bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Annotation: Development of facial expression recognition from childhood to adolescence: behavioural and neurological perspectives
Authors: Herba Catherine , Phillips Mary
Published: August 2004

Background: Intact emotion processing is critical for normal emotional development. Recent advances in neuroimaging have facilitated the examination of brain development, and have allowed for the exploration of the relationships between the development of emotion processing abilities, and that of associated neural systems.

Methods: A literature review was performed of published studies examining the development of emotion expression recognition in normal children and psychiatric populations, and of the development of neural systems important for emotion processing.

Results: Few studies have explored the development of emotion expression recognition throughout childhood and adolescence. Behavioural studies suggest continued development throughout childhood and adolescence (reflected by accuracy scores and speed of processing), which varies according to the category of emotion displayed. Factors such as sex, socio‐economic status, and verbal ability may also affect this development. Functional neuroimaging studies in adults highlight the role of the amygdala in emotion processing. Results of the few neuroimaging studies in children have focused on the role of the amygdala in the recognition of fearful expressions. Although results are inconsistent, they provide evidence throughout childhood and adolescence for the continued development of and sex differences in amygdalar function in response to fearful expressions. Studies exploring emotion expression recognition in psychiatric populations of children and adolescents suggest deficits that are specific to the type of disorder and to the emotion displayed.

Conclusions: Results from behavioural and neuroimaging studies indicate continued development of emotion expression recognition and neural regions important for this process throughout childhood and adolescence. Methodological inconsistencies and disparate findings make any conclusion difficult, however. Further studies are required examining the relationship between the development of emotion expression recognition and that of underlying neural systems, in particular subcortical and prefrontal cortical structures. These will inform understanding of the neural bases of normal and abnormal emotional development, and aid the development of earlier interventions for children and adolescents with psychiatric disorders.
Recognition of own‐race and other‐race faces by three‐month‐old infants
Authors: Sangrigoli Sandy , De Schonen Scania
Published: August 2004

Background:  People are better at recognizing faces of their own race than faces of another race. Such race specificity may be due to differential expertise in the two races.

Method:  In order to find out whether this other‐race effect develops as early as face‐recognition skills or whether it is a long‐term effect of acquired expertise, we tested face recognition in 3‐month‐old Caucasian infants by conducting two experiments using Caucasian and Asiatic faces and a visual pair‐comparison task. We hypothesized that if the other race effect develops together with face processing skills during the first months of life, the ability to recognize own‐race faces will be greater than the ability to recognize other‐race faces: 3‐month‐old Caucasian infants should be better at recognizing Caucasian faces than Asiatic faces. If, on the contrary, the other‐race effect is the long‐term result of acquired expertise, no difference between recognizing own‐ and other‐race faces will be observed at that age.

Results:  In Experiment 1, Caucasian infants were habituated to a single face. Recognition was assessed by a novelty preference paradigm. The infants’ recognition performance was better for Caucasian than for Asiatic faces. In Experiment 2, Caucasian infants were familiarized with three individual faces. Recognition was demonstrated with both Caucasian and Asiatic faces.

Conclusions:  These results suggest that (i) the representation of face information by 3‐month‐olds may be race‐experience‐dependent (Experiment 1), and (ii) short‐term familiarization with exemplars of another race group is sufficient to reduce the other‐race effect and to extend the power of face processing (Experiment 2).
Face‐sensitive cortical processing in early infancy
Authors: Halit Hanife , Csibra Gergely , Volein Ágnes , Johnson Mark H.
Published: August 2004

Background:  Debates about the developmental origins of adult face processing could be directly addressed if a clear infant neural marker could be identified. Previous research with infants remains open to criticism regarding the control stimuli employed.

Methods:  We recorded ERPs from adults and 3‐month‐old infants while they watched faces and matched visual noise stimuli.

Results:  We observed similar amplitude enhancement for faces in the infant N290 and adult N170. In contrast, the infant P400 showed only a latency effect, making it unlikely to be the main precursor of the adult N170.

Conclusions:  We conclude that there is some degree of specificity of cortical processing of faces as early as 3 months of age.
Building Secure Elections: E‐Voting, Security, and Systems Theory
Authors: Moynihan Donald P.
Published: August 2004

The increased use of information technology promises to revolutionize both the provision of government services and the vibrancy of democracy. In the aftermath of the Florida voting controversy during the 2000 presidential election, governments have placed their faith in technology, adopting e‐voting machines that offer enhanced voter convenience and eliminate the need for subjective recounts. However, the same underlying assumptions that apply to e‐government theory do not apply to e‐voting because of the severity of consequences if failure occurs and the loss of transparency traditionally associated with the voting process. A more useful theoretical guide is systems theory, which deals with complex, high‐risk systems. This literature has been largely overlooked by adopters of e‐voting technology, even though the practical criticisms of e‐voting made by computer security specialists reflect an essentially systems theory perspective.
Three Traditions of Network Research: What the Public Management Research Agenda Can Learn from Other Research Communities
Authors: Berry Frances S. , Brower Ralph S. , Choi Sang Ok , Goa Wendy Xinfang , Jang HeeSoun , Kwon Myungjung , Word Jessica
Published: August 2004

