bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
RelB Enhances Prostate Cancer Growth: Implications for the Role of the Nuclear Factor-κB Alternative Pathway in Tumorigenicity
Authors: Xu Yong , Josson Sajni , Fang Fang , Oberley Terry D. , St. Clair Daret K. , Wan X. Steven , Sun Yulan , Bakthavatchalu Vasudevan , Muthuswamy Anantharaman , St. Clair William H.
Published: April 2009

The nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) classic pathway is thought to be critical for tumorigenesis, but little is known about the role of the NF-κB alternative pathway in cancer development. Recently, high constitutive nuclear levels of RelB have been observed in human prostate cancer specimens with high Gleason scores. Here, we used four complementary approaches to test whether RelB contributes to tumorigenicity of prostate cancer. Inhibiting RelB in aggressive androgen-independent PC-3 cells by stable or conditional expression of a dominant-negative p100 mutant significantly reduced the incidence and growth rate of tumors. The decrease in tumorigenicity coincided with a reduction in the NF-κB target interleukin-8 (IL-8). Consistently, down-regulation of RelB by small interfering RNA targeting also reduced tumor growth and decreased levels of IL-8. Conversely, stable expression of RelB in androgen-responsive LNCaP tumors increased the circulating IL-8 levels. Taken together, these results reveal a tumor-supportive role of RelB, implicate the NF-κB alternative pathway as a potential target for preventing prostate cancer, and suggest the use of IL-8 as a marker for prostate cancer prognosis. [Cancer Res 2009;69(8):3267–71]
The L6 Protein TM4SF1 Is Critical for Endothelial Cell Function and Tumor Angiogenesis
Authors: Shih Shou-Ching , Zukauskas Andrew , Li Dan , Liu Guanmei , Ang Lay-Hong , Nagy Janice A. , Brown Lawrence F. , Dvorak Harold F.
Published: April 2009

Transmembrane-4-L-six-family-1 (TM4SF1) was originally described as a cancer cell protein. Here, we show that it is highly expressed in the vascular endothelium of human cancers and in a banded pattern in the filopodia of cultured endothelial cells (EC). TM4SF1 knockdown prevented filopodia formation, inhibited cell mobility, blocked cytokinesis, and rendered EC senescent. Integrin-α5 and integrin-β1 subunits gave a similar staining pattern and interacted constitutively with TM4SF1, whereas integrin subunits often associated with angiogenesis (αV, β3, β5) interacted with TM4SF1 only after vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-A or thrombin stimulation. TM4SF1 knockdown substantially inhibited maturation of VEGF-A164–induced angiogenesis. Thus, TM4SF1 is a key regulator of EC function in vitro and of pathologic angiogenesis in vivo and is potentially an attractive target for antiangiogenesis therapy. [Cancer Res 2009;69(8):3272–7]
Nucleotide Excision Repair Pathway Polymorphisms and Pancreatic Cancer Risk: Evidence for role of MMS19L
Authors: McWilliams Robert R. , Bamlet William R. , de Andrade Mariza , Rider David N. , Cunningham Julie M. , Petersen Gloria M.
Published: April 2009

Background: Nucleotide excision repair is a vital response to DNA damage, including damage from tobacco exposure. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) in the nucleotide excision repair pathway may encode alterations that affect DNA repair function and therefore influence the risk of pancreatic cancer development.

Methods: A clinic-based case-control study in non-Hispanic white persons compared 1,143 patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma with 1,097 healthy controls. Twenty-seven genes directly and indirectly involved in the nucleotide excision repair pathway were identified and 236 tag-SNPs were selected from 26 of these (one had no SNPs identified). Association studies were done at the gene level by principal components analysis, whereas recursive partitioning analysis was utilized to identify potential gene-gene and gene-environment interactions within the pathway. At the individual SNP level, adjusted additive, dominant, and recessive models were investigated, and gene-environment interactions were also assessed.

Results: Gene level analyses showed an association of the MMS19L genotype (chromosome 10q24.1) with altered pancreatic cancer risk (P = 0.023). Haplotype analysis of MMS19L also showed a significant association (P = 0.0132). Analyses of seven individual SNPs in this gene showed both protective and risk associations for minor alleles, broadly distributed across patient subgroups defined by smoking status, sex, and age.

Conclusion: In a candidate pathway SNP association study analysis, common variation in a nucleotide excision repair gene, MMS19L, was associated with the risk of pancreatic cancer. (Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2009;18(4):1295–302)
Observational Epidemiologic Studies of Nutrition and Cancer: The Next Generation (with Better Observation)
Authors: Schatzkin Arthur , Subar Amy F. , Moore Steven , Park Yikyung , Potischman Nancy , Thompson Frances E. , Leitzmann Michael , Hollenbeck Albert , Morrissey Kerry Grace , Kipnis Victor
Published: April 2009

