bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Characterization of mAb AP422, a novel phosphorylation‐dependent monoclonal antibody against tau protein
Authors: Hasegawa M. , Jakes R. , Crowther R.A. , Lee V.M.-Y. , Ihara Y. , Goedert M.
Published: April 2003

A monoclonal antibody (AP422) specific for phosphoserine 422 in microtubule‐associated protein tau has been produced. It strongly labels paired helical filament (PHF) tau from Alzheimer's disease brain in a phosphorylation‐dependent manner. By contrast, AP422 only labels a small fraction of fetal tau and a very small fraction of tau from adult brain. The amount of tau phosphorylated at Ser‐422 in normal brain is minor relative to that phosphorylated at sites recognized by other phosphorylation‐dependent anti‐tau antibodies of known epitope. It follows that AP422 is the most specific anti‐tau antibody available for detecting the neurofibrillary lesions of Alzheimer's disease. We also show that Ser‐422 in tau is a good in vitro substrate for mitogen‐activated protein kinase, but not for glycogen synthase kinase‐3 or neuronal cdc2‐like kinase.
Empirical free energy as a target function in docking and design: application to HIV‐1 protease inhibitors
Authors: King Benjamin L. , Vajda Sandor , DeLisi Charles
Published: April 2003

Structure‐based drug design requires the development of efficient computer programs for exploring the structural compatibility of various flexible ligands with a given receptor. While various algorithms are available for finding docked conformations, selecting a target function that can reliably score the conformations remains a serious problem. We show that the use of an empirical free energy evaluation method, originally developed to characterize protein‐protein interactions, can substantially improve the efficacy of search algorithms. In addition to the molecular mechanics interaction energy, the function takes account of solvation and side chain conformational entropy, while remaining simple enough to replace the incomplete target functions used in many drug docking and design procedures. The free energy function is used here in conjunction with a simple site mapping‐fragment assembly algorithm, for docking the MVT‐101 non‐peptide inhibitor to HIV‐1 protease. In particular, we predict the bound structure with an all atom RMSD of 1.21 Å, compared to 1.69 Å using an energy target function, and also accurately predict the free energy shifts obtained with a series of five trimeric hydroxyethylene isostere analogs.
Effect of bile on the intestinal bile‐acid binding protein (I‐BABP) expression. In vitro and in vivo studies
Authors: Kanda T. , Niot I. , Foucaud L. , Fujii H. , Bernard A. , Ono T. , Besnard P.
Published: April 2003

Enterocytes actively transport bile acids from the ileal lumen to the portal blood. This physiological process greatly contributes to maintaining the bile acid homeostasis. However, little is known about the molecular mechanisms involved in this transport system. The effect of bile on gene expression of the intestinal bile‐acid binding protein (I‐BABP) expressed in the enterocytes was studied in vivo, using the by‐pass method, and in vitro, using organ culture of ileum explants and Caco‐2 cell line. The low cytosolic I‐BABP concentration and I‐BABP mRNA level found in diverted ileum was totally recovered when bile was added in the ileal lumen. Northern blot analysis of the ileal explants revealed a dose‐dependent increase in the I‐BABP mRNA in the presence of bile. In Caco‐2 cells, the I‐BABP transcript was dramatically increased in the presence of human bile while it was undectable in the control cultures. These data offer the first evidence that biliary components regulate the I‐BABP gene expressed in the enterocytes.
The region in the μ opioid receptor conferring selectivity for sufentanil over the δ receptor is different from that over the κ receptor
Authors: Zhu Jinmin , Xue Ji-Chun , Law Ping-Yee , Claude Patricia A. , Luo Lai-Yi , Yin Jinling , Chen Chongguang , Liu-Chen Lee-Yuan
Published: April 2003

We determined the binding domains of sufentanil and lofentanil in the μ opioid receptor by comparing their binding affinities to seven μ/δ and six μ/κ chimeric receptors with those to μ, δ and κ opioid receptors. TMHs 6 and 7 and the e3 loop of the μ opioid receptor were important for selective binding of sufentanil and lofentanil to the μ over the κ receptor. TMHs 1–3 and the e1 loop of the μ opioid receptor conferred binding selectivity for sufentanil over the δ receptor. Thus, the region that conferred binding selectivity for sufentanil differs, depending on chimeras used. In addition, the interaction TMHs 1–3 and TMHs 6–7 was crucial for the high affinity binding of these two ligands. These two regions are likely to contain sites of interaction with the ligands or to confer conformations specific to the μ receptor.
A novel two‐site binding equation presented in terms of the total ligand concentration
Authors: Wang Zhi-Xin , Jiang Ruo-Fan
Published: April 2003

For the most frequently used two‐site model, an exact binding equation is presented in terms of the total ligand concentration. This equation has been extended to analyze the spectroscopic titration experiment where the dilution of protein solution cannot be neglected, the displacement study, and the effect of non‐specific binding. Thus, with a non‐linear regression program, all unknown binding parameters can be determined correctly by fitting these equations to the experimental data without any data transformation. As an example of the use of the new equations, the experimental data for receptor‐insulin binding were taken from literature and reanalyzed by using a non‐linear regression data analysis program.
Stimulation of tryptophan hydroxylase production in a serotonin‐producing cell line (RBL2H3) by intracellular calcium mobilizing reagents
Authors: Hasegawa Hiroyuki , Kojima Masayo , Iida Yoshiko , Oguro Kazuya , Nakanishi Nobuo
Published: April 2003

