bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The role of specific 2′-hydroxyl groups in the stabilization of the folded conformation of kink-turn RNA
Authors: Liu Jia , Lilley David M.J.
Published: December 2006

The role of 2′-hydroxyl groups in stabilizing the tightly kinked geometry of the kink-turn (K-turn) has been investigated. Individual 2′-OH groups have been removed by chemical synthesis, and the kinking of the RNA has been studied by gel electrophoresis and fluorescence resonance energy transfer. The results have been analyzed by reference to a database of 11 different crystallographic structures of K-turns. The potential hydrogen bonds fall into several classes. The most important are those in the core of the turn and ribose–phosphate interactions around the bulge. Of these the single most important hydrogen bond is one donated from the 2′-OH of the 5′ nucleotide of the bulge to the N1 of the adenine of the kink-proximal A•G pair. This is present in all known K-turn structures, and removal of the 2′-OH completely prevents metal ion-induced folding. Hydrogen bonds formed in the minor grooves of the helical stems are less important, and removal of the participating 2′-OH groups leads to reduced impairment of folding. These interactions are generally more polymorphic, and hydrogen bonds probably form where possible, as permitted by the global structure.
Children's and adults' reactions to magical and ordinary suggestion: Are suggestibility and magical thinking psychologically close relatives?
Authors: Subbotsky Eugene
Published: December 2006

In Experiment 1, 6‐ and 9‐year‐old children and adults were asked to imagine various types of objects. The experimenter then attempted to change the image of those objects in participants' minds by either suggesting that the objects may change against the participants' will, or by asking participants to change the objects as a favor to the experimenter. Two types of suggestive causation were employed: Magical‐suggestion (a magic spell was cast with the aim of changing the imagined objects) and ordinary‐suggestion (participants were told that the objects in their minds could alter against their will). Ordinary‐suggestion was as effective as magical‐suggestion in changing the participants' imagined objects. For adults, a direct request for compliance produced a stronger effect than did magical suggestion. This effect was not found in children. In Experiment 2, the two types of suggestion were tested on an alternative type of imagined objects. Adult participants were asked to imagine their futures. It was then proposed that (a) a magic spell could be cast on their futures with the aim of changing them either for the worse or for the better (magical‐suggestion), or (b) changing a numerical pattern on a computer screen could change their futures (ordinary‐suggestion). All participants denied that changing a numerical pattern on a computer screen could affect their lives, yet in their actions they demonstrated an element of belief in this possibility. As in Experiment 1, in Experiment 2 ordinary suggestion was as effective as magical suggestion. The hypothesis of an historic contiguity between magical causality and ordinary suggestion is discussed.
Risk perception, fuzzy representations and comparative optimism
Authors: Brown Stephen L. , Morley Andy M.
Published: December 2006

Rather than a unitary value, individuals may represent health risk as a fuzzy entity that permits them to make a number of specific possible estimates. Comparative optimism might be explained by people flexibly, using such a set to derive optimistic risk estimates. Student participants were asked to rate the likelihood of eight harmful alcohol‐related outcomes occurring to themselves and to an average student. Participants made either unitary estimates or estimates representing the upper and lower bounds of a set denoting ‘realistic probability’ estimates. Personal risk estimates were lower when they were made as unitary estimates than those calculated from the mid‐points of the bounded estimates. Unitary estimates of personal risk made after the bounded estimates were lower than initial unitary estimates. There were no effects for estimates made with regard to the average student. Risk may be internally represented as a fuzzy set, and comparative optimism may exist partly because this set allows people the opportunity to make optimistic unitary estimates for personal risk within what they see as realistic parameters.
Comments on Juliette Blevins, “A theoretical synopsis of Evolutionary Phonology”
Authors: Andersen Henning
Published: December 2006

0. Introduction

This is an important paper which deserves attention for several reasons, (i) by virtue of the project it outlines, that of investigating the diachronic origins of recurrent synchronic neutralization patterns; (ii) for the theory of phonological change it proposes and the attempt to cast this in terms of evolutionary theory; and (iii) for its discussion of ‘voicing’ neutralization.
An evolutionary perspective on stop inventories
Authors: Brown Jason
Published: December 2006

1. Introduction

Evolutionary Phonology attempts to explain the sound patterns that are recurrent in the world's languages, including the distributions of sounds within segment inventories. Perhaps one of the strongest arguments made by Evolutionary Phonology concerns the nature of explanation.
On the use of Evolutionary Phonology for phonological theory
Authors: Hamann Silke
Published: December 2006

1. Introduction

Theoretical phonology centrally focuses on representing the implicit knowledge that speakers have of the sound patterns in their language, as Blevins (this volume) points out on the first page of her synopsis. Equally important, according to Blevins, is it to provide explanations for the distribution of sound patterns across attested spoken languages. While this has been aimed at in numerous studies in different frameworks, Blevins mentions Generative Phonology and Optimality Theory in this context, the alternatively proposed Evolutionary Phonology (henceforth: EP) is claimed to differ from previous work in maintaining a principled distinction between phonological and extra-phonological explanations for sound patterns. For this purpose, EP focuses on diachronic processes and tests the hypothesis that “regular phonetically based sound change is the common source of recurrent sound patterns” (p. 2).
Dependent Contexts in Grammar and in Discourse: German Verb Movement from the Perspective of the Theory of Mood Selection
Authors: Portner Paul
Published: December 2006

