bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Hostile Environmental Intellectuals? Critiques and Counter‐Critiques of Science and Technology in West Germany after 1945
Authors: Beyler Richard H.
Published: November 2008

Feindliche intellektuelle Umwelt? Kritiker und Gegenkritiker von Naturwissenschaft und Technik in Westdeutschland nach 1945. Paul Forman stellt in seiner Arbeit über Physik in der Weimarer Republik die These auf, dass in diesem Kontext von Niederlage und politischer Krise eine irrationalistische Strömung innerhalb deutscher intellektueller Geschichte plötzlich gestärkt wurde. Nach dem Zweiten Weltkrieg war die Lage Deutschlands noch katastrophaler, dennoch kam ein vergleichbares Klima von Irrationalismus nur sehr begrenzt auf. Der Zusammenbruch des Nationalsozialismus war genügend rational erklärbar, ohne einen philosophischen Fatalismus als Grund anzuführen. F.G. Jünger, als eine Ausnahme, setzte dem eine autonome, dämonische Technik als Erklärungsmodell gegenüber. Viele Kulturkritiker der damaligen Zeit fanden solche Betrachtungen unrealistisch und favorisierten stattdessen eine Integration technischer und humanistischer Interpretationsansätze. Auch eine neue Welle einer teilweise apokalyptischen Umweltkrisen‐Literatur nach dem Krieg stützte sich auf spezifisch wissenschaftliche Analysen und nicht auf einen generellen gesellschaftlichen Kulturpessimismus.

Hostile Environmental Intellectuals? Critiques and Counter‐Critiques of Science and Technology in West Germany after 1945. Paul Forman, in his work on physics in Weimar Germany, advanced the thesis that an irrationalist current within German intellectual history was then suddenly exacerbated in a context of defeat and political crisis. After World War II, Germany's situation was if any thing even more catastrophic; nevertheless, a comparable climate of irrationalism arose only in a limited way. The collapse of National Socialism was, in effect, sufficiently explicable on rational grounds to resort to a philosophical fatalism. F. G. Jünger, as a possible exception, put forward a theory of autonomous, demonic technology as an explanation; many cultural critics of the time, however, found these views unrealistic and favored an integration of technical and humanistic approaches. Moreover, even a new wave of (sometimes apocalyptic) literature of environmental crisis focused on specific scientifically analyses rather than a diffuse cultural pessimism.
Die Konstituierung eines Netzwerkes reaktionärer Physiker in der Weimarer Republik
Authors: Wolff Stefan L.
Published: November 2008

The Constitution of a Network of Reactionary Physicists during the Republic of Weimar. The dominance of physicists from Berlin in the German Physical Society caused a controversial discussion on the statute initiated by those outside of Berlin in 1914. It could not be finished because of the outbreak of World War I. This antagonism got a political and ideological quality when only the ‘Non‐Berliners’ supported a chauvinistic appeal of German physicists in the so‐called “Krieg der Geister”. After the war this development led to the constitution of a network of reactionary physicists just before the “Naturforscherversammlung” in Bad Nauheim in 1920. Its members shared a hostile attitude towards the new Republic of Weimar and were mostly chauvinistic and anti‐Semitic. Temporarily the network was able to mobilise a considerable part of German physicists for their aims. A decentralisation of the German Physical Society was put through. Considering this network we examine one of the theses of Paul Forman according to which there is a close correlation between political and scientific orientations during that time. We are able to confirm this as far as science policy is concerned. There a bias for a certain kind of research can be found. It becomes more difficult when we investigate the influence of a political attitude on the individual research. We succeed in those cases where the modern theories are involved.
The Fin de Siècle Thesis
Authors: Staley Richard
Published: November 2008

Die Fin de Siècle‐These.Der Aufsatz untersucht das Verhältnis zwischen John Heilbrons Argumentation, die Physiker des ‘fin de siecle’ hätten Bild und Substanz ihrer Disziplin kulturellen Belangen angepasst, und Paul Formans Interpretation der Akausalität in der Weimarer Periode. Ergänzend zu ihrer Fokussierung auf Repräsentationen anstelle von Wahrheit, legten die von Heilbron benannten Anhänger “deskriptionistischer” Epistemologien den Schwerpunkt auf Methodik, statistische anstelle kausaler Erklärungen, historisches Verständnis von Epistemologie und unterstrichen die Beziehungen zwischen der Physik und anderen Disziplinen. Ihre Perspektive liefert einen intellektuellen Kontext – innerhalb der Disziplin Physik – für zumindestens einen Teil dessen, was Forman als Kapitulation vor einer feindlichen sozialen Umgebung, wie sie sich in Oswald SpenglersDer Untergang des Abendlandesausdrückte, beschrieben hat.

