bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Participation of the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway in rat oocyte activation
Authors: Tan Xin , Peng An , Wang Yong-Chao , Wang Yue , Sun Qing-Yuan
Published: May 2005

The role of the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway (UPP) in mitosis is well known. However, its role in meiotic division is still poorly documented, especially in the activation of mammalian oocytes. In this study, the role of proteasome in the spontaneous and parthenogenetic activation of rat oocytes was investigated. We found that ALLN, an inhibitor of proteasome, when applied to metaphase II oocytes, inhibited spontaneous activation, blocked extrusion of the second polar body (PB) and caused the withdrawal of the partially extruded second PB. ALLN also inhibited the parthenogenetic activation induced by cycloheximide, but had no effect on the formation of pronuclei in activated eggs. In metaphase and anaphase, ubiquitin and proteasome localized to the meiotic spindle, concentrating on both sides of the oocyte–second PB boundary during PB extrusion. This pattern of cellular distribution suggests that UPP may have a role in regulating nuclear division and cytokinesis. Ubiquitin was seen to form a ring around the pronucleus, whereas proteasome was evenly distributed in the pronuclear region. Taken together, our results indicate that (1) UPP is required for the transitions of oocytes from metaphase II to anaphase II and from anaphase II to the end of meiosis; and (2) the UPP plays a role in cytokinesis of the second meiotic division.
The head-modifier principle and multilingual term extraction
Authors: HIPPISLEY ANDREW , CHENG DAVID , AHMAD KHURSHID
Published: May 2005

Advances in language engineering may be dependent on theoretical principles originating from linguistics, since both share a common object of enquiry, natural language structures. We outline an approach to term extraction that rests on theoretical claims about the structure of words. We use the structural properties of compound words to specifically elicit the sets of terms defined by type hierarchies such as hyponymy and meronymy. The theoretical claims revolve around the head-modifier principle, which determines the formation of a major class of compounds. Significantly it has been suggested that the principle operates in languages other than English. To demonstrate the extendibility of our approach beyond English, we present a case study of term extraction in Chinese, a language whose written form is the vehicle of communication for over 1.3 billion language users, and therefore has great significance for the development of language engineering technologies.
Machine learning-based named entity recognition via effective integration of various evidences
Authors: ZHOU GUODONG , SU JIAN
Published: May 2005

Named entity recognition identifies and classifies entity names in a text document into some predefined categories. It resolves the “who”, “where” and “how much” problems in information extraction and leads to the resolution of the “what” and “how” problems in further processing. This paper presents a Hidden Markov Model (HMM) and proposes a HMM-based named entity recognizer implemented as the system PowerNE. Through the HMM and an effective constraint relaxation algorithm to deal with the data sparseness problem, PowerNE is able to effectively apply and integrate various internal and external evidences of entity names. Currently, four evidences are included: (1) a simple deterministic internal feature of the words, such as capitalization and digitalization; (2) an internal semantic feature of the important triggers; (3) an internal gazetteer feature, which determines the appearance of the current word string in the provided gazetteer list; and (4) an external macro context feature, which deals with the name alias phenomena. In this way, the named entity recognition problem is resolved effectively. PowerNE has been benchmarked with the Message Understanding Conferences (MUC) data. The evaluation shows that, using the formal training and test data of the MUC-6 and MUC-7 English named entity tasks, and it achieves the F-measures of 96.6 and 94.1, respectively. Compared with the best reported machine learning system, it achieves a 1.7 higher F-measure with one quarter of the training data on MUC-6, and a 3.6 higher F-measure with one ninth of the training data on MUC-7. In addition, it performs slightly better than the best reported handcrafted rule-based systems on MUC-6 and MUC-7.
Finite-state multimodal integration and understanding
Authors: JOHNSTON MICHAEL , BANGALORE SRINIVAS
Published: May 2005

Multimodal interfaces are systems that allow input and/or output to be conveyed over multiple channels such as speech, graphics, and gesture. In addition to parsing and understanding separate utterances from different modes such as speech or gesture, multimodal interfaces also need to parse and understand composite multimodal utterances that are distributed over multiple input modes. We present an approach in which multimodal parsing and understanding are achieved using a weighted finite-state device which takes speech and gesture streams as inputs and outputs their joint interpretation. In comparison to previous approaches, this approach is significantly more efficient and provides a more general probabilistic framework for multimodal ambiguity resolution. The approach also enables tight-coupling of multimodal understanding with speech recognition. Since the finite-state approach is more lightweight in computational needs, it can be more readily deployed on a broader range of mobile platforms. We provide speech recognition results that demonstrate compensation effects of exploiting gesture information in a directory assistance and messaging task using a multimodal interface.
The Barroso Drama: Campidoglio, Rome – 29 October 2004: How the Form Was Brought to Matter
Authors: Eijsbouts W.T.
Published: May 2005

Meeting of constitutional form and matter. Matter in the sense of Machiavelli's ‘political life’, clashes between the establisment and the people. EU investiture struggle and its outcomes. Structural elements of the EU Constitution: authority, representation, political federalism.
The Barroso Drama: All Roads Lead to Rome
Authors: Zucca Lorenzo
Published: May 2005

Italian governmental crisis at the origin of Rocco Buttiglione's nomination. Hearing before Civil Liberties committee and unprecedented rejection of Buttiglione. October events trigger changes in Italian governmental team. The EU: a Catholic conspiracy?
The Barroso Drama: Brussels for Beginners. Mr. Kovács's Curious Adventures between Capitals
Authors: Horváth Enikő
Published: May 2005