1. Overview

Sections 3–4 of Truckenbrodt's paper concern V2 in embedded clauses, and his analysis of such clauses takes as its central intuition the idea that there is a mechanism of discourse interpretation that affects all V2 clauses. With simple root sentences, the mechanism of discourse interpretation links the sentence to the context in which it is uttered; this is one of the main concerns of section 2. With embedded V2 clauses, the mechanism of discourse interpretation links the clause not to the real context, but to a ‘dependent context’ derived from the embedding head (he also uses the term ‘derived context’). In this commentary, I would like to explore this notion of dependent context.
Titanic Town: Sport, Space and the Re‐imag(in)ing of Belfast
Authors: BAIRNER ALAN
Published: December 2006

This article discusses the extent to which Belfast's sporting spaces are implicated in a process whereby the city has been transformed since the cessation of widespread political violence. The discussion takes readers to the city's traditional sporting venues, comments on the relationship between sporting spaces and urban regeneration and assesses the extent to which, if at all, Belfast can become a “winning city” by virtue of its new and proposed sports facilities. Particular attention is paid to the concept of public space with reference to the Odyssey Arena and the planned national stadium. It is argued that for a variety of reasons, it is unlikely that Belfast can be transformed into a mecca for sports enthusiasts. The evidence upon which this conclusion is based is largely drawn from the author's personal ethnographic reading of the city and its people. [Northern Ireland, Belfast, sports, ethnic conflict, public space]
The Misunderstanding of Mexican Community Life in Urban Apartment Space: A Case Study in Applied Anthropology and Community Policing
Authors: PÉREZ RAMONA L.
Published: December 2006

The increasing diversity of our urban centers has created a growing stress on social service based entities such as schools, medical facilities, workforce agencies, police forces, and urban planners. Anthropology's collaboration with many of these service agencies has been significant but has rarely included police forces. Recent changes in the philosophy and mission of police agencies toward a more community based and collaborative framework provides an immense opportunity for anthropologists to address the tensions created by misinterpretations of cultural practices and norms between the police and communities they serve. This essay employs a case study framework of a completed project to demonstrate the collaborations possible between anthropology, city planners, grassroots community groups and police agencies. [applied anthropology, community policing, Mexican migrants in urban space, urban renewal, rural to urban migration].
Determining a Suitable Substrate Size and Sampling Frequency for Rearing Juvenile Rainbow Mussels Villosa iris
Authors: Liberty Aaron J , Ostby Brett J , Neves Richard J
Published: December 2006

The effects of sampling frequency and substrate size on the overall size and survival of juvenile rainbow mussels Villosa iris were investigated in 4-L round flow-through tanks. All tanks contained either fine sediment (<50 μm), fine limestone sand (500–850 μm), or coarse limestone sand (1,000–2,500 μm) and were sampled every 2 weeks or once at the end of the 10-week experiment. Tanks left unsampled for 10 weeks had 12.8% higher survival regardless of substrate treatment. Juveniles in unsampled tanks also had greater shell length than those in sampled tanks. Juveniles cultured in coarse sand had the best survival in the sampled tanks (36.4%), and juveniles reared in fine sand had the best survival in the unsampled tanks (51.9% at 10 weeks). Analyses of gut contents at 10 weeks revealed that juveniles were consuming large amounts of detritus and algal cells 5–10 μm in size, primarily Coelastrum, Chlorococcum, Chlorella, and Navicula spp. These results show that frequent disturbance of juveniles by sampling may impede physiological functions, resulting in stress and a decrease in overall survival and shell length. It also appears that fine limestone sand (500–800 μm in size) is the best substrate for juvenile culture purposes in similar rearing systems.
Detection and removal of estrogencity in membrane biological reactors
Authors: Hu J.Y. , Chen X.
Published: December 2006

Three pilot-scale submerged membrane bioreactors (MBRs) in a local wastewater treatment plant (K, M and Z) were studied with the objective to compare the performance of pre-denitrification MBR systems in eliminating the estrogenic activity of the effluent of primary clarifier. A total of 5 batches of samples, which included influent, effluent, supernatant and sludge from the respective aerobic and anoxic tanks were collected over the span. They were investigated by using the developed solid-phase extraction (SPE) protocol coupled with a modified yeast-based estrogen screen (YES) assay. From the results, it could be seen that M MBR demonstrated the best endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) removal efficiency. The fate and behavior of EDCs in MBR systems were fairly understood with estrogenic activity formation dominating in the anoxic tank and removal dominating in the aerobic tank. It is believed that the sorption of EDCs onto the sludge as well as biodegradation of EDCs might be the key mechanisms for the EDCs removal. The low response of YES when dealing with influent samples was mainly due to the inhibition and antagonist effects induced by the influent samples on yeast cells.
Chiral Scandium‐Catalysed Enantioselective Ring‐Opening of meso‐Epoxides with N‐Heterocycle, Alcohol and Thiol Derivatives in Water
Authors: Boudou Marine , Ogawa Chikako , Kobayashi Shū
Published: December 2006

In the presence of catalytic amounts of Sc(OSO3C12H25)3 and a chiral bipyridine ligand, asymmetric ring‐opening of meso‐epoxides with aromatic N‐heterocycles, an alcohol and thiols proceeded smoothly to afford the corresponding products in moderate to good yields (34–85 %) with high to excellent enantioselectivities (74–96 % ee). Water was used as the sole and essential solvent in these important enantioselective transformations.
Patterns of dispersal in Sumatran siamangs (Symphalangus syndactylus): preliminary mtDNA evidence suggests more frequent male than female dispersal to adjacent groups
Authors: Lappan Susan
Published: December 2006

