bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Reaction of hypochlorous acid with imidazole: Formation of 2‐chloro‐ and 2‐oxoimidazoles
Authors: Jena N. R. , Kushwaha P. S. , Mishra P. C.
Published: May 2007

Reaction of hypochlorous acid (HOCl) with imidazole (Im) taken as a model for the 5‐membered ring of guanine, leading to the products 2‐chloro‐ and 2‐oxo‐imidazoles was investigated at the B3LYP/6‐31+G* and B3LYP/AUG‐cc‐pVDZ levels of density functional theory. For all cases, single point energy calculations were performed at the MP2/AUG‐cc‐pVDZ level of theory using the geometries optimised at the B3LYP/AUG‐cc‐pVDZ level. Intrinsic reaction coordinate calculations were performed to ensure genuineness of all the calculated transition states. Effect of aqueous media was investigated by solvating all the species involved in the reactions using the polarizable continuum model. It is found that 2‐chloroimidazole (2‐ClIm) can be formed following three different reaction schemes while 2‐oxoimidazole (2‐oxoIm) can be formed following two different reaction schemes. The calculated barrier energies show that formation of 2‐oxoIm would be less favored than that of 2‐ClIm, which explains the experimental observations on relative yields of 8‐chlorodeoxyguanosine and 8‐oxodeoxyguanosine. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Comput Chem 2008
The roles of the city manager
Authors: Wise Jeremy A.
Published: May 2007

Much of the literature on the council‐manager plan is devoted to the manager's relations with the council on program and policy issues. But often his greatest and most undisputed power lies in his direct and indirect involvement in routine program decisions, and in his interaction with other employees, the media, the general public and other governments in addition to the council.
Decentralizing the city: Who gets control?
Authors: Bresnick David
Published: May 2007

Decentralization for New York City and other large cities may soon be a reality. If the strangthening of the role of the states continues a considerable revision in the traditional autonomy of cities is predictable. More incorporation into state political systems should destroy any illusions that complete metropotian autonomy is possible.
Local electoral systems: Is there a best way?
Authors: Boyd
Published: May 2007

Various electoral systems have evolved for local governments in the United States. Its is impossible to state categorically that one is better than the rest. Depending on political tradition, a voting mechanism may be found that will help—but only help—to achieve desired results in representation.
Rebuilding cities: Beyond bricks and mortar
Authors: Long Norton E.
Published: May 2007

The rebuilding of cities is far more than a matter of bricks and mortar. The city is people, not buildings, and unless most of them are employed, self‐respecting and respected, the towers of a “renewed” downtown are a delusion and a mockery. The city can be truly rebuilt and have a viable future only if its economy is made competitive and able to employ all its inhabitants.
The urban waterfront: Opportunities for renewal
Authors: Moss Mitchell L.
Published: May 2007

A complex set of forces has emerged which compels planners to consider the urban waterfront, traditionally not a major focus of attention by municipal governments, as a fundamental element in planning and managing cities. These forces are state and local coastal zone management programs, the decline of the urban port areas and a wide range of redevelopment projects currently under consideration.
Financing criminal justice: The state‐local switch
Authors: Skoler Daniel L.
Published: May 2007

The standards enunciated by various groups in the last decade include a host of exciting and needed improvements in the criminal justice system. They also conceal a “revolution” in fiscal impact and approach that has not been examined frequently enough in all its ramifications. Chiefly, they would transform state government into a primary funder of the system.
The state role in land use: New York in the seventies
Authors: Werthamer Shirley K.
Published: May 2007

Present provisions for controls over land development in the U. S. are causing dissatisfaction among many groups. Although New York has no single, official statewide development plan, it has removed certain areas from local control and has adopted legislation concerning agricultural lands, tidal wetlands, Adirondack Park and forest preserves, and siting of public utility facilities.
High‐performance liquid chromatographic analysis of phlorotannins from the brown alga Fucus Vesiculosus
Authors: Koivikko Riitta , Loponen Jyrki , Pihlaja Kalevi , Jormalainen Veijo
Published: May 2007

Separating individual compounds by HPLC represents an effective method for the detection and quantification of phenolic compounds and has been widely utilised. However, phlorotannins are commonly quantified using colorimetric methods, as the total amount of the whole compound group. In the present paper the separation of a set of individual soluble phlorotannins from the phenolic crude extract of Fucus vesiculosus was achieved by HPLC with UV photodiode array detection. Different gradient programs for reversed‐ and normal‐phase HPLC methods were developed and tested. Normal‐phase (NP) conditions with a silica stationary phase and a mobile phase with a linear gradient of increasing polarity were found to separate 16 individual components of the phenolic extract. The suitability of the NP‐HPLC method for mass spectrometric application was preliminarily tested. Sample preparation was found to be a critical step in the analysis owing to the rapid oxidation of phlorotannins; ascorbic acid was used as an antioxidant. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Einige Bemerkungen über Strömungen in rotierenden Flüssigkeiten
Authors: Görtler H.
Published: May 2007

