bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Expanding self‐help group participation in culturally diverse urban areas: Media approaches to leveraging referent power
Authors: Humphreys Keith , Macus Sue , Stewart Eric , Oliva Elizabeth 
Published: May 2004

AbstractAccumulating research attests to the benefits of self‐help groups for people who have various chronic health problems. Expansion of self‐help group participation may enable a broader portion of society to experience these health benefits. The Media and Education for Self‐Help (MESH) Project was an effort to increase interest in health‐related self‐help groups among middle‐ and lower‐income people in two California urban areas with minority–majority populations. A diverse coalition of self‐help group leaders designed English‐ and Spanish‐language radio public service announcements and posters that were disseminated in Oakland and Los Angeles. The outcome measures in each urban area were self‐help‐group‐related telephone inquiries to local information and referral agencies (English and Spanish language) and the number of individuals attending self‐help groups at agencies hosting many groups. Telephone caller data were also gathered in a nonintervention control urban area (Sacramento). Los Angeles experienced an overall increase in telephone calls about self‐help groups during the MESH intervention, whereas the control urban area had no change in the number of telephone calls over the same period. The initial sharp increase in self‐help‐group‐related telephone calls was not sustained in Oakland, however. The number of Spanish‐language calls about self‐help groups increased 821% in Los Angeles and 149% in Oakland in the period from the 6 months that preceded the project through the first 6 months of the MESH Project. In the MESH Project urban areas, the number of visits to self‐help groups was significantly higher in intervention months than in the same calendar months of the preceding year, particularly in Oakland, where the increase exceeded 300 visits to self‐help groups per month. These intriguing findings are discussed in terms of their health policy and program evaluation implications. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Comm Psychol 32: 413–424, 2004.
A qualitative examination of the implementation of a community–academic coalition
Authors: Boydell Katherine M. , Volpe Tiziana 
Published: May 2004

AbstractMany recent grant initiatives have mandated coalition building as a key component of their health promotion efforts. Health service leaders are increasingly representing their organizations on coalitions and need to better understand the complexities involved in their creation and management. In this paper we focus on the implementation of a community–academic alliance using an ethnographic approach involving participant observation and in‐depth interviews. Analysis of the data revealed five essential dimensions to be considered in the development of successful community–academic alliances: membership, structure, leadership, communication, and funding. Within each of these areas, facilitators and barriers to successful coalition building were identified. While these areas are not new, obtaining the perspective of coalition members directly adds to our understanding of the member experience in the process of implementing such initiatives. This example of a community–academic collaboration presents one model of how to minimize the distance between research and service and move toward a partnership between these two worlds. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Comm Psychol 32: 357–374, 2004.
Supported socialization for people with psychiatric disabilities: Lessons from a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Davidson Larry , Shahar Golan , Stayner David A. , Chinman Matthew J. , Rakfeldt Jaak , Tebes Jacob Kraemer 
Published: May 2004

AbstractTwo hundred and sixty people with psychiatric disabilities who were socially isolated and withdrawn were randomly assigned to one of three conditions to facilitate their engagement in social and recreational activities: They were (a) not matched with a volunteer partner (N= 70), (b) matched with a volunteer partner who had a personal history of psychiatric disability (N= 95), or (c) matched with a volunteer partner with no history of psychiatric disability (N= 95). Participants and volunteers received a $28 stipend each month to cover the expenses of their activities. Comprehensive assessments of symptoms, functional impairment, self‐esteem, and satisfaction were made at baseline, after 4 months, and after 9 months. While all participants appeared to improve in terms of symptom reduction and increases in functioning and self‐esteem, differences between conditions were found only when participants' degree of contact with their partner was considered. While participants assigned to the nonconsumer volunteer partner condition improved in terms of their social functioning and self‐esteem when meeting with their partners, those who were assigned to consumer partners only improved when they did not. Findings highlight the important role of participants' expectations and perceptions in designing and evaluating psychosocial interventions for people with psychiatric disabilities. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Comm Psychol 32: 453–477, 2004.
Expression of phospholipase C beta family isoenzymes in C2C12 myoblasts during terminal differentiation
Authors: Faenza Irene , Bavelloni Alberto , Fiume Roberta , Santi Patrizia , Martelli Alberto M. , Maria Billi Anna , Rita Lo Vasco Vincenza , Manzoli Lucia , Cocco Lucio 
Published: May 2004