The Fin de Siècle Thesis.This paper examines the relations between John Heilbron's argument that fin de siècle physicists adjusted the image and substance of their discipline to cultural concerns, and Paul Forman's approach to acausality in the Weimar period. In addition to their focus on representation rather than truth, adherents of the “descriptionist” epistemologies that Heilbron identified also promoted an emphasis on method, statistical rather than causal explanations, historical understandings of epistemology, and stressed the relations between physics and other disciplines. Their views provide an intellectual context – within the physics discipline – for at least some part of what Forman had described as a capitulation to the hostile social environment expressed in Oswald Spengler'sDer Untergang des Abendlandes.
The relationship of oral disturbances of diabetes mellitus patients with paraoxonase gene polymorphisms
Authors: Ünür Meral , Demirez Erdinç , Ağaçhan Bedia , Görmüş Uzay , Ergen Arzu , Dalan Burak , İsbir Turgay
Published: November 2008

Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is a multisystemic disorder with serious complications and these patients may also have serious problems with their oral cavity probably because of the microangiopathic and neuropathic complications. In diabetic patients, there may be several problems of the oral cavity such as gingivitis, periodontitis, candidiasis, glossitis, oral ulcerations, loss of taste sensations, opportunistic infections and several other conditions dependent on these. One of the recent theories about complications in DM is the contribution of reactive oxygen radicals. Paraoxonase (PON1) is an enzyme that is synthesized in liver and having the capability of hydrolasing the active metabolite of an insectisid, parathion. Previously it was shown that there are two polymorphic areas on the PON1 gene: one causing a Leu → Met substitution at 55th position, the other causing Gln → Arg at the 192nd position. We investigated the differences in PON activities related to the oral lesions in Type 2 diabetics and control subjects to see their relationships with PON1 activity levels and the two main gene polymorphisms of PON1 genes, PON1 192 and PON1 55. We had 51 patients and 53 healthy subjects used in the study. PON activity was significantly decreased in Type 2 DM group compared to the control group. Neither PON1 192 nor PON1 55 genotypes had any differential effect on PON1 enzyme activity levels in either group. However, we found that PON1 55 M allele carriers had greater risk for general periodontal and/or gingival problems. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A robust partial least squares regression method with applications
Authors: González Javier , Peña Daniel , Romera Rosario
Published: November 2008

Partial least squares (PLS) regression is a linear regression technique developed to relate many regressors to one or several response variables. Robust methods are introduced to reduce or remove the effect of outlying data points. In this paper, we show that if the sample covariance matrix is properly robustified further robustification of the linear regression steps of the PLS algorithm becomes unnecessary. The robust estimate of the covariance matrix is computed by searching for outliers in univariate projections of the data on a combination of random directions (Stahel—Donoho) and specific directions obtained by maximizing and minimizing the kurtosis coefficient of the projected data, as proposed by Peña and Prieto [1]. It is shown that this procedure is fast to apply and provides better results than other methods proposed in the literature. Its performance is illustrated by Monte Carlo and by an example, where the algorithm is able to show features of the data which were undetected by previous methods. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Expression and developmental regulation of oxytocin (OT) and oxytocin receptors (OTR) in the enteric nervous system (ENS) and intestinal epithelium
Authors: Welch Martha G. , Tamir Hadassah , Gross Kara J. , Chen Jason , Anwar Muhammad , Gershon Michael D.
Published: November 2008

Although oxytocin (OT) and oxytocin receptor (OTR) are known for roles in parturition and milk let‐down, they are not hypothalamus‐restricted. OT is important in nurturing and opposition to stress. Transcripts encoding OT and OTR have been reported in adult human gut, and OT affects intestinal motility. We tested the hypotheses that OT is endogenous to the enteric nervous system (ENS) and that OTR signaling may participate in enteric neurophysiology. Reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction confirmed OT and OTR transcripts in adult mouse and rat gut and in precursors of enteric neurons immunoselected from fetal rats. Enteric OT and OTR expression continued through adulthood but was developmentally regulated, peaking at postnatal day 7. Coincidence of the immunoreactivities of OTR and the neural marker Hu was 100% in the P3 and 71% in the adult myenteric plexus, when submucosal neurons were also OTR‐immunoreactive. Co‐localization with NeuN established that intrinsic primary afferent neurons are OTR‐expressing. Because OTR transcripts and protein were detected in the nodose ganglia, OT signaling might also affect extrinsic primary afferent neurons. Although OT immunoreactivity was found only in ∼1% of myenteric neurons, extensive OT‐immunoreactive varicosities surrounded many others. Villus enterocytes were OTR‐immunoreactive through postnatal day 17; however, by postnatal day 19, immunoreactivity waned to become restricted to crypts and concentrated at crypt‐villus junctions. Immunoelectron microscopy revealed plasmalemmal OTR at enterocyte adherens junctions. We suggest that OT and OTR signaling might be important in ENS development and function and might play roles in visceral sensory perception and neural modulation of epithelial biology. J. Comp. Neurol. 512:256–270, 2009. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Electron microscopic localization of corticotropin‐releasing factor (CRF) and CRF receptor in rat and mouse central nucleus of the amygdala
Authors: Treweek Jennifer B. , Jaferi Azra , Colago Eric E. , Zhou Ping , Pickel Virginia M.
Published: November 2008

