bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The effect of airflow limitation on the cause of death in patients with COPD
Authors: Alfageme Inmaculada , Reyes Nuria , Merino Mercedes , Reina Angela , Gallego Javier , Lima Jorge , Palacios Zulema
Published: August 2010

COPD is characterized by airflow limitation that is usually progressive. The present study investigated the cause of death and the effect of airflow limitation on all-cause mortality in COPD patients. A prospective cohort of 600 COPD patients were followed for 3 years. Patients in the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) stage 2 (32.7%), GOLD 3 (48.1%), or GOLD 4 (19.1%). Overall, 117 patients died (19.6%). Deaths were due to respiratory failure (29%), cardiovascular disease (25.6%), cancer (17.9%), infection (11%), gastrointestinal disease (9.4%), and other causes (6.7%). According to the Cox regression analysis, the following independent factors were related to mortality: age (years), hazards ratio (HR) 1.046 (confidence interval [CI] 95% 1.021, 1.072); current smoking status, HR 1.535 (CI 95% 1.003, 2.350); cancer, HR 7.172 (CI 95% 4.515, 11.395); cardiovascular disease, HR 2.623 (CI 95% 1.821, 3.778); severe airflow limitation (GOLD 4), HR 2.378 (CI 95% 1.605, 3.525); and highest quartile of acute exacerbations, HR 1.852 (CI 95% 1.236, 2.775). The present study shows that severe airflow limitation, current smoking status, the presence of cardiovascular disease, cancer, and a high frequency of acute exacerbations have an independent negative impact on the prognosis of COPD patients.
Respiratory muscle pressures in non-CF bronchiectasis: Repeatability and reliability
Authors: Moran F. , Piper A. , Elborn JS , Bradley JM
Published: August 2010

Background: Respiratory muscle strength is used diagnostically in clinical practice and as an outcome measure in clinical trials in various chronic lung diseases. There is limited data on its repeatability in people with non-CF bronchiectasis. The aim of the present study was to assess the repeatability of maximal inspiratory (P Imax) and expiratory pressures (PEmax) in a group of patients with stable, moderate-to-severe non-CF bronchiectasis. Methods: Twenty participants with stable moderate-to-severe non-CF bronchiectasis were recruited. Respiratory muscle strength measurements (three maximal inspiratory and expiratory pressures) were made on 2 separate days. A standard protocol was used, including practice tests, before obtaining three technically acceptable and reproducible readings with a difference of 10% or less between values. Clinical trial registration number: ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT00487149. Results: The mean (SD) age of the non-CF bronchiectasis group was 63 (9) years. Maximal inspiratory pressures were repeatable with mean (SD) for highest PImax, Test 1 and Test 2, 75.90 (20) and 79.40 (19) cmH2O, and limits of agreement (mean difference ± 2SD) —3.50 ± 20 cmH2O, (p = 0.14). Maximal expiratory pressures differed significantly with mean (SD) for highest PEmax, Test 1 and Test 2, 102.25 (27) and 112.30 (32) cmH 2O, and limits of agreement (mean difference ± 2SD) —10.10 ± 35 cmH2O, (p = 0.02). The intraclass correlation coefficient (95% CI) for highest PImax and PEmax was 0.93 (95% CI 0.82 to 0.97) and 0.90 (95% CI 0.76 to 0.96), respectively. Conclusion: Maximal inspiratory pressure measurements were repeatable during a period of clinical stability in moderate-to-severe non-CF bronchiectasis, suggesting this may be a useful outcome measure in non-CF bronchiectasis. Once a baseline has been established, a second visit is not required. PEmax was not a repeatable measure and further study is necessary to ascertain how much practice testing is required to obtain an accurate value.
Review Series: Aspects of Interstitial lung disease: Differentiating between IPF and NSIP
Authors: Glaspole Ian , Goh Nicole Soo Leng
Published: August 2010

Of the idiopathic interstitial pneumonias, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and nonspecific interstitial pneumonia (NSIP) have provoked the most debate and discussion. Although the two diseases are distinct entities, diagnosis is not always straightforward and requires a multidisciplinary approach, integrating clinical, radiological and histologic information. Although there is currently no effective treatment for either disease, the importance of differentiating NSIP from IPF lies in the management of the individual patient, with particular focus on outcome and pace of change, and enrolment into novel treatment trials of IPF.
An Update on Pharmacological Interventions for Diabetic Foot Ulcers
Authors: Scimeca Christy L. , Bharara Manish , Fisher Timothy K. , Kimbriel Heather , Mills Joseph L. , Armstrong David G.
Published: August 2010

Diabetic foot ulcers are the most common lower extremity complications of diabetes. Peripheral neuropathy and peripheral vascular disease are the underlying risk factors for diabetic foot ulcers, subsequently leading to infections and requiring antimicrobial therapy for the management of the disease. Each risk factor is a target for clinical intervention, with the intent to delay or prevent disease progression to amputation. The effective therapy includes interdisciplinary care, which involves optimized pharmacological interventions in concert with other treatments such as debridement strategies and specialized wound dressings. The pharmacological therapy alone cannot lead to successful therapy, and therefore, these supplementary techniques/modalities should not be overlooked. It is therefore the aim of this report to review various pharmacological interventions, specific to the diabetic foot and wound healing, along with incorporation of advanced therapies required to achieve a multifaceted treatment of diabetic foot ulcers and provide basis for superior drugs as well as drug delivery systems.
Targeting TORC2 in multiple myeloma with a new mTOR kinase inhibitor
Authors: Hoang Bao , Frost Patrick , Shi Yijiang , Belanger Eileen , Benavides Angelica , Pezeshkpour Gholam , Cappia Susanna , Guglielmelli Tommasina , Gera Joseph , Lichtenstein Alan
Published: August 2010

