bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Nuclear envelope barrier leak induced by dexamethasone
Authors: Kastrup Lilian , Oberleithner Hans , Ludwig Yvonne , Schafer Claudia , Shahin Victor 
Published: August 2005

AbstractNuclear pore complexes (NPCs) are multiprotein channels that span the nuclear envelope. They strongly limit the efficiency of gene transfection by restriction of nuclear delivery of exogenously applied therapeutic macromolecules. NPC dilation could significantly increase this efficiency. Recently, it was shown in oocytes of Xenopus laevis that NPCs dilate from about 82 to 110 nm within min after injection of the glucocorticoid analog dexamethasone (dex). In the present paper we analyzed by means of atomic force microscopy the structural details of NPC dilation and correlated them with functional changes in nuclear envelope permeability. 5–11 min after Dex injection NPC dilation was found at its maximum (∼140 nm). In addition, a yet unknown configuration, so‐called giant pore, up to 300 nm in diameter, was visualized. Giant pore formation was paralleled by an increase in nuclear envelope permeability tested by electrophysiology and confocal fluorescence microscopy. Even large macromolecules lacking any nuclear localization signal (77 kDa FITC‐dextran, molecule diameter up to 36 nm) could gain access to the nucleus. We conclude that dex transiently opens unspecific pathways for large macromolecules. Dex treatment could be potentially useful for improving the efficiency of nuclear gene transfection. J. Cell. Physiol. 206: 428–434, 2006. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Etoposide, vincristine, and cyclosporin A with standard‐dose radiation therapy in newly diagnosed diffuse intrinsic brainstem gliomas: A pediatric oncology group phase I study
Authors: Greenberg Mark L. , Fisher Paul G. , Freeman Carolyn , Korones David N. , Bernstein Mark , Friedman Henry , Blaney Susan , Hershon Linda , Zhou Tianni , Chen Zhengjia , Kretschmar Cynthia 
Published: August 2005

AbstractBackgroundBrainstem gliomas (BSGs) are resistant to all therapy. Based on their imaging characteristics, we postulated that inhibition of P‐glycoprotein (P‐gp) associated with endothelial cells of the blood‐brain barrier might enhance penetration of xenobiotic antineoplastics.ProcedureSeven patients were enrolled in a Phase I study of etoposide, continuous infusion cyclosporine A given with and escalating doses of vincristine and concomitant standard‐dose irradiation.ResultsSix patients were entered at the first level and one at the second. Closure of the study was mandated by dose‐limiting neurotoxicity, consisting of seizures associated with white‐matter changes, and alteration of consciousness with bulbar signs. One patient had tumor necrosis at 6 weeks, suggesting some tumor effect. Median survival for the group was 11 months, and for the patients who completed more than 1 month of therapy it was 11 months.ConclusionThis regimen proved excessively toxic. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Co‐activation effect of chlorine on the physical properties of CdS thin films prepared by CBD technique for photovoltaic applications
Authors: Amanullah F. M. , Al‐Shammari A. S. , Al‐Dhafiri A. M. 
Published: August 2005

AbstractA simple chemical bath deposition (CBD) technique with ultrasonication has been developed and successfully used to deposit cadmium sulfide (CdS) thin films onto glass substrates from a bath containing cadmium salt and thiourea. The structural and electrical properties of the CdS films were investigated. From the X‐ray diffraction pattern, the CdS films were found in both hexagonal and cubic phases. Electrical resistivity, carrier concentration and carrier mobility of the films have been reported. The electrical resistivity of the as‐deposited–annealed films was in the range 106–108 Ω cm and low for chlorine‐doped‐annealed films (10–2–102 Ω cm). From the Hall measurements, the films showed n‐type conductivity. All the results are presented and discussed. The results of the obtained films are promising to find application in optoelectronic devices as well as window material in heterojunction solar cell fabrication. (© 2005 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Superconductivity in boron‐doped homoepitaxial (001)‐oriented diamond layers
Authors: Kačmarčik J. , Marcenat C. , Cytermann C. , Ferreira da Silva A. , Ortega L. , Gustafsson F. , Marcus J. , Klein T. , Gheeraert E. , Bustarret Etienne 
Published: August 2005