Gibbons of both sexes have been observed emigrating from their natal groups, but the consequences of dispersal in gibbons are poorly understood, and it is unclear whether these are the same for both sexes. I sequenced a 350‐bp fragment of mitochondrial DNA from 18 adults in seven siamang (Symphalangus syndactylus) groups at the Way Canguk Research Station in southern Sumatra to assess patterns of matrilineal relatedness among and within siamang groups, and to assess their fit with different patterns of sex‐specific dispersal. A total of 11 haplotypes were identified in the seven study groups; 50% of adult males in five contiguous groups shared a haplotype with a member of an immediately adjacent group, whereas only 16.7% of females shared a haplotype with a neighbor. The apparent difference persisted if only same‐sex individuals were considered (37.5% of males vs. 0% of females). Four of the seven study groups contained two adult males and a single adult female. In three multimale groups, the three adults all had different haplotypes, suggesting that neither male was the retained adult offspring of the female, whereas in the fourth group, the haplotype of one male was identical with that of the adult female. The high diversity of haplotypes and the absence of clustering among female haplotypes in the study neighborhood suggest that female dispersal to territories adjacent to the natal group may be relatively rare. The presence of some clustering of male haplotypes suggests that shorter dispersal distances may be more common in males. Am. J. Primatol. 69:692–698, 2007. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Survival and apoptotic pathways initiated by TNF‐α: Modeling and predictions
Authors: Rangamani Padmini , Sirovich Lawrence
Published: December 2006

We present a mathematical model which includes TNF‐α initiated survival and apoptotic cascades, as well as nuclear transcription of IκB. These pathways play a crucial role in deciding cell fate in response to inflammation and infection. Our model incorporates known specific protein–protein interactions as identified by experiments. Using these biochemical interactions, we develop a mathematical model of the NF‐κB‐mediated survival and caspase‐mediated apoptosis pathways. Using mass action kinetics, we follow the formation of the survival and late complexes as well as the dynamics of DNA fragmentation. The effect of TNF‐α concentration on DNA fragmentation is modeled and compares well with experiment. Nuclear transcription is also modeled phenomenologically by means of time lagged cytosolic concentrations. This results in transcription related concentrations undergoing under‐damped oscillations, in qualitative and quantitative agreement with experiment. Using a tumor cell as a hypothetical model, we explore the interplay between the components of the survival and apoptotic pathways. Results are presented which make predictions on the limits of cellular oscillations in terms of time delay, initial concentration ratios and other features of the model. The model also makes clear predictions on cell viability in terms of DNA damage within the framework of TNF‐α stimulus duration. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2007; 97: 1216–1229. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Evaluating the validity of anger regulation problems, interpersonal style, and disturbed mental state for predicting inpatient violence
Authors: Doyle Michael , Dolan Mairead
Published: December 2006

Research has been conducted to try to identify risk factors to help predict which patients will be violent during psychiatric hospitalization. Despite the relatively large amount of research conducted, it is difficult to draw any firm conclusions, as the studies vary considerably in study design, methods used, and choice of outcome measures. Studies also tend to focus on risk prediction, even though risk management is the primary aim of clinical practice in mental health services and few studies have focused on a theoretical basis for understanding violence. This study assessed the predictive validity of brief assessment scales in a sample of 94 forensic inpatients who had been inpatient for a median of 521 days, to test the hypotheses that anger regulation problems, interpersonal style, and disturbed mental state would be linked to increased violence risk in a forensic hospital during a hospital stay. The outcome variables for this study were physical violence against another and/or clear threats of physical violence. The results of this study provide support for the hypotheses, and this remained the case after controlling for age, gender, length of stay, and presence of major mental disorder. The findings should not only assist clinicians with assessment and management of risk but also support the reconceptualizing of risk prediction research to reflect the task of clinical risk management. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Integrating objects of intervention and organizational relevance: the case of safeguarding children missing from education systems
Authors: May‐Chahal Corinne , Broadhurst Karen
Published: December 2006

At the early stages of the development of integrated services, a study that examined the views of children and their carers on being missing from education is drawn upon to highlight two key issues that connect with the integration agenda: identifying the object of intervention and altering frames of organizational relevance. It is argued that if the proposed national outcome framework for England is to be meaningfully achieved (being healthy, enjoying and achieving, making a positive contribution, staying safe and achieving economic well being) within new service configurations, children's problems can no longer be fragmented into objects of organizational or professional expertise. Organizational relevance must adjust to enable the service user's (in this case children's, young people's, and their parents'/carers') framing of problems to be communicated, heard, and responded to. Three cases are presented for illustrative purposes, which show (i) the continued fragmentation of the service user's problem into objects of organizational relevance and (ii) the impact of this fragmentation on outcomes for children. Following presentation of the cases, a policy discussion is offered, which highlights a number of factors that undermined agencies' efforts to offer a joined‐up and holistic service in this particular local context. The study draws links between this particular local context and issues of national relevance and concludes that, for the families in this study, problems presented to agencies continued to be framed according to organizationally relevant concerns and practical realities. This process occurred in spite of efforts by children, young people, and their parents/carers to steer diverse professionals involved with their lives down a more individually relevant path. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Separation of Olefin/Paraffin Mixtures Using Zwitterionic Silver Complexes as Transport Carriers
Authors: Kim Hoon Sik , Bae Jin Yong , Park Sang Joon , Lee Hyunjoo , Bae Hyun Woo , Kang Sang Ook , Lee Sang Deuk , Choi Dai Ki
Published: December 2006

