bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The relief picture in New York state
Authors: Bond Elsie M.
Published: June 2007

Removal of relief from Temporary Emergency Administration to Department of Social Welfare marks transfer from temporary to permanent status.
Kansas city will try again
Authors: Matscheck Walter
Published: June 2007

Forthcoming elections present opportunity for voters to oust the Pendergast machine from its strangle hold on the city's government.
A new administrative code for New York city
Authors: Lazarus Reuben A.
Published: June 2007

Board of Statutory Consolidation completes huge task of codifying the many statutes and ordinances relating to the city's government, bringing them into line with new charter.
Must traffic creep in city streets?
Authors: Halsey Maxwell
Published: June 2007

An efficient transportation system is one of the modern challenges to our cities. The transportation department must not lag in its services to the community.
The civil service in the constitution
Authors: Kaplan H. Eliot
Published: June 2007

What fundamental changes in the constitution are necessary to improve the merit system and safeguard it from political assault?
The manager plan in Suburbia
Authors: Roher Miriam
Published: June 2007

Improved services with lower administrative costs and debt reduction with a round refunding program among the important achievements of manager government in Teaneck, New Jersey.
Methods of election and the making of history
Authors: Humphreys John H.
Published: June 2007

An analysis of the elections held in Europe during the past few years has made it clear that unfair methods of election have led to disaster, while fair representation has led to the cooperation requisite to the carrying on of government.
Coöperative governmental purchasing in the Irish free state
Authors: Chute Charlton F.
Published: June 2007

Irish industries greatly benefited by nation‐wide scheme of governmental purchasing. Savings in costs and improved quality of materials also products of new system.
The call feature in municipal bonds
Authors: Chatters Carl H.
Published: June 2007

Callable bonds, while permitting a more flexible debt structure, require careful administration in order that savings may actually be secured by their use.
Immediate future of municipal credit
Authors: Shanks Sanders
Published: June 2007

Subnormal supply and comparative safety of local government bonds keep market at high level.
The bonded of 286 cities debt as at January 1, 1938
Authors: Mohaupt Rosina
Published: June 2007

Bonded debt continues downward trend of last few years except in smallest cities where slight increase occurred.
A politician: Old style
Authors: Salter J. T.
Published: June 2007

Author of “Boss Rule” sketches portrait of Honest Tom McIntyre–the Abe Lincoln of his organisation–who carved a “career” out of politics.
John Randolph Haynes and his work for direct government
Authors: Crouch Winston W.
Published: June 2007

The story of the untiring devotion and leadership of the man most responsible for the adoption and retention of the initiative, referendum, and recall in California.
The farmer practices public administration
Authors: Lepawsky Albert
Published: June 2007

Establishment of conservation districts should bring results of far‐reaching importance. Such districts not only seek to conserve the nation's resources but demonstrate the practicability of crossing local government barriers in order to perform essential services.
Nebraska's unicameral legislature saves money for taxpayers
Authors: Aylsworth L. E.
Published: June 2007

Claims of its advocates that adoption of a one‐house body would result in a marked reduction in legislative costs fully substantiated by figures now available.
Alert citizen group wins again in Toledo
Authors: Willoughby Alfred
Published: June 2007

Third successful defense of the manager plan demonstrates once more the value of a permanent citizens' organization ready to spring into action when necessity arises.
Comparative tax rates of 294 cities, 1938
Authors: Mohaupt Rosina
Published: June 2007

Present year's assessed values and property tax rates show slight increase over 1937 figures.
On the problems of riblets as a drag reduction device
Authors: Arumugam G. , Pironneau O.
Published: July 2007

Some recent experiments have shown that it is possible to reduce the drag of a body in a uniform flow by digging tiny ribs or ‘riblets’ on its skin. This paper deals with (i) the formulation of the problem into a distributed parameter optimum design problem and (ii) with its numerical solution by the finite element method and the techniques of optimal control. Some numerically optimal riblets are presented.
A computational method for a general class of optimal control problems involving integrodifferential equations
Authors: Lukas M. A. , Teo K. L.
Published: July 2007

In this paper we consider a general class of optimal control problems involving integrodifferential equations. The integral equation component is a Volterra integral equation with convolution kernel. A method is proposed to approximate the kernel which gives rise to a system of ordinary differential equations approximating the Volterra integral equation. Thus the optimal control problem is approximated by a sequence of standard optimal control problems involving only differential equations. Each of the approximate problems is solvable by any of the existing methods for standard optimal control problems, such as the gradient restoration algorithm and the control parametrization algorithm. Convergence analysis is also carried out to justify the proposed approximation. As an application we consider an optimal control problem involving production and marketing systems with distributed time lags. This problem is then solved numerically using the proposed method.
Optimal operation of solar heat storage with off‐peak energy price incentive
Authors: Rink R. E.
Published: July 2007

