bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
THE STRUCTURAL BIOLOGY OF TYPE II FATTY ACID BIOSYNTHESIS
Authors: White Stephen W. , Zheng Jie , Zhang Yong-Mei , Rock Charles O.
Published: March 2005

▪ Abstract  The type II fatty acid synthetic pathway is the principal route for the production of membrane phospholipid acyl chains in bacteria and plants. The reaction sequence is carried out by a series of individual soluble proteins that are each encoded by a discrete gene, and the pathway intermediates are shuttled between the enzymes as thioesters of an acyl carrier protein. The Escherichia coli system is the paradigm for the study of this system, and high-resolution X-ray and/or NMR structures of representative members of every enzyme in the type II pathway are now available. The structural biology of these proteins reveals the specific three-dimensional features of the enzymes that explain substrate recognition, chain length specificity, and the catalytic mechanisms that define their roles in producing the multitude of products generated by the type II system. These structures are also a valuable resource to guide antibacterial drug discovery.
Hyperglycemia does not increase basal hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal activity in diabetes but it does impair the HPA response to insulin-induced hypoglycemia
Authors: Chan Owen , Inouye Karen , Akirav Eitan M. , Park Edward , Riddell Michael C. , Matthews Stephen G. , Vranic Mladen
Published: March 2005

Recently, we established that hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) and counterregulatory responses to insulin-induced hypoglycemia were impaired in uncontrolled streptozotocin (STZ)-diabetic (65 mg/kg) rats and insulin treatment restored most of these responses. In the current study, we used phloridzin to determine whether the restoration of blood glucose alone was sufficient to normalize HPA function in diabetes. Normal, diabetic, insulin-treated, and phloridzin-treated diabetic rats were either killed after 8 days or subjected to a hypoglycemic (40 mg/dl) glucose clamp. Basal: Elevated basal ACTH and corticosterone in STZ rats were normalized with insulin but not phloridzin. Increases in hypothalamic corticotrophin-releasing hormone (CRH) and inhibitory hippocampal mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) mRNA with STZ diabetes were not restored with either insulin or phloridzin treatments. Hypoglycemia: In response to hypoglycemia, rises in plasma ACTH and corticosterone were significantly lower in diabetic rats compared with controls. Insulin and phloridzin restored both ACTH and corticosterone responses in diabetic animals. Hypothalamic CRH mRNA and pituitary pro-opiomelanocortin mRNA expression increased following 2 h of hypoglycemia in normal, insulin-treated, and phloridzin-treated diabetic rats but not in untreated diabetic rats. Arginine vasopressin mRNA was unaltered by hypoglycemia in all groups. Interestingly, hypoglycemia decreased hippocampal MR mRNA in control, insulin-, and phloridzin-treated diabetic rats but not uncontrolled diabetic rats, whereas glucocorticoid receptor mRNA was not altered by hypoglycemia. In conclusion, despite elevated basal HPA activity, HPA responses to hypoglycemia were markedly reduced in uncontrolled diabetes. We speculate that defects in the CRH response may be related to a defective MR response. It is intriguing that phloridzin did not restore basal HPA activity but it restored the HPA response to hypoglycemia, suggesting that defects in basal HPA function in diabetes are due to insulin deficiency, but impaired responsiveness to hypoglycemia appears to stem from chronic hyperglycemia.
Prevalence of Respiratory Symptoms and Diseases Associated with Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease
Authors: Róka Richárd , Rosztóczy András , Izbéki Ferenc , Taybani Zoltán , Kiss Ildikó , Lonovics János , Wittmann Tibor
Published: March 2005

Aim: Investigation of the prevalence of respiratory symptoms and diseases associated with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Patients and Methods: 299 subjects with GERD were submitted to upper gastrointestinal endoscopy and 24-hour esophageal pH monitoring and a symptom analysis. Results: Chronic respiratory symptoms or diseases were present in 18% (56/299). Chronic cough was observed in 42/56 patients, while typical reflux symptoms such as heartburn and acid regurgitation were observed in 30/56 and 24/56 cases, respectively. The prevalence of airway diseases was chronic bronchitis 12/56, asthma 10/56, recurrent pneumonia 10/56, chronic sinusitis 7/56 and chronic laryngitis 1/56. In patients with respiratory complications pathologic acid reflux was established in 29/51 cases on the basis of the DeMeester score, while 17/51 had pathologic postprandial, nocturnal or diurnal reflux events. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy revealed a normal esophageal mucosa in 6/56, Savary-Miller stage I esophagitis in 23/56, stage II in 15/56, stage III in 5/56 and stage IV in 6/56 patients. Conclusions: These investigations have demonstrated an abnormal 24-hour pH score in about half of the patients with GERD-associated respiratory complications, and indicated that short reflux events are characteristic of the reflux activity in one third of this population.
Cerebral Blood Flow in Parkinson’s Disease, Dementia with Lewy Bodies, and Alzheimer’s Disease according to Three-Dimensional Stereotactic Surface Projection Imaging
Authors: Kasama Shuhei , Tachibana Hisao , Kawabata Keita , Yoshikawa Hiroo
Published: March 2005

