bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Low‐Coordinate Iron Complexes Based on Bis(pyrazolyl)borate and Their Reactivity
Authors: Wagner Marit , Limberg Christian , Ziemer Burkhard
Published: July 2008

Preparation routes for several sodium salts of diphenylbis(pyrazolyl)borates with bulky substituents are described. For a potential modelling of α‐keto‐acid‐dependent nonheme iron enzymes, mononuclear iron compounds containing those bis(pyrazolyl)borates as ligands were synthesised and structurally characterised. The iron centres are four‐coordinate (in one case only three‐coordinate) thus offering room for the binding of exogenous ligands. However, reactivity studies with carboxylates and O2 have revealed nonuniform behaviour, and the identification of a side product in one case, combined with subsequent ESI‐MS studies, demonstrated that a pronounced sensitivity of the B–N bonds towards oxo nucleophiles could be a possible reason.(© Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2008)
A T‐Shaped μ3‐Oxido Trinuclear Iron Cluster with High Easy‐Plane Anisotropy: Structural and Magnetic Characterization
Authors: Alborés Pablo , Rentschler Eva
Published: July 2008

The synthesis, crystal structure and magnetochemical characterization of a new μ‐oxido trinuclear iron cluster (oldnomenclature: μ‐oxo trinuclear iron cluster), [Fe3(μ3‐O)(μ2‐CH3O)2(μ2‐CH3COO)2(phen)2Cl3], is reported. The reaction of hydrated FeCl3 with sodium acetate and 1,10‐phenanthroline in a mixture of methanol and acetonitrile afforded crystals suitable for X‐ray crystallographic determination. The new compound crystallizes in the tetragonal I41/a space group (a = b = 13.6322 Å, c = 37.3538 Å, Z = 8, V = 6941.7 Å3). The core of the complex is an isosceles triangle bridged by a μ3‐O ion with a rare T‐shaped geometry. The chloride ions are bound terminally, and the phenanthroline ligands are π‐stacked. Variable‐temperature solid‐state dc magnetization studies were carried out in the 2.0–300 K range. Data were fit with an isotropic Heisenberg spin Hamiltonian, which included an axial anisotropy (zero‐field splitting) term. Two antiferromagnetic exchange parameters for the isosceles triangle arrangement of the iron ion were needed, with values of –11.2 and –47.7 cm–1, while a positive D value of about 1.5 cm–1 was obtained. In addition, magnetization (M) vs. field (H) and temperature (T) data established an ST = 5/2 ground‐state spin. We also performed broken‐symmetry DFT calculations, which reproduced the experimental J values and the ground‐state spin well. The replacement of one Fe3+ ion by a Ga3+ ion allowed for simplification of the three‐centre problem to one treating a dinuclear exchange‐coupled system, and this afforded good computed values. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time that this specific replacement has been applied within broken‐symmetry DFT calculations. (© Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2008)
Synthesis and Characterization of CoFe2O4 Hollow Spheres
Authors: Meng Yongde , Chen Dairong , Jiao Xiuling
Published: July 2008

CoFe2O4 hollow spheres with sizes ranging from 600 nm to 1 μm were prepared through hydrothermal treatment of an aqueous solution containing glucose, ammonium iron(II) sulfate hexahydrate [(NH4)2Fe(SO4)2·6H2O], and cobalt(II) sulfate heptahydrate [CoSO4·7H2O], followed by calcination. The wall of the CoFe2O4 hollow spheres is composed of CoFe2O4 spinel nanoparticles with a size of ca. 30 nm and wall thickness of ca. 150 nm. Magnetic characterization indicates high coercivity and low saturation magnetization, which indicate potential applications as high‐density magnetic recording materials and drug carriers.(© Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2008)
The Use of Halide‐Substituted Anilines for the Formation of Magnesium Imides
Authors: Rood Jeffrey A. , Hinman Sondra E. , Noll Bruce C. , Henderson Kenneth W.
Published: July 2008

The equimolar reactions of the halide‐substituted anilines 2,4,6‐trichloroaniline (ArClNH2) and 2,3,4,5,6‐pentafluoroaniline (ArFNH2) with Bu2Mg in the appropriate solvent system results in the formation of the magnesium imide compounds [(ArClNMg·thf)4·tol] (4), [(ArClNMg·diox)4·3diox] (5), [(ArFNMg·thf)6·3C6H6] (6) and [(ArFNMg·diox)6] (7). Single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction analyses show that 4 and 5 adopt tetrameric cubane arrangements in the solid state, whereas 6 and 7 form prismatic hexameric aggregates. In comparison, reaction of 2 mol‐equiv. of ArFNH2 with Bu2Mg produces the trimeric primary amide species [{(ArFNH)6Mg3·(thf)6}·2tol·thf] (9). In addition, the serendipitous synthesis of the decametallic imide [(ArFN)9(F)2Mg10(thf)6·1.25tol] (8a) and the structural isomer [(ArFN)9(F)2Mg10(thf)6·4.5tol] (8b) were discovered during the attempted synthesis of 6. It is presumed that the formation of these unusually large cage compounds results from the partial decomposition of the imide ligand by C–F bond cleavage. The compounds 8a and 8b have similar core‐cage structures, but the orientation of their aryl groups and coordinated solvent molecules vary. The 20‐vertex Mg10N9F aggregates utilize one fluoride ion as a vertex, with a second fluoride ion encapsulated within the cage. (© Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2008)
Nucleohomolytic Substitution at Boron: A Computational Approach
Authors: Carra Claudio , Scaiano Juan C.
Published: July 2008

