bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Characterization of HPSE Gene Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms in Jewish Populations of Israel
Authors: Ostrovsky Olga , Korostishevsky Michael , Levite Iris , Leiba Merav , Galski Hanan , Gazit Ephraim , Vlodavsky Israel , Nagler Arnon
Published: November 2006

Heparanase is a mammalian endoglucuronidase responsible for heparan sulfate (HS) degradation. HS is a major constituent of the extracellular matrix (ECM) and HS-degrading activity plays a decisive role in fundamental biological processes associated with remodeling of the ECM, such as cancer metastasis, angiogenesis and inflammation. There is great interest in the prospect of genome-wide association studies to identify genetic factors underlying complex diseases. It is important to establish a detailed description of the heparanase (HPSE) gene single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). In this study, four Israeli Jewish populations (Ashkenazi, North African, Mediterranean and Near Eastern) were examined for 7 HPSE gene SNPs. Four out of 7 SNPs (rs4693608, db11099592, rs4364254, db6856901) were found to be polymorphic. Population comparisons revealed significant differences in SNPs allele frequency between Near Eastern and each of the other three populations. Genotype and allele frequencies in Jewish populations were different from non-Jewish populations, except for a certain similarity to Caucasians. Although the distance between SNPs is relatively small, the db11099592 SNP was in linkage disequilibrium (LD) only with the proximal SNP rs4693608. LD between distal SNPs rs4364254 and db6856901 was found only in Mediterraneans and North Africans. The current study provides a characterization of the normally occurring HPSE gene SNPs in different populations. This information is obligatory for further studies on the linkage between these SNPs and heparanase expression and function in various pathological processes, primarily cancer progression.
Erythropoietin Enhances the Angiogenic Potency of Autologous Bone Marrow Stromal Cells in a Rat Model of Myocardial Infarction
Authors: Zhang Dingguo , Zhang Fumin , Zhang Yuqing , Gao Xiang , Li Chuanfu , Ma Wengzhu , Cao Kejiang
Published: November 2006

Background: Transplantation of marrow stromal cells (MSC) has been shown to improve heart perfusion and cardiac function after ischemia. Erythropoietin (EPO) is capable of inducing angiogenesis and inhibiting cell apoptosis. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of EPO on the therapeutic potency of MSC transplantation in a rat model of myocardial infarction. Methods: MSC viability was detected by MTT andflow cytometry following culture in serum-free medium for 24 h with or without EPO. Release of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) by MSC incubated with different doses of EPO was assayed using ELISA. Immediately after coronary ligation, autologous MSC (3 × 106 cells) were injected into the ischemic myocardium (MSC and MSC-EPO groups). EPO (3,000 U/kg body weight) was injected daily for 3 consecutive days starting 1 day prior to ligation. The same EPO dose was also injected for consecutive 3 days starting 15 days after surgery (EPO and MSC-EPO groups). Control animals were injected saline solution for the same time period. Cardiac function was assessed by echocardiography 2 and 21 days after surgery, respectively. Western blot and immunohistological assessments were performed to examine the effects of treatments. Results: In vitro, EPO inhibited MSC apoptosis induced by serum-free medium and increased vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) release by MSC. In vivo, cardiac infarct size was significantly smaller, cardiac function significantly improved, and capillary density obviously higher in the MSC and EPO groups than in the control group. Combined treatment with EPO infusion and MSC transplantation demonstrated a further decrease in infarct size, a further improvement in cardiac function, and a further increase in capillary density compared with MSC or EPO alone. Furthermore, a higher ratio of phosphorylated Akt to total Akt was measured by Western blot; Bcl-2 was upregulated and Bax was downregulated by immunohistochemistry in the MSC-EPO group compared to the other three groups. Conclusion: Transplantation of MSC combined with EPO infusion is superior to MSC monotherapy for angiogenesis and cardiac function recovery.
Differential Expression of Drug Resistance-Related Genes between Sensitive and Resistant Blasts in Acute Myeloid Leukemia
Authors: Eisele L. , Klein-Hitpass L. , Chatzimanolis N. , Opalka B. , Boes T. , Seeber S. , Moritz T. , Flasshove M.
Published: November 2006

Drug resistance constitutes a considerable problem in the therapy of acute myeloid leukemia (AML). In order to identify genes which might be related to drug resistance, we retrospectively studied gene expression patterns in blast populations of 14 patients with de novo AML, focusing on known or potential resistance mechanisms against cytosine arabinoside and anthracyclines. Following induction and postremission chemotherapy, 7 patients achieved a complete remission (CR) for more than 1 year, while 7 patients showed blast persistence (BP) after induction and salvage chemotherapy. Gene expression analysis was performed using RNA extracted from archived guanidine extracts and Affymetrix HGU133A gene chips. We utilized the Gene Ontology category Biological Process to select genes implicated in DNA metabolism, nucleoside and nucleotide metabolism and transport, reactive oxygen species metabolism, apoptosis and response to drugs and identified 32 differentially expressed genes. From this functional perspective, we found differences between the CR and BP groups with regard to nucleotide metabolism (PBEF1, G6PD; p = 0.048), apoptosis (TNFAIP3, TNFAIP8, MPO, BCL2A1, BAX, SON, BNIP3L; p = 0.039) and reactive oxygen species metabolism (SOD2, KIAA0179; p = 0.048). However, the attempt to construct a predictive model of chemoresistance failed. BP samples had a 2-fold higher expression of CD34 than CR samples. Thus, our findings are in line with reports describing differences in apoptosis resistance between CD34+ and CD34– blast populations. Taken together, our results suggest that drug resistance in AML is a heterogenous phenomenon that might be better defined by means of disturbed biological processes than by focusing on the alteration of the expression of distinct genes.
Changes in Expression of Apoptosis-Related Genes Are Linked to the Molecular Response to Imatinib Treatment in Chronic-Phase Chronic Myeloid Leukemia Patients
Authors: Wei Yuan , Stockelberg Dick , Hullberg Sara , Ricksten Anne , Wadenvik Hans
Published: November 2006