Theoretische Betrachtungen über erzwungene kleine Schwingungen in rotierenden Flüssigkeiten führen zu ähnlich überraschenden Ergebnissen, wie sie vom Verfasser kürzlich für Flüssigkeiten mit Dichteschichtung vorausgesagt und experimentell bestätigt wurden. Diese werden im folgenden im Zusammenhang mit verwandten Untersuchungen anderer Autoren diskutiert. Einige Bemerkungen über die Theorie der ebenen Strömungen in rotierenden Systemen schließen sich an.
Accuracy of Self‐Reported Personal History of Cancer in an Outpatient Breast Center
Authors: Dominguez Francisco J. , Lawrence Christine , Halpern Elkan F. , Drohan Brian , Grinstein Georges , Black Dalliah M. , Smith Barbara L. , Gadd Michele A. , Specht Michele , Kopans Daniel B. , Moore Richard H. , Hughes Sherwood S. , Roche Constance A. , Hughes Kevin S.
Published: May 2007

The self‐reporting of cancer history is becoming increasingly important, as it frequently guides medical decision‐making. We studied the accuracy of personal cancer history using a self‐administered questionnaire, comparing the results with the Tumor Registry at our institution. Among 39,662 records, we identified 3614 women with a single cancer in the Tumor Registry who reported none or one cancer on their questionnaire. The sensitivity in self‐reporting cancers was 85.7%, ranging from 92.1% for breast cancer to 42.9% for leukemia. The accuracy for breast cancer and Hodgkin's Lymphoma was significantly better than other cancers (p=0.00027, CI: 1.4–3.88). Analysis of patient's characteristics showed that Caucasians reported breast cancer more accurately than Asian/Pacific Islanders (p=0.008), and those with Jewish ancestry more accurately than non‐Jewish (p=0.0435). These results will help us to improve data collection and thus improve medical decision‐making.
Design and Analysis of Incomplete Multitrait-Multimethod Studies from a Multiplicative Perspective
Authors: Zhang Guangjian , Browne Michael W.
Published: May 2007

The composite direct product (CDP) model is a multiplicative model for multitrait-multimethod (MTMM) designs. It is extended to incomplete MTMM correlation matrices where some trait-method combinations are not available. Rules for omitting trait-method combinations without resulting in an indeterminate model are also suggested. Maximum likelihood estimation and the log absolute correlation procedure are used to fit the model, and are found to yield similar results. The balanced incomplete MTMM design tends to yield more accurate estimates than the randomly missing design.
An external tagging technique for the long-spined sea urchin Diadema aff. antillarum
Authors: Clemente Sabrina , Hernández José Carlos , Brito Alberto
Published: May 2007

An in situ tagging technique for the long-spined sea urchin Diadema aff. antillarum, suitable for carrying
out short and medium term ecological studies is described. It is a simple method in which external nylon
tags are anchored in holes drilled through the urchin test. The technique was tested in the field and found
to be effective for individuals of more than 20 mm test diameter in terms of survival and tag retention rates.
Differences in ion regulation in the sea urchins Lytechinus variegatus and Arbacia lixula (Echinodermata: Echinoidea)
Authors: Vidolin Denilton , Santos-Gouvea Ivonete A. , Freire Carolina A.
Published: May 2007

The regular sea urchin Lytechinus variegatus, a species previously reported from areas of reduced salinities,
and Arbacia lixula, a species unreported from diluted waters, were submitted to seawater dilution or
seawater dilution in magnesium-supplemented waters. Seawater (35 psu) was either proportionally
diluted with filtered dechlorinated tap water (30 psu, 25 psu), or diluted and supplemented with magnesium
as MgCl2 (30+Mg, 25+Mg), up to full-strength seawater Mg2+ levels (35 psu, ~54 mM Mg2+). Magnesium
supplementation was intended to verify the interfering effect of magnesium on osmo-ionic concentrations of
the coelomic fluid (CF) of two ecologically distinct species of sea urchins. After 6 h in control (35 psu) or
experimental seawater, CF samples were withdrawn by puncturing through the peristomial membrane.
Coelomic fluid osmolality ([Osm]), and concentrations of ([Na+]), ([Cl-]), ([Mg2+]) and ([K+]) were
measured for both species. Under all conditions, L. variegatus displayed higher CF osmolality, [Na+], and
[K+] values than the water (and A. lixula). Comparatively, L. variegatus is designated as a‘hyper-conformer’, while A. lixula is an ‘iso-conformer’. The CF [Mg2+] showed no evidence of being controlled by either species. Mg2+ supplementation in diluted seawater affected Mg2+ and Cl- levels only. Na+ appears to be taken up actively by L. variegatus, rendering its CF mostly hyper-ionic for Na+ (and hyperosmotic) relative to external seawater. The different gradients observed with the different ions suggest selective permeabilities or
ion regulation by L. variegatus.
Bacterial growth response to copepod grazing in aquatic ecosystems
Authors: Vargas Cristian A. , Cuevas L. Antonio , González Humberto E. , Daneri Giovanni
Published: May 2007

