bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effect of time interval between surgery and preoperative chemoradiotherapy with 5‐fluorouracil or 5‐fluorouracil and oxaliplatin on outcomes in rectal cancer
Authors: C.M. Dolinsky , N.N. Mahmoud , R. Mick , W. Sun , R.W. Whittington , L.J. Solin , D.G. Haller , B.J. Giantonio , P.J. O'Dwyer , E.F. Rosato , R.D. Fry , J.M. Metz
Published: April 2007

Background and Objectives

Preoperative chemoradiotherapy for locally advanced rectal cancer is now considered “standard of care.” However, the optimal time interval for resection after neoadjuvant therapy is unknown.

Methods

Between 11/90 and 11/04, 107 patients with rectal adenocarcinoma underwent preoperative chemo/RT at the University of Pennsylvania. Fifty‐six percent had LAR and 40% had APR. Chemotherapy consisted of 5‐FU/oxaliplatin in 28% and 5‐FU in 72% of patients. All patients received preoperative RT.

Results

A longer time interval between chemo/RT and surgery was associated with tumor downstaging (OR 1.24, P = 0.02). A longer time interval was not associated with: nodal downstaging (OR 1.00, P = 0.98); pathologic complete response (PCR) (OR 0.97, P = 0.80); likelihood of performing an LAR (OR 0.90, P = 0.47); improved disease free survival (DFS), local control, or distant control (HR 1.05, P = 0.49; HR 1.14, P = 0.22; HR 1.06, P = 0.52, respectively). The PCR rate was 34.5% in the 5‐FU/oxaliplatin/radiation group, and 13.7% in the 5‐FU/radiation group. If patients with microscopic CR were excluded, then the PCR rate for 5FU/OX was 21.4% and for 5‐FU was 12.2%.

Conclusions

Time interval between surgery and chemo/RT appeared to have little effect on PCR or LAR rates. Patients receiving 5 FU/oxaliplatin/RT had a high PCR rate. A prospective randomized trial to test superiority of 5 FU/oxaliplatin is warranted. J. Surg. Oncol. 2007;96: 207–212. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
CLIC4, skin homeostasis and cutaneous cancer: Surprising connections
Authors: Suh Kwang S. , Malik Mariam , Shukla Anjali , Yuspa Stuart H.
Published: April 2007

Chloride intracellular channel 4 (CLIC4) is a putative chloride channel for intracellular organelles. CLIC4 has biological activities in addition to or because of its channel activity. In keratinocytes, CLIC4 resides in the mitochondria and cytoplasm, and CLIC4 gene expression is regulated by p53, TNF‐α, and c‐Myc. Cytoplasmic CLIC4 translocates to the nucleus in response to cellular stress conditions including DNA damage, metabolic inhibition, senescence, and exposure to certain trophic factors such as TNF‐α and LPS. Nuclear translocation is associated with growth arrest or apoptosis, depending on the level of expression. In the nucleus CLIC4 interacts with several nuclear proteins as demonstrated by yeast two‐hybrid screening and co‐immunoprecipitation. Nuclear CLIC4 appears to act on the TGF‐β pathway, and TGF‐β also causes CLIC4 nuclear translocation. In human and mouse cancer cell lines, CLIC4 levels are reduced, and CLIC4 is excluded from the nucleus. CLIC4 soluble or membrane‐inserted status is dependent on redox state, and redox alterations in cancer cells could underly the defect in nuclear translocation. CLIC4 is reduced and excluded from the nucleus of many human epithelial neoplasms. Paradoxically, CLIC4 is reciprocally upregulated in tumor stroma in conjunction with the expression of α‐smooth muscle actin in the fibroblast to myofibroblast transition. Overexpression of CLIC4 in cancer cells inhibits tumor growth in vivo. Conversely, overexpression of CLIC4 in tumor stromal cells stimulates tumor growth in vivo. Thus, CLIC4 participates in normal and pathological processes and may serve as a useful target for therapies in disturbances of homeostasis and neoplastic transformation. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Sunlight and skin cancer: Lessons from the immune system
Authors: Ullrich Stephen E.
Published: April 2007

The ultraviolet (UV) radiation in sunlight induces skin cancer development. Skin cancer is the most common form of human neoplasia. Estimates suggest that in excess of 1.5 million new cases of skin cancer (www.cancer.org/statistics) will be diagnosed in the United States this year. Fortunately, because of their highly visible location, skin cancers are more rapidly diagnosed and more easily treated than other types of cancer. Be that as it may, approximately 10,000 Americans a year die from skin cancer, and the cost of treating skin cancer in the United States (both melanoma and non‐melanoma skin cancer) is estimated to be in excess of $2.9 billion a year. In addition to causing skin cancer, UV radiation is also immune suppressive. In fact, data from studies with both experimental animals and biopsy proven skin cancer patients suggest that there is an association between the immune suppressive effects of UV radiation and its carcinogenic potential. Recent studies in my laboratory have focused on understanding the initial molecular events that induce immune suppression. We made two novel observations: First UV‐induced keratinocyte‐derived platelet activating factor plays a role in the induction of immune suppression. Second, cis‐urocanic acid, a skin‐derived immunosuppressive compound mediates immune suppression by binding to serotonin receptors on target cells. Recent findings suggest that blocking the binding of these compounds to their receptors not only inhibits UV‐induced immune suppression but it also interferes with skin cancer induction. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Estimating negotiator performance without preference information
Authors: Vetschera Rudolf
Published: April 2007