The problem of minimum cost control of a solar‐assisted heat pump/heat storage system is considered. The system is configured to have separate storage for collected solar heat and high‐temperature heat, so that night‐time (‘off‐peak’) operation of the heat pump is possible. The problem of finding the optimal operating strategy when electrical energy is priced at a discount during off‐peak hours is considered. The solution of the periodic optimization problem is obtained through the use of state increment dynamic programming, simplified through the use of state feedback linearization/decoupling and augmented with a label‐tracing procedure to identify the periodic but unknown initial/terminal state. The algorithm is applied for a typical case study. The results lead to several observations concerning economical operating strategies.
Selective over‐expression of fibroblast growth factor receptors 1 and 4 in clinical prostate cancer
Authors: Sahadevan K , Darby S , Leung HY , Mathers ME , Robson CN , Gnanapragasam VJ
Published: July 2007

Fibroblast growth factor receptors (FGFRs) mediate the tumourigenic effects of FGFs in prostate cancer. These receptors are therefore potential therapeutic targets in the development of inhibitors to this pathway. To identify the most relevant targets, we simultaneously investigated FGFR1–4 expression using a prostate cancer tissue microarray (TMA) and in laser capture microdissected (LCM) prostate epithelial cells. In malignant prostates (n = 138) we observed significant FGFR1 and FGFR4 protein over‐expression in comparison with benign prostates (n = 58; p < 0.0001). FGFR1 was expressed at high levels in the majority of tumours (69% of grade 3 or less, 74% of grade 4 and 70% of grade 5), while FGFR4 was strongly expressed in 83% of grade 5 cancers but in only 25% of grade 1–3 cancers (p < 0.0001). At the transcript level we observed a similar pattern, with FGFR1 and FGFR4 mRNA over‐expressed in malignant epithelial cells compared to benign cells (p < 0.0005 and p < 0.05, respectively). While total FGFR2 was increased in some cancers, there was no association between expression and tumour grade or stage. Transcript analysis, however, revealed a switch in the predominant isoform expressed from FGFR2IIIb to FGFR2IIIc among malignant epithelial cells. In contrast, protein and transcript expression of FGFR3 was very similar between benign and cancer biopsies. The functional effect of targeting FGFR4 in prostate cancer cells has not previously been investigated. In in vitro experiments, suppression of FGFR4 by RNA interference effectively blocked prostate cancer cell proliferation (p < 0.0001) and invasion (p < 0.001) in response to exogenous stimulation. This effect was evident regardless of whether the cells expressed the FGFR4 Arg388 or Gly388 allele. In parallel experiments, FGFR3 suppression had no discernible effect on cancer cell behaviour. These results suggest evidence of selective over‐expression of FGFR1 and FGFR4 in clinical prostate cancer and support the notion of targeted inhibition of these receptors to disrupt FGF signalling. Copyright © 2007 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Fracture evolution in thick composites under compression
Authors: Lin Yung‐Kun , Liu Hsien‐Kuang , Kuo Wen‐Shyong , Chen Yu‐Der
Published: July 2007

This study reports the evolution of fracture in thick woven fabric composites under static compression loading. The materials examined were carbon/epoxy composites laminated with up to 180 plies of the woven prepreg. A pressure rolling setup was designed and employed in the present materials in order to compact the laminate and to remove air possibly trapped in between plies. To apply the compressive load, an end‐supported, end‐loaded fixture was used. The growth of cracks was monitored and recorded in real‐time by picture and video cameras. The continuous monitoring of the failure progression provides detailed information about the onset and growth of cracks in various specimens under different support conditions. The modulus, strength, and the loss of stiffness in the post‐failure portion have been examined. The loading curves have several sudden drops and regains in the post‐failure portion. The causes of the sudden load drop can be identified by correlating with the corresponding fracture image. The influence of the support in the fixture has been examined. Two major modes of failure are fiber kink‐band and longitudinal splitting. The branching and coalescence of cracks of these two modes of failure have been observed and examined. Thickness effects exist in the present composites. The processing–property relationships are discussed. How these modes evolve with the applied strain in specimens of different thicknesses and how they affect the load‐carrying capability of the material are examined. POLYM. COMPOS., 28:425–436, 2007. © 2007 Society of Plastics Engineers
Mid‐trimester amniocentesis and antibiotic prophylaxis
Authors: Gramellini Dandolo , Fieni Stefania , Casilla Giovanna , Raboni Stefano , Nardelli Giovanni Battista
Published: July 2007

Objectives and Methods Assuming that the rate of fetal loss after amniocentesis may be reduced in patients receiving antibiotic prophylaxis, we conducted a retrospective study on untreated versus treated patients receiving prophylactic antibiotics (amoxicillin/clavulanic‐acid or azithromycin) and evaluated the fetal loss rate within the 22nd week of gestation, also with respect to the risk of spontaneous abortion, both preexisting and related to mid‐trimester amniocentesis.

Results Spontaneous abortion occurred in 22 cases out of 1744 (1.26%). The incidence of spontaneous abortion was 1.3% among patients treated with antibiotic prophylaxis and 1.2% among untreated patients. Between patients with risk factors that predated amniocentesis, the spontaneous fetal loss rate was 9.2% in untreated patients versus 2.3% in patients treated (p = 0.10). In patients with procedure‐related risk factors at amniocentesis, the spontaneous abortion rate was, respectively, 2.2 and 1.2% (p = 0.72).