RBL2H3 cells showed a remarkable increase in their level of tryptophan hydroxylase (up to 25‐fold), the rate‐limiting enzyme in serotonin biosynthesis, by stimulation with intracellular calcium mobilizers A23187, thapsigargin, and tBuBHQ as well as by stimulation with an antigen in the presence of IgE. The increase in the enzyme protein was visualized by Western blot analysis using anti‐tryptophan hydroxylase antiserum. The enzyme turnover (Hasegawa et al., FEBS Lett., 368 (1995) 151–154) was not showed down during the rise in tryptophan hydroxylase. Actinomycin D prevented the stimulation‐induced elevation of the enzyme. These findings strongly suggest that this stimulation was achieved by the accelerated biosynthesis of tryptophan hydroxylase.
Purification and refolding of recombinant Haemophilus influenzae type b porin produced in Bacillus subtilis
Authors: Dahan David , Srikumar Ramakrishnan , Laprade Raynald , Coulton James W.
Published: April 2003

The major diffusion channel in the outer membrane of Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) is porin (341 amino acids; M
r 37 782). The Hib porin gene was cloned and overexpressed in Bacillus subtilis. Recombinant Hib porin (Bac porin), having aggregated into inclusion bodies, was purified under denaturing conditions and subsequently refolded. To compare Bac porin that is intrinsically devoid of lipooligosaccharides versus native Hib porin, the properties of Bac porin were assessed by the following four criteria: circular dichroism spectroscopy, channel formation in planar bilayers, resistance to trypsin digestion and formation of the conformational epitope recognized by an anti‐Hib porin monoclonal antibody. We conclude that in the absence of lipooligosaccharides, Bac porin was refolded into a functional form which closely resembled the structure of Hib porin.
Cloning and expression of a novel type (III) of human γ‐glutamyltransferase truncated mRNA
Authors: Leh Hervé , Courtay Céline , Gerardin Philippe , Wellman Maria , Siest Gérard , Visvikis Athanase
Published: April 2003

We report the characterization of a novel human γ‐glutamyltransferase mRNA type. This type III mRNA differs from type I and type II mRNAs previously described by several point mutations and the presence of an unspliced 81 bp intron in the open reading frame. Further, type III mRNAs are truncated ones and are tissue and pathology specifically expressed. In fact, type III mRNAs are present in human placenta, sigmoid, lung and in 50% of acute lymphoblastic leukemia blood cells but they are never found in healthy lymphocytes.
Hypoosmolarity and glutamine increased the β‐actin gene transcription in isolated rat hepatocytes
Authors: Husson Annie , Quillard Muriel , Fairand Alain , Chedeville Arlette , Lavoinne Alain
Published: April 2003

The mechanism of action of hydration state was studied on β‐actin gene expression in isolated hepatocytes. Results obtained with Northern blot analysis and run on transcription assays show that hypoosmolarity increased and hyperosmolarity decreased the β‐actin mRNA level through a corresponding modulation of the rate of the gene transcription. Glutamine, which is known to induce cell swelling, also increased the β‐actin mRNA level in a dose‐dependent manner and induced a stimulation of the β‐actin gene transcription. Thus, cell hydration state regulates gene expression in the liver through a transcriptional mechanism.
Site‐directed mutagenesis of the amino acid residues in β‐strand III [Val30‐Val36] of d‐amino acid aminotransferase of Bacillus sp. YM‐1
Authors: Ro Hyeon-Su , Hong Seung-Pyo , Seo Hwa-Jung , Yoshimura Tohru , Esaki Nobuyoshi , Soda Kenji , Kim Hak-Sung , Sung Moon-Hee
Published: April 2003

The β‐strand III formed by amino acid residues Val30‐Val36 is located across the active site of the thermostable d‐amino acid aminotransferase (d‐AAT) from thermophilic Bacillus sp. YM‐1, and the odd‐numbered amino acids (Tyr31, Val33, Lys35) in the strand are revealed to be directed toward the active site. Interestingly, Glu32 is also directed toward the active site. We first investigated the involvement of these amino acid residues in catalysis by alanine scanning mutagenesis. The Y31A and E32A mutant enzymes showed a marked decrease in k
cat value, retaining less than 1% of the wild‐type enzyme activity. The k
cat values of V33A and K35A were changed slightly, but the K
m of K35A for α‐ketoglutarate was increased to 35.6 mM, compared to the K
m value of 2.5 mM for the wild‐type enzyme. These results suggested that the positive charge at Lys35 interacted electrostatically with the negative charge at the side chain of α‐ketoglutarate. Site‐directed mutagenesis of the Glu32 residue was conducted to demonstrate the role of this residue in detail. From the kinetic and spectral characteristics of the Glu32‐substituted enzymes, the Glu32 residue seemed to interact with the positive charge at the Schiff base formed between the aldehyde group of pyridoxal 5′‐phosphate (PLP) and the ε‐amino group of the Lys145 residue.
The MAP kinase cascades are activated during post‐ischemic liver reperfusion
Authors: Bendinelli Paola , Piccoletti Roberta , Maroni Paola , Bernelli-Zazzera Aldo
Published: April 2003

