bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Differential output of the high‐sensitivity rod photoreceptor: AII amacrine pathway
Authors: Petrides Artemis , Trexler E. Brady 
Published: February 2008

AbstractA population of ON cone bipolar cells is not coupled to AII amacrine cells. Neurobiotin (red) diffusion away from an injected AII amacrine cell (top right) at the level of bipolar cell somas in the inner nuclear layer of the rabbit retina. The somas of all depolarizing bipolar cells were labeled with antisera to G0α (green), and rod bipolars are labeled with antisera to PKCα (blue). G0α‐outlined somas without PKCα or Neurobiotin are non‐coupled ON cone bipolar cells. J. Comp. Neurol. 507:1653–1662, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Hybrid Aerosol Assisted and Atmospheric Pressure CVD of Gold‐Doped Vanadium Dioxide
Authors: Binions R. , Piccirillo C. , Palgrave R. G. , Parkin I. P. 
Published: February 2008

AbstractHybrid aerosol‐assisted (AA) and atmospheric pressure (AP) CVD methodology is utilized, for the first time, to produce thin films of gold nanoparticle‐doped vanadium dioxide. Good surface coverage, comparable to that of APCVD processes, is observed, and a variety of different film thicknesses and dopant levels are easily produced. The films are analyzed by X‐ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Their optical and thermochromic behaviors are also determined. Incorporation of gold nanoparticles in the films leads to significant changes in the color of the film due to the presence of a surface plasmon resonance (SPR) band.
Performance analysis of microcell/macrocell with reuse partitioning in TDMA‐based cellular systems
Authors: Yu Jane Y. , Chong Peter H. J. 
Published: February 2008

AbstractSystem capacity and grade of service (GoS) are both important for the rapid growth of cellular communication services. In this paper, we propose a two‐tier TDMA‐based cellular system with macrocell overlaid on microcell clusters by implementing fixed channel assignment (FCA) scheme and fixed reuse partitioning (FRP) scheme in microcell layer and macrocell layer, respectively, named FCA–FRP overlay scheme. Improvement can be achieved in both system capacity and GoS. Theoretical analysis based on the overlay scheme without overflow and with overflow is first presented. It shows that the simulation results are agreed with the analytical results. Then, simulation results, obtained from the overlay scheme with and without overflow, show that the performance in terms of the call blocking probability, the call dropping probability and system capacity of such a system can be greatly improved compared with a conventional one‐tier cellular system deployed with FCA or FRP scheme. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Applying the four‐capital model to the assessment of regional development in the Lubuskie region of Poland
Authors: Gorzelak Grzegorz , Olejniczak Karol , Płoszaj Adam , Smętkowski Maciej 
Published: February 2008

AbstractThis paper is part of the Special Issue of European Environment devoted to the outputs of the EU SRDTOOLS project, which developed and applied a new model of regional sustainable development evaluation. The paper first discusses the application of the four‐capital model to evaluate, in the light of an exercise carried out in collaboration with the authorities of the Lubuskie voivodship, the impact of the implementation of the regional strategy on the status of the four capitals. The findings are then contrasted with the opinions of the local government authorities and entrepreneurs. This helped identify the weaknesses of the strategy implementation and outline potential conflicts between the development of different types of capital. The same method was applied to the regional operational programme, which resulted in the formulation of recommendations for the updating of the regional development strategy and better adapting the regional operational programme to adopted goals related to sustainable regional development. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment.
Persistence of DNA damage in the freshwater mussel Unio pictorum upon exposure to ethyl methanesulphonate and hydrogen peroxide
Authors: Štambuk Anamaria , Pavlica Mirjana , Malović Lana , Klobucšar Göran I. V. 
Published: February 2008