Most patients with a chronic phase of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) treated with imatinib mesylate achieve a cytogenetic remission, but in the majority, residual disease is detectable by RT-PCR. The mechanisms by which residual leukemic cells survive imatinib treatment are unresolved. However, induction of apoptosis in leukemic stem cells and immunotherapy are currently under investigation. We studied the mRNA expression of apoptosis-related genes in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from chronic-phase CML patients before imatinib treatment. It was found that their BCL2 and BAD expression was significantly different compared to the normal controls, and a lower BAD expression was associated with a better molecular response to imatinib treatment at 12 months.
Deletion of Microsomal Prostaglandin E Synthase-1 Increases Sensitivity to Salt Loading and Angiotensin II Infusion
Authors: Jia Zhanjun , Zhang Aihua , Zhang Hui , Dong Zheng , Yang Tianxin
Published: November 2006

Microsomal prostaglandin E synthase-1 (mPGES-1), a membrane-associated protein, is critically involved in the inflammatory response and may be involved in physiological processes as well. The present study examined the role of mPGES-1 in regulation of sodium balance and blood pressure in the settings of salt loading and angiotensin II infusion. mPGES-1 −/− mice developed severe and progressive hypertension associated with an inappropriate increase in sodium balance when fed a high-salt diet. These mice exhibited a significantly impaired ability to excrete an acute enteral load of NaCl. Under these 2 settings of salt loading, urinary excretion of prostaglandin E
2
and nitrate/nitrite were remarkably increased in wild-type animals but not in mPGES-1 −/− mice. The changes of urinary cGMP paralleled that of urinary nitrate/nitrite. mPGES-1 −/− mice exhibited a remarkable inhibition of high salt–induced increase in gene expression of all 3 NO synthase isoforms, whereas these mice had upregulated expression of NO synthase III but not NO synthase I and NO synthase II at basal state. Chronic salt loading remarkably induced mPGES-1 protein expression exclusively in the distal nephron. In primary cultures of CD cells, mPGES-1 expression was significantly increased following exposure to hypertonic NaCl, in parallel with increased prostaglandin E
2
release. These findings have revealed a mPGES-1/prostaglandin E
2
/NO/cGMP pathway that appears to be critically important for salt adaptation. In addition, we provide evidence that mPGES-1 deficiency sensitized the hypertensive effect of angiotensin II. Overall, this study has characterized the natriuretic and antihypertensive role of mPGES-1 that likely contributes to blood pressure homeostasis.
Phospholemman Phosphorylation Mediates the Protein Kinase C–Dependent Effects on Na
+
/K
+
Pump Function in Cardiac Myocytes
Authors: Han Fei , Bossuyt Julie , Despa Sanda , Tucker Amy L. , Bers Donald M.
Published: November 2006

Because phospholemman (PLM) regulates the Na
+
/K
+
pump (NKA) and is a major cardiac phosphorylation target for both protein kinase A (at Ser68) and protein kinase C (PKC) (at both Ser63 and Ser68), we evaluated whether PLM mediates the PKC-dependent regulation of NKA function and protein kinase A/PKC crosstalk in ventricular myocytes. PKC was activated by PDBu (300 nmol/L), and we measured NKA-mediated [Na
+
]
i
decline (fluorescence measurements) and current (
I
pump
) (voltage clamp). In wild-type mouse myocytes, PDBu increased PLM phosphorylation at Ser63 and Ser68,
I
pump
(both at 10 and 100 mmol/L Na
+
in the pipette solution) and maximal NKA-mediated Na
+
extrusion rate (V
max
) from 7.9±1.1 to 12.7±1.9 mmol·L
−1
per minute without altering NKA affinity for internal Na
+
(
K
0.5
). In PLM knockout mice, PDBu had no effect on either V
max
or
K
0.5
. After pretreatment with isoproterenol (ISO) (1 μmol/L), PDBu still increased the NKA V
max
and PLM phosphorylation at Ser63 and Ser68. Conversely, after pretreatment with PDBu, ISO further increased the Na
+
affinity of NKA and phosphorylation at Ser68, as it did alone without PDBu. The final NKA activity was independent of the application sequence. The NKA activity in PLM knockout myocytes, after normalizing the protein level, was similar to that after PDBu and ISO treatment. We conclude that (1) PLM mediates the PKC-dependent activation of NKA function in cardiac myocytes, (2) PDBu and ISO effects are additive in the mouse (affecting mainly V
max
and
K
0.5
, respectively), and (3) PDBu and ISO combine to activate NKA in wild-type to the level found in the PLM knockout mouse.
β-Amyloid Aggregation in Human Brains With Cerebrovascular Lesions
Authors: Aho Leena , Jolkkonen Jukka , Alafuzoff Irina
Published: November 2006

Background and Purpose—

The present study assessed β-amyloid (Aβ) protein aggregates in postmortem human brains in subjects who had experienced stroke to examine the proposed association between ischemic stress and the accumulation of Aβ reported in rodents.

