bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Increase in Mortality Rate Following Coprescription of Cisapride and Contraindicated Drugs
Authors: Choi Nam-Kyong , Hahn Seokyung , Park Byung-Joo
Published: March 2007

Background:

No epidemiologic study, as of this writing, has been published on the use of cisapride with contraindicated drugs and its relation to mortality rates in a population-based setting.

Objective:

To estimate the prevalence of concomitant use of cisapride with contraindicated drugs and evaluate the association between this and the risk of mortality.

Methods:

Claims data were obtained from the Health Insurance Review Agency of Korea. The study population consisted of patients younger than 85 years who visited clinics or hospitals in the city of Busan as new users of cisapride between November 1, 2000, and April 30, 2002. The coprescription of cisapride was defined as prescribing cisapride with one or more contraindicated drugs with the same prescription. Nationwide mortality data were also used. The prevalence of coprescribing cisapride was estimated and the association between this and the risk of mortality was assessed by rate ratios (RRs). The RRs were estimated using Cox's regression model with time-dependent covariate, adjusted for age, sex, and comorbidities.

Results:

A total of 36 865 patients out of 56 012 claims were newly prescribed cisapride; of these, 1175 patients (3.2%) were concomitantly prescribed at least one contraindicated drug, which suggested adjusted modality RRs of 14.08 (95% CI 7.41 to 26.76) for recent users and 1.33 (95% CI 0.92 to 1.93) for past users of cisapride.

Conclusions:

Despite the discontinuation of the drug's commercial marketing, cisapride was still in use in clinics and hospitals in Busan. In many cases, cisapride was co-prescribed with contraindicated drugs, which is associated with increased mortality rates.
Does Metronidazole Interact with CYP3A Substrates by Inhibiting Their Metabolism Through This Metabolic Pathway? Or Should Other Mechanisms Be Considered?
Authors: Roedler Rhonda , Neuhauser Melinda M , Penzak Scott R
Published: March 2007

Objective:

To explore whether CYP3A inhibition by metronidazole is the primary mechanism by which metronidazole interacts with coadministered CYP3A substrates.

Data Sources:

Literature was accessed using the MEDLINE database (1966–February 2007). Search terms included metronidazole, cytochrome P450, CYP3A4, CYP3A5, drug interactions, and P-glycoprotein. References from pertinent articles, as well as from tertiary sources, were also considered.

Study Selection and Data Extraction:

All articles identified from the data sources that were published in English were evaluated. Case reports and pharmacokinetic evaluations were included.

Data Synthesis:

Elevated plasma concentrations and toxicities have been reported for a number of CYP3A substrates including amiodarone, carbamazepine, quinidine, tacrolimus, and cyclosporine when administered with metronidazole. This has led to the widespread belief that metronidazole is a significant inhibitor of CYP3A4. However, 4 pharmacokinetic studies conducted in humans showed that metronidazole did not increase plasma concentrations of the CYP3A substrates midazolam, erythromycin, cyclosporine, and alprazolam, thereby refuting the suggestion that metronidazole is a CYP3A4/5 inhibitor.

Conclusions:

Drug interactions between metronidazole and certain CYP3A substrates do not appear to result from CYP3A4/5 inhibition by metronidazole. Until any mechanism is identified by which metronidazole alters the disposition of certain CYP3A substrates, drug interactions with this agent should be assessed on a case-by-case basis, taking into account the safety index of the coadministered drug and the availability of equally effective substitutes for either metronidazole or the drug with which it putatively interacts.
Drug-Induced Lupus Associated with Synthetic Conjugated Estrogens
Authors: Carroll Dana G , Cavanagh Lamont E
Published: March 2007

Objective:

To report a case of drug-induced lupus (DIL) in a patient taking Cenestin, a combination product of synthetic conjugated estrogens.

Case Summary:

A 54-year-old white female presented with a 4 month history of bilateral arm pain that developed and progressively worsened after initiating Cenestin 0.625 mg daily. The patient's symptoms, findings on physical examination (eg, degenerative changes of the acromioclavicular joint), and laboratory test results (eg, antinuclear antibody titer 1–640 [normal <1–40]) were suggestive of DIL. Her symptoms rapidly resolved with discontinuation of Cenestin and promptly resumed with reinitiation of the drug. Laboratory test values also improved significantly with discontinuation of Cenestin. Based on these findings and the Naranjo probability scale score, this reaction was probably associated with Cenestin.

Discussion:

DIL differs from systemic lupus erythematosus in that it is caused by prolonged exposure at adequate doses to a drug rather than being an autoimmune reaction. The most commonly reported and studied medications are hydralazine, quinidine, and procainamide. Other medications have been associated with DIL; however, data are limited in these reports, especially with estrogen. There have been no previous reports in the literature of synthetic estrogen products associated with DIL.

Conclusions:

A diagnosis of DIL can be very challenging to make, especially since there are no clear criteria on which to base it. While estrogen has rarely been reported to be associated with DIL, it may be considered as a possible cause.
Epidemiology, Risk Factors, and Outcomes of Candida albicans Versus Non-albicans Candidemia in Nonneutropenic Patients
Authors: Davis Susan L , Vazquez Jose A , Mckinnon Peggy S
Published: March 2007

Background:

Candidemia is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in hospitalized patients.

Objectives:

To describe the epidemiology of and risk factors for non-albicans candidemia (NAC) in nonneutropenic adults and the impact of NAC on patient outcomes and treatment cost.

