bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
High growing temperatures reduce fruit carbohydrate and vitamin C in kiwifruit
Authors: RICHARDSON A. C. , MARSH K. B. , BOLDINGH H. L. , PICKERING A. H. , BULLEY S. M. , FREARSON N. J. , FERGUSON A. R. , THORNBER S. E. , BOLITHO K. M. , MACRAE E. A.
Published: December 2004

Kiwifruit vines are perennial plants grown in climates varying from maritime to continental. To determine key responses to temperature, vines were heated at different stages of fruit development, and vine growth and fruit composition examined. Heating vines during fruit starch accumulation caused a major shift in partitioning towards vegetative growth and dramatically reduced fruit carbohydrate and vitamin C. In the following season, growth and flowering were severely reduced. Heating vines during fruit cell division had minimal long‐term effects, whereas heating during fruit maturation delayed starch degradation and fruit ripening and affected growth in the following season. When vines were removed from heat, fruit dry matter, starch and sugar levels were always reduced but hexose : sucrose ratios and inositol were raised. Heating vines affected expression of two sucrose synthase genes, but this did not correlate with reduction in fruit carbohydrate. Activity and expression of l‐galactose dehydrogenase decreased as fruit developed, suggesting some vitamin C biosynthesis must take place in the fruit. Activity and expression of actinidin increased in response to heat. The results of this study have demonstrated both short and long‐term plant responses to elevated temperatures in woody perennials, and that the timing of heat exposure has severe consequences for vitamin C levels in fruit.
The uncoupling protein and the potassium channel are activated by hyperosmotic stress in mitochondria from durum wheat seedlings
Authors: TRONO D. , FLAGELLA Z. , LAUS M. N. , FONZO N. DI , PASTORE D.
Published: December 2004

The plant uncoupling mitochondrial protein (PUMP) and the plant mitochondrial potassium channel (PmitoKATP) are two recently discovered energy‐dissipating systems present in plant mitochondria, which may play a role as defence systems under environmental stress. To verify whether hyperosmotic stress affects the two dissipating systems in durum wheat (Triticum durum Desf.), their functioning was studied in early etiolated seedlings maintained under moderate and severe salt (NaCl) and osmotic (mannitol) stress. As measures of mitochondrial stress mitochondrial integrity, membrane potential maintenance and oxygen uptake coupled with ATP synthesis during succinate and proline oxidation were investigated. Both PUMP and PmitoKATP were activated under stress conditions. Activation was clearly evident even under moderate stress when proline oxidation was inhibited, although mitochondrial integrity and succinate oxidation were still unaffected. Under severe stress, which significantly affected all the tested indicators of mitochondrial integrity and functionality, PUMP and PmitoKATP activation was further enhanced. Interestingly, both systems were activated by reactive oxygen species and were able to control mitochondrial superoxide anion production. These results suggest that PUMP and PmitoKATP serve as early antioxidant defence systems in response to hyperosmotic stress and that they are involved in a prolonged response to stress.
Macropsis mendax as a vector of elm yellows phytoplasma of Ulmus species
Authors: Carraro L. , Ferrini F. , Ermacora P. , Loi N. , Martini M. , Osler R.
Published: December 2004

A 3‐year study was carried out in north‐east Italy, the site of recent elm yellows epidemics, to identify vectors for the elm yellows phytoplasma. Using PCR analysis, Ulmus minor and Ulmus pumila, each with and without symptoms, were positive for the elm yellows phytoplasma. Macropsis mendax, a univoltine and monophagous leafhopper, was shown to be the vector of the elm yellows‐associated disease agent. PCR analyses demonstrated that the insect was infected both in natural conditions and in the screenhouse after acquisition‐feeding on infected elm plants. Groups of M. mendax, collected from naturally infected elm trees, transmitted elm yellows phytoplasma to elm test plants. In nature, Alnus glutinosa trees affected by alder yellows were found in the surroundings of yellows‐affected elm trees; the associated disease agent of alder yellows was transmitted under controlled conditions from alder to elm test plants by grafting.
Infection and colonization of melon roots by Monosporascus cannonballus in two cropping seasons in Arizona and California
Authors: Stanghellini M. E. , Kim D. H. , Waugh M. M. , Ferrin D. M. , Alcantara T. , Rasmussen S. L.
Published: December 2004

Although canopy collapse of melons (one of the above‐ground symptoms of vine decline caused by Monosporascus cannonballus) occurred late in the growing season, the onset of root infection occurred much earlier. In three early winter‐spring and two late winter‐spring crops, the onset of root infection occurred 47–65 and 35–36 days after planting, respectively. In contrast, in four summer‐autumn crops, the onset of root infection occurred within 9–17 days after planting. Vine decline occurred commonly in winter‐spring crops, but did not occur in any of the summer‐autumn crops. Following the onset of root infection, the percentage of plants infected increased at rates of 0·031–0·036 and 0·038–0·070 per unit per day for winter‐spring and summer‐autumn crops, respectively, based on the monomolecular disease progress model. Root lesions were first observed 14–42 days after the onset of infection in winter‐spring crops, and 14–28 days after the onset of infection in summer‐autumn crops. Pathogen reproduction occurred primarily at the end of each growing season.
Use of SADIE statistics to study spatial dynamics of plant disease epidemics
Authors: Xu X.‐M. , Madden L. V.
Published: December 2004