This article identifies and describes the development of three parallel streams of literature about network theory and research: social network analysis, policy change and political science networks, and public management networks. Noting that these traditions have sometimes been inattentive to each other's work, the authors illustrate the similarities and differences in the underlying theoretical assumptions, types of research questions addressed, and research methods typically employed by the three traditions. The authors draw especially on the social network analysis (sociological) tradition to provide theoretical and research insights for those who focus primarily on public management networks. The article concludes with recommendations for advancing current scholarship on public management networks.
Public Management Decision Making: Effects of Decision Content
Authors: Bozeman Barry , Pandey Sanjay K.
Published: August 2004

One obvious aspect of public management decisions and decision making has largely escaped attention—decision content. We examine the effects of decision content by asking the following questions for budget cutback and information technology decisions: How does content affect the time required for decision making? How does content affect who participates? How does content affect the decision criteria employed? How does content affect the information quality used in the decision‐making process and red tape? The results suggest that information technology and budget cutback decisions differ in important ways. For information technology decisions, cost‐effectiveness is not a significant criterion, average decision time is much longer, and decisions are generally viewed as permanent and stable. For cutback decisions, cost‐effectiveness is a significant criterion, decisions are made much more quickly, and they are viewed as unstable and changeable. Surprisingly, decision content does not appear to affect the number of participants.
Know Yourself and Take Charge of Your Own Destiny: The “Fit Model” of Leadership
Authors: Hanbury George L. , Sapat Alka , Washington Charles W.
Published: August 2004

Leadership scholars have theorized that leaders of an organization must have an appropriate “fit” with those they lead and with their environment. Yet, there is no empirical research to date that has explored this belief. We develop a theoretical model to determine the factors influencing the fit of a city manager, indicated by his or her tenure. We argue that six sets of explanations may help determine the fit of the city manager: the manager's leadership style, his or her personality type, the city manager's perception about fit, the perceptions of city councils, the demographics of the city managers, and the demographics of the cities where they work. Based on a rigorous nationwide study of city managers, the study shows that the fit of city managers is significantly influenced by two of the six sets of explanations. Implications for scholars, city managers, and practitioners are drawn from the study's analysis and findings.
Systems Changes Associated with Criminal Justice Treatment Networks
Authors: Townsend Wendy A.
Published: August 2004

This article examines the ability of service networks to improve substance abuse treatment access and service delivery to adult, substance‐abusing female offenders. In fiscal year 1995, the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services's Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) funded four demonstration projects to establish Criminal Justice Treatment Networks to improve substance abuse treatment access and service delivery to adult female offenders while they were involved in the criminal justice system. This study seeks to determine whether the networks promoted systemic change in the community agencies and organizations where they are housed. This article is based on a series of annual site visits, reports, and regular communication with network staff and local evaluators. The findings indicate that networks can improve service delivery in criminal justice and substance abuse treatment systems.
Governance, Management, and Performance: They Matter
Authors: Coates Paul
Published: August 2004

Books reviewed in this article:

Carolyn J. Heinrich and Laurence E. Lynn, Jr., eds., Governance and Performance: New Perspectives

Patricia W. Ingraham, Philip G. Joyce, and Amy Kneedler Donahue, Government Performance: Why Management Matters

Janet M. Kelly and William C. Rivenbark, Performance Budgeting for State and Local Government
Presynaptic plasticity at two giant auditory synapses in normal and deaf mice
Authors: Oleskevich S. , Youssoufian M. , Walmsley B.
Published: August 2004

Large calyceal synapses are often regarded as simple relay points, built for high‐fidelity and high‐frequency synaptic transmission and a minimal requirement for synaptic plasticity, but this view is oversimplified. Calyceal synapses can exhibit surprising activity‐dependent developmental plasticity. Here we compare basal synaptic transmission and activity‐dependent plasticity at two stereotypical calyceal synapses in the auditory pathway, the endbulb and the calyx of Held. Basal synaptic transmission was more powerful at the calyx than the endbulb synapse: the amplitude of evoked AMPA receptor‐mediated excitatory postsynaptic currents (eEPSCs) was significantly greater at the calyx, as were the release probability, and the number of release sites. The quantal amplitude was smaller at the calyx, consistent with the smaller amplitude of spontaneous miniature EPSCs at this synapse. High‐frequency trains of stimuli revealed that the calyx had a larger readily releasable pool of vesicles (RRP), less tetanic depression and less asynchronous transmitter release. Activity‐dependent synaptic plasticity was assessed in congenitally deaf mutant mice (dn/dn). Previously we showed that a lack of synaptic activity in deaf mice increases synaptic strength at the endbulb of Held via presynaptic mechanisms. In contrast, we have now found that deafness does not affect synaptic transmission at the calyx synapse, as eEPSC and mEPSC amplitude, release probability, number of release sites, size of RRP, tetanic depression and asynchronous release were unchanged compared to normal mice. Synaptic transmission at the calyx synapse is more powerful and has less capacity for developmental plasticity compared to the endbulb synapse.
Bergmann glial GlyT1 mediates glycine uptake and release in mouse cerebellar slices
Authors: Huang Hao , Barakat Latifa , Wang Doris , Bordey Angélique
Published: August 2004