A theoretical investigation is reported on the reaction mechanism for oxygen‐centered radical attack on alkyl‐ and arylborane substrates. The model reveals how the mechanism, traditionally considered as a SH2 reaction, involves instead nucleophilic attack of the oxygen lone pair on the empty boron p orbital. The single electron on the oxygen is not directly involved in the process, however, as a result of a stereoelectronic effect: the bond aligned with the SOMO orbital is deactivated and the corresponding ligand leaves promptly as a radical species. The overall mechanism can be described as a nucleohomolytic reaction that shares many characteristics with conventional nucleophilic substitution. (© Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2008)
Copper‐Catalyzed Cross‐Coupling of Thiols with 1‐Iodo‐2‐chalcogenoalkenes
Authors: Manarin Flávia , Roehrs Juliano A. , Wilhelm Ethel A. , Zeni Gilson
Published: July 2008

We describe herein a new method for the synthesis of densely substituted alkenes containing chalcogenide atoms by a cross‐coupling reaction between 1‐iodo‐2‐chalcogenoalkenes and thiols using copper(I) as catalyst in a ligand‐free system. The desired cross‐coupling products were obtained in good yields and with satisfactory selectivity. The developed protocol tolerates a wide range of functional groups; the reactions of alkyl‐, benzyl‐, and arylthiols with neutral, electron‐deficient, and electron‐rich substituents on the aromatic ring were explored in the absence of any supplementary additives. In addition, the reaction proceeded cleanly under mild reaction conditions and was sensitive to the nature of the catalyst, base, and solvent.(© Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2008)
Application and comparison of wind speed sampling methods for wind generation in reliability studies using non‐sequential Monte Carlo simulations
Authors: Vallée F. , Lobry J. , Deblecker O.
Published: July 2008

Given the actual context of increased dispersed generation and highly loaded lines, probabilistic methods are more and more required to take into account the stochastic behavior of electrical network components (possible spate of outages by use of the electrical network near its physical limits) in reliability studies. To implement those probabilistic methods, numerical Monte Carlo simulations are typically used and can be divided in two categories: sequential and non‐sequential techniques.

This paper deals with two wind speed sampling methods adapted for non‐sequential Monte Carlo simulations, among which an original approach based on the combination of a mean statistical law (for a large geographical area like a country) and Normal distributions (to characterize smaller wind speed zones inside the country). Both proposed techniques are then applied on a self‐developed non‐sequential Monte Carlo simulation only taking into account generation units outages and load changes (hierarchical level HL‐I). Finally, the collected simulation results allow, not only, to evaluate the impact of sampling methods on the collected reliability indices but also to decide which proposed technique will lead to the most interesting situations (larger wind power fluctuations from one state to the other) for the electrical network operation management. Note that our simulations are applied to the Belgian production park. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Computational stochastic heat transfer with model uncertainties in a plasterboard submitted to fire load and experimental validation
Authors: Sakji S. , Soize C. , Heck J.‐V.
Published: July 2008

The paper deals with probabilistic modeling of heat transfer throughout plasterboard plates when exposed to an equivalent ISO thermal load. The proposed model takes into account data and model uncertainties. This research addresses a general need to perform robust modeling of plasterboard‐lined partition submitted to fire load. The first step of this work concerns the development of an experimental thermo physical identification data base for plasterboard. These experimental tests are carried out by the use of a bench test specially designed within the framework of this research. A computational heat transfer model is constructed using data from the literature and also the identified plasterboard thermophysical properties. The developed mean model constitutes the basis of the computational stochastic heat transfer model that has been constructed employing the nonparametric probabilistic approach. Numerical results are compared to the experimental ones. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Subventricular zone microglia possess a unique capacity for massive in vitro expansion
Authors: Marshall Gregory P. , Demir Meryem , Steindler Dennis A. , Laywell Eric D.
Published: July 2008

Microglia, the resident immune cells of the brain, have recently been hypothesized to play a role both in neuronal diseases and age‐related neurogenic decline, and are theorized to be modulators of adult neurogenesis. Current methods for the isolation of microglia from cultured primary brain tissue result in relatively poor yield, requiring a large tissue sample or multiple specimens to obtain a sufficient number of microglia for cell and molecular analysis. We report here a method for the repetitive isolation of microglia from established glial monolayer cultures from which it is possible to expand the initial population of microglia roughly 10,000‐fold. The expanded population expresses appropriate microglial morphology and phenotype markers, and demonstrates functionally normal phagocytosis, thus providing a high‐yield assay for the investigation and analysis of microglia from a single initial dissection of primary tissue. Furthermore, this massive expansion is limited to microglia derived from the subventricular zone as the fold expansion of isolatable microglia was found to be up to 20 times greater than cultures from other brain regions, indicating unique properties for this persistently neurogenic region. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Neuroprotective effects of human mesenchymal stem cells on dopaminergic neurons through anti‐inflammatory action
Authors: Kim You‐Joung , Park Hyun‐Jung , Lee Gwang , Bang Oh Young , Ahn Young Hwan , Joe Eunhye , Kim Hyun Ok , Lee Phil Hyu
Published: July 2008

