bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Differential Detection of Five Mouse-Infecting Helicobacter Species by Multiplex PCR
Authors: Feng Sunlian , Ku Karin , Hodzic Emir , Lorenzana Edward , Freet Kim , Barthold Stephen W.
Published: April 2005

Several species of helicobacter have been isolated from laboratory mice, includingH. bilis,H. hepaticus,H. muridarum,H. rodentium, andH. typhlonius, which appear to be the most common. The most widely used published method for molecular detection of these agents is PCR amplification of a conserved region of 16S rRNA, but differential speciation requires restriction enzyme digestion of the amplicons. This study was undertaken to determine PCR conditions that would simultaneously and specifically identify each of the five common species without restriction enzyme analyses. First, we designed novel and specific PCR primers forH. bilis,H. hepaticus,H. muridarum,H. rodentium, andH. typhlonius, using sequences from the heterologous regions of 16S rRNA. Because of comigration of amplified products, we next identified P17, anH. bilis-specific protein; P25, anH. hepaticus-specific protein; and P30, anH. muridarum-specific protein by screening genomic DNA expression libraries of each species. Primers were designed from these three genes, plus newly designed, species-specific 16S rRNA primers forH. rodentiumandH. typhloniusthat could be utilized for a five-plex PCR. The sizes of the amplicons fromH. bilis,H. hepaticus,H. muridarum,H. rodentium, andH. typhloniuswere 435, 705, 807, 191, and 122 bp, respectively, allowing simultaneous detection and effective discrimination among species.
Retrospective Serological Investigation of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus Antibodies in Recruits from Mainland China
Authors: Yu Sumeng , Qiu Maofeng , Chen Zeliang , Ye Xiaobo , Gao Yaling , Wei Aimin , Wang Xiaoyi , Yang Ling , Wang Jin , Wen Jie , Song Yajun , Pei Decui , Dai Erhei , Guo Zhaobiao , Cao Cheng , Wang Jian , Yang Ruifu
Published: April 2005

Different assays were used to analyze 1,621 serum specimens collected from military recruits from the People's Republic of China in 2002 for severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) coronavirus antibodies. The results demonstrated that the subjects either had rarely been exposed to the virus before the 2003 SARS outbreak or had not been exposed but the nucleocapsid protein cross-reacted with other antibodies in humans.
Rapid Immunofluorescence Microscopy for Diagnosis of Melioidosis
Authors: Wuthiekanun Vanaporn , Desakorn Varunee , Wongsuvan Gumphol , Amornchai Premjit , Cheng Allen C. , Maharjan Bina , Limmathurotsakul Direk , Chierakul Wirongrong , White Nicholas J. , Day Nicholas P. J. , Peacock Sharon J.
Published: April 2005

An immunofluorescent (IF) method that detects
Burkholderia pseudomallei
in clinical specimens within 10 min was devised. The results of this rapid method and those of an existing IF method were prospectively compared with the culture results for 776 specimens from patients with suspected melioidosis. The sensitivities of both IF tests were 66%, and the specificities were 99.5 and 99.4%, respectively.
Immunization with Recombinant Surface Antigen P50 of
Babesia gibsoni
Expressed in Insect Cells Induced Parasite Growth Inhibition in Dogs
Authors: Fukumoto Shinya , Tamaki Yoh , Shirafuji Hiroaki , Harakawa Shinji , Suzuki Hiroshi , Xuan Xuenan
Published: April 2005

This is a report of a vaccine trial directed against
Babesia gibsoni
infection in dogs with the use of the recombinant antigen P50. Dogs immunized with P50 showed partial protection manifested as a significantly low level of parasitemia. The results indicated that P50 is a primary vaccine candidate molecule against canine
B. gibsoni
infection.
ON THE EQUIVALENCE OF THE MASSLESS DKP EQUATION AND THE MAXWELL EQUATIONS IN THE SHUWER
Authors: SALTI MUSTAFA , HAVARE ALI
Published: April 2005

In this paper, a general relativistic wave equation is written to deal with electromagnetic waves in the background of the Shuwer. We obtain the exact form of this equation in a second-order form. On the other hand, by using spinor form of the Maxwell equations the propagation problem is reduced to the solution of the second-order differential equation of complex combination of the electric and magnetic fields. For these two different approaches, we obtain the spinors in terms of field strength tensor. We show that the Maxwell equations are equivalence to the mDKP equation in the Shuwer.
COLOR GLASS CONDENSATE IN BRANE MODELS OR DON'T ULTRA HIGH ENERGY COSMIC RAYS PROBE 1015eV SCALE?
Authors: ZIAEEPOUR HOURI
Published: April 2005

In a previous work1 we have studied the propagation of relativistic particles in the bulk for some of the most popular brane models. Constraints have been put on the parameter space of these models by calculating the time delay due to propagation in the bulk of particles created during the interaction of Ultra High Energy Cosmic Rays (UHECRs) with protons in the terrestrial atmosphere. The question was, however, raised that probability of hard processes in which bulk modes can be produced is small and consequently, the tiny flux of UHECRs cannot constrain brane models. Here we use Color Glass Condensate (CGC) model to show that effects of extra dimensions are visible not only in hard processes when the incoming photon/parton hits a massive Kaluza–Klein mode but also through the modification of soft/semi-hard parton distribution. At classical level, for an observer in the CM frame of UHECR and atmospheric hadrons, color charge sources are contracted to a thin sheet with a width inversely proportional to the energy of the ultra energetic cosmic ray hadron and consequently they can see an extra dimension with comparable size. Due to QCD interaction, a short life swarm of partons is produced in front of the sheet and its partons can penetrate to the extra-dimension bulk. This reduces the effective density of partons on the brane or in a classical view creates a delay in the arrival of the most energetic particles if they are reflected back due to the warping of the bulk. In CGC approximation the density of swarm at different distances from the classical sheet can be related and therefore it is possible (at least formally) to determine the relative fraction of partons in the bulk and on the brane at different scales. Results of this work are also relevant to the test of brane models in hadron colliders like LHC.
APPEARANCE OF FAST-FISSION AND QUASI-FISSION IN REACTIONS WITH MASSIVE NUCLEI
Authors: FAZIO GIOVANNI , GIARDINA GIORGIO , MANDAGLIO GIUSEPPE , HANAPPE FRANCIS , MUMINOV AKHTAM I. , NASIROV AVAZBEK K. , SCHEID WERNER , STUTTGÉ LOUISE
Published: April 2005

