bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Against which human papillomavirus types shall we vaccinate and screen? the international perspective
Authors: Muñoz Nubia , Bosch F. Xavier , Castellsagué Xavier , Díaz Mireia , de Sanjose Silvia , Hammouda Doudja , Shah Keerti V. , Meijer Chris J.L.M.
Published: June 2004

At least 15 types of HPV have been associated with cervical cancer, but current HPV vaccines confer only type‐specific immunity. To determine geographic variations in the HPV type distribution in cervical cancer, we carried out a pooled analysis of data from an international survey of HPV types in cervical cancer and from a multicenter case‐control study, both co‐coordinated by the IARC. Study cases were 3,607 women with incident, histologically confirmed cervical cancer recruited in 25 countries. HPV DNA detection and typing in cervical cells or biopsies were centrally done using PCR assays. Estimates of the potential number of cases prevented by HPV type‐specific vaccines and changes in the validity of different HPV screening cocktails were calculated. HPV DNA was detected in 96% of specimens, and 30 different types were detected. The 15 most common types were, in descending order of frequency, 16, 18, 45, 31, 33, 52, 58, 35, 59, 56, 39, 51, 73, 68 and 66. Higher than average proportions of type 16 were found in northern Africa, of type 18 in south Asia, of type 45 in sub‐Saharan Africa and of type 31 in Central/South America. A vaccine including types 16 and 18 could potentially prevent 71% of cervical cancers worldwide, but its impact with regard to the percentage of cases potentially prevented would be higher in Asia and Europe/North America. In contrast, a vaccine containing the 7 most common HPV types would prevent about 87% of cervical cancers worldwide, with little regional variation. The impact of modifying the number of types in the screening cocktail tests would be small and probably irrelevant for screening programs. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Suppression of cyclooxygenase‐2 overexpression by 15S‐hydroxyeicosatrienoic acid in androgen‐dependent prostatic adenocarcinoma cells
Authors: Pham Hung , Banerjee Tinku , Ziboh Vincent A.
Published: June 2004

Emerging reports now implicate alterations of arachidonic acid (AA) metabolism with prostate carcinogenesis. To test this hypothesis, androgen‐primed benign hyperplastic (BHC) and malignant tumorigenic (MTC) cells derived from the Lobund‐Wistar rat model of autochthonous prostate adenocarcinoma were incubated with 14C‐AA. Our data using MTCs revealed enhanced dual metabolism of 14C‐AA via COX to generate increased PGE2 and via 5‐lipoxygenase (LOX) to generate increased 5S‐HETE in tumorigenic cells. Western blot of MTCs revealed upregulation of COX‐2 expression. This paralleled the increased biosynthesis of PGE2. Since some polyunsaturated fatty acids have been reported to modulate AA metabolism and tumorigenesis, we primed the cells with either γ‐linolenic acid (GLA) or its in vivo metabolite, 15S‐HETrE, prior to incubation with AA. Our data revealed suppression of COX‐2 expression/PGE2 biosynthesis. In parallel, priming cells with 15S‐HETrE resulted in greater suppression of COX‐2 expression/PGE2 biosynthesis. These findings suggest that 15S‐HETrE could function in vivo after dietary intake of GLA to suppress DHT‐enhanced prostatic COX‐2 expression/PGE2 biosynthesis and, thus, alleviate tumor growth and progression. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Differential expression of 9‐O‐acetylated sialoglycoconjugates on leukemic blasts: A potential tool for long‐term monitoring of children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia
Authors: Pal Santanu , Ghosh Shyamasree , Bandyopadhyay Suman , Mandal Chhabinath , Bandhyopadhyay Santu , Kumar Bhattacharya Dilip , Mandal Chitra
Published: June 2004

Earlier studies have demonstrated overexpression of 9‐O‐acetylated sialoglycoconjugates (9‐O‐AcSGs) on lymphoblasts, concomitant with high titers of anti‐9‐O‐AcSG antibodies in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Our aim was to evaluate the correlation between expression of different 9‐O‐AcSGs during chemotherapeutic treatment. Accordingly, expression of 9‐O‐AcSGs on lymphoblasts of ALL patients (n = 70) were longitudinally monitored for 6 years (1997–2002), using Achatinin‐H, a 9‐O‐acetylated sialic acid (9‐O‐AcSA) binding lectin with preferential affinity for 9‐O‐AcSGs with terminal 9‐O‐AcSAα2→6GalNAc. Western blot analysis of patients (n = 30) showed that 3 ALL‐specific 9‐O‐AcSGs (90, 120 and 135 kDa) were induced at presentation; all these bands disappeared after treatment in patients (n = 22) who had disease‐free survival. The 90 kDa band persisted in 8 patients who subsequently relapsed with reexpression of the 120 kDa band. FACS analysis revealed that at presentation (n = 70) 90.1 ± 5.0% cells expressed 9‐O‐AcSGs, which decreased progressively with chemotherapy, remained <5% during clinical remission and reappeared in relapse (80 ± 10%, n = 18). Early clearance of 9‐O‐AcSG+ cells, during 4–8 weeks of treatment showed a good correlation with low risk of relapse. Sensitivity of detection of 9‐O‐AcSG+ cells was 0.1%. Numbers of both high‐ and low‐affinity binding sites were maximum at presentation, decreased with treatment and increased again in clinical relapse. We propose that close monitoring of 90 and 120 kDa 9‐O‐AcSGs may serve as a reliable index for long‐term management of childhood ALL and merits therapeutic consideration. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Algorithms based on prostate‐specific antigen (PSA), free PSA, digital rectal examination and prostate volume reduce false‐postitive PSA results in prostate cancer screening
Authors: Finne Patrik , Finne Ralf , Bangma Chris , Hugosson Jonas , Hakama Matti , Auvinen Anssi , Stenman Ulf‐Håkan
Published: June 2004

