bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Treatment of metalworking fluids: development of a bioconsortium for the treatment of nanofiltration permeate
Authors: Hilal Nidal , Busca Gerald , Waller Martin D
Published: March 2005

Traditional treatment methods of waste metalworking fluids produce an aqueous phase containing toxic components and with a high Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD). In this paper, a biological solution is proposed to further reduce both the effluent COD and its toxicity. A method to develop a bioconsortium from microbes found in the waste metalworking fluid is proposed. The development took place in three phases: feasibility, bioconsortium development and optimisation. Flask tests have been used to show the feasibility of using the metalworking fluid indigenous microbial community for the degradation of the nanofiltration permeate of the metalworking fluid. A suspended bioreactor allowed the development of a better‐adapted consortium. Finally, a fixed bed bioreactor inoculated with the developed bioconsortium was set up and run for 8 months to test the bioconsortium's robustness and to optimise the biological process. A bioconsortium was successfully developed using a simple method and a 90% reduction in the original nanofiltration COD level was achieved by the fixed bed bioreactor. Copyright © 2005 Society of Chemical Industry
Systematic management of software product lines
Authors: Schmid Klaus , Biffl Stefan
Published: March 2005

Software product lines can effectively facilitate large‐scale reuse and can thus bring about order of magnitude improvements in terms of time to market (TTM), costs, and quality. This comes at the price of a more complex development environment in which many interdependencies are created through shared generic assets.

Owing to this complexity, the specific strategy chosen for product line development can be expected to have a strong impact on the benefits that can be gained from product line development. This is systematically studied in this work, as we vary different strategies and apply them to various forms of products lines. On the basis of the analysis of the performed simulations, we were able to determine optimal, heuristic strategies to the integrated management of the product line.

As a result of the analysis, we identify strategies and guidelines that can be employed by practitioners in order to improve the success of their management of a software product line. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Ontogeny of male plumage dichromatism in Madagascar paradise flycatchers Terpsiphone mutata
Authors: Mulder Raoul A. , Ramiarison Robert , Emahalala Rayonné E.
Published: March 2005

Two male plumage morphs, ‘white’ and ‘rufous’, coexist in the Madagascar paradise flycatcher Terpsiphone mutata. There has been enduring debate about whether this dimorphism in male plumage represents seasonal dichromatism, delayed plumage maturation, or genetic differences. We present data from a nine‐year study monitoring plumage changes in 119 individually colour‐banded males (430 male‐years). Our data show that paradise flycatchers are not seasonally dichromatic, and that although males show delayed plumage maturation, the rufous morph is not simply a precursor to white plumage, as previously thought. Individual males followed irreversible developmental pathways to ‘rufous’ or ‘white’, and could be reliably assigned to these distinct phenotypes by their second year. ‘White’ males adopted definitive plumage by the age of three years, whereas ‘rufous’ males did so between the ages of three and six years. The fixed nature of these morphs suggests that a genetic basis for the dichromatism is likely. However, variation in the timing of definitive plumage acquisition in rufous males could involve condition dependence and be environmentally influenced.
A single center clinical experience in intensive care management of 104 pediatric renal transplantations between 1998 and 2002
Authors: Pape L. , Offner G. , Ehrich J. H. H. , Sasse M.
Published: March 2005

Abstract:  Only a few publications about the treatment in the intensive care unit (ICU) after pediatric renal transplantation have been published yet. As there are no guidelines, we hereby describe the results and recommendations of our transplant unit. A total of 104 renal transplantations have been performed in 96 children at our center since 1998. The age of the children has ranged from 6 months to 18 yr and their body weight from 6 kg to 110 kg. A special fluid management was performed in order to avoid hypotension and hypoperfusion of the graft. Systolic arterial pressure was kept at elevated levels above 100 mmHg during the first day after transplantation. The children remained on the respirator for 4–8 h after transplantation. Anticoagulation was performed using low dose heparin because of the size mismatch of the anastomosed vessels. The mean time in the ICU for the pediatric patients aged <3 yr was 2 days and for children older than 3 yr was 1 day. The main complications after renal transplantation in the ICU were disorders of electrolytes, acute renal failure because of a non‐functioning graft (12%), bleeding from the anastomoses (4%), arterial or venous thrombosis (1%), arterial hypertension and pulmonary edema, defined as radiographic evidence (1%). In case of non‐function peritoneal‐ or hemodialysis were performed in the ICU. Young children were more frequently affected than older children. From 1998–2002 one patient died during the ICU time. The 3 yr graft survival rate was 90%. To sum up, children undergoing renal transplantation should be treated in a specialized unit postoperatively to avoid early non‐functioning of the graft and extrarenal complications. General guidelines for postoperative care should be established.
The C‐terminal t peptide of acetylcholinesterase forms an α helix that supports homomeric and heteromeric interactions
Authors: Bon Suzanne , Dufourcq Jean , Leroy Jacqueline , Cornut Isabelle , Massoulié Jean
Published: March 2005