Corticotrophin‐releasing factor (CRF) is expressed in the central nucleus of the amygdala (CeA), where the CRF receptor (CRFr) plays an important role in anxiety‐ and stress‐related behaviors. To determine the subcellular sites of CRFr activation in this region, we examined the electron microscopic immunolabeling of antisera recognizing CRF or CRFr. The ultrastructural analysis was principally conducted in the lateral subdivision of the rat CeA, with comparisons being made in mice so as to optimally utilize mutant mice in control experiments. The CRFr labeling was seen in many small dendrites and dendritic spines as well as in a few somata, large dendrites, axons, and axon terminals or more rarely in glial processes. Approximately 35% of the CRFr‐labeled dendrites contained CRF immunoreactivity, which was distributed diffusely throughout the cytoplasm, or specifically affiliated with either endomembranes or large dense‐core vesicles. The CRF‐immunoreactive vesicles also were present in somata and axon terminals with or without CRFr labeling. The CRF immunoreactivity was usually absent from both terminals and dendrites joined by asymmetric, excitatory‐type synapses, where a postsynaptic location of the CRFr was commonly observed. Numerous terminals containing both CRF and CRFr were seen, however, within the neuropil and sometimes apposing the excitatory synapses. These results provide ultrastructural evidence for a primary involvement of CRF receptors in modulation of the postsynaptic excitability of CeA neurons, an effect that may be limited by the availability of CRF. The findings have important implications for understanding CRF mediation of rapid responses to stress. J. Comp. Neurol. 512:323–335, 2009. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
On stochastic modelling of linear circuits
Authors: Rawat Tarun Kumar , Parthasarathy Harish
Published: November 2008

In this paper, the deterministic modelling of linear circuits is replaced by stochastic modelling by including variance in the parameters (resistance, inductance and capacitance). Our method is based on results from the theory of stochastic differential equations. This method is general in the following sense. Any electrical circuit that consists of resistances, inductances and capacitances can be modelled by ordinary differential equations, in which the parameters of the differential operators are the functions of circuit elements. The deterministic ordinary differential equation can be converted into a stochastic differential equation by adding noise to the input potential source and to the circuit elements. The noise added in the potential source is assumed to be a white noise and that added in the parameters is assumed to be a correlated process because these parameters change very slowly with time and hence must be modelled as a correlated process. In this paper, we model a series RLC circuit by using the proposed method. The stochastic differential equation that describes the concentration of charge in the capacitor of a series RLC circuit is solved. Numerical simulations in MATLAB are obtained using the Euler–Maruyama method. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A versatile platform for comprehensive chip‐based explorative cytometry
Authors: Hennig Christian , Adams Nico , Hansen Gesine
Published: November 2008

Analysis of the immense complexity of the immune system is increasingly hampered by technical limitations of current methodologies, especially for multiparameter‐ and functional analysis of samples containing small numbers of cells. We here present a method, which is based on the stepwise functional manipulation and analysis of living immune cells that are self‐immobilized within microfluidic chips using automated epifluorescence microscopy overcoming current limitations for comprehensive immunophenotyping. Crossvalidation with flow cytometry revealed a 10‐fold increased sensitivity and a comparable specificity. By using small sample volumes and cell numbers (2–10 μl, down to 20,000 cells), we were able to analyze a virtually unlimited number of intracellular and surface markers even on living immune cells. We exemplify the scientific and diagnostic potential of this method by (1) identification and phenotyping of rare cells, (2) comprehensive analysis of very limited sample volume, and (3) deep immunophenotyping of human B‐cells after in vitro differentiation. Finally, we propose an informatic model for annotation and comparison of cytometric data by using an ontology‐based approach. The chip‐based cytometry introduced here turned out to be a very useful tool to enable a stepwise exploration of precious, small cell‐containing samples with an virtually unlimited number of surface‐ and intracellular markers. © 2008 International Society for Advancement of Cytometry
The confirmability and disconfirmability of trait concepts: Competence affects evidentiary standards for warmth
Authors: Tausch Nicole
Published: November 2008

Based on Peeters' behavioural‐adaptive model which posits that biases in trait attribution serve to avert potential harm to the individual, this study tested the hypothesis that the evidentiary standards for inferring warmth‐related traits are affected by the competence of the target being judged. As incorrectly ascribing warmth to a highly competent target is potentially more harmful than incorrectly ascribing warmth to an incompetent target, I expected higher confirmation and lower disconfirmation thresholds for positive warmth‐related traits and lower confirmation and higher disconfirmation thresholds for negative warmth‐related traits for competent as opposed to incompetent targets. The hypotheses were confirmed for positive, but not for negative traits. The effect of target competence on instances confirming (but not instances disconfirming) ratings was mediated by differences in the potential harmfulness of making incorrect trait attributions. An alternative explanation for these findings, namely that different expectancies for competent versus incompetent targets can account for differences in (dis‐) confirmation thresholds, was ruled out. The implications of these findings for interpersonal relations and group stereotypes are discussed. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The primacy of communion over agency and its reversals in evaluations
Authors: Wojciszke Bogdan , Abele Andrea E.
Published: November 2008

Agency (A) and communion (C) are basic dimensions of social judgment and C is typically more important than A. Building on the two‐interest account of bidimensionality of social cognition, we hypothesized that this “C over A” pattern is typical for judging distant persons but is attenuated or even reversed when people judge the self or interdependent persons. In Study 1 we found that the construal of events leading to changes in a target's evaluation was different in dependence on perspective. There was a “C over A” pattern in case of distant others, but an “A over C” pattern in case of close friends or the self. In Study 2 we found that the degree of dependence on one's supervisor determined the “C over A” pattern, as well. C was more important for the supervisor's overall evaluation if there was no dependence, and conversely A was more important in case of dependence. The studies underline the theoretical significance of a social interaction perspective in social judgment, and particularly in judgments on the two basic dimensions. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Selective stereotype activation: The joint impact of interpersonal goals and task context
Authors: Bukowski Marcin , Moya Miguel , de Lemus Soledad , Szmajke Andrzej
Published: November 2008