In empirical studies of negotiation support systems, it is often not possible to elicit utility functions from experimental subjects, since this would lead to undesired interventions into their behaviour. The present paper develops several methods to evaluate the performance of negotiators in multi‐issue negotiations without referring to their utility functions. Data collected in negotiation experiments with the NSS Inspire is used to empirically test the match of these measures to the performance measured by utility functions elicited from the subjects. Main results of this empirical analysis are: (1) the possibilities of outside observers to evaluate the performance of negotiators without knowing their utility functions are rather limited; (2) measures using only ordinal information perform as well as measures using cardinal information; (3) taking into account observed behaviour during negotiation does not improve the fit to utilities. These results can in part be attributed to the fact that actual behaviour observed during the negotiation is incompatible with utility functions elicited in Inspire. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Elucidation and decisional risk in a multi‐criteria decision based on a Choquet integral aggregation—a cybernetic framework
Authors: Montmain J. , Mauris G. , Akharraz A.
Published: April 2007

The authors are developing multi‐criteria Decision‐making support systems (DMSS) for project teams in charge of selecting a technical solution among alternatives. They propose a cybernetic framework to emphasize the link between decision‐making (DM) and knowledge management processes in such projects. These DMSSs rely on the tracking of the accompanying knowledge production of long‐term decisional processes by a collective with many actors. Based on knowledge‐production management, this paper explains how to design decisional risk evaluation, monitoring and control aids and traceability functions for strategic choices and logical argumentation. The DMSS is seen as a recommender system for the project manager. Each possible solution involved in the decision‐making process (DMP) is evaluated by means of a set of criteria. The evaluation results from an interpretation of the knowledge items in terms of satisfaction scores of the solutions according to the considered criteria. Aggregating these partial scores provides a ranking of all the possible solutions by order of preference. As criteria are sometimes interacting, the aggregation has to be based on adapted operators, i.e. Choquet integrals. Evaluating possible solutions by the knowledge contained in the knowledge base (KB) opens the way to automating the argumentation of the project team's decisions: the argumentation principle underlying this approach is based naturally on coupling a knowledge dynamical management system (KDMS) with the DMSS. The DMSS also evaluates the decisional risk that reflects the eventuality of a wrong selection due to the insufficiency of available knowledge at a given time in order to adopt a reliable solution. Decisional risk assessment corresponds to sensitivity analyses. These analyses are then exploited to control the decisional risk in time: they enable to identify the crucial information points for which additional and deeper investigations would be of great interest to improve the stability of the selection in the future.

The knowledge management of a collective project is represented as a control loop: the KDMS is the actuator, the risk accompanying the decision is the controlled variable and is strongly linked to the entropy of the KB managed by the KDMS. Each of the three phases—intelligence, design, choice—of the DMP is identified to a function of the control loop: actuator, process and regulator. This cybernetic framework for decision has its origin in knowledge management activities for a great‐scale project—the EtLD project of the French Atomic Commission (CEA) that concerns the management of high‐level long‐life radioactive waste in France. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Is focal task‐specific dystonia limited to the hand and face?
Authors: Lo Steven E. , Frucht Steven J.
Published: April 2007

Focal task‐specific dystonia (FTSD) of the hand and face have been well described; however, FTSD of the leg is exceedingly rare. We describe and demonstrate by videotape 2 patients with FTSD affecting the leg, in both cases triggered specifically by walking down steps. Walking on a level surface, up steps, and down steps backward, and sideways were normal. An interoceptive sensory trick (imagining walking in a different modality) led to temporary improvement. Our patients appear to demonstrate that task‐specificity in focal dystonia may not be limited to skilled, rehearsed actions and that FTSD may occur in an activity that is relatively automatic. © 2007 Movement Disorder Society
Geste antagonistes in idiopathic lower cranial dystonia
Authors: Lo Steven E. , Gelb Michael , Frucht Steven J.
Published: April 2007

Geste antagonistes, or sensory tricks, are well described in focal dystonia affecting the neck, hand, and face. Improvement in dystonic movements is typically maintained while the trick is performed, but disappears when the geste ends. We investigated the phenomenological features of geste antagoniste maneuvers in 19 patients with idiopathic lower cranial dystonia who were prospectively evaluated over a period of 6 years. Of the 19, 10 were men, mean age of onset was 49.8 years, and the most commonly involved lower cranial area was the jaw (10 patients). In most patients, dystonia was task‐specific. Taking advantage of the improvement with a sensory geste, we manufactured oral appliances that mimicked the geste in 8 patients, and 3 continue to use it. © 2007 Movement Disorder Society
Dopamine levels after repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation of motor cortex in patients with Parkinson's disease: Preliminary results
Authors: Khedr Eman M. , Rothwell John C. , Shawky Ola A. , Ahmed Mohammed A. , Foly K Nageh , Hamdy Ahmed
Published: April 2007

