bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Sulfated glycosaminoglycans mediate the effects of FGF2 on the osteogenic potential of rat calvarial osteoprogenitor cells
Authors: Ling Ling , Murali Sadasivam , Dombrowski Christian , Haupt Larisa M. , Stein Gary S. , van Wijnen Andre J. , Nurcombe Victor , Cool Simon M.
Published: September 2006

Fibroblast growth factor‐2 (FGF2) is a powerful promoter of bone growth. We demonstrate here that brief exposure to FGF2 enhances mineralized nodule formation in cultured rat osteoprogenitor cells due to an expansion of cells that subsequently mineralize. This mitogenic effect is mediated via sulfated glycosaminoglycans (GAGs), FGFR1, and the extracellular signal‐regulated kinase (ERK) pathway. The GAGs involved in this stimulation are chondroitin sulfates (CS) rather than heparan sulfates (HS). However, continuous FGF2 treatment reduces alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, downregulates collagen Iα1 (ColIα1) and FGFR3 expression, upregulates the expression and secretion of osteopontin (OPN) and inhibits mineralization. The inhibitory effects of FGF2 on FGFR3 expression and ALP activity are also mediated by the ERK pathway, although the effects of FGF2 on ColIα1 and OPN expression are mediated by GAGs and PKC activity. Thus short‐term activation of FGF2/FGFR1 promotes osteoprogenitor proliferation and subsequent differentiation, while long‐term activation of FGF2 signaling disrupts mineralization by modulating osteogenic marker expression. This study thus establishes the central role of sulfated GAGs in the osteogenic progression of osteoprogenitors. J. Cell. Physiol. 209: 811–825, 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Prolonged absence of myostatin reduces sarcopenia
Authors: Siriett Victoria , Platt Leanne , Salerno Mônica Senna , Ling Nicholas , Kambadur Ravi , Sharma Mridula
Published: September 2006

Sarcopenia is a progressive age‐related loss of skeletal muscle mass and strength. Parabiotic experiments show that circulating factors positively influence the proliferation and regenerative capacity of satellite cells in aged mice. In addition, we believe that negative regulators of muscle mass also serve to balance the signals that influence satellite cell activation and regeneration capacity with ageing. Myostatin, a negative regulator of pre‐ and postnatal myogenesis, inhibits satellite cell activation and muscle regeneration postnatally. To investigate the role of myostatin during age‐related sarcopenia, we examined muscle mass and regeneration in young and old myostatin‐null mice. Young myostatin‐null muscle fibers were characterized by massive hypertrophy and hyperplasia and an increase in type IIB fibers, resulting in a more glycolytic muscle. With ageing, wild‐type muscle became increasingly oxidative and fiber atrophy was prominent. In contrast no fiber type switching was observed and atrophy was minimal in aged myostatin‐null muscle. The effect of ageing on satellite cell numbers appeared minimal, however, satellite cell activation declined significantly in both wild‐type and myostatin‐null muscles. In young mice, lack of myostatin resulted in increased satellite cell number and activation compared to wild‐type, suggesting a greater propensity to undergo myogenesis, a difference maintained in the aged mice. In addition, muscle regeneration of myostatin‐null muscle following notexin injury was accelerated and fiber hypertrophy and type were recovered with regeneration, unlike in wild‐type muscle. In conclusion, a lack of myostatin appears to reduce age‐related sarcopenia and loss of muscle regenerative capacity. J. Cell. Physiol. 209: 866–873, 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Blood vessels and desmin control the positioning of nuclei in skeletal muscle fibers
Authors: Ralston E. , Lu Z. , Biscocho N. , Soumaka E. , Mavroidis M. , Prats C. , Lømo T. , Capetanaki Y. , Ploug T.
Published: September 2006

Skeletal muscle fibers contain hundreds to thousands of nuclei which lie immediately under the plasmalemma and are spaced out along the fiber, except for a small cluster of specialized nuclei at the neuromuscular junction. How the nuclei attain their positions along the fiber is not understood. Here we show that the nuclei are preferentially localized near blood vessels (BV), particularly in slow‐twitch, oxidative fibers. Thus, in rat soleus muscle fibers, 81% of the nuclei appear next to BV. Lack of desmin markedly perturbs the distribution of nuclei along the fibers but does not prevent their close association with BV. Consistent with a role for desmin in the spacing of nuclei, we show that denervation affects the organization of desmin filaments as well as the distribution of nuclei. During chronic stimulation of denervated muscles, new BV form, along which muscle nuclei align themselves. We conclude that the positioning of nuclei along muscle fibers is plastic and that BV and desmin intermediate filaments each play a distinct role in the control of this positioning. J. Cell. Physiol. 209: 874–882, 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Corticotropin‐releasing factor (CRF) receptor type 2 in the human stomach: Protective biological role by inhibition of apoptosis
Authors: Chatzaki Ekaterini , Lambropoulou Maria , Constantinidis Theodoros C. , Papadopoulos Nikolaos , Taché Yvette , Minopoulos George , Grigoriadis Dimitri E.
Published: September 2006