Using a previously developed stochastic simulation model for plant disease epidemics, the relationship of the SADIE aggregation statisticIawith initial epidemic conditions, spore dispersal distance, sampling quadrat size and other spatial statistics was investigated. Most variation inIawas attributable to the initial spatial pattern of infected plants and sampling quadrat size. The importance of initial spatial pattern on SADIE clustering indices (for patches and gaps) was also demonstrated using a number of selected data sets. Correlation ofIawith clustering indices was close to 1·0. Epidemics arising from the regular and random initial patterns resulted in the smallest and greatestIavalues, respectively, at sampling times after disease spread had occurred. Furthermore, the variability inIabetween simulation runs also varied greatly with initial patterns, being lowest and greatest for the clumped and random initial patterns, respectively.Iaincreased initially and then decreased with increasing incidence, especially for the clumped and random initial patterns. Overall, the effect of median spore dispersal distance onIawas very small, especially for the random initial pattern. The correlation betweenIaand intraclass correlation was generally small and varied greatly between initial patterns. However, there was a high positive correlation betweenIaand a parameter describing the rate of decline of autocorrelation over spatial lags, indicating thatIa, clustering indices and autocorrelations measure some common properties of patterns.
Non‐adherence to medications following pediatric liver transplantation
Authors: Shemesh Eyal
Published: December 2004

Abstract:  Non‐adherence to medications is a leading cause of organ loss and morbidity in children and adolescents who had a liver transplant. Yet there are very few published studies about ways to detect whether patients are taking their medications or not, and about treatment options to improve adherence. The Pediatric Liver/Liver Transplant Program at Mount Sinai developed clinical and research programs that evaluate adherence. We review initial results from these programs. Clinic patients participate in an adherence‐monitoring program that involves standardized assessments by patients, parents, clinicians, and routine examinations of medication blood levels. A research program adds an electronic monitoring device (MEMS‐caps©, AARDEX/APREX, Switzerland) and examines the use of azathioprine metabolites as predictors for non‐adherence. Patients receive a thorough psychosocial evaluation to identify potential risk factors for non‐adherence. Preliminary results indicate that an objective adherence detection method has to be incorporated into practice if non‐adherence is to be reliably detected (clinicians' impressions and patients’ reports are not sufficient). A risk factor for non‐adhernce, post‐traumatic stress disorder, emerges as a potential target for intervention. It is possible to integrate a formal mechanism to assess adherence into the work of a liver/liver transplant clinic. We hope that the presented program will inspire clinicians in the community and other programs to regard the assessment and improvement of adherence to medications as an important goal in the management of children who had a transplant.
Split liver transplantation: Past, present and future
Authors: Kim J. S. , Broering D. C. , Tustas R. Y. , Fischer L. , Ganschow R. , Burdelski M. , Rogiers X.
Published: December 2004

Abstract:  The technique of liver splitting offers an effective way of increasing the donor pool and decreasing pediatric waiting list mortality. A donor liver is divided in such a way that the left lateral liver graft can be transplanted into a small child and the right extended liver graft into an adult. This innovative technique did not harm the adult recipient pool. Because of its technical complexity and the initial poor results after split liver transplantation (SLT) this procedure has slowly gained acceptance in the Transplantation Community after its first introduction in 1988 (4). Small children with end stage liver disease suffered the most from the extreme shortage of cadaveric donor organs due to the difficulty of finding size‐matched donors. The successful surgical development of SLT and a better donor and recipient selection have led to a reduction of the pediatric pretransplant mortality to nearly zero and to results comparable with those after whole organ transplantation (WLT). By splitting a donor organ into two ‘full’ hemi‐grafts and providing a small adult (<60 kg) or a big child (>30 kg) with the full left graft and a medium‐sized adult (60–80 kg) with the full right graft, a small‐for‐size situation for adolescents or adults can be avoided and the total number of available grafts can be increased. It is the goal to provide each recipient with its customized graft in the near future. However, splitting for two adults requires high technical skills and profound knowledge of the anatomic variations and should be performed in centers with large transplantation experience.
No correlation of depression and anxiety to plasma estrogen and progesterone levels in patients with premenstrual dysphoric disorder
Authors: HSIAO CHENG‐CHENG , LIU CHIA‐YIH , HSIAO MEI‐CHUN
Published: December 2004

Abstract  A number of studies have demonstrated the correlation of depression and anxiety to estrogen and progesterone in premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), but the findings are still controversial. The purpose of this study was to determine the correlation of depression and anxiety to estrogen and progesterone concentrations in blood plasma in Taiwanese women with PMDD. A total of 43 women who met the 4th edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual diagnostic criteria for PMDD were enrolled in this study. Blood samples were obtained for determination of estrogen and progesterone levels, and depression and anxiety ratings were summed for each subject during one menstrual cycle to obtain a premenstrual result (2–6 days before menses) and a postmenstrual result (menstrual cycle days 7–11). Anxiety was assessed using the 14‐item Hamilton Anxiety Scale‐A and was also assessed by the patients themselves using the Trait Anxiety Inventory. Depression was rated using the 21‐item Hamilton Anxiety Scale‐D. Calculations were made to determine the relationships between hormonal changes and mood changes. There were no statistically significant correlations between depression or anxiety ratings and estrogen or progesterone concentrations.
Characterization of smooth muscle components in renal angiomyolipomas: Histological and immunohistochemical comparison with renal capsular leiomyomas
Authors: Nikaido Takashi , Nakano Masataka , Kato Miyuki , Suzuki Masafumi , Ishikura Hiroshi , Aizawa Shigeo
Published: December 2004

