bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Early Closure of Macular Hole Secondary to Rhegmatogenous Retinal Detachment with Internal Limiting Membrane Peeling
Authors: Shukla Dhananjay , Rajendran Anand , Maheshwari Rajkumar , Naresh Kannan B.
Published: December 2008

The authors report rapid closure of macular holes secondary to rhegmatogenous retinal detachment with internal limiting membrane peeling. Four patients with macular hole and macula-off rhegmatogenous retinal detachment underwent belt buckling, vitrectomy, and silicone oil tamponade. The internal limiting membrane was removed using trypan blue dye. Preoperative visual acuity ranged from hand motions to 4/60. Optical coherence tomography was performed preoperatively and postoperatively on day 1 and at each visit. One day postoperatively, the retina was attached and macular holes were closed. Follow-up ranged from 6 to 12 months (mean: 9.5 months). Visual acuity improved significantly in all patients.
Use of Telehealth by Older Adults to Manage Heart Failure
Authors: Dansky Kathryn H. , Vasey Joseph , Bowles Kathryn
Published: December 2008

Click here to read an erratum regarding this article.

Telehealth, a clinical information system that transmits data over ordinary telephone lines, is used by individuals in their homes to communicate electronically with health care providers. This study investigated the influence of telehealth on self-management of heart failure in a sample of older adults. We hypothesized that the use of telehealth facilitates patient confidence, with subsequent effects on patients’ ability to manage their treatment regimen more effectively. Patients in the intervention groups received a telehealth system during their episode of care; patients in the control groups received routine home visits only. Analyses, using a repeated measures design, found that confidence is a predictor of self-management behaviors. In addition, we found that patients using a video-based telehealth system showed the greatest gain in confidence levels with time. Managers and policy makers responsible for creating and funding programs that support the use of health information technologies by older adults can benefit from these results.
Direct Observation of Behavior: A Review of Current Measures for Use with Older Adults with Dementia
Authors: Curyto Kim J. , Van Haitsma Kimberly , Vriesman Deedre K.
Published: December 2008

This review article reports on methods of direct observation of behaviors for use in long-term care settings, particularly with older adults who have dementia. This article provides information on the theoretical roots, administration methods, and psychometric properties of measures of direct observation of individual behavior. It is hoped that this review will help gerontological nurses make informed choices about the direct observation measures that suit their specific needs, highlight the role of direct observation in quality improvement for dementia care, and facilitate a balance between identifying a gold standard and allowing flexibility to assess project-specific behaviors.

 

Click here to read a letter to the editor about this article.
The Impact of Policy on Nursing and Allied Health Services: Lessons from the Medicare Home Health Benefit
Authors: Davitt Joan K. , Choi Sunha
Published: December 2008

This article analyzes changes in Medicare home health staffing and service delivery patterns across three different reimbursement methods: cost based (1996), interim payment system (IPS) (1999), and the prospective payment system (PPS) (2002). This study combined secondary analysis of existing data (Provider of Services File and Statistical Supplement) with qualitative interviews of 22 home health agency directors to understand agency responses to policy changes created under the Balanced Budget Act of 1997. Cuts in staff and visits were greater under the IPS than they were under the PPS. Agencies cut staff and visits more dramatically for nonskilled services across both time periods. As a proportion of total services and visits, nursing and therapy services increased the most. Directors used various strategies to sustain the agency financially during these dramatic cuts in reimbursements, including eliminating staff, shifting staff roles, training staff on reimbursement methods, increasing use of telephone monitoring, increasing patient and family education and self-care, and cutting services to patients. Directors expressed concerns about staff stress related to the changes and the need to increase productivity without increasing staff. However, directors also believed the agency’s position would improve under the PPS. Additional research is needed to determine whether increased staff stress, work demands, and fewer resources for patients will affect the quality of care delivered and, thus, patient outcomes under the PPS.
Exercise Among Urban-Dwelling Older Adults at Risk for Health Disparities
Authors: Sullivan-Marx Eileen M. , Cuesta Cindy Lou , Ratcliffe Sarah J.
Published: December 2008

This study assessed factors that contribute to exercise in older adults at risk for health disparities living in a predominantly African American urban community. A local health database was used to gain an understanding of these factors, which then could be used to develop programs to improve health within a specific urban community. The sample included 112 participants (mean age = 81); the majority were women and African American. Participants were more likely to exercise if not insured by Medicaid, compared with those who did receive Medicaid. Adults with two or more limitations in instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs) were less likely to exercise. Among those who exercised, those with two or more limitations in IADLs were more likely to exercise less than adults with no such limitations, and adults with high blood pressure were more likely to exercise less than those without high blood pressure. The findings of this study will help generate discussion in both the community and outreach programs to invigorate exercise among older adults at risk for health disparities.
El arriero y el transporte terrestre en el Cono Sur (Mendoza, 1780-1800)
Authors: Lacoste Pablo
Published: December 2008