Methods—

A sample of 484 postmortem brains from nondemented subjects, lacking isocortical neurodegenerative pathology with verified cerebrovascular lesions, and 57 age-matched controls were assessed with respect to Aβ, Aβ40, and Aβ42 aggregates in the cortex and thalamus by immunohistochemical techniques.

Results—

The load of Aβ aggregates did not display a significant association with cerebrovascular lesions. The load of Aβ, Aβ40, and Aβ42 aggregates increased with age, and there was a tendency toward higher odds ratios for Aβ aggregates, though not statistically significant, in subjects with acute cerebrovascular lesions. In the oldest subjects with cerebrovascular lesions and with both thalamic and cortical Aβ aggregates, the load of thalamic Aβ42 was significantly higher than the load of Aβ40.

Conclusions—

Our findings indicate that cerebrovascular disease does not influence the load of Aβ, whereas a shift of aggregation from the Aβ40 to the Aβ42 residue is noted in the thalamus but only in aged subjects. It is impossible, however, to state whether this result is attributable to increased Aβ production, its insufficient elimination, or other susceptibility factors.
The role of sedation tests in identifying sedative drug effects in healthy volunteers and their power to dissociate sedative-related impairments from memory dysfunctions
Authors: Wezenberg E. , Sabbe B.G.C. , Hulstijn W. , Ruigt G.S.F. , Verkes R.J.
Published: November 2006

The study investigated whether four specified drugs would show similar patterns on tests considered to measure sedation. In addition, their drug-effect patterns on sedation and memory performance were compared to determine whether the sedative effects could be differentiated from the memory effects.

Two double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover studies, each with 16 healthy volunteers, were performed, one testing lorazepam (2.5 mg) and mirtazapine (15 mg) and the other olanzapine (10 mg) and haloperidol (2.5 mg). Subjective sedation was assessed by means of visual analogue scales (VAS) and objective sedation using a simple-reaction-time (SRT) task and a choice-reaction-time (CRT) task, code substitution (symbol digit substitution test (SDST)) and the peak velocity of saccadic eye movements (SEM). A verbal memory test (VMT) was administered to evaluate memory capacity.

Apart from haloperidol, all drugs proved to impair performance on all five sedation indices. Contrary to the VAS, the objective measures yielded different response profiles. Two types of drug-effect patterns emerged: one for greater impairments in response speed (SRT, SEM) and one for greater impairments in information processing (CRT, SDST). Lorazepam and olanzapine impeded memory performance, whereas mirtazapine did not. With the use of standardized scores it proved possible to differentiate between the size of the effects of the drugs on the sedation and memory tests.

To accurately assess the level and nature of sedation and to differentiate sedation from memory impairments different types of sedation measures are required. Besides studying the subjective effects, it is recommended to also test psychomotor responses and information processing speed.
Pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic effects of TPA023, a GABAAα2,3subtype-selective agonist, compared to lorazepam and placebo in healthy volunteers
Authors: de Haas S.L. , de Visser S.J. , van der Post J.P. , de Smet M. , Schoemaker R.C. , Rijnbeek B. , Cohen A.F. , Vega J.M. , Agrawal N.G.B. , Goel T.V. , Simpson R.C. , Pearson L.K. , Li S. , Hesney M. , Murphy M.G. , van Gerven J.M.A.
Published: November 2006

TPA023, a GABAAα2,3 αsubtype-selective partial agonist, is expected to have comparable anxiolytic efficacy as benzodiazepines with reduced sedating effects. The compound Lacks efficacy at the α1 subtype, which is believed to mediate these effects. This study investigated the effects of 0.5 and 1.5 mg TPA023 and compared them with pLacebo and Lorazepam 2 mg (therapeutic anxioLytic dose). Twelve healthy maLe volunteers participated in this placebo-controlled, double-blind, double-dummy, four-way, cross-over study. Saccadic eye movements and visual analogue scales (VAS) were used to assess the sedative properties of TPA023. The effects on posturaL stability and cognition were assessed using body sway and a standardized battery of neurophysiological memory tests. Lorazepam caused a significant reduction in saccadic peak velocity, the VAS alertness score and impairment of memory and body sway. TPA023 had significant dose dependent effects on saccadic peak velocity (85 deg/sec maximum reduction at the higher dose) that approximated the effects of Lorazepam. In contrast to Lorazepam, TPA023 had no detectabLe effects on saccadic Latency or inaccuracy. Also unlike Lorazepam, TPA023 did not affect VAS alertness, memory or body sway. These results show that the effect profile of TPA023 differs markedly from that of Lorazepam, at doses that were equipotent with regard to effects on saccadic peak veLocity. Contrary to Lorazepam, TPA023 caused no detectabLe memory impairment or postural imbalance. These differences reflect the selectivity of TPA023 for different GABAAreceptor subtypes.
Benzodiazepines — a necessary evil? A survey of prescribing at a specialist UK psychiatric hospital
Authors: Haw Camilla , Stubbs Jean
Published: November 2006