The smooth muscle components of angiomyolipoma (AML) of the kidney have a wide histological and immunohistochemical spectrum. In the present study, 50 cases of AML and seven cases of renal capsular leiomyoma (RCL) were reviewed histologically and immunohistochemically, and the results compared with those of leiomyomas of soft parts. The AML cases were subclassified into 34 cases of common, 12 of leiomyomatous and four of lipomatous type. Even the common‐type AML tissues showed a variety of histologic features, including lymphangiomyoma. The cytoplasm of leiomyomatous cells in AML was usually plump and eosinophilic, but sometimes clear with abundant glycogen, and an ovoid or irregular cleaved nucleus. AML cells, irrespective of whether they were epithelioid or leiomyomatous, stained positively for HMB45, S100 protein, and α‐smooth muscle actin. RCL cells had histologic features identical to those of the leiomyomatous cells in AML. Moreover, the immunohistochemical profiles of the RCL cells were also identical to those of AML. These morphologic and immunohistochemical findings are different from those of smooth muscle tumors in soft parts and confirm that AML and RCL are closely related proliferative entities.
Habitat characteristics and seasonal changes ofLaurencia brongniartii(CeramiaIes, Rhodophyta) in Kagoshima, Southern Japan
Authors: Nishihara Gregory N. , Mori Yuko , Terada Ryuta , Noro Tadahide
Published: December 2004

The seasonal change in size ofLaurencia brongniartiiwas observed for the year 2002 at Banshobana Park, Satsuma Peninsula and Tsuchihama Beach, Amami Oshima, both in Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan. Additionally, the vertical distribution of this species was also studied at Tsuchihama Beach (second site), where the largest populations were found. Maximum lengths were observed in October ‐ November with a size of 100 ± 6 mm at Banshobana Park and 111 ± 5 mm at Tsuchihama Beach. Line‐transects conducted at Tsuchihama Beach, were analyzed to determine the vertical distribution ofL. brongniartiidue to depth and the slope of the substrate. Alga was found growing in areas restricted to low levels of light.
Identification and characterization of QTL controlling Agrobacterium‐mediated transient and stable transformation of Brassica oleracea
Authors: Cogan Noel O. I. , Newbury H. John , Oldacres Angela M. , Lynn James R. , Kearsey Michael J. , King Graham J. , Puddephat Ian J.
Published: December 2004

A commonly encountered difficulty with the genetic engineering of crop plants is that different varieties of a particular species can show great variability in the efficiency with which they can be transformed. This increases the effort required to introduce transgenes into particular genetic backgrounds. The use of Substitution Lines has allowed the finer mapping of three Quantitative Trait Loci (tf1, tf2 and tf3) that explain 26% of the variation in the efficiency of Agrobacterium‐mediated transformation in Brassica oleracea. Use of an ‘orthogonal set’ of genotypes (containing all eight possible combinations of ‘positive’ and ‘negative’ alleles at the three QTL), along with time course studies of transgene expression, has allowed the determination of the stages at which these genes have their effects during transformation. With regard to control of the level of transient transgene expression, tf1 (on LGO1) alone has no detectable effect, whilst tf2 (on LGO3) and tf3 (on LGO7) have highly significant effects (P < 0.001). All three loci have highly significant (P < 0.001) effects on the levels of expression of stably integrated transgene. The use of RFLP markers has shown that tf1 and tf2 are in duplicated regions of the B. oleracea genome and appear to be paralogous in origin. Colinearity of these regions with the A. thaliana genome has been identified. The results allow the selection of progeny Brassica oleracea genotypes that are more efficiently transformed than either parent used in the original cross.
On Difference-Based Variance Estimation in Nonparametric Regression When the Covariate is High Dimensional
Authors: Munk Axel , Bissantz Nicolai , Wagner Thorsten , Freitag Gudrun
Published: December 2004

We consider the problem of estimating the noise variance in homoscedastic nonparametric regression models. For low dimensional covariates t ∈ ℝd, d=1, 2, difference-based estimators have been investigated in a series of papers. For a given length of such an estimator, difference schemes which minimize the asymptotic mean-squared error can be computed for d=1 and d=2. However, from numerical studies it is known that for finite sample sizes the performance of these estimators may be deficient owing to a large finite sample bias. We provide theoretical support for these findings. In particular, we show that with increasing dimension d this becomes more drastic. If d⩾4, these estimators even fail to be consistent. A different class of estimators is discussed which allow better control of the bias and remain consistent when d⩾4. These estimators are compared numerically with kernel-type estimators (which are asymptotically efficient), and some guidance is given about when their use becomes necessary.
Sparsity and Smoothness Via the Fused Lasso
Authors: Tibshirani Robert , Saunders Michael , Rosset Saharon , Zhu Ji , Knight Keith
Published: December 2004

