bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Increased GABA Release in the Central Amygdala of Ethanol-Dependent Rats
Authors: Roberto Marisa , Madamba Samuel G. , Stouffer David G. , Parsons Loren H. , Siggins George Robert
Published: November 2004

The central nucleus of amygdala (CeA) is important in regulating alcohol consumption and plays a major role in the anxiogenic response to ethanol withdrawal. We showed previously that acute ethanol augments GABAAreceptor-mediated IPSPs and IPSCs, possibly by a presynaptic mechanism. Here, we have examined the interaction of acute ethanol with the GABAergic system in chronic ethanol-treated (CET) rats using anin vitroCeA slice preparation andin vivobrain microdialysis. We found that in CeA slices from CET rats, the baseline evoked IPSP and IPSC amplitudes were increased, and paired-pulse facilitation ratios were lower than in naive rats, suggesting an increased GABAergic transmission after chronic ethanol treatment. Interestingly, acute ethanol (5-66 mm) significantly enhanced IPSPs and IPSCs equally in CET and naive rats, indicating a lack of tolerance for this effect of acute ethanol. Analysis of miniature IPSC frequency suggests that the increased GABAergic transmission by both acute and chronic ethanol arises from a presynaptic mechanism involving enhanced vesicular release of GABA. These data are supported by microdialysis studies showing that CET rats presented a fourfold increase in baseline GABA dialysate content compared with naive rats.In vivoadministration of ethanol (0.1, 0.3, and 1.0m) produced a dose-dependent increase in GABA release in the CeA dialysate in both CET and naive rats. These combined findings suggest that acute and chronic ethanol increases GABA release in CeA and support previous reports that the behavioral actions of ethanol are mediated, in part, by increased GABAergic transmission in the CeA.
Plasticity in the Entorhinal Cortex Suppresses Memory for Contextual Fear
Authors: Hebert April E. , Dash Pramod K.
Published: November 2004

Several studies have delineated a role for the hippocampus in fear conditioning. However, in this task, the role of the entorhinal cortex (EC), the main input-output structure for the hippocampus, is uncertain. The extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) cascade has been shown to be a molecular correlate for long-term memory, and its activity is required for various types of memory storage, including fear memory. In this study, we show that ERK activity in the EC increased 90 min after fear conditioning. Post-training intra-EC infusion of ERK cascade inhibitors (PD098059, UO126) at 40 min, but not at 10 min, resulted in increased freezing to the context, but not to the tone, during a 48 hr retention test. Interestingly, both PD098059- and UO126-infused animals also demonstrated anticipatory freezing in the context, freezing maximally at the time the shock was given during training. This anticipatory behavior was also seen in naive animals receiving additional training. Together, these results suggest that ERK-mediated plasticity in the EC normally suppresses context-specific fear memory, especially the temporal nature of the freezing response, and that blocking this plasticity mimics the effects of additional training.
Improved Behavior and Neuropathology in the Mouse Model of Sanfilippo Type IIIB Disease after Adeno-Associated Virus-Mediated Gene Transfer in the Striatum
Authors: Cressant Arnaud , Desmaris Nathalie , Verot Lucie , Bréjot Thomas , Froissart Roseline , Vanier Marie-T. , Maire Irène , Heard Jean Michel
Published: November 2004

Sanfilippo syndrome is a mucopolysaccharidosis (MPS) caused by a lysosomal enzyme defect interrupting the degradation pathway of heparan sulfates. Affected children develop hyperactivity, aggressiveness, delayed development, and severe neuropathology. We observed relevant behaviors in the mouse model of Sanfilippo syndrome type B (MPSIIIB), in which the gene coding for α-N-acetylglucosaminidase (NaGlu) is invalidated. We addressed the feasibility of gene therapy in these animals. Vectors derived from adeno-associated virus serotype 2 (AAV2) or 5 (AAV5) coding for NaGlu were injected at a single site in the putamen of 45 6-week-old MPSIIIB mice. Normal behavior was observed in treated mice. High NaGlu activity, far above physiological levels, was measured in the brain and persisted at 38 weeks of age. NaGlu immunoreactivity was detected in neuron intracellular organelles, including lysosomes. Enzyme activity spread beyond vector diffusion areas. Delivery to the entire brain was reproducibly obtained with both vector types. NaGlu activity was higher and distribution was broader with AAV5-NaGlu than with AAV2-NaGlu vectors. The compensatory increase in the activity of various lysosomal enzymes was improved. The accumulation of gangliosides GM2 and GM3 present before treatment and possibly participating in neuropathology was reversed. Characteristic vacuolations in microglia, perivascular cells, and neurons, which were prominent before the age of treatment, disappeared in areas in which NaGlu was present. However, improvement was only partial in some animals, in contrast to high NaGlu activity. These results indicate that NaGlu delivery from intracerebral sources has the capacity to alleviate most disease manifestations in the MPSIIIB mouse model.
Development of a Cultural Competence Assessment Instrument
Authors: Schim Stephanie Myers , Doorenbos Ardith Z. , Miller June , Benkert Ramona
Published: November 2004