Our objective was to determine whether multivariate algorithms based on serum total PSA, the free proportion of PSA, age, digital rectal examination and prostate volume can reduce the rate of false‐positive PSA results in prostate cancer screening more effectively than the proportion of free PSA alone at 95% sensitivity. A total of 1,775 consecutive 55‐ to 67‐year‐old men with a serum PSA of 4–10 μg/l in the European Randomized Study of Screening for Prostate Cancer were included. To predict the presence of cancer, multivariate algorithms were constructed using logistic regression (LR) and a multilayer perceptron neural network with Bayesian regularization (BR‐MLP). A prospective setting was simulated by dividing the data set chronologically into one set for training and validation (67%, n = 1,183) and one test set (33%, n = 592). The diagnostic models were calibrated using the training set to obtain 95% sensitivity. When applied to the test set, the LR model, the BR‐MLP model and the proportion of free PSA reached 92%, 87% and 94% sensitivity and reduced 29%, 36% and 22% of the false‐positive PSA results, respectively. At a fixed sensitivity of 95% in the test set, the LR model eliminated more false‐positive PSA results (22%) than the proportion of free PSA alone (17%) (p < 0.001), whereas the BR‐MLP model did not (19%) (p = 0.178). The area under the ROC curve was larger for the LR model (0.764, p = 0.030) and the BR‐MLP model (0.760, p = 0.049) than for the proportion of free PSA (0.718). A multivariate algorithm can be used to reduce unnecessary prostate biopsies in screening more effectively than the proportion of free PSA alone, but the algorithms will require updating when clinical practice develops with time. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
PIG7/LITAF gene mutation and overexpression of its gene product in extramammary Paget's disease
Authors: Matsumura Yasuhiro , Matsumura Yumi , Nishigori Chikako , Horio Takeshi , Miyachi Yoshiki
Published: June 2004

To identify cancer‐related genes that are involved in the carcinogenesis of extramammary Paget's disease (EMPD), we compared mRNA expression profiles of EMPD lesions and corresponding normal skin using cDNA array. Sixty‐eight genes were highly expressed (>5‐fold) in EMPD lesions compared to normal skin, and 40 genes were expressed less than one‐fifth in EMPD lesions. Among them, PIG7/LITAF mRNA was overexpressed in 3 of 4 EMPD cases. PIG7/LITAF transcription is induced by p53 expression and has been implicated in the p53‐induced apoptotic pathway. Since expression of p53 mRNA and p53 protein was not high in any of the 3 EMPD samples compared to the intact skin of the same patient, we analyzed PIG7/LITAF cDNA mutations among 12 EMPD samples (including the former 4) by PCR‐SSCP. Three samples showed shifted bands (2 had point mutations leading to amino acid substitutions and 1 had a silent mutation). One sample with amino acid substitution overexpressed PIG7/LITAF mRNA in cDNA array analysis and RT‐PCR. PIG7/LITAF mRNA expression is confined to tumor cells in in situ mRNA hybridization analysis. These results indicate that genetic disorder and overexpression of PIG7/LITAF may be involved in EMPD carcinogenesis. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Insulin‐like growth factor (IGF)‐I and IGF‐binding protein 3 and the risk of premenopausal breast cancer: A meta‐analysis of literature
Authors: Sugumar Aravind , Liu Yen‐Chun , Xia Qiang , Koh Yea‐Suk , Matsuo Keitaro
Published: June 2004

Biologic evidence suggests substantial effect of insulin‐like growth factor (IGF)‐I in mammary cell carcinogenesis. However, controversy remains regarding the association between circulating IGF‐I levels and the risk of premenopausal breast cancer in epidemiologic studies. In addition, the association of IGF‐binding protein (IGFBP)‐3, which binds with and modifies the effect of IGF‐I, is unclear. To clarify these associations, we performed a meta‐analysis of all the published studies. A systematic review of literature was conducted. Eligible study designs were nested case‐control and population‐based case‐control studies that give estimates for menopausal women. The studies published between January 1990 and March 2003 were obtained from Medline. We obtained 7 studies, consisting of 688 premenopausal incident breast cancer cases and 1,366 controls, for our final evaluation. Summary statistics were odds ratios (ORs) comparing the highest and the lowest levels of IGF‐I and IGFBP‐3 adjusted for confounders other than IGF‐I or IGFBP‐3. There was neither evidence of heterogeneity between studies nor evidence of publication bias. The confounders considered and the contrast used for the ORs were the major source of variation. The subjects with higher circulating levels of IGF‐I had marginally significant increased risk of breast cancer with an OR of 1.74 (95% CI = 0.97–3.13; p = 0.06). No significant difference was observed for IGFBP‐3 group (OR = 1.60; 95% CI = 0.84–3.02; p = 0.15). In conclusion, we found a marginally significant association between circulating IGF‐I levels and the risk of premenopausal breast cancer. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Risk of esophageal, ovarian, testicular, kidney and bladder cancers and leukemia among finnish workers exposed to diesel or gasoline engine exhaust
Authors: Guo Johannes , Kauppinen Timo , Kyyrönen Pentti , Heikkilä Pirjo , Lindbohm Marja‐Liisa , Pukkala Eero
Published: June 2004