Conclusion Our data demonstrate that antibiotic prophylaxis does not reduce the risk of spontaneous abortion within the 22nd week of gestation. Compared with untreated patients, patients treated with amoxicillin showed the lower fetal loss rate (1.16 vs 0.31%), but the difference was not statistically significant (odds ratio (OR) = 3.68, p = 0.32). The same was true for patients with preexisting risks (OR = 4.25, p = 0.10). Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Mechanical, thermomechanical, and thermal properties of polystyrene crosslinked with a multifunctional zirconium oxo cluster
Authors: Kogler Franz Rene , Koch Thomas , Peterlik Herwig , Seidler Sabine , Schubert Ulrich
Published: July 2007

Inorganic–organic hybrid materials were prepared by free radical polymerization of styrene in the presence of varying amounts of the cluster Zr6O4(OH)4 (methacrylate)12. Stepwise polymerization allowed the preparation of bubble‐ and crack‐free, transparent bulk samples on a 30 g scale with dimensions required for mechanical testing. Small‐angle X‐ray scattering investigations and transmission electron micrographs revealed that the clusters formed randomly distributed aggregates of random size. Solvent uptake in swelling experiments was related to the cluster proportion. Storage moduli in the glassy state were slightly increased when compared with neat polystyrene, but pronounced plateau moduli were observed above the glass transition temperature, which correlated to the cluster proportion. Plateau moduli were used to calculate network parameters such as network density. Onset temperatures of thermal decomposition and the glass transition temperatures of the cluster‐crosslinked polymers were higher than that of neat polystyrene. Thermal expansion coefficients were unaffected in the glassy state, but were gradually reduced above the glass transition temperature with increasing cluster proportion. Both the tensile moduli at room temperature and the yield points increased when polystyrene was doped with the cluster. The strain hardening moduli, as determined in compression tests at large deformations, increased linearly with the cluster proportion. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 45: 2215–2231, 2007
Growth of magnetite epitaxial thin films by gas flow sputtering and characterization by FMR
Authors: Sakuma Hiroshi , Sato Shota , Gomimoto Ryo , Hiyama Shunsuke , Ishii Kiyoshi
Published: July 2007

The growth of magnetite (Fe3O4) epitaxial thin films on MgO substrates were studied by using gas flow sputtering (GFS). Reflection high‐energy electron diffraction (RHEED) and atomic force microscopy showed that the surfaces of the films obtained at a substrate temperature Ts of 300 °C and oxygen flow rates FO2 of 0.12 − 0.18 sccm are fairly flat for the film thickness of about 200 nm. The saturation magnetization and resistivity were close to the reported values of Fe3O4 for Ts= 300°C and FO2 = 0.12–0.20sccm. The films obtained at Ts= 300°C and FO2=0.16 and 0.18 sccm showed Verwey transition, which is persuasive evidence of the formation of Fe3O4. The epitaxial relationship of Fe3O4(100)//MgO(100) and Fe3O4[100]//MgO[100] was confirmed by using ferromagnetic resonance (FMR), and the anisotropy constants and magnetization were obtained by the fitting of resonance‐field versus applied‐field angle curves. © 2007 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
TEM observations of magnetic domains and grain boundaries on spin‐sprayed ferrite films exhibiting high permeability usable for gigahertz noise suppressors
Authors: Yoshikawa Hideyuki , Kondo Koichi , Yoshida Shigeyoshi , Shindo Daisuke , Abe Masanori
Published: July 2007

Lorentz TEM observations of magnetic domain wall motion, as well as TEM observations of grain boundaries, were performed on spin‐sprayed ferrite films #1 (Ni0.17Zn0.22Fe2.61O4) and #2 (Ni0.19Zn0.20Co0.03Fe2.58O4), both 0.5 µm in thickness. They exhibit much higher natural resonance frequencies than the bulk ferrite and thus have been applied to gigahertz noise suppressors. Films #1 and #2 exhibit prominent and weak in‐plane uniaxial magnetic anisotropy, respectively, which is induced along the liquid flow direction during spin‐spraying. Both films have columnar crystallites with 100‐200 nm widths aligned perpendicular to the film plane, and the boundaries of the crystallites have no pores or impurity phases. Therefore, the crystallites are magnetically exchange‐coupled, which is responsible for the unusually high permeability and high natural resonance frequencies of the films. Under zero bias magnetic field, film #1 exhibits mosaic‐shaped magnetic domains, whereas film #2 exhibits magnetic domains elongated along the easy magnetization axis, both several hundred nanometers in width. For both films the domain structure remains unchanged when an in‐plane bias DC magnetic field,Hdc, of up to 10 Oe is applied along the hard axis. Under a stronger Hdc, the domain structure prominently changes, and the domain walls disappear when Hdc exceeds ∼100 Oe. This confirms our previous finding that the initial permeability is ascribed only to magnetization rotation, with no contribution from domain wall motion [J. Magn. Magn. Mater., 278, 256 (2004)]. © 2007 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
A robust current control method with disturbance observer for matrix converter under abnormal input voltage
Authors: Oka Kazuo , Matsuse Kouki
Published: July 2007

