bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Using What Works in Educational Psychology Courses
Authors: Suter W. Newton
Published: January 2006

This article describes the use of What Works in educational psychology courses. What Works, a U.S. Department of Education (USDE, 1987) publication, is a distillation of research in the field of education. Students in educational psychology courses can be given a short test based on the content of What Works at the beginning of the semester to reveal their common misconceptions about “what works” in education. This approach leads to a discussion of other not so obvious research findings, research methodologies, and information databases, such as those available through the Educational Resources Information Center (ERIC).
The Most Frequently Cited Journal Articles and Authors in Introductory Psychology Textbooks
Authors: Gorenflo Daniel W. , McConnell James V.
Published: January 2006

Using reference lists from 24 introductory psychology textbooks, we generated two tables: The first contains a list of the most frequently cited journal articles in the introductory texts; the second contains a list of the most frequently cited authors. The usefulness of citation indexes is discussed as well as why the two tables included in this article turned out as they did.
Integrating Clinical Neuropsychology into the Undergraduate Curriculum
Authors: Puente Antonio E. , Matthews Janet R. , Williams J. Michael , Matthews Lee H.
Published: January 2006

Clinical neuropsychology has experienced unprecedented growth. The popularity of this specialty has affected graduate training, but little information exists for undergraduate education. Three approaches to presenting neuropsychological information for undergraduate psychology courses are discussed. As one approach, an undergraduate neuropsychology course is described. Ways to integrate clinical neuropsychology into some existing courses is presented as a second approach. The third approach involves developing specialized audiovisual materials for telecourses or existing courses.
The Undergraduate Clinical Child Psychology Course: Bringing Students to the Real World and the Real World to Students
Authors: Glenwick David S. , Chabot David R.
Published: January 2006

An undergraduate clinical child psychology course that combines classroom, practicum, and guest speaker components is described. The course provides students with an overview of the descriptive characteristics, clinical theory, and treatment of the primary disorders and problems of childhood and adolescence. It also attempts to create linkages between ( a) academia and ( b) practitioners and settings in the natural environment. Course evaluation data indicate that this instructional model has been meeting its goal of stimulating students' interest in child psychopathology and in the psychosocial needs of youth.
An Interactive Problem-Solving Approach to the Teaching of a Marriage and Family Course
Authors: Gardner Louis E.
Published: January 2006

This article describes a method for promoting student interest and involvement in a marriage and family course. The method supplements lectures with problem-solving sessions for small groups. The instructor uses session outcomes to encourage critical evaluation by the entire class. Students' positive reactions to the course emphasize the complementarity of a traditional scholarly approach and interactive personal involvement.
History from Our Textbooks: Boring, Langfeld, and Weld's Introductory Texts (1935–1948+)
Authors: Webb Wilse B.
Published: January 2006

Textbooks attempt to present a comprehensive portrayal of a subject matter. Introductory psychology textbooks provide an overview of contemporary psychology. Reviewing the texts of an earlier period may provide a portrait of psychology of that period without the bias of our present time. This article reports the results of an actuarial analysis of three editions of the Boring, Langfeld, and Weld introductory texts published between 1935 and 1948. These editions are compared with contemporary introductory psychology texts.
The Teaching of Ethics and the Ethics of Teaching
Authors: Matthews Janet R.
Published: January 2006

This article discusses psychological ethics from two perspectives. One perspective is the presentation of ethics in the psychology classroom through textbook coverage and specifically designed courses. The other perspective is the relation of ethical issues to the activity of teaching. Each of the ethical principles established by APA (1981, 1990) is addressed as it relates to teaching activities. Suggestions for future additions to these principles are offered.
Memory and the Seven Dwarfs
Authors: Miserandino Marianne
Published: January 2006

This article describes a teaching demonstration in which the names of the seven dwarfs are used to introduce and explain basic processes of memory for an introductory psychology or cognition class. Recall and recognition are contrasted in order to develop an understanding of other important memory principles: organization by sound, letter, and/or meaning; the tip-of-the-tongue phenomenon; long-term memory; and short-term memory. Empirical verifications of this teaching method found it to be effective in helping students master the principles of memory.
Placing Women Psychologists in the Psychology of Women Course
Authors: Paludi Michele A.
Published: January 2006

Pedagogical techniques for incorporating information on women psychologists into the psychology of women course are suggested. Special emphasis is placed on the impact of women psychologists as role models for female students who need information on how to integrate lifestyle choices with their professional careers.
Research Methods Jeopardy: A Tool for Involving Students and Organizing the Study Session
Authors: Gibson Bryan
Published: January 2006

A game based on the popular TV show Jeopardy is described. The game involves students in study sessions and helps them organize the course material. Students say that the format is educational and entertaining.
Who Majors in Psychology?
Authors: Lunneborg Clifford E. , Lunneborg Patricia W.
Published: January 2006

We compared 365 graduates with bachelor's degrees in psychology to 244 in sociology/anthropology, 194 in speech communication, 155 in physical and health education, and 204 in social work/society and justice on earlier high school interests, grades, and achievement measures (e.g., vocabulary test scores). Advisers can inform prospective majors that, as high school students, psychology graduates' strongest vocational interest areas were artistic, general cultural, scientific, and service, not unlike successful PhDs in psychology. Psychology majors had similar interests to those majoring in the other four areas, but our majors had better high school grades and achievement test scores.
Vocational Preparation within a Liberal Arts Framework: Suggested Directions for Undergraduate Psychology Programs
Authors: Hogan Peter M.
Published: January 2006