Acetylcholinesterase subunits of type T (AChET) possess an alternatively spliced C‐terminal peptide (t peptide) which endows them with amphiphilic properties, the capacity to form various homo‐oligomers and to associate, as a tetramer, with anchoring proteins containing a proline rich attachment domain (PRAD). The t peptide contains seven conserved aromatic residues. By spectroscopic analyses of the synthetic peptides covering part or all of the t peptide of Torpedo AChET, we show that the region containing the aromatic residues adopts an α helical structure, which is favored in the presence of lipids and detergent micelles: these residues therefore form a hydrophobic cluster in a sector of the helix. We also analyzed the formation of disulfide bonds between two different AChET subunits, and between AChET subunits and a PRAD‐containing protein [the N‐terminal fragment of the ColQ protein (QN)] possessing two cysteines upstream or downstream of the PRAD. This shows that, in the complex formed by four T subunits with QN (T4–QN), the t peptides are not folded on themselves as hairpins but instead are all oriented in the same direction, antiparallel to that of the PRAD. The formation of disulfide bonds between various pairs of cysteines, introduced by mutagenesis at various positions in the t peptides, indicates that this complex possesses a surprising flexibility.
HIV‐1 integrase can process a 3′‐end crosslinked substrate
Authors: Agapkina Julia , Smolov Maksim , Zubin Evgeni , Mouscadet Jean‐François , Gottikh Marina
Published: March 2005

Integrase of the human immunodeficiency virus type‐1 (HIV‐1) recognizes specific sequences located in the U3 and U5 regions at the ends of viral DNA. We synthesized DNA duplexes mimicking the U5 region and containing either 2′‐aminonucleosides or non‐nucleoside 1,3‐propanediol insertions at the third and terminal positions and studied their interactions with HIV‐1 integrase. Both modifications introduced a local structural distortion in the DNA double helix. Replacement of the terminal nucleosides by corresponding 2′‐aminonucleosides had no significant effect on integrase activity. We used an integrase substrate bearing terminal 2′‐aminonucleosides in both strands to synthesize a duplex with cross‐linked strands. This duplex was then used to determine whether terminal base pair disruption is an obligatory step of retroviral DNA 3′‐processing. Processing of the cross‐linked analog of the integrase substrate yielded a product of the same length as 3′‐processing of the wild‐type substrate but the reaction efficiency was lower. Replacement of the third adenosine in the processed strand by a corresponding 2′‐aminonucleoside did not affect integrase activity, whereas, its replacement by 1,3‐propanediol completely inhibited 3′‐processing. Both modifications of the complementary thymidine in the nonprocessed strand increased the initial rate of 3′‐processing. The same effect was observed when both nucleosides, at the third position, were replaced by corresponding 2′‐aminonucleosides. This indicates that the local duplex distortion facilitated the cleavage of the phosphodiester bond. Thus, a localized destabilization of the third A‐T base pair is necessary for efficient 3′‐processing, whereas 3′‐end‐fraying is important but not absolutely required.
Mexican Women's Pelves and Obstetrical Procedures: Interventions with Forceps in Late 19th-Century Medicine
Authors: Cházaro Laura , Kersey Paul
Published: March 2005

This essay is an inquiry into the socio-cultural history of the use of forceps in 19th-century Mexico. It argues that the knowledge and practices that the use of such instruments implied were related to complex and controversial issues of the time regarding gender, race and national identity. In my study of operations involving forceps, I found that the adoption of medical instruments depended not only upon their supposedly greater operative efficiency but also upon the political and medical meanings attributed to the pelves of Mexican women. Early 19th-century obstetrics conceived the womb as an example of ‘living nature’ whose qualities assured that births were ‘normally happy events’ making the use of forceps and other instruments unnecessary. However, by mid-century, in the aftermath of independence, Mexico was desperately attempting to forge its identity as a nation. Due to European theories of race, Mexican women came to be characterized as having pathologically deformed pelves that evidenced possible defects of racial formation. The analysis of operative practices involving forceps reveals just how strongly such medical instruments became charged with a complex political definition of the ‘mestizo race’, which was seen to hold political promise for the future. In this context, forceps ceased to symbolize the threat of death, with which they had been associated since colonial times, and became artefacts that helped to assure the safe delivery of newborn mestizos by overcoming the problems of Mexican women's pathological pelves; although by the same token, the status of women as biologically inferior beings in need of medical assistance was reconfirmed.
Higher-order nonlinear microwave response of a d-wave superconductor
Authors: Salkola M. I. , Scalapino D. J.
Published: March 2005

The temperature dependence of the critical currents which characterizes the nonlinear microwave response of a thin-film cuprate superconductor is determined. It is proposed that a comparison of the temperature dependence of the third- and fifth-order intermodulation responses can provide evidence that the nonlinearity is intrinsic.
Cross-fostering reveals seasonal changes in the relative fitness of two competing species of flycatchers
Authors: Qvarnström Anna , Svedin Nina , Wiley Chris , Veen Thor , Gustafsson Lars
Published: March 2005

