bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
C-Reactive Protein and Risk of First-Ever Ischemic and Hemorrhagic Stroke in a General Japanese Population
Authors: Wakugawa Yoshiyuki , Kiyohara Yutaka , Tanizaki Yumihiro , Kubo Michiaki , Ninomiya Toshiharu , Hata Jun , Doi Yasufumi , Okubo Ken , Oishi Yoshinori , Shikata Kentaro , Yonemoto Koji , Maebuchi Daisuke , Ibayashi Setsuro , Iida Mitsuo
Published: November 2005

Background and Purpose—

The role of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) in the development of stroke is not clearly understood. We investigated the relationship between serum hsCRP levels and stroke occurrence in a general Japanese population.

Methods—

We followed 2692 subjects ≥40 years of age for 12 years. The relative risks and 95% CIs for ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke occurrence were calculated according to the hsCRP quintiles.

Results—

During the follow-up, 129 first-ever ischemic and 59 hemorrhagic strokes occurred. In men, the age-adjusted incidence of ischemic stroke significantly increased with elevated serum hsCRP levels; the difference between the first and fifth quintiles was statistically significant (1.4 versus 6.6 per 1000 person-years;
P
=0.02). This association remained significant even after adjustment for other confounding factors, such as age, systolic blood pressure, ECG abnormalities, diabetes, body mass index, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, smoking habits, alcohol intake, and regular exercise (adjusted relative risks, 3.11; 95% CI, 1.04 to 9.32;
P
=0.04). However, such associations were not observed for ischemic stroke in women or in hemorrhagic stroke in either sex. Among male subjects who were both in the fifth hsCRP level and had hypertension, diabetes, obesity, hypercholesterolemia, or a smoking habit, the risk of ischemic stroke was extremely increased, even after adjustment for other risk factors.

Conclusions—

Our findings suggest that elevated serum hsCRP levels are an independent risk factor for future ischemic stroke in Japanese men and that the coexistence of a high hsCRP level with another risk factor extremely increases the risk of ischemic stroke.
Activity in the Peri-Infarct Rim in Relation to Recovery From Stroke
Authors: Cramer Steven C. , Shah Rajendra , Juranek Jenifer , Crafton Kit R. , Le Vu
Published: November 2005

Background and Purpose—

In the rim of tissue surrounding a cortical infarct, animal studies have described an increase in a number of growth-related processes that likely contribute to behavioral recovery. The current study hypothesized that in patients with good outcome after stroke, brain activation in peri-infarct tissue would be greater than normal.

Methods—

In 15 patients with good recovery chronically after ischemic cortical stroke, activation within peri-infarct brain tissue was directly compared with activation within the same brain tissue of 13 control subjects.

Results—

Although most patients did show activation within peri-infarct tissues, their activation compared with controls was reduced rather than increased. Evaluation of the T2*-weighted images underlying functional MRI mapping disclosed a significant gradient of increased T2* signal in peri-infarct tissues, likely attributable to tissue changes such as gliosis.

Conclusions—

Among well-recovered stroke patients, cortical activation is present in the area surrounding a cortical infarct but is smaller than normal. A baseline derangement of the T2*-weighted signal underlying functional MRI (fMRI) is also present in this area, which might influence interpretation of fMRI findings. The relationship between increased tissue T2* signal and fMRI activation is not known and requires further study.
Hyperglycemia, Insulin, and Acute Ischemic Stroke
Authors: Garg Rajesh , Chaudhuri Ajay , Munschauer Frederick , Dandona Paresh
Published: November 2005

Background and Purpose—

Hyperglycemia is associated with increased mortality and morbidity in acute ischemic stroke.

Summary of Review—

Hyperglycemia induces a pro-oxidative and proinflammatory state that can cause direct neuronal toxicity. Hyperglycemia-mediated increase in matrix metalloproteinase-9 can cause neuronal damage by an increase in cerebral edema. Moreover, hyperglycemia may be responsible for a procoagulant state that can further compromise blood supply to the penumbral areas in acute ischemic stroke. Insulin infusion has an effect that is opposite to that of hyperglycemia. It not only lowers blood glucose levels but also exerts an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effect. Insulin also improves NO production and results in improved blood circulation to the ischemic areas. This article focuses on the potential mechanisms underlying the injurious effects of glucose and the beneficial effects of insulin.

Conclusions—

In the absence of other potential beneficial therapies, there is an urgency to institute trials with insulin infusion in acute ischemic stroke.
Improved Interpretation of Stroke Trial Results Using Empirical Barthel Item Weights
Authors: van Hartingsveld Frank , Lucas Cees , Kwakkel Gert , Lindeboom Robert
Published: November 2005

Background and Purpose—

Attempts have been made to provide guidelines for interpreting Barthel scores. We used a Rasch analysis to improve the measurement properties and clinical interpretability of the Barthel index score.

