bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Foot-in-the-Door Compliance Procedure: A Multiple-Process Analysis and Review
Authors: Burger Jerry M.
Published: January 2005

Research on the social compliance procedure known as the footin-the-door (FITD) technique is reviewed. Several psychological processes that may be set in motion with a FITD manipulation are identified: self-perception, psychological reactance, conformity, consistency, attributions, and commitment. A review of relevant investigations and several meta-analyses support the notion that each of these processes can influence compliance behavior in the FITD situation. I argue that the combined effects of these processes can account for successful FITD demonstrations as well as studies in which the technique was ineffective or led to a decrease in compliance. The experimental conditions most likely to produce an FITD effect are identified.
Asch's Social Psychology: Not as Social as You May Think
Authors: Leyens Jacques-Philippe , Corneille Olivier
Published: January 2005

This article discusses 2 commonly held ideas about Solomon Asch's work in social psychology: (a) Asch was primarily interested in social phenomena in general and in group processes in particular, and (b) Asch was a forerunner of social cognition. Asch's studies on social influence were translations of strictly perceptual experiments. For him, social stimuli had no specificity relative to physical ones provided that the perceptual context presented similar structural properties. Moreover, and contrary to Kurt Lewin (e.g., 1948) Asch focused his attention at the individual level and may have slowed down interest in social interactions or group processes. Asch's studies on impression formation presaged the social cognition approach. In his work, he foresaw the importance of online processing of information, the existence of implicit theories of personality, as well as perception based on exemplars and prototypes. However, Asch's reliance on immediate perceptual experience, on isomorphism between the properties of the external object and the phenomenal experience of this object, and his holistic and dynamic perspective clash with the main stream of social cognition research.
The Pregnane X Receptor Regulates Gene Expression in a Ligand- and Promoter- Selective Fashion
Authors: Masuyama Hisashi , Suwaki Naoko , Tateishi Yoko , Nakatsukasa Hideki , Segawa Tomonori , Hiramatsu Yuji
Published: January 2005

Recent studies have revealed that pregnane X receptor (PXR) can function as a master regulator to control the expression of phase I and phase II drug-metabolizing enzymes, as well as members of the drug transporter family, including multiple drug resistance (MDR) 1, which has a major role in multidrug resistance. Previously, we have demonstrated that steroid/xenobiotics metabolism by tumor tissue through the PXR-cytochrome P-450 3A (CYP3A) pathway might play an important role in endometrial cancer. In this study, we examined which endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) and anticancer agents might be ligands for PXR and whether these chemicals enhanced PXR-mediated transcription through two different PXR-responsive elements (PXREs), CYP3A4 and MDR1, in endometrial cancer cell lines. Some steroids/EDCs strongly activated PXR-mediated transcription through the CYP3A4-responsive element compared with the MDR1-responsive element, whereas these steroids/EDCs also enhanced the CYP3A4 expression compared with the MDR1 expression. In contrast, the anticancer agents, cisplatin and paclitaxel, strongly activated PXR-mediated transcription through the MDR1-responsive element compared with the CYP3A4-responsive element, whereas these drugs also enhanced the MDR1 expression compared with the CYP3A4 expression. We also analyzed how these ligands regulated PXR-mediated transcription through two different PXREs. In the presence of PXR ligands, there was no difference in the DNA binding affinity of the PXR/retinoid X recptor heterodimer to each PXRE, but there were different interactions of the coactivator to each PXR/PXRE complex. These data suggested that PXR ligands enhanced PXR-mediated transcription in a ligand- and promoter-dependent fashion, which in turn differentially regulated the expression of individual PXR targets, especially CYP3A4 and MDR1.
Remodelling of the nuclear lamina and nucleoskeleton is required for skeletal muscle differentiation in vitro
Authors: Markiewicz Ewa , Ledran Maria , Hutchison Christopher J.
Published: January 2005

Changes in the expression and distribution of nuclear lamins were investigated during C2C12 myoblast differentiation. The expression of most lamins was unchanged during myogenesis. By contrast, lamin-B2 expression increased and LAP2α expression decreased twofold. These changes were correlated with reduced solubility and redistribution of A-type lamins. When C2C12 myoblasts were transfected with a lamin-A mutant that causes autosomal dominant Emery-Dreifuss muscular dystrophy (AD-EDMD), the mutant protein accumulated in the nucleoplasm and exerted dominant influences over endogenous lamins. Myoblasts transfected with wild-type lamins differentiated, albeit more slowly, whereas myoblasts transfected with mutant lamins failed to differentiate. Myoblast differentiation requires dephosphorylation of the retinoblastoma protein Rb. During myogenesis, Rb was rapidly and progressively dephosphorylated. Underphosphorylated Rb formed complexes with LAP2α in proliferating myoblasts and postmitotic myoblasts. In myoblasts transfected with the mutant lamins, this complex was disrupted. These data suggest that remodelling of the nucleoskeleton is necessary for skeletal-muscle differentiation and for correct regulation of Rb pathways.
Study of the Effects of Whole-Body Vibration in the Low Frequency Range
Authors: Uchikune Masashi
Published: January 2005

The current ISO criterion curve (ISO 2631) evaluated a psychological method on comfortable and uncomfortable feelings. To this end, it was necessary to have data for both the physiological reaction and the psychological evaluation of humans in the low frequency range. The purpose of this study is to clarify the physiological and psychological effects of low frequency horizontal whole body vibration. Heart rate, respiratory rate, salivation and subjective symptoms were measured before starting and 21-mins after starting at frequencies ranging from 0.01 to 0.8 Hz.

