bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Evidence‐Based Recommendations for the Assessment and Management of Sleep Disorders in Older Persons
Authors: Bloom Harrison G. , Ahmed Imran , Alessi Cathy A. , Ancoli‐Israel Sonia , Buysse Daniel J. , Kryger Meir H. , Phillips Barbara A. , Thorpy Michael J. , Vitiello Michael V. , Zee Phyllis C.
Published: April 2009

Sleep‐related disorders are most prevalent in the older adult population. A high prevalence of medical and psychosocial comorbidities and the frequent use of multiple medications, rather than aging per se, are major reasons for this. A major concern, often underappreciated and underaddressed by clinicians, is the strong bidirectional relationship between sleep disorders and serious medical problems in older adults. Hypertension, depression, cardiovascular disease, and cerebrovascular disease are examples of diseases that are more likely to develop in individuals with sleep disorders. Conversely, individuals with any of these diseases are at a higher risk of developing sleep disorders. The goals of this article are to help guide clinicians in their general understanding of sleep problems in older persons, examine specific sleep disorders that occur in older persons, and suggest evidence‐ and expert‐based recommendations for the assessment and treatment of sleep disorders in older persons. No such recommendations are available to help clinicians in their daily patient care practices. The four sections in the beginning of the article are titled, Background and Significance, General Review of Sleep, Recommendations Development, and General Approach to Detecting Sleep Disorders in an Ambulatory Setting. These are followed by overviews of specific sleep disorders: Insomnia, Sleep Apnea, Restless Legs Syndrome, Circadian Rhythm Sleep Disorders, Parasomnias, Hypersomnias, and Sleep Disorders in Long‐Term Care Settings. Evidence‐ and expert‐based recommendations, developed by a group of sleep and clinical experts, are presented after each sleep disorder.
Impact of an Audit Program and Other Factors on Door‐to‐balloon Times in Acute ST‐elevation Myocardial Infarction Patients Destined for Primary Coronary Intervention
Authors: Lai Chao‐Lun , Fan Chieh‐Min , Liao Pen‐Chih , Tsai Kuang‐Chau , Yang Chi‐Yu , Chu Shu‐Hsun , Chien Kuo‐Liong
Published: April 2009

Objectives:  This before–after study investigated the association between an audit program and door‐to‐balloon times in patients with acute ST‐elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and explored other factors associated with the door‐to‐balloon time.

Methods:  An audit program that collected time data for essential time intervals in acute STEMI was developed with data feedback to both the Department of Emergency Medicine and the Department of Cardiology. The door‐to‐balloon times for 76 consecutive acute STEMI patients were collected from February 16, 2007, through October 31, 2007, after the implementation of the audit program, as the intervention group. The control group was defined by 104 consecutive acute STEMI patients presenting from April 1, 2006, through February 15, 2007, before the audit was applied. A multivariate linear regression model was used for analysis of factors associated with the door‐to‐balloon time.

Results:  The geometric mean 95% CI of the door‐to‐balloon time decreased from 164.9 (150.3, 180.9) minutes to 141.9 (127.4, 158.2) minutes (p = 0.039) in the intervention phase. The median door‐to‐balloon time was 147.5 minutes in the control group and 136.0 minutes in the intervention group (p = 0.09). In the multivariate regression model, the audit program was associated with a shortening of the door‐to‐balloon time by 35.5 minutes (160.4 minutes vs. 195.9 minutes, p = 0.004); female gender was associated with a mean delay of 58.4 minutes (208.9 minutes vs. 150.5 minutes; p = 0.001); posterolateral wall infarction was associated with a mean delay of 70.5 minutes compared to anterior wall infarction (215.4 minutes vs. 144.9 minutes; p = 0.037) and a mean delay of 69.5 minutes compared to inferior wall infarction (215.4 minutes vs. 145.9 minutes; p = 0.044). The use of a glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitor was associated with a 46.1 minutes mean shortening of door‐to‐balloon time (155.7 minutes vs. 201.8 minutes; p < 0.001).

Conclusions:  The implementation of an audit program was associated with a significant reduction in door‐to‐balloon times among patients with acute STEMI. In addition, female patients, posterolateral wall infarction territory, and nonuse of glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitor were associated with longer door‐to‐balloon times.
Bringing Soul to International Negotiation
Authors: Bernard Phyllis E.
Published: April 2009

In this article, the author calls for a shift in training for international commercial negotiation, away from the standard Western linear, rational, fact‐oriented style toward training that makes room for “soul.” As used here, the term “soul” combines several concepts that integrate learning on human cognition, cultural intelligence, and effectiveness in international management. The article discusses soul in terms of three components: emotion and subjectivity, deep narratives rooted in faith and ethnic traditions, and cultural intelligence. The article presents three negotiation scenarios from around the globe, contrasting first‐generation training approaches to next‐generation training approaches that would value the unconscious processes of decision making.
Defining Success in Negotiation and Other Dispute Resolution Training
Authors: Wade John
Published: April 2009

This article describes three types of negotiation courses and asks what range of goals is usually achieved in such courses from the overlapping perspectives of organizers, teachers, and participants. It then translates Benjamin Bloom's categories of educational goals into aspirational goals for any negotiation course.
Negotiating Classroom Process: Lessons from Adult Learning
Authors: Nelken Melissa L.
Published: April 2009

