bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Novel Water Conditioning Adjuvant for Use with Formulated and Nonformulated Glyphosate
Authors: Penner D , Michael J , Brown WG
Published: March 2005

Glyphosate is a weak acid, sold as the isopropylamine, ammonium, potassium, or trimethylsulfonium salt. A water conditioning adjuvant such as diammonium sulfate is commonly recommended for glyphosate application in hard water. This is especially necessary for applications to velvetleaf, which has calcium-rich leaves. There is an application preference to handle liquids rather than solids. Our goal was to identify a liquid water conditioning adjuvant with high specific activity, which is cost effective, as well as efficacious across herbicides and weed species. The specific objective of the research was to evaluate the performance characteristics of NT3 as a water conditioning adjuvant for various glyphosate formulations on several weed species. Studies were conducted in the greenhouse with supplemental lighting. Ammonium sulfate was a more effective water conditioning adjuvant than ammonium nitrate, ammonium hydroxide, or sulfuric acid for use with glyphosate on velvetleaf. The novel water conditioning adjuvant, NT, at 1 % was as effective as or more effective than ammonium sulfate at 2 % with glyphosate across various glyphosate salts and formulations and across the weed species, velvetleaf, giant foxtail, and common lambsquarters. Furthermore, it provided limited rainfastness. NT is a liquid, it has a higher specific activity than ammonium sulfate, and it is efficacious across weed species.
Steel Superstrengthening Phenomenon
Authors: Kobasko NI
Published: March 2005

This paper deals with the discovered property of additional steel strengthening (superstrengthening), which is observed at high cooling rates within the martensite range. It has been shown that the cooling intensification before the martensite start (Ms) does not result in the additional strengthening of the martensite structure of the material. Only over-critical high cooling rates within the martensite range gives positive effect. This discovered property can be used in practice at two-stage quenching. At the first stage the parts of alloy steels are cooled slowly to avoid distortion and cracks, and at the second stage the parts are cooled at the maximum cooling rate to get the effect of additional strengthening of material, which has the martensite structure. In this case the second stage and part's washing may be a single process.
The Hypothalamic Neuropeptide Melanin-Concentrating Hormone Acts in the Nucleus Accumbens to Modulate Feeding Behavior and Forced-Swim Performance
Authors: Georgescu Dan , Sears Robert M. , Hommel Jonathan D. , Barrot Michel , Bolaños Carlos A. , Marsh Donald J. , Bednarek Maria A. , Bibb James A. , Maratos-Flier Eleftheria , Nestler Eric J. , DiLeone Ralph J.
Published: March 2005

Melanin-concentrating hormone (MCH) is a hypothalamic neuropeptide with a prominent role in feeding and energy homeostasis. The rodent MCH receptor (MCH1R) is highly expressed in the nucleus accumbens shell (AcSh), a region that is important in the regulation of appetitive behavior. Here we establish a role for MCH and MCH1R in mediating a hypothalamic-limbic circuit that regulates feeding and related behaviors. Direct delivery of an MCH1R receptor antagonist to the AcSh blocked feeding and produced an antidepressant-like effect in the forced swim test, whereas intra-AcSh injection of MCH had the opposite effect. Expression studies demonstrated that MCH1R is present in both the enkephalin- and dynorphin-positive medium spiny neurons of the AcSh. Biochemical analysis in AcSh explants showed that MCH signaling blocks dopamine-induced phosphorylation of the AMPA glutamate receptor subunit GluR1 at Ser845. Finally, food deprivation, but not other stressors, stimulated cAMP response element-binding protein-dependent pathways selectively in MCH neurons of the hypothalamus, suggesting that these neurons are responsive to a specific set of physiologically relevant conditions. This work identifies a novel hypothalamic-AcSh circuit that influences appetitive behavior and mediates the antidepressant activity of MCH1R antagonists.
Impaired Memory Retrieval after Psychosocial Stress in Healthy Young Men
Authors: Kuhlmann Sabrina , Piel Marcel , Wolf Oliver T.
Published: March 2005

Glucocorticoids (GCs) are known to modulate memory in animals and humans. One popular model suggests that stress or GC treatment enhances memory consolidation while impairing delayed memory retrieval. Studies in humans have documented that treatment with GCs impairs delayed memory retrieval. Similar alterations after exposure to stress have not been observed thus far. In the present study, 19 young healthy male subjects were exposed to either a standardized psychosocial laboratory stressor (Trier Social Stress Test) or a control condition in a crossover manner. After both treatments, retrieval of a word list (learned 24 h earlier) containing 10 neutral, 10 negative, and 10 positive words was tested. The stressor induced a significant increase in salivary free cortisol and a decrease in mood. Memory retrieval (free recall) was significantly impaired after the stress condition. Follow-up analysis revealed that negative and positive words (i.e., emotionally arousing words) were affected, whereas no effect was observed for neutral words. No changes were detected for cued recall, working memory, or attention. The present study thus demonstrates that psychosocial stress impairs memory retrieval in humans and suggests that emotionally arousing material is especially sensitive to this effect.
Varieties of Anomalous Experience: Examining the Scientific Evidence
Authors: Schroll Mark A.
Published: March 2005

Varieties of Anomalous Experience: Examining the Scientific Evidence. Etzel Cardeña. Steven Jay Lynn. and Stanley Krippner (Eds.). Washington, D.C.: American Psychological Association, 2000. 476 pp., $39.95 (cloth).
Assessment of abnormal DNA repair responses and genotoxic effects in lead exposed workers
Authors: Karakaya Ali Esat , Ozcagli Eren , Ertas Nusret , Sardas Semra
Published: March 2005

Background

One of the main sources of occupational exposure to lead (Pb) in Turkey is in workers of battery industries. Genotoxic studies in human populations exposed to this metal have had conflicting results.