Zwitterionic silver nitrate salts of 1‐(1‐methyl‐3‐imidazolio)propane‐3‐sulfonate, 1‐(1‐methyl‐1‐pyrrolidinio)propane‐3‐sulfonate, and 1‐(4‐methyl‐4‐morpholio)propane‐3‐sulfonate have been prepared and tested as carriers for facilitated olefin transport membranes in the separation of ethylene/ethane, propylene/propane, and C4 mixtures. The interactions of olefins with silver ions bound to sulfonate groups were investigated by FTIR spectroscopy as well as the correlation between the binding affinity of olefins and facilitated transport.
Anion‐Directed Self‐Assembly of Lanthanide–notp Compounds and Their Fluorescence, Magnetic, and Catalytic Properties
Authors: Bao Song‐Song , Ma Li‐Fang , Wang Yin , Fang Ling , Zhu Cheng‐Jian , Li Yi‐Zhi , Zheng Li‐Min
Published: December 2006

Reactions of 1,4,7‐triazacyclononane‐1,4,7‐triyl‐tris(methylenephosphonic acid) [notpH6, C9H18N3(PO3H2)3] with different lanthanide salts result in four types of Ln–notp compounds: [Ln{C9H20N3(PO3H)2(PO3)}(NO3)(H2O)]⋅4 H2O (1), [Ln = Eu (1 Eu), Gd (1 Gd), Tb (1 Tb)], [Ln{C9H20N3(PO3H)2(PO3)}(H2O)]Cl⋅3 H2O (2) [Ln = Eu (2 Eu), Gd (2 Gd), Tb (2 Tb)], [Ln{C9H20N3(PO3H)2(PO3)}(H2O)]ClO4⋅8 H2O, (3) [Ln = Eu (3 Eu), Gd (3 Gd)], and [Ln{C9H20N3(PO3H)2(PO3)}(H2O)]ClO4⋅3 H2O (4), [Ln = Gd (4 Gd), Tb (4 Tb)]. Compounds within each type are isostructural. In compounds 1, dimers of {Ln2(notpH4)2(NO3)2(H2O)2} are found, in which the two lanthanide atoms are connected by two pairs of O‐P‐O and one pair of μ‐O bridges. The NO3− ion serves as a bidentate terminal ligand. Compounds 2 contain similar dimeric units of {Ln2(notpH4)2(H2O)2} that are further connected by a pair of O‐P‐O bridges into an alternating chain. The Cl− ions are involved in the interchain hydrogen‐bonding networks. A similar chain structure is also found in compounds 3; in this case, however, the chains are linked by ClO4− counterions through hydrogen‐bonding interactions, forming an undulating layer in the (011) plane. These layers are fused through hydrogen‐bonding interactions, leading to a three‐dimensional supramolecular network with large channels in the [100] direction. Compounds 4 show an interesting brick‐wall‐like layer structure in which the neighboring lanthanide atoms are connected by a pair of O‐P‐O bridges. The ClO4− counterions and the lattice water molecules are between the layers. In all compounds the triazamacrocyclic nitrogen atoms are not coordinated to the LnIII ions. The anions and the pH are believed to play key roles in directing the formation of a particular structure. The fluorescence spectroscopic properties of the Eu and Tb compounds, magnetic properties of the Gd compounds, and the catalytic properties of 4 Gd were also studied.
Sandwich‐like Compounds Based on the All‐Metal Aromatic Unit Al42− and the Main‐Group Metals M (M=Li, Na, K, Be, Mg, Ca)
Authors: Yang Li‐Ming , Ding Yi‐Hong , Sun Chia‐Chung
Published: December 2006

Inspired by the pioneering experimental characterisation of the all‐metal aromatic unit Al42− in the bimetallic molecules MAl4− (M=Li, Na, Cu) and by the very recent theoretical design of sandwich‐type transition‐metal complexes [Al4MAl4]q− (q=0–2; M=Ti, V, Cr, Zr, Nb, Mo, Hf, Ta, W), we used density functional theory (DFT) calculations (B3LYP/6‐311+G(d) to design a series of novel non‐transition‐metal sandwich complexes based on the all‐metal aromatic unit Al42− and the main‐group metals M (M=Li, Na, K, Be, Mg, Ca). The traditional homo‐decked sandwich compounds [Al4MAl4]q− (without counterions) and (nM)q+[Al4MAl4]q− (with counterions M) (q=2–3, M=Li, Na, K, Be, Mg, Ca), although some of them are truly energy minima, have a much higher energy than many fused isomers. We thus concluded that it seems unlikely for Al42− to sandwich the main‐group metal atoms in the homo‐decked sandwich form. Alternatively, we proposed a new type of sandwich complex, namely hetero‐decked sandwich compounds [CpMAl4]q−, that are the ground‐state structures for each M both with and without counterions. It was shown that with the rigid Cp− partner, the all‐metal aromatic unit Al42− might indeed act as a “superatom”. These new types of all‐metal aromatic unit‐based sandwich complexes await future experimental verification.
Enantioselective Synthesis of Natural Polyoxygenated Cyclohexanes and Cyclohexenes from [(p‐Tolylsulfinyl)methyl]‐p‐quinols
Authors: Carreño M. Carmen , Merino Estíbaliz , Ribagorda María , Somoza Álvaro , Urbano Antonio
Published: December 2006