Background: Repeated sessions of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) over motor cortex have been reported to produce significant improvement of motor performance in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). In addition, it is known that a single session of rTMS over motor cortex transiently increases DA in striatum. Here, we test whether repeated sessions of rTMS increase serum dopamine in PD patients and whether this correlates with changes in clinical rating scales. Material and Methods: Twenty untreated PD patients with moderate to severe symptoms (Hoehn & Yahr stage III–V 1967) were assessed on the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS), and with an enzyme immunoassay for quantitative determination of plasma dopamine before and after six daily sessions of 25 Hz rTMS with 3,000 stimuli over the right and left hand and leg motor cortex. Results: There was significant improvement in UPDRS compared with the baseline. Serum dopamine level also was significantly elevated ever the same interval. There was a significant correlation between UPDRS and serum dopamine level before and after treatment. Conclusion: Improved motor performance in PD after repeated sessions of rTMS may be related to an elevation of serum dopamine concentration. © 2007 Movement Disorder Society
Levodopa response in long‐term bilateral subthalamic stimulation for Parkinson's disease
Authors: Piboolnurak Panida , Lang Anthony E. , Lozano Andres M. , Miyasaki Janis M. , Saint‐Cyr Jean A. , Poon Yu‐Yan W. , Hutchison William D. , Dostrovsky Jonathan O. , Moro Elena
Published: April 2007

Subthalamic nucleus deep brain stimulation (STN‐DBS) is effective in advanced Parkinson's disease (PD), but its effects on the levodopa response are unclear. We studied the levodopa response after long‐term STN‐DBS, STN‐DBS efficacy and predictive value of preoperative levodopa response to long‐term DBS benefit in 33 PD patients with bilateral STN‐DBS. Patients were assessed using the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale preoperatively (with and without medications) and postoperatively (without medications or stimulation, with only medications or stimulation, and with both medications and stimulation). Levodopa response significantly decreased postoperatively by 31.1% at 3 years and 32.3% at 5 years, possibly related to the reduction in medication requirement, direct STN stimulation effect or PD progression. STN‐DBS alone significantly improved motor scores (37.2% at 3 years and 35.1% at 5 years) and activities of daily living scores (27.1% at 3 years and 19.2% at 5 years). Anti‐PD drugs were significantly reduced by 47.9% at 3 years and 39.8% at 5 years. However, the magnitude of the preoperative response to levodopa did not predict DBS benefit at 3 and 5 years. © 2007 Movement Disorder Society
Contribution of Jules Froment to the study of Parkinsonian rigidity
Authors: Broussolle Emmanuel , Krack Paul , Thobois Stéphane , Xie‐Brustolin Jing , Pollak Pierre , Goetz Christopher G.
Published: April 2007

Rigidity is commonly defined as a resistance to passive movement. In Parkinson's disease (PD), two types of rigidity are classically recognized which may coexist, “leadpipe ” and “cogwheel”. Charcot was the first to investigate parkinsonian rigidity during the second half of the nineteenth century, whereas Negro and Moyer described cogwheel rigidity at the beginning of the twentieth century. Jules Froment, a French neurologist from Lyon, contributed to the study of parkinsonian rigidity during the 1920s. He investigated rigidity of the wrist at rest in a sitting position as well as in stable and unstable standing postures, both clinically and with physiological recordings using a myograph. With Gardère, Froment described enhanced resistance to passive movements of a limb about a joint that can be detected specifically when there is a voluntary action of another contralateral body part. This has been designated in the literature as the “Froment's maneuver ” and the activation or facilitation test. In addition, Froment showed that parkinsonian rigidity diminishes, vanishes, or enhances depending on the static posture of the body. He proposed that in PD “maintenance stabilization ” of the body is impaired and that “reactive stabilization ” becomes the operative mode of muscular tone control. He considered “rigidification ” as compensatory against the forces of gravity. Froment also demonstrated that parkinsonian rigidity increases during the Romberg test, gaze deviation, and oriented attention. In their number, breadth, and originality, Froment's contributions to the study of parkinsonian rigidity remain currently relevant to clinical and neurophysiological issues of PD. © 2007 Movement Disorder Society
Morphometric changes of sensorimotor structures in focal dystonia
Authors: Obermann Mark , Yaldizli Ozguer , De Greiff Armin , Lachenmayer Martin Lenard , Buhl Anna Rebecca , Tumczak Felicitus , Gizewski Elke Ruth , Diener Hans‐Christoph , Maschke Matthias
Published: April 2007

Idiopathic cervical dystonia (CD) and benign essential blepharospasm (BEB) are the most common forms of focal dystonia. Previous autopsy and imaging studies suggested that these disorders are not accompanied by structural brain abnormalities. However, recent brain voxel‐based morphometry (VBM) studies of these conditions suggest that there actually may be changes in gray matter. The objective of this stdy was to detect possible gray matter abnormalities in patients with CD and BEB using VBM and to compare the results between the two conditions and with age‐ and gender‐matched controls. High‐resolution MRI was employed to evaluate healthy controls and individuals with BEB and CD. Eleven BEB, 9 CD, and 14 healthy control subjects were imaged. VBM revealed alterations of gray matter structures involved in sensorimotor processing in the individuals with focal dystonia. In CD subjects there was increased gray matter in the thalamus, caudate head bilaterally, superior temporal lobe, and left cerebellum, while gray matter was decreased in the putamen bilaterally. BEB subjects had increased gray matter in the caudate head and cerebellum bilaterally as well as decrease in the putamen and thalamus bilaterally. These findings strongly underline the recent notion that idiopathic focal dystonias might have a detectable structural correlate. They also demonstrate structural similarities of the investigated focal dystonias, possibly reflecting a shared common pathophysiological origin. © 2007 Movement Disorder Society
Enhancement of rigidity in Parkinson's disease with activation
Authors: Hong Minna , Perlmutter Joel S. , Earhart Gammon M.
Published: April 2007