Guidelines on the prescription of benzodiazepines recommend their use be limited to the short-term relief of severe anxiety or insomnia. However, clinical experience suggests that in psychiatry these drugs may be being prescribed more widely. The aim of this survey was to investigate benzodiazepine prescribing in a specialist UK psychiatric hospital using a structured interview with consultant psychiatrists. Prescribers were also asked their views on the UK CSM guidance on benzodiazepines (1988). Of 412 inpatients, 77 (18.7%) were receiving 90 benzodiazepine prescriptions for psychiatric indications. Most prescriptions were for anxiety (45/90; 50.0%), aggression (23/90; 25.6%) and agitation (13/90; 14.4%). Use was commonest for acquired brain injury, schizophrenia and personality disorders. Much usage was chronic (only 4/90 (4.4%) prescriptions had been initiated within the previous 4 weeks) and off-label (85/90; 94.4%). Prescribers were concerned about the addictive nature of benzodiazepines for these patients and to a lesser extent about their abuse potential. Most consultants believed the UK CSM guidance was too restrictive in relation to their clinical practice and needed modification to encompass new indications, for example rapid tranquillization, and specialist prescribing. In psychiatry benzodiazepines are quite frequently used in the management of a number of groups of difficult to treat patients. Although largely not evidence based, some psychiatrists report a favourable risk—benefit ratio for benzodiazepines in the treatment of certain patients.
Social Research in Pakistan
Authors: Baig Qadeer
Published: November 2006

There is yet to be consensus on what really comprises social research. Do NGOs undertake social research when they conduct needs assessment and baseline surveys, or is it really a pure academic discipline best left to specialists? Can academic and action research ever meet? These were some of the issues facing the NGO Resource Centre (NGORC) when it embarked upon this project. Taking advantage of this ambiguity, the NGORC decided to remain inclusive and sought to profile all kinds of organisations—citizen sector as well as ‘for-profit’—that claimed to conduct research on and for the social sector. Indeed, the very diversity within the realm of social research has made this directory all the richer and, hopefully, appealing to a larger audience. The objective of the study is two-fold: to profile organisations that conduct research either as part of their own agenda or on behalf of ‘clients’, and to enable sharing of research studies in order to encourage synergies and to avoid duplication of efforts.
Hardware-accelerated collision detection for 3D virtual reality gaming
Authors: Cai Yiyu , Fan Zhaowei , Wan Huagen , Gao Shuming , Lu Baifang , Lim Kian Teck
Published: November 2006

Collision detection in simulation can easily become a bottleneck due to its computationally intensive nature. Recent developments in graphics hardware, however, offer a viable solution for rapid and efficient collision detection. The authors propose a new two-phase technique using the latest graphics hardware. In the broad phase, a scene graph is created to partition objects in a 3D environment for initial collision checking. In the narrow phase, a multiple-viewing volumes method is used to detect interferences between a convex model and a model of arbitrary geometry. First, the convex model is used to define six viewing volumes. The convex and arbitrary models are then rendered respectively within the defined viewing volumes. Finally, results of collision detection can be easily achieved by querying the occlusions between these rendered models in the image space. Compared with other collision detection algorithms, this method produces promising results and is successfully applied in our 3D virtual reality games.
An exploration from virtual to augmented reality gaming
Authors: Liarokapis Fotis
Published: November 2006

Computer games are continuously improving graphics capabilities and game play, but the market demands show that more compelling gaming applications are required. In this article, the requirements of modern gaming applications are investigated and a classification of the most significant game design issues is presented. To understand the issues related to video and virtual reality gaming, an interactive game engine is designed and, as a case study, a traditional two-dimensional arcade game, called Breakout, is ported. Collision detection is supported between the graphics components of the application based on Newtonian laws of physics. To test the effectiveness of our approach, a tangible platform for playing interactive three-dimensional games using video see-through augmented reality techniques is proposed. To evaluate the effectiveness of each application, a pilot study was performed and the initial results of this study are presented.
Quantifying European Legislative Research
Authors: König Thomas , Luetgert Brooke , Dannwolf Tanja
Published: November 2006

Research on European legislative decision-making has entered a stage of quantitative analysis. The quantitative approach promises to advance the current dialogue by allowing for the evaluation of competing approaches across multiple policy domains and over time. At the same time, the quantitative study of EU decision-making introduces a number of drawbacks: it is difficult to identify one definitive source for legislative information, and case-level data are not directly accessible in a machine-readable format. In order to identify the most crucial pitfalls and provide a reliable data source, we evaluate the most frequently cited, publicly available EU legislative database, CELEX, and compare it with a less publicized legislative database referred to as PreLex. We find that CELEX documents legislative events, whereas PreLex records inter-institutional activities in the legislative process. Unsurprisingly, each of these databases has particular advantages, and we discuss which of the two might be better suited for the analysis of specific research questions.
Malaria and anaemia among children in two communities of Kumasi, Ghana: a cross-sectional survey
Authors: Ronald Lisa A , Kenny Sarah L , Klinkenberg Eveline , Akoto Alex O , Boakye Isaac , Barnish Guy , Donnelly Martin J
Published: November 2006

Background

A survey in Kumasi, Ghana found a marked Plasmodium falciparum prevalence difference between two neighbouring communities (Moshie Zongo and Manhyia). The primary objective of this follow-up study was to determine whether this parasite rate difference was consistent over time. Secondary objectives were to compare prevalences of clinical malaria, anaemia, intestinal parasite infections, and malnutrition between these communities; and to identify potential risk factors for P. falciparum infection and anaemia.

Methods

A cross-sectional house-to-house survey of P. falciparum parasitaemia, clinical malaria, anaemia, anthropometric indices, and intestinal helminths was conducted in April-May 2005. Data collection included child and household demographics, mosquito avoidance practices, distance to nearest health facility, child's travel history, symptoms, and anti-malarial use. Risk factors for P. falciparum and anaemia (Hb < 11 g/dl) were identified using generalized linear mixed models.