It would be of enormous public health importance if diet and physical activity, both modifiable behavioral factors, were causally related to cancer. Nevertheless, the nutritional epidemiology of cancer remains problematic, in part because of persistent concerns that standard questionnaires measure diet and physical activity with too much error. We present a new strategy for addressing this measurement error problem. First, as background, we note that food frequency and physical activity questionnaires require respondents to report “typical” diet or activity over the previous year or longer. Multiple 24-hour recalls (24HR), based on reporting only the previous day's behavior, offer potential cognitive advantages over the questionnaires, and biomarker evidence suggests the 24-hour dietary recall is more accurate than the food frequency questionnaire. The expense involved in administering multiple 24HRs in large epidemiologic studies, however, has up to now been prohibitive. In that context, we suggest that Internet-based 24HRs, for both diet and physical activity, represent a practical and cost-effective approach for incorporating multiple recalls in large epidemiologic studies. We discuss (1) recent efforts to develop such Internet-based instruments and their accompanying software support systems; (2) ongoing studies to evaluate the feasibility of using these new instruments in cohort studies; (3) additional investigations to gauge the accuracy of the Internet-based recalls vis-à-vis standard instruments and biomarkers; and (4) new statistical approaches for combining the new instruments with standard assessment tools and biomarkers The incorporation of Internet-based 24HRs into large epidemiologic studies may help advance our understanding of the nutritional determinants of cancer. (Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2009;18(4):1026–32)
Generalizability of Associations from Prostate Cancer Genome-Wide Association Studies in Multiple Populations
Authors: Waters Kevin M. , Le Marchand Loic , Kolonel Laurence N. , Monroe Kristine R. , Stram Daniel O. , Henderson Brian E. , Haiman Christopher A.
Published: April 2009

Genome-wide association studies have identified multiple common alleles associated with prostate cancer risk in populations of European ancestry. Testing these variants in other populations is needed to assess the generalizability of the associations and may guide fine-mapping efforts. We examined 13 of these risk variants in a multiethnic sample of 2,768 incident prostate cancer cases and 2,359 controls from the Multiethnic Cohort (African Americans, European Americans, Latinos, Japanese Americans, and Native Hawaiians). We estimated ethnic-specific and pooled odds ratios and tested for ethnic heterogeneity of effects using logistic regression. In ethnic-pooled analyses, 12 of the 13 variants were positively associated with risk, with statistically significant associations (P < 0.05) noted with six variants: JAZF1, rs10486567 [odds ratio (OR), 1.23; 95% confidence interval (95% CI, 1.12-1.35); Xp11.2, rs5945572 (OR, 1.31; 95% CI, 1.13-1.51); HNF1B, rs4430796 (OR, 1.15; 95% CI, 1.06-1.25); MSMB, rs10993994 (OR, 1.13; 95% CI, 1.04-1.23); 11q13.2, rs7931342 (OR, 1.13; 95% CI, 1.03-1.23); 3p12.1, rs2660753 (OR, 1.11; 95% CI, 1.01-1.21); SLC22A3, rs9364554 (OR, 1.10; 95% CI, 1.00-1.21); CTBP2, rs12769019 (OR, 1.11; 95% CI, 0.99-1.25); HNF1B, rs11649743 (OR, 1.10; 95% CI, 0.99-1.22); EHBP1, rs721048 (OR, 1.08; 95% CI, 0.94-1.25); KLK2/3, rs2735839 (OR, 1.06; 95% CI, 0.97-1.16); 17q24.3, rs1859962 (OR, 1.04; 95% CI, 0.96-1.13); and LMTK2, rs6465657 (OR, 0.99; 95% CI, 0.89-1.09). Significant ethnic heterogeneity of effects was noted for four variants (EHBP1, Phet = 3.9 × 10−3; 11q13, Phet = 0.023; HNF1B (rs4430796), Phet = 0.026; and KLK2/3, Phet = 2.0 × 10−3). Although power was limited in some ethnic/racial groups due to variation in sample size and allele frequencies, these findings suggest that a large fraction of prostate cancer variants identified in populations of European ancestry are global markers of risk. For many of these regions, fine-mapping in non-European samples may help localize causal alleles and better determine their contribution to prostate cancer risk in the population. (Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2009;18(4):1285–9)
Menopausal Hormone Therapy and Risk of Clinical Breast Cancer Subtypes
Authors: Slanger Tracy E. , Chang-Claude Jenny C. , Obi Nadia , Kropp Silke , Berger Jürgen , Vettorazzi Eik , Braendle Wilhelm , Bastert Gunter , Hentschel Stefan , Flesch-Janys Dieter
Published: April 2009

Background: Breast cancer is a heterogeneous disease with subtypes that may vary in their etiologies. Menopausal hormone therapy has been associated more strongly with lobular and tubular than ductal histologic types and with tumors that are smaller, hormone receptor–positive, and of lower grade. At the same time, correlations have been observed between histology and clinical characteristics. To identify those tumor subtypes most strongly associated with hormone therapy use, it is necessary to disentangle these interrelationships.

Methods: Based on 3,464 postmenopausal breast cancer cases and 6,657 controls from the population-based Mammary carcinoma Risk factor Investigation study, we used polytomous logistic regression to evaluate associations between hormone therapy use and risk of invasive breast cancer subtypes. We assessed variations in risk for selected tumor characteristics among histologic and hormone receptor subtypes, both overall and for specific hormone therapy regimens.

Results: Lobular and mixed types showed less variation by prognostic factors than did ductal tumors. Current hormone therapy use had the strongest associations with prognostic variables in estrogen receptor (ER)-positive and/or progesterone receptor (PR)-positive ductal tumors and in lobular tumors regardless of ER/PR status, with little effect on ER/PR-negative ductal tumors. The observed associations varied minimally by hormone therapy type or regimen.