The issue of vocational preparation in liberal arts programs is contentious, and undergraduate psychology curricula are no exception. Although some educators seek to maintain the traditional focus of the curriculum, others advocate an emphasis on career relevant skills and knowledge. This article addresses the issue of whether change in favor of vocational preparation compromises liberal arts values. Finding existing strategies flawed, I propose a new liberal skills model and recommend curriculum changes that can improve career relevance without sacrificing breadth of preparation.
Classroom Demonstration of Behavioral Effects of the Split-Brain Operation
Authors: Morris Edward J.
Published: January 2006

This article presents a method for simulating the behavior and perceptual deficits demonstrated by patients who have undergone the split-brain, or commissurotomy, surgical procedure. The volunteers sit next to each other in a manner that requires them to accomplish certain tasks as one person. Several easily staged activities, which require only readily available materials, show how split-brain patients illustrate certain lateralized cerebral hemispheric functions.
The Galician autonomy elections of 19 June: A modest vote for change?
Authors: Margaras Vasilis
Published: January 2006

This article examines the Galician autonomy elections of 19 June 2005, arguing that a moderate but important change has taken place, which has altered the political dynamics of the region, despite the narrow win of the progressive social-democratic and nationalist forces (PSdeG, BNG).
It forsees problems ahead unless both parties find ways to consolidate and extend their popular support. The article provides an analysis of the election results as well as of their impact at regional and national levels.
Water Resistance and Durability of Weather-Resistive Barriers
Authors: Weston TA , Pascual X , Boone K
Published: January 2006

Weather resistive barriers function as the second line of defense against water that has intruded past a building's cladding. Despite its importance, however, the evaluation of weather-resistive barrier water resistance performance is not conducted in a consistent manner across product types. Several different test methods that include vastly different water exposure techniques are used. Because of the variance in test methods and rating systems, the selection of optimal weather resistive barrier for a specific project can be difficult. Complicating matters further, the water resistance of weather resistive barriers is almost always reported on as-received materials, with little if any information provided on how the water resistance will change during the construction period or in service. This paper presents data comparing the water resistance of weather resistive barriers measured by both standard methods and by a small-scale water spray test. Additionally, the change in water resistance performance due to direct environmental exposure is discussed.
International Standards for Blast Resistant Glazing
Authors: Johnson NF
Published: January 2006

Glass fragments are a prime source of injury to occupants of buildings subjected to an explosive event. Health and safety considerations and the principles of a “reasonable duty of care” impose requirements on employers and on the designers and managers of buildings. Two International Standards have been prepared for the test and classification of “Glass in building—Explosion resistant security glazing.” These incorporate three test regimes. One standard employs a shock tube method to simulate the blast from large vehicle bombs. The other standard involves two categories of arena tests using live explosives at varying distances. One test series uses small, hand-carried charges of up to 20 kg weight and the other is based upon the blast from 100 kg TNT equivalent vehicle bomb charges, where TNT refers to trinitrotoluene. The three test regimes and classifications are described and compared. The paper demonstrates how the Standards will facilitate the specification, design, and testing of glass and complete glazing systems having compositions from antishatter film applications through to thick and bullet resistant laminated glass. The tests are appropriate for other building components and the Standards will offer a valuable tool to provide safer buildings with blast resistance for protection or hazard reduction.
Evaluation of a Curriculum for Intimate Partner Violence Screening in a Pediatric Emergency Department
Authors: Knapp Jane F. , Dowd M. Denise , Kennedy Christopher S. , Stallbaumer-Rouyer Jennifer , Henderson Deborah P.
Published: January 2006

OBJECTIVE. We sought to describe the assessment of course participant changes in attitudes, self-efficacy, and behaviors after completion of the Its Time to Ask training curriculum for screening for intimate partner violence (IPV) in a pediatric emergency department (PED).

METHODS. A 22-item Likert scale questionnaire was administered at baseline (before training), after training, and at 6-month follow-up to PED employee participants in a 2-hour IPV education program. Mean participant responses were compared between baseline/posttraining and baseline/6-month follow-up. Participants also completed a course-satisfaction survey.

RESULTS. A total of 79 PED staff completed the baseline questionnaire before the training. Eighty-seven participants completed the posttraining questionnaire, and 48 completed the 6-month follow-up questionnaire. Participants had consistent, positive changes in attitudes after training that persisted at the 6-month follow-up for 5 items on the questionnaire. Attitudes that did not change showed baseline means already in disagreement with questionnaire statements. Participants reported significant, positive changes for all 7 self-efficacy statements at 1 or both of the posttraining evaluations. The only changes in behavior were observed at 6 months. The majority of participants were satisfied with the training and would recommend it to colleagues.

CONCLUSIONS. Significant, self-reported changes in attitudes, self-efficacy, and behaviors/clinical practice regarding screening for IPV in a PED can be achieved through participation in a brief training curriculum.
Predicting the Risk for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome From Obstetric Characteristics: A Retrospective Cohort Study of 505011 Live Births
Authors: Smith Gordon C.S. , White Ian R.
Published: January 2006

OBJECTIVE. We sought to develop a simple robust method for assessing the risk for sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) on the basis of obstetric characteristics.