Spatial and temporal heterogeneity in relative fitness of competing species is a key factor affecting the structure of communities. However, it is not intuitive why species that are ecologically similar should differ in their response to environmental changes. Here we show that two sympatric flycatchers differ in reproductive strategy and in sensitivity to harsh environment. The fitness of collared flycatchers (
Ficedula albicollis
), which are dominant in interference competition, is more sensitive than the fitness of pied flycatchers (
Ficedula hypoleuca
) to the seasonal decline in environmental conditions. In order to control for the possibility that this pattern arises solely from differences in microhabitat use (i.e. a local niche differentiation), we performed a partial cross-fostering experiment of young between the two species (i.e. resulting in nests containing young of both species). Our results show that the growth of nestling pied flycatchers is less influenced by the seasonal decline in environmental conditions. We suggest that a life-history trade-off between interference competitive ability and robustness to harsh environment promotes a regional coexistence of the two species.
Two site-specific recombinases are implicated in phenotypic variation and competitive rhizosphere colonization in Pseudomonas fluorescens
Authors: Martínez-Granero Francisco , Capdevila Silvia , Sánchez-Contreras María , Martín Marta , Rivilla Rafael
Published: March 2005

The biocontrol agent Pseudomonas fluorescens F113 undergoes phenotypic variation during rhizosphere colonization, and this variation has been related to the activity of a site-specific recombinase encoded by the sss gene. Here, it is shown that a second recombinase encoded by the xerD gene is also implicated in phenotypic variation. A putative xerD gene from this strain was cloned, and sequence analysis confirmed that it encoded a site-specific recombinase of the λ integrase family. Mutants affected in the sss or xerD genes produced a very low quantity of phenotypic variants compared to the wild-type strain, both under prolonged cultivation in the laboratory and after rhizosphere colonization, and they were severely impaired in competitive root colonization. Overexpression of the genes encoding either recombinase resulted in a substantial increment in the production of phenotypic variants under both culture and rhizosphere colonization conditions, implying that both site-specific recombinases are involved in phenotypic variation. Overexpression of the sss gene suppressed the phenotype of a xerD mutant, but overexpression of the xerD gene had no effect on the phenotype of an sss mutant. Genetic analysis of the phenotypic variants obtained after overexpression of the genes encoding both the recombinases showed that they carried mutations in the gacA/S genes, which are necessary to produce a variety of secondary metabolites. These results indicate that the Gac system is affected by the activity of the site-specific recombinases. Transcriptional fusions of the sss and xerD genes with a promoterless lacZ gene showed that both genes have a similar expression pattern, with maximal expression during stationary phase. Although the expression of both genes was independent of diffusible compounds present in root exudates, it was induced by the plant, since bacteria attached to the root showed enhanced expression.
Pitch memory, labelling and disembedding in autism
Authors: Heaton Pamela
Published: March 2005

Background:  Autistic musical savants invariably possess absolute pitch ability and are able to disembed individual musical tones from chords. Enhanced pitch discrimination and memory has been found in non‐savant individuals with autism who also show superior performance on visual disembedding tasks. These experiments investigate the extent that enhanced disembedding ability will be found within the musical domain in autism.

Method:  High‐functioning children with autism, together with age‐ and intelligence‐matched controls, participated in three experiments testing pitch memory, labelling and chord disembedding.

Results:  The findings from experiment 1 showed enhanced pitch memory and labelling in the autism group. In experiment 2, when subjects were pre‐exposed to labelled individual tones, superior chord segmentation was also found. However, in experiment 3, when disembedding performance was less reliant on pitch memory, no group differences emerged and the children with autism, like controls, perceived musical chords holistically.

Conclusion:  These findings indicate that pitch memory and labelling is superior in autism and can facilitate performance on musical disembedding tasks. However, when task performance does not rely on long‐term pitch memory, autistic children, like controls, succumb to the Gestalt qualities of chords.
Parenting and the development of conduct disorder and hyperactive symptoms in childhood: a prospective longitudinal study from 2 months to 8 years
Authors: Morrell Julian , Murray Lynne
Published: March 2005

Background:  This study investigated the early processes involved in the development of symptoms of conduct disorder and hyperactivity.

Method:  The study employed a prospective design, over a period from 2 months to 8 years. Detailed observational data of early and later mother–child interactions were collected, infant prefrontal function (the A not B task) was assessed, and symptoms of child conduct disorder and hyperactivity were rated by maternal report at age 5 and 8 years.

Results:  The principal findings of the study were that emotional dysregulation on the A not B task at 9 months predicted symptoms of conduct disorder at 5 and 8 years, and delayed object reaching times on the same task predicted hyperactive symptoms at 5 years. These two developmental trajectories were associated with distinct patterns of early parenting that were strongly influenced by infant gender. Thus, in boys early emotional dysregulation was predicted by rejecting and coercive parenting, and delayed reaching on the A not B task by coercive parenting, whereas in girls only continuity from earlier infant behaviour could be demonstrated. There was strong continuity between these early infant behaviours and later child disturbance that was partially mediated by parenting for conduct disorder symptoms (maternal hostile parenting in boys, and maternal coercive parenting in girls), but not for hyperactive symptoms.