Rigidity, a cardinal symptom of Parkinson's disease (PD), increases with movement of a contralateral limb. It is unclear whether this effect is specific for movement of a contralateral limb. The goal of this study was to test the hypothesis that ipsilateral or contralateral movement would enhance rigidity but that bilateral limb movements would maximally increase rigidity in people with PD. We assessed rigidity in 12 people with PD off meds, 12 matched controls, and 10 young controls, using a Rigidity Analyzer (Neurokinetics, Alberta, Canada). The elbow was passively moved repetitively into flexion and extension by the examiner, while the subjects engaged in different toe tapping conditions: no tapping, ipsilateral tapping, contralateral tapping, and bilateral tapping. Three 50‐second trials were done for each condition and the order of the trials was randomized. A 2‐way repeated measures ANOVA and Holm–Sidak post hoc tests were used to determine differences across conditions and groups. There was a significant effect of group, tapping conditions and an interaction of the two. Post hoc tests revealed that for the PD group, all tapping conditions were significantly different from the no tapping condition but not different from each other. There were no differences across conditions for the controls. We conclude that movement of either the contralateral or ipsilateral lower extremity can increase arm rigidity in people with PD but the effects from left and right are apparently not additive. Further, activation did not enhance muscle tone in controls suggesting that this procedure may help distinguish people with PD from controls. © 2007 Movement Disordrer Society
Electromagnetic scattering theorems for interior dipole excitation of a layered obstacle
Authors: Athanasiadis Christodoulos , Tsitsas Nikolaos L.
Published: April 2007

A layered scatterer is excited by a time‐harmonic spherical electromagnetic wave, generated by a dipole located either in the interior or in the exterior of the scatterer. The scatterer's core may be perfect conducting, impedance or dielectric. This paper initiates the investigation of scattering theorems corresponding to the excitation of a layered scatterer by a dipole in its interior. We establish reciprocity and general scattering theorems relating the total electric fields with the corresponding far‐field patterns. The optical theorem, relating the scattering cross‐section with the electric field in the layer containing the dipole, is recovered as a corollary of the general scattering theorem. Furthermore, for a scatterer excited by a spherical and a plane wave, mixed scattering theorems are derived. Besides, all the derived theorems recover known results, concerning the excitation of a homogeneous scatterer by an exterior dipole. We also analyze numerical implementations of the optical theorem in certain concrete scattering applications. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Antiinflammatory and antifibrogenic effects of s‐ethyl cysteine and s‐methyl cysteine in the kidney of diabetic mice
Authors: Yin Mei‐chin , Hsu Cheng‐chin , Chiang Pei‐fang , Wu Wen‐jean
Published: April 2007

Protective effects of s‐ethyl cysteine (SEC) and s‐methyl cysteine (SMC) in kidney of diabetic mice were examined. SEC and SMC at 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2 g/L were added to the drinking water for 6 wk. Results showed that the intake of SEC or SMC alleviated body weight loss and urine output, as well as markedly decreased plasma blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine clearance (CCr) in diabetic mice (P < 0.05). The intake of SEC caused significantly dose‐dependent increase in insulin and decrease in blood glucose, urinary albumin and type IV collagen (P < 0.05). SEC and SMC intake significantly and dose‐dependently decreased malondialdehyde level and increased glutathione content in kidney (P < 0.05). The intake of these agents also increased renal GPx activity (P < 0.05), but there was no dose‐dependent effect. SEC treatments dose‐dependently decreased IL‐6 and TNF‐α levels, increased IL‐4 and IL‐10 levels, as well as upregulated IL‐10 mRNA expression (P < 0.05). SMC treatments significantly suppressed renal IL‐6 and TNF‐α levels (P < 0.05), but did not affect IL‐4 and IL‐10 levels (P < 0.05). SEC or SMC intake significantly suppressed renal TGF‐beta1 level and renal PKC activity (P < 0.05); however, only SEC treatments showed dose‐dependent effect. SEC and SMC treatments significantly down‐regulated mRNA expression of renal TGF‐beta1 (P < 0.05), only SEC treatments had dose‐dependent effects. Based on the observed antioxidative, antiinflammatory, and antifibrogenic effects, the supplement of SEC or SMC might be helpful for the prevention or treatment of diabetic kidney diseases.
Importance of a canteen lunch on the dietary intake of acrylamide
Authors: Mestdagh Frédéric , Lachat Carl , Baert Katleen , Moons Emmanuelle , Kolsteren Patrick , Van Peteghem Carlos , De Meulenaer Bruno
Published: April 2007

A food and drink intake survey was carried out among university students and staff members. Consumption data were collected on days when the participants took hot lunch in a university canteen. The dietary acrylamide exposure was calculated through a probabilistic approach and revealed a median intake of 0.40 μg/kg bw/day [90% confidence interval: 0.36–0.44], which is in accordance with previous exposure calculations. Biscuits (35.4%), French fries (29.9%), bread (23.5%), and chocolate (11.2%) were identified to be the main sources of dietary acrylamide. Foodstuffs consumed in between the three main meals of the day (so called snack type foods) contributed the most to the intake (42.2%). The exposure was lower in an intervention group which received free portions of fruit and vegetables, indicating that a nutritionally balanced diet may contribute to a decreased acrylamide intake. French fries had a significant impact on the acrylamide intake, due to the frequent consumption in the canteen. This demonstrates the important responsibility of caterers and canteen kitchens in the mitigation of acrylamide exposure through reduction of acrylamide in their prepared products, in particular in French fries.
Angiotensin‐converting enzyme activity in plasma and tissues of spontaneously hypertensive rats after the short‐ and long‐term intake of hydrolysed egg white
Authors: Miguel Marta , Manso María A. , Martín‐Álvarez Pedro J. , Aleixandre Amaya , López‐Fandiño Rosina
Published: April 2007

