bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
How to Activate a Plant Gravireceptor. Early Mechanisms of Gravity Sensing Studied in Characean Rhizoids during Parabolic Flights
Authors: Limbach Christoph , Hauslage Jens , Schäfer Claudia , Braun Markus 
Published: September 2005

Abstract
Early processes underlying plant gravity sensing were investigated in rhizoids of Chara globularis under microgravity conditions provided by parabolic flights of the A300-Zero-G aircraft and of sounding rockets. By applying centrifugal forces during the microgravity phases of sounding rocket flights, lateral accelerations of 0.14g, but not of 0.05g, resulted in a displacement of statoliths. Settling of statoliths onto the subapical plasma membrane initiated the gravitropic response. Since actin controls the positioning of statoliths and restricts sedimentation of statoliths in these cells, it can be calculated that lateral actomyosin forces in a range of 2 × 10−14n act on statoliths to keep them in place. These forces represent the threshold value that has to be exceeded by any lateral acceleration stimulus for statolith sedimentation and gravisensing to occur. When rhizoids were gravistimulated during parabolic plane flights, the curvature angles of the flight samples, whose sedimented statoliths became weightless for 22 s during the 31 microgravity phases, were not different from those of in-flight 1g controls. However, in ground control experiments, curvature responses were drastically reduced when the contact of statoliths with the plasma membrane was intermittently interrupted by inverting gravistimulated cells for less than 10 s. Increasing the weight of sedimented statoliths by lateral centrifugation did not enhance the gravitropic response. These results provide evidence that graviperception in characean rhizoids requires contact of statoliths with membrane-bound receptor molecules rather than pressure or tension exerted by the weight of statoliths.
The Zinc-Finger Protein Zat12 Plays a Central Role in Reactive Oxygen and Abiotic Stress Signaling in Arabidopsis
Authors: Davletova Sholpan , Schlauch Karen , Coutu Jesse , Mittler Ron 
Published: September 2005

Abstract
Plant acclimation to environmental stress is controlled by a complex network of regulatory genes that compose distinct stress-response regulons. In contrast to many signaling and regulatory genes that are stress specific, the zinc-finger protein Zat12 responds to a large number of biotic and abiotic stresses. Zat12 is thought to be involved in cold and oxidative stress signaling in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana); however, its mode of action and regulation are largely unknown. Using a fusion between the Zat12 promoter and the reporter gene luciferase, we demonstrate that Zat12 expression is activated at the transcriptional level during different abiotic stresses and in response to a wound-induced systemic signal. Using Zat12 gain- and loss-of-function lines, we assign a function for Zat12 during oxidative, osmotic, salinity, high light, and heat stresses. Transcriptional profiling of Zat12-overexpressing plants and wild-type plants subjected to H2O2 stress revealed that constitutive expression of Zat12 in Arabidopsis results in the enhanced expression of oxidative- and light stress-response transcripts. Under specific growth conditions, Zat12 may therefore regulate a collection of transcripts involved in the response of Arabidopsis to high light and oxidative stress. Our results suggest that Zat12 plays a central role in reactive oxygen and abiotic stress signaling in Arabidopsis.
Repressor- and Activator-Type Ethylene Response Factors Functioning in Jasmonate Signaling and Disease Resistance Identified via a Genome-Wide Screen of Arabidopsis Transcription Factor Gene Expression
Authors: McGrath Ken C. , Dombrecht Bruno , Manners John M. , Schenk Peer M. , Edgar Cameron I. , Maclean Donald J. , Scheible Wolf-Rüdiger , Udvardi Michael K. , Kazan Kemal 
Published: September 2005