Glycine is an inhibitory neurotransmitter and is critical for NMDA receptor activation. These roles are dependent on extracellular glycine levels, which are regulated by Na+/Cl−‐dependent glycine transporters (GlyTs) in neurones and glia. The glial GlyT subtype GlyT1 is well located to activate NMDA receptors. However, glial GlyTs have not been studied in an intact system thus far. Whole‐cell patch‐clamp recordings were obtained from Bergmann glia in mice cerebellar slices to determine whether these glia express functional GlyT1 that can mediate both glycine uptake and efflux. In the presence of a glycine receptor blocker, glycine and a substrate agonist for GlyT1, sarcosine, induced voltage‐dependent inward currents that were abolished by removing external Na+, identifying them as transport currents. Inhibitors of glycine transport through GlyT1 (sarcosine and (N‐[3‐(4′‐fluorophenyl)‐3‐(4′‐phenylphenoxy)propyl]sarcosine (NFPS)) reduced glycine currents by ∼85%, consistent with positive immunostaining for GlyT1 in Bergmann glia while inhibitors of glycine transport through GlyT2 (4‐benzyloxy‐3,5‐dimethoxy‐N‐[1‐(dimethylaminocyclopently)methyl]benzamide (ORG 25543) and amoxapine) or through systems A and ASC did not affect glycine transport currents. Following internal glycine perfusion during the recording, outward currents progressively developed at −50 mV and external glycine‐induced uptake currents were reduced. Using paired recordings of a Bergmann glial cell and a granule cell in the whole cell and outside‐out modes, respectively, depolarizations of Bergmann glia to +20 mV induced a 73% increase in the open probability of glycine receptor channels in membrane patches of granule cells. This increase was prevented when NFPS was included in the bath solution. Overall, these results demonstrate for the first time that Bergmann glia express functional GlyT1 that can work in reverse at near‐physiological ionic and internal glycine conditions in brain slices. These glial GlyTs can probably mediate glycine efflux under conditions of metabolic impairments like ischaemia.
Interleukin‐1 polymorphisms are associated with the inflammatory response in human muscle to acute resistance exercise
Authors: Dennis Richard A. , Trappe Todd A. , Simpson Pippa , Carroll Chad , Emma Huang B. , Nagarajan Radhakrishnan , Bearden Edward , Gurley Cathy , Duff Gordon W. , Evans William J. , Kornman Kenneth , Peterson Charlotte A.
Published: August 2004

Inflammation appears to play an important role in the repair and regeneration of skeletal muscle after damage. We tested the hypothesis that the severity of the inflammatory response in muscle after an acute bout of resistance exercise is associated with single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) previously shown to alter interleukin‐1 (IL‐1) activity. Using a double‐blind prospective design, sedentary young men were screened (n= 100) for enrolment (n= 24) based upon having 1 of 4 haplotype patterns composed of five polymorphic sites in the IL‐1 gene cluster: IL‐1A (+4845), IL‐1B (+3954), IL‐1B (−511), IL‐1B (−3737) and IL‐1RN (+2018). Subjects performed a standard bout of resistance leg exercise and vastus lateralis biopsies were obtained pre‐, and at 24, and 72 h post‐exercise. Inflammatory marker mRNAs (IL‐1β, IL‐6 and tumor necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α)) and the number of CD68+ macrophages were quantified. Considerable variation was observed in the expression of these gene products between subjects. At 72 h post‐exercise, IL‐1β had increased in a number of subjects (n= 10) and decreased (n= 4) or did not change (n= 10) in others. Inflammatory responses were significantly associated with specific haplotype patterns and were also influenced by individual SNPs. Subjects with genotypes 1.1 at IL‐1B (+3954) or 2.2 at IL‐1B (−3737) had approximately a 2‐fold higher median induction of several markers, but no increase in macrophages, suggesting that cytokine gene expression is elevated per macrophage. The IL‐1RN (+2018) SNP maximized the response specifically within these groups and was associated with increased macrophage recruitment. This is the first report that IL‐1 genotype is associated with the inflammation of skeletal muscle following acute resistance exercise that may potentially affect the adaptations to chronic resistance exercise.
Coding of position by simultaneously recorded sensory neurones in the cat dorsal root ganglion
Authors: Stein R. B. , Weber D. J. , Aoyagi Y. , Prochazka A. , Wagenaar J. B. M. , Shoham S. , Normann R. A.
Published: August 2004

Muscle, cutaneous and joint afferents continuously signal information about the position and movement of individual joints. How does the nervous system extract more global information, for example about the position of the foot in space? To study this question we used microelectrode arrays to record impulses simultaneously from up to 100 discriminable nerve cells in the L6 and L7 dorsal root ganglia (DRG) of the anaesthetized cat. When the hindlimb was displaced passively with a random trajectory, the firing rate of the neurones could be predicted from a linear sum of positions and velocities in Cartesian (x, y), polar or joint angular coordinates. The process could also be reversed to predict the kinematics of the limb from the firing rates of the neurones with an accuracy of 1–2 cm. Predictions of position and velocity could be combined to give an improved fit to limb position. Decoders trained using random movements successfully predicted cyclic movements and movements in which the limb was displaced from a central point to various positions in the periphery. A small number of highly informative neurones (6–8) could account for over 80% of the variance in position and a similar result was obtained in a realistic limb model. In conclusion, this work illustrates how populations of sensory receptors may encode a sense of limb position and how the firing of even a small number of neurones can be used to decode the position of the limb in space.
Neuroepithelial oxygen chemoreceptors of the zebrafish gill
Authors: Jonz Michael G. , Fearon Ian M. , Nurse Colin A.
Published: August 2004