Conclusions:  These data would suggest that only in boys was there evidence for the existence of a sensitive period for the development of hyperactive symptoms, and to a lesser extent, conduct disorder symptoms.
Distribution patterns of vascular plants in lakes – the role of metapopulation dynamics
Authors: Dahlgren Johan P. , Ehrlén Johan
Published: March 2005

We investigated the relative importance of metapopulation processes versus environmental conditions for the distribution of freshwater plants in 51 adjacent lakes in southern Sweden. Each lake was surveyed by snorkeling in a zigzag pattern over the littoral zone, and all aquatic vascular plants as well as water colour,Sphagnum‐dominated shore, bottom substrate, littoral zone width and Secchi‐depth were recorded. Data on lake area and altitude was taken from topographical maps. Multiple generalized linear regressions were used to test the significance of factors influencing species number and incidence of specific species in lakes. The best combination of predictor variables for species number was lake area (β=0.52), area of upstream lakes (β=0.23), and height above sea‐level (β=−0.21) (whole model R2=0.52). The presence‐absence patterns of most of the studied species were affected positively by connectivity, measured both as geographical proximity of the lakes and as connection to upstream lakes. The level of effect of connectivity on species incidence was also correlated with life history traits. The distributions of emergent species were less affected by connectivity than those of submerged and floating‐leafed types, reflecting that emergent plants can occur in habitat patches surrounding the lakes. The results indicate that metapopulation processes affect the distribution of freshwater plants, but that their relative importance vary widely among species.
Do physicians correctly assess patient symptom severity in gastro‐oesophageal reflux disease?
Authors: Fallone C. A. , Guyatt G. H. , Armstrong D. , Wiklund I. , Degl'Innocenti A. , Heels‐Ansdell D. , Barkun A. N. , Chiba N. , van Zanten S. J. O. V. , El‐Dika S. , Austin P. , Tanser L. , Schünemann H. J.
Published: March 2005

Background : The accuracy of physicians’ assessment of the severity of gastro‐oesophageal reflux disease is unclear.

Aim : To correlate physician and patient assessment of gastro‐oesophageal reflux disease severity and its response to treatment.

Methods : Adult uninvestigated gastro‐oesophageal reflux disease patients (n = 217) completed symptom and health‐related quality of life questionnaires at baseline and after treatment with esomeprazole 40 mg p.o. daily. Pearson coefficients quantified correlations between physician assessments and patient responses.

Results : At baseline, the strongest correlations were heartburn severity (0.31), overall symptom severity (0.44) and a domain of the quality of life in reflux and dyspepsia questionnaire (0.31) (P < 0.001). Correlations of change with treatment were greater than baseline correlations: heartburn (0.39), overall symptoms (0.50) and global rate of change – stomach problems (0.72, all P < 0.001). The mean difference between the physicians’ assessment of change and the patients’ global rating of change was 0.20 (95% confidence intervals: 0.10–0.29) with physicians overestimating benefit.

Conclusions : Correlations were often significant, although weak to moderate and better with symptom severity than with health‐related quality of life instruments as well as with change after therapy than at baseline. Increasing attention to health‐related quality of life may help physicians better understand patients’ experience. In clinical trials, treatment success should be assessed by the patient as well as the physician.
Age‐related changes of intracellular Aβ in cynomolgus monkey brains
Authors: Kimura N. , Yanagisawa K. , Terao K. , Ono F. , Sakakibara I. , Ishii Y. , Kyuwa S. , Yoshikawa Y.
Published: March 2005

To confirm the intracellular accumulation of amyloid β‐protein (Aβ), we carefully performed immunohistochemistry using brains of cynomolgus monkeys of various ages. Cortical neurones and their large neurites were immunostained with antibodies against Aβ in young monkey brains. In aged monkey brains, intracellular Aβ localized within cortical neurones; no clear association was found between the presence of intracellular Aβ and senile plaques (SPs). Interestingly, we did not observe Aβ‐immunoreactive cortical neurones in brains fixed with neutral buffered formalin. Western blot analyses of microsomal and nerve ending fractions derived from the brains of young to aged monkeys revealed that intracellular Aβ generation changed with age. In the microsomal fraction, the amount of Aβ42 significantly increased in brains from older monkeys (> 30 years of age), and the amount of Aβ43 significantly decreased with age in the microsomal fraction. The amount of Aβ40 remained the same regardless of age. Biochemical analyses also showed that intracellular levels of each of these Aβ molecules significantly increased with age in nerve ending fractions. As we previously observed that a similar accumulation of presenilin1, β‐amyloid precursor protein (APP) and APP C‐terminal fragment cleaved by β‐secretase in the nerve ending fractions obtained from brains with SPs, the accumulation of intracellular Aβ in this fraction may be closely related to formation of spontaneous SPs with age. Taken together, these results suggest that intensive investigation of age‐related changes in the nerve ending will contribute to a better understanding of the pathogenesis of age‐related neurodegenerative disorders such as sporadic Alzheimer's disease.
Evolution of phenotypic plasticity: patterns of plasticity and the emergence of ecotypes
Authors: De Jong Gerdien
Published: March 2005

Phenotypic plasticity itself evolves, as does any other quantitative trait. A very different question is whether phenotypic plasticity causes evolution or is a major evolutionary mechanism. Existing models of the evolution of phenotypic plasticity cover many of the proposals in the literature about the role of phenotypic plasticity in evolution. I will extend existing models to cover adaptation to a novel environment, the appearance of ecotypes and possible covariation between phenotypic plasticity and mean trait value of ecotypes. Genetic assimilation does not sufficiently explain details of observed patterns. Phenotypic plasticity as a major mechanism for evolution – such as, invading new niches, speciation or macroevolution – has, at present, neither empirical nor model support.
Pigment pattern formation in the medaka embryo
Authors: Lynn Lamoreux M. , Kelsh Robert N. , Wakamatsu Yuko , Ozato Kenjiro
Published: March 2005