Regional brain perfusion was analyzed using single-photon emission computed tomography with three-dimensional stereotactic surface projections (3D-SSP) in 69 patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD), 16 patients with dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) and 15 patients with Alzheimer’s disease (AD), and compared with that in 24 age-equivalent normal subjects. Nondemented PD patients revealed less parietal and frontal flow than controls. With mental impairment, flow reduction extended to other areas including occipital regions. PD with dementia and DLB showed similar reduction patterns, although frontal flow showed a greater reduction in DLB. AD showed little occipital reduction, but a severe parieto-temporal reduction. Thus, 3D-SSP appears to be useful in the detection of cortical lesions and the differential diagnosis of patients with cognitive impairment.
CCL2/Monocyte Chemoattractant Protein-1 Regulates Inflammatory Responses Critical to Healing Myocardial Infarcts
Authors: Dewald Oliver , Zymek Pawel , Winkelmann Kim , Koerting Anna , Ren Guofeng , Abou-Khamis Tareq , Michael Lloyd H. , Rollins Barrett J. , Entman Mark L. , Frangogiannis Nikolaos G.
Published: March 2005

The CC chemokine Monocyte Chemoattractant Protein (MCP)-1/CCL2 has potent mononuclear cell chemo-attractant properties, modulates fibroblast and endothelial cell phenotype and may play an important role in wound healing. In order to examine whether MCP-1 critically regulates myocardial infarct healing, we studied the effects of MCP-1 gene disruption and antibody neutralization in a closed-chest model of reperfused murine myocardial infarction. MCP-1
−/−
mice had decreased and delayed macrophage infiltration in the healing infarct and demonstrated delayed replacement of injured cardiomyocytes with granulation tissue. In contrast, the time course and density of neutrophil infiltration was similar in MCP-1 null and wild-type animals. MCP-1
−/−
infarcts had decreased mRNA expression of the cytokines TNF-α, IL-1β, TGF-β
2
, -β
3
, and IL-10 and demonstrated defective macrophage differentiation evidenced by decreased Osteopontin-1 expression. MCP-1 deficiency diminished myofibroblast accumulation but did not significantly affect infarct angiogenesis. Despite showing delayed phagocytotic removal of dead cardiomyocytes, MCP-1
−/−
mice had attenuated left ventricular remodeling, but similar infarct size when compared with wild-type animals. MCP-1 antibody inhibition resulted in defects comparable with the pathological findings noted in infarcted MCP-1
−/−
animals without an effect on macrophage recruitment. MCP-1 has important effects on macrophage recruitment and activation, cytokine synthesis and myofibroblast accumulation in healing infarcts. Absence of MCP-1 results in attenuated post-infarction left ventricular remodeling, at the expense of a prolonged inflammatory phase and delayed replacement of injured cardiomyocytes with granulation tissue.
Low-Voltage-Activated (T-Type) Calcium Channels Control Proliferation of Human Pulmonary Artery Myocytes
Authors: Rodman David M. , Reese Katherine , Harral Julie , Fouty Brian , Wu Songwei , West James , Hoedt-Miller Marloes , Tada Yuji , Li Kai-Xun , Cool Carlyne , Fagan Karen , Cribbs Leanne
Published: March 2005

While Ca
2+
influx is essential for activation of the cell cycle machinery, the processes that regulate Ca
2+
influx in this context have not been fully elucidated. Electrophysiological and molecular studies have identified multiple Ca
2+
channel genes expressed in mammalian cells. Ca
v
3.x gene family members, encoding low voltage-activated (LVA) or T-type channels, were first identified in the central nervous system and subsequently in non-neuronal tissue. Reports of a potential role for T-type Ca
2+
channels in controlling cell proliferation conflict. The present study tested the hypothesis that T-type Ca
2+
channels, encoded by Ca
v
3.x genes, control pulmonary artery smooth muscle cell proliferation and cell cycle progression. Using quantitative RT/PCR, immunocytochemistry, and immunohistochemistry we found that Ca
v
3.1 was the predominant Ca
v
3.x channel expressed in early passage human pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells in vitro and in the media of human pulmonary arteries, in vivo. Selective blockade of Ca
v
3.1 expression with small interfering RNA (siRNA) and pharmacological blockade of T-type channels completely inhibited proliferation in response to 5% serum and prevented cell cycle entry. These studies establish that T-type voltage-operated Ca
2+
channels are required for cell cycle progression and proliferation of human PA SMC.
The Rise of the Left and Working-Class Voting Behavior in New Zealand: New Methods
Authors: Fairburn Miles , Haslett Stephen
Published: March 2005

The extent to which mainstream left-wing parties attracted working-class votes during the first half of the twentieth century is exceptionally difficult to establish and explain. All of the various methods applied to the subject, including ecological regression of aggregate data, have had their problems, especially the ecological fallacy. A novel solution to these problems, in the context of New Zealand, takes occupational and party voting data at street level as its observations for ten towns from 1911 to 1951, and correlates the data treating each town for each year as a case. The working-class component in the total vote for the Labour Party varied surprisingly by town and followed unexpected trends.
Sequence changes in predicted promoter elements of STK11/LKB1 are unlikely to contribute to Peutz-Jeghers syndrome
Authors: Hearle Nicholas CM , Tomlinson Ian , Lim Wendy , Murday Victoria , Swarbrick Edwin , Lim Guan , Phillips Robin , Lee Peter , O'Donohue John , Trembath Richard C , Morrison Patrick J , Norman Andrew , Taylor Rohan , Hodgson Shirley , Lucassen Anneke , Houlston Richard S
Published: March 2005

Background

Germline mutations or large-scale deletions in the coding region and splice sites of STK11/LKB1 do not account for all cases of Peutz-Jeghers syndrome (PJS). It is conceivable that, on the basis of data from other diseases, inherited variation in promoter elements of STK11/LKB1 may cause PJS.