AbstractAn important endpoint in assessing pollution‐related toxicity is genotoxicity. To obtain insight into the time‐course of oxidative‐ and alkylation‐induced DNA damage in the freshwater mussel, Unio pictorum, mussels were exposed for 24 hr to concentration gradients of pro‐oxidant hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and a mono‐functional alkylating agent, ethyl methanesulfonate (EMS). DNA damage was assessed in haemocytes immediately upon exposure and over the recovery period of up to 72 days by means of comet and micronucleus assays. Following exposure to H2O2, DNA damage as detected by the comet assay returned to control values after one day, except for the mussels exposed to the highest dose when damage was detectable for the next 3 days. In contrast, alkylation‐induced DNA damage was detectable even after 72 days of recovery in de‐chlorinated water, with a dose‐response relationship observable throughout the whole recovery period. Micronucleus frequency was the highest on Day 3 after exposure to EMS; it decreased considerably by Day 7 and returned almost to the control levels 19 days after exposure, while no significant induction of micronuclei was observed in mussels exposed to H2O2. Although the comet assay is considered a biomarker of recent genotoxic exposure, detecting DNA damage of shorter longevity than with the micronucleus assay, results presented here show that in the case of alkylation damage the comet assay reveals genotoxic exposure of U. pictorum in a dose‐dependent manner even after 2 months. Environ. Mol. Mutagen. 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
In vivo mutation assay based on the endogenous Pig‐a locus
Authors: Bryce Steven M. , Bemis Jeffrey C. , Dertinger Stephen D. 
Published: February 2008

AbstractThe product of the X‐chromosome's Pig‐a gene acts in the first step of glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) anchor biosynthesis, and is thereby essential for attaching certain proteins to the cell surface. The experiments described herein were designed to evaluate whether lack of GPI‐anchored proteins could form the basis of an in vivo mutation assay. Specifically, we used a CD59‐negative cell surface phenotype to denote Pig‐a mutation. Besides anti‐CD59‐PE, two other fluorescent reagents were used: thiazole orange to differentiate mature erythrocytes, reticulocytes (RETs), and leukocytes; and anti‐CD61 to resolve platelets. These experiments were performed with Sprague Dawley rats, and focused on two cell populations, total erythrocytes and RETs. The ability of the analytical method to enumerate CD59‐negative erythrocytes was initially assessed with reconstruction experiments whereby mutant‐mimicking cells were added to control bloods. Subsequently, female rats were treated on three occasions with the model mutagens ENU (100 mg/kg/day) or DMBA (40 mg/kg/day). Blood specimens were harvested at various intervals, as late as 6 weeks post‐exposure. Considering all week 4–6 data, we found that CD59‐negative cells ranged from 239 to 855 × 10−6 and 82 to 405 × 10−6 for ENU and DMBA, respectively. These values were consistently greater than those observed for negative control rats (18 ± 19 × 10−6). The elevated frequencies observed for the genotoxicant‐exposed animals were usually higher for RETs compared to total erythrocytes. These data support the hypothesis that an efficient in vivo mutation assay can be developed around flow cytometric enumeration of erythrocytes and/or RETs that exhibit aberrant GPI‐anchored protein expression. Environ. Mol. Mutagen., 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Configuring passive wells with reactive media for treating contaminated groundwater
Authors: Hudak Paul F. 
Published: February 2008

AbstractPassive (nonpumped) wells filled with reactive media may be an effective alternative to permeable reactive barriers for treating contaminated groundwater in deep aquifers. This study's objective was to evaluate alternative passive well configurations for treating contaminated groundwater in a simulated aquifer. Six configurations of 17 wells were tested, each well screened across the saturated zone. Passive wells occupied various locations on monitoring transects. Five configurations involved one or more monitoring transects perpendicular to regional groundwater flow, positioned downgradient of a contaminant plume. In a sixth configuration, monitoring transects were ±45° to groundwater flow, joined downgradient of the contaminant plume. A numerical mass transport model, accounting for advection and hydrodynamic dispersion, tested the ability of each passive well configuration to reduce contaminant concentrations and prevent offsite contaminant migration. For a fixed number of wells, relatively effective strategies include: (a) spanning the lateral width of a contaminant plume; (b) multiple monitoring transects, with relatively close well spacing along upgradient transects; and (c) 45° monitoring transects. Overall, the 45° structure was most effective. © 2008 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Environ Prog, 2008
The ABCA1 cholesterol transporter associates with one of two distinct dystrophin‐based scaffolds in Schwann cells
Authors: Albrecht Douglas E. , Sherman Diane L. , Brophy Peter J. , Froehner Stanley C. 
Published: February 2008

