bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Examining the Moderating and Mediating Roles of News Exposure and Attention on Adolescent Judgments of Alcohol-Related Risks
Authors: Slater Michael D. , Hayes Andrew F. , Ford Valerie L.
Published: July 2007

This study (a nationally representative telephone survey; n = 406) examines how attention to accident and crime stories among adolescents predicts judgments regarding alcohol-related risks, and how effects of 2 relevant individual difference variables—sensation seeking and negative 1st- or 2nd-hand personal experiences with alcohol risks—are mediated by attention. Results indicate, after controlling for a variety of demographic and behavioral variables, that attention to accident and crime news predicts adolescent risk judgments and mediates the influence of sensation seeking and negative experience on such risk judgments. Moreover, exposure to national TV news moderates these indirect effects, and sensation seeking and negative experiences also in turn moderate each others' indirect effects. Thus, the best characterization of the complex relation between individual differences, media, and risk judgments is one of moderated mediation.
Newspaper Coverage as Indirect Effects of a Health Communication Intervention
Authors: Niederdeppe Jeff , Farrelly Matthew C. , Thomas Kristin Y. , Wenter Dana , Weitzenkamp David
Published: July 2007

News coverage is associated with a variety of health behaviors, but studies have yet to assess the indirect effects of news coverage generated by a health promotion campaign. The Florida Tobacco Control Program (FTCP), a youth-led marketing and grassroots campaign launched in Florida in 1998, provides the opportunity to examine the effects of program-related newspaper coverage on youth smoking behavior. Articles were collected from Florida daily newspapers, content analyzed to identify the prevalence of topic-specific coverage, and merged by county and year to the Florida Youth Tobacco Survey, a statewide, representative survey of Florida middle school and high school students administered between 1998 and 2002. Trend comparisons and logistic regression models, controlling for alternate explanations, show that FTCP newspaper coverage (particularly coverage of youth advocacy efforts) contributed to observed declines in current smoking. Newspaper coverage of health communication campaigns may represent a meaningful, indirect source of campaign effects.
The Influence of Behavioral Inhibition/Approach Systems and Message Framing on the Processing of Persuasive Health Messages
Authors: Shen Lijiang , Dillard James Price
Published: July 2007

Two experiments examine the role of message framing and behavioral inhibition/ approach systems (BIS/BAS) on affect, cognition, attitude, and behavioral intention. The results show that advantage framing yields stronger positive emotions, whereas disadvantage framing produces stronger negative emotions. BIS and BAS show a complex pattern of associations with emotions that is not wholly consistent with either the approach—avoidance or valence aspects of affect. There is an interaction between BIS/BAS and message frame on persuasion such that BIS correlates positively with dominant cognitive response under disadvantage framing, but BAS does so under advantage framing. These findings are contextualized in process models (structural equation modeling) that include anger, fear, attitude, and behavioral intention.
Tension on the Farm Fields: The Death of Traditional Agriculture?
Authors: Oguamanam Chidi
Published: July 2007

Taking into account the historic transitions and progressions in agricultural science, this article examines the emergence of the phenomenon of agricultural biotechnology. It identifies pivotal sites of tension between agricultural biotechnology and alternative approaches to agriculture. The article identifies two distinct sources of contemporary social tension around agricultural science. First, it identifies the epistemological fault line and examines how the latter is promoted by intellectual property. Second, it spotlights the gene-wandering syndrome—a byproduct of genetic modification—and evaluates its impact on the escalating tension in our agricultural communities. Drawing from recent court decisions in Canada, the article recognizes the present urgency for a better jurisprudence and practical regulatory policy on aspects of agricultural biotechnology to mediate current tensions in those communities. It argues that judicial and policy response must be predicated on recognition of agro-epistemic pluralism and an understanding of broader socioeconomic impact of agro-biotechnology on alternative forms of agriculture.
Actuator Designs using Environmentally Responsive Hydrogels
Authors: Westbrook Kristofer K. , Qi H. Jerry
Published: July 2007

Environmentally responsive (ER) hydrogels are hydrogels that can experience an abrupt volume change and hence hold or release a large amount of water under the change of certain environmental conditions, such as temperature, pH, or an electric field. Because of their unique capability to achieve a large yet reversible volume change, hydrogels have been widely used in microfluidics and biomedical applications, such as hydrogel sensors and actuators for microfluidic channels, novel drug delivery systems, and scaffolding materials for tissue engineering. In most applications, ER hydrogels are used to create an isotropic volume change or one-dimensional motion by constraining the hydrogel in the other two directions. In this study, using finite element based simulations, actuator designs are demonstrated that can generate a variety of shape changes by carefully patterning ER hydrogels on a non-ER hydrogel matrix. In these designs, as the environment changes, the ER hydrogels undergo volume change under the constraints imposed by the non-ER matrix, causing an eigenstrain (mismatch strain) and hence the deformation of the non-ER matrix. By properly controlling the locations of the ER hydrogel sections with respect to the non-ER hydrogel matrix, one can achieve a desired deformation of the composite structure. As examples, designs of a single material actuator, one linear spring composite actuator, and two coil composite actuators are demonstrated. The feasibility to produce these actuators and the possible applications are discussed at the end of the article.
Densification Process of Porous Materials Under Uniaxial Compression
Authors: Shirizly A. , Tirosh J. , Rubinski L.
Published: July 2007

