bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
WHAT KIND OF GLOBALIZATION? ORGANIZING FOR WORKERS’ HUMAN RIGHTS
Authors: Hubbard Dean
Published: August 2006

Globalized neoliberalism is neither inevitable nor irreversible. By strategically reimagining labor activism, globally conscious local organizers are expanding the range of answers to the question of what kind of globalization will eventually predominate. The first part of the article notes that U.S.‐ratified international human rights law, in requiring states to provide means of subsistence and work with dignity to all their people, provides a normative frame for organizing for a “socially aware global economy.” However, the institutions and policies of globalized market messianism have prevented the realization of these ideals, instead creating an economic human rights catastrophe for most of humanity. The second part of the article proposes a framework for transformative organizing to build a socially aware global economy by linking local organizing to transnational networks. It explores the efficacy of three divergent but complementary strategic manifestations of this framework, which seek to give life to economic human rights law, build transnational solidarity through cross‐border action, and prefigure alternative policies and institutions.
ORGANIZING The Jungle: INDUSTRIAL RESTRUCTURING AND IMMIGRANT UNIONIZATION IN THE AMERICAN MEATPACKING INDUSTRY1
Authors: Gabriel Jackie
Published: August 2006

The American meatpacking industry has undergone substantial restructuring over the last few decades, resulting in a significant decline in unionization and a change in workforce composition. Based on a case study of an organizing campaign among Latino immigrant meatpacking workers in South Omaha, this article explores how industrial restructuring has affected workers' bargaining power. Specifically, it examines the dynamics of Latino immigrant unionization by (1) pointing out that workers' bargaining power, as well as wages and working conditions, in meatpacking declined prior to the rapid incorporation of Latino immigrants into the industry; (2) highlighting undocumented workers' rights and protections under U.S. labor legislation in light of recent court decisions that give precedence to immigration legislation; and (3) demonstrating that the presence of Latino immigrants, including undocumented workers, in the industry does not necessarily undermine workers' bargaining power and unionization. The article suggests that contemporary meatpacking workers are highly receptive to unionization and that the decline in worker bargaining power in meatpacking is the result of industrial restructuring and organized labor's inability to resist or adapt to such restructuring.
THE CHALLENGE OF REVOLUTIONARY DEMOCRACY IN THE LIFE AND THOUGHT OF ROSA LUXEMBURG
Authors: Le Blanc Paul
Published: August 2006

Rosa Luxemburg's life and wisdom have illuminated the human experience and inspired many people to reach for a better world. Many of her insights and inclinations seem to place her with certain cothinkers or partial cothinkers who, like her, are central to the Marxist tradition—whether Kautsky, or Lenin, or Trotsky. Her own distinctive insights come through, I think, in the way she talks about the natural world, in her sense of kinship with other creatures of this planet, in her open and penetrating engagement with human dignity and human suffering, in her often luminously sensual formulations and turns of phrase, and also in her wonderful humor. Her writings are incredibly alive.1
Genome size variation in pumpkin (Cucurbita sp.)
Authors: Tatum T.C. , Nunez L. , Kushad M.M. , Rayburn A.L.
Published: August 2006

Pumpkins, a subgroup of the domesticated Cucurbita species, have been reported to range in fruit type (related to size) from miniature (<100 g) to jumbo (>273 kg). In order to obtain a wide range of fruit types it is hypothesised that all potential factors affecting fruit type must be used. One factor that is often overlooked in plant studies is genome size. In various plant species, genome size variation has been associated with characteristics such as cell size, plant size and flowering time. Such characteristics are referred to as nucleotypic parameters. In order to determine if nucleotypic selection is occurring in pumpkin, 17 varieties were analysed for genome size variation in two separate experiments. The species selected encompass the total range of fruit types reported in pumpkin. Significant nuclear DNA content variation was observed in pumpkin. There was no significant correlation between genome size and fruit type. In fact, the miniature pumpkin types were found to have the same genome size as the jumbo pumpkin types. In addition, a positive correlation between genome size and stomata length (an estimate of cell size in plants) was observed. Both the miniature and jumbo types were observed to have the smallest genome size and the smallest cell size. Thus, nucleotypic selection does appear to occur in pumpkin and appears to be involved in determining fruit type, although it may not be the only factor involved.
Coronal sealing ability of three sectional obturation techniques – SimpliFill, Thermafil and warm vertical compaction – compared with cold lateral condensation and post space preparation
Authors: Gopikrishna Velayutham , Parameswaren Anantanarayanan
Published: August 2006

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect post space preparation has on the coronal seal of root canals obturated with cold lateral condensation of gutta‐percha compared with the corsonal sealing ability of three sectional obturation techniques not requiring post space preparation. Sixty‐eight human maxillary central incisors were divided equally into four groups: cold lateral condensation (Group I), SimpliFill (Group II), Thermafil (Group III) and warm vertical compaction (Group IV). After coronal flaring, all four groups were cleaned and shaped with Lightspeed rotary instruments to a size 60 master apical rotary. After obturation Peeso Reamers were used to create a post space for Group I, while Groups 2, 3 and 4 incorporated the post space in the obturation (sectional technique) and did not require making a post space after obturation. The teeth were then stored in 100% humidity for 1 week and then kept in rhodamine B fluorescent dye for 3 weeks. The teeth were then split open, and the linear dye penetration from a coronal to apical direction (coronal seal) was evaluated with a fluorescent light microscope. Statistical analysis showed that Group I (cold lateral condensation followed by post space made with Peeso Reamers) leaked significantly more (P < 0.05) than the remaining three sectional obturation groups. It was concluded that stresses generated during post space preparation might be detrimental to the seal obtained by the obturation. Sectional obturations with their superior sealing ability offer a viable alternative.
Influence of cerebrovascular function on the hypercapnic ventilatory response in healthy humans
Authors: Xie Ailiang , Skatrud James B. , Morgan Barbara , Chenuel Bruno , Khayat Rami , Reichmuth Kevin , Lin Jenny , Dempsey Jerome A.
Published: August 2006