Methods:

We conducted a retrospective cohort analysis comparing demographics and risk factors for Candida albicans candidemia (CAC) versus NAC in 144 nonneutropenic patients with candidemia over a 6 year period (1997–2002) at Detroit Receiving Hospital.

Results:

Candida species distribution included albicans (50%), parapsilosis (13%), tropicalis (10%), and glabrata (13%). Predominant species varied by patient care unit, with C. glabrata more common in the medical intensive care unit (ICU) and C. parapsilosis in the burn ICU. In multivariate analysis, NAC was associated with the absence of antibiotic use at the onset of candidemia, recent history of solid tumor, and male sex, NAC was not associated with an increase in mortality or length of stay compared with CAC, but was found to have a higher cost of antifungal therapy ($2030 vs $780; p = 0.05).

Conclusions:

The epidemiology of candidemia is complex and varies among the different patient care units. Specifically, patients appear less likely to develop NAC if they are receiving antibiotics at the onset of candidemia. Increased awareness of risk factors for NAC can be used to guide adequate initial antifungal therapy.
The Safety of Metformin in Heart Failure
Authors: Roberts Felicia , Ryan Gina J
Published: March 2007

Objective:

To examine the evidence regarding the safety of metformin in heart failure.

Data Sources:

Searches in MEDLINE and International Pharmaceutical Abstracts were performed (1966–February 2007). Search terms included metformin, heart failure, lactic acidosis, clinical trials, and insulin resistance.

Study Selection and Data Extraction:

Published studies and case reports that evaluated the causal link between metformin and lactic acidosis in patients with heart failure were selected for review.

Data Synthesis:

There were no case reports of patients who had metformin-associated lactic acidosis when heart failure was the only contraindication, Two large retrospective studies showed that metformin does not increase the risk of lactic acidosis in patients with heart failure. However, these retrospective analyses did not account for many important confounding variables. A reduction in mortality rates in metformin users with New York Heart Association Class III and IV heart failure was observed in one small (N = 94) prospective trial.

Conclusions:

Results from 3 trials suggest that metformin may be safe to use in heart failure. Large prospective trials are needed to provide conclusive evidence regarding metformin's safety. Until then, use of metformin in heart failure patients should not be recommended routinely. If it is used in patients with heart failure, they should be monitored closely for signs of lactic acidosis.
Book Reviews
Authors: Parkhouse Peter
Published: March 2007

Moderate learning difficulties and the future of inclusion By Brahm Norwich and Narcie Kelly Abingdon, UK: RoutledgeFalmer. 2005. Pbk £21.99, ISBN 0‐415‐31975‐7
Book Reviews
Authors: Smith Leslie
Published: March 2007

Rationality and logic By Robert Hanna Cambridge, MA: MIT Press. 2006. Hbk $35.00, ISBN 0‐262‐08349‐3
Fragile X Mental Retardation Protein Induces Synapse Loss through Acute Postsynaptic Translational Regulation
Authors: Pfeiffer Brad E. , Huber Kimberly M.
Published: March 2007

Fragile X syndrome, as well as other forms of mental retardation and autism, is associated with altered dendritic spine number and structure. Fragile X syndrome is caused by loss-of-function mutations in Fragile X mental retardation protein (FMRP), an RNA-binding protein that regulates protein synthesisin vivo. It is unknown whether FMRP plays a direct, cell-autonomous role in regulation of synapse number, function, or maturation. Here, we report that acute postsynaptic expression of FMRP inFmr1knock-out (KO) neurons results in a decrease in the number of functional and structural synapses without an effect on their synaptic strength or maturational state. Similarly, neurons endogenously expressing FMRP (wild-type) have fewer synapses than neighboringFmr1KO neurons. An intact K homology domain 2 (KH2) RNA-binding domain and dephosphorylation of FMRP at S500 were required for the effects of FMRP on synapse number, indicating that FMRP interaction with RNA and translating polyribosomes leads to synapse loss.
Aggregated α-Synuclein Mediates Dopaminergic NeurotoxicityIn Vivo
Authors: Periquet Magali , Fulga Tudor , Myllykangas Liisa , Schlossmacher Michael G. , Feany Mel B.
Published: March 2007

Mutations in the synaptic protein α-synuclein cause rare genetic forms of Parkinson's disease. α-Synuclein is thought to play a critical role in more common sporadic cases of Parkinson's disease as well because the protein aggregates in the hallmark intraneuronal inclusions of the disorder, Lewy bodies. To test the role of protein aggregation in the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease, we expressed a form of α-synuclein with a deletion of amino acids 71–82 that is unable to aggregatein vitroin a transgenicDrosophilamodel of the disorder. We found no evidence of large aggregates or oligomeric species of α-synuclein in these animals and no loss of tyrosine hydroxylase-positive neurons. We also expressed a truncated form of α-synuclein that has enhanced ability to aggregatein vitro. This truncated form of α-synuclein showed increased aggregation into large inclusions bodies, increased accumulation of high molecular weight α-synuclein species, and demonstrated enhanced neurotoxicityin vivo. Our findings thus support a critical role for aggregation of α-synuclein in mediating toxicity to dopaminergic neuronsin vivo, although the precise role each aggregated form of α-synuclein plays in neurotoxicity remains to be determined.
Differential Classical Conditioning of the Gill-Withdrawal Reflex inAplysiaRecruits Both NMDA Receptor-Dependent Enhancement and NMDA Receptor-Dependent Depression of the Reflex
Authors: Jami Shekib A. , Wright William G. , Glanzman David L.
Published: March 2007