The experimental data on the capture and evaporation residue cross-sections obtained in the48Ca +208Pb reaction were analyzed in the framework of the dynamical model based on the dinuclear system concept and advanced statistical method to clarify the reaction mechanism. The experimental excitation function of the capture reactions was decomposed into contributions of the fusion–fission, quasifission and fast-fission processes. Total evaporation residues and ones after neutron emission were only calculated and compared with the available experimental data.
ATOMIC PARITY VIOLATION: PRINCIPLES, RECENT RESULTS, PRESENT MOTIVATIONS
Authors: GUÉNA J. , LINTZ M. , BOUCHIAT M.-A.
Published: April 2005

We review the progress made in the determination of the weak charge, QW, of the cesium nucleus which raises the status of Atomic Parity Violation measurements to that of a precision electroweak test. Not only is it necessary to have a precision measurement of the electroweak asymmetry in the highly forbidden 6S–7S transition, but one also needs a precise calibration procedure. The 1999 precision measurement by the Boulder group implied a 2.5 σ deviation of QW from the theoretical prediction. This triggered many particle physicist suggestions as well as examination by atomic theoretical physicists of several sources of corrections. After about three years, the disagreement was removed without appealing to "New Physics". Concurrently, an original experimental approach was developed in our group for more than a decade. It is based on detection by stimulated emission with amplification of the left–right asymmetry. We present our decisive, recent progress together with our latest results. We emphasize the important impact for electroweak theory, of future measurements in cesium possibly pushed to the 0.1% level. Other possible approaches are currently explored in several atoms.
VERSATILE MOTION ESTIMATION PROCESSOR WITH SCALABILITY AND HIGH THROUGHPUT
Authors: SUH YOUNGSAN , KOH INSEON , YOU JAEHEE
Published: April 2005

A high-performance versatile motion estimation processor with regular hardware and control structure capable of MP@HL is presented. It can compute 1920 × 1080 pels in 4096 cycles within search point range 64 with eight identical processors. The presented processor has 100% hardware utilization by eliminating the computation delay between stages, and the capability to compute half pel precision motion estimation. Also, by enhancing image data reuse, the I/O bottleneck problem is alleviated. With efficient scalability, the amount of hardware and computation speed can be easily adjusted for a variety of application areas. The proposed edge effect hardware can be used for object-based coding for MPEG-4. The processor was verified with C ++ and VHDL based on actual image data and implemented with 0.6μm gate array. Also, a motion estimator system with image memories and PC host interface was designed.
A COMPARITIVE STUDY OF W-CDMA CELL SEARCH DESIGNS
Authors: BAHL SANAT KAMAL , PLUSQUELLIC JIM , THOMAS JOSEPH
Published: April 2005

In this letter an Improved Cell Search Design using cyclic codes (Improved CSD) is compared with the 3GPP Cell Search Design using comma free codes (3GPP-comma free CSD) in terms of (1) hardware utilization on a field programmable gate array and (2) acquisition time measures for different probabilities of false alarm rates. Our results indicate that for an additive white Gaussian noise channel in a high signal-to-noise ratio the Improved CSD achieves faster synchronization with the base station and has lower hardware utilization when compared with the 3GPP-comma free CSD scheme under the same design constraints.
EFFICIENT RNS-BASED DESIGN OF PROGRAMMABLE FIR FILTERS TARGETING FPL TECHNOLOGY
Authors: RAMÍREZ JAVIER , MEYER-BÄSE UWE , GARCÍA ANTONIO
Published: April 2005

FIR filters are routinely used in the implementation of modern digital signal processing systems. Their efficient implementation using commercially available VLSI technology is a subject of continuous study and development. This paper presents the residue number system (RNS) implementation of reduced-complexity and high-performance FIR filters, using modern Altera APEX20K field-programmable logic (FPL) devices. Index arithmetic over Galois fields and the Quadratic Residue Number System (QRNS), along with a selection of a small wordwidth modulus set, are the keys for attaining low complexity and high throughput in real and complex FIR filters. RNS–FPL merged FIR filters demonstrated its superiority when compared to 2C (two's complement) filters, being about 65% faster and requiring fewer logic elements for most study cases. Special attention was paid to an efficient implementation of the multi-operand modulo adders. The replacement of a classical modulo adder tree by a binary adder with extended precision followed by a single modulo reduction stage reduced area requirements by 10% for a 32-tap FIR filter. On the other hand, an index arithmetic QRNS-based complex FIR filter yielded up to 60% performance improvement over a three-multiplier-per-tap 2C filter, while requiring fewer LEs for filters having more than eight taps. Particularly, a 32-tap filter needed 24% LEs less than the classical design.
EVALUATION OF TECHNOLOGY OPTIONS FOR SUBSTRATE NOISE REDUCTION
Authors: RIZZI MARIA , CASTAGNOLO BENIAMINO
Published: April 2005