An important determinant of [H+] in the environment of the central chemoreceptors is cerebral blood flow. Accordingly we hypothesized that a reduction of brain perfusion or a reduced cerebrovascular reactivity to CO2 would lead to hyperventilation and an increased ventilatory responsiveness to CO2. We used oral indomethacin to reduce the cerebrovascular reactivity to CO2 and tested the steady‐state hypercapnic ventilatory response to CO2 in nine normal awake human subjects under normoxia and hyperoxia (50% O2). Ninety minutes after indomethacin ingestion, cerebral blood flow velocity (CBFV) in the middle cerebral artery decreased to 77 ± 5% of the initial value and the average slope of CBFV response to hypercapnia was reduced to 31% of control in normoxia (1.92 versus 0.59 cm−1 s−1 mmHg−1, P < 0.05) and 37% of control in hyperoxia (1.58 versus 0.59 cm−1 s−1 mmHg−1, P < 0.05). Concomitantly, indomethacin administration also caused 40–60% increases in the slope of the mean ventilatory response to CO2 in both normoxia (1.27 ± 0.31 versus 1.76 ± 0.37 l min−1 mmHg−1, P < 0.05) and hyperoxia (1.08 ± 0.22 versus 1.79 ± 0.37 l min−1 mmHg−1, P < 0.05). These correlative findings are consistent with the conclusion that cerebrovascular responsiveness to CO2 is an important determinant of eupnoeic ventilation and of hypercapnic ventilatory responsiveness in humans, primarily via its effects at the level of the central chemoreceptors.
Functional somato‐dendritic α7‐containing nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in the rat basolateral amygdala complex
Authors: Klein Rebecca C. , Yakel Jerrel L.
Published: August 2006

Multiple subtypes of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) are expressed in the CNS. The amygdala complex, the limbic structure important for emotional memory formation, receives cholinergic innervation from the basal forebrain. Although cholinergic drugs have been shown to regulate passive avoidance performance via the amygdala, the neuronal subtypes and circuits involved in this regulation are unknown. In the present study, whole‐cell patch‐clamp electrophysiological techniques were used to identify and characterize the presence of functional somato‐dendritic nAChRs within the basolateral complex of the amygdala. Pressure‐application of acetylcholine (ACh; 2 mm) evoked inward current responses in a subset of neurons from both the lateral (49%) and basolateral nuclei (72%). All responses displayed rapid activation kinetics, and were blocked by the α7‐selective antagonist methyllycaconitine. In addition, the α7‐selective agonist choline induced inward current responses that were similar to ACh‐evoked responses. Spiking patterns were consistent with pyramidal class I neurons (the major neuronal type in the basolateral complex); however, there was no correlation between firing frequency and the response to ACh. The local photolysis of caged carbachol demonstrated that the functional expression of nAChRs is located both on the soma and dendrites. This is the first report demonstrating the presence of functional nAChR‐mediated current responses from rat amygdala slices, where they may be playing a significant role in fear and aversively motivated memory.
“In situ-like” mantle cell lymphoma: a report of two cases: Figure 1
Authors: Richard P , Vassallo J , Valmary S , Missoury R , Delsol G , Brousset P
Published: August 2006

Mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) is a B cell neoplasm that most often shows a diffuse growth pattern. Two cases of MCL are reported here, both with a previous diagnosis of lymphoid hyperplasia. Morphologically, germinal centres are hyperplasic with a normal or discretely enlarged mantle zone, where foci of irregularly shaped small lymphocytes are seen. These are positive for CD20, CD5 and cyclin D1, confirming a diagnosis of in situ-like MCL. This type differs from the mantle zone pattern in that the neoplastic mantle zone is very thin and there is very little or no spread of tumour cells into interfollicular areas. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on such a pattern of MCL, which is important to recognise, as it can be confused with lymphoid hyperplasia.
The predicting role of substance P in the neoplastic transformation of the hypoplastic bone marrow
Authors: Nowicki M , Ostalska-Nowicka D , Konwerska A , Miskowiak B
Published: August 2006

Aims:To estimate the expression of substance P in the haematopoietic cells of hypoplastic bone marrow and define its relationship with the course of bone marrow hypoplasia.

Methods:Bone marrow specimens were obtained from 42 children with bone marrow hypoplasia who were hospitalised in the Department of Pediatric Oncology, Hematology and Transplantology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland, between 1996 and 2003. Substance P and Ki-67 expression were evaluated using immunochemical and hybridocytochemical assays.

Results:The expression of substance P (as evidenced by both immunocytochemical and hybridisation techniques) was confirmed in the cytoplasm of B lymphocytes in 8 of 11 children who developed acute leukaemia in 45 (SD 12) days. The percentage of substance P-positive cells ranged from 67.6 to 95.8 (mean of 81.5% cells with immunocytochemistry and 84.3% with in situ hybridisation). The risk of development of leukaemia secondary to bone marrow hypoplasia was found to be significant (p<0.001) in those children who expressed substance P in normal-looking lymphocytes at the initial bone marrow evaluation.