Differential classical conditioning of the gill-withdrawal response (GWR) inAplysiacan be elicited by training in which a conditioned stimulus (CS) delivered to one side of the siphon (the CS+) is paired with a noxious unconditioned stimulus (US; tail shock), while a second conditioned stimulus (the CS−), delivered to a different siphon site, is unpaired with the US. NMDA receptor (NMDAR) activation has been shown previously to be critical for nondifferential classical conditioning inAplysia. Here, we used a semi-intact preparation to test whether differential classical conditioning of the GWR also depends on activation of NMDARs. Differential training produced conditioned enhancement of the reflexive response to the CS+ and a reduction in the response to the CS−. Comparison of the results after differential training with those after training in which only the two CSs were presented (CS-alone experiments) indicated that the decrement in the response to CS− after differential training was not caused by habituation. Surprisingly, differential training in the NMDAR antagonist APV (dl-2-amino-5-phosphonovalerate) blocked not only the conditioned enhancement of the GWR, but also the conditioning-induced depression of the GWR. We suggest that differential conditioning involves an NMDAR-dependent, competitive interaction between the separate neural pathways activated by the CS+ and CS−.
Maturation of Ribbon Synapses in Hair Cells Is Driven by Thyroid Hormone
Authors: Sendin Gaston , Bulankina Anna V. , Riedel Dietmar , Moser Tobias
Published: March 2007

Ribbon synapses of inner hair cells (IHCs) undergo developmental maturation until after the onset of hearing. Here, we studied whether IHC synaptogenesis is regulated by thyroid hormone (TH). We performed perforated patch-clamp recordings of Ca2+currents and exocytic membrane capacitance changes in IHCs of athyroid and TH-substitutedPax8−/−mice during postnatal development. Ca2+currents remained elevated in athyroid IHCs at the end of the second postnatal week, when it had developmentally declined in wild-type and TH-rescued mutant IHCs. The efficiency of Ca2+influx in triggering exocytosis of the readily releasable vesicle pool was reduced in athyroid IHCs. Ribbon synapses were formed despite the TH deficiency. However, different from wild type, in which synapse elimination takes place at approximately the onset of hearing, the number of ribbon synapses remained elevated in 2-week-old athyroid IHCs. Moreover, the ultrastructure of these synapses appeared immature. Using quantitative reverse transcription-PCR, we found a TH-dependent developmental upregulation of the mRNAs for the neuronal SNARE (solubleN-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment protein receptor) proteins, SNAP25 (synaptosomal-associated protein of 25 kDa) and synaptobrevin 1, in the organ of Corti. These molecular changes probably contribute to the improvement of exocytosis efficiency in mature IHCs. IHCs of 2-week-old athyroidPax8−/−mice maintained the normally temporary efferent innervation. Moreover, they lacked large-conductance Ca2+-activated K+channels and KCNQ4 channels. This together with the persistently increased Ca2+influx permitted continued action potential generation. We conclude that TH regulates IHC differentiation and is essential for morphological and functional maturation of their ribbon synapses. We suggest that presynaptic dysfunction of IHCs is a mechanism in congenital hypothyroid deafness.
Functional Neural Development from Human Embryonic Stem Cells: Accelerated Synaptic Activity via Astrocyte Coculture
Authors: Johnson M. Austin , Weick Jason P. , Pearce Robert A. , Zhang Su-Chun
Published: March 2007

How a naive human neuroepithelial cell becomes an electrophysiologically active neuron remains unknown. Here, we describe the early physiological development of neurons differentiating from naive human embryonic stem (hES) cells. We found that differentiating neuronal cells progressively decrease their resting membrane potential, gain characteristic Na+and K+currents, and fire mature action potentials by 7 weeks of differentiation. This is similar to the maturation pattern observed in animals, albeit on a greatly expanded time scale. An additional 3 weeks of differentiation resulted in neurons that could fire repetitive trains of action potentials in response to depolarizing current pulses. The onset of spontaneous synaptic activity also occurred after 7 weeks of differentiation, in association with the differentiation of astrocytes within the culture. Cocultures of hES cell-derived neuroepithelial cells with exogenous astrocytes significantly accelerated the onset of synaptic currents but did not alter action potential generation. These findings suggest that the development of membrane characteristics and action potentials depend on the intrinsic maturation of Na+and K+currents, whereas synaptic transmission is enhanced by astrocytes, which may be achieved independently of the maturation of action potentials. Furthermore, we found that although astrocyte-conditioned medium accelerated synaptic protein localization, it did not increase synaptic activity, suggesting a contact-dependant mechanism by which astrocytes augment synaptic activity. These results lay the foundation for future studies examining the functional development of human neurons and provide support for the potential application of human cells in restorative neuronal therapies.
Scale-Invariant Memory Representations Emerge from Moiré Interference between Grid Fields That Produce Theta Oscillations: A Computational Model
Authors: Blair Hugh T. , Welday Adam C. , Zhang Kechen
Published: March 2007