Exploitation of the β‐hydroxysulfoxide fragment present in a number of enantiomerically pure (SR)‐ and (SS)‐[(p‐tolylsulfinyl)methyl]‐p‐quinols allowed chemo‐ and stereocontrolled conjugate additions of different organoaluminium reagents to the cyclohexadienone moiety. The same fragment was also shown to act as an efficient chiral masking carbonyl group, after oxidation to sulfone and retroaddition in basic medium, with elimination of methyl p‐tolyl sulfone. Through the use of both transformations as key steps, enantiocontrolled syntheses of different natural products—such as the two enantiomers of dihydroepiepoformin, (−)‐gabosine O, (+)‐epiepoformin, (−)‐theobroxide and (+)‐4‐epigabosine A (an epimer of the natural product gabosine A)—has been achieved. The presence of the β‐hydroxy sulfone moiety makes the cyclic structures rigid, allowing a number of stereoselective transformations such as carbonyl reductions, enone epoxidations or cis‐dihydroxylations, en route to the natural structures. The observed selectivities were dependent on the particular substitution in each substrate, providing evidence of a strong influence of remote groups on the preferred approach of the reactants to the reactive conformations. An advanced precursor of natural (+)‐harveynone was also synthesized, but the isolation of the natural product was not possible because of the instability of the corresponding enone, containing a triple bond, under the basic conditions necessary to eliminate the β‐hydroxy sulfone. This demonstrated that the limitations of the use of the β‐hydroxy sulfoxide as a chiral protecting carbonyl group were dependent on the relative stabilities of the final targets in the presence of the required base.
Prostate cancer progression in the presence of undetectable or low serum prostate‐specific antigen level
Authors: Leibovici Dan , Spiess Philippe E. , Agarwal Piyush K. , Tu Shi‐Ming , Pettaway Curtis A. , Hitzhusen Kate , Millikan Randall E. , Pisters Louis L.
Published: December 2006

BACKGROUND.

The serum prostate‐specific antigen (PSA) level after definitive treatment for prostate cancer (PC) is a powerful predictor of outcome. Occasionally, PC progression can occur despite low or undetectable PSA levels. The authors report on the clinical and pathologic characteristics of patients who experienced PC progression with undetectable or low PSA levels.

METHODS.

From an electronic database of all patients with PC who were treated at The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center between 1999 and 2004, a group of 46 patients was identified who had progression to metastatic PC detected with concomitant PSA levels from 0.1 ng/mL to 2 ng/mL. Patient charts were reviewed for tumor stage, Gleason score, pretreatment PSA level, and the presence of atypical histologic variants (ie, ductal, sarcomatoid, or small cell cancers). The nadir PSA level after treatment and the PSA level at the time metastatic PC was detected were determined. The patients were followed semiannually, and imaging studies were obtained at the discretion of treating physicians. The sites of metastasis and histologic confirmation were reported when available.

RESULTS.

Twenty‐three of 46 patients underwent radical prostatectomy, 11 patients received radiation therapy, and 12 received hormone treatment as their initial form of therapy. Progression to metastatic disease with concomitant, undetectable PSA levels occurred in 10 patients, including 3 patients who had not received treatment with hormones. The sites of metastasis included bone (n = 35 patients), liver (n = 7 patients), retroperitoneal lymph nodes (n = 5 patients), lungs (n = 4 patients), and brain (n = 1 patient). Aggressive and locally advanced PC were common features in these patients: Eighty‐five percent had Gleason scores ≥7, 63% had clinical T3 or T4 tumors, and 41% had pretreatment PSA levels >10 ng/mL. Atypical histologic variants were observed in 21 patients (46%) and in 8 of 10 patients who progressed with undetectable PSA levels. In 10 patients (22%), metastasis were detected in the presence of an undetectable PSA level. Eight of those patients had small cell carcinoma. In 19 patients (41%), progression to metastasis occurred without any increase in their PSA from the nadir level. Thirty‐one patients (67%) were asymptomatic at the time metastasis was detected, and the detection of metastasis in these patients occurred only because of routine imaging studies.

CONCLUSIONS.

Progression of PC may occur despite undetectable or low PSA levels. Complete physical evaluation and imaging studies may be indicated in the surveillance of patients with high‐grade, locally advanced tumors, especially when atypical histologic variants are present. Cancer 2007. © 2006 American Cancer Society.
Maladaptive schemas in non‐clinical adolescents: relations to perceived parental rearing behaviours, Big Five personality factors and psychopathological symptoms
Authors: Muris Peter
Published: December 2006

The current study examined Jeffrey Young's (1994) maladaptive schemas in a sample of 173 non‐clinical adolescents aged between 12 and 15 years. Participants completed an age‐downward version of the Young Schema Questionnaire as well as self‐report scales to assess perceptions of parental rearing behaviours, personality traits and psychopathological symptoms. Results indicated that detrimental rearing behaviours were associated with the presence of maladaptive schemas. Further, the personality trait of neuroticism was positively related to a broad range of maladaptive schemas. Some evidence was found indicating that neuroticism and detrimental parental rearing behaviours both accounted for a unique proportion of the variance in distorted thinking patterns. Finally, maladaptive schemas were linked to various types of psychological symptoms, including symptoms of anxiety disorders, depression, disruptive behaviour, eating problems and substance use. Altogether, these findings are well in line with Young's theory and seem to warrant more research on maladaptive schemas in young people. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Compassionate mind training for people with high shame and self‐criticism: overview and pilot study of a group therapy approach
Authors: Gilbert Paul , Procter Sue
Published: December 2006