The results were as follows: Changes in the autonomic nervous system were observed, and the system tended to change from the state of predominance of the parasympathetic nervous system to that of the sympathetic nervous system when the frequency values outside the range 0.4 to 0.8 Hz, during 21-min. Throughout all the process of the measurements, it is hypothescied that these variations have been caused by the physiological and psychological changes due to the frequency, delay time and acceleration based on the whole-body vibration.
On the Possible Infrasound Generation by Sprites
Authors: Liszka Ludwik
Published: January 2005

Energetic electrons accelerated by electric fields in thunderstorms are assumed to be responsible for generation of luminous phenomena at altitudes above 30 km, so called sprites. If the generation of light in these phenomena is associated with local heating, it may also be expected that low frequency acoustic waves will be generated. Due to the cylindrical structure of the source the most of the acoustic energy will be radiated close to the horizontal plane along the entire height of the source. The infrasound form these phenomena is therefore unlikely to be detected immediately beneath the source. The search for infrasonic signals from the high altitude luminous phenomena was carried out during the recent years using data from the infrasonic networks operated by the Swedish Institute of Space Physics. During the night of May 26–27 1995, when a severe thunderstorm area passed over the Golf of Bothnia, it was possible to identify signals, most probably generated by sprites. The infrasonic observations made during that night are described in the present report. Similar, chirp-like signals were observed during some other occasions at Swedish stations during the recent years.
Noise Analysis of Heavy Earth Moving Machinery Deployed in Opencast Mines and Development of Suitable Maintenance Guidelines for its Attenuation - Part 3
Authors: Vardhan Harsha , Rao Y.V. , Karmakar N.C.
Published: January 2005

Worldwide, increasingly stringent regulations are coming into force, limiting the exposure of workers to industrial noise. Industrial noise and its consequences are thus growing in importance to employers, local and central government officials, trade unions, occupational hygienists and physicians and insurers. India is not an exception to this. The mining industry in India is facing serious problems over noise due to increasing demand for minerals for which large capacity machines are being deployed producing high noise levels. To know the status and to control the noise, the S&T Department of the Ministry of Coal, Government of India sponsored a research project in the area of noise pollution and its control for opencast projects. To start with, a detailed literature survey was carried out in the area of noise pollution and its control in the mining industry, embracing equipment like from Heavy Earth Moving Machinery (HEMM), compressors, workshops, pneumatic drills, processing plants etc., to know the quantum of work done in India and worldwide. The various aspects studied in this project were the daily noise dose and/or noise exposure level of the operators of various types of heavy earth moving machinery and its assessment, noise characteristics at different operating conditions of the machine, analysis of noise coming out from different parts of the machine, analysis of noise at different distances from the machine for different frequency components and the most important one i.e., impact of periodic maintenance on the noise characteristics of machines and to find out with which maintenance schedule there is maximum fluctuation in the noise level and to evolve a technique for attenuating the noise generated from these machines as well as to reduce the operator's exposure to high noise levels. This paper highlights the results of this research project.
Tricalcium-phosphate and hydroxyapatite bone-graft extender for use in impaction grafting revision surgery
Authors: van Haaren E. H. , Smit T. H. , Phipps K. , Wuisman P. I. J. M. , Blunn G. , Heyligers I. C.
Published: January 2005

Impacted morsellised allografts have been used successfully to address the problem of poor bone stock in revision surgery. However, there are concerns about the transmission of pathogens, the high cost and the shortage of supply of donor bone. Bone-graft extenders, such as tricalcium phosphate (TCP) and hydroxyapatite (HA), have been developed to minimise the use of donor bone. In a human cadaver model we have evaluated the surgical and mechanical feasibility of a TCP/HA bone-graft extender during impaction grafting revision surgery.

A TCP/HA allograft mix increased the risk of producing a fissure in the femur during the impaction procedure, but provided a higher initial mechanical stability when compared with bone graft alone. The implications of the use of this type of graft extender in impaction grafting revision surgery are discussed.
Trapezius transfer in brachial plexus palsy
Authors: Rühmann O. , Schmolke S. , Bohnsack M. , Carls J. , Wirth C. J.
Published: January 2005

Between March 1994 and June 2003, 80 patients with brachial plexus palsy underwent a trapezius transfer. There were 11 women and 69 men with a mean age of 31 years (18 to 69). Before operation a full evaluation of muscle function in the affected arm was carried out. A completely flail arm was found in 37 patients (46%). Some peripheral function in the elbow and hand was seen in 43 (54%). No patient had full active movement of the elbow in combination with adequate function of the hand. Patients were followed up for a mean of 2.4 years (0.8 to 8). We performed the operations according to Saha’s technique, with a modification in the last 22 cases. We demonstrated a difference in the results according to the pre-operative status of the muscles and the operative technique.

The transfer resulted in an increase of function in all patients and in 74 (95%) a decrease in multidirectional instability of the shoulder. The mean increase in active abduction was from 6° (0 to 45) to 34° (5 to 90) at the last review. The mean forward flexion increased from 12° (0 to 85) to 30° (5 to 90).