Corticotropin‐releasing factor agonists exert inhibitory effects in stomach functions possibly through peripheral routes. We have previously reported the expression of Urocortin (Ucn) I, an endogenous ligand of both CRF receptor types CRF1 and CRF2, in the human stomach. We examined CRF1 and CRF2 expression in the same tissue. Using RT‐PCR, CRF2 but not CRF1 transcripts were detected in RNA extracts from normal human stomach. In addition, immunohistochemical analysis revealed receptor protein in epithelial gastric cells. In order to investigate the biological role of CRF2 in these cells, an in vitro model was established, using the gastric cancer cell line AGS transiently transfected to express functional CRF2. The effect of the CRF2 endogenous ligands CRF, Ucns I and II on the growth parameters of the AGS/CRF2 was examined. After 1 day of exposure, all three ligands reduced the degree of apoptosis (16%–19%, n = 9, P < 0.05) compared to non‐treated controls and this effect was observed for 3 days of treatment. No such effect was detected in non‐transfected cells, suggesting mediation through CRF2 receptors. Administration of CRF, Ucns I and II had no effect on the proliferation rate of AGS/CRF2 cells or on the release of PGE2 by them. Our results demonstrate CRF2 expression in the human gastric mucosa and indicate a physiological role of this receptor type in regulating apoptosis, an important parameter of gastric cell regeneration. Paracrine effects exerted by locally expressed endogenous ligands, such as Ucn I, support a significant role of the peripheral CRF system in gastric physiology. J. Cell. Physiol. 209: 905–911, 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Inhibition of PPARγ prevents type I diabetic bone marrow adiposity but not bone loss
Authors: Botolin Sergiu , McCabe Laura R.
Published: September 2006

Diabetes type I is associated with bone loss and increased bone adiposity. Osteoblasts and adipocytes are both derived from mesenchymal stem cells located in the bone marrow, therefore we hypothesized that if we could block adipocyte differentiation we might prevent bone loss in diabetic mice. Control and insulin‐deficient diabetic BALB/c mice were chronically treated with a peroxisomal proliferator‐activated receptor γ (PPARγ) antagonist, bisphenol‐A‐diglycidyl ether (BADGE), to block adipocyte differentiation. Effects on bone density, adiposity, and gene expression were measured. BADGE treatment did not prevent diabetes‐associated hyperglycemia or weight loss, but did prevent diabetes‐induced hyperlipidemia and effectively blocked diabetes type I‐induced bone adiposity. Despite this, BADGE treatment did not prevent diabetes type I suppression of osteoblast markers (runx2 and osteocalcin) and bone loss (as determined by micro‐computed tomography). BADGE did not suppress osteoblast gene expression or bone mineral density in control mice, however, chronic (but not acute) BADGE treatment did suppress osteocalcin expression in osteoblasts in vitro. Taken together, our findings suggest that BADGE treatment is an effective approach to reduce serum triglyceride and free fatty acid levels as well as bone adiposity associated with type I diabetes. The inability of BADGE treatment to prevent bone loss in diabetic mice suggests that marrow adiposity is not linked to bone density status in type I diabetes, but we cannot exclude the possibility of additional BADGE effects on osteoblasts or other bone cells, which could contribute to preventing the rescue of the bone phenotype. J. Cell. Physiol. 209: 967–976, 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Pharmacologic inhibitors of extracellular signal‐regulated kinase (ERKs) and c‐Jun NH2‐terminal kinase (JNK) decrease glutathione content and sensitize human promonocytic leukemia Cells to arsenic trioxide‐induced apoptosis
Authors: Ramos Adrian M. , Fernandez Carlos , Amrán Donna , Esteban Diego , de Blas Elena , Palacios María A. , Aller Patricio
Published: September 2006

Treatment with 1–4 µM As2O3slightly induced apoptosis in U‐937 human promonocitic leukemia cells. This effect was potentiated by co‐treatment with MEK/ERK (PD98059, U0126) and JNK (SP600125, AS601245) inhibitors, but not with p38 (SB203580, SB220025) inhibitors. However, no potentiation was obtained using lonidamine, doxorubicin, or cisplatin instead of As2O3. Apoptosis potentiation by mitogen‐activated protein kinase (MAPK) inhibitors involved both the intrinsic and extrinsic executionary pathways, as demonstrated by Bax activation and cytochromecrelease from mitochondria, and by caspase‐8 activation and Bid cleavage, respectively; and the activation of both pathways was prevented by Bcl‐2 over‐expression. Treatment with MEK/ERK and JNK inhibitors, but not with p38 inhibitors, caused intracellular glutathione (GSH) depletion, which was differentially regulated. Thus, while it was prevented byN‐acetyl‐L‐cysteine (NAC) in the case of U0126, it behaved as a NAC‐insensitive process, regulated at the level of DL‐buthionine‐(S,R)‐sulfoximine (BSO)‐sensitive enzyme activity, in the case of SP600125. The MEK/ERK inhibitor also potentiated apoptosis and decreased GSH content in As2O3‐treated NB4 human acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) cells, but none of these effects were produced by the JNK inhibitor. MEK/ERK and JNK inhibitors did not apparently affect As2O3transport activity, as measured by intracellular arsenic accumulation. SP600126 greatly induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation, while BSO and U0126 had little or null effects. These results, which indicate that glutathione is a target of MAP kinases in myeloid leukemia cells, might be exploited to improve the antitumor properties of As2O3, and provide a rationale for the use of kinase inhibitors as therapeutic agents. J. Cell. Physiol. 209: 1006–1015, 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Extended passaging, but not aldehyde dehydrogenase activity, increases the chondrogenic potential of human adipose‐derived adult stem cells
Authors: Estes Bradley T. , Wu Arthur W. , Storms Robert W. , Guilak Farshid
Published: September 2006