This paper presents a robust current control method with a disturbance observer for a matrix converter (MC) under an abnormal input voltage. The MC can directly convert power from an input alternating current (AC) source to a load without any direct current (DC) link. Since the MC has no reactive elements, the imbalance and distortion of the input voltage immediately influence the load. Therefore, a high‐performance current control of the load is impossible in this condition. In this letter, we propose a robust current control method for the MC under an abnormal input voltage. Adapting the disturbance observer to a load current control, current control is possible without the influence of the imbalance and distortion of the input voltage and of a fluctuation of a load paramerter, a resistance, an inductance and so on. This current control is robust under these conditions. The proposed method is effective for the application of a high‐performance AC motor drive employing vector control because it is necessary for the proposed method to coordinate with a reference frame. The validity of the proposed method is confirmed by simulation results. © 2007 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
A plastic neural network model of sound therapy of tinnitus
Authors: Fujimoto Ken'ichi , Nagashino Hirofumi , Kinouchi Yohsuke , Danesh Ali A. , Pandya Abhijit S.
Published: July 2007

Tinnitus is the perception of phantom sounds. There are sound therapy techniques which have the clinical effect of making the sufferers temporarily stop perceiving tinnitus. To account for mechanisms of tinnitus generation and the clinical effect of sound therapy from the viewpoint of neural engineering, this paper describes a neural network model with a plastic coupling on the human auditory system. Through numerical simulations we observed an oscillatory state and a nonoscillatory state in the model; it was also noticed that the value of the plastic coupling changes through external stimulus, and subsequently the oscillation is inhibited. By associating the oscillatory state with the state of tinnitus generation, it could be explained that the habituated human auditory system temporarily stops perceiving tinnitus after sound therapy. © 2007 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Regulation of sugar transport and metabolism by the Candida albicans Rgt1 transcriptional repressor
Authors: Sexton Jessica A. , Brown Victoria , Johnston Mark
Published: July 2007

The ability of the fungal pathogen Candida albicans to cause systemic infections depends in part on the function of Hgt4, a cell surface sugar sensor. The orthologues of Hgt4 in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Snf3 and Rgt2, initiate a signalling cascade that inactivates Rgt1, a transcriptional repressor of genes encoding hexose transporters. To determine whether Hgt4 functions similarly through the C. albicans orthologue of Rgt1, we analysed Cargt1 deletion mutants. We found that Cargt1 mutants are sensitive to the glucose analogue 2‐deoxyglucose, a phenotype probably due to uncontrolled expression of genes encoding glucose transporters. Indeed, transcriptional profiling revealed that expression of about two dozen genes, including multiple HGT genes encoding hexose transporters, is increased in the Cargt1 mutant in the absence of sugars, suggesting that CaRgt1 represses expression of several HGT genes under this condition. Some of the HGT genes (probably encoding high‐affinity transporters) are also repressed by high levels of glucose, and we show that this repression is mediated by CaMig1, the orthologue of the major glucose‐activated repressor in S. cerevisiae, but not by its paralogue CaMig2. Therefore, CaRgt1 and CaMig1 collaborate to control expression of C. albicans hexose transporters in response to different levels of sugars. We were surprised to find that CaRgt1 also regulates expression of GAL1, suggesting that regulation of galactose metabolism in C. albicans is unconventional. Finally, Cargt1 mutations cause cells to hyperfilament, and suppress the hypofilamented phenotype of an hgt4 mutant, indicating that the Hgt4 glucose sensor may affect filamentation by modulating sugar import and metabolism via CaRgt1. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Increased expression of human calcium‐activated chloride channel 1 gene is correlated with mucus overproduction in Chinese asthmatic airway
Authors: Wang Ke , Wen Fu‐Qiang , Feng Yu‐Ling , Ou Xue‐Mei , Xu Dan , Yang Jie , Deng Zhi‐Pin
Published: June 2007

Asthma is usually complicated with mucus overproduction in airway. Recently the increased expression of the human calcium‐activated chloride channel 1 (CaCC1) was found to play an important role in mucus overproduction in the asthmatic airways. To investigate the relationship of Calcium‐activated chloride channel 1 (CaCC1) and mucus overproduction in Chinese asthmatic airway, the expression of CaCC1, mucin 5AC (MUC5AC) and mucus in bronchial tissues were examined. Bronchial tissues were isolated from non‐cancerous areas of lungs obtained following resection for lung neoplasm in West China Hospital from April to July in 2004. Six patients were diagnosed lung neoplasm with moderate asthma, and other ten were diagnosed lung neoplasm without asthma as the control subjects. The expression of CaCC1, MUC5AC and mucin in bronchial tissues was detected by reverse transcriptase‐polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR), in situ hybridized with digoxigenin (DIG)‐labeled RNA probe, immunohistochemical and Alcian blue‐periodic acid Schiff (AB‐PAS) staining, respectively. In RT‐PCR, two expression patterns of CaCC1 mRNA were found, which were located in the 450 bp and 510 bp. With in situ hybridization, a stronger expression of CaCC1 mRNA was further detected throughout the bronchial tissues from patients with asthma than control subjects (P < 0.01); Samples from asthmatics were showed a stronger staining for MUC5AC than those in control subjects (P < 0.05); AB‐PAS staining revealed more mucins and goblet cells in asthmatic bronchial epithelium and submucosal gland comparing to that in control subjects (P < 0.05). The increased expression of CaCC1 in asthmatic airways was well correlated with the expression of MUC5AC protein, the percentage of goblet cells and the area of submucosal gland (P < 0.01, P < 0.01, P < 0.05). These results suggest that the up‐regulated gene expression of CaCC1 exists, which is complicated with mucus hyper‐secretion in Chinese asthmatic airway.
Tumour necrosis factor‐α receptor 1 polymorphisms and serum soluble TNFR1 in early spontaneous miscarriage
Authors: Yu Xue‐Wen , Li Xu , Ren Yong‐Hui , Li Xue‐Cheng
Published: June 2007

