bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Virtual office hours using a tablet PC: E‐lluminating biochemistry in an online environment
Authors: Kohorst Kelly , Cox James R.
Published: May 2007

The availability of online collaboration software has provided new opportunities for instructors to interact with students outside the classroom. This report describes how Elluminate Live!®, a particular conferencing software package, can be used with a tablet PC to conduct virtual office hours in a biochemistry course. The educational value of engaging students in an online environment, with text messaging, voice‐over‐internet protocol (VoIP), and application sharing is also discussed. A student perspective is provided to illustrate the advantages of conducting virtual office hours and how the combination of online collaboration software and tablet PC technology can provide an enhanced learning experience.
Lymphedema after gynecological cancer treatment
Authors: Beesley Vanessa , Janda Monika , Eakin Elizabeth , Obermair Andreas , Battistutta Diana
Published: May 2007

BACKGROUND.

Few studies have evaluated lymphedema after gynecological cancer treatment. The aim of this research was to establish prevalence, correlates, and supportive care needs of gynecological cancer survivors who develop lymphedema.

METHODS.

In 2004, a population‐based cross‐sectional mail survey (56% response rate) was completed by 802 gynecological cancer survivors. The questionnaire included demographic questions, a validated, generic supportive care needs measure, and a supplementary, newly developed, lymphedema needs module.

RESULTS.

Ten percent (95% confidence interval [CI], 8%–12%) of participants reported being diagnosed with lymphedema, and a further 15% (95% CI, 13%–17%) reported undiagnosed “symptomatic” lower limb swelling. Diagnosed lymphedema was more prevalent (36%) amongst vulvar cancer survivors. For cervical cancer survivors, those who had radiotherapy or who had lymph nodes removed had higher odds of developing swelling. For uterine and ovarian cancer survivors, those who had lymph nodes removed or who were overweight or obese had higher odds of developing swelling. Gynecological cancer survivors with lymphedema had higher supportive care needs in the information and symptom management domains compared with those who had no swelling.

CONCLUSIONS.

This population‐based study provided evidence that lymphedema is a morbidity experienced by a significant proportion of gynecological cancer survivors and that there are considerable levels of associated unmet needs. Women at risk of lymphedema would benefit from instructions about early signs and symptoms and provision of referral information. Cancer 2007. © 2007 American Cancer Society.
Exploring the robustness of BitTorrent peer‐to‐peer content distribution systems
Authors: Liogkas Nikitas , Nelson Robert , Kohler Eddie , Zhang Lixia
Published: May 2007

This paper assesses BitTorrent's robustness against selfish peers who try to download content faster than their fair share by abusing existing protocol mechanisms. We present three exploits that can deliver potential benefits to a selfish peer and evaluate their impact on both public and private download sessions. Our results show that BitTorrent is quite robust against these exploits. Although selfish peers can sometimes attain high download throughput and compliant peers' download rates suffer slightly in consequence, we observe no significant degradation of the overall system's quality of service. We identify scenarios where a selfish peer could attain significant benefits at the expense of compliant peers, and discuss the protocol characteristics that render these scenarios unlikely and hence lead to the system's robustness. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Gradual development of a genome‐wide H3‐K9 trimethylation pattern in paternally derived pig pronucleus
Authors: Jeong Young Sun , Yeo Seungeun , Park Jung Sun , Lee Kyung‐Kwang , Kang Yong‐Kook
Published: May 2007

The cytoplasm of a mature oocyte contains many protein complexes that are programmed to restructure incoming sperm chromatins on fertilization. Of the complicated biochemical events that these functional machineries control, the most impressive and important is epigenetic reprogramming. Despite its importance in epigenetic resetting, or “de‐differentiation,” of gamete genomes back to an incipient status, the mechanisms of epigenetic reprogramming do not seem to be conserved among mammals. Here, we report that, unlike in the mouse, the pig sperm‐derived pronucleus is markedly trimethylated at lysine 9 of histone H3 (H3‐m3K9), which might be associated with preservation of paternally derived cytosine methylation in pig zygotes. The male H3‐m3K9 pattern is gradually established during pronucleus development, and this process occurs independently of DNA replication. Considering these unique epigenetic features, the pig zygote is, we believe, suited to serve as another model of epigenetic reprogramming that is antithetical to the well‐characterized mouse model. Developmental Dynamics 236:1509–1516, 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Expression of Notch pathway genes in mammalian epidermis and modulation by β‐Catenin
Authors: Ambler Carrie A. , Watt Fiona M.
Published: May 2007

The Notch pathway is required for hair follicle maintenance and is activated through β‐catenin induced transcription of the Notch ligand Jagged1. We show that hair follicles in the resting phase express low levels of Jagged1 and Hes1, and other Notch target genes are undetectable. In growing (anagen) follicles, Jagged1 and Hes1 expression increases, Hes5 and HeyL are expressed in distinct cell layers, and Hey2 is expressed in the dermal papilla. When β‐catenin is activated by means of an inducible transgene, Jagged1, Hes1, Hes5, HeyL, and Hey2 are up‐regulated, the sites of expression being the same in β‐catenin induced ectopic follicles as in anagen follicles. β‐Catenin also induces Hey1 in dermal papilla cells. β‐Catenin–induced up‐regulation of Jagged1 precedes induction of other Notch target genes. The different sites of expression of Hes and Hey genes suggest input from additional signaling pathways. Developmental Dynamics 236:1595–1601, 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Origin of the zebrafish endocrine and exocrine pancreas
Authors: Ward Andrea B. , Warga Rachel M. , Prince Victoria E.
Published: May 2007