AbstractThe crystallinity and built‐in strain of diamond epilayers grown by MPCVD with boron contents nB varying from 2 × 1020 to 2 × 1021 cm–3 as evaluated by SIMS are assessed by HR‐XR Diffraction. Both ac transport and ac susceptibility measurements show that the critical concentration for the onset of superconductivity in (001)‐oriented single crystalline films is about 5 × 1020 cm–3. This is also the critical hole concentration for the metal–non metal transition in this system, as evaluated by two types of theoretical calculations and by low temperature resistivity experiments. We report also preliminary results of point contact spectroscopy on an epilayer with a critical transition temperature Tc = 2.1 K, which yield a superconducting gap around 0.3 meV compatible with a conventional BCS‐type description of superconductivity in this system. (© 2005 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
QND theory of long range forces in AFM on Au(111)
Authors: Drakova D. , Doyen G. 
Published: August 2005

AbstractThe nature of the long range forces in atomic force microscopy (AFM) between a tungsten tip and the Au(111) surface is studied within Quantum Nano Dynamics (QND), treating many‐particle interactions and long range screening effects. A new mechanism of long range forces between a neutral tip and a metal surface is suggested due to the interaction with the image potential in the tip and the sample of a single electron localized on the Au(111) surface in front of the tip, in the presence of the AFM tip, and the image screening it provides.magnified imageForce between a W‐tip and Au(111) – measured in AFM (circles and crosses, left‐hand axis, Ref. [1]) and calcu‐lated within QND theory (full curve, right‐hand axis).(© 2005 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Early stages of continuous wave experiments on cavity‐polaritons
Authors: Houdré R. 
Published: August 2005

AbstractThis chapter presents a basics description of cavity‐polariton physics and highlights the historical context of the early stages of continuous wave experiments performed on cavity‐polaritons with M. Ilegems during the period 1992–2000. (© 2005 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Alignment and Assembly of Adsorbed Collagen Molecules Induced by Anisotropic Chemical Nanopatterns
Authors: Denis Frédéric A. , Pallandre Antoine , Nysten Bernard , Jonas Alain M. , Dupont‐Gillain Christine C. 
Published: August 2005

AbstractCollagen, a protein widely used to control cell–material interactions, is known to self‐assemble in solution. Supramolecular structures also form on material surfaces following collagen adsorption. Herein, we report the use of anisotropic, flat, surface chemical nanopatterns, which consist of alkyl‐terminated tracks drawn in an oligo(ethylene glycol)‐terminated matrix, to direct collagen adsorption. As revealed by atomic force microscopy, the spontaneous collagen adsorption performed on such patterned substrates results in the accumulation of collagen on the hydrophobic tracks. Moreover, the width of the tracks (30–90 nm), which is much smaller than the length of the collagen molecule (≈300 nm), is the origin of preferential alignment of the molecules and of their assembly into continuous bundles of adsorbed collagen. This chemical guidance effect due to self‐confinement of proteins upon adsorption may bring novel and valuable applications, specifically in biomaterials science and cell growth control.
The impact of management development on perceptions of organizational performance in European firms
Authors: Mabey Christopher , Gooderham Paul N 
Published: August 2005

AbstractManagement development is generally regarded as a key element in a strategic approach to human resource management. Yet there is still little empirical evidence that it actually contributes significantly to superior firm performance, and if it does, precisely which aspects of management development policy and practice lead to these positive outcomes. The purpose of this paper is to test these relationships. Based on interviews with human resource development and line managers in 499 European firms, contextual factors like sales turnover, size and country explained some variance in perceptions of performance. However, the degree of variance explained is considerably enhanced when variables are introduced, which capture the way management development is conceived and implemented. Causal path analysis shows that a favorable strategic fit and organizational fit significantly predicts line manager perceptions of the importance given to management development, which in turn, distinguishes high‐ from low‐performing companies.
Often called for but rarely chosen: alliance research that directly studies process
Authors: Salk Jane E 
Published: August 2005