Although preclinical work with rapalogs suggests potential in treatment of multiple myeloma (MM), they have been less successful clinically. These drugs allostearically inhibit the mammalian target of rapamycin kinase primarily curtailing activity of the target of rapamycin complex (TORC)1. To assess if the mammalian target of rapamycin within the TORC2 complex could be a better target in MM, we tested a new agent, pp242, which prevents activation of TORC2 as well as TORC1. Although comparable to rapamycin against phosphorylation of the TORC1 substrates p70S6kinase and 4E-BP-1, pp242 could also inhibit phosphorylation of AKT on serine 473, a TORC2 substrate, while rapamycin was ineffective. pp242 was also more effective than rapamycin in achieving cytoreduction and apoptosis in MM cells. In addition, pp242 was an effective agent against primary MM cells in vitro and growth of 8226 cells in mice. Knockdown of the TORC2 complex protein, rictor, was deleterious to MM cells further supporting TORC2 as the critical target for pp242. TORC2 activation was frequently identified in primary specimens by immunostaining for AKT phosphorylation on serine 473. Potential mechanisms of up-regulated TORC2 activity in MM were stimulation with interleukin-6 or insulin-like growth factor 1, and phosphatase and tensin homolog or RAS alterations. Combining pp242 with bortezomib led to synergistic anti-MM effects. These results support TORC2 as a therapeutic target in MM.
mab-31 and the TGF-β pathway act in the ray lineage to pattern C. elegansmale sensory rays
Authors: Wong Yan-Fung , Sheng Qing , Chung Janet WL , Chan Jacky KF , Chow King L
Published: August 2010

Background

C. elegans TGF-β-like Sma/Mab signaling pathway regulates both body size and sensory ray patterning. Most of the components in this pathway were initially identified by genetic screens based on the small body phenotype, and many of these mutants display sensory ray patterning defect. At the cellular level, little is known about how and where these components work although ray structural cell has been implicated as one of the targets. Based on the specific ray patterning abnormality, we aim to identify by RNAi approach additional components that function specifically in the ray lineage to elucidate the regulatory role of TGF-β signaling in ray differentiation.

Result

We report here the characterization of a new member of the Sma/Mab pathway, mab-31, recovered from a genome-wide RNAi screen. mab-31 mutants showed ray cell cluster patterning defect and mis-specification of the ray identity. mab-31 encodes a nuclear protein expressed in descendants of ray precursor cells impacting on the ray cell's clustering properties, orientation of cell division plane, and fusion of structural cells. Genetic experiments also establish its relationship with other Sma/Mab pathway components and transcription factors acting upstream and downstream of the signaling event.

Conclusion

mab-31 function is indispensable in Sma/Mab signal recipient cells during sensory rays specification. Both mab-31 and sma-6 are required in ray lineage at the late larval stages. They act upstream of C. elegans Pax-6 homolog and repress its function. These findings suggested mab-31 is a key factor that can integrate TFG-β signals in male sensory ray lineage to define organ identity.
The impact of attrition on the representativeness of cohort studies of older people
Authors: Brilleman Samuel L , Pachana Nancy A , Dobson Annette J
Published: August 2010

Background

There are well-established risk factors, such as lower education, for attrition of study participants. Consequently, the representativeness of the cohort in a longitudinal study may deteriorate over time. Death is a common form of attrition in cohort studies of older people. The aim of this paper is to examine the effects of death and other forms of attrition on risk factor prevalence in the study cohort and the target population over time.

Methods

Differential associations between a risk factor and death and non-death attrition are considered under various hypothetical conditions. Empirical data from the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health (ALSWH) for participants born in 1921-26 are used to identify associations which occur in practice, and national cross-sectional data from Australian Censuses and National Health Surveys are used to illustrate the evolution of bias over approximately ten years.

Results

The hypothetical situations illustrate how death and other attrition can theoretically affect changes in bias over time. Between 1996 and 2008, 28.4% of ALSWH participants died, 16.5% withdrew and 10.4% were lost to follow up. There were differential associations with various risk factors, for example, non-English speaking country of birth was associated with non-death attrition but not death whereas being underweight (body mass index < 18.5) was associated with death but not other forms of attrition. Compared to national data, underrepresentation of women with non-English speaking country of birth increased from 3.9% to 7.2% and over-representation of current and ex-smoking increased from 2.6% to 5.8%.

Conclusions

Deaths occur in both the target population and study cohort, while other forms of attrition occur only in the study cohort. Therefore non-death attrition may cause greater bias than death in longitudinal studies. However although more than a quarter of the oldest participants in the ALSWH died in the 12 years following recruitment, differences from the national population changed only slightly.
A systematic review of randomized controlled trials exploring the effect of immunomodulative interventions on infection, organ failure, and mortality in trauma patients
Authors: Spruijt Nicole E , Visser Tjaakje , Leenen Luke PH
Published: August 2010

Introduction

Following trauma, patients may suffer an overwhelming pro-inflammatory response and immune paralysis resulting in infection and multiple organ failure (MOF). Various potentially immunomodulative interventions have been tested. The objective of this study is to systematically review the randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that investigate the effect of potentially immunomodulative interventions in comparison to a placebo or standard therapy on infection, MOF, and mortality in trauma patients.