Learning by doing is standard fare in negotiation courses across disciplines, and techniques such as learning contracts, self‐reflective essays, and small‐group work are commonly used. In addition, teachers must resist the temptation to “teach the canon” without regard to the needs, interests, and concerns of the students in the room. Learner‐centered education requires that teachers build from the beliefs and preconceptions that students bring to the classroom, including their cultural beliefs and norms about conflict resolution, some of which may be at odds with the North American canon. A discussion‐based approach to teaching not only engages students more actively in the learning process but also models many of the skills negotiation teachers seek to develop in their student‐negotiators.
Teaching for Implementation: Designing Negotiation Curricula to Maximize Long‐Term Learning
Authors: McAdoo Bobbi , Manwaring Melissa
Published: April 2009

Most negotiation students — and their instructors — aspire to develop negotiation skills that they can transfer to real‐world contexts beyond the classroom. Instructors can maximize the likelihood of long‐term learning through transfer‐oriented curriculum design. Curriculum design elements likely to support lasting and flexible learning include (1) articulation of clear, performance‐oriented goals; (2) careful selection of a range of learning activities tailored toward those goals, including activities that promote schema development and adjustment, activities that promote behavioral skill development, and activities that reinforce explicit theoretical understanding; (3) provision of multiple opportunities for constructive feedback from a variety of sources; and (4) the facilitation of self‐reflection and metacognition.
Managing the Goal‐Setting Paradox: How to Get Better Results from High Goals and Be Happy
Authors: Freshman Clark , Guthrie Chris
Published: April 2009

Many negotiation teachers share the same tip early on: negotiators who set higher goals “do better.” It turns out that one of the most empirically supported “truths” about negotiation comes with a big “but.” Negotiators who set higher goals are likely to feel worse. In other words, negotiators who set optimistic goals are likely to obtain better objective outcomes but worse subjective outcomes.

We call this empirical finding the “goal‐setting paradox.” This article considers sources of and explanations for the goal‐setting paradox and suggests how negotiators and negotiation teachers may better manage this paradox through mindfulness and other techniques.
PU.1 and partners: regulation of haematopoietic stem cell fate in normal and malignant haematopoiesis
Authors: Gupta Pallavi , Gurudutta Gangenahalli U. , Saluja Daman , Tripathi Rajendra P.
Published: April 2009

Introduction

Transcription factor PU.1: expression distribution and function

PU.1‐interacting proteins

Concluding remarks

During normal haematopoiesis, cell development and differentiation programs are accomplished by switching ‘on’ and ‘off’ specific set of genes. Specificity of gene expression is primarily achieved by combinatorial control, i.e. through physical and functional interactions among several transcription factors that form sequence‐specific multiprotein complexes on regulatory regions (gene promoters and enhancers). Such combinatorial gene switches permit flexibility of regulation and allow numerous developmental decisions to be taken with a limited number of regulators. The haematopoietic‐specific Ets family transcription factor PU.1 regulates many lymphoid‐ and myeloid‐specific gene promoters and enhancers by interacting with multiple proteins during haematopoietic development. Such protein–protein interactions regulate DNA binding, subcellular localization, target gene selection and transcriptional activity of PU.1 itself in response to diverse signals including cytokines, growth factors, antigen and cellular stresses. Specific domains of PU.1 interact with many protein motifs such as bHLH, bZipper, zinc fingers and paired domain for regulating its activity. This review focuses on important protein–protein interactions of PU.1 that play a crucial role in regulation of normal as well as malignant haematopoiesis. Precise delineation of PU.1 protein‐partner interacting interface may provide an improved insight of the molecular mechanisms underlying haematopoietic stem cell fate regulation. Its interactions with some proteins could be targeted to modulate the aberrant signalling pathways for reversing the malignant phenotype and to control the generation of specific haematopoietic progeny for treatment of haematopoietic disorders.
Polygyny in the tree swallow Tachycineta bicolor: a result of the cost of searching for an unmated male
Authors: Ferretti Valentina , Winkler David W.
Published: April 2009

The costs imposed by parental care duties on an individual's future survival and reproduction generate conflicts because parents should attempt to minimize their investment in the present brood, and exploit the parental care of the other parent. This conflict is likely to contribute to cases of both polygamy and desertion. Here, we study the costs of polygyny in the tree swallow Tachycineta bicolor, using observations on 52 nests that were attended by polygynous males over 14 y. Both females mated to polygynous males paid reproductive costs at several stages of the nesting cycle. Clutches laid by social mates of polygynous versus monogamous males did not differ in size. However, initial brood sizes for polygynously mated females were lower because a higher proportion of their eggs failed to hatch. Likewise, fledging success was lower and nest predation rates were higher, perhaps reflecting the direct or indirect effects of reduced male attention. These results demonstrate that females pay a productivity cost when breeding with reduced male parental care. In contrast, polygynous males fledge on average more young than monogamous ones and clearly benefit from the association. We suggest that a mate‐search cost is leading to the few cases of polygamous males: although females are likely evaluating males for their prospective dedication to the breeding attempt, in a short‐lived bird with a short breeding season, the cost to females of searching for a more dedicated male is the risk of not breeding at all.
Pre‐hatching maternal effects inhibit nestling humoral immune response in the tawny owl Strix aluco
Authors: Gasparini Julien , Piault Romain , Bize Pierre , Roulin Alexandre
Published: April 2009

