bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Electrochemical Investigation of Heavy Metal Ion Transfer Across the Water/1,2‐Dichloroethane Interface Assisted by 9‐Ethyl‐3‐Carbazolecarboxaldehyde‐Thiosemicarbazone
Authors: Bingol Haluk , Akgemci Emine G. , Ersoz Mustafa , Atalay Tevfik
Published: June 2007

The transfer of heavy metal ions across the polarized water/1,2‐dichloroethane (1,2‐DCE) interface assisted by 9‐ethyl‐3‐carbazolecarboxaldehyde‐thiosemicarbazone (ECCAT) in the 1,2‐DCE phase has been studied by cyclic voltammetry. Voltammetric waves of Pb(II) and Cd(II) ions were reversible and quasi‐reversible, respectively, whereas that of Hg(II) and Zn(II) ion were irreversible. The voltammogram of Cu(II) ion showed a two‐step wave, however the nature of the transfer could not be satisfactorily evaluated by analyzing the cyclic voltammetric data. When Ni(II) and Co(II) was used no peak was visible under the experimental conditions used in this study. The dependence of the half‐wave potentials of Pb(II) and Cd(II) ions on the ligand concentration reveals that their ion‐transfer is assisted by the formation of 1:3 metal‐ECCAT complex in 1,2‐DCE. The over‐all association constants of [Pb(ECCAT)3]2+ and [Cd(ECCAT)3]2+ complexes in DCE‐phase have been determined to be log β$\rm{ {_{3}^{0}}}$=14.03 and log β$\rm{ {_{3}^{0}}}$=15.44, respectively.
The impact of a short self‐management training intervention in a retail banking environment
Authors: Pattni Indira , Soutar Geoffrey N. , Klobas Jane E.
Published: June 2007

The study discussed in this article investigated the impact of a short self‐management skills training course on frontline bank employees' learning about the use of self‐management to overcome obstacles to the initiation of banking product sales, perceived self‐efficacy in initiating the sale of a product, and performance in activities related to customer service. Trainees' scores on these measures were compared with a control group at three times (prior to training, four weeks posttraining, and twenty‐four weeks posttraining). The results suggest that self‐management training can be a valuable intervention in itself and need not be used solely as a posttraining intervention. Possible explanations for the across‐the‐board increase in performance observed in the study are discussed, as are some practical and ethical implications of this observation.
An alternative approach to conceptualizing interviews in HRD research
Authors: Wang Jia , Roulston Kathryn J.
Published: June 2007

Qualitative researchers in human resource development (HRD) frequently use in‐depth interviews as a research method. Yet reports from qualitative studies in HRD commonly pay little or no analytical attention to the co‐construction of interview data. That is, reports of qualitative research projects often treat interviews as a transparent method of data collection, with the contents of answers to interview questions as data that mirror people's views and experiences of a “world out there.” In this article, we demonstrate how an ethnomethodological approach to the reanalysis of interview data drawn from a qualitative study in HRD treats the research interview as a socially situated setting in which narrative data are co‐constructed by speakers. From this perspective, it is possible to see how speakers produce unstable category descriptions and morally laden portrayals in order to support their claims. We argue that this type of analysis is useful for three reasons: (1) it provides a way to investigate instances in which interview accounts may prove analytically problematic; (2) it makes evident how interview data are produced by illuminating the conversational resources used by both researcher and participant to co‐construct descriptions; and (3) it provides a new analytical approach for HRD researchers, who have until now relied primarily on thematic representations of findings derived from inductive analyses of interview data. By using this approach to analyze or reanalyze interview data, researchers may gain further insight into the research topic and the interaction that produced the interview data in a particular socially situated setting. This approach reveals the practical reasoning, identities, and moral assumptions demonstrated in talk by speakers. Such analysis, we argue, assists in HRD theory building in that it contributes to complex interpretations of data that respond to new and different questions, including methodological questions.
Understanding interpersonal interaction in an online professional development course
Authors: Githens Rod P.
Published: June 2007

This qualitative case study was designed to examine how interpersonal interaction benefited (and did not benefit) participants in an online professional development course. In recent years, e‐learning courses in workplace and organizational settings have begun to include interaction and dialogue among participants. This case study is an in‐depth exploration of interpersonal interaction and social presence within one such course. Notable findings include that (1) participants valued the sharing of specific case‐based knowledge by fellow participants, (2) some participants valued professional socialization with others in the field, (3) enthusiastic learners revealed complex and contradictory perspectives regarding interpersonal interaction, (4) facilitators needed to model social presence for participants, (5) some “inactive” participants were actually engaged, and (6) learners may seek online courses for purposes of intellectual safety.
Japanese comments on the extraterritorial effects of U.S. Chapter 15
Authors: Takagi Shinjiro
Published: June 2007

As a basic principle, subject to defined exceptions, the effects of a bankruptcy proceeding commenced under Chapter 15 should be restricted to assets of the debtor located within the territorial jurisdiction of the United States. But Section 1528 provides broader exceptions to the above‐mentioned principle than those stated in Article 28 of the UNCITRAL Model Law. Using the Yukos and Maruko cases as illustrations, the author concludes that U.S. judges should exercise their jurisdictional powers conservatively and American courts should be careful not to appear to export their own system of justice abroad. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Scale and skew‐invariant road sign recognition
Authors: Liu Yi‐Sheng , Duh Der‐Jyh , Chen Shu‐Yuan , Liu Ru‐Sheng , Hsieh Jun‐Wei
Published: June 2007