Results

Phylogenetic foot printing and transcription factor binding site prediction of sequence 5' to the coding sequence of STK11/LKB1 was performed to identify non-coding sequences of DNA indicative of regulatory elements. A series of 33 PJS cases in whom no mutation in STK11/LKB1 could be identified were screened for sequence changes in the putative promoter defined by nucleotides -1090 to -1472. Two novel sequence changes were identified, but were found to be present in healthy individuals.

Conclusion

These findings indicate that promoter sequence changes are unlikely to contribute to PJS.
WASP deficiency leads to global defects of directed leukocyte migration in vitro and in vivo
Authors: Snapper Scott B , Meelu Parool , Nguyen Deanna , Stockton Britt M , Bozza Patricia , Alt Frederick W , Rosen Fred S , von Andrian Ulrich H , Klein Christoph
Published: March 2005

Intact cellular migration is critically important for the induction and regulation of the immune response. The Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome protein (WASP) regulates surface receptor signaling to the actin cytoskeleton in hematopoietic cells and thus plays a pivotal role in cellular locomotion. WASP deficiency causes the Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome (WAS), characterized by immunodeficiency, thrombocytopenia, and eczema. Cell migration defects may contribute to the pathophysiology of WAS. In this study, we used a variety of in vitro and in vivo assays to comprehensively analyze migration properties of lymphocytes, dendritic cells (DC), and neutrophils from WASP-deficient mice. We provide evidence that WASP-deficient lymphocytes show a marked reduction in tethering in an in vitro flow chamber assay as well as decreased migration of T cells in response to the CC chemokine ligand 19 (CCL19). In vivo, compared with wild-type lymphocytes, WASP-deficient lymphocytes showed significantly impaired homing to Peyer's patches upon adoptive transfer into recipient mice. In addition, bone marrow-derived DC migrated less efficiently in response to CCL19. In vivo studies showed decreased migration of DC from skin to draining lymph nodes in WASP-deficient animals. Finally, we also document decreased neutrophil migration in vitro and in vivo. In summary, our studies suggest that WASP plays an important role in the locomotion of lymphocytes, DC, and granulocytes in vitro and in vivo and thus, reveal a crucial role of WASP in physiological trafficking of various hematopoietic cell lineages. These results further delineate immunological abnormalities in WASP-deficient mice, which will be useful to assess preclinical gene therapy studies.
Impact of Short-Term Preoperative Radiotherapy on Health-Related Quality of Life and Sexual Functioning in Primary Rectal Cancer: Report of a Multicenter Randomized Trial
Authors: Marijnen Corrie A.M. , van de Velde Cornelis J.H. , Putter Hein , van den Brink Mandy , Maas Cornelis P. , Martijn Hendrik , Rutten Harm J. , Wiggers Theo , Kranenbarg Elma Klein , Leer Jan-Willem H. , Stiggelbout Anne M.
Published: March 2005

Background

Few prospective studies have been performed about the impact of preoperative radiotherapy (PRT) or total mesorectal excision (TME) on health-related quality of life (HRQL) and sexual functioning in patients with resectable rectal cancer. This report describes the HRQL and sexual functioning of 990 patients who underwent TME and were randomly assigned to short-term PRT (5 × 5 Gy).

Patients and Methods

The Rotterdam Symptom Check List supplemented with additional items was used with questionnaires before treatment and at 3, 6, 12, 18, and 24 months after surgery. Patients without a recurrence the first 2 years were analyzed (n = 990).

Results

Few differences were found in HRQL between patients treated with or without PRT. Daily activities were significantly less for PRT patients 3 months postoperatively. Irradiated patients recovered slower from defecation problems than TME-only patients (P = .006). PRT had a negative effect on sexual functioning in males (P = .004) and females (P < .001). Irradiated males had more ejaculation disorders (P = .002), and erectile functioning deteriorated over time (P < .001). PRT had similar effects in patients who underwent a low anterior resection (LAR) versus an abdominoperineal resection (APR). Patients with an APR scored better on the physical (P = .004) and psychologic dimension (P = .007) than LAR patients, but worse on voiding (P = .0007).

Conclusion

Short-term PRT leads to more sexual dysfunction, slower recovery of bowel function, and impaired daily activity postoperatively. However, this does not seriously affect HRQL. The comparison between LAR and APR patients demonstrates that the existence of a permanent stoma is not the only determinant of HRQL.
Suicidal and other self‐harming behaviour in offender women: The role of shame, anger and childhood abuse
Authors: Milligan Rhonda‐Jane , Andrews Bernice
Published: March 2005

Purpose.The main aim of the study was to consider the contributions of childhood physical and sexual abuse (CPA and CSA) and different aspects of shame and anger to self‐harming behaviours in 89 women prisoners. A further aim was to examine the mediating roles of shame and anger in any link between childhood abuse and self‐harm.

Method.Standardized shame and anger questionnaires and four items assessing self‐harm modified from an impulsive behaviour questionnaire were verbally administered. Women were interviewed to assess the occurrence of physical and sexual abuse in childhood.

Results.Over half (57%) the women reported suicidal and other self‐harming behaviours at some time in their lives, with 50% of these occurring just before or during the current sentence. All shame, anger, and abuse variables were significantly related to self‐harm, but only bodily shame showed an independent relationship when all variables were considered together. Bodily shame was most strongly associated with CSA, and a mediational analysis tested these specific links with self‐harm. Both CSA and bodily shame made significant independent contributions to self‐harm; however, bodily shame demonstrated the strongest effect, partially mediating the effect of CSA.

