bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The use of statistical MUNE in a multicenter clinical trial
Authors: Shefner J. M. , Cudkowicz M. E. , Zhang H. , Schoenfeld D. , Jillapalli D. ,   the Northeast ALS Consortium
Published: August 2004

AbstractTechniques to estimate motor unit number (MUNE) measure the number of functioning motor units in a muscle. In diseases characterized by progressive motor unit loss, such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), MUNE may be useful to monitor disease progression or beneficial response to treatment. As part of a multicenter, placebo‐controlled, randomized, double‐blind clinical trial testing the efficacy of creatine in patients with ALS, statistical MUNE was measured in 104 patients tested monthly for 6 months. The objective was to determine whether MUNE was a reliable and sensitive outcome measure in the context of a multicenter trial. Formal training and reliability testing was required for all MUNE evaluators. Testing of normal controls showed a high degree of test–retest reliability. All patient data were combined as the experimental treatment showed no efficacy. There was a 23% decline in MUNE over 6 months. The technique as employed in this trial overemphasized the presence of small motor units; this problem was partially addressed by poststudy data monitoring and censuring. Thus, MUNE can be used reliably as an outcome measure in multicenter clinical trials; specific remedies are suggested for the difficulties encountered in this study. Muscle Nerve 30: 463–469, 2004
Apparent conduction block in patients with ulnar neuropathy at the elbow and proximal Martin–Gruber anastomosis
Authors: Whitaker Charles H. , Felice Kevin J. 
Published: August 2004

AbstractA Martin–Gruber anastomosis (MGA) commonly results in an abnormal decline in amplitude across the forearm segment when ulnar motor nerve conduction studies are performed. A recent report described a proximal MGA resembling partial conduction block in a patient with ulnar neuropathy at the elbow (UNE). As a result, we screened patients with similar findings. We detected a proximal MGA in three patients over a period of 2 years, which suggests that this may be an under‐recognized anomaly. We conclude that a proximal MGA must be excluded in all cases of UNE showing apparent partial conduction block across the elbow segment. Muscle Nerve, 2004
Nitric oxide synthase and soluble guanylyl cyclase underlying the modulation of electrical oscillations in a central olfactory organ
Authors: Fujie Sayoko , Yamamoto Takehiro , Murakami Jun , Hatakeyama Dai , Shiga Hatsuki , Suzuki Norio , Ito Etsuro 
Published: August 2004

AbstractWe have isolated and characterized the cDNAs for nitric oxide synthase (NOS) and soluble guanylyl cyclase (sGC) from the terrestrial slug Limax marginatus, and examined the presence and distribution of their mRNAs in the central nervous system using histological techniques and a reverse transcription‐polymerase chain reaction method. Our results showed that both bursting and nonbursting neurons in the procerebral lobes contain the mRNAs for both NOS and sGC. We further found that the oscillation frequency of electrical activity in the procerebral lobes increases with increasing intracellular concentrations of cyclic GMP (cGMP). Taken together with previous data on the NO‐induced cGMP‐like immunoreactivity and on the anatomical distribution of neurites and the localization of synapses of bursting and nonbursting neurons, our present results suggest that NO‐induced changes in cGMP concentration modulate the oscillation frequency in the procerebral lobes by acting on the olfactory input pathways, but possibly not on the output pathways, in slugs. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Neurobiol, 2005
Charged up: Creating energy in organizations
Authors: Cross Rob , Parker Andrew 
Published: August 2004

AbstractThe ability of an individual to energize others is a determinant of individual and group success. People who are “energizers” are more effective at motivating others, eliciting productive solutions, getting work done, and advancing their careers. Drawing on their research into social networks, the authors examine five dimensions of energizing relationships and offer some simple questions for determining whether you are an energizer or a de‐energizer. © 2004 by Harvard Business School Publishing Corporation
Change management underpins a successful ERP implementation at Marathon Oil
Authors: Stapleton Gregg , Rezak Catherine J. 
Published: August 2004

AbstractEnterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems promise heaven, but the implementation is often just the opposite—cost overruns, exponentially expanding timelines, functionality shortfalls, even business failures. Yet ERP is as essential to the “new economy” as automation was to the old. Marathon Oil Corporation made this business‐critical changeover in record time and within the constraints of an aggressive budget. Flawless execution on the technical side was essential, but managing change—the people side of the implementation—was a key ingredient for success. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
How outback steakhouse created a great place to work, have fun, and make money
Authors: DeCotiis Tom , Sullivan Chris , Hyatt David , Avery Paul 
Published: August 2004