Substrate coupling is a phenomenon that affects the behavior and performance of RF and mixed signal ICs. Prediction of such crosstalk during the design process can help designers. In this paper, a new methodology is presented for performing a fast and reliable characterization of the noise transmission path, modeling the substrate as a resistive network. Adopting only DC measurement techniques, the dependence of disturbances attenuation on the geometric parameters is found. Moreover, the relation between attenuation and disturbance types is indicated. Finally, a qualitative comparison is made between the efficiency of the most commonly used technology measures against substrate crosstalk.
FLOATING CAPACITANCE SIMULATION USING CURRENT CONVEYORS
Authors: ANANDA MOHAN P. V.
Published: April 2005

Circuits for realizing floating capacitors using grounded capacitors and current conveyors are described. The effect of all the nonidealities of the various current conveyors on the realized impedances has been analyzed in detail.
DEVELOPMENT OF A THREE-DIMENSIONAL AB INITIO POTENTIAL ENERGY SURFACE FOR THE He–Cl2(X) SYSTEM AND ITS APPLICATION TO SOLVATION STRUCTURES IN THE HenCl2 CLUSTERS
Authors: TAKAYANAGI TOSHIYUKI , SHIGA MOTOYUKI , TAKETSUGU TETSUYA
Published: April 2005

High-quality ab initio electronic structure calculations for the van der Waals interaction of He with Cl 2 in the electronic ground state have been carried out to develop a new three-dimensional potential energy surface for this system. The calculations were performed at the single and double excitation coupled-cluster level of theory with non-iterative perturbational treatment of triple excitations [CCSD(T)] with a very large basis set including an additional set of bond functions. The analytical potential surface developed were then used in the path-integral molecular dynamics calculations for the He n Cl 2 cluster, where quantum solvation structures of helium atoms in clusters were investigated. It has been found that the helium solvation structures are quite different between the electronic ground state and the electronically excited B 3Π state.
AB INITIO R-MATRIX/MULTI-CHANNEL QUANTUM DEFECT THEORY APPROACH TO STUDY MOLECULAR CORE EXCITATION AND IONIZATION: GSCF4R
Authors: HIYAMA MIYABI , KOSUGI NOBUHIRO
Published: April 2005

The ab initio program package named GSCF4R, which is based on the polyatomic R-matrix/MQDT (multi-channel quantum defect theory), has been developed using Gaussian type basis functions for the bound and continuum states to analyze the near edge feature of molecular inner shell excitations. The GSCF4R code is constructed by improvement and extension of the ordinal static exchange (STEX) approach. The R-matrix approach used in GSCF4R is beyond multi-channel multi-reference extensions of STEX, since it is based on the close coupling method augmented with the correlation term solved in the inner part of the R-matrix sphere. Simplification of the input data in GSCF4R has demonstrated that the R-matrix/MQDT method could be widely used in analysis of the molecular inner shell excitation and ionization. The quantum defects of the Rydberg states converging to the lowest valence ionized state NO +(1∑+) and the lowest N1 s ionized state N ⋆ O +(3Π) have been calculated.
DENSITY FUNCTIONAL CALCULATIONS ON THE INTERACTION BETWEEN CATABOLITE ACTIVATOR PROTEIN AND CYCLIC AMP USING THE FRAGMENT MOLECULAR ORBITAL METHOD
Authors: SUGIKI SIN-ICHIRO , MATSUOKA MAKOTO , USUKI RYO , SENGOKU YASUO , KURITA NORIYUKI , SEKINO HIDEO , TANAKA SHIGENORI
Published: April 2005

The specific interaction between catabolite activator protein (CAP) and cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) was investigated using the fragment molecular orbital method based on density functional theory (FMO-DFT). One of the efficient tools of FMO-DFT is the analysis of effective pair interactions, which are the pairwise fragment interactions under the influence of electrostatic potentials from surrounding fragments. We investigated the specific interaction between CAP/mutated-CAP and cAMP/cGMP to elucidate the effect of amino-acid mutations in CAP on the CAP-cAMP as well as CAP-cGMP interactions.
CONSTRUCTION OF A GLOBAL POTENTIAL ENERGY SURFACE FROM NOVEL AB INITIO MOLECULAR DYNAMICS FOR THE O(3P) + C3H3 REACTION
Authors: PARK SEUNG C. , BRAAMS BASTIAAN J. , BOWMAN JOEL M.
Published: April 2005

We present a global potential energy surface (PES) for the 2 A state of the O (3 P ) + C 3 H 3 radical reaction. The global PES is constructed mainly using direct ab initio molecular dynamics and further sampling is done using the Diffusion Monte Carlo method. The potential is fully invariant with respect to permutational symmetry of like atoms. Special techniques, based on invariant theory of finite groups, have been used to develop basis functions for fitting that display this symmetry. The resultant potential energy surface shows multiple reaction paths with six different product channels. The products of the reactions are CO + C 2 H 3 radicals H + C 3 H 2 O radicals (with two isomers, propynal and propa-1,2-dien-1-one) and OH + C 3 H 2 radicals (with three isomers, vinylidenecarbene, propargylene and cyclopropenylidene). Energies of the PES are in excellent agreement with ab initio energies for each stationary point, the reactants and the products. Most stationary points are fitted at the sub Kcal/mol level. The global potential surface represents all the stationary points and six different product channels correctly. Preliminary dynamics calculations show abstraction and insertion mechanisms for the OH + vinylidenecarbene channel and the H + propynal channel, respectively.
PRACTICAL PERFORMANCE ASSESSMENT OF ACCOMPANYING COORDINATE EXPANSION RECURRENCE RELATION ALGORITHM FOR COMPUTATION OF ELECTRON REPULSION INTEGRALS
Authors: KATOUDA MICHIO , KOBAYASHI MASATO , NAKAI HIROMI , NAGASE SHIGERU
Published: April 2005