Conclusions.This is the first study to demonstrate a significant statistical relationship between shame and self‐harming behaviours in women. The findings have implications for the assessment of the therapeutic needs of women prisoners. Future research directions are discussed.
Lanthanide complexes of macrocyclic derivatives useful for medical applications
Authors: Delgado Rita , Costa Judite , Guerra Krassimira P. , Lima Luís M. P.
Published: March 2005

The protonation constants of two series of tetraazamacrocyclic ligands with acetate and methylphosphonate pendant arms, as well as their stability constants with Cu2+, La3+, Sm3+, and Ho3+, were determined. All the values were determined in aqueous solution at 298.0 K and 0.10 mol dm–3 in N(CH3)4NO3. In the first series, the effect of both types of pendant arms was observed by appending them in the same macrocyclic backbone, a 14-membered tetraazamacrocycle containing pyridine (ac3py14, p2py14, and p3py14). In the second series, two effects were taken into account, the increase of the cavity size of the macrocycle, from 12- to 14-membered, and the appending of acetate (dota, trita, and teta) or methylphosphonate (dotp, tritp, and tetp) arms. The ligands containing methylphosphonate arms have higher thermodynamic stability compared to the corresponding ones with acetate arms, especially in the series of compounds containing pyridine, even upon correction of the different basicity values of the ligands. On the other hand, the ligands with smaller macrocyclic cavity size, namely, dota and dotp, exhibit the largest values of stability constants. In contrast, ac3py14 presents low stability constants with lanthanides. An interpretation of these features based on the known adopted arrangement of dota and teta when free or coordinated with lanthanides is evaluated.
Solubility equilibria and geochemical modeling in the field of radioactive waste disposal
Authors: Hummel W.
Published: March 2005

If a true thermodynamic equilibrium with a well-known solid is expected to establish, chemical equilibrium thermodynamics allows estimation of the maximum concentration of a given radionuclide in a specified pore fluid of an underground repository. However, in the course of the review process for the Nagra/PSI Chemical Thermodynamic Data Base 01/01, important cases of insufficient chemical knowledge were identified, leading to gaps in the database. First, experimental data for the ThO2–H2O and UO2–H2O systems cannot be interpreted by a unique set of thermodynamic constants. There, a pragmatic approach was chosen by including parameters in the database that are not thermodynamic constants in a strict sense, but that reproduced relevant experimental observations. Second, potentially important thermodynamic constants are missing because of insufficient experimental data. Estimations of these missing constants led to problem-specific database extensions. Especially constants for ternary mixed carbonato-hydroxo complexes of tetravalent actinides have been estimated by the “backdoor approach”, i.e., by adjusting thermodynamic constants to maximum feasible values that are still consistent with all available experimental solubility data.
Disturbed Homocysteine and Methionine Cycle Intermediates S-Adenosylhomocysteine and S-Adenosylmethionine Are Related to Degree of Renal Insufficiency in Type 2 Diabetes
Authors: Herrmann Wolfgang , Schorr Heike , Obeid Rima , Makowski Julia , Fowler Brian , Kuhlmann Martin K
Published: March 2005

Background: Diabetic nephropathy is a common complication in patients with type 2 diabetes that may increase atherothrombotic risk. Hyperhomocysteinemia (HHcy) further increases the risk in those patients. We studied concentrations of total homocysteine (tHcy) and its related metabolites S-adenosylmethionine (AdoMet) and S-adenosylhomocysteine (AdoHcy) in relation to B-vitamin status and renal function in patients with type 2 diabetes who developed diabetic nephropathy.

Methods: The study included 93 patients with renal failure and type 2 diabetes. Chronic kidney disease was classified into four subgroups according to the National Kidney Foundation based on glomerular filtration rate plus pathologic abnormalities or markers of kidney damage.

Results: Serum or plasma concentrations of the metabolites increased significantly with worsening of renal function, whereas serum concentrations of the B vitamins (folate, vitamins B12 and B6) did not differ appreciably between the groups. Moreover, plasma concentrations of AdoHcy and AdoMet were markedly increased in patients with kidney failure compared with those in stage 2 (median AdoHcy, 112.7 vs 10.5 nmol/L; median AdoMet, 162.0 vs 80.0 nmol/L). The AdoMet/AdoHcy ratio was more than 80% lower in patients with renal failure compared with stage 2. Vitamin B12 was a significant determinant of concentrations of AdoMet, tHcy, methylmalonic acid (MMA), and cystathionine.