AbstractWhen the rapid growth of Outback Steakhouse restaurants began to threaten the founders' vision of a values‐driven organization, the company's leaders embarked on a process to infuse every one of its restaurants with a culture that has become a hallmark in the industry. At the heart of this culture is a strong commitment to make Outback a great place to work, have fun, and make money—a reflection of the founders' belief that employees are key to meeting the company's commitments to all its stakeholders. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
From bureaucracy to meritocracy and customer focus: A Georgia state agency reinvents itself
Authors: Vinyard John 
Published: August 2004

AbstractThe five‐year history of Georgia's Office of State Administrative Hearings (OSAH) had been marked with rampant internal strife, inefficient work practices, customer dissatisfaction, and frequent changes in top leadership. With the Malcolm Baldrige criteria for performance excellence as a model, the new chief judge worked with a transition team to sow a new culture of mutual respect, teamwork, high performance, and customer service. Concurrently, the agency implemented a range of structural, systems, and process changes to support the new culture and a strong customer focus. These changes produced rapid and sustained improvements in performance and have made OSAH a public‐sector success story. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
A new study identifies the “makes and breaks” of diversity initiatives
Authors: Matton Janine N. , Hernandez Christine M. 
Published: August 2004

AbstractA recent study of ten companies examined the success factors and challenges in diversity and compliance initiatives that attempt to address the entrenched effects of second‐generation bias and discrimination in the workplace. Success of these initiatives hinged on having targets/goals and other measures of effectiveness, committed leadership, a strong diversity/compliance professional, employee involvement, ties to performance evaluation, and access to solid data for identifying, quantifying, and communicating problems and progress. But significant challenges remain, including replicating for minorities the progress being made for women. © 2004 by Janine N. Matton and Christine M. Hernandez
Six principles for designing the accountable organization
Authors: Dalziel Murray , DeVoge Sylvia , LeMaire Katie 
Published: August 2004

AbstractOrganizational redesign is often a knee‐jerk reaction to performance problems, often done incompletely or with little attention to the potential impact on other jobs and parts of the organization. The resulting accountability gaps and redundancies can further hamstring performance. Six straightforward principles, garnered from the practices of America's best performing companies, focus on getting design right for the most fundamental building blocks of an organization—jobs, team, and processes. © 2004 Hay Group, Inc.
The role of c‐Jun and c‐Fos expression in androgen‐independent prostate cancer
Authors: Edwards Joanne , Krishna N Sarath , Mukherjee Rono , Bartlett John MS 
Published: August 2004

AbstractMolecular mechanisms underlying the development of androgen‐insensitive prostate cancer (AIPC) are poorly understood. However, there is growing evidence that different molecular profiles may result in the development of AIPC. Cell line studies demonstrate that c‐Jun and c‐Fos, via formation of the transcription factor activated protein 1 (AP‐1), activate androgen‐regulated genes independent of androgens and that c‐Jun alone acts as an androgen receptor co‐factor. The aim of this study was to investigate whether increased levels of c‐Jun and phosphorylated c‐Jun are associated with the development of AIPC using clinical material. Material from a cohort of 51 patients with paired tumours, obtained before and after the development of AIPC, and with full clinical biochemical follow‐up, was retrieved from the archives. Tumour c‐Jun, activated c‐Jun, c‐Fos, and pan protein kinase C (PKC) protein expression were analysed by immunohistochemistry and protein expression was scored by two independent observers using a weighted histoscore. No evidence was found to suggest that c‐Jun acting as an androgen receptor co‐factor influences the development of AIPC. However, it was observed that patients with high expression levels of phosphorylated c‐Jun had a significantly shorter survival from relapse compared with patients with low phosphorylated c‐Jun protein expression (p = 0.023), suggesting that increased AP‐1 levels may promote AIPC tumour growth. Whilst PKC did not appear to activate c‐Jun in vivo, increased PKC expression in AIPC tumours was also associated with decreased patient survival from time of relapse (p = 0.014). In conclusion, the data support the hypothesis that activation of c‐Jun plays a role in the development of AIPC via AP‐1 formation in some patients. However, PKC appears to promote the development of AIPC independently of c‐Jun activation via an as yet unexplained mechanism. Copyright © 2004 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The androgen receptor co‐activator CBP is up‐regulated following androgen withdrawal and is highly expressed in advanced prostate cancer
Authors: Comuzzi Barbara , Nemes Constanze , Schmidt Stefan , Jasarevic Zerina , Lodde Michele , Pycha Armin , Bartsch Georg , Offner Felix , Culig Zoran , Hobisch Alfred 
Published: August 2004