Although evidence is accumulating that mothers can transfer antibodies to their offspring, little is known about the consequences of such a transfer to the offspring immune system. Because maternal antibodies are effective only during a short period of time after their transfer to offspring, one hypothesis is that maternal antibodies provides a transitory antigen‐specific protection to offspring, thus lessening the need for offspring to mount their own humoral immune response towards these specific antigens. In birds, this scenario predicts that offspring immune response towards a specific antigen is inhibited to a larger extent in hatchlings than in older nestlings. We tested this hypothesis in tawny owls Strix aluco by cross‐fostering clutches between nests and then challenging siblings with a vaccine either two times (at 4‐ and 11‐d‐old) or only one time at 11‐d‐old to compare the strength of the humoral response between nestlings born from mothers with naturally high and low levels of antibodies against this vaccine. Because maternal antibodies are expected to be effective only during a short period of time after hatching, we predict that maternal antibodies should inhibit the immune response of nestlings vaccinated from the fourth day after hatching more than in nestlings vaccinated only at a later age. As expected, the inhibitory effect of maternal antibodies was stronger in nestlings vaccinated soon after hatching than in siblings injected at a later age. Therefore, in wild avian populations pre‐hatching maternal effects may confer offspring with a transitory immune protection in the first days following hatching.
Non‐infectious inflammatory disorders of the nail apparatus
Authors: Haneke Eckart
Published: April 2009

Inflammatory non‐infectious diseases of the nails are not uncommon. The nail changes may look different in the same diseases, but also very much alike in various different nail disorders depending on which particular structure of the nail apparatus is involved. Of all skin diseases, psoriasis is the one with the most frequent nail involvement. The presence of many pits allows the diagnosis to be made, but salmon spots and onycholysis are also characteristic features. Lichen planus may occur isolated on the nails or in association with lesions of the skin and adjacent mucosal membranes. Longitudinal striations and loss of the nail plate shine are the most frequent features of nail lichen planus. The more severe the alopecia areata is and the younger the patient is, the more often it affects the nail, usually with a rough surface and loss of shine. Eczemas and various autoimmune dermatoses may also affect the nails but the changes are not clinically specific.
Off‐label use in dermatology in Germany: What has changed since 2004?
Authors: Brockmeyer Norbert H. , Brucklacher Ulrike , Potthoff Anja , Reich‐Schupke Stefanie
Published: April 2009

Off‐label use is defined as the usage of pharmaceuticals beyond their submitted, tested and approved use. Not only indications but also doses, route of administration, patients’ characteristics and concomitant therapies are affected by the approval. In recent years, the impact of off‐label use has increased markedly primarily because of the large number of new medications with often limited approval.

In dermatology, a multitude of diagnoses exist which are so uncommon that they have no chance of approval studies. Experiences of off‐label use often provide important scientific data that can influence or even improve further concepts of therapy.

Both professional liability and mode of payment are still controversial for medications in off‐label use. There is an urgent need for more legal certainty in use of off‐label medication to guarantee maximum safety for patients and medical staff. Both professional societies and funding agencies should work together to resolve this problem.
The Effects of the George W. Bush Presidency on Partisan Attitudes
Authors: JACOBSON GARY C.
Published: April 2009

Evidence from the eight years of the George W. Bush administration confirms that the public standing of the president's party rises and falls in concert with popular evaluations of his job performance. Reactions to the president affect the favorability ratings of his party, party identification measured individually and at the aggregate level—particularly among younger voters—as well as the party's electoral performance. Bush's second term, which provoked the longest period of low and downward‐trending approval ratings on record, thus inflicted considerable damage on the Republican Party's image, popular support, and electoral fortunes.
“To be Shot at by the Whites and Dodged by the Negroes”: Lyndon Johnson and the Texas NYA
Authors: LERNER MITCHELL
Published: April 2009

Although Lyndon B. Johnson's presidential record clearly established him as a committed champion of African American civil rights, the origins of this commitment remain less clear. This article examines LBJ's record as head of the Texas National Youth Administration (NYA) in the mid‐1930s to argue that he demonstrated a genuine commitment to racial equality much earlier than many accounts suggest. Furthermore, in an attempt to offer a fuller understanding of the future president's civil rights views, it provides the first analysis of this period that places Johnson's record within a comparative framework that considers the performance of other Southern NYA programs at the same time.
The Political Professionalism of James Monroe
Authors: GREENSTEIN FRED I.
Published: April 2009

Analyses of effective chief executives rarely, if ever, include James Monroe, who is known mainly for the doctrine that bears his name. A close analysis of Monroe's presidential conduct, however, shows that he has been inappropriately overlooked. In his presidency, as well as in his pre‐presidential political career, Monroe was an effective political professional who advanced his purposes consistently with the norms of his time, which dictated that the president not be perceived as usurping the powers of Congress.
The National Security Advisor and Staff: Transition Challenges
Authors: BURKE JOHN P.
Published: April 2009