Conclusions: Increased plasma concentrations of tHcy and methionine cycle intermediates (AdoMet, AdoHcy) are related to disturbed renal function in patients with type 2 diabetes. Vitamin B12 and/or folate are significant predictors of tHcy, cystathionine, MMA, and AdoMet. The effect of therapeutic doses of the B vitamins on AdoMet, AdoHcy, and their ratio should be tested in renal patients.
Synthesis and applications of silicone oil–soluble fluoroalkyl end‐capped cooligomers
Authors: Sawada Hideo , Horiuchi Hitomi , Kawase Tokuzo , Oharu Kazuya , Nakagawa Hideki , Kaneda Isamu
Published: March 2005

Fluoroalkyl end‐capped cooligomers containing polydimethylsiloxane and polyoxyethylene segments were prepared under very mild conditions by the cooligomerizations of fluoroalkanoyl peroxides with methacrylate monomers containing the corresponding segments and comonomers such as dimethylacrylamide and acryloylmorpholine. These obtained fluorinated cooligomers exhibited amphipathic characteristics and became soluble in water and common organic solvents. In particular interest, fluoroalkyl end‐capped cooligomers containing polyoxyethylene units were soluble not only in poly(methylphenylsiloxane) (silicone oil) but also in water, including common organic solvents except for hexane. Additionally, these fluorinated cooligomers were able to reduce the surface tension of water and m‐xylene quite effectively, to around 15 and 20 mN/m levels, respectively. In these fluorinated cooligomers, fluoroalkyl end‐capped acryloylmorpholine cooligomers containing polyoxyethylene segments were applicable as a novel emulsifying agent against water and silicone oil. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 96: 1467–1476, 2005
Homology Modeling and Molecular Dynamics Simulations of the Mu Opioid Receptor in a Membrane–Aqueous System
Authors: Zhang Yan , Sham Yuk Y. , Rajamani Ramkumar , Gao Jiali , Portoghese Philip S.
Published: March 2005

Three types of opioid receptors—mu, delta, and kappa—belong to the rhodopsin subfamily in the G protein‐coupled receptor superfamily. With the recent characterization of the high‐resolution X‐ray crystal structure of bovine rhodopsin, considerable attention has been focused on molecular modeling of these transmembrane proteins. In this study, a homology model of the mu opioid receptor was constructed based on the X‐ray crystal structure of bovine rhodopsin. A phospholipid bilayer was built around the receptor, and two water layers were placed on both surfaces of the lipid bilayer. Molecular‐dynamics simulations were carried out by using CHARMM for the entire system, which consisted of 316 amino acid residues, 92 phospholipid molecules, 8327 water molecules, and 11 chloride counter ions—40 931 atoms altogether. The whole system was equilibrated for 250 ps followed by another 2 ns dynamic simulation. The opioid ligand naltrexone was docked into the optimized model, and the critical amino acid residues for binding were identified. The mu opioid receptor homology model optimized in a complete membrane–aqueous system should provide a good starting point for further characterization of the binding modes for opioid ligands. Furthermore, the method developed herein will be applicable to molecular model building to other opioid receptors as well as other GPCRs.
Yttrium and Lanthanide Complexes with Various P,N Ligands in the Coordination Sphere: Synthesis, Structure, and Polymerization Studies
Authors: Gamer Michael T. , Rastätter Marcus , Roesky Peter W. , Steffens Alexandra , Glanz Mario
Published: March 2005

Yttrium and lanthanide complexes with different P,N ligands in the coordination sphere have been synthesized. First the chloride complexes [{CH(PPh2NSiMe3)2}Ln{(Ph2P)2N}Cl] (Ln=Y (1 a), La (1 b), Nd (1 c), Yb (1 d)) having the bulky [CH(PPh2NSiMe3)2]− and the flexible [(Ph2P)2N]− ligands in the same molecule were prepared by three different synthetic pathways. Compounds 1 a–d can be obtained by reaction of [{[CH(PPh2NSiMe3)2]LnCl2}2] with [K(thf)nN(PPh2)2] (n=1.25, 1.5) or by treatment of [{(Ph2P)2N}LnCl2(thf)3] with K[CH(PPh2NSiMe3)2]. Furthermore, a one‐pot reaction of K[CH(PPh2NSiMe3)2] with LnCl3 and [K(thf)nN(PPh2)2] leads to the same products. Single‐crystal X‐ray structures of 1 a–d show that the conformation of the six‐membered metallacycle (N1‐P1‐C1‐P2‐N2‐Ln) which is formed by chelation of the [CH(PPh2NSiMe3)2]− ligand to the lanthanide atom is influenced by the ionic radius of the central metal atom. In solution dynamic behavior of the [(Ph2P)2N]− ligand is observed, which is caused by rapid exchange of the two different phosphorus atoms. Further reaction of 1 b with KNPh2 resulted in [{(Me3SiNPPh2)2CH}La{N(PPh2)2}(NPh2)] (2). Compounds 1 a–d and 2 are active in the ring‐opening polymerization of ε‐caprolactone and the polymerization of methyl methacrylate. In some cases high molecular weight polymers with good conversions and narrow polydispersities were obtained. In both polymerizations the catalytic activity depends on the ionic radius of the metal center.
Synergism and stability of acetamiprid resistance in a laboratory colony of Plutella xylostella
Authors: Ninsin Kodwo D , Tanaka Toshiharu
Published: March 2005

The involvement of metabolic enzymes in the resistance of a laboratory colony of diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (L), to the neonicotinoid insecticide acetamiprid was determined with the synergists piperonyl butoxide (PBO), which suppresses the activity of cytochrome P‐450 monooxygenases, and S,S,S‐tributyl phosphorotrithioate (DEF), an inhibitor of esterases, using the leaf‐dipping method. Both PBO and DEF enhanced the insecticidal activity of acetamiprid significantly in the resistant P xylostella strain but not in a reference strain, suggesting that cytochrome P‐450 monooxygenases and esterases play an important role in the resistance of P xylostella to acetamiprid. The resistant P xylostella strain was also reared without further exposure to acetamiprid to determine the stability of resistance. Maintaining the resistant strain for seven generations in the absence of selection pressure resulted in a drop in resistance ratio from 110 to 2.42, indicating that acetamiprid resistance in P xylostella is not stable. Copyright © 2005 Society of Chemical Industry
Migration as the Second-best Option: Local Power and Off-farm Employment
Authors: Guang Lei , Zheng Lu
Published: March 2005