In complex social interactions, such as co‐operation or competition with another person on an ability test, people tend to activate stereotypes strategically in order to achieve their self‐enhancement goals. If multiple ways of categorizing the target person are available, the selected stereotypical traits that serve their motives might also depend on the specific task context in which the interaction is situated. We assumed that people selectively process trait information in order to increase their perceived chances to win in a currently performed task. We tested this hypothesis in a study in which participants were told to perform an analytical or emotional skills task having as a co‐operator or rival, a multiple categorizable target person (female computer science student). In the analytical task context, we found stronger inhibition of stereotypically female traits in the co‐operation than in the competition condition. In the emotional skills task context, we found stronger inhibition of computer scientist traits in the co‐operation than competition condition. The interactive nature of goals and context influences on stereotype activation is discussed and some theoretical implications about the dynamics of stereotype activation processes are drawn. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Predicting future affective states: How ease of retrieval and faith in intuition moderate the impact of activated content
Authors: Keller Johannes , Bless Herbert
Published: November 2008

Prior research suggests that duration bias—the tendency to overestimate the duration of affective states—is due to individuals' inordinate focus on event‐related information. We propose that the impact of focusing on event‐related (vs. unrelated) content is moderated by the ease with which the information is brought to mind. In the present experiment, participants thought about a possible future negative event and made affective forecasts after retrieving either few or many aspects in their life that would be affected (or unaffected) by the event. Participants estimated longer duration of affective consequences when they retrieved event‐related rather than event‐unrelated information. However, this effect was restricted to conditions where the respective information was brought to mind easily. Importantly, results also revealed that individual differences in faith in intuition moderated the effect of manipulated ease of retrieval. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Anatomical gradients of adult neurogenesis and activity: Young neurons in the ventral dentate gyrus are activated by water maze training
Authors: Snyder Jason S. , Radik Ruvim , Wojtowicz J. Martin , Cameron Heather A.
Published: November 2008

Hippocampal function varies in a subregion‐specific fashion: spatial processing is thought to rely on the dorsal hippocampus, whereas anxiety‐related behavior relies more on the ventral hippocampus. During development, neurogenesis in the dentate gyrus (DG) proceeds along ventral to dorsal as well as suprapyramidal to infrapyramidal gradients, but it is unclear whether regional differences in neurogenesis are maintained in adulthood. Moreover, it is unknown whether young neurons in the adult exhibit subregion‐specific patterns of activation. We therefore examined the magnitude of neurogenesis and the activation of young and mature granule cells in DG subregions in adult rats that learned a spatial water maze task, swam with no platform, or were left untouched. We found that both adult neurogenesis and granule cell activation, as defined by c‐fos expression in the granule cell population as a whole, were higher in the dorsal than the ventral DG. In contrast, c‐fos expression in adult‐born granule cells, identified by PSA‐NCAM or location in the subgranular zone, occurred at a higher rate in the opposite subregion, the ventral DG. Interestingly, c‐fos expression in the entire granule cell population was equivalent in water maze‐trained rats and swim control rats, but was increased in the young granule cells only in the learning condition. These results provide new evidence that hippocampally‐relevant experience activates young and mature neurons in different DG subregions and with different experiential specificity, and suggest that adult‐born neurons may play a specific role in anxiety‐related behavior or other nonspatial aspects of hippocampal function. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Viral‐mediated expression of a constitutively active form of CREB in hippocampal neurons increases memory
Authors: Restivo Leonardo , Tafi Elisiana , Ammassari‐Teule Martine , Marie Hélène
Published: November 2008

Synaptic activity‐dependent phosphorylation of the transcription factor cAMP response element binding protein (CREB) leads to CREB‐dependent gene transcription, a process thought to underlie long‐term hippocampal synaptic plasticity and memory formation. We previously reported that increasing CREB activity in glutamatergic neurons enhances synaptic plasticity and neuronal excitability. Whether these modifications are sufficient to promote hippocampal‐dependent memory formation was not determined. Here, we provide direct evidence that a brief increase in CREB‐dependent transcription in either CA1 or DG neurons, using in vivo viral vectors, is sufficient to boost memory for contextual representations, as tested in the contextual fear conditioning task, without affecting motor, pain, or anxiety behaviors. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
AMPA receptor trafficking and synaptic plasticity require SQSTM1/p62
Authors: Jiang Jianxiong , Parameshwaran Kodeeswaran , Seibenhener M. Lamar , Kang Myoung‐Goo , Suppiramaniam Vishnu , Huganir Richard L. , Diaz‐Meco Maria T. , Wooten Marie W.
Published: November 2008