We have investigated the involvement of MAP kinase cascades in the response of the liver to post‐ischemic reperfusion. Both JNKs and ERKs are activated but the duration and magnitude of the increase in their activities appear to be different. JNK activation is more marked but shorter than that of ERKs. The increase observed in the phosphotyrosine content of the 52 kDa Shc protein, accompanied by an increased amount of co‐immunoprecipitated Grb2, and the activation of Raf‐1 kinase provide evidence of the involvement of a Ras‐Raf‐dependent pathway, with a time course that is similar to that of ERK activation. The treatment of rats with IL‐1 receptor antagonist modified all of the described effects, suggesting that IL‐1 plays a role in the response of the liver to reperfusion.
Nitric oxide inhibits the cytochrome oxidase but not the alternative oxidase of plant mitochondria
Authors: Millar A.Harvey , Day David A.
Published: April 2003

Oxygen consumption via the cytochrome pathway in isolated soybean (Glycine max [L.] Merr.) cotyledon mitochondria was inhibited by nitric oxide (NO) while respiration via the cyanide‐insensitive alternative oxidase was not significantly affected. Inhibition of cytochrome pathway activity was rapidly reversible upon depletion of the added NO. NO production was also detected in solutions of NaNO2 plus ascorbate and the extent of cytochrome pathway inhibition was dependent on the NO2
− concentration. Little inhibition of alternative pathway respiration was observed under similar conditions. The alternative oxidase may play a role in nitric oxide tolerance in higher plants and in organisms such as trypanosomes which contain a plant‐like alternative oxidase.
Expression of a rapidly inactivating Ca2+ channel in Pleurodeles oocytes during the resting season
Authors: Ouadid H.
Published: April 2003

Two kinds of Ca2+ channel activities have been recorded in unfertilized Pleurodeles oocytes during the resting season: the previously described L‐type and a transient one. The transient Ba current (IBa‐t) exhibited a voltage threshold of −36±7 mV, peaked at −18±8 mV and reversed around +50 mV. It showed a fast monoexponential decay with an inactivation time course of 31.4 ± 1.7 ms at −20 mV. IBa‐t was insensitive to nifedipine and ω‐conotoxin‐GVIA but blocked by Ni2+ (50 μM). Moreover, Cd2+ also reduced IBa‐t but was less efficient thane of Ni2+. When using Ca2+ as the charge carrier, the amplitude and the decay of ICa‐t were largely similar to those of IBa‐t. These data demonstrated that the population of Ca2+ channels could be seasonally modulated in Pleurodeles oocytes.
Kinetic isotope effects reveal an ice‐like and a liquid‐phase‐type intramolecular proton transfer in bacteriorhodopsin
Authors: le Coutre Johannes , Gerwert Klaus
Published: April 2003

The mechanism of the intramolecular proton transfer in the membrane protein bacteriorhodopsin (bR) is studied. The kinetic isotope effects after H/D exchange were determined for the individual photocycle reactions and used as an indicator. Significant differences in the kinetic isotope effects are observed between the intramolecular proton transfer on the release and the uptake pathways. The results suggest a fast intramolecular proton transfer mechanism in the proton release pathway, which is similar to the one proposed for ice, where the rate limiting step is the proton movement within the H bond. However, the reactions in the intramolecular proton uptake pathway occur in a mechanism similar to the one suggested for liquid water, where the rate limiting step is given by a rotational rearrangement of H bonded network groups. We propose that the experimental evidence for a proton wire mechanism given here for bacteriorhodopsin is of general relevance also for other proton transporting proteins.
Six‐fold rotational symmetry of ClpQ, the E. coli homolog of the 20S proteasome, and its ATP‐dependent activator, ClpY
Authors: Kessel Martin , Wu Whi-fin , Gottesman Susan , Kocsis Eva , Steven Alasdair C. , Maurizi Michael R.
Published: April 2003

ClpQ (HsIV) is a homolog of the β‐subunits of the 20S proteasome. In E. coli, it is expressed from an operon that also encodes ClpY (HsIU), an ATPase homologous to the protease chaperone, ClpX. ClpQ (subunit M
r 19 000) and ClpY (subunit M
r 49 000) were purified separately as oligomeric proteins with molecular weights of ∼220 000 and ∼350 000, respectively, estimated by gel filtration. Mixtures of ClpY and ClpQ displayed ATP‐dependent proteolytic activity against casein, and a complex of the two proteins was isolated by gel filtration in the presence of ATP. Image processing of negatively stained electron micrographs revealed strong six‐fold rotational symmetry for both ClpY and ClpQ, suggesting that the subunits of both proteins are arranged in hexagonal rings. The molecular weight of ClpQ combined with its symmetry is consistent with a double hexameric ring, whereas the data on ClpY suggest only one such ring. The symmetry mismatch previously observed between hexameric ClpA and heptameric ClpP in the related ClpAP protease is apparently not reproduced in the symmetry‐matched ClpYQ system.
Two point mutations convert a catalytically inactive carbonic anhydrase‐related protein (CARP) to an active enzyme
Authors: Sjöblom Björn , Elleby Björn , Wallgren Katarina , Jonsson Bengt-Harald , Lindskog Sven
Published: April 2003