In the 1980s and 1990s, China experienced rapid labour transfer from agricultural to non-agricultural activities. Large numbers of Chinese villagers sought to escape low-status and unprofitable work in grain cultivation through migration or local off-farm employment. Although migrants generally earned higher wage income, they suffered from inferior work and living conditions compared to local off-farm workers. All things considered, we argue that migration was a second best option for the villagers which they chose only after they had failed to secure comparable local employment. Under such circumstances, political power in the rural area was expected to have a significant influence on the outcome of local off-farm employment. When the off-farm population (migrants and local off-farm workers) is further divided into wage labourers and entrepreneurs, it can be seen that local power worked differently in each case. Being from a cadre family had little impact on whether a wage worker stayed local or migrated, but entrepreneurs with political connections were more likely to stay in the local area. This conclusion contradicts the “market transition” theory that asserts marketization (measured by the presence of private entrepreneurial activities) nullifies the advantage of traditional power. It also qualifies the “power persistence” theory in that positional power seemed less relevant for the wage labourers than for the private entrepreneurs.
Same Sex Desire and Society in Taiwan, 1970–1987
Authors: Damm Jens
Published: March 2005

This article presents a comprehensive analysis of the discourses of same-sex desire which predominated in Taiwan in the two decades preceding the lifting of martial law in 1987. Using a poststructuralist, historical approach, it is shown that Taiwan – being on the one hand a society with a strong Chinese cultural heritage, but on the other a society which has developed a strong sense of selfidentity as a result of a history very different from that of the Chinese mainland during the last century – can provide valuable insights into the ways in which social developments, global interaction and intercultural influences have changed the discourse of same-sex desire. Within the framework of this approach, it will be shown that these changes, which contributed towards the liberalization and pluralization of Taiwanese society, began to take effect in the period just before the lifting of martial law.
The Dance of Revolution: Yangge in Beijing in the Early 1950s
Authors: Hung Chang-tai
Published: March 2005

Yangge is a popular rural dance in north China. In the Yan'an era (1936–47) the Chinese Communist Party used the art form as a political tool to influence people's thinking and to disseminate socialist images. During the early years of the People's Republic of China, the Communists introduced a simpler form of yangge in the cities. In three major yangge musicals performed in Beijing, the Party attempted to construct “a narrative history through rhythmic movements” in an effort to weave the developments of the Party's history into a coherent success story, affirming various themes: the support of the people, the valour of the Red Army, the wise leadership of the Party and the country's bright future. However, urban yangge's simplicity as an art form, the professionalization of art troupes, the nation's increasing exposure to a variety of alternative dance forms and, worse still, stifling government control all contributed to the rapid decline of this art form in urban China.
Multistatic lidar profiling of urban atmospheric aerosols
Authors: Novitsky E. J. , Philbrick C. R.
Published: March 2005

It has become increasingly important to obtain information on the vertical distribution, i.e., profile, of aerosols in the open atmosphere. To complement data obtained from a monostatic Raman lidar, a multistatic receiver configuration was designed to take measurements of the parallel and perpendicular polarization scattered components for altitudes from 10 m to 1000 m above the ground. The measurements, taken at night, were used to form a polarization ratio that was subsequently fitted using Mie theory and a trimodal lognormal aerosol distribution. Experimental results revealed the presence of strong variations in the aerosol distribution within the nighttime planetary boundary layer with some time sequences revealing rapid temporal and spatial changes. Subsequent modeling of the aerosol profile suggested that the observed aerosol variations may depend on a combination of factors, including altitude, composition, and number density. However, in instances when the atmosphere was found to be uniformly mixed, retrieval of aerosol parameters (number density, median radius, and geometric standard deviation) was obtained.
A Bethe Ansatz study of free energy and excitation spectrum for even spin Fateev–Zamolodchikov model
Authors: Ray Subhankar , Shamanna J.
Published: March 2005

A Bethe–Ansatz study of a self-dual ZN spin model is undertaken for even spin system. One must solve a coupled system of Bethe–Ansatz equations (BAE) involving zeroes of two families of transfer matrices. A numerical study on finite size lattices is done for identification of elementary excitations over the ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic ground states. The free energies for both ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic ground states and dispersion relation for elementary excitations are found.
Bounds on integrals of the Wigner function: The hyperbolic case
Authors: Wood J. G. , Bracken A. J.
Published: March 2005

Wigner functions play a central role in the phase space formulation of quantum mechanics. Although closely related to classical Liouville densities, Wigner functions are not positive definite and may take negative values on subregions of phase space. We investigate the accumulation of these negative values by studying bounds on the integral of an arbitrary Wigner function over noncompact subregions of the phase plane with hyperbolic boundaries. We show using symmetry techniques that this problem reduces to computing the bounds on the spectrum associated with an exactly solvable eigenvalue problem and that the bounds differ from those on classical Liouville distributions. In particular, we show that the total “quasiprobability” on such a region can be greater than 1 or less than zero.
Study of ferroelectric domain switching by domain wall induced light scattering
Authors: Volk T. , Isakov D. , Ivanov N. , Ivleva L. , Betzler K. , Tunyagi A. , Wöhlecke M.
Published: March 2005

