bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Is this still called a dog? 18‐month‐olds' generalization of familiar labels to unusual objects
Authors: Poulin‐Dubois Diane , Sissons Mary E.
Published: August 2002

In two experiments the flexibility of 18‐month‐olds' extension of familiar object labels was investigated using the intermodal preferential looking paradigm. The first experiment tested whether infants consider intact and incomplete objects as equally acceptable referents for familiar labels. Infants looked equally long at the intact and incomplete objects whether or not a label was presented. In the second experiment, infants were requested to find the referent of a target word among an incomplete target and an intact distracter or an intact target and an incomplete distracter. The incomplete objects were missing a large or small part. Infants looked longer at the incomplete target, even when large or small parts were deleted. Taken together, these findings suggest that infants do not hold a strong shape bias when generalizing familiar words. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Long‐term results of neoadjuvant radiation therapy for breast cancer
Authors: Calitchi Elie , Kirova Youlia M. , Otmezguine Yves , Feuilhade Frank , Piedbois Youri , Le Bourgeois Jean‐Paul
Published: August 2002

Our aim was to determine the long‐term outcome and the possible role of neoadjuvant (preoperative) radiation therapy for breast cancers unsuitable for primary conservative surgery. From 1977 to 1992, 75 unifocal non‐inflammatory and non‐metastatic T2 and T3 breast cancers were treated in our department. All these patients underwent initial radiotherapy, followed by secondary limited surgery. A population of 74 patients, aged from 32 to 82 years (median 56 years), presenting 49 T2 and 26 T3 tumors, was studied. Seventy‐two patients (96%) underwent secondary tumorectomy and three patients (4%) reduction mammaplasty. The secondary tumorectomy was followed by a postoperative boost. There were nine recurrences, treated by mastectomy in eight cases and by tumorectomy in one case. Twenty‐five patients showed secondary dissemination. Forty‐seven patients are still alive and free of disease. The cosmetic results were considered excellent or satisfactory in 71 cases. Under good conditions, preoperative radiotherapy (as well as preoperative chemotherapy) allows the possibility of conservative surgery for cancers of more than 3 cm. The choice between the two modalities depends on the patient's condition and on a precise analysis of all prognostic factors that would justify the need for systemic treatment. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Experimental determination of depth‐scaling factors and central axis depth dose for clinical electron beams
Authors: Huq M. Saiful , Yue N. , Suntharalingam N.
Published: August 2002

Depth‐scaling factors ρeff for clear polystyrene and polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) phantoms have been determined experimentally as a function of nominal electron‐beam energy in the range 6 to 22 MeV. Values of ρeff have been calculated from the ratio ρeff = R / R, where R and R are the measured depths of 50% ionization in electron solid water and plastic (clear polystyrene and PMMA) phantoms, respectively. Measurements were made using an Attix chamber in an electron solid water phantom, a Holt chamber in a clear polystyrene phantom, and a Markus chamber in a PMMA phantom. The average value of measured ρ was found to be 0.999 ± 0.009. This is higher than the value of 0.975 recommended by Task Group 25 (TG‐25) of the American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM) by 2.5%. Depending on energy, the maximum differences between the AAPM TG‐25‐recommended and the measured values lie in the range 1% to 3.5%. Similarly, the average value of measured ρ was found to be 1.168 ± 0.023. This is higher than the AAPM TG‐25‐recommended value of 1.115, by 5%. Depending on energy, the maximum differences between the AAPM TG‐25‐recommended and the measured values lie in the range 3% to 8%. Central axis depth dose curves in water were generated for 6, 15, and 20 MeV electron beams from measured depth‐ionization data in PMMA and clear polystyrene phantoms following the recommendations of the AAPM TG‐25 report and using both TG‐25‐recommended and experimentally determined values of depth‐scaling factors ρeff. For both phantoms, either the TG‐25‐recommended value or the experimentally determined values of ρeff yielded agreement to within about 2 mm among all depth doses in water at the depths of clinical relevance. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
OVCA2 is downregulated and degraded during retinoid‐induced apoptosis
Authors: Prowse Amanda H. , Vanderveer Lisa , Milling Simon W.F. , Pan Zhong‐Zong , Dunbrack Roland L. , Xu Xiang‐Xi , Godwin Andrew K.
Published: August 2002

Retinoids, the natural and synthetic derivatives of vitamin A, have been shown to regulate the growth and differentiation of a wide variety of cell types and consequently have enormous potential as chemotherapeutic agents. We have previously identified 2 genes, termed OVCA1 and OVCA2, which are located in a small region showing a high frequency of allelic loss in breast and ovarian tumors and share a common exon. Recent studies have suggested that expression of OVCA1 may be influenced by retinoids. Therefore, we analyzed the expression of OVCA1 and OVCA2 in cells in response to treatment with all‐trans retinoic acid (RA) and N‐(4‐hydroxyphenyl)retinamide (4HPR), or under conditions of low serum and confluence, to determine further the roles of OVCA1 and OVCA2 in cell growth, apoptosis and differentiation. We show that OVCA2 mRNA and protein are ubiquitously expressed and that they are downregulated in the lung cancer cell line Calu‐6 after treatment with RA and 4HPR. In addition, we observed that OVCA2 protein is proteolytically degraded in response to RA and 4HPR treatment in a time‐ and dose‐dependent manner in the promyelocytic leukemia cell line HL60. In contrast, expression of the candidate tumor suppressor OVCA1 was not downregulated by these treatments. Furthermore, we demonstrate that OVCA2 is evolutionarily conserved and shows regional homology with dihydrofolate reductases (DHFRs), specifically with hydrolase folds found in α‐β hydrolases. Our results are in contrast to a previous report and show that OVCA2, not OVCA1 mRNA and protein, is downregulated in response to RA and 4HPR. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Management of benign cranial nonacoustic schwannomas by fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy
Authors: Zabel Angelika , Debus Jürgen , Thilmann Christoph , Schlegel Wolfgang , Wannenmacher Michael
Published: August 2002