Methods

Genotoxic effects of Pb were studied in blood cell samples from workers of battery manufactures exposed to Pb compounds by chromosomal aberration (CA) assay and X‐ray induced challenge (XRC) assay to assess DNA damage and interference with DNA repair processes after an in vitro exposure of X‐ray (1 Gy). The battery manufacturers (n = 23) and 23 people who were not occupationally exposed to lead compounds were selected as a control group and classified into categories according to their blood lead levels.

Results

The CA frequencies in the exposed and control group were not significantly different (P > 0.05) by conventional CA (CCA) assay, however, the XRC assay demonstrated significantly elevated CAs (P < 0.05). Statistically non‐significant but reduced DNA repair responses have also been observed in lead exposed workers.

Conclusion

The results of this study showed significant increases in the CAs by XRC assay in Pb exposed workers compared to CCA assay. Our data suggests that Pb exposure may cause reduction in DNA repair capacity and these individuals will be more prone to DNA damage. Therefore, preventive measures should be improved against genotoxic risk in workplaces. Am. J. Ind. Med. 47:358–363, 2005. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Thermally stable and amorphous polyfluorene
Authors: Kwag Gwanghoon , Park Eunjoo , Lee Soo No
Published: March 2005

Two‐dimensional ladder‐type polyfluorenes, which consist of polystyrene as the polymer backbone and polyfluorene as the light emitting component, were prepared through three synthetic pathways A, B, and C. In path A, the precursor polymer IP1 was obtained from the graft reaction of fluorene to units of poly(vinylbenzyl chloride) and then the ladder‐type polymer P1 was prepared by coupling at the 2,7‐position of fluorene with FeCl3 as an oxidizing agent in chloroform. In path B, IP2 was obtained from the graft reaction of lithiated 2,7‐dibromofluorene and units of poly(vinylbenzyl chloride), and then P2 was prepared by the aryl‐coupling of IP2 with a Ni‐catalyst through the reductive polymerization. In path C, 4‐(fluorenylmethyl)styrene was prepared by the reaction of 4‐chloromethylstyrene and lithiated fluorene. Fluorene‐attached syndiotatic polystyrene, IP3, was obtained in the polymerization of 4‐(fluorenylmethyl)styrene with CpTiCl3‐MAO catalyst, and for P3 oxidative coupling was further carried out. The polymers exhibited glass transition temperatures (Tg) of 422°C for P1, 404°C for P2, and 311°C for P3, and no melting endotherms were found. Syndiotaticity contributes the high glass temperature of P3 despite low molecular weight. Thermal decomposition temperatures at 5 wt % loss (Td) of 475°C for P1, 448°C for P2, and 365°C for P3 were observed. The fluorescence peaks of P1, P2, and P3 were observed at 401, 416, and 415 nm, respectively. For the emission spectrum of P3, no shoulder or peak regarding of aggregation of polyfluorene was observed. Syndiotacticity, due to the alternative configuration of fluorene, prevents a large Stoke's shift of the luminescence spectrum. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 96: 1335–1340, 2005
Synthesis and properties of starch grafted poly[acrylamide‐co‐(acrylic acid)]/montmorillonite nanosuperabsorbent via γ‐ray irradiation technique
Authors: Luo Wei , Zhang Wei'An , Chen Peng , Fang Yue'e
Published: March 2005

The novel nanosuperabsorbent copolymer (NSAP) was synthesized by grafting copolymerization of acrylamide (AM) and acrylic acid (AA) onto starch with montmorillonite (MMT) initiated using 60Co γ‐ray irradiation. NSAP was characterized by IR spectroscopy and X‐ray diffraction (XRD). Different synthesis parameters were studied, such as AM‐to‐AA ratio, radiation total dose, radiation dose rate, crosslinker content, and clay content. NSAP can effectively improve the water retention capacity of soil. The effects of NSAP on crops were also studied, showing that NSAP has an encouraging potential for agricultural application. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 96: 1341–1346, 2005
Lamellae orientation effect on local polarized domain in P(VDF/TrFE) copolymer: Application in data storage
Authors: El‐Hami K. , Matsushige K.
Published: March 2005