Abduction (41°) and especially forward flexion (43°) were greater when some residual function of the pectoralis major remained (n = 32). The best results were achieved in those patients with most pre-operative power of the biceps, coracobrachialis and triceps muscles (n = 7), with a mean of 42° of abduction and 56° of forward flexion. Active abduction (28°) and forward flexion (19°) were much less in completely flail shoulders (n = 34).

Comparison of the 19 patients with the Saha technique and the 15 with the modified procedure, all with complete paralysis, showed the latter operation to be superior in improving shoulder stability. In all cases a decrease in instability was achieved and inferior subluxation was abolished.

The results after trapezius transfer depend on the pre-operative pattern of paralysis and the operative technique. Better results can be achieved in patients who have some function of the biceps, coracobrachialis, pectoralis major and triceps muscles compared with those who have a complete palsy. A simple modification of the operation ensures a decrease in joint instability and an increase in function.
The effect of iron supplementation on the level of haemoglobin after lower limb arthroplasty
Authors: Mundy G. M. , Birtwistle S. J. , Power R. A.
Published: January 2005

We randomised 120 patients who were undergoing either primary total hip or knee arthroplasty to receive either ferrous sulphate or a placebo for three weeks after surgery. The level of haemoglobin and absolute reticulocyte count were measured at one and five days, and three and six weeks after operation. Ninety-nine patients (ferrous sulphate 50, placebo 49) completed the study. The two groups differed only in the treatment administered.

Recovery of level of haemoglobin was similar at five days and three weeks and returned to 85% of the pre-operative level, irrespective of the treatment group. A small, albeit greater recovery in the level of haemoglobin was identified at six weeks in the ferrous sulphate group in both men (ferrous sulphate 5%, placebo 1.5%) and women (ferrous sulphate 6%, placebo 3%). The clinical significance of this is questionable and may be outweighed by the high incidence of reported side effects of oral iron and the cost of the medication. Administration of iron supplements after elective total hip or total knee arthroplasty does not appear to be worthwhile.
Sanders classification of fractures of the os calcis
Authors: Bhattacharya R. , Vassan U. T. , Finn P. , Port A.
Published: January 2005

Our study was undertaken to assess the inter- and intra-observer variability of the classification system of Sanders for calcaneal fractures. Five consultant orthopaedic surgeons with different subspecialty interests classified CT scans of 28 calcaneal fractures using this classification system. After six months, they reclassified the scans.

Kappa statistics were used to analyse the two groups. The interobserver variability of the classification system was 0.32 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.26 to 0.38). The subclasses were then combined and assessment of agreement between the general classes as a whole gave a kappa value of 0.33 (95% CI 0.25 to 0.41). The mean kappa value for intra-observer variability of the classification system was 0.42 (95% CI 0.22 to 0.62). When the subclasses were combined, it was 0.45 (95% CI 0.21 to 0.65).

Our results show that, despite its popularity, the classification system of Sanders has only fair agreement among users.
Reconstruction using an autograft containing tumour treated by liquid nitrogen
Authors: Tsuchiya H. , Wan S. L. , Sakayama K. , Yamamoto N. , Nishida H. , Tomita K.
Published: January 2005

We describe a method of reconstruction using tumour-bearing autograft treated by liquid nitrogen in 28 patients. The operative technique consisted of en bloc excision of the tumour, removal of soft tissue, curettage of the tumour, drilling and preparation for internal fixation or prosthetic replacement before incubation for 20 minutes in liquid nitrogen, thawing at room temperature for 15 minutes, thawing in distilled water for ten minutes, and internal fixation with an intramedullary nail, plate or composite use of prosthetic replacement. Bone graft or cement was used to augment bone strength when necessary.

The limb function was rated as excellent in 20 patients (71.4%), good in three (10.7%), fair in three (10.7%), and poor in two (7.1%). At the final follow-up six patients had died at a mean of 19.8 months after the operation, while 21 remained free from disease with a mean follow-up of 28.1 months (10 to 54). One patient is alive with disease. Bony union was seen at a mean of 6.7 months after the operation in 26 patients. Complications were encountered in seven patients, including three deep infections, two fractures, and two local recurrences. All were managed successfully. Our results suggest that this is a simple and effective method of biological reconstruction.
Early results of autologous chondrocyte implantation in the talus
Authors: Whittaker J.-P. , Smith G. , Makwana N. , Roberts S. , Harrison P. E. , Laing P. , Richardson J. B.
Published: January 2005

Autologous chondrocyte implantation (ACI) has been used most commonly as a treatment for cartilage defects in the knee and there are few studies of its use in other joints. We describe ten patients with an osteochondral lesion of the talus who underwent ACI using cartilage taken from the knee and were prospectively reviewed with a mean follow-up of 23 months. In nine patients the satisfaction score was ‘pleased’ or ‘extremely pleased’, which was sustained at four years. The mean Mazur ankle score increased by 23 points at a mean follow-up of 23 months. The Lysholm knee score returned to the pre-operative level at one year in three patients, with the remaining seven showing a reduction of 15% at 12 months, suggesting donor-site morbidity. Nine patients underwent arthroscopic examination at one year and all were shown to have filled defects and stable cartilage. Biopsies taken from graft sites showed mostly fibrocartilage with some hyaline cartilage. The short-term results of ACI for osteochondral lesions of the talus are good despite some morbidity at the donor site.
Stability of the Birmingham hip resurfacing arthroplasty at two years
Authors: Itayem R. , Arndt A. , Nistor L. , McMinn D. , Lundberg A.
Published: January 2005

The Birmingham hip resurfacing metal-on-metal arthroplasty was introduced in 1997 and has shown promising short- to mid-term results. We used radiostereophotogrammetric analysis (RSA) to study the stability of 20 resurfacing arthroplasties over a follow-up period of 24 months.