AbstractIn the present work, we have analyzed the expression and subcellular localization of all the members of inositide‐specific phospholipase C (PLCβ) family in muscle differentiation, given that nuclear PLCβ1 has been shown to be related to the differentiative process. Cell cultures of C2C12 myoblasts were induced to differentiate towards the phenotype of myotubes, which are also indicated as differentiated C2C12 cells. By means of immunochemical and immunocytochemical analysis, the expression and subcellular localization of PLCβ1, β2, β3, β4 have been assessed. As further characterization, we investigated the localization of PLCβ isoenzymes in C2C12 cells by fusing their cDNA to enhanced green fluorescent protein (GFP). In myoblast culture, PLCβ4 was the most expressed isoform in the cytoplasm, whereas PLCβ1 and β3 exhibited a lesser expression in this cell compartment. In nuclei of differentiated myotube culture, PLCβ1 isoform was expressed at the highest extent. A marked decrease of PLCβ4 expression in the cytoplasm of differentiated C2C12 cells was detected as compared to myoblasts. No relevant differences were evidenced as regards the expression of PLCβ3 at both cytoplasmatic and nuclear level, whilst PLCβ2 expression was almost undetactable. Therefore, we propose that the different subcellular expression of these PLC isoforms, namely the increase of nuclear PLCβ1 and the decrease of cytoplasmatic PLCβ4, during the establishment of myotube differentiation, is related to a spatial‐temporal signaling event, involved in myogenic differentiation. Once again the subcellular localization appears to be a key step for the diverse signaling activity of PLCβs. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
A low dose of daidzein acts as an ERβ‐selective agonist in trabecular osteoblasts of young female piglets
Authors: de Wilde Anne , Lieberherr Michele , Colin Colette , Pointillart Alain 
Published: May 2004

AbstractThe role of estrogens and estrogen‐like molecules, including isoflavones, in regulating bone cell activities is essential in understanding the etiology and treatment of post‐menopausal osteoporosis. Although estrogen replacement (HRT) has been the main therapy used to prevent and treat osteoporosis, there are concerns about its safety. Isoflavones have attracted attention to their potential roles in osteoporosis prevention and treatment. We have compared the effects of the isoflavone daidzein (1 nM), which has no effect on tyrosine kinases, and 17β‐estradiol (1 nM) on the development and function of cultured osteoblasts isolated from long bones of young female piglets. Daidzein increased ALP activity, osteocalcin secretion, and mineralization, while E2 increased only ALP activity. The content of ERβ and osteoprotegerin secretion by control cells gradually increased during osteoblast differentiation, whereas the ERα and RANK‐L content decreased. Daidzein enhanced only the nuclear ERβ whereas estradiol increased both ERα and ERβ. Daidzein and estradiol increased osteoprotegerin and RANK‐L secretion. Daidzein had a more pronounced effect than did estradiol. Daidzein and estradiol increased the membrane content of RANK‐L and the nuclear content of runx2/Cbfa1. Daidzein enhanced the nuclear content of progesterone and vitamin D receptors but not as much as did estradiol. All the effects of daidzein were blocked by ICI 182,780. We conclude that a low concentration of daidzein may exert its anti‐resorptive action by increasing the activity of porcine mature osteoblasts via ERβ, by regulating runx2/Cbfa1 production, and by stimulating the secretion of key proteins involved in osteoclastogenesis, such as osteoprotegerin and RANK‐ligand. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Decreased expression of β1‐integrin and focal adhesion kinase in epithelial cells may initiate involution of mammary glands
Authors: McMahon Christopher D. , Farr Vicki C. , Singh Kuljeet , Wheeler Thomas T. , Davis Stephen R. 
Published: May 2004