For the study of development of pigmentation, compared with mammalian models, fish offer the advantage of multiple chromatophore types and ready access to the developing embryo for observation and experimental manipulation. Compared with zebrafish embryos, medaka embryos have an additional unique chromatophore‐type and superb properties for conditional mutation studies. The rich resources of medaka mutants, combined with data obtainable from other species, potentially offer information not otherwise readily available regarding chromatophore lineage. Here we summarize the embryonic development of normal medaka pigment pattern, based on observations using embryos of a panel of wild type and mutant fish. A more detailed description of development is available in the appendix of the on‐line version of this paper (see Supplementary Material). We make some comparisons with zebrafish development to emphasize the increased power of both systems when utilized together. These two models will, in combination, be a powerful system for studies of the embryogenesis and evolution of pigmentation.
JAtlasView: a Java atlas-viewer for browsing biomedical 3D images and atlases
Authors: Feng Guangjie , Burton Nick , Hill Bill , Davidson Duncan , Kerwin Janet , Scott Mark , Lindsay Susan , Baldock Richard
Published: March 2005

Background

Many three-dimensional (3D) images are routinely collected in biomedical research and a number of digital atlases with associated anatomical and other information have been published. A number of tools are available for viewing this data ranging from commercial visualization packages to freely available, typically system architecture dependent, solutions. Here we discuss an atlas viewer implemented to run on any workstation using the architecture neutral Java programming language.

Results

We report the development of a freely available Java based viewer for 3D image data, descibe the structure and functionality of the viewer and how automated tools can be developed to manage the Java Native Interface code. The viewer allows arbitrary re-sectioning of the data and interactive browsing through the volume. With appropriately formatted data, for example as provided for the Electronic Atlas of the Developing Human Brain, a 3D surface view and anatomical browsing is available. The interface is developed in Java with Java3D providing the 3D rendering. For efficiency the image data is manipulated using the Woolz image-processing library provided as a dynamically linked module for each machine architecture.

Conclusion

We conclude that Java provides an appropriate environment for efficient development of these tools and techniques exist to allow computationally efficient image-processing libraries to be integrated relatively easily.
Bacterial vaginosis, vaginal flora patterns and vaginal hygiene practices in patients presenting with vaginal discharge syndrome in The Gambia, West Africa
Authors: Demba Edward , Morison Linda , van der Loeff Maarten Schim , Awasana Akum A , Gooding Euphemia , Bailey Robin , Mayaud Philippe , West Beryl
Published: March 2005

Background

Bacterial vaginosis (BV) – a syndrome characterised by a shift in vaginal flora – appears to be particularly common in sub-Saharan Africa, but little is known of the pattern of vaginal flora associated with BV in Africa. We conducted a study aimed at determining the prevalence of BV and patterns of BV-associated vaginal micro-flora among women with vaginal discharge syndrome (VDS) in The Gambia, West Africa.

Methods

We enrolled 227 women with VDS from a large genito-urinary medicine clinic in Fajara, The Gambia. BV was diagnosed by the Nugent's score and Amsel's clinical criteria. Vaginal swabs were collected for T vaginalis and vaginal flora microscopy, and for Lactobacillus spp, aerobic organisms, Candida spp and BV-associated bacteria (Gardnerella vaginalis, anaerobic bacteria, and Mycoplasma spp) cultures; and cervical swabs were collected for N gonorrhoeae culture and C trachomatis PCR. Sera were tested for HIV-1 and HIV-2 antibodies. Sexual health history including details on sexual hygiene were obtained by standardised questionnaire.

Results

BV prevalence was 47.6% by Nugent's score and 30.8% by Amsel's clinical criteria. Lactobacillus spp were isolated in 37.8% of women, and 70% of the isolates were hydrogen-peroxide (H202)-producing strains. Prevalence of BV-associated bacteria were: G vaginalis 44.4%; Bacteroides 16.7%; Prevotella 15.2%; Peptostretococcus 1.5%; Mobiluncus 0%; other anaerobes 3.1%; and Mycoplasma hominis 21.4%. BV was positively associated with isolation of G vaginalis (odds-ratio [OR] 19.42, 95%CI 7.91 – 47.6) and anaerobes (P = 0.001 [OR] could not be calculated), but not with M hominis. BV was negatively associated with presence of Lactobacillus (OR 0.07, 95%CI 0.03 – 0.15), and H2O2-producing lactobacilli (OR 0.12, 95% CI 0.05 – 0.28). Presence of H2O2-producing lactobacilli was associated with significantly lower prevalence of G vaginalis, anaerobes and C trachomatis. HIV prevalence was 12.8%. Overall, there was no association between BV and HIV, and among micro-organisms associated with BV, only Bacteroides spp. and Prevotella spp. were associated with HIV. BV or vaginal flora patterns were not associated with any of the factors relating to sexual hygiene practices (vaginal douching, menstrual hygiene, female genital cutting).