The lasso penalizes a least squares regression by the sum of the absolute values (L1-norm) of the coefficients. The form of this penalty encourages sparse solutions (with many coefficients equal to 0). We propose the ‘fused lasso’, a generalization that is designed for problems with features that can be ordered in some meaningful way. The fused lasso penalizes the L1-norm of both the coefficients and their successive differences. Thus it encourages sparsity of the coefficients and also sparsity of their differences—i.e. local constancy of the coefficient profile. The fused lasso is especially useful when the number of features p is much greater than N, the sample size. The technique is also extended to the ‘hinge’ loss function that underlies the support vector classifier. We illustrate the methods on examples from protein mass spectroscopy and gene expression data.
Risk-Reducing Shrinkage Estimation for Generalized Linear Models
Authors: Spitzner Dan J.
Published: December 2004

Empirical Bayes techniques for normal theory shrinkage estimation are extended to generalized linear models in a manner retaining the original spirit of shrinkage estimation, which is to reduce risk. The investigation identifies two classes of simple, all-purpose prior distributions, which supplement such non-informative priors as Jeffreys's prior with mechanisms for risk reduction. One new class of priors is motivated as optimizers of a core component of asymptotic risk. The methodology is evaluated in a numerical exploration and application to an existing data set.
Primary cell wall metabolism: tracking the careers of wall polymers in living plant cells
Authors: Fry Stephen C.
Published: December 2004

Numerous examples have been presented of enzyme activities, assayed in vitro, that appear relevant to the synthesis of structural polysaccharides, and to their assembly and subsequent degradation in the primary cell walls (PCWs) of higher plants. The accumulation of the corresponding mRNAs, and of the (immunologically recognized) proteins, has often also (or instead) been reported. However, the presence of these mRNAs, antigens and enzymic activities has rarely been shown to correspond to enzyme action in the living plant cell. In some cases, apparent enzymic action is observed in vivo for which no enzyme activity can be detected in in‐vitro assays; the converse also occurs. Methods are reviewed by which reactions involving structural wall polysaccharides can be tracked in vivo. Special attention is given to xyloglucan endotransglucosylase (XET), one of the two enzymic activities exhibited in vitro by xyloglucan endotransglucosylase/hydrolase (XTH) proteins, because of its probable importance in the construction and restructuring of the PCW's major hemicellulose. Attention is also given to the possibility that some reactions observed in the PCW in vivo are not directly enzymic, possibly involving the action of hydroxyl radicals. It is concluded that some proposed wall enzymes, for example XTHs, do act in vivo, but that for other enzymes this is not proven.

Contents

I.
Primary cell walls: composition, deposition and roles
642

II.
Reactions that have been proposed to occur in primary cell walls
645

III.
Tracking the careers of wall components in vivo: evidence for action of enzymes in the walls of living plant cells
656

IV.
Evidence for the occurrence of nonenzymic polymer scission in vivo?
666

VI.
Conclusion
667

References
667
Family level inbreeding depression and the evolution of plant mating systems
Authors: Kelly John K.
Published: December 2004

Variation in the magnitude of inbreeding depression (ID) among families may have important consequences for mating system evolution. Experimental studies have shown that such variation is a common feature of natural plant populations. Unfortunately, the genetic and evolutionary significance of family level estimates remains obscure. Almost any kind of genetic variation will generate differences in ID among families, and as a consequence, a non‐zero variance in family level ID is not sufficient to distinguish genetic architectures with wholly different implications for mating system evolution. Quantitative genetic methods provide a means to extract more information from ID experiments. Estimates of quantitative genetic variance components directly inform questions about the genetic basis of ID and should ultimately allow tests of alternative theories of mating system evolution.
Early‐ and late‐onset startle modulation in unipolar depression
Authors: Dichter Gabriel S. , Tomarken Andrew J. , Shelton Richard C. , Sutton Steven K.
Published: December 2004

In two experimental sessions, we assessed early‐ and late‐onset acoustic startle eyeblink modulation and subjective ratings of emotional pictures by nondepressed participants and by unipolar depressed participants. Depressed participants were assessed before and after treatment with the antidepressant medication Bupropion SR. Both depressed and nondepressed participants exhibited arousal‐dependent startle modulation to early probes occurring 300 ms after picture onset. Nondepressed participants demonstrated the expected valence‐dependent startle modulation to late probes (3,500–4,500 ms post‐onset). In contrast, the late‐probe blink magnitudes of depressed patients were unrelated to picture valence. This pattern of group differences was not moderated by treatment. There were no between‐group differences in self‐report ratings to pictures. These results suggest that depression may be characterized by anomalous responses to affective stimuli and that startle modulation can be a more sensitive index of affective response deficits linked to depression than self‐report measures.
Looking for faces: Attention modulates early occipitotemporal object processing
Authors: Lueschow Andreas , Sander Tilmann , Boehm Stephan G. , Nolte Guido , Trahms Lutz , Curio Gabriel
Published: December 2004