Kovács's survival in the Barroso Commission through change of portfolio. Result of Hungarian and European party politics. Interconnected fates of various Commissioners.
The Barroso Drama: The Blair Necessities
Authors: MacDonald Euan
Published: May 2005

British successes and failures in Barroso Drama. Several reasons for Blair's support for nomination Barroso. Blair's personal choice for Peter Mandelson. Ambivalence in Mandelson's action during the affair. Pressure from London on MEPs.
The Barroso Drama: Pöttering and Schulz Take Over Action and Inaction of National Politics in the Making of the Barroso Commission
Authors: Thym Daniel
Published: May 2005

Appointment of European Commission and German Constitution. Influence EPP's electoral victory and German internal politics on Barroso's appointment. Socialist Verheugen accepted by rightwing German politicians. Role of national politicians and German MEPs in Buttiglione crisis.
The Barroso Drama: Kroes At All Cost To the Roots of the Dutch Presidency's Failure
Authors: van Keulen Mendeltje
Published: May 2005

Dutch debate on choice of candidate for European Commission. Criticism EP on Neelie Smit Kroes's candidacy. Dutch incapacity to find a solution. National inter-party struggles and impact on European affairs.
The Barroso Drama: The Invisible Elephant Member States' Collective Involvement in the Appointment of the Barroso Commission
Authors: Beukers Thomas
Published: May 2005

Collective involvement of member states. Law and practice of nominating the European Commission president and his team. The responsibility to resolve the political conflict and the failure of the Dutch Council presidency. The European Council providing the political authority necessary for a solution.
Justice and Home Affairs in the EU Constitutional Treaty. What Added Value for the ‘Area of Freedom, Security and Justice’?
Authors: Monar Jörg
Published: May 2005

Area of freedom, security and justice. One of the most significant developments in European Integration. Assessment of the contribution of the Constitutional Treaty to further development. Formal abolition of pillar structure partially undermined by special provisions. Relevance of Charter of Fundamental Rights. Union powers strengthened, but likelihood of restrictive interpretation. Revised policy objectives: few new openings, but possibly important implications. Solidarity as a new integration principle. Is majority voting justified in particularly sensitive areas such as police and judicial co-operation in criminal matters? Monstrosity of the emergency-brake procedure. Strengthening of European Parliament and Court of Justice, but not overall. Perspective of enhanced co-operation.
Spain Tribunal Constitucional on the European Constitution. Declaration of 13 December 2004
Authors: Schutte Camilo B.
Published: May 2005

When thinking about the integration of the European sovereign states in the European Union, one does not need to be a euro-sceptic to perceive a big fish devouring little fish. Of course, the individuality of the different countries is assured in the European Union. Article I-5(1) of the European Constitution establishes that the Union shall respect their national identities inherent in their fundamental structures, political and constitutional, and their essential state functions, including ensuring the territorial integrity of the State, maintaining law and order and safeguarding national security. Europe is to be ‘United in diversity’. Yet, however considerate the Union may be of the various European countries, unity can exist only by the grace of all member states' loyally fulfilling their European obligations.
France Conseil Constitutionnel on the European Constitutional Treaty. Decision of 19 November 2004, 2004-505 DC.
Authors: Carcassonne Guy
Published: May 2005

The only real surprise of the recent decision of the French Conseil constitutionnel [constitutional Council] concerning the compatibility between the European and the French Constitutions was the timing of it. According to Article 54 of the French Constitution, a treaty may be submitted for constitutional review at any time before ratification. In this instance, Jacques Chirac acted with unusual promptness, submitting his request on the very day the Treaty was signed, 29 October 2004. The Conseil itself reacted with equal speed, issuing its decision exactly three weeks later on 19 November 2004. Behind both courses of action lies the shadow of political concern related to the Socialist Party referendum on the European Constitution.
Estonia Supreme Court on Reopening of Judicial Proceedings Following a Judgement of the European Court of Human Rights. Decisions of 6 January 2004, case No. 3-1-13-03 and 10 January 2004, case No. 3-3-2-1-04
Authors: Annus Taavi
Published: May 2005

In the fourteen years since Estonia regained its independence in 1991, the Europeanisation of its legal, political and economic system has been rapid. Estonia became a member of the Council of Europe in May 1993 and has, thereafter, ratified most of its important international human rights conventions. Before becoming a member of the European Union in May 2004, a large-scale harmonisation of its laws with the EU standards has taken place. Two recent decisions by the Estonian Supreme Court, the subject of the present annotation, on the application of the European Convention of Human Rights (ECHR) and the execution of the decisions of the European Court of Human Rights illustrate the way in which European standards have become a part of the Estonian legal system.
The European Convention Method in Hindsight
Authors: Sap John W.
Published: May 2005

PETER NORMAN, The Accidental Constitution, the story of the European Convention. Brussels: EuroComment, 2003, 406 p. ISBN 9077110054

KLEMENS H. FISCHER, Konvent zur Zukunft Europas. Texte und Kommentar. Baden-Baden: Nomos Verlagsgesellschaft, 2003, 542 p. ISBN 383290171X

ETIENNE DE PONCINS, Vers une Constitution européenne. Texte commenté du projet de traité constitutionnel établi par la Convention européenne. Paris: Editions 10/18, 2003, 528 p. ISBN 2264038179

VALÉRY GISCARD D'ESTAING, La Constitution pour l'Europe. Paris: Editions Albin Michel, 2003, 396 p. ISBN 2226142010