Compassionate mind training (CMT) was developed for people with high shame and self‐criticism, whose problems tend to be chronic, and who find self‐warmth and self‐acceptance difficult and/or frightening. This paper offers a short overview of the role of shame and self‐criticism in psychological difficulties, the importance of considering different types of affect system (activating versus soothing) and the theory and therapy process of CMT. The paper explores patient acceptability, understanding, abilities to utilize and practice compassion focused processes and the effectiveness of CMT from an uncontrolled trial. Six patients attending a cognitive–behavioural‐based day centre for chronic difficulties completed 12 two‐hour sessions in compassionate mind training. They were advised that this was part of a research programme to look at the process and effectiveness of CMT and to become active collaborators, advising the researchers on what was helpful and what was not. Results showed significant reductions in depression, anxiety, self‐criticism, shame, inferiority and submissive behaviour. There was also a significant increase in the participants' ability to be self‐soothing and focus on feelings of warmth and reassurance for the self. Compassionate mind training may be a useful addition for some patients with chronic difficulties, especially those from traumatic backgrounds, who may lack a sense of inner warmth or abilities to be self‐soothing. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Partner personality in distressed relationships
Authors: Barelds Dick P. H. , Barelds‐Dijkstra Pieternel
Published: December 2006

The present study examines the personality characteristics of partners receiving marital therapy. On the basis of previous research, we expected partners in distressed relationships to be more neurotic and more introverted and to have lower self‐esteem than partners in non‐distressed relationships. 42 individuals receiving marital therapy were recruited and matched against 42 individuals in non‐distressed relationships. All expectations were confirmed. Implications for marital therapy are discussed. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Parotid gland fine‐needle aspiration cytology: An approach to differential diagnosis
Authors: David Odile , Blaney Saad , Hearp Matthew
Published: December 2006

Parotid glands can undergo a wide range of pathologic changes that may be difficult to characterize by clinical features alone. No single diagnostic modality is currently accepted unequivocally as the definitive approach to parotid gland enlargement or tumors. Although it is generally accepted that fine‐needle aspiration (FNA) biopsy is useful in the preoperative setting, the accuracy is highly dependent on both operator experience and the interpretative skills of the cytopathologist. Results of FNA biopsy must be considered in a global context, in conjunction with clinical and radiographic findings.

The objectives of this paper are threefold: (1) to define the clinical role of parotid FNA, such that pathologists performing and/or interpreting such specimens have a clearer understanding of the expectations of our surgical colleagues; (2) to clearly describe a protocol for the performance of parotid FNA biopsy, including a discussion of complications and pitfalls; and (3) to present the cytologic differential diagnoses of diverse clinicopathologic parotid gland processes that may present as generalized enlargement, cystic lesions, or discrete masses. Diagn. Cytopathol. 2007;35:47–56. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Development of CD25– regulatory T cells following heart transplantation: Evidence for transfer of long‐term survival
Authors: Degauque Nicolas , Lair David , Braudeau Cécile , Haspot Fabienne , Sébille Fabien , Dupont Alexandre , Merieau Emmanuel , Brouard Sophie , Soulillou Jean‐Paul
Published: December 2006

Donor‐specific heart allograft acceptance can be induced in the MHC‐mismatched LEW.1 W to LEW.1A rat by donor‐specific transfusions. Whereas the induction phase of tolerance has been studied in detail, its maintenance remained poorly understood. Here, we performed a side‐by‐side comparison of CD25+ and CD25– splenic T cells of 100‐day tolerant rats. Administration of CD25– T cells from tolerant rats to sublethally irradiated recipients transferred long‐term graft survival. These CD25– T cells displayed a decreased donor‐specific response in the mixed lymphocyte reaction and presented suppressive activity. These CD25– T cells accumulated IFN‐γ, IL‐10 and Foxp3 transcripts. The in vitro suppressive activity of CD25– T cells required both cell contact and soluble factors (IL‐10 and IFN‐γ). The CD25+ T cells from tolerant rats did not show any modification of their regulatory properties. We show that splenic CD25– T cells of tolerant rats contribute to the maintenance of tolerance following the transplantation. Our data show that regulatory T cells are not restricted to the CD4+CD25+ T cell subset and provide new insights on the mechanisms of tolerance to allograft following donor cell priming.
Helper function of cytolytic lymphocytes: Switching roles in the immune response
Authors: Pira Giuseppina Li , Ivaldi Federico , Bottone Laura , Koopman Gerrit , Manca Fabrizio
Published: December 2006