Adipose‐derived adult stem (ADAS) cells represent an abundant population of multipotent mesodermal cells residing in various adipose tissue depots. ADAS cell preparations appear heterogeneous, yet at a clonal level, greater than 50% of these cells exhibit multilineage differentiation potential. To date, there have been few attempts to define prospectively a homogenous population of multipotent cells. In this study, we investigated whether aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) can be used to enrich ADAS cells with increased chondrogenic potential. ALDH has been previously used to isolate primitive hematopoietic progenitors and has been implicated in early neurogenesis. Human ADAS cells were purified based on ALDH activity, and the cells were expanded and induced for chondrogenic differentiation using BMP‐6 in a 3‐D alginate culture. No significant differences in chondrogenic potential were observed in the ALDH‐positive cells compared to unsorted controls. In contrast, significant differences were noted between cells assayed at passage 4 (P4) and cells assayed at passage 9 (P9). Following BMP‐6 induction, AGC1 gene expression in P9 cells increased 290‐fold over P4 cells. Similarly, COL2A1 expression in P9 cells increased fivefold compared to P4 cells, while COL10A1 levels remained unchanged. Immunohistochemical analysis over 28 days revealed consistent findings at the protein level for collagen II, collagen X, and aggrecan. No changes in telomerase activity were detected across passage, suggesting that ADAS cells retain some level of “stemness” in monolayer culture. These findings suggest that the chondrogenic potential of ADAS cells increases with passage number, although ALDH may not be a suitable marker for chondrogenesis. J. Cell. Physiol. 209: 987–995, 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Reduction of p66Shc suppresses oxidative damage in retinal pigmented epithelial cells and retina
Authors: Wu Zhihao , Rogers Brian , Kachi Shu , Hackett Sean F. , Sick Anna , Campochiaro Peter A.
Published: September 2006

The largest isoform of the Shc adapter protein, p66Shc, has been implicated in oxidative damage‐induced apoptosis in vital organs, because mice deficient in p66Shc have a 30% increase in life span and are resistant to the lethal effects of systemically administered paraquat, a source of severe oxidative damage. In this study, we utilized siRNA directed against the CH2 domain of Shc, to reduce p66Shc, but not p52Shc nor p46Shc in retinal pigmented epithelial (RPE) cells. RPE cells deficient in p66Shc had reduced susceptibility to oxidative stress‐induced apoptosis. Compared to control cells, those with reduced p66Shc had increased basal and oxidative stress‐induced NF‐κB transcriptional activity, increased levels of antioxidant enzymes, and less generation of reactive oxygen species when challenged with H2O2. The increase in oxidative stress‐induced NF‐κB activity was mediated by activation of ERK. Compared to eyes injected with GFP siRNA, those injected with p66Shc siRNA showed less loss of retinal function as assessed by electroretinograms from paraquat‐induced oxidative stress. These data suggest that p66Shc and molecular signals involved in its regulation provide therapeutic targets for retinal degenerations in which oxidative‐damage plays a major role, including age‐related macular degeneration and cone cell death in retinitis pigmentosa. J. Cell. Physiol. 209: 996–1005, 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Rap1 and p38 MAPK mediate 8‐chloro‐cAMP‐induced growth inhibition in mouse fibroblast DT cells
Authors: Ahn Young‐Ho , Han Jee Hae , Hong Seung Hwan
Published: September 2006

8‐Cl‐cAMP, which is known to induce differentiation, growth inhibition, and apoptosis in various cancer cells, has been investigated as a putative anti‐cancer drug. Previously, we reported that 8‐Cl‐cAMP and its metabolite 8‐Cl‐adenosine induce growth inhibition and apoptosis through p38 mitogen‐activated protein kinase (MAPK) activation. To further investigate the signal mechanisms that regulate the cellular effects of 8‐Cl‐cAMP, we focused on a small GTPase Rap1 that is known to be involved in growth inhibition and reverse‐transformation. 8‐Cl‐cAMP and 8‐Cl‐adenosine could increase Rap1 activity, which was blocked by ABT702—an adenosine kinase inhibitor. This suggests that 8‐Cl‐cAMP‐induced Rap1 activation is also dependent on the metabolic degradation of 8‐Cl‐cAMP. Overexpression of a constitutively active mutant form of Rap1 (Rap1V12) attenuated cellular growth and soft‐agar colony formation, which was basically the same effect as that observed with the 8‐Cl‐cAMP treatment. Furthermore, the Rap1V12 transfectant showed a high level of p38 MAPK activation. However, 8‐Cl‐cAMP‐induced Rap1 activation was not diminished by SB203580, a p38 MAPK inhibitor, suggesting that Rap1 activation might act upstream of p38 MAPK activation during 8‐Cl‐cAMP‐induced growth inhibition. J. Cell. Physiol. 209: 1039–1045, 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Tissue characterization of myocardial infarction using T1ρ: Influence of contrast dose and time of imaging after contrast administration
Authors: Huber Steffen , Muthupillai Raja , Lambert Brenda , Pereyra Mercedes , Napoli Alicia , Flamm Scott D.
Published: September 2006

Purpose

To determine whether contrast between acutely infarcted and normal myocardia in T1‐rho‐weighted cine TFE (T1ρ‐TFE) and delayed‐enhancement (DE) images (measured using a metric percent enhancement (PE)) varied with the dose or time of imaging after contrast administration.

Materials and Methods

Eighteen patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) were randomly divided into three groups according to the dose of gadoversetamide (0.1, 0.2, or 0.3 mmol/kg) administered. After contrast administration, T1ρ‐TFE images were acquired at five and 40 minutes, and DE images were acquired at 10 and 30 minutes.