Results

In total, 296 children were tested from 184 households. Prevalences of P. falciparum, clinical malaria, anaemia, and stunting were significantly higher in Moshie Zongo (37.8%, 16.9%, 66.2% and 21.1%, respectively) compared to Manhyia (12.8%, 3.4%, 34.5% and 7.4%). Of 197 children tested for helminths, four were positive for Dicrocoelium dendriticum. Population attributable risks (PAR%) of anaemia were 16.5% (P. falciparum) and 7.6% (malnutrition). Risk factors for P. falciparum infection were older age, rural travel, and lower socioeconomic status. Risk factors for anaemia were P. falciparum infection, Moshie Zongo residence, male sex, and younger age.

Conclusion

Heterogeneities in malariometric indices between neighbouring Kumasi communities are consistent over time. The low helminth prevalence, and the twofold higher PAR% of anaemia attributable to P. falciparum infection compared to malnutrition, indicate the importance of malaria as a cause of anaemia in this urban population.
Modification of the Tet-On regulatory system prevents the conditional-live HIV-1 variant from losing doxycycline-control
Authors: Zhou Xue , Vink Monique , Berkhout Ben , Das Atze T
Published: November 2006

Background

We have previously constructed a doxycycline (dox)-dependent HIV-1 variant by incorporating the Tet-On gene regulatory system into the viral genome. Replication of this HIV-rtTA virus is driven by the dox-inducible transactivator protein rtTA, and can be switched on and off at will. We proposed this conditional-live virus as a novel vaccine approach against HIV-1. Upon vaccination, replication of HIV-rtTA can be temporarily activated by transient dox administration and controlled to the extent needed for optimal induction of the immune system. However, subsequent dox-withdrawal may impose a selection for virus variants with reduced dox-dependence.

Results

We simulated this on/off switching of virus replication in multiple, independent cultures and could indeed select for HIV-rtTA variants that replicated without dox. Nearly all evolved variants had acquired a typical amino acid substitution at position 56 in the rtTA protein. We developed a novel rtTA variant that blocks this undesired evolutionary route and thus prevents HIV-rtTA from losing dox-control.

Conclusion

The loss of dox-control observed upon evolution of the dox-dependent HIV-1 variant was effectively blocked by modification of the Tet-On regulatory system.
Predicting domain-domain interactions using a parsimony approach
Authors: Guimarães Katia S , Jothi Raja , Zotenko Elena , Przytycka Teresa M
Published: November 2006

We propose a novel approach to predict domain-domain interactions from a protein-protein interaction network. In our method we apply a parsimony-driven explanation of the network, where the domain interactions are inferred using linear programming optimization, and false positives in the protein network are handled by a probabilistic construction. This method outperforms previous approaches by a considerable margin. The results indicate that the parsimony principle provides a correct approach for detecting domain-domain contacts.
Treatment engagement and violence risk in mental disorders
Authors: Elbogen Eric B. , Van Dorn Richard A. , Swanson Jeffrey W. , Swartz Marvin S. , Monahan John
Published: November 2006

Background

Research has uncovered many characteristics related to violence committed by people with mental illness. However, relatively few studies have focused on understanding the connection between violence and dynamic, malleable variables such as a patient's level of treatment engagement.

Aims

To explore the link between community violence and patients' beliefs about psychiatric treatment benefit.

Method

A sample of 1011 adults receiving out-patient treatment for a psychiatric disorder in the public mental health systems of five US states were interviewed.

Results

Bivariate analyses revealed community violence was inversely related to treatment adherence, perceived treatment need and perceived treatment effectiveness. Multivariate analyses showed these three variables were associated with reduced odds of violent and other aggressive acts.

Conclusions

The results suggest clinical consideration of patients' perceptions of treatment benefit can help enhance violence risk assessment in psychiatric practice settings.
Terrorism in Context: From Tactical to Strategic
Authors: Marks Edward
Published: November 2006

Ambassador Edward Marks is a senior fellow with the School of Public Policy, Program on Peacekeeping Policy at George Mason University.
Ellis O. Briggs and the US Embassy in Greece, 1959 to 1962: A “Relentless Struggle”
Authors: Pagedas Constantine A.
Published: November 2006

Constantine A. Pagedas is executive vice president of International Technology and Trade Associates, Inc. in Washington, DC.
Spain's Dual Security Dilemma: Strategic Challenges of Basque and Islamist Terror during the Aznar and Zapatero Eras
Authors: Celso Anthony N.
Published: November 2006

Anthony N. Celso is assistant professor of government at Valley Forge College in Pennsylvania.
The Face of Kosovar Albanian Nationalism: A Violent and Volatile Transformation of the Balkan Political Landscape
Authors: Graczyk Donald A. , Giannakos Symeon A.
Published: November 2006

Donald Graczyk is a US Marine Corps lieutenant colonel who recently completed his graduate degree in international relations from Salve Regina University.

