bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
High efficiency transformation of Schizosaccharomyces pombe pretreated with thiol compounds by electroporation
Authors: Suga Minoru , Hatakeyama Toyomasa 
Published: January 2005

AbstractA highly efficient method for transformation of the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe by electroporation has been developed. Significantly higher transformation efficiency was obtained when intact cells grown in SD medium (0.67% Bacto yeast nitrogen base without amino acids, 2% glucose) were pretreated with thiol compounds before an electric pulse was applied to the cells. Among the thiol compounds tested, dithiothreitol (DTT) was the most effective for pretreatment. A high transformation efficiency was obtained when the cells were pretreated with 25 mM DTT at 30°C for 15 min in an osmotically adjusted buffer, since the cells were sensitive to osmotic pressure. It was important to exclude glucose from the DTT pretreatment buffer, as it caused a drastic decrease in efficiency. The optimal cell concentration and amount of DNA during the electric pulse were 1×109 cells/ml and 10 ng, respectively. The maximum transformation efficiency, 1.2×107 transformants/µg plasmid DNA, was obtained when an electric pulse of 11.0 kV/cm was applied for 5 ms. Furthermore, the high competency of cells pretreated with DTT was maintained by freezing them in a non‐permeating cryoprotectant such as sorbitol. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The yeast Rvs161 and Rvs167 proteins are involved in secretory vesicles targeting the plasma membrane and in cell integrity
Authors: Breton Annick M. , Schaeffer Jacques , Aigle Michel 
Published: January 2005

AbstractThe Rvs161 and Rvs167 proteins are known to play a role in actin cytokeleton organization and endocytosis. Moreover, Rvs167p functionally interacts with the myosin Myo2p. Therefore, we explored the involvement of the Rvs proteins in vesicle traffic and in cell integrity. The rvs mutants accumulate late secretory vesicles at sites of membrane and cell wall construction. They are synthetic‐lethal with the slt2/mpk1 mutation, which affects the MAP kinase cascade controlled by Pkc1p and is required for cell integrity. The phenotype of the double mutants is close to that described for the pkc1 mutant. Synthetic defects for growth are also observed with mutation in KRE6, a gene coding for a glucan synthase, required for cell wall construction. These data support the idea that the Rvs proteins are involved in the late targeting of vesicles whose cargoes are required for cell wall construction. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The centromere‐binding factor Cbf1p from Candida albicans complements the methionine auxotrophic phenotype of Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Authors: Eck Raimund , Stoyan Tanja , Künkel Waldemar 
Published: January 2005

AbstractA gene encoding the centromere binding factor 1 (Cbf1p) of the human pathogenic yeast Candida albicans was cloned and characterized. An open reading‐frame was detected which encoded a 223 amino acid protein with a calculated molecular weight of 25.8 kDa and a relative isoelectric point of 5.55. It shares 39% overall amino acid sequence identity with Saccharomyces cerevisiae Cbf1p. We localized the CaCBF1 gene on chromosome 4. Southern analysis indicated that CaCBF1 is probably present as a single copy gene per haploid genome. The CaCBF1 gene under the control of its own promoter was able to complement the methionine auxotrophic growth, the increased mitotic instability of CEN plasmids and the slow growth of a Saccharomyces cerevisiae cbf1Δ mutant strain. The GenBank Accession No. for this gene is AJ303083. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Mutational study of the role of tyrosine‐49 in the Saccharomyces cerevisiae xylose reductase
Authors: Ye Jeong Eun , Sopher Coralie , Seon Kim In , Lee Hung 
Published: January 2005

