bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Cell‐cycle‐dependent cortical localization of pEg3 protein kinase in Xenopus and human cells
Authors: Chartrain Isabelle , Couturier Anne , Tassan Jean‐Pierre 
Published: March 2006

Background information. Protein kinase pEg3 belongs to the evolutionarily conserved KIN1/PAR‐1/MARK family, whose members are involved in a variety of functions, including cell polarity, microtubule stability, intracellular signalling and the cell cycle. Activity and phosphorylation of pEg3 are cell‐cycle dependent and rise to maximum levels during mitosis. pEg3 was shown to interact with and phosphorylate phosphatase CDC25B, and to potentially control cell‐cycle progression. Subcellular localization of pEg3 was investigated in Xenopus and human cultured cells.Results. By expression of GFP (green fluorescent protein)‐tagged pEg3 and indirect immunofluorescence with specific antibodies, pEg3 was found to be localized in the cytoplasm and the nucleus in interphase cells. During mitosis pEg3 was also found in the cytoplasm. From anaphase to telophase, a proportion of the protein was detected at the cell cortex. The cortical distribution in mitotic cells was dependent on F‐actin, because the actin‐depolymerization‐inducing drugs cytochalasin D or latrunculin A prevented pEg3 cortical localization. The protein lacking the conserved C‐terminal domain was not detected at the cell cortex, whereas the C‐terminal domain was targeted to the cell periphery. In contrast with full‐length pEg3, the cortical localization of the C‐terminal domain and construct lacking the N‐terminal domain was cell‐cycle independent, and these constructs were found at the cell periphery in interphase cells.Conclusions. pEg3 is localized at the cell periphery specifically during mitosis. The C‐terminal domain is the only pEg3 domain found to be necessary and sufficient for cortical targeting. Cortical distribution of pEg3 also requires the F‐actin cytoskeleton. The cell‐cycle‐independent cortical localization of the pEg3 C‐terminal domain and a construct lacking the N‐terminal domain indicates that a negative control mechanism involving the pEg3 catalytic N‐terminal domain probably acts to prevent pEg3 cortical distribution during interphase. These results suggest that pEg3 might play a role at the cell cortex during mitosis.
Is Economics Performative? Option Theory and the Construction of Derivatives Markets
Authors: Mackenzie Donald 
Published: March 2006

The thesis that economics is “performative” (Callon 1998) has provoked much interest but also some puzzlement and not a little confusion. The purpose of this article is to examine from the viewpoint of performativity one of the most successful areas of modern economics, the theory of options, and in so doing hopefully to clarify some of the issues at stake. To claim that economics is performative is to argue that itdoesthings, rather than simply describing (with greater or lesser degrees of accuracy) an external reality that is not affected by economics. Butwhatdoes economics do, and what are the effects of it doing what it does?That the theory of options is an appropriate place around which to look for performativity is suggested by two roughly concurrent developments. Since the 1950s, the academic study of finance has been transformed from a low-status, primarily descriptive activity to a high-status, analytical, mathematical, Nobel-prize-winning enterprise. At the core of that enterprise is a theoretical account of options dating from the start of the 1970s. Around option theory there has developed a large array of sophisticated mathematical analyses of financial derivatives. (A “derivative” is a contract or security, such as an option, the value of which depends upon the price of another asset or upon the level of an index or interest rate.)
Myocardial Gene Expression of Angiogenic Factors in Human Chronic Ischemic Myocardium: Influence of Acute Ischemia/Cardioplegia and Reperfusion
Authors: WANG YONGZHONG , GABRIELSEN ANDERS , LAWLER PATRICK R. , PAULSSON‐BERNE GABRIELLE , STEINBRÜCHEL DANIEL A. , HANSSON GORAN K. , KASTRUP JENS 
Published: March 2006