SQSTM1/p62 is a multidomain/scaffold for the atypical protein kinase Cs (aPKC). Phosphorylation of AMPA receptors by PKC has been shown to regulate their insertion in the postsynaptic membrane. Here, we directly tested whether p62 could interact with AMPA receptor subunits and influence their trafficking and phosphorylation. GluR1 receptor intracellular loop L2–3 and the ZZ‐type zinc finger domain of p62 are essential for the interaction between these two proteins. In this context, both p62 and aPKC‐mediated phosphorylation were necessary for surface delivery of the receptor. Our findings reveal that p62 is the first protein identified that interacts with a region of the GluR receptor other than the C‐terminal tail. Furthermore, mice deficient in p62 displayed impaired hippocampal CA1 long‐term potentiation (LTP), along with diminished surface expression of GluR1 and phosphorylation of S818. Lastly, we identify a conserved sequence (ISExSL) shared by all p62 interacting‐aPKC substrates. These findings support a model where p62 interaction and aPKC phosphorylation act together to mediate AMPA receptor trafficking and long‐term synaptic plasticity in the hippocampus. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Biological aggressiveness of prostate cancer in the Finnish screening trial
Authors: Laurila Marita , Tammela Teuvo L.J. , Auvinen Anssi , Isola Jorma , Visakorpi Tapio , Luukkaala Tiina , Määttänen Liisa , Ruutu Mirja , Ala‐Opas Martti , Mildh Markus , Martikainen Paula
Published: November 2008

Prostate cancer aggressiveness was evaluated based on pathologic characterization of cases detected in the Finnish prostate cancer screening trial. The trial population consists of 80,458 men aged 55–67 years. A total of 32,000 men were randomized to the screening arm. The remaining 48,000 men formed the control arm. The interval cases and cancers among nonparticipants and in the control arm were identified from the Finnish Cancer Registry. Random samples were selected from screen‐detected cases (126 of 543 in the first and 133 of 508 in the second round) and control arm cancers (133 out of 863), in addition to all 92 interval cancers and 106 cases among nonparticipants. All the biopsies were regraded according to the Gleason system. The expression of the proliferation antigen Ki‐67 was determined in 479 cases (72%). More than half of the tumors diagnosed in the first round of screening were high‐grade cancers (Gleason 7 or higher). In the second round, the proportion of low‐grade cancers increased from 47% to 70%. Cancers in the screening arm were more commonly focal and fewer bilateral cancers were detected. The cancers among nonparticipants were the most aggressive group. The aggressiveness of the interval cancers was between the cancers detected in the first and the second round. Our results indicate that prostate cancers detected through screening are less biologically aggressive. This was most notable after the first screening round. Nonparticipants had more aggressive cancers. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Dkk3, downregulated in cervical cancer, functions as a negative regulator of β‐catenin
Authors: Lee Eun‐Ju , Jo Minwha , Rho Seung Bae , Park Kyoungsook , Yoo Yae‐Na , Park Junsoo , Chae Myounghee , Zhang Wei , Lee Je‐Ho
Published: November 2008

The Wnt/β‐catenin signaling pathway is activated during the malignant transformation of keratinocytes that originate from the human uterine cervix. Dkk1, 2 and 4 have been shown to modulate the Wnt‐induced stabilization of the β‐catenin signaling pathway. However, the function of Dkk3 in this pathway is unknown. Comparison of the Dkk3 gene expression profiles in cervical cancer and normal cervical tissue by cDNA microarray and subsequent real‐time PCR revealed that the Dkk3 gene is frequently downregulated in the cancer. Methylation studies showed that the promoter of Dkk3 was methylated in cervical cancer cell lines and 22 (31.4%) of 70 cervical cancer tissue specimens. This promoter methylation was associated with reduced expression of Dkk3 mRNA in the paired normal and tumor tissue samples. Further, the reintroduction of Dkk3 into HeLa cervical cancer cells resulted in reduced colony formation and retarded cell growth. The forced expression of Dkk3 markedly attenuated β‐catenin‐responsive luciferase activity in a dose‐dependent manner and decreased the β‐catenin levels. By utilizing a yeast two‐hybrid screen, βTrCP, a negative regulator of β‐catenin was identified as a novel Dkk3‐interacting partner. Coexpression with βTrCP synergistically enhanced the inhibitory function of Dkk3 on β‐catenin. The stable expression of Dkk3 blocks the nuclear translocation of β‐catenin, resulting in downregulation of its downstream targets (VEGF and cylcin D), whereas knockdown of Dkk3 abrogates this blocking. We conclude from our finding that Dkk3 is a negative regulator of β‐catenin and its downregulation contribute to an activation of the β‐catenin signaling pathway. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Soluble and membrane levels of molecules involved in the interaction between clonal plasma cells and the immunological microenvironment in multiple myeloma and their association with the characteristics of the disease
Authors: Perez‐Andres Martin , Almeida Julia , Martin‐Ayuso Marta , De Las Heras Natalia , Moro Maria Jesus , Martin‐Nuñez Guillermo , Galende Josefina , Cuello Rebeca , Abuín Isabel , Moreno Inmaculada , Domínguez Mercedes , Hernandez Jose , Mateo Gema , San Miguel Jesus F. , Orfao Alberto
Published: November 2008