This paper evaluates the effects of the short‐ (1 g/kg) and long‐term (0.5 and 1 g/kg/day) oral intake of egg white hydrolysed with pepsin (hEW) and the long‐term oral intake (1 g/kg/day) of egg white (EW) on local angiotensin‐converting enzyme (ACE) activities in plasma and other tissues of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR), as compared to the effect of the ACE inhibitor prototype captopril. The rats treated with hEW were classed in a different group than the control rats and the rats treated with EW by cluster analysis, taking into account their tissue ACE activities and their systolic blood pressure (SBP). Principal component analysis (PCA) showed that SBP in SHR was negatively related with ACE activity in plasma and positively related with ACE activity in aorta and kidney. ACE activity in plasma significantly increased after the long‐term treatment with hEW (0.5 g/kg/day). ACE activity in aorta and kidney was significantly inhibited 4 h after the short‐term administration of hEW. The long‐term treatment with hEW caused local effects on ACE activity in aorta, kidney and lungs that followed a pattern similar, but less pronounced, than that caused by captopril.
Magnetic stimulation including the triple‐stimulation technique in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Authors: Attarian Shahram , Verschueren Annie , Pouget Jean
Published: April 2007

To study the relative importance of upper motor neuron (UMN) dysfunction in the weakness of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and to compare the sensitivity of several transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) parameters as means of assessing UMN impairment in ALS, we used TMS to evaluate one upper limb of 63 patients. The triple‐stimulation technique (TST) and silent period (SP) were found to be the most frequently abnormal parameters (55.6% and 47.6%, respectively), without significant difference in their diagnostic sensitivity. The SP was found to be a useful parameter in patients with suspected or possible ALS. A positive correlation was found between weakness and the TST amplitude ratio, indicating that weakness may partly be caused by UMN dysfunction. Thus, the TST provides a quantitative tool for assessing UMN conduction failure. When used in association with the SP, the TST provides a sensitive diagnostic tool for use on ALS patients. Muscle Nerve, 2007
Latin–American public financial reporting: recent and future development
Authors: Pérez Carmen Caba , Hernández Antonio López
Published: April 2007

In recent years, numerous Latin–American countries have carried out reforms in their public accounting systems, with technical cooperation provided by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). Taking into account the lack of international accounting standards for the public sector, USAID has designed a model termed Integrated Financial Management System for Latin America and the Caribbean (IFMS or SIMAFAL). This model is intended to provide better financial information for governmental decision‐taking as regards the allocation of resources; a further goal is to achieve greater transparency and for a higher degree of responsibility to be accepted for the commitments made and the results of activities undertaken.

Important changes are currently taking place on the international public accounting scene and the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC) is pressing for the adoption of a set of international public accounting standards by Latin–American countries. In this article, we compare the level of information included in the year‐end governmental public report in Latin–American countries which have carried out their reforms outside SIMAFAL with that of others which have followed this model. Second, we examine the extent to which the public financial reporting practices recommended by IFAC coincide with those adopted by the above countries. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Community‐based environmental management in Vietnam: the challenge of sharing power in a politically guided society
Authors: Ingle Marcus , Halimi Shpresa
Published: April 2007

The article presents the challenges of introducing a ‘shared‐power’ community‐based management approach in the socialist society of Vietnam. The Portland State University (PSU)'s Oregon Environmental Management Alliance partnered with Vietnamese organisations in a shared‐power pilot project aimed at strengthening stakeholder participation in environmental improvements in two communities along the Tan Hoa‐Lo Gom (THLG) canal in Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC). The Oregon Solutions model, a community‐based environmental management (CBEM) approach, was adapted for the shared‐power project. This article analyses three core ingredients of the shared‐power CBEM approach: multiple stakeholder structure, dispersed authority arrangements and diverse policy instruments. Critical reflections are offered on the meaning and appropriateness of these shared‐power ingredients when they are reinvented in Vietnam's politically guided governance system. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Shape memory effect of poly(L‐lactide)‐ based polyurethanes with different hard segments
Authors: Wang Wenshou , Ping Peng , Chen Xuesi , Jing Xiabin
Published: April 2007