In our previous article we achieved a high planar orientation of the poly(vinylidene fluoride and trifluoroethylene) [P(VDF/TrFE)] crystalline lamellae.1 This short article focuses and reports our studies on the effect of this lamella orientation on its local polarized domains. Two samples A and B are considered in this investigation. In many parts of the film area, the lamella nanocrytals were oriented parallel to the substrate along a unidirectional axis by a newly conceived method, which consists of depositing a thin film on the clean surface of distilled water (sample A). In the second type (sample B), a film was prepared on highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG) by spin‐coating, showing random and entangled lamellae in the amorphous phase. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) has been used to investigate morphological development and the local poled domain during an applied bias voltage for both A and B samples. The results showed that a minimum bias voltage of +3 V was enough to observe the local poled domain in the case of oriented lamellae (sample A) while there was no piezoresponse measured in the case of random lamellae (sample B). When we increased the applied bias voltage, sample B showed a recorded local domain as a piezoresponse while in the case of sample A the local domain was enlarged. We can suggest that, during the preparation of sample A, the macromolecules had a preferential stable position where the dipole moments did not need a strong bias voltage to be switched but cross to the coercive voltage Vc. The character of oriented lamella nanocrytals can minimize the poling voltage in ferroelectric organic ultrathin films and will have an advantageous influence on production of a high‐functionality mass memory device in data storage. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 96: 1410–1413, 2005
Palladium‐Catalyzed Suzuki Couplings of 2,3‐Dibromonorbornadiene: Synthesis of Symmetrical and Unsymmetrical Aryl‐Substituted Norbornadienes
Authors: Yoo Woo‐Jin , Tsui Gavin C. , Tam William
Published: March 2005

Palladium‐catalyzed Suzuki coupling reactions between 2,3‐dibromonorbornadiene and arylboronic acids were investigated. These reactions provide an efficient method for the synthesis of symmetrical 2,3‐diarylnorbornadienes which are not accessible using the traditional Diels–Alder cycloaddition reactions. The optimized reaction conditions of the Suzuki coupling reactions were found using [Pd2(dba)3] (0.5 mol%), tBu3P (1.4 mol%) and CsF in THF. High yields of the Suzuki coupling products were obtained when electron‐rich arylboronic acids were used. On the other hand, Suzuki coupling reactions with electronic‐deficient or sterically hindered arylboronic acids gave lower yields of the corresponding 2,3‐di‐arylnorbornadienes. Unsymmetrical mono‐ and diaryl‐substituted norbornadienes were also prepared in good yields using this method. (© Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2005)
Comparison of sheathless and sheath‐flow electrospray interfaces for the capillary electrophoresis‐electrospray ionization‐mass spectrometry analysis of peptides
Authors: Sanz‐Nebot Victoria , Balaguer Elvira , Benavente Fernando , Barbosa José
Published: March 2005

Capillary electrophoresis coupled to mass spectrometry via an electrospray interface provides a powerful system for separation and characterization of a high number of biomolecules. The present paper describes a home‐made sheathless interface and compares it with a commercial sheath‐flow interface, using a separation method based on a peptide hormone mixture of therapeutic interest. In a previous work, we optimized the parameters involved in a sheath‐flow interface and obtained good results in sensitivity and reproducibility. The sheathless interface is performed with a graphite‐coated electrospray ionisation (ESI) tip attached to the separation capillary. We demonstrate that electrolyte composition is the main parameter affecting signal sensitivity and separation resolution. The effect of the nature and concentration of the organic solvent added to the separation electrolyte is carefully studied. Furthermore, a general comparison of both interfaces is made in terms of separation, reproducibility, and sensitivity obtained under the optimized conditions described. Advantages and disadvantages of both coupling setups have been evaluated.
Highly branched HK peptides are effective carriers of siRNA
Authors: Leng Qixin , Scaria Puthupparampil , Zhu Jingsong , Ambulos Nicholas , Campbell Patricia , Mixson A. James
Published: March 2005

Background

Both viral and nonviral carriers have been used to carry small interfering RNA molecules (siRNA) to their cytosolic mRNA target. To date, few peptide carriers have been developed that have proved effective for siRNA delivery. Our previous branched carriers composed of histidine and lysine were useful for transfection of plasmids. In this study, we determined if these and more highly branched HK polymers were effective carriers of siRNA.

Methods

Several branched polymers were synthesized on a Ranin Voyager synthesizer. These polymers were then screened for their ability to transfer siRNA into SVR‐bag4 cells, MDA‐MB‐435 cells, and C6 cells. After one polymer, H3K8b, was identified as an effective carrier of siRNA, additional polymers were synthesized to determine the essential domains for siRNA transport. The size/zeta‐potential of HK : siRNA complexes were measured with the N4 submicron particle size analyzer and the Delsa 440 SX zeta‐potential analyzer, respectively. Toxicity of the highly branched polymers in complex with siRNA was investigated by flow cytometry.

Results

In an endothelial cell line (SVR‐bag4) that stably expressed β‐galactosidase (β‐gal), an siRNA in complex with the H3K8b polymer inhibited β‐gal expression by more than 80%. In contrast, the polymer H2K4b, which was an effective carrier of plasmids, was not an efficient carrier of siRNA. The size and surface charge did not distinguish effective from ineffective HK carriers of siRNA. By modifying H3K8b, we then determined what properties of H3K8b augmented siRNA delivery. The histidine‐rich domain and the length of the terminal arms of H3K8 were important for siRNA delivery. The modestly more effective analog of H3K8b containing an integrin ligand, H3K8b(+RGD), was able to inhibit markedly intracellular β‐gal expression. Furthermore, we determined that H3K8b(+RGD) in complex with a luciferase‐targeting siRNA inhibited luciferase expression in MDA‐MB‐435 cells. At its optimal concentration for inhibiting its target, H3K8b(+RGD) : siRNA complex had minimal toxicity. In contrast, carriers of siRNA such as Oligofectamine and Lipofectamine 2000 were significantly more toxic.