A murine carbonic anhydrase‐related protein (CARP) has been expressed in Escherichia coli and purified to near homogeneity. The polypeptide chain consists of 290 amino acid residues and has a calculated molecular mass of 32 950 Da. By introducing two mutations, Arg117 → His and Glu115 → Gln, we created a metal‐binding center homologous to that in the carbonic anhydrases from the animal kingdom. In contrast to unmodified CARP, this double mutant was isolated as a 1 : 1 zinc‐protein complex. While unmodified CARP is catalytically inactive, the mutant catalyzes CO2 hydration with a significantly higher efficiency than the mammalian low‐activity carbonic anhydrase isozyme III. The activity is strongly inhibited by the powerful and selective carbonic anhydrase inhibitor, acetazolamide.
European vegetation during Marine Oxygen Isotope Stage-3
Authors: Huntley Brian , Alfano Mary Jo , Allen Judy R.M , Pollard Dave , Tzedakis Polychronis C , de Beaulieu Jacques-Louis , Grüger Eberhard , Watts Bill
Published: April 2003

European vegetation during representative “warm” and “cold” intervals of stage-3 was inferred from pollen analytical data. The inferred vegetation differs in character and spatial pattern from that of both fully glacial and fully interglacial conditions and exhibits contrasts between warm and cold intervals, consistent with other evidence for stage-3 palaeoenvironmental fluctuations. European vegetation thus appears to have been an integral component of millennial environmental fluctuations during stage-3; vegetation responded to this scale of environmental change and through feedback mechanisms may have had effects upon the environment. The pollen-inferred vegetation was compared with vegetation simulated using the BIOME 3.5 vegetation model for climatic conditions simulated using a regional climate model (RegCM2) nested within a coupled global climate and vegetation model (GENESIS-BIOME). Despite some discrepancies in detail, both approaches capture the principal features of the present vegetation of Europe. The simulated vegetation for stage-3 differs markedly from that inferred from pollen analytical data, implying substantial discrepancy between the simulated climate and that actually prevailing. Sensitivity analyses indicate that the simulated climate is too warm and probably has too short a winter season. These discrepancies may reflect incorrect specification of sea surface temperature or sea-ice conditions and may be exacerbated by vegetation–climate feedback in the coupled global model.
Paleoclimate reconstruction based on the timing of speleothem growth and oxygen and carbon isotope composition in a cave located in the rain shadow in Israel
Authors: Vaks Anton , Bar-Matthews Miryam , Ayalon Avner , Schilman Bettina , Gilmour Mabs , Hawkesworth Chris J , Frumkin Amos , Kaufman Aaron , Matthews Alan
Published: April 2003

High-resolution 230Th/234U ages and δ18O and δ13C compositions of speleothems in Ma’ale Efrayim Cave located to the east of the central mountain ridge of Israel enable us to examine the nature of the rain shadow aridity during glacial and interglacial intervals. Speleothem growth occurred during marine glacial isotopic periods, with no growth during the two last marine isotope interglacial intervals and during the peak of the Last Glacial Maximum. This contrasts with speleothem growth in caves located on the western flank of the central mountain ridge, in the Eastern Mediterranean semiarid climatic zone, which continued throughout the last 240,000 yr. Thus, during glacial periods water reached both sides of the central mountain ridge. A comparison of the present-day rain and cave water isotopic compositions and amounts at the Ma’ale Efrayim Cave site with those on the western flank shows that evaporation and higher temperatures on the eastern flank are major influences on isotopic composition and the lack of rainfall. The δ18O and δ13C profiles of the speleothems deposited between 67,000 and 25,000 yr B.P. match the general trends of the isotopic profiles of Soreq Cave speleothems, suggesting a similar source (eastern Mediterranean Sea) and similar climatic conditions. Thus, during glacial periods the desert boundary effectively migrated further south or east from its present-day location on the eastern flank, whereas interglacial periods appear to have been similar to the present, with the desert boundary at the same position. The decrease in overall temperature and a consequent reduction in the evaporation to precipitation ratios on the eastern flank are viewed as the major factors controlling the decay of the rain shadow effect during glacial periods.
Bilaterally increased VEGF‐levels in muscles during experimental unilateral callus distraction
Authors: Hansen‐Algenstaedt Nils , Algenstaedt Petra , Böttcher Antje , Joscheck Claudia , Schwarzloh Britta , Schaefer Christian , Müller Ingo , Koike Chieko , Rüther Wolfgang , Fink Bernd
Published: April 2003

Angiogenesis is essential for wound healing and proliferative processes such as bone formation and repair. Since increased expression of the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) stimulates bone formation, it can be hypothesized that surgical procedures leading to a systemic increase of VEGF for instance during wound healing, influence enchondral ossification processes and might be responsible for observed growth phenomena during callus distraction. To study the mechanisms of angiogenesis in soft tissue during unilateral callus distraction, lengthening of the right tibia was performed in 12 beagles. After osteotomy, application of a ring fixator and after five latency days, distraction was started for 25 days. A control group of four additional beagles underwent no surgical procedure. Subsequent to the distraction period (Group A), muscle samples from six beagles were taken from the distracted side (ds) and the contralateral non‐distracted side (n‐ds), six beagles underwent an additional consolidation period of 25 days (Group B). Samples were analyzed for VEGF, VEGFR‐1 and VEGFR‐2 mRNA expression using real‐time PCR and protein expression using Western Blot analysis. Muscles from both extremities showed significantly increased expression of VEGF and its cognate receptors VEGFR‐½. Expression decreased significantly after the consolidation period, whereby the level at the non‐distracted side decreased more than the level at the distracted side. Interestingly VEGF and VEGFR‐1 levels at the non‐distracted side were significantly higher than at the distracted side. In contrast VEGFR‐2, the receptor that mediates endothelial cell proliferation, showed higher levels at the distracted than at the non‐distracted side. These findings indicate that callus distraction results not only in locally increased expression of VEGF and its receptors, but leads also to increased VEGF and VEGFR‐½ levels at distant sides and might therefore be responsible for the observed growth phenomena during callus distraction. © 2003 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
Surveying Attitudes in Russia: A Representation of Formlessness
Authors: Alexander James
Published: April 2003

