bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Expression of the Blomia tropicalis paramyosin Blo t 11 and its immunodominant peptide in insect cells
Authors: Teo Audrey S. M. , Ramos John D. A. , Lee Bee Wah , Cheong Nge , Chua Kaw Yan
Published: June 2006

Blo t 11, a dust‐mite (Blomia tropicalis) paramyosin, is an allergen with significant IgE reactivity that has potential as a diagnostic/therapeutic reagent for house‐dust‐mite allergy. The present study describes the successful expression of Blo t 11 and its immunodominant peptide fD in insect cells using a baculovirus expression system. The Blo t 11 and fD genes were cloned into the pMelBacA vector and the resulting vectors were co‐transfected into Sf9 insect cells with Bac‐N‐Blue DNA. Plaque assay was used to select for recombinant virus that was then used to infect High Five insect cells for protein expression. Secreted proteins were harvested by immuno‐affinity purification using monoclonal antibodies to Blo t 11. Purified proteins were analysed by immunoblotting, N‐terminal sequencing and ELISA. Immunoblot analyses revealed the full‐length Blo t 11 cDNA expressed as a minor protein band of approx. 200 kDa and two major protein bands of approx. 60 and 70 kDa. Clones expressing fD cDNA fragment produced a protein of approx. 30 kDa that was confirmed to be fD by N‐terminal sequencing. Approx. 4–7.5 mg/l of fD and 1 mg/l of Blo t 11 were obtained by affinity purification. ELISA results showed that human IgE reactivity to these recombinant allergens was lower as compared with that of the native Blo t 11, suggesting that these baculovirus‐expressed allergens exhibiting reduced allergenicity could be useful for the development of immunotherapeutic reagents for mite allergy.
Multiple‐axis tomography: applications to basal bodies from Paramecium tetraurelia
Authors: Messaoudi Cédric , de Loubresse Nicole Garreau , Boudier Thomas , Dupuis‐Williams Pascale , Marco Sergio
Published: June 2006

Background information. Transmission electron tomography is becoming a powerful tool for studying subcellular components of cells. Classical approaches for electron tomography consist of recording images along a single‐tilt axis. This approach is being improved by dual‐axis reconstructions and/or high‐tilt devices (tilt angle>±60°) on microscopes to compensate part of the information loss due to the ‘missing wedge’ phenomena.

Results. In the present work we have evaluated the extension of the dual‐axis technique to a multiple‐axis approach, and we demonstrate a freely available plug‐in for the Java‐based freeware image‐analysis software ImageJ. Our results from phantom and experimental data sets from Paramecium tetraurelia epon‐embedded sections have shown that multiple‐axis tomography achieves results equivalent to those obtained by dual‐axis approach without the requirement for high‐tilt devices.

Conclusions. This new approach allows performance of high‐resolution tomography, avoiding the need for high‐tilt devices, and therefore will increase the access of electron tomography to a larger community.
Comparative organization of follicle, accessory cells and spawning anlagen in dynamic semelparous clutch manipulators, the urochordate Oikopleuridae
Authors: Ganot Philippe , Bouquet Jean‐Marie , Thompson Eric M.
Published: June 2006

Background information. The urochordate appendicularians play a key trophic role in marine ecosystems and are the second largest component of zooplankton after copepods. Part of their success is due to their ability to undergo rapid population blooms in response to changes in primary productivity. Nonetheless, the reproductive biology of this important group remains poorly understood.

Results. In the present study, we investigated the organization of male and female germ and accessory somatic cells in the Oikopleuridae. We found that the structure of the ovary had been previously misconstrued as consisting of germ and accessory ‘cells’ interspersed together, whereas, in fact, the germline exists as a giant transparent syncytium. Somatic follicle cells, integral to regulation of the temporal progression of gametogenesis, could be classified into three types in females and two in males, and we characterized functional gap junctions between follicle cells and the germline syncytium in both sexes. The number of follicle cells per oocyte produced was much reduced in comparison with many commonly studied model organisms. We further identified a novel anlagen that permits spawning of the animal via rupture of the gonad wall, which is obligatory for the release of oocytes, but optional for the release of sperm that usually occurs via the spermiduct.

Conclusions. The organization of the female germline in the Oikopleuridae shares some features of meroistic oogenesis with the arthropod Drosophila, but the process of synchronous oogenesis in these semelparous organisms remains quite distinctive with respect to that previously characterized in the animal kingdom and certainly within the chordate phylum.
The infrared-driven cis-trans isomerization of HONO. II: Vibrational relaxation and slow isomerization channel
Authors: Botan Virgiliu , Schanz Roland , Hamm Peter
Published: June 2006