Radiological examinations for RSA were performed immediately after surgery and at two, six, 12 and 24 months after operation. Precision and detection of migration thresholds (non-zero movement) were calculated.

All the results corresponded well to those found in similar experimental arrangements with standard hip prostheses. Migration of the cup and vertical and mediolateral migration of the head were calculated. The values were low at two years compared with those of earlier studies of cemented femoral components in conventional total hip replacements indicating that there was no evidence of excessive early migration or loosening of the components.
Triple arthrodesis: is bone grafting necessary?
Authors: Rosenfeld P. F. , Budgen S. A. , Saxby T. S.
Published: January 2005

Our aim was to evaluate the results of triple arthrodesis, performed without the use of supplementary bone graft. We carried out a retrospective review of 100 consecutive triple arthrodeses. All the operations had been performed by the senior author (TSS) using a standard technique. Only local bone graft from the excised joint surfaces had been used, thereby avoiding complications at the donor site.

The mean age of the patients at surgery was 58 years (18 to 84). The mean time to union was 5.1 months (3 to 17). There were 75 good, 20 fair and five poor results. There were four cases of nonunion.

Our study has shown that comparable rates of union are achieved without the need for supplementary bone graft from the iliac crest or other donor site.
Preanalytical Variables and Off-Site Blood Collection: Influences on the Results of the Prothrombin Time/International Normalized Ratio Test and Implications for Monitoring of Oral Anticoagulant Therapy
Authors: van Geest-Daalderop Johanna HH , Mulder André B , Boonman-de Winter Leandra JM , Hoekstra Martha MCL , van den Besselaar Anton MHP
Published: January 2005

Background: The quality of oral anticoagulant therapy management with coumarin derivatives requires reliable results for the prothrombin time/International Normalized Ratio (PT/INR). We assessed the effect on PT/INR of preanalytical variables, including ones related to off-site blood collection and transportation to a laboratory.

Methods: Four laboratories with different combinations of blood collection systems, thromboplastin reagents, and coagulation meters participated. The simulated preanalytical variables included time between blood collection and PT/INR determinations on samples stored at room temperature, at 4–6 °C, and at 37 °C; mechanical agitation at room temperature, at 4–6 °C, and at 37 °C; time between centrifugation and PT/INR determination; and times and temperatures of centrifugation. For variables that affected results, the effect of the variable was classified as moderate when <25% of samples showed a change >10% or as large if >25% of samples showed such a change.

Results: During the first 6 h after blood collection, INR changed by >10% in <25% of samples (moderate effect) when blood samples were stored at room temperature, 4–6 °C, or 37 °C with or without mechanical agitation and independent of the time of centrifugation after blood collection. With one combination of materials and preanalytical conditions, a 24-h delay at room temperature or 4–6 °C had a large effect, i.e., changes >10% in >25% of samples. In all laboratories, a 24-h delay at 37 °C or with mechanical agitation had a large effect. We observed no clinically or statistically relevant INR differences among studied centrifugation conditions (centrifugation temperature, 20 °C or no temperature control; centrifugation time, 5 or 10 min).

Conclusions: We recommend a maximum of 6 h between blood collection and PT/INR determination. The impact of a 24-h delay should be investigated for each combination of materials and conditions.
Adiponectin and other Adipocytokines as Predictors of Markers of Triglyceride-Rich Lipoprotein Metabolism
Authors: Chan Dick C , Watts Gerald F , Ng Theodore WK , Uchida Yoshiaki , Sakai Naohiko , Yamashita Shizuya , Barrett P Hugh R
Published: January 2005

Background: Adipocytokines are bioactive peptides that may play an important role in the regulation of glucose and lipid metabolism. In this study, we investigated the association of plasma adipocytokine concentrations with markers of triglyceride-rich lipoprotein (TRL) metabolism in men.

Methods: Fasting adiponectin, leptin, resistin, interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), apolipoprotein (apo) B-48, apo C-III, and remnant-like particle (RLP)-cholesterol concentrations were measured by immunoassays and insulin resistance by homeostasis assessment (HOMA) score in 41 nondiabetic men with a body mass index of 22–35 kg/m2. Visceral and subcutaneous adipose tissue masses (ATMs) were determined by magnetic resonance imaging and total ATM by bioelectrical impedance.

Results: In univariate regression, plasma adiponectin and leptin concentrations were inversely and directly associated with plasma apoB-48, apoC-III, RLP-cholesterol, triglycerides, VLDL-apoB, and VLDL-triglycerides (P <0.05). Resistin, IL-6, and TNF-α were not significantly associated with any of these variables, except for a direct correction between apoC-III and IL-6 (P <0.05). In multivariate regression including HOMA, age, nonesterified fatty acids, and adipose tissue compartment, adiponectin was an independent predictor of plasma apoB-48 (β coefficient = −0.354; P = 0.048), apoC-III (β coefficient = −0.406; P = 0.012), RLP-cholesterol (β coefficient = −0.377; P = 0.016), and triglycerides (β coefficient = −0.374; P = 0.013). By contrast, leptin was not an independent predictor of these TRL markers. Plasma apoB-48, apoC-III, RLP-cholesterol, and triglycerides were all significantly and positively associated with plasma insulin, HOMA, and visceral, subcutaneous, and total ATMs (P <0.05).