Results

For T1ρ‐TFE imaging the PE values at 40 minutes were 70 ± 14, 98 ± 14, and 105 ± 41 at 0.1, 0.2, and 0.3 mmol/kg dose levels, which were significantly greater than the corresponding PEs at five minutes after contrast administration (44 ± 12, 71 ±14, and 36 ± 13). For DE and T1ρ‐TFE imaging the dose of contrast agent did not significantly affect the PE. However, with DE the PE tended to increase with the dose. At all dose levels, irreversible injury was more conspicuous in T1ρ‐TFE images acquired at 40 minutes than at five minutes after contrast.

Conclusion

In T1ρ‐TFE, acute infarction was more conspicuous in images acquired at a later time point, and the PE did not vary with the contrast dose. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
A novel lipopathic Cr(VI) oxidant for organic substrates: Kinetic study of oxidation of benzyl alcohol
Authors: Patel Sabita , Mishra B. K.
Published: September 2006

A novel lipopathic oxidizing agent, cetyltrimethylammonium dichromate, was used for oxidation of benzyl alcohol in various organic solvents and in surfactant systems. The reaction kinetics was investigated with change in [acid], [substrate], [oxidant], [surfactant], and temperature. The rate constant values led to propose that the reaction occurs in a reversed micellar system produced by the oxidant, akin to an enzymatic environment. The rate variation with variation in [surfactant] and solvent isotope effect suggest that the path of reaction to be through the formation of an ester complex, the decomposition of which is the rate‐determining step. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 38: 651–656, 2006
Correlation analysis of reactivity in the oxidation of anilines by nicotinium dichromate in nonaqueous media
Authors: Bhuvaneshwari D. S. , Elango K. P.
Published: September 2006

The kinetics of oxidation of 15 para‐ and meta‐substituted anilines by nicotinium dichromate (NDC) in different organic solvent media in the presence of p‐toluenesulfonic acid (TsOH) has been investigated. The rate of the reaction is zero order with respect to substrate, first order in NDC, and is found to increase with increase in [TsOH]. The various thermodynamic parameters for the oxidation have been reported and discussed along with the validity of the isokinetic relationship. The specific rate of oxidizing species‐anilines reaction (k2) correlates with Hammett's substituent constants affording negative reaction constants. The effect of para‐ and meta‐substituents on the oxidation rates confirms to Swain et al.'s substituent constants F and R, both with negative reaction constants. The rate data failed to correlate with macroscopic solvent parameters such as εr and E while showing satisfactory correlation with Kamlet–Taft's solvatochromic parameters (α, β, and π*). © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 38: 657–665, 2006
Kinetic compensation effects observed during oxidation of carbon monoxide on γ‐alumina supported palladium, platinum, and rhodium metal catalysts: Toward a mechanistic explanation
Authors: Galwey Andrew K. , Bettany David G. , Mortimer Michael
Published: September 2006

The kinetic compensation effect (KCE) is a well‐known behavior pattern wherein a set of related reactions show a linear relationship between the calculated Arrhenius parameters, log10AandEa. Although various theoretical explanations have been advanced, none has yet found general acceptance. The present paper reports multiple rate measurements for the heterogeneously catalyzed oxidation of CO on several identically prepared samples of supported noble metal (Pd, Pt, or Rh) catalysts. Distinctive KCEs were observed for all three metals; these are discussed with reference to a new parameter, the degree of compensation (κ), which quantitatively measures deviation from the ideal isokinetic relationship (κ = 1.00 KCE). For carbon monoxide oxidation on each of the three metals, κ was greater than 0.85 KCE, regarded as significant compensation. These KCEs are discussed in the context of published kinetic and mechanistic studies of CO oxidation, from which a theoretical explanation of the observed pattern of rate characteristics is proposed. Overall kinetic control is ascribed to a common dominant, rate‐determining process on each metal, resulting in approximately isokinetic behavior. Temperature‐dependent secondary controls are identified as modifying the kinetics of surface reactions involving adsorbed intermediates, and thus the apparent magnitudes of Arrhenius parameters. Different contributions from secondary controls, between the individual reactions of each set, are attributed to temperature‐determined variations of concentrations, equilibria, and mobilities of adsorbed participants in the (dominant) rate‐controlling process. A modified Arrhenius equation, applicable to KCE reaction sets, is suggested in which the preexponential term varies with temperature. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 38: 689–702, 2006
Ubiquitin–proteasome system and Parkinson's disease
Authors: Olanow C. Warren , McNaught Kevin St. P.
Published: September 2006

Increasing genetic, pathological, and experimental evidence suggest that neurodegeneration in both familial and sporadic forms of Parkinson's disease (PD) may be related to a defect in the capacity of the ubiquitin–proteasome system (UPS) to clear unwanted proteins, resulting in protein accumulation, aggregation, and cytotoxicity. This concept is supported by in vitro and in vivo laboratory experiments which show that inhibition of UPS function can cause neurodegeneration coupled with the formation of Lewy body–like inclusions. This hypothesis could account for the presence of protein aggregates and Lewy bodies in PD, the other biochemical features seen in the disorder, and the age‐related vulnerability of the substantia nigra pars compacta. It also suggests novel targets for putative neuroprotective therapies for PD. © 2006 Movement Disorder Society
Effect of deep brain subthalamic stimulation on camptocormia and postural abnormalities in idiopathic Parkinson's disease
Authors: Hellmann Mark A. , Djaldetti Ruth , Israel Zvi , Melamed Eldad
Published: September 2006