Methods

A computerized search of MEDLINE, the Cochrane CENTRAL Register of Controlled Trials, and EMBASE yielded 502 studies, of which 18 unique RCTs were deemed relevant for this study. The methodological quality of these RCTs was assessed using a critical appraisal checklist for therapy articles from the Centre for Evidence Based Medicine. The effects of the test interventions on infection, MOF, and mortality rates and inflammatory parameters relative to the controls were recorded.

Results

In most studies, the inflammatory parameters differed significantly between the test and control groups. However, significant changes in infection, MOF, and mortality rates were only measured in studies testing immunoglobulin, IFN-γ, and glucan.

Conclusions

Based on level 1b and 2b studies, administration of immunoglobulin, IFN-γ, or glucan have shown the most promising results to improve the outcome of trauma patients.
Modulation of human neutrophil survival and antigen expression by activated CD4+ and CD8+ T cells
Authors: Pelletier Martin , Micheletti Alessandra , Cassatella Marco A
Published: August 2010

CD8+ T cells modulate neutrophil apoptosis and surface marker expression via TNF-α, IFN-γ and GM-CSF, while CD4+ T cells effects involve IFN-γ and GM-CSF.

Neutrophils and T cells often co-infiltrate pathological tissues, which suggests that these 2 cell types may interact with each other. Over the years, in vitro studies have demonstrated that neutrophils and T cells are capable of modulating each otherˈs responses. However, few studies have examined the cross-talk between human neutrophils and CD8+ T cells, although murine models clearly show the critical role of their interaction in bacterial infections and cancer. Herein, we evaluated the interaction between human neutrophils and CD8+ T cells in a coculture system using highly purified cell preparations and compared the responses to ones from cocultures of neutrophils and CD4+ T cells. We report that anti-CD3-activated CD4+ and more potently, anti-CD3-activated CD8+ T cells modulate apoptosis and expression of activation markers by neutrophils, and neutrophils have no or little effect on T cell survival, expression of surface markers, and cytokine release. The observed effects of CD8+ T cells on neutrophils were mainly attributable to the release of TNF-α, IFN-γ, and GM-CSF, and the effects of CD4+ T cells involved IFN-γ and GM-CSF production. This study expands our knowledge of the molecular bases, whereby human CD4+ and CD8+ T cells modulate neutrophil survival and antigen expression.
Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Knockout Mice Are Protected from High-Fat Diet-Induced Insulin Resistance
Authors: Ayala Julio E. , Bracy Deanna P. , James Freyja D. , Burmeister Melissa A. , Wasserman David H. , Drucker Daniel J.
Published: August 2010

Glucagon-like peptide-1 augments nutrient-stimulated insulin secretion. Chow-fed mice lacking the glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (Glp1r) exhibit enhanced insulin-stimulated muscle glucose uptake but impaired suppression of endogenous glucose appearance (endoRa). This proposes a novel role for the Glp1r to regulate the balance of glucose disposal in muscle and liver by modulating insulin action. Whether this is maintained in an insulin-resistant state is unknown. The present studies tested the hypothesis that disruption of Glp1r expression overcomes high-fat (HF) diet-induced muscle insulin resistance and exacerbates HF diet-induced hepatic insulin resistance. Mice with a functional disruption of the Glp1r (Glp1r−/−) were compared with wild-type littermates (Glp1r+/+) after12 wk on a regular chow diet or a HF diet. Arterial and venous catheters were implanted for sampling and infusions. Hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamps were performed on weight-matched male mice. [3-3H]glucose was used to determine glucose turnover, and 2[14C]deoxyglucose was used to measure the glucose metabolic index, an indicator of glucose uptake. Glp1r−/− mice exhibited increased glucose disappearance and muscle glucose metabolic index on either diet. This was associated with enhanced activation of muscle Akt and AMP-activated protein kinase and reduced muscle triglycerides in HF-fed Glp1r−/− mice. Chow-fed Glp1r−/− mice exhibited impaired suppression of endoRa and hepatic insulin signaling. In contrast, HF-fed Glp1r−/− mice exhibited improved suppression of endoRa and hepatic Akt activation. This was associated with decreased hepatic triglycerides and impaired activation of sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1. These results show that mice lacking the Glp1r are protected from HF diet-induced muscle and hepatic insulin resistance independent of effects on total fat mass.
Nocturnin Suppresses Igf1 Expression in Bone by Targeting the 3′ Untranslated Region of Igf1 mRNA
Authors: Kawai Masanobu , Delany Anne M. , Green Carla B. , Adamo Martin L. , Rosen Clifford J.
Published: August 2010