METHODS. A population-based retrospective cohort study was conducted of data from the linked Scottish Morbidity Record, Stillbirth and Infant Death Enquiry and General Registrar's Office database of births and deaths, encompassing births in Scotland between 1992 and 2001. All women who had a singleton live birth between 24 and 43 weeks' gestation and for whom data were available (n = 505011), divided into model development and validation samples, were studied. The main outcome measure was death of the infant in the first year of life as a result of SIDS.

RESULTS. The risk for SIDS was modeled in the development sample using logistic regression with the following predictors: maternal age, parity, marital status, smoking, and the birth weight and the gender of the infant. When the model was evaluated in the validation sample, the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.84 and the incidence of SIDS was 0.7 per 10000 (95% confidence interval: 0.3–1.4) among 126253 women in the lower 50% of predicted risk and 29.7 per 10000 (95% confidence interval: 23.4–37.2) among the 25250 women in the top 10% of predicted risk. A logistic-regression model then was developed for the whole population, and the output was converted into adjusted likelihood ratios. These are tabulated and provide a simple method for assessing the risk for SIDS associated with any combination of obstetric characteristics.

CONCLUSIONS. A model that uses maternal characteristics and outcome at birth is predictive of the risk for SIDS. This model is presented in a simple form that allows calculation of the individual risk for SIDS.
Quality of Life for Children With Functional Abdominal Pain: A Comparison Study of Patients' and Parents' Perceptions
Authors: Youssef Nader N. , Murphy Thomas G. , Langseder Annette L. , Rosh Joel R.
Published: January 2006

OBJECTIVE. Children with chronic abdominal pain of nonorganic origin, termed functional abdominal pain (FAP), experience school absences and social withdrawal and report impaired physical ability. The aim of this study was to assess patients' and parents' perceptions of health-related quality of life (QoL) for children with FAP.

METHODS. Between October 2002 and November 2003, 209 children (including 125 girls; age: 11.2 ± 3.5 years) and 209 parents were recruited from a pediatric referral center. At the time of their initial evaluations, participants completed a validated, health-related QoL instrument (Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory), which was scored on a scale of 0 (poor) through 100 (best). Children with FAP (n = 65) and their families were compared with control groups of healthy children (n = 46) and children with histologically proven inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) (n = 42) or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) (n = 56).

RESULTS. Children with FAP had self-reported QoL scores (score: 78) that were similar to those for children with GERD (score: 80) or IBD (score: 84). Children with FAP had lower QoL scores than did healthy children (score: 88). Parents of children with FAP reported lower QoL scores, compared with their children's scores (scores: 70 vs 78).

CONCLUSIONS. Children with FAP reported lower QoL, compared with their healthy peers, and had the same QoL scores as did children with IBD or GERD. Parents' perceptions of QoL for children with FAP were lower than their children's self-reported scores. These findings highlight the clinical significance of FAP and may provide insight into one facet of the disease's biopsychosocial etiology.
Secondary Bacteremia After Rotavirus Gastroenteritis in Infancy
Authors: Lowenthal Alexander , Livni Gilat , Amir Jacob , Samra Zmira , Ashkenazi Shai
Published: January 2006

We describe 1 neonate and 3 infants with bacteremia secondary to rotavirus gastroenteritis. All had a typical course of an increase in temperature several days after admission. The causative organisms were Enterobacter cloacae and Klebsiella pneumoniae, both normal commensals of the small intestine. Pediatricians should be aware of this complication.
Patient Misidentification in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit: Quantification of Risk
Authors: Gray James E. , Suresh Gautham , Ursprung Robert , Edwards William H. , Nickerson Julianne , Shiono Pat H. , Plsek Paul , Goldmann Donald A. , Horbar Jeffrey
Published: January 2006

OBJECTIVE. To quantify the potential for misidentification among NICU patients resulting from similarities in patient names or hospital medical record numbers (MRNs).

METHODS. A listing of all patients who received care in 1 NICU during 1 calendar year was obtained from the unit's electronic medical record system. A patient day was considered at risk for misidentification when the index patient shared a surname, similar-sounding surname, or similar MRN with another patient who was cared for in the NICU on that day.

RESULTS. During the 1-year study period, 12186 days of patient care were provided to 1260 patients. The unit's average daily census was 33.4; the maximum census was 48. Not a single day was free of risk for patient misidentification. The mean number of patients who were at risk on any given day was 17 (range: 5–35), representing just over 50% of the average daily census. During the entire calendar year, the risk ranged from 20.6% to a high of 72.9% of the average daily census. The most common causes of misidentification risk were similar-appearing MRNs (44% of patient days). Identical surnames were present in 34% of patient days, and similar-sounding names were present in 9.7% of days. Twins and triplets contributed one third of patient days in the NICU. After these multiple births were excluded from analysis, 26.3% of patient days remained at risk for misidentification. Among singletons, the contribution to misidentification risk of similar-sounding surnames was relatively unchanged (9.1% of patient days), whereas that of similar MRNs and identical surnames decreased (17.6% and 1.0%, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS. NICU patients are frequently at risk for misidentification errors as a result of similarities in standard identifiers. This risk persists even after exclusion of multiple births and is substantially higher than has been reported in other hospitalized populations.
Intermittent Hydronephrosis Secondary to Ureteropelvic Junction Obstruction: Clinical and Imaging Features
Authors: Tsai Jeng-Daw , Huang Fu-Yuan , Lin Chun-Chen , Tsai Tsuen-Chiuan , Lee Hung-Chang , Sheu Jin-Cherng , Chang Pei-Yeh
Published: January 2006

OBJECTIVE. We sought to assess the clinical and imaging findings in intermittent hydronephrosis secondary to ureteropelvic junction obstruction, with particular emphasis on the characteristic ultrasonographic findings.