Camptocormia has been described in patients with idiopathic Parkinson's disease (PD). We present a patient with young‐onset PD in whom the disease progressed over 25 years to a crippling state with severe camptocormia and bent knees. The camptocormia along with other parkinsonian symptoms improved dramatically after bilateral subthalamic deep brain stimulation. © 2006 Movement Disorder Society
Clinical characteristics of paroxysmal nonkinesigenic dyskinesia in serbian family with Myofibrillogenesis regulator 1 gene mutation
Authors: Stefanova Elka , Djarmati Ana , Momčilović Dragana , Dragašević Nataša , Svetel Marina , Klein Christine , Kostić Vladimir S.
Published: September 2006

The aim of this study was to describe the clinical features of a large Serbian family with paroxysmal nonkinesigenic dyskinesia (PNKD) and one of the two previously described mutations in the Myofibrillogenesis regulator 1 gene (MR‐1), which causes an alanine‐to‐valine substitution at position 9. In 5 examined out of 12 affected family members, attacks of dyskinesias appeared in the first 6 months of life. Both frequency and severity of attacks showed an age‐dependent incremental–decremental pattern with a peak between 13 to 15 years of age. They were frequently precipitated by stress, caffeine, fever, hunger, tiredness, as well as abrupt changes in temperature. Three of our patients differentiated two types of attacks: mild (120–180 minutes), with a predominance of functionally insignificant choreoathetoid movements, and severe (∼ 15–30 minutes), characterized by disabling dystonic and choreic movements of the extremities, trunk, and face. Sleep was the most reliable factor to discontinue an attack. This Serbian family further demonstrates that recurrent MR‐1 mutations are associated with PNKD worldwide, which will affect genetic testing. © 2006 Movement Disorder Society
Pathological gambling in Parkinson's disease improves on chronic subthalamic nucleus stimulation
Authors: Ardouin Claire , Voon Valerie , Worbe Yulia , Abouazar Nehman , Czernecki Virginie , Hosseini Hassan , Pelissolo Antoine , Moro Elena , Lhommée Eugénie , Lang Anthony E. , Agid Yves , Benabid Alim‐Louis , Pollak Pierre , Mallet Luc , Krack Paul
Published: September 2006

Pathological gambling (PG) related to dopaminergic treatment in Parkinson's disease (PD) is part of a spectrum of behavioral disorders called the dopamine dysregulation syndrome (DDS). We describe a series of PD patients with preoperative active PG due to dopaminergic treatment from a total of 598 patients who have undergone surgery for subthalamic nucleus stimulation for disabling motor fluctuations. The patients had systematic open assessment of behavioral symptoms and standardized assessments of motor symptoms, mood, and apathy. Seven patients (6 men, 1 woman; age, 54 ± 9 years; levodopa equivalent dose, 1,390 ± 350 mg/day) had preoperative PG over a mean of 7 years, intolerant to reduction in medication. Six had nonmotor fluctuations and four had other behavioral symptoms consistent with a diagnosis of the DDS. After surgery, motor symptoms improved, allowing for 74% reduction of dopaminergic treatment, below the dosage of gambling onset. In all patients, PG resolved postoperatively after 18 months on average (range, 0–48), although transient worsening occurred in two. Improvement paralleled the time course and degree of reduction in dopaminergic treatment. Nonmotor fluctuations, off period dysphoria, and other symptoms of the DDS improved. Two patients developed persistent apathy. In conclusion, PG and other symptoms of the DDS‐associated dopaminergic treatment improved in our patients following surgery. Dopaminergic dysregulation commonly attributed to pulsatile overstimulation of the limbic dopaminergic system may be subject to desensitization on chronic subthalamic stimulation, which has a relative motor selectivity and allows for decrease in dopaminergic treatment. © 2006 Movement Disorder Society
Juxtaglomerular cell tumor in an 8‐year‐old girl
Authors: Shao Lei , Manalang Michelle , Cooley Linda
Published: September 2006

Juxtaglomerular cell tumor (JGCT) is an extremely rare renal neoplasm in the pediatric population. It is considered a benign tumor arising from the juxtaglomerular apparatus of the kidney. JGCT has characteristic clinicopathologic features, but its cytogenetic features are unknown. We report a case of JGCT in an 8‐year‐old female who presented with severe hypertension, elevated serum renin level, and a well circumscribed tumor in the right kidney. Protogranules of renin was identified in the cytoplasm of the tumor cells by electron microscopic examination. Fluorescence in situ hybridization revealed monosomy of chromosomes X, 6, 9, 11, 15, and 21. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2008;50:406–409. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Freezing of polymer thin films and surfaces: The small molecular weight puzzle
Authors: Seemann Ralf , Jacobs Karin , Landfester Katharina , Herminghaus Stephan
Published: September 2006

Experimental observations (ellipsometry, scanning force microscopy, and nuclear magnetic recsonance (NMR)) of the freezing behavior of thin supported films as well as the free surface of atactic polystyrene are reported, taken at a particularly small molecular weight of 2 kg/mol. Remarkably, we find the same effect of reduction of the glass transition temperature, Tg, as observed earlier with much longer molecules. Furthermore, surface melting is observed by NMR, with the molten layer thickness similar to what has been observed with larger molecular weight. We conclude that molecular geometry effects cannot account for these observations, and that a consistent explanation must be presentable in a continuum picture. On the basis of the capillary mode spectrum of the free surface and of the supported films, we present such a model and find that it accounts very consistently with all observations made so far, at least with polystyrene. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 44: 2968–2979, 2006
Comparative analysis of blue‐shifted hydrogen bond versus conventional hydrogen bond in methyl radical complexes
Authors: Tang Kai , Shi Fu Qiang
Published: September 2006