Conclusions:The presence of substance P in B lymphocytes of hypoplastic bone marrow may predict its neoplastic transformation. A marked correlation between substance P-positive bone marrow pattern and the expansion of tumour cells may prove the potential value of this oligopeptide in the pathogenesis of leukaemia.
Benchmarking DNA barcodes: an assessment using available primate sequences
Authors: Hajibabaei Mehrdad , Singer Gregory AC , Hickey Donal A
Published: August 2006

DNA barcoding has been recently promoted as a method for both assigning specimens to known species and for discovering new and cryptic species. Here we test both the potential and the limitations of DNA barcodes by analysing a group of well-studied organisms—the primates. Our results show that DNA barcodes provide enough information to efficiently identify and delineate primate species, but that they cannot reliably uncover many of the deeper phylogenetic relationships. Our conclusion is that these short DNA sequences do not contain enough information to build reliable molecular phylogenies or define new species, but that they can provide efficient sequence tags for assigning unknown specimens to known species. As such, DNA barcoding provides enormous potential for use in global biodiversity studies.Key words: DNA barcoding, species identification, primate, biodiversity.
Identifying sites under positive selection with uncertain parameter estimates
Authors: Aris-Brosou Stéphane
Published: August 2006

Codon-based substitution models are routinely used to measure selective pressures acting on protein-coding genes. To this effect, the nonsynonymous to synonymous rate ratio (dN/dS = ω) is estimated. The proportion of amino-acid sites potentially under positive selection, as indicated by ω > 1, is inferred by fitting a probability distribution where some sites are permitted to have ω > 1. These sites are then inferred by means of an empirical Bayes or by a Bayes empirical Bayes approach that, respectively, ignores or accounts for sampling errors in maximum-likelihood estimates of the distribution used to infer the proportion of sites with ω > 1. Here, we extend a previous full-Bayes approach to include models with high power and low false-positive rates when inferring sites under positive selection. We propose some heuristics to alleviate the computational burden, and show that (i) full Bayes can be superior to empirical Bayes when analyzing a small data set or small simulated data, (ii) full Bayes has only a small advantage over Bayes empirical Bayes with our small test data, and (iii) Bayesian methods appear relatively insensitive to mild misspecifications of the random process generating adaptive evolution in our simulations, but in practice can prove extremely sensitive to model specification. We suggest that the codon model used to detect amino acids under selection should be carefully selected, for instance using Akaike information criterion (AIC).Key words: codon substitution models, empirical Bayes, Bayes empirical Bayes, full Bayes, ROC curves, AIC.
Construction of comparative genetic maps of two 4Bs.4Bl-5Rl translocations in bread wheat (Triticum aestivumL.)
Authors: Leach R C , Dundas I S , Houben A
Published: August 2006

The physical length of the rye segment of a 4BS.4BL–5RL translocation derived from the Cornell Wheat Selection 82a1-2-4-7 in a Triticum aestivum 'Chinese Spring' background was measured using genomic in situ hybridization (GISH) and found to be 16% of the long arm. The size of this translocation was similar to previously published GISH measurements of another 4BS.4BL–5RL translocation in a Triticum aestivum 'Viking' wheat background. Molecular maps of both 4BS.4BL–5RL translocations for 2 different wheat backgrounds were developed using RFLP analysis. The locations of the translocation breakpoints of the 2 4BS.4BL–5RL translocations were similar even though they arose in different populations. This suggests a unique property of the region at or near the translocation breakpoint that could be associated with their similarity and spontaneous formation. These segments of rye chromosome 5 also contain a gene for copper efficiency that improves the wheat's ability to cope with low-copper soils. Genetic markers in these maps can also be used to screen for copper efficiency in bread wheat lines derived from the Cornell Wheat Selection 82a1 2-4-7.Key words: Triticum aestivum, wheat–rye translocation, homoeologous group 4, homoeologous group 5, GISH, comparative map, copper efficiency, hairy peduncle.
Regulation of provisioning rate in the Thick-billed Murre (Uria lomvia)
Authors: Hipfner J.M. , Gaston A.J. , Smith B.D.
Published: August 2006

Many studies of marine birds report that parents regulate provisioning, thus meeting their offsprings’ nutritional requirements at minimum cost. Others report that food availability limits provisioning, mediated by parental body condition. One hypothesis that might explain these discrepancies holds that seabirds are better able to regulate provisioning under more favourable feeding conditions. To test this, we studied provisioning behaviour in the Thick-billed Murre (Uria lomvia L., 1758) in three colony-years that, based on chick growth rates, spanned a wide range of feeding conditions. We considered that parents regulating provisioning would (i) deliver more food as their offspring aged, to meet their increasing requirements, (ii) space consecutive deliveries nonrandomly in time, and (iii) maintain additional mass to buffer against future deterioration in feeding conditions. As predicted, we found that (i) provisioning rates increased with chick age in all three colony-years, but more strongly when feeding conditions were better; (ii) consecutive deliveries were spaced nonrandomly in all three colony-years, again more strongly when feeding conditions were better; and (iii) adults were heavier at mid chick-rearing when feeding conditions were better. Future studies that investigate how feeding conditions influence seabird provisioning could improve our understanding of how long-lived species optimize reproductive effort in variable environments.
Capital versus income breeding in a migratory passerine bird: evidence from stable-carbon isotopes
Authors: Langin K.M. , Norris D.R. , Kyser T.K. , Marra P.P. , Ratcliffe L.M.
Published: August 2006