Here, we report a detailed fate map of the zebrafish pancreas at the early gastrula stage of development (6 hours postfertilization; hpf). We show that, at this stage, both pancreas and liver progenitors are symmetrically localized in two broad domains relative to the dorsal organizer. We demonstrate that the dorsal and ventral pancreatic buds can derive from common progenitor pools at 6 hpf, but often derive from independent populations. Endocrine vs. exocrine pancreas show a similar pattern of progenitors, consistent with descriptions of the dorsal bud being strictly endocrine and the ventral bud primarily exocrine. In general, we find that endocrine/dorsal bud progenitors are located more dorsally than the exocrine pancreas/ventral bud progenitors. Later in gastrulation (10 hpf), pancreas progenitors have migrated to bilateral domains at the equator of the embryo. Our fate map will assist with design and interpretation of future experiments to understand early pancreas development. Developmental Dynamics 236:1558–1569, 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Nuclear accumulation of β‐catenin and transcription of downstream genes are regulated by zygotic Wnt5α and maternal Dsh in ascidian embryos
Authors: Kawai Narudo , Iida Yohei , Kumano Gaku , Nishida Hiroki
Published: May 2007

Nuclear β‐catenin plays crucial roles in the establishment of the embryonic axis and formation of mesendoderm tissues in ascidians and other animals. However, the cue responsible for nuclear accumulation of β‐catenin in the vegetal hemisphere is still unknown in ascidians. Here, we investigated the roles of Wnt5α and Dsh in the nuclear accumulation of β‐catenin and activation of its downstream genes in the ascidian Halocynthia roretzi. Wnt5α knockdown embryos lost nuclear accumulation of β‐catenin at the 64‐cell stage but not at the 32‐cell stage, and expression of Hr‐lim, one of the targets of β‐catenin, was impaired in the anterior region of the embryo. Zygotic Wnt5α expression in the anterior‐vegetal blastomeres was primarily responsible for these defects. Dsh knockdown showed no effect on nuclear localization of β‐catenin, but inhibited Hr‐lim expression in the posterior region. These results suggest that maintenance of nuclear Hr‐β‐catenin after the 64‐cell stage is regulated by zygotic Hr‐Wnt5α, and that expression of its target genes is modulated by both Hr‐Wnt5α and Hr‐Dsh. Our results also highlight the importance of nuclear accumulation of β‐catenin up to the 32‐cell stage through a still unclarified mechanism. Developmental Dynamics 236:1570–1582, 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Anger at unfairness: is it moral outrage?
Authors: Batson C. Daniel , Kennedy Christopher L. , Nord Lesley‐Anne , Stocks E. L. , Fleming D'Yani A. , Marzette Christian M. , Lishner David A. , Hayes Robin E. , Kolchinsky Leah M. , Zerger Tricia
Published: May 2007

Anger at unfair treatment has been called moral outrage. However, moral outrage—anger at the violation of a moral standard—should be distinguished from personal anger at being harmed and empathic anger at seeing another for whom one cares harmed. Across a preliminary experiment and a main experiment, both designed to manipulate the appraisal conditions for these three forms of anger, we found evidence of personal anger and empathic anger, but little evidence of moral outrage. Participants perceived unfair treatment of another, even another for whom they had not been induced to feel empathy, to be as unfair as participants perceived unfair treatment of themselves. But the appraisal conditions that evoked anger were unfair treatment of self and unfair treatment of a cared‐for other, not unfairness per se. In the absence of empathic concern, unfair treatment of another evoked little anger. Possible implications for understanding moral emotion and moral motivation are suggested. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A geostatistical method for Texas NexRad data calibration
Authors: Li Bo , Eriksson Marian , Srinivasan Raghavan , Sherman Michael
Published: May 2007

Rainfall is one of the most important hydrologic model inputs and is recognized as a random process in time and space. Rain gauges generally provide good quality data, however they are usually too sparse to capture the spatial variability. Radar estimates provide a better spatial representation of rainfall patterns, but they are subject to substantial biases. Our calibration of radar estimates using gauge data takes season, rainfall type, and rainfall amount into account, and is accomplished via a combination of threshold estimation, bias reduction, regression techniques, and geostatistical procedures. We explore the varying‐coefficient model to adapt to the temporal variability of rainfall. The methods are illustrated using Texas rainfall data in 2003, which includes Weather Surveillance Radar‐1988 Doppler (WSR‐88D) radar‐reflectivity data and the corresponding rain gauge measurements. Simulation experiments are carried out to evaluate the accuracy of our methodology. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The effects of reservoir geometry on the seismic response of gravity dams
Authors: Millán M. A. , Young Y. L. , Prévost J. H.
Published: May 2007

Conventional seismic analysis of gravity dams assumes that the behaviour of the dam–water–soil system can be represented using a 2‐D model since dam vertical contraction joints between blocks allow them to vibrate independently from each other. The 2‐D model assumes the reservoir to be infinite and of constant width, which is not true for certain types of reservoirs. In this paper, a boundary element method (BEM) model in the frequency domain is used to investigate the influence of the reservoir geometry on the hydrodynamic dam response. Important conceptual conclusions about the dam–reservoir system behaviour are obtained using this model. The results show that the reservoir shape influences the seismic response of the dam, making it necessary to account for 3‐D effects in order to obtain accurate results. In particular, the 3‐D pressure and displacement responses can be substantially larger than those computed with the 2‐D model. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The spectral/hp element modelling of steady flow in non‐planar double bends
Authors: Lee K. E. , Parker K. H. , Caro C. G. , Sherwin S. J.
Published: May 2007