The role of the National Security Council (NSC) advisor has become increasingly consequential in its impact on the president's national security and foreign policy decision making. This article explores the development of the NSC advisor's role and its expansion over time. Particular attention is paid to how the NSC advisor and staff can positively contribute to effective presidential decision making, especially in serving as an “honest broker” of the deliberative process. Most notable, the article argues, attention should focus on establishing the foundations for brokerage, sound decision making, and positive policy outcomes during the president's transition to office.
The Law: Presidential Aides: Immunity from Congressional Process?
Authors: TATELMAN TODD B.
Published: April 2009

The congressional investigation into the forced resignations of several U.S. attorneys and the subsequent civil lawsuit by Congress against the president has heightened interest in the doctrine of separation of powers. When the involvement of high‐ranking presidential aides became apparent, the White House responded not only by claiming executive privilege, but also by asserting that the aides were immune from compulsory process and were not required to comply with congressional subpoenas. The declaration represents an attempt to expand the notion of executive privilege from qualified to absolute. Such an expansion is not consistent with either historical practice or the prevailing judicial understanding of executive privilege and the separation of powers.
Polls and Elections: Dixie's Kingmakers: Stability and Change in Southern Presidential Primary Electorates
Authors: MCKEE SETH C. , HAYES DANNY
Published: April 2009

Recent presidential primaries have taken place against the backdrop of a secular realignment in the South, a shift that carries important consequences for nomination politics. In this article, we use statewide exit polls to trace changes between 1988 and 2008 in the Southern Democratic and Republican primary electorates. We find that the Democratic electorate has grown strikingly more liberal, more racially diverse, and less heavily Protestant over the last 20 years. Meanwhile, the Republican Party has solidified into a conservative, almost exclusively white primary electorate. We also identify a growing partisan gender gap in the region. The findings suggest that it will be increasingly difficult for a centrist white Democrat, such as Jimmy Carter or Bill Clinton, to use the South as a launching pad to the nomination. In addition, the growing polarization of the parties' Southern primary electorates will likely continue to widen the ideological distance between the major presidential nominees.
Source Material: A Presidential Library Fit for Abraham Lincoln
Authors: KESSEL JOHN H.
Published: April 2009

Research sites for earlier presidents—George Washington through Calvin Coolidge—are distinguished from libraries for Herbert Hoover through George W. Bush, which are administered by the National Archives. Web sites and other information are provided for every president so that researchers can explore this treasure trove themselves. There is an extended discussion of Lincoln sources and the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library in Springfield, Illinois.
Accumulation of mitochondrial DNA damage and bioenergetic dysfunction in CSB defective cells
Authors: Osenbroch Pia Ø. , Auk‐Emblem Pia , Halsne Ruth , Strand Janne , Forstrøm Rune J. , van der Pluijm Ingrid , Eide Lars
Published: April 2009

Cockayne syndrome (CS) is a complex, progressive disease that involves neurological and developmental impairment and premature aging. The majority of CS patients have mutations in the CSB gene. The CSB protein is involved in multiple DNA repair pathways and CSB mutated cells are sensitive to a broad spectrum of genotoxic agents. We tested the hypothesis that sensitivity to such genotoxins could be mediated by mitochondrial dysfunction as a consequence of the CSB mutation. mtDNA from csbm/m mice accumulates oxidative damage including 8‐oxoguanine, and cells from this mouse are hypersensitive to the mitochondrial oxidant menadione. Inhibitors of mitochondrial complexes and the glycolysis inhibitor 2‐deoxyglucose kill csbm/m cells more efficiently than wild‐type cells, via a mechanism that does not correlate with mtDNA damage formation. Menadione depletes cellular ATP, and recovery after depletion is slower in csbm/m cells. The bioenergetic alteration in csbm/m cells parallels the simpler organization of supercomplexes consisting of complexes I, III and IV in addition to partially disassembled complex V in the inner mitochondrial membrane. Exposing wild‐type cells to DNA intercalating agents induces complex alterations, suggesting a link between mtDNA integrity, respiratory complexes and mitochondrial function. Thus, mitochondrial dysfunction may play a role in the pathology of CS.
Effect of the Y2O3 Concentration in YSZ on the Thermophysical Property as a Thermal Shielding Material
Authors: Sasaki Kazuya , Terai Takayuki , Suzuki Akihiro , Akasaka Naoaki
Published: April 2009

The effect of the Y2O3 concentration in yttria‐stabilized zirconia (YSZ) on the thermophysical property of porous YSZ was studied. The specific heat capacities (Cp), the thermal diffusivity (α), the apparent density (ρ) of a 3 mol% Y2O3/97 mol% ZrO2 (3YSZ), and an 8 mol% Y2O3/97 mol% ZrO2 (8YSZ) were measured. The 8YSZ's Cp was lower than that of the 3YSZ. When the YSZs were dense, the 3YSZ's α value by a phonon decreased with an increase in the temperature, whereas that of the 8YSZ was almost constant over a wide temperature range. When the YSZs were porous, the 8YSZ's α value by the phonon was greater than that of the 3YSZ's.
A Novel Narrow Band Red‐Emitting Phosphor for White Light Emitting Diodes
Authors: Vaidyanathan Sivakumar , Jeon Duk Young
Published: April 2009

