bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Coping with job stress in industries: A cognitive approach
Authors: Lee Sun‐Kyu , Lee WookGee
Published: August 2002

This study examined the roles of the coping strategies used by individuals to cope with job stress. The coping strategy was formed throughout the cognitive appraisal of the stressful events. It was found that direct action coping strategy shows negative relations with job stressors, whereas there are positive relations between stressors and other coping strategies. This implies that direct action coping strategy is used to alleviate the job stress by affirmatively changing the deleterious effects of job stressors in the work environment, while other coping strategies led to the positive impact on job stress or negative impact on job performance. To secure the usability and applicability of the model in practice, more considerations in the future should be made on the mediating variables such as personality type and social support, which are possible variables impacting the selection of coping strategy. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Research on corrugated multi‐louvered fins under dehumidification
Authors: Osada Hiroshi , Aoki Hiroshi , Ohara Toshio , Kuroyanagi Isao
Published: August 2002

To enhance automotive evaporator wet‐fin performances, the main task is to promote the draining of condensed water. An accurate and convenient apparatus estimating the fin performances has been developed. Through the measurement of corrugated multi‐louvered fin performances and the visualization of condensed water draining by this apparatus, it was clarified that fin geometries, surface coating, and evaporator installation strongly contributed to the efficiency of draining and fin performances. © 2001 Scripta Technica, Heat Trans Asian Res, 30(5): 383–393, 2001
Enhancement of boiling heat transfer in restricted spaces in compact horizontal tube bundles
Authors: Liu Zhen‐Hua , Chen Yu‐Ming
Published: August 2002

ln desalinization devices and some heat exchangers making use of low‐quality heat energy, both wall temperatures and heat fluxes of heated tubes are quite low and generally cannot cause boiling in flooded‐type tube bundle evaporators with a large tube spacing. But when the tube spacing is very small, boiling in restricted spaces can occur and induce a higher heat transfer than that of a falling film or pool boiling at the same heat flux. This study investigated experimentally the effects of tube spacing, positions of tubes, and heating status of tubes as well as surface status (smooth and roll‐worked) on boiling in restricted spaces in compact horizontal tube bundle evaporators under atmospheric pressure. The experimental results provide a restricted space boiling database for water in smooth and enhanced surface tube bundles. Of particular importance is information concerning the influence of tube spacing of flooded‐type tube bundle evaporators, especially for the case of zero pitch, when the neighboring tubes are contacting each other. © 2001 Scripta Technica, Heat Trans Asian Res, 30(5): 394–401, 2001
A numerical treatment of phase interface by CIP and enthalpy method
Authors: Jang Kyung‐Chun , Hong Hiki , Kim Charn‐Jung
Published: August 2002

The CIP (Cubic‐Interpolated Pseudoparticle/Propagation) method can treat all of the phase states (solid, liquid, and gas) together and can trace a sharp interface without changing of the grid or topology. The material interface can be captured almost by one grid because the numerical diffusion can be decreased by CIP. For this advantage, if we are able to adopt CIP on a general FVM code, we can easily treat a variety of phase change problems in which the phase interfaces need to be traced. In this paper, an unsteady close‐contact melting phenomenon is analyzed by combining CIP with the enthalpy method. The film growth rate and the phase interface's moving rate are compared with the analytic solution and the acceptability and usefulness of this method are evaluated. The obtained results agree quite well with the published analytic solutions. © 2001 Scripta Technica, Heat Trans Asian Res, 30(6): 463–472, 2001
Personality pathology, depression and HPA axis functioning
Authors: Schweitzer I. , Tuckwell V. , Maguire K. , Tiller J.
Published: August 2002

Hypothalamic pituitary adrenal (HPA) axis functioning, as measured by the dexamethasone suppression test (DST), has been extensively investigated in major depressive disorder (MDD). Evaluating DST response in MDD patients while simultaneously considering clinically relevant personality disorders may further clarify the contribution of both personality pathology and HPA axis function to depressive symptoms. The present study measured personality pathology by administering the revised version of the Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory (MCMI‐II) in a sample of 25 patients diagnosed with MDD. Analyses revealed that suppressors (n = 19) scored significantly higher than non‐suppressors (n = 6) on six of the 13 MCMI‐II personality disorder scales: Avoidant, Schizoid, Self‐Defeating, Passive‐Aggressive, Schizotypal and Borderline. Increased personality pathology was associated with normal suppression of cortisol following the DST. This suggests that suppression of the DST may be associated with depressive states linked with personality pathology while the more biologically based depression is associated with abnormal HPA pathophysiology. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Fluvoxamine is ineffective in the treatment of enuresis in children and adolescents: an open‐label pilot study
Authors: Toren Paz , Eldar Sofia , Laor Nathaniel , Wolmer Leo , Samuel Eliahu , Weizman Ronit
Published: August 2002