AbstractThe xyl1 gene encoding xylose reductase was cloned from Saccharomyces cerevisiae and expressed in Escherichia coli. The purified enzyme readily carried out xylose reduction in vitro. It prefers NADPH as the co‐enzyme by about 80‐fold over NADH. Compared to the native enzyme purified from S. cerevisiae (Kuhn et al., 1995), the recombinant xylose reductase displayed slightly higher (about two‐fold) affinities (Km) for the substrate (xylose) and co‐factor (NADPH), as well as a 3.9‐fold faster turnover number (Kcat) and 7.4‐fold greater catalytic efficiency (Kcat/Km). The reason for the apparent discrepancies in kinetic constants between the recombinant and native S. cerevisiae xylose reductases is not known. Replacement of Tyr49 by Phe in the recombinant enzyme led to greater than 98% loss of activity, suggesting that this residue plays a critical role in catalysis. Intrinsic enzyme fluorescence spectroscopic analysis showed that the wild‐type and the Y49F variant both bound the co‐enzyme NADPH with similar affinity. This supports the view that Tyr49 is involved in interaction with the substrate and not the co‐factor during catalysis. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Effect of snowmelt timing on the genetic structure of an Erythronium grandiflorum population in an alpine environment
Authors: Yamagishi Hiroki , Allison Taber D. , Ohara Masashi 
Published: January 2005

AbstractIn alpine environments, flowering phenology can differ within local populations even at the same elevation. We assessed the effects of differences in flowering phenology due to snowmelt timing caused by local geographic heterogeneity on the genetic structure of a population of an alpine plant, Erythronium grandiflorum Pursh. We established a study plot of 250×70 m at 3,340 m above sea level in the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains, CO, USA. The flowering phenology was considerably influenced by snowmelt timing due to local geographic heterogeneity. Twenty‐two patches of E. grandiflorum were recognized in the study plot and were classified into three phenological groups: early, middle, and late. To express the differentiation of flowering phenology among the patches, we defined phenological distance and analyzed the relationship between genetic and phenological distances. Additionally, since genetic distance is expected to co‐vary with geographic distance, we also analyzed the relationship between genetic distance and geographic distance among patches. The results revealed not only that isolation by distance was present among patches, but also that the differences in snowmelt timing gave rise to phenologically distant patches of E. grandiflorum, which in turn determine the genetic structure caused by the limited pollen flow between patches.
Chromatin structure and the state of human organism
Authors: Shckorbatov Yuriy G. , Zhuravlyova Lyubov A. , Navrotskaya Valeria V. , Miroshnichenko Elena V. , Montvid Pavel Y. , Shakhbazov Valery G. , Sutushev Takhir A. 
Published: January 2005

AbstractThe state of chromatin in human buccal epithelium cell nuclei upon the influence of sport trainings was investigated. Chromatin state was evaluated in interphase buccal cell nuclei after orcein staining. The heterochromatin granule quantity (HGQ) was estimated in 30 nuclei per sample, and for every donor the mean HGQ value per 30 cells was determined. Donors of masculine sex, aged from 18 to 48 years performed training walks and samples of buccal epithelium were collected. Sportive charges induced the process of chromatin condensation in cell nuclei. After the period of repose (24–48 h) the HGQ decreased to control level therefore the process of chromatin decondensation was observed. The state of chromatin changes in connection with circadian rhythm. Chromatin became more condensed at nighttime and less condensed in the morning. Hormones such as adrenaline, noradrenaline, and hydrocortisone in vitro induced the increase of HGQ.
Sexual dysfunction and chronic pain: the role of psychological variables and impact on quality of life
Authors: Kwan Kellie S.H. , Roberts Lindy J. , Swalm Delphin M. 
Published: January 2005