Research on down conversion phosphor materials is the key for the development of solid‐state lighting (SSL). Especially finding alternative red phosphor for white light emitting diodes (LEDs) based on blue or near ultraviolet (NUV) LEDs is important research task. In this view, we have synthesized a series of Eu3+‐substituted La2W2−xMoxO9 (x=0–2, in step of 0.3) red phosphor and characterized by X‐ray diffraction (XRD) and photoluminescence. XRD results reveal a phase transition from triclinic to cubic structure for x>0.2. All the compositions show broad charge transfer (CT) band due to CT from oxygen to tungsten/molybdenum and red emission due to Eu3+ ions. Select compositions show high red emission intensity compared with the commercial red phosphor under NUV/blue ray excitation. Hence, this candidate can be a possible red phosphor for white LEDs.
Perspectives on the Competitiveness of EU Dairy Farming Perspektiven für die Wettbewerbsfähigkeit der europäischen Milchwirtschaft Perspectives sur la compétitivité de la production laitière de l’UE
Authors: Donnellan Trevor , Hennessy Thia , Thorne Fiona
Published: April 2009

Perspectives on the Competitiveness of EU Dairy Farming

This article considers the challenges that may lie ahead for dairy producers over the next ten years, such as trade policy reform, other market developments and changes in input costs. It examines the present competitive position of the dairy sector in a number of EU Member States. Milk price and input cost projections are developed using the FAPRI‐Ireland, FAPRI EU GOLD model and FADN data on farm level costs. In turn these allow the projection of how cost to output price ratios might evolve over the next ten years in the absence of structural change, thereby indicating the extent of structural change required. The results suggest that the phasing out of export subsidies, a reduction in import tariffs for dairy products and rising input costs would have serious ramifications for the viability of dairy farming across the EU. Furthermore, the results suggest that significant structural change will need to occur in dairy farming sectors across the EU. It is concluded that the future ability of many EU Member States to sustain current milk production levels will be largely dependent on the efficient transfer of resources between exiting farmers and those wishing to expand production.
Making Markets – and Institutions – Work for the Poor Märkte – und Institutionen – für die Armen zugänglich machen Faire fonctionner les marchés ‐ et les institutions – au bénéfice des pauvres
Authors: Poole Nigel
Published: April 2009

Making Markets – and Institutions – Work for the Poor

‘Making Markets Work for the Poor’ (MMW4P) is an approach to poverty reduction in developing countries that stresses the importance of commercial activities in the livelihoods of poor peoples, but acknowledges that the competitive market ideal, like states, often fails to provide the structures, incentives and information to include all the poor. It includes analysis from a systems perspective, and presupposes the participation of diverse stakeholders, usually including the poor, non‐governmental organizations, civil society and private sector businesses. The approach does not envisage a strong policy dimension to making markets work for poor people. Interventions are not aimed primarily at individuals or groups of the poor themselves, but at making the market systems work. Institutions are key, and improvements are sought through organisational and institutional development initiatives and self‐regulatory activities to improve the efficiency and equity in commercial arrangements. This article argues that improvements in the institutional environment for business have an important policy dimension which can create stronger incentives through legal and policy initiatives. One such area which needs attention in developing countries is competition policy, needed to regulate economic activity to protect small firms and other stakeholders, and promote economic initiatives at early stages of development.
Geographical Aspects of Food Industry FDI in the CEE Countries Geografische Aspekte ausländischer Direktinvestitionen (ADI) in der Lebensmittelindustrie in mittel‐ und osteuropäischen Ländern Les dimensions géographiques de l’IDE dans l’industrie alimentaire des pays d’Europe centrale et orientale
Authors: Jansik Csaba
Published: April 2009

Geographical Aspects of Food Industry FDI in the CEE Countries

Food industry FDI has favoured certain food processing sub‐sectors over others and it has also been distributed rather unevenly in geographical terms both between countries and regionally within each country. As for the regional distribution, foreign investors have typically targeted locations with a relatively high density of consumers as opposed for instance to prioritising the proximity of agricultural raw materials. The capital city areas and their surrounding regions have attracted a much higher proportion of total food industry FDI than their contribution to agricultural and food processing output would warrant. FDI has contributed in many ways to the development of the regions and industries which have received capital inflows. There has been some levelling off in FDI between countries more recently, a trend driven by the tendency for multinational enterprises to shift their production capacity across national borders among their CEE subsidiaries in a search for greater economies of scale or cost savings. This realignment has helped certain branches of the food industry in some CEE countries perform better than others in competing for common EU food markets. Positive effects of the recent FDI inflows include rapid productivity improvements and enhancement of food export volumes.
Protein–Protein Interactions: A Simple Strategy to Identify Binding Sites and Peptide Antagonists
Authors: Sandomenico Annamaria , Monti Simona M. , Sabatella Marco , De Capua Antonia , Tornatore Laura , Doti Nunzianna , Viparelli Francesca , Dathan Nina A. , Pedone Carlo , Ruvo Menotti , Marasco Daniela
Published: April 2009