Symeon Giannakos is associate professor and director of the graduate program in international relations at Salve Regina University, Newport, Rhode Island.
Mosaic Eyes is a novel component of the Crumbs complex and negatively regulates photoreceptor apical size
Authors: Hsu Ya-Chu , Willoughby John J. , Christensen Arne K. , Jensen Abbie M.
Published: November 2006

Establishment of apical-basal cell polarity has emerged as an important process during development, and the Crumbs complex is a major component of this process in Drosophila. By comparison, little is known about the role of Crumbs (Crb) proteins in vertebrate development. We show that the FERM protein Mosaic Eyes (Moe) is a novel regulatory component of the Crumbs complex. Moe coimmunoprecipitates with Ome/Crb2a and Nok (Pals1) from adult eye and in vitro interaction experiments suggest these interactions are direct. Morpholino knockdown of ome/crb2a phenocopies the moe mutations. Moe and Crumbs proteins colocalize apically and this apical localization requires reciprocal protein function. By performing genetic mosaic analyses, we show that moe- rod photoreceptors have greatly expanded apical structures, suggesting that Moe is a negative regulator of Crumbs protein function in photoreceptors. We propose that Moe is a crucial regulator of Crumbs protein cell-surface abundance and localization in embryos.
Threshold response ofC15to the Dpp gradient inDrosophilais established by the cumulative effect of Smad and Zen activators and negative cues
Authors: Lin Meng-chi , Park Jeongsook , Kirov Nikolai , Rushlow Christine
Published: November 2006

Morphogen gradients determine a range of cell fates by specifying multiple transcriptional threshold responses. In the dorsal ectoderm of the Drosophila embryo, a BMP gradient is translated into an activated Smad transcription factor gradient, which elicits at least three threshold responses - high, intermediate and low. However, the mechanism underlying differential response to Dpp is poorly understood, due in part to the insufficient number of well-studied target genes. We analyzed the regulation of the C15 gene, which can be activated in cells containing intermediate levels of Dpp. We show that C15 expression requires both dpp and zen, thus forming a genetic feed-forward loop. The C15 regulatory element contains clusters of Smad- and Zen-binding sites in close proximity. Mutational analysis shows that the number of intact Smad- and Zen-binding sites is essential for the C15 transcriptional response, and that the spatial limits of C15 expression are established through a repression mechanism in the dorsolateral cells of the embryo. Thus, the combinatorial action of Smad and Zen activators bound to a number of adjacent sites, and competing negative cues allows for proper gene response to lower than peak levels of the Dpp morphogen.
Chemistry and Biochemistry of Insulin-Mimetic Vanadium and Zinc Complexes. Trial for Treatment of Diabetes Mellitus
Authors: Sakurai Hiromu , Katoh Akira , Yoshikawa Yutaka
Published: November 2006

The number of patients suffering from diabetes mellitus (DM), which is a chronic metabolic disorder and mainly classified as either insulin-dependent type 1 or non-insulin-dependent type 2, is increasing throughout the world. The sequence of DM progression makes this disease a major health risk in regard to microvascular disease that leads to kidney failure, blindness, and nerve damage as well as macrovascular disease that leads to amputations, cardiovascular disease, and stroke. To treat DM, several types of insulin preparations and synthetic drugs for type 1 and type 2 DM, respectively, are in clinical use. However, there are several problems concerning the insulin preparations and synthetic drugs, such as physical and mental pain due to daily insulin injections and defects involving several side effects, respectively. Thus, the disease demands extraordinary effects to define pathobiochemical pathways and strategies for prevention and to find new therapeutic approaches. For this purpose, oxovanadium(IV) (vanadyl, VO2+) and zinc(II) containing complexes have been explored as treatments for both types of DM. This article reviews the current state of research on insulin-mimetic and antidiabetic metal complexes, with special focus on paramagnetic vanadyl and diamagnetic zinc(II) complexes with different coordination modes, together with possible reaction mechanisms. New drug delivery systems involving enteric-coated capsulation and a biopolymer are also reviewed.
Electrocatalytic Activity of Metal-Loaded Reticulated Vitreous Carbon Electrodes for Hydrogen Evolution from Flowing Alkaline Solutions
Authors: Saleh Mahmoud M , El-Ankily Maher H , El-Deab Mohamed S , El-Anadouli B E
Published: November 2006

Reticulated vitreous carbon (RVC) electrodes have been used as possible porous cathodes, operating in flow-through mode for the purpose of the electrolytic generation of hydrogen gas from flowing alkaline solutions. The electrocatalytic performance of the RVC cathode was tested under different operating conditions, such as electrolyte flow regimes and temperature. Also, the effect of electroplating the RVC with copper metal or Watts nickel in flowing electrolytes has been assessed. Potentiodynamic and galvanostatic techniques along with SEM images were used to investigate the performance of the different cathodes: bare (uncoated) RVC, copper-coated RVC (RVC/Cu), and Ni-coated RVC (RVC/Ni). The hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) was found to be enhanced by coating RVC either with Cu or Ni. Polarization behavior had higher rates for HER using RVC/Ni than using RVC/Cu or bare RVC. This trend was confirmed by using a planar glassy carbon electrode (GC) coated with Cu and Ni under the same conditions. The activation energies for HER using RVC and RVC/Ni were estimated to be 32 and 14 kJ mol−1, respectively. Current transient and SEM micrographs showed good electrocatalytic and mechanical stability of the metal loadings. There was no indication of loss of the catalytic properties after operation for 30 h. Model calculations helped to extract kinetic parameters for the HER using different electrodes.
Use of 2,2′-Dibenzothiazolyl Disulfide-Triphenylphosphine and Lawesson’s Reagent in the Cyclization of β-Amino Acids
Authors: Kanwar Seema , Sharma S D
Published: November 2006