Conclusions

Both the degree of complexity and the sequence specificity are important factors to be considered for developing the HK carrier of siRNA. In particular, we found that certain branched HK polymers (H3K8b, H3K8b(+RGD), and similar structural analogs) with eight terminal branches and a histidine‐rich domain were effective carriers of siRNA. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Rheological Properties of Different Film Blowing Polyethylene Samples Under Shear and Elongational Flow
Authors: La Mantia Francesco P. , Scaffaro Roberto , Carianni Graziana , Mariani Paolo
Published: March 2005

Summary: The rheological behavior of polyethylenes is mainly dominated by the molecular weight, the molecular weight distribution and by the type, the amount and the distribution of the chain branches. In this work a linear metallocene catalyzed polyethylene (m‐PE), a branched metallocene catalyzed polyethylene (m‐bPE), a conventional linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) and a low density polyethylene (LDPE) have been investigated in order to compare their rheological behavior in shear and in elongational flow. The four samples have similar melt flow index and in particular a value typical of film blowing grade. The melt viscosity has been studied both in shear and in isothermal and non‐isothermal elongational flow. The most important features of the results are that in shear flow the m‐PE sample shows less pronounced non Newtonian behavior while in the elongational flow the behavior of m‐PE is very similar to that of the linear low density polyethylene: the narrower molecular weight distribution and the better homogeneity of the branching distribution are reasonably responsible for this behavior. Of course the most pronounced non‐linear behavior is shown, as expected, by the LDPE sample and by the branched metallocene sample. This similar behavior has to be attributed to the presence of branching. Similar comments hold in non‐isothermal elongational flow; the LDPE sample shows the highest values of the melt strength and the other two samples show very similar values. As for the breaking stretching ratio the opposite is true for LDPE while m‐PE and LLDPE show higher values. The transient isothermal elongational viscosity curves show that the branched samples show a strain hardening effect, while LLDPE and m‐PE samples present a linear behavior.

Dimensionless flow curves of different polyethylene samples.

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Dimensionless flow curves of different polyethylene samples.
Hairy Nanospheres by Gelation of Reactive Block Copolymer Micelles
Authors: Du Jianzhong , Chen Yongming
Published: March 2005

Summary: A novel way to prepare polymer hair/polysilsesquioxane core hybrid nanospheres is presented based on a self‐assembly and gelation process of a reactive block copolymer, poly(ethylene oxide)‐block‐poly[3‐(trimethoxysilyl)propyl methacrylate] (PEO113‐b‐PTMSPMA206). Nanospheres of uniform size were obtained. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), dynamic light scattering (DLS), and static light scattering (SLS) were employed to characterize the products.

Schematic of the PEO‐b‐PTMSPMA nanospheres formed here, the light gray part represents the PEO hairs, the dark parts are the polysilsesquioxane from the gelation of the PTMSPMA blocks of the self‐assembled sphere.

image

Schematic of the PEO‐b‐PTMSPMA nanospheres formed here, the light gray part represents the PEO hairs, the dark parts are the polysilsesquioxane from the gelation of the PTMSPMA blocks of the self‐assembled sphere.
A Six Sigma Approach to Predicting Corporate Defaults
Authors: Neagu Radu , Hoerl Roger
Published: March 2005

The progression of a corporation from a status of financial stability into the status of financial distress usually happens over relatively large periods of time, raising the opportunity of identifying these ‘falling’ corporations ahead of time. Consequently, a critical risk management objective is to provide investment portfolio managers with an early notice of deteriorating financial status for a corporation. We consider a model built using equity inferred Probability of Default (PD) metrics. We follow a Design for Six Sigma Define, Measure, Analyze, Design, Verify (DMADV) approach to enhance the predictability power of the PD by constructing a two‐dimensional risk space for estimating likelihood of default. We use such techniques as classification and regression tree (CART) analysis and logistic regression, and build a control plan using censored data analysis. We test our model on two actual portfolios. The potential savings revealed by these tests are significant, re‐assuring us of the performance of our methodology. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Endofullerenes with small silver and copper clusters
Authors: Gurin V. S.
Published: March 2005

Models of endofullerenes C60 with small metal clusters Agn and Cun (n < 5) were built and calculated with the self‐consistent field Hartree–Fock (SCF HF) MOLCAO method, using an effective core potential for silver and all‐electronic basis sets for copper. Binding energies of the clusters shows that monoatomic M@C60 structures are stable for both silver and copper. The models Mn@C60 (n = 2, 3, 4) with copper are much more favorable than those with silver. Metal atoms and clusters in the C60 molecule provide noticeable changes in its geometry, but the large distortion of the clusters does not correspond to stable structures. Stable Mn@C60 with MCu reveal the electronic charge transfer from metal atoms to the carbon cage, resulting in the positive charge of metal atoms. Models Cu2@C60 and Cu4@C60 with tetrahedron Cu4 are proposed as possible candidates in real metal–fullerene systems. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2005
Simultaneous measurement of metabolic stability and metabolite identification of 7‐methoxymethylthiazolo[3,2‐a]pyrimidin‐5‐one derivatives in human liver microsomes using liquid chromatography/ion‐trap mass spectrometry
Authors: Kantharaj E. , Ehmer Peter B. , Tuytelaars An , Vlaslaer Anne Van , Mackie Claire , Gilissen Ron A. H. J.
Published: March 2005

A liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS) method using an atmospheric pressure chemical ionisation source was used to measure the metabolic stability and metabolite identification of 7‐methoxymethylthiazolo[3,2‐a]pyrimidin‐5‐one derivative (1) in human liver microsomes. After 15 min incubation with human liver microsomes, compound 1 exhibited metabolic turnover of 44%. Data‐dependent tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) scanning was used to generate product ion spectra from the protonated ions of the compound and its metabolites. An unusual metabolite at m/z 407 corresponding to the [M–24+H]+ ion was identified for compound 1. Interestingly, the formation of the [M–24+H]+ ion was not observed in the analogues wherein the fused thieno double bond was substituted (2) and the thieno group replaced by a fused benzo derivative (3). Compounds 2 and 3 exhibited metabolic turnovers of 24 and 30%, yielding oxidative metabolites corresponding to [M+16] and [M+32]+, respectively. Based on these facts the mechanism for [M–24]+ formation in compound 1 through an initial epoxide formation on the double bond of the fused thieno ring followed by hydrolytic ring opening and deacylation is envisaged. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Detection of Microbial DNA in the Blood of Surgical Patients for Diagnosing Bacterial Translocation
Authors: Ono Satoshi , Tsujimoto Hironori , Yamauchi Akira , Hiraki Shuichi , Takayama Eiji , Mochizuki Hidetaka
Published: March 2005

Bacterial translocation sometimes occurs in patients during surgical stress and is associated with an increased incidence of septic morbidity. However, no reliable method has been established for diagnosing bacterial translocation in humans. Identification of minute quantities of microbial‐specific DNA has been made possible using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) techniques. The aims of this study were to determine the prevalence of bacterial translocation in patients with surgical stress using PCR techniques and to evaluate the usefulness of blood PCR techniques for diagnosing bacterial translocation. DNA was extracted from the blood of 52 surgical patients (24 elective major surgery patients and 28 septic patients) and 10 healthy controls. PCR techniques were used to amplify genes from Escherichia coli, Bacteroides fragilis, a region of 16S ribosomal RNA found in many gram‐positive and gram‐negative bacteria, and Candida albicans. Bacterial and Candida albicans DNA were not detected in healthy volunteers. Enteric bacterial DNA was detected in patients with hepatic lobectomy, and Candida albicans DNA was detected in patients with esophagectomy on the first postoperative day. Enteric bacterial and Candida albicans DNA were detected in septic patients with findings diagnostic of bacterial translocation, such as small bowel obstruction, ulcerative colitis, or supramesenteric arterial occlusion or in those who had undergone chemotherapy for advanced colon cancer. However, none of the patients were positive by the blood culture technique. The PCR method is more sensitive than blood cultures for detecting bacterial components in the blood of septic patients and is a valuable tool for verifying bacterial translocation in patients who have undergone hepatic lobectomy or esophagectomy. It is also valuable in septic patients who do not have a defined focus of infection.
2 The monopoly of legitimate force: denationalization, or business as usual
Authors: JACHTENFUCHS MARKUS
Published: March 2005

As Max Weber and many others in his tradition have argued, the monopoly of the legitimate use of physical force is the core of the modern state. What counts here is not the frequency of the actual use of force but the fact that only the state has the legitimate right to use such force. The military and the police are the most concrete expressions of this monopoly. In recent decades, the use of the military and the police has been subject to external challenges – ‘globalization’ – and new ideas about police and military intervention. Although at an operational level the state retains full control over the actions of the police and military, the conditions for their use are increasingly shaped by institutionalized legitimating ideas.
5 Free trade: the erosion of national, and the birth of transnational governance
Authors: JOERGES CHRISTIAN , GODT CHRISTINE
Published: March 2005

Free Trade has always been highly contested, but both the arguments about it and the treaties that regulate it have changed dramatically since the Second World War. Under the 1947 General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) regime, objections to free trade were essentially economic, and tariffs were a nation state's primary means of protecting its interests. However, by the early 1970s, tariffs had been substantially reduced, and the imposition and removal of non-tariff barriers that reflected a wide range of domestic concerns about the protection of health, safety, and the environment have since come to dominate trade agreements and their implementation. The expanding scope of these international treaties, and their effect on domestic regulatory objectives, has created new challenges for the nation-state, and for the international trade system as a whole. Domestic regulatory objectives that are generally embedded in a nation state's legal system or even in its constitution, are now negotiable and are susceptible to adjudication at the international level where they may, or may not, be used to camouflage unrelated economic interests. The international trade system adapted to this situation in 1994 by transforming the GATT into the World Trade Organization (WTO), which has more effective means for dispute resolution and includes a number of special agreements – such as the Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS) and the Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) – with rules for balancing the economic concerns of free trade with the social concerns of regulatory objectives. These developments have generated legal queries about the general legitimacy of transnational governance arrangements and their ‘constitutionalization’, i.e. the quest for transnational governance that is mediated by law and not only accepted de facto but considered deserving of acceptance.
Young Children's Ability to Engage in Cognitive Therapy Tasks: Associations With Age and Educational Experience
Authors: Doherr Liz , Reynolds Shirley , Wetherly Julia , Evans Elin H.
Published: March 2005