In aquatic vertebrates, hypoxia induces physiological changes that arise principally from O2 chemoreceptors of the gill. Neuroepithelial cells (NECs) of the zebrafish gill are morphologically similar to mammalian O2 chemoreceptors (e.g. carotid body), suggesting that they may play a role in initiating the hypoxia response in fish. We describe morphological changes of zebrafish gill NECs following in vivo exposure to chronic hypoxia, and characterize the cellular mechanisms of O2 sensing in isolated NECs using patch‐clamp electrophysiology. Confocal immunofluorescence studies indicated that chronic hypoxia (P= 35 mmHg, 60 days) induced hypertrophy, proliferation and process extension in NECs immunoreactive for serotonin or synaptic vesicle protein (SV2). Under voltage clamp, NECs responded to hypoxia (P= 25–140 mmHg) with a dose‐dependent decrease in K+ current. The current–voltage relationship of the O2‐sensitive current (I) reversed near EK and displayed open rectification. Pharmacological characterization indicated that I was resistant to 20 mm tetraethylammonium (TEA) and 5 mm 4‐aminopyridine (4‐AP), but was sensitive to 1 mm quinidine. In current‐clamp recordings, hypoxia produced membrane depolarization associated with a conductance decrease; this depolarization was blocked by quinidine, but was insensitive to TEA and 4‐AP. These biophysical and pharmacological characteristics suggest that hypoxia sensing in zebrafish gill NECs is mediated by inhibition of a background K+ conductance, which generates a receptor potential necessary for neurosecretion and activation of sensory pathways in the gill. This appears to be a fundamental mechanism of O2 sensing that arose early in vertebrate evolution, and was adopted later in mammalian O2 chemoreceptors.
Calf venous volume during stand‐test after a 90‐day bed‐rest study with or without exercise countermeasure
Authors: de Chantemèle Eric Belin , Pascaud Ludovic , Custaud Marc‐Antoine , Capri Arnaud , Louisy Francis , Ferretti Guido , Gharib Claude , Arbeille Philippe
Published: August 2004

The objectives to determine both the contribution to orthostatic intolerance (OI) of calf venous volume during a stand‐test, and the effects of a combined eccentric–concentric resistance exercise countermeasure on both vein response to orthostatic test and OI, after 90‐day head‐down tilt bed‐rest (HDT). The subjects consisted of a control group (Co‐gr,n= 9) and an exercise countermeasure group (CM‐gr,n= 9). Calf volume and vein cross‐sectional area (CSA) were assessed by plethysmography and echography during pre‐ and post‐HDT stand‐tests. From supine to standing (post‐HDT), the tibial and gastronemius vein CSA increased significantly in intolerant subjects (tibial vein, +122% from pre‐HDT; gastronemius veins, +145%;P< 0.05) whereas it did not in tolerant subjects. Intolerant subjects tended to have a higher increase in calf filling volume than tolerant subjects, in both sitting and standing positions. The countermeasure did not reduce OI. Absolute calf volume decreased similarly in both groups. Tibial and gastrocnemius vein CSA at rest did not change during HDT in either group. During the post‐HDT stand‐test, the calf filling volume increased more in the CM‐gr than in the Co‐gr both in the sitting (+1.3 ± 5.1%,vs.–7.3 ± 4.3%;P< 0.05)and the standing positions (+56.1 ± 23.7%vs.+1.6 ± 9.6%;P< 0.05). The volume ejected by the muscle venous pump increased only in the CM‐gr (+38.3 ± 21.8%). This study showed that intolerant subjects had a higher increase in vein CSA in the standing position and a tendency to present a higher calf filling volume in the sitting and standing positions. It also showed that a combined eccentric–concentric resistance exercise countermeasure had no effects on either post‐HDT OI or on the venous parameters related to it.
Functional and molecular clues reveal precursor‐like cells and immature neurones in the turtle spinal cord
Authors: Russo Raúl E. , Fernández Anabel , Reali Cecilia , Radmilovich Milka , Trujillo‐Cenóz Omar
Published: August 2004

In lower vertebrates, some cells contacting the central canal (CC) retain the ability to proliferate, leading the reconstruction of the spinal cord after injury. A better understanding about the nature of these cells could contribute to the development of novel strategies for spinal cord repair. Here, by combining light and electron microscopy, immunocytochemistry and patch‐clamp recordings, we provide evidence supporting the presence of precursor‐like cells and immature neurones contacting the CC of juvenile turtles. A class of cells expressed the ependymal and glial cell marker S100 and displayed morphological and electrophysiological features of radial glia: relatively low input resistance, high resting potential, lack of active membrane properties and extensive dye‐coupling. A second class of S100 reactive cells were characterized by a higher input resistance and outward rectification. Finally, some CC‐contacting cells expressed HuC/D – a marker of immature neurones – and fired action potentials. The coexistence of cells with functional properties of precursor‐like cells and immature neurones suggests that the region surrounding the CC is a site of active neurogenesis. It remains to be demonstrated by lineage analysis whether, as in the embryonic cerebral cortex, radial glia are the progenitor cells in the turtle spinal cord.
Anatomical, physiological and molecular properties of Martinotti cells in the somatosensory cortex of the juvenile rat
Authors: Wang Yun , Toledo‐Rodriguez Maria , Gupta Anirudh , Wu Caizhi , Silberberg Gilad , Luo Junyi , Markram Henry
Published: August 2004