METHODS. This prospective, longitudinal, observational study included all children who had intermittent ureteropelvic junction obstruction and presented with abdominal pain over 6 years. Renal ultrasound was used as an initial screening tool to detect intermittent hydronephrosis. Renal ultrasonography was repeated every 1 to 2 days to record serial changes from the symptomatic to the asymptomatic stage. Their clinical manifestations and imaging findings were studied.

RESULTS. Eighteen patients (14 boys, 4 girls) were studied. Most had sharp pain that began acutely and typically lasted for <2 days. Most of the children (16 of 18) had nausea and vomiting that accompanied the pain. The acute episode generally resolved spontaneously and was followed by a pain-free interval that ranged from days to months. Factors that predisposed to an attack included increased water intake, vigorous exercise, or bladder distention. All patients had clearly demonstrable obstruction of the renal pelvis during an acute attack, a finding that diminished or resolved during the symptom-free intervals. During convalescence, all patients had renal pelvic wall thickening on ultrasonography. This finding appeared on the second or third day after a painful episode subsided, persisted for 6 to 9 days, and then disappeared in the symptom-free stage. Pyeloplasty was performed in 17 patients, none of whom had recurrent pain on follow-up. Extrinsic obstructions were found in 9 patients.

CONCLUSIONS. The keys to diagnosis are awareness of the syndrome, a detailed history, and immediate and serial imaging studies during painful crises. A thickened renal pelvic wall during convalescence is an important ultrasonic sign of intermittent hydronephrosis.
Parathyroid Hormone Induces Mitogen‐Activated Kinase Phosphatase 1 in Murine Osteoblasts Primarily Through cAMP‐Protein Kinase A Signaling
Authors: Aghaloo Tara L. , Pirih Flavia Q. , Shi Andrew , Bezouglaia Olga , Tetradis Sotirios
Published: January 2006

Background: Parathyroid hormone (PTH) regulates osteoblast function by binding to the PTH receptor 1 (PTHR1) to activate downstream signaling to induce expression of primary response genes (PRGs), which affect various aspects of the osteoblast phenotype. We previously identified PTH‐induced PRGs in MC3T3‐E1 cells, including mitogen‐activated protein kinase (MAPK) phosphatase 1 (mkp1), which dephosphorylates members of the MAPK family. The aim of this study was to explore the molecular mechanisms of PTH's induction of mkp1 in primary mouse osteoblasts.

Methods: Northern and Western analyses were used to determine mkp1 mRNA and protein expression. In vivo experiments were also performed to determine PTH's effect on mkp1 in mouse calvariae and long bones.

Results: A total of 10 nM PTH and PTH‐related protein (PTHrP) maximally induced mkp1 mRNA levels after 1 hour in osteoblasts. PTH also increased mkp1 protein expression, and induced mkp1 mRNA independent of new protein synthesis. PTHR1 triggers protein kinase A (PKA), PKC, and calcium pathways. Although PKA and PKC agonists induced mkp1 mRNA levels, only cyclic adenosine 3′:5′‐monophosphate (cAMP)‐PKA inhibition blocked PTH‐induced mkp1 mRNA levels. These data suggest that PTH‐induced mkp1 mRNA levels are primarily mediated through the cAMP‐PKA pathway. Further, prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), which activates cAMP‐PKA and PKC, induced mkp1 mRNA to a greater extent than PGF2α and fluprostenol, which activate PKC signaling only. Finally, PTH maximally induced mkp1 mRNA levels in mouse calvariae and long bones in vivo at 0.5 hours.

Conclusions: mkp1's in vitro and in vivo induction in PTH‐target tissues suggests its involvement in some of the effects of PTH on osteoblast function. mkp1 may be an important target gene in the anabolic effect of PTH on osteoblasts.
Coronally Positioned Flap for Root Coverage: Poorer Outcomes in Smokers
Authors: Silva Cléverson Oliveira , Sallum Antônio Wilson , de Lima Antônio Fernando Martorelli , Tatakis Dimitris N.
Published: January 2006

Background: Gingival recession is significantly more common among smokers, while the relative outcome of various root coverage procedures in smokers, compared to non‐smokers, is debatable. The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of cigarette smoking on the outcome of coronally positioned flap (CPF) in the treatment of Miller Class I gingival recession defects.

Methods: Ten current smokers (≥10 cigarettes daily for at least 5 years) and 10 non‐smokers (never smokers), each with one 2‐ to 3‐mm Miller Class I recession defect in an upper canine or bicuspid, were treated with CPF. At baseline and 6 months, clinical parameters, probing depth (PD), clinical attachment level (CAL), recession depth (RD), and apico‐coronal width of keratinized tissue (KT) were determined.

Results: Intragroup analysis showed that CPF was able to reduce RD and improve CAL in both groups (P <0.05). Intergroup analysis demonstrated that smokers presented greater residual RD at 6 months and lower percentage of root coverage (69.3% versus 91.3%; P <0.05). No smokers obtained complete root coverage compared to 50% of non‐smokers (P <0.05).

