bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Assessing developmental errors in branchiostegal rays as indicators of chronic stress in two species of Pacific salmon
Authors: Campbell W Bruce
Published: January 2004

Stress during ontogeny reduces homeostasis, increasing the formation of developmental errors. Fused and partial branchiostegal rays were assessed as indicators of stress throughout embryogenesis in coho salmon (Oncorhy nchus kisutch Walbaum) and chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha Walbaum). Error frequencies and the proportion of fish possessing them should increase when development is stressed. Coho parr were examined from reciprocal crosses between two hatchery stocks experiencing artificially fluctuated (between 7 and 12 °C) or ambient (natural) temperatures throughout embryogenesis. Temperature means and ranges were equivalent between treatments, allowing patterns of thermal variance to be compared. Chinook presmolts, having high versus low levels of infection with bacterial kidney disease owing to similar levels of parental infection, also were examined. Sampled fish were cleared and stained and the errors analyzed using categorical linear models and observations of positional distributions. Although partial rays in coho were genetically influenced, fusion frequency increased significantly under fluctuating (551) versus ambient temperatures (163), as did the number of fish with fusions (207 versus 104, respectively). No significant difference between bacterial kidney disease groups was observed, indicating the disease had little influence over error development. Positional distributions of fused rays were bimodal in both species, showing anterior and posterior zones of weaker developmental control. Partial rays occurred at initial and terminal positions in the series, suggesting evolutionary vestigialization in both species. Branchiostegal ray fusions are shown to be useful traits for further investigation of thermal stress during embryogenesis in salmon.
Age and condition of deer killed by coyotes in Nova Scotia
Authors: Patterson Brent R , Messier François
Published: January 2004

Coyote (Canis latrans) predation is a major source of mortality for white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) in many areas of northeastern North America. However, if coyotes primarily remove deer that would have died of other causes in the absence of predation (compensatory mortality), the impact of predation would be minimal regardless of the number of deer removed. We examined the carcasses of 102 white-tailed deer consumed by coyotes during winter in southwestern Nova Scotia (Queens County) and on Cape Breton Island from 1992 to 1997. Sixty-nine deer were victims of predation, five died of other natural causes, two were killed in coyote snares, two were killed on the road, two were shot and not recovered during the autumn hunting season, and one was shot and abandoned in early winter. The causes of death of the remaining 21 deer could not be determined. Fawns were overrepresented in the sample of coyote-killed deer on Cape Breton Island, but the age distribution of deer killed by coyotes in Queens County did not differ significantly from that of local road-killed deer. Femur marrow fat reserves of deer killed by coyotes appeared to be as good as or better than those of road-killed deer in the vicinity of each study area. During winter, coyotes often killed deer in situations where deer were disadvantaged either by deep snow or by poor footing on frozen lakes. This may help explain the general lack of selection of weaker animals. Our data are consistent with the idea that mortality due to coyote predation was largely additive to mortality due to other factors. However, manipulative experiments are needed to verify this conclusion.
ON WEAKLY HYPERBOLIC SPACES AND A CONVERGENCE-EXTENSION THEOREM IN WEAKLY HYPERBOLIC SPACES
Authors: DUC PHAM VIET
Published: January 2004

In this article we prove some properties of the weakly hyperbolic spaces. Moreover, a convergence-extension theorem for analytic hypersurfaces in weakly hyperbolic spaces is given.
RATIONALITY PROPERTIES OF MANIFOLDS CONTAINING QUASI-LINES
Authors: IONESCU PALTIN , NAIE DANIEL
Published: January 2004

Let X be a complex, rationally connected, projective manifold. We show that X admits a modification [Formula: see text] that contains a quasi-line, i.e. a smooth rational curve whose normal bundle is a direct sum of copies of [Formula: see text]. For manifolds containing quasi-lines, a sufficient condition of rationality is exploited: there is a unique quasi-line from a given family passing through two general points. We define a numerical birational invariant, e(X), and prove that X is rational if and only if e(X)=1. If X is rational, there is a modification [Formula: see text] which is strongly-rational, i.e. contains an open subset isomorphic to an open subset of the projective space whose complement is at least 2-codimensional. We prove that strongly-rational varieties are stable under smooth, small deformations. The argument is based on a convenient characterization of these varieties. Finally, we relate the previous results and formal geometry. This relies on ẽ(X, Y), a numerical invariant of a given quasi-line Y that depends only on the formal completion [Formula: see text]. As applications we show various instances in which X is determined by [Formula: see text]. We also formulate a basic question about the birational invariance of ẽ(X, Y).
REFLEXIVITY OF THE TRANSLATION-DILATION ALGEBRAS ON L2(ℝ)
Authors: LEVENE R. H. , POWER S. C.
Published: January 2004

The hyperbolic algebra [Formula: see text], studied recently by Katavolos and Power [5], is the weak star closed operator algebra on L2(ℝ) generated by H∞(ℝ), as multiplication operators, and by the dilation operators Vt, t≥0, given by Vtf(x)=et/2f(etx). We show that [Formula: see text] is a reflexive operator algebra and that the four-dimensional manifold [Formula: see text] (with the natural topology) is the reflexive hull of a natural two-dimensional subspace.
COORDINATES FOR THE TEICHMÜLLER SPACE OF PLANAR SURFACE N.E.C. GROUPS
Authors: ESTRADA B. , MARTÍNEZ E.
Published: January 2004