Whole‐cell patch‐clamp recordings followed by histochemical staining and single‐cell RT‐PCR were obtained from 180 Martinotti interneurones located in layers II to VI of the somatosensory cortex of Wistar rats (P13–P16) in order to examine their anatomical, electrophysiological and molecular properties. Martinotti cells (MCs) mostly displayed ovoid‐shaped somata, bitufted dendritic morphologies, and axons with characteristic spiny boutons projecting to layer I and spreading horizontally across neighbouring columns more than 1 mm. Electron microscopic examination of MC boutons revealed that all synapses were symmetrical and most synapses (71%) were formed onto dendritic shafts. MCs were found to contact tuft, apical and basal dendrites in multiple neocortical layers: layer II/III MCs targeted mostly layer I and to a lesser degree layer II/III; layer IV MCs targeted mostly layer IV and to a lesser degree layer I; layer V and VI MCs targeted mostly layer IV and layer I and to a lesser degree the layer in which their somata was located. MCs typically displayed spike train accommodation (90%; n= 127) in response to depolarizing somatic current injections, but some displayed non‐accommodating (8%) and a few displayed irregular spiking responses (2%). Some accommodating and irregular spiking MCs also responded initially with bursts (17%). Accommodating responses were found in all layers, non‐accommodating mostly in upper layers and bursting mostly in layer V. Single‐cell multiplex RT‐PCR performed on 63 MCs located throughout layers II–VI, revealed that all MCs were somatostatin (SOM) positive, and negative for parvalbumin (PV) as well as vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP). Calbindin (CB), calretinin (CR), neuropeptide Y (NPY) and cholecystokinin (CCK) were co‐ expressed with SOM in some MCs. Some layer‐specific trends seem to exist. Finally, 24 accommodating MCs were examined for the expression of 26 ion channel genes. The ion channels with the highest expression in these MCs were (from highest to lowest); Caβ1, Kv3.3, HCN4, Caβ4, Kv3.2, Kv3.1, Kv2.1, HCN3, Caα1G, Kv3.4, Kv4.2, Kv1.1 and HCN2. In summary, this study provides the first detailed analysis of the anatomical, electrophysiological and molecular properties of Martinotti cells located in different neocortical layers. It is proposed that MCs are crucial interneurones for feedback inhibition in and between neocortical layers and columns.
The Impact of United States Recreational Fisheries on Marine Fish Populations
Authors: Coleman Felicia C. , Figueira Will F. , Ueland Jeffrey S. , Crowder Larry B.
Published: August 2004

We evaluated the commercial and recreational fishery landings over the past 22 years, first at the national level, then for populations of concern (those that are overfished or experiencing overfishing), and finally by region. Recreational landings in 2002 account for 4% of total marine fish landed in the United States. With large industrial fisheries excluded (e.g., menhaden and pollock), the recreational component rises to 10%. Among populations of concern, recreational landings in 2002 account for 23% of the total nationwide, rising to 38% in the South Atlantic and 64% in the Gulf of Mexico. Moreover, it affects many of the most-valued overfished species—including red drum, bocaccio, and red snapper—all of which are taken primarily in the recreational fishery.
What happens to patients with positive tissue transglutaminase and endomysium antibody results in general practice?
Authors: Sinclair D , Duncan H
Published: August 2004

Background:A previous study showed that many patients with positive gut related antibodies (anti-tissue transglutaminase (TTG) and/or anti-endomysium (EMA) antibodies), indicative of coeliac disease, were not offered a duodenal biopsy, despite the recommendation of the British Society for Gastroenterology guidelines.

Aims/Methods:To investigate whether the addition of a comment on the advisability of referral to a gastroenterologist and biopsy to each positive gut related antibody result would improve the referral rate to investigate possible coeliac disease.

Results:The referral rate improved from 30.1% of patients who were referred and 18% subsequently biopsied before the addition of the comment, to 79.8% who were referred after the introduction of a specific laboratory comment attached to positive antibodies to TTG and/or EMA. All patients with these positive antibodies who were referred for consultant opinion were subsequently biopsied.

Conclusions:To ensure that British Society for Gastroenterology guidelines are followed, laboratories should incorporate more explicit details on the recommended course of action for general practitioners on their receipt of positive gut antibodies to TTG/EMA.
CD133 positive endothelial progenitor cells contribute to the tumour vasculature in non-small cell lung cancer
Authors: Hilbe W , Dirnhofer S , Oberwasserlechner F , Schmid T , Gunsilius E , Hilbe G , Wöll E , Kähler C M
Published: August 2004

Aims:Recent results generated in a mouse model suggest that tumour angiogenesis/vasculogenesis can be initiated and maintained by bone marrow derived endothelial progenitor cells. This present study investigated the distribution and frequency of CD133 positive endothelial progenitor cells in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) (tumour tissue and tumour free lung regions) and healthy controls using fresh frozen specimens. The novel marker CD133 identifies human haemopoetic precursor cells, in addition to human endothelial progenitor cells.

Methods:Seventy nine lung cancer specimens and 66 adjacent histologically tumour free tissues of the same patient cohort were analysed; 11 postmortem specimens from control patients who did not suffer from malignant disease served as controls. Cryostat sections were stained for CD133, CD31, vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR-2; KDR), p53, and the proliferation marker Ki-67, and the correlations were analysed.

Results:Forty three of 63 evaluable tumour specimens had increased numbers of CD133 positive cells and in some cases capillary forming CD133 positive structures were detectable. In addition, 30 of 63 specimens had raised expression of KDR and 29 of 63 had increased MVD. Increased CD133 expression marginally correlated with raised KDR expression but not with p53 and Ki-67.