Methods—

A specific extension of Rasch model was used to identify items that preclude the summation of items and to improve the item rating scale by examining the scores on the Barthel of 559 stroke patients scored 3 weeks (n=89) and 6 months (n=470) after stroke. The clinical interpretation of the revised Rasch modeled Barthel was illustrated by re-examining the results of a previously published trial on the effectiveness of leg and arm training after stroke.

Results—

Most rating scales could be improved by collapsing nondiscriminating rating categories. Two items showed misfit: Bladder and Bowel. The remaining Barthel showed an excellent fit to the extended Rasch model (R1c Goodness-of-Fit
P
=0.35). Both items and patients could be placed on a common logit unit scale, allowing a clearer interpretation of the trial effect. Using the modeled activities of daily living difficulty/ability scale, we could express the differences between treatment arms in modeled probabilities of a positive score to each Barthel item for the treatment arms not conveyed by the original ordinal Barthel sum scores.

Conclusion—

We improved the psychometric properties and clinical interpretation of the Barthel index.
Ataxic Hemiparesis From Strategic Frontal White Matter Infarction With Crossed Cerebellar Diaschisis
Authors: Flint Alexander C. , Naley MaryAlice C. , Wright Clinton B.
Published: November 2005

Background—

Ataxic hemiparesis is a classic lacunar syndrome that most often localizes to the pons.

Results—

We report 3 patients who presented with left-sided ataxic hemiparesis and were found on imaging to have small right frontal subcortical white matter infarcts in similar locations by diffusion-weighted MRI. [
99m
Tc]hexamethylpropylenamine oxime single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) scans in all 3 patients showed decreased metabolism in the contralateral cerebellar hemisphere, indicative of crossed cerebellar diaschisis (CCD).

Conclusion—

CCD is under-recognized in ataxic hemiparesis and may have implications for functional recovery after this type of ischemic stroke.
Stroke Attributable to a Calcific Embolus From the Brachiocephalic Trunk
Authors: Moustafa Ramez R. , Antoun Nagui M. , Coulden Richard A. , Warburton Elizabeth A. , Baron Jean-Claude
Published: November 2005

Background and Purpose—

Calcific brain embolization is a rare event that is usually secondary to cardiac valve calcification. We present a case of stroke caused by embolization of calcific material from the brachiocephalic trunk, probably induced by radiotherapy.

Summary of Case—

A 56-year-old right-handed female developed left-sided hemiparesis, hemihypesthesia, and sensory inattention. She had a history of right breast carcinoma that was excised 8 years previously followed by radiotherapy. She had no other history of note. Computed tomography of the head and magnetic resonance imaging confirmed a calcific embolus in right middle cerebral artery and an acute infarction in the corresponding territory. Plain chest radiography, carotid ultrasonography, transthoracic and transoesophageal echocardiography failed to demonstrate the source of calcific embolism. Computed tomography of the thorax revealed heavy calcification of the brachiocephalic trunk and the origin of the right common carotid artery.

Conclusions—

Undertaking a vigilant systematic search for the source in cases of calcific embolization is necessary. The aorta and its main branches are possible, yet unusual, sources of calcific emboli that merit investigation.
Children and the "Unhomely" in the Sudanese Novel
Authors: Ayinde Oladosu Afis
Published: November 2005

This paper explores the category of childhood in Sudanese culture in relation to the Sudanese notion of the unhomely in Muhammad Sa'īd Shūlī's Hūsh Hamd and Sayf al-Dīn Hasan Bābikir's al-Zamān al-Fadā'ī al-Mi'waj. The theoretical framework is drawn from Sigmund Freud and Homi Bhabha. Having examined childhood and the Sudanese notion of the homely the paper goes on to inquire into the motif of the "unhomely" in the two novels using tradition, animal instinct, gender violence, intragender guiles and treachery and patriarchal privileges as strategies.
The Reform of the Moudawana: The Role of Women's Civil Society Organizations in Changing the Personal Status Code in Morocco
Authors: Wuerth Oriana
Published: November 2005

The relationship between society and law is dynamic and complex, as laws are both the reflection of the society that creates them and the sculptor of the society over which they rule. These two forces exert constant pressure on one another, and if law and society do not adequately mirror each other, tension is likely to result. Law is not a static entity, but rather must adapt itself to society as changes occur within that society; similarly, as law changes, society too will evolve. This process can be seen in Morocco, where the Moudawana, or Personal Status Code, viewed by many as an inherently discriminatory text, has been undergoing a process of reform. The reforms in January of 2004 were both an attempt to increase women's rights and participation in society and a result of women's increased economic and political participation.
The Arabian Nights and the Question of Authorship
Authors: Muhawi Ibrahim
Published: November 2005