El artículo examina al arriero como actor económico en el transporte terrestre del Cono Sur, sobre todo en la ruta a través de la Cordillera de los Andes, para enlazar los mercados del Atlántico y el Pacífico. A partir de los manuales de Cargo y Data de la Aduana de Mendoza, se han procesado 120.000 mulas de carga para determinar los lugares de origen y destino, principales rutas, volumen y tipo de carga transportada. El arriero impulsó una intensa actividad en el transporte, el comercio y en la industria vitivinícola; como resultado, este actor promovió el surgimiento de una protoburguesía regional.
Políticas y prácticas migratorias: los flujos de gallegos y asturianos a Buenos Aires (1840-1860)
Authors: De Cristóforis Nadia Andrea
Published: December 2008

En el presente artículo nos proponemos analizar las ideas y políticas migratorias españolas y argentinas vigentes en las décadas centrales del XIX, en relación con los flujos de gallegos y asturianos que partieron hacia Buenos Aires. A partir de un conjunto variado de fuentes (informes consulares, expedientes y licencias de emigración, compendios legislativos, actas y reglamentos de la «Comisión de Inmigración», prensa de la época, obras de los contemporáneos, padrones de habitantes, entre otras) intentaremos demostrar el peso relativo o más bien limitado de las políticas mencionadas, en la conformación de las corrientes en cuestión. Estas últimas se incrementaron mayoritariamente merced a mecanismos de traslado no oficiales y utilizaron en muy escasa medida la infraestructura pública destinada a acoger a los recién llegados.
Variability in oocyte size and batch fecundity in anchoveta (Engraulis ringens, Jenyns 1842) from two spawning areas off the Chilean coast
Authors: Leal Elson M. , Castro Leonardo R. , Claramunt Gabriel
Published: December 2008

Utilising histological preparations of ovaries from Engraulis ringens females collected in two contrasting spawning habitats along the Chilean coast, we assess the variability in oocyte size and batch fecundity during the peak spawning seasons in three years. The effects of female size (length and weight), batch fecundity and mean sea surface temperature on oocyte size were also examined. Results showed larger oocytes and lower batch fecundity in females from the southern area. Oocyte volume differences persisted inter-annually and were not explained by differences in female sizes. Since ovary weight was similar between areas, the cost of producing larger oocytes in the south population seems to be a fecundity reduction. The latitudinal variations in oocyte number and size seem to be determined by the predominant environmental conditions in each habitat. Hence, female E. ringens seem to adapt their reproductive tactics by producing eggs sizes and quantities that favour survival of their offspring under the environmental conditions in which they are to develop.
Linkage analysis of schizophrenia controlling for population substructure
Authors: Paunio Tiina , Arajärvi Ritva , Terwilliger Joseph D. , Hiekkalinna Tero , Haimi Perttu , Partonen Timo , Lönnqvist Jouko , Peltonen Leena , Varilo Teppo
Published: December 2008

Etiological heterogeneity and complexity has hampered attempts to identify predisposing genes for schizophrenia. We sought to minimize the number of segregating genes involved by focusing on a population isolate with elevated disease prevalence. We exploited the well‐established population history, and searched for disease susceptibility loci in families from two alternative founder lineages. We studied 28 schizophrenia pedigrees (123 nuclear families) from an outlying municipality on the eastern border of Finland. We divided the families based on their genealogy and defined two routes of immigration: southern and northern. We examined the kinship coefficients and allele frequency distributions within each group, and performed a linkage analysis based on 497 microsatellite markers across the genome. A high degree of historical relatedness was demonstrated by higher sharing of alleles than predicted by the relationships we identified within the previous four generations alone, as would be expected. Between the two subpopulations, allele frequencies were significantly different, consistent with their isolated genealogies. The southern families showed some evidence of linkage in a schizophrenia locus at 4q23 (Z = 3.3) near our previous finding with quantitative variation in verbal learning and memory [Paunio et al. (2004); Hum Mol Genet 13: 1693–1702], while the northern pedigrees gave most significant evidence on 10q21 (Z = 2.53). Joint analysis of families from both lineages suggested evidence of linkage only at 3p14 (Z = 3.18). Thus the detailed genealogical information led us to identification of distinct linkage signals for schizophrenia susceptibility loci between the three analyses we performed. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Poly(vinyl alcohol) films crosslinked by glutaraldehyde under mild conditions
Authors: Figueiredo Katia C. S. , Alves Tito L. M. , Borges Cristiano P.
Published: December 2008

The use of mild conditions to perform the entrapment of biomolecules in polymeric matrices is a crucial step in a broad range of applications as biosensors, biocarrier‐mediated facilitated transport membranes, and drug‐controlled release devices. In this study, we investigated the crosslinking of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) by glutaraldehyde in the absence of an acid catalyst and organic solvents to improve the water resistance of the hydrophilic biocompatible polymer. Glutaraldehyde was chosen as the crosslinking agent because it favors the intermolecular reaction with PVA and is able to bind nonspecifically to proteins. The effects of the temperature and glutaraldehyde content on the thermal and structural properties of the PVA films were examined. Membranes prepared at 40°C showed a maximum crosslinking density for low glutaraldehyde content namely, 0.04 wt % in the spreading solution. Higher amounts of the crosslinker led to the branching of PVA. The increase in membrane thermal properties and reduction in crystallinity were ascribed to the crosslinking treatment, which was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared analysis. The oxygen permeability of the films was reduced up to 2.7 times, which indicated that the crosslinking of the polymer was successfully accomplished. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2009
Extrusion coating performances of iPP/LDPE blends
Authors: Kang Gyung Bo , Kim Mun Ho , Son Younggon , Park O. Ok
Published: December 2008