Looking for somebody's face in a crowd is one of the most important examples of visual search. For this goal, attention has to be directed to a well‐defined perceptual category. When this categorically selective process starts is, however, still unknown. To this end, we used magnetoencephalography (MEG) recorded over right human occipitotemporal cortex to investigate the time course of attentional modulation of perceptual processes elicited by faces and by houses. The first face‐distinctive MEG response was observed at 160–170 ms (M170). Nevertheless, attention did not start to modulate face processing before 190 ms. The first house‐distinctive MEG activity was also found around 160–170 ms. However, house processing was not modulated by attention before 280 ms (90 ms later than face processing). Further analysis revealed that the attentional modulation of face processing is not due to later, for example, back‐propagated activation of the M170 generator. Rather, subsequent stages of occipitotemporal object processing were modulated in a category‐specific manner and with preferential access to face processing.
Autocrine and Paracrine Regulation of Melanocytes in Human Skin and in Pigmentary Disorders
Authors: Imokawa Genji
Published: December 2004

Recently melanogenic paracrine or autocrine cytokine networks have been discovered in vitro between melanocytes and other types of skin cells. These include endothelin (ET)‐1, granulocyte macrophage colony stimulating factor, membrane‐type stem cell factor (SCF) and growth‐related oncogene‐α for interactions between keratinocytes and melanocytes, and hepatocyte growth factor and soluble type SCF for interactions between fibroblasts and melanocytes. These networks are also associated with corresponding receptors expressed on melanocytes, including ET B receptor and the SCF receptor, c‐KIT. Consistent with in vitro findings on the melanogenic paracrine or autocrine cytokine networks, we have found that the up‐ or down‐regulation of such networks is intrinsically involved in vivo in the stimulation of melanocyte functions in several epidermal hyper‐ or hypo‐pigmentary disorders. These are ET‐1/ET B receptor as well as membrane type SCF/c‐KIT for ultraviolet B‐melanosis, granulocyte macrophage colony stimulating factor for ultraviolet A‐melanosis, ET‐1/ET B receptor as well as membrane type SCF for lentigo senilis, growth related oncogene‐α for Riehl's melanosis, sphingosylphosphorylcholine for hyperpigmentation in atopic dermatitis, ET‐1 for seborrhoeic keratosis, soluble type SCF as well as hepatocyte growth factor for dermatofibroma and café‐au‐lait macules, and c‐KIT for vitiligo vulgaris. These unveiled regulatory mechanisms involved in the abnormal up‐ or down‐regulated levels of lesional melanocyte function provide new insights into therapeutic tools utilizing blockage of responsible cytokine networks.
The Pigmented Life of a Redhead
Authors: Rorsman Hans
Published: December 2004

As a redhead I have had a personal interest in red hair, freckles and sunburns since childhood. An observation of a formaldehyde‐induced fluorescence in human epidermal melanocytes initiated my scientific interest in these cells. Prota and Nicolaus demonstrated that oxidation products of cysteinyldopas are the main components of pheomelanin. Our identification of 5‐S‐cysteinyldopa as the source of formaldehyde‐induced fluorescence of normal and pathological melanocytes started a series of investigations into this amino acid, enzymatic and non‐enzymatic oxidation of catecholic compounds and the metabolism of thiols. All melanocytes with functioning tyrosinase produce cysteinyldopas and the levels of 5‐S‐cysteinyldopa in serum and urine are related to the size and pigment forming activity of the melanocyte population. The determination of 5‐S‐cysteinyldopa in serum or urine is a sensitive diagnostic method in the detection of melanoma metastasis. Some non‐specific formation of cysteinyldopa is present in the body, as demonstrated by 5‐S‐cysteinyldopa in individuals with tyrosinase‐negative albinism.
If the News Is So Bad, Why Are Presidential Polls So High? Presidents, the News Media, and the Mass Public in an Era of New Media
Authors: COHEN JEFFREY E.
Published: December 2004

Despite a barrage of bad news in 1998, Bill Clinton still enjoyed strong and rising popularity with the public. Many have sought to explain this paradox. My intention is to describe the new news environment that began to emerge in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Four trends describe the news environment of the new media age. First, the news media have become increasingly competitive and decentralized. Second, reporting styles have changed. News is now softer and increasingly negative. Third, the public now consumes less news from traditional outlets than it once did. Fourth, public regard toward the news media has declined. To a degree, this news environment insulates the president from news, which helps explain Clinton's popularity rise in 1998 despite bad news. But this news environment also impedes the president's ability to lead the mass public. As a result, the president's governing style has changed. Instead of focusing their efforts on leading the nation, presidents spend more time targeting select constituencies. This narrow “going public” style reinforces the polarization in the political system, while also alienating the broad middle from American politics.
LKB1, the multitasking tumour suppressor kinase
Authors: Marignani P A
Published: December 2004