As an oral/redacted/written work with a complex textual history that includes the history of its translations, the Nights offers scholars an excellent opportunity to reflect on authorship as a practice that generates narrative and as a critical category at the same time. After exploring the possibility of considering the translator as author and discussing two scholars (Mahdi and Ghazoul) whose work bears on the question of authorship, the study proceeds to look at the effect of the Nights on the modern theory of authorship in Europe by showing its influence on Foucault's seminal essay, "What is an author?"
A Motif Index of Alf Laylah wa Laylah: Its Relevance to the Study of Culture, Society, the Individual, and Character Transmutation
Authors: El-Shamy Hasan
Published: November 2005

Until recently, the study of Alf Laylah wa Laylah was undertaken without reference to folkloristic theories, research tools, or methods. Meanwhile, folk literature indexes were developed with minimal input from Arab and Islamic traditions. 'Theories' concerning creativity, national character, society, etc. emerged on bases of the incomplete data offered. Other approaches proved impressionistic and non-representative. A Motif Index of Alf Laylah will offer inclusive analysis of the themes constituting this classical literary work, thus bridging the gulf between its texts and their oral folkloric counterparts. It also will assist in determining the extent to which a thesis is characteristic of a culture or social group.
Dexter – sinister
Authors: Sheppard Richard
Published: November 2005

This essay, written by a former colleague and friend of the late W. G. Sebald, was conceived initially as a short review of a collection of essays –W. G. Sebald: A Critical Companion, edited by Jonathan Long and Anne Whitehead – that appeared in 2004. As such it involves no single argument. Rather, it is a series of responses to the essays that constitute the book. The essay also draws on the annotated books in Sebald's library (now in the Deutsches Literaturarchiv, Marbach/Neckar), personal reminiscence and extensive familiarity with all aspects of Sebald's work (including forgotten reviews from the 1970s and 1980s, academic articles, polemical pieces, variant versions of literary works that were published in the 1980s, and the 30 or so interviews that Sebald gave in the 1990s). By doing this, I wish to suggest three things: (1) that a good understand of Sebald the academic and critic can help us better understand his literary work; (2) that a diachronic understanding of the way Sebald's mind develops from 1963 onwards can help us appreciate more fully the central concerns of his literary work; (3) that the reader should approach Sebald's narratives and assertions in interviews with a benign scepticism.
Transient Temperature Distribution in Composites with Layers of Functionally Graded Materials (FGMs)
Authors: Agarwal Bhupesh , Upadhyay P. C. , Banta L. , Loyns D.
Published: November 2005

The solution to the nonhomogeneous problem of transient heat conduction in a composite medium consisting of a number of parallel layers of functionally graded materials (FGMs) is presented. A generalized program (algorithm) is developed, which can be used to obtain the time-dependent temperature profile through laminates having discrete layers of FGMs. It can also be used in the case of continuously graded FGM layers by discretizing and replacing them with a reasonably chosen number of sublayers. The working of the algorithm is demonstrated through the solution obtained for the transient response of a thermal barrier coating (TBC) system.
From Sensorimotor Sequence to Grammatical Construction: Evidence from Simulation and Neurophysiology
Authors: Dominey Peter Ford
Published: November 2005

The current research describes a functional trajectory from sensorimotor sequence learning to the learning of grammatical constructions in language. A brief review of the functional neurophysiology of the cortex and basal ganglia will be provided as background for a neural network model of this system in sensorimotor sequence learning. Sequential behavior is then defined in terms of serial, temporal and abstract structure. The resulting neuro-computational framework is demonstrated to account for observed sequence learning behavior. More interestingly, this framework naturally extends to grammatical constructions as form-to-meaning mappings. Predictions from the neuro-computational model concerning parallels in language and cognitive sequence processing are tested against behavioral and neurophysiological observations in humans, resulting in a refinement of the allocation of model functions to subdivisions of Broca's area. From a functional perspective this analysis will provide insight into the relation between the coding structure in human languages, and constraints derived from the underlying neurophysiological computational mechanisms.
The Inferential Transmission of Language
Authors: Smith Andrew D. M.
Published: November 2005

Language is a symbolic, culturally transmitted system of communication, which is learnt through the inference of meaning. In this paper, I describe the importance of meaning inference, not only in language acquisition, but also in developing a unified explanation for language change and evolution. Using an agent-based computational model of meaning creation and communication, I show how the meanings of words can be inferred through disambiguation across multiple contexts, using cross-situational statistical learning. I demonstrate that the uncertainty inherent in the process of meaning inference, moreover, leads to stable variation in both conceptual and lexical structure, providing evidence which helps to explain how language changes rapidly without losing communicability. Finally, I describe how an inferential model of communication may provide important theoretical insights into plausible explanations of the bootstrapping of, and the subsequent progressive complexification of, cultural communication systems.
On the Acquisition and Evolution of Compositional Languages: Sparse Input and the Productive Creativity of Children
Authors: Vogt Paul
Published: November 2005