AbstractThe androgen receptor co‐activator CREB (cAMP‐response element binding protein)‐binding protein (CBP) enhances androgen receptor activity after stimulation by androgenic hormones and androgen receptor antagonists. The aim of the present study was to investigate the regulation of CBP expression by steroid and peptide hormones in prostate cancer. For this purpose, LNCaP cells were treated with the synthetic androgen methyltrienolone (R1881), epidermal growth factor, insulin‐like growth factor‐I or interleukin‐6 (IL‐6). CBP protein and mRNA expression were studied by western blotting and real‐time PCR, respectively. CBP expression was also investigated in tissue specimens obtained from 26 patients with therapy‐resistant carcinoma of the prostate. In LNCaP cells, CBP protein was down‐regulated by R1881 or IL‐6. The non‐steroidal anti‐androgen bicalutamide antagonized the effects of R1881 and the Janus kinase inhibitor AG 490 reversed the effects of IL‐6. In contrast, neither R1881 nor IL‐6 caused any effect on CBP expression in the PC‐3 cell line. In LNCaP cells, the inhibition of CBP expression by R1881 or IL‐6 was also observed at the mRNA level. CBP protein was detected in all 26 specimens by immunohistochemistry. The results suggest that up‐regulation of CBP during androgen ablation may be relevant to the failure of endocrine therapy in patients with prostate carcinoma. Copyright © 2004 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Involvement of E‐cadherin and β‐catenin in germ cell tumours and in normal male fetal germ cell development
Authors: Honecker Friedemann , Kersemaekers Anne‐Marie F , Molier Michel , van Weeren Pascale C , Stoop Hans , de Krijger Ronald R , Wolffenbuttel Katja P , Oosterhuis Wolter , Bokemeyer Carsten , Looijenga Leendert HJ 
Published: August 2004

AbstractIntercellular contacts, mediated by E‐cadherin, are essential for germ cell migration and maturation. Furthermore, it has been suggested that decrease or loss of E‐cadherin correlates with tumour progression and invasive behaviour. β‐catenin is involved in a number of different processes, including cell–cell interaction when bound to cadherins, and determination of cell fate in pluripotent cells when activated via the Wnt signal‐transduction pathway. To shed more light on the role of these factors in normal fetal germ cell development and the pathogenesis of germ cell tumours (GCTs), the present study investigated the presence and localization of E‐cadherin and β‐catenin by immunohistochemistry. E‐cadherin was only weakly expressed in or absent from fetal germ cells of the second and third trimesters, and was not expressed in carcinoma in situ/intratubular germ cell neoplasia unclassified (CIS/ITGCNU) and gonadoblastoma, the precursor of an invasive GCT in dysgenetic gonads. In GCTs, it was generally not expressed in seminoma and dysgerminoma, but was found in the vast majority of non‐seminoma cells. β‐catenin was found in the cytoplasm of fetal germ cells at all gestational ages and in spermatogenesis in post‐pubertal testes. It was also present in CIS/ITGCNU and gonadoblastoma. Whereas seminomas and dysgerminoma were negative, non‐seminoma cells were frequently found to express β‐catenin. Expression of both factors therefore reflects the degree of differentiation of these tumours. No differences for either E‐cadherin or β‐catenin were observed between samples of tumours resistant or sensitive to chemotherapy, and E‐cadherin expression did not correlate with vascular invasion. E‐cadherin and β‐catenin therefore play a role in both normal and malignant germ cell development and differentiation that warrants further investigation, but they seem to be of limited value as predictive or prognostic factors in GCTs. Copyright © 2004 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Morphological changes in tumour type after radiotherapy are accompanied by changes in gene expression profile but not in clinical behaviour
Authors: Nagtegaal Iris , Gaspar Claudia , Marijnen Corrie , van de Velde Cornelis , Fodde Riccardo , van Krieken Han 
Published: August 2004