A fast and robust method to detect and recognize scaled and skewed road signs is proposed in this paper. In the detection stage, the input color image is first quantized in HSV color model. Border tracing those regions with the same colors as road signs is adopted to find the regions of interest (ROI). The ROIs are then automatically adjusted to fit road sign shape models so as to facilitate detection verification even for scaled and skewed road signs in complicated scenes. Moreover, the ROI adjustment and verification are both performed only on border pixels; thus, the proposed road sign detector is fast. In the recognition stage, the detected road sign is normalized first. Histogram matching based on polar mesh is then adopted to measure the similarity between the scene and model road signs to accomplish recognition. Since histogram matching is fast and has high tolerance to distortion and deformation while contextual information can still be incorporated into it in a natural and elegant way, our method has high recognition accuracy and fast execution speed. Experiment results show that the detection rate and recognition accuracy of our method can achieve 94.2% and 91.7%, respectively. On an average, it takes only 4–50 and 10 ms for detection and recognition, respectively. Thus, the proposed method is effective, yet efficient. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Imaging Syst Technol, 17, 28–39, 2007
Osteoblast differentiation in vitro and in vivo promoted by Osterix
Authors: Fu Huihua , Doll Bruce , McNelis Tim , Hollinger Jeffrey O.
Published: June 2007

C3H10T1/2/Osx, a stably transfected cell line with Osterix (Osx), was produced and chondrocytic and osteoblastic differentiation were studied in vitro. Osx promoted osteoblastic lineage that was dexamethasone dependent. Furthermore, in vivo, Osx induced ectopic mineralization in a heterotopic mouse muscle model. Skeletogenesis involves a cascade of molecular activities sequentially performed by osteoblasts and chondroblasts. A transcriptional factor gene Osx appears to influence cell disposition toward the chondrocytic or osteoblastic phenotype and therefore may be an important signaling cue for bone formation. Understanding the molecular conditions involved with Osx promoted osteoblast differentiation will facilitate therapeutic applications of Osx. Consequently, the objective of this study was to investigate chondrocytic and osteoblastic phenotype differentiation using an Osx plasmid DNA exploiting both in vitro and in vivo methodologies. In vitro, a stably transfected C3H10T1/2/Osx cell line was established and promotion of either an osteoblast or chondroblast phenotype was performed by selectively introducing dexamethasone (dex) and assaying mRNA content and phenotype markers. In vivo, a mouse muscle model was used to determine heterotopic ossification using designated Osx plasmid DNA doses incorporated in a (50:50 Poly (D,L‐lactide‐co‐glycolide) (i.e., PLGA) 3D scaffold. Histological assessment was used to determine implant responses. Quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction (q‐RT‐PCR) showed a significant increase in mRNA expression of osteocalcin (Ocn), Runx2, osteonectin (On) and osteopontin (Op) (p < 0.05) in the C3H10T1/2/Osx cells compared to the empty vector transfected cell control. At day 21, mineralization was demonstrated in the cultures of C3H10T1/2/Osx exposed to dex, but neither in cultures lacking dex nor controls. In the absence of dex, C3H10T1/2/Osx cells revealed a significantly higher expression of Sox9 and Aggrecan (Agc). In vivo, 80 μg of Osx plasmid DNA induced heterotopic mineralization 4 weeks following implantation in a mouse muscle model and the effect was dependent on the Osx plasmid DNA dose delivered in the PLGA scaffold. Using a non‐committed cell line (C3H10T1/2), cell differentiation to an osteoblast phenotype appears to be dependent upon an interaction between intracellular events initiated by the transcriptional factor Osx and the presence of dex. The in vivo findings suggest Osx may promote osteoblast differentiationand mineralization at a heterotopic site. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res, 2007
Combination material delivery of dexamethasone and growth factor in hydrogel blended with hyaluronic acid constructs for neocartilage formation
Authors: Na Kun , Kim Sungwon , Woo Dae Gyun , Sun Bo Kyung , Yang Han Na , Chung Hyung‐Min , Park Keun‐Hong
Published: June 2007

The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of poly(NiPAAm‐co‐AAc) blended with hyaluronic acid (HA) as an injectable cell vehicle and a cell therapeutic agent in the form of a supporting matrix for the chondrogenic differentiation of rabbit chondrocytes. Specially, rabbit chondrocytes were embedded in blended hydrogels co‐encapsulation with dexamethasone (Dex) and growth factors for enhancing the chondrogenic differentiation. Blended hydrogel constructs consisting of embedded cells co‐encapsulating Dex and TGF β‐3 or unloaded Dex and sTGF β‐3 served as controls to assess the effects of Dex on chondrogenic differentiation. Hydrogel constructs consisting of embedded cells co‐encapsulating Dex and TGF β‐3 on chondrogenic differentiation. The hydrogel constructs were injected subcutaneously into the nude mice and monitored for 1, 4, and 8 weeks after the injection. The level of the cartilage‐associated ECM proteins was determined by immunohistochemical (collagen type II; specific marker for chondrogenic differentiation), Safranin‐O, and Alcian blue (GAG) staining. Over the same time period, the glycosamingoglycan content per cell remained constant for all formulations, indicating that the dramatic increase in cell number for samples with Dex and TGF β‐3 loaded in hydrogel constructs was accompanied by maintenance of the cell phenotypes. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res, 2007
Heparin/chitosan nanoparticle carriers prepared by polyelectrolyte complexation
Authors: Liu Zonghua , Jiao Yanpeng , Liu Fanna , Zhang Ziyong
Published: June 2007