Conclusion: Current hormone therapy use was associated with more favorable breast cancer characteristics for ductal tumors but had less effect on prognostic characteristics in women with lobular tumors. Both histologic type and estrogen receptor/progesterone receptor status seem to be important in explaining the role of hormone therapy in the etiology of breast cancer subtypes. (Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2009;18(4):1188–96)
Lung Cancer Genetics: A Family Affair?
Authors: Christiani David C.
Published: April 2009

Lung cancer risk has a genetic component. This study reports the discovery of a gene variant that is overexpressed in patients who have the familial, but not sporadic, type of lung cancer. This report provides new insights into a mechanism that will help to guide preventive interventions in the future.
Serum Protein Electrophoresis: An Underused but Very Useful Test
Authors: Vavricka Stephan R. , Burri Emanuel , Beglinger Christoph , Degen Lukas , Manz Michael
Published: April 2009

Serum protein electrophoresis is used in clinical practice to identify patients with multiple myeloma and other serum protein disorders. It is an inexpensive and easy-to-perform screening procedure. Electrophoresis separates serum proteins based on their physical properties and identifies morphologic patterns in response to acute and chronic inflammation, various malignancies, liver or renal failure, and hereditary protein disorders. For gastroenterologists, the use of serum protein electrophoresis may be helpful in the diagnosis of both common diseases with unusual presentations and rare disorders with typical presentations. Therefore, it represents an ideal screening tool.
Refined Multilayered Plate Elements for Coupled Magneto‐Electro‐Elastic Analysis
Authors: Di Gifico M. , Nali P. , Brischetto S.
Published: April 2009

Finite elements for the analysis of multilayered plates subjected to magneto‐electro‐elastic fields are developed in this work. An accurate description of the various field variables has been provided by employing a variable kinematic model which is based on the Unified Formulation, UF. Displacements, magnetic and electric potential have been chosen as independent unknowns. Equivalent single layer and layer‐wise descriptions have been accounted for. Plate models with linear up to fourth‐order distribution in the thickness direction have been compared. The extension of the principle of virtual displacements to magneto‐electro‐elastic continua has been employed to derive finite elements governing equations. According to UF these equations are presented in terms of fundamental nuclei whose form is not affected by kinematic assumptions. Results show the effectiveness of the proposed elements as well as their capability, by choosing appropriate kinematics, to accurately trace the static response of laminated plates subject to magneto‐electro‐elastic fields.
Modelling of the Nanosystems Formation by the Molecular Dynamics, Mesodynamics and Continuum Mechanics Methods
Authors: Vakhrouchev Alexandre V.
Published: April 2009

The problems of simulation of the formation and development of nanosystems with time were considered at different structural levels. Main theoretical concepts were systematized, which allowed successive modelling of a nanosystem with the use of the molecular dynamics, mesodynamics and continuum mechanics methods. Practical problems such as the calculation of dependence of the elasticity modulus of a nanoparticle on its size, the investigation of the formation and movement of nanoparticles in gas phase were discussed.
HDAC5 is a repressor of angiogenesis and determines the angiogenic gene expression pattern of endothelial cells
Authors: Urbich Carmen , Rössig Lothar , Kaluza David , Potente Michael , Boeckel Jes-Niels , Knau Andrea , Diehl Florian , Geng Jian-Guo , Hofmann Wolf-Karsten , Zeiher Andreas M. , Dimmeler Stefanie
Published: April 2009

Class IIa histone deacetylases (HDACs) are signal-responsive regulators of gene expression involved in vascular homeostasis. To investigate the differential role of class IIa HDACs for the regulation of angiogenesis, we used siRNA to specifically suppress the individual HDAC isoenzymes. Silencing of HDAC5 exhibited a unique pro-angiogenic effect evidenced by increased endothelial cell migration, sprouting, and tube formation. Consistently, overexpression of HDAC5 decreased sprout formation, indicating that HDAC5 is a negative regulator of angiogenesis. The antiangiogenic activity of HDAC5 was independent of myocyte enhancer factor-2 binding and its deacetylase activity but required a nuclear localization indicating that HDAC5 might affect the transcriptional regulation of gene expression. To identify putative HDAC5 targets, we performed microarray expression analysis. Silencing of HDAC5 increased the expression of fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2) and angiogenic guidance factors, including Slit2. Antagonization of FGF2 or Slit2 reduced sprout induction in response to HDAC5 siRNA. Chromatin immunoprecipitation assays demonstrate that HDAC5 binds to the promoter of FGF2 and Slit2. In summary, HDAC5 represses angiogenic genes, such as FGF2 and Slit2, which causally contribute to capillary-like sprouting of endothelial cells. The derepression of angiogenic genes by HDAC5 inactivation may provide a useful therapeutic target for induction of angiogenesis.
Lack of association between PRNP 1368 polymorphism and Alzheimer's disease or vascular dementia
Authors: Jeong Byung-Hoon , Lee Kyung-Hee , Lee Yun-Jung , Kim Yun Joong , Choi Eun-Kyoung , Kim Young-Hoon , Cho Young-Sook , Carp Richard I , Kim Yong-Sun
Published: April 2009

Background

Polymorphisms of the prion protein gene (PRNP ) at codons 129 and 219 play an important role in the susceptibility to Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD), and might be associated with other neurodegenerative disorders. Several recent reports indicate that polymorphisms outside the coding region of PRNP modulate the expression of prion protein and are associated with sporadic CJD, although other studies failed to show an association. These reports involved the polymorphism PRNP 1368 which is located upstream from PRNP exon 1. In a case-controlled protocol, we assessed the possible association between the PRNP 1368 polymorphism and either Alzheimer's disease (AD) or vascular dementia (VaD).