Occupational exposure to diesel exhaust has been classified as probably carcinogenic and that to gasoline engine exhaust as possibly carcinogenic to humans. Earlier results concerning cancers other than lung cancer are scarce and inconsistent, and exposure‐response relations have seldom been reported. We followed up a cohort of all economically active Finns born between 1906 and 1945 for 30 million person‐years during 1971–1995. Incident cases of esophageal cancer (n = 2,198), ovarian cancer (5,082), testicular cancer (387), kidney cancer (7,366), bladder cancer (8,110) and leukemia (4,562) were identified through a record linkage with the Finnish Cancer Registry. Occupations from the population census in 1970 were converted to exposures to diesel and gasoline engine exhausts with a job‐exposure matrix (FINJEM). Cumulative exposure (CE) was calculated as product of prevalence, level and estimated duration of exposure. The relative risk (RR) of cancer for exposure categories in relation to the unexposed group was calculated using the Poisson regression model and adjusted for confounders. An increasing RR for ovarian cancer was observed with the increasing CE of diesel exhaust (p for trend = 0.006). The RR in the highest CE category was 3.69 (95% CI = 1.38–9.86). For gasoline engine exhaust, the RR was significantly increased only in the middle CE category (1.70; 95% CI = 1.11–2.62). Slight elevations of RR for bladder and kidney cancers were found at the lowest exposure level of engine exhausts, largely attributable to drivers. No effect of the exposures was observed for the other cancers. This study suggests an exposure‐response relation between diesel exhaust and ovarian cancer. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Effect of titanium surface topography on macrophage activation and secretion of proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines
Authors: Refai Ali K. , Textor Marcus , Brunette Donald M. , Waterfield J. Douglas
Published: June 2004

The macrophage has a major role in normal wound healing and the reparative process around implants. Murine macrophage‐like cells RAW 264.7 were used to investigate the effect of titanium surfaces on macrophage activation and secretion of proinflammatory cytokines [interleukin (IL)‐1β, IL‐6, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)‐α] and chemokines (monocyte chemoattractant protein‐1 and macrophage inflammatory protein‐1α). Four topographies were used: those produced by mechanically polishing, coarse sand blasting, acid etching, and sandblasting and acid etching (SLA). Macrophages were plated on the four titanium surfaces at a population density of 5 × 105 cells/mL/well. Tissue culture plastic and tissue culture plastic plus lipopolysaccharide (LPS) served as negative and positive control, respectively. In addition, all surfaces were tested for their effects on macrophages in the presence of LPS. Supernatants were collected for assays after 6, 24, and 48 h and the numbers of macrophages attached to the surfaces were quantified using the DAPI (4,6‐di‐amidino‐2‐phenylindole) assay. Cytokine and chemokine levels were measured with sandwich enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assays. Statistical comparison between the surfaces and the controls was determined by using the two‐way analysis of variance including interaction effect (two tailed and p ≤ 0.05). Unstimulated macrophages increased their secretion of the proinflammatory cytokine (TNF‐α) when attached to rough surfaces (acid etching and SLA, p ≤ 0.05). In macrophages stimulated with LPS, the roughest surface SLA produced higher levels of IL‐1β, IL‐6, and TNF‐α at 24 and 48 h than all other surfaces (p ≤ 0.05). Surface topography also modulated the secretion of the chemokines monocyte chemoattractant protein‐1 and macrophage inflammatory protein‐1α by macrophages. Unstimulated macrophages attached to the SLA surface down‐regulated their production of chemokines (p ≤ 0.05) whereas LPS‐stimulated macrophages attached to the SLA surface up‐regulated their production (p ≤ 0.05). Moreover, the SLA surface was found to act synergistically with LPS as well as the combination of blasting and etching features of the SLA surface resulted in significant release of proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines by stimulated macrophages at 24 and 48 h (p ≤ 0.05). This in vitro study has demonstrated that surface topography, in particular the SLA surface, modulated expression of proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines by macrophages in a time‐dependent manner. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res 70A: 194–205, 2004
Apatite formation in the reaction‐setting mixture of Ca(OH)2KH2PO4 system
Authors: Fadeeva Inna V. , Barinov Sergey M. , Komlev Vladimir S. , Fedotov Denis A. , Ďurišin Juraj , Medvecky Lubomir
Published: June 2004

Development of a new calcium phosphate cement (CPC) system as an alternative to that commonly used, basically consisting of tetracalcium phosphate and dicalcium phosphate self‐setting mixtures, could be of interest in achieving special properties of the product. Powder mixtures of Ca(OH)2 and KH2PO4 were studied to assess their potential for the precipitation of apatite‐like phase with the use of potassium phosphate salt solution as the cement liquid. X‐ray diffraction and infrared (IR) spectroscopy studies and pH and setting time measurements were performed. The set cement was revealed to consist of a low crystalline carbonate‐substituted apatite‐like phase. The setting time of the cement was about 5 min. Its dissolution in distilled water led to an increase in solution pH to about 11.5, the pH slowly decreasing to 10.2 at day 10. The results showed the cement to be of an increased carbonate substitution ability compared to the tetracalcium phosphate–dicalcium phosphate anhydrous cement. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res 70A: 303–308, 2004
Emerging non‐apoptotic functions of tumor necrosis factor‐related apoptosis‐inducing ligand (TRAIL)/Apo2L
Authors: Pietro Roberta Di , Zauli Giorgio
Published: June 2004