T helper (Th) cells and cytolytic T lymphocytes (CTL) play defined roles in the cellular immune response. This distinction wavered when Th lymphocytes were shown to kill antigen‐presenting cells displaying the relevant antigen. Here we demonstrate that also the opposite can be true: CTL can exert helper functions. We noticed that certain CMV‐specific CTL lines grew after antigen activation also without exogenous IL‐2. These lines produced their own IL‐2, which supported the expansion of other CTL and Th cell lines. High levels of helper cytokines like IL‐4, IL‐5 and IL‐6 were detected in the culture supernatants. Thus, we set up a helper assay to study the functional interactions between T cells (or their supernatants) and B cells. Conditioned media from helper CTL lines induced secretion of antigen‐specific antibodies by B cells pulsed with antigen as first signal. We conclude that it is possible to isolate CTL lines that exhibit helper functions for T cells and B cells. If this possibility is proven also in vivo, we should revise some of our views on the pathogenesis of diseases in which CD8 cells are key players, such as in viral infections, graft rejection and GVHD.
Modulation of 2B4 (CD244) activity and regulated SAP expression in human NK cells
Authors: Endt Johanna , Eissmann Philipp , Hoffmann Sabrina C. , Meinke Stephan , Giese Thomas , Watzl Carsten
Published: December 2006

The adapter protein SAP is important for the signal transduction of the family of SLAM‐related receptors (SRR), which have important immune‐modulating functions. The importance of SAP and SRR for a functional immune reaction becomes obvious in patients suffering from X‐linked lymphoproliferative disease, which is characterized by non‐functional SAP. Here we investigate the regulation of SAP expression in human NK cells. We demonstrate that SAP mRNA expression and protein levels are low in freshly isolated resting NK cells. IL‐2 stimulation leads to an up‐regulation of SAP expression, which can be enhanced by IL‐12, the stimulation of TLR3 by polyinosinic‐polycytidylic acid (poly(I:C))and to a lesser extent by IFN‐α. EAT‐2, a SAP‐related adapter protein, is already detectable in resting NK cells and does not change its expression after IL‐2 stimulation. The regulation of SAP has functional consequences for the stimulation of NK cell cytotoxicity by 2B4. In resting NK cells, 2B4 stimulation can only enhance NK cell lysis when co‐triggered with other activating NK cell receptors. In IL‐2‐activated NK cells with high SAP expression the triggering of 2B4 alone is sufficient to induce NK cell cytotoxicity, demonstrating a correlation between the regulated SAP expression and the function of 2B4.
Synthesis of 3‐Alkylcoumarins from Salicylaldehydes and α,β‐Unsaturated Aldehydes Utilizing Nucleophilic Carbenes: A New Umpoled Domino Reaction
Authors: Toräng Jakob , Vanderheiden Sylvia , Nieger Martin , Bräse Stefan
Published: December 2006

Starting from salicylaldehydes and α,β‐unsaturated aldehydes, a new coumarin synthesis in ionic liquids is presented. The key feature is the generation of N‐heterocyclic carbenes (NHC) and an Umpolung reaction. (© Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2007)
The Absolute Configuration of (+)‐Ethyl cis‐1‐Benzyl‐3‐hydroxypiperidine‐4‐carboxylate and (+)‐4‐Ethyl 1‐Methyl cis‐3‐Hydroxypiperidine‐1,4‐dicarboxylate; a Revision
Authors: Lorenzetto Piergiorgio A. , Strehler Andreas , Rüedi Peter
Published: December 2006

Discrepancies between chiroptical data from the literature and our determination of the structure of the title compounds (+)‐5 and (+)‐9a were resolved by an unambiguous assignment of their absolute configuration. Accordingly, the dextrorotatory cis‐3‐hydroxy esters have (3R,4R)‐ and the laevorotatory enantiomers (3S,4S)‐configuration. The final evidences were demonstrated on both enantiomers (+)‐ and (−)‐5 by biological reduction of 4 by bakers' yeast and stereoselective [RuII(binap)]‐catalyzed hydrogenations of 4 (Scheme 2), by the application of the NMR Mosher method on (+)‐ and (−)‐5 (Scheme 3), as well as by the transformation of (+)‐5 into a common derivative and chiroptical correlation (Scheme 4).
Thermophilic biotrickling filtration of a mixture of isobutyraldehyde and 2‐pentanone
Authors: Luvsanjamba Munkhtsetseg , Sercu Bram , Kertész Szabolcs , Van Langenhove Herman
Published: December 2006

In this study, the possibility of the removal of isobutyraldehyde and 2‐pentanone was investigated in biotrickling filters (BTFs) at higher temperature (52–65 °C). First, the biodegradation of isobutyraldehyde and 2‐pentanone in activated sludge was proven by batch experiments at 52 and 62 °C. In batch experiments isobutyraldehyde was also degraded up to a temperature of 72 °C. Thereafter two bioreactors were operated in parallel, one at ambient temperature (BTF25), and one at 52 °C (BTF52). Maximum elimination capacities of 97 and 139 g m−3 h−1 were observed in BTF25 and BTF52, respectively, for isobutyraldehyde. Maximum elimination capacities of 53 and 63 g m−3 h−1 were obtained for 2‐pentanone in BTF25 and BTF52, respectively. A significant difference was observed in the operational stability of the two reactors. In the reactor at ambient temperature, operational problems such as foam formation, higher biomass accumulation and organic acid production were observed. In the thermophilic reactor these problems did not occur or were less severe. Copyright © 2007 Society of Chemical Industry
Quantitative evaluation of the effect of propylene glycol on BBB permeability
Authors: Sood Rohit , Taheri Saeid , Estrada Eduardo Y. , Rosenberg Gary A.
Published: December 2006

Purpose

To establish the blood–brain barrier (BBB) blocking property of propylene glycol (PG) using the 14C sucrose technique, quantitatively evaluate the effect of PG on BBB permeability using an MRI technique based on graphical analysis, and demonstrate the sensitivity of MRI for testing newer investigational drugs.