The performance of iPP/LDPE blends in an extrusion coating process was investigated in the terms of coating width and draw‐down ability. It is well known that iPP alone is not proper because of lower draw‐down ability with severe draw resonance in elongational flow. To obtain higher draw‐down ability, iPP was blended with LDPE. Additionally, iPPs having different molecular weight distribution (MWD) were used in this study to find out the effect of MWD of iPP on neck‐in and draw‐down ability. It was observed that iPP/LDPE blend with narrower MWD exhibits narrower coating width and higher draw‐down ability. Neck‐in and draw‐down ability were correlated with shear and elongational properties obtained by several rheological measurements. From this study, the major rheological parameters affecting extrusion performance in iPP/LDPE blends could be assessed. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2009
Benzoin‐terminated polyurethane as macrophotoinitiator for synthesis of polyurethane–polymethyl methacrylate block copolymers
Authors: Deka S. R. , Kakati D. K.
Published: December 2008

Macromolecular photoinitiators have attracted much attention in the recent years. They combine the properties of polymers with those of low‐molecular weight photoinitiators. These are polymers having side‐ or main‐chain photoreactive groups and can be used to make tailor‐made graft and block copolymers. Benzoin is an important photoinitiator, and polymers containing terminal photoactive benzoin group can initiate polymerization of vinylic monomers to give block copolymers. In the present case, we report the synthesis of polyurethane macrophotoinitiator with benzoin end group, which was subsequently used to synthesize polyurethane–polymethyl methacrylate block copolymers. The block copolymers were characterized by FTIR, 1H NMR, TGA, scanning electron microscopic analysis, and solution viscometry studies. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2009
Copolymer resin. VII. 8‐hydroxyquinoline‐5‐sulfonic acid–thiourea–formaldehyde copolymer resins and their ion‐exchange properties
Authors: Mane V. D. , Wahane N. J. , Gurnule W. B.
Published: December 2008

8‐Hydroxyquinoline‐5‐sulfonic acid–thiourea–formaldehyde copolymer resins were synthesized through the condensation of 8‐hydroxyquinoline‐5‐sulfonic acid and thiourea with formaldehyde in the presence of hydrochloric acid as a catalyst and with various molar ratios of the reacting monomers. The resulting copolymers were characterized with UV‐visible, IR and 1H‐NMR spectral data, employed to determine the reactivity of monomers. The average molecular weights of these resins were determined with vapor pressure osmometry and conductometric titration in a nonaqueous medium. The chelation ion‐exchange properties were also studied with the batch equilibrium method. The resins were proved to be selective chelating ion‐exchange copolymers for certain metals. The chelation ion‐exchange properties of these copolymers were studied for Cu2+, Ni2+, Co2+, Pb2+, and Fe3+ ions. The study was carried out over a wide pH range and in media of various ionic strengths. The copolymers showed a higher selectivity for Fe3+ ions than for Cu2+, Ni2+, Co2+, and Pb2+ ions. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2009
Genome‐wide linkage scan for bladder exstrophy‐epispadias complex
Authors: Ludwig Michael , Rüschendorf Franz , Saar Kathrin , Hübner Norbert , Siekmann Lothar , Boyadjiev Simeon A. , Reutter Heiko
Published: December 2008

BACKGROUND:

The bladder exstrophy‐epispadias complex represents a spectrum of urogenital anomalies in which part or all of the distal urinary tract fail to close and are exposed on the outer abdominal wall. Previous studies are suggestive of an underlying multifactorial mode of inheritance. However, no genetic or nongenetic factor has been identified so far. In this study, we sought risk loci by parametric and nonparametric linkage analysis, searching for homozygous segments, and more complex inherited loci, respectively.

METHODS:

Two pedigrees, Spanish and German, each comprising two members affected with classical bladder exstrophy, were analyzed by genome‐wide linkage scan.

RESULTS:

Evidence for possible risk/modifying loci on chromosomes 2p22.1–p21, 2p25.2–p25.1, 4q23–q32.3, 7q21.3–q33, 7q34–q36.1, 14q31.1–q32.2, and 19q13.33–q13.43 (LOD scores >1.50) was obtained.

CONCLUSIONS:

This study was the first positional approach to identify chromosomal candidate regions causally related to bladder exstrophy‐epispadias complex. Our results suggest the presence of susceptibility genes in the regions identified. These regions need to be confirmed in future studies. Birth Defects Research (Part A) 2009. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Existence of optimal strategies for a fire confinement problem
Authors: Bressan Alberto , De Lellis Camillo
Published: December 2008

We consider a class of variational problems for differential inclusions related to the control of forest fires. The area burned by the fire at time t > 0 is modeled as the reachable set for a differential inclusion ẋ ∈ F(x) starting from an initial set R0. To block the fire, a barrier can be constructed progressively in time at a given speed. In this paper we prove the existence of an optimal strategy, which minimizes the value of the area destroyed by the fire plus the cost of constructing the barrier. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Relationship between GABAergic interneurons migration and early neocortical network activity
Authors: de Lima Ana D. , Gieseler Anne , Voigt Thomas
Published: December 2008