JEAN-LUC DEHAENE, De Europese uitdaging. Van uitbreiding tot integratie. Leuven: Van Halewyck, 2004, 237 p. ISBN 9056175645
Paleostress field evolution of the Australian continent since the Eocene
Authors: Dyksterhuis S. , Müller R. D. , Albert R. A.
Published: May 2005

Although the low‐order present stress field of most continents is fairly well established, information on paleostress fields is generally sparse. Knowledge of paleostresses is crucial for understanding brittle tectonic reactivation through time. The Indian‐Australian plate lends itself well to a reconstruction of paleostresses, as it has undergone enormous changes in plate‐driving forces through the Tertiary, and there is a rich record of fault reactivation from sedimentary basins. We reconstruct the plate boundary configuration and age‐area distribution of ocean crust around Australia through time to obtain estimates for ridge push, slab pull, and collisional forces acting on the Indian‐Australian plate since the Eocene. Other model parameters we explore are the effects of the Australian‐Antarctic discordance and the mechanical strength of the Australian continental margin. We apply these constraints to model the orientation of the maximum horizontal compressive stress (SHmax) regime for the present, early Miocene, and early Eocene using the commercial software ABAQUS™ along with the optimization software Nimrod/O. We use an elastic two‐dimensional plane stress finite element model with a resolution of ∼0.2° in both longitude and latitude. Realistic elastic parameters representing different rock types and geologic provinces for the Australian continent have been included to model the stress field of a heterogeneous plate. We show that spatially significant rotations of SHmax directions can be modeled as a consequence of perturbations of SHmax in areas of juxtaposed rigid and compliant rheologies. The absence of the collisional Papua New Guinea boundary in the Miocene and reduced ridge push force from the south result in stress directions considerably different from the present. Stress directions over the northern Australian continent in the early Miocene in particular show large disparity with present stress directions. Stress orientations for the Australian plate during the early Eocene are controlled predominantly by ridge push forces arising from spreading in the Wharton Basin in the Indian Ocean and vary substantially with stress directions in the early Miocene and the present because of the drastically different plate geometry and boundary configurations. Fault reactivation histories observed on the northwest shelf of Australia and in the Bass Strait region are consistent with modeled changes in stress directions through time.
Influence of aerosol climatology on forecasts of the African Easterly Jet
Authors: Tompkins A. M. , Cardinali C. , Morcrette J.‐J. , Rodwell M.
Published: May 2005

The European Centre for Medium‐Range Forecasts (ECMWF) recently implemented a revised annually varying aerosol climatology in their forecasting system. The new climatology greatly reduces the aerosol optical depth over the Sahara compared to the previous time‐invariant climatology. Using high resolution dropsonde data in addition to the model analyses, it is demonstrated that the direct radiative effect resulting from the aerosol climatology modification significantly improves the ECMWF 5‐day forecasts of the African Easterly Jet, the central dynamical feature in this region.
Estimating moisture transport over oceans using space‐based observations
Authors: Liu W. Timothy , Tang Wenqing
Published: May 2005

The moisture transport integrated over the depth of the atmosphere (Θ) is estimated over oceans using satellite data. The transport is the product of the precipitable water and an equivalent velocity (ue), which, by definition, is the depth‐averaged wind velocity weighted by humidity. An artificial neural network is employed to construct a relation between the surface wind velocity measured by the spaceborne scatterometer and coincidentuederived using humidity and wind profiles measured by rawinsondes and produced by reanalysis of operational numerical weather prediction (NWP). On the basis of this relation,Θfields are produced over global tropical and subtropical oceans (40°N–40°S) at 0.25° latitude‐longitude and twice daily resolutions from August 1999 to December 2003 using surface wind vector from QuikSCAT and precipitable water from the Tropical Rain Measuring Mission. The deriveduewere found to capture the major temporal variability when compared with radiosonde measurements. The average error over global oceans, when compared with NWP data, was comparable with the instrument accuracy specification of space‐based scatterometers. The global distribution exhibits the known characteristics of, and reveals more detailed variability than in, previous data.
Surface rainfall processes as simulated in a cloud‐resolving model
Authors: Gao Shouting , Cui Xiaopeng , Zhou Yushu , Li Xiaofan
Published: May 2005

Surface rain rate can be simply formulated with the sum of moisture and cloud sources/sinks. In this study the moisture sink comprises the local moisture change, moisture convergence (with an imposed vertical velocity), and surface evaporation, whereas the cloud source/sink comprises the local hydrometeor change since the cyclic boundary condition leads to zero hydrometeor convergence. The sources/sinks and their contributions to the surface rain rate are examined based on hourly zonal mean simulation data from a two‐dimensional cloud‐resolving model. The model is forced by the large‐scale vertical velocity, zonal wind, and horizontal advections obtained from Tropical Ocean Global Atmosphere Coupled Ocean‐Atmosphere Response Experiment (TOGA COARE). Although variation in the moisture sink largely accounts for much of the variation in the surface rain rate, the cloud source/sink may modify the surface rain rate significantly. The magnitude of the cloud source/sink increases when the zonal mean surface rain rate increases from 0 to 1 mm h−1, and it decreases when the rain rate increases from 1 to 2 mm h−1. The cloud source/sink is further analyzed by breaking it into ice and water hydrometeors. The ice hydrometeors may account for more contributions to the cloud variations than the water hydrometeors, and their growth may lead the surface rain rate by 1–2 hours.
Antidiabetic sulphonylureas activate mitochondrial permeability transition in rat skeletal muscle
Authors: Skalska Jolanta , Debska Grazyna , Kunz Wolfram S , Szewczyk Adam
Published: May 2005

Antidiabetic sulphonylureas can bind to various intracellular organelles including mitochondria. The aim of this study was to monitor the influence of antidiabetic sulphonylureas on membrane permeability in mitochondria isolated from rat skeletal muscle.