It is proved that every planar surface NEC group Γ admits a fundamental region, called a normal region, which is a hyperbolic right-angled polygon with several pairs of identified sides according to a pattern. Conversely, each such a polygon can be taken as a fundamental region of a planar surface NEC group. By means of these regions the Teichmüller space of Γ is studied, obtaining a parametrization by means of congruence classes of marked polygons. The parameters are certain lengths in these polygons, and from them explicit matrices of the generators of the associated group are obtained.
Before the Enron Collapse: What Corporate CFOs Around the World Said About the Status of Accounting and Disclosure Practices
Authors: Barth James R. , Trimbath Susanne , Yago Glenn
Published: January 2004

Corporate Chief Financial Officers (CFOs) in many countries at different levels of development and in various parts of the world considered financial statement disclosure and corporate corruption to be serious corporate problems long before the Enron debacle. This paper presents the results of a survey of CFOs conducted across 40 countries during the fall of 2000 and the spring of 2001. Most of the respondents, including those in the United States, considered the lack of adequate disclosure of information by companies to be a bigger issue than either corrupt business practices or a lack of effective accounting guidelines. Only in the United Kingdom did more CFOs consider the lack of effective accounting guidelines to be an issue of more concern than the lack of disclosure.
The Financial and Operational Performances of Privatized Banks: The Philippine Experience
Authors: Mangaran Pablo F.
Published: January 2004

It is widely believed that a great deal of the privatization efforts of governments started in the United Kingdom during the Thatcher Administration. Records show that the first effort to privatize government enterprises started in the Federal Republic of Germany during the time of Prime Minister Adenaur. One of the most remarkable aspects of the privatization efforts of governments is how similar their objectives are to that of Thatcher's. Raising revenue is the primary goal. Apart from this, governments likewise consider the more important objective of improving the financial and operating performance of privatized firm by exposing it to market forces. Thus privatization is also expected to increase the firm's profitability; to increase its operating efficiency; to allow the firm to increase its investment spending; to increase its output; and to maintain employment levels in order to accomplish the just cited objectives, although governments expect employment levels to decline. The financial and operational performance of commercial banks that were privatized in the Philippines was studied. Four banks before privatization and only three banks after privatization, due to the merger of two banks, were considered. The event study flow of analysis was utilized, i.e., the financial and operational performance of the banks three years before privatization was compared with their performance three years after privatization. Major financial measures of profitability, operating efficiency, capital investment spending, output changes, employment changes, leverage charges and dividend payout were considered. Wilcoxon rank sum test and t-test for differences in means were utilized. When the major financial ratios were considered, the Wilcoxon rank sum test results showed that there was significant difference in the median performance before and after privatization in real sales. We applied the t-test for differences in average performance before and after privatization of the bank. Results showed significant differences in mean return on sales, return on assets, real sales and total employment. At this point, Philippine banks that were privatized can already claim substantial improvements in their operational and financial performance.
Cash Breakeven Analysis and Leverage Indices
Authors: Matsumoto Keishiro , Hoban James P.
Published: January 2004

This paper presents a new model of cash breakeven analysis that is designed to assess the risk of insolvency due to illiquidity. Its first step is to parametrize the cash flow statement to this end. Then, it derives several cash breakeven formula. Next, it derives new leverage indices and establishes their linkage to the cash sales coverages. The comprehensive index shows the sensitivity of the firm's surplus cash balance to changes in the sales level after all planned payments, both required and voluntary, are made. The new cash breakeven analysis is contrasted with the traditional profit breakeven analysis by means of a hypothetical example firm. A simulation experiment is provided to elucidate the strengths of the method as a contemporary tool of financial planning.
The Shift of Weekend Effects in Taiwan's Equity Index Return: Index Futures Listings or Other Alternative Explanations
Authors: Tu Anthony H.
Published: January 2004

This paper investigates the impact of index futures tradings on day-of-the-week effects for the equity index in Taiwan's equity market. Using the extensive model of Hiraki, Maberly and Taube (1998), the empirical findings support the hypothesis that the introduction of index futures has a significant impact on the return structure, both in terms of daily seasonalities and the lag effects of past returns on current returns. Of particular interest, Tuesday effects gradually disappeared after the introduction of index futures, and in the post-futures period, Monday returns are found to be anomalous. After controlling non-normality of the error distribution and time-varying conditional variance, the results indicate that the Monday and the Tuesday effects co-exist after the index futures listings. Although the US equity market is shown to have a strong influence on the Taiwan's market, the pattern of weekend effects shift remains unchanged after taking the US spillover into account. The closing of Saturday trading is found to be a partial cause of the observed shift.
FREQUENCY NOISE IN 850nm SELECTIVELY OXIDIZED VCSELs
Authors: TOURRENC J. P. , SIGNORET P. , MYARA M. , ALABEDRA E. , MARIN F. , CHOQUETTE K. D.
Published: January 2004