The dorsomedial entorhinal cortex (dMEC) of the rat brain contains a remarkable population of spatially tuned neurons called grid cells (Hafting et al., 2005). Each grid cell fires selectively at multiple spatial locations, which are geometrically arranged to form a hexagonal lattice that tiles the surface of the rat's environment. Here, we show that grid fields can combine with one another to form moiré interference patterns, referred to as “moiré grids,” that replicate the hexagonal lattice over an infinite range of spatial scales. We propose that dMEC grids are actually moiré grids formed by interference between much smaller “theta grids,” which are hypothesized to be the primary source of movement-related theta rhythm in the rat brain. The formation of moiré grids from theta grids obeys two scaling laws, referred to as the length and rotational scaling rules. The length scaling rule appears to account for firing properties of grid cells in layer II of dMEC, whereas the rotational scaling rule can better explain properties of layer III grid cells. Moiré grids built from theta grids can be combined to form yet larger grids and can also be used as basis functions to construct memory representations of spatial locations (place cells) or visual images. Memory representations built from moiré grids are automatically endowed with size invariance by the scaling properties of the moiré grids. We therefore propose that moiré interference between grid fields may constitute an important principle of neural computation underlying the construction of scale-invariant memory representations.
Amygdala Gene Expression Correlates of Social Behavior in Monkeys Experiencing Maternal Separation
Authors: Sabatini Michael J. , Ebert Philip , Lewis David A. , Levitt Pat , Cameron Judy L. , Mirnics Károly
Published: March 2007

Children exposed to early parental loss from death or separation carry a greater risk for developing future psychiatric illnesses, such as major depression and anxiety. Monkeys experiencing maternal separation at 1 week of age show fewer social behaviors and an increase in self-comforting behaviors (e.g., thumb sucking) over development, whereas in contrast, monkeys experiencing maternal separation at 1 month of age show increased seeking of social comfort later in life. We sought to identify neural systems that may underlie these stress-induced behavioral changes by examining changes in mRNA content in amygdala tissue collected from 1 week separated, 1 month separated, and maternally reared infants at 3 months of age. mRNA from the right medial temporal lobe, primarily the amygdala, was analyzed using Affymetrix U133A 2.0 arrays. One gene, guanylate cyclase 1 α 3 (GUCY1A3), showed differential expression between the 1 week and maternally reared groups and the 1 week and 1 month groups; these changes were confirmed byin situhybridization. The expression of this gene was positively correlated with acute social-comforting behavior (r= 0.923;p= 0.001) and longer-term close social behavior (r= 0.708;p= 0.015) and negatively correlated with self-comforting behaviors (r= −0.88;p< 0.001). Additionalin situhybridization studies of GUCY1A3 in normal monkeys showed that this gene is expressed at adult levels by 1 week of age and that its expression is greater in the amygdala than all other brain areas examined. We conclude that GUCY1A3 may contribute to the altered behavioral phenotypes that are differentially displayed depending on the age at which macaque infants experience an early-life stress.
The Interplay of Stimulus Modality and Response Latency in Neural Network Organization for Simple Working Memory Tasks
Authors: Protzner Andrea B. , McIntosh Anthony R.
Published: March 2007

We used functional magnetic resonance imaging to examine how modality of input affects functional network organization beyond the sensory cortices for simple working memory tasks. The stimuli were auditory or visual bandpass-filtered white noise. On a given trial, three stimuli, each with differing center frequencies, were presented in succession. For temporal sequencing tasks, participants indicated when the stimulus with the highest frequency content appeared. For comparison tasks, participants indicated whether the frequency content of the last stimulus was lower, intermediate, or higher than the first two stimuli. Task difficulty was equated by establishing equivalent accuracy thresholds across subjects. We used behavioral spatiotemporal partial-least squares (ST-bPLS) analysis to identify neural patterns capturing the optimal association between brain images and reaction time. Because of statistical instabilities, subjects were divided into a SLOW group and a FAST group based on the median split of reaction times. ST-bPLS identified a significant interaction between stimulus modality and task demands for both groups, indicating that task-dependent brain–behavior correlations changed with stimulus modality. The large-scale activity pattern associated with this effect included prefrontal cortex and parietal cortex for the SLOW group and parietal cortex and cingulate for the FAST group. For the FAST group only, ST-bPLS also identified a significant main effect that differentiated tasks independent of modality. The pattern associated with this effect included prefrontal cortex and parietal cortex. These results confirm that modality of input affects network configuration even outside of the sensory cortices but that network configuration may vary with behavior.
Neuroblast Division during Migration toward the Ischemic Striatum: A Study of Dynamic Migratory and Proliferative Characteristics of Neuroblasts from the Subventricular Zone
Authors: Lan Zhang Rui , LeTourneau Yvonne , Gregg Sara R. , Wang Ying , Toh Yier , Robin Adam M. , Gang Zhang Zheng , Chopp Michael
Published: March 2007