Birds meet the energetic demands of egg formation by using either endogenous reserves (capital breeding) or recently ingested nutrients (income breeding). Examining these strategies in migratory birds has been difficult because of the inability to assign the origin of egg nutrients. We used stable-carbon isotopes (δ13C values) to determine whether American Redstarts (Setophaga ruticilla (L., 1758)) form eggs using endogenous reserves acquired on tropical wintering areas or local dietary sources. Redstart diet tends to be enriched in 13C on tropical wintering areas; therefore, we predicted that if endogenous reserves are used to form eggs, then 13C would be enriched in first clutches relative to replacement clutches. We analyzed yolk (δ13CYK) samples from successive first, second, and third clutches and blood plasma (δ13CPL) sampled from females over the same time period. Values of δ13CYK in first-clutch and second-clutch eggs were significantly more positive than those in third-clutch eggs. Although the isotopic shift in yolk was in the direction predicted for a mixed capital–income strategy, δ13CPL, which represents the locally derived diet, varied seasonally in accordance with the shift in δ13CYK. Our findings indicate female Redstarts are primarily income breeders, forming eggs from an isotopically variable diet during the breeding season.
Metabolic protein replacement drives tissue turnover in adult mice
Authors: Arneson Lynne S. , MacAvoy Stephen , Basset Ethan
Published: August 2006

Stable isotopes are increasingly being used to examine ecological and physiological questions, such as dietary choices, migration routes and timing, and physiological condition. To address these questions in the field, laboratory experiments must be done to determine diet–tissue discrimination values and turnover rates for stable isotopes in tissues. In this study, we examined the carbon and nitrogen turnover rates of whole blood, skeletal muscle, liver, kidney, heart, and brain, as well as the sulfur turnover rate of whole blood, skeletal muscle, and liver in Mus musculus L., 1758 following a diet change. By examining tissue isotope change in two groups of mice fed different diets, we found that tissues turnover at different rates (in order of fastest to slowest — liver, kidney, heart, brain, whole blood, skeletal muscle), but that carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur isotopes turned over with similar half-lives within a single tissue. By using a diet with different nutrient isotopic values, we also calculated that up to approximately 90%–95% of carbon in newly synthesized tissue was contributed by dietary protein. These results will provide field researchers with additional tissue isotopic half-lives to elucidate dietary history with a greater degree of certainty. The tissue sulfur half-lives provide an extra stable isotope that may be used in situations where carbon and nitrogen values do not differ between old and new nutrient sources.
Flight speeds of seven bird species during chick rearing
Authors: Chan Keith H.S. , Blake Robert W.
Published: August 2006

Flight speeds of seven bird species were recorded using a hand-held Doppler radar for adult birds flying to and from foraging areas while rearing chicks. R.A. Norberg (1981. J. Anim. Ecol. 50: 473–477) predicted that birds rearing chicks should fly at speeds greater than the maximum range speed to bring the most food to their chicks as long as the associated increase in travel costs can be more than compensated for by foraging in the travel time saved. From aerodynamic and total power curves based on a range of literature values for the drag coefficient (0.05–0.4), the minimum power speed (minimum point on the U-shaped curve), and maximum range speed (a tangent to the curve from the origin at which the distance traveled per unit energy is maximized) are compared with the mean measured flight speed for each species. For all species, the mean measured flight speed was significantly less than the maximum range speed (p < 0.05), which is independent of foraging style and habitats, suggesting that flying at speeds greater than the maximum range speed may not be a practical strategy for birds rearing chicks.
Pathogenesis of familial periodic fever syndromes or hereditary autoinflammatory syndromes
Authors: Simon Anna , van der Meer Jos W. M.
Published: August 2006

Familial periodic fever syndromes, otherwise known as hereditary autoinflammatory syndromes, are inherited disorders characterized by recurrent episodes of fever and inflammation. The general hypothesis is that the innate immune response in these patients is wrongly tuned, being either too sensitive to very minor stimuli or turned off too late. The genetic background of the major familial periodic fever syndromes has been unraveled, and through research into the pathophysiology, a clearer picture of the innate immune system is emerging. After an introduction on fever, interleukin-1β and inflammasomes, which are involved in the majority of these diseases, this manuscript offers a detailed review of the pathophysiology of the cryopyrin-associated periodic syndromes, familial Mediterranean fever, the syndrome of pyogenic arthritis, pyoderma gangrenosum and acne, Blau syndrome, TNF-receptor-associated periodic syndrome and hyper-IgD and periodic fever syndrome. Despite recent major advances, there are still many questions to be answered regarding the pathogenesis of these disorders.
Downhill treadmill running trains the rat spinotrapezius muscle
Authors: Hahn S. A. , Ferreira L. F. , Williams J. B. , Jansson K. P. , Behnke B. J. , Musch T. I. , Poole D. C.
Published: August 2006

