which they are judged in litigation have changed in recent years. Consent is a process rather than an event and evidence of valid consent includes the surgeon's letters, oral and written information given to the patient and, to a limited extent, the consent form. We retrospectively audited the documentation relating to consent in the case notes of 50 patients undergoing elective joint replacement surgery between August 2004 and March 2005, and found that documentation was generally inadequate.

We recommend that there should be national guidance on complications for standard elective joint replacement procedures. This could be incorporated into the best practice guidance on joint replacement surgery published by the British Orthopaedic Association.
Advice given to women who are prescribed antibiotics while taking the oral contraceptive pill
Authors: Phillips John , Chokkalingam Perumal , McFerran Don
Published: July 2007

Introduction It is well established that the concurrent use of antibiotics and the oral contraceptive pill (OCP) may result in unplanned pregnancy. An audit project was conducted to ascertain the proportion of patients that were appropriately informed regarding the consequences of using antibiotics while taking the combined OCP.

Patients and Methods Over two 6-month periods all female inpatients between the ages of 16 and 55 years who were discharged from the ENT ward on a course of oral antibiotics were asked if they had been made aware of the possible interaction between antibiotics and the OCP.

Results The first audit cycle revealed that no patients in the study group were informed of the potential consequences. The second audit cycle was performed after a brief educational presentation was added to the induction process for training grade doctors, resulting in 85% of patients being appropriately informed. All the women who actually used the OCP were appropriately informed.

Conclusions This study showed that medical staff did not inform their female patients of the possible interaction between antibiotics and the OCP. This shortcoming was dramatically improved by instituting a simple educational process.
Cancer treatment and causation
Authors: Barley Victor
Published: July 2007

A series of three articles exploring medicolegal issues arising out of the detection and treatment of cancer. The treatment of cancer involves several different specialists and, in the majority of cancer services in the UK, patients with cancer are seen by a multidisciplinary team. After the diagnosis of cancer has been confirmed by histological examination which shows the type and grade of the cancer, further tests are usually needed to determine the extent and spread of the tumour, i.e. the stage. Many cancers have already spread before the diagnosis can be made, even if the metastases cannot be detected at the time of the initial diagnosis. Many cancers are therefore not curable even though there is no indication of spread from the initial tests. Therefore, an unwarranted delay in diagnosis may not result in a poorer prognosis, although it is clearly important to give treatment at the earliest opportunity to reduce the possibility of spread. This article outlines the basic knowledge required by a clinical negligence practitioner when considering a potential oncology claim.
British Medical Association expert witness guidance
Authors:   The British Medical Association
Published: July 2007

This document produced by the British Medical Association outlines the qualities required of an expert witness. It includes guidance for experts who provide evidence for cases that are heard under criminal law as well as for experts undertaking civil law cases, and advises on what questions to consider before taking on a case. The document is for guidance purposes only and does not constitute legal
Lactation Safety Recommendations and Reliability Compared in 10 Medication Resources
Authors: Akus Monica , Bartick Melissa
Published: July 2007

Background:

Discontinuation of breast-feeding is linked with an increased risk of acute and chronic diseases in children, as well as increased risk of maternal disease. Mothers and physicians often depend on pharmacists for accurate drug information. Their information is only as good as the sources available to them.

Objective:

To determine the reliability of safety recommendations for drugs used during lactation, based on current research and information, and determine whether resources may be inappropriately advising the interruption of breastfeeding.

Methods:

A comparison of 10 frequently used sources for information on medication used during breast-feeding was done for 14 commonly used drugs. Our sources included the databases used by 2 retail pharmacy chains, available text references, and electronic references. We assessed the number of drugs thought to be safe in breast-feeding for each source. The drugs reviewed included those widely accepted as safe, widely regarded as not safe, and drugs that fit into neither category.

Results:

We found that many sources did consider the most recent research. For drugs thought to be unequivocally safe, the 2 retail pharmacy databases gave an alternative recommendation at least 75% of the time.