Conclusion:A significant increase in CD133 positive cells was documented in patients with NSCLC, suggesting an involvement of endothelial progenitor cells in tumour vasculogenesis and tumour growth in these patients.
Expression pattern of CK7, CK20, CDX-2, and villin in intestinal-type sinonasal adenocarcinoma
Authors: Kennedy M T , Jordan R C K , Berean K W , Perez-Ordoñez B
Published: August 2004

Background:Intestinal-type sinonasal adenocarcinoma (ITAC) is an uncommon neoplasm, which resembles adenocarcinoma of the gastrointestinal tract. ITAC occurs sporadically or in association with occupational exposure to hardwood dust and other agents.

Aims:To investigate the phenotype and possible pathogenetic mechanisms of primary sinonasal and nasopharyngeal adenocarcinomas by staining for cytokeratin 7 (CK7), CK20, CDX-2, and villin.

Methods:Twelve sporadic sinonasal and nasopharyngeal adenocarcinomas were stained with monoclonal antibodies to CK7, CK20, CDX-2, and villin. The ITACs were classified as papillary, colonic, solid, mixed, or mucinous types.

Results:The diagnosis of ITAC was confirmed in 10 cases: five were colonic type and five were papillary. One was a sinonasal papillary low grade adenocarcinoma, and one a papillary nasopharyngeal adenocarcinoma, and these tumours were CK7 positive, but CK20, CDX-2, and villin negative. All ITACs were positive for CK20, CDX-2, and villin, and six were CK7 positive. One ITAC had a focus of intestinal metaplasia away from the invasive carcinoma.

Conclusions:Sinonasal ITACs have a distinctive phenotype, with all cases expressing CK20, CDX-2, and villin. Most ITACs also express CK7, although a proportion of tumours are CK7 negative. ITAC seems to be preceded by intestinal metaplasia of the respiratory mucosa, which is accompanied by a switch to an intestinal phenotype. Although ITACs are morphologically similar, differences in cytokeratin expression patterns suggest two distinct types. The expression pattern of CK7, CK20, CDX-2, and villin positive may be useful in separating these tumours from other non-ITAC adenocarcinomas of the sinonasal tract and nasopharynx.
Pathology of astrovirus associated diarrhoea in a paediatric bone marrow transplant recipient: Figure 1
Authors: Sebire N J , Malone M , Shah N , Anderson G , Gaspar H B , Cubitt W D
Published: August 2004

Human astrovirus infection often causes outbreaks of self limiting diarrhoea, but may also infect patients who are immunodeficient or immunocompromised. Although there are previous publications relating to various aspects of astroviruses, there is a minimal amount of literature on the histopathological features of gastrointestinal astrovirus infection in humans. We report the histopathological findings, including immunohistochemical and electron microscopic features, of astrovirus infection in a bone marrow transplant recipient aged 4 years with diarrhoea. The appearance of a small intestinal biopsy did not suggest graft versus host disease, but demonstrated villous blunting, irregularity of surface epithelial cells, and an increase in lamina propria inflammatory cell density. Immunohistochemical staining with a murine astrovirus group specific monoclonal antibody demonstrated progressively more extensive staining in the duodenal and jejunal biopsies, predominantly restricted to the luminal surface and cytoplasm of surface epithelial cells, most marked at the villus tips. Electron microscopic examination demonstrated viral particles within the cytoplasm of enterocytes, focally forming paracrystalline arrays.
Relation between lymphopenia and bacteraemia in UK adults with medical emergencies
Authors: Wyllie D H , Bowler I C J W , Peto T E A
Published: August 2004

Aims:To determine the relevance of lymphopenia to the diagnosis of bacteraemia in patients admitted with medical emergencies, relative to peripheral blood white cell count and neutrophilia.

Patients/Methods:A two year cohort study carried out in a teaching hospital in Oxford, UK of 21 495 consecutive adult emergency admissions to general medical or infectious disease wards. Full blood data were available in 21 372 cases; 41 cases with extreme full blood count results (neutrophil count, > 75 × 109/litre; lymphocyte count, > 10 × 109/litre) were excluded, leaving 21 331 cases for analysis. The association between the admission lymphocyte and neutrophil counts and the risk of bacteraemia was assessed.

Results:Neutrophilia and lymphopenia were both associated with bacteraemia. Lymphopenia was the better predictor in this cohort. Both neutrophilia and lymphopenia were more predictive of bacteraemia than the total white blood cell count.

Conclusions:Both lymphocyte and neutrophil counts, rather than total white blood cell count, should be considered in adult medical admissions with suspected bacteraemia.
Ciliary body adenoma of non-pigmented epithelium
Authors: Mansoor S , Qureshi A
Published: August 2004

Adenomas of the non-pigmented epithelium of the ciliary body are rare neoplasms and most of the studies are in the form of case reports. There are only 27 documented cases of acquired neoplasm of the non-pigmented ciliary epithelium (NPCE) reported in the English literature. In most reports, there was a clinical suspicion of melanoma and the diagnosis of NPCE adenoma was made on histopathological evaluation of the resected tissue. The entity has not been reported in the Pakistani population to date. This report describes a case of ciliary body adenoma of NPCE in a 27 year old Pakistani man. The histological and immunohistochemical profiles were typical of the adenomas described in the literature.
Mediastinal hibernoma: a case report
Authors: Baldi A , Santini M , Mellone P , Esposito V , Groeger A M , Caputi M , Baldi F
Published: August 2004

