bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Consequences of the electrogenic function of the phagocytic NADPH oxidase
Authors: Rada Balázs K , Geiszt Miklós , Hably Csilla , Ligeti Erzsébet
Published: November 2005

NADPH oxidase of phagocytic cells transfers a single electron from intracellular NADPH to extracellular O2, producing superoxide, the precursor to several other reactive oxygen species. The finding that a genetic defect of the enzyme causes chronic granulomatous disease (CGD), characterized by recurrent severe bacterial infections, linkedgeneration to destruction of potentially pathogenic micro-organisms. In this review, we focus on the consequences of the electrogenic functioning of NADPH oxidase. We show that enzyme activity depends on the possibilities for compensating charge movements. In resting neutrophils K+conductance dominates, but upon activation the plasma membrane rapidly depolarizes beyond the opening threshold of voltage-gated H+channels and H+efflux becomes the major charge compensating factor. K+release is likely to contribute to the killing of certain bacteria but complete elimination only occurs ifproduction can proceed at full capacity. Finally, the reversed membrane potential of activated neutrophils inhibits Ca2+entry, thereby preventing overloading the cells with Ca2+. Absence of this limiting mechanism in CGD cells may contribute to the pathogenesis of the disease.
Reactive oxygen species and temperature stresses: A delicate balance between signaling and destruction
Authors: Suzuki Nobuhiro , Mittler Ron
Published: November 2005

Temperature stress can have a devastating effect on plant metabolism, disrupting cellular homeostasis, and uncoupling major physiological processes. A direct result of stress‐induced cellular changes is the enhanced accumulation of toxic compounds in cells that include reactive oxygen species (ROS). Although a considerable amount of work has shown a direct link between ROS scavenging and plant tolerance to temperature stress, recent studies have shown that ROS could also play a key role in mediating important signal transduction events. Thus, ROS, such as superoxide (O2–), are produced by NADPH oxidases during abiotic stress to activate stress‐response pathways and induce defense mechanisms. The rates and cellular sites of ROS production during temperature stress could play a central role in stress perception and protection. ROS levels, as well as ROS signals, are thought to be controlled by the ROS gene network of plants. It is likely that in plants this network is interlinked with the different networks that control temperature stress acclimation and tolerance. In this review paper, we attempt to summarize some of the recent studies linking ROS and temperature stress in plants and propose a model for the involvement of ROS in temperature stress sensing and defense.
Effects of sodium chloride on water quality and growth of Oreochromis niloticus in earthen ponds
Authors: Liti David , Munguti Jonathan , Kreuzinger Norbert , Kummer Helmut
Published: November 2005

A 2 × 2 factorial experiment was conducted between April and August 2001 to evaluate the effects of NaCl on Oreochromis niloticus growth and water quality in twelve 0.015 ha limed ponds. The design involved fertilizer and salt as factors with two treatments for each factor. Each salt‐fertilizer combination was replicated three times and fish were not offered external food during the 98 days culture. Growth of O. niloticus was significantly enhanced by salt at higher fertilizer level but not at the lower fertilization level. Although salt had no direct effect on fish growth, a significant salt‐fertilizer interaction was demonstrated. Water quality variables, with a few exceptions, were similar among the salted treatments. Total ammonia increased significantly with fertilization level, but the values were similar in salted and unsalted treatments at the same fertilizer level. Total nitrogen was higher in the salted than unsalted treatments while the organic matter content was lower in the salted treatments. The reasons for the better growth of O. niloticus, are discussed with respect to water quality variables. The present results suggest that fertilization rates of 20 kg N ha−1 may have negative effects on fish growth. However, presence of sodium chloride seems to reduce these negative effects.
Diel variation in the difference in air temperature between the forest edge and interior in the Usambara Mountains, Tanzania
Authors: Newmark William
Published: November 2005

The difference in air temperature between the forest edge and interior was simultaneously compared at ten sites at 2‐h intervals over a 229‐day period in the East and West Usambara Mountains in Tanzania. Measurements were recorded with data loggers placed 1.5 m above the ground on the shaded side of trees and positioned 1–2 and 100 m from the forest edge. The difference in air temperature between the forest edge and interior varied regularly over a 24‐h period with mean maximum difference in air temperatures of 0.85°C occurring at 15:00 h and mean minimum diel difference in air temperature of 0.02°C occurring at 21:00 h. Diel variation in the difference in air temperature between the forest edge and interior varied little by season and was unrelated to elevation.
Nests of subterranean fungus‐growing termites (Isoptera, Macrotermitinae) as nutrient patches for grasses in savannah ecosystems
Authors: Jouquet Pascal , Tavernier Virginie , Abbadie Luc , Lepage Michel
Published: November 2005

Savannah are ecosystems in which mineral nitrogen is considered as a limiting factor for plant productivity. They are heterogeneous and spatially structured in patches, or islands, where mineral nitrogen content is concentrated. Among the soil macrofauna, termites of the Macrotermitinae subfamily are major determinants of soil heterogeneity through the biogenic underground nest structures (fungus‐comb chambers) they produce. To study the role of the heterogeneity created by termites on Pennisetum pedicellatum, an herbaceous grass species was grown in greenhouse. This was carried out using an homogeneous soil poor in mineral nitrogen, and an heterogeneous soil with patch, made of (i) Ancistrotermes cavithorax fungus‐comb chamber wall and (ii) soil with the same mineral nitrogen content as the termite handled soil. Plants exhibited a better growth on patch of termite‐modified soil whereas no significant differences were shown with the supply of mineral nitrogen. The presence of fungus‐comb chamber wall material resulted in an increase of fine root biomass and root/shoot ratio. We conclude that termites, through their building activities, may create nutrient patches available to grasses. Concurrently, our data illustrate that the higher mineral nitrogen content in termite‐built structures is not the only factor responsible for plant growth.
Foraging behaviour and diet composition of bushbuck (Tragelaphus scriptus Pallas, 1766) in Queen Elizabeth National Park, western Uganda
Authors: Apio Ann , Wronski Torsten
Published: November 2005