Methods

To investigate whether the PRNP 1368 polymorphism is associated with the occurrence of AD or VaD in the Korean population, we compared the genotype, allele, and haplotype frequencies of the PRNP 1368 polymorphism in 152 AD patients and 192 VaD patients with frequencies in 268 healthy Koreans.

Results and conclusion

Significant differences in genotype, allele and haplotype frequencies of PRNP 1368 polymorphism were not observed between AD and normal controls. There were no significant differences in the genotype and allele frequencies of the PRNP 1368 polymorphism between Korean VaD patients and normal controls. However, in the haplotype analysis, haplotype Ht5 was significantly over-represented in Korean VaD patients. This was the first genetic association study of a polymorphism outside the coding region of PRNP in relation to AD and VaD.
Isolation and characterization of a small antiretroviral molecule affecting HIV-1 capsid morphology
Authors: Abdurahman Samir , Végvári Ákos , Levi Michael , Höglund Stefan , Högberg Marita , Tong Weimin , Romero Ivan , Balzarini Jan , Vahlne Anders
Published: April 2009

Background

Formation of an HIV-1 particle with a conical core structure is a prerequisite for the subsequent infectivity of the virus particle. We have previously described that glycineamide (G-NH2) when added to the culture medium of infected cells induces non-infectious HIV-1 particles with aberrant core structures.

Results

Here we demonstrate that it is not G-NH2itself but a metabolite thereof that displays antiviral activity. We show that conversion of G-NH2to its antiviral metabolite is catalyzed by an enzyme present in bovine and porcine but surprisingly not in human serum. Structure determination by NMR suggested that the active G-NH2metabolite was α-hydroxy-glycineamide (α-HGA). Chemically synthesized α-HGA inhibited HIV-1 replication to the same degree as G-NH2, unlike a number of other synthesized analogues of G-NH2which had no effect on HIV-1 replication. Comparisons by capillary electrophoresis and HPLC of the metabolite with the chemically synthesized α-HGA further confirmed that the antiviral G-NH2-metabolite indeed was α-HGA.

Conclusion

α-HGA has an unusually simple structure and a novel mechanism of antiviral action. Thus, α-HGA could be a lead for new antiviral substances belonging to a new class of anti-HIV drugs, i.e. capsid assembly inhibitors.
Serum Zinc-α2-Glycoprotein Correlates with Adiposity, Triglycerides, and the Key Components of the Metabolic Syndrome in Chinese Subjects
Authors: Yeung Dennis C. Y. , Lam Karen S. L. , Wang Yu , Tso Annette W. K. , Xu Aimin
Published: April 2009

Context: Zinc-α2-glycoprotein (ZAG) is a 40-kDa circulating glycoprotein secreted from the liver and adipose tissues. Animal studies have demonstrated the role of ZAG as a lipid-mobilizing factor involved in regulating lipid metabolism and adiposity. However, the clinical relevance of these findings remains to be established.

Objective: This study aimed to address the relationship of serum ZAG levels with adiposity and cardiometabolic risk factors in humans.

Design and Setting: A total of 258 Chinese subjects [aged 55.1 ± 12.5 yr; 120 males, 138 females; body mass index (BMI), 25.4 ± 4.1 kg/m2] were randomly selected from the population-based Hong Kong Cardiovascular Risk Factor Prevalence Study, based on their BMI. Serum ZAG levels were determined with ELISA. The relationship between serum ZAG levels and cardiometabolic parameters was assessed.

Results: Serum ZAG levels were higher in men (P < 0.001 vs. women). Serum ZAG correlated positively with age, parameters of adiposity (waist circumference and BMI), fasting insulin, insulin resistance indices, serum triglycerides, adipocyte-fatty acid-binding protein, and C-reactive protein, and diastolic blood pressure (all P < 0.005, age- and sex-adjusted), and inversely with high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol levels (P = 0.008, age- and sex-adjusted). It was also elevated progressively with an increasing number of components of the metabolic syndrome (P for trend < 0.001). On multivariate analysis, serum ZAG was independently associated with male sex, the metabolic syndrome (or type 2 diabetes and serum triglycerides), and C-reactive protein (all P ≤ 0.002).

Conclusions: ZAG might be involved in the pathogenesis of obesity-related metabolic disorders in humans and thus warrants further investigation.
Solving Hard Mixed-Integer Programming Problems with Xpress-MP: A MIPLIB 2003 Case Study
Authors: Laundy Richard , Perregaard Michael , Tavares Gabriel , Tipi Horia , Vazacopoulos Alkis
Published: April 2009

Despite the fact that no polynomial-time algorithm is known for solving mixed-integer programming (MIP) problems, there has been remarkable success in recent years in solving a wide range of difficult MIPs. In this paper, we take a look at some of the hardest problems in the MIPLIB 2003 test set and show how Xpress-MP can be used to solve some of the problems that were previously thought to be intractable.
Binarized Support Vector Machines
Authors: Carrizosa Emilio , Martin-Barragan Belen , Morales Dolores Romero
Published: April 2009

The widely used support vector machine (SVM) method has shown to yield very good results in supervised classification problems. Other methods such as classification trees have become more popular among practitioners than SVM thanks to their interpretability, which is an important issue in data mining.