Hibernomas are rare benign tumours that arise most often in adults from the remnants of fetal brown adipose tissue. They usually affect muscle and subcutaneous tissue and are asymptomatic and slow growing. The distribution of this tumour follows the sites of persistence of brown fat. Out of more then 100 cases described in the word literature only three hybernomas were mediastinal. A recent clinicopathological study of 170 cases from the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology confirmed the exceptionality of the intrathoracic location. This report describes a very rare case of mediastinal hibernoma in a young man.
Stratigraphic evidence for multiple Holocene advances of Lillooet Glacier, southern Coast Mountains, British Columbia
Authors: Reyes Alberto V , Clague John J
Published: August 2004

Holocene lateral moraines in the Coast Mountains of British Columbia are commonly composed of multiple drift units related to several glacier advances. In this paper, we document lateral moraine stratigraphy at Lillooet Glacier in the southern Coast Mountains. Five tills, separated by laterally extensive paleosols and layers of large woody debris, were found in three cross-sectional exposures through the northeast lateral moraine and two shallow gullies incised into its steep proximal face. Eighteen new radiocarbon ages constrain the timing of five separate advances of Lillooet Glacier: (1) prior to 3000 14C years BP; (2) ~3000 14C years BP; (3) ~2500 14C years BP; (4) ~1700 to 1400 14C years BP; and (5) during the Little Ice Age (LIA), after 470 14C years BP. The Lillooet Glacier chronology is broadly synchronous with other glacier records from the Coast Mountains. These records collectively demonstrate climate variability at higher frequencies during the late Holocene than is apparent from many paleoecological reconstructions. Reconstructions of glacier fluctuations are often hampered by poor preservation of landforms that predate the extensive LIA advances of the latest Holocene. Our results highlight the potential of lateral moraine stratigraphy for reconstructing these earlier events.
Redescription of Ankylosaurus magniventris Brown 1908 (Ankylosauridae) from the Upper Cretaceous of the Western Interior of North America
Authors: Carpenter Kenneth
Published: August 2004

The armor-plated dinosaur Ankylosaurus magniventris is redescribed based on specimens from the Hell Creek Formation of northeastern Montana, USA., Lance Formation of Wyoming, USA., and from the Scollard Formation of south-central Alberta, Canada. Except for brief descriptions, most of these specimens have not been described in detail. Ankylosaurus is one of the largest known ankylosaurids, having an estimated length of up to 6.25 m (20.5 ft). It is characterized by a long, low skull having very prominent cranial horns that project laterally or dorsolaterally. The body armor includes a large half-ring that sat across the base of the neck and shoulders and a large, low tail club.
Eggs of titanosaurid sauropods from the Upper Cretaceous of Auca Mahuevo (Argentina)
Authors: Grellet-Tinner Gerald , Chiappe Luis M , Coria R
Published: August 2004

We provide a detailed description of the sauropod eggs from the Late Cretaceous nesting site of Auca Mahuevo (Neuquén Province, Argentina), the only eggs that are unequivocally associated with titanosaurid dinosaurs. These eggs are subspherical averaging 132 by 115 mm. Well-preserved specimens display a pronounced eggshell ornamentation that consists mostly of single nodes averaging 0.58 mm in diameter and 0.28 mm in height (base to apex) with internodular values of 0.52 to 0.87 mm. The pore canal network consists of vertical and horizontal canals intersecting at the bases of eggshell units. Vertical canals may fork defining a "Y" pattern and their diameters vary between 0.08 and 0.2 mm. Their surficial apertures of 0.15 to 0.29 mm are funnel like and located between the surficial nodes. In pristine specimens, the eggshell thickness equals 1.31 mm, and radial sections exhibit a single structural horizontal layer composed of juxtaposed shell units consisting of acicular calcite crystals radiating from an organic core. Relying only on taxonomically identified oological material, we regard this character also shared in the innermost layer (layer 1) of Deinonychus antirrhopus, oviraptorid theropods, and observed during an early oogenetic stage in extant bird as primitive for saurischians. The eggshell morphology advocates that these eggs were likely incubated in moist nesting environments, perhaps such as nests covered with vegetal matter. Examination of the South American megaloolithid eggshells reveals that the titanosaurid eggs from Auca Mahuevo are mostly similar to those described as Megaloolithus patagonicus and Megaloolithus pseudomamillare.
GUEST EDITOR'S INTRODUCTION: AGENTIZATION AND COORDINATION
Authors: TIANFIELD HUAGLORY
Published: August 2004

Firstly, some novel understanding about agents and multi-agent systems, in particular, agentization and coordination, is presented to build a consensus. Afterwards, a brief overview is given of the papers that are included in this special issue.
ROLES OF LOG-CONCAVITY, LOG-CONVEXITY, AND GROWTH ORDER IN WHITE NOISE ANALYSIS
Authors: ASAI NOBUHIRO , KUBO IZUMI , KUO HUI-HSIUNG
Published: August 2004

In this paper we will develop a systematic method to answer the questions (Q1) (Q2) (Q3) (Q4) (stated in Sec. 1) with complete generality. As a result, we can solve the difficulties (D1) (D2) (discussed in Sec. 1) without uncertainty. For these purposes we will introduce certain classes of growth functions u and apply the Legendre transform to obtain a sequence which leads to the weight sequence {α(n)} first studied by Cochran et al.6 The notion of (nearly) equivalent functions, (nearly) equivalent sequences and dual Legendre functions will be defined in a very natural way. An application to the growth order of holomorphic functions on ℰc will also be discussed.
Diurnal changes in intestinal apolipoprotein A-IV and its relation to food intake and corticosterone in rats
Authors: Shen Ling , Ma Li-yun , Qin Xiao-fa , Jandacek Ronald , Sakai Randall , Liu Min
Published: August 2004