The growth rate response of bacterial communities to the potential increase of dissolved organic matter
(DOM) produced by the copepod Acartia tonsa was assessed in experiments conducted in three stations
representing three contrasting aquatic environments (coastal embayment, shelf and ocean). Bacterial
assemblages were inoculated in filtered seawater where A. tonsa had previously grazed. Utilization of
DOM over time was evaluated after the addition of bacterial inoculums as the biomass changes in both
‘control’ and ‘copepod’ treatments. In the embayment and ocean a high bacterial growth was observed in
the treatments with seawater where copepod were feeding. Additional field measurements of bacterial,
primary production and zooplankton biomass support the idea that bacterial communities living in
oceanic environments can be efficient to utilize the newly available substrate. Copepods play a key role
not only as conveyors of carbon up through the classical food-web, but also generated significant amounts
of bacterial substrate in the microbial loop food-web.
Logic programs with monotone abstract constraint atoms
Authors: MAREK VICTOR W. , NIEMELÄ ILKKA , TRUSZCZYŃSKI MIROSŁAW
Published: May 2007

We introduce and study logic programs whose clauses are built out ofmonotone constraint atoms. We show that the operational concept of the one-step provability operator generalizes to programs with monotone constraint atoms, but the generalization involves nondeterminism. Our main results demonstrate that our formalism is a common generalization of (1) normal logic programming with its semantics of models, supported models and stable models, (2) logic programming with weight atomslparseprograms) with the semantics of stable models, as defined by Niemelä, Simons and Soininen, and (3) of disjunctive logic programming with the possible-model semantics of Sakama and Inoue.
White Face, Black Voice: Race, Gender, and Region in the Music of the Boswell Sisters
Authors: STRAS LAURIE
Published: May 2007

The New Orleans hot jazz vocal trio the Boswell Sisters was one of the leading ensembles of the 1930s. Enormously popular with audiences, the Boswells were also recognized by colleagues and peers to be among the finest singers, instrumentalists, and arrangers of their day. Many jazz historians remember them as the first successful white singers who truly “sounded black,” yet they rarely interrogate what “sounding black” meant for the Boswells, not only in technical or musical terms but also as an expression of the cultural attitudes and ideologies that shape stylistic judgments. The Boswells' audience understood vocal blackness as a cultural trope, though that understanding was simultaneously filtered through minstrelsy's legacy and challenged by the new entertainment media. Moreover, the sisters' southern femininity had the capacity to further contexualize and “color” both their musical output and its reception. This essay examines what it meant for a white voice to sound black in the United States during the early 1930s, and charts how the Boswells permeated the cultural, racial, and gender boundaries implicit in both blackness and southernness as they developed their collective musical voice.
Apart Playing: McCoy Tyner and “Bessie's Blues”
Authors: GIVAN BENJAMIN
Published: May 2007

Jazz pianist McCoy Tyner's improvisation on the theme “Bessie's Blues,” recorded with the John Coltrane Quartet in 1964, exemplifies the traditional Afrodiasporic performance practice of “apart playing.” A formulation of the art historian Robert Farris Thompson, apart playing occurs whenever individual performers enact different, complementary roles in an ensemble setting. For interpretative purposes, the concept helps to provide a cultural context for certain pitch-based formal devices, such as substitute harmonies and playing “outside” an underlying chord or scale, which Tyner uses in the course of his solo.
An effective medium model for the elastic moduli of fiber networks and nanocomposites
Authors: Chatterjee Avik P. , Prokhorova Darya A.
Published: May 2007

A model is developed for the elastic moduli of fiber networks composed of elongated particles characterized by aspect ratio polydispersity. The present treatment of elastic fiber networks is integrated with an effective medium model for heterogeneous materials and with percolation theory to provide a framework for describing fiber-reinforced nanocomposites. Model calculations are presented for the dependences of composite moduli on particle aspect ratio, volume fraction, and polydispersity index.
Direct measurement of the effective charge in nonpolar suspensions by optical tracking of single particles
Authors: Seth Roberts G. , Wood Tiffany A. , Frith William J. , Bartlett Paul
Published: May 2007

The authors develop an ultrasensitive method for the measurement of the charge carried by a colloidal particle in a nonpolar suspension. The technique uses the phenomenon of the resonance of a particle held in an optical tweezer trap and driven by a sinusoidal electric field. The trapped particle forms a strongly damped harmonic oscillator whose fluctuations are a function of γ, the ratio of the root-mean-square average of the electric and thermal forces on the particle. At low applied fields (γ⪡1) the particle is confined to the optical axis, while at high fields (γ⪢1) the probability distribution of the particle is double peaked. The periodically modulated thermal fluctuations are measured with nanometer sensitivity using an interferometric position detector. Charges, as low as a few elementary charges, can be measured with an uncertainty of about 0.25e. This is significantly better than previous techniques and opens up new possibilities for the study of nonpolar suspensions.
Off and Out: The Spaces for Certification—Offshore Outsourcing in St Petersburg, Russia
Authors: Feakins Melanie
Published: May 2007