Conclusions: Within the limits of the present study, it can be concluded that CPF provides benefits for both smokers and non‐smokers in terms of root coverage of shallow Miller Class I recession defects. However, cigarette smoking negatively impacts the clinical outcomes, specifically residual recession, percent root coverage, and frequency of complete root coverage.
Prediction of the Removal Efficiency of a Novel Two‐Stage Hybrid Scrubber for Flue Gas Desulfurization
Authors: Bandyopadhyaya A. , Biswasa M. N.
Published: January 2006

Emission of SO2 from various industrial sources occurs in varying concentrations and quantities. The operation of scrubbers as SO2 control devices is getting more and more attention as pollution control regulations are tightened. Experimental investigations on the scrubbing of SO2 in a novel two‐stage hybrid (spray‐cum‐bubble column) scrubber using water and dilute sodium alkali are reported. Empirical and semi‐empirical correlations are developed for the prediction of the performances of the bubble and the spray sections in terms of various pertinent variables of the system for water and alkaline scrubbing, respectively. The contribution of the mass transfer enhancement factor towards the removal of SO2 has been exploited while developing the semi‐empirical correlation for the prediction of performance in alkaline scrubbing. The predicted values are in excellent agreement with the experimental values. Finally, the operating features of the scrubber and design aspects are discussed in order to develop our understanding for practical applications.
Geochemical character and tectonic environment of ultramafic to mafic cumulate rocks from the Tekirova (Antalya) ophiolite (southern Turkey)
Authors: Bağci Utku , Parlak Osman , Höck Volker
Published: January 2006

The Upper Cretaceous Tekirova (Antalya) ophiolite derived from the southern branch of the Neotethys is located at the southwestern part of the Antalya Complex along the Tauride belt in southern Turkey. It comprises harzburgitic tectonites, ultramafic to mafic cumulates, isotropic gabbro, sheeted dykes, volcanics and associated sedimentary rocks. The cumulate rocks are located mainly along the Çiralı–Tekirova section to the south and at Doyran to the north. Several isolated blocks of cumulate rocks are also observed in the north–south‐trending Gödene zone of the Antalya Complex. The ultramafic and mafic cumulate rocks are represented by wehrlite, lherzolite, olivine clinopyroxenite, olivine gabbronorite, olivine gabbro, gabbronorite and gabbro. The order of crystallization in the cumulates is olivine (Fo88–76) ± chromian spinel → clinopyroxene (Mg#92–76) → orthopyroxene (Mg#86–70) → plagioclase (An97–84). The major and trace element geochemistry of the plutonic rocks suggests that the primary magma generating the Tekirova (Antalya) ophiolite is compositionally similar to those observed in modern island arc tholeiitic sequences. The presence of highly magnesian clino‐ and orthopyroxenes along with the absence of plagioclase in the ultramafic cumulates suggest their formation as a result of high‐pressure crystal fractionation (c. 10 kbar). In contrast, the mafic cumulates in the upper crustal level show evidence of a lower‐pressure (2–2.5 kbar) environment within the same tectonic setting. Therefore, it is suggested that the cumulate ultramafic rocks were probably precipitated as a result of in situ crystallization processes along the walls of a conduit system extending downward from a crustal level magma chamber to mantle depths of approximately 30 km. After their formation, the ultramafic cumulates were transported to a shallow‐level magma chamber where the remainder of the plutonic section (mafic cumulates) was formed at a lower pressure environment. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Modeling and simulations of a bacterial outer membrane protein: OprF from Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Authors: Khalid Syma , Bond Peter J. , Deol Sundeep S. , Sansom Mark S. P.
Published: January 2006

OprF is a major outer membrane protein from Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a homolog of OmpA from Escherichia coli. The N‐terminal domains of both proteins have been demonstrated to form low conductance channels in lipid bilayers. Homology models, consisting of an eight‐stranded β‐barrel, of the N‐terminal domain OprF have been constructed based on the crystal structure of the corresponding domain from E. coli OmpA. OprF homology models have been evaluated via a set (6 × 10 ns) of simulations of the β‐barrel embedded within a solvated dimyristoyl‐phosphatidylcholine (DMPC) bilayer. The conformational stability of the models is similar to that of the crystal structure of OmpA in comparable simulations. There is a degree of water penetration into the pore‐like center of the OprF barrel. The presence of an acidic/basic (E8/K121) side‐chain interaction within the OprF barrel may form a “gate” able to close/open a central pore. Lipid–protein interactions within the simulations were analyzed and revealed that aromatic side‐chains (Trp, Tyr) of OprF interact with lipid headgroups. Overall, the behavior of the OprF model in simulations supports the suggestion that this molecule is comparable to OmpA. The simulations help to explain the mechanism of formation of low conductance pores within the outer membrane. Proteins 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Thermodynamic origin of order parameters in mean‐field models of spin glasses
Authors: Janiš V. , Zdeborová L.
Published: January 2006