The foraging behaviour and food selection of bushbuck (Tragelaphus scriptus) were studied in the Queen Elizabeth National Park, western Uganda. Forty‐three plant species were consumed by bushbuck, consisting of two tree, eight shrub, eighteen perennial woody herb, thirteen annual non‐woody herb and two climbing herb species. No significant seasonal variation in time allocated to feeding and performing miscellaneous activities per unit distance covered whilst foraging was recorded. This suggests that major plant species for foraging were available to the animals in sufficient quantities in both seasons. However, there were seasonal changes in the proportions of different plant species in the diet, although none of these dissimilarities was significant. Males spent insignificantly more time feeding than females. Bite size, established for major food plant species, was inversely related to bite rate and discussed in terms of plant‐part selection. The study also compared foraging behaviour of bushbuck observed between 1974 and 1976 (Okiria, 1980, African Journal of Ecology, 18, 11–17) with that today and discusses it in the light of changes in vegetation observed over the last 35 years in the study area.
Climber species composition, abundance and relationship with trees in a Nigerian secondary forest
Authors: Muoghalu Joseph Ikechukwu , Okeesan Oluwabumi Okerinmola
Published: November 2005

Climbers play different roles in forest biology and ecology and are the first to be eliminated during forest clearing but little is known about the species composition, distribution and relationship with tree species of this group of plants of tropical forest. This study thus investigated the species composition, abundance and tree relationship of climbers along altitudinal gradient in four 0.06 ha plots in a secondary forest at Ile‐Ife, Nigeria. All trees ≥10 cm g.b.h were examined for the presence of climbers in the plots. There were 49 climber species consisting of 35 liana and fourteen vine species distributed over 41 genera and 28 families in the forest. Lianas contributed 34% and vines 13.7% of the plant species in the forest. Climber basal area, density, number of species, genera and families increased with altitude. Forty‐two per cent (42%) of the trees in the forest carried climbers. There was significant positive correlation (P ≤ 0.05) between girth sizes of host trees of 31–50 cm with the girths of climbers on them indicating that trees of these girth sizes are highly susceptible to climber infestation. Tree species host density and size are important factors in determining the presence of climbers on a tree.
Dry‐pasteurization of egg albumen powder in a fluidized bed. I. Effect on microbiology, physical and chemical parameters
Authors: Hammershøj Marianne , Nording Jens A. , Rasmussen Hans C. , Carstens Jan H. , Pedersen Henrik
Published: November 2005

Present pasteurization methods of dried egg albumen powder require large storage facilities and take a long time. The use of a fluidized bed system for dry pasterurization of egg albumen was studied as an alternative approach. In Experiment 1 two different temperature treatments were investigated (90 °C and 130 °C); whilst in Experiment 2 the effect of high vs. low air moisture was studied at a fixed temperature of 115 °C. Both experiments had process times of between 10 min and 3 h. The Reference method was traditional pasteurization at 90 °C for 21 h. Samples were analysed for microbiological, chemical and physical properties. High temperature or high air moisture treatments ensured greater bacterial elimination, formation of covalently bound protein polymers and increased surface hydrophobicity. The nature of polymer bonds is suggested to be Schiff's bases, which increase correspondingly. The powder colour became darker and more yellow at high temperature for 3 h and particle size increased.
Cross‐regulation among disparate antibiotic biosynthetic pathways of Streptomyces coelicolor
Authors: Huang Jianqiang , Shi Jing , Molle Virginie , Sohlberg Björn , Weaver David , Bibb Maureen J. , Karoonuthaisiri Nitsara , Lih Chih‐Jian , Kao Camilla M. , Buttner Mark J. , Cohen Stanley N.
Published: November 2005

A complex programme of regulation governs gene expression during development of the morphologically and biochemically complex eubacterial genus Streptomyces. Earlier work has suggested a model in which ‘higher level’ pleiotropic regulators activate ‘pathway‐specific’ regulators located within chromosomal gene clusters encoding biosynthesis of individual antibiotics. We used mutational analysis and adventitious overexpression of key Streptomyces coelicolor regulators to investigate functional interactions among them. We report here that cluster‐situated regulators (CSRs) thought to be pathway‐specific can also control other antibiotic biosynthetic gene clusters, and thus have pleiotropic actions. Surprisingly, we also find that CSRs exhibit growth‐phase‐dependent control over afsR2/afsS, a ‘higher level’ pleiotropic regulatory locus not located within any of the chromosomal gene clusters it targets, and further demonstrate that cross‐regulation by CSRs is modulated globally and differentially during the S. coelicolor growth cycle by the RNaseIII homologue AbsB. Our results, which reveal a network of functional interactions among regulators that govern production of antibiotics and other secondary metabolites in S. coelicolor, suggest that revision of the currently prevalent view of higher‐level versus pathway‐specific regulation of secondary metabolism in Streptomyces species is warranted.
Proposals for prevention and management of steroid‐induced osteoporosis in children and adolescents
Authors: Brown JJ , Zacharin MR
Published: November 2005