The offshore outsourcing of software-production services to places outside of the established networks in well-developed core economies is a dynamic and topical aspect of contemporary reorganizations in the software-development industries. Software production and related information technology services are outsourced to firms offshore or, more specifically, to places where labor skills appropriate to these industries are available at lower costs. Notable offshore destinations include: India, Russia, Ireland, Israel, Romania, and Ukraine, among several others. The offshore outsourcing of software production involves complex introductions, reorganizations, and compositions of production chains and management structures in the continuing negotiation of how relations and work processes will be governed across spaces. The author documents the roles of certification—ISO 9000 and CMM—as new governmental forms that shape understandings, perceptions, and strategies for becoming recognized within the offshore. Drawing on field research with over twenty firms in St Petersburg, Russia, the author proposes that certification is an emergent form of governance that embodies specific processes of globalization.
Cochlear Implantation in Children With CHARGE Syndrome: Therapeutic Decisions and Outcomes
Authors: Lanson Biana G. , Green Janet E. , Roland J Thomas , Lalwani Anil K. , Waltzman Susan B.
Published: May 2007

Objectives: Ear anomalies and deafness are associated with CHARGE syndrome, which also presents with a cluster of features including coloboma of the eye, heart defects, atresia of the choanae, developmental retardation, and genitourinary abnormalities. The aim of this study is to explore the viability of cochlear implantation in children with CHARGE syndrome and to assess the outcome.

Study Design: Retrospective chart review.

Methods: Eleven children presenting with severe to profound sensorineural hearing loss associated with CHARGE syndrome were the subjects of this study. Routine audiometric measurements and the Infant Toddler Meaningful Auditory Integration Scale (IT‐MAIS) were performed pre‐ and postoperatively. In addition, the degree of the subjects' cochlear deformity were measured and correlated to outcome.

Results: All patients had varying degrees of ear anomalies, seven patients suffered from coloboma of the eyes, two had heart defects, five exhibited choanal atresia, eleven showed developmental retardation, and six had genitourinary abnormalities. Ten of the children underwent cochlear implantation with complete insertion of the electrode array without complication and were followed over a 3‐month to a 7‐year period. The eleventh child was not implanted because of severe retardation. All of the implanted children showed varying, but limited degrees, of auditory benefit as measured by routine audiometry and the IT‐MAIS.

Conclusions: Careful treatment planning for children with sensorineural hearing loss and CHARGE syndrome can lead to varying, but limited degrees, of auditory benefit with no increase in surgical complications. Although the implant enhanced the children's ‘connectivity’ to the environment, it did not promote the development of oral language skills in this population.
Psychological benefits of greenspace increase with biodiversity
Authors: Fuller Richard A , Irvine Katherine N , Devine-Wright Patrick , Warren Philip H , Gaston Kevin J
Published: May 2007

The world's human population is becoming concentrated into cities, giving rise to concerns that it is becoming increasingly isolated from nature. Urban public greenspaces form the arena of many people's daily contact with nature and such contact has measurable physical and psychological benefits. Here we show that these psychological benefits increase with the species richness of urban greenspaces. Moreover, we demonstrate that greenspace users can more or less accurately perceive species richness depending on the taxonomic group in question. These results indicate that successful management of urban greenspaces should emphasize biological complexity to enhance human well-being in addition to biodiversity conservation.
Positive natural selection has driven the evolution of the Hsp70s in
Diguetia
spiders
Authors: Starrett James , Waters Elizabeth R
Published: May 2007

Hsp70s are a ubiquitous family of highly conserved proteins. Hsp70s are chaperones and have important roles in both protein folding and thermotolerance. It has been widely assumed that Hsp70 sequence evolution is governed by the strong functional constraints imposed by its crucial cellular functions. In this study of cytosolic heat-inducible Hsp70s from three spider families, we have found clear evidence of positive natural selection altering Hsp70s in desert-dwelling and heat-loving Diguetidae spiders. These spiders are a small family restricted to deserts. They display heat-tolerant behaviours not seen in their closest relatives, the Pholcidae and Plectreuridae.
Antimicrobial defences increase with sociality in bees
Authors: Stow Adam , Briscoe David , Gillings Michael , Holley Marita , Smith Shannon , Leys Remko , Silberbauer Tish , Turnbull Christine , Beattie Andrew
Published: May 2007

Evidence for the antiquity and importance of microbial pathogens as selective agents is found in the proliferation of antimicrobial defences throughout the animal kingdom. Social insects, typified by crowding and often by low genetic variation, have high probabilities of disease transmission and eusocial Hymenoptera may be particularly vulnerable because of haplodiploidy. Mechanisms they employ to reduce the risk of disease include antimicrobial secretions which are particularly important primary barriers to infection. However, until now, whether or not there is selection for stronger antimicrobial secretions when the risk of disease increases because of sociality has not been tested. Here, we present evidence that the production of progressively stronger antimicrobial compounds was critical to the evolution of sociality in bees. We found that increases in group size and genetic relatedness were strongly correlated with increasing antimicrobial strength. The antimicrobials of even the most primitive semi-social species were an order of magnitude stronger that those of solitary species, suggesting a point of no return, beyond which disease control was essential. Our results suggest that selection by microbial pathogens was critical to the evolution of sociality and required the production of strong, front-line antimicrobial defences.
Reproductive isolation of sympatric morphs in a population of Darwin's finches
Authors: Huber Sarah K , León Luis Fernando De , Hendry Andrew P , Bermingham Eldredge , Podos Jeffrey
Published: May 2007