This paper investigates the productive creativity of children in a computational model of the emergence and evolution of compositional structures in language. In previous models it was shown that compositional structures can emerge in language when the language is transmitted from one generation to the next through a transmission bottleneck. Due to the fact that in these models language is transmitted only in a vertical direction where adults only speak to children and children only listen, this bottleneck needs to be imposed by the experimenter. In the current study, this bottleneck is removed and instead of having a vertical transmission of language, the language is—in most simulations— transmitted horizontally (i.e., any agent can speak to any other agent). It is shown that such a horizontal transmission scenario does not need an externally imposed bottleneck, because the children face an implicit bottleneck when they start speaking early in life. The model is compared with the recent development of Nicaraguan Sign Language, where it is observed that children are a driving force for inventing grammatical (or compositional) structures, possibly due to a sparseness of input (i.e., an implicit bottleneck). The results show that in the studied model children are indeed the creative driving force for the emergence and stable evolution of compositional languages, thus suggesting that this implicit bottleneck may—in part—explain why children are so typically good at acquiring language and, moreover, why they may have been the driving force for the emergence of grammar in language.
Evolution of Speech and Its Acquisition
Authors: de Boer Bart
Published: November 2005

Much is known about the evolution of speech. Fossil evidence points to modern adaptations for speech appearing between 1.5 million and 500,000 years ago. Studies of vocal behavior in apes show the ability to use combinatorial vocalizations in some species (but not chimpanzees) and some cultural influence on vocalizations, but little ability for vocal imitation. For modern speech, the comparison of many languages shows that speech can become extremely complex, but that it can also be astonishingly simple. Finally, the way in which infants acquire speech is becoming increasingly clear. We therefore know about the starting point of the evolution of speech, its end point and some steps in between.

Much less is known about the exact scenario and the dynamics of the evolution of the acquisition of speech. As it involves co-evolution between culturally transmitted sounds and genetic evolution, the dynamics are complex. Computer models are therefore ideal for studying these dynamics. This paper presents a computer model of the co-evolution between a repertoire of speech sounds and a population of learners that can either represent a lexicon holistically or combinatorially. It shows that cultural influences can change the dynamics of the transition between a population of holistic and combinatorial learners.
Stress-Modulated Growth
Authors: Ambrosi D. , Guana F.
Published: November 2005

The growth and remodeling of soft tissues depend on a number of biological, chemical and mechanical factors, including the state of tension. In many cases the stress field plays such a relevant role that “stress-modulated growth” has become a very topical subject. Recent theoretical achievements suggest that, irrespective of the specific biological material at hand, a component of the stress—growth coupling is tissue-independent and reads as an Eshelby-like tensor. In this paper we investigate the mathematical properties and the qualitative behavior predicted by equations that specialize that model under few simple assumptions. Constitutive equations that satisfy a suitable dissipation principle are compared with heuristic ones that fit well the experimental data. Numerical simulations of the growth of a symmetric annulus are discussed and compared with the predicted qualitative behavior.
On Modeling the Interaction between Initial and Damage-Induced Anisotropy in Transversely Isotropic Solids
Authors: Cazacu Oana , Soare Stefan , Kondo Dsimédo
Published: November 2005

Within the framework of irreversible thermodynamics, a new general constitutive model for describing damage and its effect on the overall properties of transversely isotropic solids is proposed. The ability of the model to describe the overall stress—strain response as well as the loss of symmetry resulting from the interaction between initial and damage-induced anisotropy in a brittle matrix composite is demonstrated.
Conversation as Experiential Learning
Authors: Baker Ann C. , Jensen Patricia J. , Kolb David A.
Published: November 2005

This article proposes a framework relevant to the continuous learning of individuals and organizations. Drawing from the theory of experiential learning, the article proposesconversational learning as the experiential learning process occurring in conversation as learners construct meaning from their experiences. A theoretical framework based on five process dialectics is proposed here as the foundational underpinning of conversational learning. The five dialectics—apprehension and comprehension; reflection and action; epistemological discourse and ontological recourse; individuality and relationality; status and solidarity—are elaborated. As participants engage in conversation by embracing the differences across these dialectics, the boundaries of the dialectics open a conversational space. Attending to this conversational space enables those in the conversation to remain engaged with each other so that differing perspectives can catalyze learning experientially and promote individual learning and organizational learning.
‘On Being White: There's Nothing I Can Say’
Authors: Macalpine Marion , Marsh Sheila
Published: November 2005

We aim to illuminate the construction of ‘whiteness’ in organizations, in order to contribute to changing power relations, and the enduring material inequalities they produce. We chart four cycles of inquiry, encompassing: gender and sexuality; ethnicity; surfacing issues of whiteness at work; and making sense of the whole, drawing on concepts of discourse, identity and hegemony. Our work with public sector managers and professionals (third cycle) highlights the taken-for-grantedness of whiteness: silence about ethnicity means that talk about ethnicity is ‘transgressive’; and silence about whiteness masks white power through normalizing whiteness. The discourse of neutrality is dominant. The article offers two helpful concepts: power/identity, to signify the intricate intersections of different identities with the complex manifestations of power within organizations; and silencing as a hegemonic discourse, policed through embarrassment, which perpetuates inequalities and conceals white power. The task of management educators is to draw attention to this discursive concealment, and model a process of surfacing both ethnicity and whiteness.
Mapping the Temporal Landscape
Authors: Brown Reva Berman
Published: November 2005