A series of biodegradable polylactide‐based polyurethanes (PLAUs) were synthesized using PLA diol (Mn = 3200) as soft segment, 4,4′‐diphenylmethane diisocyanate (MDI), 2,4‐toluene diisocyanate (TDI), and isophorone diisocyanate (IPDI) as hard segment, and 1,4‐butanediol as chain extender. The structures and properties of these PLAUs were studied using infrared spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, tensile testing, and thermomechanical analysis. Among them, the MDI‐based PLAU has the highest Tg, maximum tensile strength, and restoration force, the TDI‐based PLAU has the lowest Tg, and the IPDI‐based PLAU has the highest tensile modulus and elongation at break. They are all amorphous. The shape recovery of the three PLAUs is almost complete in a tensile elongation of 150% or a twofold compression. They can keep their temporary shape easily at room temperature (20 °C). More importantly, they can deform and recover at a temperature below their Tg values. Therefore, by selecting the appropriate hard segment and adjusting the ratio of hard to soft segments, they can meet different practical demands for shape memory medical devices. Copyright © 2007 Society of Chemical Industry
Controlled release of recombinant human nerve growth factor (rhNGF) from poly[(lactic acid)‐co‐(glycolic acid)] microspheres for the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders
Authors: Gu Haigang , Song Cunxian , Long Dahong , Mei Lin , Sun Hongfan
Published: April 2007

Recombinant human nerve growth factor (rhNGF)/bovine serum albumin‐loaded microspheres were prepared by a water/oil/water emulsion and solvent evaporation technique with some modifications. The microspheres were characterized with respect to encapsulation efficiency, morphological properties and drug release. Using higher protein/polymer ratios in the primary emulsion resulted in higher protein content in the microspheres. The protein encapsulation efficiency increased from 89.1% to 97.5% on adding poly(ethylene glycol) to the inner aqueous phase. The in vitro rhNGF release lasted for more than 5 weeks. The biological activity of released rhNGF was confirmed by PC12 cell culture. The microspheres maintained a sustained release of rhNGF for at least 4 weeks in the basal forebrain as detected by fluorescence‐labeled and indirect immunofluorescent techniques. These results demonstrated the rhNGF‐containing microspheres are an effective means for delivering this molecule into the brain and their use may be a promising strategy in the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease. Copyright © 2007 Society of Chemical Industry
Comparative proteomic analysis of human pancreatic juice: Methodological study
Authors: Zhou Lu , Lu ZhaoHui , Yang AiMing , Deng RuiXue , Mai CanRong , Sang XinTing , Faber Klaas Nico , Lu XingHua
Published: April 2007

Pancreatic cancer is the most lethal of all the common malignancies. Markers for early detection of this disease are urgently needed. Here, we optimized and applied a proteome analysis of human pancreatic juice to identify biomarkers for pancreatic cancer. Pancreatic juice samples, devoid of blood or bile contamination, were collected from patients with pancreatic cancer (n = 5), benign pancreatic diseases (n = 6), or cholelithiasis (n = 3) during endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). After ultramembrane centrifugation sample preparation, pancreatic juice proteins were separated by 2‐DE and identified by MALDI‐TOF‐MS. A 2‐DE dataset of pancreatic juice from patients with cholelithiasis was established, consisting of 76 protein spots representing 22 different proteins. Disease‐associated obstruction of the pancreatic duct strongly effected the protein composition of pancreatic juice. Concurrently, pancreatic juice from patients with pancreatic cancer was compared to nonmalignant controls with comparable obstruction of pancreatic ducts. Seven protein spots were identified that consistently appeared at changed levels in pancreatic juice from patients with pancreatic cancer. In conclusion, comparative proteomic analysis of human pancreatic juice can be used to identify biomarkers of pancreatic cancer.
Implications of 15N‐metabolic labeling for automated peptide identification in Arabidopsis thaliana
Authors: Nelson Clark J. , Huttlin Edward L. , Hegeman Adrian D. , Harms Amy C. , Sussman Michael R.
Published: April 2007

We report the first metabolic labeling of Arabidopsis thaliana for proteomic investigation, demonstrating efficient and complete labeling of intact plants. Using a reversed‐database strategy, we evaluate the performance of the MASCOT search engine in the analysis of combined natural abundance and 15N‐labeled samples. We find that 15N‐metabolic labeling appears to increase the ambiguity associated with peptide identifications due in part to changes in the number of isobaric amino acids when the isotopic label is introduced. This is reflected by changes in the distributions of false positive identifications with respect to MASCOT score. However, by determining the nitrogen count from each pair of labeled and unlabeled peptides we may improve our confidence in both heavy and light identifications.
Modeling the proteome of a Marek's disease transformed cell line: a natural animal model for CD30 overexpressing lymphomas
Authors: Buza Joram J. , Burgess Shane C.
Published: April 2007

Marek's disease (MD) in the chicken, caused by the highly infectious MD α‐herpesvirus (MDV), is both commercially important and a unique, naturally occurring model for human T‐cell lymphomas overexpressing the Hodgkin's disease antigen, CD30. Here, we used proteomics as a basis for modeling the molecular functions and biological processes involved in MDV‐induced lymphomagenesis. Proteins were extracted from an MDV‐transformed cell line and were then identified using 2‐D LC‐ESI‐MS/MS. From the resulting 3870 cellular and 21 MDV proteins we confirm the existence of 3150 “predicted” and 12 “hypothetical” chicken proteins. The UA‐01 proteome is proliferative, differentiated, angiogenic, pro‐metastatic and pro‐immune‐escape but anti‐programmed cell death, ‐anergy, ‐quiescence and ‐senescence and is consistent with a cancer phenotype. In particular, the pro‐metastatic integrin signaling pathway and the ERK/MAPK signaling pathways were the two predominant signaling pathways represented. The cytokines, cytokine receptors, and their related proteins suggest that UA‐01 has a regulatory T‐cell phenotype.
Book Reviews: Plant Proteomics: Methods and Protocols. By Hervé Thiellement, Michel Zivy, Catherine Damerval and Valérie Mechin (Eds.)
Authors: Novo Jesús V. Jorrín
Published: April 2007