In this study, novel nanoparticles were prepared by polyelectrolyte complexation between heparin and chitosan on simple and mild conditions. The size, polydispersity, zeta potential, and morphology of the nanoparticles were characterized. Entrapment studies of the nanoparticles were conducted using bovine serum albumin (BSA) as a model protein. Specifically, the effects of the pH value of chitosan solution, chitosan molecular weight (MW), chitosan concentration, heparin concentration, and BSA concentration on the nanoparticle size, the nanoparticle yield, and BSA entrapment were studied in detail. We found that, the size and the yield of the nanoparticles were affected by the above factors. The nanoparticle yield played a crucial role in BSA entrapment, namely, more nanoparticles could encapsulate more BSA. At length, suitably high pH value of chitosan solution, moderate chitosan MW, increasing both heparin concentration and chitosan concentration at an optimal concentration ratio favored more nanoparticles formed and consequently a higher BSA entrapment efficiency. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res, 2007
The development of magnetic degradable DP‐Bioglass for hyperthermia cancer therapy
Authors: Wang Tzu‐Wei , Wu Hsi‐Chin , Wang Wei‐Ren , Lin Feng‐Huei , Lou Pei‐Jen , Shieh Ming‐Jium , Young Tai‐Horng
Published: June 2007

In this study, a novel magnetic degradable material was developed by adding Fe ions into DP‐Bioglass (Na2O‐CaO‐P2O5‐SiO2) as thermoseed for hyperthermia cancer therapy under an alternating magnetic field. We have investigated the properties of developed magnetic DP‐Bioglass including morphology, chemical composition, and magnetism. The degradability was conducted by measuring the released concentrations of Na, Ca, Si, P, and Fe ions. The biocompatibility was analyzed by biological assays, and the functional hyperthermia effect to cancer cells was evaluated by in vitro cell culture test. In the results, the morphology of synthesized magnetic DP‐Bioglass was revealed in sphere and rod shape with particle size around 50–100 nm. From the hysteresis loop analysis, it showed that the group of Fe/Bioglass = 0.2 possessed the maximum magnetization property. When cultured with fibroblasts, the magnetic DP‐Bioglass had no significant influence on cell viability and mediated low cytotoxicity. The thermal‐induced property demonstrated that after exposure to an alternating magnetic field, the cell number of human Caucasian lung carcinoma cells (A549) was significantly decreased when temperature was increasing to 45°C. In brief, successfully incorporated with Fe ions by sol‐gel method, this magnetic degradable DP‐Bioglass possessed the potential and properties of hyperthermia effect to lung carcinoma cells. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res, 2007
Hydrogen bonding interactions in methacrylate monomers and polymers
Authors: Lemon Marianela T. , Jones Melissa S. , Stansbury Jeffrey W.
Published: June 2007

It is well appreciated that hydrogen bonding affects a variety of monomer and polymer properties. This study focused on Bis‐GMA and urethane dimethacrylate (UDMA) to help elucidate how the strength and nature of specific noncovalent interactions involved with these different functional dimethacrylate structures are expressed in the monomers and polymers. Hydrogen bonding interactions in monomers and comonomer mixtures as well as in appropriate model compounds were examined by FT‐IR under ambient conditions, at elevated temperatures and in dilution studies. The investigation of hydrogen bonding extended to monomer viscosity, photopolymerization reaction kinetics, and polymer mechanical properties. The strength of hydrogen bonding was shown not only to be greater for Bis‐GMA compared with UDMA, but there is also greater contribution from intermolecular interactions that enhance the hydrogen bonding effects. While UDMA‐based polymers reach significantly higher levels of conversion compared with Bis‐GMA materials, the stronger hydrogen bonding reinforcement associated with Bis‐GMA appears to provide for comparable mechanical strength properties. Depending on the hydrogen bond donor functionality of a monomer as well as its neighboring functional groups, overall monomer structure and comonomers used, hydrogen bonding can favorably affect polymerization reactivity and mechanical properties, even in materials that form highly crosslinked polymeric networks. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res, 2007
Multiple field three dimensional quantitative structure–activity relationship (MF‐3D‐QSAR)
Authors: Du Qi‐Shi , Huang Ri‐Bo , Wei Yu‐Tuo , Du Li‐Qin , Chou Kuo‐Chen
Published: June 2007

A new drug design method, the multiple field three‐dimensional quantitative structure–activity relationship (MF‐3D‐QSAR), is proposed. It is a combination and development of classical 2D‐QSAR and traditional 3D‐QSAR. In addition to the electrostatic and van der Waals potentials, more potential fields (such as lipophilic potential, hydrogen bonding potential, and nonthermodynamic factors) are integrated in the MF‐3D‐QSAR. Meanwhile, a principal component analysis (PCA) and iterative double least square (IDLS) technique is developed for predicting the bioactivity of query drug candidates. As an example, the MF‐3D‐QSAR is applied to the design of neuraminidase inhibitor and to prove its predictive power, and some useful findings are obtained for developing drugs against influenza virus. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Comput Chem, 2008
Hypoxia induces epidermal keratinocyte matrix metalloproteinase‐9 secretion via the protein kinase C pathway
Authors: O'Toole Edel A. , van Koningsveld Rudolf , Chen Mei , Woodley David T.
Published: June 2007