Conclusion

In this population, BV prevalence was higher than in corresponding populations in industrialised countries, but the pattern of vaginal micro-flora associated with BV was similar. BV or vaginal flora patterns were not associated with HIV nor with any of the vaginal hygiene characteristics.
Reduction of Residual Stresses in Medium Density Fibreboard. Part 2. Effects on Thickness Swell and Other Properties
Authors: Houts J. van , Bhattacharyya D. , Jayaraman K.
Published: March 2005

The Taguchi method of experimental design has been utilised to investigate various treatments for relieving
the residual stresses present in medium density fibreboard (MDF). These treatments involved subjecting
panels to different combinations of heat, moisture and pressure. This paper reports on the Taguchi
analysis of the internal bond strength, surface layer tensile modulus, surface layer tensile strength and
thickness swell of the treated specimens. These properties were measured to indicate whether the treatments
had any effect on panel strength and dimensional stability. A strong correlation between residual
stresses and thickness swell has been identified. When the change in residual stress through the outer
layers of a panel is almost completely removed, a reduction in thickness swell of approximately 20%
for a 24 hour water soak is observed.
Canonical Transient Receptor Potential 1 Plays a Role in Basic Fibroblast Growth Factor (bFGF)/FGF Receptor-1-Induced Ca2+ Entry and Embryonic Rat Neural Stem Cell Proliferation
Authors: Pla Alessandra Fiorio , Maric Dragan , Brazer So-Ching , Giacobini Paolo , Liu Xibao , Chang Yoong Hee , Ambudkar Indu S. , Barker Jeffery L.
Published: March 2005

Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and its major receptor FGF receptor-1 (FGFR-1) play an important role in the development of the cortex. The mechanisms underlying the mitogenic role of bFGF/FGFR-1 signaling have not been elucidated. Intracellular Ca2+concentrations ([Ca2+]i) in proliferating cortical neuroepithelial cells are markedly dependent on Ca2+entry (Maric et al., 2000a). The absence of voltage-dependent Ca2+entry channels, which emerge later, indicates that other membrane mechanisms regulate [Ca2+]iduring proliferation. Canonical transient receptor potential (TRPC) family channels are candidates because they are voltage independent and are expressed during CNS development (Strübing et al., 2003).

Here, we investigated the involvement of TRPC1 in bFGF-mediated Ca2+entry and proliferation of embryonic rat neural stem cells (NSCs). Both TRPC1 and FGFR-1 are expressed in the embryonic rat telencephalon and coimmunoprecipitate. Quantitative fluorescence-activated cell sorting analyses of phenotyped telencephalic dissociates show that ∼80% of NSCs are TRPC1+, proliferating, and express FGFR-1. Like NSCs profiledex vivo, NSC-derived progeny proliferatingin vitrocoexpress TRPC1 and FGFR1. Antisense knock-down of TRPC1 significantly decreases bFGF-mediated proliferation of NSC progeny, reduces the Ca2+entry component of the Cai2+response to bFGF without affecting Ca2+release from intracellular stores or 1-oleoyl-2-acetyl-sn-glycerol-induced Ca2+entry, and significantly blocks an inward cation current evoked by bFGF in proliferating NSCs. Both Ca2+influx evoked by bFGF and NSC proliferation are attenuated by Gd3+andSKF96365, two antagonists of agonist-stimulated Ca2+entry. Together, these results show that TRPC1 contributes to bFGF/FGFR-1-induced Ca2+influx, which is involved in self-renewal of embryonic rat NSCs.
Selective Requirement of Pax6, But Not Emx2, in the Specification and Development of Several Nuclei of the Amygdaloid Complex
Authors: Tole Shubha , Remedios Ryan , Saha Bhaskar , Stoykova Anastassia
Published: March 2005

The amygdaloid complex is a group of nuclei that are thought to originate from multiple sites of the dorsal and ventral telencephalic neuroepithelium. The mechanisms that regulate their development are essentially unknown. We studied the role of Pax6 and Emx2, two transcription factors that regulate regional specification and growth of the telencephalon, in the morphogenesis of the amygdaloid complex. We used a set of specific marker genes that identify distinct amygdaloid nuclei to analyzePax6/Small eyeandEmx2knock-out mutant mouse brains. We found that there is a selective requirement forPax6, but notEmx2, in the formation a subset of nuclei within the amygdaloid complex. Specifically, structures that were not previously considered to be developmentally linked, the nucleus of the lateral olfactory tract and the lateral, basolateral, and basomedial nuclei, all appear to have a common requirement forPax6. Together, our findings provide new insights into the origins and mechanisms underlying the development of the amygdaloid complex.
The Nitric Oxide-cGMP Signaling Pathway Differentially Regulates Presynaptic Structural Plasticity in Cone and Rod Cells
Authors: Zhang Nan , Beuve Annie , Townes-Anderson Ellen
Published: March 2005