Ischemic stroke induces neurogenesis in the subventricular zone (SVZ), and newly generated neurons in the SVZ migrate toward the ischemic boundary. However, the characteristics of migrating SVZ cells have not been investigated after stroke. Using time-lapse imaging in both SVZ cells and organotypic brain slice cultures, we measured the dynamics of SVZ cell division and migration of adult rats subjected to stroke. In normal brain slices, SVZ cells primarily migrated dorsally and ventrally along the lateral ventricular surface. However, in stroke brain slices, SVZ cells migrated laterally toward the striatal ischemic boundary. Cultured stroke-derived SVZ cells exhibited a significant (p< 0.01) increase in the migration distance (212 ± 21 μm) compared with the nonstroke-derived SVZ cells (97 ± 12 μm). Migrating stroke-derived SVZ cells spent significantly (p= 0.01) less time in cytokinesis (0.63 ± 0.04 h) compared with the time (1.09 ± 0.09 h) for nonstroke-derived SVZ cells. Newborn cells with a single leading process exhibited fast migration (7.2 ± 0.8 μm/h), and cells with multiple processes showed stationary migration (3.6 ± 0.8 μm/h). Stroke SVZ daughter cells further divided during their migration. The morphology of doublecortin (DCX)-positive cells in fixed brain sections resembled those observed in cultured newborn cells, and the DCX-positive cells proliferated in the ischemic striatum. Collectively, the present study suggests that stroke promotes cytokinesis of migrating neuroblasts, and these cells migrate toward the ischemic striatum with distinct migratory behaviors and retain the capacity for cell division during migration.
Asymmetric Distribution of Prickle-Like 2 Reveals an Early Underlying Polarization of Vestibular Sensory Epithelia in the Inner Ear
Authors: Deans Michael R. , Antic Dragana , Suyama Kaye , Scott Matthew P. , Axelrod Jeffrey D. , Goodrich Lisa V.
Published: March 2007

Vestibular hair cells have a distinct planar cell polarity (PCP) manifest in the morphology of their stereocilia bundles and the asymmetric localization of their kinocilia. In the utricle and saccule the hair cells are arranged in an orderly array about an abrupt line of reversal that separates fields of cells with opposite polarity. We report that the putative PCP protein Prickle-like 2 (Pk2) is distributed in crescents on the medial sides of vestibular epithelial cells before the morphological polarization of hair cells. Despite the presence of a line of polarity reversal, crescent position is not altered between hair cells of opposite polarity. Frizzled 6 (Fz6), a second PCP protein, is distributed opposite Pk2 along the lateral side of vestibular support cells. Similar to Pk2, the subcellular localization of Fz6 does not differ between cells located on opposite sides of the line of reversal. In addition, inLooptail/Van Gogh-like2mutant mice Pk2 is distributed asymmetrically at embryonic day 14.5 (E14.5), but this localization is not coordinated between adjacent cells, and the crescents subsequently are lost by E18.5. Together, these results support the idea that a conserved PCP complex acts before stereocilia bundle development to provide an underlying polarity to all cells in the vestibular epithelia and that cells on either side of the line of reversal are programmed to direct the kinocilium in opposite directions with respect to the polarity axis defined by PCP protein distribution.
Dlx-Dependent and -Independent Regulation of Olfactory Bulb Interneuron Differentiation
Authors: Long Jason E. , Garel Sonia , Alvarez-Dolado Manuel , Yoshikawa Kazuaki , Osumi Noriko , Alvarez-Buylla Arturo , Rubenstein John L. R.
Published: March 2007

Olfactory bulb interneuron development is a complex multistep process that involves cell specification in the ventral telencephalon, tangential migration into the olfactory bulb, and local neuronal maturation. Although several transcription factors have been implicated in this process, how or when they act remains to be elucidated. Here we explore the mechanisms that result in olfactory bulb interneuron defects inDlx1&2−/−(distal-less homeobox 1 and 2) andMash1−/−(mammalian achaete-schute homolog 1) mutants. We provide evidence thatDlx1&2andMash1regulate parallel molecular pathways that are required for the generation of these cells, thereby providing new insights into the mechanisms underlying olfactory bulb development. The analysis also defined distinct anatomical zones related to olfactory bulb development. Finally we show thatDlx1&2are required for promoting tangential migration to the olfactory bulb, potentially via regulating the expression ofErbB4(v-erb-a erythroblastic leukemia viral oncogene homolog 4),Robo2(roundabout homolog 2),Slit1(slit homolog 1), andPK2(prokineticin 2), which have all been shown to play essential roles in this migration.
Postsaccadic Activities in the Posterior Parietal Cortex of Primates Are Influenced by both Eye Movement Vectors and Eye Position
Authors: Genovesio Aldo , Brunamonti Emiliano , Giusti Maria Assunta , Ferraina Stefano
Published: March 2007

Primates explore their visual environment by redirecting the gaze to objects of interest by alternating eye movements and periods of steady fixation. During this task, the fixation point changes frequently in depth. Therefore, the representation of object location based on retinal disparity requires frequent updating. Neural activity was recorded in the lateral intraparietal (LIP) area while monkeys performed saccades between targets in different depths. We report that in the early postsaccadic period, posterior parietal neurons continue to encode the difference in depth between fixation point and targets. About one-third of these neurons are, during the same period, modulated by eye position in depth as well. In the late postsaccadic period, the influence of the previous movement vector dissipates, and parietal neurons are modulated only by the new fixation distance. This result suggests that the postsaccadic activity of area LIP contributes to the dynamic representation of the visual space, and it is compatible with the presence of both a vector subtraction computation and eye-position-dependent gain fields.
Involvement ofIhin Dopamine Modulation of Tonic Firing in Striatal Cholinergic Interneurons
Authors: Deng Ping , Zhang Yuchun , Xu Zao C.
Published: March 2007