Conclusions: These data suggest that the plasma adiponectin concentration may not only link abdominal fat, insulin resistance, and dyslipidemia, but may also exert an independent role in regulating TRL metabolism.
Simulation‐based design and experimental evaluation of a spatially controllable CVD reactor
Authors: Choo Jae‐Ouk , Adomaitis Raymond A. , Rubloff Gary W. , Henn‐Lecordier Laurent , Liu Yijun
Published: January 2005

Most conventional chemical vapor deposition (CVD) systems do not have the spatial actuation and sensing capabilities necessary to control deposition uniformity, or to intentionally induce nonuniform deposition patterns for single‐wafer combinatorial CVD experiments. In an effort to address these limitations, a novel CVD reactor system has been developed that can explicitly control the spatial profile of gas‐phase chemical composition across the wafer surface. This paper discusses the simulation‐based design of a prototype reactor system and the results of preliminary experiments performed to evaluate the performance of the prototype in depositing tungsten films. Initial experimental results demonstrate that it is possible to produce spatially patterned wafers using a CVD process by controlling gas‐phase reactant composition, opening the door to a new class of flexible and highly controllable CVD reactor designs. © 2005 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 51:572–584, 2005
Behavioral features of CHARGE syndrome: Parents' perspectives of three children with CHARGE syndrome
Authors: Lauger Kimberly , Cornelius Nancy , Keedy Wendy
Published: January 2005

As the population first diagnosed with CHARGE Syndrome has aged, information has emerged about specific behavioral features of this syndrome. Once the medical features are managed, it is the behavioral features that interfere with our children's ability to form reciprocal relationships, to gain formal communication skills, to make the educational gains they are cognitively capable of, and to ultimately care for themselves. In telling the informal case studies of our children, we hope their behavioral commonalities, in spite of their medical and educational differences, will be apparent as well as the complexity of the multiple types of behavior observed. We remain hopeful that answers can be found that will help our children and our families cope with this very debilitating feature of CHARGE. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Lipophilicity coefﬁcients of potential tumor imaging agents, positron‐labeled O6‐benzylguanine derivatives
Authors: Liu Xuan , Wang Ji‐Quan , Zheng Qi‐Huang
Published: January 2005

Novel radiolabeled O6‐benzylguanine (O6‐BG) derivatives, 6‐O‐[11C]‐[(methoxymethyl)benzyl]guanines ([11C]p‐O6‐MMBG, 1a; [11C]m‐O6‐MMBG, 1b; [11C]o‐O6‐MMBG, 1c), 2‐amino‐6‐O‐[11C]‐[(methoxymethyl)benzyloxy]‐9‐methyl purines ([11C]p‐O6‐AMMP, 2a; [11C]m‐O6‐AMMP, 2b; [11C]o‐O6‐AMMP, 2c), 2‐amino‐6‐O‐[11C]‐[(methoxymethyl)benzyloxy]‐9‐benzyl purines ([11C]p‐O6‐AMBP, 3a; [11C]m‐O6‐AMBP, 3b; [11C]o‐O6‐AMBP, 3c), 2‐amino‐6‐O‐benzyloxy‐9‐[11C]‐[(methoxycarbonyl)methyl]purine ([11C]ABMMP, 4), and 2‐amino‐6‐O‐benzyloxy‐9‐[11C]‐[(4′‐methoxycarbonyl)benzyl]purine ([11C]ABMBP, 5), have been synthesized for evaluation as potential novel positron emission tomography tumor imaging agents. The ability of O6‐BG analogs to penetrate the blood–brain barrier in brain tumor could be due, at least in part, to their lipophilicity. In this paper, we measured lipophilicity coefﬁcients (log P) of compounds 1–5 by the C18 HPLC method. These log P values were compared, and correlations between lipophilicity and biological activity of selected analogs were made. The results suggest the appropriate level of lipophilic character in this class of compounds as useful imaging agents appears to be in the range of 1.4–2.6. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Investigation of artiﬁcial biomembrane systems in biopartitioning micellar chromatography by method of mathematical design
Authors: Rukhadze Marina D. , Bezarashvili George S. , Kutkhashvili Maya G. , Sigua Kethevan I.
Published: January 2005

An attempt to create and study an artiﬁcial membrane system was realized via biopartitioning micellar liquid chromatography. Towards this end the known formula of membrane permeability (on the basis of Fick's diffusion equation) was modiﬁed so that membrane permeability may be estimated in terms of chromatographic characteristics. The two‐factoral experiments on the basis of mathematical design of second order were carried out. The regression equations are derived which describe the dependence of membrane permeability on the concentration of polyoxyethylene (23) lauryl ether in the mobile phase and its ﬂow‐rate for compounds with biomedical signiﬁcance. Some regularities were revealed, which characterize the permeability of compounds of the different nature through membranes. The extremal dependence (with passing through minimum) of permeability on the concentration of non‐ionic surfactant was observed for anionic compounds. The increasing character of permeability in relation with ﬂow‐rate of mobile phase was recognized for cationic samples. Both dependences were basically fulﬁlled for zwitterionic compounds. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Cytokine/cytokine receptor gene expression in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia
Authors: Wu Shuling , Geßner Reinhard , von Stackelberg Arend , Kirchner Renate , Henze Guenter , Seeger Karl
Published: January 2005

BACKGROUND

Recent studies have shown that cytokines/cytokine receptors (C/CR) affect leukemic cell growth and survival. The goal of the current study was to investigate possible correlations between gene expression patterns of C/CR in leukemic cells, clinical features, and outcome in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) at first disease recurrence.