This article describes initial testing of an instrument designed to provide evidence of cultural competence among health care providers and staff. The Cultural Competence Assessment (CCA) instrument was based on a model describing cultural competence components (fact, knowledge, attitude, and behavior). Content and face validity were confirmed through expert panel review, subject feedback, and field-testing. The CCA was administered to an interdisciplinary health care team in a community hospice setting. Preliminary findings suggest that the CCA performed well. Internal consistency reliability for the scale was 0.92. Construct validity by factor analysis demonstrated that 25 items had loadings above 0.42. Construct validity was supported with a significant correlation to the widely used Inventory for Assessing the Process of Cultural Competence among Health care Professionals (IAPCC). Validity also was supported by significant differences between individuals with different educational levels and prior diversity training. The CCA is a promising tool to measure cultural competence in populations with a wide range of educational levels and backgrounds.
Metric Equivalence Assessment in Cross-Cultural Research: Using an Example of the Center for Epidemiological Studies–Depression Scale
Authors: Kim Miyong , Han Hae-Ra , Phillips Linda
Published: November 2004

Metric equivalence is a quantitative way to assess cross-cultural equivalences of translated instruments by examining the patterns of psychometric properties based on cross-cultural data derived from both versions of the instrument. Metric equivalence checks at item and instrument levels can be used as a valuable tool to refine cross-cultural instruments. Korean and English versions of the Center for Epidemiological Studies–Depression Scale (CES–D) were administered to 154 Korean Americans and 151 Anglo Americans to illustrate approaches to assessing their metric equivalence. Inter-item and item-total correlations, Cronbach’s alpha coefficients, and factor analysis were used for metric equivalence checks. The alpha coefficient for the Korean-American sample was 0.85 and 0.92 for the Anglo American sample. Although all items of the CES–D surpassed the desirable minimum of 0.30 in the Anglo American sample, four items did not meet the standard in the Korean American sample. Differences in average inter-item correlations were also noted between the two groups (0.25 for Korean Americans and 0.37 for Anglo Americans). Factor analysis identified two factors for both groups, and factor loadings showed similar patterns and congruence coefficients. Results of the item analysis procedures suggest the possibility of bias in certain items that may influence the sensitivity of the Korean version of the CES–D. These item biases also provide a possible explanation for the alpha differences. Although factor loadings showed similar patterns for the Korean and English versions of the CES–D, factorial similarity alone is not sufficient for testing the universality of the structure underlying an instrument.
Leprosy and tuberculosis in Iron Age Southeast Asia?
Authors: Tayles N. , Buckley H.R.
Published: November 2004

The recent excavation of a sample of 120 human skeletons from an Iron Age site in the valley of the Mun River, a tributary of the Mekong River on the Khorat Plateau in northeast Thailand, has provided the largest sample from this period in the region to date. This paper reviews three individuals from the sample with pathological changes for which the differential diagnosis includes systemic infectious disease. In two of these, both males with lesions of the hands and feet, leprosy and psoriatic arthritis are discussed as differential diagnoses, with leprosy the most probable. In the third, a female with lesions of the spine, the differential diagnosis includes tuberculosis and nonspecific osteomyelitis. Tuberculosis is the most probable diagnosis. Although the focus of this paper is a presentation of the evidence for infectious disease at Noen U‐Loke, the significance of probable diagnoses of mycobacterial diseases for the history of the diseases and for prehistory in mainland Southeast Asia is also briefly discussed. Am J Phys Anthropol, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Understanding muscle markers: Lower limbs
Authors: Weiss Elizabeth
Published: November 2004

Musculoskeletal markers are frequently used to reconstruct past lifestyles and activity patterns. Yet the reliability of muscle marker measurements has been called into question because they may be confounded by body size. In this study, an aggregate muscle marker variable was calculated using 20 insertion sites (14 femoral, 6 tibial), and I examined their effects on lower limb size (as a proxy for body size), age, and sex. Analyses were made of a sample of 77 (57 males, 20 females) Native British Columbians (3,500–1,500 years BP) and 18th century Quebec prisoners. Muscle markers were measured using two‐point observer rating scales; size was measured by standard methods; and age and sex were determined through pelvic, cranial, and dental morphology. Lower limb muscle markers correlated with: age, r = 0.61; lower limb size, r = 0.52; and sex, r = 0.49; P < 0.001. Older individuals had higher muscle marker scores, as did larger individuals and males. Based on partial correlations and regression analyses, age was the best overall predictor of lower limb muscle markers. Am J Phys Anthropol, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
New progress in the theory and model of carbon black reinforcement of elastomers
Authors: Fukahori Yoshihide
Published: November 2004

The author proposes a new concept with a new interface model for carbon black reinforcement of elastomer, based on stress analysis. The new model consists of double uncrosslinked polymer layers of different molecular mobility, the inner glassy hard (GH) layer, and the outer sticky hard (SH) layer surrounding a carbon particle. In this report, the most essential and fundamental three subjects in the carbon black reinforcement are discussed. Large stress increase with filler content and increasing strain amplitude results from the strong stress concentration generated around carbon particles and its transmission to the whole system. The great increase in tensile stress is only possible when the stress‐hardened superstructure produced in the SH layer under large extension supports the large stress concentration. The super structure is the network of carbon particles interconnected by strands of oriented and extended molecules, together with a craze‐like phenomenon forming numerous microvoids. Stress softening, called the Mullins effect, mainly results from the buckling of the strand of oriented molecules. Thus, the large and instant stress reduction takes place in unloading, in which the main load‐bearing force is the entropic, contractile force of matrix cross‐linked rubber. During long periods, the extended molecules in the uncrosslinked SH layer will considerably relax and return to their original entropic state. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 95: 60–67, 2005
Direct bonding between poly(oxy‐2,6‐dimethyl‐1,4‐phenylene) and rubber with radicals
Authors: Mutsuda Mitsuteru , Komada Hajime
Published: November 2004