Available evidence converges to suggest that during the early development of the cerebral cortex, the emergence of the spontaneous network activity chronologically overlap with the end of the cell migration period in the developing cortex. We approached the functional regulation of neuronal migration in a culture model of neocortical networks, using time lapses to detect migratory movements, calcium‐imaging to assess the activity of migratory neurons, and immunocytochemical methods to identify the migratory cells retrospectively. In cell cultures, early physiological development and cell migration are reproduced at a local network level, thus allowing the study of the interrelationships between cell migration and network development independent of the topographical complexity. Neurons migrate at least until 12 days in vitro and GABAergic neurons migrate faster compared with non‐GABAergic neurons. A decline of migratory activity was coincident with the development of spontaneous synchronous network activity. Migrating interneurons did not participate in synchronous network activity, but interneurons that ended cell migration during observation time frequently engaged in synchronous activity within less than an hour. Application of GABAA and ionotropic glutamate receptor antagonists significantly increased the number of migrating GABAergic neurons without changing the dynamics of the migratory movements. Thus, neurotransmitters released by early network activity might favor the termination of neuronal migration. These results reinforce the idea that network activity plays an important role in the development of late‐born GABAergic cells. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Develop Neurobiol, 2009
Sensitivity of seismically isolated structures
Authors: Politopoulos Ioannis , Pham Hoan Khac
Published: December 2008

In this paper we study the sensitivity of seismically isolated structures to a small variability of the earthquake excitation and of some structural properties with respect to the probability of failure and floor spectra. In particular, the influence of the nonlinear behaviour of the isolated superstructure on the vulnerability and on the floor spectra is investigated by means of a series of Monte Carlo simulations of simple two degrees‐of‐freedom systems. Several types of passive and active isolation systems are examined and three different idealized nonlinear constitutive laws are considered for the superstructure. It is found that, in general, the probability of failure does not depend on the specific cyclic behaviour of the assumed constitutive law and general trends regarding the impact of different isolation devices on vulnerability are established. As for the floor spectra, the influence of moderate nonlinear behaviour of isolated superstructures, with the exception of the case of a non‐dissipative elastic nonlinear law, is negligible, contrary to the case of conventional structures. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Assessing and minimizing the effects of noise and motion in clinical DTI at 3 T
Authors: Tijssen Rob. H.N. , Jansen Jacobus F.A. , Backes Walter H.
Published: December 2008

Compared with conventional MRI, diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) is more prone to thermal noise and motion. Optimized sampling schemes have been proposed that reduce the propagation of noise. At 3 T, however, motion may play a more dominant role than noise. Although the effects of noise at 3 T are less compared with 1.5 T because of the higher signal‐to‐noise ratio, motion is independent of field strength and will persist. To improve the reliability of clinical DTI at 3 T, it is important to know to what extent noise and motion contribute to the uncertainties of the DTI indices. In this study, the effects of noise‐ and motion‐related signal uncertainties are disentangled using in vivo measurements and computer simulations. For six clinically standard available sampling schemes, the reproducibility was assessed in vivo, with and without motion correction applied. Additionally, motion and noise simulations were performed to determine the relative contributions of motion and noise to the uncertainties of the mean diffusivity (MD) and fractional anisotropy (FA). It is shown that the contributions of noise and motion are of the same order of magnitude at 3 T. Similar to the propagation of noise, the propagation of motion‐related signal perturbations is also influenced by the choice of sampling scheme. Sampling schemes with only six diffusion directions demonstrated a lower reproducibility compared with schemes with 15 and 32 directions and feature a positive bias for the FA in relatively isotropic tissue. Motion correction helps improving the precision and accuracy of DTI indices. Hum Brain Mapp, 2009. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Dissociable neural effects of stimulus valence and preceding context during the inhibition of responses to emotional faces
Authors: Schulz Kurt P. , Clerkin Suzanne M. , Halperin Jeffrey M. , Newcorn Jeffrey H. , Tang Cheuk Y. , Fan Jin
Published: December 2008

Socially appropriate behavior requires the concurrent inhibition of actions that are inappropriate in the context. This self‐regulatory function requires an interaction of inhibitory and emotional processes that recruits brain regions beyond those engaged by either processes alone. In this study, we isolated brain activity associated with response inhibition and emotional processing in 24 healthy adults using event‐related functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and a go/no‐go task that independently manipulated the context preceding no‐go trials (ie, number of go trials) and the valence (ie, happy, sad, and neutral) of the face stimuli used as trial cues. Parallel quadratic trends were seen in correct inhibitions on no‐go trials preceded by increasing numbers of go trials and associated activation for correct no‐go trials in inferior frontal gyrus pars opercularis, pars triangularis, and pars orbitalis, temporoparietal junction, superior parietal lobule, and temporal sensory association cortices. Conversely, the comparison of happy versus neutral faces and sad versus neutral faces revealed valence‐dependent activation in the amygdala, anterior insula cortex, and posterior midcingulate cortex. Further, an interaction between inhibition and emotion was seen in valence‐dependent variations in the quadratic trend in no‐go activation in the right inferior frontal gyrus and left posterior insula cortex. These results suggest that the inhibition of response to emotional cues involves the interaction of partly dissociable limbic and frontoparietal networks that encode emotional cues and use these cues to exert inhibitory control over the motor, attention, and sensory functions needed to perform the task, respectively. Hum Brain Mapp, 2009. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Ethanol metabolism alters major histocompatibility complex class I–restricted antigen presentation in liver cells #
Authors: Osna Natalia A. , White Ronda L. , Thiele Geoffrey M. , Donohue Terrence M.
Published: December 2008