The frequency noise of a laser has a direct influence on the lineshape and the linewidth. We present here the frequency-noise spectrum we obtained with selectively-oxidized Vertical-Cavity Surface-Emitting Lasers (VCSELs) emitting in the range of 850nm. We noticed different parts in the spectrum: a 1/fn part in the low-frequency range, independent of the output power, and a white-noise part in the high-frequency range, inversely dependent of the output power. The link with the laser lineshape is theoretically performed.
Cord Blood Cardiac Troponin T and Troponin I Levels in Multiple-Gestation Neonates
Authors: Trevisanuto Daniele , Pitton Mariangela , Doglioni Nicoletta , Altinier Sara , Zaninotto Martina , Plebani Mario , Zanardo Vincenzo
Published: January 2004

The increased mortality and morbidity rates in multiple-gestation neonates are not completely understood. Troponin measurements have a role in situations where the evaluation of the cardiac damage is difficult, such as in cases of unexplained intrauterine fetal growth restriction or death. These conditions, along with perinatal hypoxic risk and in utero ischemic damage, are frequently found in multiple gestations. In this context, a myocardial damage could be expected more frequently in multiple than in singleton births. We hypothesized that cord blood cardiac troponin T and troponin I, markers of myocardial damage, could be different between singleton and multiple pregnancies and, among twins, between the first- and the second-born twin. Troponins T and I and creatine kinase MB concentrations were not increased in twins at birth and were not different between the first- and the second-born twin. These data suggest that myocardial damage, evaluated by cardiac troponin T, troponin I, and creatine kinase MB measurements, does not seem to be a relevant problem in multiple-gestation neonates.
Introduction to the Special Issue on the Web as Corpus
Authors: Kilgarriff Adam , Grefenstette Gregory
Published: January 2004

The Web, teeming as it is with language data, of all manner of varieties and languages, in vast quantity and freely available, is a fabulous linguists' playground. This special issue of Computational Linguistics explores ways in which this dream is being explored.
The Web as a Parallel Corpus
Authors: Resnik Philip , Smith Noah A.
Published: January 2004

Parallel corpora have become an essential resource for work in multilingual natural language processing. In this article, we report on our work using the STRAND system for mining parallel text on the World Wide Web, first reviewing the original algorithm and results and then presenting a set of significant enhancements. These enhancements include the use of supervised learning based on structural features of documents to improve classification performance, a new content-based measure of translational equivalence, and adaptation of the system to take advantage of the Internet Archive for mining parallel text from the Web on a large scale. Finally, the value of these techniques is demonstrated in the construction of a significant parallel corpus for a low-density language pair.
Embedding Web-Based Statistical Translation Models in Cross-Language Information Retrieval
Authors: Kraaij Wessel , Nie Jian-Yun , Simard Michel
Published: January 2004

Although more and more language pairs are covered by machine translation (MT) services, there are still many pairs that lack translation resources. Cross-language information retrieval (CLIR) is an application that needs translation functionality of a relatively low level of sophistication, since current models for information retrieval (IR) are still based on a bag of words. The Web provides a vast resource for the automatic construction of parallel corpora that can be used to train statistical translation models automatically. The resulting translation models can be embedded in several ways in a retrieval model. In this article, we will investigate the problem of automatically mining parallel texts from the Web and different ways of integrating the translation models within the retrieval process. Our experiments on standard test collections for CLIR show that the Web-based translation models can surpass commercial MT systems in CLIR tasks. These results open the perspective of constructing a fully automatic query translation device for CLIR at a very low cost.
Using the Web to Obtain Frequencies for Unseen Bigrams
Authors: Keller Frank , Lapata Mirella
Published: January 2004

This article shows that the Web can be employed to obtain frequencies for bigrams that are unseen in a given corpus. We describe a method for retrieving counts for adjective-noun, noun-noun, and verb-object bigrams from the Web by querying a search engine. We evaluate this method by demonstrating: (a) a high correlation between Web frequencies and corpus frequencies; (b) a reliable correlation between Web frequencies and plausibility judgments; (c) a reliable correlation between Web frequencies and frequencies recreated using class-based smoothing; (d) a good performance of Web frequencies in a pseudo disambiguation task.
Automatic Association of Web Directories with Word Senses
Authors: Santamar Celina , Gonzalo Julio , Verdejo Felisa
Published: January 2004

We describe an algorithm that combines lexical information (from WordNet 1.7) with Web directories (from the Open Directory Project) to associate word senses with such directories. Such associations can be used as rich characterizations to acquire sense-tagged corpora automatically, cluster topically related senses, and detect sense specializations. The algorithm is evaluated for the 29 nouns (147 senses) used in the Senseval 2 competition, obtaining 148 (word sense, Web directory) associations covering 88% of the domain-specific word senses in the test data with 86% accuracy. The richness of Web directories as sense characterizations is evaluated in a supervised word sense disambiguation task using the Senseval 2 test suite. The results indicate that, when the directory/word sense association is correct, the samples automatically acquired from the Web directories are nearly as valid for training as the original Senseval 2 training instances. The results support our hypothesis that Web directories are a rich source of lexical information: cleaner, more reliable, and more structured than the full Web as a corpus.
SEMIOTICS OF BEHAVIOR IN EARLY MODERN DIPLOMACY: POLISH EMBASSIES IN ISTANBUL AND BAHÇESARAY
Authors: Kołodziejczyk Dariusz
Published: January 2004