The objective of this work is to examine (by experiments and associated limit analysis approximations) the evolution of the densification process of porous continua subjected to a unidirectional compression. The problem is treated by the limit analysis approach, which leads to bounds for the loading path. The formulation is based on (and compared with) the various modifications of Gurson's yield function. However, rather than using `effective properties' of the bulk, the spatial distributions (of the density, of the hydrostatic pressure, etc.) are preserved, along with their time-like progression during the considered nonsteady process. An admissible velocity field is assumed for the bulk material and it is used to find the constitutive response of the material to the densification. Concurrently, an admissible yielding stress field is employed for providing a rigorous lower bound analysis and for assessing the effect of hydrostatic stress on the plastic flow used in the upper bound analysis. The combination of the two admissible fields is shown to provide a satisfactory engineering tool, to predict what should be the loading path for performing the densification, regardless of the actual mechanism by which the densification process is evolved. The suggested procedure is compared to experiments with various sintered powder materials.
Coupling Between Mesoplasticity and Damage in High-cycle Fatigue
Authors: Flaceliere Laurent , Morel Franck , Dragon André
Published: July 2007

The multiaxial fatigue loading in the high-cycle regime leads to localized mesoscopic plastic strain that occurs in some preferential directions of individual grains for most metallic materials. Crack initiation modeling is difficult in this fatigue regime because the scale where the mechanisms operate is not the engineering scale (macroscopic scale), and local plasticity and damage act simultaneously. This article describes a damage model based on the interaction between mesoplasticity and local damage for the infinite and the finite fatigue life regimes. Several salient effects are accounted for via a simple localization rule, which connects the macroscopic scale with the mesoscopic one, and by the model presented here, which describes the coupled effects of mesoplasticity and damage growth.

Irreversible thermodynamics concepts with internal state variables are used to maintain a balance between extensive descriptions of plastic flow and damage events. Cyclic hardening behavior is described by a combined isotropic and kinematic hardening rule while the damage evolution is governed notably by the accumulated plastic mesoscopic strain. In this study, predictions are compared to fatigue tests performed on a mild steel (C36) under different loading modes. All the experiments are carried out under in-phase loading conditions: reversed tension, torsion, and combined tension—torsion. The mean stress effect is also studied through tests conducted under tension. The predicted Wöhler curves under any loading mode can be readily obtained with this model, but the main feature of this approach is to ensure a clear link between the mesoscopic parameters like the hardening behavior of individual grains and the subsequent local damage.
A Micro—Macro Approach to Modeling Progressive Damage in Composite Structures
Authors: Tay T.E. , Liu G. , Yudhanto A. , Tan V.B.C.
Published: July 2007

Modeling progressive damage in composite materials and structures poses considerable challenges because damage is, in general, complex and involves multiple modes such as delamination, transverse cracking, fiber breakage, fiber pullout, etc. Clearly, damage in composites can be investigated at different length scales, ranging from the micromechanical to the macromechanical specimen and structural scales. In this article, a simple but novel finite-element-based method for modeling progressive damage in fiber-reinforced composites is presented. The element-failure method (EFM) is based on the simple idea that the nodal forces of an element of a damaged composite material can be modified to reflect the general state of damage and loading. This has an advantage over the usual material property degradation approaches, i.e., because the stiffness matrix of the element is not changed, computational convergence is theoretically guaranteed, resulting in a robust modeling tool. The EFM, when employed with suitable micromechanics-based failure criteria, may be a practical method for mapping damage initiation and propagation in composite structures. In this article, we present a micromechanical analysis for a new failure criterion called the strain invariant failure theory and the application of the EFM in the modeling of open-hole tension specimens. The micromechanical analysis yields a set of amplification factors, which are used to establish a set of micromechanically enhanced strain invariants for the failure criterion. The effects of material properties and volume fraction on the amplification factors are discussed.
Internet-based cognitive testing in multiple sclerosis
Authors: Younes M. , Hill J. , Quinless J. , Kilduff M. , Peng B. , Cook SD , Cadavid D.
Published: July 2007

Cognitive impairment in multiple sclerosis is difficult to study because of the heterogeneity and variability of this disease. The gold standard for measurement of cognitive function in multiple sclerosis is a full battery of neurocognitive tests, which is time consuming and expensive. Some cognitive tests like the PASAT, a measure of working verbal memory and processing speed, have been proposed for screening and follow-up of cognitive function in clinical trials. We studied whether we could measure cognitive function in multiple sclerosis over the Internet. For this we used the Cognitive Stability Index (CSI)™, developed for persons with known or suspected primary central nervous system illness. The CSI was compared with formal neurocognitive testing (NPsych) and the PASAT in a cross-sectional study of 40 consecutive multiple sclerosis patients with subjective cognitive complaints. NPsych revealed that only 18 of the 40 patients (46%) were cognitively impaired. Although both the CSI and the PASAT were equalivalent in their specificity (86%), the CSI was significantly more sensitive than the PASAT (83% versus 28%). We conclude that the CSI, because of its availability over the Internet, has great potential as a tool for screening and follow up of cognitive function in multiple sclerosis. Multiple Sclerosis 2007; 13: 1011—1019. http://msj.sagepub.com
Individualism—Collectivism and Incentive System Design as Predictive of Productivity in a Simulated Cellular Manufacturing Environment
Authors: Papamarcos Steven D. , Latshaw Craig , Watson George W.
Published: July 2007