The solubility parameter value (SP value, δ) is one of the most important factors in bonding technology. It was found that various kinds of rubber, such as VMQ (δ ≒ 7.3 cal1/2/cm3/2) compounds, EPDM (δ ≒ 7.9 cal1/2/cm3/2) compounds, and X‐NBR (δ ≒ 9.3 cal1/2/cm3/2), can bond to poly(oxy‐2,6‐dimethyl‐1,4‐phenylene) in their vulcanization process. This means that this bonding mechanism depends less on SP values. In this study, the bonding mechanism is hypothesized as an interfacial radical reaction, and the hypothesis is validated by molecular orbital (MO) calculations and experiments. All experimental results and MO calculation results are consistent with each other. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 95: 53–59, 2005
Recovery in the fetal pancreatic islet following fetal administration of streptozotocin in the rat in vivo and in vitro
Authors: Yamamoto Masako , Yasuda Masahiko , Hori Akiko , Arishima Kazuyoshi , Eguchi Yasunobu
Published: November 2004

In our previous study, after direct administration of streptozotocin (STZ; 400 μg/g) to fetuses on day 19 of gestation, the B‐cell volume in fetal pancreatic islets showed a marked decrease, but gradually recovered with electron microscopic confirmation of B‐cell regeneration. However, STZ at this dose often caused fetal death. In this study, therefore, we determined whether B‐cells are newly generated after treatment with STZ at a smaller dose in vivo and in vitro. For in vivo experiment, fetuses were administered STZ at 40 μg/g on day 19 of gestation. The B‐cell volume in pancreatic islets decreased markedly 3 hr after the administration of STZ, but it began to increase after 6 hr. The fetal plasma insulin concentration decreased from 6 to 12 hr after the administration, but recovered after 48 hr. The cell division index in fetal pancreatic islets of the STZ‐treated group began to be significantly larger after 6 hr. For in vitro experiment, fetal pancreases on day 18 of gestation were pretreated with 10 mM STZ for 6 hr and cultured for 98 hr. B‐cells were completely destroyed with STZ treatment; however, as these pancreases were cultured in a medium free of STZ, B‐cells began to appear and insulin secretion was detected after 48 hr. After 72 hr, the cell division index was significantly greater. These results suggest that the fetal pancreas treated with STZ has the ability to regenerate B‐cells both in vivo and in vitro. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Visualization of term discrimination analysis
Authors: Zhang Jin , Wolfram Dietmar
Published: November 2004

A visual term discrimination value analysis method is introduced using a document density space within a distance–angle‐based visual information retrieval environment. The term discrimination capacity is analyzed using the comparison of the distance and angle‐based visual representations with and without a specified term, thereby allowing the user to see the impact of the term on individual documents within the density space. Next, the concept of a “term density space” is introduced for term discrimination analysis. Using this concept, a term discrimination capacity for distinguishing one term from others in the space can also be visualized within the visual space. Applications of these methods facilitate more effective assignment of term weights to index terms within documents and may assist searchers in the selection of search terms.
Mooers' law: In and out of context
Authors: Austin Brice
Published: November 2004

Mooers' Law, widely referenced in the literature of Library and Information Science, has generally been misinterpreted as concluding that customers will tend not to use Information Retrieval systems that are too difficult or frustrating, when in fact the law addresses the reluctance of customers to use any type of IR system, regardless of its faults or merits, within an environment in which having information requires more effort than not having it. An expansion of Mooers' original law is proposed, based upon a “Scale of Information Retrieval Environments,” which includes not only those types of environments addressed by Mooers, but those in which a premium is placed upon having information, as well as those in which the effort required from having information vs. not having it is fairly evenly balanced.
Use of relevance criteria across stages of document evaluation: On the complementarity of experimental and naturalistic studies
Authors: Tang Rong , Solomon Paul
Published: November 2004

This paper provides an overview of empirical investigations of people's use of relevance criteria. A laboratory experiment and a naturalistic study were conducted to explore the patterns of movement in use of relevance criteria during real‐time document evaluation processes. The expectation was that the subjects would apply different frames of reference for relevance decision making as they moved from one stage of the document evaluation to another, and that change would occur not only for particular criteria but also for classes of criteria. The examination of such change was performed at two levels: a micro‐level analysis, centering on the use of individual criteria, and a macro‐level analysis, concentrating on the use of criteria classes. General results of the two studies are included in this paper. Both projects provided information on criteria patterns, which challenge the conventional meaning‐based approach to criteria classification. Building on these findings, a classification scheme and criteria taxonomy that may enable generalization of criteria across different contexts is proposed.
An empirical comparison of visualization tools to assist information retrieval on the web
Authors: Heo Misook , Hirtle Stephen C.
Published: November 2004