Mutations in the lkb1 gene are found in Peutz-Jeghers syndrome (PJS), with loss of heterozygosity or somatic mutations at the lkb1 locus, suggesting the gene product, the serine/threonine kinase LKB1, may function as a tumour suppressor. Patients with PJS are at a greater risk of developing cancers of epithelial tissue origin. It is widely accepted that the presence of hamartomatous polyps in PJS does not in itself lead to the development of malignancy. The signalling mechanisms that lead to these PJS related malignancies are not well understood. However, it is evident from the recent literature that LKB1 is a multitasking kinase, with unlimited potential in orchestrating cell activity. Thus far, LKB1 has been found to play a role in chromatin remodelling, cell cycle arrest, Wnt signalling, cell polarity, and energy metabolism, all of which may require the tumour suppressor function of this kinase and/or its catalytic activity.
Prognostic relevance of extensive necrosis in renal cell carcinoma
Authors: Foria V , Surendra T , Poller D N
Published: December 2004

Aims:Evidence suggests that the presence of tumour necrosis is an adverse prognostic factor in renal cell carcinoma (RCC). However, it has also been shown that tumour regression, a microscopic feature associated with necrosis, may be a favourable short term prognostic factor in RCC.

Methods:Pathology reports of 253 RCCs from 1992 to 2001 were reviewed, and identified 37 tumours with substantial macroscopic or microscopic necrosis. Microscopic pathology, TNM 1997 tumour stage, and clinical follow up were reviewed and correlated with pathological findings. Three cases were rejected because two were diagnosed at necropsy, and a third was the result of renal arterial embolisation.

Results:Twenty of the 34 cases showed <50% necrosis, 10 showed 50–94% tumour necrosis, and four showed >95% tumour necrosis. Follow up data were unavailable in three cases. Nine of the remaining 31 tumours progressed; six were group 3 tumours showing <50% necrosis, three were group 2 tumours showing 50–94% necrosis, and none was a group 1 tumour showing >95% necrosis.

Conclusions:Extensive necrosis (>95% necrosis) is rare in RCC, accounting for only 1.6% of those diagnosed during eight years in this unselected hospital series. The microscopic pattern of necrosis was typical, requiring extensive tumour sampling for definitive tumour diagnosis. Although there were only four patients with extensive necrosis, none developed recurrent or metastatic carcinoma, or died from RCC. Although extensive (>95%) necrosis may imply better short term prognosis after adjusting for tumour pathological TNM stage, it is probably not a prognostic variable in RCC.
Sudden infant death triggered by dive reflex
Authors: Matturri L , Ottaviani G , Lavezzi A M
Published: December 2004

The dive reflex is the reflex mechanism most frequently considered in the aetiopathogenesis of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). This seems to persist in human beings as an inheritance from diver birds and amphibians. It has been reported that washing the face with cold water or plunging into cold water can provoke cardiac deceleration through the intervention of the ambiguus and the vagal dorsal nuclei. This report describes a case of SIDS that offers a unique insight into the role of the dive reflex in determining a lethal outcome. Examination of the brainstem on serial sections revealed severe bilateral hypoplasia of the arcuate nucleus and gliosis of the other cardiorespiratory medullary nuclei. The coronary and cardiac conduction arteries presented early atherosclerotic lesions. The possible role of parental cigarette smoking in the pathogenesis of arcuate nucleus hypoplasia and early coronary atherosclerotic lesions is also discussed.
THE STABLE AND THE REAL RANK OF ${\mathcal Z}$-ABSORBING C*-ALGEBRAS
Authors: RØRDAM MIKAEL
Published: December 2004

Suppose that A is a C*-algebra for which [Formula: see text], where [Formula: see text] is the Jiang–Su algebra: a unital, simple, stably finite, separable, nuclear, infinite-dimensional C*-algebra with the same Elliott invariant as the complex numbers. We show that:

(i) The Cuntz semigroup W(A) of equivalence classes of positive elements in matrix algebras over A is almost unperforated.

(ii) If A is exact, then A is purely infinite if and only if A is traceless.

(iii) If A is separable and nuclear, then [Formula: see text] if and only if A is traceless.

(iv) If A is simple and unital, then the stable rank of A is one if and only if A is finite.

We also characterize when A is of real rank zero.
THE COUPLING CONSTANT ga0πη AS DERIVED FROM LIGHT-CONE QCD SUM RULES
Authors: GOKALP A. , SARAC Y. , YILMAZ O.
Published: December 2004

We investigate the a0πη-vertex in the framework of light-cone QCD sum rules. We estimate the coupling constant ga0πη which is an essential ingredient in the analysis of physical processes involving a0(980) meson. We determine the decay width of the a0→π0η decay and compare our result with experimental value.
BOUNDS FOR NEUTRINOLESS DOUBLE BETA DECAY IN SO(10) INSPIRED SEESAW MODELS
Authors: BUCCELLA F. , FALCONE D.
Published: December 2004

By requiring the lower limit for the lightest right-handed neutrino mass, obtained in the baryogenesis from leptogenesis scenario, and a Dirac neutrino mass matrix similar to the up-quark mass matrix, we predict small values for the νe mass and for the matrix element mee responsible of the neutrinoless double beta decay, mνe around 5×10-3 eV and mee smaller than 10-3 eV , respectively. The allowed range for the mass of the heaviest right-handed neutrino is centered around the value of the scale of B–L breaking in the SO (10) gauge theory with Pati–Salam intermediate symmetry.
MULTIVARIATE SPATIAL OUTLIER DETECTION
Authors: LU CHANG-TIEN , CHEN DECHANG , KOU YUFENG
Published: December 2004