The effects of glibenclamide (and other sulphonylurea derivatives) on mitochondrial function were studied by measuring mitochondrial swelling, mitochondrial membrane potential, respiration rate and Ca2+ transport into mitochondria.

We observed that glibenclamide induced mitochondrial swelling (EC50=8.2±2.5 μM), decreased the mitochondrial membrane potential and evoked Ca2+ efflux from the mitochondrial matrix. These effects were blocked by 2 μM cyclosporin A, an inhibitor of the mitochondrial permeability transition.

Moreover, 30 μM glibenclamide accelerated the respiratory rate in the presence of glutamate/malate, substrates of complex I of the mitochondrial respiratory chain.

In conclusion, we postulate that the antidiabetic sulphonylureas activate the mitochondrial permeability transition in skeletal muscle by increasing its sensitivity to Ca2+.

British Journal of Pharmacology (2005) 145, 785–791. doi:10.1038/sj.bjp.0706214
The ventral tegmental area as a putative target for tachykinins in cardiovascular regulation
Authors: Deschamps Kathleen , Couture Réjean
Published: May 2005

Tachykinin receptor agonists and antagonists were microinjected into the ventral tegmental area (VTA) to study the relative participation of the three tachykinin receptors in cardiovascular regulation in freely behaving rat.

Selective agonists (1–100 pmol) for NK1 ([Sar9, Met (O2)11]SP), NK2 ([β‐Ala8]NKA (4–10)) and NK3 (senktide) receptors evoked increases in blood pressure, heart rate (HR) along with behavioural manifestations (face washing, sniffing, head scratching, rearing, wet dog shake). At 1 pmol, NK1 and NK3 agonists did not affect behaviour and blood pressure but only HR.

Tachykinin agonists‐induced cardiovascular responses were selectively and reversibly blocked by the prior injection of antagonists for NK1 receptors (LY 303870 ((R)‐1‐[N‐(2‐methoxybenzyl)acetylamino]‐3‐(1H‐indol‐3‐yl)‐2‐[N‐(2‐(4‐(piperidin‐1‐yl)piperidin‐1‐yl)acetyl)amino]propane), 5 nmol), NK2 receptors (SR 48968 ([(S)‐N‐methyl‐N‐[4‐acetylamino‐4‐phenylpiperidino‐2‐(3,4‐dichlorophenyl)butyl]benzamide]), 250 pmol) and NK3 receptors (SB 235375 ((−)‐(S)‐N‐(α‐ethylbenzyl)‐3‐(carboxymethoxy)‐2‐phenylquinoline‐4‐carboxamide), 25 nmol). With the exception of the NK2 agonist, most behavioural effects were also blocked by antagonists.

Tachykinin agonists‐induced cardiovascular responses were inhibited by intravenous (i.v.) treatments with antagonists for D1 dopamine receptor (SCH23390, 0.2 mg kg−1) and β1‐adrenoceptor (atenolol, 5 mg kg−1) but not for D2 dopamine receptor (raclopride, 0.16 mg kg−1). Behavioural responses were blocked by SCH23390 only.

The present study provides the first pharmacological evidence that the three tachykinin receptors in the rat VTA can affect the autonomic control of blood pressure and HR by increasing midbrain dopaminergic transmission. This mechanism may be involved in the coordination of behavioural and cardiovascular responses to stress and noxious stimulation.

British Journal of Pharmacology (2005) 145, 712–727. doi:10.1038/sj.bjp.0706249
Inhibition of fatty acid amide hydrolase and monoacylglycerol lipase by the anandamide uptake inhibitor VDM11: evidence that VDM11 acts as an FAAH substrate
Authors: Vandevoorde Séverine , Fowler Christopher J
Published: May 2005

There is some dispute concerning the extent to which the uptake inhibitor VDM11 (N‐(4‐hydroxy‐2‐methylphenyl) arachidonoyl amide) is capable of inhibiting the metabolism of the endocannabinoid anandamide (AEA) by fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH). In view of a recent study demonstrating that the closely related compound AM404 (N‐(4‐hydroxyphenyl)arachidonylamide) is a substrate for FAAH, we re‐examined the interaction of VDM11 with FAAH.

In the presence of fatty acid‐free bovine serum albumin (BSA, 0.125% w v−1), both AM404 and VDM11 inhibited the metabolism of AEA by rat brain FAAH with similar potencies (IC50 values of 2.1 and 2.6 μM, respectively). The compounds were about 10‐fold less potent as inhibitors of the metabolism of 2‐oleoylglycerol (2‐OG) by cytosolic monoacylglycerol lipase (MAGL).

The potency of VDM11 towards FAAH was dependent upon the assay concentration of fatty acid‐free bovine serum albumin (BSA). Thus, in the absence of fatty acid‐free BSA, the IC50 value for inhibition of FAAH was reduced by a factor of about two (from 2.9 to 1.6 μM). A similar reduction in the IC50 value for the inhibition of membrane bound MAGL by both this compound (from 14 to 6 μM) and by arachidonoyl serinol (from 24 to 13 μM) was seen.