AbstractWe report two studies examining the prevalence of sexual dysfunction, and the role of psychological variables, including quality of life, on sexual activity in patients at the commencement of an outpatient cognitive‐behavioural pain management programme. In Study 1, 151 patients with non‐cancer pain, predominantly of musculoskeletal origin, completed a range of standardised measures, including the Pain Disability Index, Beck Depression Inventory and Coping Strategies Questionnaire. Sexual dysfunction was common, and using stepwise multiple regression analysis was found to be more frequently reported by those with greater disability and depression, shorter pain duration, and infrequent use of coping self‐statements. Study 2 was a pilot investigation of the impact of sexual dysfunction on quality of life (as measured by the WHOQOL‐100) in a similar sample (n = 41). Although sexual dysfunction was again commonly reported, subjects perceived it had less importance in quality of life than did other factors. The combined results support the previously proposed notion of adaptation to the impact of chronic illness on sexual function. In conclusion, sexual dysfunction is common in this population and is predicted by psychological factors and pain duration. However, other issues impact more significantly on quality of life. Therapeutic approaches to sexual dysfunction in these patients might best be focused on improving psychological factors, particularly depression and coping skills.
The teratology of autism
Authors: Arndt Tara L. , Stodgell Christopher J. , Rodier Patricia M. 
Published: January 2005

AbstractAutism spectrum disorders affect behaviors that emerge at ages when typically developing children become increasingly social and communicative, but many lines of evidence suggest that the underlying alterations in the brain occur long before the period when symptoms become obvious. Studies of the behavior of children in the first year of life demonstrate that symptoms are often detectable in the first 6 months. The environmental factors known to increase the risk of autism have critical periods of action during embryogenesis. Minor malformations that occur frequently in people with autism are known to arise in the same stages of development. Anomalies reported from histological studies of the brain are consistent with an early alteration of development. Congenital syndromes with high rates of autism include somatic that originate early in the first trimester. In addition, it is possible to duplicate a number of anatomic and behavioral features characteristic of human cases by exposing rat embryos to a teratogenic dose of valproic acid at the time of neural tube closure.
Tubal patency after clinical treatment of unruptured ectopic pregnancy
Authors: Elito J. , Han K.K. , Camano L. 
Published: January 2005

AbstractObjectiveTo evaluate tubal patency using hysterosalpingography after clinical treatment of tubal pregnancy.MethodOf 80 patients who underwent hysterosalpingography after clinical treatment of tubal pregnancy from April 1994 to February 2002, 30 were treated with a single 50 mg/m2 dose of methotrexate intramuscularly (n=30) and 50 were followed up expectantly.ResultsPatency of the ipsilateral tube was 84% after methotrexate treatment and 78% after expectant management. In addition, contralateral tubal patency was 97% after methotrexate treatment and 92% after expectant management. There were no statistically significant differences between the groups.ConclusionFindings from this study suggest similar tubal patency rates after methotrexate treatment and expectant management.
Independent roles of eIF5A and polyamines in cell proliferation
Authors: NISHIMURA Kazuhiro , MUROZUMI Kaori , SHIRAHATA Akira , PARK Myung Hee , KASHIWAGI Keiko , IGARASHI Kazuei 
Published: January 2005

To examine the roles of active hypusinated eIF5A (eukaryotic translation initiation factor 5A) and polyamines in cell proliferation, mouse mammary carcinoma FM3A cells were treated with an inhibitor of deoxyhypusine synthase, GC7 (N1-guanyl-1, 7-diaminoheptane), or with an inhibitor of ornithine decarboxylase, DFMO (α-difluoromethylornithine), or with DFMO plus an inhibitor of spermine synthase, APCHA [N1-(3-aminopropyl)-cyclohexylamine]. Treatment with GC7 decreased the level of active eIF5A on day 1 without affecting cellular polyamine content, and inhibition of cell growth occurred from day 2. This delay reflects the fact that eIF5A was present in excess and was very stable in these cells. Treatment with DFMO or with DFMO plus APCHA inhibited cell growth on day 1. DFMO considerably decreased the levels of putrescine and spermidine, and the formation of active eIF5A began to decrease when the level of spermidine fell below 8 nmol/mg of protein after 12 h of incubation with DFMO. The combination of DFMO and APCHA markedly decreased the levels of putrescine and spermine and significantly decreased the level of spermidine, but did not affect the level of active eIF5A until day 3 when spermidine level decreased to 7 nmol/mg of protein. The results show that a decrease in either active eIF5A or polyamines inhibits cell growth, indicating that eIF5A and polyamines are independently involved in cell growth.
Real-Time Sensor-Actuator Networks
Authors: Sastry Shivakumar , Iyengar S. S. 
Published: January 2005