Schwannomas are the most common tumors of cranial nerves. Nonacoustic schwannomas are very rare tumors, accounting for approximately 10% of intracranial schwannomas. Standard treatment is complete surgical resection if possible. The role of fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy remains to be defined. Thirteen patients with cranial nonacoustic schwannomas underwent fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy. Seven patients had trigeminal schwannomas, three schwannomas of the lower cranial nerves, and three located in the cerebellopontine angle without involvement of the acoustic nerve. Treatment included primary or adjuvant radiotherapy in progressive disease. Tumor volume ranged from 4.5 to 76.0 cc (median 19.8 cc). Median dose was 57.6 Gy with 1.8 Gy/fraction. Median follow‐up was 33 months (range 13–70 months). Local tumor control rate was 100% (13/13). Tumor size remained stable in nine patients and decreased in four. Improvement of preexisting neurological deficits was seen in four cases. No patient developed new cranial nerve or brain stem deficits. No patient showed clinically significant complications of irradiation. Fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy is an effective and well‐tolerated noninvasive treatment for cranial nonacoustic schwannomas with excellent tumor control rates. It is an option for patients at higher risk for microsurgical resection or in residual and recurrent tumors. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Overexpression of interleukin‐15 in vivo enhances antitumor activity against mhc class I‐negative and ‐positive malignant melanoma through augmented NK activity and cytotoxic T‐cell response
Authors: Yajima Toshiki , Nishimura Hitoshi , Wajjwalku Worawidh , Harada Mamoru , Kuwano Hiroyuki , Yoshikai Yasunobu
Published: August 2002

Interleukin (IL)‐15, a pleiotropic cytokine, is involved in the development and maintenance of NK cells and memory CD8+ T cells. We examined the effects of in vivo overexpression of IL‐15 on protection against 2 types of murine B16 melanoma lines, MHC class I‐negative B16.44 and MHC class I‐positive B16F10 cells, using IL‐15 transgenic (Tg) mice that we have recently constructed. The tumor growth was severely retarded in IL‐15 Tg mice after subcutaneous (s.c.) inoculation with B16.44 or B16F10 cells. IL‐15 Tg mice showed an augmented NK cell activity against B16.44 cells, and in vivo depletion of NK cells by anti‐asialoGM1 Ab treatment abrogated the antitumor activity in IL‐15 Tg mice. On the other hand, IL‐15 Tg mice inoculated with B16F10 cells developed a significant level of CTL response against B16F10 cells, and in vivo depletion of CD8+ T cells by anti‐CD8 MAb treatment abrogated the antitumor activity. Thus, overexpression of IL‐15 augmented antitumor activity against different tumors via augmentation of different antitumor mechanisms. These results suggest a possible therapeutic application of IL‐15 for human neoplasms expressing a wide range of MHC class molecules. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Rapidly rising breast cancer incidence rates among Asian‐American women
Authors: Deapen Dennis , Liu Lihua , Perkins Carin , Bernstein Leslie , Ross Ronald K.
Published: August 2002

In recent years, breast cancer incidence rates have fluctuated over relatively short time spans; examination of these patterns can provide etiologic clues and direction for prevention programs. Asian‐American women are generally considered to be at lower risk of breast cancer than other ethnic groups. However, their rates are typically based on an aggregation of ethnic Asian populations, which may obscure important ethnic differences in risk. Detailed analyses of the trends in ethnic‐specific incidence rates will provide more information than when ethnicities are combined. Los Angeles County, California, the most populous and probably the most ethnically diverse county in the United States, has a large multi‐ethnic Asian‐American population. Trends in invasive female breast cancer incidence were examined using data from the Los Angeles Cancer Surveillance Program, the population‐based cancer registry covering the County. Athough overall breast cancer incidence rates remained stable in the late 1980s and early 1990s, data for the most recent 5‐year period suggest that incidence may again be increasing for Asian‐American and non‐Hispanic white women over age 50 (estimated annual percent change = 6.3%, p < 0.05 and 1.5%, p < 0.05, respectively), although little change has occurred among black and Hispanic women. Invasive breast cancer incidence rates for Asian‐American ethnic groups are heterogeneous and, for most, are increasing. In Los Angeles County, rates for Japanese‐American women have increased rapidly since 1988 and are now approaching rates for non‐Hispanic white women. Rates among Filipinas, who have historically had higher rates than their other Asian‐American counterparts, are not increasing as rapidly as rates for Japanese women, but remain relatively high. Breast cancer risk among women of Japanese and Filipino ancestry is twice that of Chinese and Korean women. Asian women, who commonly have low breast cancer rates in their native countries, typically experience increasing breast cancer incidence after immigrating to the United States. Ethnic‐specific incidence rates show that Japanese‐Americans, the first Asian population to immigrate to Los Angeles County in large numbers and the most acculturated, have experienced a rapid increase in breast cancer incidence. Japanese‐American rates in Los Angeles County may have already surpassed those of non‐Hispanic whites if recent trends have continued unabated. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Early Head Start MAP: Manualized Assessment of Progress
Authors: Dickstein Susan , Seifer Ronald , Eguia Maria , Kuersten‐Hogan Regina , Dodge Magee Karen
Published: August 2002