Conclusions:

If healthcare practitioners are using outdated sources for making safety recommendations to their patients, such a practice may result in many women being inappropriately advised to stop breast-feeding, thus increasing the potential health risks to them and their infants. As the most accessible medication expert, the pharmacist needs to be well educated and continually updated using the most reliable resources for lactation recommendations.
Thinking inside the Box: Why Consumers Enjoy Constrained Creative Experiences
Authors: Dahl Darren W. , Moreau C. Page
Published: July 2007

From cooking kits to home improvement shows, consumers are increasingly seeking out products that are designed to help them be creative. In this research, the authors examine why consumers participate in creative activities and under what conditions these experiences are the most enjoyable. A qualitative study explores the diverse motivations for undertaking creative tasks and identifies the role of constraints in such endeavors. Then, the authors conduct two experimental studies to understand the importance of constraints (e.g., instructional guidance, target outcomes) in facilitating a balance between perceived competence and autonomy for consumers involved in a creative task. When consumers engage in creative activities with a sense of both autonomy and competence, they enjoy the experience more. The authors discuss implications for managers and provide opportunities for further research.
Mental Simulation and Preference Consistency over Time: The Role of Process- versus Outcome-Focused Thoughts
Authors: Zhao Min , Hoeffler Steve , Zauberman Gal
Published: July 2007

Research on choice over time has found that people tend to focus on concrete aspects of near-future events and abstract aspects of distant-future events. Furthermore, a focus on concrete aspects heightens the feasibility-related components, whereas a focus on abstract aspects heightens the desirability-related components, which can lead to preference inconsistency over time. In this research, the authors integrate research on choice over time with mental simulation. They propose and show that counter to people's natural tendencies, outcome simulation for near-future events and process simulation for distant-future events lead to preference consistency over time. The results also suggest that outcome timing moderates the effectiveness of process versus outcome simulation.
To Lease or to Buy? A Structural Model of a Consumer's Vehicle and Contract Choice Decisions
Authors: Dasgupta Srabana , Siddarth S. , Silva-Risso Jorge
Published: July 2007

By treating leasing and financing contracts as differentiated products with their own unique acquisition costs, the authors develop a structural model of a consumer's choice of automobile and the related decision of whether to lease or buy it. They estimate the model on a data set of new car purchases from the entry-luxury segment of the U.S. automobile market. A key finding is that consumers are myopic and prefer contracts with lower payment streams even when they have higher total costs. The authors also find that consumers are more likely to lease than to finance cars with higher maintenance costs because this provides them with the option to return the car before maintenance costs become too high. The authors demonstrate how automobile manufacturers can use the model to evaluate the effectiveness of promotional incentives, such as cash rebates, interest rate subsidies, and increased residual values.
Hedging Your Bets and Assessing the Outcome
Authors: Grant Susan Jung , Xie Ying
Published: July 2007

Hedging offsets the risk of an existing stake by counterbalancing it with a new stake—for example, complementing a bet on the race favorite with another bet on a promising upstart. In three experiments, the authors find that rather than assessing the hedge as a whole, people tend to react to the hedging outcome by focusing on either the original stake or the new one. The authors show that the hedger's focus is linked to a psychological motivation of whether to pursue safety and security by minimizing losses, known as a “prevention orientation,” or to pursue growth and advancement by maximizing gains, known as a “promotion orientation.” When the context is gambling, prevention-oriented people fixate on what happens to the status quo stake, whereas promotion-oriented people attend to the new stake (Experiment 1). The same conclusion emerges from a stock-investing context (Experiments 2a and 2b). Moreover, because selective attention to status quo and change is the mechanism at work, the authors find that a choice between options characterized as maintaining the status quo elicits greater discrimination among prevention-oriented than promotion-oriented people; similarly, a choice between options characterized as initiating change elicits greater discrimination among promotion-oriented than prevention-oriented people (Experiment 3). These effects drive behavioral intentions.
Anterograde Transport and Secretion of Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor along Sensory Axons Promote Schwann Cell Myelination
Authors: Ng Benjamin K. , Chen Lian , Mandemakers Wilhelm , Cosgaya José M. , Chan Jonah R.
Published: July 2007