We analyze the thermodynamic behavior of general n ‐component mean‐field spin glass models in order to identify the origin of the hierarchical structure of the order parameters from the replica‐symmetry breaking solution. We derive a configurationally dependent free energy with local magnetizations and averaged local susceptibilities as order parameters. Using an example of the replicated Ising spin glass we demonstrate that the hierarchy of order parameters in mean‐field models results from the structure of inter‐replica susceptibilities. These susceptibilities serve for lifting the degeneracy due to the existence of many metastable states and for recovering the thermodynamic homogeneity of the free energy. (© 2006 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Debye temperature of the Pb layers on Ni(111)
Authors: Krupski A.
Published: January 2006

Low‐energy electron diffraction (LEED) was used to investigate the surface Debye temperature (Θ D) for p(1 × 1)‐Ni(111), and p(3 × 3)‐ and p(4 × 4)‐Pb/Ni(111) adlayers. For the (0, 0) beam of the clean Ni(111) and for the (1/3, 1/3) and (0, 1/4) beams of the Pb/Ni(111) the dependence of diffraction spot intensity on the sample temperature was measured and the Debye temperature was determined to 370 ± 5 K, 164 ± 9 K and 180 ± 5 K, respectively. (© 2006 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Enantiospecific separation and quantitation of mephenytoin and its metabolites nirvanol and 4′‐hydroxymephenytoin in human plasma and urine by liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry
Authors: Jansson Britt , Elsherbiny Doaa , Simonsson Ulrika S. H.
Published: January 2006

A sensitive method using enantiospecific liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry detection for the quantitation of S‐ and R‐mephenytoin as well as its metabolites S‐ and R‐nirvanol and S‐ and R‐4′‐hydroxymephenytoin in plasma and urine has been developed and validated. Plasma samples were prepared by protein precipitation with acetonitrile, while urine samples were diluted twice with the mobile phase before injection. The analytes were then separated on a chiral α1‐acid glycoprotein (AGP) column and thereafter detected, using electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry. In plasma, the lower limit of quantification (LLOQ) was 1 ng/mL for S‐ and R‐4′‐hydroxymephenytoin and S‐nirvanol and 3 ng/mL for R‐nirvanol and S‐ and R‐mephenytoin. In urine, the LLOQ was 3 ng/mL for all compounds. Resulting plasma and urine intra‐day precision values (CV) were <12.4% and <6.4%, respectively, while plasma and urine accuracy values were 87.2–108.3% and 98.9–104.8% of the nominal values, respectively. The method was validated for plasma in the concentration ranges 1–500 ng/mL for S‐ and R‐4′‐hydroxymephenytoin, 1–1000 ng/mL for S‐nirvanol, and 3–1500 ng/mL for R‐nirvanol and S‐ and R‐mephenytoin. The validated concentration range in urine was 3–5000 ng/mL for all compounds. By using this method, the metabolic activities of two human drug‐metabolizing enzymes, cytochrome P450 (CYP) 2C19 and CYP2B6, were simultaneously characterized. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Control of confounding through secondary samples
Authors: Yin Li , Sundberg Rolf , Wang Xiaoqin , Rubin Donald B.
Published: January 2006

The control of confounding is essential in many statistical problems, especially in those that attempt to estimate exposure effects. In some cases, in addition to the ‘primary’ sample, there is another ‘secondary’ sample which, though having no direct information about the exposure effect, contains information about the confounding factors. The purpose of this article is to study the influence of the secondary sample on likelihood inference for the exposure effect. In particular, we investigate the interplay between the efficiency improvement and the possible bias introduced by the secondary sample as a function of the degree of confounding in the primary sample and the sizes of the primary and secondary samples. In the case of weak confounding, the secondary sample can only little improve estimation of the exposure effect, whereas with strong confounding the secondary sample can be much more useful. On the other hand, it will be more important to consider possible biasing effects in the latter case. For illustration, we use a formal example of a generalized linear model and a real example with sparse data from a case–control study of the association between gastric cancer and HM‐CAP/Band 120. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Novel 2D maps and coupling numbers for protein sequences. The first QSAR study of polygalacturonases; isolation and prediction of a novel sequence from Psidium guajava L.
Authors: Agüero-Chapin Guillermín , González-Díaz Humberto , Molina Reinaldo , Varona-Santos Javier , Uriarte Eugenio , González-Díaz Yenny
Published: January 2006

The development of 2D graph‐theoretic representations for DNA sequences was very important for qualitative and quantitative comparison of sequences. Calculation of numeric features for these representations is useful for DNA–QSAR studies. Most of all graph‐theoretic representations identify each one of the four bases with a unitary walk in one axe direction in the 2D space. In the case of proteins, twenty amino acids instead of four bases have to be considered. This fact has limited the introduction of useful 2D Cartesian representations and the corresponding sequences descriptors to encode protein sequence information. In this study, we overcome this problem grouping amino acids into four groups: acid, basic, polar and non‐polar amino acids. The identification of each group with one of the four axis directions determines a novel 2D representation and numeric descriptors for proteins sequences. Afterwards, a Markov model has been used to calculate new numeric descriptors of the protein sequence. These descriptors are called herein the sequence 2D coupling numbers (ζ