Although abundant structural plasticity in the form of axonal retraction, neurite extension, and formation of presynaptic varicosities is displayed by photoreceptors after retinal detachment and during genetic and age-related retinal degeneration, the mechanisms involved are mostly unknown. We demonstrated recently that Ca2+influx through cGMP-gated channels in cones and voltage-gated L-type channels in rods is required for neurite extensionin vitro(Zhang and Townes-Anderson, 2002). Here, we report that the nitric oxide (NO)-cGMP signaling pathway is active in photoreceptors and that its manipulation differentially regulates the structural plasticity of cone and rod cells. The NO receptor soluble guanylyl cyclase (sGC) was detected immunocytochemically in both cone and rod cells. Stimulation of sGC increased cGMP production in retinal cultures. In cone cells, quantitative analysis showed that NO or cGMP stimulated neuritic sprouting; this stimulatory effect was dependent on both Ca2+influx through cGMP-gated channels and phosphorylation by protein kinase G (PKG). At the highest levels of cGMP, however, cone outgrowth was no longer increased. In rod photoreceptors, NO or cGMP consistently inhibited neuritic growth in a dose-dependent manner; this inhibitory effect required PKG. When NO-cGMP signaling was inhibited, changes in the neuritic development of cone and rod cells were also observed but in the opposite direction. These results expand the role of cGMP in axonal activity to adult neuritogenesis and suggest an explanation for the neurite sprouting observed in an autosomal recessive form of retinitis pigmentosa that is characterized by high cGMP levels in photoreceptor layers.
Loss of Neuronal Cell Cycle Control in Ataxia-Telangiectasia: A Unified Disease Mechanism
Authors: Yang Yan , Herrup Karl
Published: March 2005

In ataxia-telangiectasia (A-T), the loss of the ataxia-telangiectasia mutated (ATM) kinase leads to a failure of cell cycle checkpoints and DNA double-strand break detection resulting in cellular radiation sensitivity and a predisposition to cancer. There is also a significant loss of neurons, in particular cerebellar granule and Purkinje cells. Mice homozygous for null alleles ofatmreproduce the radiation sensitivity and high-tumor incidence of the human disease but show no significant nerve cell loss. Using immunocytochemistry, we found the re-expression of cell cycle proteins in Purkinje cells and striatal neurons in both human and mouse A-T. In the mouse, we used fluorescentin situhybridization (FISH) to document that DNA replication accompanies the reappearance of these proteins in at-risk neuronal cells. We also found the presence of significant cell cycle activity in the Purkinje cells of theatm+/- heterozygote mouse. The cell cycle events in mouse cerebellum occur primarily during the third postnatal week by both FISH and immunocytochemistry. Thus, the initiation of this ectopic cell division occurs just as the final stages of Purkinje cell development are being completed. These results suggest that loss of cell cycle control represents a common disease mechanism that underlies the defects in the affected tissues in both human and mouse diseases.
Gepulste digitale Holografie für Schwingungsmessungen an schwer zugänglichen Oberflächen (Pulsed Digital Holography for Vibration Measurement of Inner Surfaces)
Authors: Pedrini Giancarlo , Alexeenko Igor , Osten Wolfgang
Published: March 2005

Drei interferometrische Systeme unter Verwendung eines starren bzw. flexiblen Endoskops sowie eines miniaturisierten Messkopfs werden behandelt. Durch den Einsatz der gepulsten digitalen Holografie werden auf diesem Wege dynamische Verformungsmessungen an schwer zugänglichen Oberflächen auch unter industriellen Bedingungen ermöglicht.
Emerson's Strange Equality
Authors: LARSON KERRY
Published: March 2005

In this essay I explore the signi�cance of equality in Ralph Waldo Emerson's essays, particularly with respect to his treatment of personal relations and, more generally, to his ideas about self-reliance. I begin with Alexis de Tocqueville's premise that equality, by uniting individuals under some common rubric, thereby induces these same individuals to separate or de�ne themselves against one another. In essays such as "Love" and "Friendship," Emerson plays out this dynamic with peculiar vehemence: af�rmations of a radical sameness linking all together go hand-in-hand with warnings against sacri�cing one's individuality to another. I ascribe this dynamic to equality's social logic more than to psychological ambivalence, and I go on to argue for the importance of distinguishing between different kinds of equality in order to underscore and help account for the extremity of Emerson's attachment to this theme. I also suggest that so long as contemporary criticism remains �xated on one particular understanding of equality-speci�cally, as a social good that may be won or lost-it is bound to misconstrue not only its signi�cance to a writer like Emerson but, more broadly, its signi�cance as an ideological force.
Retrospective family study of childhood medulloblastoma
Authors: Ng David , Stavrou Theodora , Liu Ling , Taylor Michael D. , Gold Bert , Dean Michael , Kelley Michael J. , Dubovsky Elizabeth C. , Vezina Gilbert , Nicholson H.S. , Byrne Julianne , Rutka James T. , Hogg David , Reaman Gregory H. , Goldstein Alisa M.
Published: March 2005