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a common, progressive neurodegenerative disorder caused by the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra (SN). Numerous studies have provided evidence suggesting that neuroinflammation plays an important role in the pathogenesis of PD. In this study, we used lipopolysaccharide (LPS)‐induced in vitro and in vivo inflammation models to investigate whether human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) have a protective effect on the dopaminergic system through anti‐inflammatory mechanisms. The hMSC treatment significantly decreased LPS‐induced microglial activation, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)‐α, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) mRNA expression, and production of NO and TNF‐α compared with the LPS‐only treatment group. In co‐cultures of microglia and mesencephalic dopaminergic neurons, hMSC treatment significantly decreased the loss of tyrosine hydroxylase‐immunopositive (TH‐ip) cells. The hMSC treatment in rats showed that TH‐ip neuronal loss induced by LPS stimulation in the SN was considerably decreased and was clearly accompanied by a decrease in activation of microglia, as well as TNF‐α and iNOS mRNA expression and production of TNF‐α. These data suggest that hMSCs have a neuroprotective effect on dopaminergic neurons through anti‐inflammatory actions mediated by the modulation of microglial activation. Along with various trophic effects and trans‐differentiational potency, the anti‐inflammatory properties of MSCs could have major therapeutic implications in the treatment of PD. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Oxidized low‐density lipoprotein induces matrix metalloproteinase‐9 expression via a p42/p44 and JNK‐dependent AP‐1 pathway in brain astrocytes
Authors: Wang Hui‐Hsin , Hsieh Hsi‐Lung , Wu Cheng‐Ying , Sun Chi‐Chin , Yang Chuen‐Mao
Published: July 2008

Upregulation of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), especially MMP‐9, by oxidized low‐density lipoprotein (oxLDL) is implicated in many inflammatory diseases including brain injury. However, the signaling mechanisms underlying oxLDL‐induced MMP‐9 expression in astrocytes largely remain unknown. Here we report that oxLDL induces expression of proMMP‐9 via a MAPK‐dependent AP‐1 activation in rat brain astrocyte (RBA)‐1 cells. Results revealed by gelatin zymography, RT‐PCR, and Western blotting analyses showed that oxLDL‐induced proMMP‐9 gene expression was mediated through Akt, JNK1/2, and p42/p44 MAPK phosphorylation in RBA‐1 cells. These responses were attenuated by inhibitors of PI3K (LY294002), JNK (SP600125), and p42/p44 MAPK (PD98059), or transfection with dominant negative mutants and short hairpin RNA. Moreover, we demonstrated that AP‐1 (i.e., c‐Fos/c‐Jun) is crucial for oxLDL‐induced proMMP‐9 expression which was attenuated by pretreatment with AP‐1 inhibitor (curcumin). The regulation of MMP‐9 gene transcription by AP‐1 was confirmed by oxLDL‐stimulated MMP‐9 luciferase activity which was totally lost in cells transfected with the AP‐1 binding site‐mutatedMMP‐9promoter construct (mt‐AP1‐MMP‐9). These results suggested that oxLDL‐induced proMMP‐9 expression is mediated through PI3K/Akt, JNK1/2, and p42/p44 MAPK leading to AP‐1 activation. Understanding the regulatory mechanisms underlying oxLDL‐induced MMP‐9 expression in astrocytes might provide a new therapeutic strategy of brain injuries and diseases. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
In vivo characterization of astrocyte precursor cells (APCs) and astrocytes in developing rat retinae: Differentiation, proliferation, and apoptosis
Authors: Chan‐Ling Tailoi , Chu Yi , Baxter Louise , Weible II Michael , Hughes Suzanne
Published: July 2008

Purpose

To characterize the timing of differentiation, antigenic expression, morphology, proliferative potential, and apoptosis during astrocyte differentiation in the rat retina in vivo.

Methods

Whole mounts of rat retinae from embryonic day (E) 13 to postnatal day (P) 21 and adults were examined utilizing combinations of Pax2, GFAP, vimentin, S100, and GS lectin. These markers were also combined with BrdU and TUNEL to identify proliferation and apoptosis of cells of the astrocytic lineage.

Results

Three distinct stages of astrocytic differentiation were identified: (i) Pax2+/vimentin+/GFAP− astrocyte precursor cell (APC), (ii) Pax2+/vimentin+/GFAP+ immature perinatal astrocytes, and (iii) Pax2+/vimentin−/GFAP+ mature perinatal astrocytes. An earlier transient site of astrocyte generation was detected from E13 to E15 at the ventricular surface, but unlike the majority of retinal astrocytes that migrate into the retina starting at E15–E16, this ventricular source of retinal astrocytes were restricted to a small rim surrounding the optic nerve head. APCs and perinatal astrocytes were highly proliferative and migratory. Significant numbers of perinatal astrocytes were lost because of apoptosis, which was matched closely to the retraction of excess capillary segments during postnatal maturation of the retinal vasculature.