People take for granted that they exist in dimensions of space and time. Individuals accept, as a matter of course, that space extends and that time passes. We live in landscapes of space and time, and view these from a variety of perspectives or orientations, each applicable to a different aspect of life—for instance, home, leisure, economic, political and organizational. Just as a geography of space contains recognizable natural features—rivers, deserts, mountains—and features created by human beings— canals, roads, skyscrapers—so people live in a temporal landscape that contains natural features—day and night, the seasons—and features created by us—the ordering of social, economic, legal, and organizational time into, among other things, the practices of family life, financial periods, prison sentences, and workloads. This article views the temporal landscapes of business school academics, and is based on longitudinal ethnographic research. The result is the production of a map, albeit a rough one, of the temporal landscape inhabited by university business school academics as they go about their working lives.
European Constructions of an American Model
Authors: Mazza Carmelo , Sahlin-Andersson Kerstin , Pedersen Jesper Strandgaard
Published: November 2005

In this article we study the patterns of proliferation, circulation and transformation of MBA programmes in Europe. The article seeks to address two important questions: First, why is it that the label MBA has travelled from the USA to Europe?, and second, to what extent does this label signify the proliferation of similar programmes across the Atlantic? We show that even though the label MBA has diffused around the globe, closer studies of a selection of MBA programmes show that the way in which these local programmes have been formed, clearly reflects their local contexts. Hence, this study is an example of local translations of globalized models. Moreover, the study suggests that we should not take labels as clearly signifying local practices. Instead, while labels of various kinds seem to travel easily and rapidly across the globe, local variations and distinctions remain. Based on case studies of four MBA programmes in Denmark, Italy, Spain and Sweden, we analyse how similarities and differences coexist among MBA programmes. While these case studies clearly show that programmes—in some aspects—are becoming increasingly similar, variations and distinctions among them remain. A few elements of MBA programmes remain stable (the ‘model’) as other elements change as they spread. Therefore, the circulation of a vague model—like an MBA in the management education field—allows for both variance in the local application and stabilization of specific elements. With the proliferation of programmes, the field as a whole displays homogenization as well as heterogenization. Two homogenizing forces, and two heterogenizing forces are identified.
Numerical Investigation on the Influence of Contaminant Source Location, Occupant Distribution and Air Distribution on Emergency Ventilation Strategy
Authors: Chen Xi , Zhao Bin , Li Xianting
Published: November 2005

The purpose of emergency ventilation is to remove pollutants effectively that may be suddenly released indoors. With the occurrence of indoor terrorism attacks and the accidental release of toxic chemicals, people have paid more attention of such emergency events in recent years. The traditional idea of a strategy for emergency ventilation is simply to supply sufficient fresh air into rooms. However, the positioning of a contaminant source, the distribution of occupants and the overall airflow pattern are also important factors. A new concept, integrated accessibility of contaminant source (IACS), has recently been proposed to consider those factors simultaneously. By using this concept as a major index of ventilation efficiency, 84 cases with different combinations of contaminant source and ventilation style in a full-scale room in which the occupant distribution is prescribed have been investigated numerically in this paper. The results show that air exchange rate is not the only dominant parameter, and simply increasing it does not ensure a better ventilation effect. It is also shown that when source location varies, the optimal ventilation strategy might need to differ greatly. From these results some rules are proposed to determine best ventilation strategies for different situations.
Microscopic Morphology and Size Distribution of Residential Indoor PM10 in Beijing City
Authors: Houyin Zhao , Longyi Shao , Qiang Yao
Published: November 2005

To investigate characteristics of airborne PM10 in residences in Beijing City the indoor PM10 concentrations, morphology and size distribution were measured using a scanning electron microscope coupled with an energy dispersive X-ray micro-analyser and image analysis. PM10 samples were collected in four homes and from the nearby outdoor environment during the winter season. The results showed that the mean 12-h indoor PM10 concentration was 109.9 g/m3 and the corresponding outdoor level was 179.8 g/m3. Indoor PM10 single particles were subdivided into 5 microscopic types according to their microscopic characteristics and morphologies and included soot aggregates, coal fly ash, mineral, biological and unresolved particles. Each particle type had a different contribution to the PM10 composition which were dominated by soot aggregates in both indoor and outdoor air. Numbersize distribution of PM10 in the residences displayed a bimodal pattern with peaks in 0.1 0.7 m and 1 2.5 m ranges. Coal fly ash exhibited a unimodal pattern in indoor and outdoor air with a peak in 0.1 0.5 m range. Mineral particles showed a bimodal number-size distribution in homes but in the outdoor air they exhibited a unimodal pattern perhaps because of the air temperature.
Genotoxicity Tests and their Use in Occupational Toxicology as Biomarkers
Authors: Sardas Semra
Published: November 2005