Recent research on speciation has identified a central role for ecological divergence, which can initiate speciation when (i) subsets of a species or population evolve to specialize on different ecological resources and (ii) the resulting phenotypic modes become reproductively isolated. Empirical evidence for these two processes working in conjunction, particularly during the early stages of divergence, has been limited. We recently described a population of the medium ground finch,Geospiza fortis, that features large and small beak morphs with relatively few intermediates. As in other Darwin's finches of the Galápagos Islands, these morphs presumably diverged in response to variation in local food availability and inter- or intraspecific competition. We here demonstrate that the two morphs show strong positive assortative pairing, a pattern that holds over three breeding seasons and during both dry and wet conditions. We also document restrictions on gene flow between the morphs, as revealed by genetic variation at 10 microsatellite loci. Our results provide strong support for the central role of ecology during the early stages of adaptive radiation.
The computational approaches to calculate normal distributions on the rotation group
Authors: Borovkov Maxim , Savyolova Tatjana
Published: May 2007

There are several kinds of probability distribution widely used in quantitative texture analysis. One of them is the normal (Gaussian) distribution. The main application of the normal distribution is the orientation distribution function and pole-figure approximation on the rotation group SO(3) and sphere S2accordingly. The calculation of the normal distribution is a complicated computational task. There are currently several methods for calculating the normal distribution. Each of these methods has its advantages and disadvantages. The classical method of calculation by Fourier series summation is effective enough only in the case of continuous texture approximation. In the case of sharp texture approximation, the analytical approach is more suitable and effective. These two calculation methods result in a continuous function. The other method allows a discrete orientation set to be obtained, corresponding to a random sample of normal distribution similar to experimental electron backscatter diffraction data. This algorithm represents a statistical simulation by the particularized Monte Carlo method. A short review of these computational approaches to the calculation of normal distributions on the rotation group is presented.
Parallel implementation ofAutoDock
Authors: Khodade Prashant , Prabhu R. , Chandra Nagasuma , Raha Soumyendu , Govindarajan R.
Published: May 2007

Computational docking of ligands to protein structures is a key step in structure-based drug design. Currently, the time required for each docking run is high and thus limits the use of docking in a high-throughput manner, warranting parallelization of docking algorithms.AutoDock, a widely used tool, has been chosen for parallelization. Near-linear increases in speed were observed with 96 processors, reducing the time required for docking ligands to HIV-protease from 81 min, as an example, on a single IBM Power-5 processor (1.65 GHz), to about 1 min on an IBM cluster, with 96 such processors. This implementation would make it feasible to perform virtual ligand screening usingAutoDock.
Classification of protein crystallization images using Fourier descriptors
Authors: Walker Christopher G. , Foadi James , Wilson Julie
Published: May 2007

The two-dimensional Fourier transform (2D-FT) is well suited to the extraction of features to differentiate image texture, and the classification of images based on information acquired from the frequency domain provides a complementary method to approaches based within the spatial domain. The intensity,I, of the Fourier-transformed images can be modelled by an equation of power law form,I=Arα, whereAand α are constants andris the radial spatial frequency. The power law is fitted over annuli, centred at zero spatial frequency, and the parameters,Aand α, determined for each spatial frequency range. The variation of the fitted parameters across wedges of fixed polar angle provides a measure of directionality and the deviation from the fitted model can be exploited for classification. The classification results are combined with an existing method to classify individual objects within the crystallization drop to obtain an improved overall classification rate.
Operator-assisted harvesting of protein crystals using a universal micromanipulation robot
Authors: Viola Robert , Carman Peter , Walsh Jace , Miller Echo , Benning Matthew , Frankel Daniel , McPherson Alexander , Cudney Bob , Rupp Bernhard
Published: May 2007

High-throughput crystallography has reached a level of automation where complete computer-assisted robotic crystallization pipelines are capable of cocktail preparation, crystallization plate setup, and inspection and interpretation of results. While mounting of crystal pins, data collection and structure solution are highly automated, crystal harvesting and cryocooling remain formidable challenges towards full automation. To address the final frontier in achieving fully automated high-throughput crystallography, the prototype of an anthropomorphic six-axis universal micromanipulation robot (UMR) has been designed and tested; this UMR is capable of operator-assisted harvesting and cryoquenching of protein crystals as small as 10 µm from a variety of 96-well plates. The UMR is equipped with a versatile tool exchanger providing full operational flexibility. Trypsin crystals harvested and cryoquenched using the UMR have yielded a 1.5 Å structure demonstrating the feasibility of robotic protein crystal harvesting.
Automation of invariom and of experimental charge density modelling of organic molecules with the preprocessor programInvariomTool
Authors: Hübschle C. B. , Luger P. , Dittrich B.
Published: May 2007

The programInvariomToolcan be used to obtain high-quality X-ray structures of organic molecules by automating both invariom modelling and the modelling process employed in experimental charge density studies.InvariomToolis a preprocessor program for theXDpackage [Koritsánszkyet al.(2003), Technical Report, Freie Universität Berlin] and allows the analysis of a structure in terms of the local atomic bonding environment in order to assign Hansen–Coppens pseudoatoms that are transferable from one molecule to another (invarioms). It relies on a database of invariom entries, each containing the invariom name, local atomic site symmetry, coordinate system, model-compound name and theoretically predicted multipole population parameters. The information on chemical equivalence and local atomic site symmetry determines which multipole parameters are to be refined in the least-squares procedure of an experimental charge density study.InvariomToolallows the user to generate input files either for invariom refinement, where parameters are fixed and taken from the database, or for an experimental refinement of multipole parameters.
In situ observation of the tetragonal–cubic phase transition in the CeZrO4 solid solution – a high-temperature neutron diffraction study
Authors: Wakita Takahiro , Yashima Masatomo
Published: May 2007