We present the Early Head Start MAP (Manualized Assessment of Progress) system, a newly developed program evaluation protocol for Early Head Start (EHS). Briefly, EHS is a prevention program for low‐income families with infants, toddlers, and pregnant women. The EHS MAP protocol was designed to be incorporated into the fabric of the EHS program, utilized by all EHS staff members with input from EHS families. As such, it serves to document ongoing progress of children and families while enrolled in the program, as well as the fidelity of services provided. Preliminary empirical results are presented to exemplify the nature of efficacy and fidelity data that can be obtained with this EHS MAP system. Implications of conducting program evaluation are discussed as related to Early Head Start service delivery. ©2002 Michigan Association for Infant Mental Health.
Silica‐ and zirconia‐hybridized amorphous calcium phosphate: Effect on transformation to hydroxyapatite
Authors: Skrtic D. , Antonucci J. M. , Eanes E. D. , Brunworth R. T.
Published: August 2002

The goal of this study was to determine the effect that silica and zirconia have on the stability of bioactive amorphous calcium phosphate (ACP) mineral, i.e., in retarding its transformation to hydroxyapatite (HAP). The glass‐forming agents, tetraethoxysilane and zirconyl chloride, were introduced individually during the low‐temperature preparation of ACP. These hybrid ACPs (Si‐ACP and Zr‐ACP, respectively) as well as the control, unhybridized ACP (u‐ACP), were characterized by X‐ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, specific surface area measurements, and chemical analysis (Ca/PO4 ratio of the solids) before being dispersed in one of the following four test solutions: N‐2‐hydroxyethylpiperazine‐N′‐2‐ethanesulfonic acid (HEPES)‐buffered (pH = 7.40) saline solutions with 0 μg/g fluoride (test solution A1), 1 μg/g fluoride (test solution A2), and 10 μg/g fluoride (test solution A3), or a lactic acid‐containing solution (pH = 5.10, adjusted with NaOH; test solution B). Aliquots were taken at predetermined time intervals for solution Ca and PO4 analysis. Solids isolated after 30 and 90 min exposure to solution B as well as the final dissolution/transformation products from all four solution experiments were analyzed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X‐ray diffraction. Regardless of the type of experimental solution used, slower conversion to HAP was observed with the hybrid ACPs compared with u‐ACP. The retarding effect of the Si or Zr species in the hybridized ACPs is probably due to these ions specifically blocking, by adsorption, potential sites for HAP nucleation and growth. The stability of ACP toward HAP conversion increased in the following order: u‐ACP < Si‐ACP < Zr‐ACP. Hybrid ACP fillers, especially Zr‐ACP, could be utilized in applications in which it is desired to enhance performance of composites, sealants, and/or adhesives in preventing demineralization or actively promoting remineralization. © 2001 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.* J Biomed Mater Res 59: 597–604, 2002
Manipulation of bacterial adhesion and proliferation by surface charges of electrically polarized hydroxyapatite
Authors: Ueshima Masato , Tanaka Satoshi , Nakamura Satoshi , Yamashita Kimihiro
Published: August 2002

The manipulation of bacterial adhesion and proliferation by surface charges built onto the surfaces of electrically polarized bioceramic hydroxyapatite (HAp) was investigated. The gram‐positive bacteria Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and the gram‐negative bacteria Escherichia coli (E. coli) were cultivated on negatively charged, positively charged, and noncharged HAp surfaces (denoted as N‐, P‐, and 0‐surface, respectively). The electrostatic force caused by the surface charges experimentally was proven to affect both adhesion and proliferation. Compared with the 0‐surface of HAp ceramics over a 3‐h cultivation, the population of adhered bacteria rapidly multiplied on the N‐surface whereas it multiplied quite slowly on the P‐surface. Compared with the 0‐surface over a cultivation period of 12 to 72 h, the proliferation rate of the bacterial cell density per colony was accelerated on the N‐surface and decelerated on the P‐surface. The above results are attributed (1) to the electrostatic interaction between the cell surfaces and the charged surfaces of the polarized HAp, (2) to the stimulus of the electrostatic force for bacterial cells, and (3) to the concentration of the nutrient for the bacteria. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res 60: 578–584, 2002
Numerical oxidation model for gamma radiation‐sterilized UHMWPE: Consideration of dose‐depth profile
Authors: Blanchet Thierry A. , Burroughs Brian R.
Published: August 2002

Gamma sterilization of UHMWPE hip and knee joint replacement components secondarily creates free radicals along the polymer chains. Though crosslinking between radicals may improve mechanical properties, typical post‐irradiation environments (air shelf storage or in vivo service) may instead favor scission reactions with oxygen from the surroundings. As such aging of irradiated UHMWPE joint replacement components has important consequences such as osteolysis, increased insight has been sought through descriptive models of this oxidation process. The quantitative numerical model presented here accounts for a free radical concentration that varies with position (because of irradiation dose‐depth profile) and time (because of free radical decay through crosslinking). A moving front of diffusing O2 is allowed to traverse the UHMWPE medium containing depth‐ and time‐dependent free radical concentration, and these diffusing molecules react with available free radicals persisting at the front. This model's capabilities are illustrated in three examples of irradiated UHMWPE aging behavior: In room‐temperature air (shelf‐aging), in atmospheres of augmented oxygen partial pressure and temperature intended to accelerate aging while otherwise remaining simulative of real‐time aging; and following post‐irradiation vacuum storage intended to consume free radicals through complete crosslinking, but often performed to an incomplete extent. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res (Appl Biomater) 58: 684–693, 2001
BRCA1 modulates ionizing radiation‐induced nuclear focus formation by the replication protein A p34 subunit
Authors: Choudhary Shailesh K. , Li Rong
Published: August 2002