We respond to recent calls for a more inclusive behavioral as well as structural perspective on today's state-of-the-art manufacturing designs. Specifically, we empirically examine individualism—collectivism's productivity-related consequences for today's agile, cellular manufacturing designs across incentive systems. Findings indicate that, as hypothesized, the alignment of cell members' collectivistic orientation, a cooperative task structure, and equalitarian performance incentives resulted in one of the higher levels of productivity. However, the assumption that productivity will monotonically increase with the alignment of organizational components and worker orientation now appears questionable. While complete misalignment resulted in a productivity deficit averaging 7.6 percent, as long as one of the two major organizational design elements explored in this study (task structure and individual- versus group-based incentives) is aligned with the individualistic or collectivistic orientation of workers, optimal cell productivity is achieved.
Inhibition of HMGcoA reductase by atorvastatin prevents and reverses MYC-induced lymphomagenesis
Authors: Shachaf Catherine M. , Perez Omar D. , Youssef Sawsan , Fan Alice C. , Elchuri Sailaja , Goldstein Matthew J. , Shirer Amy E. , Sharpe Orr , Chen Joy , Mitchell Dennis J. , Chang Maria , Nolan Garry P. , Steinman Lawrence , Felsher Dean W.
Published: July 2007

Statins are a class of drugs that inhibit 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A (HMGcoA) reductase, a critical enzyme in the mevalonate pathway. Several reports document that statins may prevent different human cancers. However, whether or not statins can prevent cancer is controversial due to discordant results. One possible explanation for these conflicting conclusions is that only some tumors or specific statins may be effective. Here, we demonstrate in an in vivo transgenic model in which atorvastatin reverses and prevents the onset of MYC-induced lymphomagenesis, but fails to reverse or prevent tumorigenesis in the presence of constitutively activated K-Ras (G12D). Using phosphoprotein fluorescence-activated cell sorter (FACS) analysis, atorvastatin treatment was found to result in the inactivation of the Ras and ERK1/2 signaling pathways associated with the dephosphorylation and inactivation of MYC. Correspondingly, tumors with a constitutively activated K-Ras (G12D) did not exhibit dephosphorylation of ERK1/2 and MYC. Atorvastatin's effects on MYC were specific to the inhibition of HMGcoA reductase, as treatment with mevalonate, the product of HMG-CoA reductase activity, abrogated these effects and inhibited the ability of atorvastatin to reverse or suppress tumorigenesis. Also, RNAi directed at HMGcoA reductase was sufficient to abrogate the neoplastic properties of MYC-induced tumors. Thus, atorvastatin, by inhibiting HMGcoA reductase, induces changes in phosphoprotein signaling that in turn prevent MYC-induced lymphomagenesis.
A novel approach to sequence validating protein expression clones with automated decision making
Authors: Taycher Elena , Rolfs Andreas , Hu Yanhui , Zuo Dongmei , Mohr Stephanie E , Williamson Janice , LaBaer Joshua
Published: July 2007

Background

Whereas the molecular assembly of protein expression clones is readily automated and routinely accomplished in high throughput, sequence verification of these clones is still largely performed manually, an arduous and time consuming process. The ultimate goal of validation is to determine if a given plasmid clone matches its reference sequence sufficiently to be "acceptable" for use in protein expression experiments. Given the accelerating increase in availability of tens of thousands of unverified clones, there is a strong demand for rapid, efficient and accurate software that automates clone validation.

Results

We have developed an Automated Clone Evaluation (ACE) system – the first comprehensive, multi-platform, web-based plasmid sequence verification software package. ACE automates the clone verification process by defining each clone sequence as a list of multidimensional discrepancy objects, each describing a difference between the clone and its expected sequence including the resulting polypeptide consequences. To evaluate clones automatically, this list can be compared against user acceptance criteria that specify the allowable number of discrepancies of each type. This strategy allows users to re-evaluate the same set of clones against different acceptance criteria as needed for use in other experiments. ACE manages the entire sequence validation process including contig management, identifying and annotating discrepancies, determining if discrepancies correspond to polymorphisms and clone finishing. Designed to manage thousands of clones simultaneously, ACE maintains a relational database to store information about clones at various completion stages, project processing parameters and acceptance criteria. In a direct comparison, the automated analysis by ACE took less time and was more accurate than a manual analysis of a 93 gene clone set.

Conclusion

ACE was designed to facilitate high throughput clone sequence verification projects. The software has been used successfully to evaluate more than 55,000 clones at the Harvard Institute of Proteomics. The software dramatically reduced the amount of time and labor required to evaluate clone sequences and decreased the number of missed sequence discrepancies, which commonly occur during manual evaluation. In addition, ACE helped to reduce the number of sequencing reads needed to achieve adequate coverage for making decisions on clones.
Anopheles gambiae heat shock protein cognate 70B impedes o'nyong-nyong virus replication
Authors: Sim Cheolho , Hong Young S , Tsetsarkin Konstantin A , Vanlandingham Dana L , Higgs Stephen , Collins Frank H
Published: July 2007

Background

Phylogenetic and functional analysis was conducted on an Anopheles gambiae gene, ENSANGG00000017398. Based on phylogenetic analysis, this gene belongs to the same lineage as Heat shock protein cognate 70-4 (Hsc70-4) in Drosophila. Accordingly, we propose to name this gene Heat shock protein cognate 70B (HSC70B). We previously reported that expression of HSC70B and other genes including elongation factor-1α (EF-1α) and the agglutinin attachment subunit (agglutinin) were up-regulated in o'nyong-nyong virus (ONNV)-infected female An. gambiae. Double-stranded RNA interferences have been applied to further investigate HSC70B, EF-1α and the agglutinin functions in ONNV replication in An. gambiae.