ABSTRACTObjective: Angiogenic therapies in animals have demonstrated the development of new blood vessels within ischemic myocardium. However, results from clinical protein and gene angiogenic trials have been less impressive. The present study aimed to investigate the expression of angiogenic genes in human chronic ischemic myocardium and the influence of acute ischemia/cardioplegia and reperfusion on their expression.Methods: Myocardial biopsies were taken from chronic ischemic and nonischemic myocardium in 15 patients with stable angina pectoris during coronary bypass surgery. Tissue samples were evaluated by oligonucleotide microarray and quantitative real‐time PCR for the expression of angiogenic factors.Results: There was identical baseline expression of VEGF‐A and VEGF‐C mRNA in chronic ischemic myocardium compared with nonischemic myocardium. Reperfusion increased the gene expression of VEGF‐A and VEGF‐C mRNA both in nonischemic and ischemic myocardium. VEGF‐A protein was detected mainly in the extracellular matrix around the cardiomyocytes in ischemic myocardium.Conclusion: These data suggest that the nonconclusive VEGF gene therapy trials chronic coronary artery disease was not due to a preexisting upregulation of VEGF in chronic ischemic myocardium. There might be room for further therapeutic angiogenesis in chronic ischemic myocardium.
Coronary Vasomotor Reactivity to Endothelin‐1 in the Prediabetic Metabolic Syndrome
Authors: KNUDSON JARROD D. , ROGERS PAUL A. , DINCER Ü. Deniz , BRATZ IAN N. , ARAIZA ALBERTO G. , DICK GREGORY M. , TUNE JOHNATHAN D. 
Published: March 2006

ABSTRACTObjective:The purpose of the present investigation was to test the hypothesis that coronary vasoconstrictor responses to endothelin‐1 are augmented in the prediabetic metabolic syndrome.Methods:ELISA was used to measure plasma endothelin‐1 and intracoronary endothelin‐1 dose‐response experiments were conducted in vivo on normal control and high‐fat‐fed prediabetic dogs. Additionally, isolated left circumflex (LCX) coronary arteries and arterioles (< 160 μ m) were used for in vitro functional studies and molecular analyses (quantitative real‐time PCR and Western blotting).Results:Plasma endothelin‐1 concentrations were not different between control and prediabetic dogs. Coronary vasoconstriction to endothelin‐1 was similar in control and prediabetic dogs, both in vivo and in isolated arterioles. Nonetheless, real‐time PCR analysis revealed significant decreases in ETA receptor transcript levels in LCX coronary arteries and arterioles. Also, Western blotting revealed a significant decrease in ETA receptor protein in LCX coronary arteries.Conclusions:The findings of the present investigation indicate that although ETA receptor‐signaling is sensitized by induction of the metabolic syndrome, endothelin‐mediated coronary vasoconstriction does not significantly contribute to coronary dysfunction at this early stage of prediabetes.
Mast Cell Degranulation Alters Lymphatic Contractile Activity Through Action of Histamine
Authors: PLAKU KELLY J. , VON DER WEID PIERRE‐YVES 
Published: March 2006

ABSTRACTObjective: Mast cells reside in most tissues and in close association with blood vessels and nerves, areas where lymphatic vessels are also present. Mast cells and lymphatic vessels are two important players in the development of the inflammatory process. This study was designed to examine the effects of mast cell degranulation on the contractile activity of mesenteric lymphatic vessels.Methods: Lymphatic vessel contractile activity was assessed in vitro by video microscopy of the mesentery of cow's milk‐sensitized guinea pigs upon application of β‐lactoglobulin and compared to the response measured in sham animals.Results: Application of 5–10 μM β‐lactoglobulin increased lymphatic vessel constriction frequency and decreased constriction amplitude (n = 12). This effect was not seen in sham‐treated animals (n = 16) and was not due to an increased number of mast cells in the mesentery of the milk‐sensitized animals, as revealed by histological examination. Two known mast cell‐derived mediators, histamine and thromboxane A2, via stable mimetic U46619 also altered lymphatic pumping in a similar manner, but only pretreatment with the histamine H1 receptor antagonist pyrilamine (1 μM) could reduce the β‐lactoglobulin‐induced response. The thromboxane A2 receptor antagonist, SQ 29548, and the 5‐lipoxygenase inhibitor, caffeic acid, were without significant effect.Conclusion: In the in vitro mesenteric preparation, mast cell degranulation altered lymphatic contractile activity via the release of a mediator suggested to be histamine and the subsequent activation of H1 receptors. This action could potentially interfere with the expected ability of lymphatic vessels to reduce edema during inflammation.
Perivascular Cells Along Venules Upregulate NG2 Expression During Microvascular Remodeling
Authors: MURFEE WALTER L. , REHORN MICHAEL R. , PEIRCE SHAYN M. , SKALAK THOMAS C. 
Published: March 2006