Abstract:  The adverse effects of glucocorticoids on bone health are well recognized. In adults, evidence‐based guidelines exist to base management of patients with glucocorticoid‐induced osteoporosis. Osteoporosis is also recognized in children and adolescents with chronic disease requiring steroid treatment. Additional complexities in the assessment and management of growing children mean that evidence‐based guidelines for this complex patient group have not been produced. Factors, which need to be taken into account, include defining osteoporosis in childhood and addressing the effects of chronic disease and glucocorticoid treatment on a number of parameters including the skeleton, growth, puberty, nutrition and vitamin D status. In the absence of randomized controlled trials to guide clinical practice, we provide proposals for the prevention and management of steroid‐induced osteoporosis, drawing on the available evidence and our clinical experience of managing children and adolescents with steroid‐induced osteoporosis.
Ethical issues in the relationships with industry: An ongoing challenge. New Guidelines open for public comment
Authors: Komesaroff PA
Published: November 2005

Abstract:  Interactions between medical practitioners and industry have a profound impact on medical decision‐making. It is important to establish clear guidelines to ensure that the values of clinical care, the welfare of society and science prevail over commercial imperatives and monetary values, The Royal Australasian Collage of Physicians has revised its Guidelines for the relationships involving medical practitioners and industry to provide practical assistance to health care professionals in the understanding and management of thier interactions with industry.

 The Guidelines are advisory but provide argument and references to support their conclusions. They outline a practical approach to the management of dualities and conflicts of interests. Among other things, they recommend that gifts should be rejected, including those of small value and etertainment expenses. They argue that industry sponsorship to attend meetings should be restricted to cases where formal contributions are being made, that drug samples should not be accepted from pharmaceutical representatives and that endorsements of specific products and “advertorials” should be avoided. They propose that clinicians should not actively recruit their own patients into studies in which they are investigators and that it should be a condition of agreement to participate by researchers and approval by ethics committees that there is a commitment to make publicly available all results potentially relevant to clinical practice. The Guidelines are intended to reflect changing community attitudes and will continue to be revised frome time to time.
Attempted randomized controlled trial of pamidronate versus calcium and calcitriol supplements for management of steroid‐induced osteoporosis in children and adolescents
Authors: Brown JJ , Zacharin MR
Published: November 2005

Objectives: To describe an attempted interventional trial for glucocorticoid‐induced osteoporosis in children and adolescents and to discuss the reasons for trial failure to inform future interventional studies in this important group of patients.

Methods: Prospective randomized controlled trial comparing the effect of bisphosphonate therapy with calcium and vitamin D supplementation on bone mineral accrual is described. For non‐trial patients, retrospective analysis of the effect of calcium and vitamin D supplementation combined with bisphosphonate treatment on bone mineral accrual.

Results: Only 12 patients were enrolled in the trial over 4 years. Bisphosphonate recipients (n = 5) had a mean annual percentage increase in lumbar spine bone mineral density of 8.76 ± 5.2% compared to 6.6 ± 4.0% in the calcium/vitamin‐treated group (difference not significant). Mean annual change in lumbar spine areal bone mineral density in non‐trial patients (n = 11) was 3.72 ± 2.5%.

Conclusion: Conducting a randomized controlled trial in this group of corticosteroid users is difficult, given the unpredictable nature of the underlying disease and intermittent need for steroid treatment. The trial failed through inadequate recruitment combined with discontinued interventions.
New normal ranges of antistreptolysin O and antideoxyribonuclease B titres for Australian children
Authors: Danchin MH , Carlin JB , Devenish W , Nolan TM , Carapetis JR
Published: November 2005

Objective: To determine age‐specific upper limit of normal (ULN) values of the ASO and ADB titres in children aged 4–14 years in urban Melbourne. Serology is often used to diagnose a preceding Streptococcus pyogenes infection, particularly in potential cases of rheumatic fever and post‐streptococcal glomerulonephritis. The most commonly used antigens are antistreptolysin O (ASO) and antideoxyribonuclease B (ADB). Reference ranges used in Australia for these serological markers are usually based on data in adults from other countries. There are no age‐specific reference values for Australian children.

Methods: Sixty‐six sera from children with no history of recent streptococcal infection were obtained in May–June 2002. The children were divided into three age groups for analysis: 4–5 (n = 20), 6–9 (n = 19) and 10–14 (n = 25) years. The geometric mean titre and ULN (defined as the 80th percentile) for the ASO and ADB titres for each age group were determined in both international and log units.

Results: The ULN for ASO titres in each age group was 120 (2.08 log units), 480 (2.68) and 320 (2.51). The ULN for ADB titres in each age group was 100 (2.00 log units), 400 (2.60) and 380 (2.58).

Conclusion: The ASO and ADB ULN values in school‐aged children are higher than the current reference ranges suggest.
Minimal invasiveness and effectivity of subinguinal microscopic varicocelectomy: a comparative study with retroperitoneal high and laparoscopic approaches
Authors: WATANABE MASAMI , NAGAI ATSUSHI , KUSUMI NORIHIRO , TSUBOI HIROMU , NASU YASUTOMO , KUMON HIROMI
Published: November 2005

Abstract  Aim:  The standard management of varicocele repair is the subject of ongoing controversy. We retrospectively evaluated three surgical methods of varicocele treatment to determine the minimally invasive and most effective procedure.