There are currently no models of exercise that recruit and train muscles, such as the rat spinotrapezius, that are suitable for transmission intravital microscopic investigation of the microcirculation. Recent experimental evidence supports the concept that running downhill on a motorized treadmill recruits the spinotrapezius muscle of the rat. Based on these results, we tested the hypothesis that 6 wk of downhill running (−14° grade) for 1 h/day, 5 days/wk, at a speed of up to 35 m/min, would 1) increase whole body peak oxygen uptake (V̇o2 peak), 2) increase spinotrapezius citrate synthase activity, and 3) reduce the fatigability of the spinotrapezius during electrically induced 1-Hz submaximal tetanic contractions. Trained rats ( n = 6) elicited a 24% higher V̇o2 peak(in ml·min−1·kg−1: sedentary 58.5 ± 2.0, trained 72.7 ± 2.0; P < 0.001) and a 41% greater spinotrapezius citrate synthase activity (in μmol·min−1·g−1: sedentary 14.1 ± 0.7, trained 19.9 ± 0.9; P < 0.001) compared with sedentary controls ( n = 6). In addition, at the end of 15 min of electrical stimulation, trained rats sustained a greater percentage of the initial tension than their sedentary counterparts (control 34.3 ± 3.1%, trained 59.0 ± 7.2%; P < 0.05). These results demonstrate that downhill running is successful in promoting training adaptations in the spinotrapezius muscle, including increased oxidative capacity and resistance to fatigue. Since the spinotrapezius muscle is commonly used in studies using intravital microscopy to examine microcirculatory function at rest and during contractions, our results suggest that downhill running is an effective training paradigm that can be used to investigate the mechanisms for improved microcirculatory function following exercise training in health and disease.
The Unfolded Protein Response Is an Important Regulator of Inflammatory Genes in Endothelial Cells
Authors: Gargalovic Peter S. , Gharavi Nima M. , Clark Michael J. , Pagnon Joanne , Yang Wen-Pin , He Aiqing , Truong Amy , Baruch-Oren Tamar , Berliner Judith A. , Kirchgessner Todd G. , Lusis Aldons J.
Published: August 2006

Objective—

Oxidized 1-palmitoyl-2-arachidonyl-
sn
-3-glycero-phosphorylcholine (oxPAPC) accumulates in atherosclerotic lesions and in vitro studies suggest that it mediates chronic inflammatory response in endothelial cells (ECs). The goal of our studies was to identify pathways mediating the induction of inflammatory genes by oxPAPC.

Methods and Results—

Using expression arrays, quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and immunoblotting we demonstrate that oxPAPC leads to endoplasmic reticulum stress and activation of the unfolded protein response (UPR) in human aortic ECs. Immunohistochemistry analysis of human atherosclerotic lesions indicated that UPR is induced in areas containing oxidized phospholipids. Using the UPR inducing agent tunicamycin and selective siRNA targeting of the ATF4 and XBP1 branches of the UPR, we demonstrate that these transcription factors are essential mediators of IL8, IL6, and MCP1 expression in human aortic ECs required for maximal inflammatory gene expression in the basal state and after oxPAPC treatment. We also identify a novel oxPAPC-induced chemokine, the CXC motif ligand 3 (CXCL3), and show that its expression requires XBP1.

Conclusions—

These data suggest that the UPR pathway is a general mediator of vascular inflammation and EC dysfunction in atherosclerosis, and, likely, other inflammatory disorders.
PAI-1 and the Metabolic Syndrome
Authors: Alessi Marie-Christine , Juhan-Vague Irène
Published: August 2006

The link between plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI)-1 and the metabolic syndrome with obesity was established many years ago. Increased PAI-1 level can be now considered a true component of the syndrome. The metabolic syndrome is associated with an increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease, and PAI-1 overexpression may participate in this process. The mechanisms of PAI-1 overexpression during obesity are complex, and it is conceivable that several inducers are involved at the same time at several sites of synthesis. Interestingly, recent in vitro and in vivo studies showed that besides its role in atherothrombosis, PAI-1 is also implicated in adipose tissue development and in the control of insulin signaling in adipocytes. These findings suggest PAI-1 inhibitors serve in the control of atherothrombosis and insulin resistance.
Molecular Mechanisms Mediating Inhibition of Human Large Conductance Ca
2+
-Activated K
+
Channels by High Glucose
Authors: Lu Tong , He Tongrong , Katusic Zvonimir S. , Lee Hon-Chi
Published: August 2006

Diabetic vascular dysfunction is associated with an increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS). In this study, we hypothesized that hyperglycemia-induced ROS generation would impair the function of large conductance Ca
2+
-activated K
+
(BK) channels, which are major determinants in vasorelaxation. We found that when cultured in high glucose (HG) (22 mmol/L), HEK293 cells showed a reduction in expressed hSlo current densities, as well as slowed activation and deactivation kinetics. When human coronary smooth muscle cells were cultured in HG, similar findings were observed for the BK currents. HG enhanced superoxide dismutase and suppressed catalase (CAT) expression in HEK293 cells, leading to a significant increase in intracellular ROS. The effects of HG were mimicked by hydrogen peroxide (H
2
O
2
), and hSlo functions were restored by CAT gene transfer. Peroxynitrite inhibited hSlo current density but did not change channel kinetics. The hSloC911A mutant was insensitive to the effects of HG and H
2
O
2
. Hence, imbalance of antioxidant enzymes plays a critical role in ROS generation in HG, impairing hSlo functions through H
2
O
2
-dependent oxidation at cysteine 911. This may represent an important fundamental mechanism that contributes to the impairment of vasodilation in diabetes.
Risk Factors for Ischemic Stroke Subtypes
Authors: Ohira Tetsuya , Shahar Eyal , Chambless Lloyd E. , Rosamond Wayne D. , Mosley Thomas H. , Folsom Aaron R.
Published: August 2006

Background and Purpose—

To evaluate risk factors for ischemic stroke by its subtypes may contribute to more effective prevention of ischemic stroke, but few prospective studies have characterized risk factors for specific subtypes of ischemic stroke.