The disulfide reagents 2,2′-dithiobisbenzothiazole (MBTS) and 2,4-bis(4-methoxyphenyl)-1,3,2,4-dithiadiphosphetane 2,4-disulfide (Lawesson’s Reagent, LR) mediate the cyclization of β-amino acids with remarkable product yields. Compared to other cyclodehydrating agents, these have been found to be superior in terms of their cost, making them industrially viable. The advantageous properties of MBTS and LR make them useful and unique additions to the arsenal of cyclodehydrating agents.
Synthesis and Photochemical Properties of a New Water-Soluble Coumarin, Designed as a Chromophore for Highly Water-Soluble and Photolabile Protecting Group
Authors: Senda Naoko , Momotake Atsuya , Nishimura Yoshinobu , Arai Tatsuo
Published: November 2006

The absorption spectra and fluorescence spectra of a coumarin derivative (1), designed to be a water-soluble photolabile protecting group for caged compounds, were successfully observed in aqueous buffer solutions at pH 2.0–12.5 for the first time. Coumarin 1 is highly soluble (>5 mM) in aqueous buffer at pH 7.2 and is stable in the dark at room temperature for up to a week. The pKa value for the protonation of anilino nitrogen in coumarin 1 was determined to be 4.5. Coumarin 1 has a fluorescence lifetime of 2.0 ns and undergoes intersystem crossing to the triplet state. Therefore, compound 1 can be used for the light absorbing part of the new water-soluble caged compounds, such as caged amino acids or caged nucleotides, which can release free amino acids or nucleotides, respectively, by excitation in the visible region.
Generation of an S-Peptide via an N–S Acyl Shift Reaction in a TFA Solution
Authors: Nakamura Ken’ichiroh , Sumida Megumi , Kawakami Toru , Vorherr Thomas , Aimoto Saburo
Published: November 2006

An N–S acyl shift reaction of thiol-containing peptides in a trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) solution was confirmed by a combination of 13C NMR spectroscopy, reversed-phase (RP) HPLC, and MS analyses. A model peptide containing a cysteine residue was transformed into an S-peptide in a TFA solution. The S-peptide was quickly transformed to the original peptide during RP-HPLC analysis even when an eluent that contained 0.1% TFA was used. A peptide that had an N-2-mercapto-4,5-dimethoxybenzyl (Dmmb) group was also transformed into an S-peptide, forming a thioester bond with the thiol of the Dmmb group by TFA treatment. The generated S-peptide was isolated by directly injecting the reaction mixture into a RP-HPLC and was readily converted to the corresponding 2-sulfoethyl thioester via an intermolecular thiol exchange reaction with sodium 2-mercaptoethanesulfonate. The 2-sulfoethyl peptide thioester is widely used as a building block in polypeptide synthesis. The N–S acyl shift reaction observed in peptides with or without an auxiliary group provides a new route for the preparation of peptide thioesters.
Ring Carbon Functionalization of N-Heterocyclic Carbene Ligand with Ester Groups. Electronic Effect of Ester Groups on Coordination Properties
Authors: Hara Kenji , Kanamori Yoshikazu , Sawamura Masaya
Published: November 2006

Palladium complexes with an imidazol-2-ylidene ligand functionalized with ester groups at its 4,5-positions were synthesized from a readily available imidazole derivative. σ-Donation from the carbene ligand to the palladium atom is considerably weakened by functionalization with the two ester moieties.
Exact Higher-Order Sensitivity and Variation of Earthquake Energy Input in Soil-Structure Interaction System
Authors: Kishida Akiko , Takewaki Izuru
Published: November 2006

The energy input to a soil-structure interaction (SSI) system during an earthquake is an important measure of seismic demand. It is formulated here in the frequency domain. Exact higher-order sensitivities of the input energy to the SSI system are derived with respect to uncertain soil stiffness and damping parameters. It is shown that the input energy can be derived in a compact form through the frequency integration of the product between the ground-motion input component and the structural model component. By taking full advantage of this compact form, it is demonstrated that the formulation of earthquake input energy in the frequency domain is essentially appropriate for deriving the exact higher-order sensitivities of the input energy to the SSI system with respect to the uncertain parameters. The exact higher-order sensitivities facilitate to express the input energy variation due to uncertainty of ground stiffness and damping, and to find the most unfavorable combination of the uncertain parameters leading to the maximum energy input.
Solubility measurement of zirconium(IV) hydrous oxide
Authors: Sasaki Takayuki , Kobayashi T. , Takagi I. , Moriyama Hirotake
Published: November 2006

The solubility of zirconium(IV) hydrous oxide was measured in the hydrogen ion concentration (pHc) range from 1 to 13 at 25 °C. The experiment was carried out with I=0.1, 0.5 and 1.0 mol/dm3 (M) of NaClO4 solution. The concentration of Zr was measured by ICP-MS after separating the aqueous phase from the solid phase by ultrafiltration methods. Some differences between the obtained values and literature data were observed due to the size distribution of chemical species. In the lower pHc region, the size distribution of filtrate species was investigated by different pore-size filtration in the range of 3 k to 100 kDa NMWL (nominal molecular weight limit) membranes. The solubility values of mononuclear species were obtained by the Flory model, and by using the specific ion interaction theory (SIT) for ionic strength corrections and the known literature value of the hydrolysis constant β1°, the tentative value of the solubility product (K
sp°) was determined to be −56.94±0.32.
Protonation of D-gluconate and its complexation with Np(V) in acidic to nearly neutral solutions
Authors: Zhang Zhicheng , Clark Sue B. , Tian Guoxin , Zanonato Pier Luigi , Rao Linfeng
Published: November 2006