The crystal structure of the compositionally homogeneous ceria–zirconia solid solution CeZrO4 is refined by Rietveld analysis of neutron diffraction data measured in situ over the temperature range 296–1831 K. The CeZrO4 exhibits a tetragonal structure with the space group P42/nmc at temperatures from 296 to 1542 K (Z = 1), and a cubic fluorite-type form with the space group Fm\overline 3 m at 1831 K (Z = 2). The isotropic atomic displacement parameters of Ce and Zr atoms B(Ce,Zr) and O atoms B(O) are found to increase with temperature, with B(O) being larger than B(Ce,Zr), suggesting the higher diffusivity of oxygen ions. The ratio of the c axial length to the a length of the pseudo-fluorite lattice (c/a
F axial ratio) for the tetragonal CeZrO4 phase increased from 296 to 1034 K and decreased from 1291 to 1542 K, reaching unity between 1542 and 1831 K. The displacement of O atoms along the c axis in the tetragonal CeZrO4 phase increased from 296 to 1034 K and decreased from 1291 to 1542 K, reaching 0.0 Å between 1542 and 1831 K. These results indicate that the cubic-to-tetragonal phase transition between 1542 and 1831 K is accompanied by oxygen displacement along the c axis and the increase of the c/a
F axial ratio from unity.
Caregivers' experiences of exposure to violence in services for people with learning disabilities
Authors: LUNDSTRÖM M. , ÅSTRÖM S. , GRANEHEIM U. H.
Published: May 2007

Exposure to violence is a commonly encountered problem in services for people with learning disabilities; Swedish studies have reported that 51–61% of caregivers are exposed to violence each year, and caregivers describe violence as being a ‘normal’ part of their working life. To illuminate the experience of being exposed to violence, we performed 50 narrative interviews with 44 caregivers working in services for people with learning disabilities. The tape‐recorded interviews were transcribed verbatim and subjected to qualitative content analysis. The main findings indicate that caregivers' experiences of being exposed to violence can be related to two themes: falling apart, and keeping it together. Falling apart includes feelings of fear, powerlessness, sadness, anger and timelessness, while keeping it together concerns pleasure, respect, self‐reflection and habituation. Destructive experiences of falling apart are balanced by a more constructive view of the situation, with the aim of respecting the resident as a whole person, and keeping the situation, and the caregivers themselves, together.
Uncovering the sexual self in people with schizophrenia
Authors: VOLMAN L. , LANDEEN J.
Published: May 2007

Sexuality is a vital component of the self. Yet, there is a dearth of research literature that explores the sexuality of people with schizophrenia. The purpose of this study was to understand how people with schizophrenia experience and perceive their sexuality. Using grounded theory methodology, the study recruited five men and five women with schizophrenia‐spectrum disorders who lived independently in the community. These participants were interviewed regarding their subjective sense of their own sexuality. The findings suggested that people with schizophrenia integrate sexuality into their sense of self. Although the illness affected various aspects of their sexual lives, many participants were able to develop and maintain meaningful intimate relationships, as well as construct their own definitions and personal meanings of sexuality. Furthermore, participants described dealing with the impact of schizophrenia in the context of managing their illness. These findings have implications for clinical practice and recovery of people with schizophrenia.
Reliable selfing rate estimates from imperfect population genetic data
Authors: DAVID PATRICE , PUJOL BENOÎT , VIARD FRÉDÉRIQUE , CASTELLA VINCENT , GOUDET JÉRÔME
Published: May 2007

Genotypic frequencies at codominant marker loci in population samples convey information on mating systems. A classical way to extract this information is to measure heterozygote deficiencies (FIS) and obtain the selfing rate s from FIS = s/(2 − s), assuming inbreeding equilibrium. A major drawback is that heterozygote deficiencies are often present without selfing, owing largely to technical artefacts such as null alleles or partial dominance. We show here that, in the absence of gametic disequilibrium, the multilocus structure can be used to derive estimates of s independent of FIS and free of technical biases. Their statistical power and precision are comparable to those of FIS, although they are sensitive to certain types of gametic disequilibria, a bias shared with progeny‐array methods but not FIS. We analyse four real data sets spanning a range of mating systems. In two examples, we obtain s = 0 despite positive FIS, strongly suggesting that the latter are artefactual. In the remaining examples, all estimates are consistent. All the computations have been implemented in a open‐access and user‐friendly software called rmes (robust multilocus estimate of selfing) available at http://ftp.cefe.cnrs.fr, and can be used on any multilocus data. Being able to extract the reliable information from imperfect data, our method opens the way to make use of the ever‐growing number of published population genetic studies, in addition to the more demanding progeny‐array approaches, to investigate selfing rates.
Mineral absorption in the black rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis) as compared with the domestic horse
Authors: Clauss M. , Castell J. C. , Kienzle E. , Schramel P. , Dierenfeld E. S. , Flach E. J. , Behlert O. , Streich W. J. , Hummel J. , Hatt J‐M.
Published: May 2007