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) is a cytokine that mediates tumor necrosis. To date, 20 different members of the TNF super‐family and 21 different receptors have been identified. All ligands of the TNF super‐family have been found to activate transcription factor NF‐κB and c‐Jun kinase. Members of this family have diverse biological effects, including induction of apoptosis, promotion of cell survival, and regulation of the immune system and hematopoiesis. The current review focuses on the biological effects of TNF‐related apoptosis‐inducing ligand (TRAIL), a TNF super‐family member which, a few years ago, generated considerable enthusiasm for its anticancer activity, not accompanied by general toxicity in most normal tissues and organs. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Non‐apoptotic desquamation of cells from corneal epithelium: Putative role for Muc4/sialomucin complex in cell release and survival
Authors: Lomako Joseph , Lomako Wieslawa M. , Decker Susan J. , Carraway Coralie A. Carothers , Carraway Kermit L.
Published: June 2004

Muc4/sialomucin complex (SMC), a large heterodimeric mucin composed of an extracellular mucin subunit ASGP‐1 and a transmembrane subunit ASGP‐2, is present at the rat ocular surface localized mainly to the most superficial layers of the epithelia. To investigate corneal homeostasis and the functions of Muc4/SMC at the ocular surface, we developed a corneal epithelial cell culture system from corneal explants, from which migrating cells formed an epithelial sheet resembling the native epithelium with regard to microanatomy, expression of characteristic markers, cell migration, and Muc4/SMC expression. Cells migrating from the explants expressed smooth muscle actin. Proliferation was detected only on the edge of epithelial sheet in the immature epithelium and throughout the sheet in confluent cultures. Microscopy revealed that the epithelial sheet was formed from four to six layers of cells expressing keratin 3 and Muc4/SMC in forms identical to those expressed at ocular surface in vivo. Electron microscopy showed cells in various morphological states in the process of releasing from the surface of the multilayer (desquamating). Surprisingly, few of these cells showed evidence of apoptosis, either by morphological or DNA fragmentation analyses. These results suggest a new model for desquamation from stratified epithelia, in which desquamation and apoptosis are independent and sequential processes. Desquamating cells also exhibit a high level of Muc4/SMC. Since Muc4/SMC has been shown to be a potent anti‐adhesive and a repressor of apoptosis, we propose that it plays a role in the non‐apoptotic desquamation process. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Heterogeneity between hippocampal and septal astroglia as a contributing factor to differential in vivo AMPA excitotoxicity
Authors: Rodríguez Manuel J. , Martínez‐Sánchez Mónica , Bernal Fabián , Mahy Nicole
Published: June 2004

Astroglial participation in the regional differences of vulnerability to α‐amino‐3‐hydroxy‐5‐methylisoxazole‐4‐propionic acid (AMPA)‐induced neurodegeneration was investigated in the rat hippocampus and medial septum using L‐α‐aminoadipate (α‐AA) as a specific astroglial toxin. α‐AA was microinjected in the hippocampus and the medial septum and a time‐course study was carried out between 2 hr and 3 days. When compared to controls, microinjection of α‐AA in the hippocampus induced within 3 days a reversible loss of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) immunostaining and a microglial reaction without any neuronal loss, whereas in the medial septum it caused no effects on astroglial, microglial, or neuronal populations. Differences in hippocampus and medial septum vulnerability were also evidenced when α‐AA was co‐injected with AMPA and neurodegeneration was assessed in terms of neuronal loss, glial reactions, calcification, and atrophy of the area. In the hippocampus, α‐AA increased AMPA excitotoxicity with marked disorganization of all hippocampal subfields, increased neuronal loss, a more important astroglial reaction, a larger area of microgliosis, and a greater abundance of calcium deposits. By contrast, in the medial septum α‐AA did not modify any parameter of the AMPA‐induced lesion. In conclusion, the presence of different astroglial populations in hippocampus and medial septum results in a different participation to AMPA excitotoxicity that may determine, at least in part, the specific regional vulnerability to neurodegeneration. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
NGF acts via p75 low‐affinity neurotrophin receptor and calpain inhibition to reduce UV neurotoxicity
Authors: McCollum Adrian T. , Estus Steven
Published: June 2004

The relative roles of the high‐affinity nerve growth factor (NGF) receptor, TrkA, and low‐affinity p75 neurotrophin receptor (p75NTR) in neuronal survival are an active research area. We reported previously that UV treatment induces a calpain‐dependent, delayed neuronal death. We show here that NGF inhibits this UV‐induced cortical neuron death. Interestingly, NGF neuroprotection requires p75NTR. Because it has been reported that NGF binding to p75NTR leads to ceramide generation, we evaluated whether ceramide was also neuroprotective. We found that ceramide also inhibits UV toxicity, and that the actions of ceramide and NGF were not additive. Moreover, cycloheximide inhibited ceramide and NGF neuroprotection, suggesting that their actions require new protein synthesis. Consistent with this possibility, we found that NGF activates the expression of genes such as calbindin. Lastly, we explored the role of calpain in NGF actions. NGF and ceramide both reduced the level of calpain activation after UV treatment. This NGF effect was p75NTR dependent. Overall, we interpret these results as consistent with an NGF neuroprotective pathway wherein p75NTR activation leads sequentially to ceramide generation, new protein synthesis, and inhibition of calpain activation. Overall, these results provide insight into a p75NTR dependent pathway of NGF neuroprotection. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Nerve growth factor‐induced protein kinase C stimulation contributes to TrkA‐dependent inhibition of p75 neurotrophin receptor sphingolipid signaling
Authors: Plo I. , Bono F. , Bezombes C. , Alam A. , Bruno A. , Laurent G.
Published: June 2004