k
). In this work, we calculated the ζ

k
values for 108 sequences of different polygalacturonases (PGs) and for 100 sequences of other proteins. A Linear Discriminant Analysis model derived here (PG = 5.36 ·
ζ
1
− 3.98 ·
ζ
3
− 42.21) successfully discriminates between PGs and other proteins. The model correctly classified 100% of a subset of 81 PGs and 75 non‐PG proteins sequences used to train the model. The model also correctly classified 51 out of 52 (98.07%) of proteins sequences used as external validation series. The uses of different group of amino acids and/or axes orientation give different results, so it is suggested to be explored for other databases. Finally, to illustrates the use of the model we report the isolation and prediction of the PG action for a novel sequence (AY908988) isolated by our group from Psidium guajava L. This prediction coincides very well with sequence alignment results found by the BLAST methodology. These findings illustrate the possibilities of the sequence descriptors derived for this novel 2D sequence representation in proteins sequence QSAR studies.
Calcium ions are involved in the delay of plant cell cycle progression by abiotic stresses
Authors: Sano Toshio , Higaki Takumi , Handa Koichi , Kadota Yasuhiro , Kuchitsu Kazuyuki , Hasezawa Seiichiro , Hoffmann Anja , Endter Jörg , Zimmermann Ulrich , Hedrich Rainer , Roitsch Thomas
Published: January 2006

Higher plants respond to environmental stresses by a sequence of reactions which include the reduction of growth by affecting cell division. It has been shown that calcium ions plays a role as a second messenger in mediating various defence responses under environmental stresses. In this study, the role of calcium ions on cell cycle progression under abiotic stresses has been examined in tobacco BY‐2 suspension culture cells. Using synchronized BY‐2 cells expressing the endogenous calcium sensor aequorin as experimental system, we could show that oxidative and hypoosmotic stress both induce an increase of intracellular calcium and cause a delay of the cell cycle. The inhibitory effect of these abiotic stress stimuli on cell cycle progression could be mimicked by increasing the intracellular calcium concentration via application of an external electrical field. Likewise, depletion of calcium ions in the culture medium suppressed the effect of the stimuli tested. These results demonstrate that calcium signalling is involved in the regulation of cell cycle progression in response to abiotic stress.
Changes in purinergic signaling after cerebral injury – involvement of glutamatergic mechanisms?
Authors: Franke Heike , Grummich Benjamin , Härtig Wolfgang , Grosche Jens , Regenthal Ralf , Edwards Robert H. , Illes Peter , Krügel Ute
Published: January 2006

Extracellular purines act as neuromodulators on transmitter release and may exert toxic effects at higher concentrations. In microdialysis studies, endogenous ATP facilitated the extracellular concentration of glutamate in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) of rats. Additionally, P2 receptors are involved in astrogliosis in vivo after a stab wound injury in the same region, suggesting that these receptors, preferentially the metabotropic P2Y1receptor subtype, mediate also trophic responses. Two sets of experimental findings support the involvement of purinergic and glutamatergic mechanisms in the response of brain to mechanical damage. First, in the present studies, the initial time course of extracellular ATP and glutamate was analyzed after a mechanical injury. The concentration of ATP in microdialysates was elevated only in the first 15‐min sample whereas glutamate returned to a basal concentration not before a 90‐min period had elapsed. We suggest, that the acute injury‐evoked stimulation of P2 receptors contributes to glutamate‐mediated excitotoxicity. Second, the expression of P2Y1receptors and their possible relation to glutamatergic structures, identified by neuronal vesicular glutamate transporters (VGLUTs), were elucidated in non‐treated and mechanically injured animals after 4 days. The number of P2Y1‐positive cells was significantly increased after injury. Furthermore, P2Y1receptor‐labeled cells do not exhibit immunoreactivity for VGLUT1 and VGLUT2 without and after injury. However, after injury, a co‐expression of the P2Y1receptor on VGLUT3‐immunopositive cells in the NAc was observed. No VGLUT1‐, 2‐ and 3‐immunoreactivity was found on P2Y1‐positive glial fibrillary acidic protein‐immunopositive astrocytes at both conditions.

Our data suggest that the expression of P2Y1receptors at neurons and astrocytes is modulated in response to cerebral injury. It can be assumed, that the enhanced sensitivity of neurons to purinergic signaling may be related directly or indirectly to changes of the glutamatergic transmission.
High-pressure x-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy of ice VIII
Authors: Yoshimura Yukihiro , Stewart Sarah T. , Somayazulu Maddury , Mao Ho-kwang , Hemley Russell J.
Published: January 2006

In situ high-pressure/low-temperature synchrotron x-ray diffraction and optical Raman spectroscopy were used to examine the structural properties, equation of state, and vibrational dynamics of ice VIII. The x-ray measurements show that the pressure-volume relations remain smooth up to 23 GPa at 80 K. Although there is no evidence for structural changes to at least 14 GPa, the unit-cell axial ratio c∕a undergoes changes at 10–14 GPa. Raman measurements carried out at 80 K show that the νTzA1g+νTx,yEg lattice modes for the Raman spectra of ice VIII in the lower-frequency regions (50–800cm−1) disappear at around 10 GPa, and then a new peak of ∼150cm−1 appears at 14 GPa. The combined data provide evidence for a transition beginning near 10 GPa. The results are consistent with recent synchrotron far-IR measurements and theoretical calculations. The decompressed phase recovered at ambient pressure transforms to low-density amorphous ice when heated to ∼125K.
IR
+
vacuum ultraviolet
(118 nm) nonresonant ionization spectroscopy of methanol monomers and clusters: Neutral cluster distribution and size-specific detection of the OH stretch vibrations
Authors: Fu H. B. , Hu Y. J. , Bernstein E. R.
Published: January 2006