Tricyclic antidepressants possess established antienuretic properties. The selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) have similar antidepressant properties to the tricyclic antidepressants and a safer side effect profile. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the antienuretic efficacy of one SSRI, fluvoxamine. Nine children aged 9 to 14 years with primary enuresis which was resistant to behavioral therapy participated in the study. All received fluvoxamine, 75–100 mg per day. In four, the enuresis was the only focus of clinical attention, and five received fluvoxamine for other primary indications. Enuresis was monitored daily, and mean voiding frequency was compared between three phases: baseline, on treatment and off treatment. Fluvoxamine had no statistically significant effect on enuresis. Fluvoxamine does not seem to possess significant antienuretic properties. We suggest that the combination of serotonergic with anticholinergic activity is a major factor in the antienuretic activity. In the treatment of children or adolescents with obsessive‐compulsive disorder and comorbid enuresis, clomipramine may be preferred over SSRIs. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Particulate heavy metal transport in the lower Paraíba do Sul River basin, southeastern, Brazil
Authors: Salomão M. S. M. B. , Molisani M. M. , Ovalle A. R. C. , Rezende C. E. , Lacerda L. D. , Carvalho C. E. V.
Published: August 2002

In the present study an attempt has been made to calculate the mass transfers of suspended particulate matter and associated heavy metal within the lower portion of the Paraíba do Sul River drainage basin and the contribution of its tributaries. The highest metal loads were related with the highest water flows and, consequently, with the highest suspended particulate matter loads, which increased both by surface runoff and sediment resuspension. The highest flow month for the total transported load contributed between 34 and 66% of the total metal transported per year. The total load transported during the entire rainy season ranges from 82 to 93% of the total transported load. The importance of the tributary input for the total transported load of the Paraíba do Sul River was generally lower than 10%, although in some months, when the Paraíba do Sul River had low water discharge and strong local rain occurred, this increased upto 40%. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Modelling diurnal cycles in point rainfall properties
Authors: Gyasi‐Agyei Yeboah
Published: August 2002

A hybrid model for point rainfall has been explored to model the diurnal cycles in rainfall properties. The hybrid model is a product of two random processes: an occurrence process and an intensity process. Two occurrence process models, first‐order Markov chain and periodic discrete autoregressive, were compared initially. Fourier series was fitted to the properties of the occurrence and intensity processes of the observed data in order to reduce the number of model parameters. The Bayesian and Akaike information criteria were used to identify the optimum number of harmonics of the Fourier series. Simulation results of the two hybrid models were similar, if not identical, and compared well with the observed. In the average sense, the introduction of diurnal cycles in the model parameters did not improve the reproduction of the observed aggregation properties of the occurrence process. However, the diurnal distributions of the aggregation statistics were significantly improved by increasing the order of the Markov chain model. Also the information criteria tend to favour higher than first‐order Markov chain models. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Saline wetlands related to groundwater flows from low permeability Tertiary formations in the Somontano area of Huesca, Spain
Authors: Sánchez Navarro J. A. , Coloma López P. , Pérez García A.
Published: August 2002

Presence of groundwater flow in the ‘Somontano de Huesca’ Area, derived from low‐permeability detrital Tertiary rocks, is considered. A groundwater flow model is constructed for these Tertiary rocks. This model explains both water flow through them and the chemical characteristics of the water.

Groundwater flow has clear surface manifestations: it causes wetlands (which are called ‘paules’ in the area) with sodic waters, it produces saline, sodic or alkaline soils, and it produces modifies the chemical composition of rivers in Somontano.

Irrigation has increased the volume of filtered water, especially in the interfluve areas, causing the extension of the wetlands in the valley thalwegs, and also the greater movement of salts has increased the problems of saline and/or sodic soils in the area. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Stochastic–conceptual analysis of near‐surface hydrological response
Authors: Loague Keith , Abrams Robert H.
Published: August 2002

The stochastic–conceptual rainfall–runoff simulator (SCRRS) developed by R. A. Freeze in 1980 was used in this study to demonstrate quantitatively the interplay of the factors that control the occurrence of overland flow by the Horton and Dunne mechanisms. The simulation domain and input data for the SCRRS simulations reported here were abstracted from the R‐5 catchment (Chickasha, OK) data sets. The results illustrate that the identification of a dominant hydrological response process may not be as simple as a singular Horton or Dunne characterization. The SCRRS simulations show that the Horton and Dunne processes can (i) occur simultaneously at different locations during a given rainfall event, (ii) change from one process to the other with time depending on the characteristics of the rainfall event, and (iii) be strongly dependent on the initial conditions. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Self‐references among children's first fifty words: Indications for an emerging sense of self in Dutch‐speaking children
Authors: van der Meulen Matty
Published: August 2002

The present study investigated at what age self‐references would turn up for the first time in young children's language and what kind of words these were. This was studied for a corpus of the first 50 words, produced by ten children, five boys and five girls, collected through parental reports. Self‐references were defined as all words that referred in one way or another to the speakers themselves. They were not restricted to utterances containing pronominals of the first person singular or the child's first name. The appearance of self‐references varied with the onset of speech. Children who started to speak early also produced self‐referent words at an early age (between 12 and 16 months). Self‐references could be satisfactorily classified into three lexical categories: nominals, action words and modifiers, containing words (a) labelling body parts, (b) verbalizing action plans and ongoing actions, and (c) expressing characteristics of outer appearance and actions, and physical sensations, respectively. This indicates that young children's sense of self is not restricted to an awareness of their own actions, but that a variety of experiences contribute to this. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Associations between family history of colorectal cancer and genetic alterations in tumors
Authors: Slattery Martha L. , Curtin Karen , Schaffer Donna , Anderson Kristen , Samowitz Wade
Published: August 2002