Mutations in BRCA1 account for a significant proportion of familial breast and ovarian cancers. BRCA1 has been implicated in DNA damage responses including double‐strand break (DSB) repair. However, its exact role in DSB repair and its functional relationship with other known repair proteins remain to be elucidated. In this study, we carried out a cytological analysis of the effect of BRCA1 on damage‐induced nuclear focus formation mediated by the replication protein A (RPA). RPA is a multi‐functional protein that participates in both DNA replication and various types of DNA repair including DSB repair. Following ionizing radiation (IR), RPA and BRCA1 formed punctate nuclear staining patterns that co‐localized with each other, consistent with the implicated roles of both proteins in the same repair process. The number of damage‐induced RPA foci in BRCA1‐deficient cells, however, was significantly greater than that in BRCA1‐positive cells. Moreover, the effect of BRCA1 on the RPA staining pattern appeared to be specific for IR but not ultraviolet (UV) irradiation. These data suggest that BRCA1 plays an important role in processing the RPA‐associated intermediates during DSB repair. J. Cell. Biochem. 84: 666–674, 2002. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
A high‐resolution electron momentum spectroscopy and density functional theory study into the complete valence electronic structure of allene
Authors: Wang F. , Mackenzie‐Ross H. , Winkler D. A. , McCarthy I. E. , Campbell L. , Brunger M. J.
Published: August 2002

A study of the electronic structure of the complete valence shell of allene (1,2‐propadiene) is reported. New high‐resolution binding‐energy spectra were measured in the energy regime 6–34.5 eV over a range of different target electron momenta, so that momentum distributions (MDs) could be determined for each molecular orbital. These data supersede the low‐resolution work of Braidwood et al. [J Phys B 27 (1994) 2075–2087], and also clarify some ambiguities with the earlier results. Theoretical MDs were calculated using a plane wave impulse approximation (PWIA) model for the reaction mechanism and density functional theory (DFT) for the wave function. Three basis sets, at the local spin density (LSD) approximation level and, additionally, incorporating nonlocal corrections such as the generalized gradient approximation (GGA), were studied. A critical comparison between the experimental and theoretical MDs was made, and it allowed us to determine the “optimum” wave function for allene from the basis sets we considered. This wave function is then used to derive allene's chemically interesting molecular properties. A summary of some of these results and a comparison of them with those of other workers is also presented with the level of agreement typically being good. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Comput Chem 22: 1321–1333, 2001
Gas‐phase and liquid‐state properties of esters, nitriles, and nitro compounds with the OPLS‐AA force field
Authors: Price Melissa L. P. , Ostrovsky Dennis , Jorgensen William L.
Published: August 2002

Nonbonded and torsional parameters for carboxylate esters, nitriles, and nitro compounds have been developed for the OPLS‐AA force field. In addition, torsional parameters for alkanes have been updated. These parameters were fit to reproduce ab initio gas‐phase structures and conformational energetics, experimental condensed‐phase structural and thermodynamic properties, and experimental free energies of hydration. The computed densities, heats of vaporization, and heat capacities for fifteen liquids are in excellent agreement with experimental values. The new parameters permit accurate molecular modeling of compounds containing a wider variety of functional groups, which are common in organic molecules and drugs. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Comput Chem 22: 1340–1352, 2001
Role of anti‐transglutaminase (anti‐tTG), anti‐gliadin, and anti‐endomysium serum antibodies in diagnosing celiac disease: A comparison of four different commercial kits for anti‐tTG determination
Authors: Basso D. , Gallo N. , Guariso G. , Pittoni M. , Piva M.G. , Plebani M.
Published: August 2002

The aims of this study were: (1) to compare the diagnostic efficacy for celiac disease (CD) diagnosis of serum determination of anti‐gliadin (AG) (IgA and IgG) and anti‐endomysium (AE) with that of anti‐transglutaminase (AtTG); and (2) to compare the accuracy of four different assays to measure AtTG. We studied 72 children: the histological diagnosis of CD was made in 38 cases and excluded in the remaining 34 children. In fasting sera we measured AE, AG‐IgA and IgG, and AtTG, the latter with four different commercial kits (Eurospital, Medipan, Inova, Arnika). Moreover AtTG was measured in a group of 58 CD children after a gluten‐free diet. AE was positive in all but 1 case of CD patients (sensitivity = 97%); false positive results were found in 1/34 controls (specificity = 97%). When a specificity of 95% was fixed, the sensitivities were 97% for AE, 83% for AG‐IgA, and 63% for AG‐IgG; the sensitivities of anti‐tTG were 90, 84, 84, and 75% when measured with Eurospital, Medipan, Inova, and Arnika kits respectively. The new AtTG seems to be accurate enough to be proposed as a noninvasive diagnostic tool for CD diagnosis; the 4 kits analyzed showed similar diagnostic efficacy. J. Clin. Lab. Anal. 15:112–115, 2001. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Deproteinization of serum: Another best approach to eliminate all forms of bilirubin interference on serum creatinine by the kinetic Jaffe reaction
Authors: Lolekha Porntip H. , Jaruthunyaluck Sukchai , Srisawasdi Pornpen
Published: August 2002