Objectives: The study investigated the association of TNFR1 gene polymorphism with early recurrent spontaneous miscarriage (ERSM) in Chinese women, and soluble TNFR1 (sTNFR1) expression in ERSM women.

Study design: Two single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) located at −383 (AGA to AGC) in the promoter region and +36 (CCA to CCG) in exon 1 of TNFR1 were investigated in 188 non‐pregnant ERSM Chinese women. The serum sTNFR1 was measured by the ELISA method.

Results: Both SNPs were not associated with ERSM. The non‐pregnant ERSM women had significantly higher levels of serum sTNFR1, compared with the non‐pregnant, normal women (1.84 ± 0.54 ng/ml versus 1.62 ± 0.38 ng/ml; t = −2.053; p < 0.05).

Conclusions: The data do not provide evidence that TNFR1 gene polymorphism is etiologically important for ERSM in Chinese women. But, a significantly raised sTNFR1 level in non‐pregnant ERSM women was recorded compared to women with normal pregnancies. The result suggests that pregnancy failure is associated with an increase of sTNFR1.
Significance of eIF4E expression in skin squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: Salehi Z. , Mashayekhi F. , Shahosseini F.
Published: June 2007

Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is a malignant tumour of keratinising epidermal cells. This type of skin cancer is the second leading cause of death after melanoma, and it is the second most common type of non‐melanoma skin cancer after basal cell carcinoma. The cellular and molecular events involved in the progression of skin cancers are largely unknown. Increased protein synthesis is necessary for the transition of cells from quiescence to proliferation. Translational control is critical for the proper regulation of the cell cycle, tissue induction and growth. Eukaryotic initiation factor eIF4E, an important regulator of translation, plays critical roles in neo‐plastic transformation and cancer progression. We investigated eIF4E expression in 49 skin samples (six normal tissues, eight Bowen diseases, seven stage I, 10 stage II, 13 stage III and five stage IV SCCs). Results obtained demonstrated that all SCC samples, evaluated by SDS‐PAGE, Western blotting and cap‐affinity chromatography using m7GTP‐sepharose, presented eIF4E expression (13.6 ± 1.2), whereas, starting from stage 0 (4.1 ± 0.9) to stage I (7.4 ± 1.4), stage II (12.1 ± 2.4), stage III (18.1 ± 3.0) and stage IV (26.2 ± 3.8) SCCs, a constant and significant increase of protein over expression (P < 0.001) was observed. A high expression of eIF4E is correlated with advanced stages. The results presented in this study demonstrate a possible role of eIF4E in SCC.
Up‐regulation of connexin 43 and gap junctional intercellular communication by Coleusin Factor is associated with growth inhibition in rat osteosarcoma UMR106 cells
Authors: Geng Shuo , Sun Bo , Liu Shu , Wang Jingze
Published: June 2007

Gap junctions, formed by connexin (Cx) family proteins, permit direct exchange of regulatory ions and small signal molecules between neighbouring cells. Gap junctional intercellular communication (GJIC) plays an important role in maintaining the homeostasis and preventing cell transformation. Most of the tumour cells feature deficient or aberrant connexin expression and GJIC level, and restoration of connexin expression and GJIC is correlated with cell growth control. Numerous researches has suggested the possibility of connexins as potential anti‐tumour targets for chemoprevention and chemotherapy. We investigated the ability of Coleusin Factor (CF, also named FSK88) to regulate the Cx43 expression and GJIC level in rat osteosarcoma UMR106 cells. The results have demonstrated that CF increased the mRNA and protein expression of Cx43 in both in a dose‐ and timedependent manner, and concomitant with up‐regulation of Cx43, CF treatment up‐regulated the diminished GJIC level in UMR106 cells as assayed by dye transfer experiments. In addition, Cx43 distribution at the plasma membrane was also enhanced dramatically by CF treatment. Furthermore, we discovered that CF was potent to inhibit the growth and proliferation of UMR106 cells. These results provide the first evidence that CF can regulate connexin and GJIC, indicating that Cx43 may be a target of CF to exert its anti‐tumour effects.
Endobrevin/VAMP8 mediates exocytotic release of hexosaminidase from rat basophilic leukaemia cells
Authors: Lippert Undine , Ferrari David M. , Jahn Reinhard
Published: June 2007