In a recent paper [R. Schanz et al., J. Chem. Phys. 122, 044509 (2005)], we investigated the IR-driven cis-trans isomerization of HONO in a Kr matrix with the help of femtosecond IR spectroscopy. We found that isomerization occurs on a 20ps time scale, however, with a cis→trans quantum yield of only 10% that is significantly below the value reported in the literature (close to 100%). At the same time, we concluded that vibrational energy has not completely dissipated out of the molecule at the maximum delay time we reached in this study (500ps). In order to verify whether additional, slower reaction channels exist, we extend the study here to delay times up to 100ns. At a temperature of 32K, we indeed find an additional isomerization channel on a 2ns timescale, which increases the total cis→trans quantum yield to ≈30%. The trans→cis quantum yield is ≈7%. There is still a discrepancy between the quantum yields we observe and the literature values, however, we provide experimental evidence that this discrepancy is due to the different temperatures of our study. Vibrational cooling occurs on a 20ns time scale, and cascades in a highly nonstatistical manner through one single normal mode (most likely the ONO bending mode ν5). Intermolecular energy dissipation into the rare gas matrix is more efficient than intramolecular vibrational energy redistribution and the matrix environment can certainly not be considered a weak perturbation.
Theory and applications of supercycled symmetry-based recoupling sequences in solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance
Authors: Kristiansen Per Eugen , Carravetta Marina , van Beek Jacco D. , Lai Wai Cheu , Levitt Malcolm H.
Published: June 2006

We present the theoretical principles of supercycled symmetry-based recoupling sequences in solid-state magic-angle-spinning NMR. We discuss the construction procedure of the SR26 pulse sequence, which is a particularly robust sequence for double-quantum homonuclear dipole-dipole recoupling. The supercycle removes destructive higher-order average Hamiltonian terms and renders the sequence robust over long time intervals. We demonstrate applications of the SR26 sequence to double-quantum spectroscopy, homonuclear spin counting, and determination of the relative orientations of chemical shift anisotropy tensors.
Multielement Si(Li) detector for the hard x-ray microprobe at ID22 (ESRF)
Authors: Letard I. , Tucoulou R. , Bleuet P. , Martínez-Criado G. , Somogyi A. , Vincze L. , Morse J. , Susini J.
Published: June 2006

The hard x-ray microprobe beamline, ESRF-ID22, is primarily devoted to x-ray fluorescence spectroscopy. New requirements in terms of detection limits and acquisition rates fostered the installation and commissioning of a new Gresham multielement Si(Li) detector. It is based on a concentric and oriented array of 13 Si(Li) crystals viewing the same emission point. Beyond the energy resolution, linearity tests, and measurements of detection limits, the influence of the geometrical arrangement of the 13 elements has been investigated. In particular, the relationship between the scattering contribution to the fluorescence spectra and the angular position of individual Si(Li) crystals has been assessed. After optimization, the acquisition time can be reduced by a factor of 10 compared to what can be achieved with a single-element Si(Li) detector.
Fast high resolution echelle spectroscopy of a laboratory plasma
Authors: Cothran C. D. , Fung J. , Brown M. R. , Schaffer M. J.
Published: June 2006

An echelle diffraction grating and a multianode photomultiplier tube are paired to construct a high resolution (R=λ∕δλ≈2.5×104) spectrograph with fast time response for use from the UV through the visible. This instrument has analyzed the line shape of CIII impurity ion emission at 229.687nm over the lifetime (≈100μs) of the hydrogen plasmas produced at SSX. The ion temperature and line of sight average velocity are inferred from the observed thermal broadening and Doppler shift of the line. The time resolution of these measurements is about 1μs, sufficient to observe the fastest magnetohydrodynamic activity.
Simultaneous localization of photons and phonons in two-dimensional periodic structures
Authors: Maldovan Martin , Thomas Edwin L.
Published: June 2006

We demonstrate theoretically the simultaneous localization of photons and phonons in the same spatial region by introducing lattice defects in a periodic array of dielectric/elastic material that exhibits gaps for both electromagnetic and elastic waves. Transverse electromagnetic waves, pure shear elastic waves, and mixed shear and dilatation elastic waves were simultaneously localized. The coexistent localization of light and sound can have a strong influence on photon-phonon interactions (i.e., optical cooling) and the possibility of dual acoustic-optical devices that can integrate the management of sound, heat, and light.
Open volumes in SiN films for strained Si transistors probed using monoenergetic positron beams
Authors: Uedono A. , Ikeuchi K. , Otsuka T. , Ito K. , Yamabe K. , Kohno M. , Moriya T. , Okumura N. , Nakanishi T. , Arikado T. , Ohdaira T. , Suzuki R.
Published: June 2006

Open volumes in strained SiN films deposited on Si substrates by microwave plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition were probed using monoenergetic positron beams. Positrons were found to annihilate from the trapped state by open volumes which exist intrinsically in amorphous structures of SiN. The formation of positronium atoms in large open volumes was observed. From their lifetimes, the estimated mean size of such volumes was 0.02–0.5nm3. A clear correlation between the size distribution of open volumes and the stress in the substrate was obtained. The relationship between the open volumes and impurities in the films is also discussed.
Near-infrared photoluminescence from vertical InN nanorod arrays grown on silicon: Effects of surface electron accumulation layer
Authors: Shen C.-H. , Chen H.-Y. , Lin H.-W. , Gwo S. , Klochikhin A. A. , Davydov V. Yu.
Published: June 2006