The negative interference of conjugated, unconjugated, and delta bilirubin on patient serum creatinine determined by the kinetic Jaffe reaction is the unresolved problem. We compared bilirubin interference on thirty patients’ serum creatinine obtained from four analyzers, with and without deprotenization before the Jaffe reaction, to the Vitros dry enzymatic method. We found significant negative interference from bilirubin on serum creatinine in all samples directly applied to four wet chemical methods, except the one incorporated with serum blank rate. The negative interferences linearly related to bilirubin concentration. However, bilirubin did not interfere on serum creatinine obtained from all wet chemical methods incorporated with deproteinization process before the reaction. We conclude that deproteinized serum before the reaction is the best approach to eliminate all forms of bilirubin interference on serum creatinine determined by the kinetic Jaffe reaction. J. Clin. Lab. Anal. 15:116–121, 2001. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Factor structure and psychometric properties of the Brief Mizes Anorectic Cognitions Questionnaire
Authors: Osman Augustine , Chiros Christine E. , Gutierrez Peter M. , Kopper Beverly A. , Barrios Francisco X.
Published: August 2002

The Mizes Anorectic Cognitions—Revised (MAC‐R) questionnaire is a 24‐item self‐report instrument designed to assess cognitions associated with anorexia and bulimia nervosa. We examined the factor structure and psychometric properties of the MAC‐R in a sample of 290 undergraduates. We found that a brief 3‐factor oblique model (composed of 12 items) of the MAC‐R provided acceptable fit to the present sample data. This model was largely invariant across male and female participants. The brief version of the MAC‐R (the BMAC) and subscale scores correlated significantly with scores from related measures of eating disorders, showing evidence of concurrent validity. The BMAC total and subscales also showed evidence of discriminant validity by differentiating between empirically defined subclinical eating disorders and control participants. Both logistic regression and discriminant function analyses showed that only the self‐control and self‐esteem subscale was most useful in distinguishing between the subgroups. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Clin Psychol 57: 785–799, 2001.
Growth inhibition of glioblastoma cells by human Purα
Authors: Darbinian Nune , Gallia Gary L. , King James , Del Valle Luis , Johnson Edward M. , Khalili Kamel
Published: August 2002

Purα is a multifunctional DNA‐ and RNA‐binding protein implicated in a variety of biological events including transcription and replication. Further, this protein has the ability to form a complex with several cellular proteins which are important for cell proliferation including the transcription factor, E2F‐1. Purα has a modular structure highlighted by alternating three basic aromatic class I and two acidic leucine‐rich class II repeats in the central region of the protein. Here, we demonstrate that ectopic overexpression of Purα suppresses proliferation of a variety of transformed and tumor cells including human glioblastoma. By utilizing various deletion mutants of Purα in colony formation assay, we identified the region spanning the first class II repeat (residues 107–131) and the second class I repeat (residues 148–170) of Purα which participate in growth inhibitory action of Purα. Results from protein transduction experiments using the synthetic peptides representing residues 109–131 and 123–154 of Purα in fusion with the arginine rich domain of HIV‐1 Tat revealed cellular internalization and nuclear appearance of the Tat–Purα fusion peptide after 2 h and its detection in nuclei up to 24 h after treatment. Glioblastoma cells treated with Tat–Purα (109–131) and Tat–Purα (123–154) exhibited 41 and 47% decrease, respectively, in proliferation. Altogether these results illustrate the efficacy of Purα in suppressing glioblastoma cell growth and provide evidence for the potential use of this protein and its derivative(s) in blocking proliferation of tumor cells. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Osteogenic protein‐1 and interleukin‐6 with its soluble receptor synergistically stimulate rat osteoblastic cell differentiation
Authors: Yeh Lee‐Chuan C. , Zavala Michelle C. , Lee John C.
Published: August 2002

Osteogenic Protein‐1 (OP‐1, BMP‐7), a member of the bone morphogenetic protein family, stimulates synthesis of biochemical markers characteristic of the osteoblastic and chondrocytic phenotypes and induces new bone formation. Interleukin‐6 (IL‐6), a cytokine produced by a wide variety of cells, appears to interact with other factors producing different biological effects. In the present study, we showed that OP‐1 action in fetal rat calvaria (FRC) cells was enhanced by the combination of IL‐6 and the soluble receptor IL‐6sR. OP‐1 alone induced alkaline phosphatase (AP) activity by 4‐ to 5‐fold above the control. Exogenous IL‐6 soluble receptor (IL‐6sR) synergistically stimulated the OP‐1‐induced AP activity and mineralized bone nodule formation by an additional 3‐fold. The stimulation was IL‐6sR concentration‐dependent. The combination of IL‐6 and IL‐6sR synergistically stimulated OP‐1 action by an additional 6‐ to 7‐fold. BMPR‐II receptor mRNA expression in FRC cells treated with OP‐1 and IL‐6 plus IL‐6sR was stimulated further, while BMPR‐IA, ‐IB, and ActR‐I expressions were not affected. The intracellular signaling molecules Smad2 and Smad5 mRNA expressions were not changed under these conditions. The expression of selected BMP family members (BMP‐3, ‐4, and ‐6) was altered in FRC cells treated with OP‐1 in combination with IL‐6 and IL‐6sR. The combination of IL‐6 and IL‐6sR reduced the OP‐1‐stimulated BMP‐3 mRNA levels and enhanced the suppressive effect of OP‐1 on BMP‐4 and ‐6 mRNA expressions. In conclusion, the present results demonstrate that exogenous IL‐6 and IL‐6sR synergistically stimulate OP‐1 action in primary cultures of rat osteoblastic cells. One possible mechanism of synergy involves differential regulation of the effects of OP‐1 on the expression of the type II BMP receptor and several other BMPs. J. Cell. Physiol. 190: 322–331, 2002. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Effects of hyperthermia on p53 protein expression and activity
Authors: Guan Jun , Stavridi Elena , Leeper Dennis B. , Iliakis George
Published: August 2002