Previous studies have established that reciprocal interactions between the low‐affinity p75 nerve growth factor (NGF) receptor (p75NTR) and the high‐affinity TrkA NGF receptor can dictate the cellular response to NGF. As the most important interaction, TrkA signaling was found to inhibit p75NTR‐mediated sphingomyelinase (SMase) stimulation, ceramide production, and apoptosis. However, the mechanism by which TrkA counteracts p75NTR‐coupled sphingolipid signaling is still unclear. Considering the stimulatory effect of NGF on protein kinase C (PKC) activity, we investigated the role of PKC in TrkA/p75NTR signaling interaction. In this study, we found that, in SK‐N‐BE cells, which selectively express p75NTR, phorbol ester‐induced PKC stimulation resulted in the abrogation of SMase stimulation and ceramide production induced by NGF. Moreover, in SK‐N‐BE neuroblastoma cells, which selectively express TrkA, NGF stimulated global PKC activity through two independent pathways involving phospholipase Cγ (PLCγ) and phosphoinositide‐3 kinase (PI3K). In SH‐SY5Y, another neuroblastoma cell line, which coexpresses TrkA and p75NTR, NGF induced PKC stimulation through a TrkA/PI3K signaling pathway, whereas there was no ceramide production. However, in these cells, the inhibition of TrkA, PI3K, and PKC resulted in the restoration of NGF‐induced ceramide production. Thus, our study demonstrates for the first time that TrkA interferes with p75NTR signaling through a PI3K/PKC‐dependent mechanism. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Kinetics of oxidation of reducing sugars by catalytic amount of osmium(VIII) in presence of periodate
Authors: Tripathi Rashmi , Upadhyay Santosh K.
Published: June 2004

The kinetics of oxidation of some reducing sugars viz. glucose, galactose, fructose, maltose, and lactose by osmium(VIII) in presence of sodium metaperiodate in alkaline medium have been investigated. The reactions are zero order in periodate. The order of reaction in substrate and OH− decreases from unity to zero at higher [substrate] or [OH−], respectively. Rate of oxidation is proportional to [Osmium(VIII)]. Osmium(VIII) serves as an effective oxidant which oxidizes reducing sugars and itself reduces to osmium(VI). Role of IO4− is to regenerate osmium(VIII) from osmium(VI). An evidence for the complex formation between osmium(VIII) and reducing sugar has also been obtained. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 36:441–448, 2004.
Debunking the myth of overgrazing and soil erosion
Authors: Rowntree K. , Duma M. , Kakembo V. , Thornes J.
Published: June 2004

What is overgrazing? Does it cause soil erosion? The recent debate from the ecological literature is reviewed as background to the debate on overgrazing and soil erosion. This debate stresses the need to view dryland grazing systems as dynamic ecosystems driven more by rainfall events than by livestock numbers. The case for soil erosion is then examined. Two case studies from communal rangelands in the Eastern Cape, South Africa, have cast doubts on the conventional wisdom that overgrazing leads to soil erosion. The first, a study of historical land‐use change and erosion in a communal area, showed that the most intense erosion, taking the form of steeply dissected badlands, was associated with cultivated land that had been abandoned and reverted to grazing from the 1960s onwards. Such severe erosion was generally absent from land that had been under grazing since the 1930s. The second study demonstrated that erosion rates from communal grazing lands (‘overgrazed’) were only slightly higher than those from land under ‘optimal’ grazing, that is grazing at a level considered not to exceed the carrying capacity of the land. These results support the ecologist's contention that communal grazing systems do not necessarily degrade the range condition relative to management systems based on a notional carrying capacity. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Environmental impact of multi‐annual drought in the Jordan Kinneret watershed, Israel
Authors: Inbar M. , Bruins H. J.
Published: June 2004

Floods and droughts are the most common of natural disasters, and the number of victims and the economic damage are both greater than those caused by other events such as earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. The drought that affected Israel between 1998 and 2001 was of unusual climatic and hydrologic severity; the most serious in the last 125 years in northern Israel. The climatic drought affected the water flow of the Jordan River and the level of Lake Kinneret, which fell to −214·90 m (below sea‐level), the lowest lake level in historical periods. The annual flow of the Jordan River in the drought period was the lowest in the 50‐year hydrological record.

Human interference, water pumping and flow diversion, exacerbated the negative drought impact, causing land degradation such as the drying of wetlands and salinization of freshwater aquifers. The failure to introduce drought contingency planning and sustainable water resources management has so far affected agriculture and nature conservation. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Household responses to fuelwood scarcity: a case study of two villages in Zimbabwe
Authors: Mlambo D. , Huizing H.
Published: June 2004

Information on household responses to fuelwood scarcity was collected in two villages, one being categorized as large (Shambamuto) and another as small (Svova ‘B’). Fuelwood was found to be scarcer in Svova ‘B’ where about 93 per cent of the respondents indicated that they find it difficult to collect compared to 76 per cent in Shambamuto. The proportion of households collecting fuelwood from non‐woodlands was 60 per cent in Shambamuto and 63 per cent in Svova ‘B’. In both villages, significant alternative sources of fuelwood were found to be cultivated lands, dilapidated or unwanted wooden structures, woodlots and riverbanks. Fuelwood that could be sourced from wooden structures was estimated at 8·4 t household−1 in Shambamuto and 7·2 t household−1 in Svova ‘B’. Tree stumps in arable lands were found to be coppicing well with about 84 per cent of the coppicing stems having lengths greater than mean fuelwood stick length of 174 cm. Due to fuelwood shortage, non‐traditional fuels were used as supplements and their consumption was estimated at 4·0 t household−1 y−1 in Shambamuto and 4·3 t household−1 y−1 in Svova ‘B’ respectively. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Sustainable leadership
Authors: Dolan Paul
Published: June 2004