We have developed a computer program for evaluation of electron repulsion integrals (ERIs) based on the accompanying coordinate expansion recurrence relation (ACE-RR) algorithm, which has been recently developed as an efficient algorithm for computation of ERIs using Pople-type basis sets (STO-3G and 6-31G, for example) and derivatives of ERIs [Kobayashi and Nakai, J Chem Phys121:4050 2004]. The computer program can be linked to GAMESS ab initio quantum chemistry program. The practical performance of the ACE-RR method is assessed by means of the central processing unit (CPU) time for the first direct self-consistent field cycle on a model system (4 × 4 × 4 cubic hydrogen lattice), taxol ( C 47 H 51 NO 14), and valinomycin ( C 54 H 90 N 6 O 18) using Pople-type basis sets. The considerable efficiency of the present ACE-RR method is demonstrated by measuring the CPU time. The present ACE-RR method is comparable to or at most 30% faster than the Pople–Hehre method which is also designed for efficient computation of ERIs using Pople-type basis sets. Furthermore, the ACE-RR method is drastically faster than the Dupuis–Rys–King method in the case where the degree of contraction of Pople-type basis sets is high: 7.5 times faster in the case of valinomycin using STO-6G basis set, for example.
A FLUX-FLUX CROSS-CORRELATION FUNCTION APPROACH TO SELF-DIFFUSION OF HYDROGEN ATOM ON A CU(111) SURFACE
Authors: TANIIKE TOSHIAKI , YAMASHITA KOICHI
Published: April 2005

We have employed a flux-flux cross-correlation function approach (CCFA) to calculate quantum thermal rate constants of reactions for which an auto-correlation function approach (ACFA) is not adequate. In CCFA, two dividing surfaces partition a system into three regions, while in ACFA, two channels are defined by a dividing surface. Therefore, the CCFA method is appropriate for multi-channel reactions. In this paper, we show the efficiency of CCFA for multi-channel reactions. For example, we have examined self-diffusion of a hydrogen atom on a rigid Cu (111) surface. We introduce closed dividing surfaces that subdivide the potential energy surface for each channel. A combination of the closed dividing surfaces and CCFA allows us to calculate rate constants for both single and multi-hopping modes directly. Then, we calculate a diffusion constant without the usual uncorrelated hops approximation, using instead the calculated site-to-site hopping rates, thus showing the importance of multihops.
ADENINE TAUTOMER ELECTRONIC STRUCTURAL SIGNATURES STUDIED USING DUAL SPACE ANALYSIS
Authors: WANG FENG , DOWNTON MATTHEW T. , KIDWANI NADER
Published: April 2005

Electronic structural signatures of the adenine-7H tautomer in its ground state ( X1A′) have been identified using dual space analysis. The RHF/TZVP and B3LYP/TZVP calculations employed in the present work have shown that proton transfer from N(9)to N(7)makes the purine rings of adenine-7H geometrically closer to purine rather than adenine-9H, at the cost distortion of the amino group local symmetry. The shifts in ring lengths in [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text], which are proposed in this work as the summation of the bond lengths in the hex- and pentagon-rings, respectively, are [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] for adenine-9H and [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] for adenine-7H, respectively, from the corresponding rings in purine. We also demonstrate that energetic properties such as the orbital energies are insensitive to tautomerism. However, the N(9)to N(7)proton transfer significantly changes the dipole moments: a large increase from 2.44D (adenine-9H) to 7.49D (adenine-7H) is observed. Finally, four molecular orbitals, 27a′, 25a′, 24a′ and 23a′ are identified in momentum space as bearing the most important structural signatures of the adenine-7H tautomer.
RELATIVISTIC AND CORRELATION EFFECTS IN ATOMS
Authors: DAS B. P. , LATHA K. V. P. , SAHOO BIJAYA K. , SUR CHIRANJIB , CHAUDHURI RAJAT K. , MUKHERJEE D.
Published: April 2005

This review article deals with some case studies of relativistic and correlation effects in atomic systems. After a brief introduction to relativistic many-electron theory, a number of applications ranging from correlation energy to parity non-conservation in atoms are considered. There is a special emphasis on relativistic coupled-cluster theory as most of the results presented here are based on it.
AN AB INITIO STUDY OF CARBAZOLE MODEL COMPOUNDS
Authors: YEUNG M. Y. , LO C. F. , SO S. K.
Published: April 2005

In this paper, an ab initio molecular orbital study of carbazole model compounds has been performed. Carbazoles (KPA) are very useful organic electronic materials for they are both semi-conducting (p-type) and light-emitting (in the blue and UV range). By means of self-consistent Hartree–Fock method and density functional theory, the absorption and light-emitting properties of carbazole model compounds are investigated theoretically. The optimized structures, frontier orbitals, absorption and emission energy spectra are examined in order to give a better understanding of how polar side-groups affect the electronic properties of the compounds.
EXTENSION OF ENERGY DENSITY ANALYSIS TO TREATING CHEMICAL BONDS IN MOLECULES
Authors: NAKAI HIROMI , KIKUCHI YASUAKI
Published: April 2005