Although p53 responses after DNA damage have been investigated extensively, p53 responses after heat shock, which exerts cytotoxic action by mechanisms other than direct induction of DNA damage, are less well characterized. We investigated, therefore, the effect of hyperthermic exposures on the levels and DNA‐binding activity of p53. Experiments were carried out with U2OS and ML‐1 cells, known to express wild‐type p53 protein. Although heating at 41°C for up to 6 h had only a small effect on p53 levels or DNA binding activity, exposure to temperatures between 42.5 and 45.5°C caused an immediate decrease in protein levels that was associated with a reduction in DNA binding activity. This observation is compatible with a high lability of p53 to heat shock, or heat sensitivity of the pathway regulating p53 levels in non‐stressed cells. When cells were heated to 42.5°C and returned to normal temperatures, a strong p53 response associated with an increase in protein levels and DNA binding activity was observed, suggesting the production of p53‐inducing cellular damage. At higher temperatures, however, this response was compromised in an exposure–time‐dependent manner. The increase in DNA binding activity was more heat sensitive than the increase in p53 levels and was inhibited at lower temperatures and shorter exposure times. Thus, the pathway of p53 activation is itself heat sensitive and compromised at high levels of exposure. Compared to p53 activation after exposure to ionizing radiation, heat‐induced activation is rapid and short lived. When cells were exposed to combined heat and radiation, the response observed approximated that of cells exposed to heat alone. Wortmannin at 10 μM inhibited p53 activation for up to 2 h after heat shock suggesting the involvement of wortmannin‐sensitive kinases, such as DNA‐PK and ATM. Heat shock causes phosphorylation of p53 at Serine‐15, but there is no correlation between phosphorylation at this site and activation of the protein. The results in aggregate indicate p53 activation in the absence of DNA damage by a heat‐sensitive mechanism operating with faster kinetics than radiation‐induced p53 activation. The former response may induce pathways preventing other stimuli from activating p53, as heat‐induced activation of p53 is dominant over activation of p53 by DNA damage in combined‐treatment experiments. These observations suggest means for abrogating p53 induction after DNA damage with the purpose of potentiating response and enhancing cell killing. J. Cell. Physiol. 190: 365–374, 2002. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Role of N‐cadherin in bone formation
Authors: Marie Pierre J.
Published: August 2002

Cell–cell adhesion mediated by cadherins is essential for the function of bone forming cells during osteogenesis. Here, the evidence that N‐cadherin is an important regulator of osteoblast differentiation and osteogenesis is reviewed. Osteoblasts express a limited number of cadherins, including the classic N‐cadherin. The expression profile of N‐cadherin in osteoblasts during bone formation in vivo and in vitro suggests a role of this molecule in osteogenesis. Functional studies using neutralizing antibodies or antisense oligonucleotides indicate that N‐cadherin is involved in the control the expression of osteoblast marker gene expression and differentiation. Cleavage of N‐cadherin during osteoblast apoptosis also suggests a role of N‐cadherin‐mediated‐cell–cell adhesion in osteoblast survival. Hormonal and local factors that regulate osteoblast function also regulate N‐cadherin expression and subsequent cell–cell adhesion associated with osteoblast differentiation or survival. Signaling mechanisms involved in N‐cadherin‐mediated cell–cell adhesion and osteoblast gene expression have also been identified. Alterations of N‐cadherin expression are associated with abnormal osteoblast differentiation and osteogenesis in pathological conditions. These findings indicate that N‐cadherin plays a role in normal and pathological bone formation and provide some insight into the process involved in N‐cadherin‐mediated cell–cell adhesion and differentiation in osteoblasts. J. Cell. Physiol. 190: 297–305, 2002. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Perlecan inhibits smooth muscle cell adhesion to fibronectin: Role of heparan sulfate
Authors: Lundmark Karin , Tran Phan Kiet , Kinsella Michael G. , Clowes Alexander W. , Wight Thomas N. , Hedin Ulf
Published: August 2002