The purpose of this study is to better understand steady flow in three‐dimensional non‐planar double bend geometries which are chosen to loosely model a right coronary or femoral artery, neglecting branches. The knowledge gained from idealized geometries can subsequently be applied to anatomically correct geometries. The three‐dimensional computations of steady flows in planar and non‐planar double bends at Reynolds numbers of 125 and 500 were performed using a high accuracy, spectral/hp element Navier–Stokes solver. In this study, we analyse the haemodynamics in terms of various mechanical factors (i.e. axial velocity, secondary flows, vorticity and coherent vortical structures). Although the effects of curvature and non‐planarity on the flows are complex and often non‐intuitive, from the
numerical results, we can simplify and anticipate the secondary flow patterns, and by associations the wall shear stress distribution, in various double bend geometries with different non‐planarities at physiological Reynolds number (100⩽Re⩽500). Non‐planarity has the biggest effects on mixing and swirling of flow as observed through the coherent vortical structures and asymmetric secondary flow streamlines. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The efficacy and safety of risperidone in the treatment of psychosis of Alzheimer's disease and mixed dementia: a meta‐analysis of 4 placebo‐controlled clinical trials
Authors: Katz Ira , de Deyn Peter‐Paul , Mintzer Jacobo , Greenspan Andrew , Zhu Young , Brodaty Henry
Published: May 2007

Background

Dementia typically includes behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) as well as cognitive decline. Psychosis of Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a specific component of AD, characterized by delusions, misidentifications, and hallucinations.

Methods

This study is a meta‐analysis of patients with psychosis of AD from four large placebo‐controlled clinical trials of risperidone in dementia. Three trials included patients diagnosed with heterogeneous symptoms of BPSD (those with psychosis of AD were included in this analysis), while one trial included only those diagnosed with psychosis of AD. Efficacy was measured using the Behavioral Pathology in Alzheimer's Disease (BEHAVE‐AD) Psychosis subscale and Clinical Global Impression (CGI).

Results

Primary analyses in the psychosis of AD population demonstrated that risperidone significantly improved scores on the BEHAVE‐AD Psychosis subscale and CGI scale compared with placebo. Secondary analyses demonstrated that patients with more severe symptoms showed a more pronounced response to treatment with risperidone compared with placebo than those patients with less severe symptoms. Extrapyramidal symptoms and somnolence were more frequent with risperidone than placebo (p = 0.04). Cerebrovascular adverse events and all‐cause mortality were observed more frequently, although not statistically significantly, with risperidone versus placebo.

Conclusions

This meta‐analysis of psychosis of AD showed improvement in psychotic symptoms and general clinical improvement in patients with psychosis of AD treated with risperidone compared with placebo. The benefits of treatment were most significant in patients with severe symptoms. The safety profile of risperidone in this psychosis of AD population was similar to the more general BPSD population. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Improvement of the hydrological component of an urban soil–vegetation–atmosphere–transfer model
Authors: Lemonsu A. , Masson V. , Berthier E.
Published: May 2007

A numerical study was conducted on the Rezé suburban catchment (Nantes, France) to evaluate the hydrological component of the town energy balance (TEB) scheme, which simulates in a coupled way the water and energy balances for the urban covers. The catchment is a residential area where hydrological data were continuously collected from 1993 to 1998 by the Laboratoire Central des Ponts et Chaussées (LCPC), notably the runoff in the stormwater drainage network. A 6‐year simulation with the TEB and interaction soil–biosphere–atmosphere (ISBA) schemes in off‐line mode enabled the comparison of modelled and observed runoff. Some weaknesses of the TEB were uncovered and led to improved parameterization of water exchanges: (1) calibration of the maximum capacity of the rainfall interception reservoir on roads and roofs and (2) inclusion of water infiltration through the roads, according to a simple formulation. The calibration of this water flux gives results that are consistent with direct measurements of water infiltration performed on the Rezé site and from the literature. The new parameterization produces better runoff in terms of timing and magnitude, which are comparable to those obtained by the LCPC with other hydrological models. It shows also the impact of the water infiltration through the roads, corresponding to a water transfer from the TEB to ISBA, on the water balance: the water contents of road, roof and soil reservoirs being modified, the evaporation from artificial surfaces decreases, while the evapotranspiration from natural covers increases. Through the evaporative flux, such a modification of the water balance induces large repercussions on the surface energy balance. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Preparation and degradation behavior of polyanhydrides nanoparticles
Authors: Lee Wen‐Chuan , Chu I.‐Ming
Published: May 2007