Hypoxia promotes keratinocyte migration on wound bed connective tissues and is a profound biological signal that transforms a basal keratinocyte, destined to differentiate, into a motile cell that is essential for re‐epithelialization. In this study, we examined the effect of hypoxia on keratinocyte‐derived collagenases associated with keratinocyte migration. Cells plated on various connective tissue matrices under normoxic and hypoxic conditions, demonstrated a two‐fold increase in the 92 kDa, type IV collagenase (MMP‐9) when examined by quantitative zymography and ELISA. Western blotting and ELISA demonstrated a two‐fold increase in tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase (TIMP‐1), an enzyme that binds to MMP‐9 and inhibits its activity. The hypoxia‐induced increase in cell motility could be inhibited by a neutralizing antibody to MMP‐9. Northern blotting demonstrated that MMP‐9 and TIMP‐1 mRNA increased 2.5‐ to 4‐fold, 2–12 h after the cells were made hypoxic. The hypoxia‐induced changes in MMP‐9 and TIMP‐1 were inhibited by staurosporine and bisindolylmaleimide, inhibitors of protein kinase C (PKC), but not by inhibitors of tyrosine phosphorylation and the mitogen‐activated protein kinase pathway. Inhibition of PKC also inhibited hypoxia‐induced keratinocyte migration on type I collagen. These data provide evidence that hypoxia‐induced keratinocyte migration is mediated by increased cellular secretion of MMP‐9 via the PKC pathway. J. Cell. Physiol. 214:47–55, 2008. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Immunophenotypic changes of human articular chondrocytes during monolayer culture reflect bona fide dedifferentiation rather than amplification of progenitor cells
Authors: Diaz‐Romero Jose , Nesic Dobrila , Grogan Shawn Patrick , Heini Paul , Mainil‐Varlet Pierre
Published: June 2007

In this study, a time‐course comparison of human articular chondrocytes (HAC) and bone marrow‐derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) immunophenotype was performed in order to determine similarities/differences between both cell types during monolayer culture, and to identify HAC surface markers indicative of dedifferentiation. Our results show that dedifferentiated HAC can be distinguished from MSC by combining CD14, CD90, and CD105 expression, with dedifferentiated HAC being CD14+/CD90bright/CD105dim and MSC being CD14‐/CD90dim/CD105bright. Surface markers on MSC showed little variation during the culture, whereas HAC showed upregulation of CD90, CD166, CD49c, CD44, CD10, CD26, CD49e, CD151, CD51/61, and CD81, and downregulation of CD49a, CD54, and CD14. Thus, dedifferentiated HAC appear as a bona fide cell population rather than a small population of MSC amplified during monolayer culture. While most of the HAC surface markers showed major changes at the beginning of the culture period (Passage 1–2), CD26 was upregulated and CD49a downregulated at later stages of the culture (Passage 3–4). To correlate changes in HAC surface markers with changes in extracellular matrix gene expression during monolayer culture, CD14 and CD90 mRNA levels were combined into a new differentiation index and compared with the established differentiation indices based on the ratios of mRNA levels of collagen type II to I (COL2/COL1) and of aggrecan to versican (AGG/VER). A correlation of CD14/CD90 ratio at the mRNA and protein level with the AGG/VER ratio during HAC dedifferentiation in monolayer culture validated CD14/CD90 as a new membrane and mRNA based HAC differentiation index. J. Cell. Physiol. 214:75–83, 2008. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The transcriptional coactivator and acetyltransferase p300 in fibroblast biology and fibrosis
Authors: Ghosh Asish K , Varga John
Published: June 2007

The transcriptional coactivator p300 is a ubiquitous nuclear phosphoprotein and transcriptional cofactor with intrinsic acetyltransferase activity. p300 controls the expression of numerous genes in cell‐type and signal‐specific manner, and plays a pivotal role in cellular proliferation, apoptosis, and embryogenesis. By catalyzing acetylation of histones and transcription factors, p300 plays a significant role in epigenetic regulation. Recent evidence suggests that abnormal p300 function is associated with deregulated target gene expression, and is implicated in inflammation, cancer, cardiac hypertrophy, and genetic disorders such as the Rubinstein‐Taybi syndrome. The activity of p300 is regulated at multiple levels, including developmental stage‐specific expression, post‐translational modifications, subcellular localization, and cell‐type and gene‐specific interactions with transcription factors. Although p300 has been investigated extensively in epithelial and hematopoietic cells, its role in fibroblast biology and tissue repair has received little attention to date. Recent studies implicate p300 in the regulation of collagen synthesis by transforming growth factor‐β (TGF‐β). Both the acetyltransferase activity of p300 and its inducible interaction with Smad3 are essential for mediating TGF‐β‐induced stimulation of collagen synthesis. As a signal integrator whose availability for intracellular interactions with transcription factors is strictly limiting, p300 mediates the antagonistic regulation of TGF‐β‐induced collagen synthesis by IFN‐γ and TNF‐α via intracellular competition for limiting amount of p300. Significantly, p300 is itself a direct transcriptional target of TGF‐β in normal fibroblasts, and its levels are significantly elevated in fibrotic lesions as well as in experimental models of fibrosis. The emerging appreciation of the importance of p300 in extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling and fibrosis and novel insights concerning the regulation, mechanism of action, and significance of p300 in fibroblast biology are discussed in this minireview. J. Cell. Physiol. 213:663–671. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Modulation of the heteromeric Kir4.1–Kir5.1 channel by multiple neurotransmitters via Gαq‐coupled receptors
Authors: Rojas Asheebo , Su Junda , Yang Liang , Lee Ming , Cui Ningren , Zhang Xiaoli , Fountain Dyanna , Jiang Chun
Published: June 2007