Conclusions

This study provides evidence of a second site of astrocyte generation at the ventricular zone early in embryonic development of the mammalian retinae. APCs are present from E16 to E20 only during perinatal development and are a highly migratory and proliferative cell. As the retina is considered a part of the central nervous system (CNS), this is the first in vivo characterization of cells of the astrocytic lineage in mammalian CNS development. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Triple‐transgenic Alzheimer's disease mice exhibit region‐specific abnormalities in brain myelination patterns prior to appearance of amyloid and tau pathology
Authors: Desai Maya K. , Sudol Kelly L. , Janelsins Michelle C. , Mastrangelo Michael A. , Frazer Maria E. , Bowers William J.
Published: July 2008

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressively debilitating brain disorder pathologically defined by extracellular amyloid plaques, intraneuronal neurofibrillary tangles, and synaptic disintegrity. AD has not been widely considered a disease of white matter, but more recent evidence suggests the existence of abnormalities in myelination patterns and myelin attrition in AD‐afflicted human brains. Herein, we demonstrate that triple‐transgenic AD (3xTg‐AD) mice, which harbor the human amyloid precursor protein Swedish mutant transgene, presenilin knock‐in mutation, and tau P301L mutant transgene, exhibit significant region‐specific alterations in myelination patterns and in oligodendrocyte marker expression profiles at time points preceding the appearance of amyloid and tau pathology. These immunohistochemical signatures are coincident with age‐related alterations in axonal and myelin sheath ultrastructure as visualized by comparative electron microscopic examination of 3xTg‐AD and nontransgenic mouse brain tissue. Overall, these findings indicate that 3xTg‐AD mice represent a viable model in which to examine mechanisms underlying AD‐related myelination and neural transmission defects that occur early during presymptomatic stages of the disease process. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Oxidative and excitotoxic insults exert differential effects on spinal motoneurons and astrocytic glutamate transporters: Implications for the role of astrogliosis in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Authors: Zagami Chrissandra J. , Beart Philip M. , Wallis Nicole , Nagley Phillip , O'shea Ross D.
Published: July 2008

In amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) non‐neuronal cells play key roles in disease etiology and loss of motoneurons via noncell‐autonomous mechanisms. Reactive astrogliosis and dysfunctional transporters forL‐glutamate [excitatory amino acid transporters, (EAATs)] are hallmarks of ALS pathology. Here, we describe mechanistic insights into ALS pathology involving EAAT‐associated homeostasis in response to a destructive milieu, in which oxidative stress and excitotoxicity induce respectively astrogliosis and motoneuron injury. Using anin vitroneuronal‐glial culture of embryonic mouse spinal cord, we demonstrate that EAAT activity was maintained initially, despite a loss of cellular viability induced by exposure to oxidative [3‐morpholinosydnonimine chloride (SIN‐1)] and excitotoxic [(S)‐5‐fluorowillardiine (FW)] conditions. This homeostatic response of EAAT function involved no change in the cell surface expression of EAAT1/2 at 0.5–4 h, but rather alterations in kinetic properties. Over this time‐frame, EAAT1/2 both became more widespread across astrocytic arbors in concert with increased expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), although at 8–24 h there was gliotoxicity, especially with SIN‐1 rather than FW. An opposite picture was found for motoneurons where FW, not SIN‐1, produced early and extensive neuritic shrinkage and blebbing (≥0.5 h) with somata loss from 2 h. We postulate that EAATs play an early homeostatic and protective role in the pathologic milieu. Moreover, the differential profiles of injury produced by oxidative and excitotoxic insults identify two distinct phases of injury which parallel important aspects of the pathology of ALS. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Neuropsychological correlates of magnetic resonance imaging‐defined subcortical ischemic depression
Authors: Potter G. G. , McQuoid D. R. , Steffens D. C. , Welsh‐Bohmer K. A. , Krishnan K. R. R.
Published: July 2008

Objective

The goal of the current study was to examine the neuropsychological profile of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)‐defined subcortical ischemic depression (SID).

Methods

Clinically depressed older adults with MRI‐defined SID (n = 70) and depressed elders without SID (n = 75) were compared on neuropsychological performance, depression symptoms, and medical burden.

Results

Group comparisons revealed that the SID was associated with worse performance on all neuropsychological measures, but also with greater age, higher cardiac illness burden, and greater deficits in the depression symptoms of self‐initiation and concentration. In multivariate regression models, auditory working memory and nonverbal memory remained worse among the SID group after controlling for contributions of age, cardiovascular risk, and depression symptoms.

Conclusions

Although auditory working memory span and nonverbal memory appear to be specifically associated with the ischemic pathology that defines SID, the typical individual with SID is also likely to have a broader profile of neuropsychological deficits than those without SID because they are typically older and have specific depression symptoms that predispose them to compromised neurocognitive performance. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Decreased basal fMRI functional connectivity in epileptogenic networks and contralateral compensatory mechanisms
Authors: Bettus Gaelle , Guedj Eric , Joyeux Florian , Confort‐Gouny Sylviane , Soulier Elisabeth , Laguitton Virginie , Cozzone Patrick J. , Chauvel Patrick , Ranjeva Jean‐Philippe , Bartolomei Fabrice , Guye Maxime
Published: July 2008