Emerging technologies offer new paradigms for computation, control, collaboration, and communication. To realize the full potential of these technologies in industry, defense, and homeland security applications, it is necessary to exploit the real-time distributed computing capabilities of sensor-actuator networks. To reliably design and develop such networks, it is necessary to develop deeper insight into the underlying model for real-time computation and the infrastructure at the node level that supports this model. In this paper, we discuss a new node-level operating system and mechanisms necessary to deploy reliable applications. The overriding issue that guides the design of this operating system is quality of service metric called predictability.A sensor-actuator network is a distributed platform for integrated computation and control in real-time environments. The nodes in such a network are distinguished by being resource constrained. The power of the network arises from the interactions between simple nodes. Such a network extends the popular distributed sensor networks in several dimensions. After identifying a real-time model, we develop a notion of predictability for a sensor-actuator network. We discuss how the node-level operating system is designed in the resource-constrained environment. An efficient multithreading mechanism and scheduling strategy are required to ensure that local tasks are executed within jitter bounds and that end-to-end delays do not violate application constraints. Mechanisms to support communication, monitoring, safety, fault tolerance, programming, diagnosability, reconfiguration, composability, interoperability, and security are discussed.
Cross‐cultural training to facilitate expatriate adjustment: it works!
Authors: Waxin Marie‐France , Panaccio Alexandra 
Published: January 2005

PurposeThe paper examines what are the effects of the different types of cross‐cultural training (CCT) on expatriates' adjustment and whether prior international experience (IE) and cultural distance (CD) have a moderator effect on the effectiveness of CCT.Design/methodology/approachIn a quantitative approach the paper examines the effect of four different types of CCT on the three facets of expatriates' adjustment, on a sample consisting of 54 French, 53 German, 60 Korean and 57 Scandinavian managers expatriated to India. The paper then examines the moderator effect of IE and of CD on CCT's effectiveness.FindingsCCT accelerates expatriates’ adjustment. The type of CCT received matters. IE and CD have a moderator effect.Practical implicationsImplications for practice are identified.Originality/valueThe paper demonstrated the effectiveness of different kinds of CCT and the moderator effects of IE and CD.
Cross‐cultural training and expatriate adjustment in China: Western joint venture managers
Authors: Selmer Jan 
Published: January 2005

PurposeJoint ventures remain the largest group of foreign‐invested enterprises in China. Given the high level of potential conflict, this paper examines whether Western expatriates in joint ventures benefit from cross‐cultural training.Design/methodology/approachA mail questionnaire targeted business expatriates assigned by Western firms to joint ventures and other types of organisations in China.FindingsResults show that training had a weak positive association with work adjustment for expatriates in joint ventures, but no relationship with work adjustment for Western managers in other types of operations.Research limitations/implicationsData were collected through a self‐report questionnaire and a cross‐sectional approach was applied. However, the scale measuring sociocultural adjustment may have some potential problems.Practical implicationsThis paper emphasises the work context in China when training expatriate candidates. Alternatively, individuals should be selected with recent positive experiences of the host country and work task at hand. Such experience could be regarded as a perfect substitute for cross‐cultural trainingOriginality/valueThe distinction between different organisational contexts in assessing the effect of cross‐cultural training constitutes a novel approach. The study contributes to the literature on the effectiveness of cross‐cultural training of business expatriates in general and the impact of their organisational setting in particular. It is important to notice that the improved adjustment covers the very reason for the foreign assignment, the work duties of the expatriate manager.
HRM practices and MNC knowledge transfer
Authors: Minbaeva Dana B. 
Published: January 2005