Methods—

Between 1987 and 1989, 14 448 men and women aged 45 to 64 years and free of clinical stroke took part in the first examination of the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities study. The incidence of stroke was ascertained from hospital surveillance records.

Results—

During an average follow-up of 13.4-years, 531 incident ischemic strokes occurred (105 lacunar, 326 nonlacunar, and 100 cardioembolic). Blacks had a 3-fold higher multivariate-adjusted risk ratio of lacunar stroke compared with whites. No racial difference in nonlacunar or cardioembolic strokes was found after adjusting for prevalent risk factors. In addition to traditional risk factors, nontraditional risk factors, such as waist-to-hip ratio, history of coronary heart disease, left ventricular hypertrophy, lipoprotein(a), and von Willebrand factor, were associated with increased risk for nonlacunar stroke, whereas lacunar stroke was related to only 1 nontraditional risk factor, white blood cell count. The population-attributable fraction (PAF) for hypertension was ≈35% for all ischemic stroke subtypes. The respective PAFs for diabetes and current smoking were 26.3% and 22.0% for lacunar versus 11.3% and 11.4% for nonlacunar stroke. The PAF for elevated von Willebrand factor was greater than that for current smoking for cardioembolic stroke.

Conclusions—

The impact of traditional and nontraditional risk factors other than hypertension on the incidence of ischemic stroke varied according to its subtype.
Orthographic Errors in Web Pages: Toward Cleaner Web Corpora
Authors: Ringlstetter Christoph , Schulz Klaus U. , Mihov Stoyan
Published: August 2006

Since the Web by far represents the largest public repository of natural language texts, recent experiments, methods, and tools in the area of corpus linguistics often use the Web as a corpus. For applications where high accuracy is crucial, the problem has to be faced that a non-negligible number of orthographic and grammatical errors occur in Web documents. In this article we investigate the distribution of orthographic errors of various types in Web pages. As a by-product, methods are developed for efficiently detecting erroneous pages and for marking orthographic errors in acceptable Web documents, reducing thus the number of errors in corpora and linguistic knowledge bases automatically retrieved from the Web.
Characterizing and Predicting Corrections in Spoken Dialogue Systems
Authors: Litman Diane , Hirschberg Julia , Swerts Marc
Published: August 2006

This article focuses on the analysis and prediction of corrections, defined as turns where a user tries to correct a prior error made by a spoken dialogue system. We describe our labeling procedure of various corrections types and statistical analyses of their features in a corpus collected from a train information spoken dialogue system. We then present results of machine-learning experiments designed to identify user corrections of speech recognition errors. We investigate the predictive power of features automatically computable from the prosody of the turn, the speech recognition process, experimental conditions, and the dialogue history. Our best-performing features reduce classification error from baselines of 25.70–28.99% to 15.72%.
Tibet's Cold War: The CIA and the Chushi Gangdrug Resistance, 1956–1974
Authors: McGranahan Carole
Published: August 2006

This article analyzes the Chushi Gangdrug Tibetan resistance as narrated primarily by Tibetan veterans. The article recounts the origins of the Tibetan resistance forces, their relationship with the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency, their eventual laying down of arms in 1974, and their legacy in the present-day exile community. Analyses of the Tibetan resistance and the guerrilla war must take account of cultural as well as political and historical factors. The war, pitting a voluntary Tibetan guerrilla movement against the Chinese Communist army, had implications well beyond Tibet and China. India, Nepal, and the United States all became involved. In addition to presenting the perspectives of the soldiers alongside those of the relevant states, the article situates its discussion within the latest anthropological literature on international relations and the Cold War.
Tibet and Chinese-British-American Relations in the Early 1950s
Authors: Zhai Qiang
Published: August 2006

The leaders of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) who seized power in Beijing in 1949 viewed Tibet as Chinese territory. In this respect, they were no different from previous rulers of China. The chairman of the CCP, Mao Zedong, carefully devised a plan to re-annex Tibet, which had been effectively independent of China since 1911. The CCP's recent victory in the Chinese civil war gave Mao high confidence that he could reclaim Tibet without provoking outside intervention. Such a move not only would bring international political benefits but would also carry a symbolic meaning at home and thereby legitimize the rule of the CCP. Although Mao sent troops to Tibet, he also planned to rely on negotiations and coercive diplomacy. This article highlights the complicated relationships that emerged on the international scene as a result of China's actions in the early 1950s.
A Historical Consideration of the Police and Prosecution/Courts in Northern Ireland
Authors: McGloin Jean Marie
Published: August 2006