Polyanhydrides have been used in many drug delivery systems because of their biodegradability and biocompatibility. Their degradation pattern of surface erosion made them suitable for stable drug release applications. However, in nanoparticle systems, this degradation pattern may not hold, and the drug release kinetics will be different also. In this study, copolymers of 1,3‐bis(p‐carboxyphenoxy)propane (CPP) and sebacic acid (SA) were synthesized to investigate the different degradation patterns of disk and nanoparticle forms of polyanhydride, in addition to the study of the method of preparation of nanoparticles from these copolymers. By using oil‐in‐water emulsion and poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) as emulsifier, nanoparticles of the size 200–500 nm were prepared. The size of the particles can be controlled by varying polymer concentration or PVA concentration, but different SA:CPP ratio did not affect the particle size significantly. Degradation was followed by detecting the amount of monomers released to the medium. It was found that CPP and SA were released at approximately the same rate from nanoparticles; while in disk form, SA was released much faster than CPP. It was found that contrary to general trend in disks, higher CPP content, a more hydrophobic component than SA, in the copolymer actually accelerated the degradation of nanoparticles. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 2008
Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharides enhance CD14 endocytosis of LPS and promote TLR4 signal transduction of cytokine expression
Authors: Hua Kuo‐Feng , Hsu Hsien‐Yeh , Chao Louis Kuoping , Chen Shui‐Tein , Yang Wen‐Bin , Hsu Jason , Wong Chi‐Huey
Published: May 2007

We have previously reported that a well‐characterized glycoprotein fraction containing fucose residues in an extract of Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharides (EORP) exerts certain immuno‐modulation activity by stimulating the expression of inflammatory cytokines via TLR4. Continuing our studies, we have demonstrated that EORP increases the surface expression of CD14 and TLR4 within murine macrophages J774A.1 cells in vitro, and further promotes LPS binding and uptake by J774A.1 cells in a CD14‐dependent fashion. Moreover, we observed the co‐localization of internalized LPS with lysosome‐ and Golgi‐apparatus markers within 5 min after J774A.1 cells stimulated with LPS. In addition, EORP pretreatment of J774A.1 cells and human blood‐derived primary macrophages, followed by LPS stimulation, results in the super‐induction of interleukin‐1beta (IL‐1) expression. Endocytosis inhibitors: such as cytochalasin D and colchicine effectively block EORP‐enhanced LPS internalization by J774A.1 cells; yet they fail to decrease the LPS‐induced phosphorylation of certain mitogen‐activated protein kinases, and IL‐1 mRNA and proIL‐1 protein expression, indicating that LPS internalization by J774A.1 cells is not associated with LPS‐dependent activation. Our current results could provide a potential EORP‐associated protection mechanism for bacteria infection by enhancing IL‐1 expression and the clearance of contaminated LPS by macrophages. J. Cell. Physiol. 212: 537–550, 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
If pemphigus vulgaris IgG are the cause of acantholysis, new IgG‐independent mechanisms are the concause
Authors: Cirillo Nicola , Lanza Michele , Femiano Felice , Gaeta Giovanni Maria , De Rosa Alfredo , Gombos Fernando , Lanza Alessandro
Published: May 2007

Pemphigus vulgaris (PV) is a disease of epidermal adhesion. Its pathogenesis is currently traced back to the action of autoantibodies against antigens located within the intercellular substance of keratinocytes, such as desmogleins and acetylcholine receptors. In the present paper, we sought to elucidate the non‐IgG‐mediated effects of PV sera on keratinocytes. Results showed that PV sera depleted of IgG were able to induce well‐defined changes on keratinocyte morphology and metabolic activity. Indeed, PV IgG‐free sera determined marked alterations on cell shape, accompanied by partial loss of keratinocyte–keratinocyte interactions within 48 h after treatment. Furthermore, PV IgG‐depleted sera caused a sharp reduction of cell viability along with a less sustained weakening of intercellular adhesion strength. In light of the above findings, loss of cell–cell adhesion in PV occurs as a result of the cooperating action of both IgG and non‐IgG‐mediated mechanisms. These data have remarkable consequences on experimental models of PV and might open new “biological” approaches to its therapy. Thus, researchers are well advised that PV pathophysiology cannot be faithfully reproduced by leaving non‐IgG serum factors out of consideration. J. Cell. Physiol. 212:563–567, 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
A retroviral packaging cell line for pseudotype vectors based on glioma‐infiltrating progenitor cells
Authors: Fischer Yvonne Heidemarie , Miletic Hrvoje , Giroglou Tsanan , Litwak Sara , Stenzel Werner , Neumann Harald , von Laer Dorothee
Published: May 2007

Background

Early clinical trials for gene therapy of human gliomas with retroviral packaging cells (PC) have been hampered by low transduction efficacy and lack of dissemination of PC within the tumor. In the current approach, these issues have been addressed by creating a stable packaging cell line for retroviral vectors pseudotyped with glycoproteins of lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) based on tumor‐infiltrating progenitor cells.

Methods

Tumor‐infiltrating progenitor cells, which had been isolated from adult rat bone marrow (BM‐TIC), were modified to stably express Gag‐Pol proteins of moloney murine leukemia virus (Mo‐MLV) and glycoproteins of LCMV. Packaging of a retroviral vector was measured by titration experiments on human fibroblast cells as well as on mouse and human glioma cell lines. Additionally, gene transfer was tested in a rat glioma model in vivo.

Results

The BM‐TIC‐derived packaging cell line (BM‐TIPC) produced retroviral vectors with titers between 2–8 × 103 transducing units (TU)/ml. Extended culturing of BM‐TIPC over several weeks and freezing/thawing of cells did not affect vector titers. No replication‐competent retrovirus was released from BM‐TIPC. In a rat glioma model, BM‐TIPC infiltrated the tumors extensively and with high specificity. Moreover, BM‐TIPC mediated transduction of glioma cells in vivo.