A family history of colorectal cancer has been consistently associated with an increased risk of developing colon cancer. However, there is limited information on the association between family history of colorectal cancer and genetic alterations that occur in colon tumors. In this study, we evaluate the association among genetic alterations of Ki‐ras and p53, microsatellite instability and having a family history of colorectal cancer in a study of incident colon cancer cases (n = 1993) and population‐based controls (n = 2,410). Although there was a slight nonsignificant increase in risk of having an unstable tumor among those with a family history of colorectal cancer, this increase in risk disappeared after excluding those people with a known mutation in either of the mismatch repair genes hMLH1 or hMSH2. A family history of colorectal cancer was not associated with Ki‐ras mutations overall, although those with a G to T mutation of the second base of codon 12 were more likely to have a family history of colorectal cancer than were those without this specific type of Ki‐ras mutation. Cases with p53 mutations were less likely to have a family history of colorectal cancer than were cases without a p53 mutation. We believe that, given the general lack of association between having a family history of colorectal cancer and genetic alterations in tumors, these alterations are acquired through disease pathways that involve exposure from diet, lifestyle or other environmental factors. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Jungbluth AA, Chen Y‐T, Stockert E., Busam KJ, Kolb D, Iversen K, Coplan K, Williamson B, Altorki N, Old LJ. Immunohistochemical analysis of NY‐ESO‐1 antigen expression in normal and malignant human tissues. International Journal of Cancer 2001; 92(6) 856–860.
Authors: Jungbluth AA , Chen Y‐T , Stockert E , Busam KJ , Kolb D , Iversen K , Coplan K , Williamson B , Altorki N , Old LJ
Published: August 2002

The original article to which this Erratum refers was published in International Journal of Cancer 2001; 92(6) 856–860.
Alterations of the p16ink4a gene in resected nonsmall cell lung tumors and exfoliated cells within sputum
Authors: Chen Jung‐Ta , Chen Yi‐Chun , Wang Yu‐Chien , Tseng Ruo‐Chia , Chen Chih‐Yi , Wang Yi‐Ching
Published: August 2002

Recently, we reported that p16 protein expression was nondetectable in 49.5% of 107 resected nonsmall cell lung cancers (NSCLCs), suggesting that the p16INK4a gene is frequently inactivated in primary NSCLC. To identify the molecular basis for this p16 immunohistochemical negativity further, we performed a genetic and epigenetic study of p16INK4a status in a series of 115 NSCLC samples parallel to the clinicopathologic and prognostic analyses. Microdissected tumor DNA samples were screened for homozygous deletion using comparative multiplex‐polymerase chain reaction (PCR), for intragenic mutation using direct sequencing and for loss of heterozygosity (LOH) using an intragenic microsatellite marker, D9S942. Of these samples, 67 were further analyzed by SmaI‐based PCR methylation assay to evaluate aberrant methylation at the gene. To examine the correlation of aberrant methylation in tumor and sputum samples, sputum samples from 12 matched patients were assessed for this change. We found that methylation of the p16INK4a gene was present in 38 of the 67 (56.7%) tumors and was significantly associated with negative p16 protein expression (p = 0.029). A 92% (11/12) concordance of sputum samples with matched resected tumors was found. The survival rates among adenocarcinoma patients with p16INK4a methylation were lower, but at a level of borderline significance compared with those patients without methylation (p = 0.071). In addition, 29.4% of the informative cases were found to harbor LOH at D9S942. None of the 115 microdissected tumors exhibited homozygous deletion in the p16INK4a gene. Only 1 patient exhibited a complex mutation at the fourth ankyrin repeat consensus sequence and concordantly demonstrated p16 immunohistochemical negativity. Overall, 69% (79/115) of NSCLC tumors had at least 1 type of p16INK4a alteration. Our data provide compelling evidence that p16INK4a alterations are involved in NSCLC tumorigenesis and that promoter methylation is the predominant mechanism in p16INK4a deregulation. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Replacement of N‐terminal portions of TGF‐α with corresponding heregulin sequences affects ligand‐induced receptor signaling and intoxication of tumor cells by chimeric growth‐factor toxins
Authors: Schmidt Mathias , Wels Winfried
Published: August 2002

ErbB receptor tyrosine kinases play an important role in developmental processes and tumor formation. Their activity is regulated by a family of structurally related ligands that bind to distinct ErbB receptor subsets, with transforming growth factor (TGF)‐α preferentially interacting with epidermal growth‐factor receptor (EGFR) and heregulin (HRG)‐β1 recognizing ErbB3 and ErbB4. To investigate the contribution of N‐terminal ligand sequences to binding specificity, we have constructed 2 chimeric growth factors termed H181T8 and H194T20, which contain N‐terminal HRG‐β1 sequences linked to complementary fragments of TGF‐α. For bacterial expression and analysis of cell binding, the chimeric ligands were genetically fused to truncated Pseudomonas exotoxin A (ETA). H181T8‐ETA and H194T20‐ETA toxins both were cytotoxic for human tumor cell lines overexpressing EGFR but did not significantly affect the growth of cells that express ErbB receptors other than EGFR. Binding of H181T8, which contains HRG‐β1 residues 177–181, induced rapid autophosphorylation of EGFR, but in contrast to a previously described chimeric ligand based on EGF was unable to activate other ErbB receptors. H194T20, which contains HRG‐β1 residues 177–194, despite specific binding to EGFR was unable to induce autophosphorylation of any of the ErbB family members. However, H194T20 enhanced and modified the activity of parental TGF‐α and HRG‐β1 when these ligands were simultaneously present. Our results show that modification of the N‐terminal TGF‐α sequence can have a significant effect on the signaling properties of the ligand and suggest that different EGF‐like ligands can synergize in the activation of ErbB receptors. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Toward an understanding of the child's experience in a Montessori Early Head Start program
Authors: Korfmacher Jon , Spicer Paul
Published: August 2002