Methyl radical complexes H3C…HCN and H3C…HNC have been investigated at the UMP2(full)/aug‐cc‐pVTZ level to elucidate the nature of hydrogen bonds. To better understand the intermolecular H‐bond interactions, topological analysis of electron density at bond critical points (BCP) is executed using Bader's atoms‐in‐molecules (AIM) theory. Natural bond orbital (NBO) analysis has also been performed to study the orbital interactions and change of hybridization. Theoretical calculations show that there is no essential difference between the blue‐shift H‐bond and the conventional one. In H3C…HNC complex, rehybridization is responsible for shortening of the NH bond. The hyperconjugative interaction between the single electron of the methyl radical and NH antibonding orbital is up to 7.0 kcal/mol, exceeding 3.0 kcal/mol, the upper limit of hyperconjugativen(Y)→σ*(X–H) interaction to form the blue‐shifted H‐bond according to Alabugin's theory. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2007
Comment on “On the original proof by reductio ad absurdum of the Hohenberg–Kohn theorem for many‐electron Coulomb systems”
Authors: Szczepanik W. , Dulak M. , Wesolowski T. A.
Published: September 2006

We argue with Kryachko's criticism [Int J Quantum Chem 2005, 103, 818] of the original proof of the second Hohenberg‐Kohn theorem. The Kato cusp condition can be used to refute a “to‐be‐refuted” statement as an alternative to the original proof by Hohenberg and Kohn applicable for Coulombic systems. Since alternative ways to prove falseness of the “to‐be‐refuted” statement in a reduction ad absurdum proof do not exclude each other, Kryachko's criticism is not justified. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2007
Hidden symmetries and thermodynamic properties for a harmonic oscillator plus an inverse square potential
Authors: Dong Shi‐Hai , Lozada‐Cassou M. , Yu Jiang , Jiménez‐Ángeles Felipe , Rivera A. L.
Published: September 2006

The exact solutions of a one‐dimensional Schrödinger equation with a harmonic oscillator plus an inverse square potential are obtained. The ladder operators constructed directly from the normalized wavefunctions are found to satisfy a su(1, 1) algebra. Another hidden symmetry is used to explore the relations between the eigenvalues and eigenfunctions by substituting x → −ix. The vibrational partition function Z is calculated exactly to study thermodynamic functions such as the vibrational mean energy U, specific heat C, free energy F, and entropy S. It is both interesting and surprising to find that both vibrational specific heat C and entropy S are independent of the potential strength α. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2007
Bound D‐states of helium atom under Debye screening
Authors: Kar Sabyasachi , Ho Y. K.
Published: September 2006

We have investigated the 1snd1,3D (3 ≤ n ≤ 7) state energies of helium atom embedded in weakly coupled plasma environments using the Rayleigh–Ritz variational method. The effect of the plasma environment is taken care of using a Debye screening model. A correlated wave function involving exponential expansion has been used to represent correlation between the charge particles. The bound 1snd1,3D (3 ≤ n ≤ 7) state energies of helium for various Debye lengths along with the excitation energies of few singlet and triplet states are reported. Our results are useful references to atomic physics, plasma physics, and astrophysics research communities. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2007
Exceptional experiences and spiritual practice: a new measurement approach
Authors: Kohls Niko , Walach Harald
Published: September 2006

A new instrument for the measurement of exceptional experiences, the Exceptional Experiences Questionnaire (EEQ), is introduced, which considers both frequency and individual evaluation of exceptional experiences. A principal component factor analysis extracted four factors (positive spiritual experiences, experiences of deconstruction/ego loss, psychopathological experiences and dream‐type experiences), which explain 49% of the variance. The 25‐item short form of the instrument shows good psychometric properties (range for Cronbach's alpha: r = 0.67–0.89, range for test–retest reliability after 6 months r = 0.66–0.87). The instrument shows adequate discriminant and convergent validity (Sense of Coherence, Social Support, Mental Distress and Transpersonal Trust) and can discriminate between spiritual practising and non practising individuals. A non‐technical summary of the research is provided at the end of this paper. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Tree‐based model checking for logistic regression
Authors: Su Xiaogang
Published: September 2006

A tree procedure is proposed to check the adequacy of a fitted logistic regression model. The proposed method not only makes natural assessment for the logistic model, but also provides clues to amend its lack‐of‐fit. The resulting tree‐augmented logistic model facilitates a refined model with meaningful interpretation. We demonstrate its use via simulation studies and an application to the Pima Indians diabetes data. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Beyond dichotomy: the curvilinear relationship between social responsibility and financial performance
Authors: Barnett Michael L. , Salomon Robert M.
Published: September 2006

A central and contentious debate in many literatures concerns the relationship between financial and social performance. We advance this debate by measuring the financial–social performance link mutual funds that practice socially responsible investing (SRI). SRI fund managers have an array of social screening strategies from which to choose. Prior studies have not addressed this heterogeneity within SRI funds. Combining modern portfolio and stakeholder theories, we hypothesize that the financial loss borne by an SRI fund due to poor diversification is offset as social screening intensifies because better‐managed and more stable firms are selected into its portfolio. We find support for this hypothesis through an empirical test on a panel of 61 SRI funds from 1972 to 2000. The results show that as the number of social screens used by an SRI fund increases, financial returns decline at first, but then rebound as the number of screens reaches a maximum. That is, we find a curvilinear relationship, suggesting that two long‐competing viewpoints may be complementary. Furthermore, we find that financial performance varies with the types of social screens used. Community relations screening increased financial performance, but environmental and labor relations screening decreased financial performance. Based on our results, we suggest that literatures addressing the link between financial and social performance move toward in‐depth examination of the merits of different social screening strategies, and away from the continuing debate on the financial merits of either being socially responsible or not. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Social influence effects and managerial compensation evidence from Germany
Authors: Fiss Peer C.
Published: September 2006