We demonstrate that vertically aligned InN nanorods can be grown on Si(111) by plasma-assisted molecular-beam epitaxy. Detailed structural characterization indicates that individual nanorods are wurtzite InN single crystals with the growth direction along the c axis. Near-infrared photoluminescence (PL) from InN nanorods can be clearly observed at room temperature. However, in comparison to the InN epitaxial films, the PL efficiency is significantly lower. Moreover, the variable-temperature PL measurements of InN nanorods exhibit anomalous temperature effects. We propose that these unusual PL properties are results of considerable structural disorder (especially for the low-temperature grown InN nanorods) and strong surface electron accumulation effects.
Effects of available nutrition and sire breeding values for growth and muscling on the development of crossbred lambs. 2: Composition and commercial yield
Authors: Hegarty R. S. , Hopkins D. L. , Farrell T. C. , Banks R. , Harden S.
Published: June 2006

Carcasses from 56 lambs representing male progeny of 3 sires selected for muscling (M sire-type), 3 sires selected for postweaning weight (G sire-type), and 3 control sires (C sire-type) were evaluated. Lambs had been raised on low (LOW) or high (HIGH) planes of available nutrition from 10 days of age to approximately 8 months when they were slaughtered at an average cold carcass weight (CCW) of 21.4 kg. When adjusted for CCW, M lambs had more lean tissue in the loin, a greater depth and width of the M. longissimus thoracis et lumborum at the 12th rib, and a greater weight of major hindlimb muscles than did G or C lambs. Although there was no difference in GR tissue depth due to sire-type at an adjusted CCW, there was less total fat in the carcass of M lambs and the amount of fat in the carcass of M lambs on HIGH nutrition was not greater than that on LOW nutrition, as it was for C and G lambs. This reduced propensity of M lambs to deposit fat in the carcass in response to HIGH nutrition was particularly evident in the loin, with fat-trim from the loin decreasing for M lambs in response to HIGH nutrition, whereas fat trim increased for C and G lambs compared at an adjusted CCW.
Mechanics of actomyosin bonds in different nucleotide states are tuned to muscle contraction
Authors: Guo Bin , Guilford William H.
Published: June 2006

Muscle contraction and many other cell movements are driven by cyclic interactions between actin filaments and the motor enzyme myosin. Conformational changes in the actin–myosin binding interface occur in concert with the binding of ATP, binding to actin, and loss of hydrolytic by-products, but the effects of these conformational changes on the strength of the actomyosin bond are unknown. The force-dependent kinetics of the actomyosin bond may be particularly important at high loads, where myosin may detach from actin before achieving its full power stroke. Here we show that over a physiological range of rapidly applied loads, actomyosin behaves as a “catch” bond, characterized by increasing lifetimes with increasing loads up to a maximum at ≈6 pN. Surprisingly, we found that the myosin–ADP bond is possessed of longer lifetimes under load than rigor bonds, although the load at which bond lifetime is maximal remains unchanged. We also found that actomyosin bond lifetime is ultimately dependent not only on load, but loading history as well. These data suggest a complex relationship between the rate of actomyosin dissociation and muscle force and shortening velocity. The 6-pN load for maximum bond lifetime is near the force generated by a single myosin molecule during isometric contraction. This raises the possibility that all catch bonds between load-bearing molecules are “mechanokinetically” tuned to their physiological environment.
Identifying and manipulating structural determinates linking catalytic specificities in terpene synthases
Authors: Greenhagen Bryan T. , O’Maille Paul E. , Noel Joseph P. , Chappell Joe
Published: June 2006

Terpene synthases are a mechanistically intriguing family of enzymes that catalyze complex, multistep reactions that are capable of generating hundreds of structurally diverse hydrocarbon and oxygenated scaffolds of biological and commercial importance. Interestingly, distantly related terpene synthases from fungi to plants all contain an invariant three-dimensional fold, and molecular comparisons of their active sites indicate that they are enriched with relatively inert amino acid residues that do not react directly with the reaction intermediates. Therefore, catalytic specificity appears to rely on the contour and dynamics of the active site created by the positioning of amino acid backbones and side chains on this catalytic surface and by supporting layers of residues surrounding the synthase active site cavity. Despite the high degree of structural relatedness among terpene synthases, previous studies suggest that no clear relationship between phylogenic organization and catalytic specificities is easily deciphered. We now report on the reciprocal interconversion of catalytic specificities between two distinct yet evolutionarily related terpene synthases based on the systematic identification and mutational replacement of variable residues within and surrounding the active site. Furthermore, we uncover previously undocumented biosynthetic activity during the interconversion, activity that could have been present in a common ancestor of these two highly related synthases. These results provide a simplified means for mapping structural features that are responsible for functional attributes and a strategy for identifying residues that differentiate divergent biosynthetic properties in phylogenetically related terpene synthases.
The B30.2 domain of pyrin, the familial Mediterranean fever protein, interacts directly with caspase-1 to modulate IL-1β production
Authors: Chae Jae Jin , Wood Geryl , Masters Seth L. , Richard Katharina , Park Grace , Smith Brian J. , Kastner Daniel L.
Published: June 2006

Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) is a recessively inherited autoinflammatory disorder with high carrier frequencies in the Middle East. Pyrin, the protein mutated in FMF, regulates caspase-1 activation and consequently IL-1β production through cognate interaction of its N-terminal PYRIN motif with the ASC adaptor protein. However, the preponderance of mutations reside in pyrin’s C-terminal B30.2 domain. Here we demonstrate direct interaction of this domain with caspase-1. In lysates from cells not expressing ASC, reciprocal GST pull-downs demonstrated the interaction of pyrin with the p20 and p10 catalytic subunits of caspase-1. Coimmunoprecipitations of pyrin and caspase-1 from THP-1 human monocytic cells were consistent with the interaction of endogenous proteins. The C-terminal B30.2 domain of pyrin is necessary and sufficient for the interaction, and binding was reduced by FMF-associated B30.2 mutations. Full-length pyrin attenuated IL-1β production in cells transfected with a caspase-1/IL-1β construct, an effect diminished by FMF-associated B30.2 mutations and in B30.2 deletion mutants. Modeling of the crystal structure of caspase-1 with the deduced structure of the pyrin B30.2 domain corroborated both the interaction and the importance of M694V and M680I pyrin mutations. Consistent with a net inhibitory effect of pyrin on IL-1β activation, small interfering RNA (siRNA)-mediated pyrin knockdown in THP-1 cells augmented IL-1β production in response to bacterial LPS. Moreover, the IL-1 receptor antagonist anakinra suppressed acute-phase proteins in a patient with FMF and amyloidosis. Our data support a direct, ASC-independent effect of pyrin on IL-1β activation and suggest heightened IL-1 responsiveness as one factor selecting for pyrin mutations.
Lanthanide complexes as fluorescent indicators for neutral sugars and cancer biomarkers
Authors: Alptürk Onur , Rusin Oleksandr , Fakayode Sayo O. , Wang Weihua , Escobedo Jorge O. , Warner Isiah M. , Crowe William E. , Král Vladimir , Pruet Jeff M. , Strongin Robert M.
Published: June 2006

Simple water-soluble lanthanum and europium complexes are effective at detecting neutral sugars as well as glycolipids and phospholipids. In solutions at physiologically relevant pH the fluorescent lanthanum complex binds neutral sugars with apparent binding constants comparable to those of arylboronic acids. Interference from commonly occurring anions is minimal. The europium complex detects sialic acid-containing gangliosides at pH 7.0 over an asialoganglioside. This selectivity is attributed, in large part, to the cooperative complexation of the oligosaccharide and sialic acid residues to the metal center, based on analogous prior studies. In MeOH, lysophosphatidic acid (LPA), a biomarker for several pathological conditions including ovarian cancer, is selectively detected by the europium complex. LPA is also detected via a fluorescence increase in human plasma samples. The 2-
sn
-OH moiety of LPA plays a key role in promoting binding to the metal center. Other molecules found in common brain ganglioside and phospholipid extracts do not interfere in the ganglioside or LPA fluorescence assays.
A genetically encoded fluorescent amino acid
Authors: Summerer Daniel , Chen Shuo , Wu Ning , Deiters Alexander , Chin Jason W. , Schultz Peter G.
Published: June 2006

The ability to introduce fluorophores selectively into proteins provides a powerful tool to study protein structure, dynamics, localization, and biomolecular interactions both
in vitro
and
in vivo
. Here, we report a strategy for the selective and efficient biosynthetic incorporation of a low-molecular-weight fluorophore into proteins at defined sites. The fluorescent amino acid 2-amino-3-(5-(dimethylamino)naphthalene-1-sulfonamide)propanoic acid (dansylalanine) was genetically encoded in
Saccharomyces cerevisiae
by using an amber nonsense codon and corresponding orthogonal tRNA/aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase pair. This environmentally sensitive fluorophore was selectively introduced into human superoxide dismutase and used to monitor unfolding of the protein in the presence of guanidinium chloride. The strategy described here should be applicable to a number of different fluorophores in both prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms, and it should facilitate both biochemical and cellular studies of protein structure and function.
ICP0 and the U
S
3 protein kinase of herpes simplex virus 1 independently block histone deacetylation to enable gene expression
Authors: Poon Alice P. W. , Gu Haidong , Roizman Bernard
Published: June 2006

SK-N-SH cells exposed to low ratios of ICP0-null (ΔICP0) mutants of herpes simplex virus per cell express the viral α proteins, but the progression to β and γ gene expression does not ensue. In these restrictive cells, post-α gene expression can be induced after exposure of the infected cells to sodium butyrate, an indication that VP16 brought into cells by the virus and the α gene products made after infection cannot block the silencing of viral post-α genes by histone deacetylases (HDACs). This observation is consistent with evidence reported earlier that ICP0 dissociates HDAC1/2 from the CoREST/REST complex. In permissive U2OS cells, replication is independent of the ratio of ΔICP0 mutant per cell. To determine whether other viral genes are involved in blocking HDACs, we used a surrogate system consisting of baculoviruses carrying viral or cellular genes driven by CMV immediate–early promoter. Expression of these genes requires blocking of histone deacetylation. We report that (
i
) cotransduced U
S
3 or U
S
3.5 protein kinase substitutes for sodium butyrate in enabling the expression of a reporter gene in restrictive cells and enhancing it in permissive cells; (
ii
) HDAC1 is phosphorylated concomitant with the expression of reporter genes; and (
iii
) the amounts and appearance of HDAC1 are altered in transduced cells expressing U
S
3 protein kinase in the absence of other viral proteins. We conclude that the U
S
3 protein kinase blocks histone deacetylation by a mechanism distinct from that of ICP0 and that debilitated histone deacetylation contributes to the permissiveness of U2OS cells for ΔICP0 mutants.
Mortality among Danish drug users released from prison
Authors: Brehm Christensen Peer , Hammerby Eva , Smith Else , Bird Shelia M.
Published: June 2006