IGF-I is an anabolic factor that mediates GH and PTH actions in bone. Expression of skeletal Igf1 differs for inbred strains of mice, and Igf expression levels correlate directly with bone mass. Previously we reported that peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ2 activation in bone marrow suppressed Igf1 expression and that peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ2 activation-induced Nocturnin (Noc) expression, a circadian gene with peak expression at light offset, which functions as a deadenylase. In 24-h studies we found that Igf1 mRNA exhibited a circadian rhythm in femur with the lowest Igf1 transcript levels at night when Noc transcripts were highest. Immunoprecipitation/RT-PCR analysis revealed a physical interaction between Noc protein and Igf1 transcripts. To clarify which portions of the Igf1 3′ untranslated region (UTR) were necessary for regulation by Noc, we generated luciferase constructs containing various lengths of the Igf1 3′UTR. Noc did not affect the 170-bp short-form 3′UTR, but suppressed luciferase activity in constructs bearing the longer-form 3′UTR, which contains a number of potential regulatory motifs involved in mRNA degradation. C57BL/6J mice have low skeletal Igf1 mRNA compared with C3H/HeJ mice, and the Igf1 3′ UTR is polymorphic between these strains. Interestingly, the activity of luciferase constructs bearing the long-form 3′UTR from C57BL/6J mice were repressed by Noc overexpression, whereas those bearing the corresponding region from C3H/HeJ were not. In summary, Noc interacts with Igf1 in a strain- and tissue-specific manner and reduces Igf1 expression by targeting the longer form of the Igf1 3′UTR. Posttranscriptional regulation of Igf1 may be critically important during skeletal acquisition and maintenance.
Inhaled Insulin Forms Toxic Pulmonary Amyloid Aggregates
Authors: Lasagna-Reeves Cristian A. , Clos Audra L. , Midoro-Hiriuti Terumi , Goldblum Randall M. , Jackson George R. , Kayed Rakez
Published: August 2010

It is well known that interfaces, such as polar-nonpolar or liquid-air, play a key role in triggering protein aggregation in vitro, in particular the aggregation of peptides and proteins with the predisposition of misfolding and aggregation. Here we show that the interface present in the lungs predisposes the lungs to form aggregation of inhaled insulin. Insulin inhalers were introduced, and a large number of diabetic patients have used them. Although inhalers were safe and effective, decreases in pulmonary capacity have been reported in response to inhaled insulin. We hypothesize that the lung air-tissue interface provides a template for the aggregation of inhaled insulin. Our studies were designed to investigate the harmful potential that inhaled insulin has in pulmonary tissue in vivo, through an amyloid formation mechanism. Our data demonstrate that inhaled insulin rapidly forms amyloid in the lungs causing a significant reduction in pulmonary air flow. Our studies exemplify the importance that interfaces play in protein aggregation in vivo, illustrating the potential aggregation of inhaled proteins and the formation of amyloid deposits in the lungs. These insulin deposits resemble the amyloid structures implicated in protein misfolding disorders, such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases, and could as well be deleterious in nature.
Sodium Depletion Increases Sympathetic Neurite Outgrowth and Expression of a Novel TMEM35 Gene-Derived Protein (TUF1) in the Rat Adrenal Zona Glomerulosa
Authors: Tran Phu V. , Georgieff Michael K. , Engeland William C.
Published: August 2010

The adrenal zona glomerulosa (ZG) secretes aldosterone to regulate sodium balance. Chronic sodium restriction increases aldosterone accompanied by ZG expansion. The ZG is innervated by sympathetic, vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) and neuropeptide tyrosine (NPY), and sensory, calcitonin gene-related peptide, nerves. It is unclear whether innervation is affected by ZG growth. Therefore, we measured neurite outgrowth in the ZG of adult male rats after dietary sodium manipulation. In response to 1 wk sodium restriction, VIP and NPY fibers elongated in parallel with expansion of the ZG, shown by aldosterone synthase (AS) expression, but calcitonin gene-related peptide fibers were not affected. Sodium repletion resulted in parallel regression in VIP and NPY fiber length and AS expression. These results show that sympathetic, but not sensory, innervation is coordinated with ZG growth. Mediators underlying changes in innervation are unknown; therefore, we characterized a novel gene TMEM35 [termed the unknown factor-1 (TUF1) due to its unknown function] that shows extensive overlap with AS in ZG. After sodium restriction, TUF1 expanded in parallel with the ZG. TUF1 bound the low-affinity neurotrophin receptor, p75NTR, which was expressed in NPY fibers and showed a response similar to TUF1 after sodium manipulation. TUF1- p75NTR binding was competitively displaced by nerve growth factor but not by TUF1 lacking the p75NTR binding motif. Moreover, TUF1 mRNA in rat ZG cells increased after angiotensin II exposure in vitro. Collectively, these findings suggest that TMEM35/TUF1 is a candidate for modulating neurite outgrowth in the ZG after sodium depletion.
Maternal High-Fat Diet Alters Methylation and Gene Expression of Dopamine and Opioid-Related Genes
Authors: Vucetic Zivjena , Kimmel Jessica , Totoki Kathy , Hollenbeck Emily , Reyes Teresa M.
Published: August 2010

Maternal obesity during pregnancy increases the risk of obesity in the offspring. Obesity, arising from an imbalance of energy intake and expenditure, can be driven by the ingestion of palatable [high fat (HF), high sugar], energy-dense foods. Dopamine and opioid circuitry are neural substrates associated with reward that can affect animals’ preference for palatable foods. Using a mouse model, the long-term effect of maternal consumption of a HF diet on dopamine and opioid gene expression within the mesocorticolimbic reward circuitry and hypothalamus of the offspring was investigated. Mice from dams fed a HF diet during pregnancy and lactation showed an increased preference for sucrose and fat. Gene expression, measured using quantitative real-time PCR, revealed a significant approximately 3- to 10-fold up-regulation of dopamine reuptake transporter (DAT) in the ventral tegmental area, nucleus accumbens, and prefrontal cortex and a down-regulation of DAT in the hypothalamus. Additionally, expression of both μ-opioid receptor (MOR) and preproenkephalin (PENK) was increased in nucleus accumbens, prefrontal cortex, and hypothalamus of mice from dams that consumed the HF diet. Epigenetic mechanisms have been associated with long-term programming of gene expression after various in utero insults. We observed global and gene-specific (DAT, MOR, and PENK) promoter DNA hypomethylation in the brains of offspring from dams that consumed the HF diet. These data demonstrate that maternal consumption of a HF diet can change the offsprings’ epigenetic marks (DNA hypomethylation) in association with long-term alterations in gene expression (dopamine and opioids) and behavior (preference for palatable foods).
Cholesterol Biosynthesis Pathway Intermediates and Inhibitors Regulate Glucose-Stimulated Insulin Secretion and Secretory Granule Formation in Pancreatic β-Cells
Authors: Tsuchiya Miho , Hosaka Masahiro , Moriguchi Tomohisa , Zhang Shaojuan , Suda Masayuki , Yokota-Hashimoto Hiromi , Shinozuka Kazuo , Takeuchi Toshiyuki
Published: August 2010