We have extended the method of energy density analysis (EDA), originally proposed by Nakai (Chem Phys Lett363:73, 2002), to treat chemical bonds in molecules. The present method, termed "Bond-EDA", partitions the total energy calculated by the Hartree–Fock method not only into atomic regions, but also bond regions. Numerical applications of Bond-EDA are carried out for ethane and ethylene. The C – C and C – H dissociation processes are examined for both molecules. For ethylene, we further investigate the changes of chemical bonds by the excitation from the singlet ground state to the triplet excited state.
POSSIBILITY OF MOLECULAR-SWITCH WITH CONTROLLED HYDROGEN BOND: UTILITY OF COMBINATION OF 2,2′-BIIMIDAZOLE AND REDOX-ACTIVE LIGAND
Authors: MORI HIROTOSHI , MIYOSHI EISAKU
Published: April 2005

A new inorganic molecule [ Co(Hbim) ( C 6 H 4 O 2)( NH 3)2]2 that can be used as a new optically durable molecular switch was theoretically designed in the framework of density functional theory. Three stable minima, belonging to 1 A g , 5 A 1, and 9 A g states, were found in the complex. Theoretically predicted infrared spectra of the complexes showed that a strong peak of NH stretching vibration is observed at 2690, 2120, and 2770 cm -1 in the 1 A g , 5 A 1, and 9 A g states, respectively. The apparent red shift of the NH stretching vibration band in the 5 A 1 state make it possible to distinguish the electronic state from others (1 A g and 9 A g ). This means that the complex can be used as a molecular level switch whose memory can be stably read by IR light without any photoreaction process; namely, without memory degradation.
INVESTIGATION OF DOMINANT ELECTRON CONFIGURATIONS IN TIME-DEPENDENT DENSITY FUNCTIONAL THEORY
Authors: YANAGISAWA SUSUMU , TSUNEDA TAKAO , HIRAO KIMIHIKO
Published: April 2005

We investigated the electron configurations that are dominant in excited states of molecules in time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT). By taking advantage of the discussion on off-diagonal elements in the TDDFT response matrix (Appel et al., Phys Rev Lett, 90, 043005, 2003), we can pick up electron transitions that contribute to an excitation of interest by making use of the diagonal elements of the TDDFT matrix. We can obtain approximate excitation energies by calculating a TDDFT submatrix, which is contracted for a list of collected transitions. This contracted TDDFT was applied to the calculation of excitation energies of the CO molecule adsorbing Pt 10 cluster and some prototype small molecules. Calculated results showed that a TDDFT excitation energy is dominated by a few electron configurations, unless severe degeneracy is involved.
THE CHARACTERISTIC BOUNDARY RADII OF ATOMS
Authors: ZHANG MING-BO , ZHAO DONG-XIA , YANG ZHONG-ZHI
Published: April 2005

The characteristic boundary radius of an atom has been defined as the distance from the classical turning point of electronic motion to the nucleus of the atom. With the ab initio method, the atomic boundary radii for elements from H through Xe are calculated. For the atoms in the same group, the radii defined in this way are of good linear relationship with the empirical radii commonly accepted, such as the van der Waals and covalent atomic radii determined by experimental data.
Doing Justice to the Group: Examining the Roles of the Group in Justice Research
Authors: Hegtvedt Karen A.
Published: April 2005

Although the abstract notion of justice implies attention to fairness not simply for one individual but for many, emphasis on how individuals perceive and react to injustice obscures the role of the group in justice research. Justice, as distinct from individual deserving, holds promise for the well-being of the group. Indeed, the group plays multiple roles in justice research, as a collective standard, a structure in which evaluations occur, a source of identity, and a context of interaction. Analyses of these roles help to explain underlying orientations of group members, delimiting the scope of justice in groups and the implications of justice in conflict situations. This review concludes with directions for future research that more explicitly draw attention to the rightful role of the group in understanding justice in society.
White Racial and Ethnic Identity in the United States
Authors: McDermott Monica , Samson Frank
Published: April 2005

This review examines research on white racial and ethnic identity, paying special attention to developments in whiteness studies during the past decade. Although sociologists have long focused on white ethnic identity, considerations of white racial identity are more recent. White racial identity is commonly portrayed as a default racial category, an invisible yet privileged identity formed by centuries of oppression of nonwhite groups. Whiteness has become synonymous with privilege in much scholarly writing, although recent empirical work strives to consider white racial identity as a complex, situated identity rather than a monolithic one. The study of white racial identity can greatly benefit from moving away from simply naming whiteness as an overlooked, privileged identity and by paying closer attention to empirical studies of racial and ethnic identity by those studying social movements, ethnic identity, and social psychology.
Glycation of mitochondrial proteins from diabetic rat kidney is associated with excess superoxide formation
Authors: Rosca Mariana G. , Mustata Tiberiu G. , Kinter Michael T. , Ozdemir Aylin M. , Kern Timothy S. , Szweda Luke I. , Brownlee Michael , Monnier Vincent M. , Weiss Miriam F.
Published: April 2005