To determine the mortality of drug users after release from prison in Denmark, a cohort of drug users was identified from two national registers during 1996‐2001: the drug treatment register (T) and the register of viral hepatitis (H). Incarcerations were extracted from the national penal register, vital status from the civil register, and causes of death from the death certificate register and the police register of drug‐related deaths. We identified 15,885 drug users (T: 15,735, H: 896), 62% of the estimated drug‐using population in Denmark. There were 1000 observed deaths, of which 51% were classified as overdose deaths. Mortality in the treatment cohort was 2.4/100 person years (py) (95% C.I. 2.2‐2.5/100 py) compared to the general population expectation of 0.2/100 py. Within the first 2 weeks after release from prison, 26 deaths were observed among 6019 released drug users corresponding to 13/100 py (95% CI 8‐19/100 py). Overdose deaths accounted for 24/26 deaths (92%) in the first two weeks compared to 121/179 (68%) hereafter (p <0.001). We conclude that drug users released from prison are at high risk of overdose death. We suggest that methadone treatment should be evaluated as a way to decrease mortality after release from prison.
Physical assessment: whose role is it anyway?
Authors: West Susan Lynn
Published: June 2006

The increasing acuteness of care and developing technologies present new opportunities and challenges for the nursing profession. The NHS Plan emphasizes the need for change to meet these demands, especially in the area of patient assessment. Nurses are extending their repertoire of skills to include those that were once the domain of junior doctors. These new skills tend to be used mostly by experienced nurses such as the specialist or advanced nurse practitioner. One such skill is physical assessment. Traditionally viewed as part of the doctor's role, physical assessment has not routinely been taught in nurse training. With the advancement of nursing roles, it has been argued that physical assessment has become a key nursing skill. This article discusses the use of physical assessment as part of the growing role of the nurse in critical care. Nurses deliver holistic care, based on assessment. This assessment is incomplete, if a detailed physical assessment is omitted and, as a consequence, care is delivered in the absence of an appreciation of the impact of pathophysiological adaptations. This article argues that the ability to physically assess the patient in a principled and systematic fashion, in conjunction with routine health assessment, is a necessary skill for the modern nursing professional working in critical care. It is further argued that, within the current climate of advancing nursing practice, the acquisition of this skill is important for all nurses, to improve patient care, not to supplant the skills of the junior doctor.
Critical care nurses – perceptions of 12‐h shifts
Authors: McGettrick Kathryn Sarah , O'Neill M Anna
Published: June 2006

Background : Twelve‐hour shifts have been illustrated in the literature as being a highly contentious shift pattern. However, it has also been highlighted that there is a distinct paucity of literature solely related to such a shift pattern in critical care areas, where there is high activity and a requirement for multiple and highly significant decision‐making situations. It was therefore identified that such an area deserved further exploration. Aim : This study aimed to elicit critical care nurses’ perceptions of working 12‐h shifts. Methods : Fifty‐four nurses from three critical care areas within a large local NHS teaching hospital currently working 12‐h shifts completed a self‐administered questionnaire on their perceptions of 12‐h shifts. Following on, a focus group interview was conducted to complement this questionnaire in an attempt to further explore these perceptions. Results : From the results of the questionnaire, patient care, job satisfaction, off duty and family life achieved the most positive responses, whereas communication, fatigue and education achieved the most negative. The focus group explored these issues with added comments on work‐shy staff, suggestions on shift patterns, breaks and staffing levels. Conclusions : Twelve‐hour shifts in critical care areas are suitable shift patterns for nurses, patients and management, provided that they are fundamentally well‐managed.
Idiopathic non‐histaminergic angio‐oedema after routine extubation successfully treated with fresh frozen plasma
Authors: Franzen D. , Ursprung T. , Wuthrich B. , Reber A.
Published: June 2006

Non‐allergic angio‐oedema is a potentially life‐threatening condition typically seen in patients with hereditary or acquired angio‐oedema caused by C1 inhibitor deficiency or an adverse drug reaction to angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors. We report a case of sudden angio‐oedema in a patient who developed severe swelling of the tongue and neck after routine extubation requiring resuscitative re‐intubation. The oedema was refractory to conventional allergy treatment. Shortly thereafter, the patient was treated with fresh frozen plasma, and within a few hours his condition improved, allowing extubation. Familial history and exposure to potentially angio‐oedema causative drugs were not evident. The serum complement status was normal, and no IgE sensitisation was detected. We therefore concluded that the patient was suffering from idiopathic non‐histaminergic angio‐oedema. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of an acute, life‐threatening attack of idiopathic non‐histaminergic angio‐oedema that was successfully treated with fresh frozen plasma.
Comparison of the Berman Intubating Airway and the Williams Airway Intubator for fibreoptic orotracheal intubation in anaesthetised patients
Authors: Greenland K. B. , Ha I. D. , Irwin M. G.
Published: June 2006

