bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Green's function study of the one‐electron and shake‐up ionization spectra of unsaturated hydrocarbon cage compounds
Authors: Knippenberg S. , François J.‐P. , Deleuze M. S. 
Published: August 2006

AbstractThe valence one‐electron and shake‐up ionization spectra of stella‐2,6‐diene, stella‐2,6‐dione, bicyclo‐[2.2.2]‐octane‐2,5‐dione, and bicyclo‐[2.2.1]‐heptane‐2,5‐dione have been exhaustively studied, up to the double ionization threshold and beyond, by means of one‐particle Green's function theory. This study is based on calculations employing the outer‐valence Green's function and the third‐order algebraic diagrammatic construction schemes, along with a variety of basis sets. A comparison is made with available ultraviolet (He I) photoelectron and (e, 2e) electron‐impact ionization spectra, with main focus on the identification of spectral fingerprints for cyclic strains and through‐bond π‐conjugation. As a byproduct, our results demonstrate that it is impossible to reliably assign complex (e, 2e) ionization spectra by resorting only to Hartree–Fock or Kohn–Sham orbital energies and to the related electron momentum distributions. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Comput Chem, 2006
Empowerment in terms of theoretical perspectives: Exploring a typology of the process and components across disciplines
Authors: Hur Mann Hyung 
Published: August 2006

AbstractA variety of studies on empowerment has been conducted, but there has been no overarching framework available for practitioners and researchers hoping to grasp the process and components of empowerment in a comprehensive manner. This study was designed to provide the overarching framework across theories and disciplines for both academics and practitioners in the field of empowerment. A method of theoretical synthesis was employed in this study. Studies were chosen for review in the article based on the two criteria. First, both books and articles were not limited as long as they included theories on the steps toward empowerment and the cognitive element of empowerment. Second, disciplines were not bounded as they provided ideas for the empowerment process and its cognitive elements. It was found that empowerment might be synthesized into five progressive stages and four cognitive elements in both personal and collective empowerment. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
A mixed‐method analysis of African‐American women's attendance at an HIV prevention intervention
Authors: Pinto R.M. , McKay M.M. 
Published: August 2006

AbstractGrounded in a model of service utilization, this study conceptualizes attendance of African‐American women at an HIV prevention intervention as associated with influences across three ecological domains—individual, service (program), and social network. First, the texts of responses to semistructured, open‐ended elicitation interviews were analyzed. Survey items that conceptually matched the influences on attendance were then selected for subsequent analyses. In order to assess the contributions of groups of variables in separate domains, three blocks of independent variables were entered in a hierarchical regression. The hierarchical regression revealed that individual domain variables (age, level of education, and perception of racism) accounted for 18% of variance in attendance. After controlling for these variables, program domain variables (use of counseling and staff friendliness) accounted for an additional 7% of variance. The social network domain (influence of friends) did not account for any additional variance. It appears that several factors in different ecological domains may influence attendance at HIV prevention interventions. The modifiable factors found here can be used by researchers and practitioners to improve the attendance of racial and ethnic minority populations, those at most risk for HIV exposure, at prevention interventions. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Impacts of filial piety on preference for kinship versus public care
Authors: Cheung Chau‐kiu , Kwan Alex Yui‐huen , Ng Sik Hung 
Published: August 2006

AbstractElder care can involve the elder's children, other relatives, friends, community, and services sponsored by the government. According to the compensatory view, an individual prefers to rely on only one mode of elder care (i.e., care of elders in society, not just one's parents). In contrast, the complementary view suggests that the individual desires to combine elder care from multiple sources. This view expects that someone who practices filial piety more intensively will display a higher desire for other sources of elder care as well. The present study clarifies the impact of filial piety on desire and preference for kin/friend and government support for elder care in society. Its data came from a random sample survey of Hong Kong Chinese. Results endorse the compensatory view and thus disconfirm the complementary view when filial piety showed a negative effect on desire for other sources of support. Particularly, results reveal a more negative impact of filial piety on desire for other sources of support among people aged 40 years or older. These findings sustain the proposal for promoting filial piety as a way to relieve people's reliance on government support in elder care. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
The Comparative Toxicogenomics Database (CTD): a resource for comparative toxicological studies
Authors: Mattingly C.J. , Rosenstein M.C. , Colby G.T. , Forrest Jr J.N. , Boyer J.L. 
Published: August 2006