Clonal plasma cells (PC) from different types of monoclonal gammopathies (MG) display distinct phenotypes consistent with an increased antigen‐presentation and T‐cell costimulation in MG of undetermined significance that deteriorates in malignant conditions. Expression of other cell surface and soluble molecules (e.g. adhesion/proliferation molecules) involved in the interaction between clonal PC and the bone marrow (BM) microenvironment has also been related to malignant PC, although the exact clinical significance of their expression remains largely unknown. Analysis of cell surface levels of several of these molecules in multiple myeloma (MM) patients shows an association between lower expression on BMPC of the HLA‐I and β2‐microglobulin antigen‐presenting molecules, the CD126 and CD130 IL6 receptor (IL6R) chains, and CD38, and adverse prognostic features of the disease. Likewise, patients showing higher soluble levels of antigen‐presenting molecules (HLA‐I and β2‐microglobulin), IL6R and CD95 tended to be associated with more aggressive disease behavior. In contrast, CD40, CD86, CD56, CD19, and CD45 were not associated with patients' outcome. Interestingly, upon considering the ratio between the soluble and PC membrane expression of each molecule, an increased adverse prognostic impact was observed for both HLA‐I and β2‐microglobulin, but not for the other molecules. Multivariate analysis confirmed the independent prognostic value of cell surface expression of CD126 on BMPC together with serum β2‐microglobulin and LDH. In summary, our results show an abnormal distribution of the cellular and soluble compartments of the HLA‐I, IL6R, and to a lower extent, CD95 molecules, in MM, associated with the clinical characteristics and behavior of the disease. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Long‐term risk of cardiovascular disease in Hodgkin lymphoma survivors—Retrospective cohort analyses and a concept for prospective intervention
Authors: Andersson Anne , Näslund Ulf , Tavelin Björn , Enblad Gunilla , Gustavsson Anita , Malmer Beatrice
Published: November 2008

Previous studies have shown increased cardiovascular mortality as late side effects in Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) patients. This study identifies stratifying risk factors for surveillance and defines concepts for a clinical feasible and noninvasive prospective protocol for intervention of cardiovascular side effects. HL patients diagnosed between 1965 and 1995 (n = 6.946) and their first‐degree relatives (FDR) were identified through the Swedish Cancer Registry and the Swedish Multigeneration Registry. For the HL and FDR cohort, in‐patient care for cardiovascular disease (CVD) was registered through the Hospital Discharge Registry, Sweden. Standard incidence ratios of developing CVD for the HL cohort were calculated. A markedly increased risk for in‐patient care of CVD was observed in HL patients with HL diagnosed at age 40 years or younger and with more than 10 years follow‐up. In the HL survivors, a family history of congestive heart failure (CHF) and coronary artery disease (CAD) increased the risk for these diseases. The Swedish Hodgkin Intervention and Prevention study started in 2007. In the pilot feasibility study for prospective intervention (47 patients), about 25% of the cases had side effects and laboratory abnormalities. These patients were referred to a cardiologist or general practitioner. In the prospective cohort, a positive family history for CHF or CAD could be a stratifying risk factor when setting up a surveillance model. The prospective on‐going study presents an intervention model that screens and treats for comorbidity factors. This article also presents an overview of the study concept. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Rapid alterations in cortical protein profiles underlie spontaneous sleep and wake bouts
Authors: Vazquez Jacqueline , Hall Steven C. , Witkowska H. Ewa , Greco Mary Ann
Published: November 2008

Existing data indicate that sleep–wakefulness is an essential behavior. The biological function(s) of sleep, however, remains unknown, due, in part, to the lack of information available at the intracellular level. Preliminary microarray analyses show that changes in behavioral state influence regional mRNA profiles; however, the impact of sleep on protein signatures is virtually unexplored. In these studies, cortical protein profiles were examined after timed bouts of spontaneous sleep–wakefulness. Within minutes of each behavioral state examined, a small number of spots showing unique expression were detected. Mass spectroscopy analyses of sleep‐ and wake‐related spots identified proteins associated with multiple functional categories. Two sleep‐associated proteins were further validated using a sleep deprivation paradigm. We found preliminary evidence for two different post‐transcriptional mechanisms—one (GAPDH) in which the amount of protein was increased in the recovery sleep following prolonged waking, while the other (actin) suggested that post‐translational modifications may underlie sleep. The similarities between the effects of sleep on both protein and mRNA profiles indicate that dynamic intracellular changes underlie sleep–wake states and are consistent with roles for sleep in multiple biological functions. J. Cell. Biochem. 105: 1472–1484, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Nitric oxide system alteration at spinal cord as a result of perinatal asphyxia is involved in behavioral disabilities: Hypothermia as preventive treatment
Authors: Dorfman Verónica Berta , Rey‐Funes Manuel , Bayona Julio César , López Ester María , Coirini Héctor , Loidl César Fabián
Published: November 2008