AbstractThe mechanisms regulating involution of mammary glands after weaning are not clear, but engorgement with milk is a key trigger. Many cell types require to be anchored to an extracellular matrix (ECM) as a prerequisite for survival and this is achieved via intregrins binding to specific motifs and signalling their attachment, intracellularly, via focal adhesion kinase (FAK). We sought to determine firstly, if expression of β1‐integrin and FAK is reduced during the first stage of involution. Expression of β1‐integrin and FAK was significantly reduced at 6 h after sealing teats and this was accompanied with a decreased abundance of cytochrome C in mitochondria. Secondly, we sought to determine if expression of β1‐integrin and FAK was restored during the first, partially reversible stage of involution (at 24 h), but not during the second irreversible stage, which occurs after 72 h. Re‐suckling restored full expression of the 80 kDa fragment of FAK, but not of the 125 kDa protein or β1‐integrin at 24 h after weaning. Re‐suckling did not restore expression of either peptide after 72 h. Changes in expression of cytochrome C and pro‐caspase‐3 (apoptotic markers) were similar to that of the 80 kDa fragment of FAK. These data suggest that epithelial cells can restore partial contact with their basement membrane during the first, reversible stage, but not during the second irreversible stage of involution. We speculate that decreased contact between epithelial cells and their basement membrane initiates apoptosis in mammary glands at weaning. This process begins within 6 h of pup withdrawal. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Calpain inhibitor 2 prevents axonal degeneration of opossum optic nerve fibers
Authors: Araújo Couto Luciana , Sampaio Narciso Marcelo , Hokoç Jan Nora , Blanco Martinez Ana Maria 
Published: May 2004

AbstractThe ultrastructural change that characterizes the onset of Wallerian degeneration is the disintegration of axoplasmic microtubules and neurofilaments, which are converted into an amorphous and granular material, followed by myelin breakdown. The mechanism underlying such processes is an increase in the amount of intracellular calcium, leading to activation of proteases called calpains. The aim of this study was to evaluate by quantitative ultrastructural analysis whether nerve fibers can be preserved by the use of an exogenous inhibitor of these proteases (calpain inhibitor‐2, Mu‐F‐hF‐FMK), after optic nerve crush. For that, the left optic nerves of opossums, Didelphis aurita, were crushed with the aid of a fine forceps, and half of them received a calpain inhibitor mixed with Elvax resin. Ninety‐six hours after the lesion, the animals were reanesthetized and transcardially perfused, and the optic nerves were removed, the right ones being used as normal nerves. Afterward, the optic nerves were dissected and processed for routine transmission electron microscopy and quantitative and statistical analysis. The results of this analysis showed that the group that received the calpain inhibitor presented a reduction of astrogliosis, maintaining the optic nerve structure in an organized state; a significant decrease in the number of degenerating fibers; and a significant increase in the number of fibers with preserved cytoskeleton and preservation of axonal and myelin area and integrity, reducing the enlargement and edema of the axon. In conclusion, our findings suggest that calpain inhibitor is able to provide neuroprotection of the central nervous system fibers after a crush lesion. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Molecular Dynamics Simulations of Polymer Translocations
Authors: Randel Richard , Loebl Hannah C. , Matthai Clarence C. 
Published: May 2004

AbstractSummary: Molecular dynamics simulation studies of the translocation of charged homopolymers of length, N, driven by an electric potential gradient through a channel have been performed. We find that the translocation time, τ, displays an inverse power dependence on the temperature of the simulation τ ∼ (T − T0)−7/4, which is in very good agreement with experimental results. In addition, the dependence of τ on the driving field strength and the velocity of translocation on the polymer length N have also been obtained. The results suggest that such minimalist models are useful in modelling biological processes and that the molecular dynamics method is a suitable approach for carrying out these simulations.Snapshot of the polymer during the simulation.imageSnapshot of the polymer during the simulation.
Polymer Melt Intercalation in Clay Modified by Diblock Copolymers
Authors: Kudryavtsev Yaroslav V. , Govorun Elena N. , Litmanovich Arkady D. , Fischer Hartmut R. 
Published: May 2004