ABSTRACTObjective: Recently the authors have shown that neuron–glial antigen 2 (NG2) is expressed by perivascular cells along arterioles and capillaries, but not along venules in quiescent rat mesenteric microvascular networks. To investigate how the spatial distribution of this proteoglycan changes during microvascular remodeling, the objective of this study was to characterize the expression of NG2 in adult rat mesenteric microvascular networks undergoing active remodeling.Methods: The distribution of NG2 expression was evaluated in adult rat mesenteric microvascular networks. Tissues were harvested from 250 g, female, Sprague‐Dawley rats at 1, 3, and 5 days poststimulation and double immunolabeled for NG2 and CD31 (endothelial cell marker).Results: After 1 day, NG2 expression was observed along 27 ± 11% of network draining venules (14–55 μm) and after 3 days, 59 ± 10% of draining venules (13–59 μm) stained positive for the proteoglycan. By 5 days poststimulation, the percentage of network draining venules (18–59 μm) staining positive for NG2 returned to 18 ± 7%, indicating a downregulation of the proteoglycan toward quiescent levels along larger‐sized venules.Conclusions: The results suggest that NG2 proteoglycan expression is transiently upregulated along venules during microvascular remodeling, implicating NG2 as a marker of activated venules.
Cumulative effects assessment of bay ecosystem: Xiamen's Western Sea, a case study
Authors: Yang Xiai , Xue Xiongzhi , Shen Shawn S. 
Published: March 2006

Considering the deficiency of conventional environment a impacts assessment to protect bay ecosystems from unfavourable impacts of multiple human activities over the years, this paper discusses an effective approach framework to examine addictive or interactive impacts arising from the collective multiple activities of the past. There are three stages of the cumulative effects assessment process: 1) systematically selecting indicators of the ecosystem in question, 2) choosing the quantified or semi-quantified methods to assess indicators of changes, and 3) assessing the past contributions of the activities to the changes.
In a case study of Xiamen's Western Sea in China, the indicators were constructed according to their sensitivities to environmental stress and classified into three categories: physical, chemical and biological indicators. The Geography Information System and Pearson correlation analysis were applied to assess changes of the physical and chemical indicators. The case study showed that most of the indicators of Xiamen's Western Sea ecosystem have been changed greatly in the past five decades, especially in shoreline, sea area, water quality, community construction of phytoplankton and benthos, and mangrove forests. Coastal and dike construction and terrestrial pollutant input are the main causes of the changes.
The systematic position of Meruidae (Coleoptera, Adephaga) and the phylogeny of the smaller aquatic adephagan beetle families
Authors: Beutel Rolf G. , Balke Michael , Steiner Warren E. 
Published: March 2006