In this work, we propose an SVM-based method that automatically detects the most important predictor variables and the role they play in the classifier. In particular, the proposed method is able to detect those values and intervals that are critical for the classification. The method involves the optimization of a linear programming problem in the spirit of the Lasso method with a large number of decision variables. The numerical experience reported shows that a rather direct use of the standard column generation strategy leads to a classification method that, in terms of classification ability, is competitive against the standard linear SVM and classification trees. Moreover, the proposed method is robust; i.e., it is stable in the presence of outliers and invariant to change of scale or measurement units of the predictor variables.

When the complexity of the classifier is an important issue, a wrapper feature selection method is applied, yielding simpler but still competitive classifiers.
How to predict changes in solvolysis mechanisms
Authors: Mayr Herbert , Ofial Armin R.
Published: April 2009

Stopped-flow and laser flash techniques have been employed to investigate the individual steps of the solvolysis reactions of benzhydryl (diarylmethyl) halides and carboxylates. In this way, absolute rate constants for the ionization (k1), recombination of the carbocation with the leaving group (k-1), and subsequent reaction with the solvent (kSolvOH) have been determined. As the stabilization of the carbocations increases, the mechanism changes from (a) SN1 reactions with irreversible ionization through (b) SN1 reactions with common-ion return and (c) SN2C+reactions, where the intermediate carbocations accumulate, to (d) the formation of persistent carbocations which do not undergo subsequent reactions under the selected solvolysis conditions. The correlation equation logk=s(N+E), where the carbocations are characterized by the electrophilicity parameterE, and leaving groups and solvents are characterized by the nucleophile-specific parameterssandNcan be employed to predict the changes of mechanism.
Erratum
Authors: Stepto R. F. T.
Published: April 2009

Dispersity in polymer science (IUPAC Recommendations 2009) (R. G. Gilbert, M. Hess, A. D. Jenkins, R. G. Jones, P. Kratochvíl, and R. F. T. Stepto). Pure Appl. Chem.
81, 351-353 (2009); doi:10.1351/PAC-REC-08-05-02.
Erratum
Authors: Tietze Lutz F. , Kinzel Tom
Published: April 2009

Synthesis of natural products and analogs using multiple Pd-catalyzed transformations (Lutz F. Tietze and Tom Kinzel). Pure Appl. Chem.
79, 629-650 (2007); doi:10.1351/pac200779040629.
Interaction of Stimulus-Driven Reorienting and Expectation in Ventral and Dorsal Frontoparietal and Basal Ganglia-Cortical Networks
Authors: Shulman Gordon L. , Astafiev Serguei V. , Franke Danny , Pope Daniel L. W. , Snyder Abraham Z. , McAvoy Mark P. , Corbetta Maurizio
Published: April 2009

Shifts of attention to unattended stimuli (stimulus-driven reorienting) are often studied by measuring responses to unexpected stimuli, confounding reorienting and expectation. We separately measured the blood-oxygenation-level-dependent signal for both factors by manipulating the probability of salient visual cues that either shifted attention away from or maintained attention on a stream of visual stimuli. The results distinguished three networks recruited by reorienting. Right temporoparietal junction (TPJ), the posterior core of a ventral frontoparietal network, was activated more by cues for shifting than maintaining attention independently of cue location and probability, acting as a switch. TPJ was separately modulated by low probability cues, which signaled a breach of spatial expectation, independently of whether they shifted attention. Under resting conditions, TPJ activity was correlated [resting-state functional connectivity magnetic resonance imaging, (rs-fcMRI)] with right inferior frontal gyrus (IFG), an anterior component of the ventral network. Nevertheless, IFG was activated only by unexpected shifts of attention, dissociating its function from TPJ. Basal ganglia and frontal/insula regions also were activated only when reorienting was unexpected but showed strong rs-fcMRI among themselves, not with TPJ/IFG, defining a distinct network that may retrieve/activate commands for shifting attention. Within dorsal frontoparietal regions, shifting attention produced sustained spatially selective modulations in intraparietal sulcus (IPS) and frontal-eye field (FEF), and transient less selective modulations in precuneus and FEF. Modulations were observed even when reorienting was likely, but increased when reorienting was unexpected. The latter result may partly reflect interactions with lateral prefrontal components of the basal-ganglia/frontal/insula network that showed significant rs-fcMRI with the dorsal network.
Job Stress and Coronary Heart Disease: A Case‐control Study using a Chinese Population
Authors: Xu Weixian , Zhao Yiming , Guo Lijun , Guo Yanhong , Gao Wei
Published: April 2009

Job Stress and Coronary Heart Disease: A Case‐control Study using a Chinese Population: Weixian Xu, et al. Department of Cardiology, Peking University Third Hospital and Key Laboratory of Molecular Cardiovascular Science, Ministry of Education, China

Objectives

This study was to examine the association between job stress and coronary heart disease (CHD) in a Chinese population.

Methods

The 388 participants aged 30 to 70 yr who received coronary angiography for suspected or known ischemic heart disease were enrolled in this series, which included 292 CHD cases and 96 controls. The job stress before CHD onset was measured by the effort‐reward imbalance (ERI) model.

Results

In the results, compared with the baseline, high ERI, high extrinsic effort or high overcommitment increased the risk of CHD with odds ratios (OR) of 2.8, 2.7 and 2.8 respectively after adjustment for the traditional CHD risk factors, such as age, gender, primary hypertension, diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidemia, smoking, body mass index, CHD family history, educational level, and marital status. The combination of high ERI and high overcommitment led to the highest risk of CHD with adjusted OR 5.5. However, high reward reduced the risk of CHD with an adjusted OR of 0.4 in comparison to low reward. Dose‐response relationships were also observed.