Small methanol clusters are formed by expanding a mixture of methanol vapor seeded in helium and are detected using vacuum UV (vuv) (118 nm) single-photon ionization/linear time-of-flight mass spectrometer (TOFMS). Protonated cluster ions, (CH3OH)n−1H+ (n=2–8), formed through intracluster ion-molecule reactions following ionization, essentially correlate to the neutral clusters, (CH3OH)n, in the present study using 118 nm light as the ionization source. Both experimental and Born-Haber calculational results clarify that not enough excess energy is released into protonated cluster ions to initiate further fragmentation in the time scale appropriate for linear TOFMS. Size-specific spectra for (CH3OH)n (n=4 to 8) clusters in the OH stretch fundamental region are recorded by IR+vuv (118 nm) nonresonant ion-dip spectroscopy through the detection chain of IR multiphoton predissociation and subsequent vuv single-photon ionization. The general structures and gross features of these cluster spectra are consistent with previous theoretical calculations. The lowest-energy peak contributed to each cluster spectrum is redshifted with increasing cluster size from n=4 to 8, and limits near ∼3220cm−1 in the heptamer and octamer. Moreover, IR+vuv nonresonant ionization detected spectroscopy is employed to study the OH stretch first overtone of the methanol monomer. The rotational temperature of the clusters is estimated to be at least 50 K based on the simulation of the monomer rotational envelope under clustering conditions.
Ultrahigh x-ray reflectivity from W∕Al2O3 multilayers fabricated using atomic layer deposition
Authors: Fabreguette Francois H. , Wind Rikard A. , George Steven M.
Published: January 2006

W ∕ Al 2 O 3 multilayers were fabricated using W and Al2O3 atomic layer deposition (ALD) to produce x-ray mirrors. The x-ray reflectivity from an optimized W∕Al2O3 multilayer was 96.5%±0.5% for the first-order Bragg peak at λ=1.54Å. The ultrahigh x-ray reflectivity is attributed to the precise bilayer thicknesses and ultrasmooth interfaces obtained from ALD film growth. The self-limiting ALD surface chemistry prevents randomness during film growth and produces conformal deposition with correlated roughness that enhances the x-ray reflectivity.
Tuning the inherent magnetoresistance of InSb thin films
Authors: Zhang Tong , Harris J. J. , Branford W. R. , Bugoslavsky Y. V. , Clowes S. K. , Cohen L. F. , Husmann A. , Solin S. A.
Published: January 2006

We have investigated the 300 K inherent magnetoresistance of undoped InSb epilayers grown on GaAs(001) by molecular-beam epitaxy. The magnetoresistance of these films can be described well using a simplified model that incorporates gradation of properties away from the InSb/GaAs interface and the interplay between conduction and impurity bands. Although there is no significant intrinsic contribution in InSb bulk crystalline (001) materials due to its isotropic Fermi surface and mobility tensor, the linear and quadratic terms in the magnetoresistance as well as the overall magnitude can be tuned by varying the film thickness from 100 to 2000 nm.
Observation of two-photon absorption enhancement at double defect modes in one-dimensional photonic crystals
Authors: Shen Jie , Zhang Zhuangjian , Hua Zhongyi , Ma Guohong , Tang Sing Hai
Published: January 2006

One-dimensional photonic crystals (1D PC) with two CdS defect layers in a SiO2∕TiO2 dielectric thin film stack were fabricated. Two-photon absorption (TPA) coefficients of the CdS defect layers in the 1D PC were investigated using femtosecond pump-probe method. Significant enhancement of the TPA coefficient in the CdS defect layers was observed to occur at the two defect modes. Experimental results show that the enhanced TPA coefficient at the defect mode of 800nm is larger than that at the defect mode of 762nm. A numerical simulation by matrix transfer method is performed and agrees with the experimental results very well.
Endothelium-derived relaxing factor as a mediator of bradykinin-induced perinatal pulmonary vasodilatation in fetal sheep
Authors: Glasgow Robert E. , Buga Georgette M. , Ignarro Louis J. , Chaudhuri Gautam , Heymann Michael A.
Published: January 2006

Studiesin vivo in fetal sheep have shown that bradykinin
is released following oxygenation of the lungs and is at least partly
responsible for normal pulmonary vasodilatation in the transition from fetal
to extrauterine life. Part of this action involves secondary release of
prostaglandin I2 (PGI2). In
various adult vessels, bradykinin also stimulates the release of a powerful
endothelium-derived relaxing factor (EDRF).
Studiesin vitro were designed (using a modification of
the bioassay cascade superfusion technique) to determine whether
non-PGI2-related perinatal pulmonary vasodilatation is
mediated by an EDRF. Superfused, precontracted, endothelium-denuded strips of
fetal sheep thoracic aorta and the maternal sheep main pulmonary artery served
as detectors of an EDRF released from isolated, perfused fetal sheep pulmonary
arteries. Bradykinin, in the presence of indomethacin to block PGI2 synthesis,
caused perfused fetal pulmonary arteries to release an EDRF, which generated a
dose-dependent relaxation (24% for 1·0
µM,16·8% for 0·1 µM, and 10% for
0·01 µM bradykinin). Thus, bradykinin can produce perinatal
pulmonary vasodilatation via a mechanism involving the endothelium-dependent
synthesis of an EDRF.