This article examines the expanding body of Western research focusing on Russian political culture. As Russia emerges from its authoritarian past, the political transition enveloping the country carries important significance for the study of political development in “post-authoritarian” societies. Upon finding a “formless” representation of Russian political culture in survey results, this article raises questions about the use of quantitative surveys to examine this topic in a society still in flux. The article concludes with a brief recommendation for an alternative approach to political culture research in Russia.
The effect of ownership structure on firm performance: Additional evidence
Authors: Han Ki C. , Suk David Y.
Published: April 2003

This article examines the effect of ownership structure on corporate performance, using stock returns as a measure of performance. Based on the 1988–1992 sample period, we find that the level of insider ownership is positively related to stock returns. This result suggests that as managers' equity ownership increases, their interests coincide more with those of outside shareholders. But we also find that the square of the level of insider ownership is inversely related to stock returns, indicating that excessive insider ownership rather hurts corporate performance probably due to the problem associated with managers' entrenchment. Finally, we find that stock returns are positively related to institutional ownership, indicating that institutional owners are active in monitoring management.
Trading volume and firm‐specific announcements: Implications for the market model
Authors: Helmuth John A. , Robin Ashok J.
Published: April 2003

The market model is commonly used in finance to study events and to evaluate security performance. With daily data, it is not uncommon to find low R‐squares, in the range 0–10%. Prior studies have attempted to improve the fit of the model by excluding observations associated with high trading volume. In this study, we compare the results of the high‐volume‐exclusion approach with the more direct firm‐specific announcement exclusion approach. The announcement approach excludes observations associated with Wall Street Journal Index news items regarding the firm. By excluding the [−1,0] fays relative to such news in a sample of 68 firms, we find that R‐squares increase significantly by about 5%. By excluding the days relative to earnings announcements only, R‐squares increase by about 4%. These results are then compared to the high‐volume‐exclusion approach. It is found that this approach is more efficient as an 8% increase in R‐squares is produced.

The results of this study provide valuable evidence to empiricists by comparing the two approaches to improving the fit of the market model. The high‐volume ‐exclusion approach provides higher R‐squares. However, the relative efficiency of the two approaches should be balanced against the arguments for the methodologically correct approach. The advantage of using the firm‐specific announcement exclusion approach is that there is more confidence of excluding only firm‐specific movements from the estimation of the market model. It also allows a researcher to quickly and unambiguously identify the announcements and delete the corresponding observations. Furthermore, we find that about 50% of the improved fit, relative to the volume approach, can be accomplished by excluding earnings announcements. The methodological disadvantage of using the high‐volume‐exclusion approach is that it is affected not only by firm‐specific announcements but also by other factors, such as the heterogeneity of investor expectations. These factors may influence the choice of using firm‐specific announcements rather than the high‐volume approach despite the lower increment in R‐squares.
Does money matter in developing economies? Some evidence from the Solow estimator
Authors: Darrat Ali F. , Al‐Yousif Yousif K.
Published: April 2003

Building on the Solow seminal approach for estimating the output elasticity of money stock and on Startz's (1984) implementation of it, this article explores the role of money in the production process in Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. Due to lack of necessary data on interest rates in these countries, we use alternative measures of credit constraints as proxies. In contrast to Startz's conclusion for the U.S., our empirical results systematically reveal significant output elasticities of money in each of the three developing countries under study. This is consistent with the neoclassical monetary theory and its incorporation of real money balances as an important input in the production function. Moreover, as the McKinnon‐Shaw hypothesis contends, money appears to be complementary to physical capital in the three developing countries. Hence, policy‐makers must not hinder the development of their money (financial) markets if they desire to promote economic growth.
Effect of Home-Based Intervention on Hospital Readmission and Quality of Life in Middle-Aged Patients with Severe Congestive Heart Failure: A 12-Month Follow Up Study
Authors: Vavouranakis I. , Lambrogiannakis E. , Markakis G. , Dermitzakis A. , Haroniti Z. , Ninidaki C. , Borbantonaki A. , Tsoutsoumanou K.
Published: April 2003

Objective: Home care surveillance has been shown to reduce hospital readmission and improve functional status and quality of life of elderly patients with mild to moderate or severe congestive heart failure and in younger patients candidates for transplantation. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of home-based intervention on hospital readmission and quality of life of middle-aged patients with severe congestive heart failure. Methods: Thirty-three patients aged 50–75 (mean age 65.4±6.7) with class III and IV congestive heart failure were included in this observational, community-based study. Intervention consisted of intensive home surveillance of patients, including frequent home visits associated with laboratory tests and telephone contacts to implement standard therapy, treat early symptoms and provide psychological support. Results: Admissions for cardiovascular reasons decreased from 2.143±1.11 for the year before the initiation of the study to 1.25±1 after its completion ( P=0.0005). Quality of life improved, as showed by a decrease of the mean score of the Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire from 2.68±0.034 to 2.33±0.032 ( P=0.0001). Conclusion: Intensive home care of middle-aged patients with severe heart failure results in improved quality of life and a decrease in hospital readmission rates.
Origins of Nurse‐Midwifery in the United States and its Expansion in the 1940s
Authors: Dawley Katy
Published: April 2003