AbstractCytoskeletal scaffolding complexes help organize specialized membrane domains with unique functions on the surface of cells. In this study, we define the scaffolding potential of the Schwann cell dystrophin glycoprotein complex (DGC) by establishing the presence of four syntrophin isoforms, (α1, β1, β2, and γ2), and one dystrobrevin isoform, (α‐dystrobrevin‐1), in the abaxonal membrane. Furthermore, we demonstrate the existence of two separate DGCs in Schwann cells that divide the abaxonal membrane into spatially distinct domains, the DRP2/periaxin rich plaques and the Cajal bands that contain Dp116, utrophin, α‐dystrobrevin‐1 and four syntrophin isoforms. Finally, we show that the two different DGCs can scaffold unique accessory molecules in distinct areas of the Schwann cell membrane. Specifically, the cholesterol transporter ABCA1, associates with the Dp116/syntrophin complex in Cajal bands and is excluded from the DRP2/periaxin rich plaques. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Salinity and irrigation method affect crop yield and soil quality in watermelon (Citrullus lanatus L.) growing
Authors: Romic Davor , Ondrasek Gabrijel , Romic Marija , Josip Borosic , Vranjes Mijo , Petosic Dragutin 
Published: February 2008

AbstractThe experiment was set up in the Neretva River Valley in southern Croatia, with the aim to determine the influence of increasing salt concentrations in irrigation water using different irrigation systems (sprinkler and drip) in watermelon production on plastic mulch. Saline drip irrigation reduced the development of salinized plants. Under drip irrigation, salinity did not cause plant mortality, but it led to a reduction in the number and length of vines. Saline sprinkler irrigation caused plant mortality. Soil solution ion composition was remarkably altered by saline drip irrigation. Saline irrigation also had detrimental effects on yield. Application of saline water rapidly changed the ion composition of soil solution. Significant changes in Ca, Na and Cl concentrations in soil solution were determined parallel to increasing the irrigation water salinity, whereas changes in Mg and K concentrations were not statistically significant. Marketable yield was reduced by salinity. Saline drip irrigation had detrimental effects on yield (26 and 35% yield reduction). In the trial treatment involving saline sprinkler irrigation, plants were completely damaged and no yield was attained. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The role of power in wellness, oppression, and liberation: the promise of psychopolitical validity
Authors: Prilleltensky Isaac 
Published: February 2008

AbstractThe power to promote wellness, resist oppression, and foster liberation is grounded in psychological and political dynamics. Hitherto, these two sources of power have been treated in isolation, both for descriptive and prescriptive purposes. As a result, we lack an integrative theory that explains the role of power in promoting human welfare and preventing suffering, and we lack a framework for combining psychological and political power for the purpose of social change. In this article, the author puts forth a psychopolitical conceptualization of power, wellness, oppression, and liberation. Furthermore, he introduces the concept of psychopolitical validity, which is designed to help community psychologists to put power issues at the forefront of research and action. Two types of psychopolitical validity are introduced: type I—epistemic, and type II—transformative. Whereas the former demands that psychological and political power be incorporated into community psychology studies; the latter requires that interventions move beyond ameliorative efforts and towards structural change. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
From the outside looking in: the praxis dilemma of linking psychopolitical validity with community policing
Authors: Williams Brian N. 
Published: February 2008

AbstractThe author applies the concept of psychopolitical validity beyond the confines of the academy to the contemporary practice of American community policing. As such, it presents the promise and pitfalls of this potential union by highlighting points of linkage and places of conflict and tension and provides a commentary on the praxis dilemma of grafting the theoretical with the practical. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
The spiritual dimensions of psychopolitical validity: the case of the clergy sexual abuse crisis
Authors: Jones Diana L. , Dokecki Paul R. 
Published: February 2008