Certain occupational groups are exposed to much higher concentrations of potentially hazardous genotoxins than the general population. The possibility exists that these exposures may significantly increase the risk of cancer for certain of those occupationally exposed. Genotoxicity tests reflect irreversible damage resulting from a toxic interaction, either at the molecular target or at an analogous side target, which is considered to be pathogenically linked to cancer. Occupational groups, which are at genotoxic risk, have been evaluated by using sensitive, reliable biomarkers (such as comet assay and sister chromatid exchange). These types of biomonitoring assays are cost effective and valuable indicators which signal genotoxic risk in occupational toxicology, and they also encourage the regulatory agencies to take preventive actions against carcinogenic risk within workplaces.
Mutagenic Actions of Nitrogen Oxides
Authors: Kilinc Kamer , Kilinc Asuman
Published: November 2005

A constellation of reactive electrophiles and free radicals capable of damaging cellular constituents is generated during normal physiological and pathophysiological processes. It is well documented that reactive species of oxygen have a high capacity to react with DNA and can cause mutations in genomic DNA and so potentially initiate carcinogenesis. Recently, it has been shown that nitric oxide (NO) and its reactive derivatives produced in inflamed tissues could also contribute to the carcinogenic process. Nitrogen oxides generated by the oxidation of NO with oxygen or superoxide, act as genotoxic agents via direct damage or indirect damage mechanisms. Direct damage of reactive nitrogen oxides includes DNA base deamination, adduct formation on DNA and DNA strand breaks. However, indirect damage of DNA is due to the interaction of reactive nitrogen oxides with other molecules that may result in increased secondary radical generation, alteration in the regulation of gene expression and signal transduction.
Geogenic Arsenic and a Survey of Skin Lesions in the Emet Region of Kutahya, Turkey
Authors: Dogan M. , Dogan A. U. , Celebi C. , Baris Y. I.
Published: November 2005

Subjects with chronic arsenic intoxication have been found in Emet, Kutahya, Turkey. Geological sources of arsenic within their environmental setting and the dermatological impact have been investigated. In this study a total of one hundred and fifty-three individuals were screened from two villages. An apparent doseresponse relationship between consumption of arsenic contaminated drinking water and skin disorders was observed. People from Dulkadir where the water contained 0.3–0.5mg As per litre had fewer lesions than those from Igdekoy with 8.9–9.3mg As per litre. At Igdekoy 30.9% (33/97) of individuals had arsenicrelated skin disorders compared to 5.35% (3/56) in Dulkadir. The lesions included palmo-plantar keratoses, basal cell carcinoma, plantar keratodermi, plantar hyperkeratosis, pigmented nodular lesions, keratic papules, Bowenoid lesions, hyperhydrosis, verruca plantaris and verruca plantaris and palmaris. Since arsenic carcinomas are often preceded by other stigmata of chronic arsenicism such as Bowenoid lesions, hyper-pigmentation and arsenic keratoses patients presenting with these lesions require urgent treatment.
A Study of Groundwater Radon Concentrations in Punjab and Himachal Pradesh States, India
Authors: Bajwa B. S. , Mahajan S. , Singh H. , Singh J. , Singh S. , Walia V. , Virk H. S.
Published: November 2005

In this paper, the results of radon concentrations in the drinking water in some areas of Punjab and Himachal Pradesh are presented. Samples were collected from the hand-pumps, tube-wells and natural springs, which are the major sources of drinking water in these areas. Radon concentration values in drinking water showed a wide variation depending on its source and location. The radon concentration values in hand-pump drawn groundwater have been found to be higher than the values from other sources. The recorded radon concentration in these samples has been found to vary from 1.0 0.3 to 48.0 2.2Bq·L 1. The radon concentration has also been measured in some thermal springs and these values have been found to be quite a lot higher than from other sources of ground water. Mineral water has the minimum radon concentration compared with groundwater sources.
Inspection of Turkish Baths (Hamams) with Regard to Public Health
Authors: Kisioglu Ahmet Nesimi , Adiloglu Ali , Uskun Ersin , Yuksel Faruk , Uyanik Ali , Uzun Ertan , Arikan Salih
Published: November 2005

This study was carried out to evaluate the physical structure and state of hygiene of nine Turkish baths in three provinces, Isparta, Burdur and Afyon, located in the northwest Mediterranean region called the Lake District. The physical conditions of the hamam were assessed according to Article 23922 in Turkish Law which outlines the rules for setting up hamams. A new hygiene assessment form was prepared specifically for the hamams by the public health practitioners in our university department. All the hamams investigated had an appropriate physical structure, although no regular inspections were made. Most of them had been restored and re-structured because of earthquake damage and other reasons. Most of microbiological samples taken from the hamams produced Staphylococcusspp., E. coli and other enteric flora species. No yeast cells were isolated from these samples. No bacterial growth was observed on the water samples although the water sample taken from a swimming pool produced E. coli, enteric flora species and gram-positive micrococcus.
Numerical Investigation of Particle Diffusion in a Clean Room
Authors: Zhao Bin , Wu Jun
Published: November 2005