AbstractEvery so often, alliance scholars make cogent arguments for why the alliance field needs more process research. Rather than plea this case yet again, this paper explores why the field of alliance research continues to be overwhelmingly cross‐sectional and structural in nature. Looking at research published since the mid‐1990s, it appears that reflexive ‘calls for future process research’ crop up frequently. Even in cross‐sectional, structural research, authors evoke stories about processes, even if these processes depend on assumptions about actors and behaviors that lie outside of what is observable with their data and methods. What impedes the development of process research are norms and taken‐for‐granted routines within the mainstream scholarly community. I discuss implications of this reflexivity and how it might be challenged to rejuvenate and advance alliance research.
Activation/inactivation of the classical pathway of complement in non‐lesional skin of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus
Authors: Alahlafi A. , Wordsworth P. , Wojnarowska F. 
Published: August 2005

Background:  The link between the lupus band and pathogenesis remains controversial, because immunoglobulins and complement components, including the membrane attack complex, can be found in both lesional and non‐lesional skin of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The expression of proteins that regulate complement has not been previously investigated in the skin of patients with SLE.Aim:  The aim of this study is to compare the expression of protectin (CD59), which demonstrates the activation of the classical pathway of complement, in non‐lesional skin obtained from patients with SLE with its expression in normal skin. This may help us explain the link between the lupus band and pathogenesis of cutaneous lupus erythematosus.Methods:  An indirect immunofluorescence technique was performed in order to provide unequivocal evidence for the activation of complement via the classical pathway and to compare the expression of CD59 in non‐lesional skin from patients with SLE with normal skin samples obtained from healthy people.Results:  The activation of the classical pathway of complement was demonstrated in non‐lesional skin in more than 90% of SLE patients investigated in this study. Staining intensity of the complement regulatory protein CD59 was markedly increased in the majority of non‐lesional skin samples obtained from patients with SLE, compared to that from normals.Conclusions:  CD59 is overexpressed in non‐lesional skin in which complement activation has occurred. It seems likely that an increased and continuous CD59 expression may be important for maintaining the integrity of the skin BMZ during inflammatory responses involving complement activation in SLE skin.
Primary cutaneous cribriform carcinoma: a rare apocrine tumour
Authors: Adamski Henri , Le Lan Jacky , Chevrier Stéphane , Cribier Bernard , Watier Eric , Chevrant‐Breton Jacqueline 
Published: August 2005

Background:  Primary cutaneous cribriform carcinoma (PCCC) is a rare apocrine tumour occurring in middle‐aged people. This neoplasm is often located on the limbs. The histopathological diagnosis is difficult, mainly because this tumour is exceptional. We, in this study, report a patient with PCCC.Case report:  The patient was a 37‐year‐old man who presented with a nodule of the left knee.Results:  Histopathologic findings showed an asymmetrical deep dermal tumour with a cribriform pattern. The aggregations of neoplastic cells were interconnected and varied in size and shape. The cells were arranged in solid nests or tubular structures. In the lumina of tubules, some papillary protrusion of basophilic cells was seen. The ductal elements were lined by cuboidal or cylindric cells with images of decapitation secretion. The nuclei of the neoplastic cells were pleomorphic. A wide excision was performed with sentinel inguinal node biopsy. After a 2‐year follow‐up, neither persistence at the local site nor metastasis was observed.Conclusions:  Clinical and pathological features of PCCC are reviewed. Differential diagnoses, including cutaneous metastasis of adenocarcinoma, adenoid basal cell carcinoma and adenoid cystic carcinoma, are discussed.
CD56 staining in Merkel cell carcinoma and natural killer‐cell lymphoma: magic bullet, diagnostic pitfall, or both?
Authors: McNiff Jennifer M. , Cowper Shawn E. , Lazova Rossitza , Subtil Antonio , Glusac Earl J. 
Published: August 2005