The neurotrophin brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) inhibits Schwann cell (SC) migration and promotes myelination via the p75 neurotrophin receptor (NTR). Despite these recent findings, the expression, localization, and mechanism of BDNF action has yet to be determined. Here we demonstrate that the sensory neurons of the dorsal root ganglion (DRG) are a major source of BDNF during postnatal development. The expression of BDNF is initially elevated before myelination and decreases dramatically after the onset of myelination. BDNF expression is controlled in part by transcriptional regulation and the increased expression of the truncated TrkB receptor on SCs. To investigate the possible mechanism of BDNF transport and release, multicompartment Campenot chambers were used. DRG neurons transported and secreted endogenous BDNF along the surface of axons in anterograde fashion. In an attempt to enhance myelination by SCs, DRG neurons were transduced with an adenovirus to overexpress BDNF. BDNF was transported and secreted along the axons and enhanced myelination when compared with control cocultures. Together, the events surrounding the expression, localization, and mechanism of BDNF action in DRG neurons may hint at potential therapeutic implications to efficiently promote remyelination.
Mode of Action and Functional Significance of Estrogen-Inducing Dendritic Growth, Spinogenesis, and Synaptogenesis in the Developing Purkinje Cell
Authors: Sasahara Katsunori , Shikimi Hanako , Haraguchi Shogo , Sakamoto Hirotaka , Honda Shin-ichiro , Harada Nobuhiro , Tsutsui Kazuyoshi
Published: July 2007

Neurosteroids are synthesizedde novofrom cholesterol in the brain. To understand neurosteroid action in the brain, data on the regio- and temporal-specific synthesis of neurosteroids are needed. Recently, we identified the Purkinje cell as an active neurosteroidogenic cell. In rodents, this neuron actively produces several neurosteroids including estradiol during neonatal life, when cerebellar neuronal circuit formation occurs. Estradiol may be involved in cerebellar neuronal circuit formation through promoting neuronal growth and neuronal synaptic contact, because the Purkinje cell expresses estrogen receptor-β (ERβ). To test this hypothesis, in this study we examined the effects of estradiol on dendritic growth, spinogenesis, and synaptogenesis in the Purkinje cell using neonatal wild-type (WT) mice or cytochrome P450 aromatase knock-out (ArKO) mice. Administration of estradiol to neonatal WT or ArKO mice increased dendritic growth, spinogenesis, and synaptogenesis in the Purkinje cell. In contrast, WT mice treated with tamoxifen, an ER antagonist, or ArKO mice exhibited decreased Purkinje dendritic growth, spinogenesis, and synaptogenesis at the same neonatal period. To elucidate the mode of action of estradiol, we further examined the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in response to estrogen actions in the neonate. Estrogen administration to neonatal WT or ArKO mice increased the BDNF level in the cerebellum, whereas tamoxifen decreased the BDNF level in WT mice similar to ArKO mice. BDNF administration to tamoxifen-treated WT mice increased Purkinje dendritic growth. These results indicate that estradiol induces dendritic growth, spinogenesis, and synaptogenesis in the developing Purkinje cell via BDNF action during neonatal life.
Induction of Long-Term Memory by Exposure to Novelty Requires Protein Synthesis: Evidence for a Behavioral Tagging
Authors: Moncada Diego , Viola Haydée
Published: July 2007

A behavioral analog of the synaptic tagging and capture process, a key property of synaptic plasticity, has been predicted recently. Here, we demonstrate that weak inhibitory avoidance training, which induces short- but not long-term memory (LTM), can be consolidated into LTM by an exploration to a novel, but not a familiar, environment occurring close in time to the training session. This memory-promoting effect caused by novelty depends on activation of dopamine D1/D5receptors and requires newly synthesized proteins in the dorsal hippocampus. Thus, our results indicate the existence of a behavioral tagging process in which the exploration to a novel environment provides the plasticity-related proteins to stabilize the inhibitory avoidance memory trace.
Altered Localization of GABAAReceptor Subunits on Dentate Granule Cell Dendrites Influences Tonic and Phasic Inhibition in a Mouse Model of Epilepsy
Authors: Zhang Nianhui , Wei Weizheng , Mody Istvan , Houser Carolyn R.
Published: July 2007