AbstractThe morphological features of neoplastic cells, combined with a stromal reaction, determine the presence of cancer at the microscopic level. Malignant tumours arise through a series of genetic alterations, but these do not entirely explain invasive and metastatic behaviour and correlate only weakly with morphological changes. In order to understand the relationship between the morphology of cancer tissue, gene expression, and clinical behaviour, a study of radiation‐induced mucinous rectal carcinoma was performed. Short‐term radiotherapy of rectal carcinoma results in an increased incidence of mucinous carcinoma. A cohort of rectal carcinomas (n = 1304), from patients who participated in a randomized radiotherapy trial, was evaluated for the presence and amount of a mucinous component. The results were compared with data from the pre‐irradiation biopsies and revealed the presence of two distinct classes of mucinous carcinoma in the radiotherapy group, namely pre‐existing (un‐induced; n = 24) and induced mucinous carcinoma (n = 29). Clinical data, pathological parameters, and immunohistochemical data from these patients and their tumours showed that induced mucinous carcinomas were more comparable to typical adenocarcinomas than to pre‐existing mucinous carcinomas. The prognosis of patients with induced mucinous carcinoma was significantly better than that of patients with pre‐existing mucinous carcinomas (91.2% versus 39.3% recurrence‐free interval at 2 years, p = 0.02). Gene expression profiles of the different groups of mucinous carcinomas and adenocarcinomas were analysed using Affymetrix Human Cancer Chips. Surprisingly, despite the difference in prognosis, the expression profile of radiation‐induced mucinous carcinomas was very closely related to that of their un‐induced counterparts. It is shown in the present study that radiation therapy of rectal cancer leads within a few days to substantial changes in both morphology and expression profile. However, the morphology of the pre‐therapy biopsy predicts patient survival far better than post‐therapy expression profiles. It is concluded that tumour morphology equates to expression profile, but that external factors might influence both, leading to sub‐optimal prognostication. Copyright © 2004 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Synthesis and property of helical poly(phenylacetylene)s bearing chiral ruthenium complexes and real space imaging of meso‐ and nanoscopic structures by atomic force microscopy
Authors: Sakurai Shin‐ichiro , Ohira Akihiro , Suzuki Yoshinori , Fujito Riri , Nishimura Tatsuya , Kunitake Masashi , Yashima Eiji 
Published: August 2004

AbstractNovel sets of helical poly(phenylacetylene)s bearing a chiral ruthenium (Ru) complex with opposite chirality (Δ and Λ forms) as a bulky pendant (poly‐1 and poly‐2) were synthesized through the polymerization of the corresponding optically pure phenylacetylenes with a rhodium catalyst, and their structures in solution and morphology on solid substrates were investigated with NMR, ultraviolet–visible, and circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopies and with atomic force microscopy (AFM), respectively. The obtained cis–transoidal polymers (poly‐1 and poly‐2) showed characteristic Cotton effects in the region of metal‐to‐ligand charge transfer of the chiral Ru pendants. Poly‐1 and poly‐2 were thought to have a predominantly one‐handed helical conformation induced by the chiral pendants. However, the apparent Cotton effects derived from the helically twisted π‐conjugated polymer backbone could not be observed, probably because of the strong chiral chromophoric pendants. However, in the AFM images, the helical polymers adsorbed on mica could be easily discerned as isolated strands, and the visualization and discrimination of the right‐ and left‐handed helical structures of the chiral polymers were achieved by high‐resolution AFM imaging. On the basis of the AFM observations together with the CD measurements and computational calculation results, possible structures of poly‐1 and poly‐2 were examined. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 4621–4640, 2004
Asymmetric anionic polymerization of optically active N‐1‐cyclohexylethylmaleimide
Authors: Onimura Kenjiro , Zhang Yuan , Yagyu Michihiro , Oishi Tsutomu 
Published: August 2004

AbstractChiral (S)‐(−)‐N‐1‐cyclohexylethylmaleimide [(S)‐CEMI] and (R)‐(+)‐N‐1‐cyclohexylethylmaleimide [(R)‐CEMI] were synthesized successfully and then polymerized with chiral complexes of (−)‐sparteine or (S,S)‐(1‐ethylpropylidene)bis(4‐benzyl‐2‐oxazoline) [(S,S)‐Bnbox] and organometal as initiators in toluene or tetrahydrofuran to obtain optically active polymers. The effects of the polymerization conditions on the optical activity and structure of poly(N‐1‐cyclohexylethylmaleimide)s were investigated with gel permeation chromatography, circular dichroism, specific rotation, and 13C NMR measurements. Poly[(R)‐CEMI] obtained with dimethylzinc (Me2Zn)/(S,S)‐Bnbox had the highest specific rotation ([α]435 = +323.7°). Complexes of Bnbox and diethylzinc or Me2Zn were used very effectively as chiral initiators for the asymmetric anionic polymerization of (S)‐CEMI and (R)‐CEMI. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 4682–4692, 2004
Stereospecific polymerization of 9‐fluorenyl methacrylate: Tacticity effects on the thermal and photophysical properties of the polymers
Authors: Ishizawa Hideaki , Nakano Tamaki , Yade Tohru , Tsuji Masashi , Nakagawa Osamu , Yamaguchi Takashi 
Published: August 2004