A spatial outlier is a spatially referenced object whose non-spatial attribute values are significantly different from the values of its neighborhood. Identification of spatial outliers can lead to the discovery of unexpected, interesting, and useful spatial patterns for further analysis. Previous work in spatial outlier detection focuses on detecting spatial outliers with a single attribute. In the paper, we propose two approaches to discover spatial outliers with multiple attributes. We formulate the multi-attribute spatial outlier detection problem in a general way, provide two effective detection algorithms, and analyze their computation complexity. In addition, using a real-world census data, we demonstrate that our approaches can effectively identify local abnormality in large spatial data sets.
EVOLUTIONARY SIMULATION-BASED VALIDATION
Authors: CORNO FULVIO , REORDA MATTEO SONZA , SQUILLERO GIOVANNI
Published: December 2004

This paper describes evolutionary simulation-based validation, a new point in the spectrum of design validation techniques, besides pseudo-random simulation, designer-generated patterns and formal verification. The proposed approach is based on coupling an evolutionary algorithm with a hardware simulator, and it is able to fit painlessly in an existing industrial flow. Prototypical tools were used to validate gate-level designs, comparing them against both their RT-level specifications and different gate-level implementations. Experimental results show that the proposed method is effectively able to deal with realistic designs, discovering potential problems, and, although approximate in nature, it is able to provide a high degree of confidence in the results and it exhibits a natural robustness even when used starting from incomplete information.
ANALYZING MINING PATTERNS USING FUZZY ART AND SOFT REGRESSION
Authors: KRISHNA P. RADHA , RANI J. SAILAJA
Published: December 2004

Data mining is widely used to solve real-world problems in engineering, science and business. Usually the results from data mining obtained through the traditional approaches are not interpretable in the real life scenario. This paper suggests an approach for logical interpretations of the clustered data. Our approach involves using fuzzy ART technique for clustering the data and then applying the soft regression technique for interpreting the results of the clustering. The proposed model provides better analysis of data for describing overlapping clusters. We used our model to analyze patterns in the advances data of a public sector bank. Analyses and experiments show the effectiveness of the proposed method.
PATTERN FORMATION, WAVE PROPAGATION AND STABILITY IN CONSERVATION LAWS WITH SLOW DIFFUSION AND FAST REACTION
Authors: FAN HAITAO , LIU HAILIANG
Published: December 2004

The limiting behavior of the solution of a scalar conservation law with slow diffusion and fast bistable reaction is considered. In a short time the solution develops transition patterns connected by shock layers and rarefaction layers, when the initial data has finitely many monotone pieces. The existence and uniqueness of the front profiles for both shock layers and rarefaction layers are established. A variational characterization of wave speeds of these profiles is derived. These profiles are shown to be stable. Furthermore, it is proved that solutions with monotone initial data approach the shock layer or rarefaction layer waves as time goes to infinity.
Evaluating Living Wage Laws in the United States: Good Intentions and Economic Reality in Conflict?
Authors: Pollin Robert
Published: December 2004

This article first examines the question, “What is a living wage?” and provides a range of specific dollar amounts derived through a conceptual assessment of the term. It then provides a series of cost estimates of living wage laws in various cities. Based on these cost estimates, the article examines a set of alternative adjustments that covered firms could make to absorb these costs, including raising prices and productivity, redistributing the firm’s income more equally, laying off employees, and relocating out of the area covered by the law. Prospective and retrospective evidence is used to reach an overall assessment of the benefits of living wage laws relative to their costs.
Genetic Variation and Management of Striped Bass Populations in the Coastal Rivers of South Carolina
Authors: Bulak James S. , Thomason Christopher S. , Han Kaiping , Ely Bert
Published: December 2004

The coastal rivers of South Carolina possess reproducing populations of striped bass Morone saxatilis. Historically, all of these populations have been augmented with hatchery stocks from the Santee–Cooper drainage. Concern has been expressed that locally adapted, reproductively isolated populations may exist in these coastal rivers. Thus, the objective of this effort was to assess the distinctiveness of reproducing striped bass populations in these coastal rivers. Tagging studies indicated that the interriver movement of striped bass was minimal. A population estimate of 406 striped bass longer than 30 cm was obtained for the Combahee River, suggesting a relatively small breeding population. Genetic assays at three nuclear restriction fragment length polymorphism sites showed highly significant allele frequency differences among seven coastal rivers, suggesting reproductive isolation. Partially or fully isolated populations can develop beneficial adaptations to local environmental conditions. Thus, we recommend the use of endemic stock to augment striped bass populations in the coastal rivers of South Carolina.
Movement and Spawner Distribution of Hatchery Fall Chinook Salmon Adults Acclimated and Released as Yearlings at Three Locations in the Snake River Basin
Authors: Garcia Aaron P. , Connor William P. , Milks Deborah J. , Rocklage Stephen J. , Steinhorst R. Kirk
Published: December 2004