Complex changes in GABAAreceptors (GABAARs) in animal models of temporal lobe epilepsy during the chronic period include a decrease in the δ subunit and increases in the α4 and γ2 subunits in the dentate gyrus. We used postembedding immunogold labeling to determine whether the subcellular locations of these subunits were also altered in pilocarpine-treated epileptic mice, and related functional changes were identified electrophysiologically. The ultrastructural studies confirmed a decrease in δ subunit labeling at perisynaptic locations in the molecular layer of the dentate gyrus where these subunits are critical for tonic inhibition. Unexpectedly, tonic inhibition in dentate granule cells was maintained in the epileptic mice, suggesting compensation by other GABAARs. An insensitivity of the tonic current to the neurosteroid tetrahydrodeoxy-corticosterone was consistent with decreased expression of the δ subunit. In the pilocarpine-treated mice, α4 subunit labeling remained at perisynaptic locations, but increased γ2 subunit labeling was also found at many perisynaptic locations on granule cell dendrites, consistent with a shift of the γ2 subunit from synaptic to perisynaptic locations and potential partnership of the α4 and γ2 subunits in the epileptic animals. The decreased γ2 labeling near the center of synaptic contacts was paralleled by a corresponding decrease in the dendritic phasic inhibition of granule cells in the pilocarpine-treated mice. These GABAAR subunit changes appear to impair both tonic and phasic inhibition, particularly at granule cell dendrites, and could reduce the adaptive responses of the GABA system in temporal lobe epilepsy.
Unequal Ecological Exchange and Environmental Degradation: A Theoretical Proposition and Cross‐National Study of Deforestation, 1990–2000*
Authors: Jorgenson Andrew K.
Published: July 2007

Abstract Political‐economic sociologists have long investigated the dynamics and consequences of international trade. With few exceptions, this area of inquiry ignores the possible connections between trade and environmental degradation. In contrast, environmental sociologists have made several assumptions about the environmental impacts of international trade, but the assumptions lack theoretical specificity and are thus empirically under‐investigated. Bridging these two complementary areas of macrosociology, the present study proposes and tests a structural theory of unequal ecological exchange. The theory posits that more‐developed countries externalize their consumption‐based environmental costs to less‐developed countries, which increase forms of environmental degradation within the latter. To test a key assertion of the theory, a weighted index of vertical trade is created that quantifies the relative extent to which exports are sent to more‐developed countries. Using the index, cross‐national panel analyses of deforestation, 1990–2000 are conducted to test the hypothesis that less‐developed countries with higher levels of exports sent to more‐developed countries experience greater rates of deforestation, net of other factors. Results of the analyses confirm the hypothesis, providing support for the theory of uneven ecological exchange. Additional findings correspond with other sociological studies of deforestation, particularly those that focus on the effects of rural and urban population growth as well as level of capital intensity and rate of economic development.
Squaring Farm Security and Food Security in Two Types of Alternative Food Institutions*
Authors: Guthman Julie , Morris Amy W. , Allen Patricia
Published: July 2007

Abstract Even though both farmers' markets and community supported agriculture were first developed to provide markets for farmers, recently the goals of food security have been attached to these market‐based alternative food institutions, based on their potential to be 'win‐win” economic solutions for both small‐scale farmers and low‐income consumers. This article reports on survey and interview research conducted in California during 2004–2005 designed to examine to what extent CSAs and farmers' markets are addressing food security in both concept and practice. Findings show that managers of these institutions generally support the idea of improving the affordability of the food they provide, and most have made an effort to do so, although these efforts vary with institutional capacity. Still, some hedged their interest in supporting food security goals with countervailing concerns such as the need to support farmers first. It is ironic, then, that the way that private CSAs and farmers' markets achieve some elements of food security is by virtue of the support of public food assistance programs.
Nonmetropolitan Status and Kindergarteners' Early Literacy Skills: Is There a Rural Disadvantage?*
Authors: Durham Rachel E. , Smith P. Johnelle
Published: July 2007

Abstract This study seeks to discover whether beginning kindergarteners vary in early literacy readiness according to their county's metro/non‐metropolitan status, county‐level economic and social characteristics, individual demographic characteristics, family social capital resources, and preschool childcare. Using student‐level data from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study‐Kindergarten Cohort and county‐level data from various secondary sources, we estimate a two‐level hierarchical linear model to test the relationship between early literacy ability and individual and county demographic and structural factors. Results show that there is a direct association between living in a nonmetropolitan county and early literacy ability at the beginning of kindergarten, but that the direction and strength of these relationships depends on individual ethnicity and socioeconomic status, as well as the social and economic characteristics of the county.
Effects of Nitrogen Enrichment and Competition on Growth and Spread of Giant Reed (Arundo donax)
Authors: Quinn Lauren D. , Rauterkus Michael A. , Holt Jodie S.
Published: July 2007