Secondary structure motifs and small protein domains can act as building blocks that are isolated and investigated to gain insights into protein global structure but can also modulate interactions with external partners. Most progress has been made in this field using synthetic peptides. Fragmentation of folded proteins by proteolytic enzymes that act preferentially on exposed and less structured sites can help to isolate shorter polypeptides with preserved secondary and tertiary structures that mimic the original protein architecture. Such molecules can be used as probes for structural studies and as tools for in vitro assays to select active fragments useful as agonists or antagonists of the original protein or as scaffolds for the design of more potent and selective ligands. This simple but effective proteolytic methodology has been successfully applied to determine antagonists of protein–protein interactions, allowing the identification of inhibitors with high efficacy and specificity. Here, we present several studies including the complex between phosphoprotein enriched in diabetes/phosphoprotein enriched in astrocytes and phospholipase 1, believed to play a relevant role in the insulin resistance mechanism in phosphoprotein enriched in diabetes/phosphoprotein enriched in astrocytes‐overexpressing tissues, the self‐association of BCL10 caspase recruitment domain that mediates a protein oligomerization process responsible for NF‐κB activation and the self‐association of growth arrest and DNA damage‐inducible factor 45β, a major player of the endogenous NF‐κB‐mediated resistance to apoptosis.
Influence of N‐Terminal Hydrophobicity of Cationic Peptides on Thermodynamics of their Interaction with Plasmid DNA
Authors: Goparaju Geetha N. , Bruist Michael F. , Satish Chandran C. , Gupta Pardeep K.
Published: April 2009

There is a need to understand the thermodynamics of interaction of cationic peptides with DNA to design better peptide based non‐viral gene delivery vectors. The main aim of this study was to understand the influence of N‐terminal hydrophobicity of cationic amphiphilic peptides on thermodynamics of interaction with plasmid DNA. The model peptides used were TATPTD and TATPTDs modified at the N‐terminal with hydrophobic amino acids. The thermodynamic binding data from isothermal titration calorimetry were compared with ethidium bromide analysis and ultrafiltration to correlate the binding parameters with the structural features of the various peptides used. It was observed that peptides having a smaller hydrophobic domain at the N‐terminal have good DNA condensing ability compared with the ones with a longer hydrophobic domain. Calorimetry of peptides that reached saturation binding indicated that enthalpy and entropy are favorable for the interaction. Moreover, the interaction of these peptides with DNA appears to be predominantly electrostatic.
Conversion of the Synthetic Catalase Mimic Precursor TAA‐1 into the Active Catalase Mimic in Isolated Hepatocytes
Authors: Rauen Ursula , Kettler‐Thiel Thorsten , De Groot Herbert , Korth Hans‐Gert , Sustmann Reiner
Published: April 2009

In previous studies we reported on the catalase‐like activity and antioxidative properties of a non‐heme Fe(III)‐tetraaza[14]annulene complex, 5,4‐didehydro‐5,9,14,18‐tetraaza‐di(2,2‐dimethyl‐[5,6]benzo[1,3]dioxolo)[a,h]cyclotetradecene–Fe(III) chloride (TAA‐1/Fe). We proposed that intracellular application of the parent, iron‐free tetraaza[14]annulene ligand, TAA‐1, as precursor would allow antioxidative defense along two lines, i.e. by chelation of potentially toxic cellular iron ions and, subsequently, by catalase‐mimic activity. We here set out to establish whether the active catalase mimic is indeed formed intracellularly when cells are loaded with the ligand. When isolated rat hepatocytes were preloaded with TAA‐1, they were protected against iron‐induced cell injury and oxidative stress elicited by exposure to the membrane‐permeable iron complex Fe(III)/8‐hydroxyquinoline. After lysis of the cells, followed by ultrafiltration to remove endogenous catalase, the lysate exhibited catalase‐like activity, while lysates of control cells not treated with TAA‐1 showed no catalase‐like activity. By comparison with authentic TAA‐1/Fe, an intracellular formation of 2.0 ± 0.3 μm of the active catalase mimic in native hepatocytes exposed to TAA‐1 and of 6.5 ± 1.0 μm in hepatocytes exposed to both TAA‐1 and iron ions was estimated. The intracellular formation of the active catalase mimic thus renders TAA‐1 an attractive compound for protection against iron‐ and/or hydrogen peroxide‐dependent cell injuries.
Cinderella comes to the Ball: Art 14 and the right to non-discrimination in the ECHR
Authors: O'Connell Rory
Published: April 2009

Article 14 of the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms 1950 has often been derided as a Cinderella provision, but during the last few years, this has started to change. This paper examines how Art 14 has developed and how it may live up to its potential as a powerful non-discrimination principle. The case-law developments in relation to the ‘ambit’ requirement in Art 14, the development of indirect discrimination case-law and the approval of positive action, all point to a more substantive conception of equality, which offers protection to disadvantaged and vulnerable groups.
Twenty years of handling police complaints in Ireland: a critical assessment of the supervisory board model
Authors: Walsh Dermot PJ
Published: April 2009