Mast cells are important players in innate immunity and mediate allergic responses. Upon stimulation, they release biologically active mediators including histamine, cytokines and lysosomal hydrolases. We used permeabilized rat basophilic leukaemia cells as model to identify R‐SNAREs (soluble NSF (N‐ethylmaleimide‐sensitive fusion protein)) mediating exocytosis of hexosaminidase from mast cells. Of a complete set of recombinant mammalian R‐SNAREs, only vesicle associated membrane protein (VAMP8)/endobrevin consistently blocked hexosaminidase release, which was also insensitive to treatment with clostridial neurotoxins. Thus, VAMP8, which also mediates fusion of late endosomes and lysosomes, plays a major role in hexosaminidase release, strengthening the view that mast cell granules share properties of both secretory granules and lysosomes.
Strengthening emergency obstetric care in Nepal: The Women's Right to Life and Health Project (WRLHP)
Authors: Rana T.G. , Chataut B.D. , Shakya G. , Nanda G. , Pratt A. , Sakai S.
Published: June 2007

Introduction: The Women's Right to Life and Health Project contributes to Nepal's National Safe Motherhood Program and maternal mortality reduction efforts by working to improve the availability, quality and utilization of emergency obstetric care services in public health facilities. Methods: The project upgraded 8 existing public health facilities through infrastructure, equipment, training, data collection, policy advocacy, and community information activities. The total cost of the project was approximately US$1.6 million. Results: In 5 years, 3 comprehensive and 4 basic emergency obstetric care (EmOC) facilities were established in an area where adequate EmOC services were previously lacking. From 2000 to 2004, met need for EmOC improved from 1.9 to 16.9%; the proportion of births in EmOC project facilities increased from 3.8 to 8.3%; and the case fatality rate declined from 2.7 to 0.3%. Discussion: While the use of maternity services is still low in Nepal, improving availability and quality of EmOC together with community empowerment can increase utilization by women with complications, even in low‐resource settings. Partnerships with government and donors were key to the project's success. Similar efforts should be replicated throughout Nepal to expand the availability of essential life‐saving services for pregnant women.
Small-mammal diversity and abundance in a French Guianan rain forest: test of sampling procedures using species rarefaction curves
Authors: Mauffrey J.-F. , Steiner C. , Catzeflis F. M.
Published: July 2007

Neotropical species richness is often estimated using accumulation or rarefaction curves and extrapolations based on various methods, but the efficacy of these methods is rarely tested. We used both a time-limited trapping session and previous knowledge of the mammal fauna from a site in French Guiana to validate these different methods. Three currently used extrapolation models were tested on our data. In a 2.5-mo trapping period we caught 75 individuals representing 18 small non-volant mammal species in three different habitats. We found that for comparable trapping efforts, village edges presented a higher abundance and species richness than primary and secondary forests. Species richness extrapolations using current models demonstrated that the exponential dependence model fits the known diversity of the site better, although this model is usually applied to large geographic areas and to relatively poorly documented taxa. Both Clench equation and linear dependence models underestimate small-mammal species richness in our study. We finally emphasize the interest of sampling in such edges surrounded by either primary or secondary forest, to maximize the probability of trapping rare species.
Anthropometric predictors for the risk of chronic disease in non-diabetic, non-hypertensive young Mexican women
Authors: Neufeld Lynnette M , Jones-Smith Jessica C , García Raquel , Fernald Lia CH
Published: July 2007

Objectives

To assess the ability of anthropometric measurements to identify young women at risk of developing diabetes, hypertension and heart disease in the future and to compare cut-off points for common anthropometric measures established with receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curves with those reported in the literature.

Design

Cross-sectional study.

Subjects

Eight hundred and two young Mexican women living in semi-urban poverty.

Measurements/methods

The ability of anthropometric measures of fatness and fat distribution (body mass index (BMI), summed skinfold thickness (SST), waist circumference (WC), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), conicity index (CI), abdominal volume index (AVI)) to predict risk of future disease (pre-diabetes: fasting blood glucose 100–126 mg dl−1; pre-hypertension: systolic blood pressure 120–139 mmHg and/or diastolic blood pressure 80–89 mmHg; hypertriglyceridaemia: triglycerides ≥150 mg dl−1; or a combination of risk factors) was assessed using ROC curve analysis.

Results

Twenty-three of the 802 women who were interviewed had incomplete data and 50 (6.4%) were eliminated from the analysis due to hypertension and/or diabetes. Mean age of the remaining 729 women was 29.6 ± 5.4 years and mean BMI was 27.7 ± 4.5 kg m−2. There were no significant differences in the area under the ROC curve for BMI, WC, AVI or SST for any of the four outcomes. However, these indices performed significantly better than WHR and CI (P< 0.05). The BMI cut-off points that maximised sensitivity and specificity for the four outcomes were in the range of 27.7–28.4 kg m−2, and for WC were 89.3–91.2 cm. To detect 90% of the cases of any metabolic alteration, the necessary BMI cut-off was 26.1 kg m−2. Younger women (<25 years) were at greater risk than older women for a given BMI increment (P< 0.05).