An HPLC assay was set up to measure 4‐amino‐m‐cresol, the hypothesised product of FAAH‐catalysed VDM11 hydrolysis. 4‐Amino‐m‐cresol was eluted with a retention time of ∼2.4 min, but showed a time‐dependent degradation to compounds eluting at peaks of ∼5.6 and ∼8 min. Peaks with the same retention times were also found following incubation of the membranes with VDM11, but were not seen when the membranes were preincubated with the FAAH inhibitors URB597 (3′‐carbamoyl‐biphenyl‐3‐yl‐cyclohexylcarbamate) and CAY10401 (1‐oxazolo[4,5‐b]pyridin‐2‐yl‐9‐octadecyn‐1‐one) prior to addition of VDM11. The rate of metabolism of VDM11 was estimated to be roughly 15–20% of that for anandamide.

It is concluded that VDM11 is an inhibitor of FAAH under the assay conditions used here, and that the inhibition may at least in part be a consequence of the compound acting as an alternative substrate.

British Journal of Pharmacology (2005) 145, 885–893. doi:10.1038/sj.bjp.0706253
Heteroactivation of cytochrome P450 1A1 by teas and tea polyphenols
Authors: Anger Dana L , Petre Maria‐Alexandra , Crankshaw Denis J
Published: May 2005

We studied 7‐ethoxyresorufin deethylase as an index of cytochrome P4501A1 (CYP1A1) activity in liver microsomes from rats pretreated with 3‐methylcholanthrene. The enzyme had complex kinetics compatible with a multisite model.

At 1 μM substrate, brewed black, green and white teas had complex effects on enzyme activity consisting of activation at low concentrations and inhibition at higher concentrations.

Data fit well to a two‐site model that allowed us to determine maximal activation (% increase above control), pEC50 for activation (g ml−1) and pIC50 for inhibition (g ml−1). These parameters were 190±40, 5.9±0.1 and 4.51±0.09 for green tea, 350±40, 5.43±0.05 and 5.43±0.05 for black tea and 230±80, 5.3±0.3 and 4.7±0.2 for white tea, respectively.

The effects of the brewed teas were mimicked to different degrees by the green tea polyphenols. Maximal activation, pEC50 (M) and pIC50 (M) were: (−)‐epicatechin, 55±9, 5.4±0.3, 2±1; (−)‐epicatechin gallate, 160±60, 6.2±0.3, 5.28±0.06; (−)‐epigallocatechin 30±10, 6.5±0.5, 3.37±0.08; and (−)‐epigallocatechin gallate 130±40, 6.7±0.3, 5.0±0.1. A crude extract of black tea polyphenols inhibited 7‐ethoxyresorufin deethylase, but did not cause enzyme activation consistently.

Enzyme activation was dependent upon substrate concentration.

Heteroactivation of CYP1A1 may partially explain the lack of agreement between biological and epidemiological evidence of a role for tea in cancer prevention.

British Journal of Pharmacology (2005) 145, 926–933. doi:10.1038/sj.bjp.0706255
Intravenous adenosine protects the myocardium primarily by activation of a neurogenic pathway
Authors: Manintveld Olivier C , te Lintel Hekkert Maaike , Keijzer Elisabeth , Verdouw Pieter D , Duncker Dirk J
Published: May 2005

Endogenous adenosine is a trigger for ischemic myocardial preconditioning (IPC). Although intravascular administration of adenosine has been used to further unravel the mechanism of protection by IPC, it is questionable whether adenosine and IPC employ the same signaling pathways to exert cardioprotection.

We therefore investigated whether the active metabolic barrier of the endothelium prevents an increase in myocardial interstitial adenosine concentrations by intravenous adenosine, using microdialysis, and also the role of NO and activation of a neurogenic pathway in the cardioprotection by adenosine.

In pentobarbital‐anesthetized rats, area at risk and infarct size (IS) were determined 120 min after a 60‐min coronary artery occlusion (CAO), using trypan blue and nitro‐blue‐tetrazolium staining, respectively.

IPC with a single 15‐min CAO and a 15‐min adenosine infusion (ADO, 200 μg min−1 i.v.) limited IS to the same extent (IS=41±6% and IS=40±4%, respectively) compared to control rats (IS=63±3%, both P<0.05). However, IPC increased myocardial interstitial adenosine levels seven‐fold from 4.3±0.7 to 27.1±10.0 μM (P<0.05), while ADO had no effect on interstitial adenosine (4.1±1.2 μM), or any of the other purines.

The NO synthase inhibitor Nω‐nitro‐L‐arginine (LNNA), which did not affect IS (IS=62±3%), attenuated the protection by ADO (IS=56±3%; P<0.05 vs ADO, P=NS vs LNNA). The ganglion blocker hexamethonium, which had also no effect on IS (IS=66±3%), blunted the protection by ADO (IS=55±4%; P<0.05 vs ADO and vs hexamethonium).

These observations demonstrate that cardioprotection by ADO is dependent on NO, and is primarily mediated by activation of a neurogenic pathway.

British Journal of Pharmacology (2005) 145, 703–711. doi:10.1038/sj.bjp.0706258
Cardioprotection with adenosine: ‘a riddle wrapped in a mystery’
Authors: Przyklenk Karin , Whittaker Peter
Published: May 2005

Review of the published literature on adenosine and cardioprotection could lead one to paraphrase the famous words of Sir Winston Churchill (Radio broadcast, 1 October 1939 (in reference to Russia)) and conclude: ‘I cannot forecast to you the action of adenosine. It is a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma’. That is, although it is well‐established that adenosine can render cardiomyocytes resistant to lethal ischemia/reperfusion‐induced injury, new and intriguing insights continue to emerge as to the mechanisms by which adenosine might limit myocardial infarct size.