Results

Among these three RNAi silenced genes, only dsRNAs of HSC70B (dsHSC70B) promoted ONNV replication in adult An. gambiae compared to the control mosquitoes that were co-injected with ONNV and dsRNA of β-galactosidase (dsβ-gal). ONNV titers from mosquitoes co-injected with dsHSC70B were about 9-fold higher at 6 days post-injection (d.p.i.) as compared to the control mosquitoes. By using ONNV tagged with enhanced green fluorescent protein (ONNV-eGFP), co-injection of ONNV-eGFP with dsHSC70B also showed approximately 2 ~ 3-fold higher GFP expression rates than the controls in the head, thorax, and abdomen of the mosquito. Furthermore, co-injection of ONNV with dsHSC70B significantly reduced the lifespan of adult mosquitoes as compared with the control, co-injection of ONNV with dsβ-gal treated mosquitoes.

Conclusion

These results indicate that HSC70B plays important roles in homeostasis and suppression of ONNV replication in the vector, An. gambiae. Biological implications of these findings are that while mosquitoes allow ONNV to replicate in them, they also check viral titers so that ONNV infection will result in no harmful effect on mosquitoes. Therefore, mosquitoes can function as vectors of ONNV transmission to humans while ONNV infection in An. gambiae remains asymptomatic.
Hyperhomocysteinemia in women with unexplained sterility or recurrent early pregnancy loss from Southern Italy: a preliminary report
Authors: D'Uva Maristella , Di Micco Pierpaolo , Strina Ida , Alviggi Carlo , Iannuzzo Mariateresa , Ranieri Antonio , Mollo Antonio , De Placido Giuseppe
Published: July 2007

Background

Hyperhomocysteinemia has been described as a risk factor for unexplained recurrent pregnancy loss. Increased levels of homocysteine may be due to inadequate dietary intake of folate and vitamin B12 and inherited defects within the methionine-homocysteine pathway such as MTHFR C677T gene polymorphism. However, the association between hyperhomocysteinemia and sterility problems have been underlined only for recurrent pregnancy loss while a relationship between hyperhomocysteinemia and female sterility is still matter of discussion.

Aim

This study sought to find out a possible relationship between sterility (primary sterility or secondary sterility due to recurrent pregnancy loss) and homocysteine metabolism.

Patients and Methods

We selected 20 patients with recurrent pregnancy loss, 20 patients with unexplained female sterility and 20 healthy women as control group. Several whole blood samples were collected by venipuncture. Firstly homocysteinemia and other related variables were tested (i.e. folate and vitamin B12 levels); thereafter DNA was extracted by a further whole blood sample collected in EDTA in order to screen MTHFR C677T gene polymorphism. Statistical analysis was performed by chi square test; differences were considered to be significant if p < 0.05.

Results

The median fasting total plasma homocysteine concentration was 19.2 ± 6.14 μM for patients with recurrent pregnancy loss, while was 21.05 ± 8.78 μM for patients with unexplained sterility, vs 7.85 ± 3.31 μM of control group (p < 0.05). Fifteen patients with unexplained female sterility showed MTHFR C677T homozigosity vs 17 with recurrent pregnancy loss and 3 in the control group (p < 0.05). On the other hand no significant differences were found in the levels of vitamin B 12 in the three groups, while reduced folate concentrations were found in women with unexplained female sterility and recurrent pregnancy loss (p < 0.05 vs control group.

Discussion

MTHFR C677T gene polymorphism is frequent in the studied populations. These data raise questions on the role of the homocysteine metabolism in sterility problems. Even though increased homocysteine (i.e. > 15 μM) and MTHFR C677T homozigosity have already been described as risk factors for recurrent pregnancy loss, few studies evaluated their role in women with unexplained sterility. Further studies on larger series are needed to better understand the role of homocysteine metabolism, including folate metabolism, in this clinical setting.
Inhibition of HIV-1 replication by P-TEFb inhibitors DRB, seliciclib and flavopiridol correlates with release of free P-TEFb from the large, inactive form of the complex
Authors: Biglione Sebastian , Byers Sarah A , Price Jason P , Nguyen Van Trung , Bensaude Olivier , Price David H , Maury Wendy
Published: July 2007

Background

The positive transcription elongation factor, P-TEFb, comprised of cyclin dependent kinase 9 (Cdk9) and cyclin T1, T2 or K regulates the productive elongation phase of RNA polymerase II (Pol II) dependent transcription of cellular and integrated viral genes. P-TEFb containing cyclin T1 is recruited to the HIV long terminal repeat (LTR) by binding to HIV Tat which in turn binds to the nascent HIV transcript. Within the cell, P-TEFb exists as a kinase-active, free form and a larger, kinase-inactive form that is believed to serve as a reservoir for the smaller form.