The Good Friday Agreement of 1998 was a catalyst of pervasive change for Northern Ireland. In setting the stage for a pluralistic democracy, it advocated for a change in the paradigm of policing, from the colonial toward the Anglo-Saxon model. Comparatively little is known about the prosecutorial/court service in Northern Ireland, however, especially regarding its relation to the police. This article attempts to fill this void by considering whether the police, prosecution, and court systems have been in paradigmatic balance during Northern Ireland’s social history. It does so by applying Mawby’s metric of legitimacy, structure, and function. By focusing on secondary data relevant to these three characteristics, this article argues that although it was in sync under a colonial paradigm, there is the potential for imbalance as the police force illustrates a stronger commitment toward an Anglo-Saxon paradigm. After providing evidence for this thesis, the article discusses the implications of this imbalance.
Nitric oxide deficiency promotes vascular side effects of cyclooxygenase inhibitors
Authors: Anning Peter B. , Coles Barbara , Morton Jonathan , Wang Haibin , Uddin Jashim , Morrow Jason D. , Dey Sudhansu K. , Marnett Lawrence J. , O'Donnell Valerie B.
Published: August 2006

The cardiovascular safety of COX-2 selective and nonselective nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) has recently been called into question. The factors that predispose to adverse events by NSAIDs are unknown. Because patients with arthritis have decreased nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability, the in vivo effects of NSAIDs on murine vascular tone and platelet activity in the presence or absence of NO were examined. Here, we show that acute hypertensive and prothrombotic activities of the COX-2–selective inhibitor celecoxib are revealed only after in vivo inhibition of NO generation. The nonselective NSAID indomethacin was hypertensive but antithrombotic when NO was absent. In vitro myography of aortic rings confirmed that vasoconstriction required inhibition of both NOS and COX-2 and was abolished by supplementation with exogenous NO. These data indicate that NO suppresses vascular side effects of NSAIDs, suggesting that risk will be greatest in patients with impaired vascular function associated with decreased NO bioavailability.
Immunostimulatory combinations: designing the next generation of vaccine adjuvants
Authors: Kornbluth Richard S , Stone Geoffrey W
Published: August 2006

Agents that activate dendritic cells are essential components for vaccines and can be conceptualized as molecular adjuvants. Other molecular adjuvants affect downstream factors that shape the resulting immune response. This review provides a compendium of recently studied molecular adjuvants, focusing on CD8+ T cell responses, which have important roles in HIV vaccines. Reference is also made to CD8+ T cell antitumor responses, where parallel studies of molecular adjuvants are being pursued. Molecular adjuvants can be considered in the following groups: TNF superfamily molecules such as CD40 ligand; agonists for TLRs; agonists for NAIP, CIITA, HET-E, TP-1-leucine-rich repeat pathway receptors, such as nucleotide-binding and oligomerization domain (NOD)1, NOD2, and cryopyrin; chemokines; ILs; CSFs; IFNs; alarmins; and purinergic P2X7 receptor agonists. Complementing these positively acting agents are strategies to reduce the immunosuppressive effects of CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells and negatively acting factors such as TGF-β, IL-10, suppressor of cytokine signaling 1, and programmed cell death-1 using neutralizing antibodies, antisense, and small interfering RNA. Especially effective are combinations of molecular adjuvants, which can elicit a massive expansion of antigen-specific CD8+ T cells and show unprecedented efficacy in vaccine and tumor models. Taken together, these new approaches provide significant incremental progress in the development of vaccines to elicit cell-mediated immunity against HIV and other pathogens.
Hormonal and Spatial Regulation of Nitric Oxide Synthases (NOS) (Neuronal NOS, Inducible NOS, and Endothelial NOS) in the Oviducts
Authors: Lapointe Jérome , Roy Monica , St-Pierre Isabelle , Kimmins Sarah , Gauvreau Danny , MacLaren Leslie A. , Bilodeau Jean-François
Published: August 2006

Nitric oxide (NO) is a free radical produced by the action of NO synthases (NOS) and is known to be involved in the regulation of many reproductive events that occur in the oviducts. The oviducts are highly specialized organs that play crucial roles in reproduction by providing an optimal environment for the final maturation of gametes, fertilization, and early embryo development. In this study, we analyzed the expression, hormonal regulation, and cellular distribution of neuronal, inducible, and endothelial NOS in different bovine oviduct segments to better understand the roles played by these enzymes in oviductal functions in vivo. Quantitative RT-PCR analysis revealed that NOS isoforms are hormonally regulated and differentially expressed along the oviduct throughout the estrous cycle. All NOS were highly expressed around the time of estrus, and immunohistochemistry studies determined that neuronal NOS, inducible NOS (iNOS), and endothelial NOS are differentially distributed in cells along the oviduct. Interestingly, our results showed that estradiol selectively up-regulates iNOS expression in the oviduct during the periovulatory period corresponding to the window of ovulation, oocyte transport, and fertilization. The resulting NO production by this high-output NOS may be of crucial importance for reproductive events that occur in the oviduct. This study provided the first demonstration that NO production is hormonally regulated in the mammalian oviducts in vivo. Our results suggest that neuronal NOS, iNOS, and endothelial NOS contribute to oviductal functions in a timely and site-specific manner.
Antiobesity Effects of the β-Cell Hormone Amylin in Diet-Induced Obese Rats: Effects on Food Intake, Body Weight, Composition, Energy Expenditure, and Gene Expression
Authors: Roth Jonathan D. , Hughes Heather , Kendall Eric , Baron Alain D. , Anderson Christen M.
Published: August 2006