Cholesterol is reportedly abundant in the endocrine secretory granule (SG) membrane. In this study, we examined the involvement of cholesterol biosynthesis intermediates and inhibitors in insulin secretion and SG formation mechanisms. There are two routes for the supply of cholesterol to the cells: one via de novo biosynthesis and the other via low-density lipoprotein receptor-mediated endocytosis. We found that insulin secretion and content are diminished by β-hydroxy-β-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A inhibitor lovastatin but not by lipoprotein depletion from the culture medium in MIN6 β-cells. Cholesterol biosynthesis intermediates mevalonate, squalene, and geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate enhanced glucose-stimulated insulin secretion, and the former two increased insulin content. The glucose-stimulated insulin secretion-enhancing effect of geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate was also confirmed in perifusion with rat islets. Morphologically, mevalonate and squalene increased the population of SGs without affecting their size. In contrast, lovastatin increased the SG size with reduction of insulin-accumulating dense cores, leading to a decrease in insulin content. Furthermore, insulin was secreted in a constitutive manner, indicating disruption of regulated insulin secretion. Because secretogranin III, a cholesterol-binding SG-residential granin-family protein, coincides with SG localization based on the cholesterol composition, secretogranin III may be associated with insulin-accumulating mechanisms. Although the SG membrane exhibits a high cholesterol composition, we could not find detergent-resistant membrane regions using a lipid raft-residential protein flotillin and a fluorescent cholesterol-Si-pyrene probe as markers on a sucrose-density gradient fractionation. We suggest that the high cholesterol composition of SG membrane with 40–50 mol% is crucial for insulin secretion and SG formation functions.
From Antagonism to Agonism: Shifting Paradigms of Women's Opposition to the State
Authors: Rajan Rajeswari Sunder
Published: August 2010

Judith Butler's perception of a shift in feminism's relationship to the state in Antigone's Claim serves as a useful starting point for my reflections in this essay. The familiar feminist representation of Antigone's “defiance” that she describes and questions leads me to an exploration of the political and historical reasons for the turn from the “antagonistic” model of opposition to the state that this literary icon has long represented, toward a modality of struggle that might be described instead as “agonistic.” I examine the classical Tamil epic Silappadikaram, whose heroine Kannaki is a comparable figure, for its political resonances. The subject-constitution of both Antigone and Kannaki as figures of mourning allows me to explore the implications of the contemporary gendered politics of mourning in the first part of this essay. Central to my understanding of agonistic feminist politics is Mrinalini Sinha's revealing analysis in Specters of Mother India (2006) of the circumstances surrounding the mobilization of Indian women around the passage of the Child Marriage Restraint Act in colonial India in 1929, which constitutes the second part of my essay.
Objects of Security: Gendered Violence and Securitized Humanitarianism in Occupied Gaza
Authors: Kotef Hagar
Published: August 2010

This essay seeks to define the current regime of national security, tracing a shift within the gender categories that subtend notions of justified (state) violence. It focuses on Israel's occupation, and in particular its violent control over the Gaza Strip, to examine the relations between war and enmity on the one hand and humanitarianism and subject-citizens on the other. I argue that security relies on a new mechanism of justifying violence, wherein the distinction between (feminized) civilians and (masculinized) aggressors is replaced with more “gender-blind” violence, which incorporates both humanitarian language and aberrant, thin disciplinary processes to form a subject whose killing is always already justifiable.
Ontario and British Columbia Welfare Policy: Variants on a Neoliberal Theme
Authors: Little Margaret , Marks Lynne
Published: August 2010

This article suggests that the nature of the neoliberal state needs to be more fully explored. Our research on two regional welfare policies in Canada over the past three decades reveals that neoliberal regional states can differ quite remarkably in how they include or exclude their poorer citizens from receiving welfare. By exploring the dramatic changes to welfare in British Columbia and Ontario, we argue that the former follows a “purer” neoliberal model of reduced state involvement and fewer state actors, while the latter increases state expenditure and hires new staff to micromanage the poor. We attempt to explain these differences with attention to historical and contemporary political and religious cultures that deeply affect class, gender, and race relations.
Compensation to Fit the Crime: Conceptualizing a Just Paradigm of Reparation for Korean “Comfort Women”
Authors: Park You-me
Published: August 2010