To test whether mineral recommendations for horses are likely to guarantee adequate mineral provision for black rhinoceroses (Diceros bicornis), we investigated the apparent absorption (aA) of macro‐ and microminerals in eight black rhinoceroses from three zoological institutions in a total of 32 feeding trials with total faecal collection, with additional data from three unpublished studies (18 feeding trials). Feeds and faeces were analysed for Ca, P, Mg, Na, K, Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn and Co. The resulting aA coefficients, and the linear relationships of apparently absorbable dietary mineral content to total dietary mineral content [per 100 g dry matter (DM)], were compared with data for domestic horses. Rhinoceroses had significantly higher aA coefficients for Ca and Mg (because of a higher calculated ‘true’ absorption), and lower ones for Na and K (because of calculated higher endogenous faecal losses). High absorption efficiency for divalent cations is hypothesized to be an adaptation to a natural diet of particularly high Ca:P ratio (approximately 14:1); an effective removal of Ca from the ingesta guarantees sufficient P availability at the fermentation site in the hindgut. Higher faecal losses of Na and K are hypothesized to be linked to a higher faecal bulk per DM intake in black rhinoceroses as compared with horses because of a generally lower digestive efficiency. There were no relevant differences in the absorption patterns of microminerals. In particular, there were no discernable differences in Fe absorption within the rhinoceroses for diets with and without tannin supplementation. Several of the zoo diets assessed in this study were deficient in Cu, Mn or Zn, and most contained excessive levels of Fe when compared with horse requirements. The findings of this study indicate that differences in mineral absorption between occur even between species of similar digestive anatomy; that in particular, Ca absorption might vary between hindgut fermenters with Ca:P ratio in their natural diet; that Na might be a particularly limiting factor in the ecology of free‐ranging rhinoceroses; that moderate doses of tannins do not seem to markedly influence mineral absorption; and that diets for captive animals should contain adequate, but not excessive mineral levels.
Alu sequence variants of the BPY2 gene in proven fertile and infertile men with Sertoli cell‐only phenotype
Authors: Choi Jin , Koh Eitetsu , Suzuki Hiromi , Maeda Yuji , Yoshida Atsumi , Namiki Mikio
Published: May 2007

Objective:  The basic protein on Y chromosome, 2 gene (BPY2) is implicated in the spermatogenic process. Three copies (paralogs) of the BPY2 sequence lie in the AZFc region, within huge palindromic repeats consisting of Alu sequences located in 5′ flanking regions. Our objective was to screen the single nucleotide variation of BPY2 gene paralogously.

Methods:  Mutation screening of the exons and 5′ flanking region of the BPY2 genes was carried out by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and sequencing in 106 infertile patients with a Sertoli cell‐only (SCO) phenotype and in 126 fertile men.

Results:  No sequence variation was detected in any of the BPY2 exons. Paralogous A/A/A and mixed A/G genotypes are referred to the promoter of the gene. The G/G/G genotype (wild type) was observed at the rates of 89.6% (95/106) in the SCO subjects and 96.0% (121/126) in the proven‐fertile subjects. The G/G/G plus mixed A/G paralogous variants and the A/A/A paralogous variant were detected in 96.2% (102/106) and 3.8% (4/106) of infertile patients with SCO, respectively. The G/G/G plus mixed A/G paralogous variants were detected in 100% (126/126) of the fertile controls, with no instances of the A/A/A phenotype, and this difference was statistically significant (P = 0.038, Fisher's exact test).

Conclusion:  The A/A/A genotype may be associated with the SCO phenotype. The alteration of all three copies of BPY2 within the AZFc region on the Y chromosome may affect spermatogenic process.
When US Scholars Speak of ‘Sovereignty’, what do they Mean?
Authors: Sinclair Adriana , Byers Michael
Published: May 2007

The term ‘sovereignty’ figures prominently in international affairs and academic analysis. But does ‘sovereignty’ mean the same thing in different countries and political cultures? In this article, we examine conceptions of sovereignty as they appear in the writings of US scholars of international law and those international relations scholars who deal with international law, in order to obtain a clearer picture of what ‘sovereignty’ means in American academic discourse. At first glance, the US literature is dominated by two distinct conceptions of sovereignty: (1) a statist conception that privileges the territorial integrity and political independence of governments regardless of their democratic or undemocratic character; (2) a popular conception that privileges the rights of peoples rather than governments, especially when widespread human rights violations are committed by a totalitarian regime. On closer examination, what seem to be two conceptions are in fact different manifestations of a single, uniquely American conception of sovereignty which elevates the United States above other countries and protects it against outside influences while concurrently maximising its ability to intervene overseas.
The influence of maternal smoking habits on the risk of subsequent stillbirth: is there a causal relation?
Authors: Högberg L , Cnattingius S
Published: May 2007

Objective  Maternal smoking has previously been associated with risk of stillbirth. If women who quit smoking reduce their risk of stillbirth, the hypothesis of a causal association would be supported.

Design  Prospective cohort study.