Abstract
To identify transcription factors (TFs) involved in jasmonate (JA) signaling and plant defense, we screened 1,534 Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) TFs by real-time quantitative reverse transcription-PCR for their altered transcript at 6 h following either methyl JA treatment or inoculation with the incompatible pathogen Alternaria brassicicola. We identified 134 TFs that showed a significant change in expression, including many APETALA2/ethylene response factor (AP2/ERF), MYB, WRKY, and NAC TF genes with unknown functions. Twenty TF genes were induced by both the pathogen and methyl JA and these included 10 members of the AP2/ERF TF family, primarily from the B1a and B3 subclusters. Functional analysis of the B1a TF AtERF4 revealed that AtERF4 acts as a novel negative regulator of JA-responsive defense gene expression and resistance to the necrotrophic fungal pathogen Fusarium oxysporum and antagonizes JA inhibition of root elongation. In contrast, functional analysis of the B3 TF AtERF2 showed that AtERF2 is a positive regulator of JA-responsive defense genes and resistance to F. oxysporum and enhances JA inhibition of root elongation. Our results suggest that plants coordinately express multiple repressor- and activator-type AP2/ERFs during pathogen challenge to modulate defense gene expression and disease resistance.
Characterization of Terfestatin A, a New Specific Inhibitor for Auxin Signaling
Authors: Yamazoe Atsushi , Hayashi Ken-ichiro , Kepinski Stefan , Leyser Ottoline , Nozaki Hiroshi 
Published: September 2005

Abstract
Terfestatin A (TrfA), terphenyl-β-glucoside, was isolated from Streptomyces sp. F40 in a forward screen for compounds that inhibit the expression of auxin-inducible genes in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana). TrfA specifically and competitively inhibited the expression of primary auxin-inducible genes in Arabidopsis roots, but did not affect the expression of genes regulated by other plant hormones such as abscisic acid and cytokinin. TrfA also blocked the auxin-enhanced degradation of auxin/indole-3-acetic acid (Aux/IAA) repressor proteins without affecting the auxin-stimulated interaction between Aux/IAAs and the F-box protein TIR1. TrfA treatment antagonized auxin responses in roots, including primary root inhibition, lateral root initiation, root hair promotion, and root gravitropism, but had only limited effects on shoot auxin responses. Taken together, these results indicate that TrfA acts as a modulator of Aux/IAA stability and thus provides a new tool for dissecting auxin signaling.
The impact of past alcohol use on treatment response rates in patients with chronic hepatitis C
Authors: CHANG A. , SKOLE K. , GAUTAM M. , SCHMUTZ J. , BLACK M. , THOMAS R. , HORWITZ B. , FRIEDENBERG F. K. 
Published: September 2005

SummaryBackground : Studies have shown that past alcohol consumption reduces response rates in patients with chronic hepatitis C treated with interferon monotherapy.Aim : To clarify the importance of alcohol consumption on response rates in patients undergoing treatment with pegylated interferon and ribavirin.Methods : In a single centre, prospective study, median daily alcohol consumption (determined by previously validated method) and quartiles of alcohol consumption were calculated. Univariate and binary logistic regression analyses were performed using treatment response status as the dependent variable.Results : Overall, in an intention‐to‐treat analysis, 34 of 115 patients (30%) responded to treatment. In univariate analysis, black patients, especially those with hepatitis C virus genotype 1, high viral load and low alanine aminotransferase were significantly less likely to respond. Predictors of response by regression analysis included alcohol <30 g/day (OR = 3.02, 95% CI: 1.02–8.93; P = 0.04), non‐genotype 1 status (OR = 1.98, 95% CI: 1.03–3.80; P = 0.04) and non‐black race (OR = 2.79, 95% CI: 1.33–5.85; P = 0.006).Conclusions : Median daily alcohol use >30 g/day is associated with failure to respond to pegylated interferon and ribavirin for treatment of hepatitis C. Past alcohol use should be evaluated when considering treatment for hepatitis C.
Assessing diagnostic skill in dermatology: A comparison between general practitioners and dermatologists
Authors: Tran Hue , Chen Keng , Lim Adrian C , Jabbour James , Shumack Stephen 
Published: September 2005

SUMMARYThis retrospective study was conducted to assess and compare the diagnostic accuracy between referring general practitioners and dermatologists with regard to skin conditions. Six hundred and fifty‐six consecutive general practitioner referrals to a private dermatology practice and a dermatology outpatient department were assessed. The concordance rate in diagnoses from a wide spectrum of dermatological diseases was compared between general practitioners and dermatologists. Referring general practitioners agreed with dermatologists’ clinical diagnosis and histology (when available) in 42% of cases. The concordance between general practitioners and dermatologists in the setting of non‐biopsied cases is 45%. One hundred and fifty‐one of 656 (23%) conditions had histological confirmation. Overall, general practitioners agreed with the histological diagnosis in 24% of cases and dermatologists agreed with the histological diagnosis in 77% of cases.
Atypical fibroxanthoma: A clinicopathological study of 89 cases
Authors: Mirza Basit , Weedon David 
Published: September 2005