AbstractIn this article, the authors explore the spiritual dimensions of psychopolitical validity and use it as a lens to analyze clergy sexual abuse. The psychopolitical approach suggests a comprehensive human science methodology that invites exploration of phenomena such as spirituality and religious experience and the use of methods from a wide variety of disciplines, including philosophy and theology. They report an analysis showing the clergy sexual abuse crisis to be a system with interrelated personal, relational, and social/collective aspects, many of which are in the spiritual domain. The analysis shows how the abuse of power permeates the clergy sexual abuse system and suggests that two interrelated levels of reform must occur: (a) the church must transformatively change its structures to liberate its members to develop spiritually as mature persons—a political task, and (b) consciousness raising is required to help empower people to assume their rightful role in church decision making—a psychological task. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Including history in the study of psychological and political power
Authors: Reich Stephanie M. , Pinkard Tracy , Davidson Heather 
Published: February 2008

AbstractIsaac Prilleltensky's (2003) concept of psychopolitical validity stresses the need to consider both the political and the psychological nature of power in the study of wellness, oppression, and liberation. The authors advocate that psychopolitical validity would be strengthened if it included an explicit appreciation of historical context. The inclusion of historical knowledge offers a greater insight into how power has been exercised to promote and maintain oppression, as well as helps to identify methods for working towards social justice. The authors illustrate how the dynamics of power change over time by using examples of how the field of psychology (including community psychology) treated two historically oppressed groups: African Americans and women. Consistent with epistemic validity, investigation into the history of these two groups demonstrates how the role of psychological research has both contributed to the oppression of others, as well as promoted social change. Consistent with transformative validity, these examples illustrate how marginalized groups can work within an oppressive system to challenge the status quo and, in turn, change their position in society. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Adenoviral expression of vascular endothelial growth factor splice variants differentially regulate bone marrow‐derived mesenchymal stem cells
Authors: Lin Huey , Shabbir Arsalan , Molnar Merced , Yang Jingwei , Marion Susan , Canty John M. , Lee Techung 
Published: February 2008

AbstractBone marrow‐derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are being explored for clinical applications, and genetic engineering represents a useful strategy for boosting the therapeutic potency of MSCs. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)‐based gene therapy protocols have been used to treat tissue ischemia, and a combined VEGF/MSC therapeutics is appealing due to their synergistic paracrine actions. However, multiple VEGF splice variants exhibit differences in their mitogenicity, chemotactic efficacy, receptor interaction, and tissue distribution, and the differential regulatory effects of multiple VEGF isoforms on the function of MSCs have not been characterized. We expressed three rat VEGF‐A splice variants VEGF120, 164, and 188 in MSCs using adenoviral vectors, and analyzed their effects on MSC proliferation, differentiation, survival, and trophic factor production. The three VEGF splice variants exert common and differential effects on MSCs. All three expressed VEGFs are potent in promoting MSC proliferation. VEGF120 and 188 are more effective in amplifying expression of multiple growth factor and cytokine genes. VEGF164 on the other hand is more potent in promoting expression of genes associated with MSC remodeling and endothelial differentiation. The longer isoform VEGF188, which is preferentially retained by proteoglycans, facilitates bone morphogenetic protein‐7 (BMP7)‐mediated MSC osteogenesis. Under serum starvation condition, virally expressed VEGF188 preferentially enhances serum withdrawal‐mediated cell death involving nitric oxide production. This work indicates that seeking the best possible match of an optimal VEGF isoform to a given disease setting can generate maximum therapeutic benefits and minimize unwanted side effects in combined stem cell and gene therapy. J. Cell. Physiol. 216: 458–468, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Abiotic and biotic influences on the dispersal behavior of metamorph cane toads (Bufo marinus) in tropical Australia
Authors: Child Travis , Phillips Benjamin L. , Shine Richard 
Published: February 2008