A better understanding of interstructure relationship sustaining drug‐resistant epileptogenic networks is crucial for surgical perspective and to better understand the consequences of epileptic processes on cognitive functions. We used resting‐state fMRI to study basal functional connectivity within temporal lobes in medial temporal lobe epilepsy (MTLE) during interictal period. Two hundred consecutive single‐shot GE‐EPI acquisitions were acquired in 37 right‐handed subjects (26 controls, eight patients presenting with left and three patients with right MTLE). For each hemisphere, normalized correlation coefficients were computed between pairs of time‐course signals extracted from five regions involved in MTLE epileptogenic networks (Brodmann area 38, amygdala, entorhinal cortex (EC), anterior hippocampus (AntHip), and posterior hippocampus (PostHip)). In controls, an asymmetry was present with a global higher connectivity in the left temporal lobe. Relative to controls, the left MTLE group showed disruption of the left EC‐AntHip link, and a trend of decreased connectivity of the left AntHip‐PostHip link. In contrast, a trend of increased connectivity of the right AntHip‐PostHip link was observed and was positively correlated to memory performance. At the individual level, seven out of the eight left MTLE patients showed decreased or disrupted functional connectivity. In this group, four patients with left TLE showed increased basal functional connectivity restricted to the right temporal lobe spared by seizures onset. A reverse pattern was observed at the individual level for patients with right TLE. This is the first demonstration of decreased basal functional connectivity within epileptogenic networks with concomitant contralateral increased connectivity possibly reflecting compensatory mechanisms. Hum Brain Mapp 2009. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Neuronal modulation of auditory attention by informative and uninformative spatial cues
Authors: Mayer Andrew R. , Franco Alexandre R. , Harrington Deborah L.
Published: July 2008

Sounds provide important information about the spatial environment, including the location of approaching objects. Attention to sounds can be directed through automatic or more controlled processes, which have been well studied in the visual modality. However, little is known about the neural underpinnings of attentional control mechanisms for auditory signals. We studied healthy adults who underwent event‐related FMRI while performing a task that manipulated automatic and more controlled auditory orienting by varying the probability that cues correctly predicted target location. Specifically, we examined the effects of uninformative (50% validity ratio) and informative (75% validity ratio) auditory cues on reaction time (RT) and neuronal functioning. The stimulus‐onset asynchrony (SOA) between the cue and the target was either 100 or 800 ms. At the 100 ms SOA, RT was faster for valid than invalid trials for both cue types, and frontoparietal activation was greater for invalid than valid trials. At the 800 ms SOA, RT and functional activation depended on whether cues were informative or uninformative, and whether cues correctly or incorrectly predicted the target location. Contrary to our prediction, activation in a frontoparietal network was greater for uninformative than informative cues across several different comparisons and at both SOAs. This finding contrasts with similar research of visual orienting, and suggests that the auditory modality may be more biased toward automatic shifts of attention following uninformative cues. Hum Brain Mapp 2009. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Toward the measure of virtual teams effectiveness
Authors: Trzcieliński Stefan , Wypych‐Żółtowska Monika
Published: July 2008

Virtual teams can be an alternative to colocated teams and they are inevitable when the members of team are significantly dispersed. Quite often when team members are dispersed there is a necessity to arrange either face‐to‐face (FTF) meetings or their substitute—videoconferencing sessions. Such cases take place in multinational corporations. In one of them from the automotive industry, we examined the cost‐effectiveness of arranging meetings of team members in the form of FTF or videoconferencing sessions. For this purpose, a mathematical model has been elaborated. This model can be a useful tool for choosing between creating a colocated or virtual team as well as about the form of meeting of virtual team members. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Political ergonomics, macroergonomic battles
Authors: Pacholski Leszek , Piotrowski Krzysztof
Published: July 2008

Humanocentric‐oriented social and technological systems have to be perceived as the main source of technological advancement. This source it so attractive that from the point of view of acquisition possibilities it captures the attention of not only business people but also political incumbents who (according to Buchanan's theory) want to satisfy their particular interests. A characteristic feature of social and technological systems is their competitive market position.

Taking over these systems by political lobbies with the legitimate usage of intended violence is an example of a contemporary macroergonomic battle. Both of Clausewitz's objectives of war are present: a political objective that is forcing the community that makes up the system to fulfill the politically determined will of the party taking over, and a military objective consisting of an attempt of the moral, social, or even physical destruction of the system leader and its direct coworkers.

This article presents a specific example: a case study of a macroergonomic battle fought with a big industrial enterprise. This study serves as a starting point for general methodological premises pertaining to an effective strategy of fighting a macroergonomic battle. The essence of this strategy is learning three so‐called exogenic levers of occasional acquisition. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
The influence of production planners and schedulers at manufacturing and commercial interfaces
Authors: Berglund Martina , Guinery Jane
Published: July 2008

This article describes empirical research undertaken to identify how production planners and schedulers in manufacturing businesses exert influence on employees in production and commercial departments. Through the analysis of observations and interviews conducted in four case studies, sources of power were identified and categorized. It was found that although production planners and schedulers often did not have formal authority, in practice they had considerable influence. In the main, their sources of influence resided in their access to information, company agendas, and influential arenas, as well as their knowledge and social skills. The discussion draws from the findings examining influencing behaviors and considering their implications. The findings inform associated research on the processes, behaviors, and roles that schedulers and planners perform at functional interfaces, in support of effective and responsive order fulfillment. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Human factors in quality management
Authors: Mantura Władysław
Published: July 2008

This article shows the results of research regarding the importance and the role of human factors in quality management in production enterprises. In creating the concept of systematizations of human factors in quality management an anthropocentrism rule was accepted and resulting from it a category of life quality. Acceptance of this rule led to a multiaspect and comprehensive approach to human factors in quality management. An interpretation of the notion of quality was made, adequate to needs, goals, and requirements of a human. Additionally, a cybernetic model of quality management system was elaborated. Human factors was exhibited in the manager's and executor's roles in quality management systems in enterprise as well as to the roles of creators, producers, and users (customers) in product life cycles. An existence of human factors in ISO norms regarding quality management, work safety, and hygiene management and environment management was also shown. The objective of this article is a comprehensive identification and systematization of aspects of human factors in quality management. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Observations and model estimates of diurnal water temperature dynamics in mosquito breeding sites in western Kenya
Authors: Paaijmans K. P. , Jacobs A. F. G. , Takken W. , Heusinkveld B. G. , Githeko A. K. , Dicke M. , Holtslag A. A. M.
Published: July 2008