This article reviews the origins of nurse‐midwifery in the United States during the early decades of the 20th century and explores professional expansion between 1940 and 1950. Nurse‐midwifery emerged from the vision of public health nurses, obstetricians, and social reformers concerned about high maternal and infant mortality rates at the turn of the century. Desirous of promoting child health, they provided prenatal care for pregnant women and assisted physicians, while also supporting women during labor and birth at home. Seeking to expand their specialty by introducing nurse‐midwifery, they joined the campaign to eliminate traditional immigrant and African American midwives. By the early 1930s, there were only two sites for the practice of nurse‐midwifery in the United States: Frontier Nursing Service and Maternity Center Association. Over the next 20 years, nurse‐midwifery expanded in response to physician shortages, the emergence of a childbirth education movement, and women's demands for participation in birth. In the 1940s, the greatest expansion occurred in the South and Southwest in home birth, birthing centers, and an occasional community hospital.
Hindsight Bias in Gustatory Judgments
Authors: Pohl Rüdiger F. , Schwarz Stefan , Sczesny Sabine , Stahlberg Dagmar
Published: April 2003

Abstract. Being in hindsight, people tend to overestimate what they had known in foresight. This phenomenon has been studied for a wide variety of knowledge domains (e.g., episodes with uncertain outcomes, or solutions to almanac questions). As a result of these studies, hindsight bias turned out to be a robust phenomenon. In this paper, we present two experiments that successfully extended the domain of hindsight bias to gustatory judgments. Participants tasted different food items and were asked to estimate the quantity of a certain ingredient, for example, the residual sugar in a white wine. Judgments in both experiments were systematically biased towards previously presented low or high values that were labeled as the true quantities. Thus, hindsight bias can be considered a phenomenon that extends well beyond the judgment domains studied so far.
Facilitating Normative Judgments of Conditional Probability: Frequency or Nested Sets?
Authors: Yamagishi Kimihiko
Published: April 2003

Abstract. Recent probability judgment research contrasts two opposing views. Some theorists have emphasized the role of frequency representations in facilitating probabilistic correctness; opponents have noted that visualizing the probabilistic structure of the task sufficiently facilitates normative reasoning. In the current experiment, the following conditional probability task, an isomorph of the “Problem of Three Prisoners” was tested. “A factory manufactures artificial gemstones. Each gemstone has a 1/3 chance of being blurred, a 1/3 chance of being cracked, and a 1/3 chance of being clear. An inspection machine removes all cracked gemstones, and retains all clear gemstones. However, the machine removes ½ of the blurred gemstones. What is the chance that a gemstone is blurred after the inspection?” A 2 × 2 design was administered. The first variable was the use of frequency instruction. The second manipulation was the use of a roulette-wheel diagram that illustrated a “nested-sets” relationship between the prior and the posterior probabilities. Results from two experiments showed that frequency alone had modest effects, while the nested-sets instruction achieved a superior facilitation of normative reasoning. The third experiment compared the roulette-wheel diagram to tree diagrams that also showed the nested-sets relationship. The roulette-wheel diagram outperformed the tree diagrams in facilitation of probabilistic reasoning. Implications for understanding the nature of intuitive probability judgments are discussed.
Extracellular matrix composition influences the resistance of airway remodelling events towards glucocorticoid treatment
Authors: Pitchford Simon , Page Clive
Published: April 2003

British Journal of Pharmacology (2003) 138, 1181–1182. doi:10.1038/sj.bjp.0705136
Individual characteristics in occupational accidents due to imbalance: a case-control study of the employees of a railway company
Authors: Gauchard G C , Chau N , Touron C , Benamghar L , Dehaene D , Perrin PhP , Mur J-M
Published: April 2003

Background:Falls are frequent occupational accidents, and are responsible for a significant amount of lost working time and, more importantly, for a high mortality. The factors involved in falling mechanisms can be of external or individual origin, the latter being less well identified.

Aims:To assess the relations between certain individual characteristics and occupational accidents due to imbalance.

Methods:A total of 427 male employees, who had been victims of at least one occupational accident with sick leave due to imbalance (cases) and 427 controls were recruited among the employees of a large French railway company. A standardised questionnaire on life conditions and professional factors, and a description of the accidents was filled in by an occupational physician for each subject.

Results:Some job categories were more affected by a specific release mechanism of work related falls. Certain individual characteristics such as smoking, alcohol consumption, inactivity, sleep disorders, and request for a job change were correlated with the occurrence of occupational accidents. Sick leaves of eight days or over were more frequent in older and overweight injured workers. Some lesions were linked with the specific fall released mechanisms.