Conclusion

This proof‐of‐principle study shows that primary adult progenitor cells with tumor‐infiltrating capacity can be genetically modified to stably produce retroviral LCMV pseudotype vectors. These BM‐TIPC may be a useful tool to enhance specificity and efficacy of gene transfer to gliomas in patients. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Gene transfer of human TCR in primary murine T cells is improved by pseudo‐typing with amphotropic and ecotropic envelopes
Authors: Pouw Nadine M. C. , Westerlaken Elike J. , Willemsen Ralph A. , Debets Reno
Published: May 2007

Background

T cell receptor (TCR) gene therapy represents an attractive anti‐cancer treatment but requires further optimization of its efficacy and safety in clinically relevant models, such as those using a tumor antigen and TCR of human origin. Currently, however, there is no consensus as to what protocol is most optimal for retroviral human TCR gene transfer into primary murine T cells, most notably with respect to virus pseudo‐type.

Methods

Primary murine T cells were transduced, expanded and subsequently tested for transgene expression, proliferation and antigen‐specific function. To this end, murine leukemia virus (MLV) retroviruses were produced upon transfection of various packaging cells with genes encoding either green fluorescent protein (GFP) or TCRαβ specific for human melanoma antigen gp100280–288 and the helper elements GAG/POL and ENV. Next to viral pseudotyping, the following parameters were studied: T cell densities; T cell activation; the amounts of IL‐2 and the source of serum used to supplement medium.

Results

The pseudo‐type of virus produced by packaging cells critically determines T cell transduction efficiencies. In fact, MLV‐A and MLV‐E pseudo‐typed viruses derived from a co‐culture of Phoenix‐A and 293T cells resulted in T cell transduction efficiencies that were two‐fold higher than those based on retroviruses expressing either VSV‐G, GALV, MLV‐A or MLV‐E envelopes. In addition, T cell densities during transduction were inversely related to transduction efficiencies. Further optimization resulted in transduction efficiencies of over 90% for GFP, and 68% for both a murine and a human (i.e. murinized) TCR. Importantly, TCR‐transduced T cells proliferate (i.e. showing a log increase in cell number in a few days) and show antigen‐specific function.

Conclusions

We set up a quick and versatile method to genetically modify primary murine T cells based on transient production of TCR‐positive retroviruses, and show that retroviral gene transfer of a human TCR into primary murine T cells is critically improved by viral pseudo‐typing with both MLV‐A and MLV‐E envelopes. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Regulation of intracellular HAP1 trafficking
Authors: Rong Juan , Li Shi‐Hua , Li Xiao‐Jiang
Published: May 2007

A number of proteins are known to interact with huntingtin (htt), the Huntington's disease (HD) protein. Understanding the function of these htt‐associated proteins could help elucidate the pathogenesis of HD and the role that htt plays in the disease process. The present review focuses on one such protein, huntingtin‐associated protein 1 (HAP1), which has proved to be involved in intracellular trafficking. Unlike huntingtin, which is expressed ubiquitously throughout the brain and body, HAP1 is enriched in neurons, suggesting that its dysfunction could contribute to the selective neuropathology in HD. HAP1 binds microtubule‐dependent transporters that engage anterograde or retrograde transport and also associates with a variety of organelles and membrane receptors. This raises the interesting issue of how the HAP1 trafficking function is regulated. We discuss recent evidence for the involvement of HAP1 in intracellular trafficking as well as potential mechanisms that may regulate its trafficking. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The prophylaxis of venous thrombosis in patients with cancer undergoing major abdominal surgery: emerging options
Authors: Agnelli Giancarlo , Caprini Joseph A.
Published: May 2007

Cancer is a risk factor for venous thromboembolism (VTE). This risk is amplified by treatment with chemotherapy, radiation, or surgery. Thus, patients with cancer undergoing major surgery should receive appropriate prophylaxis. Available agents include low‐dose unfractionated heparin (LDUH), low‐molecular‐weight heparin (LMWH), and Factor Xa inhibitors. Recent data suggest that Factor Xa inhibitors are safe and effective for VTE prevention in patients with cancer undergoing abdominal surgery. Further study in this patient population is warranted. J. Surg. Oncol. 2007;96: 265–272. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Existence and representation of solutions of a class of elliptic systems of partial differential equations of first order in the space
Authors: Goldschmidt Bernd
Published: April 2007

We study the existence of solutions of the general elliptic system of partial differential equations in the space where the principal part may be represented with the help of a CLIFFORDalgebra 𝔄. We construct an integral representation and discuss the properties of the kernels.
On the Measurability of Positive Definite and Conditionally Positive Definite Functions
Authors: Sasvári Zoltán
Published: May 2007

Let f be a positive definite function on a locally compact abelian group G. In this paper we show that measurability of f on an open neighbourhood of the zero implies measurability of f on G. The same result holds for conditionally positive definite functions.
On Generalized Planar Random Tesellations
Authors: Stoyan Dietrich
Published: May 2007

The mean value formulae of MECKE for planar random tessellations are true also for tessellations with not‐necessarily convex cells. The same is true for a formula of Ambartzumian for the mean of the product of area and perimeter length of the “typical” cell. While the mean area of the cell containing the origin is greater than that of the “typical” cell, for mean perimeter length and mean edge number analogous inequalities are not true in general.
Quantum Fields as Pointlike Localized Objects, II
Authors: Wollenberg Manfred
Published: May 2007