Setting  Nationwide study in Sweden.

Population  All primiparous women who delivered their first and second consecutive single births between 1983 and 2001, giving a total number of 526 691 women.

Method  A population‐based Swedish study with data from the Medical Birth Registry, the Immigration Registry and the Education Registry. Logistic regression analyses were used to estimate odds ratios, using 95% confidence intervals.

Main outcome measure  Stillbirth in the second pregnancy.

Results  Compared with nonsmokers in both pregnancies, women who smoked during the first pregnancy but not during the second do not have an increased risk of stillbirth (OR 1.02; 95% CI 0.79–1.30), while corresponding risk among women who smoked during both pregnancies was 1.35 (95% CI 1.15–1.58).

Conclusion  The result supports that maternal smoking during pregnancy is causally associated with stillbirth risk. Smoking is a preventable cause of stillbirth, and smoking interventions is an important issue in antenatal care.
The feasibility, success and patient satisfaction associated with outpatient hysteroscopic sterilisation
Authors: Sinha D , Kalathy V , Gupta JK , Clark TJ
Published: May 2007

Objective  To determine the feasibility and patient satisfaction of female sterilisation using the Essure™ system in an outpatient hysteroscopy clinic without conscious sedation or general anaesthesia.

Design  Prospective cohort study.

Setting  Outpatient hysteroscopy clinic in a large teaching hospital.

Population  Women undergoing outpatient hysteroscopic sterilisation using the Essure™ system for permanent fertility control.

Methods  Demographic and procedural data were prospectively collected from 112 consecutive women undergoing outpatient hysteroscopic sterilisation without sedation or general anaesthesia. A hysterosalpingogram (HSG) was performed routinely in all women 3 months after the procedure to confirm bilateral tubal occlusion. Postal questionnaires were sent at this time enquiring about patient satisfaction and experience with the outpatient procedure. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify factors independently predictive of successful completion of the procedure.

Main outcome measures  Technical feasibility, predictive factors for technical success (operator, body mass index, uterine size, axis, menstrual phase and cervical stenosis), complications, tubal occlusion on HSG, patient satisfaction and procedure‐related experience.

Results  Successful bilateral tubal placement of the Essure™ microinserts was achieved in 103/112 (92%, 95% CI 85–96%) women. Nonsecretory phase of the menstrual cycle (P = 0.04) and a clinically normal‐sized uterus (P = 0.003) were independently predictive for successful completion of the outpatient procedure on multivariable modelling. There were no major procedure‐related complications recorded, but transient vasovagal reactions occurred in 5/112 (5%) women. Of the original cohort of 112 women with successful procedures, 84 women were 3 months postprocedure and had undergone a HSG. Bilateral tubal occlusion was confirmed in 83/84 (99%, 95% CI 94–100%) women at 3 months and in 100% at 6 months. Seventy‐six of 84 (91%) had returned the questionnaires, and 70/73 (96%, 95% CI 88–99%) were satisfied with their overall experience of the procedure including radiological follow up, with most reporting being ‘very satisfied’ (64/73, 88%, 95% CI 78–94%).

Conclusions  Outpatient hysteroscopic sterilisation using the Essure™ system without sedation or general anaesthesia is a successful and safe procedure associated with high rates of patient satisfaction. If practical, women should be scheduled to have their procedures in the proliferative phase of the menstrual cycle to optimise successful placement of Essure™ devices, especially if the uterus is clinically enlarged.
Concurrent oxytocin with dinoprostone pessary versus dinoprostone pessary in labour induction of nulliparas with an unfavourable cervix: a randomised placebo‐controlled trial
Authors: Tan PC , Valiapan SD , Tay PYS , Omar SZ
Published: May 2007

Objective  To compare concurrent oxytocin with dinoprostone pessary versus dinoprostone pessary in labour induction for nulliparas with an unfavourable cervix.

Design  A randomised double‐blind study.

Setting  University Malaya Medical Centre, Malaysia.

Population  Nulliparas at term with intact membranes, Bishop score ≤ 6 and admitted for labour induction.

Methods  All women received 3 mg dinoprostone pessary for labour induction. Those randomised to the oxytocin arm received oxytocin infusion started at 1 mu/minute and doubled every 30 minutes to a maximum 16 mu/minute. Women assigned to placebo received identical volume of saline infusion. After 6 hours, infusion was stopped and vaginal reassessment performed to guide further management.

Main outcome measures  Primary outcome was vaginal delivery within 24 hours.

Results  Concurrent oxytocin infusion with dinoprostone pessary did not significantly increase vaginal delivery rate within 24 hours (48.6 versus 35.9%; P= 0.07, relative risk [RR] 1.4 [95% CI 1.0–1.9]). It reduced the requirement for repeat dinoprostone (37.1 versus 61.2%; P= 0.001, RR 0.61 [95% CI 0.45–0.81]) and improved maternal satisfaction with the birth process (median score of 3 versus 5 on a 10‐point visual analogue scale, P= 0.007). Caesarean rates were not different (41.9 versus 44.7%, P= 0.52).

Conclusions  Labour induction with concurrent oxytocin infusion and vaginal dinoprostone could be considered for nulliparas with an unfavourable cervix. Larger studies are needed.