Chronic hyperglycemia causes structural alterations of proteins through the Maillard reaction. In diabetes, methylglyoxal (MGO)-induced hydroimidazolones are the predominant modification. In contrast to acute hyperglycemia, mitochondrial respiration is depressed in chronic diabetes. To determine whether MGO-derived protein modifications result in abnormalities in mitochondrial bioenergetics and superoxide formation, proteomics and functional studies were performed in renal cortical mitochondria isolated from rats with 2, 6, and 12 mo of streptozotocin-induced diabetes. MGO-modified proteins belonged to the following two pathways: 1) oxidative phosphorylation and 2) fatty acid β-oxidation. Two of these proteins were identified as components of respiratory complex III, the major site of superoxide production in health and disease. Mitochondria from rats with diabetes exhibited a diminution of oxidative phosphorylation. A decrease in the respiratory complex III activity was significantly correlated with the quantity of MGO-derived hydroimidazolone present on mitochondrial proteins in both diabetic and control animals. In diabetes, isolated renal mitochondria produced significantly increased quantities of superoxide and showed evidence of oxidative damage. Administration of aminoguanidine improved mitochondrial respiration and complex III activity and decreased oxidative damage to mitochondrial proteins. Therefore, posttranslational modifications of mitochondrial proteins by MGO may represent pathogenic events leading to mitochondria-induced oxidative stress in the kidney in chronic diabetes.
Cardiac structure and function in monozygotic twin pairs discordant for physical fitness
Authors: Hannukainen Jarna C. , Kujala Urho M. , Toikka Jyri , Heinonen Olli J. , Kapanen Jukka , Vahlberg Tero , Kaprio Jaakko , Kalliokoski Kari K.
Published: April 2005

Cross-sectional studies in athletes and untrained subjects suggest that exercise training induces adaptations in cardiac structure and function. However, the role of genetic variation on the results has largely been ignored in these studies. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of long-term volitionally increased physical activity on electrocardiographic and echocardiographic parameters in male monozygotic twin pairs discordant for physical activity and fitness. On the basis of the mailed questionnaires, a telephone interview, and the inclusion criteria, 12 pairs of young adult male monozygotic twins were recruited from a Finnish twin cohort. All subjects completed a maximal oxygen uptake (V̇o2 max) test and electrocardiography and echocardiography studies. Nine pairs had at least 9% difference in V̇o2 max and were selected for further analysis and for a second echocardiography study. Twins were divided into the more (MAG) and less active group (LAG), according to their V̇o2 max. On average, MAG had 18% higher V̇o2 max compared with LAG. In electrocardiography, MAG had 29% ( P = 0.02) higher Cornell voltage and 37% ( P = 0.01) higher right-side hypertrophy index. In echocardiography, no significant differences were observed between the groups, and left ventricular mass index was only 7% ( P = 0.16) higher in MAG. These results show that the volitionally increased physical activity that has led to an 18% increase in cardiorespiratory fitness induces greater changes in electro- than echocardiographic parameters. Electrocardiographic changes were suggestive of left ventricular hypertrophy, and echocardiography showed a similar but statistically nonsignificant trend.
In vivo evidence against a role for adenosine in the exercise pressor reflex in humans
Authors: Riksen Niels P. , van Ginneken Egidia E. M. , van den Broek Petra H. H. , Smits Paul , Rongen Gerard A.
Published: April 2005

The pressor response to exercise is of great importance in both physiology and pathophysiology. Whether endogenous adenosine is a trigger for this reflex remains controversial. Muscle interstitial adenosine concentration can be determined by microdialysis. However, there are indications that local muscle cell damage by the microdialysis probe confounds these measurements in exercising muscle. Therefore, we used the nucleoside uptake inhibitor dipyridamole as pharmacological tool to bypass this confounding. We used microdialysis probes to measure endogenous adenosine in forearm skeletal muscle of healthy volunteers during two cycles of 15 min of intermittent isometric handgripping. During the second contraction, dipyridamole (12 μg·min−1·dl forearm−1) was administered into the brachial artery. Dipyridamole potentiated the exercise-induced increase in dialysate adenosine from 0.30 ± 0.08 to 0.48 ± 0.10 μmol/l ( n = 9, P < 0.05), but it did not potentiate the exercise-induced increase in blood pressure. A time-control study without dipyridamole revealed no difference in exercise-induced increase in adenosine between both contractions ( n = 8). To exclude the possibility that the dipyridamole-induced increase in dialysate adenosine originates from extravasation of increased circulating adenosine, we simultaneously measured adenosine with microdialysis probes in forearm muscle and antecubital vein. In a separate group of nine volunteers, simultaneous intrabrachial infusion of 100 μg·min−1·dl−1 dipyridamole and 5 μg·min−1·dl−1 adenosine increased dialysate adenosine from the intravenous but not the interstitial probe, indicating preserved endothelial barrier function for adenosine. We conclude that dipyridamole significantly inhibits uptake of interstitial adenosine without affecting the pressor response to exercise, suggesting that interstitial adenosine is not involved in the pressor response to rhythmic isometric exercise.
Respiratory system responsiveness in rabbits in vivo is reduced by prolonged continuous positive airway pressure
Authors: Xue Z. , Zhang L. , Ramchandani R. , Liu Y. , Antony V. B. , Gunst S. J. , Tepper R. S.
Published: April 2005

Active, nonanesthetized, tracheotomized rabbits were subjected to continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) for 4 days to determine the effects of chronic mechanical strain on lung and airway function. Rabbits were maintained for 4 days at a CPAP of 6 cmH2O (high CPAP), at a CPAP of 0 cmH2O (low CPAP), or without tracheostomy (no CPAP). After treatment with CPAP, changes in respiratory resistance in response to increasing concentrations of inhaled ACh were measured during mechanical ventilation to evaluate respiratory system responsiveness in vivo. Intraparenchymal bronchial segments were isolated from the lungs of all animals to evaluate airway smooth muscle responsiveness and bronchial compliance in vitro. Rabbits maintained for 4 days at high CPAP demonstrated significantly lower responsiveness to ACh compared with rabbits that were maintained at low CPAP or with no CPAP. Airways isolated from the lungs of animals subjected to the chronic application of high CPAP were also less responsive to ACh in vitro than the airways isolated from animals subjected to low CPAP or no CPAP. The persistence of the decreased responsiveness in the excised airway tissues suggests that the decreased respiratory system responsiveness observed in vivo results primarily from direct effects on the airways. The results demonstrate that the application of prolonged mechanical strain in vivo can reduce airway reactivity.
Kinetics of V̇o2 and femoral artery blood flow during heavy-intensity, knee-extension exercise
Authors: Paterson Nicole D. , Kowalchuk John M. , Paterson Donald H.
Published: April 2005