A class of quantum fields on a KREǏN space is considered. It is shown that these quantum fields are well defined objects at each space‐time point in the meaning of sesquilinear forms. Conversely, it is proved that a special class of sesquilinear forms defines quantum fields on a KREǏN space.
On the Equivalence of Different Approaches to Stochastic Partial Differential Equations
Authors: Jetschke G.
Published: May 2007

The solution of a stochastic partial differential equation with white noise disturbance can be treated in two different ways: as a real‐valued random field or as a function‐space valued stochastic process. After introducing these views briefly it is shown that these two approaches are equivalent. Some further results on FOURIER decomposition and on asymptotic behaviour of the linear equation are given and a few comments on the nonlinear case are added.
An Implicit Function Theorem in Locally Convex Spaces
Authors: Lorenz Klaus Jürgen
Published: May 2007

The notion of strict differentiability in BANACH spaces is generalized to locally convex spaces in such a way, that computations in the bornological operator ideal of bounded operators play the role of norm estimations. We get a remarkably rich theory including not only the easy formulas like the chain rule, but also the deep theorems like the implicit function theorem. The BANACH space proofs can be translated almost literally.
Random Version of the Theorems of the Alternative
Authors: Luc Dinh
Published: May 2007

Three theorems of the alternative for abstract linear inequality systems which depend on random parameter are produced in infinite dimensions.
Two‐Sided Closed Ideals of Certain Algebras of Unbounded Operators
Authors: Kürsten Klaus‐Detlef
Published: May 2007

This paper investigates the two‐sided uniformly closed ideals of the maximal Op*‐algebra L+(D) of (bounded or unbounded) operators on a dense domain D in a HILBERT space. It is assumed that D is a FRECHET space with respect to the graph topology. The set of all non‐trivial two‐sided closed ideals of L+(D) is well‐ordered by inclusion and the α‐th closed ideal 𝔍α is generated by the orthogonal projections onto HILBERTian subspaces of D of dimension less then 𝔍α. An element A in L+(D) belongs to the minimal closed ideal 𝔍0 if and only if the following two equivalent conditions are satisfied: a) A maps bounded subsets of D into relatively compact sets. b) A maps weakly convergent sequences in D into convergent sequences.
On Scattering for SCHRÖDINGER Operators with Anisotropic and Singular Potentials
Authors: Demuth Michael
Published: May 2007

The existence of wave operators is considered for SCHRÖDINGER operators with anisotropic potentials. The potentials may have positive barriers which are allowed to increase up to infinity over unbounded regions in Rn. The convergence of the corresponding wave and scattering operators is shown. In the time‐dependent geometric proofs the FEYNMAN‐KAC‐formula is applied essentially.
Generalized Probabilistic Metric Spaces and Fixed Point Theorems
Authors: Tan Nguyen Xuan
Published: May 2007

Several results concerning generalized probabilistic spaces, fixed points of mappings on topological spaces are obtained and applied to yield some new theorems on fixed points for mappings on generalized probabilistic metric spaces.
On the Number of All Absolutely Continuous, Ergodic Measures of MARKOV Type Transformations Defined on an Interval
Authors: Bugiel Piotr
Published: May 2007

An effective procedure is given to get all absolutely continuous, ergodic measures of MARKOV type transformations defined on an interval.
Poisson Convergence in the n‐Cube
Authors: Weber Karl
Published: May 2007

We consider two types of random subgraphs of the n‐cube Qn obtained by independent deletion the vertices (together with all edges incident with them) or the edges of Qn, respectively, with a prescribed probability q = 1 — p. For these two probabilistic models we determine some values of the probability p for which the number of (isolated) k‐dimensional subcubes or the number of vertices of a given degree k, respectively, has asymptotically a Poisson or a Normal distribution. The technique which will be used is that of Poisson convergence introduced by BARBOUR [1] (see also [4]).
Limit Theorems for Branching Diffusions in Hydrodynamical Rescaling
Authors: Dittrich Peter
Published: May 2007

The hydrodynamical limit is studied for infinite systems of BROWNian particles in Rd, d = 3, which branch out at exponentially distributed times according to a critical offspring distribution with finite second moment. In the second part a central limit theorem for the hydrodynamical fluctuations is derived in the case, when the branching mechanism has a finite third moment.
On Singular Integro‐Differential Operators on the Halfaxis
Authors: Thelen‐Rosemann‐Niedrig Günter
Published: May 2007

In the frame of classical SOBOLEV spaces the FREDHOLM property will be characterized for a class of singular integro‐differential operators on the positive halfaxis. A symbol calculus moreover permits to specify an index formula and a special FREDHOLM inverse.
Random Clarkson inequalities and LP versions of Grothendieck's inequality
Authors: Tonge Andrew
Published: May 2007