Smooth muscle cell migration, proliferation, and deposition of extracellular matrix are key events in atherogenesis and restenosis development. To explore the mechanisms that regulate smooth muscle cell function, we have investigated whether perlecan, a basement membrane heparan sulfate proteoglycan, modulates interaction between smooth muscle cells and other matrix components. A combined substrate of fibronectin and perlecan showed a reduced adhesion of rat aortic smooth muscle cells by 70–90% in comparison to fibronectin alone. In contrast, perlecan did not interfere with cell adhesion to laminin. Heparinase treated perlecan lost 60% of its anti‐adhesive effect. Furthermore, heparan sulfate as well as heparin reduced smooth muscle cell adhesion when combined with fibronectin whereas neither hyaluronan nor chondroitin sulfate had any anti‐adhesive effects. Addition of heparin as a second coating to a preformed fibronectin matrix did not affect cell adhesion. Cell adhesion to the 105‐ and 120 kDa cell‐binding fragments of fibronectin, lacking the main heparin‐binding domains, was also inhibited by heparin. In addition, co‐coating of fibronectin and 3H‐heparin showed that heparin was not even incorporated in the substrate. Morphologically, smooth muscle cells adhering to a substrate prepared by co‐coating of fibronectin and perlecan or heparin were small, rounded, lacked focal contacts, and showed poorly developed stress fibers of actin. The results show that the heparan sulfate chains of perlecan lead to altered interactions between smooth muscle cells and fibronectin, possibly due to conformational changes in the fibronectin molecule. Such interactions may influence smooth muscle cell function in atherogenesis and vascular repair processes. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Power characteristics of unsteadily forward–reverse rotating impellers in an unbaffled aerated agitated vessel
Authors: Yoshida Masanori , Ito Akira , Yamagiwa Kazuaki , Ohkawa Akira , Abe Masahiko , Tezura Shuichi , Shimazaki Masuo
Published: August 2002

Power characteristics of an unbaffled aerated agitated vessel with unsteadily forward‐reverse rotating impellers, ie a new type of gas–liquid agitator named ‘AJITER’, treating viscous Newtonian liquids were studied experimentally. Measurements were first made on the agitation torque, ie the torque on the drive shaft on which forward–reverse rotating impellers with four delta‐type blades were attached, and the data obtained were analyzed by fitting them to an equation consisting of two terms with respect to the resistance of the fluid, one due to viscous drag and the other due to added moment of inertia. The effects of operating conditions and physical properties of liquids on the drag and added moment of inertia coefficients were then evaluated, and empirical relationships which estimate values of these coefficients, useful to predict the unsteady behavior and magnitude of agitation torque, were presented. Furthermore, equations were developed for estimating the average and maximum power consumptions as a function of the drag and added moment of inertia coefficients. Prediction of respective power levels in AJITER by these equations was also discussed.

© 2001 Society of Chemical Industry
Bacteriophages: biology and history
Authors: Sharp Richard
Published: August 2002

Bacteriophages were initially considered to offer the key to the control of bacterial infections; early studies, however, proved largely unsuccessful. In the 1940s and 1950s, pioneering studies into the structure and physiology of host/phage interactions laid the basis for the development of molecular biology and a spectrum of new biotechnologically‐based industries. Bacteriophages able to infect most procaryotic groups of organisms have been isolated, and are readily isolated from soil, water, and sewage and most environments colonised by bacteria. Ecologically, phages are as varied and as versatile as their hosts with some able to survive extremes of temperature (up to 95 °C) and extremes of pH as low as pH 1.

© 2001 Society of Chemical Industry
Activity and stability of lipases from different sources in supercritical carbon dioxide and near‐critical propane
Authors: Habulin Maja , Knez Željko
Published: August 2002

The stability and activity of lipases from Pseudomonas fluorescens, Rhizopus javanicus, Rhizopus niveus, porcine pancreas and Candida rugosa in a non‐solvent system at atmospheric pressure, in supercritical carbon dioxide (SC CO2), and near‐critical propane at 100 bar and 40 °C were studied. Esterification of n‐butyric acid with ethanol and isoamyl alcohol was used as a model system. In supercritical carbon dioxide there was a great loss in activity of the examined lipases. Decreased relative activity of lipases in SC CO2 was attributed to the interactions between CO2 and the enzyme. The second reason for this effect was the differences in water partitioning between the enzyme and its surroundings. In contrast, the use of near‐critical propane improved the activity of lipases in the comparison to the non‐solvent system by four‐ (porcine pancreas lipase) to nine‐times (Rhizopus javanicus lipase). The use of near‐critical propane also improved the thermal stability of porcine pancreas lipase compared with the non‐solvent system. The calculated deactivation constant for esterification between butyric acid and isoamyl alcohol, catalyzed by porcine pancreas lipase, showed that there was more than twice as much inactive as active enzyme in the non‐solvent system studied whereas the ratio in propane was 1.

© 2001 Society of Chemical Industry
Effect of carbonization temperature on the yield and porosity of char produced from palm shell
Authors: Daud Wan Mohd Ashri Wan , Ali Wan Shabuddin Wan , Sulaiman Mohd Zaki
Published: August 2002

Several batches of chars were prepared from palm shell by carbonization in a flow of nitrogen using a fixed‐bed reactor. Palm shell was carbonized at temperatures of 500, 600, 700, 800 and 900 °C for 1 h to study the effects of carbonization temperature on char yield and its porosity. The prepared chars were characterized for the micropore volume using CO2 adsorption while the meso‐ and macropore volumes were analyzed using a mercury porosimeter. The char yield was around 25% and is comparable with yields reported from other lignocellulosic materials. The results show that carbonization temperature has a significant effect on the micro‐ and mesopore volumes. However, it has negligible effect on the macropore volume.