Particle diffusion with gravitational sedimentation in a clean room with different ventilation modes has been investigated by computational fluid dynamics. A threedimensional drift-flux model combined with the deposition boundary conditions for wall surfaces and considering the settling of particles under the effect of gravitational sedimentation was adopted to simulate particle diffusion. Since there is no clear criterion to judge when a particle should be treated as a passive contaminant this paper studies particle diffusion of a wide range of particle sizes compared with the diffusion of passive contaminant under the same conditions. Diffusion of particles with sizes of 0.3–20 m was simulated in two different clean rooms with two different air exchange rates and particle source locations after validating the numerical model. The results show that ventilation mode, particle source location and air exchange rate can influence particle distribution in a clean room. The product of nominal time of a ventilated room and the particle relaxation time may be a good indicator to decide if the particle could be treated as a passive contaminant. If the value of the indicator is big enough, the particles could not be treated as passive. The results can also be extended for other similarly ventilated rooms.
The Roman life course: a view from the inscriptions
Authors: Revell Louise
Published: November 2005

Epitaphs inscribed on stone record biographical information about the deceased, and in certain cases, the age at death. However, it has been demonstrated that these ages on Roman epitaphs are not an accurate reflection of the demographics of death, but are subject to cultural bias. Using the idea of the ‘life course’, this article explores these cultural biases and their relationship to age and gender structures. Material from Italy suggests that these are tied into ideologies of gender, with adulthood defined by the transition to magistrate for men and wife for women. Material from other areas demonstrates different patterns, and in the case of Etruria, these are shown to be a negotiation between pre-Roman and Romanized customs. The phenomenon of ‘age-rounding’ is also argued to be part of these ideas of correct age.
Spiritual materiality
Authors: Karlström Anna
Published: November 2005

This article explores the role of Buddhism in current heritage preservation discussions and practice. Buddhism deals to a great extent with materiality, but the notion of the impermanence of matter implies that the decay of a material world is inevitable and necessary for the continuation of life and rebirth. This forms the platform for a critique of contemporary conservation strategies that privilege originality and the idea that our common heritage and archaeological resources should be preserved for the future and preferably forever. The result is a demand for a broader outlook among the scholars involved in heritage studies and research concerning archaeological resource management.
Gendered food behaviour among the Maya
Authors: White Christine D.
Published: November 2005

Ethnohistoric and archaeological evidence indicates that the production and distribution of food was an important source of agency and power for ancient Mayan women. Although it is believed that elite women controlled food used in rituals, isotopic measures of diet from a variety of sites representing different environments and time periods indicate that they ate fewer ideologically valued foods than males. By contrast, non-elite women appear to have consumed the same foods as their male equivalents. This finding may suggest that: women did not participate in ritual consumption of food in the same way or to the same extent that men did, or that food consumption was associated with gender identity. Preferential access to ritual foods by males ceases after the Spanish conquest but males continued to have more carnivorous diets. This phenomenon could be caused by the conversion of public rituals to private – the assimilation of Spanish gender values – or an underlying ideology that is maintained in gendered dietary differences.
Dominant narratives, social violence and the practice of Bolivian archaeology
Authors: Kojan David , Angelo Dante
Published: November 2005

Recent social violence in Bolivia is examined in the context of that country's dominant historical narratives. The practice of archaeology in Bolivia is intimately tied to the development of nationalism and a history of colonialism. While the history of Bolivian archaeology has seen multiple interpretations of the past, the dominant voices have consistently emphasized understandings of the past that legitimize and bolster Bolivian nationalism and contemporary social politics. In particular, theAltiplano site ofTiwanaku has been formulated as a locus of Bolivian national patrimony, while other regions have been marginalized as ‘peripheries’ or ‘frontiers’. This understanding of history is not simply a matter of debate for archaeologists, but has very real consequences in present-day geopolitics and the lives of individuals.
Melt Strength, Maximum Output, and Physical Properties of SURPASS TM1 sLLDPE–LDPE Blends in Blown Film
Authors: Tas Paul , Nguyen Lan , Teh Joo
Published: November 2005

The development of Advanced SCLAIRTECH TM2 dual reactor technology and a proprietary single-site catalyst by NOVA Chemicals Corporation provides unique opportunities for resin design. This results in single-site linear low-density polyethylene (sLLDPE) products with a unique set of properties. For blends of these sLLDPE with low density polyethylene (LDPE), several benefits arise. The melt strength is enhanced easily, which benefits maximum output on blown film lines. The equivalent crystallization temperatures of sLLDPE and LDPE are beneficial for processability and physical properties. Adding as little as 5% LDPE to sLLDPE results in a 50% increase in maximum output, while maintaining a high film performance.
Roll-over-web Coating of Pseudoplastic and Viscoplastic Sheets Using the Lubrication Approximation
Authors: Sofou Souzanna , Mitsoulis Evan
Published: November 2005