To further investigate the role of intestinal aplipoprotein A-IV (apo A-IV) in the management of daily food intake, we examined the diurnal patterns in apo A-IV gene and protein expression in freely feeding (FF) and food-restricted (FR; food provided 4 h daily for 4 wk) rats that were killed at 3-h intervals throughout the 24-h diurnal cycle. In FF rats, the intestinal apo A-IV mRNA and protein levels showed a circadian rhythm concomitant with the feeding pettern. The daily pattern of fluctuation of apo A-IV, however, was altered in FR rats, which had a marked increase in intestinal apo A-IV levels during the 4-h feeding period of light phase. In both FF and FR rats, increased plasma corticosterone (Cort) levels temporally coincided with the increasing phase of intestinal apo A-IV mRNA and protein expression. Depletion of Cort by adrenalectomy abolished the diurnal rhythm by decreasing the apo A-IV expression during the dark period but did not change the feeding rhythm. Exposure of adrenalectomized rats to consistent Cort level (50-mg continuous release Cort pellet) resulted in fixed apo A-IV levels throughout the day. These results indicate that intestinal apo A-IV exhibits a diurnal rhythm, which can be regulated by endogenous Cort independently of the light-dark cue. The fact that intestinal apo A-IV levels were consistent with the food intake during the normal diurnal cycle as well as during the cycle of 4-h feeding each day suggests that intestinal apo A-IV is involved in the regulation of daily food intake.
Mechanism of rifampicin and pregnane X receptor inhibition of human cholesterol 7α-hydroxylase gene transcription
Authors: Li Tiangang , Chiang John Y. L.
Published: August 2004

Bile acids, steroids, and drugs activate steroid and xenobiotic receptor pregnane X receptor (PXR; NR1I2), which induces human cytochrome P4503A4 (CYP3A4) in drug metabolism and cholesterol 7α-hydroxylase (CYP7A1) in bile acid synthesis in the liver. Rifampicin, a human PXR agonist, inhibits bile acid synthesis and has been used to treat cholestatic diseases. The objective of this study is to elucidate the mechanism by which PXR inhibits CYP7A1 gene transcription. The mRNA expression levels of CYP7A1 and several nuclear receptors known to regulate the CYP7A1 gene were assayed in human primary hepatocytes by quantitative real-time PCR (Q-PCR). Rifampicin reduced CYP7A1 and small heterodimer partner (SHP; NR02B) mRNA expression suggesting that SHP was not involved in PXR inhibition of CYP7A1. Rifampicin inhibited CYP7A1 reporter activity and a PXR binding site was localized to the bile acid response element-I. Mammalian two-hybrid assays revealed that PXR interacted with hepatic nuclear factor 4α (HNF4α, NR2A1) and rifampicin was required. Coimmunoprecipitation assay confirmed PXR interaction with HNF4α. PXR also interacted with peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ coactivator (PGC-1α), which interacted with HNF4α and induced CYP7A1 gene transcription. Rifampicin enhanced PXR interaction with HNF4α and reduced PGC-1α interaction with HNF4α. Chromatin immunoprecipitation assay showed that PXR, HNF4α, and PGC-1α bound to CYP7A1 chromatin, and rifampicin dissociated PGC-1α from chromatin. These results suggest that activation of PXR by rifampicin promotes PXR interaction with HNF4α and blocks PGC-1α activation with HNF4α and results in inhibition of CYP7A1 gene transcription. Rifampicin inhibition of bile acid synthesis may be a protective mechanism against drug and bile acid-induced cholestasis.
Functional and transmural modulation of M cell behavior in canine ventricular wall
Authors: Ueda Norihiro , Zipes Douglas P. , Wu Jiashin
Published: August 2004

Previous studies have demonstrated a discrete population of midmyocardial (M) cells in the ventricular myocardium having excessive action potential duration (APD) prolongation during long activation cycle lengths (CL) and under the influence of APD-prolonging agents. However, M cells have not been found in other studies. Existing explanations for the discrepancies appear inadequate. We hypothesized that instead of being a discrete group, M cell behavior is functional and conditionally expressed. We mapped APDs on the cut-exposed transmural surfaces of arterially perfused ventricular wedges from 26 dogs during Na+ current modification with anemone toxin II (ATX-II). Compared with the endocardium, APDs were not statistically different in the parallel layer having the longest mean APD (APDL) and were significantly shorter in the epicardium in the 26 wedges before ATX-II. ATX-II (≥5 nmol/l) prolonged APD heterogeneously (midmyocardium > endocardium > epicardium). The differences increased at longer CLs. ATX-II (20.0 nmol/l) shifted the APDL layer to 32 ± 6.2% (6 wedges, CL: 4,000 ms) of the transmural thickness from the (sub)endocardium (8.6 ± 7.2%, 26 wedges, ATX-II free). We detected the presence of M cell behavior (significantly longer APDs in the APDL layer than in the endocardium and epicardium, P ≤ 0.04, CL: 4,000 ms) in the 18 wedges having ≥5 nmol/l ATX-II but not ( P > 0.36) in the other 18 wedges having ≤2.5 nmol/l ATX-II. Both the position of the APDL layer and presence of M cell-like behavior were modulated by ATX-II. The dynamic spatial modulation indicates that M cell behavior is functional and only becomes manifest under suitable conditions.