The 90°-light scattering on domain walls was probed in various strontium barium niobate (SBN) crystals for studies of the ferroelectric switching under pulsed fields. The validity of this optical method is proved by a good agreement of the switching parameters deduced from optical scattering data with those obtained with electric methods. Scanning of the scattering over the crystal bulk revealed local specialities of the switching, particularly, a marked distribution of the domain wall density D along the polar axis with a maximum close to the negative electrode. In compliance with these in situ observations, the electro-optic coefficient rc reveals a position dependence in all SBN crystals poled in the ferroelectric phase, rc decreasing from the positive to negative electrode. This regularity is interpreted in terms of the domain density distribution D(z) and accounted for by an asymmetry of the domain nucleation.
High resistance narrow band quantum cascade photodetectors
Authors: Gendron L. , Koeniguer C. , Berger V. , Marcadet X.
Published: March 2005

A high resistance narrow band quantum cascade photodetector (QCD) is presented. Leakage current has been suppressed, increasing the resistivity, thanks to a design in which coupling barriers have been thickened. Useless cross transitions have been eliminated finally leading to a Johnson noise detectivity at 50 K comparable to quantum well infrared photodetectors. Because they work with no dark current, QCDs are very promising for small pixel and large focal plane array applications.
Intergenerational parenting from the perspective of African American grandmothers
Authors: Gibson Priscilla A.
Published: March 2005

Abstract: Grandmothers primarily responsible for caring for their grandchildren possess strengths and confront challenges. To gain insight into intergenerational parenting, 17 African American grandmothers were interviewed. Based on a qualitative content analysis, seven strategies emerged: maintaining effective communication, taking a strong role in the educational process, providing socioemotional support, involving extended family, involving grandchildren in selective community activities, acknowledging and working with the vulnerabilities, and recognizing children's feelings about the absence of the biological parent(s). Implications for clinical work with grandmothers are included.
Exporting the Buyers Health Care Action Group Purchasing Model: Lessons from Other Communities
Authors: CHRISTIANSON JON B. , FELDMAN ROGER
Published: March 2005

When first implemented in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota, the Buyers Health Care Action Group's (BHCAG) purchasing approach received considerable attention as an employer‐managed, consumer‐driven health care model embodying many of the principles of managed competition. First BHCAG and, later, a for‐profit management company attempted to export this model to other communities. Their efforts were met with resistance from local hospitals and, in many cases, apathy by employers who were expected to be supportive. This experience underscores several difficulties that appear to be inherent in implementing purchasing models based on competing care systems. It also, once again, suggests caution in drawing lessons from community‐level experiments in purchasing health care.
UNIVERSAL INVESTMENT IN MARKETS WITH TRANSACTION COSTS
Authors: Iyengar Garud
Published: March 2005

In this paper we investigate growth optimal investment in two‐asset discrete‐time markets with proportional transaction costs and no distributional assumptions on the market return sequences. We construct a policy with growth rate at least as large as any interval policy. Since interval policies are ε‐optimal for independent and identically distributed (i.i.d.) markets (Iyengar 2002), it follows that our policy when employed in an i.i.d. market is able to “learn” the optimal interval policy and achieve growth optimality; in other words, it is a universal growth optimal policy for i.i.d. markets.
Is It Good to Talk? Information Disclosure and Organizational Performance in the UK
Authors: Peccei Riccardo , Bewley Helen , Gospel Howard , Willman Paul
Published: March 2005

The disclosure of information by management to employees varies significantly between workplaces. The effects of this variance on organizational performance are analysed using WERS98 data. The results show that the impact of information disclosure on organizational performance is more complex than is often assumed in the literature. Overall, there is a significant impact, both direct and indirect, and this varies depending on the level of employee organizational commitment, the type of information disclosed and the performance outcome involved. On the whole, the positive effects are less in union settings and in situations where unions are strong.
A randomised controlled trial comparing low dose vaginal misoprostol and dinoprostone vaginal gel for inducing labour at term
Authors: Gregson Sarah , Waterstone Mark , Norman Ian , Murrells Trevor
Published: March 2005

Objective  To compare the efficacy of low dose vaginal misoprostol and dinoprostone vaginal gel for induction of labour at term.

Design  A single‐blind randomised controlled trial.

Setting  Antenatal and labour ward of a UK district general hospital.

Participants  Two hundred and sixty‐eight women requiring induction of labour at term (>37 weeks of gestation) with no significant fetal or medical condition, no previous uterine surgery and no contraindication to prostaglandin.

Methods  Misoprostol 25 μg (one‐quarter of a 100 μg tablet) was inserted into the posterior vaginal fornix every 4 hours (to a maximum of six doses) or dinoprostone vaginal gel 1–2 mg 6 hourly (maximum of 3 mg in 24 hours).

Main outcome measure  Induction‐to‐vaginal delivery interval.

Secondary outcome measures  Requirements for oxytocin, mode of delivery, number of women delivering <24 hours, incidence of uterine contraction abnormalities, incidence of abnormal cardiotocograph (CTG) recordings, 5‐minute Apgar scores, umbilical cord pH recordings, analgesia requirements, admission to NICU and blood loss at delivery.

Results  There were no significant differences between the two groups in induction‐to‐vaginal delivery interval, mode of delivery, number of women delivering within 24 hours and neonatal outcomes. The incidence of uterine contraction abnormalities (tachysystole and hyperstimulation) and the incidence of abnormal CTG recordings were also similar for both groups.