Sixty patients with no clinical indicators of a difficult airway were selected to undergo a fibreoptic assessment after induction of general anaesthesia using both the Berman Intubating Airway and the Williams Airway Intubator. The bronchoscopic view and ease of railroading a tracheal tube during fibreoptic orotracheal intubation were studied. The bronchoscopic views obtained by the Berman Airway and the Williams Airway were significantly different (p < 0.008, test of symmetry). The estimated odds ratio of obtaining an obstructed path was 3.06 times higher for the Berman than the Williams Airway. However, if the glottis could be reached with the bronchoscope, there was no significant difference in the degree of ease of intubation between the two airways.
The site of action of epidurally administered opioids and its relevance to postoperative pain management
Authors: George M. J.
Published: June 2006

The use of epidurally administered opioids to control postoperative pain is a well established and widely accepted technique. However, despite this longstanding use, there is still an ongoing debate concerning the site of action of the opioids used. Some argue that analgesia is mediated by a spinal mechanism and others that a supraspinal mechanism is responsible. On close inspection of the evidence it becomes apparent that epidural opioids act predominantly spinally when administered as a bolus, and predominantly supraspinally when administered as a continuous infusion. A concentration of 10 μg.ml−1 appears to be the threshold at which epidurally administered fentanyl can elicit segmental analgesia, a value which may have significant clinical applications. The evidence supporting a synergistic relationship between epidural opioids and local anaesthetics is weak and unsupported by a plausible physiological mechanism. Thus the ‘threshold concentration’ of approximately 10 μg.ml−1 is unlikely to be lowered by co‐administering opioids with local anaesthetics.
The bovine fatty acid binding protein 4 gene is significantly associated with marbling and subcutaneous fat depth in Wagyu x Limousin F2 crosses
Authors: Michal J. J. , Zhang Z. W. , Gaskins C. T. , Jiang Z.
Published: June 2006

Fatty acid binding protein 4 (FABP4), which is expressed in adipose tissue, interacts with peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptors and binds to hormone‐sensitive lipase and therefore, plays an important role in lipid metabolism and homeostasis in adipocytes. The objective of this study was to investigate associations of the bovine FABP4 gene with fat deposition. Both cDNA and genomic DNA sequences of the bovine gene were retrieved from the public databases and aligned to determine its genomic organization. Primers targeting two regions of the FABP4 gene were designed: from nucleotides 5433–6106 and from nucleotides 7417–7868 (AAFC01136716). Direct sequencing of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) products on two DNA pools from high‐ and low‐marbling animals revealed two single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs): AAFC01136716.1:g.7516G>C and g.7713G>C. The former SNP, detected by PCR‐restriction fragment length polymorphism using restriction enzyme MspA1I, was genotyped on 246 F2 animals in a Waygu × Limousin F2 reference population. Statistical analysis showed that the FABP4 genotype significantly affected marbling score (P = 0.0398) and subcutaneous fat depth (P = 0.0246). The FABP4 gene falls into a suggestive/significant quantitative trait loci interval for beef marbling that was previously reported on bovine chromosome 14 in three other populations.
Comparison of bovine RNA polymerase III promoters for short hairpin RNA expression
Authors: Lambeth L. S. , Wise T. G. , Moore R. J. , Muralitharan M. S. , Doran T. J.
Published: June 2006

RNA interference (RNAi) mediated by DNA‐based expression of short hairpin RNA (shRNA) is a powerful method of sequence‐specific gene knockdown. A number of vectors for expression of shRNA have been developed that feature promoters from RNA polymerase III (pol III)‐transcribed genes of mouse or human origin. To advance the use of RNAi as a tool for functional genomic research and for future development of specific therapeutics in the bovine species, we have developed shRNA expression vectors that feature novel bovine RNA pol III promoters. We characterized two bovine U6 small nuclear RNA (snRNA) promoters (bU6‐2 and bU6‐3) and a bovine 7SK snRNA promoter (b7SK). We compared the efficiency of each of these promoters to express shRNA molecules. Promoter activity was measured in the context of RNAi by targeting and suppressing the reporter gene encoding enhanced green fluorescent protein. Results show that the b7SK promoter induced the greatest level of suppression in a range of cell lines. The comparison of these bovine promoters in shRNA expression is an important component for the future development of bovine‐specific RNAi‐based research.
Serial determination of FLT3 mutations in myelodysplastic syndrome patients at diagnosis, follow up or acute myeloid leukaemia transformation: incidence and their prognostic significance
Authors: Georgiou Georgios , Karali Vasiliki , Zouvelou Christina , Kyriakou Elias , Dimou Maria , Chrisochoou Stamatis , Greka Paraskevi , Dufexis Dimitrios , Vervesou Elisavet , Dimitriadou Evaggelia , Efthymiou Anna , Petrikkos Loizos , Dima Katerina , Lilakos Konstantinos , Panayiotidis Panayiotis
Published: June 2006