Results

We developed a method to rapidly quantitate the relative amounts of the two forms based on differential nuclear extraction. Using this technique, we found that titration of the P-TEFb inhibitors flavopiridol, DRB and seliciclib onto HeLa cells that support HIV replication led to a dose dependent loss of the large form of P-TEFb. Importantly, the reduction in the large form correlated with a reduction in HIV-1 replication such that when 50% of the large form was gone, HIV-1 replication was reduced by 50%. Some of the compounds were able to effectively block HIV replication without having a significant impact on cell viability. The most effective P-TEFb inhibitor flavopiridol was evaluated against HIV-1 in the physiologically relevant cell types, peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs) and monocyte derived macrophages (MDMs). Flavopiridol was found to have a smaller therapeutic index (LD50/IC50) in long term HIV-1 infectivity studies in primary cells due to greater cytotoxicity and reduced efficacy at blocking HIV-1 replication.

Conclusion

Initial short term studies with P-TEFb inhibitors demonstrated a dose dependent loss of the large form of P-TEFb within the cell and a concomitant reduction in HIV-1 infectivity without significant cytotoxicity. These findings suggested that inhibitors of P-TEFb may serve as effective anti-HIV-1 therapies. However, longer term HIV-1 replication studies indicated that these inhibitors were more cytotoxic and less efficacious against HIV-1 in the primary cell cultures.
Polar Effect of Successive Fluorination of Dimethyl Carbonate on Physical Properties
Authors: Nanbu Noritoshi , Takehara Masahiro , Watanabe Susumu , Ue Makoto , Sasaki Yukio
Published: July 2007

Successive fluorination of dimethyl carbonate (DMC) exerts a polar effect on various fundamental properties. We describe the temperature dependence of the mass density (ρ), refractive index (nD), relative permittivity (εr), dynamic viscosity (η), and kinematic viscosity (ν) of trifluorinated, difluorinated, and monofluorinated DMCs (TFDMC, DFDMC, and MFDMC, respectively). η decreased in essentially the same order as εr: DFDMC > TFDMC > MFDMC > DMC. However, ν and the boiling point of the TFDMC were lower than those of the MFDMC.
Generalized Anomeric Effect in CH4−nClnS. Energetic and NBO Analyses
Authors: Roohi Hossein , Habibi Sayed Mostefa
Published: July 2007

The conformational preference for gauche structures over anti ones in the simple model molecules CH4−nClnS (where n=1 and 2) was examined in detail by means of Natural Bond Orbital (NBO) analysis. We also compared the origin of the anomeric effect in CH2ClSH and CH2FSH. The energetic preference at MP2/6-311+G(d,p) level was slightly greater in CH2ClSH than in CHCl2SH. NBO analysis at the HF/6-311+G(d,p)//MP2/6-311+G(d,p) level indicates that the conformational preference for gauche conformers over anti ones is the result of a wide variety of orbital interactions. However, the interaction between the lp(S) and σ∗(C–Cl) is the most important factor for stabilizing the gauche conformers. In all compounds studied here, the effect of electrostatic and steric contributions involved in the Lewis term on stability of gauche conformers was less important than the charge delocalization.
Theoretical Design of Monofunctional Psoralen Compounds in Photochemotherapy
Authors: Nakata Ayako , Baba Takeshi , Nakai Hiromi
Published: July 2007

The geometries and electronic structures in the lowest triplet (T1) states of psoralen, 5-methoxypsoralen (5-MOP), 8-methoxypsoralen (8-MOP), and their monoadducts were studied by performing density functional theory (DFT) calculations. It was shown that the pyrone ring of 8-MOP is cleaved in the T1 state and the cleaved pyrone ring loses the ability to bond to the thymine residue. Therefore, 8-MOP in the open-ring structure does not form a diadduct, which is thought to cause side effects. DFT calculations on 20 kinds of substituted psoralens showed that the cleavage of the pyrone ring in the T1 state can be controlled by substituting an electron-donating group, especially one having a strong electron-donating resonance effect, at the 8-position of psoralen.
Synthesis and Properties of a 1,3-Thiazole Extended p-Terphenoquinone. A New sp2 Nitrogen Atom-Containing Terquinone Derivative
Authors: Kurata Hiroyuki , Takakuwa Hideki , Imai Naoaki , Matsumoto Kouzou , Kawase Takeshi , Oda Masaji
Published: July 2007

2,5-Bis(3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-oxo-2,5-cyclohexadien-1-ylidene)-2,5-dihydrothiazole, which is to our knowledge, the first p-terphenoquinone incorporating a 1,3-thiazole ring, had a sharp and strong absorption in the visible region and good electron affinity enhanced by sp2 nitrogen atom. Alkali-metal reduction afforded the corresponding dianion, which showed strong fluorescence.
Premarital screening for β-thalassaemia in Southern Iran: options for improving the programme
Authors: Karimi Mehran , Jamalian Nima , Yarmohammadi Hooman , Askarnejad Abdolrasoul , Afrasiabi Abdolreza , Hashemi Alireza
Published: July 2007

Background: β-thalassaemia is a preventable disease. Iran has about 20,000 homozygote β-thalassaemia patients and 3,750,000 carriers.

Objective: To assess the 10-year results of the screening programme, which has been operating in Southern Iran since 1995.