AbstractA mechanistic understanding of factors influencing the dispersal behavior of metamorph cane toads (Bufo marinus) has direct conservation relevance in Australia. These invasive anurans are toxic to native predators, and if we can predict their distribution across the landscape, we can also predict (and perhaps, manage) the scale of their impact. We propose that the major drivers of metamorph distribution are the risk of dehydration (restricting the young toads to moist substrates near pond margins) and biotic advantages to dispersal away from the pond (especially, less risk of cannibalism). To test this model, we investigated the influence of abiotic and biotic cues on the behavior of individual toads in the laboratory. Substrate moisture levels strongly influenced metamorph activity levels and habitat selection: dry substrates induced most metamorphs to remain near water. The only biotic cue to influence metamorph dispersal was proximity of a larger (cannibalistic) conspecific; a cannibal's presence at the pond margin caused most metamorphs to spend less time there, and as a consequence, to dehydrate more rapidly. Our results suggest that the spatial and temporal distribution of metamorph cane toads reflects a trade‐off between competing risks: the danger of desiccation tends to keep young toads close to the pond margin in dry conditions, whereas the danger of cannibalism stimulates dispersal. J. Exp. Zool. 309A:215–224, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Simultaneous profiling of multiple neurochemical pathways from a single cerebrospinal fluid sample using GC/MS/MS with electron capture detection
Authors: Eckstein James A. , Ammerman Gina M. , Reveles Jessica M. , Ackermann Bradley L. 
Published: February 2008

AbstractBiogenic amines and amino acids are widely characterized in the pathways representing neurotransmission. Although several analytical methodologies have been used to detect specific target molecules in relevant fluids such as cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), multiple assays must be used to survey the primary pathways involved. This article describes the development of a GC/MS/MS method capable of analyzing up to 43 analytes (representing 20 amino acids and more than seven neurochemical pathways) from a single 50 µl CSF sample. In this procedure, a CSF sample is first treated with acetonitrile to precipitate proteins. The dried sample is then derivatized with a mixture of 2,2,3,3,3‐pentafluoro‐1‐propanol and pentafluoropropionic acetic anhydride to replace all active hydrogen atoms with fluorine‐containing groups. Due to the concentration difference between amino acids and neurotransmitters, these two compound classes are analyzed in separate injections of the same derivatized extract. The total run time for each injection is approximately 15–20 min. An essential feature of the method is the use of argon as a reagent gas for electron capture chemical ionization (ECCI), as the use of the more traditional gas (methane) lacked sufficient durability to be considered for use with the present instrumentation. This article describes the development of this method including a detailed investigation of the chemical ionization conditions used. The resultant conditions allow for the profiling of biogenic amines (e.g. serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine) in the low picogram per milliliter range. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Probing peptide libraries from Conus achatinus using mass spectrometry and cDNA sequencing: identification of δ and ω‐conotoxins
Authors: Gowd Konkallu Hanumae , Dewan Kalyan Kumar , Iengar Prathima , Krishnan Kozhalmannom S. , Balaram Padmanabhan 
Published: February 2008

AbstractThe peptide library present in the venom of the piscivorous marine snail Conus achatinus has been probed using a combination of mass spectrometry and cDNA sequencing methods. Matrix assisted laser desorption ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI‐MS) analysis, before and following global reduction/alkylation of peptide mixtures, permits the rapid classification of individual components on the basis of the number of disulfide bonds. Mass fingerprinting and the reverse phase HPLC retention times permit a further deconvolution of the library in terms of peptide size and hydrophobicity. Sequencing of cDNA derived using O‐superfamily specific primers yielded five complete conotoxin precursor sequences, ranging in polypeptide length from 75–87 residues containing six Cys residues at the C‐terminus. Sequence analysis permits classification of the five putative mature peptides (Ac 6.1 to Ac 6.5) as δ, ω, and ω‐like conotoxins. The presence of these predicted peptides in crude venom was established by direct matrix assisted laser desorption ionization tandem mass spectrometry (MALDI‐MS/MS) sequencing following trypsin digestion of the peptide mixture after global reduction/alkylation. The determination of partial peptide sequences and comparison with the predicted sequences resulted in the identification of four of the five predicted conotoxins. The characterization of posttranslationally modified analogs, which are hydroxylated at proline or amidated at the C‐terminus is also demonstrated. Crude venom analysis should prove powerful in studying both inter‐ and intra‐species variation in peptide libraries. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.