No abstracts.
Book Reviews: Liquid Chromatography – Mass Spectrometry. By Wilfried M. A. Niessen
Authors: Elia Giuliano
Published: April 2007

No abstracts.
Book Reviews: Proteomics of Microbial Pathogens. By Peter Jungblut and Michael Hecker (Eds.)
Authors: Cash Phil
Published: April 2007

No abstracts.
Role of interfacial interactions on the anomalous swelling of polymer thin films in supercritical carbon dioxide
Authors: Li Yuan , Park Eun J. , Lim Kwon T. , Johnston Keith P. , Green Peter F.
Published: April 2007

It has recently been shown that thin polymer films in the nanometer thickness range exhibit anomalous swelling maxima in supercritical CO2 (Sc‐Co2) in the vicinity of the critical point of CO2. The adsorption isotherm of CO2 on carbon black, silica surfaces, porous zeolites, and other surfaces, is known to exhibit anomalous maxima under similar CO2 conditions. It is believed that because CO2 possesses a low cohesive energy density, there would be an excess amount of CO2 at the surfaces of these materials and hence the CO2/polymer interface. This might cause excess CO2 in the polymer films near the free surface, and hence the swelling anomaly. In addition, an excess of CO2 would reside at the polymer/substrate and polymer/CO2 interfaces for entropic reasons. These interfacial effects, as have been suggested, should account for an overall excess of CO2 in a thin polymer film compared to the bulk, and would be responsible for the anomalous swelling. In this study, we use in situ spectroscopic ellipsometry to investigate the role of interfaces on the anomalous swelling of polymer thin films of varying initial thicknesses, h0, exposed to Sc‐CO2. We examined three homopolymers, poly(1,1′‐dihydroperflurooctyl methacrylate) (PFOMA), polystyrene (PS), poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO), that exhibit very different interactions with Sc‐CO2, and the diblock copolymer of PS‐b‐PFOMA. We show that the anomalous swelling cannot be solely explained by the excess adsorption of CO2 at interfaces. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 45: 1313–1324, 2007
Structural transitions of nanocrystalline domains in regioregular poly(3‐hexyl thiophene) thin films
Authors: Yang Hoichang , Joo Shin Tae , Bao Zhenan , Ryu Chang Y.
Published: April 2007

The effects of solution processing and thermal annealing on thin film morphology and crystalline structures of regioregular poly(3‐hexyl thiophene) (RR P3HT) are studied in terms of molecular weight (Mw). Using grazing‐incidence X‐ray diffraction, π‐conjugated planes in drop‐cast films from chloroform solutions are found to be preferentially oriented parallel to the substrates regardless of Mw. However, the mesoscale nanocrystalline morphology of the drop‐cast films is significantly affected by Mw, exhibiting a distinctive morphological transition from short nanorods to long nanofibrils above a critical number‐averaged Mw (∼ 3.6 kDa). This is probably due to the change in a conformation change from an extended‐chain to a folded‐chain, as Mw of RR P3HT increases. In contrast, spin‐casting of high Mw RR P3HT produces less ordered films with a lower crystallinity and mixed parallel/perpendicular orientations of π‐conjugated planes. The crystallinity and parallel π‐conjugated orientation of RR P3HT in spin‐cast films could be improved by thermal treatments at high‐temperatures either (1) above the glass transition temperature or (2) above the melting temperature of RR 3PHT followed by recrystallization upon cooling under vacuum. However, the charge mobility of the spin‐cast films for a field‐effect transistor application is still lower than that of the drop‐cast films. This would be attributed to the chain oxidation and the development of distinct grain boundaries between RR P3HT nanofibrils during the thermal treatments. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 45: 1303–1312, 2007
Structural aspects and the conduction mechanism of Ln(Ba2–xPrx)Cu3O7+δ (Ln = Tm, Lu)
Authors: Mokhtari Z. , Akhavan M.
Published: April 2007

TmBa2–x Prx Cu3O7+δ and LuBa2–x Prx Cu3O7+δ samples with 0.0 < x ≤ 1.0 have been prepared by a solid‐state reaction technique. The occurrence of the orthorhombic to tetragonal phase transition, increasing of oxygen content with the increase of Pr doping, and the existence of solubility limit in both systems confirm the correct substitution of Pr at Ba sites. The solubility limit for Pr in the Lu‐based samples is less than 0.7, which is less than x = 0.90 for the Tm‐based samples. The Tc depression versus doping content in both systems shows that depression of superconductivity by Pr at Ba sites is mostly due to the hole‐filling/localization effects. Also, in the Tm‐based system, the metal–insulator transition occurs at xcMIT ≈ 0.30, and the superconductor–insulator transition occurs at xcSIT = 0.45, but in the Lu‐based system, xcMIT ≈ 0.35 and xcSIT = 0.50. In the normal state, for both systems with x < xcMIT, the Coulomb gap phase is dominant, whereas for the samples with Pr content xcMIT ≤ x < xccSIT, two‐dimensional variable‐range hopping, and for x > xcSIT, three‐dimensional variable‐range hopping are the dominant conduction mechanisms. (© 2007 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Spin‐ and charge‐density excitations in quantum dots via Quantum Monte Carlo simulation
Authors: Colletti Leonardo , Pederiva Francesco , Lipparini Enrico , Umrigar Cyrus J.
Published: April 2007