Giant reed is an extremely aggressive riparian invader in California. Little is known about its response to nitrogen, which is often elevated in watersheds downstream from agricultural fields and wastewater treatment facilities. Two pot-experiments were conducted to quantify physiological responses of giant reed, and a co-occurring riparian species, common threesquare, to added nitrogen and to investigate a possible enhancement effect of nitrogen on the ability of giant reed to spread laterally belowground into a competitive environment. The first experiment measured shoot height, tissue biomass, and leaf area of giant reed and common threesquare, both herbaceous perennials, grown in pots with and without added nitrogen. The second experiment measured lateral rhizome growth, tissue biomass, and tiller production of giant reed in planters subjected to four possible treatments: with or without competition and with or without added nitrogen. Competition planters had previously been colonized by common threesquare and no-competition planters were unoccupied. Nitrogen-treated plants from the first experiment had greater overall shoot height. With added nitrogen, giant reed produced more root and shoot biomass, whereas common threesquare produced more rhizome and shoot biomass. In the second experiment, added nitrogen resulted in significantly greater rhizome length and greater production of tillers by giant reed regardless of competition. In competition plantings without added nitrogen, giant reed tiller production was reduced, whereas the addition of nitrogen nearly restored tiller production to levels attained without competition. Neither nitrogen nor competition significantly affected giant reed biomass production. Results of these experiments indicate the positive response of giant reed and a native riparian species to nitrogen enrichment and suggest that nitrogen can compensate for the effects of competition on giant reed in some cases. As a result, this species might be able to penetrate some environments without negative impacts from competing vegetation.
On the Horizontal: Women Writing on Writing Women
Authors: Caws Mary Ann
Published: July 2007

Writing in bed: I have always loved Edith Wharton's habit of doing just that, as well as Cynthia Ozick's discussion of it (look how neat the desk at which Wharton is photographed in her stays; imagine how much more comfortable she is in bed with her stays undone). I remember learning, during my first studies of philosophy at Bryn Mawr, that René Descartes wrote in bed, by the heat of a stove supplied by Queen Christina, to say nothing of Winston Churchill's similar custom.
The Relevance of Feenberg's Critical Theory of Technology to Critical Visual Literacy: The Case of Scientific and Technical Illustrations
Authors: Northcut Kathryn M.
Published: July 2007

Andrew Feenberg's critical theory of technology is an underutilized, relatively unknown resource in technical communication which could be exploited not only for its potential clarification of large social issues that involve our discipline, but also specifically toward the development of a critical theory of illustrations. Applications of critical theory help strengthen our discipline by forcing us to delineate extant approaches and consider whether democratic goals are being achieved through those approaches. If a critical theory of illustrations can be built from Feenberg's critical theory of technology, it should be useful for classroom instructors and researchers as well as theorists.
Content Analysis as a Best Practice in Technical Communication Research
Authors: Thayer Alexander , Evans Mary , McBride Alicia , Queen Matt , Spyridakis Jan
Published: July 2007

Content analysis is a powerful empirical method for analyzing text, a method that technical communicators can use on the job and in their research. Content analysis can expose hidden connections among concepts, reveal relationships among ideas that initially seem unconnected, and inform the decision-making processes associated with many technical communication practices. In this article, we explain the basics of content analysis methodology and dispel common misconceptions, report on a content analysis case study, reveal the most important objectives associated with conducting high quality content analyses, and summarize the implications of content analysis as a tool for technical communicators and researchers.
The Steel Bible: A Case Study of 20th Century Technical Communication
Authors: Johnson Carol Siri
Published: July 2007