Reconnect with what's important to become a positive force for change.
Making great team decisions
Authors: Maruska Don
Published: June 2004

Uncovering the unproductive dynamics that hobble teams.
Corrosion inhibition of Ti‐6Al‐4V alloy in sulfuric and hydrochloric acid solutions using inorganic passivators
Authors: Mogoda A. S. , Ahmad Y. H. , Badawy W. A.
Published: June 2004

The effect of iodate (IO3−), metavanadata (VO3−) and molybdate (MoO42−) anions on the passivation of Ti‐6Al‐4V alloy in sulfuric and hydrochloric acid solutions was studied using open‐circuit potential measurements, polarization techniques and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The alloy surface was examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). It was found that an optimum concentration of the passivator is essential for the corrosion inhibition process. Above this concentration the rate of alloy corrosion decreases as the concentration of the passivating ion increases. Scanning electron micrographs have shown that the flawed regions present in the alloy surface were repaired in the presence of the passivator anion. The optimum concentration of each anion and its corrosion inhibition efficiency for titanium and Ti‐6Al‐4V alloy have been determined. It turned out that the corrosion inhibition efficiencies of IO3−, VO3− and MoO42− anions for the corrosion of Ti and Ti‐6Al‐4V in both hydrochloric and sulphuric acid solutions exceed 98%.
An explicit example of a noncrossed product division algebra
Authors: Hanke Timo
Published: June 2004

The paper presents an explicit example of a noncrossed product division algebra of index and exponent 8 over the field ℚ(s)(t). It is an iterated twisted function field in two variables D(x, σ)(y, τ ) over a quaternion division algebra D which is defined over the number field ℚ(√3,√−7). The automorphisms σ and τ are computed by solving relative norm equations in extensions of number fields. The example is explicit in the sense that its structure constants are known. Moreover, it is pointed out that the same arguments also yield another example, this time over the field ℚ((s))((t)), given by an iterated twisted Laurent series ring D((x, σ))((y, τ )) over the same quaternion division algebra D. (© 2004 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Soluble Polymer Complexes Having AlQ3‐Type Pendent Groups
Authors: Takayama Toshio , Kitamura Masatoshi , Kobayashi Yasushi , Arakawa Yasuhiko , Kudo Kazuaki
Published: June 2004

Summary: Polymethacrylate having a pendent 8‐hydroxyquinoline moiety was prepared using Kelex‐100 (7‐(4‐ethyl‐1‐methyloctyl)‐8‐hydroxyquinoline) as a starting material. A soluble polymer having tris(8‐hydroxyquinolinato)aluminum (AlQ3)‐type side chains was obtained through the complexation of the polymer with Me3Al in the presence of a monomeric Kelex‐100. The polymer complex was applied to an organic light‐emitting diode (OLED) device through a spin‐cast process.

Structure of the tris(8‐hydroxyquinolinato)aluminum‐type pendent group bound to polymethacrylate giving rise to the first soluble polymer of its kind.

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Structure of the tris(8‐hydroxyquinolinato)aluminum‐type pendent group bound to polymethacrylate giving rise to the first soluble polymer of its kind.
Exploration of anthropological specimens by GC‐MS and chemometrics
Authors: Varmuza Kurt , Makristathis Athanasios , Schwarzmeier Josef , Seidler Horst , Mader Robert M.
Published: June 2004

Anthropological specimens combine a variety of unfavorable characteristics, rendering their evaluation an analytical challenge. Their remarkable status is primarily based on two characteristics: (i) these very rare samples of human origin are testimonies of human history and are, therefore, available only in minute amounts for analytical purposes, and (ii) the analysis of these samples is extremely limited by the decomposition of molecules, which are easily detected in living organisms, such as nucleic acids and proteins, but are subject to rapid post‐mortem decay. In this article, we review the methods and results of archaeometry, emphasizing the role of MS combined with chemometrics. Focusing on experimental results for fatty acid profiles, specimens from mummies from different civilizations were compared. Considering in particular the Tyrolean Iceman, the application of chemometric methods to GC‐MS data recovers essential information about the preservation and the storage conditions of mummies. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc., Mass Spec Rev 24:427–452, 2005
Voiding diary for the evaluation of urinary incontinence and lower urinary tract symptoms: Prospective assessment of patient compliance and burden
Authors: Ku Ja Hyeon , Jeong In Gab , Lim Dae Jung , Byun Seok‐Soo , Paick Jae‐Seung , Oh Seung‐June
Published: June 2004

Aims

Voiding diary duration may be related to patient compliance and burden. To test this hypothesis, we evaluated patient compliance and burden.

Methods

Between January and July 2002, we prospectively evaluated 162 patients (57 males and 105 females, mean age 53.0, range 20–81 years) with stress urinary incontinence or lower urinary tract symptoms. At the initial visit, all patients underwent a detailed clinical evaluation including an International Prostate Symptom Score (I‐PSS) assessment and were randomly requested to complete 2‐day, 3‐day, or 7‐day voiding diaries (the three study groups). At the second visit, a simple self‐administered questionnaire was completed by all patients. The questionnaire included 11 items on subject demographics and voiding diary‐keeping.

Results

No significant differences were found in either the accuracy of diary‐keeping or the daily average number of omissions when the three groups were compared. However, as the diary duration increased, the mean burden scores increased (P = 0.005), and the mean preferred duration of the diary in the 7‐day group was significantly higher than that of the 2‐day or 3‐day groups (P < 0.001). After categorizing patients into two groups according to the degree of patient burden, members of the group with a greater perceived burden were found to have a significantly higher I‐PSS quality of life score (P = 0.045) and to have kept a diary for a longer time (P = 0.038).