The calculation of the polarizability provides a method of calculating the collective‐modes excitation energies of an electronic system. However, the polarizability is a correlated quantity, thus demanding a major effort when Monte Carlo methods are used for its evaluation. Nevertheless, Quantum Monte Carlo results represent the benchmark in most many‐body physics. We applied a correlated Variational and Diffusion Monte Carlo scheme to a GaAs–AlGaAs quantum dot. Comparison with Raman scattering experiments and previous calculations is considerable. (© 2007 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Role of localized donor states in transport and photoluminescence of InN revealed by hydrostatic pressure studies
Authors: Suski T. , Kamińska A. , Franssen G. , Teisseyre H. , Dmowski L. H. , Plesiewicz J. A. , Lu H. L. , Schaff W. J. , Kurouchi M. , Nanishi Y.
Published: April 2007

Pressure‐dependent transport and photoluminescence (PL) measurements were performed on InN. In the transport measurements on the sample with a low electron concentration (ne lower than about 1018 cm–3) a Localized Donor State (LDS) was seen to cross the Fermi level at elevated pressure magnitude. It was accompanied by the transfer of electrons from the Conduction Band to the LDS and a significant increase in electron mobility. In a sample with a higher concentration of electrons no transport anomaly was observed. Application of pressure helps to confirm that the disputed photoluminescence mechanism in InN consists in band‐to‐band recombination. No evidence of the participation of this LDS in radiative recombination processes was found in the pressure‐dependent PL measurements. On the contrary, the dependence of the PL intensity on excitation power suggested the involvement of the LDS in nonradiative recombination processes. (© 2007 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Preface: phys. stat. sol. (b) 244/5
Authors: Zakrzewski Adam J.
Published: April 2007

The Symposium F of the 2006 E‐MRS Fall Meeting (held in Warsaw, Poland, on 4–8 September 2006) was organized to cover many important aspects of basic and applied research of wide‐bandgap II–VI compounds and their alloys. Emphasis was given to new technological and application concepts concerning both bulk crystals and various quantum structures with reduced dimensionality, ranging from zero (quantum dots) to two (quantum well structures) dimensions. The presented results on application‐oriented materials were mostly focused on light emitting structures, light and X‐ray detectors, as well as materials for spintronics. Special attention was given to technological aspects and challenges: growth techniques, defect control and structure optimization, doping procedures, optical properties and degradation processes. Relevant experimental techniques employed in these studies were also discussed. Experimental results were compared with theoretical calculations giving deeper insight into many problems of modern material science. Over 60 researchers from all over the world participated at this Symposium giving in all 9 invited lectures, 20 oral talks, and 50 poster presentations.
Modified atmosphere packaging of fresh meats–sudden partial adaptation caused an increase in sustainability of dutch supply chains of fresh meats
Authors: Thoden van Velzen E. U. , Linnemann A.R.
Published: April 2007

In the past decade, a major transition evolved in the Dutch fresh meat industry with ramifications for the entire meat business. In 1995, more than 95% of all fresh meat products for consumers were either sold loose or packed in the traditional way, i.e. on a white styrofoam tray with stretch wrap. Almost a decade later, about half of the meat industry has adapted the modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) technology. Strikingly, the first trials with this technology had already been conducted in The Netherlands in 1964, but it took four decades for the technology to conquer the Dutch meat industry. This paper argued that the partial adaptation of MAP diminished the product losses in fresh meat sales and hence the environmental impact of meat production and consumption. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
New index functions for storing Gaunt coefficients
Authors: Pinchon Didier , Hoggan Philip E.
Published: April 2007

Gaunt coefficients express angular momentum conservation rules. They are therefore required in the combination of atomic orbitals. In this case, the angular factors are spherical harmonics and the Gaunt coefficients appear when their products are linearized. The Gaunt coefficients may be pre‐calculated and stored. This work describes new index functions for storing and retrieving the required Gaunt coefficients that are (almost) all nonzero. This strategy is closely related to that of Rasch and Yu, who have compared retrieval to that using recurrence relations and found it to be at least 20 times faster. Some improvements to their work will be found here and the index functions used are different. Only a few arithmetic operations are required to generate the index; therefore, its evaluation and handling takes a negligible time compared to its applications, notably molecular electronic integral evaluation. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2007
Second‐order sliding mode control of underactuated mechanical systems II: Orbital stabilization of an inverted pendulum with application to swing up/balancing control
Authors: Santiesteban Raul , Floquet Thierry , Orlov Yury , Riachy Samer , Richard Jean‐Pierre
Published: April 2007

Orbital stabilization of an underactuated cart–pendulum system is under study. The quasihomogeneous control synthesis is utilized to design a second‐order sliding mode controller that drives the actuated cart to a periodic reference orbit in finite time, while the non‐actuated pendulum produces bounded oscillations. A modified Van der Pol oscillator is introduced into the synthesis as an asymptotic generator of the periodic motion. The resulting closed‐loop system is capable of moving from one orbit to another by simply changing the parameters of the Van der Pol modification. Performance issues of the proposed synthesis are illustrated in numerical and experimental studies of the swing up/balancing control problem of moving a pendulum, located on an actuated cart, from its stable downward position to the unstable inverted position and stabilizing it about the vertical. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.