SUMMARYAtypical fibroxanthoma is a controversial entity with a disputed histogenesis. It has recently been suggested that most atypical fibroxanthoma are actually variants of squamous cell carcinoma. We reviewed 100 purported cases of atypical fibroxanthoma received over 4 years to perform clinical follow up and immunohistochemical markers. In particular, we focused on the detection of any recurrence or metastasis. Ten cases were subsequently excluded on the basis of either incorrect coding, or insufficient or absent paraffin blocks on file. A further case was interpreted as a malignant fibrous histiocytoma. Additional new markers, such as CD10 and CD99, were employed in a proportion of cases. Our cases were typical of the usual clinical presentation of atypical fibroxanthoma on the skin of the sun‐damaged elderly. We found no cases of recurrent or metastatic atypical fibroxanthoma. Two patients developed a second primary atypical fibroxanthoma. CD10 proved to be a useful marker for atypical fibroxanthoma when used on 20 cases in the present study, as was CD99 in seven cases. The only case demonstrating positive staining for keratin also stained for CD10. It had dual features of atypical fibroxanthoma and squamous cell carcinoma. However, as the majority of atypical fibroxanthoma had no adjacent solar keratosis, our data suggest it is unlikely that atypical fibroxanthoma is a variant of squamous cell carcinoma.
Serum total and free testosterone level of Japanese men: a population‐based study
Authors: OKAMURA KIKUO , ANDO FUJIKO , SHIMOKATA HIROSHI 
Published: September 2005

Abstract
Background
There has never been a large scale population‐based study of serum levels of total testosterone (TT) and free testosterone (FT) in Japanese men.
Methods
We determined serum levels of TT and FT of 1120 Japanese men aged 40–79 years using radioimmunoassay (RIA), as a part of a population‐based longitudinal study of aging. Of these, sex hormone binding protein (SHBG) was also measured by RIA in 471 men. For the latter group, the calculated free testosterone (cFT) was determined by a formula using serum level of albumin, TT and SHBG.
Results

The mean ± 2 SD of TT, FT and cFT were 513 ± 326 ng/dL (187–839 ng/dL), 13.2 ± 7.8) pg/mL (5.4–21.0 pg/mL) and 77.0 ± 43.4 pg/mL (33.6–120.4 pg/mL), respectively. While TT did not relate to age, FT and cFT decreased with age. FT in the 40–49 years age group was 15.1 ± 8.4 pg/mL (6.7–23.5 pg/mL), in the 50–59 years age group was 13.9 ± 6.8 pg/mL (7.1–20.7 pg/mL), in the 60–69 years age group was 12.0 ± 6.6 pg/mL (5.4–18.6 pg/mL) and in the 70–79 years age group was 11.5 ± 7.0 pg/mL (4.5–18.5 pg/mL). FT significantly correlated with cFT (Spearman's r = 0.803). The correspondence rates were 92.3% at the mean −1 SD and 98.7% at the mean −2 SD level.
Conclusions
We determined the mean and standard deviation of TT, FT and cFT in Japanese men aged 40 years or older. It is supposed that FT determined by RIA would be useful for diagnosing partial androgen deficiency of aging males.
Sarcomatoid renal cell carcinoma with a chromophobe component producing beta‐human chorionic gonadotropin
Authors: SHIMOMURA TATSUYA , IKEMOTO ISAO , YAMADA HIROKI , HAYASHI NORIHIRO , ITO HIROYUKI , OISHI YUKIHIKO 
Published: September 2005