Conclusions

Our results suggest that keeping a diary for 7 days may increase patient burden and thus, we recommend that the 7‐day diary should be reduced to cover fewer days. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Murine in vitro whole bladder model: A method for assessing phenotypic responses to pharmacologic stimuli and hypoxia
Authors: Hutcheson Joel C. , Stein Raimund , Chacko Samuel , Carr Michael , Canning Douglas A. , Zderic Stephen A.
Published: June 2004

Aims

Recent advances in genetic manipulation have allowed for over expression or deletion of selective genes in mice. This offers urologic investigators new means of understanding bladder function in the context of normal development or the response to outlet obstruction. It is important to correlate any genetic manipulations in mice with specific phenotypic properties such as voiding patterns, or muscle strip physiology. We describe a simple in vivo whole bladder preparation that may be used to study the phenotypic changes in bladder function.

Methods

Murine bladders were mounted on a 30 gauge needle and mounted in an organ chamber containing a physiologic buffer solution. Passive bladder properties were assessed with cystometry, and active contractile responses were measured in response to electrical field stimulation and agonists. The effects of hypoxia were also studied.

Results

Compliance in the murine bladder is dependent upon actin myosin interactions, and increased in the presence of calcium free buffer and EGTA. The sarcoplasmic reticulum plays a smaller role in the contraction of murine bladder than in other species. Murine bladder smooth muscle demonstrated a remarkable ability to withstand hypoxia.

Conclusions

This simple model can be adapted to help study the murine bladder smooth muscle phenotype under highly controlled circumstances. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Methanol exposure interferes with morphological cell movements in the Drosophila embryo and causes increased apoptosis in the CNS
Authors: Mellerick Dervla M. , Liu Heather
Published: June 2004

Despite the significant contributions of tissue culture and bacterial models to toxicology, whole animal models for developmental neurotoxins are limited in availability and ease of experimentation. Because Drosophila is a well understood model for embryonic development that is highly accessible, we asked whether it could be used to study methanol developmental neurotoxicity. In the presence of 4% methanol, approximately 35% of embryos die and methanol exposure leads to severe CNS defects in about half those embryos, where the longitudinal connectives are dorsally displaced and commissure formation is severely reduced. In addition, a range of morphological defects in other germ layers is seen, and cell movement is adversely affected by methanol exposure. Although we did not find any evidence to suggest that methanol exposure affects the capacity of neuroblasts to divide or induces inappropriate apoptosis in these cells, in the CNS of germ band retracted embryos, the number of apoptotic nuclei is significantly increased in methanol‐exposed embryos in comparison to controls, particularly in and adjacent to the ventral midline. Apoptosis contributes significantly to methanol neurotoxicity because embryos lacking the cell death genes grim, hid, and reaper have milder CNS defects resulting from methanol exposure than wild‐type embryos. Our data suggest that when neurons and glia are severely adversely affected by methanol exposure, the damaged cells are cleared by apoptosis, leading to embryonic death. Thus, the Drosophila embryo may prove useful in identifying and unraveling mechanistic aspects of developmental neurotoxicity, specifically in relation to methanol toxicity. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Neurobiol 60: 308–318, 2004
Effect of dihydrogen phosphate of ε‐aminocaproic acid on isoprene rubber compounds
Authors: Vladkova TG
Published: June 2004

The multifunctional effect of the dihydrogen phosphate of ε‐aminocaproic acid (DHPh ε‐ACA) on isoprene rubber compounds is presented in this paper. DHPh ε‐ACA is the product of interaction of polymeric, oligomeric or monomeric ε‐aminocaprolactam and phosphoric acid, with an excess of the acid. This interaction offers an additional possibility for the utilisation of waste or non‐standard amide‐group‐containing materials by converting them into a phosphorus‐containing substance. DHPh ε‐ACA acts as dispersant and plasticiser during the mixing and, later, during the vulcanisation participates in the formation of a very flexible vulcanisation network, making the vulcanisates very stable to dynamic loads—the number of cycles at break increases by up to one order of magnitude. DHPh ε‐ACA acts also as an antistatic agent and the addition of 2–5 phr to non‐polar isoprene rubber turns it into an antistatic material. Copyright © 2004 Society of Chemical Industry
Crosslinking of poly[(3‐hydroxybutyrate)‐co‐(3‐hydroxyvalerate)] using dicumyl peroxide as initiator
Authors: Fei Bin , Chen Cheng , Chen Shan , Peng Shuwen , Zhuang Yugang , An Yuxian , Dong Lisong
Published: June 2004

In order to modify poly [(3‐hydroxybutyrate)‐co‐(3‐hydroxyvalerate)] (PHBV), the crosslinking of this copolymer was carried out at 160 °C using dicumyl peroxide (DCP) as the initiator. The torque of the PHBV melt showed an abrupt upturn when DCP was added. Appropriate values for the gel fraction and crosslink density were obtained when the DCP content was up to 1 wt% of the PHBV. According to the NMR spectroscopic data, the location of the free radical reaction was determined to be at the tertiary carbons in the PHBV chains. The melting point, crystallization temperature and crystallinity of PHBV decreased significantly with increasing DCP content. The effect of crosslinking on the melt viscosity of PHBV was confirmed as being positive. Moreover, the mechanical properties of PHBV were improved by curing with DCP. When 1 wt% DCP was used, the ultimate elongation of PHBV increased from 4 to 11 %. A preliminary biodegradation study confirmed the total biodegradability of crosslinked PHBV. Copyright © 2004 Society of Chemical Industry
Thermal oxidative and photo‐oxidative degradation of polytetrahydrofuran studied using 1H NMR, 13C NMR and GPC
Authors: Mkhatresh Omar A , Heatley Frank
Published: June 2004