Ceremonial has always played a great role among European and Middle Eastern societies, reflecting the value systems cherished by their elites. Embassy instructions and envoys' reports provide valuable material concerning codes of behavior in early modern diplomacy. What was considered "proper," and how was an envoy expected to behave in order to stress his sovereign's dignity and power? Oriental courts in Istanbul and Bahçesaray developed elaborate ceremonials for foreign envoys. Forced into a deep prostration before the Muslim ruler, sometimes even threatened with physical violence, Polish envoys deeply resented their humiliation. Some of them sought comfort in alcohol, others produced fabulous reports of their imaginary altercations with Ottoman and Crimean dignitaries, and others found pleasure and revenge in contemptuous descriptions of their hosts' "barbarous" habits. Until recently, such diplomatic reports have been used in Polish historiography almost uncritically. Yet such reports often tell us more about their authors' mentalities than about the world they pretend to describe.
MIGRATION AND RELIGIOUS IDENTITY: THE PORTUGUESE OF SEVENTEENTH-CENTURY ROUEN
Authors: Brunelle Gayle
Published: January 2004

In 1633 the authorities of the city of Rouen in France arrested some of the most prominent members of the Rouennais Portuguese merchant community, whom they accused of the crime of "judaizing." This article examines that incident, and its ramifications for the Portuguese in Rouen. Most of the Portuguese merchants and their families who settled in Rouen in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries were conversos or converted Jews, and many still secretly practiced Judaism. The arrests exposed and exacerbated a division within the Portuguese community over strategies of coexistence within Rouennais society, between those who wished to maintain their Jewish religion and those who considered themselves Christian and sought to assimilate into French society. Although royal intervention led to the release of the arrested Portuguese, the incident contributed to the dispersion of the Portuguese community in Rouen.
DID TUSCAN DIOCESES CONFESSIONALIZE IN THE SIXTEENTH AND SEVENTEENTH CENTURIES?
Authors: Comerford Kathleen
Published: January 2004

This article explores several dioceses in Tuscany—Arezzo, Fiesole, Lucca, Montepulciano, Siena, and Volterra—in light of the foundation of diocesan seminaries, to determine if a new corps of priests was produced and if that corps instituted major changes. Historians refer to post-Tridentine attempts to strengthen the faith and power of groups and institutions by such processes as education as the parallel trends of confessionalism and confessionalization. Since these dioceses represent different economic, educational, and demographic levels of development, the comparative study of quantitative and qualitative measures in these regions addresses the impact of educational changes in the parish clergy in a significant cross-section of late-sixteenth and seventeenth-century Tuscany. Even in dioceses which were wealthy and which supported seminaries, the institutions had little influence, and therefore the slow and spotty improvements in the parishes and dioceses did not result in the confessionalization of the region, although limited confessionalism did occur.
VESTIS VIRUM FACIT: FASHION, IDENTITY, AND ETHNOGRAPHY ON THE SEVENTEENTH-CENTURY GRAND TOUR
Authors: Stannek Antje
Published: January 2004

A new outfit for German princes and their entourages became fashionable with the adoption of Renaissance courtly behavior after the Thirty Years' War. This article considers the role of dress in the identity-building process of young German noblemen as they learned about new and fashionable dress codes while on Grand Tour through Europe. Wearing foreign clothes became a strategy of distinction by which noble cavaliers gained access to European court societies and made themselves discernible from regional noble elites. At the same time, traveling incognito allowed a German nobleman to observe European court societies without either participating or risking the political consequences of direct involvement.
Isothermal and kinetic adsorption behaviour of Pb2 + ions on natural silicate minerals
Authors: AL-Degs Y. S. , Tutunji M. F. , Baker H. M.
Published: January 2004

Four different types of natural clay were tested as potential adsorbents for toxic Pb2+ ions. Based on the preliminary screening studies, the adsorbents were effective at retaining Pb2+ ions from solution. A strong correlation was observed between the cation exchange capacity of clay samples and their function as adsorbents of Pb2+ ions. An adsorption isotherm of Pb ions on Petra clay was measured at 30ºC and at a concentration range of 0 –200 mg dm–3. Over the entire concentration range, the Langmuir isotherm gave a good representation of adsorption data, which confirms the formation of one molecular layer of adsorbate on the clay surface. Two variables were investigated to elucidate the rate-limiting steps of adsorption: the effect of initial concentration of Pb2+ and the effect of solution temperature. It is concluded that external diffusion was the only mechanism in operation in the adsorption process. It has been noted that adsorption of Pb2+ by natural clay is a fast process, where 80% of equilibrium capacity was established within the first minutes of interaction.
Molecular orientation of methylene blue cations adsorbed on clay surfaces
Authors: Bujdák J . , Iyi N. , Kaneko Y. , Sasai R.
Published: January 2004

Cationic dye, methylene blue (MB), was intercalated into films of expandable clay minerals with low, moderate and high layer charges (saponite, montmorillonite and synthetic expandable mica-fluorohectorite, respectively) . Tilted orientation of the dye cations on the silicate surface was observed by polarized ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) transmission spectroscopy. The tilting angle of the dye cations increased with the formation of high-order H-aggregates that absorb light at 525 nm. These dye species were formed only on the surface of fluorohectorite, which has the highest layer charge, and exhibited dichroism. Models for the orientation of MB cations on a clay surface were proposed based on MB orientation models previously reported, and compared with the basal spacings determined by X-ray diffraction.
Maturation of dendritic cells abrogates C1q production in vivo and in vitro
Authors: Castellano Giuseppe , Woltman Andrea M. , Nauta Alma J. , Roos Anja , Trouw Leendert A. , Seelen Marc A. , Schena Francesco Paolo , Daha Mohamed R. , van Kooten Cees
Published: January 2004