This report documents the development of a multimethod approach to understanding program processes in a center‐based Early Head Start program. The method, which combines teacher's ratings with participant observation and informal interviewing of families, offers an approach to understanding the experience of early childhood intervention from multiple perspectives. The focus of this article is on the use of data drawn from three case studies to illustrate one way of combining these two different orientations. We place this case‐study approach within a larger framework of ways in which qualitative and quantitative data can be combined to better understand how programs are delivered and experienced by participating children and their families. ©2002 Michigan Association for Infant Mental Health.
Informal social support characteristics and utilization of parenting support services among low‐income African American mothers of premature infants
Authors: Barton Lauren R. , Roman Lee Anne , Fitzgerald Hiram E. , McKinney Marvin H.
Published: August 2002

Service delivery efforts to attenuate the risks associated with parenting premature infants in poverty often are compromised because those at greatest risk do not use available parenting support services. Yet, relatively little is known about the networks of support surrounding these parents. This study investigated both the characteristics of informal social support within a sample of 31 low‐income, African American mothers of premature infants at high risk for parenting difficulties and their use of community parenting support services. The findings suggest that mothers had small (M = 4.97, SD = 1.80), but highly mobilized, social support networks consisting primarily of family members. Among six different types of support, informational guidance and parenting support were available from the fewest people in participants' networks. Only 32.3% of the sample was aware of and 16.1% of the sample had ever used formal parenting support services. Participants who had received informal support from more than five people in the last month were significantly more likely to have knowledge about existing community parenting support services than those receiving support from smaller social networks. Patterns of knowledge about and utilization of services were examined with regard to network characteristics, perceived maternal desire for more parenting support opportunities than were available, and presence of special needs in the child. The implications of these findings for parenting support programs are discussed. ©2002 Michigan Association for Infant Mental Health.
Evaporation basins: opportunities for cost minimisation in siting, design and construction1
Authors: Singh Jai , Christen E.W.
Published: August 2002

To reduce adverse downstream impacts of saline subsurface drainage water, farmers developing new horticultural developments in the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area are required to construct evaporation basins to hold the subsurface drainage water on their property. This creates an additional cost burden upon farmers. This paper reports on a detailed investigation into the cost components of evaporation basin construction. Costs can be minimised by careful site selection and appropriate design. Cost components with high potential for cost minimisation were found to be the site geotechnical investigations, leakage control measures and basin design in terms of shape and number of cells. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
Supporting virtual organizations through constraint fusion
Authors: Preece Alun
Published: August 2002

The formation and operation of dynamic and open virtual organizations is a central concern in business‐to‐business e‐commerce. Virtual organizations enable partner companies to develop and manufacture customized products with low costs and rapid delivery. Agent‐based architectures are an effective platform for such virtual organizations because they provide mechanisms to allow organizations to advertise their capabilities, exchange rich information, and synchronize workflows at a high level of abstraction. In this paper, we examine the KRAFT architecture and its features for supporting virtual organizations. In particular, we focus upon KRAFT's agent‐based architecture, and its use of constraints as a knowledge‐exchange medium. We show how constraint fusion supports the design of customized products. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Decision making using time‐dependent knowledge: knowledge augmentation using qualitative reasoning
Authors: Yu Song Jin , Park Sang Chan , Wang Jyun‐Cheng
Published: August 2002

In this paper we propose a method to enhance the performance of knowledge‐based decision‐support systems, knowledge of which is volatile and incomplete by nature in a dynamically changing situation, by providing meta‐knowledge augmented by the Qualitative Reasoning (QR) approach. The proposed system intends to overcome the potential problem of completeness of the knowledge base. Using the deep meta‐knowledge incorporated into the QR module, along with the knowledge we gain from applying inductive learning, we then identify the ongoing process and amplify the effects of each pending process to the attribute values. In doing so, we apply the QR models to enhance or reveal the patterns which are otherwise less obvious. The enhanced patterns can eventually be used to improve the classification of the data samples. The success factor hinges on the completeness of the QR process knowledge base. With enough processes taking place, the influences of each process will lead prediction in a direction that can reflect more of the current trend. The preliminary results are successful and shed light on the smooth introduction of Qualitative Reasoning to the business domain from the physical laboratory application. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
High‐dose intravenous paraoxon exposure does not cause organophosphate‐induced delayed neuropathy (OPIDN) in mini pigs
Authors: Petroianu G. , Hardt F. , Toomes M. , Bergler W. , Rüfer R.
Published: August 2002

Organophosphorus compounds are inhibitors of serine hydrolases. Some of these compounds produce, in addition to their high acute toxicity, a more persistent effect: organophosphate‐induced delayed neuropathy (OPIDN). The putative molecular entity whose inhibition is thought to be responsible for OPIDN is the neuropathy target esterase (NTE). Although in vitro NTE is resistant to paraoxon (PX), occasional case reports have associated PX with OPIDN.