Abstract We report a case of sarcomatoid renal cell carcinoma with a chromophobe component showing significant elevation of beta‐human chorionic gonadotropin (β‐HCG) in the peripheral blood. A 35‐year‐old man was hospitalized because of a large tumor of the left kidney and elevated serum levels of β‐HCG. Extended nephrectomy was performed, after which the serum β‐HCG level decreased. However, 3 months later, masses were discovered in the left renal bed and in the lung in association with elevated serum levels of β‐HCG. The patient was rehospitalized and received combination therapy with interferon‐α and doxorubicin‐based multiple chemotherapy (cyclophosphamide, vincristine, doxorubicin, and dacarbazine). The recurrent mass responded extremely well to treatment, and β‐HCG normalized. However, the patient died 14 months after nephrectomy because of eventual resistance to chemotherapy. Sarcomatoid renal cell carcinoma containing β‐HCG positive cells were pathologically diagnosed with immunohistochemical staining in the left kidney. Sarcomatoid renal cell carcinoma is a variant of renal adenocarcinoma which has a poor prognosis. This patient had an extremely rare sarcomatoid renal cell carcinoma associated with serum levels of β‐HCG which were elevated and strongly correlated with morphologic cancer activity. β‐HCG might be a useful serum marker for detecting and monitoring this renal cell carcinoma.
Surgery is inadvisable: Massive varicocele due to portal hypertension
Authors: SCHULTE‐BAUKLOH HEINRICH , KÄMMER JÖRG , FELFE RAINER , STÜRZEBECHER BURKARD , KNISPEL HELMUT H 
Published: September 2005

Abstract The pathophysiology of idiopathic varicoceles as a dilatation of the pampiniform venous plexus has been traced to anatomical and embryological development, but is still unclear. Right or non‐decompressible lesions are worrisome for retroperitoneal pathology, such as renal cell carcinoma, hydronephrosis, abdominal neoplasm or fibrosis. As a very rare finding we describe a patient who presented with an exorbitant left sided varicocele due to portal hypertension. We were well advised to avoid surgery.
Antisense oligodeoxynucleotide therapy targeting clusterin gene for prostate cancer: Vancouver experience from discovery to clinic
Authors: MIYAKE HIDEAKI , HARA ISAO , GLEAVE MARTIN E 
Published: September 2005

AbstractBackgroundThe objective of this study was to review our experience in the development of antisense (AS) oligodeoxynucleotide (ODN) therapy for prostate cancer targeting antiapoptotic gene,clusterin.MethodsWe initially summarized our data demonstrating thatclusterincould be an optimal therapeutic target for prostate cancer, then presented the process of developing AS ODN therapy using several preclinical animal models. Finally, the preliminary data of the recently completed phase I clinical trial using AS clusterin ODN as well as the future prospects of this therapy are discussed.ResultsExpression of clusterin was highly up‐regulated after androgen withdrawal and during progression to androgen‐independence, but low or absent in untreated tissues in both prostate cancer animal model systems and human clinical specimens. Introduction of theclusteringene into human prostate cancer cells confers resistance to several therapeutic stimuli, including androgen ablation, chemotherapy and radiation. AS ODN targeting the translation initiation site of theclusteringene markedly inhibited clusterin expression in prostate cancer cells in a dose‐dependent and sequence‐specific manner. Systemic treatment with AS clusterin ODN enhanced the effects of several conventional therapies through the effective induction of apoptosis in prostate cancer xenograft models. Based on these findings, a phase I clinical trial was completed using AS clusterin ODN incorporating 2′‐O‐(2‐methoxy)ethyl‐gapmer backbone (OGX‐011), showing up to 90% suppression of clusterin in prostate cancer.ConclusionsThe data described above identifiedclusterinas an antiapoptotic gene up‐regulated in an adaptive cell survival manner following various cell death triggers that helps confer a phenotype resistant to therapeutic stimuli. Inhibition of clusterin expression using AS ODN technology enhances apoptosis induced by several conventional treatments, resulting in the delay of AI progression and improved survival. Clinical trials using AS ODN confirm potent suppression of clusterin expression and phase II studies will begin in early 2005.
Overloads in ductile and brittle materials
Authors: PIPPAN R. , BICHLER C. , TABERNIG B. , WEINHANDL H. 
Published: September 2005

ABSTRACTThe first part of the paper presents fatigue crack propagation experiments with single overloads at different overload ratios and specimen thickness in a very ductile austenitic steel. The results show that in the Paris regime in a ductile material, the overload effect can be explained solely in the framework of the change of the plasticity‐induced crack closure. Other effects such as strain hardening, blunting, additional damage, crack deflection and branching are not significant. Whether or not this behaviour can be observed in less ductile materials and also in the threshold regime is investigated in the second part. Periodic overload experiments were performed on a relatively ductile 2124, and a more brittle 359, particle‐reinforced aluminium alloy. In the Paris regime, the retardation in the 2124 reinforced alloy showed the expected behaviour for a ductile material, whereas in the 359 reinforced cast alloy, an acceleration of the mean growth rate was observed. Near the threshold the difference between the two alloys and the effect of the periodic overloads decreased.
Thermo‐mechanical fatigue life assessment of hot forging die steel
Authors: BERTI G. A. , MONTI M. 
Published: September 2005