Dendritic cells (DCs) and complement are essential components of the innate immune system. Immature DCs (immDCs) and mature DCs (mDCs) can migrate to lymphoid areas inducing, respectively, tolerance and immune responses. Primary deficiency of complement component C1q (C1q) leads to autoimmunity, suggesting a role in the maintenance of tolerance. In the present study, we investigated the production of C1q by immDCs, mDCs, and macrophages. We demonstrated that monocyte-derived and CD34+-derived interstitial DCs are a rich source of C1q. C1q produced by immDCs is functionally active in complement activation and binding to apoptotic cells. The production of C1q is completely down-regulated upon DC maturation in vitro. Moreover, we found that DC differentiation in the presence of interferon-α (IFN-α) accelerated DC maturation and strongly impaired overall C1q production. Finally, we demonstrated the presence, in significant numbers, of DC-SIGN+/C1q+ cells in T-cell areas of tonsils, next to DC-LAMP+ mDCs lacking C1q. We conclude from these results that immDC, a cell with tolerogenic properties, is a rich source of active C1q in vitro and in vivo, which is down-regulated on maturation. Therefore, immDCs may be considered an additional source of C1q in humans.
Granulocyte transmigration through the endothelium is regulated by the oxidase activity of vascular adhesion protein-1 (VAP-1)
Authors: Koskinen Kaisa , Vainio Petri J. , Smith David J. , Pihlavisto Marjo , Ylä-Herttuala Seppo , Jalkanen Sirpa , Salmi Marko
Published: January 2004

Polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) migrate from the blood into areas of inflammation by binding to the endothelial cells of blood vessels via adhesion molecules. Vascular adhesion protein-1 (VAP-1) is one of the molecules mediating leukocyte-endothelial cell interactions. It is also an endothelial cell-surface enzyme (amine oxidase) that produces reactive oxygen species during the catalytic reaction. To study the role of the enzymatic activity of VAP-1 in PMN extravasation, we used an enzymatically inactive VAP-1 mutant, specific amine oxidase inhibitors (including a novel small molecule compound), and anti-VAP-1 antibodies in several flow-dependent models. The enzyme inhibitors diminished PMN rolling on and transmigration through human endothelial cells under conditions of laminar shear stress in vitro. Notably, the enzyme inactivating point mutation abolished the capacity of VAP-1 to mediate transmigration. Moreover, the new VAP-1 inhibitor effectively prevented the extravasation of PMNs in an animal model of inflammation. These data show that the oxidase activity of VAP-1 controls PMN exit from the blood during the relatively poorly understood transmigration step. (Blood. 2004;103:3388-3395)
Lyn tyrosine kinase regulates thrombopoietin-induced proliferation of hematopoietic cell lines and primary megakaryocytic progenitors
Authors: Lannutti Brian J. , Drachman Jonathan G.
Published: January 2004

In this study we demonstrate that thrombopoietin (TPO)–stimulated Src family kinases (SFKs) inhibit cellular proliferation and megakaryocyte differentiation. Using the Src kinase inhibitors pyrolopyrimidine 1 and 2 (PP1, PP2), we show that TPO-dependent proliferation of BaF3/Mpl cells was enhanced at concentrations that are specific for SFKs. Similarly, proliferation is increased after introducing a dominant-negative form of Lyn into BaF3/Mpl cells. Murine marrow cells from Lyn-deficient mice or wild-type mice cultured in the presence of the Src inhibitor, PP1, yielded a greater number of mature megakaryocytes and increased nuclear ploidy. Truncation and targeted mutation of the Mpl cytoplasmic domain indicate that Y112 is critical for Lyn activation. Examining the molecular mechanism for this antiproliferative effect, we determined that SFK inhibitors did not affect tyrosine phosphorylation of Janus kinase 2 (JAK2), Shc, signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT)5, or STAT3. In contrast, pretreatment of cells with PP2 increased Erk1/2 (mitogen-activated protein kinase [MAPK]) phosphorylation and in vitro kinase activity, particularly after prolonged TPO stimulation. Taken together, our results show that Mpl stimulation results in the activation of Lyn kinase, which appears to limit the proliferative response through a signaling cascade that regulates MAPK activity. These data suggest that SFKs modify the rate of TPO-induced proliferation and are likely to affect cell cycle regulation during megakaryocytopoiesis.
Transplantation tolerance induced by intranasal administration of HY peptides
Authors: Chai Jian-Guo , James Edward , Dewchand Hamlata , Simpson Elizabeth , Scott Diane
Published: January 2004