British Journal of Pharmacology (2005) 145, 699–700. doi:10.1038/sj.bjp.0706261
Hybridism in the Kunzea ericoides complex (Myrtaceae): an analysis of artificial crosses
Authors: de Lange P. J. , Toelken H. R. , Murray B. G. , Datson P. M.
Published: May 2005

Observations of wild plants and herbarium specimens suggest that hybridism is a feature of the Australasian Kunzea ericoides (Myrtaceae) complex. In this study 73 artificial cross combinations were attempted with New Zealand material of Leptospermum scoparium, five Kunzea species, two varieties and six informally recognised entities within the New Zealand K. ericoides complex. The results of these crosses are documented, and for five hybrids spanning the intergeneric, interspecific and intraspecific crosses attempted, we provide a more detailed assessment based on morphology, molecular (nrDNA and chloroplast) sequence variation, and genomic in situ hybridisation (GISH). This is the first time GISH has been used in the Myrtaceae. Hybrids were easily generated between the New Zealand members of the K. ericoides complex, but not between them and the Australian K. ericoides complex. We were unable to produce hybrids between the New Zealand K. ericoides complex and two more distantly related Australian species, K. baxteri and K. parvifolia. Intergeneric crosses between New Zealand plants of Leptospermum scoparium, Kunzea sinclairii and an informally recognised variant K. aff. ericoides (b) were successfully produced, but failed to flower. The molecular evidence and observations after GISH show that even when low levels of sequence divergence exist, genome differentiation, to different extents, can be observed. The results confirm some suspected New Zealand hybrid complexes. However, while hybrids were easily generated artificially, natural instances of hybridism appear to be largely confined to those habitats significantly disturbed since European settlement of both countries.
Differential adhesion of amino acids to inorganic surfaces
Authors: Willett R. L. , Baldwin K. W. , West K. W. , Pfeiffer L. N.
Published: May 2005

A fundamental, yet underexplored, materials system is the interface between biological molecules and inorganic surfaces. In an elemental approach to this problem, we have systematically examined the adhesion of amino acids to a series of inorganic surfaces including metals, insulators, and semiconductors. Significant differential adhesion is observed over the full complement of amino acids, determined largely by amino acid side-chain charge. Extensive mapping of the amino acid adhesion versus materials in multiple solutions is presented, with preliminary mechanisms derived from concentration and pH dependence. These results provide an empirical basis for building peptide to inorganic surface structures, and, using this adhesion data, we design inorganic nanostructures that are shown to selectively bind to prescribed primary peptide sequences.
P2Y
1
receptor signaling is controlled by interaction with the PDZ scaffold NHERF-2
Authors: Fam Sami R. , Paquet Maryse , Castleberry Amanda M. , Oller Heide , Lee C. Justin , Traynelis Stephen F. , Smith Yoland , Yun C. Chris , Hall Randy A.
Published: May 2005

P2Y
1
purinergic receptors (P2Y
1
Rs) mediate rises in intracellular Ca
2+
in response to ATP, but the duration and characteristics of this Ca
2+
response are known to vary markedly in distinct cell types. We screened the P2Y
1
R carboxyl terminus against a recently created proteomic array of PDZ (PSD-95/
Drosophila
Discs large/ZO-1 homology) domains and identified a previously unrecognized, specific interaction with the second PDZ domain of the scaffold NHERF-2 (Na
+
/H
+
exchanger regulatory factor type 2). Furthermore, we found that P2Y
1
R and NHERF-2 associate in cells, allowing NHERF-2-mediated tethering of P2Y
1
R to key downstream effectors such as phospholipase Cβ. Finally, we found that coexpression of P2Y
1
R with NHERF-2 in glial cells prolongs P2Y
1
R-mediated Ca
2+
signaling, whereas disruption of the P2Y
1
R–NHERF-2 interaction by point mutations attenuates the duration of P2Y
1
R-mediated Ca
2+
responses. These findings reveal that NHERF-2 is a key regulator of the cellular activity of P2Y
1
R and may therefore determine cell-specific differences in P2Y
1
R-mediated signaling.
Activated antigen-presenting cells select and present chemically modified peptides recognized by unique CD4 T cells
Authors: Herzog Jeremy , Maekawa Yoichi , Cirrito Thomas P. , Illian Beverly S. , Unanue Emil R.
Published: May 2005

CD4 T cells recognized posttranslationally modified peptides of the protein hen egg-white lysozyme (HEL), consisting of nitration of tyrosines and modifications of tryptophans in the T cell contact residues of the peptides. T cells were directed against modifications of a chemically dominant HEL peptide as well as a minor HEL peptide, bound to the class II histocompatibility molecule I-Ak. The modified peptides were generatedin vivoafter immunization with native HEL molecules or were generatedex vivoby peroxynitrite treatment of HEL. Moreover, antigen-presenting cells (APC), either macrophages or dendritic cells activated in culture orin vivo, generated the modified HEL epitopes that stimulated the T cells. In transgenic mice expressing HEL, the T cells to the modified epitopes escaped negative selection and were found, albeit fewer in number than in normal mice. Infection withListeria monocytogenesof the transgenic HEL mice generated APC containing the modifications. T cells to modified epitopes induced by activation of APC may be a component of antimicrobial immunity and autoimmune reactions.
Carbonic anhydrase XIV is enriched in specific membrane domains of retinal pigment epithelium, Müller cells, and astrocytes
Authors: Nagelhus Erlend A. , Mathiisen Thomas M. , Bateman Allen C. , Haug Finn-M. , Ottersen Ole P. , Grubb Jeffrey H. , Waheed Abdul , Sly William S.
Published: May 2005