ABSTRACTDies for hot forging operations are subjected to coupled mechanical and thermal cycles which deeply influence their thermo‐mechanical fatigue life. Crack initiation and propagation on die surface are induced both by thermal gradients acting in the layer near the contact surface with the billet and by the superimposed stresses due to the mechanical cycles.At present, die life cannot be estimated either by experimental tools, or by simulation software. Therefore, a programme of research has been started in this field. A new laboratory test has been developed that is able to reproduce in specimens the thermo‐mechanical conditions derived from industrial cases. A description of the test equipment and the relevant procedure is summarized in the first part of the work. Then, the paper focuses on the experimental investigation of a typical hot forging die steel. Design of Experiments (DoE) techniques were used in designing and analysing the experimental programme. A thermo‐mechanical fatigue life assessment model, based on the experimental data and using response surface methodology (RSM), is proposed. Effects on life, due to variation of some forging parameters, are evaluated.
Acoustic Circulation Effects and the Nonlinear Impedance of Orifices
Authors: Ingård U. , Labate S. 
Published: September 2005

In his theory of streaming caused by sound waves, Eckart shows that time independent streams necessarily follow as part of the solution of the complete wave equatoin, taking into account viscosity and second-order terms. His treatment is mainly valid for liquids and it proves that the driving force of the streams is proportional to frequency squared. The effect, therefore, is especially important in the ultrasonic region (crystal winds). However, he suggests that slow streams might also be carried in air at audio frequencies.
Studies of acoustical streaming phenomena around orifices have been made by the use of smoke particles in a 3-in. diameter circular tube. These studies covered a range of orifices from thicknesses of 0.5 mm to 19 mm and diameters of 3.5 mm to 20 mm. The frequency lay between 150 to 1000 c.p.s. Velocities in the orifice cover the range of 0 to 700 cm/sec.
Close studies of the flow patterns have disclosed that there exist four definite regions of flow as the particle velocity in the orifice is increased. These regions have been represented by “phase diagrams.” Photographs of the various flow patterns in each region of the “phase diagram” have been taken for a number of orifices. Under each observed condition, the acoustic impedance of the orifice is determined by a conventional standing-wave measurement in the tube.
It is shown that the nonlinear properties of the acoustic impedance of an orifice is closely connected with the circulation effects. Quantitative check in one of the circulation regions and a good qualitative over-all agreement indicate that the nonlinear properties of the impedance is due to the interaction between the sound field and the circulatory effects.
Transmission of Reverberant Sound through Double Walls
Authors: London Albert 
Published: September 2005

The transmission of reverberant sound through a double wall, which consists of two identical single walls coupled by an airspace, is investigated both theoretically and experimentally. A theory is developed which gives good agreement with experiment. In order to compute the transmission loss of a double wall, it is necessary to know the impedance Zw of the single wall. Zw was determined from experiments conducted on the single wall and includes the effects of mass, dissipation, and flexural motion. The treatment shows that it is impossible to get a large improvement in transmission loss for a double wall relative to a single wall under reverberant sound field conditions if the single wall is considered to have only mass reactance. In addition, the customary normal incidence theory is totally inadequate in explaining the behavior of a double wall in a reverberant sound field.
For double walls having air-coupling only, very shallow airspaces can produce appreciable increases in transmission loss over a single wall. An absorbent material when inserted in the airspace produces large improvements only when the mass of the walls is relatively light and has but little effect for heavy walls. Honeycomb or other non-absorbent cellular structures having no cell walls in a direction normal to the wall faces do not result in an increase in transmission loss. Air-coupled walls having no solid sound conducting paths between individual septa are extremely effective sound insulators as compared to conventional double wall constructions. The theory indicates that a large improvement in the transmission loss of a double wall can be obtained by using as components single walls with high internal dissipation.