I extend existing theories of social influence effects on executive compensation while at the same time showing the context dependence of these effects. Using original data on German firms and a longitudinal design, results of this study suggest that the operating of social influence mechanisms depends on demographic and social similarity between CEOs and board chairs. The findings reconcile previous mixed findings on the role of CEO human capital factors such as education and tenure and furthermore show that board vigilance is conditional on board compensation and the presence of major shareholders with an incentive to monitor board behavior. Finally, the study contributes to compensation and corporate governance research by providing evidence on how social influence effects operate outside the United States. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Illness Representations, Self‐Regulation, and Genetic Counseling: A Theoretical Review
Authors: Shiloh Shoshana
Published: September 2006

In this article the Self Regulatory Theory (Leventhal, 1970; Leventhan H., Benyamini, Brownlee, Diefenbach, Leventhal E.A., Patrick‐Miller, & Robitaille, 1997) is presented as a framework for conceptualizing genetic counseling. Findings published in the genetic counseling literature are re‐interpreted from the perspective of the theory. Clients are seen as active information processors rather than passive receivers of information. Research related to clients’ representations of genetic causality of disease and specific genetic conditions is reviewed. Associations of genetic illness representations to self representations, coping and health behaviors are examined, and suggestions are made for applications of the theory in research and clinical practice.
Maximum Likelihood Methods in Treating Outliers and Symmetrically Heavy-Tailed Distributions for Nonlinear Structural Equation Models with Missing Data
Authors: Lee Sik-Yum , Xia Ye-Mao
Published: September 2006

By means of more than a dozen user friendly packages, structural equation models (SEMs) are widely used in behavioral, education, social, and psychological research. As the underlying theory and methods in these packages are vulnerable to outliers and distributions with longer-than-normal tails, a fundamental problem in the field is the development of robust methods to reduce the influence of outliers and the distributional deviation in the analysis. In this paper we develop a maximum likelihood (ML) approach that is robust to outliers and symmetrically heavy-tailed distributions for analyzing nonlinear SEMs with ignorable missing data. The analytic strategy is to incorporate a general class of distributions into the latent variables and the error measurements in the measurement and structural equations. A Monte Carlo EM (MCEM) algorithm is constructed to obtain the ML estimates, and a path sampling procedure is implemented to compute the observed-data log-likelihood and then the Bayesian information criterion for model comparison. The proposed methodologies are illustrated with simulation studies and an example.
A new paradigm for membrane‐organizing and ‐shaping scaffolds
Authors: Bauer Manuel , Pelkmans Lucas
Published: September 2006

The clathrin, COPI and COPII scaffolds are paradigm vesicle coats in membrane trafficking. Recent advances in our understanding of the caveolar coat have generated a new paradigm. It represents those membrane coats, where a considerable part of the protein component is lipid modified, and integrated into the cytosolic leaflet of the vesicle membrane by a hairpin‐like hydrophobic structure. Such coat proteins are permanently associated with membranes, and form oligomers early after synthesis. These oligomers assemble into a coat that has high affinity for particular lipids, creating lipid microdomains within the membrane. The combined protein–lipid structure should be considered as the scaffold that entraps ligands, either through affinity with the protein or with the lipid component, and that has the ability to shape membranes. Besides scaffolds assembled by caveolins, scaffolds assembled by reticulons and PHB domain‐containing proteins such as the reggie/flotillin proteins fit this paradigm.
Characterization of homogentisate prenyltransferases involved in plastoquinone‐9 and tocochromanol biosynthesis
Authors: Sadre Radin , Gruber Jens , Frentzen Margrit
Published: September 2006

A cDNA of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii encoding a plastidial homogentisate prenyltransferase was identified. Functional expression studies in Escherichia coli revealed that the enzyme possessed properties similar to the prenyltransferase of Arabidopsis thaliana encoded by At3g11950 but different from the phytyltransferases of A. thaliana and Synechocystis. Unlike the phytyltransferases, the C. reinhardtii and the respective A. thaliana enzyme showed highest activities with solanesyl diphosphate, but were hardly active with phytyl diphosphate. Hence, these data provide evidence that the latter represent homogentisate solanesyltransferases involved in plastoquinone‐9 biosynthesis. Overexpression of At3g11950 in A. thaliana, however, suggests that the solanesyltransferase can affect tocopherol biosynthesis as well.
Transcriptional autoregulation by Mycobacterium tuberculosis PhoP involves recognition of novel direct repeat sequences in the regulatory region of the promoter
Authors: Gupta Sankalp , Sinha Akesh , Sarkar Dibyendu
Published: September 2006