Thermodynamic properties of the protonation of D-gluconic acid (HGH4(aq)) and its complexation with Np(V) have been studied in acidic to nearly neutral solutions at t =25 °C and I=1 M NaClO4 by potentiometry, spectrophotometry and calorimetry. The protonation constant (logK
H) and enthalpy (ΔH
H) of the carboxylate group are determined to be (3.30±0.10) and −(4.03±0.07) kJ mol-1, respectively. Gluconate forms two Np(V) complexes in nearly neutral solutions. The formation constants and enthalpies of complexation are: log β1 = (1.48±0.03) and ΔH
1 = −(7.42±0.13) kJ mol-1 for NpO2(GH4)(aq), log β2=(2.14±0.09) and ΔH
2= −(12.08±0.45) kJ mol-1 for NpO2(GH4)2
-. The thermodynamic parameters indicate that gluconic acid, like isosaccharinic acid and other α-hydroxycarboxylic acids, is a slightly stronger acid and forms stronger complexes with Np(V) than simple monocarboxylic acids.
Complexing properties of α-isosaccharinate: thorium
Authors: Allard Stefan , Ekberg Christian
Published: November 2006

The complexation of Th with α-isosaccharinate has been studied using liquid–liquid-extraction techniques. An organic phase consisting of 0.025 M acetylacetone in toluene was used with a 1.0 M NaClO4 aqueous phase kept at pH 8 in a thermostated AKUFVE unit at 25 °C. The concentration of α-isosaccharinate (ISA-) in the aqueous phase was incrementally increased and samples of equal volumes were taken from the two phases and analyzed in a liquid scintillation detector. Stability constants, β
p

t, for the complexation reaction Th4++p ISA-↔Th(ISA)
p

(4-p)+, were determined to be logβ1
25°C=12.56±5.01, logβ2
25°C=19.38+0.35/-0.95, and logβ3
25°C=21.30±0.26.
Determination of the thermodynamic quantities of complexation between Eu(III) and carboxylic acids by microcalorimetry
Authors: Kitano Hiroyuki , Onishi Yuko , Kirishima Akira , Sato Nobuaki , Tochiyama Osamu
Published: November 2006

Potentiometric and microcalorimetric titration techniques were applied to determine the Gibbs free energies and enthalpies of the protonation of some carboxylic acids (acetic, glycolic, malonic and malic acids) and their complexation with Eu(III) in 1.0 M NaClO4 solution at 25 °C, where Eu(III) was used as a chemical analogue of radiologically important Am(III). By using the values of ΔG determined by potentiometric titrations, the results of calorimetric titrations were analyzed to give the values of ΔH and ΔS. To support the discussion on the obtained thermodynamic quantities, the hydration numbers of Eu(III) in the complexes were obtained by TRLFS measurement, where the luminescence lifetime of Eu(III) excited by 394 nm laser was measured.

A few to several kJ/mol of enthalpies were determined for the reactions within the uncertainties of ±0.01 to ±0.4. These enthalpy values indicated that the protonation of these carboxylates were entropy-driven, that is, |−TΔS|>>|ΔH| in ΔG=ΔH −TΔS. The complexations of Eu(III) were also shown to be controlled mainly by entropy term. The results of TRLFS measurement revealed that the number of dehydrated water molecule increased with the degree of complexation. A linear relation was found between total entropy change of the system (ΔS
T) and the net number of released molecules from the central Eu(III) ion. However, the values of ΔS
T for the hydroxy-carboxylates were smaller than that for simple carboxylates at the same net number of molecules released from Eu(III), suggesting that the dehydration occurred not only in the cation but also in the anion.
On the stability of Pu(III) at different pH under non-inert conditions
Authors: Olsson Mattias
Published: November 2006

A glove-box in contact with the lab atmosphere has been used in a test to see whether trivalent plutonium can be kept in this oxidation state at different pH. The box hosted a vessel of Pu(III) solution through which a hydrogen/argon gas mix was bubbled in the presence of a Pd/Pt catalyst. The results of solvent extractions and UV-Vis spectra for this system show that such conditions should not be considered sufficient to keep plutonium trivalent at a pH above two. The solvent extraction method was not found to affect the oxidation state composition of the samples.
Reduction of plutonium(VI) in brine under subsurface conditions
Authors: Reed Donald T. , Lucchini J. F. , Aase S. B. , Kropf A. J.
Published: November 2006

The redox stability of PuO22+was investigated in brine under subsurface conditions. In simulated brines, when no reducing agent was present, 0.1 mM concentrations of plutonium(VI) were stable as regards to reduction for over two years, which was the duration of the experiments performed. In these systems, the plutonyl existed as a carbonate or hydroxy-chloride species. The introduction of reducing agents (e.g.steel coupons, and aqueous Fe2+) typically present in a subsurface repository, however, led to the destabilization of the plutonium(VI) complexes and the subsequent reduction to Pu(IV) under most conditions investigated. X-ray Absorption Near-Edge Spectroscopy (XANES) confirmed that the final oxidation state in these systems was Pu(IV). This reduction lowered the overall steady state concentration of plutonium in the brine by 3−4 orders of magnitude. These results show the importance of considering repository constituents in evaluating subsurface actinide solubility/mobility and provide further evidence of the effectiveness of reduced iron species in the reduction and immobilization of higher-valent plutonium species.