The proteasome is a major enzyme that cleaves proteins for antigen presentation. Cleaved peptides traffic to the cell surface, where they are presented in the context of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I. Recognition of these complexes by cytotoxic T lymphocytes is crucial for elimination of cells bearing “nonself” proteins. Our previous studies revealed that ethanol suppresses proteasome function in ethanol-metabolizing liver cells. We hypothesized that proteasome suppression reduces the hydrolysis of antigenic peptides, thereby decreasing the presentation of the peptide MHC class I complexes on the cell surface. To test this we used the mouse hepatocyte cell line (CYP2E1/ADH-transfected HepB5 cells) or primary mouse hepatocytes, both derived from livers of C57Bl/6 mice, which present the ovalbumin peptide, SIINFEKL, complexed with H2Kb. To induce H2Kb expression, HepB5 cells were treated with interferon gamma (IFNγ) and then exposed to ethanol. In these cells, ethanol metabolism decreased not only proteasome activity, but also hydrolysis of the C-extended peptide, SIINFEKL-TE, and the presentation of SIINFEKL-H2Kb complexes measured after the delivery of SIINFEKL-TE to cytoplasm. The suppressive effects of ethanol were, in part, attributed to ethanol-elicited impairment of IFNγ signaling. However, in primary hepatocytes, even in the absence of IFNγ, we observed a similar decline in proteasome activity and antigen presentation after ethanol exposure. Conclusion: Proteasome function is directly suppressed by ethanol metabolism and indirectly by preventing the activating effects of IFNγ. Ethanol-elicited reduction in proteasome activity contributes to the suppression of SIINFEKL-H2Kb presentation on the surface of liver cells. (Hepatology 2009.)
An integral system‐ergonomic approach for IT‐based process management in complex work environments by example of manufacturing and health care
Authors: Friesdorf Florian , Plavšić Marina , Bubb Heiner
Published: December 2008

Recent trends in manufacturing and health care move these two work systems closer together from a system ergonomics point of view. Individual treatment of products, especially patients, by specialists in a distributed environment demand information technology (IT)‐based support suitable for complex systems. IT‐based support of processes in complex systems is difficult due to the lack of standard processes. IT support also means to rethink processes to use efficiency potentials. Close cooperation of users and software developers is needed to increase the ergonomic quality of the system. Therefore, suitable tools are needed: UML is available as the standard industry modeling language, Zope/Plone as the quasi‐standard for content management systems, SimPy as an object‐oriented simulation tool for event‐triggered processes, and ACT‐R as a powerful cognitive architecture for simulation of human information processes. The integration of these tools enables system‐ergonomic support of processes in the complex work system as well as of the development and deployment process. It is the base of an integral system‐ergonomic approach for IT‐based process management. Knowledge gained during process analysis either enters models or leads to the extension and adaptation of the tool chain. The models serve as basis for discussion among system ergonomists, programmers, and specialists from the work system. Further, they are understood by simulation and process support tools. Transcoding efforts between humans with different professional backgrounds and machines are reduced, and the flexibility demanded by complex systems is met. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Identification of Fat4 as a candidate tumor suppressor gene in breast cancers
Authors: Qi Chao , Zhu Yiwei Tony , Hu Liping , Zhu Yi‐Jun
Published: December 2008

Fat, a candidate tumor suppressor in Drosophila, is a component of Hippo signaling pathway involved in controlling organ size. We found that a ∼3 Mbp deletion in mouse chromosome 3 caused tumorigenesis of a non‐tumorigenic mammary epithelial cell line. The expression of Fat4 gene, one member of the Fat family, in the deleted region was inactivated, which resulted from promoter methylation of another Fat4 allele following the deletion of one Fat4 allele. Re‐expression of Fat4 in Fat4‐deficient tumor cells suppressed the tumorigenecity whereas suppression of Fat4 expression in the non‐tumorigenic mammary epithelial cell line induced tumorigenesis. We also found that Fat4 expression was lost in a large fraction of human breast tumor cell lines and primary tumors. Loss of Fat4 expression in breast tumors was associated with human Fat4 promoter methylation. Together, these findings suggest that Fat4 is a strong candidate for a breast tumor suppressor gene. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Identification of CCDC62‐2 as a novel cancer/testis antigen and its immunogenicity
Authors: Domae Shohei , Nakamura Yoichi , Nakamura Yurika , Uenaka Akiko , Wada Hisashi , Nakata Masao , Oka Mikio , Kishimoto Koji , Tsukamoto Goichi , Yoshihama Yasuto , Matsuoka Junji , Gochi Akira , Kohno Shigeru , Saika Takashi , Sasaki Akira , Nakayama Eiichi , Ono Toshiro
Published: December 2008