Effects of amylin and pair feeding (PF) on body weight and metabolic parameters were characterized in diet-induced obesity-prone rats. Peripherally administered rat amylin (300 μg/kg·d, 22d) reduced food intake and slowed weight gain: approximately 10% (P < 0.05), similar to PF. Fat loss was 3-fold greater in amylin-treated rats vs. PF (P < 0.05). Whereas PF decreased lean tissue (P < 0.05 vs. vehicle controls; VEH), amylin did not. During wk 1, amylin and PF reduced 24-h respiratory quotient (mean ± se, 0.82 ± 0.0, 0.81 ± 0.0, respectively; P < 0.05) similar to VEH (0.84 ± 0.01). Energy expenditure (EE mean ± se) tended to be reduced by PF (5.67 ± 0.1 kcal/h·kg) and maintained by amylin (5.86 ± 0.1 kcal/h·kg) relative to VEH (5.77 ± 0.0 kcal/h·kg). By wk 3, respiratory quotient no longer differed; however, EE increased with amylin treatment (5.74 ± 0.09 kcal/·kg; P < 0.05) relative to VEH (5.49 ± 0.06) and PF (5.38 ± 0.07 kcal/h·kg). Differences in EE, attributed to differences in lean mass, argued against specific amylin-induced thermogenesis. Weight loss in amylin and pair-fed rats was accompanied by similar increases arcuate neuropeptide Y mRNA (P < 0.05). Amylin treatment, but not PF, increased proopiomelanocortin mRNA levels (P < 0.05 vs. VEH). In a rodent model of obesity, amylin reduced body weight and body fat, with relative preservation of lean tissue, through anorexigenic and specific metabolic effects.
Oxidative Stress-Dependent Impairment of Cardiac-Specific Transcription Factors in Experimental Diabetes
Authors: Aragno Manuela , Mastrocola Raffaella , Medana Claudio , Catalano Maria Graziella , Vercellinatto Ilenia , Danni Oliviero , Boccuzzi Giuseppe
Published: August 2006

Oxidative stress plays a key role in the pathogenesis of diabetic cardiomyopathy, which is characterized by myocyte loss and fibrosis, finally resulting in heart failure. The study looked at the downstream signaling whereby oxidative stress leads to reduced myocardial contractility in the left ventricle of diabetic rats and the effects of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), which production is suppressed in the failing heart and prevents the oxidative damage induced by hyperglycemia in several experimental models. DHEA was given orally at a dose of 4 mg/rat per day for 21 d to rats with streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetes and genetic diabetic-fatty (ZDF) rats. Oxidative balance, advanced glycated end products (AGEs) and AGE receptors, cardiac myogenic factors, and myosin heavy-chain gene expression were determined in the left ventricle of treated and untreated STZ-diabetic rats and ZDF rats. Oxidative stress induced by chronic hyperglycemia increased AGE and AGE receptors and led to activation of the pleoitropic transcription factor nuclear factor-κB. Nuclear factor-κB activation triggered a cascade of signaling, which finally led to the switch in the cardiac myosin heavy-chain (MHC) gene expression from the α-MHC isoform to the β-MHC isoform. DHEA treatment, by preventing the activation of the oxidative pathways induced by hyperglycemia, counteracted the enhanced AGE receptor activation in the heart of STZ-diabetic rats and ZDF rats and normalized downstream signaling, thus avoiding impairment of the cardiac myogenic factors, heart autonomic nervous system and neural crest derivatives (HAND) and myogenic enhancer factor-2, and the switch in MHC gene expression, which are the early events in diabetic cardiomyopathy.
Requirement of Androgen-Dependent Activation of Protein Kinase Cζ for Androgen-Dependent Cell Proliferation in LNCaP Cells and Its Roles in Transition to Androgen-Independent Cells
Authors: Inoue Takahiro , Yoshida Toru , Shimizu Yosuke , Kobayashi Takashi , Yamasaki Toshinari , Toda Yoshinobu , Segawa Takehiko , Kamoto Toshiyuki , Nakamura Eijiro , Ogawa Osamu
Published: August 2006

A cell line that we designed, AILNCaP, proliferated in androgen-depleted medium after emerging from long-term androgen-depleted cultures of an androgen-sensitive prostate cancer cell line, LNCaP. Using this cell line as a model of progression to androgen independence, we demonstrated that the activity of the mammalian target of rapamycin/p70 S6 kinase transduction pathway is down-regulated after androgen depletion in LNCaP, whereas its activation is related to transition of this cell line to androgen-independent proliferation. Kinase activity of protein kinase Cζ is regulated by androgen stimulation in LNCaP cells, whereas it is activated constitutively in AILNCaP cells under androgen-depleted conditions. Treatment with a protein kinase Cζ pseudosubstrate inhibitor reduced p70 S6 kinase activity and cell proliferation in both cell lines. We identified that both protein kinase Cζ and p70 S6 kinase were associated in LNCaP cells and this association was enhanced by the androgen stimulation. We examined the expression of phospho-protein kinase Cζ and phospho-p70 S6 kinase in hormone-naive prostate cancer specimens and found that the expression of both kinases was correlated with each other in those specimens. Significant correlation was observed between the expression of both kinases and Ki67 expression. Most of the prostate cancer cells that survived after prior hormonal treatment also expressed both kinases. This is the first report that shows the significance of this pathway for both androgen-dependent and -independent cell proliferation in prostate cancer. Our data suggest that protein kinase Cζ/mammalian target of rapamycin/S6 kinase pathway plays an important role for the transition of androgen-dependent to androgen-independent prostate cancer cells.