Conclusion  Low dose vaginal misoprostol is as effective as dinoprostone gel for inducing labour at term. There would be substantial cost savings, estimated at around £3.9 million per annum, for maternity services if low dose misoprostol became the agent of choice for inducing labour in the UK.
Cardiovagal autonomic function in sedentary and trained offspring of hypertensive parents
Authors: Lénárd Zsuzsanna , Studinger Péter , Mersich Beatrix , Pavlik Gábor , Kollai Mark
Published: March 2005

In young normotensive subjects, parental hypertension is associated with stiffening of the carotid artery and reduction in cardiovagal outflow and baroreflex gain. In subjects without parental hypertension regular exercise training was found to attenuate age‐related reduction in carotid compliance and baroreflex gain. The aim of the present study was to test the hypothesis that regular physical activity is associated with better parameters of carotid artery elasticity, increased cardiovagal outflow and higher baroreflex gain in normotensive offspring of hypertensive parents. We studied 98 healthy, sedentary or endurance exercise trained subjects (49 men, 18–27 years of age) with or without family history of hypertension (FH+and FH−, respectively) in a cross‐sectional design. In the sedentary group spontaneous baroreflex indices (sequence method and spectral techniques) were lower in FH+subjects than in their FH−peers, while in trained subjects these indices were not different between FH+and FH−. Furthermore, in the FH+group trained subjects had higher baroreflex indices than their sedentary peers, while in the FH−group no significant differences were found. Carotid compliance and distensibility coefficient (echo‐tracking ultrasound and applanation tonometry) were not different in FH−sedentary and trained subjects, but were higher in FH+trained subjects as compared to their sedentary peers. Significant but modest relationships were found between spontaneous baroreflex indices and carotid artery elastic parameters across all subjects. Our present data indicate that in subjects with parental hypertension aerobic exercise training is associated with higher levels of cardiovagal outflow and baroreflex gain, which finding, however, is not explained by greater elasticity of the carotid artery.
Early Proinflammatory Activation of Renal Tubular Cells by Normal and Pathologic IgG
Authors: Ronda Nicoletta , Cravedi Paolo , Benozzi Luisa , Lunghi Paolo , Bonati Antonio , Allegri Landino , Carnevali M. Luisa , Caserta Caterina , Borghetti Alberico , Buzio Carlo
Published: March 2005

Background/Aims: To verify whether human IgG induces proinflammatory activation of human proximal tubular epithelial cells (PTEC) independent of the metabolic overload of protein reabsorption. Methods: Cultured PTEC were incubated with normal IgG, IgG from systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients, albumin or transferrin. IL-6 secretion and extracellular regulated kinase (ERK) activation (dual-phosphorylated ERK) were measured by ELISA and by Western blotting of PTEC extracts, respectively; renal biopsy specimens from patients with IgG and non-IgG proteinuria were analyzed by immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization to detect ERK-P and IL-6. Results: Normal and SLE IgG, but not albumin or transferrin, induced an early significant increase in IL-6 secretion by PTECs. Also ERK activation was found after 1-hour incubation of PTEC with IgG, but not with control medium and albumin-treated PTEC. Activated ERK and IL-6 were found to colocalize in tubular cells in the kidney specimens of patients with IgG proteinuria only. Conclusion: IgG-dependent early activation of ERK and increased IL-6 secretion in PTEC suggest that IgG filtered during nonselective proteinuria may play a specific role in tubulointerstitial disease. Such a role could be particularly relevant in diseases associated with abnormal IgG pool compositions, such as SLE. Preliminary results on human renal biopsy specimens suggest that our in vitro observations may also be relevant in vivo.
Functional Effects of Rho-Kinase–Dependent Phosphorylation of Specific Sites on Cardiac Troponin
Authors: Vahebi Susan , Kobayashi Tomoyoshi , Warren Chad M. , de Tombe Pieter P. , Solaro R. John
Published: March 2005

We tested the hypothesis that activation of Rho-A–dependent kinase (ROCK-II) alters cardiac myofilament response to Ca
2+
by mechanisms involving phosphorylation of thin filament proteins. We determined effects of a constitutively active form of ROCK-II on ATPase activity and tension development in detergent-extracted (skinned) fiber bundles isolated from mouse left ventricular papillary muscles. ROCK-II induced a depression in maximum ATPase rate and tension, which was associated with phosphorylation of troponin T (TnT), troponin I (TnI), and myosin-binding protein C (C-protein). This effect of ROCK-II was retained in fiber bundles isolated from transgenic (TG) mice in which phosphorylation sites (S14, S15, and S19) of myosin light chain 2 were mutated to alanine. Moreover, exchange of ROCK-II–phosphorylated Tn complex with the native Tn complex in the fiber bundles resulted in inhibition of maximal Ca
2+
activation of tension and ATPase activity. Mass spectrometric analysis demonstrated that ROCK-II phosphorylated cardiac TnI (cTnI) at S23, S24, and T144 and cardiac TnT (cTnT) at S278 and T287. An important role for these cTnT sites is indicated by results demonstrating that ROCK-II induced a depression in tension and ATPase activity in skinned fiber bundles from a TG model in which cTnI is replaced by slow skeletal TnI, which lacks S23 and S24 and in which T144 is replaced by proline. Our data provide the first evidence that ROCK-II phosphorylation of the Tn complex, most likely at cTnT, has an important role in functional effects of signaling through the Rho-A pathway.