Striatal cholinergic interneurons are tonically active neurons and respond to sensory stimuli by transiently suppressing firing that is associated with sensorimotor learning. The pause in tonic firing is dependent on dopaminergic activity; however, its cellular mechanisms remain unclear. Here, we report evidence that dopaminergic inhibition of hyperpolarization-activated cation current (Ih) is involved in this process. In neurons exhibiting regular firingin vitro, exogenous application of dopamine caused a prolongation of the depolarization-induced pause and an increase in the duration of slow afterhyperpolarization (sAHP) after depolarization. Partially blockingIhwith specific blocker ZD7288 (4-ethylphenylamino-1,2-dimethyl-6-methylaminopyrimidinium chloride) reduced firing and mimicked the effects of dopamine on sAHP. TheIh, being active at membrane potentials negative than −50 mV, was inhibited by dopamine via activation of the D2-like receptor, but not D1-like receptor. The inhibitory effects of the D2receptor activation onIhwere mediated through a protein kinase A-independent cyclic AMP pathway. Consistently, D2-like receptor agonist quinpirole showed comparable effects on sAHP and firing rate as those induced byIhchannel blocker. Moreover, dopamine was unable to further affect the sAHP duration in neurons whenIhwas blocked. These findings indicate that D2receptor-dependent inhibition ofIhmay be a novel mechanism for modulating the pause response in tonic firing in cholinergic interneurons.
Oxidation of Acetaldehyde and Propionaldehyde on a V2O5-TiO2 Catalyst
Authors: Suprun W. Y. , Machold T. , Schädlich H.-K. , Papp H.
Published: March 2007

The partial oxidation of acetaldehyde and propionaldehyde on a TiO2 supported VO
x
catalyst in presence of water vapour was investigated in the temperature range from 120 to 280 °C. The selective oxidation to the appropriate carboxylic acids depended on the kind of aldehyde and the reaction temperature. An oxidative cleavage to lower carboxylic acids and CO
x
was also found. Furthermore, the kinetic model for the process of oxidation of acetaldehyde and propionaldehyde over the V2O5-TiO2 catalyst was developed.
Formation of Perfluorobutene-2 Epoxide in the Thermal Gas-Phase Reaction of Perfluorobutene-2 with Nitrogen Dioxide. An Experimental and DFT Study
Authors: Czarnowski J. , Cobos C. J.
Published: March 2007

The mechanism of the thermal reaction between perfluorobutene-2 and NO2 in the gas phase has been investigated in the temperature range 418.5–470.0K. At temperatures below 432K, equal amounts of perfluorobutene-2 epoxide (PFBE) and NO are formed. At higher temperatures, PFBE decomposes generating CF3C(O)F and CF3CF biradicals. The latter self-recombine reforming the parent perfluorobutene-2 molecule. The addition of O2 does not affect the reaction course. This reaction system provides a new and promising method for PFBE preparation. Based on the perfluorobutene-2 consumption, PFBE yields larger than 90% were obtained. The energetics of the relevant reaction pathways has been calculated using various density functional theory methods. These calculations confirm the reaction mechanism based on experimental results. The computed vibrational spectra predicted for the PFBE at the B3LYP/6-311+G(3df) and B98/6-311+G(3df) levels of theory are in very good agreement with that obtained experimentally.
Unique Coordination of Copper in Hexacyanometallates
Authors: Reguera E. , Rodríguez-Hernández J. , Champi A. , Duque J. G. , Granado E. , Rettori C.
Published: March 2007

Within divalent transition metals hexacyanometallates (III) the copper (2+) salts show unique features. To the copper (2+) salts correspond the shortest unit cell edges, the highest ν(CN) vibration frequencies, the lowest hydration degree and dehydration temperatures, the lowest Mössbauer isomer shift value, and the strongest magnetic exchange interaction (J) between the metal centers. Such unique features were attributed to a particularly strong bond of the copper atom to the N ends of the CN groups. The driving force for such behaviour was ascribed to a combined effect where the copper (2+) shows a high ability to receive electrons in its 3d hole favouring an electronic configuration close to 3d
10 and the CN group complements such ability donating electrons through its 5σ orbital which has certain anti-bonding character. This hypothesis is supported by the obtained structural and spectroscopic data. The occurrence of a cooperative Jahn–Teller effect in this family of materials was discarded. In the pseudo-octahedral coordination for the copper (2+) atom the e

g
orbital degeneration is initially removed. The collected EPR spectra are characteristic of a cubic environment (isotropic g-values). Analogue evidence was obtained from high resolution X-ray powder patterns recorded in the 12–300K temperature range. All the patterns correspond to a cubic unit cell.
Passio
Authors: Williams Linda
Published: March 2007

ABSTRACT A rare, sometimes horrific 74-minute assemblage of archival footage, Paolo Cherchi Usai's Passio encompasses themes of human suffering, wonder, and cruelty. The film captures the “frenzy of the visible” of life from the microscopic to the macroscopic as called for by the stark, minimalist music of Arvo Pärt.
On and around Brokeback Mountain
Authors: Wood Robin
Published: March 2007

ABSTRACT Brokeback Mountain is the first gay film to achieve major box-office success, testament to the progressive integration of homosexuality in liberal North American communities. The film can furthermore be argued to be the first tragedy in Ang Lee's film- making career, its poignant outcome foreshadowed in its opening shots.
Ang Lee's Lonesome Cowboys
Authors: Osterweil Ara
Published: March 2007