In this essay, I explore the difficulties of conceptualizing and implementing compensation for Korean comfort women by focusing on the problematic and anxious relationship between two concepts: women's “well-being/welfare” and “shame.” I investigate what these comfort women are imagined to be entitled to, and why, and how mobilization around the issue of comfort women not only was defined by the nascent women's movement in Korea but also delimited the configurations of those movements. In this effort, I identify women's “worth,” “subjecthood,” and “citizenship” as the main concepts around which many debates and controversies revolve. By focusing on the “special” nature not only of sexual crime but also of suffering as a result of it, I argue that genuine compensation for the victims of structural and catastrophic violence can be sought only when 1) one steps outside the framework of modesty, dignity, virtue, and shame, and 2) one approaches compensation as a form of punishment that fits the crime, rather than as sympathy payment. Further, the “crime” committed against these women has to include not only the sexual violations perpetrated during their confinement in comfort stations but also the patriarchal, colonial, and militaristic devaluation and dehumanization inflicted on them before, during, and after that period that provides the context for the crime.
Of Property and Propriety: The Role of Gender and Class in Imperialism and Nationalism: A Decade Later
Authors: Bannerji Himani , Mojab Shahrzad , Whitehead Judith
Published: August 2010

This essay, written in reflection of earlier work, introduces the themes needed to analyze forms of gender and class oppression as these have been mediated through, and by, hegemonic projects of imperialism and nationalism. It argues that the gender critique of imperialism and nationalism should be informed by a critical epistemology that integrates class, capital, and other social relations with ideologies and practices of power. A feminist historical materialism is used that avoids the either-or binary of material, social relations versus culture and language is used, bringing into view the particularities of social relations and illuminating the ways that gender becomes crucial for hegemonic projects. These hegemonic social projects inform languages and cultures of people that are integrated as shaping elements of common sense, consensus, contestations, and the politics of gender. The pitfalls of national consciousness are also brought into view using feminist and class lenses, so that differences between liberal, communist, and even fascist forms of nationalism are revealed. These analytical tools, developed a decade ago, are still relevant to contemporary case studies of imperialism and nationalism of Israel and Palestine and the religious and cultural nationalism in parts of the Middle East that has arisen in resistance to contemporary American imperialism.
Kctd15 inhibits neural crest formation by attenuating Wnt/β-catenin signaling output
Authors: Dutta Sunit , Dawid Igor B.
Published: August 2010

Neural crest (NC) precursors are stem cells that are capable of forming many cell types after migration to different locations in the embryo. NC and placodes form at the neural plate border (NPB). The Wnt pathway is essential for specifying NC versus placodal identity in this cell population. Here we describe the BTB domain-containing protein Potassium channel tetramerization domain containing 15 (Kctd15) as a factor expressed in the NPB that efficiently inhibits NC induction in zebrafish and frog embryos. Whereas overexpression of Kctd15 inhibited NC formation, knockdown of Kctd15 led to expansion of the NC domain. Likewise, NC induction by Wnt3a plus Chordin in Xenopus animal explants was suppressed by Kctd15, but constitutively active β-catenin reversed Kctd15-mediated suppression of NC induction. Suppression of NC induction by inhibition of Wnt8.1 was rescued by reduction of Kctd15 expression, linking Kctd15 action to the Wnt pathway. We propose that Kctd15 inhibits NC formation by attenuating the output of the canonical Wnt pathway, thereby restricting expansion of the NC domain beyond its normal range.
Mutual Separation of Actinides from Middle Lanthanides by the Combination of Two Neutral Donors, N,N,N′,N′-Tetraoctyl-3,6-dioxaoctanediamide and N,N,N′,N′-Tetraethyldiglycolamide
Authors: Sasaki Yuji , Morita Yasuji , Kitatsuji Yoshihiro , Kimura Takaumi
Published: August 2010

The separation of Am and Cm from Sm, Eu, and Gd was examined by the combination of new extractant, DOODA (N,N,N′,N′-tetraoctyl-3,6-dioxaoctanediamide) and masking agent, TEDGA (N,N,N′,N′-tetraethyldiglycolamide). DOODA extracts light lanthanides with high D values into the organic phase, while TEDGA shows strong complexing ability with middle and heavy lanthanides in the aqueous phase. Americium and Cm behave as light lanthanides in this extraction system, therefore Am and Cm show high separation from middle lanthanides. The separation factors for D(Am)/D(Sm), D(Am)/D(Eu), and D(Am)/D(Gd) are 14.4, 40, and 111, respectively, for 0.3 M DOODA/n-dodecane and 10 mM TEDGA/5 M HNO3. The high separation of Am and Cm from these lanthanides, having high neutron cross section, can be seen in HNO3–n-dodecane in the absence of metal-salt.
Bimolecular Rate Constants between Levoglucosan and Hydroxyl Radical: Effects of pH and Temperature
Authors: Teraji Takashi , Arakaki Takemitsu
Published: August 2010

Bimolecular rate constants for levoglucosan and hydroxyl radical were determined at various temperatures and pHs using competitive kinetics. Hydrogen peroxide was used as the radical source, and benzoic acid was used as a competitive radical scavenger. The rate constants at 20 °C were 7.9 × 108 to 2.4 × 109 M−1 s−1 between pH 3.0 and 8.0 and showed little variation as a function of temperature between 10 and 40 °C.
Epitaxial Growth of Faceted Co Nanoparticles on Sapphire Surfaces
Authors: Ogawa Yui , Ago Hiroki , Tsuji Masaharu
Published: August 2010