It has been suggested that, during heavy-intensity exercise, O2 delivery may limit oxygen uptake (V̇o2) kinetics; however, there are limited data regarding the relationship of blood flow and V̇o2 kinetics for heavy-intensity exercise. The purpose was to determine the exercise on-transient time course of femoral artery blood flow (Q̇leg) in relation to V̇o2 during heavy-intensity, single-leg, knee-extension exercise. Five young subjects performed five to eight repeats of heavy-intensity exercise with measures of breath-by-breath pulmonary V̇o2 and Doppler ultrasound femoral artery mean blood velocity and vessel diameter. The phase 2 time frame for V̇o2 and Q̇leg was isolated and fit with a monoexponent to characterize the amplitude and time course of the responses. Amplitude of the phase 3 response was also determined. The phase 2 time constant for V̇o2 of 29.0 s and time constant for Q̇leg of 24.5 s were not different. The change (Δ) in V̇o2 response to the end of phase 2 of 0.317 l/min was accompanied by a ΔQ̇leg of 2.35 l/min, giving a ΔQ̇leg-to-ΔV̇o2 ratio of 7.4. A slow-component V̇o2 of 0.098 l/min was accompanied by a further Q̇leg increase of 0.72 l/min (ΔQ̇leg-to-ΔV̇o2 ratio = 7.3). Thus the time course of Q̇leg was similar to that of muscle V̇o2 (as measured by the phase 2 V̇o2 kinetics), and throughout the on-transient the amplitude of the Q̇leg increase achieved (or exceeded) the Q̇leg-to-V̇o2 ratio steady-state relationship (ratio ∼4.9). Additionally, the V̇o2 slow component was accompanied by a relatively large rise in Q̇leg, with the increased O2 delivery meeting the increased V̇o2. Thus, in heavy-intensity, single-leg, knee-extension exercise, the amplitude and kinetics of blood flow to the exercising limb appear to be closely linked to the V̇o2 kinetics.
Brain stem mechanisms underlying acupuncture modality-related modulation of cardiovascular responses in rats
Authors: Zhou (Yi Syuu) Wei , Tjen-A-Looi Stephanie C. , Longhurst John C.
Published: April 2005

The present study was designed to investigate brain stem responses to manual acupuncture (MA) and electroacupuncture (EA) at different frequencies at pericardial P (5–6) acupoints located over the median nerve. Activity of premotor sympathetic cardiovascular neurons in the rostral ventral lateral medulla (rVLM) was recorded during stimulation of visceral and somatic afferents in ventilated anesthetized rats. We stimulated either the splanchnic nerve at 2 Hz (0.1–0.4 mA, 0.5 ms) or the median nerve for 30 s at 2, 10, 20, 40, or 100 Hz using EA (0.3–0.5 mA, 0.5 ms) or at ∼2 Hz with MA. Twelve of 18 cells responsive to splanchnic and median nerve stimulation could be antidromically driven from the intermediolateral columns of the thoracic spinal cord, T2–T4, indicating that they were premotor sympathetic neurons. All 18 neurons received baroreceptor input, providing evidence of their cardiovascular sympathoexcitatory function. Evoked responses during stimulation of the splanchnic nerve were inhibited by 49 ± 6% ( n = 7) with EA and by 46 ± 4% ( n = 6) with MA, indicating that the extent of inhibitory effects of the two modalities were similar. Inhibition lasted for 20 min after termination of EA or MA. Cardiovascular premotor rVLM neurons responded to 2-Hz electrical stimulation at P 5–6 and to a lesser extent to 10-, 20-, 40-, and 100-Hz stimulation (53 ± 10, 16 ± 2, 8 ± 2, 2 ± 1, and 0 ± 0 impulses/30 stimulations, n = 7). These results indicate that rVLM premotor sympathetic cardiovascular neurons that receive convergent input from the splanchnic and median nerves during low-frequency EA and MA are inhibited similarly for prolonged periods by low-frequency MA and EA.
The Structure of the Apocalypse. Re-examining a Perennial Problem
Authors: Tavo Felise
Published: April 2005

The ongoing debate on the literary structure of the Apocalypse has invoked to varying degrees the major contributions of A. Yarbro Collins, E. Schüssler Fiorenza, and J. Lambrecht. These have generally argued for an outline based primarily on a septenary pattern (Yarbro Collins), a form-content configuration pattern (Schüssler Fiorenza), or a progressive recapitulation pattern (Lambrecht). Yet few have recognized that these patterns do not necessarily preclude one another and that all three of them pertain to the unique style of the author which a discernment of his structure cannot do without. Taking these three patterns as its starting point, this article would further argue that although largely overlooked, the oralauricular setting of the book and the climactic character of its final New Jerusalem vision are just as critical to a discernment of the author's structure. The resulting blueprint is then verified by means of its transitions, symmetry, and centre.
The Old Slavonic Acts in Apparatus Critici of the Greek NT: Observations and Suggestions
Authors: Kyrychenko Alexander
Published: April 2005