AbstractThe etiology of most chronic diseases involves interactions between environmental factors and genes that modulate important biological processes (Olden and Wilson, 2000. Nat Rev Genet 1(2):149–153). We are developing the publicly available Comparative Toxicogenomics Database (CTD) to promote understanding about the effects of environmental chemicals on human health. CTD identifies interactions between chemicals and genes and facilitates cross‐species comparative studies of these genes. The use of diverse animal models and cross‐species comparative sequence studies has been critical for understanding basic physiological mechanisms and gene and protein functions. Similarly, these approaches will be valuable for exploring the molecular mechanisms of action of environmental chemicals and the genetic basis of differential susceptibility. J. Exp. Zool. 305A:689–692, 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Functions of melanin‐concentrating hormone in fish
Authors: Kawauchi Hiroshi 
Published: August 2006

AbstractMelanin‐concentrating hormone (MCH) was originally discovered in fish, in which it causes aggregation or concentration of melanin granules in melanophores, thus regulating body color. MCH is a cyclic neuropeptide synthesized as a preprohormone in the hypothalamus of all vertebrates. Mammalian MCH plays an important role as a neurotransmitter or neuromodulator in regulating food intake and energy homeostasis. MCH signaling system may involve in regulating food intake also in fish. This neuropeptide binds to G‐protein‐coupled seven transmembrane receptor[s] to mediate its functions. This article reviews MCH and MCH receptor signaling systems in body color change and food intake in fish.J. Exp. Zool. 305A:751–760, 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Identification of melanin‐concentrating hormone receptor and its impact on drug discovery
Authors: Saito Yumiko , Maruyama Kei 
Published: August 2006

AbstractThe neuropeptide melanin‐concentrating hormone (MCH) was originally isolated from the pituitary of salmon, in which it causes skin paling. MCH is also found abundantly in mammalian neurons, and has been detected in the lateral hypothalamus and zona incerta, brain regions that are at the center of feeding behavior. Acute central administration of MCH leads to a rapid and significant increase in food intake, while MCH expression changes in states of altered energy balance, such as fasting and obesity. Furthermore, MCH knockout mice tend toward hypophagia and leanness. In 1999, we and four other groups identified an orphan G‐protein‐coupled receptor (GPCR) as a specific receptor for MCH (MCH‐1 receptor). Although a second MCH receptor (MCH‐2 receptor) was isolated in humans, it was found to be non‐functional or encode a non‐functional pseudogene in non‐human species, including rodents. The discovery of these MCH receptors permitted the launch of a broad array of drug screening efforts and three MCH‐1 receptor antagonists were identified to reduce food intake and body weight. Interestingly, some antagonists unexpectedly produced evidence that blockade of these receptors has antidepressant and anxiolytic activities. The expressions of the MCH receptors, which have been implicated in regulating emotion, stress and motivation, make MCH an excellent candidate for integrating the various homeostatic stimuli necessary for maintaining the proper conditions of energy metabolism and other physiological functions. Finally, the speed at which MCH receptor studies have been undertaken exemplifies the impact that this deorphanized GPCR will have on setting the stage for more detailed physiological studies.J. Exp. Zool. 305A:761–768, 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Evaluation of DNA vaccination with recombinant adenoviruses using bioluminescence imaging of antigen expression: impact of application routes and delivery with dendritic cells
Authors: Schweichel Dirk , Steitz Julia , Tormo Damia , Gaffal Evelyn , Ferrer Aleix , Büchs Stefanie , Speuser Petra , Limmer Andreas , Tüting Thomas 
Published: August 2006