Carbonic anhydrases (CAs) are ubiquitous enzymes important to many cell types throughout the body. They help determine levels of H
+
and HCO
–
3
and thereby regulate intracellular and extracellular pH and volume. CA XIV, an extracellular membrane-bound CA, was recently shown to be present in brain and retina. Here, we analyze the subcellular distribution of CA XIV in retina by high-resolution immunogold cytochemistry and show that the distribution in retina (on glial cells but not neurons) is different from that reported for brain (on neurons but not glia). In addition, CA XIV is strongly expressed on retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). The specific membrane domains that express CA XIV were endfoot and nonendfoot membranes on Müller cells and astrocytes and apical and basolateral membranes of RPE. Gold particle density was highest on microvilli plasma membranes of RPE, where it was twice that of glial endfoot and Müller microvilli membranes and four times that of other glial membrane domains. Neither neurons nor capillary endothelial cells showed detectable labeling for CA XIV. This enrichment of CA XIV on specific membrane domains of glial cells and RPE suggests specialization for buffering pH and volume in retinal neurons and their surrounding extracellular spaces. We suggest that CA XIV is the target of CA inhibitors that enhance subretinal fluid absorption in macular edema. In addition, CA XIV may facilitate CO
2
removal from neural retina and modulate photoreceptor function.
Field evaluation of two biochemical tests which may reflect nutritional status in three areas of Uganda
Authors: Rutishauser I. H. E. , Whitehead R. G.
Published: May 2005

1. Serum amino acid ratios and urinary hydroxyproline indices have been studied in three groups of children from different parts of Uganda. The results of these biochemical investigations are compared with clinical assessments and anthropometric measurements made at the same time.

2. In Buganda, an area where protein deficiency is prevalent, a high incidence of both abnormal hydroxyproline indices and amino acid ratios was found. In Karamoja, where a drought had caused a widespread shortage of food, the hydroxyproline indices were particularly low but the amino acid ratios were relatively normal. In Bukedi the dietary pattern was changing and becoming more like that in Buganda; this was reflected by the biochemical results obtained which were similar in the two areas.

3. The biochemical results confirmed earlier investigations, carried out in more severely ill children in a metabolic ward, which had indicated that these two tests can differentiate between primary protein deficiency and total calorie deficiency.

4. The biochemical tests confirmed the anthropometric measurements in a quantitative way, and also indicated the reason for the nutritional difficulties which could otherwise only have been surmised from the food habits of the area.
Studies on intestinal digestion in the sheep
Authors: MacRae J. C , Armstrong D. G.
Published: May 2005

1. The use of chromic oxide (Cr2O3) as an indigestible marker for studies on intestinal digestion in sheep has been examined. The sheep used were equipped with a cannula into the rumen and a re-entrant cannula in the proximal duodenum; some also had a re-entrant cannula in the terminal ileum. The marker was administered twice daily in the form of Cr2O3-impregnated paper, through the rumen cannula.

2. Recovery of Cr2O3 in the faeces, based on 7-day collection periods, was satisfactory, the mean recovery for all seven experiments being 99.6 ± 0.7%. In seventeen 24 h collections of digesta entering the proximal duodenum, the mean recovery of the daily dose of marker was 83.7% (range 63.6-148.4%); in eleven such collections at the terminal ileum the mean recovery was 77.3% (54.0-90.0%).

3. Detailed examination of the concentrations of Cr2O3 in dry matter was made with individual samples taken during single 24 h periods for five duodenal and three ileal collection periods. There were always marked variations in these concentrations. It is concluded that use of short collection periods to give mean values for the flow of digesta throughout the 24 h, at particular points along the tract, may lead to large errors.
Vitamin A status and the metabolism of cholesterol in the rat
Authors: Lakshmanan M. R. , Phillips W. E. J. , Brien R. L.
Published: May 2005

1. The interrelationship between cholesterol and vitamin A metabolism has been studied in rats.

2. The effect of cholesterol feeding in increasing the liver storage of cholesterol w-as enhanced during vitamin A deficiency.

3. This effect was due to an increased rate of absorption of cholesterol and not due to a decreased turnover rate.

4. Feeding of high levels of vitamin A markedly depressed the cholesterol absorption; however, its turnover was unaffected.
The effect of copper deficiency on reproduction in the female rat
Authors: Hall G. A. , Howell J. McC.
Published: May 2005

1. Eighty-seven rats were fed a diet of milk treated with hydrogen sulphide together with copper-free mineral and vitamin supplements. Forty-three of the eighty-seven rats were used controls and given Cu supplements varying from 50 to 500 μg/week. In addition to the eighty-seven rats, twenty-eight rats were fed a commercial diet.

2. Rats which did not receive Cu supplements developed signs of Cu deficiency and their liver Cu levels were significantly lower than those of control and stock animals. Oestrous cycles were normal and the majority of the rats were successfully mated.

3. Litters developed to full term in stock rats and in those given Cu supplements but the Cu- deficient rats did not produce litters.
Histological observations on foetal resorption in copper-deficient rats
Authors: Howell J. McC. , Hall G. A.
Published: May 2005

1. Twenty-six rats were fed a diet of milk treated with hydrogen sulphide together with copper-free mineral and vitamin supplements; fourteen of these rats were used as controls and were given 500 μg Cu per rat per week. Seven other rats were fed a commercial diet.