The Old Slavonic testimony is treated differently in the Acts of the Apostles in UBSGNT4 and N-A27, the two major contemporary hand-editions of the Greek New Testament. The former cites it at nearly every point of variance, yet not always correctly, whereas the latter omits it entirely. Although the Old Slavonic testimony is relatively late and has not been adequately researched, it can provide valuable textual insight, especially in instances where manuscript support is negligible and/or in which the Old Slavonic reading also occurs in other versions.
Tie2 activation contributes to hemangiogenic regeneration after myelosuppression
Authors: Kopp Hans-Georg , Avecilla Scott T. , Hooper Andrea T. , Shmelkov Sergey V. , Ramos Carlos A. , Zhang Fan , Rafii Shahin
Published: April 2005

Chemotherapy- or radiation-induced myelosuppression results in apoptosis of cycling hematopoietic cells and induces regression of bone marrow (BM) sinusoidal vessels. Moreover, timely regeneration of BM neovessels is essential for reconstitution of hematopoiesis. However, the identity of angiogenic factors that support reconstitution of BM's vasculature is unknown. Here, we demonstrate that angiopoietin/tyrosine kinase with immunoglobulin and epidermal growth factor homology domains-2 (Tie2) signaling contributes to the assembly and remodeling of BM neovessels after myelosuppression. Using transgenic mice where the Tie2 promoter drives the reporter LacZ gene (Tie2-LacZ), we demonstrate that at steady state, there was minimal expression of Tie2 in the BM vasculature. However, after 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) treatment, there was a rapid increase in plasma vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A) levels and expansion of Tie2-positive neovessels. Inhibition of Tie2 resulted in impaired neoangiogenesis, leading to a delay in hematopoietic recovery. Conversely, angiopoietin-1 (Ang-1) stimulated hematopoiesis both in wild-type and thrombopoietin-deficient mice. In addition, Ang-1 shortened the duration of chemotherapy-induced neutropenia in wild-type mice. Exogenous VEGF-A and Ang-1 stimulated Tie2 expression in the BM vasculature. These data suggest that VEGF-A–induced up-regulation of Tie2 expression on the regenerating vasculature after BM suppression supports the assembly of sinusoidal endothelial cells, thereby promoting reconstitution of hematopoiesis. Angiopoietins may be clinically useful to accelerate hemangiogenic recovery after myelosuppression.
Beyond the Evidence of the New Hypertension Guidelines. Blood pressure measurement – is it good enough for accurate diagnosis of hypertension? Time might be in, for a paradigm shift (I)
Authors: Pater Cornel
Published: April 2005

Despite widespread availability of a large body of evidence in the area of hypertension, the translation of that evidence into viable recommendations aimed at improving the quality of health care is very difficult, sometimes to the point of questionable acceptability and overall credibility of the guidelines advocating those recommendations.

The scientific community world-wide and especially professionals interested in the topic of hypertension are witnessing currently an unprecedented debate over the issue of appropriateness of using different drugs/drug classes for the treatment of hypertension. An endless supply of recent and less recent "drug-news", some in support of, others against the current guidelines, justifying the use of selected types of drug treatment or criticising other, are coming out in the scientific literature on an almost weekly basis. The latest of such debate (at the time of writing this paper) pertains the safety profile of ARBs vs ACE inhibitors.

To great extent, the factual situation has been fuelled by the new hypertension guidelines (different for USA, Europe, New Zeeland and UK) through, apparently small inconsistencies and conflicting messages, that might have generated substantial and perpetuating confusion among both prescribing physicians and their patients, regardless of their country of origin.

The overwhelming message conveyed by most guidelines and opinion leaders is the widespread use of diuretics as first-line agents in all patients with blood pressure above a certain cut-off level and the increasingly aggressive approach towards diagnosis and treatment of hypertension. This, apparently well-justified, logical and easily comprehensible message is unfortunately miss-obeyed by most physicians, on both parts of the Atlantic.

Amazingly, the message assumes a universal simplicity of both diagnosis and treatment of hypertension, while ignoring several hypertension-specific variables, commonly known to have high level of complexity, such as:

- accuracy of recorded blood pressure and the great inter-observer variability,

- diversity in the competency and training of diagnosing physician,

- individual patient/disease profile with highly subjective preferences,

- difficulty in reaching consensus among opinion leaders,

- pharmaceutical industry's influence, and, nonetheless,

- the large variability in the efficacy and safety of the antihypertensive drugs.

The present 2-series article attempts to identify and review possible causes that might have, at least in part, generated the current healthcare anachronism (I); to highlight the current trend to account for the uncertainties related to the fixed blood pressure cut-off point and the possible solutions to improve accuracy of diagnosis and treatment of hypertension (II).
HDBStat!: A platform-independent software suite for statistical analysis of high dimensional biology data
Authors: Trivedi Prinal , Edwards Jode W , Wang Jelai , Gadbury Gary L , Srinivasasainagendra Vinodh , Zakharkin Stanislav O , Kim Kyoungmi , Mehta Tapan , Brand Jacob PL , Patki Amit , Page Grier P , Allison David B
Published: April 2005

Background

Many efforts in microarray data analysis are focused on providing tools and methods for the qualitative analysis of microarray data. HDBStat! (High-Dimensional Biology-Statistics) is a software package designed for analysis of high dimensional biology data such as microarray data. It was initially developed for the analysis of microarray gene expression data, but it can also be used for some applications in proteomics and other aspects of genomics. HDBStat! provides statisticians and biologists a flexible and easy-to-use interface to analyze complex microarray data using a variety of methods for data preprocessing, quality control analysis and hypothesis testing.

Results

Results generated from data preprocessing methods, quality control analysis and hypothesis testing methods are output in the form of Excel CSV tables, graphs and an Html report summarizing data analysis.

Conclusion

HDBStat! is a platform-independent software that is freely available to academic institutions and non-profit organizations. It can be downloaded from our website http://www.soph.uab.edu/ssg_content.asp?id=1164.