© 2001 Society of Chemical Industry
The use of chromium waste sludge for the adsorption of colour from dye effluent streams
Authors: Chaudhary Abdul J , Ganguli Bijita , Grimes Susan M
Published: August 2002

Adsorption studies show that chromium hydroxide precipitates can be used for the removal of methylene blue, reactive blue, congo red and disperse orange dyes from aqueous media. Three different mechanisms are involved: attraction of positive surface charges on the precipitate at low pH for dye anions (reactive blue and congo red); attraction of negative surface charges on hydroxide at high pH for dye cations (methylene blue), and dye particle entrapment for the neutral disperse orange. The point of zero charge of the chromium hydroxide precipitate based on the dye adsorption studies is pH 10.5. The changes in the surface charge of such precipitates with pH can be used to achieve the removal of any charged dye species.

© 2002 Society of Chemical Industry
Sonographic appearance of the uterus after simple square suturing for rapid control of postpartum hemorrhage and preservation of fertility
Authors: Chen Chih‐Ping , Chang Tung‐Yao , Yeh Li‐Fan , Lin Chen‐Ju , Wang Wayseen
Published: August 2002

We describe the postoperative sonographic appearance of the uterus after successful use of simple square suturing for rapid control of profuse bleeding during cesarean section in a pregnant woman with uterine atony and placenta accreta. The serial sonograms initially showed decreased echogenicity in the compressed uterine area, but about 1 week after surgery, echogenicity of the compressed area returned to normal and, 2 weeks after surgery, patency of the uterine canal became evident. This report highlights the usefulness of this suturing technique for controlling such hemorrhage and the role of sonography in evaluating uterine status postoperatively. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Ultrasound 30:189–191, 2002; DOI 10.1002/jcu.10046
Observation of impurities in ice
Authors: Cullen D. , Baker I.
Published: August 2002

This paper presents a new method for determining the microstructural location of impurities in polycrystalline ice, which involves allowing the ice to sublimate under vacuum and then identifying the concentrated impurities using energy dispersive X‐ray microanalysis in a low‐vacuum scanning electron microscope. The method allows the presence of impurities in both the grain boundaries and the lattice of natural polycrystalline ice to be observed. Using this technique on natural ice, filaments consisting chiefly of NaCl were observed in some grain boundaries, small amounts of sulfur and chlorine were found in the grain interiors of the ice, and large concentrations of sulfur were observed in inclusions. Microsc. Res. Tech. 55:198–207, 2001. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Sensory and endocrine characteristics of the avian pineal organ
Authors: Sato Tetsuji
Published: August 2002

The avian pineal organ represents a transitional type between a photosensory organ of lower vertebrates and the endocrine gland of mammals and shows remarkable changes in its innervation and structure during ontogeny. In the avian pineal organ the progressive reduction of the pinealofugal component and the spectacular increase in pinealopetal sympathetic innervation occur in parallel. In domestic fowl the number of intrapineal AChE‐positive (afferent) neurons decreases rapidly during ontogenetic development, whereas the sympathetic innervation becomes more prominent. Furthermore, the end vesicle of the pineal organ is an anatomical entity fully separated from the brain in the adult domestic fowl, as observed in some mammalian pineals. The avian pineal organ contains several types of photoreceptors with different photopigments and the synthesis of melatonin, the pineal hormone, is controlled by light. Immunoreactivity for photopigments is reduced during the posthatching development of chicken, whereas neuron‐specific enolase (NSE)‐immunoreactive pinealocytes increase remarkably in number in the end‐vesicle of the domestic fowl with age, followed by a gradual expansion toward the proximal portion. NSE is the most acidic isoenzyme of the glycolytic enzyme enolase and is useful as a cytoplasmic marker of neurons and neuroendocrine tissue. The above‐mentioned findings reflect the sequence of changes leading from pineal sense organs to pineal gland. The demonstration of melatonin receptors in a variety of avian peripheral tissues suggest a possible direct action of melatonin on the physiological functions of different organ systems in response to internal and external stimuli. Microsc. Res. Tech. 53:2–11, 2001. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The trigeminovascular system in bacterial meningitis
Authors: Hoffmann Olaf , Dirnagl Ulrich , Weber Joerg R.
Published: August 2002

Headache as a cardinal symptom of acute meningitis reflects activation of trigeminal afferents from the meninges. With their perivascular endings, these fibers form the so‐called trigeminovascular system (TVS), which releases proinflammatory neuropeptides upon nociceptive stimulation. In the present article, we review a role of the TVS in enhancing the early inflammatory response of bacterial meningitis. Furthermore, we discuss inhibition of neuropeptide release from the TVS using 5HT1B/D agonists as a potential new anti‐inflammatory treatment strategy for early bacterial meningitis. Microsc. Res. Tech. 53:188–192, 2001. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Integrated approach for segmentation of 3‐D confocal images of a tissue specimen
Authors: Umesh Adiga P.S.
Published: August 2002

In this article we have proposed an integrated approach for segmentation of cells in volumetric image data obtained using the Confocal Microscope. The volumetric images are the stack of two‐dimensional (2‐D) images. Segmentation of cells in such an image stack is a difficult problem due to the complex structure of the objects and the spatial relationship of the object signatures in different image slices of the image stack. Here we have proposed a segmentation technique, which is a combination of several known and novel segmentation methods. Low‐level techniques such as edge operators, middle‐level techniques such as 3‐D watershed, rule‐based merging, and a high level technique, active surface model optimization, are integrated in one approach to get better segmentation with less human interaction. Some image enhancement and noise reduction techniques are also used to reduce the error in intermediate stages and speed up the segmentation process. Results are shown on 3‐D images of prostate cancer tissue specimen. Microsc. Res. Tech. 54:260–270, 2001. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.