AbstractPoly(9‐fluoreneyl methacrylate) was obtained through anionic polymerization with t‐BuLi and t‐BuMgBr and through radical polymerization with α,α′‐azobisisobutyronitrile. Anionic polymerization with t‐BuLi in tetrahydrofuran and radical polymerization afforded syndiotactic polymers (rr ∼ 90%), whereas anionic polymerization with Li and Mg initiators in toluene and CH2Cl2 led to isotactic polymers. The thermal and photophysical properties of the polymers were examined. A syndiotactic polymer tended to show higher glass transition and decomposition temperatures than an isotactic polymer. However, polymers with different tacticities were not likely to assume specific, distinctive conformations such as a helix or a π‐stacked conformation in solution. An isotactic polymer showed stronger interactions in a CH2Cl2 solution with 2,4,7‐trinitro‐9‐fluorenylidenemalononitrile, an electron‐acceptor molecule, than a syndiotactic polymer. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 4656–4665, 2004
Phenylcarbamate derivatives of cellulose and amylose immobilized onto silica gel as chiral stationary phases for high‐performance liquid chromatography
Authors: Kubota Takateru , Yamamoto Chiyo , Okamoto Yoshio 
Published: August 2004

AbstractThree polysaccharide phenylcarbamate derivatives [cellulose 2,3‐bis(3,5‐dimethylphenylcarbamate)‐6‐(3,5‐dimethylphenylcarbamate)/(2‐methacryloyloxyethylcarbamate), cellulose 2,3‐bis(3,5‐dichlorophenylcarbamate)‐6‐(3,5‐dichlorophenylcarbamate)/(2‐methacryloyloxyethylcarbamate), and amylose 2,3‐bis(3, 5‐dimethylphenylcarbamate)‐6‐(3,5‐dimethylphenylcarbamate)/(2‐methacryloyloxyethylcarbamate)] with vinyl groups were prepared and coated onto silica gel to immobilize them via radical copolymerization with 2,3‐dimethylbutadiene. The copolymerization efficiently proceeded, and the coated polysaccharide derivatives were mostly immobilized on the surface of the silica gel. The immobilized polysaccharide derivatives showed high chiral recognition abilities similar to those of the corresponding coated polysaccharide derivatives. They could be used with an eluent containing chloroform, which dissolved the polysaccharide derivatives. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 4704–4710, 2004
Asymmetric radical cyclization of (2S,3S)‐2,3‐butanediyl, (2S,4S)‐2,4‐pentanediyl, and (2S,5S)‐2,5‐hexanediyl bis(4‐vinylbenzoate)s as a model reaction for asymmetric cyclocopolymerization
Authors: Obata Makoto , Yano Shigenobu , Kamino Kazunobu , Yokota Kazuaki , Kakuchi Toyoji 
Published: August 2004

AbstractThe asymmetric cyclocopolymerization of bis(4‐vinylbezoate) of a chiral diol with styrene is a promising method for the preparation of optically active polystyrene derivatives because of main‐chain chirality. However, the mechanism for chirality induction from the chiral diol to the main chain is still unknown. To clarify the chirality induction mechanism, we carried out the radical cyclizations of (2S,3S)‐2,3‐butanediyl bis(4‐vinylbenzoate), (2S,4S)‐2,4‐pentanediyl bis(4‐vinylbenzoate), and (2S,5S)‐2,5‐hexanediyl bis(4‐vinylbenzoate) with tri‐n‐butyltin hydride or allyltri‐n‐butyltin as a chain‐transfer reagent as model reactions for asymmetric cyclocopolymerization. The absolute configuration was determined with single‐crystal X‐ray crystallography and a circular dichroism exciton chirality method. The distribution of the stereoisomer showed (R)‐configuration selectivity (21–34% diastereomeric excess) in the intramolecular cyclization and an extremely low extent (<1%) of the (S,S)‐cyclized product among the four stereoisomers. Therefore, chirality induction is caused by the selective inhibition of the (S,S)‐racemo configuration. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 4671–4681, 2004