Medulloblastoma is the most common malignant central nervous system tumor of childhood and can occur sporadically or in association with inherited cancer susceptibility syndromes such as the nevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome (NBCCS). To determine whether an association existed between the risk of developing medulloblastoma and undiagnosed syndromes, we retrospectively reviewed clinical data on 33 patients with medulloblastoma from a single institution and compared them with their unaffected relatives (n = 46). Six patients had tumors showing desmoplastic histology. Two of the six met diagnostic criteria for NBCCS. One NBCCS patient had a missense mutation of patched‐1 (PTCH1); the other had no identifiable PTCH1 mutation. Two patients with isolated desmoplastic medulloblastoma had an insertion and splice site mutation, respectively, in suppressor of fused (SUFU). All patients with nondesmoplastic medulloblastoma histology received molecular testing for SUFU. None of these patients had an identifiable mutation in PTCH1 or SUFU. We performed a clinical evaluation for Greig cephalopolysyndactyly syndrome (GCPS) in four medulloblastoma families, who exhibited macrocephaly as the only finding consistent with the diagnosis of GCPS. Molecular analysis of GLI3 in these four families was negative. There was a paucity of clinical findings among the majority of medulloblastoma patients in this study group to suggest a definable cancer genetic syndrome. We conclude that clinically recognizable syndromes are uncommon among patients with medulloblastoma, however, PTCH1 and SUFU mutations are present at a low but significant frequency. Published 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Electrophilic Activation and Cycloisomerization of Enynes: A New Route to Functional Cyclopropanes
Authors: Bruneau Christian
Published: March 2005

Transformations of enynes in the presence of transition‐metal catalysts have played an important role in the preparation of a variety of cyclic compounds. Recent developments in the activation of triple carbon–carbon bonds by electrophilic metal centers have provided a new entry to the selective synthesis of cyclopropane derivatives from enynes. The mechanisms of these reactions involve catalytic species with both ionic and cyclopropylcarbenoid character. This type of activation will undoubtedly be further developed for application to other unsaturated hydrocarbons and inspire new catalytic cascade reaction sequences. This Minireview discusses the recent developments in electrophilic activation of enynes and shows that simple catalysts such as [Ru3(CO)12], PtCl2, and cationic gold complexes are efficient precursors to promote the formation of functional polyclic compounds.
Simultaneous Encapsulation: Molecules Held at Close Range
Authors: Rebek Julius
Published: March 2005

Reversible encapsulation creates spaces where molecules are temporarily isolated from others in solution. Molecules are held within the space of the capsule for lifetimes ranging from milliseconds to hours, and conventional NMR spectroscopy can be used to report on the chemical and magnetic environment as well as the arrangement of the molecules in the encapsulation complex. The complexes self‐assemble when, and only when, the spaces inside the capsules are appropriately filled. The weak intermolecular forces that hold these self‐assemblies together allow equilibration of the encapsulation complexes at ambient temperatures and pressures in the liquid phase. When two or more molecules are simultaneously encapsulated, intermolecular phenomena are revealed in solution that cannot be observed by other methods. We describe here the unique behavior that emerges from molecules that are simultaneously encapsulated and includes new forms of stereochemistry, isomerism, and asymmetry inside capsules.
Electron‐beam irradiation of low‐density polyethylene in the presence of phenolic stabilizer, carboxylic acid stabilizer, or both
Authors: Ali Z. I. , Legocka I.
Published: March 2005

The effects of Irganox 1010 and citric acid as antioxidants and modifiers of the network structure and mechanical and thermal properties of low‐density polyethylene (LDPE) during electron‐beam crosslinking with different irradiation doses (up to 120 kGy) were investigated. The results showed that the addition of these stabilizers had a retarding effect on the gel fraction of LDPE within the investigated range of electron‐beam‐irradiation doses. However, a noticeable effect on the gel fraction was found for the LDPE formulations compounded with citric acid alone or with its mixture with Irganox 1010 (in an equal ratio), as illustrated by a study of the gel‐fraction/dose relationships. Tensile testing measurements showed that the addition of both stabilizers caused a slight reduction in the stress at break and an increase in the strain at break. On the other hand, the thermal properties of the LDPE batches crosslinked with electron‐beam irradiation were greatly improved as a result of the compounding with these stabilizers, as shown by thermogravimetric analysis studies. In this respect, the temperatures at different weight losses, the temperatures of the maximum rate of thermal decomposition, and the activation energies indicated that compounding with citric acid was more effective for stabilization against thermal decomposition than compounding with Irganox alone or a mixture. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 96: 1275–1286, 2005
Reducing the glucose uptake rate in Escherichia coli affects growth rate but not protein production
Authors: Picon A. , Teixeira de Mattos M.J. , Postma P.W.
Published: March 2005

Although glucose is an inexpensive substrate widely used as a carbon source in Escherichia coli recombinant fermentation technology, 10–30% of the carbon supply is wasted by excreting acetate. In addition to the loss of carbon source, the excretion of a weak acid may result in increased energetic demands and hence a decreased yield. Because glucose can enter the cell via several transport systems, isogenic strains defective in one or two of these transport systems were constructed. The effects of changes in the glucose uptake capacity on the in vivo flux distribution to a desired end product (β‐galactosidase) and to acetate were studied. The lack of one of the components (IICBGlc protein) of the glucose‐ phosphoenolpyruvate phosphotransferase system (Glc‐PTS) reduced the growth rate significantly. The maintenance of a low‐copy plasmid in this strain resulted in further arrest of the growth rate. However, β‐galactosidase production had no effect on growth rate. This strain directed more carbon into biomass and carbon dioxide, and less into acetate. β‐Galactosidase was produced in amounts not significantly different from the wild‐type strain from half the amount of glucose. An explanation for the experimental results is given, making use of published results on metabolic regulation. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.