METHODS

Between January 1997 and December 2000, bone marrow (BM) samples were collected from 68 children with first ALL recurrence at diagnosis. These patients were enrolled in the ALL‐REZ 95–96 disease recurrence trials of the Berlin‐Frankurt‐Münster study group. C/CR gene expression (interleukin [IL]‐7, IL‐10, IL‐12p40, IL‐15, IL‐18, IL‐7Rα, IL‐10R1, IL‐15Rα, interferon‐gamma [IFN‐γ], vascular epithelial growth factor [VEGF], Flt1, and transforming growth factor‐beta) was quantified by real‐time reverse transcriptase‐polymerase chain reaction and correlated with protein expression by immunofluorescence.

RESULTS

In comparison with T‐lineage ALL specimens, expression of IL‐10, IFN‐γ, IL‐15Rα, and Flt1 was significantly higher in B‐cell precursor (BCP) ALL specimens (P < 0.01). Among BCP ALL samples, gene expression of IL‐7Rα and Flt1 was higher in pre‐B than in common or pro‐B leukemic cells. Moreover, expression levels of VEGF, IL‐7Rα, IL‐10R1, and IL‐15Rα were lower in lymphoblasts of patients with a combined BM recurrence than in those with an isolated recurrence (P < 0.05). Children with IL‐15Rα expression above the median level had a significantly better probability of event‐free survival (0.65 vs. 0.34, P = 0.04) and survival (0.71 vs. 0.37, P = 0.02) at 5 years.

CONCLUSIONS

Expression of distinct C/CR in ALL cells was associated with lineage commitment and differentiation of leukemic cells, as well as with prognosis. It remains to be evaluated whether these prognostic and biologic findings of distinct C/CR expression in leukemic cells also have therapeutical implications for future antileukemic strategies. Cancer 2005. © 2005 American Cancer Society.
A novel approach to prepare extended DNA fibers in plants
Authors: Li Lijia , Yang Jinling , Tong Qiong , Zhao Lijuan , Song Yunchun
Published: January 2005

Background

The extended DNA fiber preparation procedure is still imperfect in plants due to the existence of a hard cell wall; thus, high quality of extended DNA fibers for fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis is often difficult to be obtained rapidly and efficiently. In this study we have developed a fast and widely effective method to prepare DNA fibers from various plant species and the fibers are suitable for fiber FISH mapping.

Methods

Fresh young leaves were chopped with a sharp sterile scalpel in a Petri dish that contained ice‐cold nucleus isolation buffer followed by filtration through 33‐μm nylon mesh. Nuclei were obtained by centrifuging the filtrates at high speed (16,000g) for 40 s. Nucleus lysis buffer (0.5% sodium dodecylsulfate, 5 mM ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, 100 mM Tris, pH7.0) was added to nuclei on slides, and DNA fibers were dragged and extended with a clean coverslip.

Results

The key of this method is that liquid nitrogen grinding of leaves is replaced by chopping with a blade in ice‐cold nucleus isolation buffer. With the liquid nitrogen method, over‐ or under‐grinding of leaves occurs more frequently, and DNA fibers with the desired quality are not obtained easily. In contrast, it is easier to release nuclei from cells in nucleus isolation buffer by chopping, which results in fewer nuclei being destroyed. Highly extended, intact, and long DNA fibers can be generated to a great probability with this method. In addition, this method is very simple and rapid, requiring only 20 min for the entire process, and is also safe because poisonous mercaptoethanol is replaced by dithiothreitol. The results of fiber‐FISH with maize genomic DNA and 45S rDNA as probes showed that DNA fiber size as long as 1.96 Mb could be measured. The successful and reliable preparation of maize, wild rice, and barley DNA fibers suitable for FISH mapping proves that this technique is a widely effective approach for obtaining extended DNA fibers in plants.

Conclusions

A simple, rapid, safe, and widely effective method for getting extended DNA fibers has been developed in plants. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Can we predict customer lifetime value?
Authors: Malthouse Edward C. , Blattberg Robert C.
Published: January 2005

Relationship marketing assumes that firms can be more profitable if they identify the most profitable customers and invest disproportionate marketing resources in them. While intuitive, such strategies presume that a firm can accurately predict the future profitability of customers. In particular, we argue that the feasibility of such strategies depends on the probabilities and costs of misclassifying customers. This paper presents a detailed empirical evaluation of how accurately the future profitability of customers can be estimated. We evaluate a firm's ability to estimate the future value of customers using four data sets from different industries. Out-of-sample estimates of predictive accuracy are provided. We examine (1) the accuracy of predictions, (2) how accuracy depends on the length of time over which estimates are made, and (3) the predictors of the firm's best customers. We propose the 20–55 and 80–15 rules. Of the top 20%, approximately 55% will be misclassified (and not receive special treatment). Of the future bottom 80%, approximately 15% will be misclassified (and receive special treatment). Thus, a firm cannot assume that high-profit customers in the past will be profitable in the future nor can they assume that historically low-profit will be low-profit customers in the future.
Caltrans structural control for bridges in high‐seismic zones
Authors: Roberts James E.
Published: January 2005