Visualizations of subspaces on the World Wide Web can provide users the ability to identify relevant information from a set of Web pages, while gaining new insights or understanding of the space. This study tested three classes of visualization techniques, distortion, zoom, and expanding outline, to better understand which classes of visualization techniques may better represent the underlying structure. The effects of different visualization techniques on user performance on information searching tasks and the effects of different sizes of the Web spaces were studied. Eighty participants were asked to search information with and without a visualization tool over the large Web space. The factors that may have caused cognitive overloads are further discussed.
Author inflation leads to a breakdown of Lotka's law
Authors: Kretschmer Hildrun , Rousseau Ronald
Published: November 2004

It is empirically shown that, even using the normal or total counting procedure, Lotka's law breaks down when articles with a large, i.e., more than hundred, number of authors are included in the bibliography. The explanation of this phenomenon is that the conditions for an application of the basic success‐breeds‐success model are not fulfilled any more. Studying articles with many authors means dealing with items (the articles) having multiple sources (the authors), hence Egghe's generalized success‐breeds‐success model, leading to not necessarily decreasing distributions, explains the observed irregularities.
Multimedia exploratory data analysis for geospatial data mining: The case for augmented seriation
Authors: Gluck Myke
Published: November 2004

The amount of spatial data collected from satellites, aerial photography, and land‐based stations continues to grow at astounding rates. In this article, the role of exploratory data analysis (EDA) for spatial data mining is reviewed and a case study addressing environmental risk assessments in New York State is presented to illustrate the feasibility and usability of augmenting seriation for spatial data analysis. For this project, seriation, a univariate EDA technique, is augmented with a class of multimedia tools including iconic matrices, choropleth mapping, graphic interactions, and sound to exploit spatial datasets to better understand the relationships among spatial, temporal, and human variables. Additional software enhancements such as three‐dimensional matrices, multivariate choropleth mapping, and tonal sonification are proposed to further improve these user‐based tools for spatial data analysis.
Urquhart's and Garfield's Laws: The British controversy over their validity
Authors: Bensman Stephen J.
Published: November 2004

The British controversy over the validity of Urquhart's and Garfield's Laws during the 1970s constitutes an important episode in the formulation of the probability structure of human knowledge. This controversy took place within the historical context of the convergence of two scientific revolutions—the bibliometric and the biometric—that had been launched in Britain. The preceding decades had witnessed major breakthroughs in understanding the probability distributions underlying the use of human knowledge. Two of the most important of these breakthroughs were the laws posited by Donald J. Urquhart and Eugene Garfield, who played major roles in establishing the institutional bases of the bibliometric revolution. For his part, Urquhart began his realization of S. C. Bradford's concept of a national science library by analyzing the borrowing of journals on interlibrary loan from the Science Museum Library in 1956. He found that 10% of the journals accounted for 80% of the loans and formulated Urquhart's Law, by which the interlibrary use of a journal is a measure of its total use. This law underlay the operations of the National Lending Library for Science and Technology (NLLST), which Urquhart founded. The NLLST became the British Library Lending Division (BLLD) and ultimately the British Library Document Supply Centre (BLDSC). In contrast, Garfield did a study of 1969 journal citations as part of the process of creating the Science Citation Index (SCI), formulating his Law of Concentration, by which the bulk of the information needs in science can be satisfied by a relatively small, multidisciplinary core of journals. This law became the operational principle of the Institute for Scientific Information created by Garfield. A study at the BLLD under Urquhart's successor, Maurice B. Line, found low correlations of NLLST use with SCI citations, and publication of this study started a major controversy, during which both laws were called into question. The study was based on the faulty use of the Spearman rank‐correlation coefficient, and the controversy over it was instrumental in causing B. C. Brookes to investigate bibliometric laws as probabilistic phenomena and begin to link the bibliometric with the biometric revolution. This paper concludes with a resolution of the controversy by means of a statistical technique that incorporates Brookes' criticism of the Spearman rank‐correlation method and demonstrates the mutual supportiveness of the two laws.
Who dunnit? Metatags and hyperauthorship
Authors: Davenport Elisabeth , Cronin Blaise
Published: November 2004

Multiple authorship is a topic of growing concern in a number of scientific domains. When, as is increasingly common, scholarly articles and clinical reports have scores or even hundreds of authors—what Cronin (in press) has termed “hyperauthorship”—the precise nature of each individual's contribution is often masked. A notation that describes collaborators' contributions and allows those contributions to be tracked in, and across, texts (and over time) offers a solution. Such a notation should be useful, easy to use, and acceptable to communities of scientists. Drawing on earlier work, we present a proposal for an XML‐like “contribution” mark‐up, and discuss the potential benefits and possible drawbacks.
How to analyze publication time trends by correspondence factor analysis: Analysis of publications by 48 countries in 18 disciplines over 12 years
Authors: Doré Jean‐Christophe , Ojasoo Tiiu
Published: November 2004