2. Mating to stock males commenced when the rats had been fed the diets for 6 weeks, and they were killed from the 10th to the 16th days of pregnancy.

3. The average number of placental sites was 17.9 in stock, 10.4 in control and 11.8 in deficient rats. Spontaneously resorbing sites were seen in three stock, seven control and six deficient animals.

4. The foetuses of the stock and control animals grew normally but in the Cu-deficient rats normal development ceased on the 13th day of pregnancy when the foetal tissues were seen to be disintegrating. Necrosis of the placenta was seen on the 15th day of pregnancy and until then blood islands were present.

5. Lesions were not seen in the maternal mammary glands, ovaries or pituitary glands.
The effect of oxygen on fermentation of sucrose by rumen micro-organisms in vitro
Authors: Czerkawski J. W. , Breckenridge Grace
Published: May 2005

1. The effect of oxygen on the fermentation of sucrose by mixed rumen micro-organisms in vitro was studied by adding oxygen to the gas phase in three ways: at the beginning of incubation, at two hourly intervals during incubation and continuously.

2. The additions of oxygen had no measurable effect on the utilization of sucrose or on the production of carbon dioxide, steam-volatile acids and particulate organic matter by the micro-organisms. The addition of oxygen at the beginning of incubation inhibited methane production and increased the accumulation of hydrogen. Similar but much less pronounced changes occurred when the oxygen was infused continuously.

3. In all the experiments there was a net uptake of oxygen by micro-organisms. When large amounts of oxygen were present in the gas phase the rates of uptake were proportional to these amounts. When small amounts of oxygen were added, the rates of uptake were independent of the amount added and had a value of approximately 5 ml/h when 100 ml of strained rumen contents were incubated.
Volatile fatty acid production in the rumen of the grazing sheep: its use as an indicator of pasture value
Authors: Weller R. A. , Pilgrim A. F. , Gray F. V.
Published: May 2005

1. An isotope dilution method, known to be satisfactory for measurement of volatile fatty acid (VFA) production in the rumen under steady-state conditions, was tested for its applicability where the VFA pool in the rumen could vary irregularly. The method indicated mean production rates closely similar to those obtained when the pool size was virtually constant. Tests carried out in a model rumen confirmed this finding and the method was accepted as suitable for measurement of VFA production in grazing sheep.

2. The method, modified to allow continuous sampling of rumen acids by dialysis, was applied to sheep grazing a mixed pasture. Mean rates of VFA production determined in seven sheep during fourteen 3-day periods throughout winter, spring and summer months ranged from 3.4 to 5.3 moles daily, production increasing during the period of growth of the pasture, and declining again with its drying-off.

3. The pasture was at all times abundant; the findings are therefore considered to represent the pasture's full potential yield of VFA to the sheep and so to indicate its changing value in this respect as the seasons progressed.

4. Results from sheep given roughages and from the grazing sheep indicated that, despite irregular intake, good predictions of mean VFA production rates could be made from mean VFA concentrations in the rumen fluid.
Biological evaluation of rapeseed meal, soya-bean meal and casein fed to the weanling and the mature rat
Authors: Drouliscos N. J. , Bowland J. P.
Published: May 2005

1. The biological evaluation of solvent and prepress-solvent processed rapeseed meals RM(S) and RM(PS) was carried out with the weanling (phase 1) and the mature (phase 2) rat. The nutritional indices measured were compared with those for diets containing soyabean meal SM and casein CS.

2. The true nitrogen digestibility (td(N)) for RM(S), RM(PS), SM and CS in the weanling rat was (%) 78.9 f±1.2, 77.9±2.7, 90.4±0.9 and 96.0±0.6 (P < 0.01) respectively. Net protein utilization was (%) 68.9±10.1, 65.6±3.5, 80.6±4.8 and 81.7±3.1 (P < 0.05) respectively. Biological value was (%) 83.0±7.9, 84.1±5.6, 8.90±5.1 and 85.0±3.4 (P < 0.05) respectively. The same indices when measured in the mature rat showed an increase over those obtained in the weanling rat.

3. The growth-promoting effects of the test diets were evaluated over a period of 8 weeks withad lib. feeding between phases 1 and 2. Protein efficiency ratio averaged 2.0±0.14, 1.9±0.35, 2.4±0.39 and 2.3±0.25 for the RM(S), RM(PS), SM and CS treatments respectively.

4. The daily endogenous urinary N excretion was 1.58±0.14 mg N/basal kcal or 254 mg N/kg body-weight for the weanling rat and 0.16 mg N/basal kcal or 18 mg N/kg body-weight for the mature rat. Metabolic faecal N excretion was 98.0±9.3 mg N/kg body-weight, or 27.9% of the total N output for the weanling rat, and 37.9±7.2 mg N/kg body-weight, or 67.3% of the total N output for the mature rat during the ‘protein-free’ feeding periods.

5. The fresh weight of the thyroid gland per kg metabolic body size was 70, 90, 40 and 40 mg respectively for the RM(S), RM(PS), SM and CS dietary treatments.

6. The moisture content of the carcasses was 66.9±3.1, 63.6±2.3 and 64.2±2.2 and the protein content on a dry-matter basis was 55.9±9.6, 50.2±6.4 and 53.1±4.9 for the RM (S and PS), SM and CS diets respectively. The results suggest an increased lean body mass in the rats receiving the rapeseed meal treatments.

7. Under the conditions of this experiment solvent-extracted rapeseed meal was superior to prepress-solvent meal on the basis of rat growth response and of results for nutritional indices. Both rapeseed meals were inferior to soya-bean meal and casein.