The California Department of Transportation has nearly completed a $5.5 billion seismic retrofit program to retrofit strengthen over 2200 bridges on the state highway systems so they conform to the latest seismic hazard and performance criteria. Various unique solutions were developed and implemented to achieve the goals of the program. These techniques included the use of conventional steel and reinforced concrete jackets on bridge columns, advanced fiberglass and carbon fiber composite jackets, seismic isolation bearings and dampers, and seismic isolation silos. All of these techniques were designed to control the performance of a bridge by modifying or tuning its structural characteristics. This is much easier to achieve on a new bridge than on the retrofit of an existing bridge. Ideally a bridge should be designed with no deck joints and no bearings, with monolithic columns to superstructure framing, and with all columns the same length. While this ideal design is not achievable on many bridges, there are modifications that can reduce the vulnerability to damage during an earthquake.

The structural control techniques illustrated are: hinge restrainer cables and extenders; fewer deck joints; column and foundation design to control the location of plastic hinge zones; conservative shear key design; pier rocking; steel jackets and carbon shells for external confinements; seismic isolation silos; shock transmission dampers; rubber–lead core isolation bearings; and inverted pendulum isolation bearings. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Supplemental system retrofit considerations for braced steel bridge piers
Authors: Berman Jeffrey W. , Bruneau Michel
Published: January 2005

Braced piers of steel truss bridges having braces with latticed built‐up cross‐sections may suffer significant damage during earthquakes due to the buckling, rapid strength degradation, and fracture of the braces. One retrofit alternative for such a bridge pier is to supplement the existing structural system with a system of energy dissipation devices (or structural fuses) that will yield and dissipate energy prior to existing brace buckling. These devices depend on the global shear displacements of the pier to yield and dissipate energy. However, relatively tall and slender bridge piers are also subject to large overturning displacements. This paper investigates and quantifies the effectiveness of using supplemental systems relying on devices used to control pier shear displacements to retrofit braced steel bridge piers, including the effect of overturning displacements on the effective ductility of such systems. A closed form equation for the total ductility of the retrofit pier, as a function of the shear displacement ductility, is derived and expressed graphically. A simple preliminary design procedure that incorporates these effects is proposed and an example design is presented. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Editors' notes
Authors: Russon Craig , Russon Gabrielle
Published: January 2005

Editors' notes
Structural evolution of the Tuscan Nappe in the southeastern sector of the Apuan Alps metamorphic dome (Northern Apennines, Italy)
Authors: Carosi R. , Frassi C. , Montomoli C. , Pertusati P. C.
Published: January 2005

Structural analysis carried out in the Tuscan Nappe (TN) in the southeastern sector of the Apuan Alps highlights a structural evolution much more complex than that proposed so far. The TN has been deformed by structures developed during four deformation phases. The three early phases resulted from a compressive tectonic regime linked to the construction of the Apenninic fold‐and‐thrust‐belt. The fourth phase, instead, is connected with the extensional tectonics, probably related to the collapse of the belt and/or to the opening of the Tyrrhenian Sea.

Our structural and field data suggest the following. (1) The first phase is linked to the main crustal shortening and deformation of the Tuscan Nappe in the internal sectors of the belt. (2) The second deformation phase is responsible for the prominent NW–SE‐trending folds recognized in the study area (Mt. Pescaglino and Pescaglia antiforms and Mt. Piglione and Mt. Prana synforms). (3) The direction of shortening related to the third phase is parallel to the main structural trend of the belt. (4) The interference between the third folding phase and the earlier two tectonic phases could be related to the development of the metamorphic domes. The two directions of horizontal shortening induced buckling and vertical growth of the metamorphic domes, enhancing the process of exhumation of the metamorphic rocks. (5) The exhumation of the Tuscan Nappe occurred mostly in a compressive tectonic setting.

A new model for the exhumation of the metamorphic dome of the Apuan Alps is proposed.

Its tectonic evolution does not fit with the previously suggested core complex model, but is due to compressive tectonics. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Antibody response to collagen after functional implantation of different polyester vascular prostheses in pigs
Authors: Schlosser M. , Zippel R. , Hoene A. , Urban G. , Ueberrueck T. , Marusch F. , Koch A. , Meyer L. , Wilhelm L.
Published: January 2005