Materials and Methods

Brain uptake of sucrose was measured in treated (PG+) and untreated (PG−) rats using a 14C sucrose technique in rat brains (N = 10) that had undergone two hours of middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) and three hours of reperfusion. Another group of PG+ and PG− rats (N = 8) underwent MRI. T2‐weighted (T2W) and diffusion‐weighted (DW) images were acquired on a 4.7T MR system. A rapid T1 mapping protocol was implemented to acquire a baseline data set followed by postinjection data sets at regular intervals. The data were postprocessed pixelwise to generate permeability coefficient color maps.

Results

A significant (P < 0.05) reduction in 14C sucrose space was observed on the ischemic side of PG+ rats only. Permeability coefficient estimates obtained by MRI from the ipsilateral hemisphere in PG+ rats were significantly lower than those in PG− rats (P < 0.05). There was no significant change on the contralateral side in PG+ rats. The results show that PG protects the BBB in ischemic stroke, and MRI measurements are sufficiently sensitive to noninvasively detect small drug effects.

Conclusion

MRI is useful for evaluating the BBB blocking effect of PG in an ischemic stroke model of rat brain. The results from the MR experiment agree well with findings from the 14C sucrose technique. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2007. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Calpain activity in retinal degeneration
Authors: Paquet‐Durand François , Johnson Leif , Ekström Per
Published: December 2006

Retinal degenerations such as retinitis pigmentosa (RP) or glaucoma are a major cause of blindness in humans. Understanding the mechanisms underlying the various types of retinal degeneration is a pre‐requisite for the development of rational therapies for these diseases. Activation of the calcium dependent protease, calpain, has been suggested to play an important role in cell death in various neuronal tissues including the retina. Improved detection and analysis of calpain activity during degenerative processes is likely to expand the list of pathological conditions with calpain involvement. We give a short overview of the methods available for the detection of calpain activity, and briefly discuss properties of calpain inhibitors. We then discuss the role of calpains in different cell death mechanisms and review existing work on retinal degeneration and the possible involvement of calpains therein. The implication of calpains in retinal cell death raises the possibility to use calpain inhibitors to prevent or delay retinal degeneration. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
A new method for the authentication of plant samples by analyzing fingerprint chromatograms
Authors: Obradovič Marko , Krajšek Simona Strgulc , Dermastia Marina , Kreft Samo
Published: December 2006

Chemical analysis by high‐performance liquid chromatography or capillary electrophoresis of plant pulverized samples, juices or extracts is an excellent method for the authentication of medicinal plant species and their products, particularly when morphological authentication is not possible. In the conventional procedure, chromatograms are integrated and the heights or areas of several peaks are used in a supervised pattern recognition method to confirm the authenticity of the product. We propose a new section approach in analysing chromatograms, where chromatograms are split into sections, which are described by four variables (number of peaks in the section, average retention time of peaks in the section, total area of peaks in the section and average area of peaks in the section), and these variables are then used in statistical analysis. The method is especially useful when the peaks on the chromatogram are not well separated and it is not easy to link individual peaks on one chromatogram with corresponding peaks on other chromatograms. In comparison with the standard procedure, our approach in analyzing chromatographic data of willow‐herb (EpilobiumandChamaenerionspp.) extracts was more objective, gave better results and was also easier to perform. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Synthesis and polymerization of 5‐(N,N‐dimethylamino)naphthylacetylene with homogeneous rhodium and palladium complexes
Authors: Rodríguez J. Gonzalo , Tejedor Jose Luis
Published: December 2006

The monomer 5‐ethynyl‐N,N‐dimethylnaphthalen‐1‐amine (2) was satisfactorily obtained by a heterocoupling reaction between 5‐iodo‐(N,N‐dimethyl)naphthalen‐1‐amine and 2‐methyl‐3‐butyn‐2‐ol catalyzed by a palladium–copper system and followed by acetone elimination. Poly(5‐ethynyl‐N,N‐dimethylnaphthalen‐1‐amine) was isolated by the reaction of 2 in the presence of homogeneous rhodium and palladium complexes. On the basis of the spectroscopic data, the polymer always showed a cis–transoidal, stereoregular structure. Moreover, only with the rhodium catalyst in methanol was a dimeric product isolated in a very low yield, having a conjugated terminal ene–yne structure, which permitted the consideration of a metallated chain‐transfer intermediate in the polymer propagation. The kinetics of the catalyzed reaction were analyzed. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 437–446, 2007
N‐alkoxy pyridinium ion terminated polystyrenes: A facile route to photoinduced block copolymerization
Authors: Durmaz Yasemin Yüksel , Yilmaz Görkem , Yağci Yusuf
Published: December 2006

Photoactive N‐alkoxy 4‐phenyl pyridinium and N‐alkoxy isoquinolinium ion terminated polystyrenes with hexafluoroantimonate counter anion were prepared and characterized. For this purpose, mono‐ and dibrominated polystyrenes were prepared by atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). The reaction of these polymers with silver hexafluoroantimonate in the presence of 4‐phenylpyridine N‐oxide and isoquinoline N‐oxide in dichloromethane produced desired polymeric salts with the corresponding functionalities. Irradiation of these photoactive polystyrenes produced alkoxy radicals at chain ends capable of initiating free radical polymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA). This way, depending on the number of functionality, AB or ABA type block copolymers were formed which were characterized with the aid of gel permeation chromatography and 1H NMR spectroscopy. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 423–428, 2007.