Background:  Antibodies to CD56 label natural killer (NK) cell lymphomas and neuroendocrine tumors such as Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC). In MCC altered by crush artifact or obscured by lymphocytes, the histologic features coupled with CD56 positivity can lead to an erroneous impression of NK‐cell lymphoma.Methods:  Eighteen cases of MCC were stained for CD56, CK20, MNF116, and pankeratin. The results were compared to histologic features and CD56 staining pattern of three NK‐cell lymphomas.Results:  Three of 18 cases of MCC histologically resembled lymphoma, and CD56 positivity with CD3 and CD20 negativity initially raised the possibility of NK‐cell lymphoma. Two additional cases were obscured by dense inflammation, again suggesting the diagnosis of lymphoma. Seventeen of 18 MCC labeled for CD56 and an equal number stained for CK20. All MCC tested were positive for CAM5.2 (14/14) and MNF116 (17/17). Antibodies to pankeratin labeled only one of 18 MCC. Staining for CD56 was stronger in MCC than NK‐cell lymphomas.Conclusions:  CD56 is a sensitive marker for MCC as well as for NK‐cell lymphoma, but is not specific. Importantly, CD56 positivity in crushed or inflamed biopsies of MCC may lead to an erroneous impression of NK lymphoma. Awareness of this potential pitfall will prevent misdiagnosis.
Isolation, Identification and Characterization of Group A Rotavirus from a Chicken: the Inner Capsid Protein Sequence shows only a Distant Phylogenetic Relationship to Most Other Avian Group A Rotaviruses
Authors: Elschner M. , Hotzel H. , Reetz J. , Diller R. , Otto P. 
Published: August 2005

SummaryRotavirus particles were identified in the intestinal content of a 35‐day‐old stunted chicken. The virus was isolated, RNA pattern was analysed and the viral genome segment 6 was sequenced. In particular, the sequence data showed a very close similarity to the chicken rotavirus isolate Ch‐1 (99.2% amino acid homology), this is distantly related to all known avian rotaviruses and supports the existence of different VP6 types amongst avian group A rotaviruses.
Genetic Diversity of Anaplasma marginale Strains from Cattle Farms in the Province of Palermo, Sicily
Authors: de la Fuente J. , Torina A. , Naranjo V. , Caracappa S. , Vicente J. , Mangold A. J. , Vicari D. , Alongi A. , Scimeca S. , Kocan K. M. 
Published: August 2005

SummaryBovine anaplasmosis, caused by the tick‐borne rickettsia Anaplasma marginale, is endemic in Sicily and results in economic loss to the cattle industry. This study was designed to characterize strains of A. marginale at the molecular level from cattle in the Province of Palermo, Sicily. Seropositivity of cattle ≥1 year old for A. marginale in the study area ranged from 62% to 100%. The observed prevalence of A. marginale infections in cattle herds ranged from 25% to 100%. Two predominant A. marginale msp4 genotypes were found. A positive correlation was found between the prevalence of infection and the presence of Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) annulatus. Phylogenetic analysis of msp4 sequences of European strains of A. marginale did not provide phylogeographical information. These results suggest that development of farm husbandry systems and vaccines for genetically heterogeneous populations of A. marginale are needed for control of anaplasmosis in this region of Sicily.
Serodiagnosis of Burkholderia mallei Infections in Horses: State‐of‐the‐art and Perspectives
Authors: Neubauer H. , Sprague L. D. , Zacharia R. , Tomaso H. , Al Dahouk S. , Wernery R. , Wernery U. , Scholz H. C. 
Published: August 2005

Summary Burkholderia mallei causes glanders or farcy in solipeds, a disease that must be reported to the OIE (Office International des Epizooties, Paris, France). The number of reported outbreaks has increased steadily during the last decade. Serodiagnosis is hampered by the considerable number of false‐positives and ‐negatives of the internationally prescribed tests. The major problem leading to low sensitivity and specificity of complement fixation test (CFT) and enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) has been linked to the test antigens currently used, i.e. crude preparations of whole cells. Future perspectives for the development and evaluation of serological test kits using well‐characterized single antigens are discussed in the light of recent molecular research on B. mallei and the closely related saprozoonotic agent B. pseudomallei.
Environmental and spatial controls of palm (Arecaceae) species richness across the Americas
Authors: Bjorholm Stine , Svenning Jens‐Christian , Skov Flemming , Balslev Henrik 
Published: August 2005