Conclusions

We found that BMI and WC cut-off points commonly used for the identification of risk of existing disease were also appropriate in this population for the identification of risk in the future among women without diabetes or hypertension. The early identification of at-risk individuals, prior to the onset of disease, is fundamental particularly in the context of a country with scarce resources that is rapidly undergoing nutrition transition.
Geologic and spectral mapping of etched terrain deposits in northern Meridiani Planum
Authors: Griffes J. L. , Arvidson R. E. , Poulet F. , Gendrin A.
Published: July 2007

A ∼1 km vertical section of etched terrain and hematite‐bearing plains materials and nearby cratered terrain surfaces was mapped in the northern portion of Meridiani Planum using MOC, THEMIS, MOLA, and OMEGA data. The oldest materials are the cratered plains, which have 0.4 to 2.5 μm spectral reflectance dominated by a mix of low and high calcium pyroxenes. Etched plains materials overlie this unit and are exposed within a 120 km NW‐SE trending valley to the south of the cratered plains. Lower etched plains materials exhibit a kieserite signature on a plateau‐forming horizon and polyhydrated sulfate signatures on the main valley floor. The upper etched plains unit exhibits signatures consistent with hydrated iron oxides and is covered by what is interpreted to be a relatively thin layer of basaltic sand and hematitic concretions (the hematite‐bearing plains unit). The youngest unit consists of ejecta deposits from a cluster of six craters that mantle the eastern portion of the study area. The thick section of etched plains materials (∼900 m) with exposures of hydrated sulfates and hydrated iron oxides implies that measurements made by the Opportunity rover (located ∼390 km to the southwest of the study area) are at the top of an extensive section of layered sedimentary materials formed in and/or altered in an aqueous environment and exposed by aeolian erosion.
Role of cdk2 in the sequential phosphorylation/activation of C/EBPβ during adipocyte differentiation
Authors: Li Xi , Kim Jae Woo , Grønborg Mads , Urlaub Henning , Lane M. Daniel , Tang Qi-Qun
Published: June 2007

Upon induction of differentiation, growth-arrested (G
1
phase) 3T3-L1 preadipocytes express CCAAT/enhancer binding protein-β (C/EBPβ), initiating a transcriptional cascade. C/EBPβ immediately undergoes a priming phosphorylation (on Thr
188
) by MAPK/ERK. However, the acquisition of DNA binding and transactivation capacity of C/EBPβ is delayed until further phosphorylation (on Ser
184
or Thr
179
) by GSK3β occurs. Phosphorylation by glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK3β) induces S phase entry and thereby mitotic clonal expansion (MCE), a requirement for terminal differentiation. Because MAPK activity is down-regulated before S phase is completed, we sought to identify the kinase that maintains C/EBPβ in the primed phosphorylated state throughout S phase and MCE. We show here that cdk2/cyclinA, whose expression is activated at the onset of S phase, functions in this capacity.
Ex vivo
and
in vitro
experiments show that cdk2/cyclinA catalyzes this delayed priming phosphorylation. Mass spectrometric analysis revealed that cdk2/cyclinA phosphorylates C/EBPβ on Thr
188
and is required for phosphorylation (on Ser
184
or Thr
179
) of C/EBPβ by GSK3β and maintenance of DNA binding activity. Suppression of cdk2 activity by RNA interference or pharmacologic inhibitor disrupts subsequent events in the differentiation program. Thus, MAPK and cdk2/cyclinA act sequentially to maintain Thr
188
of C/EBPβ in the primed phosphorylated state during MCE and thereby progression of terminal differentiation.
Bacterial Cyclic β-(1,2)-Glucan Acts in Systemic Suppression of Plant Immune Responses
Authors: Rigano Luciano Ariel , Payette Caroline , Brouillard Geneviève , Marano Maria Rosa , Abramowicz Laura , Torres Pablo Sebastián , Yun Maximina , Castagnaro Atilio Pedro , Oirdi Mohamed El , Dufour Vanessa , Malamud Florencia , Dow John Maxwell , Bouarab Kamal , Vojnov Adrian Alberto
Published: June 2007

Although cyclic glucans have been shown to be important for a number of symbiotic and pathogenic bacterium–plant interactions, their precise roles are unclear. Here, we examined the role of cyclic β-(1,2)-glucan in the virulence of the black rot pathogen Xanthomonas campestris pv campestris (Xcc). Disruption of the Xcc nodule development B (ndvB) gene, which encodes a glycosyltransferase required for cyclic glucan synthesis, generated a mutant that failed to synthesize extracellular cyclic β-(1,2)-glucan and was compromised in virulence in the model plants Arabidopsis thaliana and Nicotiana benthamiana. Infection of the mutant bacterium in N. benthamiana was associated with enhanced callose deposition and earlier expression of the PATHOGENESIS-RELATED1 (PR-1) gene. Application of purified cyclic β-(1,2)-glucan prior to inoculation of the ndvB mutant suppressed the accumulation of callose deposition and the expression of PR-1 in N. benthamiana and restored virulence in both N. benthamiana and Arabidopsis plants. These effects were seen when cyclic glucan and bacteria were applied either to the same or to different leaves. Cyclic β-(1,2)-glucan–induced systemic suppression was associated with the transport of the molecule throughout the plant. Systemic suppression is a novel counterdefensive strategy that may facilitate pathogen spread in plants and may have important implications for the understanding of plant–pathogen coevolution and for the development of phytoprotection measures.
Common Functions for Diverse Small RNAs of Land Plants
Authors: Axtell Michael J. , Snyder Jo Ann , Bartel David P.
Published: June 2007