The heteromeric Kir4.1–Kir5.1 channel is a candidate sensing molecule for central CO2chemoreception. Since central CO2chemoreception is subject to neural modulations, we performed studies to test the hypothesis that the Kir4.1–Kir5.1 channel is modulated by the neurotransmitters critical for respiratory control, including serotonin (5‐HT), substance‐P (SP), and thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH). The heteromeric Kir4.1–Kir5.1 channel was strongly inhibited by SP, TRH, and 5‐HT when expressed inXenopusoocytes, whereas these neurotransmitters had no effect on the homomeric Kir4.1 channel. Such an inhibition was dose‐dependent and relied on specific Gαq‐protein‐coupled receptors and protein kinase C (PKC). No direct interaction of the channel with G‐proteins was found. Channel sensitivity to CO2/pH was not compromised with the inhibition by these neurotransmitters, as the channel remained to be inhibited by acidic pH following an exposure to the neurotransmitters. The firing rate of CO2‐sensitive brainstem neurons cultured in microelectrode arrays was augmented by SP or a 5‐HT2A receptor agonist, which was blocked by PKC inhibitors suggesting that PKC underscores the inhibitory effect of SP and 5‐HT in cultured brainstem neurons as well. Immunostaining showed that both Kir4.1 and Kir5.1 proteins were co‐localized in the cultured brainstem neurons. These results therefore indicate that the heteromeric Kir4.1–Kir5.1 channel is modulated by the neurotransmitters critical for respiratory control, suggesting a novel neuromodulatory mechanism for the chemosensitivity of brainstem neurons to elevated PCO2and acidic pH. J. Cell. Physiol. 214:84–95, 2008. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Anti‐apoptotic Bcl‐2 enhancing requires FGF‐2/FGF receptor 1 binding in mouse osteoblasts
Authors: Agas Dimitrios , Marchetti Luigi , Menghi Giovanna , Materazzi Stefano , Materazzi Giovanni , Capacchietti Mariolina , Hurley Marja M. , Sabbieti Maria Giovanna
Published: June 2007

In this study, we investigated the role of prostaglandin F2α (PGF2α) in mouse osteoblast survival and the function of fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF‐2) and fibroblast growth factor receptor 1 (FGFR1) in this process. In particular, for the first time, we demonstrated that PGF2α increased osteoblast survival in a dose‐dependent manner and we showed that the effect is correlated with an increase in Bcl‐2/Bax ratio. Furthermore, we demonstrated that PGF2α caused a decrement of the active caspases 9 and 3. By blocking FGF‐2 with the specific neutralizing antibody and by depletion of FGFR1 gene with a specific siRNA, we showed that FGFR1 and FGF‐2 are critical for the increment of Bcl‐2/Bax ratio and the decrement of the active caspases 9 and 3, induced by PGF2α. Moreover, transmission electron microscopy studies showed that PGF2α increased binding of FGF‐2 and FGFR1 and co‐localization of reactive sites at plasma membrane level. In conclusion, we report a novel mechanism in which PGF2α induces FGF‐2 binding to its specific cell surface receptor 1 leading to a cascade pathway that culminates with increased mouse osteoblast survival. J. Cell. Physiol. 214:145–152, 2008. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The construction of tutte's 8‐cage and the conder graph
Authors: Lorimer Peter
Published: June 2007

A unified way is described of constructing two 5‐are‐transitive graphs of valency 3, the Tutte 8‐cage, and the Conder graph. It well illustrates the method of constructing symmetric graphs described in P. Lorimer “Vertex Transitive Graphs: Symmetric Graphs of Prime Valency,” Journal of Graph Theory, 8 (1984, 55–68).
On the chromaticity of certain subgraphs of a q‐tree
Authors: Wanner Thomas
Published: June 2007

We show that a graph G on n ⩾ q + 1 vertices (where q ⩾ 2) has the chromatic polynomial P(G;λ) = λ(λ − 1) … (λ − q + 2) (λ − q + 1)2 (λ − q)n−q−1 if and only if G can be obtained from a q‐tree Ton n vertices by deleting an edge contained in exactly q − 1 triangles of T. Furthermore, we prove that these graphs are triangulated.
A necessary and sufficient condition for connected, locally k‐connected k1,3‐free graphs to be k‐hamiltonian
Authors: Huai‐Lu Zhou
Published: June 2007

We prove the following conjecture of Broersma and Veldman: A connected, locally k‐connected K1,3‐free graph is k‐hamiltonian if and only if it is (k + 2)‐connected (K ⩾ 1).
Maximally connected digraphs
Authors: Fàbrega J. , Fiol M. A.
Published: June 2007

This paper introduces a new parameter I = I(G) for a loopless digraph G, which can be thought of as a generalization of the girth of a graph. Let k, λ, δ, and D denote respectively the connectivity, arc‐connectivity, minimum degree, and diameter of G. Then it is proved that λ = δ if D ⩽ 2I and κ k = δ if D ⩽ 2I ‐ 1. Analogous results involving upper bounds for k and λ are given for the more general class of digraphs with loops. Sufficient conditions for a digraph to be super‐λ and super‐k are also given. As a corollary, maximally connected and superconnected iterated line digraphs and (undirected) graphs are characterized.
Spanning trees with many leaves in cubic graphs
Authors: Griggs Jerrold R. , Kleitman Daniel J. , Shastri Aditya
Published: June 2007