Conclusions:Individual characteristics can increase the risk of occupational accidents, especially falling. This study identified subjects most at risk on whom prevention related to working conditions and falls could be focused.
CHIRAL QCD VACUUM ENERGY DENSITY IN THE ZERO MODES ENHANCEMENT QUANTUM MODEL
Authors: GOGOHIA V. , TOKI H. , SAKAI T. , KLUGE Gy.
Published: April 2003

Using the effective potential approach for composite operators we have formulated the quantum model of the QCD vacuum. It is based on the existence and importance of the nonperturbative q-4-type dynamical, topologically nontrivial excitations of the gluon field configurations (due to self-interaction of the massless gluons only). The QCD vacuum is found to be stable since the vacuum energy density has no imaginary part. The Yang–Mills (YM) part of the vacuum energy density is always negative and depends on a finite scale at which nonperturbative effects become important. The quark part of the vacuum energy density depends in addition on the constant of integration of the corresponding Schwinger–Dyson equation. The value of the above-mentioned scale is determined from the bounds for the pion decay constant in the chiral limit. Our value for the chiral QCD vacuum energy density is one order of magnitude bigger than the instanton based models can provide while a fair agreement with recent phenomenological and lattice results for the chiral condensate is obtained.
ALGEBRAIC APPROACH TO THE SPECTRAL PROBLEM FOR THE SCHRÖDINGER EQUATION WITH POWER POTENTIALS
Authors: FAUSTOV R. N. , GALKIN V. O. , TATARINTSEV A. V. , VSHIVTSEV A. S.
Published: April 2003

The method reducing the solution of the Schrödinger equation for several types of power potentials to the solution of the eigenvalue problem for the infinite system of algebraic equations is developed. The finite truncation of this system provides high accuracy results for low-lying levels. The proposed approach is appropriate both for analytic calculations and for numerical computations. This method allows also to determine the spectrum of the Schrödinger-like relativistic equations. The heavy quarkonium (charmonium and bottomonium) mass spectra for the Cornell potential and the sum of the Coulomb and oscillator potentials are calculated. The results are in good agreement with experimental data.
INSTANTONS AND SPHALERONS IN SKYRMED WEINBERG–SALAM MODELS AND GRASSMANNIAN MODELS
Authors: BRAU F. , BRIHAYE V. , TCHRAKIAN D. H.
Published: April 2003

Several Lagrangians describing the SU(2) Yang–Mills (YM) field interacting with matter are considered, which support both instantons (in four Euclidean dimensions) and sphaleron (in three dimensions, static) solutions. The matter fields are the complex Higgs doublet for the Weinberg–Salam (WS) model, and a (2 × 4) Grassmannian model. These Lagrangians feature Skyrme-like extensions to enable the existence of the instantons, which decay as pure gauge at infinity. For two of these models, we have numerically integrated the one-dimensional system arising from the imposition of radial ansatz.
PHENOMENOLOGICAL STRING COSMOLOGY AND ITS IMPLICATIONS
Authors: CHAUDHURI A. K.
Published: April 2003

We have explored the possibility that the universe at very early stage was dominated by (macroscopic) heterotic strings. We have found that the dimensionless parameter Gμ for the heterotic strings varies from 10-2 to 10-4 as the universe evolve from the matter dominance to radiation dominance. This led to the interesting consequence of epoch dependent gauge coupling constant. The gauge coupling constant at early times was found to be much stronger than the present strong interaction.
NONLOCALITY AND ELLIPTICITY IN A GAUGE-INVARIANT QUANTIZATION
Authors: ESPOSITO GIAMPIERO , STORNAIOLO COSIMO
Published: April 2003

The quantum theory of a free particle in two dimensions with nonlocal boundary conditions on a circle is known to lead to surface and bulk states. Such a scheme is here generalized to the quantized Maxwell field, subject to mixed boundary conditions. If the Robin sector is modified by the addition of a pseudo-differential boundary operator, gauge-invariant boundary conditions are obtained at the price of dealing with gauge-field and ghost operators which become pseudo-differential. A good elliptic theory is then obtained if the kernel occurring in the boundary operator obeys certain summability conditions, and it leads to a peculiar form of the asymptotic expansion of the symbol. The cases of ghost operator of negative and positive order are studied within this framework.
MASSIVE FIELDS WITH ARBITRARY HALF-INTEGER SPIN IN CONSTANT ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELD
Authors: KLISHEVICH S. M.
Published: April 2003

We study the interaction of gauge fields of arbitrary half-integer spins with the homogeneous electromagnetic field. We reduce the problem of obtaining the gauge-invariant Lagrangian and transformations of the half-integer spin fields in the external field to an algebraic problem of search for a set of operators with certain algebraic features using the representation of the higher-spin fields as vectors in a pseudo-Hilbert space. We consider such construction at linear order in the external electromagnetic field and also present an explicit form of interaction Lagrangians and gauge transformations for the massive particles of spins [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] in terms of symmetric spin-tensor fields. The obtained result is valid for space–time of arbitrary even dimension.
HOW MANY FUNDAMENTAL CONSTANTS DOES QUANTUM PHYSICS NEED?
Authors: WIGNALL J. W. G.
Published: April 2003

Of the four familiar constants c, [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text] and ℏ (expressed in SI or other "ordinary" units) used in quantum mechanics and quantum electrodynamics, only three are independent because [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text] and ℏ occur in quantum equations and their predictions only as the ratios [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text]. If one defines the inertial mass of any particle absolutely and operationally as its rest frame de Broglie frequency, the constant quantity [Formula: see text], where [Formula: see text] is its measured de Broglie wavelength when it has speed v and Lorentz factor γ, then electric charge becomes dimensionless and ℏ disappears from all quantum expressions; classical and quantum equations can then be written in terms of only three fundamental constants — c, the frequency me and the dimensionless e — and involve only two base units, those of length and time. This suggests that quantization rules, whose "scale" is given by ℏ, can also be eliminated from the theoretical framework and that it is therefore possible to construct a single unified theory of classical and quantum phenomena.
$\bm{\widehat{{\rm U}(1)}\times\widehat{{\rm SU}({\lc m})}_{1}}$ THEORY AND c=m W1+∞ MINIMAL MODELS IN THE HIERARCHICAL QUANTUM HALL EFFECT
Authors: HUERTA MARINA
Published: April 2003