As part of the supplementation program for fall Chinook salmon Oncorhynchus tshawytscha in the Snake River basin, yearlings from Lyons Ferry Hatchery were released at acclimation facilities stationed along the lower Clearwater River and the lower and upper reaches of the Snake River. The distance required for migration out of the release reach was greatest for juveniles released in the lower Clearwater River. The distance required for migration out of the release river was greatest for juveniles released in the upper Snake River. We captured and radio-tagged returning adults at Lower Granite Dam (the last dam encountered prior to entering the release reaches), monitored adult movements, and assessed the performance of acclimation facilities in terms of their ability to distribute adults to their corresponding release reaches. Adults from the lower Clearwater River acclimation group had the lowest frequency of movement, the most restricted spatial movement, and the highest observed rate of spawning in the intended reach. The upper Snake River acclimation facility distributed spawners to the intended river at the highest rate observed. Though differences in water flow and temperature during immigration were possible explanations for these findings, acclimation facility location provided the most plausible explanation. We conclude that acclimation facility location can affect prespawning movement and the spawning distribution of hatchery fall Chinook salmon in the Snake River basin.
Fish Health Assessment Index Study of Four Reservoirs in West-Central Georgia
Authors: Schleiger Steve L.
Published: December 2004

I investigated differences in a modified fish health assessment index (FHAI) among reservoirs, sections of reservoir (lower, middle, and upper), periods (summer 2000, winter 2001, summer 2001, and winter 2002), and species (bluegill Lepomis machrochirus and largemouth bass Micropterus salmoides) in four west-central Georgia Piedmont reservoirs to explore the feasibility of adapting the FHAI in Georgia as an addendum to agency-standardized sampling protocols for identifying problem reservoirs and problem areas in reservoirs. Mean fish health varied significantly over time across reservoirs, sections of reservoirs, and species. Lakewide sampling was necessary to adequately characterize overall reservoir health. Fish health of both species responded similarly to poorer areas; however, fewer bluegills than largemouth bass per sample achieved the same level of precision. The collection of 45 fish lakewide of each species per sampling period yielded a precision level approaching 20–25% of the true fish health mean for largemouth bass and 15– 20% for bluegills; these precision levels had a 1 in 20 chance of being incorrect. Largemouth bass fish health in the upper section of West Point Reservoir was significantly poorer than that in all other reservoirs studied. The top six metrics that correlated most to fish health scores were nearly the same for both species (abnormal kidneys, livers, pseudobranchs, gills, thymuses, and spleens for largemouth bass and pseudobranchs, kidneys, spleens, livers, thymuses, and eyes for bluegills). Period-to-period variability precludes same-site comparisons over time; however, the FHAI appears to be useful in identifying consistently poorer areas in need of further study.
Evaluation of a Gastric Lavage Method for Use on Largemouth Bass
Authors: Hakala James P. , Johnson Frank D.
Published: December 2004

The efficiency and delayed mortality caused by a new gastric lavage device was evaluated for use on largemouth bass Micropterus salmoides. A 12-V electric pump was specially fitted to flush stomach contents from largemouth bass larger than 200 mm. The device was easily operated by a single person and removed more than 90% of stomach contents. The lavage technique caused no immediate mortality of largemouth bass. Delayed (7-d) mortality of largemouth bass undergoing gastric lavage was not significantly different from that of controls. Further, mortality did not vary significantly with body length. Overall, the technique appears to be a viable method for rapidly collecting stomach contents from a broad size range of largemouth bass while causing minimal initial and delayed mortality.
The Influence of Hook Type, Angler Experience, and Fish Size on Injury Rates and the Duration of Capture in an Alaskan Catch-and-Release Rainbow Trout Fishery
Authors: Meka Julie M.
Published: December 2004

Owing to concerns about the high incidence of past hooking injuries in Alagnak River rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss, fish were captured with spin- and fly-fishing gear with barbed and barbless circle and “J” hooks to determine gear types contributing to injury. Landing and hook removal times were measured for a portion of fish captured, and the anatomical hooking location, hooking scar locations, bleeding intensity, angler experience, and fish size were recorded for all captured fish. Approximately 62% of fish captured experienced at least one new hooking injury, and 29% of fish had at least one past hooking injury. Small fish sustained higher new injury and bleeding rates, but large fish had higher past injury rates. Injury rates were higher for barbed J hooks, barbed J hooks took longer to remove, and fish caught by spin-fishing were injured more frequently than fish caught by fly-fishing. Fewer fly-fishing-caught fish were injured using circle hooks, and circle hooks tended to hook fish in only one location, generally in the jaw. Barbed J hooks were more efficient at landing fish, and J hooks were more efficient at landing fish than circle hooks. Novice anglers injured proportionally more fish than experienced anglers, primarily during hook removal. Landing time was positively correlated with fish size, and experienced anglers took longer to land fish than novices because they captured larger fish. These results suggest that a reduction in hooking injuries may be achieved by using circle hooks as an alternative to J hooks and barbless J hooks to reduce injury and handling time, yet catch efficiency for both methods would be reduced. Although fish captured with barbless J hooks and circle hooks had fewer injuries, it is important to note that each hook type also caused significant injury, and angler education is recommended to promote proper hook removal techniques.