Water temperature is an important determinant of the growth and development of malaria mosquito immatures. To gain a better understanding of the daily temperature dynamics of malaria mosquito breeding sites and of the relationships between meteorological variables and water temperature, three clear water pools (diameter × depth: 0·16 × 0·04, 0·32 × 0·16 and 0·96 × 0·32 m) were created in Kenya. Continuous water temperature measurements at various depths were combined with weather data collections from a meteorological station. The water pools were homothermic, but the top water layer differed by up to about 2 °C in temperature, depending on weather conditions. Although the daily mean temperature of all water pools was similar (27·4–28·1 °C), the average recorded difference between the daily minimum and maximum temperature was 14·4 °C in the smallest versus 7·1 °C in the largest water pool. Average water temperature corresponded well with various meteorological variables. The temperature of each water pool was continuously higher than the air temperature. A model was developed that predicts the diurnal water temperature dynamics accurately, based on the estimated energy budget components of these water pools. The air–water interface appeared the most important boundary for energy exchange processes and on average 82–89% of the total energy was gained and lost at this boundary. Besides energy loss to longwave radiation, loss due to evaporation was high; the average estimated daily evaporation ranged from 4·2 mm in the smallest to 3·7 mm in the largest water pool. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A framework to estimate sediment loads using distributions with covariates: Beaurivage River watershed (Québec, Canada)
Authors: Mailhot A. , Rousseau A. N. , Talbot G. , Gagnon P. , Quilbé R.
Published: July 2008

A framework to estimate sediment loads based on the statistical distribution of sediment concentrations and various functional forms relating distribution characteristics (e.g. mean and variance) to covariates is developed. The covariates are used as surrogates to represent the main processes involved in sediment generation and transport. Statistical models of increasing complexity are built and compared to assess their relative performance using available sediment concentration and covariate data. Application to the Beaurivage River watershed (Québec, Canada) is conducted using data for the 1989–2004 period. The covariates considered in this application are streamflow and calendar day. A comparison of different statistical models shows that, in this case, the log‐normal distribution with a mean value depending on streamflow (power law with an additive term) and calendar day (sinusoidal), a constant coefficient of variation for streamflow dependence and a constant standard deviation for calendar day dependence provide the best result. Model parameters are estimated using the maximum likelihood estimation technique. The selected model is then used to estimate the distribution of annual sediment loads for the Beaurivage River watershed for a selected period. A bootstrap parametric method is implemented to account for uncertainties in parameter values and to build the distributions of annual loads. Comparison of model results with estimates obtained using the empirical ratio estimator shows that the latter were rarely within the 0·1–0·9 quantile interval of the distributions obtained with the proposed approach. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The eukaryotic translation elongation factor eEF1A2 induces neoplastic properties and mediates tumorigenic effects of ZNF217 in precursor cells of human ovarian carcinomas
Authors: Sun Yu , Wong Nicholas , Guan Yinghui , Salamanca Clara M. , Cheng Jung Chien , Lee Jonathan M. , Gray Joe W. , Auersperg Nelly
Published: July 2008

Ovarian epithelial carcinomas (OECs) frequently exhibit amplifications at the 20q13 locus which is the site of several oncogenes, including the eukaryotic elongation factor EEF1A2 and the transcription factor ZNF217. We reported previously that overexpressed ZNF217 induces neoplastic characteristics in precursor cells of OEC. Unexpectedly, ZNF217, which is a transcriptional repressor, enhanced expression of eEF1A2. In our study, array comparative genomic hybridization, single nucleotide polymorphism and Affymetrix analysis of ZNF217‐overexpressing cell lines confirmed consistently increased expression of eEF1A2 but not of other oncogenes, and revealed early changes in EEF1A2 gene copy numbers and increased expression at crisis during immortalization. We defined the influence of eEF1A2 overexpression on immortalized ovarian surface epithelial cells, and investigated interrelationships between effects of ZNF217 and eEF1A2 on cellular phenotypes. Lentivirally induced eEF1A2 overexpression caused delayed crisis, apoptosis resistance and increases in serum‐independence, saturation densities and anchorage independence. siRNA to eEF1A2 reversed apoptosis resistance and reduced anchorage independence in eEF1A2‐overexpressing lines. Remarkably, siRNA to eEF1A2 was equally efficient in inhibiting both anchorage independence and resistance to apoptosis conferred by ZNF217 overexpression. Our data define neoplastic properties that are caused by eEF1A2 in nontumorigenic ovarian cancer precursor cells, and suggest that eEF1A2 plays a role in mediating ZNF217‐induced neoplastic progression. Published 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Population‐based prevalence, type‐ and age‐specific distribution of HPV in women before introduction of an HPV‐vaccination program in Denmark
Authors: Kjær Susanne K. , Breugelmans Gabrielle , Munk Christian , Junge Jette , Watson Michael , Iftner Thomas
Published: July 2008