Cancer/testis (CT) antigens are expressed in normal germ line tissues and various cancers. They are considered promising target molecules for immunotherapy for patients with various cancers. To identify CT antigens, we performed serological identification of antigens by recombinant expression cloning. The humoral immune response of cancer patients against a newly defined antigen was analyzed. A testicular cDNA library was immunoscreened with serum obtained from a gastric adenocarcinoma patient whose primary cancer had regressed once and most liver metastasies had disappeared transiently. We isolated 55 positive cDNA clones comprising 23 different genes. They included 4 genes with testis‐specific expression profiles in the Unigene database, including coiled‐coil domain containing 62 (CCDC62). RT‐PCR analysis showed that the expression of 2 splice variants of CCDC62 was restricted to the testis in normal adult tissues. In malignant tissues, CCDC62 variant 2 (CCDC62‐2) was aberrantly expressed in a variety of cancers, including stomach cancer. A serological survey of 191 cancer patients with a range of different cancers by ELISA revealed antibodies to CCDC62‐2 in 13 patients, including stomach cancer. None of the 41 healthy donor serum samples were reactive in the same test. The serum reaction against CCDC62‐2 was confirmed by western blot. CCDC62‐2 is a CT antigen that is immunogenic in cancer patients. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Nitroimidazole derivatives: non‐randomness sister chromatid exchanges in human peripheral blood lymphocytes
Authors: Ana Carballo Marta , Martinez Romari Alejandra , Mudry Marta Dolores
Published: December 2008

Nitroimidazole derivatives exhibited genotoxic effect in different experimental conditions. This study focuses on an evaluation of possible genomic targets, at a chromosomal level, of two 5‐nitroimidazoles (ornidazole and metronidazole) using thein vitrohuman peripheral blood culture as experimental system. We observed that both derivatives showed a decrease in mitotic index (MI) (P< 0.001), an increase in sister chromatid exchanges (SCE) frequency (P< 0.001) and no modifications in cellular proliferation kinetics (CPK). As a null hypothesis we considered the assumption that larger chromosomes should harbor more SCE, which was viewed using a novel sequential G‐band (400 band resolution)/SCE technique. The analysis showed highly significant chi square values (P< 0.001), indicating that SCE frequency per chromosome is not proportional to chromosome length. SCE could be considered an instability indicator due to the high correlation between SCEs in certain chromosomal bands and the exposure to nitroimidazole derivatives. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A consensus line search algorithm for molecular potential energy functions
Authors: Rurainski Alexander , Hildebrandt Andreas , Lenhof Hans‐Peter
Published: December 2008

Force field based energy minimization of molecular structures is a central task in computational chemistry and biology. Solving this problem usually requires efficient local minimization techniques, i.e., iterative two‐step methods that search first for a descent direction and then try to estimate the step width. The second step, the so called line search, typically uses polynomial interpolation schemes to estimate the next trial step. However, dependent on local properties of the objective function alternative schemes may be more appropriate especially if the objective function shows singularities or exponential behavior. As the choice of the best interpolation scheme cannot be made a priori, we propose a new consensus line search approach that performs several different interpolation schemes at each step and then decides which one is the most reliable at the current position. Although a naive consensus approach would lead to severe performance impacts, our method does not require additional evaluations of the energy function, imposing only negligible computational overhead. Additionally, our method can be easily adapted to the local behavior of other objective functions by incorporating suitable interpolation schemes or omitting non‐fitting schemes. The performance of our consensus line search approach has been evaluated and compared to established standard line search algorithms by minimizing the structures of a large set of molecules using different force fields. The proposed algorithm shows better performance in almost all test cases, i.e., it reduces the number of iterations and function and gradient evaluations, leading to significantly reduced run times. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Comput Chem, 2009
TGF‐β promotes cell death and suppresses lactation during the second stage of mammary involution
Authors: Bierie Brian , Gorska Agnieszka E. , Stover Daniel G. , Moses Harold L.
Published: December 2008

Transforming growth factor beta (TGF‐β) ligands are known to regulate virgin mammary development and contribute to initiation of post‐lactation involution. However, the role for TGF‐β during the second phase of mammary involution has not been addressed. Previously, we have used an MMTV‐Cre transgene to delete exon 2 from the Tgfbr2 gene in mammary epithelium, however we observed a gradual loss of TβRII deficient epithelial cells that precluded an accurate study of the role for TGF‐β signaling during involution timepoints. Therefore, in order to determine the role for TGF‐β during the second phase of mammary involution we have now targeted TβRII ablation within mammary epithelium using the WAP‐Cre transgene [TβRII(WKO)Rosa26R]. Our results demonstrated that TGF‐β regulates commitment to cell death during the second phase of mammary involution. Importantly, at day 3 of mammary involution the Na–Pi type IIb co‐transporter (Npt2b), a selective marker for active lactation in luminal lobular alveolar epithelium, was completely silenced in the WAP‐Cre control and TβRII(WKO)Rosa26R tissues. However, by day 7 of involution the TβRII(WKO)Rosa26R tissues had distended lobular alveoli and regained a robust Npt2b signal that was detected at the apical luminal surface. The Npt2b abundance and localization positively correlated with elevated WAP mRNA expression, suggesting that the distended alveoli were the result of an active lactation program rather than residual milk protein and lipid accumulation. In summary, the results suggest that an epithelial cell response to TGF‐β signaling regulates commitment to cell death and suppression of lactation during the second phase of mammary involution. J. Cell. Physiol. 219: 57–68, 2009. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
2‐(2‐Aminoethylamino)‐5‐nitropyridine as a basic matrix for negative‐mode matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization analysis of phospholipids
Authors: Lorkiewicz Pawel , Cecilia Yappert M.
Published: December 2008