Methods:  We performed 144 varicocelectomies on infertile patients with left clinical varicocele. Of the patients, 50 were treated with retroperitoneal high ligation under lumbar anesthesia, 33 with laparoscopic ligation under general anesthesia, and 61 with subinguinal microscopic ligation under local anesthesia. Operative time, hospital days, and clinical outcomes were compared between these techniques.

Results:  The operating time and hospitalization period required for subinguinal microscopic ligation was signiﬁcantly shorter compared to those for the other procedures. All patients treated with subinguinal microscopic ligation could achieve normal activity as soon as they returned to their rooms. Postoperative complications were observed in ﬁve (10.0%) cases treated with high ligation and three (9.1%) laparoscopic cases, but were not observed after the subinguinal procedure. There were six cases (12.0%) of recurrence in the high ligation group and six (6.1%) in the laparoscopic group, but none in the subinguinal group. Sperm density was signiﬁcantly improved in all procedures postoperatively, but sperm motility was not improved. The two‐year pregnancy rate calculated by the Kaplan–Meier method was 35.8% for high ligation, 40.4% for laparoscopic ligation and 50.9% for subinguinal microscopic ligation, although there were no statistical differences between the three groups.

Conclusion:  We concluded that subinguinal microscopic varicocelectomy could be a minimally invasive procedure compared to the other two techniques and a worthy method for treating male infertility due to clinical varicocele.
Constitutive activation of the 41‐ and 43‐kDa mitogen‐activated protein (MAP) kinases in the progression of prostate cancer to an androgen‐independent state
Authors: OKA HIROYA , CHATANI YUJI , KOHNO MICHIAKI , KAWAKITA MUTSUSHI , OGAWA OSAMU
Published: November 2005

Abstract  Aim:  The 41‐ and 43‐kDa mitogen‐activated protein kinases (MAPK; ERK2 and ERK1, respectively) play pivotal roles in the mitogenic signal transduction pathway. We previously demonstrated that constitutive activation of the MAPK cascade was related to the carcinogenesis of human tumors. In this study, we examined whether constitutive activation of MAPK was related to the progression to androgen independence of prostate cancer.

Methods:  MAPK activation was examined by the appearance of phosphorylated forms and an in vitro kinase assay in four human (androgen‐dependent and independent) prostate cancer cell lines and rat prostate cancer cell line Dunning (androgen‐sensitive G line, and androgen‐independent AT‐3, AT‐6 sublines). In addition, when androgen‐dependent mouse Shionogi Carcinoma 115 (SC115) cells were serially cultured without androgen to obtain androgen‐independent cells, the time and degree of MAPK activation were examined.

Results:  One of three human androgen‐independent cell lines (DU145) showed constitutive activation of MAPK, while an androgen‐dependent cell line (LNCaP) did not show MAPK activation. While MAPK were not activated in an androgen‐sensitive Dunning G cell line, MAPK were activated in androgen‐independent sublines (AT‐3 and AT‐6) derived from a G cell line. In addition, when SC115 cells were serially cultured without androgen, the cells 16–24 weeks after androgen removal showed MAPK activation. Furthermore, in subcloned cells, MAPK activation was observed even in the cells maintained for 9 weeks in medium without testosterone.

Conclusions:  The present ﬁndings suggest that constitutive activation of MAPK may be associated with the acquisition of hormone independence in prostate cancer and that clonal selection after androgen removal and hormone‐independent growth through the MAPK signal transduction pathway could begin at a relatively early period in the individual cells.
Urethral catheter induced pseudoaneurysm of the bulbar artery
Authors: RADHAKRISHNAN SURESH , MARSH RALPH , SHEIKH NAEEM , JOHNSON PRAKASH , GREENE DAMIAN
Published: November 2005

Abstract  Injuries of the urethra due to urethral catheter have been well recognised. We report a case of pseudoaneurysm of the artery to the bulb of the penis which formed due to necrosis of the arterial wall secondary to prolonged pressure due to a wrongly placed urethral catheter. The catheter was inﬂated in the bulbar urethra and left during surgery for 4 hours. The patient developed intermittent severe urethral bleeding. An angiogram of internal iliac artery showed a pseudo aneurysm involving the bulbar artery with arteriovenous communication. Super selective embolization of the feeding vessel was performed with cessation of the blood ﬂow immediately. To our knowledge, pseudoaneurysm of the bulbar artery of penis has not previously been described.
Hemiresective reconstruction of a redundant ileal conduit with severe bilateral ileal conduit‐ureteral reﬂux
Authors: FUJIMURA TETSUYA , MINOWADA SHIGERU , KISHI HIROICHI , HAMASAKI KIMIHISA , SAITO KIYOSHI , KITAMURA TADAICHI
Published: November 2005