To assess clinically whether or not high‐dose i.v. PX causes OPIDN in mini pigs, 14 mini pigs were anaesthesized, intubated and mechanically ventilated. In a first set of experiments eight pigs received 1 mg PX kg−1 body weight (BW) dissolved in alcohol. Two control animals received alcohol in a corresponding amount. After infusion of PX, survival of the animals during the acute phase of intoxication was achieved by intensive‐care support, using appropriate drugs and fluids according to a pre‐established protocol. The mini pigs were extubated 1036 ± 363 min later (mean ± SD). The pigs were observed prior to PX application and for 6 weeks thereafter for any abnormalities and/or signs of OPIDN, such as leg weakness, ataxia and paralysis. Observations were graded on a scale for three categories (position, motor deficiency, reaction), with a maximal cumulative score of 9. In a second set of experiments (four additional pigs) larger PX doses were used (3, 9, 27 and 81 mg kg−1 BW).

After recovering from general anaesthesia/surgery, within 2 weeks all animals reached the initial score on the scale. It can be concluded that high‐dose i.v. PX exposure does not induce OPIDN in mini pigs during the 6‐week observation period. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Peritoneal toxicity of water: a model of chronic peritonitis caused by osmotic dysequilibrium in rats
Authors: Levine Seymour , Saltzman Arthur
Published: August 2002

The purpose of this work was to determine whether the osmotic dysequilibrium created by intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of pure water has any permanent, damaging toxic sequelae. Rats were injected i.p. with pure water on five successive days. Necropsies were performed 1 week after the last injection. Necropsies revealed fibrosis of peritoneal surfaces of liver and spleen, similar to the effects of chemical irritants but milder. The severity of the lesions depended on the dose of water and the number of injections. A few minutes of contact with pure water was sufficient to ensure subsequent development of fibrosis. Soon after the initial injury, the inoculum became less hypotonic and then isotonic. Isotonic or moderately hypotonic electrolyte solutions did not produce peritoneal fibrosis but very hypotonic solutions were toxic. Injection of the synthetic compound 48/80, which is known to cause discharge of mast cell granules, did not produce peritonitis, nor was contamination by endotoxin or by blood responsible for the lesions. Injection of water may be a useful method for investigating the role, if any, of mast cells and/or mesothelial cells in the toxic effects of osmotic dysequilibrium. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Apatite‐forming ability of a zirconia/alumina nano‐composite induced by chemical treatment
Authors: Uchida Masaki , Kim Hyun‐Min , Kokubo Tadashi , Nawa Masahiro , Asano Taiyo , Tanaka Kenji , Nakamura Takashi
Published: August 2002

Induction of an apatite‐forming ability on a nano‐composite of a ceria‐stabilized tetragonal zirconia polycrystals (Ce‐TZP) and alumina (Al2O3) polycrystals via chemical treatment with aqueous solutions of H3PO4, H2SO4, HCl, or NaOH has been investigated. The Ce‐TZP/Al2O3 composite is attractive as a load‐bearing bone substitute because of its mechanical properties. The chemical treatments produced Zr‐OH surface functional groups, which are known to be effective for apatite nucleation in a body environment. The composite, after chemical treatment, was shown to form a bonelike apatite layer when immersed in a simulated body fluid containing ion concentrations nearly equal to those in human blood plasma. This implies that it may form apatite in the living body and bond to living bone through the apatite layer. This type of bioactive Ce‐TZP/Al2O3 composite is therefore expected to be useful as a bone substitute, even under load‐bearing conditions. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res 60: 277–282, 2002; DOI 10.1002/jbm.10071
Storage of single donor platelet concentrates: Paired comparison of storage as single or double concentrates
Authors: Glaser Anke , Friedlein Hans , Zingsem Jürgen , Zimmermann Robert , Weisbach Volker , Ruf Andreas , Eckstein Reinhold
Published: August 2002

Modern cell separators allow the collection of two plateletpheresis concentrates (PCs) at one session. This study evaluates the quality of PCs stored as double concentrates in standard storage containers of two manufacturers. We collected 20 PCs that contained 4.5 × 1011 platelets in 375 ml plasma (10 using the COBE Spectra and 10 using the Fresenius AS.TEC 204 with 500 ml bags) that were split into one unit of 3.0 × 1011 platelets in 250 ml (3.0‐PC) and one of 1.5 × 1011 platelets in 125 ml (1.5‐PC). Storage of one 3.0‐PC per bag of a two‐bag system corresponded to storage conditions for double PCs and storage of one 1.5‐PC per bag to storage conditions of single PCs. Cell counts, blood gas analysis, glucose and lactate levels, platelet aggregation, and activation and plasma levels of β‐ thromboglobulin (β‐TG) and complement factor 3a (C3a) were measured before storage and again on days 3 and 5. COBE 3.0‐PCs demonstrated less pH rise, lactate production, CD 62P expression and β‐TG plasma levels, and better aggregability after storage than COBE 1.5‐PCs. Fresenius 1.5‐PCs had similar platelet quality to COBE 3.0‐PCs. Fresenius 3.0‐PCs showed a fall of pH (day 5: 6.22 ± 0.56), the highest amount of anaerobic glycolysis compared to all other storage conditions investigated, high CD 62P‐ expression and β‐TG plasma levels, and impaired aggregability on days 3 and 5. The highest C3a levels were found in COBE 1.5‐PCs. 3.0 × 1011 platelets in 250 ml plasma should be stored either in one bag of the COBE system or in two 500 ml bags of the Fresenius system. The COBE two‐bag system allows the storage of two PCs without loss of platelet quality. Two PCs should not be stored in the Fresenius C4L 500 ml storage containers. J. Clin. Apheresis. 16:148‐154, 2000. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Protein nucleation and crystallization by homologous protein thin film template
Authors: Pechkova Eugenia , Nicolini Claudio
Published: August 2002