Fast and easy analysis of phospholipids (PLs) by matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI‐MS) has been well demonstrated. However, when using common organic matrices, such as 2,5‐dihydroxybenzoic acid (DHB), the detection of most PL classes in positive‐ion mode is difficult when PLs containing zwitterionic groups, such as phosphatidylcholines (PCs) and sphingomyelins (SMs) are present. To reduce this limitation, 2‐(2‐aminoethyloamino)‐5‐nitropyridine (AAN), a basic compound, was evaluated as an alternative matrix. Negative‐ion spectra showed enhanced detection of phosphatidyl ethanolamines (PEs), phosphatidyl serines (PSs), phosphatidyl glycerols (PGs), and phosphatidyl inositols (PIs) in simple mixtures and in a crude methanolic soybean extract. The relative ionization efficiency (RIE) was highest for PIs and lowest for PGs, PSs, and PEs. Compared to DHB and para‐nitroaniline, AAN resulted in greater sensitivity for the detection of PL classes in the negative mode. Indeed, the S/N ratio was nearly an order of magnitude higher than that reported for similar PI concentrations but with DHB. MALDI spots produced with AAN were homogeneous thus allowing automation and improved reproducibility. Positive‐mode traces could also be acquired with AAN as the matrix, but with lower sensitivity than in the negative mode. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
An analysis of present and future ECHAM5 pressure fields using a classification of circulation patterns
Authors: Demuzere M. , Werner M. , van Lipzig N. P. M. , Roeckner E.
Published: December 2008

Several subjective and objective methods for the classification of circulation patterns into categories have been developed over the past century. In this study, we used the automated Lamb weather type (WT) classification method, based on mean sea level pressure (MSLP) to examine present and future circulation patterns above Western and Central Europe. First, the European Center for Medium‐Range Weather Forecast 40‐year reanalysis data (ECMWF‐ERA40) is used to evaluate the occurring WTs within the newly developed ECHAM5‐MPI/OM model for the period 1961–2000. Our analysis shows that the ECHAM5 model is capable of reproducing circulation patterns for the October to April season. For the remaining part of the year, there are some significant differences in eastern and western directional circulation types. Therefore, in the second part of this study, past, present and future ECHAM5 pressure fields are investigated for the autumn and winter season only. Finally, long‐term trends of MSLP fields of the A1B scenario simulation using ECHAM5‐MPI/OM for the period 1860–2100 show a significant increase in western circulation and anticyclonic WTs over Western and Central Europe, accompanied by a decrease in eastern circulation and cyclonic WTs. Copyright © 2008 Royal Meteorological Society
Nutritional and toxicological evaluation of wheat grown on soils with or without fly ash treatment
Authors: Kandlakunta Bhaskarachary , Punna Ramulu , Paruchuri Udayasekhararao , Sangras Bapurao , Krishnaswamy Kamala , Qadri Syed , Putcha Udayakumar , Boindala Sesikeran
Published: December 2008

BACKGROUND: Fly ash disposal has recently posed a huge environmental problem due to storage, apart from apprehension about possible contamination of soil, crop produce and ground water with toxic trace and heavy metal and radio nuclides. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate nutritional and toxicological aspects of wheat grown on soils treated with fly ash. Wheat was grown on soils with fly ash (200 t ha−1) and without fly ash at two different geographical locations in India. One kilogram each of 36 samples randomly collected from three replicates of wheat grown with and without fly ash were subjected to various analytical techniques to determine the nutrient composition, mineral, trace element and heavy metal content. Furthermore, wheat grown on soils treated with fly ash was also incorporated into the diet at 90% level, fed as a feed for 26 weeks to Wistar/NIN rats for protein and toxicological evaluation.

RESULTS: Moisture, protein and ash content of wheat samples showed no difference between fly ash treated and controls. Similar observations were also seen with trace and heavy elements.

CONCLUSION: Results indicated there is no difference between wheat samples grown in soils with fly ash and without fly ash. Studies also clearly indicated that there are no adverse effects on haematological, biochemical or histopathological parameters when wheat was fed to rats for 6 months. This indicates that wheat grown on fly ash treated soils may be safe for human consumption. Copyright © 2008 Society of Chemical Industry
Atypical dystonic shoulder movements following neuralgic amyotrophy
Authors: Abdo William F. , Bloem Bastiaan R. , Eijk Jeroen J. , Geurts Alexander C. , van Alfen Nens , van de Warrenburg Bart P.C.
Published: December 2008

Peripherally induced movement disorders are relatively rare. Here, we present 3 patients who suffered a lesion of the brachial plexus because of neuralgic amyotrophy and developed involuntary movements of their shoulder muscles. The nature of the involuntary movements, which did not easily comply with classic descriptions of hyperkinetic movement disorders, is probably best referred to as dystonia. © 2008 Movement Disorder Society
Long‐term outcome of early versus delayed rasagiline treatment in early Parkinson's disease
Authors: Hauser Robert A. , Lew Mark F. , Hurtig Howard I. , Ondo William G. , Wojcieszek Joanne , Fitzer‐Attas Cheryl J. ,   on behalf of the TEMPO Open‐label Study Group
Published: December 2008