AbstractSummary: The thermodynamic equilibrium in a melt of homopolymer C mixed with clay modified by a diblock copolymer AB is considered in theory. It is assumed that mixing is carried out in two stages. At first, the diblock copolymer penetrates into the interlayers formed by long clay sheets. Then, the clay with adsorbed diblock copolymer chains is added to the homopolymer melt. It is shown that the first process is thermodynamically favorable only if the interlayer width exceeds some threshold value that depends mostly on the difference in the adsorption energy of units A and B. A spontaneous mixing at the second stage is possible only if the enthalpic interactions between homopolymer and copolymer units are not very unfavorable. If so, the formation of an intercalated state is expected for a homopolymer of length comparable to the copolymer length, while for a long homopolymer the anticipated equilibrium state is exfoliation. The spatial distribution of A, B, and C units across the interlayer has been studied for different parameters of the system. The most readily adsorbing units A occupy almost all clay surface. However, the layer of block A is considerably swelled by both B and C units. The mutual distribution of units B and C may vary from almost homogeneous to having rather sharp boundary depending on the value of the Flory‐Huggins parameter χBC. The formation of a pure homopolymer layer at the center of the interlayer indicates about a tendency to exfoliate.Interlayer profiles of the fractions of units A, B, and C, respectively.imageInterlayer profiles of the fractions of units A, B, and C, respectively.
Silibinin inhibits the invasion of human lung cancer cells via decreased productions of urokinase‐plasminogen activator and matrix metalloproteinase‐2
Authors: Chu Shu‐Chen , Chiou Hui‐Ling , Chen Pei‐Ni , Yang Shun‐Fa , Hsieh Yih‐Shou 
Published: May 2004

AbstractCancer metastasis, involving multiple processes and various cytophysiological changes, is a primary cause of cancer death and may complicate the clinical management, even lead to death. Silibinin is a flavonoid antioxidant and wildly used for its antihepatotoxic properties and recent studies have revealed pleiotropic anticancer and antiproliferative capabilities of silibinin. In this study, we first observed that silibinin exerted a dose‐ and time‐dependent inhibitory effect on the invasion and motility, but hardly on the adhesion, of highly metastatic A549 cells in the absence of cytotoxicity. To look at the precise involvement of silibinin in cancer metastasis, A549 cells were treated with silibinin at various concentrations, up to 100 μM, for a defined period and then subjected to gelatin zymography, casein zymography and Western blot to investigate the impacts of silibinin on metalloproteinase‐2 (MMP‐2), urokinase plasminogen activator (u‐PA), and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase‐2 (TIMP‐2), respectively. The results showed that a silibinin treatment may decrease the expressions of MMP‐2 and u‐PA in a concentration‐ and time‐dependent manner and enhance the expression of TIMP‐2. Further analysis with semi‐quantitative RT‐PCR showed that silibinin may regulate the expressions of MMP‐2 and u‐PA on the transcriptional level while on the translational or post‐translational level for TIMP‐2. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Aeroelastic forces and dynamic response of long‐span bridges
Authors: Lazzari Massimiliano , Vitaliani Renato V. , Saetta Anna V. 
Published: May 2004

AbstractIn this paper a time domain approach for predicting the non‐linear dynamic response of long‐span bridges is presented. In particular the method that leads to the formulation of aeroelastic and buffeting forces in the time domain is illustrated in detail, where a recursive algorithm for the memory term's integration is properly developed. Moreover in such an approach the forces' expressions, usually formulated according to quasi‐static theory, have been substituted by expressions including the frequency‐dependent characteristics. Such expressions of aeroelastic and buffeting forces are made explicit in the time domain by means of the convolution integral that involves the impulse functions and the structural motion or the fluctuating velocities. A finite element model (FEM) has been developed within the framework of geometrically non linear analysis, by using 3‐d degenerated finite element. The proposed procedure can be used to analyze both the flutter instability phenomenon and buffeting response. Moreover, working in the geometrically non‐linearity range, it verifies the possibility of strongly flexible structures of actively resisting the wind loading. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Alkoxylation of epoxidized polyisoprene by opening of oxirane rings with alcohols
Authors: Challioui Allal , Derouet Daniel , Oulmidi Abdelkader , Brosse Jean Claude 
Published: May 2004