Induction of antigen-specific tolerance to transplantation antigens is desirable to control host-versus-graft and graft-versus-host reactions. Following molecular identification of a set of minor histocompatibility (H) antigens, we have used selected HY peptide epitopes for this purpose. Intranasal administration of individual major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II-restricted HY peptides induces indefinite survival of syngeneic male skin grafts and allows engraftment of male bone marrow. Tolerance involves linked suppression to additional HY epitopes on test grafts. Long-term tolerance also requires suppression of emerging thymic emigrants. It does not involve deletion. HY peptide–specific CD4+ and CD8+ T cells expand on re-exposure to male antigen; these expansions are smaller in tolerant than control mice and fewer HY-specific cells from tolerant females secrete interferon γ and interleukin 10 (IL-10). Significantly, CD4+ cells from peptide-pretreated females fail to make IL-2 responses to cognate peptide, limiting expansion of the HY-specific CD8+ populations that can cause graft rejection. Consistent with this, tolerance induction by HY peptide is abrogated by coadministration of lipopolysaccharide. IL-10 does not appear to be critically involved because tolerance is inducible in IL-10–deficient mice. Adoptive transfer of tolerance into naive neonatal recipients by splenocytes from long-term tolerant donors provides evidence for involvement of regulatory cells.
Analysis of the lambdoid prophage element e14 in the E. coli K-12 genome
Authors: Mehta Preeti , Casjens Sherwood , Krishnaswamy Sankaran
Published: January 2004

Background

Many sequenced bacterial genomes harbor phage-like elements or cryptic prophages. These elements have been implicated in pathogenesis, serotype conversion and phage immunity. The e14 element is a defective lambdoid prophage element present at 25 min in the E. coli K-12 genome. This prophage encodes important functional genes such as lit (T4 exclusion), mcrA (modified cytosine restriction activity) and pin (recombinase).

Results

Bioinformatic analysis of the e14 prophage sequence shows the modular nature of the e14 element which shares a large part of its sequence with the Shigella flexneri phage SfV. Based on this similarity, the regulatory region including the repressor and Cro proteins and their binding sites were identified. The protein product of b1149 was found to be a fusion of a replication protein and a terminase. The genes b1143, b1151 and b1152 were identified as putative pseudogenes. A number of duplications of the stfE tail fibre gene of the e14 are seen in plasmid p15B. A protein based comparative approach using the COG database as a starting point helped detect lambdoid prophage like elements in a representative set of completely sequenced genomes.

Conclusions

The e14 element was characterized for the function of its encoded genes, the regulatory regions, replication origin and homology with other phage and bacterial sequences. Comparative analysis at nucleotide and protein levels suggest that a number of important phage related functions are missing in the e14 genome including parts of the early left operon, early right operon and late operon. The loss of these genes is the result of at least three major deletions that have occurred on e14 since its integration. A comparative protein level approach using the COG database can be effectively used to detect defective lambdoid prophage like elements in bacterial genomes.
Toll-like receptors and the host defense against microbial pathogens: bringing specificity to the innate-immune system
Authors: Netea Mihai G , Van der Graaf Chantal , Van der Meer Jos W M , Kullberg Bart Jan
Published: January 2004

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) have been identified as a major class of pattern-recognition receptors. Recognition of pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) by TLRs, alone or in heterodimerization with other TLR or non-TLR receptors, induces signals responsible for the activation of genes important for an effective host defense, especially proinflammatory cytokines. Although a certain degree of redundancy exists between signals induced by the various TLRs, recent studies have identified intracellular pathways specific for individual TLRs. This leads to the release of cytokine profiles specific for particular PAMPs and thus, TLRs confer a certain degree of specificity to the innate-immune response. In addition to the activation of the innate-immune response, TLR-mediated recognition represents a link between the innate- and acquired-immune systems, by inducing the maturation of dendritic cells and directing the T helper responses. Alternatively, recent data have also suggested TLR-mediated escape mechanisms used by certain pathogenic microorganisms, especially through TLR2 induction of anti-inflammatory cytokines. Finally, the crucial role of TLRs for the host defense against infections has been strengthened recently by the description of patients partially defective in the TLR-activation pathways.
Improved methods for evaluating base temperature for use in building energy performance lines
Authors: Day A R , Knight I , Dunn G , Gaddas R
Published: January 2004

The use of degree-days in building energy monitoring and targeting has often given rise to misinterpretation of results, which has in turn undermined con” dence in such techniques. Anecdotal reporting has, by turns, suggested the use of degree-days either works very well, or does not work at all. This ambiguous position is not helpful to energy managers who need robust tools and clear guidance on their use. This paper presents evidence to show how energy/degree-day correlations i.e., building performance lines, can be properly identi” ed, while taking account of the correct (and practical) energy balance of the building. In doing so it shows how the correct building base temperature can be identi” ed from reduced data sets, while demonstrating that such a practice is desirable. Performance lines constructed in this way, where appropriate, give rise to greater accuracy and reliability of results, while forming the basis for improved diagnostics.
The influence of water conservation on drain sizing for building drainage systems
Authors: McDougall J A , Swaffield J A
Published: January 2004

Water conservation is a prerequisite to a sustainable built environment. The effect of reductions in water throughflow on the operation of building drainage systems must be understood and incorporated into the design of building drainage networks. The water consumption represented by water closet (w.c.) usage identifies es w.c. flushing as the major contributor of waste water from domestic and commercial buildings and hence the water closet becomes the defining appliance in terms of identifying appropriate drain sizing techniques. Within the building envelope w.c. discharge flow is subject to wave attenuation which has a predominant role to play in the final solid transport distance expected following w.c. operation. This paper discusses the interaction of the parameters governing solid transport and illustrates the application of mathematical modelling techniques to predict transport distance under water conservation criteria.
LabHouse: System simulation and emulation within boiler development
Authors: da Silva P , Knabe G
Published: January 2004