AbstractA phylogenetic analysis of Adephaga is presented. It is based on 148 morphological characters of adults and larvae and focussed on a placement of the recently described Meruidae, and the genus‐level phylogeny of the smaller aquatic families Gyrinidae, Haliplidae and Noteridae. We found a sister group relationship between Gyrinidae and the remaining adephagan families, as was found in previous studies using morphology. Haliplidae are either the sister group of Dytiscoidea or the sister group of a clade comprising Geadephaga and the dytiscoid families. Trachypachidae was placed as the sister group of the rhysodid‐carabid clade or of Dytiscoidea. The monophyly of Dytiscoidea includingMeruis well supported. Autapomorphies are the extensive metathoracic intercoxal septum, the origin of the metafurca from this structure, the loss of Mm. furcacoxalis anterior and posterior, and possibly the presence of an elongated subcubital setal binding patch. Meruidae was placed as sister group of the Noteridae. Synapomorphies are the absence of the transverse ridge of the metaventrite, the fusion of abdominal segments III and IV, the shape of the strongly asymmetric parameres, and the enlargement of antennomeres 5, 7 and 9. TheMeru‐noterid clade is the sister group of the remaining Dytiscoidea. The exact position ofAspidyteswithin this clade remains ambiguous: it is either the sister group of Amphizoidae or the sister group of a clade comprising this family and Hygrobiidae + Dytiscidae. The sister group relationship between Spanglerogyrinae and Gyrininae was strongly supported. The two included genera of Gyrinini form a clade, and Enhydrini are the sister group of a monophylum comprising the remaining Enhydrini and Orectochilini. A branching pattern (Peltodytes+ (Brychius+Haliplus)) within Haliplidae was confirmed.Algophilus,Apteraliplusand theHaliplus‐subgenusLiaphlusform a clade. The generic status of the two former taxa is unjustified. The Phreatodytinae are the sister group of Noterinae, andNotomicrus(+Speonoterus),Hydrocoptus, andPronoterusbranch off successively within this subfamily. The search for the larvae ofMeruand a combined analysis of morphological and molecular data should have high priority.© The Willi Hennig Society 2006.
Performance of the DNA‐Citoliq liquid‐based cytology system compared with conventional smears
Authors: Alves V. A. F. , Castelo A. , Filho A. L. , Vianna M. R. , Taromaru E. , Namiyama G. , Lorincz A. , Dores G. B. D. ,   DNA‐Citoliq Working Group, São Paulo, Brazil
Published: March 2006

Objective: To evaluate the performance of a new, manual, simplified liquid‐based system, DNA‐Citoliq (Digene Brasil), employed under routine conditions as compared to conventional smears collected from six collaborating private laboratories.Methods: A panel of cytopathologists, who served as the gold standard diagnosis, adjudicated discordant opinions.Results:  Of 3206 pairs of slides considered valid for comparison, there were 3008 in full agreement (93.8%), 112 (3.5%) with one diagnostic category discrepancies, and 86 (2.7%) discordant cases. Among the 288 borderline+ by either method, DNA‐Citoliq detected abnormalities in 243 (84.4%), and conventional smears (CS) detected abnormalities in 178 (61.8%) (McNemar test, P < 0.000), a 36.5% increased detection of borderline+ cases.Conclusions:  For mild dyskaryosis, DNA‐Citoliq detected 176 cases and CS 125 cases (McNemar test, P < 0.000); and for moderate+severe dyskaryosis 66 versus 32 cases respectively (McNemar test, P < 0.000).
Liquid‐based cytology improves productivity in cervical cytology screening
Authors: Doyle B. , O'Farrell C. , Mahoney E. , Turner L. , Magee D. , Gibbons D. 
Published: March 2006

Objectives:  The ThinPrep® test was introduced into our institution on a phased basis over 3 years between January 2002 and December 2004. This study set out to assess its effect on productivity (as measured by output of cases per medical scientist per day) during the changeover period. Numbers of high and low‐grade lesions and of unsatisfactory slides were also monitored.Methods:  The percentage conversion from conventional preparation to liquid‐based cytology (LBC) and output of cases per medical scientist per day were calculated from our database at 6‐month intervals. The average backlog, average number of cases received per month and percentage of unsatisfactory and abnormal cases were calculated similarly.Results:  Over the study period 92 084 cases were received. The percentage of cases using ThinPrep® increased: from 9% in January 2002 to 73% in December 2004. During the study there was an increase in output from 17.0 to 22.3 cases per medical scientist per day, representing a 31% improvement at 73% conversion. Numbers of unsatisfactory cases decreased substantially and the numbers of low and high‐grade diagnoses were relatively constant.Conclusions:  The change to ThinPrep® has improved productivity and decreased the number of unsatisfactory cases. There was no adverse effect on quality during the changeover.
Thermal ecology of Interior Alaska dragonflies (Odonata: Anisoptera)
Authors: SFORMO T. , DOAK P. 
Published: March 2006