ABSTRACTAim  To determine the main factors that control the distribution of palm species richness across the Americas, to understand the relative importance of climatic and other environmental factors vs. spatial variables (as substitutes for non‐environmental factors such as history), and to evaluate how robust the patterns found are to changes in spatial scale.Location  Tropical and subtropical America (34°N−34°S; 33°W−120°W).Methods  We provide a GIS‐based analysis of spatial variation in species richness at 10 grain sizes (1°−10° square grid cells). We use multiple regressions and variation partitioning to test patterns of species richness in relation to five environmental descriptors [mean annual temperature (°C), mean annual precipitation (mm year−1), number of wet days year−1, topographical range (maximum–minimum elevation), number of vegetation types] and nine spatial variables (the terms of a cubic trend‐surface polynomial).Results  We observe peaks in palm species richness in southern Mesoamerica, the Chocó area, western and eastern Amazon basin, and east Andean slopes, and a strong latitudinal richness gradient even within the tropical zone. Pure environmental and pure spatial variation components are of equal magnitude through all spatial scales analysed. Water‐related variables such as annual rainfall and number of wet days are the main richness predictors. Spatial variables, notably latitude squared are also important, whereas temperature‐ and habitat‐related variables are relatively unimportant.Main conclusions  Our analysis suggests that in the Americas, palm species richness at spatial scales from 1° to 10° is most strongly controlled by water availability, although unknown broad‐scale factors, perhaps soil, historical processes or geometric constraints, are also important.
Bioclimatic modelling using Gaussian mixture distributions and multiscale segmentation
Authors: Gavin Daniel G. , Hu Feng Sheng 
Published: August 2005

ABSTRACTAim To introduce Gaussian mixture distributions and sequential maximum a posteriori image segmentation (GM‐SMAP) as a model that predicts species ranges from mapped climatic variables, and to compare its predictive capacity with two commonly used bioclimatic models: regression tree analysis (RTA) and smoothed response surfaces (SRS).Location North‐west North America.Methods We compared models for their ability to predict the distributional range of western hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla). We calculated and projected nine climatic and water‐balance variables to a 2‐km grid up to 140 km from theT. heterophyllarange. Models were trained using the five variables selected by RTA, as well as subsets of three variables. Goodness of fit was assessed using models trained and tested on the entire study area. Predictive capacity was assessed using 100 cross‐validation tests, each trained on a randomly sampled 1% of the study area and tested on the complement of the study area.Results Models using all five variables were significantly better than three‐variable models. Model fit was greatest for SRS. GM‐SMAP misclassified slightly more area and RTA misclassified almost twice the area compared to SRS. However, cross‐ validation showed that the predictive capacity was clearly greatest for GM‐SMAP and lowest for SRS, indicating that GM‐SMAP makes more accurate predictions from sparse data.Main conclusions GM distributions prevent overfitting using an information‐theoretic approach, and the SMAP algorithm minimizes the spatial extent of the largest misclassified area using a multiscale method. These properties, useful for image classification, also aid their strong predictive capacity as a bioclimatic model. SRS overfit the data, lowering its predictive capacity, and RTA failed to capture details of interactions among variables, yielding a poor fit. These results demonstrate the strong potential of GM‐SMAP as a bioclimatic model.
An Exact Distribution-Free Test Comparing Two Multivariate Distributions based on Adjacency
Authors: Rosenbaum Paul R. 
Published: August 2005

SummaryA new test is proposed comparing two multivariate distributions by using distances between observations. Unlike earlier tests using interpoint distances, the new test statistic has a known exact distribution and is exactly distribution free. The interpoint distances are used to construct an optimal non-bipartite matching, i.e. a matching of the observations into disjoint pairs to minimize the total distance within pairs. The cross-match statistic is the number of pairs containing one observation from the first distribution and one from the second. Distributions that are very different will exhibit few cross-matches. When comparing two discrete distributions with finite support, the test is consistent against all alternatives. The test is applied to a study of brain activation measured by functional magnetic resonance imaging during two linguistic tasks, comparing brains that are impaired by arteriovenous abnormalities with normal controls. A second exact distribution-free test is also discussed: it ranks the pairs and sums the ranks of the cross-matched pairs.
On Nonparametric Maximum Likelihood Estimation with Interval Censoring and Left Truncation
Authors: Hudgens Michael G. 
Published: August 2005

SummaryA graph theoretical approach is employed to describe the support set of the nonparametric maximum likelihood estimator for the cumulative distribution function given interval-censored and left-truncated data. A necessary and sufficient condition for the existence of a nonparametric maximum likelihood estimator is then derived. Two previously analysed data sets are revisited.