Knowledge about the prevalence of human papillomavirus (HPV) on a population level is important. We conducted a large population‐based study in Denmark to determine the overall and age‐specific HPV prevalence, and HPV type distribution in women. Liquid‐based cytology samples (SurePath®) were collected consecutively. HPV testing was performed with Hybrid Capture 2 (HC2; Digene) (high‐risk and low‐risk probes), and LiPA (Innogenetics) was used for genotyping. We analyzed samples from 11,617 women; 94.0% had normal cytology, 4.3% atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance or low‐grade squamous intraepithelial lesion and 1.6% had high‐grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (HSIL). The HPV prevalence was 26.4% with a peak in women 20–24 years (50.2%) and then decreased without a second peak in older women. Among the youngest women (15–19 years), 14% had HPV 16/18 and 16% had HPV 6/11. Prevalence of high‐risk HPV types increased from 19.2% in women with normal cytology to 100% in women with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 3 (CIN3)/cervical cancer. HPV 16 was the most prevalent type (6.0% of all women), and was also the most prevalent in women with HSIL (35.1%) and CIN3 (53.2%). Other common HPV types in women with CIN3 included HPV 52, 51, 31, 33 and 18. HPV 16/18 alone was present in 23% of CIN3 lesions and 67% of cervical cancers, and HPV 16/18 together with other high‐risk HPV types was present in 41% of CIN3 lesions. This suggests that an efficacious HPV 16/18 vaccine will have a substantial preventive potential in the general female population. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Lower urinary tract symptoms and risk of prostate cancer: The HUNT 2 Cohort, Norway
Authors: Martin Richard M. , Vatten Lars , Gunnell David , Romundstad Pål , Nilsen Tom I.L.
Published: July 2008

Screening for early prostate cancer is frequently employed in the routine management of men with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS), but the evidence‐base linking LUTS with prostate cancer is limited. We assessed the association of LUTS with a subsequent prostate cancer diagnosis in a prospective cohort study based on 21,159 Norwegian men who completed baseline questionnaires, including the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) questionnaire, between 1995 and 2007 as part of the second Nord‐Trøndelag Health Study (HUNT 2). Men were followed‐up for prostate cancer incidence and mortality from the date of clinical examination to end 2005. During a mean of 9 years follow‐up, 518 incident prostate cancers were diagnosed and 74 men died from prostate cancer. Men with severe LUTS (IPSS 20–35) had a 2.26‐fold (95% CI: 1.49–3.42) increased risk of prostate cancer compared to men reporting no symptoms. A positive association was observed for localized (hazard ratio, HR: 4.61; 2.23–9.54), but not advanced (HR: 0.51; 0.15–1.75), cancers (p for heterogeneity <0.001). There was no evidence that moderate/severe symptoms (IPSS 8–35) were associated with prostate cancer mortality (HR: 0.83; 0.42–1.64) vs. no symptoms. Amongst 518 men with prostate cancer, there was a 46% lower (10–68%) risk of death with moderate/severe symptoms vs. no symptoms. We conclude that LUTS are positively associated with localized, but not advanced or fatal, prostate cancer, suggesting that urinary symptoms are not caused by prostate cancer. Thus, screening for early cancers on the basis of LUTS may not be justified. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Quantitation of circulating tumor cells in blood samples from ovarian and prostate cancer patients using tumor‐specific fluorescent ligands
Authors: He Wei , Kularatne Sumith A. , Kalli Kimberly R. , Prendergast Franklyn G. , Amato Robert J. , Klee George G. , Hartmann Lynn C. , Low Philip S.
Published: July 2008

Quantitation of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) can provide information on the stage of a malignancy, onset of disease progression and response to therapy. In an effort to more accurately quantitate CTCs, we have synthesized fluorescent conjugates of 2 high‐affinity tumor‐specific ligands (folate‐AlexaFluor 488 and DUPA‐FITC) that bind tumor cells >20‐fold more efficiently than fluorescent antibodies. Here we determine whether these tumor‐specific dyes can be exploited for quantitation of CTCs in peripheral blood samples from cancer patients. A CTC‐enriched fraction was isolated from the peripheral blood of ovarian and prostate cancer patients by an optimized density gradient centrifugation protocol and labeled with the aforementioned fluorescent ligands. CTCs were then quantitated by flow cytometry. CTCs were detected in 18 of 20 ovarian cancer patients (mean 222 CTCs/ml; median 15 CTCs/ml; maximum 3,118 CTCs/ml), whereas CTC numbers in 16 gender‐matched normal volunteers were negligible (mean 0.4 CTCs/ml; median 0.3 CTCs/ml; maximum 1.5 CTCs/ml; p < 0.001, χ2). CTCs were also detected in 10 of 13 prostate cancer patients (mean 26 CTCs/ml, median 14 CTCs/ml, maximum 94 CTCs/ml) but not in 18 gender‐matched healthy donors (mean 0.8 CTCs/ml, median 1, maximum 3 CTC/ml; p < 0.0026, χ2). Tumor‐specific fluorescent antibodies were much less efficient in quantitating CTCs because of their lower CTC labeling efficiency. Use of tumor‐specific fluorescent ligands to label CTCs in peripheral blood can provide a simple, accurate and sensitive method for determining the number of cancer cells circulating in the bloodstream. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Pancreatic cancer cell lines deficient in argininosuccinate synthetase are sensitive to arginine deprivation by arginine deiminase
Authors: Bowles Tawnya L. , Kim Randie , Galante Joseph , Parsons Colin M. , Virudachalam Subbulakshmi , Kung Hsing‐Jien , Bold Richard J.
Published: July 2008