The incidence of FLT3 mutations (internal tandem duplication and Asp835) was investigated in bone marrow samples from 97 patients with myelodysplastic syndrome [(MDS); excluding cases with refractory anaemia with excess blasts in transformation] at the time of diagnosis and several time points thereafter. Three patients had FLT3 mutations at presentation. Forty‐two patients progressed to acute myeloid leukaemia (AML), including the three patients with FLT3 mutations at MDS diagnosis. Three additional patients acquired FLT3 mutations and progressed to AML in 1  month. FLT3 mutations seem to be a critical additional genetic event that transforms a minority of MDS patients to AML.
A Cognitive Model of CEO Dismissal: Understanding the Influence of Board Perceptions, Attributions and Efficacy Beliefs
Authors: Haleblian Jerayr , Rajagopalan Nandini
Published: June 2006

abstract  Extant literature that examines the role of boards in the CEO dismissal process has focused on the impact of board composition. However, it has rarely considered the influence of sense making and interpretation on CEO dismissal. This paper draws on the strategic change literature, which demonstrates a link between cognitions and action, to develop a three‐stage framework in which we articulate how sense making (stage 1) and interpretation (stage 2) impact the decision to dismiss a CEO (stage 3). More specifically, the board's perception of performance, its attributions of performance and efficacy assessment of the CEO, and the board's composition impact the decision to dismiss the CEO. The resulting model illuminates the domain of board cognitions and board composition within CEO dismissal decisions and facilitates future empirical research.
Market Orientation and Performance: A Meta‐Analysis and Cross‐National Comparisons*
Authors: Ellis Paul D.
Published: June 2006

abstract  Quantitative evidence drawn from a meta‐analysis of 56 studies (58 samples) conducted in 28 countries reveals that market orientation is a generic determinant of firm performance. However, stronger effects were found for studies set in large, mature markets and when market orientation was measured using Kohli, Jaworski and Kumar's (1993) MARKOR scale. The meta‐analysis also revealed that the value of a market orientation weakens in proportion to the cultural distance separating the home market from the USA. This study thus extends previous research by: (1) providing evidence of measurement moderators that inhibit the generalization of results obtained from studies using different scales and performance variables; (2) establishing benchmark effect sizes for specific regions around the world; and (3) revealing that the managerial value of a market orientation is significantly affected by the cultural and economic characteristics of the host country.
Globalfocusing: From Domestic Conglomerates to Global Specialists*
Authors: Meyer Klaus E.
Published: June 2006

abstract  Globalization is changing the competitive terrain on which companies develop their corporate strategy. On the global stage, key competitive advantages are gained through internationally fungible resources. Consequently, diversified conglomerates are converting to global specialists in narrower niche markets and competing with a small number of multinational enterprises operating worldwide. Their internationalization and their reduction of product diversification are opposite sides of the same coin: globalfocusing. I extend Penrosian resource‐based theory to analyse this change process, notably by distinguishing country and industry specificity of firms' core competences, and by integrating divestment as part of firm growth processes. Globalfocusing is driven by shifts in the relative importance of country‐specific and industry‐specific resources and capabilities due to changes in the internal and external environment, notably the globalization of markets and supply chains. The argument is developed using case studies of restructuring of two Danish manufacturing enterprises. On this basis, I analyse the forces driving globalfocusing processes and suggest propositions for empirical testing.
Comparing United States versus International Medical School Graduate Physicians Who Serve African‐ American and White Elderly
Authors: Howard Daniel L. , Bunch Carol D. , Mundia Wilberforce O. , Konrad Thomas R. , Edwards Lloyd J. , Ahinee Amamoo M. , Jallah Yhenneko
Published: June 2006

Objective.To examine the relationship that international medical school graduates (IMGs) in comparison with United States medical school graduates (USMGs) have on health care‐seeking behavior and satisfaction with medical care among African‐American and white elderly.

Data Sources.Secondary data analysis of the 1986–1998 Piedmont Health Survey of the Elderly, Established Populations for the Epidemiological Study of the Elderly, a racially oversampled urban and rural cohort of elders in five North Carolina counties.

Study Design.Primary focus of analyses examined the impact of the combination of elder race and physician graduate status across time using a linear model for repeated measures analyses and χ2tests. Separate analyses using generalized estimating equations were conducted for each measure of elder characteristic and health behavior. The analytic cohort included 341 physicians and 3,250 elders (65 years old and older) in 1986; by 1998, 211 physicians and 1,222 elders.

Data Collection/Extraction Methods.Trained personnel collected baseline measures on 4,162 elders (about 80 percent responses) through 90‐minute in‐home interviews.

Principal Findings.Over time, IMGs treated more African‐American elders, and those who had less education, lower incomes, less insurance, were in poorer health, and who lived in rural areas. White elders with IMGs delayed care more than those with USMGs. Both races indicated being unsure about where to go for medical care. White elders with IMGs were less satisfied than those with USMGs. Both races had perceptions of IMGs that relate to issues of communication, cultural competency, ageism, and unnecessary expenses.