The Lubrication Approximation Theory (LAT) is used to provide numerical results in roll coating over a moving flat web. The Herschel–Bulkley model of viscoplasticity is used, which reduces with appropriate modifications to the Bingham, power-law, and Newtonian models. Results are obtained for such quantities as coating thickness, separation point, and the volumetric flow rate required for various values of the power-law index (in the case of pseudoplasticity) and of the Bingham number (in the case of viscoplasticity). All these values increase substantially with the increasing non-Newtonian character of the fluid. Yielded and unyielded areas are quantitatively shown for several cases of viscoplasticity. Pressure gradient and pressure distributions are given for all cases. Integrated quantities of engineering interest are also calculated. These include the maximum pressure, the roll/sheet separating force, and the power input to the roll. These quantities increase substantially and monotonically in a dimensionless form, as the power-law index decreases or the Bingham number increases.
Correlation between Structural Parameters and Property of PE Blown Films
Authors: Fatahi Shokoh , Ajji Abdellah , Lafleur Pierre G.
Published: November 2005

Our objective in this study is to develop models which relate detailed structural parameters to performance, providing the means for predicting final film properties. In this work, we used different types of polyethylene (LLDPE, HDPE, and LDPE) at different process conditions in the film blowing process. The morphology of films was studied using X-ray diffraction, SEM, AFM, FTIR, and birefringence measurements. Herman's orientation factors of the films were determined via both WAXD pole figures and infrared dichroism. DSC, WAXD and SAXS were used to determine microstructural parameters including the degree of crystallinity, lamellar thickness, crystal size, length of crystal, and long spacing. By using the statistical design of experiments, a correlation between mechanical properties including tensile properties, Elmendorf tear, dart impact, and optical properties such as haze and clarity was obtained with the microstructural parameters.
Characterization of the interactions between the active site of a protein tyrosine kinase and a divalent metal activator
Authors: Lin Xiaofeng , Ayrapetov Marina K , Sun Gongqin
Published: November 2005

Background

Protein tyrosine kinases are important enzymes for cell signalling and key targets for anticancer drug discovery. The catalytic mechanisms of protein tyrosine kinase-catalysed phosphorylation are not fully understood. Protein tyrosine kinase Csk requires two Mg2+ cations for activity: one (M1) binds to ATP, and the other (M2) acts as an essential activator.

Results

Experiments in this communication characterize the interaction between M2 and Csk. Csk activity is sensitive to pH in the range of 6 to 7. Kinetic characterization indicates that the sensitivity is not due to altered substrate binding, but caused by the sensitivity of M2 binding to pH. Several residues in the active site with potential of binding M2 are mutated and the effect on metal activation studied. An active mutant of Asn319 is generated, and this mutation does not alter the metal binding characteristics. Mutations of Glu236 or Asp332 abolish the kinase activity, precluding a positive or negative conclusion on their role in M2 coordination. Finally, the ability of divalent metal cations to activate Csk correlates to a combination of ionic radius and the coordination number.

Conclusion

These studies demonstrate that M2 binding to Csk is sensitive to pH, which is mainly responsible for Csk activity change in the acidic arm of the pH response curve. They also demonstrate critical differences in the metal activator coordination sphere in protein tyrosine kinase Csk and a protein Ser/Thr kinase, the cAMP-dependent protein kinase. They shed light on the physical interactions between a protein tyrosine kinase and a divalent metal activator.
Discover protein sequence signatures from protein-protein interaction data
Authors: Fang Jianwen , Haasl Ryan J , Dong Yinghua , Lushington Gerald H
Published: November 2005

Background

The development of high-throughput technologies such as yeast two-hybrid systems and mass spectrometry technologies has made it possible to generate large protein-protein interaction (PPI) datasets. Mining these datasets for underlying biological knowledge has, however, remained a challenge.

Results

A total of 3108 sequence signatures were found, each of which was shared by a set of guest proteins interacting with one of 944 host proteins in Saccharomyces cerevisiae genome. Approximately 94% of these sequence signatures matched entries in InterPro member databases. We identified 84 distinct sequence signatures from the remaining 172 unknown signatures. The signature sharing information was then applied in predicting sub-cellular localization of yeast proteins and the novel signatures were used in identifying possible interacting sites.

Conclusion

We reported a method of PPI data mining that facilitated the discovery of novel sequence signatures using a large PPI dataset from S. cerevisiae genome as input. The fact that 94% of discovered signatures were known validated the ability of the approach to identify large numbers of signatures from PPI data. The significance of these discovered signatures was demonstrated by their application in predicting sub-cellular localizations and identifying potential interaction binding sites of yeast proteins.