For a connected graph G let L(G) denote the maximum number of leaves in any spanning tree of G. We give a simple construction and a complete proof of a result of Storer that if G is a connected cubic graph on n vertices, then L(G) ⩾ [(n/4) + 2], and this is best possible for all (even) n. The main idea is to count the number of “dead leaves” as the tree is being constructed. This method of amortized analysis is used to prove the new result that if G is also 3‐connected, then L(G) ⩾ [(n/3) + (4/3)], which is best possible for many n. This bound holds more generally for any connected cubic graph that contains no subgraph K4 ‐ e. The proof is rather elaborate since several reducible configurations need to be eliminated before proceeding with the many tricky cases in the construction.
Cycles containing matchings and pairwise compatible euler tours
Authors: Jackson Bill , Wormald Nicholas C.
Published: June 2007

Let M be a matching in a graph G such that d(x) + d(y) ≥ |G| for all pairs of independent vertices x and y of G that are incident with M. We determine a necessary and sufficient condition for M to be contained in a cycle of G. This extends results of Häggkvist and Berman, and implies that if M is a 1‐factor of G and |G|  0 (mod 4), then M is contained in a Hamilton cycle of G. We use our results to deduce that an eulerian graph of minimum degree 2k contains k pairwise compatible Euler tours.
Maximal matchings in graphs with large neighborhoods of independent vertices
Authors: Rinsma I. , Little C. H. C. , Woodall D. R.
Published: June 2007

We obtain lower bounds on the size of a maximum matching in a graph satisfying the condition |N(X)| ≥ s for every independent set X of m vertices, thus generalizing results of Faudree, Gould, Jacobson, and Schelp for the case m = 2.
On the parity of planar covers
Authors: Archdeacon Dan , Bruce Richter R.
Published: June 2007

A covering is a graph map ϕ: G → H that is an isomorphism when restricted to the star of any vertex of G. If H is connected then |ϕ−1(v)| is constant. This constant is called the fold number. In this paper we prove that if G is a planar graph that covers a nonplanar H, then the fold number must be even.
On the largest tree of given maximum degree in a connected graph
Authors: Caro Y. , Krasikov I. , Roditty Y.
Published: June 2007

We prove that every connected graph G contains a tree T of maximum degree at most k that either spans G or has order at least kδ(G) + 1, where δ(G) is the minimum degree of G. This generalizes and unifies earlier results of Bermond [1] and Win [7]. We also show that the square of a connected graph contains a spanning tree of maximum degree at most three.
Score sequences of oriented graphs
Authors: Avery Peter
Published: June 2007

We extend Landau's concept of the score structure of a tournament to that of the score sequence of an oriented graph, and give a condition for an arbitrary integer sequence to be a score sequence. The proof is by construction of a specific oriented graph Δ(S) with given score sequence S. It is shown that Δ(S) is transitive and has the minimum number of arcs among the oriented graphs with score sequence S.
On path lengths modulo three
Authors: Deng Xiaotie , Papadimitriou Christos H.
Published: June 2007

We show that between any two nodes of a cubic, planar, three‐connected graph there are three paths whose lengths are 0, 1, and 2 modulo 3, respectively. The proof is by a rather extensive case analysis. Counterexamples show that all three hypotheses (i.e., planarity, degree‐three, and three‐connectivity) are necessary.
Tutte polynomials for trees
Authors: Chaudhary Sharad , Gordon Gary
Published: June 2007

We define two two‐variable polynomials for rooted trees and one two‐variable polynomial for unrooted trees, all of which are based on the coranknullity formulation of the Tutte polynomial of a graph or matroid. For the rooted polynomials, we show that the polynomial completely determines the rooted tree, i.e., rooted trees T1 and T2 are isomorphic if and only if f(T1) = f(T2). The corresponding question is open in the unrooted case, although we can reconstruct the degree sequence, number of subtrees of size k for all k, and the number of paths of length k for all k from the (unrooted) polynomial. The key difference between these three polynomials and the standard Tutte polynomial is the rank function used; we use pruning and branching ranks to define the polynomials. We also give a subtree expansion of the polynomials and a deletion‐contraction recursion they satisfy.
A short proof for a generalization of Vizing's theorem
Authors: Berge Claude , Fournier Jean Claude
Published: June 2007

For a simple graph of maximum degree Δ, it is always possible to color the edges with Δ + 1 colors (Vizing); furthermore, if the set of vertices of maximum degree is independent, Δ colors suffice (Fournier). In this article, we give a short constructive proof of an extension of these results to multigraphs. Instead of considering several color interchanges along alternating chains (Vizing, Gupta), using counting arguments (Ehrenfeucht, Faber, Kierstead), or improving nonvalid colorings with Fournier's Lemma, the method of proof consists of using one single easy transformation, called “sequential recoloring”, to augment a partial k‐coloring of the edges.
Multiplicativity. Part I. Variations, multiplicative graphs, and digraphs
Authors: Zhou Huishan
Published: June 2007

We study the multiplicativity and its variations of weak multiplicativity and very weak multiplicativity, analyze the role of connectivity condition in their definitions, and explore the relationship between them. New classes of multiplicative graphs and digraphs as well as weak multiplicative graphs and digraphs are obtained.
Covering the edges with consecutive sets
Authors: Ding Guoli
Published: June 2007

The following question is answered in this note: for which graphs G can the vertices of G be linearly ordered so that all the minimal vertex covers of G are consecutive sets?.
General results on tolerance intersection graphs
Authors: Jacobson M. S. , McMorris F. R. , Scheinerman E. R.
Published: June 2007

In this paper, general results are presented that are related to ϕ‐tolerance intersection graphs previously defined by Jacobson, McMorris, and Mulder. For example, it is shown that all graphs are ϕ‐tolerance intersection graphs for all ϕ, yet for “nice” ϕ, almost no graphs are ϕ‐tolerance interval graphs. Additional results about representation of trees are given.
A characterization of consistent marked graphs
Authors: Hoede Cornelis
Published: June 2007