Conclusions

Job stress evaluated by the ERI model significantly increased the risk of CHD, and it may be an important risk factor independent of the traditional risk factors of CHD in the Chinese population.
Problematic Interpersonal Relationships at Work and Depression: A Swedish Prospective Cohort Study
Authors: Stoetzer Ulrich , Ahlberg Gunnel , Johansson Gun , Bergman Peter , Hallsten Lennart , Forsell Yvonne , Lundberg Ingvar
Published: April 2009

Problematic Interpersonal Relationships at Work and Depression: A Swedish Prospective Cohort Study: Ulrich Stoetzer, et al. Department of Public Health Sciences, Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Sweden

Objectives

Studies have shown that interpersonal relations at work are important for several health related outcomes. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether low social support, serious conflict, exclusion by superiors or by co‐workers at work may be determinants of depression.

Methods

In a representative Swedish cohort study data were obtained in two waves three years apart. 4,040 women and men who did not change their jobs between the waves were chosen for the study. Exposure and confounders were obtained at Time 1 and outcome, depression according to Bech's MDI at Time 2. Previous depression was controlled for by adjusting for depression at Time 1. Data were analyzed using multiple logistic regression analyses.

Results

Odds‐ratios adjusted for possible confounders and depression at base‐line showed significant effects for all four exposures on depression (adjusted OR, low social support 1.5 CI 95% 1.1–2.0, serious conflict 1.4 CI 95% 1.1–1.9, exclusion by superiors 1.6 CI 95% 1.2–2.1 and exclusion by co‐workers 1.7 CI 95% 1.2–2.3).

Conclusions

The present results support the conclusion that problematic interpersonal relationships at work can be determinants of depression. These prospective findings may be of relevance for prevention and when rehabilitating depressed patients.
Consolidation charts for non-linearly time-increasing loads
Authors: Jimenez R. , Serrano A. , Olalla C.
Published: April 2009

Ground improvement techniques in the form of vertical drains combined with preloading are commonly employed to accelerate consolidation. In such situations, it is usually important to be able to consider the influence of the time needed for construction of the preloading on the time needed to achieve a certain degree of consolidation. Numerically computed charts for the design of vertical drains are presented in this paper, considering radial and vertical consolidation and non-linear schemes (i.e. parabolic, logarithmic) of the application of surcharge load increments against time. Examples are provided to illustrate how such charts can be employed to determine the required drain spacing in practical situations of preloading design. The influence of the type of preloading surcharge scheme is studied by means of a sensitivity analysis. Results indicate that the relative importance of radial consolidation with respect to vertical consolidation is the individual factor with the strongest influence on the results, and that drain spacing can be significantly increased when construction time is reduced. Results also indicate that the type of preloading scheme has a significant influence on the design of vertical drain spacing.
Dynamic compaction of saturated sands and silty sands: design
Authors: Nashed R. , Thevanayagam S. , Martin G. R.
Published: April 2009

Current practice for design, suitability assessment, and determination of the optimum field operation parameters for dynamic compaction rely mainly on field pilot tests, past experience, and empirical equations. At present there are no detailed analytical procedures available to determine the densification achievable, or to analyse the effects of various operational parameters on the degree of improvement achievable during dynamic compaction of sands and non-plastic silty soil deposits. This paper presents a set of simplified charts to determine the post-improvement penetration resistance of saturated sands and non-plastic silty sands, supplemented with pre-installed wick drains, due to improvement by dynamic compaction. The theoretical basis and the numerical schemes for simulation of dynamic compaction leading to these charts are presented elsewhere. The charts facilitate design choice of parameters such as grid spacing, number of impacts per grid point, energy per impact, time cycle between impacts, and drain spacing required to achieve a minimum specified post-improvement penetration resistance for a range of initial soil conditions. Simplified procedures for the use of these charts for liquefaction mitigation design are presented and illustrated using design examples.
Verification of rutting calculation for unbound road materials
Authors: Korkiala-Tanttu L.
Published: April 2009

An analytical-mechanistic calculation method for the evaluation of rutting (permanent deformation) in unbound pavement layers and subgrade has been developed at the Technical Research Centre of Finland (VTT) over a period of years. The calculation method was generated from the test results of accelerated pavement tests along with complementary laboratory tests carried out in Finland. The test methods complemented each other and offered new possibilities for research. The stress distribution studies showed that it is very important to calculate stress responses in the pavement with an elasto-plastic material model to avoid tensile stresses in unbound materials, especially when the asphalt layers are thin. Thus, the new calculation method is based on the elasto-plastic stress responses and corresponding shear strength capacities. The shear strength approach was used because the rutting is supposed to be dominated by the shear strength ratio. The objective of this study was to verify the calculation method against two accelerated pavement tests: one from the Danish Road Directorate and the other from the Swedish National Road and Transport Research Institute. The verification indicated that the material model gave reliable results.
Performance of junctions with a high motorcycle proportion
Authors: Spyropoulou I. , Sermpis D.
Published: April 2009