Twenty years after Ireland adopted an external supervisory board model to promote public confidence in the handling of complaints against the police (the Garda Síochána), it had to replace it with a cross between the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland and the Independent Police Complaints Commission in England and Wales. This paper examines the nature and scale of the board's failure and offers a critique of the internal and external factors responsible. It focuses, in particular, on how the police and the government, acting separately and in combination, managed to smother the potential of the supervisory board model. It also offers insights into how the board contributed to its own failure. The paper concludes by drawing attention to the fact that several of these negative forces can also be active in the new complaints procedure that commenced operations in 2007.
Fine‐scale population structure of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) in Tampa Bay, Florida
Authors: Urian Kim W. , Hofmann Sue , Wells Randall S. , Read Andrew J.
Published: April 2009

Abstract

Some populations of coastal bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) comprise discrete communities, defined by patterns of social association and long‐term site fidelity. We tested the hypothesis that bottlenose dolphins in Tampa Bay, Florida, form a single community. The longitudinal study of dolphins in Sarasota Bay, adjacent to Tampa Bay, allowed us to ground‐truth the definition of community and test whether our approach was robust to small sample sizes of resightings. We conducted photo‐identification surveys in Tampa Bay during 1988–1993, and identified 102 dolphins with 10 or more sightings. We used hierarchical cluster analysis to examine the locations and association indices of these dolphins. We used analysis of variance (ANOVA) to test for differences in mean locations and determine whether mean coefficient of association (CoA) values within a community were higher than among communities. Dolphins in Tampa Bay clustered into five putative communities differing significantly in location and CoA values. Kernel estimates of the ranges of these five communities exhibited little overlap; some communities had no overlap at all. We conclude that five discrete communities of bottlenose dolphins exist in Tampa Bay and that such fine‐scale structure may be a common feature of bottlenose dolphin populations throughout the southeastern United States.
Primary Photoprocesses in a Fluoroquinolone Antibiotic Sarafloxacin†
Authors: Lorenzo Fernando , Navaratnam Suppiah , Edge Ruth , Allen Norman S.
Published: April 2009

The photophysical properties of the fluoroquinolone antibiotic sarafloxacin (SFX) were investigated in aqueous media. SFX in water, at pH 7.4, shows intense absorption with peaks at 272, 322 and 335 nm, (ɛ = 36800 and 17000 dm3 mol−1 cm−1, respectively). Both the absorption and emission properties of SFX are pH‐dependent; pKa values for the protonation equilibria of both the ground (5.8 and 9.1) and excited singlet states (5.7 and 9.0) of SFX were determined spectroscopically. SFX fluoresces weakly, the quantum yield for fluorescence emission being maximum (0.07) at pH 8. Laser flash photolysis and pulse radiolysis studies have been carried out in order to characterize the transient species of SFX in aqueous solution. Triplet–triplet absorption has a maximum at 610 nm with a molar absorption coefficient of 17,000 ± 1000 dm3 mol−1 cm−1. The quantum yield of triplet formation has been determined to be 0.35 ± 0.05. In the presence of oxygen, the triplet reacts to form excited singlet oxygen with quantum yield of 0.10. The initial triplet (3A*) was found to react with phosphate buffer to form triplet 3B* with lower energy and longer lifetime and having an absorption band centered at 700 nm. SFX triplet was also found to oxidize tryptophan to its radical with concomitant formation of the anion radical of SFX. Hence the photosensitivity of SFX could be initiated by the oxygen radicals and/or by SFX radicals acting as haptens.
Characterization of an Unusual LOV Domain Protein in the α‐Proteobacterium Rhodobacter sphaeroides
Authors: Hendrischk Anne‐Kathrin , Moldt Julia , Frühwirth Sebastian Walter , Klug Gabriele
Published: April 2009

The facultatively phototrophic purple bacterium Rhodobacter sphaeroides 2.4.1 harbors a LOV (light, oxygen and voltage) domain protein, which shows a particular structure. LOV domains perceive blue light by a noncovalently bound flavin and transmit the signal to various coupled output domains. Proteins, that harbor a LOV core, function e.g. as phototropins or circadian clock regulators. Jα helices, which act as linker between the LOV core and the output domain, were shown to be involved in the light‐dependent activation of the output domain. Like PpSB2 from Pseudomonas putida, the LOV domain protein of R. sphaeroides is not coupled to an effector domain and harbors an extended C‐terminal α helix. We expressed the R. sphaeroides LOV domain recombinantly in Escherichia  coli. The protein binds an FMN as a cofactor and shows a photocycle typical for LOV domain containing proteins. In R. sphaeroides, we detected the protein as well in the cytoplasm as in the membrane fraction, which was not reported for other bacterial LOV domain proteins.
Structural Factors and Mechanisms Underlying the Improved Photodynamic Cell Killing with Silicon Phthalocyanine Photosensitizers Directed to Lysosomes Versus Mitochondria
Authors: Rodriguez Myriam E. , Zhang Ping , Azizuddin Kashif , Delos Santos Grace B. , Chiu Song‐mao , Xue Liang‐yan , Berlin Jeffery C. , Peng Xinzhan , Wu Hongqiao , Lam Minh , Nieminen Anna‐Liisa , Kenney Malcolm E. , Oleinick Nancy L.
Published: April 2009