In two linked studies we examined children's performance on tasks required for participation in cognitive therapy. In Study 1 we piloted some new tasks with children aged 5 to 11 years. In study 2 the effects of IQ, age and educational experience were examined in children aged 5 to 7 years. In study 1, 14 children aged 5 to 11 completed three tasks related to cognitive therapy; generating post-event attributions, naming emotions, and linking thoughts and feelings. Study 2 used a between-subjects design in which 72 children aged 5, 6, or 7 years from two primary schools completed the three tasks and the Block Design and Vocabulary sub-tests from the WISC III or WPPSI-R. Children were tested individually during the school day. All measures were administered on the same occasion. In study 2 administration order of the cognitive therapy task and the WISC III/WPPSI-R were randomized. The majority of children demonstrated some ability on each of the three tasks. In study 2, performance was associated with school and with IQ but not with age. There were no gender differences. Children attending a school with an integrated thinking skills programme and those with a higher 1Q were more successful on the cognitive therapy tasks. These results suggest that many young children could engage in cognitive therapy given age-appropriate materials. The effects of training in relevant meta-cognitive skills on children's ability to use concepts in CBT may warrant further research.
Outcome of Cognitive-Behavioural Treatment for Health Anxiety (Hypochondriasis) in a Routine Clinical Setting
Authors: Wattar Ulla , Sorensen Per , Buemann Iben , Birket-Smith Morten , Salkovskis Paul M. , Albertsen Mette , Strange Sisse
Published: March 2005

It has now been established in several randomized controlled trials that specialist cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) is an effective treatment for severe and persistent health anxiety (diagnostically, “Hypochondriasis”). It has not yet been established whether or not such results will generalize from academic research centres to routine clinical settings. The present study was designed to address the issue of generalization by evaluating the outcome of a consecutive series of patients meeting diagnostic criteria for hypochondriasis, treated using CBT in a non-academic clinic in Copenhagen, Denmark. The delivery of the treatment was adapted to fit with the practice of the clinic, so that the later components of therapy were delivered in a group therapy setting. Therapists participated in a brief training course, which was subsequently supplemented by expert clinical and peer supervision. Patients received the same amount of treatment used in previous clinical trials. Results indicate that the degree of improvement obtained in this study was significant and compared well with those obtained in the previous trials. These results support the use of dissemination of new treatments using a specialist training model.
Optical switching of dipolar interactions on proteins
Authors: Sakata Tomoyo , Yan Yuling , Marriott Gerard
Published: March 2005

This work shows that optical switching between the spiro (SP) and merocyanine (MC) states of different photochromes specifically labeled to G-actin can be used to rapidly and reversibly modulate specific dipolar interactions within the conjugate. Members of a common spirobenzopyran photochrome and a related spironaphthoxazine that differ only in the locations of their alkylating groups were selectively labeled to Cys-374 on G-actin. The nature of MC and SP interactions within G-actin was investigated by using optical spectroscopy. The average absorption energy of the highly polarized MC is sensitive to interactions with polar groups on solvents and G-actin; the average absorption energy of the corresponding SP state was found to be relatively constant, consistent with its lower dipole moment compared with MC (5 and 20 D, respectively). Alternate excitation of spirobenzopyran G-actin conjugates with 365 and 546 nm leads to rapid transitions from the SP to MC states and MC to SP states, respectively; optical switching within spirobenzopyran-G-actin occurs with high fidelity and the recovery of specific dipolar interactions between the protein and the MC and SP states. The difference in the free energy for specific dipolar interactions between different MC states within G-actin (6 kcal/mol) is similar to that found for complexes of G-actin and its regulatory proteins. We propose, therefore, that optical switching between SP and MC within an appropriately labeled conjugate could be used to inhibit a functional interaction with a ligand in the MC, but not the SP, state.
Morphometric analysis of lateral ventricles in schizophrenia and healthy controls regarding genetic and disease-specific factors
Authors: Styner Martin , Lieberman Jeffrey A. , McClure Robert K. , Weinberger Daniel R. , Jones Douglas W. , Gerig Guido
Published: March 2005

The structural variability of lateral ventricles is poorly understood notwithstanding that enlarged size has been identified as an unspecific marker for psychiatric illness, including schizophrenia. This paper explores the effects of heritability and genetic risk for schizophrenia reflected in ventricular size and structure. We examined ventricular size and shape in the MRI studies of monozygotic (MZ) twin pairs discordant for schizophrenia (DS), healthy MZ twin pairs, healthy dizygotic twin pairs, and healthy nonrelated subject pairs. Heritability and effect due to disease were analyzed in two tests. First, heritability was examined by ventricle similarity between pairs of co-twins. Results show that co-twin ventricle shape similarity decreases with decreasing genetic identity, an effect not seen in the volume analysis. Co-twin shape similarity of healthy MZ twins did not differ from DS MZ twins. Second, the disease effect was examined through the ventricular differences of DS subjects to a template shape representing healthy subjects. Affected DS twins showed shape differences from healthy subjects on the left and right sides. Interestingly, unaffected DS twins also showed significant shape differences from healthy subjects for both sides. Volume comparisons did not show differences between these groups. Locality of shape difference suggests that the ventricular shape of the anterior and posterior regions is under genetic influence in both healthy controls and schizophrenia patients. Affected and unaffected groups demonstrate main shape differences, compared with healthy controls, only in the posterior region. Our results suggest that genetics have a stronger influence on the shape of lateral ventricles than do the disease-related changes in schizophrenia.
O City of Kranaos! Athenian Identity in Aristophanes’ Acharnians
Authors: Whitehorne John
Published: March 2005