The LabHouse is an emulation test rig for boilers in which future operating conditions are reproduced dynamically in real time. The environment of the boiler is reproduced by a TRNSYS-simulation. The control of the test rig hardware and the interface to simulation use the software LabVIEW. The hardware interfaces include not only electrical signals, but also water temperatures and hydraulic resistances. This paper sheds light on the structure, the function and some examples for the practical application of this tool inside industrial development: early system testing (fault detection), derivation of a solid base for long-run bench tests and derivation of future requirements.
Fabrication and Efficient Photochromism of the Mixed Langmuir–Blodgett Films of a Water-miscible Azobenzene Amphiphile and Long-chain Alkylammoniums
Authors: Azumi Reiko , Kakiuchi Keiko , Matsumoto Mutsuyoshi
Published: January 2004

The fabrication and efficient photochromism of the mixed Langmuir–Blodgett films of a water-miscible azobenzene amphiphile and long-chain alkylammoniums are demonstrated. Long-chain alkylammonium can serve as a counterion to stabilize the anionic azobenzene amphiphile on the water surface, and also as a spacer around the azobenzene amphiphile to prevent the aggregation, enabling the efficient photoisomerization of azobenzene.
Hysteretic Behavior on the Heat of Protonation of Diethylenetriamine in Aqueous Solution
Authors: Maki Tei , Kanzaki Ryo , Umebayashi Yasuhiro , Ishiguro Shin-ichi
Published: January 2004

Hysteretic behavior was found on the heat of protonation of diethylenetriamine (dien) in aqueous solution at 298 K. We propose the presence of two conformers for Hdien+, which have significantly different proton affinities. Mutual transformation between the conformers may be practically forbidden, but is strongly accelerated upon their protonation to form H2dien2+.
The First Metal Complexes of 4,4′-Biimidazole and 4,4′-Biimidazolate with Hydrogen-Bonding Networks on the Cu(II) Complexes: 1-D Structures by N–H···X···H–N Hydrogen-Bonding
Authors: Morita Yasushi , Murata Tsuyoshi , Fukui Kozo , Tadokoro Makoto , Sato Kazunobu , Shiomi Daisuke , Takui Takeji , Nakasuji Kazuhiro
Published: January 2004

The Cu(II) complexes based on 4,4′-biimidazole and its deprotonated mono-anionic ligands were synthesized as the first metal complexes, which exhibit hydrogen-bonding networks. X-ray crystal structure analyses reveal the π-stacking structure of each complex and N–H···X or N···H–X type hydrogen-bondings.
Direct Observation of Polymer-Binding Site on Calcite Crystal by FE/SEM: Regulation of Binding Abilities by a Rotation of Amide Group in Poly(carboxylate) to CaCO3 Crystals
Authors: Takahashi Kazuyuki , Doi Mototsugu , Kobayashi Atsuko , Taguchi Takahisa , Onoda Akira , Okamura Taka-aki , Yamamoto Hitoshi , Ueyama Norikazu
Published: January 2004

Poly{1-[(Z)-3-carboxyl-2-propenylaminomethyl]ethylene} binding on the edge of calcite crystals was observed directly by 13C CP/MAS NMR and FE/SEM measurements. Comparing the results taken both before and after the washing process, we were able to make these observation because the polymer ligand weakly bound to the CaCO3 crystals.
Organic Additive-assisted Growth of Quaternary PbX(OH) (X = Cl, Br, I) Polygonal Tubular Crystals via Ethanol Thermal Process
Authors: Zhang Xu , Xie Yi , Xu Fen , Xu Di , Zhou Guien
Published: January 2004

Millimeter-scaled polygonal tubular crystals of PbX(OH) (X = Cl, Br, I) are successfully grown in ethanol system with the aid of polyoxyethylene tert-octylphenyl ether (Triton X-100). The results demonstrate that the suitable organic additive favors the growth of tubular crystals.
Assessment of methods of destruction of Syphacia muris eggs
Authors: Dix J. , Astill J. , Whelan G.
Published: January 2004

An investigation was performed to identify methods suitable for decontamination of equipment being transferred from a facility contaminated with Syphacia muris to a new facility. Perianal samples were taken on clear sticky tape from rats known to be infected with S. muris. Tapes and attached worm eggs were treated with ethylene oxide, formaldehyde fumigation, potassium peroxysulphate, chlorine dioxide and didecyl di-methyl ammonium chloride, chlorine dioxide, alcohol/chlorhexidine, 100°C dry heat for 30 min, ultraviolet light (UV), or left for 4 weeks at room temperature. The subsequent viability of the eggs was compared to untreated control samples. Heat and ethylene oxide produced a 100% kill rate of S. muris eggs. Formaldehyde gas and chlorine dioxide treatments showed marked effectiveness, with the number of eggs killed at 94% and 96%, respectively, while the other agents showed less efficacy (36-78% eggs killed). The percentage of eggs not hatching in the controls was 21%. Since so few agents were effective against S. muris eggs, care should be taken when choosing a method for decontaminating a facility.
Isoflurane with morphine is a suitable anaesthetic regimen for embryo transfer in the production of transgenic rats
Authors: Smith Jennifer C. , Corbin Timothy J. , McCabe James G. , Bolon Brad
Published: January 2004