The phthalocyanine photosensitizer Pc 4 has been shown to bind preferentially to mitochondrial and endoplasmic reticulum membranes. Upon photoirradiation of Pc 4‐loaded cells, membrane components, especially Bcl‐2, are photodamaged and apoptosis, as indicated by activation of caspase‐3 and cleavage of poly(ADP‐ribose) polymerase, is triggered. A series of analogs of Pc 4 were synthesized, and the results demonstrate that Pcs with the aminopropylsiloxy ligand of Pc 4 or a similar one on one side of the Pc ring and a second large axial ligand on the other side of the ring have unexpected properties, including enhanced cell uptake, greater monomerization resulting in greater intracellular fluorescence and three‐fold higher affinity constants for liposomes. The hydroxyl‐bearing axial ligands tend to reduce aggregation of the Pc and direct it to lysosomes, resulting in four to six times more killing of cells, as defined by loss of clonogenicity, than with Pc 4. Whereas Pc 4‐PDT photodamages Bcl‐2 and Bcl‐xL, Pc 181‐PDT causes much less photodamage to Bcl‐2 over the same dose–response range relative to cell killing, with earlier cleavage of Bid and slower caspase‐3‐dependent apoptosis. Therefore, within this series of photosensitizers, these hydroxyl‐bearing axial ligands are less aggregated than is Pc 4, tend to localize to lysosomes and are more effective in overall cell killing than is Pc 4, but induce apoptosis more slowly and by a modified pathway.
Does the DNA Binding Mode of a Molecule Affect its Ability to Interact With Singlet Oxygen?
Authors: Lau Vivian , Heyne Belinda
Published: April 2009

Singlet oxygen is known to be a potent mutagenic agent and several biologically relevant molecules have been proposed to act as scavengers for this noxious species. However, numerous studies have been conducted in homogenous solution and the reactivity of singlet oxygen scavengers known to bind DNA has never been investigated in double‐stranded DNA. In the following paper, we present the results obtained regarding the interaction between 4′,6‐diamidino‐2‐phenylindole (DAPI) and singlet oxygen. We show the molecule to be a potent scavenger of singlet oxygen in aqueous solution with an absolute rate constant (chemical and physical quenching of singlet oxygen) of (1.7 ± 0.3) × 107 m−1 s−1. In addition, we demonstrate that the binding mode of a singlet oxygen scavenger to DNA can strongly influence its reactivity toward singlet oxygen. In the case of DAPI, while the molecule exhibits a chemical reaction with singlet oxygen when the molecule is free in aqueous solution or intercalated in GC sequences of DNA, DAPI becomes chemically unreactive toward singlet oxygen when bound in the minor groove of DNA AT sequences.
Agrobacterium tumefaciens and A. rhizogenes use different proteins to transport bacterial DNA into the plant cell nucleus
Authors: Ream Walt
Published: April 2009

Agrobacterium tumefaciens and A. rhizogenes transport single‐stranded DNA (ssDNA; T‐strands) and virulence proteins into plant cells through a type IV secretion system. DNA transfer initiates when VirD2 nicks border sequences in the tumour‐inducing plasmid, attaches to the 5′ end, and pilots T‐strands into plant cells. Agrobacterium tumefaciens translocates ssDNA‐binding protein VirE2 into plant cells where it targets T‐strands into the nucleus. Some A. rhizogenes strains lack VirE2 but transfer T‐strands efficiently due to the GALLS gene, which complements an A. tumefaciens virE2 mutant. VirE2 and full‐length GALLS (GALLS‐FL) contain nuclear localization sequences that target these proteins to the plant cell nucleus. VirE2 binds cooperatively to T‐strands allowing it to move ssDNA without ATP hydrolysis. Unlike VirE2, GALLS‐FL contains ATP‐binding and helicase motifs similar to those in TraA, a strand transferase involved in conjugation. VirE2 may accumulate in the nucleus and pull T‐strands into the nucleus using the force generated by cooperative DNA binding. GALLS‐FL accumulates inside the nucleus where its predicted ATP‐dependent strand transferase may pull T‐strands into the nucleus. These different mechanisms for nuclear import of T‐strands may affect the efficiency and quality of transgenic events in plant biotechnology applications.
A Social‐Cognitive Framework of Multidisciplinary Team Innovation
Authors: Paletz Susannah B. F. , Schunn Christian D.
Published: April 2009

The psychology of science typically lacks integration between cognitive and social variables. We present a new framework of team innovation in multidisciplinary science and engineering groups that ties factors from both literatures together. We focus on the effects of a particularly challenging social factor, knowledge diversity, which has a history of mixed effects on creativity, most likely because those effects are mediated and moderated by cognitive and additional social variables. In addition, we highlight the distinction between team innovative processes that are primarily divergent versus convergent; we propose that the social and cognitive implications are different for each, providing a possible explanation for knowledge diversity’s mixed results on team outcomes. Social variables mapped out include formal roles, communication norms, sufficient participation and information sharing, and task conflict; cognitive variables include analogy, information search, and evaluation. This framework provides a roadmap for research that aims to harness the power of multidisciplinary teams.