Defining national identity is an ongoing and open-ended process, which is pursued constantly and competitively through every available medium. Identity can be defined by what we have to say about ourselves as a group, or about individuals who seem to embody characteristics considered either desirable or undesirable for the group as a whole. It is defined too by what we have to say about others, because at the same time we are thereby defining ourselves. It is also defined by what others have to say - or choose to leave unsaid - about us. Further definitions are also created when, as is often the case, a national group also finds itself a subgroup of a wider linguistic entity. English and Scots, Americans and Canadians, Australians and New Zealanders, metropolitan and colonial French, Chileans and Argentinians - the modern list is almost endless, just as it was in ancient Greece with its plethora of rival city states, all speaking a common language yet all with their own distinct political traditions, systems of coinage, dialects, and social structures.
Asanoa iriomotensis sp. nov., isolated from mangrove soil
Authors: Tamura Tomohiko , Sakane Takeshi
Published: March 2005

During a study of the distribution of actinomycetes in a mangrove zone, a strain forming spore chains borne on the tip of short sporophores arising directly from the agar surface was isolated from soil. The isolate contained glutamic acid, glycine, alanine and meso-diaminopimelic acid as cell-wall amino acids, menaquinone MK-10(H6, H8), fatty acid type 2d and xylose in the whole-cell hydrolysate. The 16S rRNA gene sequence of the isolate formed a monophyletic cluster with the members of the genus Asanoa in the family Micromonosporaceae. On the basis of morphological and chemotaxonomic characteristics, phylogenetic analysis and DNA–DNA hybridization, a novel species of the genus Asanoa is proposed for strain TT 97-02T (=NBRC 100142T=DSM 44745T), Asanoa iriomotensis sp. nov.
Micromonospora mirobrigensis sp. nov.
Authors: Trujillo Martha E. , Fernández-Molinero Carmen , Velázquez Encarna , Kroppenstedt Reiner M. , Schumann Peter , Mateos Pedro F. , Martínez-Molina Eustoquio
Published: March 2005

An actinomycete strain was recovered from a pond where radon is known to be dissolved. A polyphasic study was undertaken to identify the new isolate. The 16S rRNA gene sequence of strain WA201T showed closest similarity to the type strains of Micromonospora carbonacea (98·5 %) and Micromonospora matsumotoense (98·1 %). The chemotaxonomic results confirmed the taxonomic position of the isolate in the genus Micromonospora. DNA–DNA relatedness values supported the classification of this isolate as a novel species. A number of physiological and biochemical tests were able to distinguish strain WA201T from its closest phylogenetic neighbours. Therefore, it is proposed that isolate WA201T (=DSM 44830T=LMG 22229T) be considered the type strain representing a novel species, Micromonospora mirobrigensis sp. nov.
Nocardioides alkalitolerans sp. nov., isolated from an alkaline serpentinite soil in Korea
Authors: Yoon Jung-Hoon , Kim In-Gi , Lee Mi-Hwa , Lee Choong-Hwan , Oh Tae-Kwang
Published: March 2005

Four Gram-positive, rod- or coccus-shaped bacterial strains, KSL-1T, KSL-9, KSL-10 and KSL-12, were isolated from an alkaline serpentinite soil in Korea, and their taxonomic positions were investigated in a polyphasic study. The four strains exhibited no difference in their 16S rRNA gene sequences. Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that the four strains were phylogenetically affiliated to the genus Nocardioides. The four strains had cell-wall peptidoglycan based on ll-diaminopimelic acid as the diamino acid, indicating wall chemotype I. The predominant menaquinone detected in the four strains was MK-8(H4). The major fatty acid components were iso-C16 : 0, 10-methyl-C18 : 0, C18 : 1
ω9c and C17 : 1
ω6c. The DNA G+C contents were 72·4–73·6 mol%. The four strains exhibited 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity levels of 94·0–96·3 % to the type strains of Nocardioides species with validly published names. DNA–DNA relatedness levels between the four strains were 85–91 %. On the basis of phenotypic properties, phylogenetic distinctiveness and genotypic relatedness, strains KSL-1T, KSL-9, KSL-10 and KSL-12 were classified in the genus Nocardioides as members of a novel species, Nocardioides alkalitolerans sp. nov. The type strain is strain KSL-1T (=KCTC 19037T=DSM 16699T).
Paenibacillus barcinonensis sp. nov., a xylanase-producing bacterium isolated from a rice field in the Ebro River delta
Authors: Sánchez Marta M. , Fritze Dagmar , Blanco Ana , Spröer Cathrin , Tindall Brian J. , Schumann Peter , Kroppenstedt Reiner M. , Diaz Pilar , Pastor F. I. Javier
Published: March 2005