Methods: All couples wanting to marry were required to be checked for β-thalassaemia by their red blood cell indices in order to receive a permit for marriage registration. The results were reported to the nearest counselling team. If the results were conspicuous, haemoglobin A2(HbA2) and, in some subjects, Hb electrophoresis was performed. Couples in which both partners were carriers received counselling. For those who, in spite of the recommendation, decided to marry, prenatal diagnosis and termination of pregnancy in case of an affected fetus was offered. The latter was offered only in the last three years.

Results: In 1995, 1999 and 2004, 296, 94 and 56 β-thalassaemia homozygotes, respectively, were born (2.53, 1.07 and 0.82 patients per 1000 births).

Discussion: This programme has decreased the birth prevalence of β-thalassaemia, but has unfortunately not eliminated the disease altogether. The reasons for the birth of new cases, in spite of the screening programmes, are: (i) premarital screening programme started in 1995; therefore, carrier couples who married before this did not receive counselling and gave birth to homozygote β-thalassaemia children; (ii) unwanted pregnancy among the carrier couples; (iii) the couples knew about their problem, but they married for cultural and religious causes (illegal marriages).
An advance notification letter increases participation in colorectal cancer screening
Authors: Cole S R , Smith A , Wilson C , Turnbull D , Esterman A , Young G P
Published: July 2007

Objectives: To determine the impact of novel invitation strategies on population participation in faecal immunochemical test (FIT)-based colorectal cancer (CRC) screening. Setting A community screening programme in Adelaide, South Australia.

Methods: In total, 2400 people aged 50–74 years were randomly allocated to one of four CRC screening invitation strategies: (a) Control: standard invitation-to-screen letter explaining risk of CRC and the concept, value and method of screening; (b) Risk: invitation with additional messages related to CRC risk; (c) Advocacy: invitation with additional messages related to advocacy for screening from previous screening programme participants and (d) Advance Notification: first, a letter introducing Control letter messages followed by the standard invitation-to-screen. Invitations included an FIT kit. Programme participation rates were determined for each strategy relative to control. Associations between participation and sociodemographic variables were explored.

Results: At 12 weeks after invitation, participation was: Control: 237/600 (39.5%); Risk: 242/600 (40.3%); Advocacy: 216/600 (36.0%) and Advance Notification: 290/600 (48.3%). Participation was significantly greater than Control only in the Advance Notification group (Relative risk [RR] 1.23, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.06–1.43). This effect was apparent as early as two weeks from date of offer; Advance Notification: 151/600 (25.2%) versus Control: 109/600 (18.2%, RR 1.38, 95% CI 1.11–1.73).

Conclusions: Advance notification significantly increased screening participation. The effect may be due to a population shift in readiness to undertake screening, and is consistent with the Transtheoretical Model of behaviour change. Risk or lay advocacy strategies did not improve screening participation. Organized screening programmes should consider using advance notification letters to improve programme participation.
Diagnosis and management costs of suspicious skin lesions from a population-based melanoma screening programme
Authors: Gordon Louisa , Youl Philippa H , Elwood Mark , Janda Monika , Ring Ian T , Lowe John B , Aitken Joanne F
Published: July 2007

Background: Recently, massive increases in health-care costs for the diagnosis and management of skin lesions have been observed (2000–05). The aim of this study was to describe the health system costs attributed to the diagnosis and management of suspicious skin lesions detected during a trial of a population melanoma screening programme (1998–2001).

Setting: Queensland, Australia.

Methods: Data from the trial and Medicare Australia were used to categorize and cost all suspicious skin lesions arising from the trial, which included general practitioner consultations, diagnosis/management and pathology. Comparisons were made with other screened and unscreened populations.

Results: Overall, 2982 lesions were treated within the trial producing a mean cost of Aus$118 per lesion. Excisions for benign lesions contributed the greatest proportion of total costs (45%). The total cost burden was approximately 10% higher for men than women, and 63% of overall costs were for persons aged ≥50 years. For diagnosis and management procedures, the estimated average cost per 1000 individuals was Aus$23,560 for men aged ≥50 years from the skin cancer screening trial, compared with Aus$26,967 for BreastScreen Australia and Aus$3042 for the National Cervical Screening Program.

Conclusions: The proportion of costs for benign skin lesions and biopsies arising from the screening programme were no higher than in the two-year period outside the trial. While comparisons are difficult, it appears that diagnostic and management costs for skin cancer as a result of screening may be comparable with those for BreastScreen Australia, if screening is targeted at men aged ≥50 years.
Vaginal birth after Caesarean section: what information should women be given?
Authors: Edozien Leroy
Published: July 2007

With rising Caesarean section (CS) rates, more women are having to consider the choice between an elective CS and a vaginal delivery (VBAC) in their subsequent pregnancy. This paper argues that there is an unmet need for clinicians to provide sufficient information to women in this position, so that the woman's choice can be an informed one. Consent should be evidence-based, but there are currently no published random-allocation studies comparing VBAC with elective repeat CS. However the available evidence could be better used by clinicians to facilitate informed choice.
Notes on the marine algae of the Bermudas. 8. Further additions to the flora, including Griffithsia aestivana sp. nov. (Ceramiaceae, Rhodophyta) and an update on the alien Cystoseira compressa (Sargassaceae, Heterokontophyta)
Authors: W. Schneider Craig , E. Lane Christopher
Published: July 2007