The PhoP–PhoR two‐component system is essential for virulence and intracellular growth of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) in human and mouse macrophages or in mice. Here, PhoP and truncated PhoR sensor proteins were shown to participate in phosphotransfer reactions using conserved residues characteristic of two‐component signaling systems. β‐Galactosidase activity originating from phoP promoter‐lacZ construct was inhibited in presence of PhoP, suggesting transcriptional auto‐inhibition by the response regulator. In vitro binding of PhoP is consistent with the in vivo transcriptional repression, indicating phosphorylation‐independent assembly of the transcription initiation complex at elevated concentrations of PhoP. DNaseI protection studies reveal a consensus recognition sequence within the phoP promoter that includes three 9‐bp direct repeat units. Each repeat unit adjusts to the consensus . Alteration in the sequence of the newly‐identified direct repeat units relieved phoP transcriptional repression in presence of PhoP, suggesting that PhoP represses its own expression by sequence‐specific interaction(s) with the repeat units. Together, these results identify so far unknown PhoP‐regulated genetic determinants in the regulatory region of the phoP promoter that are central to understanding of how PhoP may possibly function as a global regulator in MTB.
Zonal flow in toroidal ion temperature gradient mode turbulence
Authors: SANDBERG INGMAR , PAVLENKO V. P.
Published: September 2006

The properties of zonal flows in the toroidal ion temperature gradient mode turbulence are investigated taking into account the polarization drift effects. The stability criterion and the characteristic oscillation frequency of the zonal flow are determined in terms of the spectra of turbulent fluctuations. The nonlinear evolution of zonal flows may lead to the formation of stationary long-lived coherent structures supporting stationary shear layers. These results indicate the existence of regions with reduced levels of anomalous transport attributed to zonal flows generalizing previous findings regarding zonal flows in electron drift turbulence.
Understanding functional dependencies via constraint handling rules
Authors: SULZMANN MARTIN , DUCK GREGORY J. , PEYTON-JONES SIMON , STUCKEY PETER J.
Published: September 2006

Functional dependencies are a popular and useful extension to Haskell style type classes. We give a reformulation of functional dependencies in terms of Constraint Handling Rules (CHRs). In previous work, CHRs have been employed for describing user-programmable type extensions in the context of Haskell style type classes. Here, we make use of CHRs to provide for the first time a concise result that under some sufficient conditions, functional dependencies allow for sound, complete and decidable type inference. The sufficient conditions imposed on functional dependencies can be very limiting. We show how to safely relax these conditions and suggest several sound extensions of functional dependencies. Our results allow for a better understanding of functional dependencies and open up the opportunity for new applications.
Quantitative Rekonstruktionen (Retrognosen) als Instrument der Theorienbildung und Theorien- prüfung in der Sozialpsychologie
Authors: Witte Erich H. , Heitkamp Imke
Published: September 2006

Zusammenfassung: In der Sozialpsychologie werden immer neue Effekte berichtet, ohne dass sie in übergreifende Theoriekonzepte eingebettet werden. Dieses Verhalten führt letztlich zu Theorienarmut. Hier soll nun eine Methode, die quantitative Rekonstruktion, vorgestellt werden, mit deren Hilfe Dateninformationen besser ausgeschöpft und so vergleichbare Effekte in einen theoretischen Zusammenhang gestellt werden können. Theorie und Durchführung der quantitativen Rekonstruktion werden am Beispiel der kognitiven Dissonanztheorie gezeigt. Dabei wird ein Informationsintegrationsmodell entworfen und gezeigt, dass die Dissonanztheorie durch die Ergebnisse der quantitativen Rekonstruktion ganz neu bewertet werden kann.
Bildgebungsbefunde bei Kindern und Jugendlichen mit ADHS, Tic-Störungen und Zwangserkrankungen
Authors: Vloet Timo D. , Neufang Susanne , Herpertz-Dahlmann Beate , Konrad Kerstin
Published: September 2006

Zusammenfassung: ADHS, Tic-Störung, Tourette-Syndrom und Zwangsstörung sind gekennzeichnet durch Defizite in der Handlungskontrolle und treten überzufällig häufig komorbid auf. Es bestehen Hinweise auf eine gemeinsame neurobiologische Basis. Der folgende Übersichtsartikel fasst Ergebnisse aus Bildgebungsstudien zu diesen Störungen im Kindes- und Jugendalter zusammen, wobei strukturelle und funktionelle Befunde durch Magnetresonanztomographie einen Schwerpunkt einnehmen. Übereinstimmend zeigen sich im Vergleich zu gesunden Kontrollen morphologische Veränderungen im Bereich von Basalganglien und präfrontalem Kortex sowie abnorme Aktivierungen in fronto-striatalen Systemen. Vor allem beim ADHS und Tourette-Syndrom werden präfrontale Abweichungen gefunden, die beim letzteren milder ausgeprägt sind und unter Umständen auf Kompensationsmechanismen zurückzuführen sein könnten. Beim ADHS finden sich zusätzlich kleine, globale morphologische Veränderungen im gesamten Kortex und im Zerebellum, beim Tourette-Syndrom werden zudem Auffälligkeiten im okzipitalen Kortex beschrieben. Bei der Zwangserkrankung bestehen weitere strukturelle und funktionelle Aberrationen im Bereich von Amygdala und Thalamus und zudem orbito-frontale Funktionsveränderungen, die beim ADHS eher im ventralen präfrontalen Kortex zu finden sind. Diese Befunde scheinen insgesamt mit Störungen in kortiko-striato-thalamiko-kortikalen Regelkreisen assoziiert zu sein und u. a. in Verbindung mit Dysfunktionen im Bereich der Inhibition von motorischen Reaktionen, impulsiven Handlungen und unerwünschten Gedanken zu stehen. Generell wird die Aussagekraft und Vergleichbarkeit vieler Studien durch kleine und heterogene Gruppen sowie methodische Unterschiede eingeschränkt.