AbstractRecombinant DNA vaccines are able to induce strong CD8+ T cell mediated immunity and have become increasingly attractive for the prevention and treatment of infectious diseases and cancer. Dendritic cells (DC), which critically control cellular immune responses, have been transduced with antigen ex vivo and used as ‘nature's adjuvant’ to enhance vaccine efficacy. The impact of the application route on the in vivo distribution of antigen and the stimulation of CD8+ T cells have been subjects of considerable debate. Here we report the construction of vectors expressing a fusion protein between EGFP, the H2‐Kb‐binding peptide OVAaa257−264 and green click beetle luciferase as a model antigen which allows for simultaneous quantitative assessment of antigen expression using fluorescence and bioluminescence imaging in correlation with CD8+ T cell stimulation in vivo. We applied this construct to evaluate DNA vaccination with recombinant adenoviral vectors, assess the impact of using cultured DC for vaccine delivery and investigate different application routes. Antigen expression was non‐invasively followed in vivo by visualizing bioluminescence with an ultrasensitive CCD camera. CD8+ T cell stimulation was detected with H2‐Kb‐OVAaa257−264 tetramers. We found that intravenous injection of adenovirus‐transduced DC stimulated the strongest OVAaa257−264‐specific cytotoxic T‐lymphocyte (CTL) responses although it delivered two orders of magnitude less antigen in vivo when compared to direct injection of recombinant adenovirus. We believe that our experimental approach has the potential to facilitate translational development of improved genetic immunization strategies targeting DC directly in vivo. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Murine neocortical histogenesis is perturbed by prenatal exposure to low doses of bisphenol A
Authors: Nakamura Keiko , Itoh Kyoko , Yaoi Takeshi , Fujiwara Yasuhiro , Sugimoto Tohru , Fushiki Shinji 
Published: August 2006

AbstractBisphenol A (BPA) has been shown to disrupt thyroid hormone function. We therefore studied whether prenatal exposure to low‐doses of BPA affects the morphology and the expression of some genes related to brain development in the murine fetal neocortex. Pregnant mice were injected subcutaneously with 20 μg/kg of BPA daily from embryonic day 0 (E0). Control animals received vehicle alone. For evaluating cell proliferation, neuronal differentiation and migration, bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) was injected intraperitoneally into pregnant mice with various regimens and the brains were processed for immunohistochemistry. The total RNA was extracted from the embryonic telencephalon at various embryonic stages. The BrdU‐labeled cells examined 1 hour after BrdU injection showed no differences between the BPA‐treated and control groups (n = 10, each), which indicated that the proliferation of precursor cells was not affected. The BrdU‐labeled cells, analysed 2 days after BrdU injection, were decreased in the ventricular zone of BPA‐treated mice at E14.5 and E16.5, whereas they were increased in the cortical plate at E14.5 as compared with those in control mice (n = 10, each). Furthermore, the expression of Math3, Ngn2, Hes1, LICAM, and THRα was significantly upregulated at E14.5 in the BPA‐treated group. These results suggested that BPA might disrupt normal neocortical development by accelerating neuronal differentiation/migration. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Elastographic imaging of strain distribution in the anterior cruciate ligament and at the ligament–bone insertions
Authors: Spalazzi Jeffrey P. , Gallina Jason , Fung‐Kee‐Fung Simon D. , Konofagou Elisa E. , Lu Helen H. 
Published: August 2006

AbstractThe anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) functions as a mechanical stabilizer in the tibiofemoral joint, and is the most commonly injured knee ligament. To improve the clinical outcome of tendon grafts used for ACL reconstructions, our long‐term goal is to promote graft–bone integration via the regeneration of the native ligament–bone interface. An understanding of strain distribution at this interface is crucial for functional scaffold design and clinical evaluation. Experimental determination, however, has been difficult due to the small length scale of the insertion sites. This study utilizes ultrasound elastography to characterize the response of the ACL and ACL–bone interface under tension. Specifically, bovine tibiofemoral joints were mounted on a material testing system and loaded in tension while radiofrequency (RF) data were acquired at 5 MHz. Axial strain elastograms between RF frames and a reference frame were generated using crosscorrelation and recorrelation techniques. Elastographic analyses revealed that when the joint was loaded in tension, complex strains with both compressive and tensile components occurred at the tibial insertion, with higher strains found at the insertion sites. In addition, the displacement was greatest at the ACL proper and decreased in value gradually from ligament to bone, likely a reflection of the matrix organization at the ligament–bone interface. Our results indicate that elastography is a novel method that can be readily used to characterize the mechanical properties of the ACL and its insertions into bone. © 2006 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 24:2001–2010, 2006
Surface engineering of microchannel walls for protein separation and directed microfluidic flow
Authors: Huang Tom T. , Mosier Nathan S. , Ladisch Michael R. 
Published: August 2006