Griffithsia aestivana sp. nov. is described as an endemic from Bermuda. Vegetatively, it is most similar to G. capitata from the eastern Atlantic Ocean, but the two differ in overall size and in the tetrasporic state. Eleven other marine algal taxa are reported from Bermuda for the first time: Anadyomene howei, Struvea elegans, Cladophoropsis macromeres, Derbesia turbinata, Caulerpa racemosa var. lamourouxii, Halimeda discoidea, Chrysymenia nodulosa, Gloiocladia iyoensis, Dasya caraibica, Chondrophycus iridescens and Polysiphonia scopulorum. All except D. turbinata represent new northern limits of distribution in the North Atlantic Ocean. In addition, recent Bermuda collections of the alien Mediterranean Cystoseira compressa and the rarely found Womersleyella setacea are detailed.
Pilocarpine-Induced Seizures Cause Selective Time-Dependent Changes to Adult-Generated Hippocampal Dentate Granule Cells
Authors: Walter Cynthia , Murphy Brian L. , Pun Raymund Y. K. , Spieles-Engemann Anne L. , Danzer Steve C.
Published: July 2007

Aberrantly interconnected granule cells are characteristic of temporal lobe epilepsy. By reducing network stability, these abnormal neurons may contribute directly to disease development. Only subsets of granule cells, however, exhibit abnormalities. Why this is the case is not known. Ongoing neurogenesis in the adult hippocampus may provide an explanation. Newly generated granule cells may be uniquely vulnerable to environmental disruptions relative to their mature neighbors. Here, we determine whether there is a critical period after neuronal birth during which neuronal integration can be disrupted by an epileptogenic insult. By bromodeoxyuridine birthdating cells in green fluorescent protein-expressing transgenic mice, we were able to noninvasively label granule cells born 8 weeks before (mature), 1 week before (immature), or 3 weeks after (newborn) pilocarpine-epileptogenesis. Neuronal morphology was examined 4 and 8 weeks after pilocarpine treatment. Strikingly, almost 50% of immature granule cells exposed to pilocarpine-epileptogenesis exhibited aberrant hilar basal dendrites. In contrast, only 9% of mature granule cells exposed to the identical insult possessed basal dendrites. Moreover, newborn cells were even more severely impacted than immature cells, with 40% exhibiting basal dendrites and an additional 20% exhibiting migration defects. In comparison, <5% of neurons from normal animals exhibited either abnormality, regardless of age. Together, these data demonstrate the existence of a critical period after the birth of adult-generated neurons during which they are vulnerable to being recruited into epileptogenic neuronal circuits. Pathological brain states therefore may pose a significant hurdle for the appropriate integration of newly born endogenous, and exogenous, neurons.
Postsynaptic EphrinB3 Promotes Shaft Glutamatergic Synapse Formation
Authors: Aoto Jason , Ting Pamela , Maghsoodi Bita , Xu Nanjie , Henkemeyer Mark , Chen Lu
Published: July 2007

Excitatory synapses in the CNS are formed on both dendritic spines and shafts. Recent studies show that the density of shaft synapses may be independently regulated by behavioral learning and the induction of synaptic plasticity, suggesting that distinct mechanisms are involved in regulating these two types of synapses. Although the molecular mechanisms underlying spinogenesis and spine synapse formation are being delineated, those regulating shaft synapses are still unknown. Here, we show that postsynaptic ephrinB3 expression promotes the formation of glutamatergic synapses specifically on the shafts, not on spines. Reducing or increasing postsynaptic ephrinB3 expression selectively decreases or increases shaft synapse density, respectively. In the ephrinB3 knock-out mouse, although spine synapses are normal, shaft synapse formation is reduced in the hippocampus. Overexpression of glutamate receptor-interacting protein 1 (GRIP1) rescues ephrinB3 knockdown phenotype by restoring shaft synapse density. GRIP1 knockdown prevents the increase in shaft synapse density induced by ephrinB3 overexpression. Together, our results reveal a novel mechanism for independent modulation of shaft synapses through ephrinB3 reverse signaling.
Lymphotoxin β Receptor (LtβR): Dual Roles in Demyelination and Remyelination and Successful Therapeutic Intervention Using LtβR–Ig Protein
Authors: Plant Sheila R. , Iocca Heather A. , Wang Ying , Thrash J. Cameron , O'Connor Brian P. , Arnett Heather A. , Fu Yang-Xin , Carson Monica J. , Ting Jenny P.-Y.
Published: July 2007

Inflammation mediated by macrophages is increasingly found to play a central role in diseases and disorders that affect a myriad of organs, prominent among these are diseases of the CNS. The neurotoxicant-induced, cuprizone model of demyelination is ideally suited for the analysis of inflammatory events. Demyelination on exposure to cuprizone is accompanied by predictable microglial activation and astrogliosis, and, after cuprizone withdrawal, this activation reproducibly diminishes during remyelination. This study demonstrates enhanced expression of lymphotoxin β receptor (LtβR) during the demyelination phase of this model, and LtβR is found in areas enriched with microglial and astroglial cells. Deletion of the LtβR gene (LtβR−/−) resulted in a significant delay in demyelination but also a slight delay in remyelination. Inhibition of LtβR signaling by an LtβR–Ig fusion decoy protein successfully delayed demyelination in wild-type mice. Unexpectedly, this LtβR–Ig decoy protein dramatically accelerated the rate of remyelination, even after the maximal pathological disease state had been reached. This strongly indicates the beneficial role of LtβR–Ig in the delay of demyelination and the acceleration of remyelination. The discrepancy between remyelination rates in these systems could be attributed to developmental abnormalities in the immune systems ofLtβR−/−mice. These findings bode well for the use of an inhibitory LtβR–Ig as a candidate biological therapy in demyelinating disorders, because it is beneficial during both demyelination and remyelination.
A Novel Molecule “Shati” Is Involved in Methamphetamine-Induced Hyperlocomotion, Sensitization, and Conditioned Place Preference
Authors: Niwa Minae , Nitta Atsumi , Mizoguchi Hiroyuki , Ito Yasutomo , Noda Yukihiro , Nagai Taku , Nabeshima Toshitaka
Published: July 2007