A new method of protein nucleation and crystallization based on Langmuir–Blodgett technology is here utilized for the template stimulation of crystal growth of so far non‐crystallized proteins. Microcrystals (60–120 μm) of bovine cytochrome P450scc and human protein kinase CKII alpha subunit were obtained with use of the homologous protein thin film template by vapor diffusion modified hanging drop method. The induction of microcrystals nucleation by the thin template confirms in the two different important classes of proteins, until now never crystallized, the positive stimulatory influence for crystal formation of protein thin film template, which was observed in an earlier study with a model system (chicken egg white lysozyme) as an unexpected acceleration and enhancement in the crystal growth. J. Cell. Biochem. 85: 243–251, 2002. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Drosophila no‐dependent guanylyl cyclase is finely regulated by sequential order of coincidental signaling
Authors: Zhang Lixing , Tinette Sylvette , Robichon Alain
Published: August 2002

We investigate the mechanism of regulation of Drosophila‐soluble guanylate cyclase. Multiple putative sites of phosphorylation for the major kinases are present on both subunits of the heterodimer. We show that NO activation after binding to the heme group, is specifically modulated by sequential phosphorylations. PKA increases the NO stimulation at optimum level when both subunits are phosphorylated. Phosphorylation by CK (casein kinase‐like) first, inhibits the PKA phosphorylation of the alpha subunit and limits the PKA upregulation of the cyclase activity. However, PKA phosphorylation first didn't prevent CK phosphorylation of the two subunits and the sequence PKA/CK induces higher level of NO activation than CK/PKA. These phosphorylations occur independently of NO binding and the direct inhibitory effect of calcium is observed for all the sCG forms. These data show that the sGC activity is regulated in a complex way, and the well‐known asymmetry of the two subunits appears to cause the reading of the sequence of regulatory signals. This qualifies sGC as molecular detector on which converge coincidental and/or sequential neuronal signals. Furthermore, due to the fact that NO induction is huge (more than 600‐fold obtained with the mammal counterpart), we might consider that any variation in kinases activation and/or calcium concentration in micro area of neuronal processes, provokes locally significant quantitative difference of cGMP synthesis in presence of diffusing NO. J. Cell. Biochem. 85: 392–402, 2002. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Characterization of a TM‐4 type tropomyosin that is essential for myofibrillogenesis and contractile activity in embryonic hearts of the Mexican axolotl*
Authors: Spinner Belinda J. , Zajdel Robert W. , McLean Matthew D. , Denz Christopher R. , Dube Syamalima , Mehta Sonali , Choudhury Aruna , Nakatsugawa Masako , Dobbins Nancy , Lemanski Larry F. , Dube Dipak K.
Published: August 2002

A striated muscle isoform of a Tropomyosin (TM‐4) gene was characterized and found to be necessary for contractile function in embryonic heart. The full‐length clone of this isoform was isolated from the Mexican axolotl (Ambystoma mexicanum) and named Axolotl Tropomyosin Cardiac‐3 (ATmC‐3). The gene encoded a cardiac‐specific tropomyosin protein with 284 amino acid residues that demonstrated high homology to the Xenopus cardiac TM‐4 type tropomyosin. Northern blot analysis indicates a transcript of ∼1.25 kb in size. RT‐PCR and in situ hybridization demonstrated that this isoform is predominantly in cardiac tissue. Our laboratory uses an animal model that carries a cardiac lethal mutation (gene c), this mutation results in a greatly diminished level of tropomyosin protein in the ventricle. Transfection of ATmC‐3 DNA into mutant hearts increased tropomyosin levels and promoted myofibrillogenesis. ATmC‐3 expression was blocked in normal hearts by transfection of exon‐specific anti‐sense oligonucleotide (AS‐ODN). RT‐PCR confirmed lower transcript expression of ATmC‐3 and in vitro analysis confirmed the specificity of the ATmC‐3 exon 2 anti‐sense oligonucleotide. These AS‐ODN treated hearts also had a disruption of myofibril organization and disruption of synchronous contractions. These results demonstrated that a striated muscle isoform of the TM‐4 gene was expressed embryonically and was necessary for normal structure and function of the ventricle. J. Cell. Biochem. 85: 747–761, 2002. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Expression patterns of vitamin D receptor in human prostate
Authors: Krill D. , DeFlavia P. , Dhir R. , Luo J. , Becich M.J. , Lehman E. , Getzenberg R.H.
Published: August 2002