AbstractThe preparation of surfaces in microfluidic devices that selectively retain proteins may be difficult to implement due to the incompatibility of derivatization methods with microdevice fabrication techniques. This review describes recently reported developments in simple and rapid methods for engineering the surface chemistries of microchannels based on construction of press‐fit microdevices. These devices are fabricated by placing a glass fiber on a PDMS film and pressing the film on a silicon wafer or a microscope slide that has been derivatized with octadecyltrichlorosilane (ODS). The film adheres to the slide and forms an elliptically shaped channel around the fiber. The combination of surface wettability of a hydrophilic glass microfiber and the surrounding hydrophobic microchannel surfaces directs a narrow boundary layer of liquid next to the fiber in order to bring the sample in contact with the separation media and results in selective retention of proteins. This phenomenon may be exploited to enable microscale separation applications since there are a wide variety of fibers available with different chemistries. These may be used to rapidly fabricate microchannels that serve as stationary phases for separation at a microscale. The fundamental properties of such devices are discussed.
Learning to reduce degradation on Swaziland's arable land: enhancing understandings of Striga asiatica
Authors: Stringer L. C. , Twyman C. , Thomas D. S. G. 
Published: August 2006

AbstractMaize production in Swaziland's middleveld is being increasingly threatened by the Striga asiatica weed (also called witchweed). It parasitises the maize crop to provide itself with water and nutrients, preventing the crop from growing properly. In this paper we examine the impacts of this bio‐indicator of land degradation on rural livelihoods, investigating how farmers and policy makers are responding to the problem. Our results show that farmers' ability to control weed infestations is determined by a number of environmental, social and political‐economic drivers and that national policies to reduce land degradation offer little assistance. Low‐technology methods employed by farmers are an important step in alleviating the problem, but farmers' understandings of why these methods work are limited and they often neglect to combine control strategies. At the local level, there is a need to support farmer‐to‐farmer learning and education programmes to broaden and deepen farmer knowledge about S. asiatica. At the national level a more supportive policy context is necessary that recognises weeds as an indicator of a more serious overall land degradation problem, and which uses broader criteria to determine what constitutes land degradation. Without this attention, the threat from S. asiatica could increase in both area and intensity, with profound effects on both food security and the sustainability of rural livelihoods. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Direct Measurement of Cure‐Induced Stress in Thermosetting Materials by Means of a Dynamic Mechanical Analyzer
Authors: Yu Hong , Mhaisalkar Subodh G. , Wong Ee Hua 
Published: August 2006

AbstractSummary: Significant stresses develop during cure in functional and structural applications of polymeric materials ranging from glass fiber composites to advanced functional polymers used in microelectronics, optoelectronics, and biomaterials applications. These stresses arise from a combination of chemical shrinkage and stiffness buildup in a confined geometry. In this paper, a new method for direct measurement of cure‐induced stresses during curing of thermosetting materials by using the iso‐strain mode of a dynamic mechanical analyzer (DMA) has been developed. A thermal tape was used to facilitate maintaining a constant strain and initiate the iso‐strain measurement. Two quartz rods with a small gap were used to contain the material. The top of the quartz rod and one side of the thermal tape were secured by the fixed clamp, while the bottom quartz rod and the other side of the thermal tape were clamped with the moveable force probe. The cure force was thereby directly measured by the probe during the curing process. The cure stress buildup was observed to occur after a certain duration that corresponds to the gel point. Experimental results clearly show that curing at lower temperature could lead to higher cure stress due to the earlier onset of vitrification. An investigation of the stress buildup as a function of degree of cure indicates that a majority of the cure stress was generated in the vitrification regime. The methodology proposed herein provides an accurate experimental approach to investigate the cure‐induced stress generated in a thermosetting material in applications ranging from microelectronics and optoelectronics packaging to biomaterials amongst others.Evolution of cure force and heat flow measured by means of DMA and DSC, respectively, at cure temperature 100 °C.magnified imageEvolution of cure force and heat flow measured by means of DMA and DSC, respectively, at cure temperature 100 °C.
Protein gene product 9.5 is a spermatogonia‐specific marker in the pig testis: Application to enrichment and culture of porcine spermatogonia
Authors: Luo Jinping , Megee Susan , Rathi Rahul , Dobrinski Ina 
Published: August 2006