Drug addiction places an enormous burden on society through its repercussions on crime rate and healthcare. Repeated exposure to drugs of abuse causes cellular adaptations in specific neuronal populations that ultimately can lead to a state of addiction. In the present study, we have identified a novel molecule “shati” from the nucleus accumbens (NAc) of mice treated with methamphetamine (METH) using the PCR-select complementary DNA subtraction method. Moreover, we investigated whether shati is involved in METH-induced hyperlocomotion, sensitization, and conditioned place preference (CPP). METH induced expression of shati mRNA dose dependently via dopamine (DA) receptors. We prepared antibodies against shati and, using them, found shati to be expressed in neuronal cells of the mouse brain. Treatment with the shati antisense oligonucleotide (shati-AS), which significantly inhibited the expression of shati mRNA, enhanced the acute METH response, METH-induced behavioral sensitization, and CPP. Blockage of shati mRNA by shati-AS potentiated the METH-induced increase of DA overflow in the NAc and the METH-induced decrease in synaptosomal and vesicular DA uptake in the midbrain. These results suggest that a novel molecule shati is involved in the development of METH-induced hyperlocomotion, sensitization, and CPP. The functional roles of shati in METH-regulated behavioral alternations are likely to be mediated by its inhibitory effects on the METH-induced increase of DA overflow in the NAc and the METH-induced decrease in DA uptake in the midbrain.
Perisaccadic Compression Correlates with Saccadic Peak Velocity: Differential Association of Eye Movement Dynamics with Perceptual Mislocalization Patterns
Authors: Ostendorf Florian , Fischer Constance , Finke Carsten , Ploner Christoph J.
Published: July 2007

Objects flashed around the onset of a saccadic eye movement are grossly mislocalized. Perisaccadic mislocalization has been related to a spatiotemporal misalignment of an extraretinal eye position signal with the corresponding saccade. Two phenomena have been observed: a systematic shift of perceived positions in saccade direction and an additional compression toward the saccade target. At present, it is unclear whether these two components of mislocalization are mediated by distinct mechanisms and how extraretinal signals may contribute to either of them. Moreover, the pattern and strength of perisaccadic mislocalization varies considerably across studies and even between subjects tested under identical conditions. Here, we investigated whether interindividual differences in saccade parameters are related to differences in mislocalization. We found that the individual strength of perceptual compression selectively correlates with the peak velocity of corresponding saccades. Other saccade parameters did not correlate with compression. No correlation was found between the shift component of perisaccadic mislocalization and any saccade parameter. This dissociation suggests that shift and compression components are, at least partially, mediated by distinct mechanisms. Because neuronal activity in the superior colliculus and downstream oculomotor areas has been shown to correlate with saccadic peak velocity, our findings support the notion that a reafferent extraretinal signal associated with saccadic motor commands may contribute to perisaccadic compression of perceived positions.
Endogenous Alkaline Transients Boost Postsynaptic NMDA Receptor Responses in Hippocampal CA1 Pyramidal Neurons
Authors: Makani Sachin , Chesler Mitchell
Published: July 2007

In hippocampus, activation of the Schaffer collaterals generates an extracellular alkaline transient bothin vitroandin vivo. This pH change may provide relief of the H+block of NMDA receptors (NMDARs) and thereby increase excitability. To test this hypothesis, we augmented extracellular buffering in mouse hippocampal slices by adding 2 μmbovine type II carbonic anhydrase to the superfusate. With addition of enzyme, the alkaline transient elicited by a 10 pulse, 100 Hz stimulus train was reduced by 33%. At a holding potential (VH) of −30 mV, the enzyme decreased the half-time of decay and charge transfer of EPSCs by 32 and 39%, respectively, but had no effect at aVHof −80 mV. In current clamp, a 10 pulse, 100 Hz stimulus train gave rise to an NMDAR-dependent afterdepolarization (ADP). Exogenous enzyme curtailed the ADP half-width and voltage integral by 20 and 25%, respectively. Similar reduction of the ADP was noted with a brief 12 Hz stimulus train. The effect persisted in the presence of GABAergic antagonists or the L-type Ca2+channel blocker methoxyverapamil hydrochloride but was absent in the presence of the carbonic anhydrase inhibitor benzolamide or when the exogenous enzyme was heat inactivated. The effects of the enzyme in voltage and current clamp were noted in 0 Mg2+media but were abolished when (+)-5-methyl-10,11-dihydro-5H-dibenzo[a,d]-cyclohepten-5,10-imine maleate was included in the patch pipette. These results provide strong evidence that endogenous alkaline transients are sufficiently large in the vicinity of the synapse to augment NMDAR responses.