UV exposure and serum levels of vitamin D have been linked in several studies with prostate cancer risk. At the cellular level, the principal action of vitamin D is mediated though vitamin D receptors (VDR). Since prostate cancer is a disease strongly associated with age, we examined the presence of VDR in normal prostate from donors of various ages to determine if the VDR expression pattern changed with age. We also compared the VDR expression in the peripheral and central zones of the prostate to determine if the expression pattern varied by location. Immunohistochemical studies were performed on paraffin‐embedded tissue from cases selected by the following age decades; 10–19, 20–29, 30–39, 40–49, 50–59, and 60–69. Both the central and peripheral zones were examined for VDR expression. The intensity of VDR expression in prostate was compared with expression in different types of human tissues. Mean VDR expression was lowest in the 10–19 years of age group. The intensity of the nuclear VDR was higher though the fifth decade, and then declined in cases of ages 60–70. When multiple sections of the same donor prostate were compared, VDR expression was greater in the peripheral zone compared to the central zone. J. Cell. Biochem. 82: 566–572, 2001. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Identification of proteins that interact with BRCA1 by Far‐Western library screening
Authors: Yarden Ronit I. , Brody Lawrence C.
Published: August 2002

Protein–protein interactions control numerous biological processes. In the case of a protein with no known function, identification of interacting proteins may lend insight into its cellular function. Protein–protein interactions are often detected by yeast two‐hybrid screening which is based on a transcriptional read‐out. One limitation of this technique is that transcription factors, when used as bait, frequently impair the effectiveness of this screen because they give rise to high levels of false positives. The carboxyl terminus of the breast cancer tumor suppressor gene, BRCA1, contains two BRCT motifs, a motif found in several DNA repair and cell cycle checkpoint proteins. This region of BRCA1 also exhibits an intrinsic transcriptional transactivation activity when bound to DNA as a fusion protein, thereby limiting its use in yeast two‐hybrid screen. In order to isolate proteins that interact with this domain of BRCA1, we utilized a Far‐Western screen, a method based on direct protein binding. We used recombinant histidine‐tagged BRCT as the primary protein probe. We isolated eight cDNAs that bind to the BRCT domain of BRCA1. Further analysis demonstrated that two of the clones encode for proteins that interact directly with the BRCT domain of BRCA1. J. Cell. Biochem. 83: 521–531, 2001. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Relativistic electronic structure theory
Authors: Nakajima Takahito , Yanai Takeshi , Hirao Kimihiko
Published: August 2002

The theoretical and technical foundations are presented for the efficient relativistic electronic structure theories to treat heavy‐atomic molecular systems. This review contains two surveys of four‐component and two‐component quasi‐relativistic approaches. First, we review our highly efficient computational scheme for four‐component relativistic ab initio molecular orbital (MO) methods over generally contracted spherical harmonic Gaussian‐type spinors (GTSs). Illustrative calculations, which are performed with a new four‐component relativistic ab initio molecular orbital program package REL4D, clearly show the efficiency of our computational scheme by the Dirac–Hartree–Fock (DHF) and Dirac–Hartree–Fock (DKS) methods. Next, in the two‐component quasi‐relativistic framework, two relativistic Hamiltonians, RESC and higher order Douglas–Kroll (DK) Hamiltonians, are introduced, and several illustrative calculations are shown. Numerical results for several systems show that good accuracy can be obtained with our third‐order DK (DK3) Hamiltonian. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Comput Chem 23: 847–860, 2002
Revisiting the generator coordinate approximation for calculating the ro‐vibrational energies of H\documentclass{article}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}$_{3}^{+}$\end{document}
Authors: Liu Chao‐Ping , Soares Neto J. J.
Published: August 2002

The Generator Coordinate Approximation, a relatively recent approximation formulated to solve systems of three or more bodies, is tested for its accuracy and viability by applying it to calculate the ro‐vibrational energies of the triatomic system H\documentclass{article}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}$_{3}^{+}$\end{document}. We employ in this work a recently formulated basis called the Numerically Generated‐Discrete Variable Representation for the wave function and test it against the well‐known Finite Element Method basis. Comparison of the two results and with other results shows a tentative superiority of the Numerically Generated‐Discrete Variable Representation. In addition, many new physical properties of the Generator Coordinate Approximation were discovered. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Comput Chem 22: 2028–2039, 2001
Bounds on the number of Hadamard designs of even order
Authors: Lam Clement , Lam Sigmund , Tonchev Vladimir D.
Published: August 2002

A new lower bound on the number of non‐isomorphic Hadamard symmetric designs of even order is proved. The new bound improves the bound on the number of Hadamard designs of order 2n given in [12] by a factor of 8n − 1 for every odd n > 1, and for every even n such that 4n − 1 > 7 is a prime. For orders 8, 10, and 12, the number of non‐isomorphic Hadamard designs is shown to be at least 22,478,260, 1.31 × 1015, and 1027, respectively. For orders 2n = 14, 16, 18 and 20, a lower bound of (4n − 1)! is proved. It is conjectured that (4n − 1)! is a lower bound for all orders 2n ≥ 14. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Combin Designs 9: 363‐378, 2001
Is skeletal muscle damaged by the oxidative stress following anaerobic exercise?
Authors: Ihara Hiroshi , Shino Yoshio , Morita Yoshikazu , Kawaguchi Emiko , Hashizume Naotaka , Yoshida Mitsutaka
Published: August 2002