Summary

We examined the thermal ecology of Interior Alaska dragonflies (Odonata: Anisoptera). The relationships between mass and passive cooling rate, wing loading, minimum flight temperature (MFT) and thermoregulating ability were examined. These properties were also compared between the behavioural classes: perchers and fliers. All factors with the addition of seasonal and daily flight activity were related to generalized thermal strategies.
Passive cooling rate decreased while wing loading and MFT increased with mass.
While all species were able to elevate thoracic temperature, larger species were better able to maintain a constant temperature.
Both the smallest and largest species of dragonflies were capable of activity at ambient temperatures of approximately 14 °C by employing different thermal strategies: low MFT and physiological heat production, respectively.
For small species active in cool conditions low MFT may be favoured even if accompanied by poor thermoregulating ability. By contrast, thermoregulation and specialization for high‐temperature performance may be favoured in both small and large species during the warmer summer flight season.
The smallest and largest dragonflies in Interior Alaska have the shortest and longest daily activity periods, respectively. However this pattern does not hold for the intermediate‐sized dragonflies. Thermal strategy displays no clear relationship to daily activity pattern.
Factors influencing the prediction of metabolic rate in a reptile
Authors: CLARK T. D. , BUTLER P. J. , FRAPPELL P. B. 
Published: March 2006

Summary

Measurements of the rate of oxygen consumption (V̇o2) in the field are usually impractical, so several studies of endotherms have utilized heart rate (fH) as a correlate of V̇o2 because of the tight relationship that often exists between the two variables. There have been several reports, however, where the relationship between fH and V̇o2 changes or disassociates under different physiological or psychological circumstances. This may be further confounded in ectothermic vertebrates, which experience relatively large fluctuations in body temperature (Tb).
The aim of the present study was to characterize in Rosenberg's Goanna (Varanus rosenbergi) the relationship that exists between Tb, fH and V̇o2 at rest and at different levels of exercise, during periods of heating and cooling, and following ingestion of a meal.
The combinations of Tb and fH were accurate at predicting V̇o2 of animals at different levels of exercise and recovery, and during the postprandial period.
Predictions of V̇o2 became less reliable during periods of relatively rapid heating when fH and blood flow increase for thermoregulatory purposes with no associated increase in V̇o2. To counter this, fH was excluded from the prediction equation when the rate of heating exceeded 20% of the predicted mass‐dependent maximum attainable rate, and V̇o2 was predicted using Tb alone.
The resultant V̇o2 prediction equation was used to estimate V̇o2 of seven animals that were allowed to thermoregulate behaviourally, and the mean predicted V̇o2 (V̇o2pred) was not significantly different from the mean measured V̇o2 (V̇o2meas) for fasting or postprandial lizards.
Individual variation in thermogenic capacity affects above‐ground activity of high‐altitude Deer Mice
Authors: SEARS M. W. , HAYES J. P. , O'CONNOR C. S. , GELUSO K. , SEDINGER J. S. 
Published: March 2006

Summary

Understanding an animal's ecology requires knowledge of how individual variation in behaviour and physiology interact with each other and with the environment that an animal experiences.
Environmental variation affects behaviour, but whether individual variation in physiological performance also affects behaviour is poorly known.
We studied a high‐altitude population of Deer Mice (Peromyscus maniculatus) inhabiting an environment cold enough that above‐ground activity (behaviour) may be limited by the thermogenic capacity (maximal rate of oxygen consumption [Vo2max] during cold exposure) of mice.
We measured thermogenic capacity and operative environmental temperature (an integrated measure of the thermal environment), and then used robust‐design capture–mark–recapture (CMR) models to test whether the thermal environmental and individual variation in thermogenic capacity affected capture probabilities (a likely indicator of above‐ground activity).
Models including environmental covariates and thermogenic capacity were strongly favoured over models that did not include them.
Our results demonstrate that individual variation in physiological performance may constrain behaviour in nature.
Besides contributing to our understanding of interactions in the multivariate phenotype, our results suggest that it may be possible to elucidate the mechanistic factors influencing capture probabilities. Such information could be valuable to ecologists, life historians and wildlife managers.