ABSTRACT By situating the film's tragic representation of homo- sexuality within the tradition of melodrama, this article questions whether Brokeback Mountain truly challenges mainstream taboos. Like Midnight Cowboy, Brokeback Mountain casts its radical subject matter within an ultimately conservative generic paradigm rather than camping it up in the manner of Andy Warhol's Lonesome Cowboys.
Volver
Authors: Kinder Marsha
Published: March 2007

ABSTRACT Volver transforms a comic female resilience into a cura- tive “culture of death.”Despite brilliant performances, the loss of sex- uality makes Volver lack the emotional power of Almodóvar's greatest films. In contrast to High Heels, which shares the same source but makes motherlove homoerotic, Volver focuses on a tamer female bonding.
On the Universality of Brokeback
Authors: Miller D.A.
Published: March 2007

ABSTRACT Critics of Ang Lee's gay-themed Western may or may not condone homosexuality, but they agree on one point:this movie of cowboys in love is well made.The essay unpacks what this perception implies about Lee's craft, as an art of reticence and a politics of neutrality.
Don't Ask, Don't Tell Me
Authors: Clover Joshua , Nealon Christopher
Published: March 2007

ABSTRACT Brokeback Mountain insists on tragic realism. But Internet parodies of the film rework it to stage other emotions. And a 2001 Madonna video develops similar materials into a cowboy loneliness born of the ecstasy Brokeback Mountain forbids itself.
Narrative Theory and Retranslation Theory
Authors: Brownlie Siobhan
Published: March 2007

In the paper I bring together two sets of theories from Narrative Theory and from Retranslation Theory. Links and similarities between the theories are examined under the headings of Essence, Social Conditioning, and Interpretation. A post-structuralist narrative theory is presented, and I extrapolate from this to propose a post-structuralist retranslation theory. After the theoretical discussion I report on the study of a corpus comprising Zola's novelNanaand its five major British (re)translations. The aim is to evaluate how well the theories regarding narrative versions and retranslations hold up with respect to a study of data. A conclusion is reached as to which theories best explain the data. The paper concludes too that bringing together sets of theories from different but related disciplines can be productive in conceptualizing translational phenomena, in this case the phenomenon of retranslation.
Language-related Strategies in Preparing Arbitration
Authors: Várady Tibor
Published: March 2007

The present study deals with language issues and language related strategies in international commercial arbitration, focusing on the time period prior to the constitution of the arbitral tribunal. The issue of language becomes a part of party strategies, and it is also one of the questions which needs to be heeded in order to establish efficient arbitration. The first part of the study deals with choice made by the parties, strategic considerations behind such a choice, and consequences of a choice made. Consequences are scrutinized regarding both the parties and the arbitrators. Attention is also devoted to the interrelation between choice of language and choice of law. The second section deals with situations where the parties have failed to make a choice. In this situation the parties and the arbitrators have no firm guidance, but they may have some points of support on the grounds of which they may anticipate the language of the proceedings, and may prepare for the arbitration proceedings. The third part of the study deals with various facets of language issues emerging in court proceedings in assistance of starting arbitration. The question is raised whether the judges who are appointing arbitrators could and should verify the language abilities of the prospective arbitrators.
Cell wall ultrastructure of flocculent and non-flocculent Schizosaccharomyces pombe strains. Effect of cell wall hydrolysing enzymes on flocculation and cell wall ultastructure
Authors: Geleta Anna , Kristóf Z. , Maráz Anna
Published: March 2007

Scanning and transmission electron microscopic studies revealed the presence of slime-like, amorphous material on the surface of
Schizosaccahromyces pombe
RIVE 4-2-1 cells, independently, whether they were in flocculated or in non-flocculated state. Close contact of the adjacent cells via the merging outermost cell wall layers was found, however, only in the case of floc formation, which was induced by cultivating the cells in the presence of 6% (v/v) ethanol. Irreversible loss of the flocculation ability of the cells by treatment with proteinases suggests that proteinaceous cell surface molecules as lectins contribute to the cell-to-cell interaction during flocculation. Both proteinase K and pronase treatments removed a distinct outer layer of the cell wall, which indicated that the protein moieties of the phosphogalactomannan outer surface layer has a crucial role in the maintenance of cell wall integrity. In the case of lysing enzyme treatment the removal of the outermost layer was also observed as the first step of the cell wall digestion, while driselase treatment resulted in almost complete digestion of the cell wall.
Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis in Croatia (1994–2004)
Authors: Vilibic Cavlek Tatjana , Ljubin Sternak Suncanica , Kaic Bernard , Zarkovic Kamelija , Marusic Della Marina Branka , Cvitanovic Sojat Ljerka , Basnec Anica , Mlinaric Galinovic Gordana
Published: March 2007

We studied five patients with SSPE during a 10-year period (1994–2004). The first clinical symptoms developed at the age of 5–11 years. All patients were vaccinated regularly against measles according to the official immunization schedule. One patient had measles at the age of 18 months. Two of them had a history of morbilliform rash (unrecognized measles) at the age of six and seven months, respectively. In two patients, with no history of measles before vaccination the disease started after varicella infection.Using complement-fixation (F) test and EIA, antibodies to measles virus (MV) were detected in the CSF and sera of all patients. The CF-antibody titers ranged from 1:1024 to 1:65536 in sera and from 1:16 to 1:128 in CSF samples. MV antigen was detected in brain imprints using IFA in two patients. Electron microscopic analysis revealed intranuclear viral inclusions (MV nucleocapsids). Using RT-PCR, viral RNA was found in both patients. Nucleotide sequence analysis showed that the viruses found in the brain tissue belonged to the wild-type MV D6 genotype [7].
European economic institutions: Stability- or growth-oriented?
Authors: Acocella N. , Bartolomeo G.
Published: March 2007