The “steel bible” emerged in 1919 and went through 11 editions in 80 years. In its evolution we can see the shift from individual to group authorship, an increasing use of visual elements, and a physical change from a small, hand-held volume to a weighty desktop reference. In a textual analysis, we can see that it was essentially static, changing only by additions and deletions, as the industry evolved. The eventual closing of hundreds of plants and the migration of the industry to other countries can be seen in the change of publisher, the sudden absence of photography, and the international references. Originally, the steel bible came from the factory floor and the words of the plant managers, but by the 1990s, it was a highly-abstracted representation of knowledge. In the steel bible, we can see the history of the industry and the maturing of technical communication in the 20th century.
The Perception of Communication Related Value-Added Educational Activities: A Survey of Graduate Business Students
Authors: Barker Randolph T. , Stowers Robert H.
Published: July 2007

The purpose of this article is to evaluate value-add methods and activities applied to organizational communication college-level course work. Graduate organizational communication faculty are aware that their classes serve as direct preparation for students entering business and professional careers. The knowledge learned and the skills acquired in these communication classes are abilities that students take with them to the career marketplace. As such, instructors look for ways to extend the boundaries of the classroom beyond the text and traditional instruction. Faculty believe that each method selected adds value to the educational experiences of students. However, do these methods and activities truly add value to the educational experience as the instructors hope they will? Furthermore, are specific programs more valuable than others?
Ethinyl Estradiol/Drospirenone for the Treatment of the Emotional and Physical Symptoms of Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder
Authors: Rapkin Andrea J , McDonald Michelle , Winer Sharon A
Published: July 2007

A combined oral contraceptive pill containing 20 μg of ethinyl estradiol and 3 mg of the progestin drospirenone in a novel dose regimen (24 active pills followed by 4 placebo pills), has demonstrated efficacy for the symptoms of premenstrual dysphoric disorder, a severe form of premenstrual syndrome, with an emphasis on the affective symptoms. Drospirenone has progestagenic, anti-androgenic and anti-aldosterone properties, which differ from earlier generations of progestins, and reducing the hormone pill-free interval allows for better suppression of ovarian steroid production.
Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy of Ovarian Cancer
Authors: Lowe Thomas , Morgan Robert J
Published: July 2007

Ovarian cancer is the leading cause of death among cancers of the female reproductive tract. Most women present with regionally advanced intraperitoneal disease with superficial spread of tumor along the peritoneal surfaces. Distant metastasis rarely occurs until late in the disease process; however, long-term survival of patients with advanced disease remains poor. Intraperitoneal chemotherapy allows higher concentration and prolonged half-life of chemotherapy within the peritoneal cavity compared with intravenous administration, while therapeutic intravenous concentrations are obtained. Three large randomized Phase III trials and a meta-analysis have firmly established the superiority of combination intraperitoneal and intravenous chemotherapy compared with intravenous chemotherapy alone in women with optimally debulked advanced epithelial ovarian carcinoma. In January of 2006, the National Cancer Institute issued a clinical alert recommending that these women receive a combination of intravenous and intraperitoneal chemotherapy; however, resistance to adopt this as a new standard of care results from concerns regarding toxicity and lack of experience with intraperitoneal catheters. Here we review the largest trials of combination intraperitoneal and intravenous chemotherapy, address the concerns regarding intraperitoneal chemotherapy, and provide further resources for implementing intraperitoneal chemotherapy into practice.
Managing Aromatase Inhibitor-Associated Bone Loss in Breast Cancer
Authors: Lipton Allan , Gnant Michael , Aapro Matti
Published: July 2007

Although the incidence of breast cancer has increased, there is a concurrent decrease in the death rate, and the outlook for women with early-stage breast cancer remains positive. The current 5-year survival rate of women diagnosed with breast cancer is nearly 90%, due, in part, to the use of effective adjuvant therapies that often include aromatase inhibitors. However, long-term treatment with these therapies is known to have adverse effects on bone metabolism, leading to bone loss. Bone loss during adjuvant endocrine therapy may be higher than that observed during menopause and may require more potent therapy. Although there are approved treatments for osteolytic bone lesions from bone metastases, there is no approved therapy for bone loss associated with adjuvant cancer therapy. Bisphosphonates have demonstrated promising results in this setting, and zoledronic acid is currently under consideration by the US FDA and Europe (EMEA) for the treatment of aromatase inhibitor-associated bone loss.