AbstractIdentification and isolation of spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) are a prerequisite for culture, genetic manipulation, and/or transplantation research. In this study, we established that expression of PGP 9.5 is a spermatogonia‐specific marker in porcine testes. The expression pattern of PGP 9.5 in spermatogonia was compared to cell type‐specific protein (GATA‐4 or PLZF) expression in seminiferous tubules at different ages, and expression levels of PGP 9.5, Vasa, and Oct‐4 were compared in different cell fractions. Enrichment of spermatogonia from 2‐week‐old (2wo) and 10‐week‐old (10wo) boars by adhesion to laminin, differential plating, or velocity sedimentation followed by differential plating was assessed by identification of spermatogonia using expression of PGP 9.5 as a marker. Compared to the initial samples, spermatogonia were enriched twofold in laminin‐selected cells (P < 0.05), and fivefold either in cells remaining in suspension (fraction I) or in cells slightly attached to the culture dish (fraction II) (P < 0.05) after differential plating. Cells in fraction II appeared to be superior for future experiments due to higher viability (>90%) than in fraction I (∼50%). Velocity sedimentation plus differential plating achieved cell populations containing up to 70% spermatogonia with good viability (>80%). Enriched spermatogonia from 2wo and 10wo testes could be maintained in a simple culture medium without additional growth factors for at least 2 weeks and continued to express PGP 9.5. These data provide the basis for future studies aimed at refining conditions of germ cell culture and manipulation prior to germ cell transplantation in pigs. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 73: 1531–1540, 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Developmental potential of aged oocyte rescued by nuclear transfer following parthenogenetic activation and in vitro fertilization
Authors: Bai Zhao‐Dai , Liu Kai , Wang Xiao‐Yin 
Published: August 2006

AbstractMouse oocyte aged in vitro cannot develop normally following activation. To investigate the roles of nucleus or cytoplasm elements in oocyte aged in vitro process and their subsequent development capability following activation, we reconstructed oocytes with MII chromosome spindle and cytoplasm from aged and fresh oocytes by nuclear transfer. The subsequent developmental potential after parthenogenetic activation (PA) or in vitro fertilization (IVF) was evaluated. After nuclear transfer, more than 75.6% of karyoplast and cytoplast pairs can be fused and reconstructed oocytes have a normal haploid karyotype. Following PA, aged oocytes cannot develop beyond four‐cell stage, reconstructed oocytes from fresh nucleus and aged cytoplasm developed to blastocyst with a low percentage (9.1%). Instead, blastocyst formation rate of reconstructed oocyte from aged nucleus and fresh cytoplasm was higher (60.0%). Following IVF, zygote with diploid karyotype can be formed from zona pellucida (ZP)‐free oocyte. After cultured in vitro, aged oocytes cannot develop beyond two‐cell; reconstructed oocytes from fresh nucleus and aged cytoplasm developed to blastocyst with low percentage (15.0%). However, high blastocyst formation rate (86.2%) can be obtained from reconstructed oocytes from aged nucleus and fresh cytoplasm. Furthermore, after embryo transfer, three viable pups have been obtained, although the efficiency is very low. These observation demonstrated that cytoplasm is more crucial than nucleus to aging process. Fresh cytoplasm could partly rescue nucleus susceptibility to apoptosis from aging in vitro. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 73: 1448–1453, 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.