Besides inflammation, specific immune responses are seen also after implantation of biomaterials. The aim was to investigate the humoral response to bovine collagen type I following implantation of various polyester (Dacron) prostheses into pigs. In 24 randomized pigs, the infrarenal aorta was replaced with a segment of collagen‐impregnated, woven polyester prosthesis of low, medium, or high porosity. IgG antibodies were detected by immunoassay using native and denatured collagen type I as a target for blood samples taken on day 1 (implantation), 10, 17, 24, 62, and 116. As generally observed, antibodies to native and denatured collagen are of low titer and were significantly correlated with enhanced binding to the denatured form (p < 0.001). The highest overall antibody prevalence to native and denatured collagen was obtained on day 116 with 68% and on day 62 with 59%, respectively. Prostheses with high porosity induced an early immune response on day 10; those with low and medium porosity induced the highest antibody levels later after 2 months. Collagen antibodies neither correlated with serum IgG contents nor with antibodies to the prosthesis polyester matrix. Thus, humoral immune response against implant components may provide a further parameter in describing biocompatibility but also a potential marker that may facilitate monitoring of individual perigraft reaction. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res 72A: 317–325, 2005
A scoring function for docking ligands to low‐resolution protein structures
Authors: Bindewald Eckart , Skolnick Jeffrey
Published: January 2005

We present a docking method that uses a scoring function for protein–ligand docking that is designed to maximize the docking success rate for low‐resolution protein structures. We find that the resulting scoring function parameters are very different depending on whether they were optimized for high‐ or low‐resolution protein structures. We show that this docking method can be successfully applied to predict the ligand‐binding site of low‐resolution structures. For a set of 25 protein–ligand complexes, in 76% of the cases, more than 50% of ligand‐contacting residues are correctly predicted (using receptor crystal structures where the binding site is unspecified). Using decoys of the receptor structures having a 4 Å RMSD from the native structure, for the same set of complexes, in 72% of the cases, we obtain at least one correctly predicted ligand‐contacting residue. Furthermore, using an 81‐protein–ligand set described by Jain, in 76 (93.8%) cases, the algorithm correctly predicts more than 50% of the ligand‐contacting residues when native protein structures are used. Using 3 Å RMSD from native decoys, in all but two cases (97.5%), the algorithm predicts at least one ligand‐binding residue correctly. Finally, compared to the previously published Dolores method, for 298 protein–ligand pairs, the number of cases in which at least half of the specific contacts are correctly predicted is more than four times greater. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Comput Chem 26: 374–383, 2005
Quantum vs. classical models of the nitro group for proton chemical shift calculations and conformational analysis
Authors: Mobli Mehdi , Abraham Raymond J.
Published: January 2005

A model based on classical concepts is derived to describe the effect of the nitro group on proton chemical shifts. The calculated chemical shifts are then compared to ab initio (GIAO) calculated chemical shifts. The accuracy of the two models is assessed using proton chemical shifts of a set of rigid organic nitro compounds that are fully assigned in CDCl3 at 700 MHz. The two methods are then used to evaluate the accuracy of different popular post‐SCF methods (B3LYP and MP2) and molecular mechanics methods (MMX and MMFF94) in calculating the molecular structure of a set of sterically crowded nitro aromatic compounds. Both models perform well on the rigid molecules used as a test set, although when using the GIAO method a general overestimation of the deshielding of protons near the nitro group is observed. The analysis of the sterically crowded molecules shows that the very popular B3LYP/6‐31G(d,p) method produces very poor twist angles for these, and that using a larger basis set [6‐311++G(2d,p)] gives much more reasonable results. The MP2 calculations, on the other hand, overestimate the twist angles, which for these compounds compensates for the deshielding effect generally observed for protons near electronegative atoms when using the GIAO method at the B3LYP/6‐311++G(2d,p) level. The most accurate results are found when the structures are calculated using B3LYP/6‐311++G(2d,p) level of theory, and the chemical shifts are calculated using the CHARGE program based on classical models. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Comput Chem 26: 389–398, 2005
All (k;g)‐cages are k‐edge‐connected
Authors: Lin Yuqing , Miller Mirka , Rodger Chris
Published: January 2005

A (k;g)‐cage is a k‐regular graph with girth g and with the least possible number of vertices. In this paper, we prove that (k;g)‐cages are k‐edge‐connected if g is even. Earlier, Wang, Xu, and Wang proved that (k;g)‐cages are k‐edge‐connected if g is odd. Combining our results, we conclude that the (k;g)‐cages are k‐edge‐connected. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Graph Theory 48: 219–227, 2005
Modulation of biphasic rate of end‐plate potential recovery in rat diaphragm
Authors: van Lunteren Erik , Moyer Michelle
Published: January 2005

Previous diaphragm studies found that during intermittent stimulation, intratrain end‐plate potential (EPP) amplitude rundown is accelerated by increasing stimulation frequency, whereas intertrain EPP rundown is independent of frequency. We hypothesized that increasing stimulation frequency accelerates rundown recovery, and with a biphasic time course. Intracellular recordings were made in vitro from rat phrenic nerve–hemidiaphragm preparations. EPP amplitude recovery after a 100‐ms stimulation train and 100 ms of quiescence was significantly greater following stimulation at 200 HZ than at 20–100 HZ, despite larger antecedent EPP decline. EPP amplitudes recovered with a biphasic pattern: an early component with a fast time‐constant (0.03–0.06 s) and a late component with a slow time‐constant (0.5–5 s). Increased antecedent stimulation frequency accelerated the early component, but stimulation duration or pulse number modulated the late component. When interpreted in the context of vesicle recycling and replenishment models involving multiple pools and pathways, these data suggest that antecedent stimulation frequency regulates predominantly the fast pathways. This may have important implications for the development of respiratory failure in diseases of the neuromuscular junction, such as myasthenia gravis, when the firing duration and frequency are altered in association with changes in breathing pattern. Muscle Nerve, 2005