Endogenous small RNAs, including microRNAs (miRNAs) and short interfering RNAs (siRNAs), are critical components of plant gene regulation. Some abundant miRNAs involved in developmental control are conserved between anciently diverged plants, while many other less-abundant miRNAs appear to have recently emerged in the Arabidopsis thaliana lineage. Using large-scale sequencing of small RNAs, we extended the known diversity of miRNAs in basal plants to include 88 confidently annotated miRNA families in the moss Physcomitrella patens and 44 in the lycopod Selaginella moellendorffii. Cleavage of 29 targets directed by 14 distinct P. patens miRNA families and a trans-acting siRNA (ta-siRNA) was experimentally confirmed. Despite a core set of 12 miRNA families also expressed in angiosperms, weakly expressed and apparently lineage-specific miRNAs accounted for the majority of miRNA diversity in both species. Nevertheless, the molecular functions of several of these lineage-specific small RNAs matched those of angiosperms, despite dissimilarities in the small RNA sequences themselves, including small RNAs that mediated negative feedback regulation of the miRNA pathway and miR390-dependent ta-siRNAs that guided the cleavage of AUXIN RESPONSE FACTOR mRNAs. Diverse, lineage-specific, small RNAs can therefore perform common biological functions in plants.
Dinner preparation in the modern United States
Authors: Beck Margaret E.
Published: June 2007

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the family dinner in Los Angeles County, California, focusing on the role of commercial foods and the time invested in food preparation. Popular media emphasize the increasing use of processed commercial foods in the USA.

Design/methodology/approach

A total of 64 dinner preparation and consumption events were videotaped and observed (32 families, two weeknights each). Observations determined the source of food served (restaurant, take‐out, or home‐cooked), the ingredients and dishes in each meal prepared at home, and the time required to prepare it.

Findings

The findings in this paper showed that, even when prepared at home, most evening meals included processed commercial foods in at least moderate amounts. Home‐cooked meals required an average of 34 minutes' “hands‐on time” and 52 minutes' “total time” to prepare. Heavy use of commercial foods saved, on average, ten to 12 minutes, hands‐on time but did not reduce total preparation time. Commercial foods require more limited cooking skills and permit more complex dishes or meals to be prepared within a given time‐frame than do raw ingredients. They may also reduce time investment at stages other than meal preparation, such as shopping.

Originality/value

This paper provides a rare glimpse of food preparation and meal consumption behavior on the family level. Most reports on US food habits are based on survey and purchasing data, rather than direct observation of household activities as used here.
Utilizing virtual teams in a management principles course
Authors: Olson‐Buchanan Julie B. , Rechner Paula L. , Sanchez Rudolph J. , Schmidtke James M.
Published: June 2007

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to describe development of a component in a management principles course to develop university students' virtual team skills. There were several challenges in creating and implementing this new component. The paper aims to describe how these challenges were addressed and discusses outcomes associated with this virtual team component.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper primarily presents a case study of the evolution of a virtual team education module. Descriptive data and regression analysis are presented to support specific outcomes.

Findings

After completing the course, participants indicated the virtual team experience helped them gain useful professional skills. Hierarchical regression analysis indicated satisfaction with the virtual experience and perceptions that the virtual team experience built useful skills that were related to willingness to use this technology in the future (controlling for age, gender, working experience, and team performance).

Research limitations/implications

The training method was implemented in only one institution. Additionally, limited empirical data is presented.

Practical implications

Results can be used by others interested in implementing a virtual team training/education component in a university setting. Non‐educational organizations may find the information helpful in successfully introducing virtual teams to employees.

Originality/value

While computer mediated technology is increasingly utilized to educate and train students and employees, the process of effectively training people to optimally utilize technology, especially in a team setting, is not well documented. Additionally, this paper highlights factors that influence the acceptance of technology and willingness to use technology in the future.
Intangible project management assets as determinants of competitive advantage
Authors: Mathur Gita , Jugdev Kam , Shing Fung Tak
Published: June 2007

Purpose

To explore the role of intangible project management assets in achievement of competitive advantage from the project management process through it being valuable, rare, inimitable, and having organizational support.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected on tangible and intangible project management process assets and competitive characteristics of the project management process using an online survey of North American Project Management Institute™ members. Three key tangible asset factors, one intangible asset factor, and three competitive characteristics were identified using exploratory factor analysis. The relationship between these project management assets and project management process characteristics are examined using multivariate analysis.

Findings

Intangible project management assets are found to be a source of competitive advantage, directly and through a mediating role in the relationship between tangible project management assets and the competitive characteristics of the project management process.

Practical implications

This study highlights the importance of developing intangible project management assets, in addition to investment in tangible project management assets, to achieve competitive advantage from the process.

Research limitations/implications

This was an exploratory study. The authors expect to further develop the instrument, refine the model and constructs, and test it with a larger sample.

Originality/value

Few papers have used the Resource Based View lens and applied it to project management. This paper contributes to the literature on the Resource Based View of the firm and to an improved understanding of project management as a source of competitive advantage.