Crystalline Co nanoparticles with unique faceted structures are synthesized on the sapphire substrate by annealing a sputtered Co film in H2 atmosphere. The high-temperature sputtering stimulates the epitaxial growth of the Co film, leading to the formation of ordered Co nanoparticles upon H2 annealing. The crystal structure of the Co nanoparticles is discussed.
Morphology of Rare-earth (Y, Sm) Nanostructures Synthesized by the Surfactant-assembled Method
Authors: Nishiyama Katsura , Hanamoto Takashi , Shigematsu Hirotake , Kitada Keitaro , Iketaki Kai , Kaji Toshihiko , Hiramoto Masahiro
Published: August 2010

Nanostructures such as nanorods or nanowires in various morphologies have been fabricated from yttrium oxide, nitrate, and chloride, along with samarium oxide relying on a template organized from self-assembled surfactants. It is found that the different interaction mechanism between the template and rare-earth material gives rise to the various morphologies in the nm–µm domain, under observation by scanning electronic microscopy.
Facile Synthesis of Hierarchical Alumina Monoliths with Tubular Macropores and Ordered Mesoporous Walls
Authors: Zhang Kuibao , Fu Zhengyi , Zhang Jinyong , Nakayama Tadachika , Niihara Koichi , Lee SooWohn
Published: August 2010

A facile approach of evaporation-induced self-assembly plus coating was developed using nonwoven fabrics (NF) as a sacrificial scaffold, leading to the acquisition of hierarchically macro/mesoporous alumina monolith. The macropores templated by NF show a tubular structure of about 10 µm in channel diameter. The monolith is composed of ordered mesostructured wall with large-sized mesopores and high thermal stability. The regularity of the mesopores can be maintained up to 900 °C, even after the amorphous Al2O3 transforms to crystalline structure (γ-Al2O3). This facile route can be extended to the preparation of other hierarchically macro/mesoporous monoliths such as TiO2, ZrO2, ZnO, et al.
Microwave Assisted Transesterification of Maize (Zea Mays L.) Oil as a Biodiesel Fuel
Authors: Ozturk Gulsen , Kafadar Aylin Beycar , Duz M. Zahir , Saydut Abdurrahman , Hamamci Candan
Published: August 2010

Maize (Zea mays L.) oil is a highly valuable agricultural commodity for the Turkey. Transesterified maize oil has the global better properties because it has the greater monounsaturated content. Biodiesel has been prepared from maize by transesterification of the crude oil under microwave irradiation, with methanol to oil molar ratio of 10:1, in the presence of 1.5% NaOH as catalyst and 5 minutes time, the conversion of maize oil to methyl ester was over 98%. Compared with conventional heating methods, the process using microwaves irradiation proved to be a faster method for alcoholysis of triglycerides with methanol, leading to high yields of biodiesel.
The Assessment of Coal's Contribution to Sustainable Energy Development in Turkey
Authors: Erdem Zeynep Bengü
Published: August 2010

Turkey's energy consumption has grown and will continue to grow along with its economy. Energy demand of the country is growing by 8% annually, one of the highest rates in the world. Turkey has very limited oil, natural gas and hard coal reserves. Turkey is currently heavily dependent on imports to meet its energy demand because of limited domestic energy resources. Lignite is the country's most important domestic energy source. Turkey has approximately 10400 million tons of lignite and 1300 million tons of hard coal reserves. This paper analyzed the structure of coal consumption over the past three decades in Turkey using the information of relevant researches and the published statistical data, and also analyzed the changing trends in the energy consumption structure, to provide some reference for the development of energy in Turkey. This work has attracted considerable interest because the subject of coal energy and its effect in the daily lives of people maintains a keen interest. The paper examines entirely new areas of coal energy research, summarizes recent trends, and discusses the most important current methods used to produce coal fuels.
Mud Diapirs in the South Caspian Basin: Dynamical and Thermal Effects on Hydrocarbon Generation and Retention
Authors: Lerche I.
Published: August 2010

In the South Caspian Basin mud diapirs are intimately involved with economic oil and gas accumulations. While detailed evaluations can be made of the interrelationships between mud diapir motion, thermal and hydrocarbon effects, and of stress/strain evolution in surrounding sediments, such calculations tend to be fairly involved. Accordingly, this paper presents some simple procedures that allow one to make order of magnitude estimates of dynamical, thermal and hydrocarbon assessments so that one can produce quickly likely hydrocarbon potential estimates together with possible overpressure concerns and also likely structural integrity problems. While such estimates are not a replacement for the more accurate but considerably more involved detailed calculations, the methods and procedures given here provide some idea of the important issues and also indicate focus points for further detailed investigation for each particular mud diapir in the onshore and offshore South Caspian Basin.
Gas Hydrate Resource Potential and its Exploration and Development Prospect of the Muli Coalfield in the Northeast Tibetan Plateau
Authors: Wang Tong
Published: August 2010

The Muli coalfield of Qinghai province is rich in gas hydrate, which is an important alternative energy in the post-petroleum era. The results of the preliminary exploration and estimation show that the amount of gas hydrate reaches approximately 300 million m3 in the coalfield and surpasses 500 billion m3 in its surrounding regions according to the calculation method used in Messoyakha gas field. The results indicate that Qilian Mountain permafrost area is extremely abundant in gas hydrate resources. Therefore, it will be rewardful to research on how to explore and exploit its gas hydrate resources in this area. In the present paper, the characteristics of structure, fault and the coal seams in Muli coalfield were analyzed; the formation condition and the stability zone of its gas hydrate were investigated; a model of “coal-formed gas hydrate” was identified and the reserves of gas hydrate in the Muli coalfield and the potential reserves of gas hydrate in its surrounding area were estimated.
“Barkinite”—A New Maceral or Not?
Authors: Sun Yuzhuang
Published: August 2010

In Chinese coal petrographic nomenclature, one peculiar component is called “barkinite”, because its morphological features suggest an origin from bark tissue. In recent years, this Chinese term appeared in some international journals. However, many coal geologists do not accept the term “barkinite”.