During our initial attempts to produce transgenic rats, we found that an anaesthetic combination typically used for embryo transfer (intramuscular injection of ketamine [90 mg/kg] with xylazine [10 mg/kg]) yielded extensive variation in both the depth and length of anaesthesia. In the present prospective study, we compared the reproductive outcomes afforded by using either isoflurane (5% for induction, 2% for maintenance, carried in 2 l/min of oxygen) with morphine (5 mg/kg s.c., given immediately after isoflurane induction) or ketamine/xylazine in adult (250–300 g), pseudopregnant Sprague-Dawley rats. Each animal was anaesthetized with either isoflurane/morphine or ketamine/xylazine, after which 30 microinjected eggs were transferred into the left uterine horn. The mean pregnancy rate for isoflurane/morphine (15%) was 50% greater than that achieved with ketamine/xylazine (10%). The mean number of live pups (just over five per litter) was comparable for both regimens. All rats given isoflurane/morphine quickly achieved a surgical depth of anaesthesia and experienced a rapid postoperative recovery (3–5 min). In contrast, 25% of rats injected with ketamine/xylazine did not reach a depth of anaesthesia within 10 min that was sufficient for laparotomy, and all that were anaesthetized successfully required an extended postoperative recovery period (60–90 min). These data show that isoflurane/morphine is well tolerated by microinjected embryos and suggest that its use during embryo transfer may provide a means for both reducing the number of pseudopregnant females used and increasing the speed with which rat transgenic projects are completed.
Long-term anaesthesia using inhalatory isoflurane in different strains of mice—the haemodynamic effects
Authors: Szczęsny Grzegorz , Veihelmann Andreas , Massberg Steffen , Nolte Dirk , Messmer Konrad
Published: January 2004

The aim of this study was to establish a simple and safe method of anaesthesia for intravital microcirculatory observations in small laboratory animals. The usefulness of isoflurane inhalation anaesthesia has been investigated in different strains of mice commonly used in experimental medicine. These were the hairless (hr/hr, n = 12), the BALB/c ( n = 12) and the nude mouse (nu/nu, n = 3). Anaesthesia was maintained by mask inhalation of isoflurane vaporized at concentrations of up to 4% in the induction phase, at 1.5% during acute surgical procedures and at 0.8-1.3% during prolonged experimental observations. Isoflurane was vapoured in a N2O/O2 mixture and saturated with 32-36% FiO2. During observations the body temperature was kept constant at 37°C. The tail artery was cannulated for monitoring of mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) and heart rate (HR). To maintain the body fluid balance, isotonic saline was administered at a constant rate of 0.2 ml/h. Arterial blood samples were drawn for blood-gas analysis at the end of the experiments. All animals survived the anaesthesia protocol lasting between 3 and 6.5 h. During isoflurane inhalation, no breathing complications or changes in systemic circulatory parameters were observed. Mean values of MAP and HR were 79± 3 mmHg and 486± 13 min-1, respectively, over the entire observation period. A moderate acidosis was recorded in animals under isoflurane anaesthesia, with alterations of arterial blood pH, paO2 and pCO2 values (7.29± 0.06, 130± 19 mmHg and 35.6± 4.7 mmHg, respectively). In conclusion, inhalation anaesthesia with isoflurane is useful for experimental studies in the mouse due to (1) the simplicity of administration of the anaesthetic, (2) the rapid induction of anaesthesia, (3) easy control of the depth of anaesthesia, (4) the low percentage of complications, and (5) stable MAP and HR during observations lasting several hours. The proposed technique is especially suitable for observations of the microcirculation under intravital fluorescence microscopy.
Induction of VX2 carcinoma in rabbit liver: comparison of two inoculation methods
Authors: Chen J. H. , Lin Y. C. , Huang Y. S. , Chen T. J. , Lin W. Y. , Han K. W.
Published: January 2004

Direct injection of VX2 cell suspension into the liver is simple and widely used. Implantation of a fragment of VX2 tumour into the liver using a surgical technique has also been developed in the last decade. In this study, we compared these two methods in order to find a better modality for establishing VX2 liver mass. Forty rabbits, each weighing 2.8-3.2 kg, were divided into two groups, 20 rabbits in each. In Group 1, a tumour cell suspension containing 1×106 cells in a volume of 0.1 ml, was injected slowly into the liver parenchyma using a 27-gauge needle during laparotomy. In Group 2, a 1 mm3 fragment of VX2 carcinoma was inoculated into the sub-capsule of the left anterior lobe of the liver. In Group 1, three rabbits showed no tumour growth and 10 rabbits showed evidence of leakage and tumour seeding outside of the liver. In Group 2, all but one rabbit showed tumour growth and none showed evidence of tumour seeding. The leakage rates were 50% and 0% for Group 1 and Group 2, respectively. Overall, the success inoculation rate was 35% for Group 1 and 95% for Group 2. In conclusion, to create the VX2 liver tumour model in rabbits, direct implantation of VX2 tumour fragment into the liver achieved better results than injecting cell suspension of VX2 tumour into the liver.