In a recent paper KATO [3] used the LITTLEWOOD matrices to generalise CLARKSON'S inequalities. Our first aim is to indicate how KATO'S result can be deduced from a neglected version of the HAUSDORFF‐YOUNG inequality which was proved by WELLS and WILLIAMS [12]. We next establish „random CLARKSON inequalities”︁. These show that the expected behaviour of matrices whose coefficients are random ± 1′s is, as one might expect, the same as the behaviour that KATO observed in the LITTLEWOOD matrices. Finally we show how sharp Lp versions of GROTHENDIECK'S inequality can be obtained by combining a KATO‐like result with a theorem of BENNETT [1] on SCHUR multipliers.
Effects of pre‐treating in vitro‐matured bovine oocytes with the cytoskeleton stabilizing agent taxol prior to vitrification
Authors: Morató Roser , Izquierdo Dolors , Albarracín José Luis , Anguita Begoña , Palomo María Jesús , Jiménez‐Macedo Ana Raquel , Paramio María Teresa , Mogas Teresa
Published: May 2007

The purpose of this study was to determine the efficacy of pre‐treating mature bovine oocytes with Taxol before vitrification by the open pulled Straw method (OPS). We evaluated the effects of pre‐treating the oocytes with 1 µM Taxol on chromosome organization, spindle morphology, cortical granule distribution and the ability of fertilized oocytes to develop to the blastocyst stage. After calf or cow oocyte vitrification without Taxol, significantly higher proportions of spindle abnormalities in the form of abnormal spindle structures or dispersed or decondensed chromosomes were observed compared to fresh control oocytes. In contrast, when we compared calf oocytes pre‐treated with Taxol before vitrification with control calf oocytes, similar percentages of oocytes showing a normal spindle morphology were observed. The percentages of oocytes with a peripheral cortical granule (CG) distribution increased when the oocytes were pretreated with Taxol and vitrified, while oocytes vitrified without Taxol pre‐treatment gave rise to higher cortical distribution percentages. Cleavage and blastocyst rates were significantly lower for vitrified versus untreated oocytes, both in cow and calf oocytes. Significantly higher cleavage rates were obtained when calf and cow oocytes were vitrified with Taxol. Pre‐treatment with Taxol before cow oocyte vitrification yielded significantly higher blastocyst rates. Calf oocytes, however, were unable to develop to the blastocyst stage, irrespective of previous Taxol treatment. These results indicate that the pre‐treatment of oocytes with Taxol before vitrification helps to reduce the damage induced by the cryopreservation process, and potentially improves the subsequent development of vitrified bovine oocytes. Summary sentence: Pre‐treatment of oocytes with Taxol before vitrification helps to reduce the damage induced by vitrification and potentially improves the development of vitrified bovine oocytes. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 75: 191–201, 2008. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Immunocontraception in mice using repeated, multi‐antigen peptides: immunization with purified recombinant antigens
Authors: Hardy Christopher M. , Beaton Sandra , Hinds Lynette A.
Published: May 2007

Two immunocontraceptive antigens (AgE and AgF) were constructed that included different combinations of highly species‐specific peptides from the mouse reproductive antigens SP56, ZP3, ZP2, and ZP1 in the form of multi‐antigen peptides (MAPs). Both AgE and AgF contained three tandem repeats each of ZP2 and ZP3 peptide epitopes and a single copy of a ZP1 peptide sequence all of which had previously been demonstrated to individually have immunodominant or contraceptive effects. In addition, AgF contained a single contraceptive peptide derived from SP56, the putative ZP3 receptor protein on sperm. The antigens were expressed and affinity purified as recombinant repeated multi‐antigen (polyepitope) peptides using an Escherichia coli maltose binding protein (MBP) expression system. Female BALB/c mice actively immunized with these antigens in Freund's adjuvants produced variable serum antibody responses to the component peptides. Fertility rates for animals immunized with AgE (40%) and AgF (20%) were significantly reduced compared to MBP immunized mice (90%), but the reduction in fertility did not correlate with peptide‐specific serum antibody levels. Ovaries from all immunized mice appeared histologically normal with no evidence of oophoritis. These results demonstrate that high levels of immunocontraception can be achieved in mice, without apparent side‐effects, using species‐specific immunogens that include repeated peptides from proteins involved in fertilization. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 75: 126–135, 2008. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The PKC pathway and in particular its β1 isoform is clearly involved in meiotic arrest maintenance but poorly in FSH‐induced meiosis resumption of the mouse cumulus cell enclosed oocyte
Authors: Denys Anne , Avazeri Nathalie , Lefèvre Brigitte
Published: May 2007

PKC modulators were used to investigate the role of the PKC pathway either on the maintenance of meiotic arrest or on FSH‐induced maturation of mouse cumulus cell enclosed oocytes (CEOs). (1) Whereas PKC activation (PMA 8 µM) overcomed clearly the HX‐maintained meiotic arrest (83.7 ± 3.6% vs. 16.1 ± 10.6% GVBD oocytes), PKC inhibition (Calphostin C 100 nM) did not. On the contrary, it better maintained the meiotic arrest than HX alone. (2) No significant effect of PKC activation or inhibition was observed. (3) HX alone maintained PKCβ1 in the cytoplasm, whereas FSH and PKC activation induced partly its translocation into the nucleus. The results show that whereas the PKC pathway is clearly involved in maintenance of the meiotic arrest through PKCβ1, it is not involved in FSH‐induced meiosis of CEOs. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 74: 1575–1580, 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Expression of X‐linked genes in deceased neonates and surviving cloned female piglets
Authors: Jiang Le , Lai Liangxue , Samuel Melissa , Prather Randall S. , Yang Xiangzhong , Tian X. Cindy
Published: May 2007