We investigated whether the injury of skeletal muscle owing to the action of free radicals and the subsequent oxidative damage to tissues occurred during anaerobic exercise. To estimate injury to skeletal muscle, we determined certain indices of oxidative damage to skeletal muscle; i.e., leukocyte counts, concentrations of hypoxanthine, xanthine, urate, tissue‐ and serum‐type CK‐M isoforms, myoglobin, and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) of serum. Blood for these tests was collected at 3 min post‐exercise. Post‐anaerobic exercise concentrations of lactate were significantly increased from pre‐exercise. The neutrophil and lymphocyte counts and alanine concentration were significantly increased by anaerobic exercise, even when the results were corrected for plasma volume changes; the plasma concentrations of hypoxanthine, urate, and TAC of serum were also significantly increased. The plasma concentration of xanthine was negatively correlated with TAC of serum. The activities of tissue‐ and serum‐type CK‐M were significantly increased post‐exercise. When the hypoxanthine, urate, TAC of serum, myoglobin, and tissue‐ and serum‐type CK‐M were corrected for plasma volume changes, the post‐exercise increases were no longer significantly different from the pre‐exercise results. We suggest that these latter test results following anaerobic exercise exclude the presence of oxidative damage to skeletal muscle. J. Clin. Lab. Anal. 15:239–243, 2001. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Detection of apoB‐100 R3500Q mutation by competitive allele‐specific polymerase chain reaction
Authors: Horvath Anelia D. , Kirov Steven A. , Karaulanov Emil E. , Ganev Varban S.
Published: August 2002

The apolipoprotein B‐100 mutation R3500Q is one of the most common inherited defects causing abnormality of the lipid metabolism. We describe a one‐step, single‐tube PCR technique for detection of the mutation based on competition between allele‐specific primers. Three oligonucleotides are used: two allele‐specific primers differing in their 3′ nucleotide (for the wild‐type and the mutant allele) together with a common primer, resulting in simultaneous amplification of both alleles. This provided internal control of successful amplification and is expected to result in increased specificity. The allele‐specific primers differ also in length, allowing us to distinguish both alleles by their size in a single electrophoretic run. For optimization of the protocol, DNAs genotyped before by oligonucleotide ligation assay were used. The individual genotypes obtained by CAS‐PCR coincided fully with the ones from a referent OLA test: seven heterozygous individuals were found, 4 of them among 150 unrelated hypercholesterolemic individuals studied and other three in the pedigrees of heterozygous carriers. On the overall 160 genotypes were determined, neither false‐positive (0 out of 153 non‐carriers) nor false‐negative (0 out of 7 carriers) results were obtained. No homozygous mutant genotypes were identified in this sample. J. Clin. Lab. Anal. 15:256–259, 2001. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Negative interference of bilirubin and hemoglobin in the MEIA troponin I assay but not in the MEIA CK‐MB assay
Authors: Dasgupta Amitava , Wells Alice , Biddle David A.
Published: August 2002

Troponin I is a sensitive and specific marker for the diagnosis of myocardial infarction. Several commercially available immunoassays measure the concentration of troponin I in serum. The microparticle enzyme immunoassay (MEIA) for troponin I (Abbott Laboratories, Abbott Park, IL) is widely used in clinical laboratories, including our hospital laboratory. We studied the effect of bilirubin and hemolysis on the MEIA for troponin I and compared our assay with a newly available chemiluminescent assay (CLIA) for troponin I (Bayer Diagnostics, Tarrytown, NY). We also measured CK‐MB concentration using the MEIA CK‐MB assay. One serum pool was prepared by combining several specimens of one patient with elevated troponin I and with a diagnosis of myocardial infarction. Other serum pools were prepared by combining sera with similar troponin I values. All serum pools showed normal bilirubin concentrations and had no hemolysis. Then we supplemented aliquots of serum pools with various concentrations of bilirubin (5.0, 10.0, 15.0, and 20.0 mg/dL). After supplementation, troponin I concentrations were measured again using the MEIA and CLIA. We observed a statistically significant decrease in troponin I concentration in the presence of bilirubin with the MEIA. For example, in serum pool 1, the troponin I concentration was 16.3 (bilirubin: 0.8 mg/dL). In the presence of 5.0, 10.0, 15.0 and 20.0 mg/dL of added bilirubin, the cardiac troponin I concentrations were 13.9, 13.4, 13.3 and 13.0 ng/ml respectively. We observed similar negative interference of bilirubin in troponin I measurement by the MEIA in other pools. The troponin I value decreased slightly (not statistically significant) in one pool and did not change in two other pools in the presence of bilirubin when we measured troponin I concentration using the CLIA. Interestingly, bilirubin did not interfere with the MEIA CK‐MB assay. Moderate hemolysis did not have any effect on the troponin I assay using either the MEIA or CLIA. However, gross hemolysis (hemoglobin > 40 mg/dL) interfered with both assays for troponin I. J. Clin. Lab. Anal. 15:76–80, 2001. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.