Perinatal asphyxia (PA) is able to induce sequelae such as spinal spasticity. Previously, we demonstrated hypothermia as a neuroprotective treatment against cell degeneration triggered by increased nitric oxide (NO) release. Because spinal motoneurons are implicated in spasticity, our aim was to analyze the involvement of NO system at cervical and lumbar motoneurons after PA as well as the application of hypothermia as treatment. PA was performed by immersion of both uterine horns containing full‐term fetuses in a water bath at 37°C for 19 or 20 min (PA19 or PA20) or at 15°C for 20 min (hypothermia during PA‐HYP). Some randomly chosen PA20 rats were immediately exposed for 5 min over grain ice (hypothermia after PA‐HPA). Full‐term vaginally delivered rats were used as control (CTL). We analyzed NO synthase (NOS) activity, expression and localization by nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate diaphorase (NADPH‐d) reactivity, inducible and neuronal NOS (iNOS and nNOS) by immunohistochemistry, and protein nitrotyrosilation state. We observed an increased NOS activity at cervical spinal cord of 60‐day‐old PA20 rats, with increased NADPH‐d, iNOS, and nitrotyrosine expression in cervical motoneurons and increased NADPH‐d in neurons of layer X. Lumbar neurons were not altered. Hypothermia was able to maintain CTL values. Also, we observed decreased forelimb motor potency in the PA20 group, which could be attributed to changes at cervical motoneurons. This study shows that PA can induce spasticity produced by alterations in the NO system of the cervical spinal cord. Moreover, this situation can be prevented by perinatal hypothermia. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
C1473G polymorphism in mouse tph2 gene is linked to tryptophan hydroxylase‐2 activity in the brain, intermale aggression, and depressive‐like behavior in the forced swim test
Authors: Osipova Daria V. , Kulikov Alexander V. , Popova Nina K.
Published: November 2008

Tryptophan hydroxylase‐2 (TPH2) is the rate‐limiting enzyme of brain serotonin synthesis. The C1473G polymorphism in the mouse tryptophan hydroxylase‐2 gene affects the enzyme's activity. In the present study, we investigated the linkage between the C1473G polymorphism, enzyme activity in the brain, and behavior in the forced swim, intermale aggression, and open field tests using mice of the C57BL/6 (C/C) and CC57BR/Mv (G/G) strains and the B6‐1473C (C/C) and B6‐1473G (G/G) lines created by three successive backcrossings on C57BL/6. Mice of the CC57BR/Mv strain had decreased brain enzyme activity, aggression intensity, and immobility in the forced swim test, but increased locomotor activity and time spent in the central part of the open field arena compared with animals of the C57BL/6 strain. Mice of the B6‐1473G line homozygous for the 1473G allele had lower TPH2 activity in the brain, aggression intensity, and immobility time in the forced swim test compared with animals of the B6‐1473C line homozygous for the 1473C allele. No differences were found between the B6‐1473G and B6‐1473C mice in locomotor activity and time spent in the central part of the arena in the open field test. Thus, the C1473G polymorphism is involved in the determination of TPH2 activity and is linked to aggression intensity and forced‐swim immobility in mice. At the same time, the polymorphism does not affect locomotion and anxiety‐related behavior in the open field test. The B6‐1473C and B6‐1473G mice represent a valuable experimental model for investigating molecular mechanisms of serotonin‐related behavior. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Calpain‐mediated truncation of GSK‐3 in post‐mortem brain samples
Authors: Goñi‐Oliver Paloma , Avila Jesús , Hernández Félix
Published: November 2008

GSK‐3 activity can be regulated by phosphorylation and through interaction with GSK‐3‐binding proteins. In addition, we have recently demonstrated that calpain activation produces a truncation of GSK‐3 that removes the N‐terminal inhibitory domain (Goñi‐Oliver et al. [2007] J. Biol. Chem. 282:22406). Given that calpain is involved in post‐mortem proteolysis in brain samples, the objective of this investigation was to test whether GSK‐3 is truncated in post‐mortem samples. To achieve this objective, we first investigated the degradation of GSK‐3 during different post‐mortem intervals in mouse brains and found that the conversion of GSK‐3 to proteolytic fragments of 40 and 30 kDa takes place in a way similar that of to p35‐CDK‐5 subunit and spectrin, two well‐known calpain substrates. In addition, we demonstrated that this truncation is mediated by calpain, insofar as pretreatment with MDL 28170, a permeable blood–brain barrier calpain inhibitor, partially inhibited that degradation. When human brain extracts were exposed to calcium, GSK‐3 was truncated, generating two fragments of approximately 40 and 30 kDa, a proteolytic process that was inhibited by calpeptin, a specific calpain inhibitor. Thus, this is the first report of calcium‐dependent truncation of human GSK‐3. These data demonstrate that control samples with similar post‐mortem delay are essential to interpret correctly the changes observed in GSK‐3 levels in human post‐mortem brain, especially when studying human neurodegenerative diseases. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Presynaptic muscarinic receptors, calcium channels, and protein kinase C modulate the functional disconnection of weak inputs at polyinnervated neonatal neuromuscular synapses
Authors: Santafe M.M. , Garcia N. , Lanuza M.A. , Tomàs M. , Besalduch N. , Tomàs J.
Published: November 2008