PurposeThe purpose of the paper is to determine and empirically examine the effect of human resource management (HRM) practices on knowledge transfer within multinational corporations.Design/methodology/approachIt is suggested that the employment of human resource practices, which affect absorptive capacity of knowledge receivers and support organizational learning environment, is positively related to the degree of knowledge transfer to the subsidiary. Moreover, the higher degree of knowledge transfer is expected when HRM practices are applied as an integrated system of interdependent practices. Hypotheses derived from these arguments are tested on the data from 92 subsidiaries of Danish multinational corporations (MNCs) located in 11 countries.FindingsResults of the analysis indicated the existence of two groups of HRM practices conducive to knowledge transfer. The simultaneous effect of the first group of HRM practices consisting of “staffing”, “training”, “promotion”, “compensation” and “appraisal” on the degree of knowledge transfer was found to be positive and substantial. The hypothesis regarding the effect of corporate socialization mechanisms and flexible working practices (the second group of HRM practices) was not supported by the data. The analysis also indicated that some HRM practices have a complementary effect on the degree of knowledge transfer when they are applied as a system.Research limitations/implicationsWhile this study makes a contribution to our understanding of the relationship between HRM practices and knowledge transfer in the MNC, clearly, additional research is needed to develop this link further, which until now has been largely black‐boxed.Originality/valueMakes a contribution to our understanding of the relationship of HRM practices and knowledge transfer in MNCs.
The personal characteristics of the successful expatriate
Authors: Holopainen Jonna , Björkman Ingmar 
Published: January 2005

PurposeWhen critically reviewing the empirical research on the relationships between personal characteristics and successful foreign assignments it is revealed that the extant empirical research suffers from several limitations. The aim of this article is to shed additional light into the relationship between expatriate personal characteristics and job performance, circumventing the identified limitations of cross‐sectional design, use of self‐evaluations and inappropriate measures of success.Design/methodology/approachThe empirical study is based on longitudinal data. Trained psychologists carried out a psychological assessment of the expatriate prior to the assignment. Performance data were provided by both the expatriate and the expatriate's superior.FindingsThe obtained results support the importance of communicational ability for expatriate success, whereas stress tolerance and relational ability were not found to be significantly related to success.Research limitations/implicationsThe study was conducted in only one multinational company and the country of origin of all studied expatriates was Finland. Another limitation of this study is the relatively limited number of personal characteristics studied and the use of only one superior performance evaluation per expatriate.Practical implicationsBased on the results it is recommended that companies systematically assess the personal characteristics of candidates before deciding on an expatriation, especially the communicational ability. Minimising the use of self‐evaluations in research is strongly advised.Originality/valueThis article contributes to the literature by providing a longitudinal study on the relationship between expatriate personal characteristics and performance.
A survey of employee relations practices and demographics of MNC chain and domestic luxury hotels in Australia
Authors: Timo Nils , Davidson Michael 
Published: January 2005

PurposeThe paper aims to examine employment relations practices and labour market features of 4‐5 star luxury multinational chain (MNC) and domestic hotels operating in the Brisbane‐Gold Coast corridor in Australia and discuss the implications that competing on price and quality has on employment, wages and training.Design/methodology/approachThe study used data drawn from a large managerial and employee relations/demographic survey covering wages, employment status, age, gender, working conditions and training, including interview data from hotel HRM managers.FindingsThe data showed a persistence of gendered, low waged and segmented labour markets dominated by flexible labour. Competition between MNC and domestic hotels were not found to be the conduit of “new” HRM practices as a competitive edge. Both MNC and domestic hotels shape the hotel labour market in a way which perpetuates cost minimization strategies based on an increasingly skilled, yet flexible and low cost labour force.Research limitations/implicationsOf the 14 hotels, only three were domestic. MNC luxury hotels dominate the sample. Rather a straight forward convergence thesis, MNC and domestic hotels have been compelled to compete on price and standard quality.Originality/valueWhile not a deliberate strategy of a “a race to the bottom”, the 4‐5 star luxury MNC and domestic hotels in the study have re‐shaped employment relations practices perpetuating a cost minimization competitive strategy suggesting that a “high road” competitive strategy as portrayed in HRM literature strategy is not the only way for firms such as hotels achieving a competitive edge.