The present study dealt with the evaluation of the performance of signal-controlled junctions in urban areas, which exhibit high percentages of motorcycle traffic. In particular, the movement characteristics of motorcycles and the way they interact with passenger cars were investigated both qualitatively and quantitatively. Motorcycle movement affects the movement of the rest of the traffic and this impact on the operational performance of the junction approach was depicted. First, the way motorcycles move at a signal-controlled junction approach was described. To achieve this, another type of traffic lane was introduced: the ‘notional’ lanes, which were defined as corridors between stationary or moving traffic in the marked lanes. Next the movement of passenger cars and motorcycles was represented through vehicle headways and passenger car units. The movement of passenger cars at an approach was analysed and the way this was affected by that of motorcycles was identified. Finally, the performance of the approach was estimated through the start lag and saturation flow values, emphasising the impact of the movement of motorcycles at the junction.
Why should cities change from DOT to TOD?
Authors: Li C.-N. , Lai T.-Y.
Published: April 2009

Transportation systems and cities that are connected by development-oriented transit (DOT) should be reconnected under the newer concept of transit-oriented development (TOD). This paper examines the reasons why cities should progressively change from DOT to TOD. The literature was reviewed to examine the urban history of DOT and TOD and the aims of TOD were identified. The relationship between sustainable development and concepts of TOD was then established to show why cities should change from DOT to TOD. It was also concluded that the concepts of TOD match sustainable development. Finally, extended strategies of TOD were established for Taipei City in the two specific perspectives of the transport system and land use.
Estimation of skid resistance and macrotexture thresholds
Authors: de Solminihac H. , Echaveguren T. , Vargas-Tejeda S. , Chamorro A.
Published: April 2009

One of the main challenges in geometrical design of highways is to define the braking distance required by the driver–vehicle system. For a specific design speed, the braking distance mainly depends on the friction between the tyre and the road. Design standards define friction values given a certain speed. Design values are not, however, correlated directly to skid resistance and macrotexture of the road surface. The present study proposes a procedure to estimate skid resistance and macrotexture thresholds in terms of the design friction of a road. The procedure is developed using a harmonisation function based on the international friction index (IFI). Using the proposed procedure, skid resistance and macrotexture thresholds that fulfil design friction requirements were defined. The results showed that thresholds are not unique; instead, a set of skid resistance–macrotexture values which fulfil the design friction can be defined for each design speed. Consistency between geometrical design and the characteristics of a road surface can be evaluated with the proposed procedure. The procedure can be applied for any design standard and for any skid resistance and macrotexture measuring device.
Calcium phosphate powders synthesized from solutions with [Ca2+]/[PO43−]=1 for bioresorbable ceramics
Authors: Safronova Tatiana , Kuznetsov Anton , Korneychuk Svetlana , Putlyaev Valery , Shekhirev Mikhail
Published: April 2009

Calcium phosphate powders for manufacturing bioceramics were synthesized via precipitation from stock solutions of (NH4)2HPO4 and Ca(NO3)2, or CaCl2 or Ca(CH3COO)2 with [Ca2+]/[PO 43−] = 1, without pH regulation. Properties of powdered samples, including density and microstructure of ceramics sintered at 900, 1000, 1100°C, were studied. The following pairs of precursors such as Ca(NO3)2/(NH4)2HPO4, CaCl2/(NH4)2HPO4, Ca(CH3COO)2/(NH4)2HPO4 gave both insoluble calcium phosphates and the corresponding by-products of synthesis — NH4NO3, NH4Cl, NH4CH3COO. These by-products were released from the calcium phosphate precipitates in the course of heating to the temperature of sintering. Owing to specific buffer properties of the solutions being formed during synthesis, the pH value varied in a wide range during the precipitation process leading to different final values of pH and, thus, to different target phase(s) after annealing at 900–1100°C. After sintering, the samples based on the powders synthesized from Ca(NO3)2/(NH4)2HPO4 consisted of β-Ca2P2O7, whereas the samples based on the powders derived from CaCl2/(NH4)2HPO4 were composed of β-Ca2P2O7 and β-Ca3(PO4)2, and the samples based on the powders synthesized from Ca(CH3COO)2/(NH4)2HPO4 contained only β-Ca3(PO4)2. All the powders can be considered as the precursors for fabrication of bioceramics with enhanced resorption.
Large‐Scale Synthesis of Long Crystalline Cu2‐xSe Nanowire Bundles by Water‐Evaporation‐Induced Self‐Assembly and Their Application in Gas Sensing
Authors: Xu Jun , Zhang Weixin , Yang Zeheng , Ding Shaixia , Zeng Chunyan , Chen Lingling , Wang Qiang , Yang Shihe
Published: April 2009

By a facile water evaporation process without adding any directing agent, Cu2‐xSe nanowire bundles with diameters of 100–300 nm and lengths up to hundreds of micrometers, which comprise crystalline nanowires with diameters of 5–8 nm, are obtained. Experiments reveal the initial formation/stacking of CuSe nanoplates and the subsequent transformation to the Cu2‐xSe nanowire bundles. A water‐evaporation‐induced self‐assembly (WEISA) mechanism is proposed, which highlights the driving force of evaporation in promoting the nanoplate stacking, CuSe‐to‐Cu2‐xSe transformation and the growth/bundling of the Cu2‐xSe nanowires. The simplicity, benignancy, scalability, and high‐yield of the synthesis of this important nanowire material herald its numerous applications. As one example, the use of the Cu2‐xSe nanowire bundles as a photoluminescence‐type sensor of humidity is demonstrated, which shows good sensitivity, ideal linearity, quick response/recovery and long lifetime in a very wide humidity range at room temperature.
Beyond Gorilla and Pongo: Alternative models for evaluating variation and sexual dimorphism in fossil hominoid samples
Authors: Scott Jeremiah E. , Schrein Caitlin M. , Kelley Jay
Published: April 2009