Eukaryotic cells can synthesize the non‐essential amino acid arginine from aspartate and citrulline using the enzyme argininosuccinate synthetase (ASS). It has been observed that ASS is underexpressed in various types of cancers ASS, for which arginine become auxotrophic. Arginine deiminase (ADI) is a prokaryotic enzyme that metabolizes arginine to citrulline and has been found to inhibit melanoma and hepatoma cancer cells deficient of ASS. We tested the hypothesis that pancreatic cancers have low ASS expression and therefore arginine deprivation by ADI will inhibit cell growth. ASS expression was examined in 47 malignant and 20 non‐neoplastic pancreatic tissues as well as a panel of human pancreatic cancer cell lines. Arginine deprivation was achieved by treatment with a recombinant form of ADI formulated with polyethylene glycol (PEG‐ADI). Effects on caspase activation, cell growth and cell death were examined. Furthermore, the effect of PEG‐ADI on thein vivogrowth of pancreatic xenografts was examined. Eighty‐seven percent of the tumors lacked ASS expression; 5 of 7 cell lines similarly lacked ASS expression. PEG‐ADI specifically inhibited growth of those cell lines lacking ASS. PEG‐ADI treatment induced caspase activation and induction of apoptosis. PEG‐ADI was well tolerated in mice despite complete elimination of plasma arginine; tumor growth was inhibited by ∼50%. Reduced expression of ASS occurs in pancreatic cancer and predicts sensitivity to arginine deprivation achieved by PEG‐ADI treatment. Therefore, these findings suggest that arginine deprivation by ADI could provide a beneficial strategy for the treatment of pancreatic cancer, a malignancy in which new therapy is desperately needed. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Borderline ovarian tumors in Sweden 1960–2005: Trends in incidence and age at diagnosis compared to ovarian cancer
Authors: Skírnisdóttir Ingiridur , Garmo Hans , Wilander Erik , Holmberg Lars
Published: July 2008

The aim of the study was to investigate long‐term trends in the incidence of borderline tumors and ovarian cancer in Sweden during 1960–2005, based on data from the population‐based Swedish Cancer Register. We identified 6,288 patients with borderline ovarian tumors and a total of 34,977 cases of ovarian cancer during the study period. The age‐standardized incidence of borderline ovarian tumors increased from 1.0 to 5.3 per 100,000 women‐years from 1960–1964 to 2000–2005 and the incidence of ovarian cancer increased from 16.4 to 19.7 per 100,000 women‐years from 1960–1964 to 1980–1989 and then declined to 16.6 per 100,000 women‐years to the period 2000–2005. Borderline ovarian tumors comprised 15% of all primary ovarian neoplasms and the proportion increased from 8.3 to 23.6% during the study period. The median age at diagnosis for patients with borderline ovarian tumors and ovarian cancer was 55.2 and 61.6 years, respectively. In women younger than 40 years, 34% of all primary ovarian malignancies consisted of borderline ovarian tumors. For the 5 birth cohorts evaluated, the peaks of incidence occurred in stepwise younger age for each younger birth cohort for both borderline tumors and ovarian cancer. The increasing incidence of borderline ovarian tumors could be explained by an increase in diagnostic activity and by a lack of protective effect of oral contraceptive use. The decline in invasive tumors could be explained by a combination of factors, where the contribution of each is uncertain: shifting exposure to risk factors, a protective effect of oral contraceptive use, and increased detection of and removal of precancerous lesions. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Induction of IgG antibodies to MUC1 and survival in patients with epithelial ovarian cancer
Authors: Oei Angèle L.M. , Moreno María , Verheijen René H.M. , Sweep Fred C.G.J. , Thomas Chris M.G. , Massuger Leon F.A.G. , von Mensdorff‐Pouilly Silvia
Published: July 2008

We investigated whether epithelial ovarian cancer patients participating in a randomized phase III trial comparing single intraperitoneal (IP) administration of yttrium‐90‐labeled murine HMFG1 (90Y‐muHMFG1) plus standard treatment (AT)vs.standard treatment (ST) alone developed IgG ab to MUC1 that had an impact on disease outcome. Serial serum samples from 208 patients in the AT and 199 patients in the ST arm were tested for IgG ab to MUC1 (anti‐MUC1 IgG). Anti‐MUC1 IgG at weeks 4, 8 and 12 ranked higher in the AT than in the ST arm (p< 0.001). The median (range) area under the curve (AUC) of anti‐MUC1 IgG for weeks 1 to 12 was 5.53 (1.51–39.51) and 3.92 (1.17–68.74) for the AT and ST arm, respectively (p< 0.001). An anti‐MUC1 IgG AUC > 13 was associated with a benefit in overall survival (OS) and disease‐free survival (DFS) in the AT arm in univariate (p= 0.043 and 0.036, respectively), but not in multivariate analysis (Cox proportional hazards regression model). Kaplan‐Meier analysis showed a benefit in OS and DFS in patients with an anti‐MUC1 IgG AUC > 13 in the AT arm (p= 0.043 and 0.036, respectively), but not in the ST arm. A single IP injection with muHMFG1 did not lead to a survival benefit in the randomized trial, but it induced ab to MUC1 that were associated with an improved disease outcome in patients with highest levels of anti‐MUC1 IgG. Immunotherapy against MUC1 could be effective in the treatment of epithelial ovarian cancer. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.