The author of this paper has summarized and analysed the research progress relating to “barkinite” and bark coal. He points out some unreliable geochemical data and wrong explanation for the “barkinite” definition appeared in English-language papers about “barkinite”. However, some petrographic and geochemical characteristics of “barkinite” are indeed different than cutinite, suberinite and sporinite, especialy its morphological characteristics. Before to deciding whether it is a new maceral or not, the petrographic, geochemical and plant predecessor characteristics of this maceral component should be further studied.
Bio-Oil Production from Pyrolysis of Black Locust (Robinia Pseudoacacia) Wood
Authors: Balat Mehmet
Published: August 2010

The aim of this study is to obtain bio-oil from pyrolysis of black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia) wood. Liquid, solid and gaseous products were obtained from black locust wood pyrolysis. The pyrolysis of biomass is a thermal treatment that results in the production of charcoal, liquid, and gaseous products. The liquid and gas products can be used in engine and turbine for power generation. Pyrolysis liquid is referred to in the literature by terms such as pyrolysis oil, bio-oil, bio-crude oil, bio-fuel oil, wood liquid, wood oil, liquid smoke, wood distillates, pyroligneous tar, pyroligneous acid. Bio-oil is not a product of thermodynamic equilibrium during pyrolysis but is produced with short reactor times and rapid cooling or quenching from the pyrolysis temperatures. The yields of bio-oil versus time by pyrolysis of black locust wood samples were very sharply increased from 5 to 20 minutes from approximately 5.6 to 35.3%, respectively. Then it was approached to the plateau value after 20 minutes. The influence of residence time on the yield of products is small, with a slight decrease in oil yield and increase in char yield. The yields of charcoal were 81.4 and 22.3% for 5 and 25 minutes, respectively.
Sound Insulation of Dwellings at Low Frequencies
Authors: Hoffmeyer Dan , Jakobsen Jørgen
Published: August 2010

The paper gives a summary of some recent measurements of sound insulation of dwellings at low frequencies (8 – 200 Hz), and compares these data to results from earlier measurements and to selected data from the literature. Data are given for the expected minimum sound insulation of typical Danish dwellings at low frequencies.
Research on the Simulation of the Subjective Annoyance of Actual Noise Using Combined Pure Tones
Authors: Di Guo-Qing , Li Zheng-Guang , Liu Xiao-Yi , Shi Xiang
Published: August 2010

A number of typical noise sources from urban environments were recorded. Based on spectral analysis, several characteristic frequencies which involved high subjective annoyance were selected according to the relative subjective annoyance of pure tones with different frequencies at equal loudness levels. Pure tones with characteristic frequencies were synthesized into a series of noise samples. A paired comparison test was used for comparison of the subjective annoyance due to actual noise and synthesized noise. The results suggest that the sound energy distribution of actual noise at different frequency bands should be considered in order to simulate the subjective annoyance induced by actual noise with composite noise more accurately. Composite noise should be combined with pure tones which induced high subjective annoyance and are located in frequency bands with the majority of sound energy, provided that the relative Sound Pressure Level (SPL) differences among the characteristic frequencies of actual noise were retained.
A Follow-up Study of Welders' Exposure to Vibration in a Heavy Engineering Production Workshop
Authors: Burström Lage , Hagberg Mats , Liljeind Ingrid , Lundström Ronnie , Nilsson Tohr , Pettersson Hans , Wahlström Jens
Published: August 2010

Manual work involving vibrating power tools is associated with symptoms that include vascular, neurological and musculoskeletal disorders. This study examines the vibration exposure of welders to determine the change between 1987 and 2008. Vibration measurements on handheld tools were used to evaluate the acceleration and the daily exposure time was determined by subjective rating. From these data, the 8-hour equivalent vibration exposure A(8), has been calculated. During the period, the A(8) decreased from 3.9 m/s2 to 1.9 m/s2. It was concluded that this decrease is the result of fewer vibrating tools and a decrease in daily exposure time. Although the daily vibration exposure has decreased over the study time, for some welders the daily vibration exposure A(8) is still above the action value set by the EU directive on vibration. This means more effort should be spent to decrease vibration exposure.
A Theoretical Investigation of Natural Frequencies of Vibration and Noise Due to Engine and Propeller Systems of an Ultra Large Crude Carrier (ULCC)
Authors: Ingle Ravindra B. , Saxena Brijendra K. , Khan Md. Ayaz J.
Published: August 2010

This paper deals with the study and analysis of the natural frequency of vibration and noise from engines and propellers. The effect of length between the perpendiculars (LBP) at the water line and deadweight (Dwt) of ULCC on the power requirement to propel the ship has been studied. The effect of service speed of ULCC on the frictional resistance and fuel consumption has also been studied and presented. The analysis has been carried out for the propeller diameter, propeller pitch and in the selection of number of blades to reduce vibration noise. The study of the effects of LBP and Dwt of the ULCC on the engine and propeller noise has been carried out and presented in the paper. The paper concludes with the comparison of natural frequencies obtained by an analytical approach with the Finite Element Analysis using Ansys.