A marked graph is obtained from a graph by giving each point either a positive or a negative sign. Beineke and Harary raised the problem of characterzing consistent marked graphs in which the product of the signs of the points is positive for every cycle. In this paper a characterization is given in terms of fundamental cycles of a cycle basis.
Rotation numers for complete bipartite graphs
Authors: Haviland Julie , Thomason Andrew
Published: June 2007

A rooted graph is a pair (G, x) where G is a simple undirected graph and x ϵ V(G). If G if rooted at x, then its rotation number h(G, x) is teh minimum number of edges in a graph F, of the same order as G, such that for all v ϵ V(F) we can find a copy of G in F with the root x at v. Rotation numbers for complete bipartite graphs were itroduced in [4] by Cockayne and Lorimer. Several cases were evaluated by Bollobás and Cockayne in [2], and in this paper we give a full solution.
On several variations of the turan and ramsey numbers
Authors: Caro Yair
Published: June 2007

We introduce several variations of the Turan and Ramsey numbers, including zero‐sum and bounded‐average Ramsey numbers. Some interesting relations between these concepts are presented. In particular, a generalization of the k‐local Ramsey numbers is established.
A note on n‐extendable graphs
Authors: Yu Qinglin
Published: June 2007

A graph G having a perfect matching is called n‐extendable if every matching of size n of G can be extended to a perfect matching. In this note, we show that if G is an n‐extendable nonbipartite graph, then G + e is (n ‐ 1)‐extendable for any edge e ϵ E(G). © 1992 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Influence of polyethylene glycol on the excretion and digestibility of amino acids in casein and tannic acid‐fed broilers
Authors: Mansoori Behzad , Ghazi Shahab
Published: June 2007

Using the precision feeding technique, an experiment was conducted to evaluate the influence of tannic acid (TA) and polyethylene glycol (PEG) on the excretion of amino acids and the apparent and true digestibilities of casein protein in broilers. Seventy‐two 9‐week‐old broiler cockerels grouped in nine treatments of eight replicates were fed warm water (50 mL, control birds), casein alone (12 or 18 g) or casein (12 or 18 g) with TA solution (4.5 g per 10 mL) or/and PEG solution (2 g per 10 mL). Total excreta were collected for 48 h and freeze‐dried. The amino acid content of casein and excreta was determined by reverse phase high‐performance liquid chromatography. In the absence of TA the digestibility of casein was almost complete. TA increased the excretion of amino acids to a varying extent (P < 0.01). Although the digestibility of all essential and non‐essential amino acids was adversely affected by the presence of TA, raising the amount of casein from 12 to 18 g improved significantly (P < 0.05) the apparent and true digestibilities of all amino acids. PEG reduced significantly (P < 0.01) the excretion of amino acids and improved significantly (P < 0.01) the amino acid digestibility of casein in TA‐dosed birds. However, the improvement was greater when the lower level of casein (12 g) was fed. Thus PEG might play an important role in inactivating dietary tannins in the gastrointestinal tract of birds and improving protein digestibility and utilisation, particularly when the diet is low or intermediate in protein. Copyright © 2007 Society of Chemical Industry
Potential use of phenolic antioxidants on peanut to control growth and aflatoxin B1 accumulation by Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus
Authors: Passone María A , Resnik Silvia , Etcheverry Miriam G
Published: June 2007

Food‐grade antioxidants: butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA), propyl paraben (PP) and butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) (10 and 20 mmol g−1) and all the mixtures of these chemicals were tested for inhibitory activity on the growth of and aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) accumulation by Aspergillus parasiticus and A. flavus on irradiated (7 kGy) peanut grains. Also, the influence of these treatments was evaluated in different water conditions (0.982, 0.955, 0.937aw) at 11 and 35 days of incubation at 28 °C. Water activity (aw) affected the fungal growth, no fungal development was observed at the highest stress water condition (0.937aw). Butylated hydroxyanisole at 10 mmol g−1 level and all the mixtures with PP and/or BHT were significantly effective (P = 0.05) in increasing lag phase and reducing growth rate and colony forming units per gram of peanut of both Aspergillus section Flavi strains and AFB1 accumulation. The application of BHA at concentrations of 20 mmol g−1 alone or with PP and/or BHT totally inhibited fungal growth at 11 and 35 days of incubation. The results suggest that the addition of these chemical mixtures on peanut grains at low levels has potential to impact synergically on the control of Aspergillus section Flavi. Copyright © 2007 Society of Chemical Industry
Canada's drive for better housing
Authors: Adams Thomas
Published: June 2007

While numerous American states and cities have been rather helplessly and tardily appointing commissions to investigate the shortage of housing and cessation of building, Canada was in action within a few days of the armistice. This material was presented also at the National Conference on Social Work at Atlantic City in June.
The fate of the five‐cent fare iv. old errors bear their logical fruit in chicago
Authors: Mohler Charles K.
Published: June 2007

The famous 1907 traction settlement has permitted the steady inflation of capitalization to a point so far above true value that a five‐cent fare with current costs can no longer carry the burden and any solution that is fair to the city must mean great losses to the investors.
Is milk distribution a municipal function?
Authors: Hyde Dorsey W.
Published: June 2007

Surveys made by the New York Department of Health show that “out of twenty‐two hundred families, each having at least two children under six years of age, fifty per cent had decreased the amount of milk used since the price had begun to increase”.
Honk‐honk and klax‐ax‐ax‐ax‐ax!
Authors: Batterson Elmer S.
Published: June 2007