Sexual size dimorphism in the postcanine dentition of the late Miocene hominoid Lufengpithecus lufengensis exceeds that in Pongo pygmaeus, demonstrating that the maximum degree of molar size dimorphism in apes is not represented among the extant Hominoidea. It has not been established, however, that the molars of Pongo are more dimorphic than those of any other living primate. In this study, we used resampling‐based methods to compare molar dimorphism in Gorilla, Pongo, and Lufengpithecus to that in the papionin Mandrillus leucophaeus to test two hypotheses: (1) Pongo possesses the most size‐dimorphic molars among living primates and (2) molar size dimorphism in Lufengpithecus is greater than that in the most dimorphic living primates. Our results show that M. leucophaeus exceeds great apes in its overall level of dimorphism and that L. lufengensis is more dimorphic than the extant species. Using these samples, we also evaluated molar dimorphism and taxonomic composition in two other Miocene ape samples—Ouranopithecus macedoniensis from Greece, specimens of which can be sexed based on associated canines and P3s, and the Sivapithecus sample from Haritalyangar, India. Ouranopithecus is more dimorphic than the extant taxa but is similar to Lufengpithecus, demonstrating that the level of molar dimorphism required for the Greek fossil sample under the single‐species taxonomy is not unprecedented when the comparative framework is expanded to include extinct primates. In contrast, the Haritalyangar Sivapithecus sample, if itrepresents a single species, exhibits substantially greater molar dimorphism than does Lufengpithecus. Given these results, the taxonomic status of this sample remains equivocal. Am J Phys Anthropol, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Deposition of osmium and ruthenium thin films from organometallic cluster precursors
Authors: Li Chunxiang , Leong Weng Kee , Loh Kian Ping
Published: April 2009

Single‐source organometallic precursors based on a number of homometallic clusters as well as heterometallic cluster RuOs3(CO)13(µ‐H)2 have been used for the chemical vapor deposition of osmium films and osmium–ruthenium alloy films, respectively. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Aramid‐short‐fiber reinforced rubber as a tire tread composite
Authors: Kashani Mehdi Razzaghi
Published: April 2009

Mechanical and dynamic‐mechanical properties of a typical tire tread compound reinforced with one part aramid short fibers were investigated in order to predict the effects of fibers on tire tread performances such as rolling resistance and traction. Rubber processing, including mixing and extrusion, was performed in an industrial scale. Fiber orientation as a result of extrusion was evaluated quantitatively and qualitatively using mechanical anisotropy in swelling and scanning electron microscopy, respectively. Unidirectional tensile tests revealed higher modulus, but slightly lower strength and elongation at break for the composites stretched in the longitudinal (orientation) and transverse directions than those for the isotropic reference compound with no fiber. Dynamic mechanical thermal analysis showed that relative values of loss factor for the longitudinal and transverse composites and the reference compound depended on the state of polymer as glassy or rubbery. Therefore, a high loss factor at lower temperatures and a low loss factor at higher temperatures predicted a balanced improvement of tire traction and rolling resistance as a result of fiber addition. Heat build‐up and abrasion experiments showed that addition of fiber did not deteriorate other performances of tire tread. Also, the fibers had negligible effects on processing and vulcanization characteristics of the composite. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2009
Experimental rapid surface heating by induction for micro‐injection molding of light‐guided plates
Authors: Huang Ming‐Shyan , Tai Ning‐Sheng
Published: April 2009

This work experimentally investigates the use of induction‐heating to heat mold surfaces rapidly, and thus enhance the replication effect of the microstructure of light‐guided plates (LGP) in the injection molding process. This investigation employs a 2‐inch LGP injection mold as the experimental carrier, and compares the replication effect on the microstructure of induction heating with that of conventional oil‐heating. Temperature increases on the mold plate are examined using a thermal video system. The experimental results show that (1) the flat induction coil design promotes rapid surface heating. (2) Induction‐heating the mold surface to 110°C improves the replication rate of the height of the micro‐structure by up to 95%. (3) The LGP produced by induction heating has no significant residual stress. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2009
Sentinel node biopsy for follicular tumours of the thyroid gland
Authors: Takeyama H , Tabei I , Uchida K , Morikawa T
Published: April 2009

Background

It is difficult to differentiate histologically between benign and malignant follicular-type tumours of the thyroid gland. The present study evaluated whether sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy was helpful in obtaining the correct diagnosis of malignant follicular-type tumours, as metastasis to the lymph nodes is sufficient evidence for a diagnosis of cancer.

Methods

SLN biopsy was performed for 37 follicular-type tumours suspected to be malignant on the basis of preoperative examinations, but for which the diagnosis had not been confirmed.

Results

SNs were identified in 32 of 37 procedures. SLN metastases were found in four of 12 patients with a malignant tumour identified by intraoperative frozen-section analysis. There was one false-negative but no false-positive diagnoses. Frozen-section analysis of the tumour itself identified only one follicular cancer. The accuracies of preoperative imaging methods were lower than that of SLN detection.

Conclusion

Detection of SLN metastasis was helpful in diagnosing follicular thyroid cancer and thus enabling one-stage surgery.