This study is a follow‐up to a published Correspondence Factorial Analysis (CFA) of a dataset of over 6 million bibliometric entries (Doré et al. JASIS, 47(8), 588– 602,1996), which compared the publication output patterns of 48 countries in 18 disciplines over a 12‐year period (1981–1992). It analyzes by methods suitable for investigating short time series how these output patterns evolved over the 12‐year span. Three types of approach are described: (1) the chi2 distances of the publication output patterns from the center of gravity of the multidimensional system—which represents an average world pattern—were calculated for each country and for each year. We noted whether the patterns moved toward or away from the center with time; (2) individual annual output patterns were introduced as supplementary variables into an existing global overview covering the whole time‐span [CFA map of (countries × disciplines)]. We observed how these patterns moved about within the map year by year; (3) the matrix (disciplines × time) was analyzed by CFA to derive time trends for each country. CFA revealed the “inner clocks” governing publication trends. The time scale that best fitted the data was not a linear but an elastic scale. Although different countries laid emphasis on publication in different disciplines, the overall tendency was toward greater uniformity in publication patterns with time.
Towards a theory of aboutness, subject, topicality, theme, domain, field, content . . . and relevance
Authors: Hjørland Birger
Published: November 2004

Theories of aboutness and theories of subject analysis and of related concepts such as topicality are often isolated from each other in the literature of information science (IS) and related disciplines. In IS it is important to consider the nature and meaning of these concepts, which is closely related to theoretical and metatheoretical issues in information retrieval (IR). A theory of IR must specify which concepts should be regarded as synonymous concepts and explain how the meaning of the nonsynonymous concepts should be defined.
Web mining for Web image retrieval
Authors: Chen Zheng , Wenyin Liu , Zhang Feng , Li Mingjing , Zhang Hongjiang
Published: November 2004

The popularity of digital images is rapidly increasing due to improving digital imaging technologies and convenient availability facilitated by the Internet. However, how to find user‐intended images from the Internet is nontrivial. The main reason is that the Web images are usually not annotated using semantic descriptors. In this article, we present an effective approach to and a prototype system for image retrieval from the Internet using Web mining. The system can also serve as a Web image search engine. One of the key ideas in the approach is to extract the text information on the Web pages to semantically describe the images. The text description is then combined with other low‐level image features in the image similarity assessment. Another main contribution of this work is that we apply data mining on the log of users' feedback to improve image retrieval performance in three aspects. First, the accuracy of the document space model of image representation obtained from the Web pages is improved by removing clutter and irrelevant text information. Second, to construct the user space model of users' representation of images, which is then combined with the document space model to eliminate mismatch between the page author's expression and the user's understanding and expectation. Third, to discover the relationship between low‐level and high‐level features, which is extremely useful for assigning the low‐level features' weights in similarity assessment.
A media agent for automatically building a personalized semantic index of Web media objects
Authors: Wenyin Liu , Chen Zheng , Li Mingjing , Zhang Hongjiang
Published: November 2004

A novel idea of media agent is briefly presented, which can automatically build a personalized semantic index of Web media objects for each particular user. Because the Web is a rich source of multimedia data and the text content on the Web pages is usually semantically related to those media objects on the same pages, the media agent can automatically collect the URLs and related text, and then build the index of the multimedia data, on behalf of the user whenever and wherever she accesses these multimedia data or their container Web pages. Moreover, the media agent can also use an off‐line crawler to build the index for those multimedia objects that are relevant to the user's favorites but have not accessed by the user yet. When the user wants to find these multimedia data once again, the semantic index facilitates text‐based search for her.
Web image retrieval using self‐organizing feature map
Authors: Wu Qishi , Iyengar S. Sitharama , Zhu Mengxia
Published: November 2004

The explosive growth of digital image collections on the Web sites is calling for an efficient and intelligent method of browsing, searching, and retrieving images. In this article, an artificial neural network (ANN)‐based approach is proposed to explore a promising solution to the Web image retrieval (IR). Compared with other image retrieval methods, this new approach has the following characteristics. First of all, the Content‐Based features have been combined with Text‐Based features to improve retrieval performance. Instead of solely relying on low‐level visual features and high‐level concepts, we also take the textual features into consideration, which are automatically extracted from image names, alternative names, page titles, surrounding texts, URLs, etc. Secondly, the Kohonen neural network model is introduced and led into the image retrieval process. Due to its self‐organizing property, the cognitive knowledge is learned, accumulated, and solidified during the unsupervised training process. The architecture is presented to illustrate the main conceptual components and mechanism of the proposed image retrieval system. To demonstrate the superiority of the new IR system over other IR systems, the retrieval result of a test example is also given in the article.
Predicting the relevance of a library catalog search
Authors: Cooper Michael D. , Chen Hui‐Min
Published: November 2004

Relevance has been a difficult concept to define, let alone measure. In this paper, a simple operational definition of relevance is proposed for a Web‐based library catalog: whether or not during a search session the user saves, prints, mails, or downloads a citation. If one of those actions is performed, the session is considered relevant to the user. An analysis is presented illustrating the advantages and disadvantages of this definition. With this definition and good transaction logging, it is possible to ascertain the relevance of a session. This was done for 905,970 sessions conducted with the University of California's Melvyl online catalog. Next, a methodology was developed to try to predict the relevance of a session. A number of variables were defined that characterize a session, none of which used any demographic information about the user. The values of the variables were computed for the sessions. Principal components analysis was used to extract a new set of variables out of the original set. A stratified random sampling technique was used to form ten strata such that each new strata of 90,570 sessions contained the same proportion of relevant to nonrelevant sessions. Logistic regression was used to ascertain the regression coefficients for nine of the ten strata. Then, the coefficients were used to predict the relevance of the sessions in the missing strata. Overall, 17.85% of the sessions were determined to be relevant. The predicted number of relevant sessions for all ten strata was 11%, a 6.85% difference. The authors believe that the methodology can be further refined and the prediction improved. This methodology could also have significant application in improving user searching and also in predicting electronic commerce buying decisions without the use of personal demographic data.
PageRank and Interaction Information Retrieval
Authors: Dominich Sándor , Skrop Adrienn
Published: November 2004