Animal cloning through somatic cell nuclear transfer (NT) is very inefficient, probably due to insufficient reprogramming of the donor nuclei, which in turn would cause the dysregulation of gene expression. X‐Chromosome inactivation (XCI) is a multi‐step epigenetic process utilized by mammals to achieve dosage compensation in females. Our aim was to determine if any dysregulation of X‐linked genes, which would be indicative of unfaithful reprogramming of donor nuclei, was present in cloned pigs. Real time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR) was performed to quantify the transcript levels of five X‐linked genes, X inactivation‐specific transcript (XIST), TSIX (the reverse spelling of XIST), hypoxanthine guanine phosphoribosyltransferase 1 (HPRT1), glucose‐6‐phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD), V‐raf murine sarcoma 3,611 viral oncogene homolog 1 (ARAF1), and one autosomal gene, alpha‐1 type IV collagen (COL4A1) in major organs of neonatal deceased and surviving female cloned pigs as well as their age‐matched control pigs from conventional breeding. Aberrant expression level of these genes was prevalent in the neonatal deceased clones, while it was only moderate in cloned pigs that survived after birth. These results suggest a correlation between the viability of the clones and the normality of their gene expression and provide a possible explanation for the death of a large portion of cloned animals around birth. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 75: 265–273, 2008. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Identification and gene expression profiling of the Pum1 and Pum2 members of the Pumilio family in the chicken
Authors: Lee Jee Young , Lim Jeong Mook , Kim Duk Kyung , Zheng Ying Hui , Moon Sunjin , Han Beom Ku , Song Ki DuK , Kim Heebal , Han Jae Yong
Published: May 2007

Members of the Pumilio (Pum) family of RNA‐binding proteins act as translational repressors and are required for germ cell development and asymmetric division. We identified the chicken Pum1 and Pum2 genes and analyzed their expression patterns in various tissues. Comparative sequence analysis of the Pum1 and Pum2 proteins from the drosophila, chicken, mouse, and human revealed a high degree of evolutionary conservation in terms of the levels of homology of the peptide sequences and the structure of Pumilio homology domain (PUM‐HD), C‐terminal RNA‐binding domain, with similar spacing between the adjacent Pum eight tandem repeats. In addition, phylogenetic patterns of pumilio family showed that Pum 1 and 2 of chicken are more closely related to those of mouse and human than other species and Pum1 is more conserved than Pum2. Using real‐time RT‐PCR, the expression levels of the Pum1 and Pum2 genes were found to be highest in hatched female gonads, and high‐level expression of Pum2 was detected in 12‐day and hatched gonads among the various chicken embryonic tissues tested. In adult tissues, the expression levels of Pum1 and Pum2 were expressed at higher levels in the testis and muscle than in any other tissue. The characteristics of the tissue‐specific expression of Pum genes suggest that Pum1 and Pum2 have effects crucially in particular stage during development of chicken gonads depending on sexual maturation. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 75: 184–190, 2008. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Quest for leadership
Authors: Childs Richard S.
Published: May 2007

‘Father’ of the council‐manager plan warns of risks in election of mayor separately.
Controller design for optimal tracking response in discrete‐time systems
Authors: Sebakhy O. A. , Yousef H. A.
Published: May 2007

The problem of designing a controller, which results in a closed‐loop system response with optimal time‐domain characteristics, is considered. In the approach presented in this paper, the controller order is fixed (higher than pole‐placement order) and we seek a controller that results in closed‐loop poles at certain desired and pre‐specified locations; while at the same time the output tracks the reference input in an optimal way. The optimality is measured by requiring certain norms on the error sequence—between the reference and output signals—to be minimum. Several norms are used. First, l2‐norm is used and the optimal solution is computed in one step of calculations. Second, l∞‐norm (i.e. minimal overshot) is considered and the solution is obtained by solving a constrained affine minimax optimization problem. Third, the l1‐norm (which corresponds to the integral absolute error‐(IAE)‐criterion) is used and linear programming techniques are utilized to solve the problem. The important case of finite settling time (i.e. deadbeat response) is studied as a special
case. Examples that illustrate the different design algorithms and demonstrate their feasibility are presented. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Novel highly elastic magnetic materials for dampers and seals: part II. Material behavior in a magnetic field
Authors: Abramchuk S. , Kramarenko E. , Grishin D. , Stepanov G. , Nikitin L. V. , Filipcsei G. , Khokhlov A. R. , Zrínyi M.
Published: May 2007

The combination of polymers with magnetic particles displays novel and often enhanced properties compared to the traditional materials. They can open up possibilities for new technological applications. The magnetic field sensitive elastomers represent a new type of composites consisting of small particles, usually from nanometer range to micron range, dispersed in a highly elastic polymeric matrix. In this paper, we show that in the presence of built‐in magnetic particles it is possible to tune the elastic modulus by an external magnetic field. We propose a phenomenological equation to describe the effect of the external magnetic field on the elastic modulus. We demonstrate the engineering potential of new materials on the examples of two devices. The first one is a new type of seals fundamentally different from those used before. In the simplest case, the sealing assembly includes a magnetoelastic strip and a permanent magnet. They attract due to the magnetic forces. This ensures that due to high elasticity of the proposed composites and good adhesion properties, the strip of magnetoelastic will adopt the shape of the surface to be sealed, this fact leading to an excellent sealing. Another straightforward application of the magnetic composites is based on their magnetic field dependent elastic modulus. Namely, we demonstrate in this paper the possible application of these materials as adjustable vibration dampers. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.