Abstract  A 58‐year‐old man was referred to our hospital with high fever and anuria. Since undergoing a total pelvic exenteration due to bladder‐invasive sigmoid colon cancer, urinary tract infections had frequently occurred. We treated with the construction of a bilateral percutaneous nephrostomy (PCN), and chemotherapy. Although we replaced the PCN with a single J ureteral catheter after an improvement of infection, urinary infection recurred because of an obstruction of the catheter. Urological examinations showed that an ileal conduit‐ureteral reﬂux caused by kinking of the ileal loop was the reason why frequent pyelonephritis occurred. We decided to resect the proximal segment to improve conduit‐ureteral reﬂux for the resistant pyelonephritis. After the surgery, the excretory urogram showed improvement and the urinary retention at the ileal conduit disappeared. Three years after the operation, renal function has been stable without episodes of pyelonephritis. Here we report a case of open repair surgery of an ileal conduit in a patient with severe urinary infection.
Delayed hemorrhage from a pseudoaneurysm after blunt renal trauma
Authors: LEE DONG‐GI , LEE SUN‐JU
Published: November 2005

Abstract  Renal artery pseudoaneurysm is uncommon complication after blunt trauma injury. We report here on a case of delayed bleeding from a renal artery pseudoaneurysm at 21 days after the injury. It was successfully treated by angioembolization despite the fact that the patient was hemodynamically unstable.
Urological robotic surgery: Preliminary experience with the Zeus system
Authors: MIYAKE OSAMU , KIUCHI HIROSHI , YOSHIMURA KAZUHIRO , OKUYAMA AKIHIKO
Published: November 2005

Abstract  Aim:  We performed robotic or robotically‐assisted laparoscopic surgery for urological diseases, and evaluated the efﬁcacy and safety of this surgery.

Methods:  Between November 2003 and June 2004, we performed laparoscopic surgery with the Zeus system in eight cases. Three adrenalectomy cases of cortical adenoma presenting with Cushing syndrome and primary aldosteronism, and two cases of nephrectomy for renal cell carcinoma in dialyzed patients were performed solely with Zeus. In two cases of ureteral stenosis, Zeus was used for ureteral anastomosis after partial ureterectomy by manual laparoscopy. In one prostatectomy case, vesico‐urethral anastomosis was performed with Zeus after extraperitoneal prostatectomy by manual laparoscopy.

Results:  All of the cases were successfully treated without any complications during or after operation. All patients were discharged from hospital within 12 days postoperatively. As for adrenalectomy, nephrectomy and pyeloplasty, this may be the ﬁrst report in Japan.

Conclusions:  Our preliminary experiences suggest that such a robot system, which is being developed day by day, might become more beneﬁcial in future in urological laparoscopic surgery.
Quantitative measurement of serotonin synthesis and sequestration in individual live neuronal cells
Authors: Balaji J. , Desai R. , Kaushalya S. K. , Eaton M. J. , Maiti S.
Published: November 2005

Synthesis and subsequent sequestration into vesicles are essential steps that precede neurotransmitter exocytosis, but neither the total neurotransmitter content nor the fraction sequestered into vesicles have been measured in individual live neurons. We use multiphoton microscopy to directly observe intracellular and intravesicular serotonin in the serotonergic neuronal cell line RN46A. We focus on how the relationship between synthesis and sequestration changes as synthesis is up‐regulated by differentiation or down‐regulated by chemical inhibition. Temperature‐induced differentiation causes an increase of about 60% in the total serotonin content of individual cells, which goes up to about 10 fmol. However, the number of vesicles per cell increases by a factor of four and the proportion of serotonin sequestered inside the vesicles increases by a factor of five. When serotonin synthesis is inhibited in differentiated cells and the serotonin content goes down to the level present in undifferentiated cells, the sequestered proportion still remains at this high level. The total neurotransmitter content of a cell is, thus, an unreliable indicator of the sequestered amount.
Immunoisolation of two synaptic vesicle pools from synaptosomes: a proteomics analysis
Authors: Morciano Marco , Burré Jacqueline , Corvey Carsten , Karas Michael , Zimmermann Herbert , Volknandt Walter
Published: November 2005

The nerve terminal proteome governs neurotransmitter release as well as the structural and functional dynamics of the presynaptic compartment. In order to further define specific presynaptic subproteomes we used subcellular fractionation and a monoclonal antibody against the synaptic vesicle protein SV2 for immunoaffinity purification of two major synaptosome‐derived synaptic vesicle‐containing fractions: one sedimenting at lower and one sedimenting at higher sucrose density. The less dense fraction contains free synaptic vesicles, the denser fraction synaptic vesicles as well as components of the presynaptic membrane compartment. These immunoisolated fractions were analyzed using the cationic benzyldimethyl‐n‐hexadecylammonium chloride (BAC) polyacrylamide gel system in the first and sodium dodecyl sulfate–polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in the second dimension. Protein spots were subjected to analysis by matrix‐assisted laser desorption ionization time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI TOF MS). We identified 72 proteins in the free vesicle fraction and 81 proteins in the plasma membrane‐containing denser fraction. Synaptic vesicles contain a considerably larger number of protein constituents than previously anticipated. The plasma membrane‐containing fraction contains synaptic vesicle proteins, components of the presynaptic fusion and retrieval machinery and numerous other proteins potentially involved in regulating the functional and structural dynamics of the nerve terminal.
Increased expression of genes that control ionic homeostasis, second messenger signaling and metabolism in the carotid plaques from patients with symptomatic stroke
Authors: Vemuganti Raghu , Dempsey Robert J.
Published: November 2005