Two classes of Conformal Field Theories have been proposed to describe the Hierarchical Quantum Hall Effect: the multicomponent bosonic theory, characterized by the symmetry [Formula: see text] and the W1+∞ minimal models with central charge c=m. In spite of having the same spectrum of edge excitations, they manifest differences in the degeneracy of the states and in the quantum statistics, which call for a more detailed comparison between them. Here, we describe their detailed relation for the general case, c=m and extend the methods previously published for c≤3. Specifically, we obtain the reduction in the number of degrees of freedom from the multicomponent Abelian theory to the minimal models by decomposing the characters of the [Formula: see text] representations into those of the c=mW1+∞ minimal models. Furthermore, we find the Hamiltonian whose renormalization group flow interpolates between the two models, having the W1+∞ minimal models as an infrared fixed point.
QUANTUM FIELD THEORY IN THE LIMIT x≪1
Authors: STEPHENS C. R. , WEBER A. , LÓPEZ VIEYRA J. C. , HESS P. O.
Published: April 2003

The asymptotic high momentum behavior of quantum field theories with cubic interactions is investigated using renormalization group techniques in the asymmetric limit x≪1. Particular emphasis is paid to theories with interactions involving more than one field where it is found that a matrix renormalization is necessary. Asymptotic scaling forms, in agreement with Regge theory, are derived for the elastic two-particle scattering amplitude and verified in one-loop renormalization group improved perturbation theory, corresponding to the summation of leading logs to all orders. We give explicit forms for the Regge trajectories of different scalar theories in this approximation and determine the signatures.
DEPENDENCE OF |Vcb| ON FERMI MOMENTUM
Authors: BHATTACHARYA A. , CHAKRABARTI B. , SARKHEL T. , BANERJEE S. N.
Published: April 2003

The Fermi momentum Pf for the Bc meson has been estimated in the framework of the statistical model. The matrix element |Vcb| has been extracted from the lepton energy spectrum using the estimated value of the Fermi momentum, in the framework of the ACCMM model. The value of Pf for Bc meson has been estimated as Pf=1.14 GeV which is somewhat large compared to the existing estimates.
OPEN GROUP TRANSFORMATIONS WITHIN THE Sp(2)-FORMALISM
Authors: BATALIN IGOR , MARNELIUS ROBERT
Published: April 2003

Previously we have shown that open groups whose generators are in arbitrary involutions may be quantized within a ghost extended framework in terms of the nilpotent BFV–BRST charge operator. Here we show that they may also be quantized within an Sp(2)-frame in which there are two odd anticommuting operators called Sp(2)-charges. Previous results for finite open group transformations are generalized to the Sp(2)-formalism. We show that in order to define open group transformations on the whole ghost extended space we need Sp(2)-charges in the nonminimal sector which contains dynamical Lagrange multipliers. We give an Sp(2)-version of the quantum master equation with extended Sp(2)-charges and a master charge of a more involved form, which is proposed to represent the integrability conditions of defining operators of connection operators and which therefore should encode the generalized quantum Maurer–Cartan equations for arbitrary open groups. General solutions of this master equation are given in explicit form. A further extended Sp(2)-formalism is proposed in which the group parameters are quadrupled to a supersymmetric set and from which all results may be derived.
OSCILLATION EFFECTS ON NEUTRINOS FROM THE EARLY PHASE OF A NEARBY SUPERNOVA
Authors: MAJUMDAR DEBASISH , RAYCHAUDHURI AMITAVA , KAR KAMALES , RAY ALAK , SUTARIA FIROZA K.
Published: April 2003

Recent observations of atmospheric and solar neutrinos strongly support the phenomenon of neutrino oscillations — a manifestation of a nonzero and nondegenerate mass spectrum. Neutrinos emitted during stellar core collapse leading to a supernova are of the electron neutrino type at source — as for solar and reactor (anti-)neutrinos — and provide another useful tool in the search for flavor oscillations. Their propagation to an earth-bound detector involves length scales that can uniquely probe very small neutrino mass differences hitherto unobservable. Although the number of neutrinos emitted during the collapse phase is much smaller than that emitted in the post-bounce epoch (in which all flavors of neutrinos are emitted), a nearby supernova event may nevertheless register a substantial number of detections from the collapse phase at SuperKamiokande (SK) and the Sudbury Neutrino Observatory (SNO). The measurement of the fluence of these neutrinos at SNO and the distortion of the spectrum detected at SK can yield valuable information about neutrino mass difference and mixing which are illustrated here in terms of two- and three-flavor oscillation models. In particular, we find that R SNO , the ratio of the calorimetric detection of the neutrino fluence via the neutral current channel to the total energy integrated fluence observed via the charged current channel at SNO, is a sensitive probe for oscillations. We also find that αn, the ratio of the nth central moments of the distributions seen at SK and SNO (charged current), can be a useful tool (especially for n=3) to look for neutrino oscillations.