The PageRank method is used by the Google Web search engine to compute the importance of Web pages. Two different views have been developed for the interpretation of the PageRank method and values: (a) stochastic (random surfer): the PageRank values can be conceived as the steady‐state distribution of a Markov chain, and (b) algebraic: the PageRank values form the eigenvector corresponding to eigenvalue 1 of the Web link matrix. The Interaction Information Retrieval (I2R) method is a nonclassical information retrieval paradigm, which represents a connectionist approach based on dynamic systems. In the present paper, a different interpretation of PageRank is proposed, namely, a dynamic systems viewpoint, by showing that the PageRank method can be formally interpreted as a particular case of the Interaction Information Retrieval method; and thus, the PageRank values may be interpreted as neutral equilibrium points of the Web.
PRAW—A PRivAcy model for the Web
Authors: Shapira Bracha , Elovici Yuval , Meshiach Adlay , Kuflik Tsvi
Published: November 2004

Web navigation enables easy access to vast amounts of information and services. However, it also poses a major risk to users' privacy. Various eavesdroppers constantly attempt to violate users' privacy by tracking their navigation activities and inferring their interests and needs (profiles). Users who wish to keep their intentions secret forego useful services to avoid exposure. The computer security community has concentrated on improving users' privacy by concealing their identity on the Web. However, users may want or need to identify themselves over the Net to receive certain services but still retain their interests, needs, and intentions in private. PRAW—a PRivAcy model for the Web suggested in this paper—is aimed at hiding users' navigation tracks to prevent eavesdroppers from inferring their profiles but still allowing them to be identified. PRAW is based on continuous generation of fake transactions in various fields of interests to confuse eavesdroppers' automated programs, thus providing them false data. A privacy measure is defined that reflects the difference between users' actual profile and the profile that eavesdroppers might infer. A prototype system was developed to examine PRAW's feasibility and conduct experiments to test its effectiveness. Encouraging results and their analysis are presented, as well as possible attacks and known limitations.
Encephalocraniocutaneous lipomatosis accompanied by maxillary compound odontoma and juvenile angiofibroma: Report of a case
Authors: Andreadis Dimitrios A. , Rizos Christos B. , Belazi Maria , Peneva Milena , Antoniades Demetrios Z.
Published: November 2004

BACKGROUND

Encephalocraniocutaneous lipomatosis (ECCL) is a rare neurocutaneous syndrome characterized by congenital cutaneous, ocular, and neurologic abnormalities, which may be pronounced in the head and neck.

CASE

In this article we present a well‐documented case of a six‐year‐old boy with ECCL associated with oral manifestations. In this case, typical features such as large lipomatous brown pigmented plaques of the top of the skull with overlying alopecia, ptotic eyelid with decreased function, bulbar conjunctiva lipodermoid, microcalcifications and atrophy of cerebral parenchyma, and the widening of the frontal subarachnoid space and the fissure of Sylvius were accompanied by intraoral lesions, maxillary compound odontoma, and juvenile extranasopharyngeal angiofibroma of the gingiva.

CONCLUSIONS

Although cases of odontomas have already been described and angiofibromas are a quite common extraoral finding, to our knowledge this is the first case of intraoral evaluation of both extranasopharyngeal juvenile angiofibroma and maxillary compound odontoma in ECCL syndrome. Birth Defects Research (Part A), 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Structure and axis curvature in two dA6·dT6DNA oligonucleotides: Comparison of molecular dynamics simulations with results from crystallography and NMR spectroscopy
Authors: Dixit Surjit B. , Pitici Felicia , Beveridge D. L.
Published: November 2004

Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations have been performed on the A6 containing DNA dodecamers d(GGCAAAAAACGG) solved by NMR and d(CGCAAAAAAGCG) solved by crystallography. The experimental structures differ in the direction of axis bending and in other small but important aspects relevant to the DNA curvature problem. Five nanosecond MD simulations of each sequence have been performed, beginning with both the NMR and crystal forms as well as canonical B‐form DNA. The results show that all simulations converge to a common form in close proximity to the observed NMR structure, indicating that the structure obtained in the crystal is likely a strained form due to packing effects. A‐tracts in the MD model are essentially straight. The origin of axis curvature is found at pyrimidine–purine steps in the flanking sequences. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Biopolymers, 2004
Solid‐phase synthesis and conformational properties of angiotensin converting enzyme catalytic‐site peptides: The basis for a structural study on the enzyme–substrate interaction
Authors: Galanis Athanassios S. , Spyroulias Georgios A. , Pairas George , Manessi‐Zoupa Evy , Cordopatis Paul
Published: November 2004