The molecular mechanisms that render a carotid atherosclerotic plaque symptomatic have not yet been identified. Using an Affymetrix Human GeneChip set, we analyzed the gene expression patterns of 44 862 mRNA transcripts in surgically removed carotid artery plaques from six patients with symptomatic stroke and four non‐symptomatic patients. The age, body mass index and the degree of stenosis were similar in the two groups. Some 236 transcripts (∼0.5% of the total transcripts analyzed) were expressed more abundantly in the symptomatic than the asymptomatic group. Of these, 61 transcripts are those that participate in ionic homeostasis, signal transduction and metabolism. The other groups of transcripts up‐regulated in the symptomatic plaques include oncogenes, growth factors, tumor markers, angiogenesis promoters, transcription factors, and RNA splicing and processing factors. This study indicates that the higher metabolic activity in some atherosclerotic plaques leads to their faster growth and precipitation of stroke symptoms. The implications of these findings are that both diagnosis and prevention of stroke symptoms may become possible at the genetic level.
Fibronectin promotes brain capillary endothelial cell survival and proliferation through α5β1 and αvβ3 integrins via MAP kinase signalling
Authors: Wang Jan , Milner Richard
Published: November 2005

We showed previously that blood vessel maturation in the CNS is associated with a developmental switch in brain capillary endothelial cells (BCEC), from fibronectin signalling during angiogenesis to laminin signalling in the adult. To investigate the functional significance of this switch, we have examined the response of BCEC to different extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins. This showed that BCEC proliferation was significantly promoted by fibronectin (28.2 ± 4.0%) and by vitronectin (14.8 ± 2.1%) compared with uncoated glass (7.2 ± 0.7%), while BCEC survival was significantly promoted by fibronectin (1130 ± 131 cells), vitronectin (830 ± 63 cells), collagen IV (703 ± 77 cells) and laminin (680 ± 34 cells) compared with the uncoated glass (367 ± 48 cells). Biochemical studies showed that BCEC express a limited repertoire of integrins, including the β1 integrins, α3β1, α5β1 and α6β1, and the αvβ3 integrin. Function‐blocking studies showed that the response to fibronectin was mediated equally by the α5β1 and αvβ3 integrins. Analysis of signalling pathways revealed that fibronectin stimulated activation of the p44/p42 MAP kinase signalling pathway and pharmacological inhibitors of this pathway blocked BCEC proliferation on fibronectin. Taken together, these findings show that fibronectin exerts a strong angiogenic influence on endothelial cells (EC) in the CNS, and that this is mediated through the α5β1 and αvβ3 integrins via MAP kinase signalling. In addition to a fundamental role in development, these findings may also have implications in pathological conditions of the CNS where fibronectin is re‐expressed.
Post‐translational excision of the carboxyl‐terminal segment of CaM kinase phosphatase N and its cytosolic occurrence in the brain
Authors: Kitani Takako , Okuno Sachiko , Nakamura Yasuhisa , Tokuno Hironobu , Takeuchi Masayuki , Fujisawa Hitoshi
Published: November 2005

Ca2+/Calmodulin‐dependent protein kinase (CaM kinase) phosphatase, occurring in the cytoplasm of all tissues, dephosphorylates and thereby deactivates multifunctional CaM kinases, such as CaM kinases I, II and IV. In contrast, CaM kinase phosphatase N has been reported to occur almost exclusively in the brain and to be localized in the nucleus in the transfected COS‐7 cells, as examined immunocytochemically with antibodies against the carboxyl‐terminal segment of the enzyme, indicating its involvement in the deactivation of CaM kinase IV. Here, we show that the majority of the naturally occurring CaM kinase phosphatase N in the brain exists not in the intact form of the enzyme (83.4 kDa) but in a form (61.1 kDa) in which the carboxyl‐terminal segment containing nuclear localization signals is deleted, and that it is present mostly in the cytoplasm but a little in the nucleus throughout the central nervous system, although occurring mostly in the nucleus in some large neurons. Strong immunostaining of the enzyme was also observed at postsynaptic density. These findings suggest that CaM kinase phosphatase N is involved in the regulation of not only CaM kinase IV but also CaM kinases II and I.
Y chromosome microsatellite isolation from BAC clones in the greater white‐toothed shrew (Crocidura russula)
Authors: HANDLEY LORI J. LAWSON , PERRIN NICOLAS
Published: November 2005

We constructed a microsatellite library from four Crocidura russula Y chromosome‐specific bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) clones. Only one of eight microsatellites was male‐specific, despite genome walking to obtain more flanking sequence and testing of 93 primer combinations. Potential reasons for this low success are discussed. The male‐specific locus, CRY3, was genotyped in 90 males, including C. russula from across the species range and two related species. The large difference in CRY3 allele size between eastern and western lineages supports earlier reports of high divergence between them. Despite polymorphism of CRY3 in Morocco, only one allele was found throughout the whole of Europe, consistent with previous studies that suggest recent colonization of Europe from a small number of Moroccan founders.
Isolation and characterization of highly polymorphic microsatellite loci in a pelagic‐spawning reef fish Hypodytes rubripinnis
Authors: KOKITA T. , MATSUOKA K. , TOMINAGA O. , SEIKAI T.
Published: November 2005

Group spawning (1 female and more than 2 males) and streaking behaviour of subordinate males are common in pelagic‐spawning reef fishes such as the temperate tetrarogidid fish Hypodytes rubripinnis. Five microsatellite loci were isolated and characterized for paternity analysis of this species. Four of the five loci were highly polymorphic, having 11–34 alleles with observed heterozygosities between 0.89 and 1.00 in 37 unrelated individuals. These four loci conformed to Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium. These loci should be useful in future studies that assess how fertilization is partitioned among male H. rubripinnis in multimale spawning events.
Melanocortin‐1 receptor structure and functional regulation
Authors: García‐Borrón José C. , Sánchez‐Laorden Berta L. , Jiménez‐Cervantes Celia
Published: November 2005