Some reflections by a Chicago citizen on the modern automobile horns that seek to outdo each other as earsores and on the theory of some automobilists that the pedestrian's duty is to jump.
The connersville “sliding scale”
Authors: Armstrong Robert D.
Published: June 2007

Despite the fame of the Boston arrangement with its gas company permitting higher dividends as a reward for lower rates, it has been very little copied and the Connersville (Ind.) electric light case is only the second instance of the adoption of the principle.
Ashtabula's third “P. R.” election
Authors: Atkinson Raymond C.
Published: June 2007

Ashtabula, Ohio, was the pioneer city in the adoption of the Hare plan of proportional representation for its municipal elections. This year's test was embarrassed by the presence of ten other old‐style ballots…. The story of Kalamazoo's second election under P. R. is promised for early issue.
Yonkers turns over a new leaf
Authors: Patten Stephen J.
Published: June 2007

The modern way of reforming municipal politics is to organize a local bureau of municipal research and go to battle (if necessary) on a basis of incontestable facts. This is the second of a series of stories of how this method works, the Richmond story in the December issue being the first.
He expulsion of the socialist assemblymen at albany
Authors: Dodds H. W.
Published: June 2007

Our new secretary happens to be the leading American authority on legislative procedure.
The fate of the five‐cent fare
Authors: Shaffer George J.
Published: June 2007

The principles and powers that should control a traction crisis in any city were worked out by our committee on public utilities in the pamphelt Supplement with the April issue and the Pittsburgh story is a perfect object lesson of the perils of deviation from the proposed standards.
City manager movement
Authors: Otis Harrison Gray
Published: June 2007

This is the third installment of short stories compiled by the City Managers' Association, showing how the various towns and cities are progressing under the new form of government.
City manager movement: progress of manager plan in one hundred eighty‐five cities
Authors: Otis Harrison Gray
Published: June 2007

Being the sixth installment of short stories compiled by the secretary of the City Manager's Association. The next will be “Reports from Managers in the Prairie States”.
The recall in sioux city, iowa
Authors: Carlson Avery L.
Published: June 2007

The story of the recall in Sioux City can now be told impartially. It is a contribution to the slender testimony on the subject.
Proportional representation in calgary
Authors: Ferguson George V.
Published: June 2007

P. R. was first used in Calgary in 1917. It returns a well balanced council and grows more popular each year.
Bracketing the national municipal league with the american civic association
Authors: Horace Mcfarland J.
Published: June 2007

The President of the American Civic Association discusses the proposed consolidation with the National Municipal League. Both have been pioneer organizations.
Voters' vagaries: The value of position on a ballot
Authors: Brooks Robert C.
Published: June 2007

Illustrating by a concrete case some elements which distort the expression of the popular will.
City manager movement: Progress of manager plan in one hundred eighty‐five cities
Authors: Otis Harrison Gray
Published: June 2007

Concluding installment of short stories begun, in the May, 1920, issue ojthe Review. The number of cities operating under, or pledged to, some variety of the manager plan is now placed at two hundred twenty.
Ontario clings to parliamentary government
Authors: Donald W. J.
Published: June 2007

The Farmer‐Labor cabinet tried to dig itself in for four years by passing an election novelty destroying cabinet responsibility.
The civic crowd
Authors: James Harlean
Published: June 2007

Our commo7t interests and common tastes, logically enough, bring us together in Chicago in November.
Home rule for two New York Countries
Authors: Moses Robert
Published: June 2007

Westchester and Nassau counties have been granted a measure of home rule by means of a constitutional amendment adopted last election
Deadlock in public utility regulation IV. The character of the commissions, nad what should be done
Authors: Bauer John
Published: June 2007

For the present at least, regulation will be found more desirable than pubilc ownership or service‐at‐cost. But partisan politics must be driven out and the personnel of public service commissions improved.
A non–assembled civil service examination
Authors: Woodruff Clinton Rogres
Published: June 2007

Although the method has been successful in enough cases to prove its practicatlity, the applicatiomn of the merit system and the non–assembled examination to high positions is still reatively rare.
Nebraska's reorganized State administration
Authors: Buck A. E.
Published: June 2007

The reorganization in 1917 of the Illinois state administration into an orderly group of departments has already been copied by several states, as related in our pamphlet “Administrative Consolidation in STate Governments.” The results in Illinois are dealt with in our pamphlet “Administrative Reorganization in Illinois.” The Nebraska reorganization of 1919 has now reached the point where the results ar demonstrable, as set forth in this article prepared after a visit by the writre to Lincoln.
The defeat of City—Country consolidation in Alameda
Authors: Williams E. W.
Published: June 2007

A ten–year campaign and a most important pioneer attempt to consolidate a metropolitan area under a single city—county government with a city–adn–county manager came finally to defeat in Alameda County in February.
The direct primary in two states: I. The Iowa primary interpreted
Authors: Briggs John E.
Published: June 2007

The nomination of Beveridge nda Brookhart have been generally discussed from the politicla standpoint. These articles are different. they are appraisals of hte primary by two trained observers on the ground at the time.
Employment management in the British Empire
Authors: Mosher W. E.
Published: June 2007

The drift is towards a central agency with jurisdictiuon over working conditions.
The municipal air terminal
Authors: Black Archibald
Published: June 2007

The importance of aircraft terminals to the city; why they should be municipally controlled; the steps necessary to create them and how construction cost may be kept down.