A Gram-positive, endospore-forming, xylanase-producing bacterium isolated from a rice field was studied taxonomically. The strain grows at 10–40 °C and in the presence of lysozyme or 5 % (w/v) NaCl. Chemotaxonomic analysis revealed that MK-7 was the predominant menaquinone of the isolated strain, while the major fatty acid was anteiso-C15 : 0. Comparison of 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain BP-23T fell within the radiation of the cluster comprising Paenibacillus species. The highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities were found with Paenibacillus illinoisensis (97·4 %), Paenibacillus pabuli (97·1 %) and Paenibacillus amylolyticus (96·9 %). The DNA–DNA relatedness of strain BP-23T with respect to these three species was very low (32·7, 31·6 and 23·0 %, respectively). On the basis of phenotypic and genotypic data, strain BP-23T should be placed in the genus Paenibacillus and designated a novel species, for which the name Paenibacillus barcinonensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is BP-23T (=CECT 7022T=DSM 15478T).
Tenacibaculum lutimaris sp. nov., isolated from a tidal flat in the Yellow Sea, Korea
Authors: Yoon Jung-Hoon , Kang So-Jung , Oh Tae-Kwang
Published: March 2005

Four Gram-negative, rod-shaped bacterial strains, TF-26T, TF-28, TF-42 and TF-53, were isolated from a tidal flat in the Yellow Sea, Korea, and their taxonomic positions were determined by a polyphasic characterization. The strains grew optimally in the presence of 2–3 % (w/v) NaCl and at 30–37 °C. The predominant menaquinone detected in the four strains was MK-6. These strains contained large amounts of fatty acids C16 : 1
ω7c and/or iso-C15 : 0 2-OH, iso-C15 : 0, iso-C16 : 0 3-OH, C15 : 0 and iso-C17 : 0 3-OH. The DNA G+C contents of the four strains were 32·3–32·8 mol%. Strains TF-26T, TF-28, TF-42 and TF-53 showed 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity levels of 99·8–100 % and DNA–DNA relatedness levels of 82–87 %. The four strains exhibited 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity levels of 95·0–98·0 % to the type strains of the five current Tenacibaculum species, and DNA–DNA relatedness levels between the four strains and two phylogenetic relatives, Tenacibaculum mesophilum DSM 13764T and Tenacibaculum skagerrakense DSM 14836T, were less than 21 %. On the basis of phenotypic, phylogenetic and genetic data, strains TF-26T, TF-28, TF-42 and TF-53 were classified in the genus Tenacibaculum as members of a novel species, for which the name Tenacibaculum lutimaris sp. nov. (type strain, TF-26T=KCTC 12302T=DSM 16505T) is proposed.
Spatial synchrony in vole population fluctuations – a field experiment
Authors: Huitu Otso , Laaksonen Jesse , Norrdahl Kai , Korpimäki Erkki
Published: March 2005

Three mechanisms have been proposed to induce spatial synchrony in fluctuations of small mammal populations: climate‐related environmental effects, predation and dispersal. We conducted a field experiment in western Finland to evaluate the relative roles of these mechanisms in inducing spatial synchrony among cyclic populations of field voles Microtus agrestis. The study was conducted during the increase and peak phases of a vole population cycle on four agricultural field sites situated 1.5–7.0 km apart. Each field contained two 0.5‐ha fenced enclosures and one 1‐ha unfenced control area. One enclosure per field allowed access by small mustelid predators and the other by avian predators; all enclosures prevented the dispersal of voles. The unfenced control areas allowed access by all predators as well as dispersal by voles. Enclosed vole populations were in a treatment‐wise asynchronous phase before the predator access treatments were applied. The growth rates of all enclosed populations were tightly synchronized during the course of the experiment. Conversely, synchrony both among the unfenced populations and between the fenced and unfenced populations was practically non‐existent. During winter, in the increase phase of the cycle, vole populations in all treatments declined to low densities due to a seasonal effect of winter food depletion. During summer, in the peak year of the vole cycle, all populations fluctuated in synchrony. At this time, both small mustelids and birds of prey appeared to be abundant enough to induce synchrony. Dispersal was identified as a potential contributor to synchronization, but the magnitude of its effects could not be reliably discerned. Our results indicate that no single mechanism can account for the observed patterns of spatial synchrony among cyclic northern vole populations. Rather, spatial synchronization is induced by different mechanisms, namely seasonality and predation, acting successively during different seasons and phases of the vole cycle.
Effects of asymmetric dispersal and environmental gradients on the stability of host–parasitoid systems
Authors: Lett Christophe , Auger Pierre , Fleury Frédéric
Published: March 2005

We consider host–parasitoid systems spatially distributed on a row of patches connected by dispersal. We analyze the effects of dispersal frequency, dispersal asymmetry, number of patches and environmental gradients on the stability of the host–parasitoid interactions. To take into account dispersal frequency, the hosts and parasitoids are allowed to move from one patch to a neighboring patch a certain number of times within a generation. When this number is high, aggregation methods can be used to simplify the proposed initial model into an aggregated model describing the dynamics of both the total host and parasitoid populations. We show that as the number of patches increases less asymmetric parasitoid dispersal rates are required for stability. We found that the ‘CV2>1 rule’ is a valid approximation for stability if host growth rate is low, otherwise the general condition of stability we establish should be preferred. Environmental variability along the row of patches is introduced as gradients on host growth rate and parasitoid searching efficiency. We show that stability is more likely when parasitoids move preferentially towards patches where they have high searching efficiency or when hosts go mainly to patches where they have a low growth rate.