The purpose of this study to compare the long‐term clinical outcome of early versus delayed rasagiline treatment in early Parkinson's disease (PD). Subjects (N = 404) were randomly assigned to initial treatment with rasagiline (early‐start group) or placebo for 6 months followed by rasagiline (delayed‐start group) in the TEMPO study. Subjects who chose to participate in an open‐label extension (N = 306) continued to receive rasagiline as well as other PD medications as needed. Average (±SD) duration in the study was 3.6 ± 2.1 years; 177 subjects received rasagiline for ≥5.0 years. Over the entire 6.5‐year follow‐up period, the adjusted mean difference in change from baseline in total UPDRS scores was 2.5 units (SE 1.1; P = 0.021) or 16% (SE 5.7; P = 0.006) in favor of the early‐start versus delayed‐start rasagiline group. Although the interaction between treatment and time was significant, values for the early‐start group were better than the delayed‐start group across all time points. Significantly less worsening (percent change) in total UPDRS scores was observed in the early‐start group at the time points 0.5, 1.5, 2.0, 3.0, 4.5, 5.0, and 5.5 years (P < 0.05). Compared to delayed start, early initiation of rasagiline provided long‐term clinical benefit, even in the face of treatment with other dopaminergic agents. This might reflect enduring benefits due to neuroprotection or effects on compensatory mechanisms in early PD. © 2008 Movement Disorder Society
Differentiable structure of the set of coaxial stress–strain tensors
Authors: Clotet Josep , Magret M. Dolors , Peña Marta
Published: December 2008

In order to study stress–strain tensors, we consider their representations as pairs of symmetric 3 × 3‐matrices and the space of such pairs of matrices partitioned into equivalence classes corresponding to change of bases. We see that these equivalence classes are differentiable submanifolds; in fact, orbits under the action of a Lie group. We compute their dimension and obtain miniversal deformations. Finally, we prove that the space of coaxial stress–strain tensors is a finite union of differentiable submanifolds. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Prediction of water's isotropic nuclear shieldings and indirect nuclear spin–spin coupling constants (SSCCs) using correlation‐consistent and polarization‐consistent basis sets in the Kohn–Sham basis set limit
Authors: Kupka Teobald
Published: December 2008

Density functional theory (DFT) was used to estimate water's isotropic nuclear shieldings and indirect nuclear spin–spin coupling constants (SSCCs) in the Kohn–Sham (KS) complete basis set (CBS) limit. Correlation‐consistent cc‐pVxZ and cc‐pCVxZ (x = D, T, Q, 5, and 6), and their modified versions (ccJ‐pVxZ, unc‐ccJ‐pVxZ, and aug‐cc‐pVTZ‐J) and polarization‐consistent pc‐n and pcJ‐n (n = 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4) basis sets were used, and the results fitted with a simple mathematical formula. The performance of over 20 studied density functionals was assessed from comparison with the experiment. The agreement between the CBS DFT‐predicted isotropic shieldings, spin–spin values, and the experimental values was good and similar for the modified correlation‐consistent and polarization‐consistent basis sets. The BHandH method predicted the most accurate 1H, 17O isotropic shieldings and 1J(OH) coupling constant (deviations from experiment of about − 0.2 and − 1 ppm and 0.6 Hz, respectively). The performance of BHandH for predicting water isotropic shieldings and 1J(OH) is similar to the more advanced methods, second‐order polarization propagator approximation (SOPPA) and SOPPA(CCSD), in the basis set limit. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Variable stimulation patterns for poststroke hemiplegia
Authors: Doucet Barbara M. , Griffin Lisa
Published: December 2008

Neuromuscular electrical stimulation can improve motor function in those affected by paralysis, but its use is limited by a high rate of muscular fatigue. Variable stimulation patterns have been examined in young adults with and without spinal cord injury, but much less investigation has been devoted to studying the effects of variable stimulation patterns administered to older adults or those paralyzed by stroke. Significant changes occur in the neuromuscular system with age that may affect the response to variable stimulation patterns. We administered three, 3‐min intermittent stimulation patterns to the median nerves of 10 individuals with hemiplegia from stroke and 10 age‐matched able‐bodied adults: (1) constant 20 HZ, (2) a pattern that began at 20 HZand progressively increased to 40 HZin the latter half of the task, and (3) a 20‐HZpattern that switched to a 20‐HZdoublet pattern after 90 s. In the able‐bodied group the doublet pattern produced significantly higher force time integrals (FTI) (1409.72 ± 3.15 N · s) than the 20–40‐HZpattern (1067.46 ± 1.15 N · s) or the 20‐HZpattern (831 ± 1.87 N · s). In the poststroke individuals the doublet pattern also produced the highest FTI (724.04 ± 2.02 N · s), and there was no significant difference between the 20–40‐HZ(636.42 ± 1.65 N · s) and 20‐HZ(583.64 ± 3.02 N · s) patterns. These results indicate that protocols that incorporate doublets in the later stages of fatigue are effective in older adults and in older adults with paralysis from stroke. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Muscle Nerve 39: 54–62, 2009