AbstractAlkoxylation of epoxidized polyisoprene catalyzed by cerium ammonium nitrate (CAN) was achieved under very mild conditions both in melt and in solution. The cleavage of the epoxidized units with alcohols leads to the formation of alkoxyalcohol units and epoxide rearrangement units in the case of 20 and 38 % epoxidized 1,4‐polyisoprenes. For higher percentage of epoxidation (72 %), cyclization of epoxidized units is observed, which dramatically reduces the alcohol grafting percentage onto the polymer chains. The glass transition temperature increase with the percentage of alkoxylation is attributed to both alkoxy and hydroxyl groups formed after the ring opening of the epoxidized units. However, size‐exclusion chromatography analysis of the modified polymers showed a decrease in the number‐average molecular weight and an increase in the weight‐average molecular weight, which can be interpreted as the degradation and crosslinking of the polymer chains, respectively. Copyright © 2004 Society of Chemical Industry
Thermoresponsive behaviour in aqueous solution of poly(maleic acid‐alt‐vinyl acetate) grafted with poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide)
Authors: Vasile Cornelia , Bumbu Gina‐Gabriela , Mylonas Ioannis , Bokias Georgios , Staikos Georgios 
Published: May 2004

AbstractThe synthesis of a thermoresponsive graft copolymer consisting of a maleic acid/vinyl acetate alternating copolymer backbone (MAc‐alt‐VA) and poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) side chains is reported. Turbidimetric measurements in dilute aqueous solutions showed that no macroscopic phase separation takes place when the temperature is raised above the lower critical solution temperature (LCST) of PNIPAM, even at pH = 2. Moreover, in semi‐dilute aqueous solutions, a pronounced thermally induced viscosity increase (thermothickening) was observed. This thermoresponsive behaviour has been attributed to the interconnection of the hydrophilic MAc‐alt‐VA graft copolymer backbones by means of the hydrophobic PNIPAM side chain aggregates formed as the temperature increases above the LCST of this polymer. Copyright © 2004 Society of Chemical Industry
Ring‐opening polymerization of D,L‐lactide by rare earth 2,6‐dimethylaryloxide
Authors: Zhang Lifang , Shen Zhiquan , Yu Cuiping , Fan Ling 
Published: May 2004

AbstractRing‐opening polymerization of D,L‐lactide (LA) has been successfully carried out by using rare earth 2,6‐dimethylaryloxide (Ln(ODMP)3) as single component catalyst or initiator for the first time. The effects of different rare earth elements, solvents, monomers and catalyst concentration as well as polymerization temperature and time on the polymerization were investigated. The results show that La(ODMP)3 exhibits higher activity to prepare poly(D,L‐lactide) (PLA) with a viscosity molecular weight of 4.5 × 104 g mol−1 and the conversion of 97 % at 100 °C in 45 min. The catalytic activity of Ln(ODMP)3 has following sequence: La > Nd > Sm > Gd > Er > Y. A kinetic study has indicated that the polymerization is first order with respect to both monomer and catalyst concentration. The apparent activation energy of the polymerization of LA with La(ODMP)3 is 69.6 kJ mol−1. The analyses of polymer ends indicate that the LA polymerization proceeds according to ‘coordination–insertion’ mechanism with selective cleavage of the acyl–oxygen bond of the monomer. Copyright © 2004 Society of Chemical Industry
Stabilization of water/n‐hexane emulsions by amphiphilic copolymers based on vinyl ethers and their polycomplexes with poly(acrylic acid)
Authors: Mun Grigoriy A. , Khutoryanskiy Vitaliy V. , Nurkeeva Zauresh S. , Urkimbaeva Perizat I. , Zhunuspaev Daulet 
Published: May 2004

AbstractAmphiphilic random copolymers based on vinyl ether of ethylene glycol and vinyl butyl ether as well as their polycomplexes with poly(acrylic acid) were studied as polymeric reagents for the stabilization of water/n‐hexane emulsions. The emulsion stability strongly depended on the content of vinyl butyl ether in the copolymers as well as their concentration in solution. The more hydrophobic copolymers stabilized emulsions more efficiently. An increase in the temperature and the addition of inorganic salts reduced the emulsion lifetime. The formation of interpolymer complexes between the copolymers and poly(acrylic acid) significantly influenced the stability of the emulsions. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 42: 2625–2632, 2004
Nitrogen isotopomer site preference of N2O produced by Nitrosomonas europaea and Methylococcus capsulatus Bath
Authors: Sutka R. L. , Ostrom N. E. , Ostrom P. H. , Gandhi H. , Breznak J. A. 
Published: May 2004

AbstractThe original article to which this Erratum refers was published in Rapid Communications in Mass Spectrometry 17 (7) 2003, 738–745.