The solution NMR conformational properties of two angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) Zn catalytic‐site 36‐residue peptides, with the general sequence HEMGHX23EAIGDX3, synthesized through solid‐phase 9‐flourenylmethyoxycarbonyl (Fmoc) chemistry, is reported. The 1H resonance assignment of Zn‐bound peptides is presented and the characteristic features of the NMR solution models of the two ACE Zn(II)‐bound peptides are reported. The solid‐state and solution structures of the ACE C‐domain catalytic site are compared while biologically important structural similarities and differences of the N‐ and C‐terminal catalytic sites are discussed. Additionally, the structural features of the ACE substrate, the angiotensin I (AI) decapeptide, are studied using NMR spectroscopy, in order to set the structural basis for the ACE–substrate interaction in solution. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Biopolymers (Pept Sci), 2004
Structural Investigation of the HIV‐1 Envelope Glycoprotein gp160 Cleavage Site 3: Role of Site‐Specific Mutations
Authors: Falcigno Lucia , Oliva Romina , D'Auria Gabriella , Maletta Massimiliano , Dettin Monica , Pasquato Antonella , Di Bello Carlo , Paolillo Livio
Published: November 2004

Proteolytic processing of HIV gp160 to produce gp120 and gp41 is performed by PC enzymes. This process is a prerequisite for the virus infectivity, since both gp120 and gp41 participate in the virus HIV‐1 entry mechanism. The structure of the gp120/gp41 junction remains to be elucidated, and the structural features required for molecular recognition between HIV‐1 gp160 and proteolytic enzymes have not been clarified. Furin is the best PC candidate for the gp160 proteolytic processing known to date.

In previous studies on model peptides, we have shown the relevance of an N‐terminal helix for the proper recognition of the gp160 processing site by furin. Here we analyze the effect of point mutations in peptides lacking a regular N‐terminal helix. To this end, we present the structure–activity characterization of three peptide analogues of the HIV gp160 processing site that all present mutations in proline at positions P3 and/or P2′, while sharing the same N‐terminal sequence, containing helix‐breaking D‐amino acids. Conformational analysis of the peptides was carried out in solution by NMR techniques, and furin’s efficiency in cleaving them was measured. Structural findings are presented and discussed in relation to the different exhibited activity.
Gaseous Supramolecules of Imidazolium Ionic Liquids: “Magic” Numbers and Intrinsic Strengths of Hydrogen Bonds
Authors: Gozzo Fabio C. , Santos Leonardo S. , Augusti Rodinei , Consorti Crestina S. , Dupont Jairton , Eberlin Marcos N.
Published: November 2004

Electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI‐MS) is found to gently and efficiently transfer small to large as well as singly to multiply charged [X+]n[A−]m supramolecules of imidazolium ion (X+) ionic liquids to the gas phase, and to reveal “magic numbers” for their most favored assemblies. Tandem mass spectrometric experiments (ESI‐MS/MS) were then used to dissociate, via low‐energy collision activation, mixed and loosely bonded [A‐ ‐ ‐ ‐X‐ ‐ ‐ ‐A′]− and [X‐ ‐ ‐ ‐A‐ ‐ ‐ ‐X′]+ gaseous supramolecules, as well as their higher homologues, and to estimate and order via Cooks' kinetic method (CKM) and B3LYP/6‐311G(d,p) calculations the intrinsic solvent‐free magnitude of hydrogen bonds. For the five anions studied, the relative order of intrinsic hydrogen‐bond strengths to the 1‐n‐butyl‐3‐methylimidazolium ion [X1]+ is: CF3CO2− (zero) > BF4− (−3.1) > PF6− (−10.0) > InCl4− (−16.4) and BPh4− (−17.6 kcal mol−1). The relative hydrogen‐bond strength for InCl4− was measured via CKM whereas those for the other anions were calculated and used as CKM references. A good correlation coefficient (R=0.998) between fragment ion ratios and calculated hydrogen‐bond strengths and an effective temperature (Teff) of 430 K demonstrate the CKM reliability for measuring hydrogen‐bond strengths in gaseous ionic liquid supramolecules. Using CKM and Teff of 430 K, the intrinsic hydrogen‐bond strengths of BF4− for the three cations investigated is: 1‐n‐butyl‐3‐methyl‐imidazolium ion (0) > 1,3‐di‐[(R)‐3‐methyl‐2‐butyl]‐imidazolium ion (−2.4) > 1,3‐di‐[(R)‐α‐methylbenzyl]‐imidazolium ion (−3.0 kcal mol−1). As evidenced by “magic” numbers, greater stabilities are found for the [(X1)2(BF4)3]− and [(X1)5A4]+ supramolecules (A≠InCl4−).
Kinetic Study of Phosphorylation‐Dependent Complex Formation between the Kinase‐Inducible Domain (KID) of CREB and the KIX Domain of CBP on a Quartz Crystal Microbalance
Authors: Matsuno Hisao , Furusawa Hiroyuki , Okahata Yoshio
Published: November 2004