Conclusion.IMGs do provide necessary and needed access to medical care for underserved African Americans and rural populations. However, it is unclear whether concerns regarding cultural competency, communication and the quality of care undermine the contribution IMGs make to these populations.
Preparing and Presenting Effective Research Posters
Authors: Miller Jane E.
Published: June 2006

Objectives. Posters are a common way to present results of a statistical analysis, program evaluation, or other project at professional conferences. Often, researchers fail to recognize the unique nature of the format, which is a hybrid of a published paper and an oral presentation. This methods note demonstrates how to design research posters to convey study objectives, methods, findings, and implications effectively to varied professional audiences.

Methods. A review of existing literature on research communication and poster design is used to identify and demonstrate important considerations for poster content and layout. Guidelines on how to write about statistical methods, results, and statistical significance are illustrated with samples of ineffective writing annotated to point out weaknesses, accompanied by concrete examples and explanations of improved presentation. A comparison of the content and format of papers, speeches, and posters is also provided.

Findings. Each component of a research poster about a quantitative analysis should be adapted to the audience and format, with complex statistical results translated into simplified charts, tables, and bulleted text to convey findings as part of a clear, focused story line.

Conclusions. Effective research posters should be designed around two or three key findings with accompanying handouts and narrative description to supply additional technical detail and encourage dialog with poster viewers.
The Association of Natural, Social and Economic Factors with Bird Species Richness in Rural England
Authors: Huby M. , Cinderby S. , Crowe A. M. , Gillings S. , McClean C. J. , Moran D. , Owen A. , White P. C. L.
Published: June 2006

At a global level, increasing emphasis on sustainable development highlights the importance of maintaining and enhancing biodiversity. Within the European Union, agricultural reforms will have a considerable influence on the links between biodiversity, agriculture and rural communities over the next 10–20 years. An understanding of the associations between biodiversity and the rural economy is important for the development of policies to promote environmentally sustainable economic and social well‐being. However, investigations of this type are frequently hindered by the different ways in which data in the natural and social sciences are collected. In this paper, we develop an innovative approach to combine data using a common spatial unit. We illustrate the application of this approach by examining associations between bird species richness, environmental and socio‐economic variables. Our results show how the statistical relationship between biodiversity and environmental factors is strengthened and contextualised by prevailing socio‐economic conditions. This example highlights the additional insights that can be gained from such an integrative approach, especially in terms of the questions it raises about the inter‐relationships between the social, physical and ecological dynamics of rural environments.
Bat Pollination Breakdown in the Caribbean Columnar Cactus Pilosocereus royenii1
Authors: Rivera‐Marchand Bert , Ackerman James D.
Published: June 2006

Generalized pollination systems may be advantageous on island systems or regions of substantial disturbance. We examined whether or not specialization breakdown has occurred in a presumably bat‐pollinated columnar cactus, Pilosocereus royenii, on Puerto Rico, an island subjected to periodic hurricanes. The flowers show characteristics related to bat pollination including nocturnal anthesis, morphology, and amount and quality of nectar reward. The cactus produces flowers whose styles are temporally and mechanically separated from its anthers and do not self‐pollinate. Hand manipulations indicated that it is partially self‐incompatible or suffers some inbreeding depression. In 217 h of observations conducted biweekly over the course of 1 yr, P. royenii received visits from bats, moths, bees, and birds, but the only effective pollinator was the carpenter bee, Xylocopa mordax. Only four bat visits were recorded, all prior to stigma receptiveness. Floral morphology of P. royenii was significantly more variable than that of other bat‐pollinated species of the genus. We propose that infrequent bat visits are a consequence of a population crash and that floral variability is due to either relaxed selection for bat pollination or a transitional stage from bat pollination to bee pollination.
Nutritional Correlates of Population Density Across Habitats and Logging Intensities in Redtail Monkeys (Cercopithecus ascanius)1
Authors: Rode Karyn D. , Chapman Colin A. , McDowell Lee R. , Stickler Claudia
Published: June 2006

Food resources are arguably the most common limiting factor for most species, yet little is known about how food quantity and quality interact to determine the size and distribution of wildlife populations. Frugivores may be limited by food quality since fruits, unlike leaves, are typically low in protein and minerals. Understanding the factors influencing frugivore population dynamics is particularly important due to rapid habitat loss and the need to construct informed management plans. Therefore, this study used redtail monkeys in Kibale National Park, Uganda as a model frugivore to (1) compare nutrient intake, reproduction, and habitat use patterns for three redtail groups in an unlogged and heavily logged area; and (2) examine relationships between nutrient intake and redtail population densities across five habitats. Feeding time and intake of crude protein, lipids, and minerals were higher in diets consumed by groups in unlogged areas than heavily logged areas. Intake of both copper and sodium intake was below NRC requirement levels suggested for macaques. Food availability in the unlogged areas was 3.5 times higher than the heavily logged area. Across five study sites, absorbable copper and the ratio of copper to caloric intake in redtail diets were significantly related to redtail population density. These results suggest that food quality is an important factor determining frugivore population density in anthropogenically disturbed frugivore habitats. Copper deficiency, which has been associated with population declines of wild herbivores, has the potential to be a key factor limiting densities of frugivores in tropical habitats.