The products and mechanism of the thermal oxidative degradation at 180 °C and the photo‐oxidative degradation at 40 °C of polytetrahydrofuran have been investigated using 1H NMR, 13C NMR and GPC. The NMR analysis was assisted by the use of DEPT 13C spectra, two‐dimensional NMR spectroscopy (COSY, HMQC and HMBC) and chemical shift simulation software. The NMR spectra of both thermally and photolytically degraded samples were similar showing that the degradation mechanisms were similar. GPC indicated that both chain scission, leading to lower molar mass products, and chain extension, leading to higher molar mass products, occurred initially. NMR analysis of the initial soluble degraded polymers showed that chain scission resulted in formate, aldehyde, propyl ether, butyl ether and propanoyl chain ends, and in‐chain ester groups were also formed. For longer periods of degradation, crosslinked gels were formed but these were not amenable to detailed structural characterisation by high‐resolution NMR to determine the crosslink mechanism. Copyright © 2004 Society of Chemical Industry
High‐performance peptide identification by tandem mass spectrometry allows reliable automatic data processing in proteomics
Authors: Colinge Jacques , Masselot Alexandre , Cusin Isabelle , Mahé Eve , Niknejad Anne , Argoud‐Puy Ghislaine , Reffas Samia , Bederr Nassima , Gleizes Anne , Rey Pierre‐Antoine , Bougueleret Lydie
Published: June 2004

In a previous paper we introduced a novel model‐based approach (OLAV) to the problem of identifying peptides via tandem mass spectrometry, for which early implementations showed promising performance. We recently further improved this performance to a remarkable level (1–2% false positive rate at 95% true positive rate) and characterized key properties of OLAV like robustness and training set size. We present these results in a synthetic and coherent way along with detailed performance comparisons, a new scoring component making use of peptide amino acidic composition, and new developments like automatic parameter learning. Finally, we discuss the impact of OLAV on the automation of proteomics projects.
Evidence of glutathione transferase complexing and signaling in the model nematode Caenorhabditis elegans using a pull‐down proteomic assay
Authors: Greetham Darren , Morgan Charly , Campbell Alison M. , van Rossum Arjan J. , Barrett John , Brophy Peter M.
Published: June 2004

Phage display techniques using random peptide interactions have supported the role of mammalian glutathione transferase (GST) as part of a signalling pathway for both oxidative stress and an apoptosis pathway. Little is known about the interaction of nonmammalian GST with other proteins. GSTs have been implicated in the development of chronic nematode infections by neutralising cytotoxic products arising from host immune initiated reactive oxygen species (ROS) assault. In this study we attached one of the key GSTs expressed in the model nematode Caenorhabditis elegans to an affinity support matrix and directly identified major interacting proteins by two‐dimensional electrophoresis and peptide mass fingerprinting before and following oxidative stress. Nematode GST does not appear to be a stand‐alone enzyme and interacts with many types of proteins in both normal and ROS stress conditions. Pull‐down proteomic presents a flexible, label free, rapid and economical assay without specialised ligand fishing equipment to identify protein binding partners.
Synthesis of end‐functionalized AB copolymers. II. Synthesis and characterization of carboxyl‐terminated poly(ethylene glycol)–poly(amino acid) block copolymers
Authors: Zhang Sheng , Qing Jie , Xiong Chengdong , Peng Yuxing
Published: June 2004

AB block copolymers composed of hydrophilic poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) and hydrophobic poly(amino acid) with a carboxyl group at the end of PEG were synthesized with α‐carboxylic sodium‐ω‐amino‐PEG as a macroinitiator for the ring‐opening polymerization of N‐carboxy anhydride. Characterizations by 1H NMR, IR, and gel permeation chromatography were carried out to confirm that the diblock copolymers were formed. In aqueous media this copolymer formed self‐associated polymer micelles that have a carboxyl group on the surface. The carboxyl groups located at the outer shell of the polymeric micelle were expected to combine with ligands to target specific cell populations. The diameter of the polymer micelles was in the range of 30–80 nm. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 3527–3536, 2004
Aliphatic–aromatic copolyesters derived from 2,2,4,4‐tetramethyl‐1,3‐cyclobutanediol
Authors: Hoppens Nathan C. , Hudnall Todd W. , Foster Adam , Booth Chad J.
Published: June 2004

With the massive changes taking place in the world today, the development of new thermally and mechanically stable polymeric materials is of utmost importance. This article focuses on the synthesis and thermal characterization of a new series of copolyesters that incorporate both aromatic as well as aliphatic diols. This is of interest because most polymer materials that exhibit high thermal and/or mechanical properties contain aromatic monomer units only. These aromatic units usually contribute to either the thermal or mechanical properties but typically not both. An example of this is bisphenol A polycarbonate, which has high mechanical properties but only moderate thermal properties when compared, for example, to polyimides. In recent years there has been an interest in copolyesters that contain 2,2,4,4‐tetramethyl‐1,3‐cyclobutanediol (CBDO). This aliphatic monomer imparts some very unique thermal as well as mechanical properties. This article will report the thermal properties of a new series of CBDO‐based copolyesters. These polymers include CBDO, a series of bisphenols, and terephthaloyl chloride. The series of bisphenols discussed here include bisphenol A, AF, F, and HPF. These polymers display glass transition temperatures near 200 °C and decomposition temperatures from 390–420 °C (Argon) and from 385–410 °C (Air). © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 3473–3478, 2004