The melanogenic actions of the melanocortins are mediated by the melanocortin‐1 receptor (MC1R). MC1R is a member of the G‐protein‐coupled receptors (GPCR) superfamily expressed in cutaneous and hair follicle melanocytes. Activation of MC1R by adrenocorticotrophin or α‐melanocyte stimulating hormone is positively coupled to the cAMP signaling pathway and leads to a stimulation of melanogenesis and a switch from the synthesis of pheomelanins to the production of eumelanic pigments. The functional behavior of the MC1R agrees with emerging concepts in GPCR signaling including dimerization, coupling to more than one signaling pathway and a high agonist‐independent constitutive activity accounting for inverse agonism phenomena. In addition, MC1R displays unique properties such as an unusually high number of natural variants often associated with clearly visible phenotypes and the occurrence of endogenous peptide antagonists. Therefore MC1R is an ideal model to study GPCR function. Here we review our current knowledge of MC1R structure and function, with emphasis on information gathered from the analysis of natural variants. We also discuss recent data on the regulation of MC1R function by paracrine and endocrine factors and by external stimuli such as ultraviolet light.
Dynamics of MAL2 During Glycosylphosphatidylinositol‐Anchored Protein Transcytotic Transport to the Apical Surface of Hepatoma HepG2 Cells
Authors: de Marco María C. , Puertollano Rosa , Martínez‐Menárguez José A. , Alonso Miguel A.
Published: November 2005

Delivery of glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)‐anchored proteins to the apical surface takes place by transcytosis in hepatocytes and also probably in epithelial Madin–Darby canine cells. The integral protein MAL2 was demonstrated to be essential for basolateral‐to‐apical transcytosis in hepatoma HepG2 cells. Reduction of endogenous MAL2 levels impedes cargo delivery to the apical membrane, but, paradoxically, cargo does not accumulate in the subapical compartment where MAL2 predominantly resides but in distant endosome elements. To understand how transcytosis can be apparently mediated at a distance, we have analyzed the dynamics of machinery and cargo by live‐cell imaging of MAL2 and transcytosing CD59, a GPI‐anchored protein, in HepG2 cells. MAL2 was revealed as being a highly dynamic protein. Soon after basolateral endocytosis of CD59, a fraction of MAL2 redistributed into peripheral vesicular clusters that concentrated CD59 and that were accessible to transferrin (Tf) receptor, a basolateral recycling protein. Following Tf receptor segregation, the clusters fused in a MAL2+globular structure and moved toward the apical surface for CD59 delivery. All these processes were impaired in cells with reduced MAL2 content. Other GPI‐anchored proteins examined behave similarly. As MAL2 is expressed by many types of epithelia, the sorting events described herein are probably of quite general utility.
Genetic and environmental influences on Anxious/Depression during childhood: a study from the Netherlands Twin Register
Authors: Boomsma D. I. , Van Beijsterveldt C. E. M. , Hudziak J. J.
Published: November 2005

For a large sample of twin pairs from the Netherlands Twins Register who were recruited at birth and followed through childhood, we obtained parental ratings of Anxious/Depression (A/D). Maternal ratings were obtained at ages 3 years (for 9025 twin pairs), 5 years (9222 pairs), 7 years (7331 pairs), 10 years (4430 pairs) and 12 years (2363 pairs). For 60–90% of the pairs, father ratings were also available. Multivariate genetic models were used to test for rater‐independent and rater‐specific assessments of A/D and to determine the genetic and environmental influences on individual differences in A/D at different ages. At all ages, monozygotic twins resembled each other more closely for A/D than dizygotic twins, implying genetic influences on variation in A/D. Opposite sex twin pairs resembled each other to same extent as same‐sex dizygotic twins, suggesting that the same genes are expressed in boys and girls. Heritability estimates for rater‐independent A/D were high in 3‐year olds (76%) and decreased in size as children grew up [60% at age 5, 67% at age 7, 53% at age 10 (60% in boys) and 48% at age 12 years]. The decrease in genetic influences was accompanied by an increase in the influence of the shared family environment [absent at ages 3 and 7, 16% at age 5, 20% at age 10 (5% in boys) and 18% at age 12 years]. The agreement between parental A/D ratings was between 0.5 and 0.7, with somewhat higher correlations for the youngest group. Disagreement in ratings between the parents was not merely the result of unreliability or rater bias. Both the parents provided unique information from their own perspective on the behavior of their children. Significant influences of genetic and shared environmental factors were found for the unique parental views. At all ages, the contribution of shared environmental factors to variation in rater‐specific views was higher for father ratings. Also, at all ages except age 12, the heritability estimates for the rater‐specific phenotype were higher for mother ratings (59% at age 3 and decreasing to 27% at age 12 years) than for father ratings (between 14 and 29%). Differences between children, even as young as 3 years, in A/D are to a large extent due to genetic differences. As children grow up, the variation in A/D is due in equal parts to genetic and environmental influences. Anxious/Depression, unlike many other common childhood psychopathologies, is influenced by the shared family environment. These findings may provide support for why certain family therapeutic approaches are effective in the A/D spectrum of illnesses.
High current pulsed electron beam treatment of AZ31 Mg alloy
Authors: Gao Bo , Hao Shengzhi , Zou Jianxin , Grosdidier Thierry , Jiang Limin , Zhou Jiyang , Dong Chuang
Published: November 2005