We report quantitative analysis of peptide–peptide interactions on a 27 MHz quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) in aqueous solution. The KID (kinase‐inducible domain) of transcription factor CREB (cyclic AMP response element binding protein) is known to interact with the KIX domain of coactivator CBP (CREB binding protein), facilitated by phosphorylation at Ser‐133 of the KID. The KIX domain peptide (86 aa) was immobilized on the QCM gold electrode surface by means of a poly(ethylene glycol) spacer. Binding of the KID peptide (46 aa) to the KIX peptide was detected by frequency decreases (mass increases) of the QCM. Both maximum binding amount (Δmmax) and association constants (Ka) obtained from the QCM measurements increased as a result of phosphorylation of Ser‐133 of the KID peptide. The Ka values for KIX peptide to the phosphorylated (pKID) and unphosphorylated KID peptides were (93±2)×103 and (5±1)×103 M−1, respectively. This difference was explained by the dissociation rate constant (k−1) of the pKID being 20 times smaller than that of the KID, while association rate constants (k1) were independent of phosphorylation.
Trends in mortality from major cancers in the European Union, including acceding countries, in 2004
Authors: Levi Fabio , Lucchini Franca , Negri Eva , La Vecchia Carlo
Published: November 2004

BACKGROUND

In May 2004, 10 additional countries joined the European Union (EU), including a total of 75 million inhabitants. Most of these were from central and eastern European countries with comparably high cancer mortality rates and with relatively unfavorable trends. Therefore, it is important to provide updated mortality data regarding major cancers in various countries and to analyze trends for the current population of the EU.

METHODS

The authors considered mortality rates (directly standardized to the world standard population) for all cancers and for 8 major cancer sites in the year 2000 in the 25 countries of the EU and analyzed corresponding trends since 1980 using data derived from the World Health Organization data base.

RESULTS

For men, overall cancer mortality in the year 2000 varied by a factor > 2 between the highest rate of 258.5 per 100,000 men in Hungary and the lowest rate of 122.0 per 100,000 men in Sweden. Central and Eastern European accession countries had the highest rates not only for lung and other tobacco‐related cancers but also for gastrointestinal cancers and leukemias. The geographic pattern was different and the range of variation was smaller for women, i.e., between 136.7 per 100,000 women in Denmark and 76.4 per 100,000 women in Spain in the year 2000. In the EU as a whole, lung cancer mortality in men peaked at 55.4 per 100,000 men in 1988 and declined thereafter to 46.7 per 100,000 men in 2000. Gastric cancer steadily declined from 19.7 per 100,000 men in 1980 to 10.1 per 100,000 men in 2000. Other major sites showed moderately favorable trends over the last few years. In women, breast cancer peaked at 21.7 per 100,000 in 1989 and declined to 18.9 per 100,000 in 2000. Mortality from gastric, (cervix) uterus, and intestinal cancers demonstrated steady decreases, but lung cancer increased from 7.7 per 100,000 women in 1980 to 11.1 per 100,000 women in 2000. The increase in lung cancer mortality in women age < 55 years was 38% between 1990 and 2000 (from 2.16 per 100,000 women to 2.99 per 100,000 women), reflecting the spread of tobacco smoking among women in the EU over the last few decades.

CONCLUSIONS

The priority for further reduction of cancer mortality in the EU remains tobacco control together with more widespread availability of modern diagnostic and treatment procedures for neoplasms that are amenable to treatment. Cancer 2004. © 2004 American Cancer Society.
Cytokines in pancreatic carcinoma
Authors: Ebrahimi Behnam , Tucker Susan L. , Li Donghui , Abbruzzese James L. , Kurzrock Razelle
Published: November 2004

BACKGROUND

Cytokines have been implicated in diverse processes that are relevant to pancreatic carcinoma, including cachexia, asthenia, and tumor growth. The objective of this study was to examine the association between serum levels of proinflammatory and antiinflammatory or angiogenic cytokines and the outcomes of patients with pancreatic carcinoma.

METHODS

Serum cytokine levels were measured by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay from 51 patients with pancreatic carcinoma and from 48–62 healthy volunteers. Cytokine levels were compared with disease manifestations and overall survival.

RESULTS

Circulating levels of vascular endothelial growth factor, tumor necrosis factor alpha, interleukin‐1α (IL‐1α), and IL‐1β were not elevated significantly in patients with pancreatic carcinoma, but levels of IL‐6, IL‐8, IL‐10, and IL‐1 receptor antagonist (IL‐1RA) were elevated significantly (P < 0.05). Cytokine levels were dichotomized based on an analysis of null Martingale residuals. Patients who had IL‐6 levels > 5.2 pg/mL or IL‐10 levels > 9.8 pg/mL had significantly worse survival compared with patients who had lower IL‐6 or IL‐10 levels (P < 0.05). IL‐8 levels were not associated with survival differences. Patients who had IL‐1RA levels < 159 pg/mL had significantly worse survival compared with patients who had higher IL‐1RA levels (P < 0.05). Higher IL‐6, IL‐10, and IL‐8 levels were associated with poor performance status and/or weight loss. In multivariate analysis, only T4 tumors and high IL‐6 levels were selected as independent prognostic factors for poor survival.

CONCLUSIONS

Circulating levels of several cytokines were high in patients with pancreatic carcinoma, and their association with weight loss and poor performance status suggested that they may be involved in these disease manifestations. Furthermore, serum cytokine levels, in particular IL‐6, may be a useful prognostic marker. Cancer 2004. © 2004 American Cancer Society.