We studied the relation among calcium inflows, voltage‐dependent calcium channels (VDCC), presynaptic muscarinic acetylcholine receptors (mAChRs), and protein kinase C (PKC) activity in the modulation of synapse elimination. We used intracellular recording to determine the synaptic efficacy in dually innervated endplates of thelevator auris longusmuscle of newborn rats during axonal competition in the postnatal synaptic elimination period. In these dual junctions, the weak nerve terminal was potentiated by partially reducing calcium entry (P/Q‐, N‐, or L‐type VDCC‐specific block or 500 μM magnesium ions), M1‐ or M4‐type selective mAChR block, or PKC block. Moreover, reducing calcium entry or blocking PKC or mAChRs results in unmasking functionally silent nerve endings that now recover neurotransmitter release. Our results show interactions between these molecules and indicate that there is a release inhibition mechanism based on an mAChR‐PKC‐VDCC intracellular cascade. When it is fully active in certain weak motor axons, it can depress ACh release and even disconnect synapses. We suggest that this mechanism plays a central role in the elimination of redundant neonatal synapses, because functional axonal withdrawal can indeed be reversed by mAChRs, VDCCs, or PKC block. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Ultrasound treatment of cutaneous side‐effects of infused apomorphine: A randomized controlled pilot study
Authors: Poltawski Leon , Edwards Hazel , Todd Amy , Watson Tim , Lees Andrew , James Cherry Ann
Published: November 2008

Apomorphine hydrochloride is a dopamine agonist used in the treatment of advanced Parkinson's disease. Its administration by subcutaneous infusions is associated with the development of nodules that may interfere with absorption of the drug. This pilot study assessed the effectiveness of ultrasound (US) in the treatment of these nodules. Twelve participants were randomly assigned to receive a course of real or sham US on an area judged unsuitable for infusion. Following treatment, no significant change was observed in measures of tissue hardness and tenderness. However, 5 of 6 participants receiving real US rated the treated area suitable for infusion compared with the 1 of 6 receiving sham US. Sonographic appearance improved in both groups, but more substantially in the real US group. Power calculations suggest a total sample size of 30 would be required to establish statistical significance. A full‐scale study of the effectiveness of therapeutic US in the treatment of apomorphine nodules is warranted. © 2008 Movement Disorder Society
Structural elucidation of four new furostanol saponins from Tupistra chinensis by 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy
Authors: Zou Kun , Wang Jun‐zhi , Guo Zhi‐yong , Du Ming , Wu Jun , Zhou Yuan , Dan Fei‐jun , Liu Chuang
Published: November 2008

Four new furostanol saponins (1–4), two pairs of diastereoisomers, were isolated from methanolic extracts of Tupistra chinensis rhizomes and their structures were assigned from 1H and 13C NMR spectra, DEPT, and by 2D COSY, NOESY, HMQC, and HMBC experiments. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Kalman filter finite element method applied to dynamic ground motion
Authors: Kato Yusuke , Kawahara Mutsuto , Koizumi Naoto
Published: November 2008

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the estimation of dynamic elastic behavior of the ground using the Kalman filter finite element method. In the present paper, as the state equation, the balance of stress equation, the strain–displacement equation and the stress–strain equation are used. For temporal discretization, the Newmark ¼ method is employed, and for the spatial discretization the Galerkin method is applied. The Kalman filter finite element method is a combination of the Kalman filter and the finite element method. The present method is adaptable to estimations not only in time but also in space, as we have confirmed by its application to the Futatsuishi quarry site. The input data are the measured velocity, acceleration, etc., which may include mechanical noise. It has been shown in numerical studies that the estimated velocity, acceleration, etc., at any other spatial and temporal point can be obtained by removing the noise included in the observation. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Necropoli of Pill'e Matta Quartucciu (Cagliari, Sardinia): wild bee and solitary wasp activity and bone diagenetic factors
Authors: Pittoni E.
Published: November 2008

During the excavation at the necropolis and the laboratory studies, a variety of damage was found in the human bone remains. This damage included round holes, irregular bone destruction and irregular etching. This can be found especially in the skulls and in the long bones, and sometimes in the vertebrae and on the hands and feet. The exceptionality of this demanded meticulous study in order to define whether it was a diagenetic phenomenon of biological origin. Further studies revealed that the damage to the bones was produced by three kinds of Hymenoptera that build galleries: one of these belongs to the Sphecidae family, the other two to the Halictidae family. During the excavation of a grave it had been observed that a Halictidae had invaded the burial context and consequently contributed to the taphonomic and diagenetic process. The laboratory activities were directed towards the measurement of the damage to the human bone remains in 45 tombs. A histogram shows that the holes are not the result of accidental lesions, and the more frequent percentage values show similarities with the dimensions of holes built by the insects. The observations and the results of the study at the archaeological site enabled me to establish how significant the role of the insects had been, in particular of the Hymenoptera, in modifying the condition of the bone remains. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Patterned grafting of acrylic acid onto polymer substrates
Authors: Kim Dong‐Ki , Choi You Mee , Jung Chan‐Hee , Kwon Ho‐Je , Choi Jae‐Hak , Nho Young‐Chang , Suh Dong‐Hack , Ganesan Ramakrishnan , Kim Jin‐Baek
Published: November 2008

Polyethylene films were irradiated through a mask with high‐energy argon ions to activate the surface for grafting. Acrylic acid was graft polymerized onto the irradiated region of the polyethylene surface. The grafted surface was characterized by using FT‐IR and XPS. Patterned grafting of acrylic acid on the polyethylene surface was finally confirmed by a fluorescence labeling method. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.