This paper reports, for the first time, an analysis of the effect of High Current Pulsed Electron Beam (HCPEB) on a Mg alloy. The AZ31 alloy was HCPEB treated in order to see the potential of this fairly recent technique in modifying its wear resistance. For the 2.5J∕cm2 beam energy density used in the present work, the evaporation mode was operative and led to the formation of a “wavy” surface and the absence of eruptive microcraters. The selective evaporation of Mg over Al led to an Al-rich melted surface layer and precipitation hardening from the over saturated solid solution. Due to the increase in hardness of the top surface layer, the friction coefficient values were lowered by more than 20% after the HCPEB treatments, and the wear resistance was drastically (by a factor of 6) improved. The microhardness of the HCPEB samples was also increased significantly down to a depth of about 500μm, far exceeding the heat-affected zone (about 40μm). This is due to the effect of the propagation of the shockwave associated with this HCPEB treatment.
When seeing is not believing: Oxygen on Ag(111), a simple adsorption system?
Authors: Michaelides Angelos , Reuter Karsten , Scheffler Matthias
Published: November 2005

A number of recent studies indicate that, under the oxygen rich conditions of oxidation catalysis, some transition metal catalysts may be covered by thin oxide overlayers. Moreover, it has been suggested that such “surface-oxide” layers are catalytically active, possibly more active than the pure metal surfaces as was traditionally assumed. This contemporary picture can be traced back to Ag catalysis, where over 30years ago it was suggested that the top layer of Ag(111) reconstructed to an epitaxial Ag2O like overlayer upon exposure to oxygen [Rovida et al., Surf. Sci. 43, 230 (1974)]. Extensive experimental work, including scanning tunneling microscopy studies in which the oxide was apparently imaged with atomic resolution, as well as density-functional theory calculations, largely confirmed this interpretation. However, a review of published experimental data and new density-functional theory results presented here indicate that previous conclusions are significantly incomplete and that the structure of this original surface oxide must be reconsidered.
Hafnium diboride thin films by chemical vapor deposition from a single source precursor
Authors: Jayaraman Sreenivas , Yang Yu , Kim Do Young , Girolami Gregory S. , Abelson John R.
Published: November 2005

High quality, stoichiometric thin films of hafnium diboride are deposited by chemical vapor deposition from the precursor Hf[BH4]4 at deposition temperatures as low as 200°C. An activation energy of 0.43eV(41kJ∕mol) is obtained for the overall process as monitored by temperature programmed reaction studies. Films deposited at low temperatures (<500°C) are structurally amorphous to x-ray diffraction; a 12nm thick film is sufficient to prevent copper diffusion into silicon during a 600°C anneal for 30min. Films deposited above 500°C are crystalline, but have a columnar microstructure with low density. All the films are metallic, but the low temperature amorphous films have the lowest resistivity ∼440μΩcm. The process is also highly conformal, e.g., a 65nm wide trench with a 19:1 depth-width aspect ratio was coated uniformly.
Interplay of hydrogen and deposition temperature in optical properties of hot-wire deposited a-Si:H Films:Ex situspectroscopic ellipsometry studies
Authors: Gupta S. , Weiner B. R. , Morell G.
Published: November 2005

High-quality hydrogenated amorphous silicon (a-Si:H) thin films were grown by hot-wire chemical vapor deposition on glass (Corning 7059) using silane with relatively high hydrogen albeit avoiding the formation of microcrystalline hydrogenated silicon. They were grown as a function of substrate temperature (TS) ranging from 50 to 515 °C resulting in the corresponding hydrogen concentration [CH] variation from 20.0 to 0.2 at. %. They are optically examined ex situ using spectroscopic phase modulated ellipsometry from near IR to near UV (i.e., 1.5–5.0 eV) obtaining pseudo-dielectric function (⟨εr(E)⟩,⟨εi(E)⟩) for investigating the role of hydrogen in network disorder. The raw ellipsometry data were modeled using Bruggeman effective medium theory and the dispersion relations for the amorphous semiconductors. A two-layer model consisting of a top surface roughness layer (dS) containing an effective medium mix of 50% a-Si:H and 50% voids and a single “bulk” layer (dB) of 100% a-Si:H was used to simulate the data reasonably well. We performed these simulations by nonlinear least-square regression analysis and it was possible to estimate the true dielectric function, energy band gap (Eg), film thickness (dSE), bulk void fraction, surface roughness layer (dS), and confidence limits (χ2). Moreover, it is shown that the Tauc–Lorentz model fits the ellipsometry data reasonably well and helps elucidating the layered structure of a-Si:H thin films. We also compared the optical band gap determined using ellipsometry modeling and the Tauc gap. We discuss the variation of the deduced parameters in terms of role of TS (T role) or of hydrogen (H role) yielding possible physical meaning and found an agreement with the excitation dependent Raman spectroscopy results reported earlier [S. Gupta, R. S. Katiyar, G. Morell, S. Z. Weisz, and J. Balberg, Appl. Phys. Lett. 75, 2803 (1999)]. Atomic force microscopy was also used to validate the simulations. These analyses led to a correlation between the films’ microstructure (or network disorder) and their electronic properties for electronic device applications, in general and for photovoltaic applications, in particular.