This paper deals with various aspects of the performance expected from some of the most relevant European institutions (monetary and tax authorities, unions) vis-a-vis alternative ones, from a macroeconomic point of view. The role of the rules (e.g. the Stability and Growth Pact) as a coordination device to deal with externalities arising from national fiscal policies is first considered and compared to explicit coordination. The priority given to price stability is then discussed together with the questions of reputation, credibility and the relationship with fiscal policy and labour markets. A conservative central bank eliminates the temptation to inflate, but is only a second-best solution for internalising the externalities arising from uncoordinated-wage bargaining. The paper finally discusses the consequences on growth of the stability pursued by actual European institutions. Some reflections on the ‘model’ adopted for shaping European institutions conclude the paper.
Essay on clan capitalism in Russia
Authors: Kosals L.
Published: March 2007

This paper is a description of the socio-economic system which emerged in Russia as a result of the transformation to a capitalist economy. The main actors in this system are the so-called ‘clans’ including business people affiliated with state officials and sometimes with criminal groups. In the analysis of the context of the Russian transformation a detailed study deals with the internal structure of a clan, focusing on its five main constituents (leader or ‘chieftain’, ‘core’, skilled professionals, ordinary members, agents of influence). Within clan capitalism, mechanisms of clan coordination dominate, while market mechanism and bureaucratic coordination are relatively weaker. The main features of this system are a clan-state, providing the convertibility of resources that maintain favourable conditions for clan activities; post-Soviet monopolism that is basically of a non-market character; distortion of the aims of enterprise; institutionalisation of the shadow economy; and unprotected property rights. Now clan capitalism has turned to the stage of oligarch capitalism with Putin’s clan as the core of new Russian oligarchy.
“constant sources of experience and tension” — Bartók's influence on transylvanian composers
Authors: Németh G. István
Published: March 2007

The paper examines how members of the “Cluj/Kolozsvár School” of composition, the disciples of Sigismund Toduţă, Gábor Jodál, Max Eisikovits and János Jagamas dealt with the influence of Bartók. One can find traces of Bartókian influence in the work of Transylvanian composers beginning from the 1950s, a series of hommage-compositions being written on the occasion of Bartók-anniversaries in 1965, 1970 and especially 1981. The last piece mentioned was composed in 1998. The paper focuses on the cases of five individual composers: Cornel Ţăranu, Ede Terényi, Péter Vermesy, György Orbán and Boldizsár Csíky. In addition to the analysis of certain compositions à la Bartók written by them, their declarations as well as the role of Ernő Lendvai's theories are taken into consideration. A distinction is made among (1) the arrangements of folk music melodies collected by Bartók, (2) the hommage-pieces containing quotations from Bartók's art music, and finally, (3) those longer or shorter periods in a composer's career in which Bartók's influence can be detected in a whole series of compositions.
A lament from Bartók's anatolian collection and its musical background
Authors: Sipos János
Published: March 2007

Bartók collected folk music in Turkey in 1936, and his Turkish collection was published in 1976 almost simultaneously in Hungary and America, and in 1991 in Turkey. How Bartók's conclusions stand the test in the light of an examination on a larger Turkish material? I investigated this question in four of my books, and the detailed analysis points way beyond the scope of the present paper. This time I deal with a single melody, the No. 51 lament of Bartók's collection and with its larger Anatolian, Hungarian and other musical background. Can this melody be an important link between Hungarian and Anatolian folk music layers? If so, why did Bartók not realize this? Does Bartók's incredibly detailed way of transcription has practical benefits in the ethnomusicological research? Is the unique intonation of certain tones in some Anatolian and Hungarian laments accidental or do these tones show a consistent system? Can we find the musical form represented by this Turkish lament in the folk music of Turkic and other people; is yes, what kind of conclusion can be drown? Trying to find an answer to some of these questions I use the melodies and the results of my Turkish, Azeri, Karachay-Balkar, Kazakh, Mongolian and Kyrgyz researches of more then 7000 songs.
Bartók's influence on Chinese new music in the post-cultural revolution era
Authors: Wong Hoi-Yan
Published: March 2007

In the wake of the Cultural Revolution (1966–76) and with China's new “Open Door” policy towards Western culture and Western new music, we have witnessed the exuberant growth of a new generation of Chinese composers. Tan Dun, Chen Yi and Bright Sheng have expressed in various ways their indebtedness to the heritage of Béla Bartók's music. Chen Yi, a fellow student of Tan Dun during her time at Central Conservatory of Music and Columbia University, recalled studying all of Bartók's six string quartets in the composition classes. Bright Sheng also openly admits that his use of the “primitiveness and savageness” of folk elements is directly modelled on the music of Bartók. The dissemination of Bartók's music in China is signified by the extent to which the journals published by China's top two music conservatories — the Central Conservatory of Music and the Shanghai Conservatory of Music — focus on discussion of this repertoire. Frank Kouwenhoven's studies of contemporary Chinese composers also point out that Bartók's influence overshadows most other major composers from the West. In this paper the reception of Bartók's music by Chinese composers in the post-Cultural Revolution era will be explored with reference to the musical as well as socio-cultural factors that fostered the influence.